bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
User-Centered Virtual Reality Environments for Elementary School Children in Times of COVID-19
Authors: Cardona-Reyes Héctor , Esparza Miguel Angel Ortiz
Published: April 2022

Derived from the current situation, in which physical contact and closeness between people must be taken care of due to COVID-19, emerging technologies such as virtual reality have taken a fundamental role in continuing with activities in various areas of society. This chapter proposes the use of virtual reality environments as an alternative for the acquisition of learning skills for children in an immersive and interactive way with user-centered content. The design elements of the software, the user-centered aspects, and the involved actors considered for the production of the proposed interactive virtual reality environments are presented. As a result, the evaluation of the user experience resulting from the use of the proposed interactive environments with elementary school children is presented. Virtual reality is a technology that nowadays can be an effective support for the acquisition of learning skills through the execution of various tasks designed by a multidisciplinary group and above all encourages the user to continue acquiring learning skills in a friendly and fun way.
Gamifying Interventions
Authors: Goh Nicholas Kun Lie , Goh Tze Jui , Lim Choon Guan , Fung Daniel Shuen Sheng
Published: April 2022

A key ingredient in successful psychological therapies is found in patients' motivation and willingness to engage in and follow through with the therapy program. Engaging children is challenging for various reasons, such as their role in their presentation for treatment and differences in parent and child motivations. This chapter explores the utility of serious games as a potential option that offers an engaging and effective approach to psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents with mental health difficulties. The authors review research projects utilizing the serious games methodology at the Child Guidance Clinic, an outpatient psychiatric clinic for children and adolescents in Singapore, in the management of various mental health concerns. The utility and feasibility of gamified interventions for autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, anxiety disorders, and anger management issues are discussed, along with practical implications for the application of serious games in mental healthcare.
A Rationale for Leveraging Serious Game Design Through Sociocultural Theory
Authors: Karasavvidis Ilias
Published: April 2022

The present work focuses on the issue of serious game design (SGD) through the lens of sociocultural theory. First, the main challenges that the field of SGD faces are briefly outlined. Second, Vygotsky's sociocultural theory is introduced and explored as a means to address these challenges. Third, a rationale for SGD that is informed by Vygotsky's ideas is introduced. This rationale is based on (1) viewing concepts as psychological tools and (2) conceptualizing two types of resources for SGD: exploration and application. According to this rationale, SGD needs to include a problem, exploration resources, and application resources. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the major implications of the proposed rationale for SGD.
Coupled Integro-Differential-Assymptotic Solution for Permeabiliy Loss/Restoration Monitoring in Pressure-Sensitive Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Fernandes Bastos Fernando , Barbosa Braga Arthur Martins , S. de Souza Antonio Luiz , Soares Antonio Cláudio
Published: April 2022

The Nonlinear Hydraulic Diffusivity Equation (NHDE) models the isothermal single-phase Darcian flow through porous media considering the variation in the properties of the rock and the fluid present inside its pores. Typically, the dimensionless solution of the Linear Hydraulic Diffusivity Equation (LHDE) pD(rD, tD) for constant permeability oil flow in porous media is computed through Laplace and Fourier transform or Boltzmann transformation. For the constant permeability approach, the dimensionless general solution in cylindrical coordinates is expressed by the transcendental function exponential integral Ei(rD,tD). This work develops analytically a new coupled perturbative-integro-differential model to solve the NHDE for oil flow in a permeability-pressure-sensitive reservoir with source. The general solution is computed combining a first order asymptotic series expansion, Green's functions (GF's) and a Volterra's second kind integro-differential formulation. A set of pore pressure and permeability values from two sandstones samples of an offshore reservoir from Brazil is obtained experimentally using the geomechanical elastic parameters e.g. the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, and uni-axial cell data. These data are used as an input in the computational code to run the proposed model and evaluate the reservoir permeability change. After these data input, the model runs and allowing to compute the instantaneous reservoir permeability values over the well-reservoir life cycle. The model calibration is performed using a porous media oil flow simulator and the results are accurate.
Field Life Extension: Real Time Well Integrity Management
Authors: Aranha Pedro Esteves , Schnitzler Eduardo , Moreira Nelson , Duccini Luis Eduardo , Martins André Leibsohn , Falchetto Alexandre Brambilla , Dos Anjos Jorel Lopes
Published: April 2022

This article aims to present the evolution of well design and well integrity monitoring throughout their life cycle and life extension analysis. The motivation comes from the need to make a decision to extend the life of wells, accounting both for Green and Brown Fields. PETROBRAS design practices were updated to meet the Well Integrity National Regulatory requirements and to support the life extension analysis.

In order to assess the well integrity during production lifetime, a Digital Twin of the well was developed and is capable of modelling the physics of permanent and transient fluid flow and corresponding behavior of trapped annuli with thermo-structural coupling to the mechanical structure. Also, as part of the monitoring process, additional information will be provided by new sensors to be installed in the A and B annuli, aiming to improve monitoring capability.

