bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
President’s Column: SPE Finances
Authors: Houzé Olivier
Published: November 2024

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Editor’s Note: The November edition is a written column only, with the vodcast set to resume next month.

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SPE finances are not the most interesting or exciting topic for most members, and you will be forgiven if you pass this column.

You may not be interested at all if you only want to know what SPE does. However, you may be interested in this column to understand how SPE functions financially.

SPE is not a commercial business, but it has an events business that de facto finances most of its other services to members—direct membership fees are a relatively small part of SPE’s revenue. In the current model, if the events business fails, SPE collapses.

Finances are always important, but they have become critical in the current context, including the 2015 downturn and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, especially the latter, which have brought an existential threat to our Society.

As shown in Fig. 1, between 2014 and 2023, we lost 65% of our revenue, 200% of our profit (Net Operating Income), and 50% of our net assets. Even last year, 3 years after the pandemic, we still had an operational deficit of $3.6 million, and this was expected to be a “good year” with Offshore Europe and two Offshore Technology Conference events. Operationally, we are still hemorrhaging money.

SPE’s finances are public, but I thought it would be good to present this information in plain English and with illustrative graphs to explain how we operate financially and how SPE can prevail while its traditional business model is being challenged.

I have occasionally heard and read severe statements about SPE’s financial management, allusions to staff being oversized and overpaid, our lack of willingness to adapt, etc. So, it is also a good opportunity to clear up some of these misunderstandings.

Conventions and Definitions

Until 2024, SPE’s fiscal year (FY) started in April and ended in March. For example, FY24 started on 1 April 2023 and ended on 31 March 2024. This has recently changed and will be explained below.

The numbers presented in this document are consolidated in USD (SPE has several offices handling different currencies) and corrected for US inflation using factors listed in Fig. 2. The reference is the USD from the middle of FY24, i.e., October 2023.

One important result to gauge our operational results is our Net Operating Income (NOI), which would be equivalent to profit if SPE were a commercial venture.
Petroleum Engineering Research Shifts Focus From Oil and Gas to New Horizons
Authors: Fahes M. , Al Shalabi E. W. , Hoffman T. , Anbarci K. , Nuñez-López V. , Dindoruk B.
Published: November 2024

Undergraduate education in petroleum engineering (PE) has survived the latest downturn in the industry, and enrollment has started to show an uptick in numbers. However, a different trend is evident in graduate training and academic research: the number of researchers being trained in oil and gas topics is drastically dropping.

The story can be summarized in Fig. 1. Funding trends in PE departments have been shifting away from oil and gas research. These shifts require large investments in skill-building, expertise, and laboratory infrastructure, which makes it much harder to reverse the trend. Consequently, the shift may permanently alter the identity of PE departments, something that will not impact only graduate education but could alter the overall identity of these departments and the workforce they train.

The data shared in Fig. 1c shows that more than 50% of the 2023 research awards, which will fund graduate students earning degrees between 2025 and 2026, are going to be invested in geothermal, carbon management, hydrogen, emissions, and other topics that do not support improving oil and gas resource extraction.

While 73% of the 2023 MSc and PhD graduates still studied oil and gas topics around reservoir, production, fracturing, and drilling, as shown in Fig. 1a, this number is expected to drop to under 50% for 2026 graduates. Fig. 1b reveals the accelerated trend of this transition, where only 65% of the publications generated from these departments in 2023 covered oil and gas topics. Under 60% of the 2024 and 2025 graduates who published in 2023 are building expertise in oil and gas research and development.

The team collected data to study the trends over the past 10 years. It included over $137 million in external research funding and over 1,900 thesis/dissertations, in addition to over 1,100 publications in 2023. More details about these numbers can be found in SPE 220735.

The trends in graduate training and research funding over the past 10 years are shown in Fig. 2, where the axis for graduate training is shifted by 3 years to account for the lag between the date funding was received and the graduation date for the students it supported.

When looking at numbers rather than percentages (Fig. 3), oil and gas research funding to four of the major PE departments in the US dropped from $30 million in 2014 to under $10 million in 2023 as shown in Fig. 3a. Funding in these departments now hovers at around $20 million, where the gap was filled by transitioning to the study of sustainable geoenergy topics relating to carbon and hydrogen storage and the extraction of geothermal energy, as shown in Fig. 3b.
Technology Focus: Hydraulic Fracturing Modeling (November 2024)
Authors: McClure Mark
Published: November 2024

The papers highlighted in this section demonstrate the merging of the theoretical and empirical to solve practical problems, addressing topics such as casing deformation, condensate banking, and mitigation of fracture-driven interactions.

Hydraulic fracture modeling requires blending the theoretical with the empirical. We have a good understanding of the fundamental physics—conservation of mass, continuum mechanics, and so on. However, the devil is in the details, especially when we consider field-scale problems where data are sparse and fracture morphologies are nonideal. What are the appropriate modeling inputs? What constitutive relations should we use to describe the details? What are appropriate assumptions about fracture geometry? These questions are tractable, but they require a humble, empirically driven perspective.

Processes can behave very differently at field scale than at the laboratory scale, so, while bench-top experiments play an important role, we must be primarily driven by measurements gathered in the field.

