bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and glomerular disease in children: a narrative review
Authors: Le Thy Phuong Anh , Hoang Thi Thuy Yen , Tran Kiem Hao , Nguyen Huu Son
Published: September 2022

Background

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a chronic glomerular disease that responds poorly to treatment, with a large proportion of patients progressing to end-stage renal disease in spite of initial aggressive treatment. It is worth emphasizing that the FSGS group has still a high recurrence rate after kidney transplantation. Therefore, understanding the factors involved in the pathogenesis of FSGS will help nephrologists better understand the pathogenesis as well as find out specific targeted therapies. Circulating immune factors have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of FSGS, and recent studies have suggested that soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is one of the good candidates for this hypothesis. The aim of this review study was to analyze the value of suPAR in glomerular disease, especially in clinical studies.

Methods

In this review study, the PubMed database was searched using relevant keywords (suPAR, circulating permeability factors Children, FSGS, and children). Descriptive and cross-sectional studies were reviewed in the current study with the main focuses on the role of suPAR in FSGS, nephrotic syndrome, and the relation to progression of renal failure, especially the research in children.

Results

Overall, 32 studies from different countries were selected. These clinical studies on suPAR have shown the following: (i) the role of suPAR in the diagnosis of FSGS has not yet been confirmed, and (ii) there is strong evidence demonstrating a significant relationship between suPAR and the severity of kidney disease as well as a high value of suPAR in predicting the steroid responsiveness of nephrotic syndrome.

Conclusion

Researching on circulating permeability factors in FSGS is a current trend, which opens new avenues in targeted diagnosis and treatment. suPAR is a promising candidate, and urinary suPAR has also shown advantages over serum suPAR; therefore, more research on this issue is needed in the future.
Capitalization and profitability: applicability of capital theories in BRICS banking sector
Authors: Singhal Nikita , Goyal Shikha , Sharma Divya , Kumari Sapna , Nagar Shweta
Published: September 2022

The interrelationship between capitalization and profitability in banking sector of BRICS countries is studied with reference to existing five capital theories with the help of the ARDL and VECM/VAR models. These models are applied in the panel and individual settings on BRICS banking sector data from 2000 to 2020 to examine the presence of capital theories in the BRICS banking sectors. The study’s long-term empirical findings hold up the signalling and the bankruptcy cost hypothesis for the BRICS, Brazil, Russia, and India. Capitalization appears to be having a detrimental effect on profitability in China and South Africa, the agency argument is upheld. Profitability appears to have a considerable positive long-run influence on capitalization, which is consistent with Myers and Majluf’s (J Financ Econ 13:187–221, 1984) pecking order model for BRICS and Brazil. Profitability has a detrimental influence on capitalization in India and South Africa, corroborating the Modigliani and Miller (Am Econ Rev 48:261–297, 1958) and Miller (J Financ 32:1151–1168, 1977) notion. Although least significance is observed in most circumstances, the results of short-term prediction are comparable to those of long-run estimation. Both short-run and long-run evaluations of the capital-profitability link help in designing the “macroprudential” policies that demonstrate significance of our research.
Using a pilot-centric, qualitative drug risk assessment model to identify opportunities for implementing pharmacogenetics
Authors: Kinard Jeffrey L. , Collie Jacob , Turner Clesson , Chapleau Richard R.
Published: September 2022

Background

Risk assessment models are at the core of flight medicine, weighing both the impact of the flight environment on an aviator and the potential impact of medical events in aviators on flight operations. Pharmacogenetics is the application of a patient’s genetic information to reduce medication risk. Here, we use three medical conditions commonly encountered by the U.S. Air Force’s flight medicine community (asthma, diabetes, and hypertension) to demonstrate a framework for implementing occupationally relevant pharmacogenetics. We identified medications approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for each condition, obtained adverse effects and frequencies, scored each adverse effect’s impact on work duties from 0 to 4 in increasing severity, and used control theory to stratify the medications by occupational risk. For those medications within 10% of the control limits, pharmacogenetic information was collected from PharmGKb.

Results

We observed a correlation of 0.557 between our risk scores and previous reports for 20 medications, demonstrating robustness of our scoring. Using average risks for those 20 medications, we set control theory acceptable and tolerable thresholds at 601,109.5 and 2,097,721, respectively. The majority of medications for the three conditions were below the thresholds (66 and 26, respectively). Three medications have pharmacogenetic guidance provided by regulatory bodies.

Conclusions

By focusing first on risk to performing occupational tasks and then on genetic implementation, our work presents a framework by which pharmacogenetics can be selectively applied by considering specific occupational and environmental risks, thereby saving costs and reducing possible psychological burdens on patients.
Rhabdoid renal tumor: an aggressive embryonal tumor in an infant — a case report
Authors: Habachi Ghada , Sahli Sondes , Ammar Sabrine Ben , Jouini Riadh
Published: September 2022

Background

Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney is the most aggressive childhood renal tumor. A preoperative diagnosis is critical in order to correctly establish a therapeutic strategy and a full metastatic workup.

