bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in the Perception of Home Training Using Text Mining Techniques: Comparison between before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lee Myung Chul , Lee Jang Sub , Han Dong il , Han Kyung Hun
Published: March 2023

Objectives: The purpose is to study how the perception of home training has changed through data comparison before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, to find out the changes in people’s perception of home training, which has become a new sports culture, to provide basic data and to suggest directions on how research using big data can be used in the sports field.Methods: In order to compare before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, text mining analysis was conducted by setting keywords as home training in Naver and Daum by setting from February 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020, when the first COVID-19 confirmed patient in Korea came out, and from February 1, 2019, to November 30, 2019.Results: As a result of CONCOR analysis between words related to home training, a total of 16 clusters were formed, eight each, including smart home training, YouTube, and health programs before COVID-19, and eight each, including smart home training, YouTube, and home training exercise equipment and types.Conclusions: This study can be used as a tool to understand the market status, trends, and directions of interest by grasping the public’s perception and status of home training.
EVOLVEMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF REPRODUCTOLOGY IN THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN
Authors:   Center of Medical Technologies, Ufa, Russia, Fazlyeva EA , Uzyanbayeva RU ,   Center of Medical Technologies, Ufa, Russia, Kryukova NI ,   Center of Medical Technologies, Ufa, Russia, Galieva GA ,   Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russia, Sharafutdinova NH ,   Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russia
Published: March 2023

Significance. The history of development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in the world is detailed in publications. The history of evolvement of reproductology in Russia, especially in the regions, is understudied, substantiating relevance of the study The purpose of the study. To analyze and summarize material on evolvement and organization of reproductology in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Material and methods. Analysis of health data of the Republic of Bashkortostan, data of official websites of medical organizations. Results. In the Republic of Bashkortostan, in 2006, for the first time ever, the ART department was opened at the Republican Perinatal Center, 25 procedures were carried out at the expense of the republican budget. Since 2013, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has been introduced into the compulsory health insurance program. Currently, 5 medical centers in the Republic take part in the program of state guarantees with the use of ART methods. Conclusion. The study results demonstrate stages and successes of reproductology in the Republic for 15 years; effectiveness of IVF programs exceeds the Russian average.
Experimental and Mathematical Investigation of Natural Gas Huff-n-Puff on Eagle Ford Shale Samples
Authors: Alinejad Amin , Dehghanpour Hassan
Published: March 2023

Gas Huff-n-Puff (HnP) has been implemented as an enhanced oil recovery technique to recover the residual oil after primary production from unconventional wells. Natural gas, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide can be used as candidates for injecting fluids in HnP operations. However, natural gas is the common choice for injecting gas due to its availability and incentives for reducing the venting and flaring of the produced gas. So far, some experimental studies attempted to investigate the natural gas HnP on Eagle Ford shale. However, the associated oil-recovery mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we perform natural gas HnP experiments using C1 and C1-C2 on Eagle Ford shale samples under representative reservoir conditions. We use a custom-designed visualization cell to observe the interactions of gas, oil, and shale during the whole HnP cycle. Consistent with field operations, we adopt a hybrid depletion strategy of steep depletion at the initial stages followed by a slow depletion at later stages. We select the pressure depletion rates by downscaling field data of a HnP operation in the Eagle Ford Formation. Our results reveal that solution-gas drive or gas expansion during the depletion stage is the dominant oil-recovery mechanism. However, the extended soaking period helps in oil recovery by allowing sufficient gas diffusion into the core plug. We observe that enrichment of injecting gas by C2 results in earlier and more oil production compared to pure C1. The ultimate oil recovery factor after a single-cycle C1 and C1-C2 HnP is 46.1 and 55.6% of the original oil-in-place, respectively. We estimate the apparent diffusivity coefficient of C1 and C1-C2 in oil-saturated shale plugs using available analytical models. The estimated apparent diffusivity coefficients are in the order of 10–10 m2/s with an 8% higher diffusivity coefficient in the case of C1-C2 compared to the case of C1.
A Laboratory Protocol to Investigate EOR by Surfactants During Pre-Loading of Parent Wells to Mitigate Fracture Hit
Authors: Alinejad Amin , Wang Lan , Dehghanpour Hassan
Published: March 2023