Beyond pure hydraulic fracture modeling, a variety of numerical modeling approaches can contribute by addressing a particular applied problem. For example, paper SPE 217762 (listed in the Additional Reading section below) performs computational fluid dynamics modeling of fluid flow through perforation tunnels. The goal is to improve the accuracy of the flow allocations derived from fiber-optic measurements, which are important calibration data for perforation design and fracture modeling generally. These data are important because understanding far-field fracture propagation requires characterizing transport in the well and the near-wellbore region.

Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.

URTeC 4044603 Leveraging Oil and Water Time-Lapse Geochemistry and Well Diagnostics To Understand Drainage and Opportunity for Infill Development in a Stacked Pay Asset, Avalon to Wolfcamp, Delaware Basin, New Mexico by Peter J. Jones, Devon Energy, et al.

SPE 214878 Efficient Modeling of Proppant Transport in Multicluster Stages by J. Wang, The University of Texas at Austin, et al.

SPE 217762 Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Acoustics Generated by Fluid Flow Through a Perforation by Yasuyuki Hamanaka, Texas A&M University, et al.
Siberian Greening Enhances Coastal Spring Chlorophyll in Western North America
Authors: Yang Young-Min , Park Jae-Heung , Sung Mi-Kyung , An Soon-Il , Yeh Sang-Wook , Kwon Eun Young , Lee June-Yi , Wang Bin , Li Tim , Park Jong-Yeon , Kug Jong-Seong , Lee Dong-Geon
Published: November 2024

Climate change is driving unprecedented changes in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, with profound effects on global atmospheric dynamics, carbon cycling, and productivity1,2. In particular, Siberia has experienced an earlier onset of the growing season3,4,5 and increased productivity4, contributing to regional warming4,5,6 and altered aerosol emissions7,8. At the same time, coastal spring chlorophyll in the northwestern US and Canada is undergoing significant changes due to coastal upwelling and resulting nutrient enrichment, affecting ecological dynamics and fisheries sustainability9–15. However, trends in the spring chlorophyll and its future changes remain uncertain. This study shows a significant increasing trend in coastal spring chlorophyll along the west of North America, associated with enhanced northerly winds induced by Siberian spring greening under greenhouse gas warming. Increased warming in Siberia, associated with spring greening, induces positive atmospheric pressure and northerly winds along the northwest coast of North America during spring. These winds drive enhanced upwelling, leading to elevated nitrate concentrations and significant spring chlorophyll blooms. Model simulations incorporating current and future CO2 forcings consistently confirm the observed increase in chlorophyll levels along the coastal waters of northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia. This study underscores the central role of Siberian spring greening in shaping the Northeastern Pacific Ocean spring ecosystem. The results highlight the complex linkages between terrestrial greening, atmospheric teleconnections, nutrient cycling, and marine ecosystems. A comprehensive understanding of these linkages is critical for predicting and managing the impacts of greenhouse gas-induced warming on fish catches and broader ecosystem dynamics. This research will help refine predictions and develop strategies to mitigate the broad impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax Field Isolates from the Nowshera District of Pakistan
Authors: Hayat Chandni , Kamil Atif , Khan Asifullah , Sayed Aniqa , Akbar Kehkashan , Afridi Sahib Gul
Published: November 2024

Background
The genetic diversity of malaria parasites contributes to their ability to adapt to environmental changes, develop drug resistance and escape from the host immune system; hence, it is very important for control measures of malaria. This study aimed to analyse the genetic diversity of the pfmsp1 and pfmsp2 genes in P. falciparum and the Pvmsp-3α gene in P. vivax isolates from District Nowshera in Pakistan.
Methods
Blood samples from 124 consenting patients with uncomplicated malaria presenting to different hospitals of district Nowshera were collected during March-August 2019, representing 28 P. falciparum and 96 P. vivax isolates. DNA from all samples was subjected to nested PCR-based allele-specific marker analysis. Pvmsp-3α amplified fragments were further treated with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based Hha1 restriction enzyme.
Results
In P. falciparum, 21 alleles were detected, including 14 alleles for Pfmsp-1 and 7 alleles for Pfmsp-2. The suballelic families MAD20 (50%) in the Pfmsp-1 family and FC27 (75%) in the Pfmsp-2 family were predominant. The multiplicity of infection (MOI) was calculated as 1.4 and 1.2 for Pfmsp-1 and Pfmsp-2, respectively, with an overall mean MOI of 1.34. In P. vivax, 4 allelic variants, Type A-D, were detected for Pvmsp-3α through nested PCR, while after RFLP digestion of amplicons, 9 suballelic variants (A1-A4, B1, B2, C1, C2 and D1) were observed at the Pvmsp-3α locus.
Conclusion
This first ever report of molecular characterization of P. falciparum and P. vivax genotypes from District Nowshera, Pakistan reveals moderate to high allelic diversity in these parasites from District Nowshera, Pakistan.
Methoxyflurane in early analgesic therapy by ski patrol members on Swiss ski slopes – an observational cohort study
Authors: Benz Lena , Knapp Jürgen , Roten Fredy-Michel , Huber Markus , Steffen Richard
Published: November 2024