Case presentation

We report on a 3-month-old case with fever, diarrhea, and abdominal distension treated surgically with adjuvant chemotherapy. The diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively. Relapse was quick, and the child died 5 months after surgical resection.

Conclusions

Rhabdoid renal tumor in young age is associated with a high mortality rate even with invasive strategies. Case reports and research are critical for evaluating existing protocols and improving prognosis. Diverse clinical trials are being conducted in the hopes of improving the prognosis of rhabdoid renal tumors.
PPI efficacy in the reduction of variceal bleeding incidence and mortality, a meta-analysis
Authors: Elseidy Sheref A. , Sayed Ahmed , Awad Ahmed K. , Mandal Debvarsha , Mostafa Mariam , Adigun Aisha , Vorla Monica , Zamani Zarlakhta , Iqbal Amir
Published: September 2022

Objective

To review the efficacy and safety of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in gastroesophageal varices (GEVs).

Methods

We searched PubMed MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies that measured the effect of PPI for prophylaxis and treatment of post-band ligation ulcers up to July 20, 2021. We included studies that measured the effect of PPI as treatment or prophylaxis for post-band ligation ulcers; articles that were published in peer-reviewed international journals and had enough data for qualitative and quantitative analysis were included with no language restriction. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the inconsistency (I2) and chi-squared (χ2) test. I2 > 50% was considered substantial heterogeneity in the studies, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The data was continuous, and we used the standardized mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval to assess the estimated effect measure.

Results

A total of 7 studies with 2030 patients were included in our study of which 1480 participants were males (72%) and 550 females (18%). Mean age was 59.7 years old. Rebleeding post-band ligation was compared between PPI and placebo with significant favor for PPI (p = 0.00001). The pooled risk ratio was 0.53 (95% CI of 0.41, 0.68); furthermore, bleeding-related death at a 1-month period was compared between PPI and placebo with significant favor for PPI (p = 0.00001). The pooled risk ratio was significant at 0.33 (95% CI of 0.20, 0.53). The length of hospital stay postoperative was compared between PPI and placebo with cumulative mean difference of 0.13 (95% CI of −1.13, 1.39), yet without significance.

Conclusions

The study suggests a twofold reduction in the risk of bleeding and a threefold reduction in the risk of bleeding-related death with the use of PPI following EVL.
Does pathological type of primary nephrotic syndrome affect serum concentrations of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9?
Authors: Shinnawy Howayda El , Fahmy Abubakr Mohamed , Gharib Mohamed Sary
Published: September 2022

Background

Dyslipidemia is a common finding in primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). Serum PCSK9 level is also increased in PNS and is the main cause of dyslipidemia in such patients. There is a paucity of data on the relation between dyslipidemia and pathological types of PNS. We hypothesized that severity of dyslipidemia varies across different types of PNS, and this variation is due to differences in serum PCSK9 levels.

Methods

Fifty patients recently diagnosed with PNS were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum PCSK9, albumin, creatinine, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and 24-h urine protein were measured. Comparison of patients’ characteristics between pathological types of PNS and correlations between serum PCSK9 and other parameters were assessed.

Results

Serum PCSK9 levels were significantly higher in PNS patients compared with healthy individuals (314.58 ± 73.83 vs 253.42 ± 36.66 ng/ml, p < 0.001). No differences found between PNS types regarding serum levels of PCSK9 (p = 0.571), TC (p = 0.806), LDL-C (p = 0.950), HDL-C (p = 0.844), VLDL-C (p = 0.472), and TG (p = 0.969). Serum PCSK9 levels correlated significantly with TC (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p < 0.001), HDL-C (p = 0.003), VLDL-C (p = 0.008), TG (p = 0.005), 24-h urine protein (p = 0.005), and male sex (p = 0.014).

Conclusion

The pathological type of PNS does not affect serum levels of PCSK9 and components of lipid profile.
An unusual case of lymphoma — a case of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type
Authors: Mankgele Mahlatse , Goqwana Lindokuhle , Philip Vinitha , Waja Faadil , Lakha Atul , Perner Yvonne , Patel Moosa
Published: September 2022

Background

There is a great geographic variation of extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (NNKTL) prevalence, with a much higher prevalence in the Asian and South American populations. According to our knowledge and searches, only one other case report/study of NNKTL has been published in South Africa.

Case presentation

We present a southern-African 31-year-old male residing in a township in the south of Johannesburg, South Africa. He presented with signs and symptoms similar to those of benign upper airway diseases. Further work-up of persisting signs and symptoms yielded a diagnosis of NNKTL. He was treated with the SMILE (steroids — dexamethasone, methotrexate, ifosfamide, L-asparaginase and etoposide) chemotherapy regimen, and sandwich radiotherapy was planned. He had a partial response to chemotherapy but unfortunately demised due to overwhelming sepsis prior to radiation therapy.

