bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bypassed Oil Identification and Infill Optimization by a Physics-Guided Data-Driven Workflow: A North Sea Case Study
Authors: Moradi B. , Behjat S. , Völgyi S. , Knutsen J. O. , Braeuning S.
Published: April 2024

This paper focuses on the vital task of identifying bypassed oil and locating the remaining oil in mature oil fields, emphasizing the significance of these activities in sustaining efficient oil field exploitation. The paper introduces a novel digital hybrid workflow, guided by physics principles and driven by data, which is further enhanced by the integration of 4D time-lapse data. The study delves into the impact of data-driven advancements, shedding light on their capability to revolutionize industry norms and promote the adoption of more sustainable and effective practices in mature field exploration and extraction. In a practical application within a Norwegian North Sea field, this hybrid workflow was utilized to compute saturation and remaining oil maps (P10/ P50/ P90) across a spectrum of representative realizations, aiding in the identification and quantification of infill targets. This study enables us to obtain a second opinion on the performance in the field. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that hybrid workflows can assist the subsurface team in identifying and quantifying the location of remaining oil, encompassing a full spectrum of uncertainties within a short timeframe. The outcomes of this study indicate that hybrid methodologies, which are guided by physics and driven by data, hold immense potential as tools for exploration and production in the oil and gas industry. These hybrid approaches offer a promising avenue to accurately, efficiently, and cost-effectively unlock the potential of remaining oil in mature fields.
Numerical Estimation of Hydraulic Forces on a Three-Dimensional Moving Tool-Joint Through a Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Model
Authors: Volpi L. P. , Cayeux E. , Time R. W.
Published: April 2024

Drill-string vibration is an important source of issues during drilling operations. Although much research has been done in the last decades, little is known about the interaction between the drill-string vibration and the fluid flow. Most of the models consider only simplified solutions therefore limiting the applicability of the results. Often, those tackle neither the complex rheological behavior of the drilling fluid nor the fluid velocity field itself. In this work, the fluid movement around a moving tool-joint is solved through the Navier-Stokes equation and the forces at the tool-joint is directly estimated from the mesoscopic properties of the fluid flow, without resorting to simplifications, e.g.: drag and lift models. To do so, a tool-joint is assumed to rotate at constant velocity, while moving with a prescribed dynamic, while the flow dynamics is obtained with the lattice-Boltzmann method. Then, the forces and torques at the structure are estimated and evaluated. The simulation results indicate that axial and lateral forces can often be uncoupled, whereas torques are dependent on the dynamics. Finally, they are compared with a reduced order method. It is found that the latter can represent the dynamic accurately for the simplest cases.
Modelling of Acid Stimulation Using Needles for Multilateral Fishbone Wells
Authors: Duarte Forti T. L. , Silva P. B. D. , Longhin G. C. , Alencar H. C. , Rylo E. C. , Jaculli M. A. , Jorgensen T. , Leinenbach M. , Guo Y. , Giske N. H. , Askarinezhad R. , Feldmann F.
Published: April 2024

Acid injection is a concept to stimulate carbonate reservoirs by removing damage caused during well construction operations. The most common form of this treatment is matrix acidizing. An emerging technology involves the use of needles in a multilateral fishbone completion (known as fishbones), which are installed by injecting acid at high velocity. The design of acidizing operations is complex, depending on variables such as rock characteristics, operational conditions, and thermodynamic conditions. Consequently, a sophisticated modeling approach is required to accurately predict and optimize the operation of fishbone treatments. The mathematical formulation of the model involves solving differential equations for flow in porous media, acid transport, and wormhole propagation. Wormhole propagation is based on Pore-volume to breakthrough tests (PVbt), typically performed at laboratory to characterize the rock-fluid behavior in acidizing operations. In this work, experimental tests were performed to support the numerical developments. Comparative results from lab measurements and modeling are presented with good agreement. The model is then applied to simulate typical field operations. The movement of the fishbone needles during their installation is represented by varying the acid injection point over the simulation time. Details of the finite element mesh built for the simulations are discussed, and examples of vertical and horizontal well simulations are presented in this paper. Moreover, the continuous acid injection after the needle installation is evaluated, indicating additional productivity gains.
Advancements in Pipe Viscometer System: Investigating Particle Migration Effects for Enhanced Field Applicability
Authors: Lima V. N. , Taheri A. , Randeberg E. , Skadsem H. J.
Published: April 2024