Background
Pain therapy is an important first-response measure in the pre-clinical care of trauma patients. Injured individuals on ski slopes are usually given first aid by members of the ski patrol. The early implementation of adequate pain therapy by these paramedical rescuers can increase patient satisfaction and have a positive effect on the entire treatment process. In this context, we analysed the administration of methoxyflurane by ski patrol members on Swiss ski slopes.
Methods
In this retrospective observational study, we evaluated 172 datasets, of which 149 concerned patients who were administered methoxyflurane. These datasets were taken from a quality-control survey related to the administration of methoxyflurane by members of the ski patrol in seven ski resorts in the Swiss Alps. The data was collected in the winter months of 2022/23. The ski patrol members had been previously trained by medical professionals and employed methoxyflurane following a defined algorithm, according to which patients with an initial numeric pain score of ≥ 4 qualified for the use of methoxyflurane. After each treatment, data on effectiveness and feasibility were collected by means of a standardised questionnaire. The primary outcome was defined as achieving effective pain therapy, which was designated as a reduction on the numerical rating scale of two or more points and a pain score of seven or less after administration. We then performed a linear regression analysis with the relative pain reduction as the outcome and sex, age, ski resort and injury class as covariates.
Results
Methoxyflurane led to effective pain reduction in around two-thirds of patients on the ski slopes and was easy to use for trained ski patrol members. Median pain reduction was 2 points (interquartile range: 1 to 3) on the NRS scale. The regression model showed lower reduction in pain in lower extremity injuries. Sex, age and initial pain score were not associated with the extent of pain reduction. No serious side effects were observed.
Conclusion
The administration of methoxyflurane by trained ski patrol members is a safe and effective option for early pain management in ski slope injuries. Methoxyflurane could thus represent a useful bridging measure, enabling the ski patrol to relieve moderate to severe pain until professional rescue services arrive. However, it does not seem ideal for lower leg injuries.
Diagnostic performance of ChatGPT in tibial plateau fracture in knee X-ray
Authors: Mohammadi Mohammadreza , Parviz Sara , Parvaz Parinaz , Pirmoradi Mohammad Mahdi , Afzalimoghaddam Mohammad , Mirfazaelian Hadi
Published: November 2024

Purpose
Tibial plateau fractures are relatively common and require accurate diagnosis. Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) has emerged as a tool to improve medical diagnosis. This study aims to investigate the accuracy of this tool in diagnosing tibial plateau fractures.
Methods
A secondary analysis was performed on 111 knee radiographs from emergency department patients, with 29 confirmed fractures by computed tomography (CT) imaging. The X-rays were reviewed by a board-certified emergency physician (EP) and radiologist and then analyzed by ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-4o. The diagnostic performances were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were also calculated.
Results
The results indicated a sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio of 58.6% (95% CI: 38.9% − 76.4%) and 0.4 (95% CI: 0.3–0.7) for the EP, 72.4% (95% CI: 52.7% − 87.2%) and 0.3 (95% CI: 0.2–0.6) for the radiologist, 27.5% (95% CI: 12.7% − 47.2%) and 0.7 (95% CI: 0.6–0.9)for ChatGPT-4, and 55.1% (95% CI: 35.6% − 73.5%) and 0.4 (95% CI: 0.3–0.7) for ChatGPT4o. The specificity and positive likelihood ratio were 85.3% (95% CI: 75.8% − 92.2%) and 4.0 (95% CI: 2.1–7.3) for the EP, 76.8% (95% CI: 66.2% − 85.4%) and 3.1 (95% CI: 1.9–4.9) for the radiologist, 95.1% (95% CI: 87.9% − 98.6%) and 5.6 (95% CI: 1.8–17.3) for ChatGPT-4, and 93.9% (95% CI: 86.3% − 97.9%) and 9.0 (95% CI: 3.6–22.4) for ChatGPT4o. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.6–0.8) for the EP, 0.61(95% CI: 0.4–0.7) for ChatGPT-4, 0.74 (95% CI: 0.6–0.8) for ChatGPT4-o, and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.6–0.8) for the radiologist. The EP and radiologist significantly outperformed ChatGPT-4 (P value = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively), whereas there was no significant difference between the EP, ChatGPT-4o, and radiologist.
Conclusion
This study showed that ChatGPT-4o had the potential to significantly impact medical imaging diagnosis.
Enhancing Perioperative Decision-Making: Utilizing Machine Learning to Predict Postoperative Stroke Following Craniotomy
Authors: Lu Tianyou , Wang Chengyu , Luo Tongsen , Lu yaxin , Li Liping , Li Wenjing , Cai Jun , Chen Chaojin , Hei Ziqing
Published: November 2024