This paper will present the results of the new well design and life extension analysis practices for retrofit projects. Besides that, a discussion on new challenging scenarios faced by the company is included. The well integrity case study of a deep-water field in Brazilian offshore, through a real time digital twin approach, will highlight the main technological solutions developed to ensure well operation within the envelope during its lifetime. The adoption of this strategy allows the optimization of procedures with the goal of maximizing production or injection rates, still according to safety requirements. The availability of additional annuli sensors can improve the system capability.

With the well integrity surveillance digital twin, PETROBRAS successfully implemented a unique monitoring integrity system for offshore production units in Brazil, increasing the understanding of the well structure behavior and, consequentially, the assets operational safety during its lifetime. In addition, this initiative aims to push the industry towards the development of wet X-mas tree according to API RP 17V requirements.
All-Optical Downhole Sensing for Subsea Completions
Authors: Wilson Glenn , Moe Sigurd , Ellmauthaler Andreas , Seabrook Brian , Jaaskelainen Mikko , Bush Jeff , Maida John , LeBlanc Michel , Dupree James , Jones Richard , Kretschmar Justin
Published: April 2022

Recent deployments of subsea optical distribution systems and single-fiber optical feedthrough systems have enabled distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) of subsea wells to augment existing electric pressure and temperature sensing systems. Following recent developments of multi-fiber optical feedthrough systems enabling multiple downhole fibers, we describe the concepts for all-optical downhole sensing solutions that combine distributed acoustic and temperature sensing (DAS/DTS) with discrete fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing of pressure and temperature gauge arrays while minimizing impact on subsea optical distribution. Since DAS, DTS, and FBG sensing operates at different optical wavelengths, we combine them via a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) so they are distributed via the the same subsea fiber topology. This subsea fiber topology involves two transmission fibers in the umbilicals and subsea distribution systems to a remote and passive optical multiplexer and circulator assembly deployed in the optical flying lead (OFL) or optical feedthrough system (OFS) of the subsea tree. This enables the down-going transmission fiber to be split into three sensing fibers which are coupled to three downhole fibers via a multi-fiber optical feedthrough system: one fiber for DAS and DTS sensing, and two fibers for FBG sensing of pressure and temperature gauge arrays. The circulators enable dry-tree equivalent pulse repetition rates, regardless of the tieback distance, and via another remote wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), recombine the backscatter light from multiple downhole fibers into the up-going transmission fiber. This pure backscattered light can be selectively amplified prior to entering the receiver arms of the DAS, DTS, and FBG interrogators. The dry-tree equivalent sensing performance implies that the variety of DAS, DTS and pressure and temperature algorithms developed for reservoir and well diagnostics can be equally applied straightforward to DAS, DTS, and FBG-based pressure and temperature data acquired from subsea wells.
Machine Learning and Quantitative Seismic Attribute Analysis Using Reprocessed 3D Pre Stack Depth Migrated Seismic and Well Data in a Southern California Gas Field, Offshore Federal Waters
Authors: Ojukwu Chima , Smith Kevin , Baldwin Kimberly , Leung Mark , Mondegari Nadia , Cao Jenny
Published: April 2022

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has a mandate to evaluate hydrocarbon resources for the national interest. In addition, the Bureau has begun subsurface characterization for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). For both endeavors, an accurate assessment depends on a robust, well-documented workflow; however, some assessment areas lack sufficient data coverage or only contain vintage geologic and geophysical datasets. Machine Learning (ML) techniques may be useful in these situations to fill in data gaps, predict new data, and recognize outliers. In this study, ways to improve resource evaluation efforts are investigated by combining quantitative seismic attributes from a recently reprocessed 3D multichannel seismic survey, petrophysical data from 5 wells, and machine learning techniques to identify reservoir characteristics in an offshore basin in southern California. Several linear regression algorithms are evaluated to predict effective porosity, clay volume, and water saturation (Sw) from seismic attribute data. Although results generally follow established theoretical rock physics relationships, the 3000-ft Pliocene section proves challenging to model. Of the algorithms tested, RF performs best. Initial model results show a coefficient of determination score (R2) of about 0.9 for train and test data. However, after validating the model with a well unseen by the algorithm, the RF model does not perform well. These results can be explained by data leakage and overfitting of the train and test datasets. To improve the method to avoid data leakage, cross-validation is used, and groups are established on a well-to-well basis, ensuring independent and identically distributed random variables. After this improvement, prediction from this model is fair, and when plotted predicted petrophysical properties show similar pattern and range of values to true petrophysical properties. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering tests show hidden trends in the data that may help further improve future efforts to use ML techniques for reservoir characterization.
A Two-Phase Flowback Type-Curve for Multiscale Fluid Transport in Hydraulically Fractured Shale Reservoirs
Authors: Zhang Fengyuan , Zou Linjun , Rui Zhenhua , Emami-Meybodi Hamid , Cui Wei
Published: April 2022