A pipe viscometer system equipped with differential pressure sensors and a Coriolis flow meter was integrated into a small-scale batch mixer to develop a novel concept for continuous slurry characterization. Previous studies have shown that cement slurries can exhibit particle migration away from pipe walls, which will impact the measured friction pressure loss and equivalently the wall shear stress particularly in small-diameter pipes. The focus of this research is to probe the possible impact of particle migration within the current setup, comparing measurements with those acquired using a scientific rheometer. The research approach involves comparing flow curves derived from pipe viscometer readings with offline measurements conducted using a rheometer equipped with a concentric cylinder geometry using a rotor with either smooth or grooved surface. To facilitate this comparison, differential pressure and flow rate data were converted into shear stress and shear rate values, following the Mooney-Rabinowitsch relationship. Experiments were performed using a simulated fresh cement paste suspension prepared by mixing an aqueous xanthan gum solution with silica powder. Steady-state viscosity measurements from both the pipe viscometer and rheometer produced consistent results, emphasizing the similarity in the shape and slope of the flow curves. Notably, rheometer measurements acquired using the smooth cylinder geometry closely resembled the measurements from the pipe viscometer for all solutions and suspensions tested, and also aligned well with the conventional viscometers employed in field applications. For pure xanthan gum solutions, we observed a close agreement between the geometries considered in the rheometer measurements and the pipe viscometer. On the other hand, the analysis revealed particle migration effects when comparing smooth and grooved cylinder geometries and testing dispersed silica suspensions. These discrepancies were more pronounced with increasing silica particle content and, therefore, should be duly considered when employing the proposed pipe viscometer system for the continuous characterization of fresh cement paste. The novelty of this approach lies in the comprehensive evaluation of the pipe viscometer setup, examining factors that could potentially influence viscosity measurements. This investigation aims to ensure precise control when implementing the system into a full-scale batch mixer for automated fluid characterization or continuous ("on-the-fly") mixing of cement paste.
Investigation of Synergy Between Extended Oil Recovery and Hydrogen Storage in a Producing Field Using the Norne Reservoir Model
Authors: Amiri Behzad , Andersen Pål Østebø , Ghaedi Mojtaba , Luo Xiaodong
Published: April 2024

This study's primary objective is to investigate the synergy of Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS), extended oil recovery, and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in an active oil and gas reservoir. Current studies on hydrogen (H2) storage in porous media have mainly considered depleted fields or aquifers. The current work investigates the implementation of H2 and CO2 storage in a depleting field and studies whether it will extend oil recovery, and how much continued operations will affect the storage processes.

This work uses a history-matched Norne full-field model with a compositional fluid model. The field has three separate zones of oil, gas, and water; only the oil zone will be used for the study. After an established history of about nine years of water and gas injection for oil recovery, production continued towards depletion. Water flooding, CO2-WAG (water alternating gas), or continuous CO2 and water flooding are utilized in three distinct scenarios for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), CO2 storage, and cushion gas provision. After depletion, H2 is injected for cyclic storage and production. Our primary interest, however, is understanding whether CO2 and H2 injection may prolong oil production and whether the prolonged oil production will positively or negatively impact CO2 and H2 storage. The same cases are, therefore, also run where, after a short period of depletion, UHS is implemented while depletion is happening. Less productive wells will be modified to injection for more sustainable reservoir management.

The impact of H2 storage on oil production was negligible, and the recovery factor declined by 0.5%. Out of all deployed EOR techniques, the CO2-WAG approach had the highest efficacy in oil recovery and could store around 60% of the injected CO2 underground. Furthermore, applying CO2-WAG resulted in the maximum efficiency for UHS during oil production, as CO2 reduced H2 dissolution in oil and residual trapping. Conversely, the water flooding method yielded the highest H2 recovery for storing H2 in the depleted reservoir, owing to a lower pressure near the H2 well and higher pressure in distant areas comparing two other cases. In addition, H2 broke through the oil wells, producing 17% of H2 via them. Consequently, the primary obstacles in UHS during oil production are the breakthrough of CO2 and H2 into the oil wells, which should be minimized by optimizing the operation parameters.
Assessing the Effect of Carbonated Water on the Geochemistry of CO2-Storing-Bed Minerals
Authors: Fani Mahmood , Puntervold Tina , Strand Skule , Mamonov Aleksandr
Published: April 2024

Global warming and climate change are influenced by the discharge of carbon dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere. CO2 can be injected into underground storage locations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers to reduce emission impacts. Injected CO2 will be located next to the reservoir phases in place: brine, pore surface minerals, and any residual oil. CO2 in brine forms carbonic acid, which could affect the stability of minerals. Short-term and long-term geochemical alteration processes should be screened to improve the understanding of mineral dissolution and in-situ mineralization mechanisms, giving improved quality of the numerical models needed for large-scale simulations.

This study investigated the chemical interactions between sandstone, chalk minerals, and carbonated water (CW) at static high-pressure/temperature conditions. Feldspar and carbonate minerals batches with different surface areas were exposed to CW for 1 and 3 months. Fluid properties before and after CW exposure were measured using ion chromatography (IC) and pH tests, and the integrity of the rock grains was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a laser diffraction analyzer. Subsequently, the compositions of the exposed minerals were examined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). In addition, CW core flooding tests were conducted on outcrop chalk, as chalk was the mineral showing the highest reactivity in the static batch experiments. At the final stage, the static CW exposure test results were modeled by PHREEQC.