Generally, pressure and fluid communications between parent and child wells which is referred to as frac hit deteriorate the production performance of the parent well. Small pre-loading technique is one of the cost-efficient and operationally simple strategies to mitigate frac hit. However, the production outcome of the parent well is unsatisfactory after flowback of pre-loading fluid in most of the pilots. To overcome this negative impact, we intend to evaluate the extent of additional oil recovery by imbibition of fluids with two types of non-ionic surfactant additives (SF-1 and SF-2) during pre-loading and flowback processes. We utilize a high-pressure and high-temperature visualization cell to conduct the pre-loading experiments using Montney rock and fluid samples. We restore the initial reservoir condition in the core plug and then simulate the primary production stage of the reservoir to establish a depleted core plug. Then, we conduct two sets of experiments on the depleted core plug: 1) soaking the plug with SF-1 surfactant solution under atmospheric conditions and 2) pre-loading the depleted core plug with the SF-1 surfactant solution at a pressure of 3,500 psig and reservoir temperature of 78°C. We also pre-load an oil-saturated core plug with SF-2 surfactant solution at similar operational conditions. Our results show that 31.4% of the original oil-in-place is produced during the primary production stage with solution-gas drive as the dominant oil-recovery mechanism. We observe an additional 3.9% (of original oil-in-place) oil recovery due to counter-current imbibition of the SF-1 surfactant solution after soaking under atmospheric conditions. The interfacial tension reduction and wettability alteration are two possible oil-recovery mechanisms during surfactant soaking. Pre-loading the depleted core plug with SF-1 surfactant solution at a set pressure of 3,370 psig and a temperature of 78°C does not result in additional oil recovery. However, pre-loading the oil-saturated core plug with SF-2 surfactant solution at the same operational conditions results in an approximately 29.6% oil recovery. We observe oil droplets formed on the rock surface during soaking of the oil-saturated plug with SF-2 surfactant solution. We conclude that longer soaking periods may assist in additional oil recovery in core plugs with depleted state compared to the non-depleted plugs.
Optimization of Flare Gas Recovery in Oil and Gas Processing Plants, from Challenges to Opportunities
Authors: Behrang Arash , Solano Angela , Quiroga Victor , Cota Raul
Published: March 2023

A flare network is an important part of the pressure-relieving system of hydrocarbon processing plants. The primary function of a flare system is to protect the plant and personnel by reliably and safely disposing of flammable waste gas by burning it into the atmosphere during an emergency. However, the excess gas generated in oil and gas operations may also be continuously sent to the flare network to be burned. This routine flaring releases emissions that include greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and any unburned hydrocarbons, all of which contribute to the total emissions from the plant.

In this paper we describe a feasibility study of low to zero routine flaring in a processing plant. The process under study involved recovering flare gas and routing it back to the plant for appropriate use. Detailed design, economic assessment, and evaluation of a flare reduction strategy is presented through modeling of the complete system from production to facilities to the flare system and gas recovery method of choice. Reciprocating compressor design and optimization to maximize throughput and minimize emissions is featured. The possibility of occurrence of different operating hazards is studied, including brittle fracture, hydrate, and dry ice formation in the flare network. This study is helpful to detect and mitigate the risk of pipe rupture caused by flare line embrittlement.
Microfluidic-Based Optimization of Polymer flooding for Heavy Oil Recovery
Authors: Qi Zhenbang , Fan Xingyu , Abedini Ali , Raffa Duilio
Published: March 2023