The quantitative understanding of HF properties guides accurate production forecasts and reserve estimation. Type curve is a powerful technique to characterize hydraulic fracture (HF) and reservoir properties from flowback and long-term production data. However, the two-phase flow of water and hydrocarbon after an HF stimulation together with the complex transport mechanisms in shale nanopores exacerbate the nonlinearity of the transport equation, causing errors in type-curve analysis. Accordingly, we propose a new two-phase type-curve method to estimate HF properties, such as HF volume and permeability of fracture, through the analysis of flowback data of multi-fractured shale wells. The proposed type curve is based on a semianalytical solution that couples the two-phase flow from the matrix with the flow in HF by incorporating matrix influx, slippage effect, stress dependence, and the spatial variation of fluid properties in inorganic and organic pores. For the first time, multiple fluid transport mechanisms are considered into two-phase type-curve analysis for shale reservoirs. We analyze the flowback data from a multi-fractured horizontal well in a shale gas reservoir to verify the field application of the proposed method. The results show that the fracture properties calculated by the type-curve method are in good agreement with the long-time production data.
Reducing HSE Risks Through Automation & Closed Loop Systems
Authors: Smith Simon , Nilsson Olof , Skåland Aksel
Published: April 2022

Solids production in produced fluids is an industry-wide challenge with significant costs incurred by Operators through lost production, asset integrity and costly well intervention campaigns. In particular, these intervention activities continue to expose offshore personnel to HSE-risks. These risks are typically caused by manual handling of NORM contaminated solids (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material), H2S, Benzene and other hazardous by-products of produced oil and gas.

Improved methods, and technologies, for handling solids have fully removed this exposure by using automated and fully enclosed systems. However, legacy equipment utilising manual solid-handling systems are still being used in the industry thereby exposing offshore personnel to unnecessary HSE risks. This paper highlights solids management technologies which are currently available and still in use topside. It also identifies the amount of exposure to hazardous by-products of produced oil and gas from these various technologies.

This paper also presents a new technology case study and compares this alongside legacy methods and practices in terms of HSE risk and cost. HSE improvement through technology is also quantified and shared.

The new technology presented demonstrates there are solutions that enable the eradication of personnel exposure to the hazardous by-products of oil and gas production. However, it is identified that legacy systems are still widely used and adopted in the market resulting in many man-hours of unnecessary exposure to unsafe operations and hazardous by-products.

The case study gives detail of a project for a major UK North Sea operator who targeted additional production by cleaning several wells that had scaled-up over time. The operator had previous bad experience cleaning up NORM contaminated scale on surface and predicted that large quantities of NORM-contaminated scale were present on the wells to be worked on. The solution utilised a compact (2.0m × 2.0m footprint) patented dual vessel desander with real-time weighing of solids and interlocked valve design. By combining fully enclosed scale debris tanks with level sensors and sight glasses alongside the dual vessel desander the need for manual handling of NORM solids was completely removed while delivering effective solids removal and accurately quantifying solids. This paper finishes by discussing how to safely handle solids using newly available technology.
Performance Baskets: An Alternative Solution to Challenging Collapse Pressures
Authors: Ybarra Maria Beatriz , Filgueiras Pedro , Kubla Guido , Thomas Timothy , Daly Daly , Oliveira Jonathas
Published: April 2022

Deepwater and high pressure wells, especially in Gulf of Mexico, are raising unprecedented challenges to Oil & Gas operating companies due to extremely high mechanical loads. The learnings from drilling operations and the evolution of regulations, pushed the development of more complex, slimmer, non-standard well designs.

This paper describes the Performance Baskets approach, a solution developed to meet those collapse needs that cannot be met using standard materials and conventional techniques for pipe performances calculation.

This methodology uses production's intrinsic variability by segregating the pipes into two baskets depending on their collapse performances: one contains the pipes with standard high collapse rating, and the other includes the enhanced design collapse rating.

The rating of each pipe is calculated to a target reliability level, using a proprietary model. The model accounts for mechanical properties and residual stresses, based on physical tests; and the geometry of each pipe, obtained by automated non-destructive inspection to 100% surface coverage. Pipe traceability assures the link between shop floor and data. Actual collapse tests confirm ratings and model assumptions.

The Performance Baskets methodology was initially applied to 5 different products included in the string design of one of the most challenging wells in the Chevron Deepwater Asset Class. The tubular items are: 13 5/8" 88.2#, 16.08" 109.90#, 16.15" 119.23#, 16.15" 126.91#, and 16.20" 131.70#. This methodology can actually be applied to the complete range of high collapse products available in the industry.

Thanks to this methodology, the enhanced design collapse rating was boosted beyond the standard published high collapse value associated to the pipe to enable the end user covering the worst case levels predicted for collapse.