The results showed that the static batch experiments only revealed minor dissolution effects in chalk after CW exposure. Dynamic core flooding tests using an outcrop chalk core showed that injection of CW can cause higher rock dissolution at the inlet of the core. Exposing reactive minerals to CW can cause chalk dissolution and ionic exchange in feldspars. However considerable changes in sample integrity and grain geometry during the experiments were not observed. PHREEQC modeling made an acceptable match between the experimental and the simulated data.

This research shows that the dominant mechanisms between CW and the exposed minerals were ionic exchange and mineral dissolution. When these processes consume CO2, it leads to improved CO2 storage due to increased dissolution trapping. The study's results can be used to assess the integrity of the storing bed minerals after CW exposure.
First detailed characterization of prevalence of substance use among secondary school students in Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Egga Dennis Kudu , Oduyoye Omobola , Jacob Ijanada Aliyu , Akinoye John , Alaku Alheri , Nwaru Bright
Published: April 2024

Background
The prevalence of substance use among secondary school children in Nasarawa State, North-Central Nigeria, is unknown.
Objective
To provide comprehensive prevalence estimates of substance use and associated factors among in-school adolescents in Nasarawa, Nigeria.
Methods
A cross-sectional, multi-stage survey was conducted among 1,600 students in 26 schools. Students completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding socio-demographics and substance use habits. The questionnaire was adapted from two standardized questionnaires.
Result
Of the 1,518 who completed the questionnaire, there were more boys (51.3%) than girls. Most were 16–18 years (55.3%), attending non-residential (70%), private (54.4%), and mixed-sex schools (79.3%). Most were Christians (83.4%) and from monogamous families (73.2%). The prevalence of ever tried cigarette smoking was 14.8%, marijuana (13.6%), and inhalants (12.9%). Students > 18 years old were more likely to ever try cigarette smoking (aOR 1.88, 95%CI 0.99–3.58), tried during last 12 months (aOR 2.29, 95%CI 1.18–4.46), and tried during last 30 days (aOR 2.41, 95%CI 1.12–4.84) than those < 16 years. Students whose either parent smoked were more likely to ever try cigarette smoking (aOR 9.9, 95%CI 6.95–14.23), marijuana (aOR 9.74, 95%CI 6.78–13.99), inhalants (aOR 7.27, 95%CI 5.04–10.50), and other psychoactive substances (aOR 9.25, 995%CI 6.53–13.11) than students whose parents did not smoke. Other determinants of substance use were being a Muslim, attending non-residential public school, from a polygamous family, and living with unmarried parents.
Conclusion
Secondary school students in Nasarawa State exhibit variable substance use behaviors, influenced by socio-demographic factors, requiring consideration in substance use interventions.
Mesoscale Metabolic Channeling Revealed by Multimodal Microscopy
Authors: Drigo Rafael Arrojo e , Habashy Aliyah , Acree Christopher , Kim Keun-Young , Deerinck Thomas , Patterson Emilee , Lantier Louise , McGuinness Owen , Ellisman Mark
Published: April 2024

Metabolic homeostasis within cells and tissues requires engagement of catabolic and anabolic pathways consuming nutrients needed to generate energy to drive these and other subcellular processes. However, the current understanding of cell homeostasis and metabolism, including how cells utilize nutrients, comes largely from tissue and cell models analyzed after fractionation. These bulk strategies do not reveal the spatial characteristics of cell metabolism at the single cell level, and how these aspects relate to the location of cells and organelles within the complexity of the tissue they reside within. Here we pioneer the use of high-resolution electron and stable isotope microscopy (MIMS-EM) to quantitatively map the fate of nutrient-derived 13C atoms at subcellular scale. When combined with machine-learning image segmentation, our approach allows us to establish the cellular and organellar spatial pattern of glucose 13C flux in hepatocytes in situ. We applied network analysis algorithms to chart the landscape of organelle-organelle contact networks and identified subpopulations of mitochondria and lipid droplets that have distinct organelle interactions and 13C enrichment levels. In addition, we revealed a new relationship between the initiation of glycogenesis and proximity of lipid droplets. Our results establish MIMS-EM as a new tool for tracking and quantifying nutrient metabolism at the subcellular scale, and to identify the spatial channeling of nutrient-derived atoms in the context of organelle-organelle interactions in situ.
Universal distances detect anomalies in big data
Authors: Komarov Ilya , Fabian David , Kulikovska Olga , Kunaht-Huhsmann Neele , Paeschke Manfred , Palm Peter , Wilke Andreas , Schleich Wolfgang
Published: April 2024

The detection of anomalies in a set of data represents a ubiquitous challenge in computer science emerging in a wide range of fields such as financial transactions, particle physics and communication traffic. At the very heart of our method to attack this problem lies a representation of the data by key-value pairs with sets of associated identifiers. We compute distances between sets of key-value pairs with the help of a reference key and associated identifiers, and visualize these distances using heatmaps to bring out with few prior assumptions anomalies. Our method is universal since it works with any tabular or document-oriented data, independent of their content and form. We demonstrate the power of our technique by identifying three anomalies in the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Trip Record Data.
Helicobacter pylori infection exacerbates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease through lipid metabolic pathways: a transcriptomic study.
Authors: Chen Xingcen , Peng Ruyi , Peng Dongzi , Liu Deliang , Li Rong
Published: April 2024