Conclusion

Making a diagnosis of NNKTL in resource-limited settings is challenging as the diagnosis requires not only the demonstration of NK-cell markers but also to have a positive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH). Collaboration of smaller centres with larger and better equipped centres is required to diagnose and document NNKTL more accurately in the African setting.
Endoscopic ear surgery: then and now, review article
Authors: Moneir Waleed , Elkahwagi Mohamed
Published: September 2022

Objective

Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) is a growing and well-recognized field in the modern era. EES had a stepwise journey of development. This journey is pretty comparable to the endoscopic sinus surgery development.

Methods

Online literature search was performed to give a concise review on the development and recent applications of EES and in addition to clarify the reported advantages and disadvantages of EES.

Results

EES has a more recent application than ESS that started decades after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The use of endoscope in ear surgery gives a wide-angled detailed view of the middle ear structures. It gives the ability to look around the corners offering less disease persistence than the microscopic approaches. EES is useful in cases of narrow and angled external auditory canal as it bypasses the narrowest segment of EAC. However, it lacks the 3D perception and enables one hand surgery which could be difficult to manage bleeding. Applications of EES extended from tympanoplasty, stapedotomy, cholesteatoma surgery, and middle ear ventilation in chronic inflammatory conditions to the neurotologic applications in lateral skull base surgery.

Conclusion

EES is an extremely growing field with many applications in otology and neurotology. The advantages of endoscopic applications outweigh the disadvantages. It has a stepwise learning curve and offer better teaching ability.
Demographic and clinical criteria of intranasal lobular capillary hemangioma: as retrospective multicentric audit
Authors: Al-Ani Raid M. , Bargas Omar M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH) is a benign vascular tumor that rarely affects the nasal cavity. Pregnancy and previous nasal trauma or surgery might be implicated in the pathogenesis of this tumor. However, in the majority of the cases, there is no identified cause. The objective of this study was to characterize the numerous demographic and clinical aspects of intranasal LCH and to find whether there is a link between its likely causation and other parameters. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records (from 2012 to 2021) of subjects with proven cases of intranasal LCH on histopathological evaluation at four main hospitals in Baghdad, Ramadi, Tikrit, and Samawah cities, Iraq. The detailed information concerning the age, gender, duration, clinical features, side, location, type of anesthesia, follow-up period, and recurrence was registered for each participant.

Results

Of the 82 patients, there were 73.2% females. The majority of the cases (79.3%) were from the age group of 18–40 years. The majority of the patients (74.4%) were seen within 1–2 months. Most of the cases originated from the left side (59.8%) and the nasal septum (81.7%). Epistaxis was the most common presenting symptom (91.5%). No cause was identified in 42.7% of the cases, followed by pregnancy (31.7%) and trauma (25.6%). There was a significant difference between the possible cause and the age and gender (P-value = 0.000). The recurrence rate was 3.66%.

Conclusion

Intranasal LCH shows a female predominance and mostly affects the age group of 18–40 years. Most of the cases involved the left side and nasal septum. Epistaxis was the chief complaint in the majority of cases. Age and gender can determine the possible cause of the lesion.
Thyroid abscess in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient
Authors: Damoune I. , Akioud F. , Cherrabi K. , Benhommad O. , Ajdi F.
Published: September 2022

Background

Thyroid abscess is a rare entity and occurs in patients in a particular situation either in an immunocompromised patient or on tuberculosis infection since the African countries are still tuberculosis endemic countries

Case presentation

We report the case of a 38-year-old female patient who has a thyroid abscess caused byCitrobacterwhich is a rare germ. Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was positive for HIV infection.

Conclusions

Screening for HIV and other causes of immunosuppression should be considered in any patient with thyroid abscess.
Blood and sputum eosinophilia in COPD exacerbation
Authors: Helala Laila Ashour , AbdelFattah Eman Badawy , Elsalam Hazem Mohamed Abd
Published: September 2022

Background

Exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are major contributors to worsening lung function, impaired quality of life, emergency healthcare use, and COPD-related mortality. COPD exacerbations are heterogeneous in terms of airway inflammation and etiology.

Objectives

To assess the relation between blood and sputum eosinophils and COPD exacerbation.

Subjects and methods

Prospective cohort study, conducted on 100 COPD patients presented in outpatient clinic. All patients were subjected to medical history including: occupational history, smoking history, comorbidity, number of exacerbations in last year and their degree, history of admission in the last year and treatment taken for COPD. Modified Medical Research Council scale of dyspnea, peak expiratory flow rate, oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry. Complete blood count with differential eosinophilic count. Sputum sample differential cell count was done.

Results

The eosinophil level in blood before and after treatment showed a significant positive correlation with the number of hospital admission in the last year (r = 0.29; P = 0.003 and r = 0.3; P = 0.002, respectively). Regarding the eosinophil level either in blood or in sputum, it showed significant statistical elevation in patients not using steroid treatment in comparison to patients who used systemic or inhaled steroid treatments (P < 0.001 and 0.004, respectively).