Polymer flooding has been implemented in Western Canada, specifically in Saskatchewan and Alberta since 2000s. Flooding with polymer has been more effective than with water in heavy oil reservoirs due to a more favorable mobility ratio, resulting in more a stable front and less fingering. Optimization of polymer flood strategies is essential for successful implementation of field-scale operations. Core and sand-pack flood testing have been a reliable method for laboratory evaluation of different injection methods and chemicals as the cores are representative of the reservoir geometries and rock chemistries. However, few drawbacks exist such as long turnaround time when multiple strategies need to be compared and inconsistency in pore geometry. Most importantly, this approach cannot resolve the pore scale displacement mechanisms, falling short to compare injection cases in which the recovery factors are similar, but pore-scale dynamics are different. In this study, a microfluidic-based platform was developed to visually evaluate the performance of different polymer flood cases in heavy oil recovery. Two secondary injection tests were performed with water and polymer. A tertiary polymer injection test was also performed with the waterflood followed by the polymer flood. Recovery factors and pore-scale flow behaviour and dynamics of the displacement processes were quantified. The results reported here demonstrate that the microfluidic system is a unique screening tool that can be potentially implemented in conjunction to the traditional core-flooding method to provide more efficient and reliable information to optimize the polymer flooding parameters and inform the operators.
Oil in Water Emulsion Formation in SAGD with Chemical Additives
Authors: Ghoreishi S. Ali , O. Sanchez Javier , D. Ortiz Arango Julian , D. Gates Ian , Hejazi S. Hossein
Published: March 2023

The in-situ formation of oil in water emulsions can contribute to the oil mobilization when combined with Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). The produced fluids in SAGD operations and sand pack SAGD experiments often show the existence of both oil in water and water in oil emulsions. Due to the opaque nature of sand packs, however, it is unclear whether the emulsions are formed in-situ during the flow through porous media or in the production tubing.

This study aims at understanding the impact of a surfactant known as "High-temperature Emulsifying Agent" (HEA) as an additive on the SAGD process and the possibility of forming preferred oil in water emulsions. The high-temperature fluid flow experiments are performed in 2.5D glass micromodels which are placed in a custom built compact high pressure-high temperature (HPHT) visual cell. Hot water and HEA solution (3000 ppm concentration) at 82 °C are injected at a constant rate of 5 μl/min. The injected fluid first displaces bitumen in the form of an advancing finger, forming a condensate-bitumen interface which is slowly advancing towards the production port at the bottom end of the model.

Hot water initially displaces bitumen from the pores leaving a film of bitumen on the grain surfaces which is eventually removed as the injection continues. Water droplets dispersed in bitumen are observed at the areas experiencing high shear forces, i.e., near the main two-phase front and close to the production port. In contrast to the hot water process, no oil film is observed during the HEA injection. In the presence of HEA solution, oil in water emulsion is formed at the condensate-bitumen interface and ahead of the interface deep in the oil zone. The latter could be the result of corner flow which promotes the fast distribution of HEA solution throughout the model, ahead of the main water-oil interface.

This work provides insights on the role of surfactants in forming oil in water emulsions in steam-based bitumen production. A novel HPHT visual cell enables the rapid assessment of solvent-surfactant-steam recovery processes and a better understanding of the active emulsifying mechanism in this system.
Static Gradient Survey Reveals Temperature Anomaly in the CaMI CO2 Injection Well
Authors: Behmanesh Hamid , Cooper Joanna , Macquet Marie , Kolkman-Quinn Brendan , Lawton Donald , Osadetz Kirk , Maidment Greg
Published: March 2023

In view of the complex wellbore dynamics associated with liquid/vapor CO2 in the Containment and Monitoring Institute (CaMI) of Carbon Management Canada (CMC) CO2 injection wellbore, a Static Gradient Survey was conducted with the focus on the verification of in-tubing pressures and temperatures at various depths in the wellbore. Specifically, the knowledge sought was to learn about the temperature profile in the regions above and below the gas-liquid interface as well as the temperature profile below the Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) fiber termination point in the well, where there is no temperature measurement.

For the static gradient survey, four surveys (passes) were conducted over a span of 6 hours, using tandem pressure/temperature recorders. For the first and second passes, lowering and raising the wireline string in and out of the well at a steady rate was undertaken. The third pass involved stopping the gauges at specified depths for approximately 10 minutes prior to extracting them out of the wellbore. Recognizing that the responses of the gauges to temperature were much slower than to pressure, the duration of the stops varied at different depths, depending on the location of interest. The final pass took place some 6 hours after the initial run.