This approach proposes an alternative methodology that has no precedents in the industry. Based on individual pipe performance calculation, it offers a cost-effective innovative solution to reach ultimate collapse properties to balance the cost of traditional Single Basket offers.
High Precision Velocity Model Building Technology for Pore Pressure Prediction
Authors: Li Shaoxuan , Zheng Jiangfeng , Wang Wei , Han Rui , Xue Bing
Published: April 2022

Good knowledge of formation pore pressure is required for the safe and economic drilling of wells. At present, Eaton and Bowers methods are widely used in pore pressure prediction, and the prediction accuracy of these methods is dependent on the accuracy of the underlying formation velocity prediction. However, the accuracy of the velocity field created by conventional velocity modeling struggles to meet the requirements for accurate pore pressure prediction. To solve this problem, a new velocity modeling method is proposed that in depth domain is based on grid tomographic inversion with structural constraints. The new method allows to build a high-precision velocity model, which can help improve the accuracy of pore pressure prediction.

The research results based on physical model data show that this method can improve the modeling accuracy of the velocity field significantly, and the position and size of even small-scale geological bodies with anomalous velocities can be clearly described. This method is applied to identify a subtle velocity anomaly in the sub lacustrine fan area of the Bohai Q oilfield. In the process of velocity modeling, interpreted seismic horizons are used to constrain the velocity changes, and a seismic amplitude attribute is mapped to delineate the fan body to establish an accurate velocity field for regional pore pressure prediction. After the study, an exploratory well was drilled in this area, and its measured pressure data was found to be consistent with the predicted prespud pressure, which proved that the high-precision velocity field established by this method can improve the accuracy of pressure prediction and ensure the safety of drilling construction.
Distributed Real-Time Plume Monitoring for Deep Sea Mineral Extraction
Authors: Mons Ishan , Mansfeld Andrea , Boulais Océane , Veedu Vinod , Mrozewski Stefan , Elshahawi Hani
Published: April 2022

In the emerging industry of deep-sea mining for minerals and deposits (e.g., polymetallic nodules for nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese), more data is required to understand the effects of sediment plume generation and predict the distribution of disturbed sediments. There are two main sources of plume generation, the first being at the active mining site where the "collector" directly removes the top layer of the sea floor. The other is the "midwater plume" consisting of unwanted sediment that was collected during extraction that is pumped back into the aphotic zone. The vast majority of plume generation is caused by the collector, causing detrimental and long-lasting impacts on sea floor ecosystems due to the lack of wave activity or strong currents at the sea floor. Therefore, it is crucial to invest in the infrastructure to support the study and constant monitoring over a large area of the sea floor where plume generation is present. Due to the limited number of usable channels and power requirements, current subsea wireless communications technologies are not well suited to instrumenting the large areas of the sea floor needed to monitor plume migration.

The scope of this effort is to transition experimental demonstrations of high-bandwidth, full-duplex scalable underwater laser communications to the sea floor in an open ocean environment. Specifically tackling challenges associated with the dynamic nature of the subsea world, including but not limited to, deployment logistics, sustainability, and range. The goal is to enable the internet of underwater things for deep sea industries by broadening the capabilities of subsea communications.

By using high-precision laser transmitters, many of the challenges facing current subsea optical systems can be circumvented, such as power consumption, interference, and bandwidth limitations. This approach lends itself to wireless interlinking multi-node networks, in series or parallel, facilitating the implementation of a wide array of sensor types. This interlinking allows all the data gathered from the network to be processed through a single hardline uplink to the surface, lowering the complexity required for near real-time data processing. Additionally, the laser control systems produce metadata that can be used to help characterize the water column between the nodes.

Combining data from various sensors such as turbidity, temperature, and current velocity with metadata such as beam attenuation and deflection can produce a high-resolution model of sea floor conditions around an active mining zone. The resulting near real-time model can be used to optimize location and flow rate of the mining operation to minimize and quantify the environmental impact.
High-Performance DEH-PiPfor Subsea Tiebacks: Theoretical Electrical Model and Performance Measurements
Authors: Hallot Raymond , D'Amico Amerigo , Gentil Frederic , Lozinguez William
Published: April 2022

The High-Performance DEH-PiP is a new technology for electrical heating of subsea tieback flowlines, able to be used for long distances thanks to an enhanced electrical efficiency. This paper describes the theoretical electrical model of this technology and its experimental validation.

DEH-PiP is a well-known and field-proven technique for subsea flowline heating, but it exhibits a relatively poor electrical efficiency compared to emerging heat-traced PiPs. The approach presented in this paper to solve this drawback has been first to analyze the heat losses within the conventional DEH-PiP, then to design a new outer pipe to decrease dramatically its impedance. A strong effort was spent on the building of an accurate electrical model for the High-Performance DEH-PiP, and finally full-scale electrical tests on a representative prototype were carried out to validate the theoretical model.

On the basis of the conventional DEH-PiP technology, specific design modifications were undertaken to enhance the electrical efficiency and thus the flowline step-out in the High-Performance DEH-PiP solution. A specific electrical model was developed and is detailed progressively in this paper from the basic electromagnetics considerations to the complete Finite Element Analysis including the magnetization curves of the pipe steel and the impact of magnetic hysteresis on the heating performances. Dedicated experimental works were conducted to validate the electrical model, on a specific prototype and the test bench associated. The electrical measurement curves are discussed, showing a good correlation between the theory and the experiments, and demonstrating the relevance of the electrical model. The impact of the improved electrical performance on the tieback heated flowline configuration is then discussed.