Background
The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have attracted increased clinical attention. However, most of those current studies involve cross-sectional studies and meta-analyses, and experimental mechanistic exploration still needs to be improved. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which H. pylori impacts NAFLD.
Methods
We established two H. pylori-infected (Cag A positive and Cag A negative) mouse models with 16 weeks of chow diet (CD) or high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Body weight, liver triglyceride, blood glucose, serum biochemical parameters, inflammatory factors, and insulin resistance were measured, and histological analysis of liver tissues was performed. Mouse livers were subjected to transcriptome RNA sequencing analysis.
Results
Although H. pylori infection could not significantly affect serum inflammatory factor levels and mouse liver pathology, serum insulin and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance levels increased in CD mode. In contrast, H. pylori infection significantly aggravated hepatic pathological steatosis induced by HFD and elevated serum inflammatory factors and lipid metabolism parameters. Hepatic transcriptomic analysis revealed 767 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the H. pylori-infected group in the CD groups, and the "nonalcoholic fatty liver disease" pathway was significantly enriched in KEGG analysis. There were 578 DEGs in H. pylori infection combined with the HFD feeding group, and DEGs were significantly enriched in "fatty acid degradation" and "PPAR pathway." Exploring the effect of different Cag A statuses on mouse liver revealed that fatty acid binding protein 5 was differentially expressed in Cag A- H. Pylori and DEGs enrichment pathways were concentrated in the "PPAR pathway" and "fatty acid degradation."
Conclusions
H. pylori infection may exacerbate the development of NAFLD by regulating hepatic lipid metabolism, and the H. pylori virulence factor Cag A plays a vital role in this regulation.
Cleaning performance of bionic screen based on earthworm motion characteristics
Authors: Yu Yongtao , Li Yanjun , Xie Fuxiang , Song Jian
Published: April 2024

As the feeding mass of harvester continues to be increased, the accumulation of the maize mixture on the screen more serious, leading to a decrease in screening efficiency of the cleaning screen. The maize mixture on the screen was quickly transported backward through a bionic screen based on the motion characteristics of earthworms to reduce accumulation. However, the impact of the main operating parameters of this bionic screen on the cleaning performance was not yet clear. Therefore, the CFD-DEM were coupled for the simulation test. The quadratic orthogonal rotation combination test with three factors and five levels was conducted on the main operating parameters that affect the loss percentage and impurity percentage of maize grain in the cleaning device of bionic screen. Analysis of variance, regression and response surface were carried out on the test data, and the optimal parameter combination was obtained through parameter optimization: the concave depth of the screen surface was 25 mm, the installation angle of the screen surface was –5.5°, and the airflow velocity at the inlet of the cleaning device was 12.3 m·s-1. At this time, the lost percentage of maize grain was 1.56%, and the impurity percentage of maize grain was 1.85%, which met the requirements of national standards. The experiment provides reference and basis for the follow-up exploration of the screening mechanism of bionic screen.
Microstructural and Mechanical Behavior of Welds in Partially Transformed TRIP 800 Steel Produced by Friction Stir Spot Welding (FSSW)
Authors: Madureira Henderson Soares , Castro Carlos Alberto Carvalho Castro , Vaz Claudio Turani , Corrêa Elaine Carbalo Siqueira
Published: April 2024

The industry’s pursuit of clean technologies and materials amidst growing concerns about climate change underscores the significance of innovative welding processes. The utilization of TRIP 800 steel, renowned for its transformation-induced plasticity, highlights the endeavor towards enhancing energy efficiency and safety in the automotive sector. Nevertheless, welding this material poses significant challenges, particularly in the formation of martensitic regions in the weld zone, potentially resulting in reduced ductility and increased brittleness. Additionally, the thermal cycle involved in the welding process may induce unfavorable microstructural changes, affecting the overall integrity of the welded joint. Despite these challenges, FSSW emerges as a promising alternative to traditional welding processes, offering advantages such as reduced energy consumption and enhanced mechanical properties. This study aimed to investigate welds in TRIP 800 steel sheets through the Friction Stir Spot Welding (FSSW) process after deformation, thereby reflecting broader applications beyond vehicle manufacturing. The interaction of factors, including time and rotation speed, was examined at various levels for microstructural characterization, tensile and microhardness tests, showcasing the versatility and potential of the FSSW process. The analysis of welded joints revealed distinct regions such as the stir zone, thermomechanically affected zone, thermally affected zone, and base metal, illustrating the complexity and precision of modern welding techniques. Notably, the study delved into the microstructures of the affected zones, elucidating their pivotal role in influencing mechanical behavior under load conditions until failure. This investigation contributes to the ongoing quest for innovative solutions in vehicle manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of understanding welding processes and material properties in achieving sustainability and performance goals.
Nocardamine mitigates cellular dysfunction induced by oxidative stress in periodontal ligament stem cells
Authors: HE Hai-Peng , ZHAO Mei-Zhen , JIAO Wei-Hua , LIU Zhi-Qiang , ZENG Xian-Hai , LI Quan-Li , HU Tian-Yong , CHENG Bao-Hui
Published: April 2024