The location of the liquid level in the well was identified, not only by the change in pressure gradients but also by a change in temperature gradients. At the gas-liquid interface, the liquid was boiling and caused localized cooling around the interface. This cooling event was registered in the DTS data where the temperature departed from the baseline temperature gradient. Another cooling event was observed near the base of the wellbore where the recorded temperature profile cooled before it again approached the normal thermal gradient. We interpreted the cause of this cooling event to be that some of the injected CO2 has migrated up-section into the shallower formation. The corresponding decrease of pressure caused a phase change and evaporation of CO2 which resulted in a reduction in the CO2 temperature.

The temperature anomaly at the base of the injection well is consistent with the geophysical monitoring results from vertical seismic profiles (VSP) and the borehole electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys.

Understanding of the thermal processes related to Geologic Carbon Storage(GCS) is crucial for a successful deployment of projects. Our observations of temperature anomalies within the reservoir will contribute to the feasibility of employing temperature signals as a monitoring tool for the subsurface migration of the CO2 plume.
Could the Post-SAGD Heat Recovery Supply the Direct Air CO2 Capture (DAC) Energy in a Net Negative Carbon Emission Environment?
Authors: Bashti Shima , Sadeghi Asghar , McCoy Sean , Mahinpey Nader
Published: March 2023

Direct Air CO2 Capture (DAC) is a promising negative emission technology. The main challenge associated with DAC is the high energy and material requirements, which results in a relatively high cost and may limit its environmental benefit. Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), most established in situ recovery approach for Alberta oil sands reservoirs, leave a considerable amount of energy under the ground at the end of their life. The objective of this work is to investigate the energy and environmental viability of exploiting the abandoned thermal energy from oil sands reservoirs to generate DAC energy requirements. This work focuses on a unique concept of integrating DAC with SAGD after the cessation of bitumen recovery to recover energy from the reservoir and use this to supply energy for DAC. The retained energy in reservoirs can be extracted by water circulation. The recovered hot water is sent to surface energy extraction unit to generate power and heat energy. CO2 captured from the atmosphere is then transported by pipeline and sequestered in a suitable geologic reservoir. To conduct our analysis, we create an energy balance on the coupled system and calculate the life cycle carbon balance with the goal of creating a stand-alone, carbon-negative CO2 capture system.

We consider the electrical and thermal energy for CO2 capture in the range of 100-600 tCO2/day using a solid-based DAC process, in which the loaded sorbents are regenerated at a temperature of 90-105 °C. An isobutane Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is utilized to generate electricity from a geofluid circulated in post-SAGD heat recovery process with the temperature varying from 130 to 170 °C. The heat required by the DAC is extracted directly from the produced geothermal fluid. The analysis uncovers that Direct Air Capture and post-SAGD reservoir can be combined in a stand-alone power island to capture up to 284.5 tCO2/d at 130°C and 427 tCO2/d at 170 °C geofluid surface temperature assuming deploying the technique in 40 production wells.

Furthermore, our modelling results show that CO2 capture efficiency for abovementioned ranges of capture rate and geofluid temperature varies between 70-99%. For no external energy demand, CO2 capture efficiency touches 99% but as the external sources of energy is being involved, the efficiency declines to a minimum of 70%. This study presents a novel concept for using the waste heat in oil sands reservoirs to provide DAC energy.
Real-Time Drilling Engineering and Data-Driven Solutions for Upstream Cost Savings: Coupling Earth Models, Digital Twins, Data & Drilling Automation
Authors: Amin Muhammad Rizky , Baruno Agung , AitAli Rachid , De Vreugd Joost , Forshaw Matthew , Mahmoud Mohamed Yehia
Published: March 2023

Despite the market up-cycle efficient use of CAPEX for upstream well construction projects remain a key topic for E&Ps. Therefore, non-productive-time and invisible-lost-time (NPT & ILT) reduction continue to be paramount.

Wells of such complexity require the introduction of new drilling automation technology to meet the challenge associated with inadequate hole cleaning, vibrations and connections practices resulting of the implementation of the i-Tral real-time monitoring used to mimic manual torque and drag parameters through artificial intelligence and machine learning allowing extrapolation, alarming and therefore early warning onset of friction and stuck-pipe, continuously supply required flowrate and visualize cuttings concentration along the wellbore and real-time multi parameters optimization for drilling dysfunction and penetration rate increasing tool longevity, trips for tool failure hence reduction in section delivery time.