Objection:
Postoperative stroke (PS) represents a significant and grave complication, which often remains challenging to detect until clear clinical symptoms emerge. The early identification of populations at high risk for PS is essential for enabling timely intervention and enhancing postoperative outcomes. This study seeks to employ machine learning (ML) techniques to create a predictive model for PS following elective craniotomy.
Methods
This study encompassed a total of 1,349 cases that underwent elective craniotomy between January 2013 and August 2021. Perioperative data, encompassing demographics, etiology, laboratory results, comorbidities, and medications, were utilized to construct predictive models. Nine distinct ML models were developed for the prediction of PS and assessed based on the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), along with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy metrics.
Results
Among the 1,349 patients included in the study, 137 cases (10.2%) were diagnosed with PS, which was associated with a worse prognosis. Of the nine ML prediction models evaluated, the logistic regression (LR) model exhibited superior performance, as indicated by an AUC value of 0.741 (0.64–0.85), and competitive performance metrics, including an accuracy of 0.668, sensitivity of 0.650, and specificity of 0.670. Notably, feature importance analysis identified "preoperative albumin," "ASA classification," and "preoperative hemoglobin" as the top three factors contributing to the prediction of PS.
Conclusion
Our study successfully developed a real-time and easily accessible parameter requiring LR-based PS prediction model for post-elective craniotomy patients, which enhanced perioperative decision-making.
Association between frailty and physical-psychological multimorbidity in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)
Authors: Fei ZhiYing , Qian Yin , Tu YingYing , Wu chunqiao
Published: November 2024

Background As the population ages, chronic diseases, frailty, and physical-psychological multimorbidity (PP-MM) increase. However, the association between frailty and PP-MM remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this relationship in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals. Methods This study used four waves of data from the Chinese Longitudinal Study of Health and Aging. Frailty was assessed using the frailty index (FI), and physical illness was defined as having one or more self-reported chronic diseases. Psychological status was examined using the 10-item version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The participants were inquired about any previous diagnoses of affective, emotional, nervous, or psychiatric disorders. PP-MM was defined as the concurrent presence of two kinds of diseases (physical illness and psychological disorders). The relationship between FI and PP-MM was evaluated using COX risk regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves. Results This study included 10,707 subjects, and after adjusting for potential confounders, the HR was 3.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.05–4.23) for pre-frail and 6.11 (95% CI = 3.79–9.84) for frail. COX regression analysis indicated a potential association between FI and PP-MM progression. RCS analysis revealed that the risk of PP-MM prevalence increased faster with an FI between 0.10 and 0.25. Conclusion Our study suggests that FI is positively associated with the prevalence of PP-MM and that the pre-frail phase may be a better opportunity to implement interventions for PP-MM prevention, with early monitoring of FI to identify patients at high risk for PP-MM and to provide direction and rationale for preventing PP-MM.
Comparison of the Outcomes of Preputial Buttonhole Flap Versus Byars Flap Techniques in Hypospadias Treatment
Authors: Valizade Farzin , rad Hamed Mohseni , Amirkhani Navid
Published: November 2024

Background:
Hypospadias, a prevalent congenital anomaly, is characterized by the incomplete development of the urethral spongiosum and the ventral prepuce. The current standard of care for hypospadias not only targets the attainment of a functional penis, facilitating sexual intercourse and upright urination, but also emphasizes an aesthetically pleasing outcome. The surgical techniques for treating hypospadias are continually advancing.
Methods:
In this study, two distinct skin coverage techniques used in hypospadias repair were compared. The Snodgrass technique was used to repair all 40 cases included in our study. In half of the cases (n = 20), an inner preputial buttonhole flap was used for skin coverage. For the remaining cases, a Byars flap was employed as a waterproof layer. The minimum period of follow-up was six months. Finally, data related to the surgical outcomes and the patients’ demographic characteristics were collected and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results:
The average age of the patients in this study was 26.1 months (SD, 8.5). The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the preputial buttonhole flap and Byars flap techniques in the treatment of hypospadias, considering factors, such as urethral fistula, meatal stenosis, and the need for a repeat surgery postoperatively (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that the preputial buttonhole flap technique may be more effective than the Byars flap surgery in neourethra coverage for preventing fistulas in distal hypospadias. However, to substantiate these findings, further studies with larger sample sizes are required.
Epidemiological Trends and Clinical Characteristics of Measles in Iraq (2023-2024): A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Jalal Mohammed A. , Halboot Kamil M. , Lami Sundus A. , Gumar Entidhar A. , al-Delphi Mortada H. Kreeb , Lami Faris , Taher Taqi Mohammed Jwad
Published: November 2024