Background
The role of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) in repairing periodontal destruction is crucial, but their functions can be impaired by excessive oxidative stress (OS). Nocardamine (NOCA), a cyclic siderophore, has been shown to possess anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties. This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanisms of NOCA against OS-induced cellular dysfunction in PDLSCs.
Methods
The cytotoxicity of NOCA on PDLSCs was assessed using a CCK-8 assay. PDLSCs were then treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce OS. ROS levels, cell viability, and antioxidant factor expression were analyzed using relevant kits after treatment. Small molecule inhibitors U0126 and XAV-939 were employed to block ERK signaling and Wnt pathways respectively. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity staining and Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining of mineralized nodules. Expression levels of osteogenic gene markers and ERK pathway were determined via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or western blot (WB) analysis. β-catenin nuclear localization was examined by western blotting and confocal microscopy.
Results
NOCA exhibited no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations below 20 µM and effectively inhibited H2O2-induced OS in PDLSCs. NOCA also restored ALP activity, mineralized nodule formation, and the expression of osteogenic markers in H2O2-stimulated PDLSCs. Mechanistically, NOCA increased p-ERK level and promoted β-catenin translocation into the nucleus; however, blocking ERK pathway disrupted the osteogenic protection provided by NOCA and impaired its ability to induce β-catenin nuclear translocation under OS conditions in PDLSCs.
Conclusions
NOCA protected PDLSCs against H2O2-induced OS and effectively restored impaired osteogenic differentiation in PDLSCs by modulating the ERK/Wnt signaling pathway.
Links between emotion word usage, accuracy, and emotional dysregulation: An integrative analysis
Authors: Fugate Jennifer , Gendron Maria , Hoemann Katie
Published: April 2024

People vary in the precision with which they report on their emotions, known as emotional granularity, and this precision predicts their ability to regulate their emotions. It is not yet known, however, whether links between emotion regulation and emotional granularity are due to variation knowledge of emotion words -- specifically, individuals’ reported usage, understanding, and ability to accurately define emotion words. In the present report, we combined data from six studies to address this gap in the literature using an integrative data analysis. Participants across the studies reported on their usage and understanding of a list of highly-granular emotion words, and were tested for their accuracy of definition. They also completed questionnaire measures of emotional granularity and emotion dysregulation. Emotion word accuracy and understanding were highly correlated, so individual models tested each separately to predict emotion regulation difficulty. In the model including usage and understanding, we observed a main effect of understanding, such that participants with greater self-assessed understanding of emotion words reported less difficulty regulating their emotions. Similar effects were found for the model including usage and accuracy, such that individuals with higher emotion word accuracy had less difficulty regulating their emotions. Critically, these findings held when accounting for self-reported granularity, suggesting the value of emotion word knowledge measures for predicting dysregulated emotions. Future work should examine how individuals’ emotion word knowledge is also linked to mental health outcomes.
Real-time Estimation of the Residual Moisture during Desorption with Temperature-based State Observers
Authors: Braatz Richard , Sris Prakitr , Barbastathis George
Published: April 2024

Monitoring the residual moisture during desorption is vital to ensuring the final product quality in many chemical processes. One particular application is the lyophilization of biotherapeutics, e.g., mRNA vaccines, in which the bound water is removed via desorption during secondary drying. Successful liquid removal provides long-term stability for the vaccines, allowing for storage at higher temperature. This article proposes a novel technique for real-time estimation of the residual moisture during desorption, with application to lyophilization. A state observer is employed, which combines temperature measurement and mechanistic understanding of heat transfer and desorption kinetics, without requiring any online concentration measurement. Results from both simulations and experimental data show that the observer can accurately estimate the concentration of bound water in real time for all possible concentration levels, operating conditions, and measurement noise. This framework represents the first state observer for monitoring and control of the residual moisture in desorption-related processes.
Exploring the potential mechanism of Polygonatum sibiricum for Alzheimer's disease based on network pharmacology and molecular docking
Authors: Luo Liangliang , Pan Yao , Chen Fang , Zhang Zhihong
Published: April 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, and there have been no systematic studies of Polygonatum against Alzheimer's disease. This study aimed to identify the primary active components and potential mechanisms of action of Polygonatum in the treatment of AD through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Polygonatum's active ingredients and corresponding targets were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Disease targets of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were retrieved from the therapeutic target database (TTD), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM), GeneCards, and Disgenet databases. We constructed protein interaction PPI networks and performed Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis as well as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis on common targets. As a result, a total of 10 active ingredients and 108 common targets were screened from Polygonatum. After analysis, 29 genes were identified as core genes. According to GO analysis, the core targets were found to be mainly involved in signal transduction, positive regulation of gene expression, and so on. The KEGG analysis revealed that the signaling pathways comprised pathways in cancer, pathways of neurodegeneration - multiple diseases, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The molecular docking results indicated that ten of active ingredients from Polygonatum exhibited strong binding affinity with the six core targets that were screened before. This study confirms that the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with Polygonatum involves multi-targets and multi-pathway interactions, which provides a new perspective on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and offers a theoretical basis for further research on the pathogenesis and treatment of AD.
Source and transport enrichment mechanism of iodine in shallow saline groundwater in Tianjin coastal area
Authors: Xie Dingsheng , Li Mengdi , Li Haiming , Su Sihui , Zhang Cuixia , Lv Shaoyan , Du Xiaorui
Published: April 2024