This paper details the features of the i-Trak torque and drag, Dynamic management and hole cleaning models capable of drive efficiencies to execute effectively and consistently each operations while meeting the goals set in the AFE.

The technology was first deployed in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in xx Field, a producing conventional oil field located onshore and operated by ADNOC ONSHORE. In total 27083ft was achieved combining Well-I and Well-II where the objectives behind these 2 horizontals wells were to maximize reservoir contact, improve productivity and accelerate delivery while minimize construction costs by implementing mitigations in addressing concerns which helped in streamlining the drilling operations while reducing any potential risks. These wells were drilled in collaboration by ADNOC and Baker Hughes and considered to be the first maximum reservoir contact (MRC) project in this area.

For primary mitigation, the output of cuttings mass existing in the wellbore (static and mobile) can give a clear indication of the amount of cuttings downhole which corresponds to 50% of the criteria analysis for an inclination range. Secondary mitigation is from the high-resolution torque and drag samples plotted real-time and compared against theoretical pre-well plan broomstick model for different frictions factors measuring the deviations to concisely convey the end users to apply the required procedures to alleviate risks of well constructions operations.

Finally, the integration of dynamic management provides a unified user interface which combines ROP and VSS measurements in a single place to minimize maintenance and repair costs while driving higher ROP's.
Talent Management Practices at United Energy Pakistan
Authors: Bashir Muhammad Farhan
Published: March 2023

As an E&P company in the upstream sector, United Energy Pakistan (UEP) heavily relies on the skills of its employees to produce expected business results. At the group level, UEP is credited for producing / nurturing the best of talent who have continually supported the group in strengthening its footprint in other parts of the world.

UEP's success in the past decade (since UEG acquired BP assets) is largely attributed to its people. UEP's focus has always been in hiring the right talent, grooming and nurturing them through the best of ‘on the job (OJT)’ experiential learning and classroom / virtual trainings. In 2019, the TLC framework was established to build the technical competence, leadership ability and to infuse a UEP way framework, of doing things (cultural relativism) in all employees.

The application of the TLC framework was backed by data fetched from multiple systems such as the competency management system (CMS) and the performance management system, which led to identifying the right technical / leadership gaps at an individual level and helped in working towards the overall employee and leadership development.

The framework also considers the development of emerging leaders. Employees are calibrated on a 9-box grid and review discussions take place from the potential, performance and progression stand point. The talent review forums also incapsulates discussion around development and succession.

Without an enabling environment, the best of talent / processes cannot flourish. UEP's core values & leadership behaviors & the code of conduct are the fundamentals on which employee bases his / her overall conduct and day to day doing. These core values & etiquettes of working are termed as the UEP way framework. There is an engagement survey which is conducted once in two years and acts as a check and balance mechanism between management and employees.

The paper will discuss in detail how the TLC framework has helped UEP in managing talent by building technical competence, a leadership mindset and to operate with a UEP mindset in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
Operational Excellence Through Implementation of Data Governance Policies and Procedures Covering Data Retention, Disposal and Archival: A Collaborative Case Study Between HQ and Group Company, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E)
Authors: Khan Zeeshan , Lee Changhwan , Girinathan Sajith , Mohammad Usman Fareed Mohammad , Ferreira Sebastien , Al Saeedi Fahad , Bishnoi Sandeep , Al Maareef Ayman , Khwaja Nadeem , Bamakhramah Adel
Published: March 2023

Objectives/Scope: Comprehensive records retention schedules, which are based on records classification structures, are established to reduce costs associated with records growth and duplication, improve access to valuable information, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

All digital technical data, including Geology and Geophysics, Reservoir Engineering, Drilling, etc. need to be preserved forever. Data can be re-used, re-interpreted, re-analyzed for many Years later. If data is "well organized", no need to dispose-off anything. Similarly each electronic copy of non-technical data should be preserved.