Background: Measles remains a major public health challenge globally, especially in regions with low vaccination coverage. Iraq has experienced recurrent outbreaks in recent years, primarily due to inconsistent vaccination rates and a weakened healthcare system. Analyzing the epidemiological patterns and clinical features of measles in Iraq is essential for developing effective public health interventions.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study examined measles cases reported from January 2023 to August 2024, using data from the national surveillance system. The analysis emphasized demographic and clinical information, specifically vaccination status, age distribution, and clinical symptoms. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, incorporating descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Chi-square tests.
Results: The measles incidence in Iraq increased significantly from 22.1 to 69.3 cases per-100,000 population. Notable rises in cases were observed among infants under 9 months (12% to 16.7%) and individuals over 15 years (6.4% to 12.1%). The percentage of cases with unknown vaccination status rose to 50.2%. Symptoms such as fever and rash were prevalent, exhibiting significant variations by age and vaccination status.
Conclusion: The resurgence of measles in Iraq from January 2023 to August 2024 highlights significant public health challenges, driven by socio-economic instability. The increase in cases, especially among under-immunized populations and infants, necessitates urgent action. Strengthening vaccination programs, enhancing public awareness, and improving healthcare access are essential. Additionally, better surveillance and record-keeping are crucial for effective outbreak management. Tailored public health strategies are needed to address geographic disparities in incidence, and further research on vaccine hesitancy is critical for developing robust catch-up vaccination campaigns.
Joint Association of Education and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status with Smoking Behavior: The Multiethnic Cohort Study
Authors: Walsh Catherine P. , Shariff-Marco Salma , Lee Younghan , Wilkens Lynne R. , Marchand Loic Le , Haiman Christopher A. , Cheng Iona , Park S. Lani
Published: November 2024

Background Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable mortality. Both neighborhood- and individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) are inversely associated with smoking. However, their joint effect on smoking behavior has not been evaluated.Methods This cross-sectional study examined the association of education and neighborhood SES (nSES) with smoking among 166,475 Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) participants (African American, Japanese American, Latino, Native Hawaiian, White individuals) recruited between 1993–1996 from Hawaii and LA County. nSES was based on a composite score of 1990 US Census data and assigned to geocoded addresses; nSES quintiles were based on region-specific distributions. The joint education/nSES variable had four categories: high nSES (Quintiles 4–5)/high education (> high school), high nSES/low education (≤ high school), low nSES (Quintiles 1–3)/high education, and low nSES/low education. Poisson regression estimated state-specific prevalence ratios (PR) for current smoking versus non-smoking across joint SES categories, with subgroup analyses by sex and race/ethnicity.Results In California, compared to MEC participants with high nSES/high education, the PR for smoking was highest for low nSES/low education (PR = 1.50), followed by low nSES/high education (PR = 1.33) and high nSES/low education (PR = 1.29). All pairwise comparisons between PR were statistically different (p < 0.0001), except high nSES/low education vs. low nSES/high education. In Hawaii, compared to high nSES/high education, the PR for smoking was also highest for low nSES/low education (PR = 1.41), but followed by high nSES/low education (PR = 1.36), then low nSES/high education (PR = 1.20). All pairwise comparisons were statistically different (p < 0.0001), except high nSES/low education vs. low nSES/low education. These patterns were consistent across sex and race/ethnicity within each state.Conclusion In California and Hawaii, individuals with low education living in low SES neighborhoods had the highest smoking prevalence. However, regional differences were noted: in California, both low education and low nSES increased smoking prevalence; whereas in Hawaii, low education had a greater impact.
An extra-glossal ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumor with RREB1::MRTFB fusion-positive: A case report of a rare tumor at a rare site
Authors: Deng Yu , Liu Wei , Sun Ke
Published: November 2024

Background: Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumor (ECT) is a rare benign intraoral tumor which almost exclusively presents as a small mass of the anterior dorsal tongue. Recently, the RREB1–MRTFB (previously known as MKL2) fusion gene has been identified in 90% of ECTs, all located in the tongue, emphasizing its genetic distinctiveness. Herein we report one mesenchymal tumor involving the bottom of the left foot of young women with RREB1–MRTFB fusions.
Case presentation: The tumor presented as well-circumscribed masse. After complete excision recurrence was not observed at 6 months. Although tumor were originally unclassifiable, targeted RNA sequencing revealed RREB1 (exon 8)–MRTFB (exon 11) fusion transcripts. The tumor cells showed mild nuclear atypical with very low mitotic activity. Immunohistochemistry staining show S100, glial fibrillary acidic protein, CD56 diffuse positive, variable expression of SMA, and negative for SOX10、P63. Overall, these findings suggest that they may represent previously undescribed extra-glossal ECT involving the plantar fascia. However, it has brought many obstacles to our diagnosis because of its unclassical morphology and uncommon site.
Conclusions: We report for the first time a mesenchymal chondromyxoid tumor with RREB1-MTRFB gene fusion occurring in the foot. This case furthers awareness of the extra-glossal distribution of ECT. By carefully observing morphology and combining immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques, we can effectively avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis of the diseases.
The mid-term results of screws plus cement repair during primary total knee arthroplasty for Rand type II bone defects
Authors: Wang Tihui , wu jinqing , zhang zhiwei , zheng tianqin , lu zhenbao , wang xu , lin feiyue
Published: November 2024