Conclusion

Blood eosinophil count can be used as a severity marker of COPD exacerbations. The eosinophil levels, either in blood or sputum, were significantly correlated with the degree of exacerbation. Sputum eosinophilia can also predict the risk of hospitalization. In addition, blood eosinophil count can direct the use of oral corticosteroids in exacerbation.
The importance of market signals in crop varietal development: lessons from Komboka rice variety
Authors: Ng’endo Mary , Kinyua MaryLiza , Chebet Lourine , Mutiga Samuel , Ndung’u Joseph , Nyongesa Oliver , Njau Simon , Panchbhai Ajay , Musila Ruth , Murori Rosemary
Published: September 2022

Growing high-yielding varieties is crucial for successful crop production and maximizing farmers’ net returns. One such example is IR05N221, locally referred to as Komboka rice variety, which was released in Kenya in 2013. On the one hand, Komboka can bridge the gap in rice imports since yields of existing rice varieties do not meet the increasing rice consumption levels of the Kenyan population. On the other hand, it has taken about seven years for Komboka to be appreciated by farmers, necessitating the need to understand farmer preferences when it comes to adopting a new improved variety. We used a mixed-method study approach by combining quantitative and qualitative data collected regionally and locally in both rainfed and irrigated ecologies. When compared to most of the other rice varieties under evaluation, Komboka was high-yielding, early-maturing, and had moderate tolerance to diseases in both rainfed and irrigated ecologies. However, farmers at the regional level ranked Komboka either at the same or lower rank in terms of sensory attributes. At the local level, farmers predominantly grew older and more aromatic Basmati 370 rice variety for sale, as it fetched them more money, with preferences for both men and women rice farmers being the same. Despite Komboka being a high-yielding variety, Mwea rice farmers’ perceptions and preferences for this improved variety were low. While Komboka was equally aromatic, the lack of a ready market dissuaded these farmers from widely preferring the new Komboka variety. We provide prerequisite information that can support the commercialization and promotion of the Komboka variety. We also show that widespread favourable perception of new varieties hinges on matching preferences between breeders’ efforts for improved rice productivity with farmers’ needs for market competitiveness in these new varieties.
Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
Authors: Herrera Wilfrand Ferney Bejarano , Arruda Bruna , de Carvalho Hudson Wallace Pereira , Pavinato Paulo Sergio
Published: September 2022

Background

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is an important crop in the production of food and energy in tropical and subtropical regions. To provide plants with what they need, highly concentrated fertilizers are often deployed which can result in imbalances in plant nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of polyhalite (K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O) as an alternative source of multinutrients for sugarcane compared to single sources of K, Ca, Mg and S.

Methods

A glasshouse experiment was carried out on a low-K Entisol from the sugarcane cultivar CV7870. A completely randomized design was used with different K fertilizer management strategies as follows: four K dosages (0, 21, 42 and 63 mg dm−3) associated to distinct sources, namely: polyhalite (PHY); potassium chloride (KCl); potassium chloride+polyhalite in a 1:1 ratio (½KP), and potassium chloride combined with phosphogypsum and kieserite balancing Ca, Mg and S dosages as supplied by pure polyhalite (KGK). Two growth cycles in 6 dm3 soil pots were evaluated: cane plant harvested at 131 days after transplanting, and ratoon harvested at 253 days after transplanting for the determination of dry matter production. Immediately before harvesting in both cycles, leaf nutrient content (K, Ca, S and Cl) was determined using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

Results

In general, shoot dry matter and nutrient uptake were higher with the highest K dosage applied and K sources containing Ca and S in the formulation PHY; ½KP; and KGK, for both growth cycles. However, when these sources were provided at the lowest dosage, high agronomic efficiency was observed in all nutrients assessed. Consequently, the cultivar CV7870 was responsive to K application. However, increments in the K dosage resulted in low agronomic efficiency.

Conclusions

This study indicates that PHY is an effective fertilizer for sugarcane farmers seeking to improve nutrient uptake in a low-K Entisol for both cane plant and ratoon. A mix of PHY and KCl is a potential multi-nutrient fertilizer for managing sugarcane production.
Resilience of breadfruit agro-ecosystems in Hawaiʻi during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Berning E. H. , Andersen C. V. H. , Mertz O. , Dickinson N. , Opgenorth M. , Lincoln N. K. , Rashford J. H. , Rønsted N.
Published: September 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is interrupting domestic and global food supply chains resulting in reduced access to healthy diverse diets. Hawaiʻi has been described as a model social-ecological system and it has been suggested that indigenous agro-ecosystems have the potential to be highly productive and resilient under changing land-use and climate change disturbance. However, little research has yet been conducted exploring the disruption and resilience of agro-ecosystems in Hawaiʻi caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The breadfruit tree (Artocarpus altilis; Moraceae) is a signature, multi-purpose-tree of the complex perennial agro-ecosystems systems in Oceania.