Methods, Procedures, Process: Before implementation of the mentioned workflow for Data Archival and Retention of documents, physical copies were kept forever and there was no mechanism for end user to easily access the required files. As policy was formalized at Group level, each assigned focal point was assigned with task of converting physical copies to electronic version (by scanning and uploading onto Network drives and Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS).

On completion of scanning activity below retention policy was applied to preserve the physical data for a defined timeframe (mentioned in below table). As files such as Final Well reports, drilling reports etc. are available online and accessible using Network drives / EDMS system, end user can easily access the required files in a matter of seconds which save the tremendous amount of end user time and increase productivity as an organization.

Since policy is implemented tremendous efforts are placed by focal points to reduce the physical files by coordinating with different physical files sources (internal or external of organization) to provide with Digital copy which is much easier to maintain.
Restoring Integrity and Production on a Well with Compromised Barriers: Use of Crosslinked Polymer Gel to Prevent Fluid Loss Post Well Kill to Enable the Safe Repair of Compromised Christmas Tree Valves
Authors: Bougha Arthur , Ndukauba Godian , Okeke Chinyere , Abudu Rahman
Published: March 2023

Operating Oil and Gas wells safely requires two tested and independent barriers are in place at all times. If a barrier is lost, all efforts should be focused on restoring the lost barrier. This requires a detailed risk assessment is carried out and an approved deviation in place. The objective in this case was to ensure the only barrier, kill fluid, is not lost to the formation and ensure zero damage to the reservoir. In this paper, the detailed planning and execution of a well in the Eastern Delta (Ukos-21L) with compromised tree valves due to a blown-up Wireline Retrievable Surface Controlled Sub-Surface Safety Valve (WRSCSSV) that got stuck across the tree valves are presented. With a reservoir pressure of 4,000psi, this posed serious HSE risks. The intervention involved establishing injectivity through the kill wing valve. The well was bull-headed to 0psi with appropriate kill brine. A crosslinked polymer gel was then pumped to prevent fluid loss of the only barrier (kill brine) and to ensure well remained stable at 0psi throughout the barrier restoration

One of the key project deliverables was to ensure the reservoir was not impaired and the well productivity unchanged during the barrier restoration activity and this was confirmed after the well was successfully put back to production post restoration operation. The crosslinked gel placed across the perforated interval prevented fluid loss without penetrating the formation but due to the introduction of internal chemical breaker, the uncross-linking of the polymer gel was done in-situ after the specified design period elapsed as determined through laboratory test done based on the formation downhole temperature. The well continued to produce ca.880bopd post the integrity restoration. The restored valves were all operable. It was also observed that the installed WRSCSSV was not dressed with the right size of packings, making it possible for the valve to be blown out of its profile.

The use of polymer gel is a safe means of preventing fluid loss under a one barrier condition (fluid barrier). The pre-determined breaking period for the cross-linked polymer gel was considered and very critical to the successful execution of the activity. The execution was achieved four days ahead of the planned time with zero non productive time, NPT recorded. Hence, coiled tubing, CT was deployed to nitrogen lift the well to production post integrity restoration. Production was restored three days ahead of schedule.
An Innovative-Engineered Multipurpose Lifter Solution Resulted in Step Change in Offshore Debris Removal Operation
Authors: Ismail Ahmed Ibrahim , Salama Ayman Mohamed , Abouelmaati Lotfi Ibrahim , Medany Mohamed Hussein
Published: March 2023

Drilling offshore requires debris removal operation to remove any debris or anomalies that have been highlighted or found during any previously remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations or geophysical surveys for certain location before Rig approaches.

It is important to maintain any subsea structure and its premises clear from any debris that may affect any upcoming operation hence, the structure stability and safety regardless of water depth, which considered as one of the limiting factors.

Debris management is a major concern for all companies operate offshore rigs as offshore debris is responsible for many of the problems and much of the extra cost associated with extreme water depths. The offshore debris usually comes from trash, fishing gear, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activities, structure abrasion, construction and illegal dumping and other items lost off vessels or platforms at sea.