【 Objective 】 To investigate the midterm results of the screws plus cement repair technique for medial tibial plateau bone defects during total knee arthroplasty.
【 Methods 】 From September 2014 to September 2019, 38 patients with Rand type II bone defects who underwent the screws plus cement technique during primary TKA were included in the study. The clinical results were evaluated via the knee society knee score (KSKS) and the knee society function score (KSFS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and range of motion (ROM). The hip–knee–ankle angle (HKAA), femorotibial angle (FTA), and radiolucent lines were assessed radiologically.
【 Results 】Onepatient had incomplete data, 1 patient died due to a traffic accident, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Thirty-five patients were followed up for an average of 92.6 months (60–120 months). At the last follow-up visit, the KSKS, KSFS, WOMAC score, and ROM significantly improved. The HKAA and FTA were corrected postoperatively. In 3 patients, a nonprogressive radiolucent line measuring approximately 1 mm was observed at the interface between the host bone and the cement at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, with an incidence of 8.3%, and no radiolucent lines were found around the screws in any of the patients at the last follow-up visit. No infection, fracture or prosthesis loosening occurred in any of the patients.
【 Conclusion 】The screws plus cement technique in primary total knee arthroplasty for the repair of Rand type II bone defects achieved satisfactory clinical and radiological results and solid fixation after a minimum 5-year follow-up period. The screws plus cement technique could be considered an economical and practical method to repair mild and moderate bone defects in primary TKA patients.
Active screening and Molecular Epidemiology Characteristics of fecal colonization of Carbapenem resistance Enterobacterales from Intensive Care Units wards in a Tertiary Hospital in Shanghai, China
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhou Cong , Xu Maosuo , Shen Chunmei , Shen Fang , Lin Yong
Published: November 2024

Background: Active screening fecal colonization of carbapenem resistance Enterobacterales(CRE) and intervention in Intensive Care Units(ICU) wards have become important measures to prevent CRE infection. However, limited data is available on molecular epidemiological characteristics and homology analysis of fecal colonization of CRE(CRE-fc) in ICU wards. This prospective observational study was aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics and homology analysis of fecal colonization of CRE in ICU wards from a university hospital in China.
Methods: Fecal swabs were collected from 435 patients in ICU wards of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China from March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023, and the above specimens were inoculated in Resistant Bacteria Chromogenic Plate (Antu Bio, China). We removed duplicate strains from the same patient and only retain the first isolated CRE-fc. Infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions were carried out for patients with positive CRE screening results. The bacterial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, MLST and serotypes were profiled. We also applied whole-genome sequencing and core-genome MLST to analysis the molecular epidemiological characteristics and homology of these strains.
Results: The prevalence of CRE-fc in ICU wards was 12.6%(55/435). The predominate CRE-fc was Klebsiella pneumoniae (83.6%, 46/55), followed by Escherichia coli (9.1%, 5/55), Enterobacter aerogenes (3.7%, 2/55), Enterobacter cloacae (1.8%, 1/55), Citrobacter freundii (1.8%, 1/55). Through active screening of CRE-fc and IPC interventions in 2022, we found that the CRE infection rate in 2022 (22.8%) was significantly lower than that in 2021 (33.7%). MLST analysis revealed that the 46 fecal colonization of carbapenem resistance Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP-fc) belonged to 3 different ST, ST11 was the most predominant ST (71.7%, 33/46), followed by ST15 (26.1%, 12/46) and ST290 (2.2%, 1/46). All ST11 and ST15 strains harbored blaKPC-2, and ten ST15 strains carried two carbapenemase genes (blaKPC-2, blaOXA-1) at the same time. The phylogenetic tree identified two major clades, cluster 1 corresponding to ST11, cluster 2 to ST15.
Conclusion: Phylogenetic analysis showed clonal spread of CRKP among patients in ICU wards. ST11-KL64 CRKP has emerged as the most prevalent fecal colonized carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and may contribute to hospital outbreaks of infection. Active screening of CRE-fc and IPC interventions can reduce the CRE infection rate in ICU wards.
Analysis of the Correlations between Changes in Posterior Segment and Anterior Chamber Segment after Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation in Highly Myopic Patients
Authors: Peng Yifei , Xiong Lu , Qu Haokun , Liu Yang , Wang Zheng
Published: November 2024

Purpose
To investigate the effects of implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation on the posterior segment of the eye and its correlation with the structural changes of the anterior chamber angle in patients with high myopia.
Methods
Patients with high myopia undergoing ICL surgery from September 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the surgical group, while those with high myopia not undergoing surgery during the same period served as the non-surgery group. The patients in the surgical group underwent assessments for uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), refraction, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) preoperatively, and on 1 day, 1 week, 1month, and 3 months postoperatively. In contrast, the patients in the non-surgery group were evaluated at the baseline and three months later.
Results
Conclusion
Anterior chamber depth narrowed after ICL implantation, which remained stable at 3 months postoperatively. The superficial vessel density fluctuated postoperatively, returning to preoperative levels by 3 months. The deep vessel density (DVD) also fluctuated, with the nasal quadrant around the fovea showing an increase in DVD at 3 months postoperatively compared to preoperatively, while DVD in other areas returned to preoperative levels by 3 months. The fluctuations in vascular density postoperatively correlated with changes in the anterior chamber angle structure. ICL implantation demonstrates good safety and efficacy for patients with high myopia.
The Effect of Music on Resistance to Mental Fatigue：Evidence of EEG Power Spectrum
Authors: Liu Jin , He Tingting , Hu Zhigang
Published: November 2024