Methods

This case study explores the ways in which the breadfruit agro-ecosystems of Hawaiʻi have shown resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Our study suggests that breadfruit has increased its value as a subsistence crop during the COVID-19 pandemic, even in a developed economy like Hawaiʻi, and that resilience of Hawaiian breadfruit agroe-cosystems during a crisis can be supported through cooperatives and food-hubs.
Complete identification of complex salt geometries from inaccurate migrated subsurface offset gathers using deep learning
Authors: Muller Ana Paula O. , Costa Jessé C. , Bom Clecio R. , Faria Elisangela L. , Klatt Matheus , Teixeira Gabriel , de Albuquerque Marcelo P. , de Albuquerque Marcio P.
Published: September 2022

Delimiting salt inclusions from migrated images is a time-consuming activity that relies on highly human-curated analysis and is subject to interpretation errors or limitations of the methods available. We develop the use of migrated images produced from an inaccurate velocity model (with a reasonable approximation of sediment velocity, but without salt inclusions) to predict the correct salt inclusions shape using a convolutional neural network. Our approach relies on subsurface common-image gathers to focus the sediments’ reflections around the zero offset and to spread the energy of salt reflections over large offsets. Using synthetic data, we train a U-Net to use common-offset subsurface images as input channels and the correct salt masks as the output of a semantic segmentation problem. The network learns to predict the salt inclusions masks with high accuracy; moreover, it also performs well when applied to synthetic benchmark data sets that were not previously introduced. Our training process successfully tunes the U-Net to learn the shape of complex salt bodies from partially focused subsurface offset images.
Reducing near-surface artifacts from the crossline direction by full-waveform inversion of interferometric surface waves
Authors: Liu Jianhuan , Draganov Deyan , Ghose Ranajit
Published: September 2022

Seismic incoherent noise and waves scattered from objects in the crossline directions can cause 2D elastic full-waveform inversion (FWI) to produce artifacts in the resulting 2D models. We develop a complete workflow that can determine subsurface S-wave velocity ([Formula: see text]) models inverted from 2D near-surface seismic data more stably. We make use of a combination of supervirtual interferometry and a matched filter to accurately retrieve dominant surface waves from the field data, whereas the incoherent noise and 3D scattering events are significantly suppressed. The subsurface structures obtained from inverting the retrieved data can be interpreted together with the sections resulting from FWI of the original data to mitigate the potential misinterpretation of artifacts. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to invert 2D near-surface seismic data even when the data quality is lowered by the presence of strong noise and 3D scattered events caused by objects located in the crossline direction.
Perturbation-based moveout approximation in the elastic transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis
Authors: Xu Shibo , Stovas Alexey
Published: September 2022

Explicit approximations in traveltime are usually used in seismic data processing such as simulation through ray tracing, velocity analysis for model building, and imaging from time migration. Accurate approximation is key to achieving high-resolution imaging of the structure. We have proposed a perturbation-based approximation for P- and S-waves traveltime in a transversely isotropic medium with a vertical symmetry axis. The perturbation coefficients in this approximation are derived directly from the implicit parametric offset-traveltime equation. The comparison with the generalized moveout approximation (GMA) for P and S waves is applied in numerical examples. We find that our proposed approximation indicates higher accuracy than the GMA counterpart for P and S waves. The error sensitivity of P and S waves in the depth, vertical velocity ratio, and the anellipticity parameter also is analyzed to examine the influence of these factors. In addition, we investigate the anisotropy estimation through two approximations for P and S waves and find that our proposed perturbation method results in high accuracy, which can significantly improve the data processing quality. For the S wave, our approximation also is more accurate than the GMA counterpart and could be implemented for joint tomographic inversions.
A linear approach to simulate a constant-Q model in time-domain ground-penetrating radar modeling using multiple Debye poles: Theory and application in karst carbonate rocks
Authors: Santos Bruno B. , Dantas Renato R. S. , Medeiros Walter E. , Lopes Juliana A. G. , Oliveira Jr. Josibel G. , Santana Flávio L.
Published: September 2022

Dispersion is an important effect contributing to attenuating ground-penetrating radar (GPR) signals and must be incorporated in wave propagation. The constant-[Formula: see text] model (quality factor [Formula: see text]) is valid in rocks for typical GPR frequency ranges. In time-domain wave modeling, to simulate a constant-[Formula: see text] medium, using multiple Debye poles, the number of poles and their parameters must be previously estimated to honor target values for [Formula: see text] and velocity in the demanded frequency band. For electromagnetic waves, this problem is usually formulated as a highly nonlinear optimization problem presenting several solutions, which is solved using global optimization methods. An efficient linear approach to estimate multiple Debye poles to simulate constant-[Formula: see text] media for GPR data is presented. The resulting inverse problem is easy to solve because the number of poles is relatively small. The approach allows for a novel rescaled solution that depends only on the frequency band and number of poles. Solutions satisfying specific target values for velocity and [Formula: see text] are obtained from the rescaled solution by multiplying this solution by a proportionality factor that depends only on the target values. Choosing the number of poles is done so that velocity [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] curves, as a function of frequency [Formula: see text], are approximately invariant in the specified frequency band. Using the criterion that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] curves must present maximum percentage deviations from the respective target values smaller than 5%, we find that, for the 200 MHz antenna, whose useful frequency band is 50–800 MHz, only three poles are sufficient. The theory is validated by modeling dispersion effects using synthetic models. The importance of introducing dispersion effects is illustrated by presenting a trial-and-error modeling approach to approximately reproduce a 200 MHz radargram acquired in fractured and karstified carbonate rocks.
Research and comparison of evaluation methods for shale reservoir saturation in Longtan Formation of marine-continent transition facies
Authors: Yu Cheng , Zhang Chaomo , Shi Wenrui , Li Menglei , Yan Wei
Published: September 2022