This paper discusses procedures and tool systems developed to optimize the efficiencies and economics of debris removal. Issues pertinent to water depths, debris size, shape will be discussed, with the problems associated with removal of debris caused by human activates, aged structure, inadequate waste disposal, etc. The authors will outline techniques and procedures for removal of this debris and discuss a tool system that is a workable solution for these problems. This paper will focus on the use of a Multipurpose debris lifter to remove debris from areas within platform vicinity that have normally proven very difficult. The system has been shown to be effective in removing debris from problem areas.
Validation of Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 and Pilot Study of its Diagnostic Properties in a Heterogeneous Lithuanian Speaking Population
Authors: Mineikytė-Bieliūnienė Kamilė , Kiziela Antanas , Viliūnienė Rima
Published: March 2023

Background
there is a high prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in the world, though the diagnosis is mostly insufficient. The Lithuanian-speaking population does not have a validated and open-access screening tool for depression. Due to appealing diagnostic superiority, universality within different populations, and open access the validation of Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) is a must.
Methods
PHQ-9 was translated. Face, content, criterion-related, and construct validity checked by a group of psychiatrists. Two groups, clinical (N43) and non-clinical (N416), filled out the questionnaire. Reliability, internal consistency, parallel form variability, factor analysis, and diagnostic cut-off points were measured.
Results
PHQ-9 translation has confirmed psychometric validity as high reliability of the questionnaire was estimated with a Cronbach α of 0.858–0.877. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a one-factor structure. Questionnaire performed with great accuracy to distinguish the presence of illness in the clinical sample. Preliminary cut-off points were determined to be 8 with a sensitivity of 86.5%, specificity of 100.0% and accuracy of 89.1% across the psychiatric patient population.
Conclusions
The translated version of PHQ-9 is a reliable and suitable tool to screen for depressive symptoms.
Are Sinhala and Tamil PHQ-9 versions comparable across the Sri Lankan population? Psychometric equivalence across translations and between demographic subgroups
Authors: Ukwaththage Bhimal Eshan Sasanka , Kumar Shamala , Rannan-Eliya Ravindra
Published: March 2023

Background: Although indications suggest that Sri Lanka is facing serious mental health challenges within its diverse populations, the extent of the problem is poorly quantified and even tools required to explore its nature are unavailable. The present study tests the psychometric equivalence of the PHQ-9, a widely used measure of depression, across two translated versions to Sinhala (Sinhala-English) and Tamil (Tamil-English) languages. It also tests equivalence across different demographic groups.
Methods: The study uses data from a nationally representative sample of 6,444 individuals, from the 2018-19 Wave 1 of the Sri Lanka Health and Ageing Study, who completed the PHQ-9 along with other measures of health and wellbeing. For analysing the data, standardized process of measurement invariance testing was performed using multigroup confirmatory factor analysing technique.
Results: Results indicated equivalence across the two translated versions, and across gender, ethnicity, level of education, and socioeconomic status. Configural, scalar and strict invariances were established successfully for each variable.
Conclusions: The translated PHQ-9 tools were found to perform psychometrically similarly across diverse populations in Sri Lanka. These versions of the PHQ-9 can therefore be used for screening of depressive symptoms and research purposes in Sri Lanka irrespective of population characteristics in terms of language, gender, ethnicity, level of education or socioeconomic status without concerns over whether they are equivalent.
Efficiency and equity of hospital services in mainland China: based on data from 2017 to 2021
Authors: Kou Ruxin , Mei Kangni , Bi Yuqing , Huang Jingwen , Yang Shilan , Chen Kexuan , Li Wei
Published: March 2023