Iodine is one of the essential trace elements in the human body, and excessive or insufficient intake will affect human health. To ensure the safety of drinking water resources, the spatial distribution of iodine content and migration enrichment factors in shallow underground salty water in Tianjin coastal area were studied. The results show that the iodide content of shallow groundwater ranges from ND to 1320 μg/L, and high iodine groundwater (100-300 μg/L) and ultra-high iodine groundwater (>300 μg/L) account for 37.5%, distributed in the east, west, central and south of the study area; iodine-deficient groundwater (＜25 μg/L) accounts for 10%, and iodine-suitable groundwater (25-100 μg/L) accounts for 15%. From north to south and from northwest to southeast, the shallow groundwater in the study area changed from freshwater and brackish water to saline and salt water; the I- concentrations in freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater were significantly different, and the I- concentrations tended to increase with the increase of TDS concentration; the main hydrochemical types in this direction changed from HCO3·Ca-Na→Cl·SO4-Na·Mg→HCO3·Cl-Na·Ca→Cl·HCO3-Na→Cl-Na type shift; high iodine and ultra-high iodine groundwater chemistry types are mainly Cl-Na types, Cl·HCO3-Na type and HCO3-Ca·Na type. The main source of iodine in groundwater is marine sediments, and its enrichment mechanism is as follows: stronger reducing environment and groundwater flow promote the dissolution of carbonates containing Ca2+, HCO3-, SO42- and sulfate minerals, such as gypsum and manganese nitrate; sedimentary iodine is released in the process of dissolution of marine sediments and reduced to I-; I- migrates with the flow of groundwater; in the eastern part of the study area, the poor permeability of the In the eastern part of the study area, mucky clay is the main soil structure, and groundwater flow is blocked, so I- is enriched here, and the concentration increases under strong evaporation and concentration.
Correlation between gestational diabetes and peripartum mental disorders: A meta-analysis of 1,636,131 patients .Running title :A meta-analysis about correlation between gestational diabetes and peripartum mental disorders
Authors: Wan Qirong , Xie Haiying , Yuan Wei , Chen Zhenhua , Gao Yanhong , Wang Jing
Published: April 2024

Background and Aim
The relationship between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and peripartum mental disorders is unclear. Hence, the current meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the risk of mental disorders in pregnant women with or without GDM.
Methods
We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for relevant articles published up to October 30, 2021. The random-effects or fixed-effects model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the prevalence of mental disorders in GDM. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the pooled estimates.
Results
We analyzed 32 studies involving 1,636,131 pregnant women, and the results demonstrated that GDM significantly increased the prevalence of peripartum depression (antenatal, pooled OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.33–1.85, P < 0.05; postpartum, pooled OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.18–1.70, P < 0.05), especially in women from Asia (pooled OR: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.98–3.72, P < 0.05). Compared to pregnant women without GDM, women with GDM reported significantly higher anxiety scores (pooled OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 1.21–7.17, P = 0.006) but insignificantly on antenatal stress symptoms while this evidence still needs to be further strengthened.
Conclusions
GDM significantly increased the prevalence of antenatal and postpartum mental disorders. Further multi-center prospective studies with long-term follow-up are required to verify the association between GDM and mental health.
Persistent diagrams for protein structure prediction
Authors: LAMINE ZAKARIA
Published: April 2024

Topological approaches for protein structure analysis often comes with an input matrix describing the suitable filtration of our data and helping to choose adequate statistical tests to come up with a final shape by using an algebraic invariant, which is in our case a persistent diagram, we will be giving a theoretical description of this matrix through persistent homology, by investigating the data consisting of a point cloud generated from the PDB Ids 2JOX and 1COS.
[AMS classification]55N31, 62R40
Evaluation of a digital patient education programme in patients with coronary artery disease, a survey-based study
Authors: Sandberg Anna , Ravn-Fischer Annica , Johnsson Annika , Lachonius Maria , Bäck Maria
Published: April 2024