As a country rich in shale gas, China has developed relatively mature evaluation systems for marine shale exploration and conducted tentative developments for continental shale. However, limited research has been conducted on marine-continental transitional shale. To address this gap in the research from the perspective of well logging, we have used marine-continental transitional shale of the Longtan Formation in the southeast Sichuan Basin to compare the differences between Longtan shale and marine shale with respect to organic matter, lithology, and logging responses to identify marine-continental transitional shale reservoir features. We also have analyzed the “low-resistivity” genesis of marine-continental transitional shale. Studies on the Longtan shale have demonstrated that the combination of high clay content, complex pore structure, development of pyrite, graphitization of organic matter, and presence of high-rank coal seams collectively produces low-resistivity properties in the reservoir. Saturation is essential in petroleum exploration and development. However, the low-resistivity characteristics result in low accuracy of gas saturation when calculated by the Archie equation or its electric derivation equations. To improve the efficacy of saturation prediction, we compare and analyze existing nonelectrical models and develop a new process for calculating saturation based on the density-neutron combined model. The errors between the calculation results and core saturation are minor. In addition, the new calculation model exhibits a good application effect in marine shale in the Jiaoshiba area, providing a new approach for saturation evaluation of shale formations.
Stochastic inversion of tracer test data with seismicity constraint for permeability imaging in enhanced geothermal reservoirs
Authors: Chen Jingyi , Xu Tianfu , Liang Xu , Jiang Zhenjiao
Published: September 2022

Inference of permeability distribution in an enhanced geothermal reservoir is crucial for the sustainable management of geothermal energy. However, interpreting the uneven permeability distribution in a deep geothermal reservoir remains a challenging task because in practice there often are merely one or two wells available for hydrogeophysical tests. Considering that the induced seismicity data are widely captured during reservoir stimulation in enhanced geothermal systems, a framework of tracer test data inversion with the constraint of induced seismic data is developed for permeability imaging. Hydraulic diffusivity, representing the prior estimation of permeability, is inferred from the occurrence time of seismic events. This is followed by the determination of a petrophysical model, which relates hydraulic diffusivity to permeability, by tracer test data inversion based on the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Implementation of the seismicity-constraint tracer data inversion algorithm in the Habanero enhanced geothermal system, Australia, demonstrates that our inversion model allows uneven permeability estimation at field scale in shorter burn-in period and lower uncertainty than the traditional inversion model without seismicity constraint. Using the estimated permeability in the hydrothermal model enables accurate prediction of thermal performance in a 150 day trial-production test. Results indicate that this algorithm can reliably characterize the spatial distribution of permeability in deep enhanced reservoirs, based on the tracer test via doublet wells.
The characteristics of the tight gas reservoir with strong heterogeneity and its 3D recovery technology in Yan’an gas field, China
Authors: Wang Xiangzeng , Du Yonghui , Zhang Lei , Qiao Xiangyang , Liang Quansheng , Sun Ping
Published: September 2022

The Yan’an gas field is located in the southeastern part of the Ordos Basin of China. After years of research, we have clarified the characteristics of the upper Paleozoic tight sandstone reservoirs: four main sets of intervals, including the Carboniferous Benxi Formation, the Shan second and Shan first members of the Permian Shanxi Formation, and the He eighth member of the Permian Lower Shihezi Formation, are multilayer complex superposed tight sandstone reservoirs that developed under the control of multiple differential sedimentary systems. Compared with the northern gas field, the upper Paleozoic reservoir is characterized by the small-scale effective sand body and poor physical property in the Yan’an gas field; the heterogeneity of the upper Paleozoic tight reservoir varies greatly: the heterogeneity of the He eighth and the Shan first members was increasing from the north to the south of the research area, owing to the intersection of the north and south provenance. The Shan second member indicates an obviously opposite trend: the heterogeneity of the Benxi Formation weakened from the center to both sides; the Yan’an gas field developed four main superposed composite sand bodies types, including the vertical superposed, lateral migration, cut superposed, and isolated types. Due to the existence of the interlayers rich in mudstone and soft debris near the architectural boundary, the reservoir sand body has strong structural heterogeneity under the interaction of differential diagenesis and densification. Aiming at the strong heterogeneity and multilayer complex superposition characteristics of the Yan’an gas field, we have made clear the constraints and matching relationships between control factors and well-pattern elements on the basis of deep analysis. We have formed the hybrid well pattern for 3D recovery technology that unlocked multilayer complex superposed tight sandstone gas reservoirs with strong heterogeneity in the southeastern portion of the Ordos Basin.
When the levee breaks: Visualization of a deepwater crevasse splay in Late Cretaceous in Exmouth Basin Offshore Western Australia
Authors: Vera-Arroyo Alexandro , Bedle Heather
Published: September 2022