This paper introduces the detailed experimental and modeling work performed to allow for the electrical engineering of a new DEH-PiP design, reaching significantly higher electrical efficiency, in the range of 90%-95%. This new solution allows reduced Greenhouse Gases Emissions by enhanced performance, lower voltage supply level enabling for longer flowlines, and lighter power chains.
Development of a Hydrate Kinetics-Based Digital Twin for Blockage Detection and Production Optimization
Authors: Dhoorjaty Pradeep , Wold Inge , Penmetsa Dileep
Published: April 2022

Management of hydrate risk is a challenging problem in gas-condensate production systems. A "no inhibitor, no production" operational strategy is the norm due to the insufficiency of real-time knowledge of process conditions and hydrate kinetics in the field. This implies both lost-production costs and inadequate risk awareness. Recent advances in hydrate kinetics modeling in gas-dominated systems, based on fundamental research at the University of Western Australia (UWA), however, provide an opportunity for increased operational efficiencies and safety. This paper presents progress made in a joint-industry project (JIP) towards an integrated, real-time flow assurance model incorporating hydrate kinetics.

This JIP leveraged existing data from UWA -- including flowloopmeasurements and the modelling of hydrate growth and transport mechanisms -- to achieve the integration of a hydrate kinetics model with an existing, field-proven multiphase flow simulator. This paper discusses the modeling, validation against experimental data, and the testing against historical data from a field system underhydrate-free and hydrating conditions.

The model showed good agreement for multiphase flow prediction of laboratory experiments. Trends of pressure drop dependence on various flow parameters agreed as well. For field data of a large gas-condensate pipeline, the model correctly predicted when hydrates form and when they are absent. These simulations, further, revealed the sensitivity of overall hydrate holdup and distribution to several parameters, including ambient temperature, holdup profiles, water droplet entrainment, and the strength of hydrate-wall adhesion. Since number of these parameters are subjected to underlying uncertainties in field conditions, a viable hydrate monitoring/prediction tool ought to be based on ensembles of simulations (an analogy might be drawn to hurricane track prediction). This is particularly true for predicting the location of the hydrate blockage and the time-to-remediation.

Currently, there is little modeling support to help manage hydrate risk in gas-condensate production operations without recourse to overly conservative strategies, such as overdosing. This model represents the first steps towards an online tool that can be integrated into digital twins of such fields. Such a tool will help optimize inhibitor consumption, reduce lost production costs, and provide early warning of hydrate blockage hazard. Potential end-user savings, from inhibitor consumption alone, are estimated at USD 500M in capital expenditure and USD 50M per annum in operational expenditure, for a typical moderate to large development.
Development of A CO2 Specification for Industrial CCS Transport Networks: Methodology, Limitations and Opportunities
Authors: Luna-Ortiz Eduardo , Yao Cathy , Barnes Jon , Winter Matthew , Healey Matthew
Published: April 2022

Impurities in anthropogenic CO2 affect several aspects of a full-chain industrial CCS hub. The concentration and type of impurities expected from various CO2 sources will differ depending on the technology that is emitting CO2. Rather than provide individual specifications to different customers, a single specification approach is being usually considered. The intent of this specification is to provide a single requirement that all sources of CO2 must abide by. If different specifications were provided to different customers, the transport network might become reliant on acombination of users supplying CO2 at specified rates to meet an overall specification. Several CO2 specifications have been developed over the years. Although these specifications serve as guidance,each project/development will develop its own specification that is appropriate for its owncharacteristics.

In this paper, we develop a multi-purpose fluid specification for a CCStransport hub. The specification is flexible as it takes into consideration a wide range of emitters,industry type and capture technology. We describe a development framework that takes intoconsideration: mechanical integrity (corrosion), operational integrity (two-phase zone, hydrateformation, water dropout, ductile fracture), HSE, storage capacity and integrity.

The proposed specification contains a wide range ofimpurities but the limits in the specification are as broad as reasonably possible. Moreover, the CO2 specification covers a large range of operating conditions: from low pressure (gas phase) and highpressure (liquid phase). As we considered more than 30 species in the fluid, the proposed specificationhas a wider scope that current known industry standards (or even known projects). A comparison with other publicly available specifications is provided. In addition, the specification is heavily relying on good understanding of thethermodynamics of CO2 fluids with impurities: we assess and provide a comparative framework of themost adequate EoS for the chemical nature of the potential impurities.