Introduction
Patient education programmes focusing on risk factor modification and lifestyle changes are well established as part of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). As participation rates are low, digital patient education programmes (DPE) are interesting alternatives to increase access. Understanding patients’ perceptions of DPE are important in terms of successful implementation in clinical practice but are not well known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess patients’ perceptions of using a DPE in terms of end-user acceptance and usability, perceived significance for lifestyle changes and secondary preventive goal fulfilment in patients with CAD.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional survey-based study. The survey was distributed to all 1625 patients with acute coronary syndrome or chronic CAD with revascularisation, who were registered users of the DPE between 2020–2022. The survey contained 64 questions about e.g., acceptance and usability, perceived significance for making lifestyle changes and secondary preventive goal fulfilment. Patients who had never logged in to the DPE received questions about their reasons for not logging in.
Results
A total of 366 patients (mean age: 69.1 ± 11.3 years, 20% female) completed the survey and among those 207 patients (57%) had used the DPE. Patients reported that the DPE was simple to use (80%) and improved access to healthcare (67–75%). A total of 69% of the patients were generally satisfied with the DPE, > 60% reported that the DPE increased their knowledge about secondary preventive treatment goals and approximately 60% reported having a healthy lifestyle today. On the other hand, 35% of the patients would have preferred a hospital-based education programme. Among the 159 patients (43%) who had never used the DPE, the most reported reason was a perceived need for more information about how to use the DPE (52%).
Conclusions
This study shows an overall high level of patient acceptance and usability of the DPE, which supports its continued development and long-term role in cardiac rehabilitation in patients with CAD. Future studies should assess associations between participation in the DPE and clinical outcomes, such as secondary preventive goal fulfilment and hospitalisation.
Cost analysis of integrating hypertension and diabetes management into routine HIV care in Mbarara and Ibanda districts, Uganda
Authors: Ninsiima Mackline , Basu Soumava , Husain Muhammad Jami , Kawungezi Peter Chris , Kabami Zainah , Simbwa Brenda Nakafeero , Bulage Lilian , Kruse Meredith , Tetlow Sonia , Kadobera Daniel , Ssali Mina , Mugisha Richard , Ario Alex Riolexus , Kostova Deliana
Published: April 2024

Background
In 2016, Uganda initiated integration of services for non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, into existing HIV care services. However, this intervention has not been fully implemented yet in most HIV clinics. We evaluated the costs associated with scaling up hypertension and diabetes management services in selected HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts, Uganda.
Methods
In March 2023, we obtained data on costs of providing hypertension and diabetes services in ten randomly selected HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts including, healthcare providers’ salaries, time spent offering to these services, training costs, medications, and patient monitoring systems. Using the HEARTS costing tool, we estimated the annual costs of providing hypertension and diabetes services. We disaggregated annual costs by the domains of the HEARTS costing tool. We determined the average annual cost and medication expenses for hypertension and diabetes treatment per enrolled adult patient stratified by type of health facility.
Results
The total annual cost of hypertension and diabetes management services in ten selected HIV clinics was estimated to be $413,850 (range: $8,386 − 186,973). The annual average clinic-level cost per enrolled patient was estimated at $14 (range: $7 − 31). Of the total annual cost, the cost of provider time for initial and follow-up visits represented the largest cost component in 5/10 clinics (mean: 37%, range [13–58%]). In 4/10 clinics, the major cost components were the costs of medication, diagnostic tests, and related supplies (mean: 37%, range [10–75%]). The average cost per enrolled adult patient was $11 at public facilities and $21 in private not-for-profit facilities. The average medication cost per patient for hypertension was $24 (range: $7 − 97) annually; $13 at public facilities and $50 at private, not-for-profit facilities. For diabetes treatment, the average annual medication cost per patient was estimated at $14 (range: $6 − 35); $11 at public facilities and $22 at private not-for-profit facilities.
Conclusion
Integrating hypertension and diabetes management into routine HIV care might be feasible based on the estimated annual cost per patient. Hypertension and diabetes treatment was more costly in private not-for-profit facility-based clinics than at public facilities, primarily driven by the higher costs of medications.
Hyperbilirubinemia and Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Gulden Silvia , Cervellini Gaia , Colombo Marta , Marangoni Maria Beatrice , Taccani Vittoria , Pesenti Nicola , Raffaeli Genny , Araimo Gabriella , Osnaghi Silvia , Fumagalli Monica , Garrido Felipe , Villamor Eduardo , Cavallaro Giacomo
Published: April 2024