“The present is the key to the past” is a foundational geologic concept that helps us contextualize buried subsurface features in current geologic analogs. As seismic interpreters, the generation of the geologic model should be unbiased, yet as humans our unconscious biases are expected, and we sometimes overlook anomalous reflection patterns in our seismic data that do not fit the model. As a result, we often disservice ourselves when we overlook these characteristics, potentially ignoring additional geologic context. These anomalous geoforms or funny-looking things (FLTs) may provide further geologic context and aid us in solving the geologic model if included. Crevasse splay on a continental slope marine environment is described and analyzed using attributes, seismic inversion, and voxel-based classification. We discuss possible causes that may have triggered the break of the levee on the Exmouth Basin during the Early Eocene and why a crevasse splay on a steep slope is an FLT. A possible explanation is that the presence of preexisting faults beneath said feature is the likely culprit for a levee break that created the crevasses splay. Thus, in contrast with the Led Zeppelin song about why the levee breaks, it is equally important to understand the preexisting faults when analyzing sediment supply. In addition, this highlights the importance of integral stratigraphic sequence interpretation — from deep to shallow — to understand geology in a full context.

Geologic feature: Crevasse splays and distributary channels Seismic appearance: Mounded high-amplitude reflection with hummocky low-amplitude internal reflection on vertical section, subparallel overlapping sinuous features on seismic attribute horizon slice Alternative interpretation: Mass-transport deposit, avulsion node; channel overbank Formation: The Wilcox Formation Age: Early Eocene-Late Paleocene Location: Offshore Western Australia Seismic data: Stybarrow 2008 M4D MSS obtained by the Geoscience Department of Australia Analysis tools: Coherence, multispectral coherency, principal curvature (K1 and K2), acoustic seismic inversion, flatness and curvedness, CNN automatic fault interpretation, and spectral decomposition
Prospective Multicenter Trial Assessing the Impact of Positive Peritoneal Cytology Conversion on Oncological Outcome in Patients with Endometrial Cancer Undergoing Minimally Invasive Surgery with the use of an Intrauterine Manipulator
Authors: Siegenthaler Franziska , Johann Silke , Imboden Sara , Samartzis Nicolas , Ledermann-Liu Haiyan , Sarlos Dimitri , Eberhard Markus , Mueller Michael D.
Published: September 2022

Background

Minimally invasive surgery is the standard approach in early-stage endometrial cancer according to evidence showing no compromise in oncological outcomes, but lower morbidity compared with open surgery. However, there are limited data available on the oncological safety of the use of intrauterine manipulators in endometrial cancer.

Patients and Methods

This prospective multicenter study included patients with endometrial cancer undergoing laparoscopic staging surgery with the use of an intrauterine manipulator. We obtained three different sets of peritoneal washings: at the beginning of the surgical procedure, after the insertion of the intrauterine manipulator, and after the closure of the vaginal vault. The rate of positive peritoneal cytology conversion and its association with oncological outcomes was assessed.

Results

A total of 124 patients were included. Peritoneal cytology was negative in 98 (group 1) and positive in 26 (group 2) patients. In group 2, 16 patients presented with positive cytology at the beginning of the surgery (group 2a) and 10 patients had positive cytology conversion during the procedure (group 2b). Recurrence rate was significantly different among the study groups, amounting to 9.2%, 25.0%, and 60.0% for groups 1, 2a, and 2b, respectively (p < 0.001). Group 1 showed the best recurrence-free and overall survival, followed by group 2a, while patients in group 2b had the worst oncological outcomes (p = 0.002 and p = 0.053, respectively). Peritoneal cytology was an independent predictor of recurrence and death on multivariable analysis.

Conclusion

A total of 8.1% of patients with endometrial cancer undergoing minimally invasive surgery with intrauterine manipulation showed positive peritoneal cytology conversion associated with significantly worse oncological outcome.
Proof of Principle of Combining Fluorescence-Guided Surgery with Photoimmunotherapy to Improve the Outcome of Pancreatic Cancer Therapy in an Orthotopic Mouse Model
Authors: Nishino Hiroto , Turner Michael A. , Amirfakhri Siamak , Lwin Thinzar M. , Hosseini Mojgan , Singer Bernhard B. , Hoffman Robert M. , Bouvet Michael
Published: September 2022

Background

Pancreatic cancer is a recalcitrant disease in which R0 resection is often not achieved owing to difficulty in visualization of the tumor margins and proximity of adjacent vessels. To improve outcomes, we have developed fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) and photoimmunotherapy (PIT) using a fluorescent tumor-specific antibody.