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of music listening in alleviating mental fatigue among healthy participants and to explore the neural evidence by electroencephalography (EEG).
Methods: A total of 30 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the Music or Control groups. Mental fatigue was induced in both groups using a 30-minute Stroop task. Following this task, the Music group listened to music for 20 minutes, while the Control group sat quietly for the same duration. Measurements were taken at three time points: before the Stroop task, immediately after the Stroop task, and after the 20-minute intervention period. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and 3-minute resting-state EEG signals were collected at each time point.
Results: The data indicated that music listening significantly reduced mental fatigue. VAS scores decreased more in the Music group than the Control group (P=0.031). The EEG iAPF showed a significant recovery in the Music group (P<0.0001). Delta power in the frontal region decreased significantly post-intervention in the Music group (P=0.011). Theta and alpha power also decreased significantly in the Music group across multiple brain regions (all Ps<0.0076), with no significant changes observed in beta power.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of music as a non-invasive and enjoyable intervention for mitigating the effects of mental fatigue. Moreover, iAPF, theta, and alpha power can serve as reliable biomarkers for assessing mental fatigue and the restorative effects of interventions like music.
Flooding Spread of Manipulated Knowledge in LLM-Based Multi-Agent Communities
Authors: Ju Tianjie , Wang Yiting , Hua Yi , Ma Xinbei , Cheng Pengzhou , Zhao Haodong , Wang Yulong , Liu Lifeng , Xie Jian , Zhang Zhuosheng , Liu Gongshen
Published: November 2024

The rapid adoption of large language models (LLMs) in multi-agent systems has highlighted their impressive capabilities in various applications. However, the security implications of these LLM-based multi-agent systems have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly concerning the spread of manipulated knowledge. In this paper, we aim to understand the security vulnerabilities associated with LLM-based multi-agent systems. We design a novel two-stage attack methodology, consisting of Persuasiveness Injection and Manipulated Knowledge Injection, to investigate the potential for manipulated knowledge to permeate trusted third-party platforms without explicit adversarial prompt attack. Through extensive experiments, we demonstrate that our attack method can successfully induce LLM-based agents to spread both counterfactual and toxic knowledge without degrading their foundational capabilities during agent communication. Furthermore, we show that these manipulations can persist through popular retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) frameworks, where several benign agents store and retrieve manipulated chat histories for future interactions. To mitigate the potential risk, we propose two defense strategies by designing system prompts to encourage agents to critically verify the knowledge they share and incorporating supervisory agents to oversee interactions. Results demonstrate that those strategies can effectively reduce the spread success rate. This work highlights the critical vulnerabilities inherent in LLM-based multi-agent communities and calls for the urgent need for platforms to swiftly adopt targeted defenses against manipulated knowledge spread. Results demonstrate that even these straightforward strategies can significantly reduce the spread success rate, which calls for platforms to swiftly adopt targeted, cost-effective measures to prevent the spread of manipulated knowledge.
N6-methyladenosine modification of DYNLT1 Facilitates Tamoxifen Resistance in Luminal B Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Qiji , Li Chenxin , Zhang Di , Lei Kefeng , Wang Yun , Zhu Qingqing , Zhang Yuhao , Sun Xiaoting , Zheng Zihan , Yang Xiaoying , Tian Qin , Zhu Chengming , Ye Liping
Published: November 2024

Purpose
Resistance to tamoxifen poses a significant clinical challenge in the management of Luminal B breast cancer, necessitating the identification of novel biomarkers for predicting treatment response and prognosis. The specific role of DYNLT1 in endocrine response within Luminal B breast cancer remains uncertain.
Methods
The expression levels of DYNLT1 were assessed in breast cancer samples using immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and western blot analysis. The potential role of DYNLT1 in promoting resistance to tamoxifen was investigated through cell viability and colony formation assays. Furthermore, an in vivo mammary fat pad model was employed to examine the impact of DYNLT1 on tamoxifen resistance in breast tumors. Additionally, luciferase activity assays were conducted to explore the activation of the ER signaling pathway. The enrichment of ELAVL1 on mRNA of DYNLT1 was detected utilizing RNA immunoprecipitation assay.
Results
This study demonstrated that the DYNLT1 expression was particularly upregulated in the Luminal B subtype of breast cancer tissues. Notably, elevated DYNLT1 expression was associated with poorer relapse-free survival among Luminal B breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen. Functionally, increased DYNLT1 expression induced resistance to tamoxifen both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, upregulation of DYNLT1 significantly promoted ligand-independent activation of the ER signaling pathway. ELAVL1-mediated m6A modification led to overexpression of DYNLT1 and facilitated the acquisition of tamoxifen resistance phenotype.
Conclusion
Overall, these findings highlight that DYNLT1 could potentially act as a novel biological marker for predicting the effectiveness of tamoxifen treatment and patient prognosis in Luminal B breast cancer.
Multilayered substructures of a non-enzymatic chemical reaction network synthesizing sugars
Authors: Hase Yoko , Chikatani Gena , Nishijima Hiroaki , Ito Yuji , Nagita Kaito , Tabata Hiro , Harada Takashi , Miyake Rika , Nakanishi Shuji
Published: November 2024