Purpose.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative retinal disease in preterm infants. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of ROP. Bilirubin has been proposed to be protective against ROP due to its antioxidant effects. This study explored the association between hyperbilirubinemia and ROP.
Methods.
We analyzed a 10-year cohort from a neonatal intensive care unit in Milan, Italy, including 1606 infants born under 32 weeks and/or < 1500 g.
Results.
Data from 1606 infants meeting specific inclusion criteria were reviewed. Eighty infants were excluded due to lack of data, 1526 were deemed eligible for analysis, and 1269 had hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy. There was a higher incidence of ROP among infants with hyperbilirubinemia (13.8%) versus those without (7.8%, p < 0.01). Infants with any ROP, non-severe or severe ROP, were exposed to hyperbilirubinemia for a significantly higher number of days compared with those without ROP. Each additional day of exposure increases the risk of developing any ROP by 5%, non-severe ROP by 4%, and severe ROP by 6%. However, this correlation was not observed in infants with gestational age less than 27 weeks and/or body weight less than 1000 g.
Conclusion.
Our data show that hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy is associated with an increased risk of developing ROP. However, severe hyperbilirubinemia and ROP share many of their risk factors. Therefore, rather than being a risk factor itself, hyperbilirubinemia may be a surrogate for other risk factors for ROP.
Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05806684
Open Defecation Free status and its determinants in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Ntaro Moses , Isunju John Bosco , Mulogo Edgar , Ssempebwa John C.
Published: April 2024

Introduction
Globally, the progress to attain the open defecation free (ODF) environment has remained very slow. This study examined context specific factors influencing household open defecation free status in Uganda
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabale district in southwestern Uganda and 492 participants were randomly selected at household level. Data was obtained through conducting a face-to-face interview using the mobile data collection software KoBoCollect v2021.3.4 installed on tablet devices. The bivariate analysis was conducted using Pearson’s chi-square test to determine if there existed significant associations between the outcome Household Open Defecation Free (HODF) status and independent variables. The variables with P<0.2 at bivariate analysis comprised the global model and were considered for multivariate analysis.
Results
The average age of the participants was 49 (SD 23.4) years. Most (67.68%) of the study participants, were females while 144 (29.27%) of the participants had no formal education. The households that were open defecation free were as few as 15 (3%). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, gender of the participants, remembering handwashing, latrine and household cleanliness factors were significantly association with Household Open Defecation Free status. Male participants had more odds of having open defecation free households (aOR: 4.95; 95% CI: 1.57 - 15.60) compared to female participants. Also households with clean compounds and with latrines not having their holes soiled with feces had more odds of being open defecation free (aOR: 4.39; 95% CI: 1.44 - 13.37 and aOR: 13.86; 95% CI: 1.77 - 108.68 respectively).
Conclusion
The prevalence of HODF was very low and factors associated with it were; the gender of the participants, the latrine and household cleanliness and the behavioral factor of remembering handwashing. We propose behavioral change interventions that empower communities to adapt improved sanitation behavior, such as Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) in order to increase households with the Open Defecation Free status.
A ratiometric fluorescence probe based on silver nanoclusters and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for the detection of hydrogen peroxide by aggregation and etching
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhang Xin , Xu Hedan , Zhao Sitian , Yang Zirui , Pi Zijie , Yang Xiaoling , Liao Xiaoling
Published: April 2024

In this study, a ratiometric fluorescence nanoprobe is developed for the analysis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) were synthesized by chemical reduction method using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as reducing agent, and were coupled with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) to form the ratiometric fluorescence nanoprobe silver nanoclusters-quantum dots (AgNCs-QDs). The effect of the volume ratio of CdSe/ZnS QDs to AgNCs on the fluorescence ratio of AgNCs-QDs was investigated. The fluorescence characterization results show that two emission peaks of AgNCs-QDs are located at 473 nm and 661 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that H2O2 can cause the fluorescence probe to aggregate, while etching AgNCs to produce silver ions, which together cause the fluorescence of the QDs in the ratiometric fluorescent probe to be quenched. Based on this strategy, the fluorescence intensity ratio of the two emission peaks F473/F661 exhibits a strong linear correlation with the concentration of H2O2. The detection range is 3.32 μM ~ 2.65 mM with a detection limit of 3.32 μM. In addition, the ratiometric fluorescence probe can specifically recognize H2O2 and has excellent anti-interference performance and good fluorescence stability. Importantly, the probe was utilized for the detection of H2O2 in serum, showing the possibility of the probe in clinical detection applications.
A IoT-based System for Enhanced Home Security using Intelligent Solutions
Authors: Nandi Avhishek , Paul Barnali , Roy Deepsubhra Guha
Published: April 2024

The Internet of Things has evolved in our smart environment, smart devices can function without human involvement. As a result, homes can be converted into intelligent home automation systems that execute computations automatically. This paper mainly focuses on exploring and designing a state-of-the-art Smart Security System by implementing the latest machine learning algorithms and IoT devices. The research highlights the integration of piezo sensors for precisely detecting pressure changes within the household and using a variety of Arduino boards to transmit this signal to a control system. The paper also examines how to trigger cameras equipped with image recognition technology to identify unfamiliar faces or suspicious behaviours, along with motion-based multiple object tracking and face identification when pressure changes are detected. Additionally, the paper discusses future developments, such as deep-learning-based object recognition and enhanced encryption methods, to uphold accuracy, privacy, and security.