This paper offers an extended CO2 fluid specification for an industrialCCS transport system where a range of emitters (each of different nature) will tie-in. The proposedspecification offers a starting point for the design of CCS networks. It provides a common basis for thedesign of the components of the CCS system. We provide guidance on the specific issues that shouldbe particular for each project in order to optimize and customize the specification.
Artificial Intelligence Applied to Nanotechnology in the Oil and Gas Industry: Study of Asphaltene Adsorption Using Nanoparticles
Authors: Cedeno Miguel Angel , Enriquez Fernandez Andres , Cortés Correa Farid Bernardo , Franco Ariza Camilo Andrés , Moncayo-Riascos Ivan
Published: April 2022

Asphaltenes create severe problems in light oils (LO) and heavy crude oils (HO) production, therefore understanding the proper asphaltenes adsorption is a demanding topic to circumvent asphaltene deposition and reconfigure asphaltene viscoelastic networks. The aim of this work is to develop several artificial intelligence (AI) agents that accurate predict the asphaltene adsorption produced by different types of nanoparticles. More than 200 experimental data points were used including different types of crude oils (light oils, heavy oils, and extra-heavy oils) combined with different types of nanoparticles including silica, alumina, and cerium, among others. This work not only presents for the first time a general AI agent that predicts the adsorption isotherms of asphaltene including different types of nanoparticles, but also deploys specialized AI agents that predict adsorption isotherms of asphaltene exclusively for silica, alumina, and cerium nanoparticles.
Medial Plantar Sensory Nerve Action Potential
Authors: Sharma Alika , Chavan Priyanka , Mansukhani Khushnuma A.
Published: April 2022

Context:

The medial plantar nerve (MP) sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) has been shown to be a sensitive indicator for detecting a length-dependent axonal peripheral neuropathy. However, literature survey shows paucity of age stratified data. This study was undertaken to obtain age stratified reference data for MP SNAP amplitude and latency.

Aim:

To establish age-stratified reference data in Indian subjects for the MP SNAP.

Study Setting and Design:

The study was conducted in the electrodiagnostic laboratory of a tertiary city hospital and is retrospective study.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted using the nerve conduction study reports of 173 patients with only upper limb symptoms and findings. Patients were between the ages of 18 and 86 years, stratified into six groups, a = 18-30 years, b = 31- 40 years, c = 41-50 years, d = 51- 60 years, e = 61-70 years, f ≥70 years.

Statistical Methods:

Stata 12.1 statistical program was used. Lower limit of the SNAP amplitude was obtained using mean-2SD of transformed data. Analysis of variance defined the intergroup variability, linear regression and Pearson's correlation assessed the statistical significance.

Results:

The lower limit of normal MP SNAP amplitude for each age group is as follows: a: 8.7uv b: 7.5uv c: 3.7 uv d: 2.9uv e: 2.0 uv f: 1.4uv. The amplitude difference between the groups b & c, c & d and e and f using analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction and Tukey post-hoc test was not significant, but the other groups showed statistically significant variance. The equation of regression for the predicted amplitude value with age was defined as Y^ = {3.5 + age (-.0233) – 2 (0.389)}3.

Conclusion:

This study provides age stratified reference data for MP SNAP. There is evidence to suggest that MP SNAP amplitude varies with age hence age stratified data should be used to define abnormality.
Consolidative radiation in partial responders/unresectable/recurrent disease after first-line/salvage chemotherapy in poor-risk nonseminomatous germ cell tumor prolongs survival: A new paradigm?
Authors: Tiwari Sandeep , Agrawal Sushma
Published: April 2022

The role of radiotherapy (RT) in partial radiographic response (PR)/unresectable has not been evaluated earlier in nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT). Can the PR/unresectable be treated with consolidation RT instead of surgery? This approach will allow avoidance of surgical morbidity and be an additional tool for treatment. We report a series of five cases with poor prognosis NSGCT, who were treated with consolidation RT after PR/un-resectable disease and complete serum marker decline. The median survival of these patients was 52 months (range 21–112 months).
Lymph node yield in colorectal cancer specimens and its impact on pathological staging: Does number matter?
Authors: Mounika R. N. , Ananthamurthy Anuradha
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

Regional lymph node involvement is an important predictor of outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC). The lymph node yield in resected specimens varies from case to case.

Aim:

To assess whether clinicopathologic factors have an impact on the number of lymph nodes harvested from surgical resection specimens of CRCs

To assess whether the total number of lymph nodes retrieved has a bearing on the positivity of lymph nodes and hence the N category.

Materials and Methods:

All resection specimens of treatment naïve CRC received in the department of pathology during a 2 year period (2017–2019) were reviewed. The lymph node yield was correlated with age, sex, type of surgical procedure, length of resected segment, tumor location, histological type and grade, T and N categories. The statistical tests used were Spearman rank, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Chi-square tests.