In biological chemical reactions, such as those found in metabolism, substructures formed through multi-step enzymatic reactions organize into large chemical reaction networks (CRNs) that produce complex and sophisticated functions. Recently, significant attention has been paid to artificial, non-enzymatic control of multi-step chemical reactions aimed at synthesizing compounds with structural complexity. Sequential reactions, where multiple catalysts each drive specific steps, have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance overall efficiency; however, the synergistic effects arising from the activation of different substructures within a CRN by multiple catalysts, and the emergent functions resulting from the combination of these substructures, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we focus on the formose reaction as a non-enzymatic CRN to demonstrate that the complementary activation of multiple substructures by distinct catalysts leads to the emergence of novel functions. We conducted a statistical analysis of temporal changes in compound concentrations during reactions catalyzed by γ-Al2O3 and a phosphate buffer solution. The results suggested the presence of a third catalytic species and revealed synergistic effects among the substructures activated by γ-Al2O3, phosphates, and this third species. Our findings demonstrate that the synergistic effects of multiple catalysts can be harnessed to design and control the functions of CRNs.
Serum-based studies show novel biomarkers for circulating HPV-DNA in high-risk HPV women as a biomarker for early detection of cervical cancer.
Authors: Venkatesh  , gowda Jadeppa , BS Anjali Devi
Published: November 2024

Background:
Cervical cancer caused by HPV is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Detecting circulating cell-free HPV-DNA can provide valuable information about treatment response as well as serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for residual disease and relapse. However, only a few biomarkers are available for early diagnosis, and the current ones require tissue excision or invasive procedures, limiting their use in routine diagnosis. Analysis of nucleic acids has become popular for cancer diagnosis, and circulating HPV-DNA is a newly reported biomarker for identifying individuals with cancer. In a recent study, HPV-DNA was successfully detected in 85% of treatment-naive patients, and changes in HPV-DNA levels corresponding to treatment response and relapse were observed. HPV-DNA shows promise as a biomarker for therapy monitoring in both primary and recurrent cervical cancer, and it could become a sensitive, non-invasive, and easily accessible tool for diagnosis and follow-up.
Über die (Un-)Möglichkeit studentischer Partizipation: Verständigungen und Spannungsfelder im Erfahrungsraum Hochschule
Authors: Gädeke Eik , Schaper Sabrina
Published: November 2024

Der Artikel fokussiert auf Partizipation im Hochschulstudium unter Berücksichtigung organisationaler und soziokultureller Bedingungen. Dazu werden zunächst anhand von Spannungsfeldern im Partizipationsdiskurs, polykontexturalen Partizipationsmöglichkeiten und Erfahrungen von Studierenden als Partizipierende empirische Leerstellen und Paradoxien aufgezeigt. Anschließend wird die Verflechtung von lebensweltlichen und organisatorischen Herausforderungen, insbesondere bei hochschulischen Übergängen, beleuchtet. Aus beiden Argumentationslinien ergibt sich schließlich ein Fokus auf unterschiedliche „Problematiken“ des Partizipierens, deren Bearbeitung zur erziehungswissenschaftlichen Reflexion und zum Transfer in die Lehrpraxis anregen soll.
Field-Specific Student Participation in Research Processes
Authors: Wollin-Giering Susanne , Gläser Jochen
Published: November 2024

Student participation in university research has typically been seen in terms of learning benefits for students; and the relevance of students in research processes has been largely neglected. This study addresses the gap in understanding student participation in research by comparing the link between epistemic properties of research processes and research fields on the timing and prevalence of mechanisms of participation in Modern German Literature and Experimental Condensed Matter Physics.
Qualität lehren, Partizipation fördern? Ein hochschulisches Seminar für Studierende
Authors: Albrecht Sophia , Kaiser Katharina , Waldenburger Johannes
Published: November 2024

Studentische Partizipation bildet ein wichtiges Element in der Qualitätsentwicklung von Studium und Lehre. Allerdings ist die Partizipationsbereitschaft an deutschen Hochschulen nicht sehr ausgeprägt, da diese bestimmten Hinderungsfaktoren, wie unzureichendem Wissen seitens der Studierenden, unterliegt. Wie den Hinderungsfaktoren begegnet werden kann, zeigt der Beitrag beispielhaft anhand eines Seminars, das die Themen Qualitätsmanagement und Partizipation vereint.
Zwischen studentischem Engagement und akademischer Anerkennung – Selbstverwaltung als Modul an Hochschulen
Authors: Stecher Dorle , Schnurr Johanna , Reim Daphne
Published: November 2024

Die Partizipation Studierender an der Hochschule erfolgt unter anderem über deren Engagement in Gremien. Um die Bereitschaft zu erhöhen, sich aktiv an Gremienarbeit zu beteiligen, etablieren einige Hochschulen Module, in denen Studierende Credit Points für die Gremientätigkeit erhalten. Die Konzeption eines solchen Moduls ist Thema dieses Entwicklungsbeitrags. Er schildert die Vorgehensweise, beschreibt die Möglichkeiten des Moduls und identifiziert die Herausforderungen, die vor allem in den Rahmenbedingungen der Hochschule und in Konzepten zur Kompetenzentwicklung liegen.