Methods

Nude mice received surgical orthotopic implantation (SOI) of the human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 expressing green fluorescent protein. An anti-carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) monoclonal antibody (6G5j) was conjugated to the 700-nm fluorescent dye IR700DyeDX (6G5j-IR700DX). Three weeks after SOI, 16 mice received 50 μg 6G5j-IR700DX via the tail vein 24 h before surgery and were randomized to two groups: FGS-only (n = 8) and FGS + PIT (n = 8). All tumors were imaged with the Pearl Trilogy imaging system and resected under the guidance of the FLARE imaging system. The FGS + PIT group received PIT of the post-surgical bed at an intensity of 150 mW/cm2 for 30 min. Mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after initial surgery, and tumors were imaged with a Dino-Lite digital microscope, excised, and weighed.

Results

The 6G5j-IR700DX dye illuminated the orthotopic pancreatic tumors for FGS and PIT. The metastatic recurrence rate was 100.0% for FGS-only and 25.0% for FGS + PIT (p = 0.007). The average total recurrent tumor weight was 2370.3 ± 1907.8 mg for FGS-only and 705.5 ± 1200.0 mg for FGS + PIT (p = 0.039).

Conclusions

FGS and adjuvant PIT can be combined by using a single antibody–fluorophore conjugate to significantly reduce the frequency of pancreatic cancer recurrence.
Alterations in cerebral glucose metabolism measured by FDG PET in subjects performing a meditation practice based on clitoral stimulation
Authors: Newberg Andrew B. , Wintering Nancy A. , Hriso Chloe , Vedaei Faezeh , Mohamed Feroze B. , Gottfried Sara E. , Ross Reneita
Published: September 2022

Background: The relationship between sexuality, or the libido, and spirituality or religion has long been debated in psychiatry. Recent studies have explored the neurophysiology of both sexual experiences and spiritual practices such as meditation or prayer. In the present study, we report changes in cerebral glucose metabolism in a unique meditation practice augmented by clitoral stimulation called, Orgasmic Meditation, in which a spiritual state is described to be attained by both male and female participants engaged in the practice as a pair.

Methods: Male (N=20) and female (N=20) subjects had an intravenous catheter connected to a bag of normal saline inserted prior to the practice. During the practice, men stimulated their partner’s clitoris for exactly 15 minutes (he received no sexual stimulation). Midway through the practice, researchers injected 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose so the scan would reflect cerebral metabolism during the practice. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed approximately 30 minutes later.

Results: In the female participants, the meditation state showed significant decreases in the left inferior frontal, inferior parietal, insula, middle temporal, and orbitofrontal regions as well as in the right angular gyrus, anterior cingulate and parahippocampus compared to a neutral state (p<0.01). Male subjects had significant decreases in the left middle frontal, paracentral, precentral, and postcentral regions as well as the right middle frontal and paracentral regions during meditation (p<0.01). Men also had significantly increased metabolism in the cerebellum and right postcentral and superior temporal regions (p<0.01).

Conclusions: These findings represent a distinct pattern of brain activity, for both men and women, that is a hybrid between that of other meditation practices and sexual stimulation. Such findings have potential psychotherapeutic implications and may deepen our understanding of the relationship between spiritual and sexual experience.
Effectiveness of neutral honey as a tissue fixative in histopathology
Authors: Alwahaibi Nasar , Al Dhahli Buthaina , Al Issaei Halima , Al Wahaibi Loai , Al Sinawi Shadia
Published: September 2022

Background: In routine histopathology, 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) is the choice fixative. However, formalin is a human carcinogen, so there is a necessity for a safer alternative. To the best of our knowledge, neutral honey, not natural or artificial honey, has not been tested to fix histological samples. This study determined the effectiveness of neutral buffered honey and other types of fixatives to fix histological tissues.

Methods: The study was conducted between July 2019 and August 2020 at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Sections from three rat livers, kidneys, and stomach tissues were fixed with 10% NBF, neutral buffered Sumer honey, neutral buffered date honey, formalin, Sumer honey, date honey, alcoholic formalin, alcoholic Sumer honey, and alcoholic date honey for 24 hours. Samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), special stains, and vimentin methods. Three expert biomedical scientists then evaluated the fixed and stained samples for the quality of all sections. The fixation ability of the different honey solutions was then compared to 10% NBF and the utility was determined using nuclear and cytoplasmic criteria, specificity, and intensity.

Results: H&E showed adequate staining in all groups compared to 10% NBF. The specificity and intensity of all groups for the Periodic acid–Schiff method were identical to 10% NBF except for Sumer honey and alcoholic date honey. Vimentin showed comparable findings with 10% NBF as there were no significant differences.

Conclusions: The findings of this study encourage the use of honey, including neutral, as a possible safe substitute fixative for formalin, however, further experiments on larger specimens should be conducted.