Results:

A total of 51 resections were studied. The mean age was 59.64 years with 72.55% being male. About 76.47% were hemicolectomies and 23.52% were rectosigmoid surgeries. The lymph node yield ranged from 0 to 38, the mean being 12.67. None of the parameters studied had a significant correlation with the lymph node yield except histological grade, specimens with higher-grade tumors yielding more number of nodes (P = 0.0242). There was no significant correlation between node positivity and the average number of lymph nodes (P = 0.0883). There was no significant correlation between total yield in cases with ≥12 lymph nodes and N category (P = 0.180). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between total yield in node-positive cases with ≥12 lymph nodes and N category (P = 0.216). There was no significant difference in the sizes of the lymph nodes in node-positive and negative cases (P = 0.3930 and 0.2355, respectively).

Conclusion:

Among the parameters affecting lymph node yield, the current study found a significant correlation between histological grade and lymph node yield. There was no significant difference in the size of lymph nodes between node-positive and negative cases. The total lymph node yield did not have a bearing on node positivity and this shows that a lower lymph node yield may be accepted as adequate after thorough examination of the specimen.
Prevalence of Psychiatric Morbidity in Elderly Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Khan Aslam , Vijay Pooja , Sowmya A. V. , Chaudhury Suprakash , Chaudhari Bhushan , Saldanha Daniel , Menon Preethi
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACT

Background:

Improved healthcare extends life expectancy, but social and economic issues including poverty, family breakdown, and insufficient help for the elderly put people’s mental health in danger. Because of feelings of loneliness and natural age-related decline in physiological and physical performance, the elderly are more prone to psychological disorders. With this aim in mind, the study of the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in elderly hospitalized patients was taken up.

Methods:

A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in a tertiary hospital in Pune on 200 hospitalized patients of 65 years of age and more from July 2019 to July 2021. Subjects with known psychiatric disorders were excluded. Subjects were evaluated with a sociodemographic proforma, mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI), depression anxiety stress scale-21 (DASS-21), and the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS).

Results:

A total of 35.5% of elderly subjects admitted to non-psychiatric wards were found to be suffering from psychiatric disorders, most commonly major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorders (GADs), and social anxiety disorders. On DASS-21, 55.5% of patients had stress, 24% anxiety, and 15.5% had depression. On the MSPSS scale, 53% had a high level of support. A mean score of 5.94 was obtained for family support, 5.413 for support from friends, and 3.486 for support from significant others. Males received higher support.

Conclusion:

We found that elderly patients admitted in non-psychiatric wards had psychiatric disorders. The most common psychiatric disorders were GAD (16.5%) and major depressive disorder (15%). It is more beneficial when physicians/surgeons also screen or refer their elderly patients to their psychiatrist colleagues to help alleviate their suffering to the extent possible.
The association of pancreatic cancer incidence with smoking status and smoking amount in Korean men
Authors: Nam Do Jin , Oh Chang-Mo , Ha Eunhee , Kim Min-Ho , Yang Eun Hye , Lee Hyo Choon , Shin Soon Su , Hwang Woo Yeon , You Ann Hee , Ryoo Jae-Hong
Published: April 2022

OBJECTIVES: Our study examined the dose-response relationship between smoking amounts (pack-years) and the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in Korean men.METHODS: Of 125,743 participants who underwent medical health checkups in 2009, 121,408 were included in the final analysis and observed for the development of pancreatic cancer. We evaluated the associations between smoking amounts and incident pancreatic cancer in 4 groups classified by pack-year amounts. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident pancreatic cancer by comparing groups 2 (<20 pack-year smokers), 3 (20-≤40 pack-year smokers), and 4 (>40 pack-year smokers) with group 1 (never smokers).RESULTS: During 527,974.5 person-years of follow-up, 245 incident cases of pancreatic cancer developed between 2009 and 2013. The multivariate-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for incident pancreatic cancer in groups 2, 3, and 4 were 1.05 (0.76 to 1.45), 1.28 (0.91 to 1.80), and 1.57 (1.00 to 2.46), respectively (p for trend=0.025). The HR (95% CI) of former smokers showed a dose-response relationship in the unadjusted model, but did not show a statistically significant association in the multivariate-adjusted model. The HR (95% CI) of current smokers showed a dose-response relationship in both the unadjusted (p for trend=0.020) and multivariate-adjusted models (p for trend=0.050).CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing pancreatic cancer was higher in current smokers status than in former smokers among Korean men, indicating that smoking cessation may have a protective effect.
Regulatory considerations for Cellular Therapy
Authors: Kondo Andrea Tiemi , Ribeiro Andreza Alice Feitosa
Published: April 2022

Advanced therapy products can be an alternative treatment for several disease. Manufacturing steps and product release are critical points to avoid unsafe use of products. Quality controls tests, manufacturing practice, safety testing and efficacy trials need to be properly accessed before releasing to patients.  Regulatory system for cell therapy products determines guidelines for production, clinical trials and registration, considering risk-benefit ratios. This article aims to discuss main aspects of National Regulatory for advanced therapy products.
Time to relook at formulationsrecommended for hand sanitizers formulations -An in vitro study
Authors: Sachdeva Neelam , Suryavanshi Manan , Jaipuria Jiten , Bhushan Vandana , Sharma Kavita
Published: April 2022

Purpose: The world health organization (WHO) in 2009 in their consensus recommendation on hand hygiene has suggested two formulations of hand sanitizers which are also the basis of main components of most commercial and medical grade hand sanitizers today.We evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of ten different hand sanitizers (seven commercial including herbal (sanitizer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10) and three of medical grade (sanitizers 6, 7 and 8). Method: The efficacy of hand sanitizers was checked against five ATCC strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis. Experiment was performed in three parts. The first part was performed in triplicate to see the zone of inhibition for each sanitizer. The second part was performed to see the duration of action of each hand sanitizer and third part (in triplicates) was performed to see the efficacy of active components individually (alcohol and disinfectant in different dilutions).Results: Sanitizers with ethanol and chlorhexidine as main ingredients (6 and 8) showed zone of inhibition for all tested gram positive and negative bacteria. Sanitizer 7 (propanol and mecetronium ethyl sulphate as main components) showed zone of inhibition for all tested bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Other hand sanitizers did not show any zone of inhibition after incubation for 24 hours at 37oC. For second part hand sanitizer 6inhibited growth for all bacteria at all-time points (15, 30, 45 and60 seconds) and Sanitizer 8(ethanol and chlorhexidine as main components) showed growth inhibition only after 15seconds. Other hand sanitizers did not show any growth inhibition. For the third part, all dilutions of ethanol and propanol (60%, 70% and 80%) were unable to inhibit growth of any ATCC strain. Disinfectant 2.5v/v chlorhexidine was able to inhibit all five bacteria.0.2 gm mecetronium ethyl sulphate showed inhibition for all except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusion: Hand sanitizers with alcohol only as their main ingredient were unable to inhibit growth of ATCC strains. Hand sanitizers with both alcohol and disinfectant performed better .These findings preludes for further in vivo studies to validate 2009-WHO hand sanitizer preparations and suggest modifications.
Anti-TNF
Authors: Moraes Julio Cesar Bertacini de
Published: April 2022

O fator de necrose tumoral (TNF), descrito inicialmente na década de 1970, é um dos alvos de atuação molecular que mais atraiu a atenção nas últimas décadas. Durante a década de 1980, foi demonstrado o papel do TNF na etiopatogenia das doenças inflamatórias e estudos iniciais demonstraram uma concentração elevada dessa citocina no líquido sinovial e no soro de pacientes com artrite reumatoide (AR). Na década de 1990, o uso de anticorpos anti-TNF no controle da inflamação foi estudado até a primeira aprovação de uma terapia anti-TNF pelo FDA americano. Desde então, os anti-TNFs se consolidaram no tratamento das doenças reumáticas, sendo indicados para o tratamento da AR, espondiloartrites (EpA) e artrite idiopática juvenil (AIJ), além de outras indicações não reumatológicas com eficácia demonstrada em ensaios clínicos. Atualmente, cinco agentes anti-TNF estão disponíveis em nosso país: adalimumabe, certolizumabe, etanercepte, golimumabe e infliximabe. As principais contraindicações aos anti-TNFs são: tuberculose ativa, hipersensibilidade ao princípio ativo, infecção aguda ou crônica, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva grave, doença desmielinizante e neoplasia. Ao longo do tempo foram desenvolvidas estratégias de avaliação e minimização dos riscos infecciosos e de potenciais eventos adversos, com destaque para o rastreamento para tuberculose latente e hepatites virais, além da vigilância para intercorrências infecciosas graves, vacinação e uso durante a gestação e lactação. Assim, os anti-TNFs foram um grande avanço no tratamento das doenças reumáticas nos últimos 20 anos. Indicados corretamente e observando-se as recomendações de segurança, continuam sendo excelentes opções para pacientes que não respondem ao tratamento tradicional e necessitam de MMCDs biológicos.

Unitermos: TNF. Anti-TNF. Adalimumabe. Certolizumabe. Etanercepte. Golimumabe. Infliximabe.
Nutrition, a Primary Prevention of Communicable Disease?
Authors: Bencko1* Vladimír , Šíma2 Petr , Nadjo1 Iris
Published: April 2022

This article is a reminder that, in addition to the classic hygienic anti-epidemic measures, communicable (infectious) and non-communicable (chronic) diseases can possibly be prevented by purposefully focusing on nutritional programs.

In ancient times, nor antibiotics, the only way to prevent and treat diseases was to adjust the patient’s diet.

Many times over the years, nutritional health promotion has proven itself to be effective even though, as typical of the history of medicine, it has sometimes been forgotten. Even Hippocrates (460-337 BC) was aware of the importance of nutrition for health as he stated: “If you know nothing about a person’s diet, how can you understand his illness?”

The authors have tried to point out the importance of nutrition, which always contains antigens that directly induce immunological memory, in both specific (adaptive) immunity and as recently demonstrated, non-specific immunity, within our largest organ of immunity, the Intestinal Lymphoid Tissue (GALT).

In essence, in addition to its nutritional value, food intake could also be considered as an ongoing form of “vaccination”.