Background: Hospitals are an essential part of the health care system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the equity and service efficiency of health resource allocation in the hospital service system of 31 provinces (municipalities directly under the central government and autonomous regions) in mainland China from 2017 to 2021, and to analyze the influencing factors of hospital service efficiency to provide a reference for rational allocation of hospital health resources and improvement of hospital service efficiency.
Methods: Equity of allocation of hospital health resources in mainland China was evaluated in three dimensions using the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve. Hospital service efficiency was calculated by output-oriented super efficiency slack-based model-data envelopment analysis (SE-SBM-DEA) model and DEA-based Malmquist total factor productivity index (MTFP), and the influencing factors of hospital service efficiency were analyzed by panel data regression.
Results: The number of hospitals in mainland China grew from 31056 to 36570 between 2017 and 21st. The equity ranking of the dimensions of hospital health resource allocation was Demographic > Economic > Geographic. However, the curvature of the demographic and economic dimensions is smaller compared to the curvature of the Lorenz curve for the geographic dimension. The demographic dimension has the lowest average Gini coefficient (0.167), followed by the economic (0.295) and the geographical (0.616). The 2017-2021 MTFP results show that none of the DMU efficiency values exceed 1. SE-SBM-DEA results show 15 DMUs in 2021 with total factor productivity above 1. The five-year average efficiency values ranked West (0.851) > East (0.834) > Central (0.673); Five influential factors identified by panel data regression analysis, Among them, X1(The proportion of urban population), X3(The percentage of illiterate population to total aged 15 and over) and X10(The proportion of the volume of medical service in primary medical facilities) have a positive relationship with hospital service efficiency, and X5(The level of per capital outpatient and emergency treatment expenditure) and X8(The proportion of hospital personnel) have a negative relationship with hospital service efficiency.
Conclusion: After five years of development, the hospital service system in mainland China has grown significantly in number and size, but there are still differences in the allocation of hospital health resources between the East and the West, and intra-regional differences remain large. The overall level of efficiency in hospital services over the last five years was poor, with the West overtaking the East as the region with the highest five-year average. The regression model verified the effect of some factors on hospital service efficiency, and the effect of disadvantaged groups on hospital service efficiency was not significant (P>0.05).
Mediating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors on the Relation between Religious Practice and Academic Achievement in University Students
Authors: Shiferaw Abraham Abeje , Naidoo Parvathy , Berhanu Kelemu Zelalem
Published: March 2023

Background
The issues of religiosity, healthy lifestyle behaviors and academic achievement are global agendas. Most previous research has focused on either one or two of the variables, not three of them (e.g. just the relationship between religiosity and healthy lifestyle behaviors). And addressing these three issues, by and large, demands a systemic approach to re-thinking the current level and improving it.
Objective
To examine the causal relationship between religiosity, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and academic achievement in the case of Debre Markos University (DMU) and Injibara University (IU), Ethiopia.
Methods
Four hundred forty students participated voluntarily using a simple random sampling technique. To attain this objective, a cross-sectional research method design was used.
Results
The mean scores of students’ religious practice and healthy lifestyle behaviors are more than average in all aspects. MANOVA results revealed that batch, ethnicity (region), and the university did not display a statistically significant difference among the composite (or combined) scores of both students’ healthy lifestyles and religiosity. However, religious affiliation and gender have an effect on religiosity and healthy lifestyle behaviors respectively. The correlation output informs that religiosity and healthy lifestyle behaviors are positively and significantly correlated with each other. Religious practice also significantly predicted students’ healthy lifestyle behaviors. Despite this, the academic achievement of students didn’t have any relationship with their religious practice and healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Conclusion
University students’ healthy lifestyle behavior doesn’t play an intervening variable in the effect of religious practice on academic achievement. Possible practical implications and recommendations have been forwarded.
Deciphering the Functional Analysis of Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs Associated with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Mohamed Syarah Syamimi , Ahmad Azmir , Din Tengku Ahmad Damitri Al-Astani Tengku , Sal Md Salzihan Md , Zakaria Andee Dzulkarnaen , Zakaria Zaidi
Published: March 2023

Background:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer that develops from clusters of abnormal crypt foci that grow in the lining of the colon or rectum. CRC develop into polyps before transforming into an adenocarcinoma. Evidences have suggested that enormous cancer cell proliferation is a result of gene dysregulation. For decades, researchers have discovered a link between microRNA (miRNA) and disease pathogenesis via post-transcription regulation of their target gene and alteration of protein translation. Despite of the evidences of a miRNA-CRC relationship with CRC pathogenesis, miRNA activities remain equivocal, and the target mechanism remains poorly characterized. Thus, we are attempting to decipher the functional assessments of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) as well as their pathways interaction. We also aim to identify the list of miRNA/s which are highly associated with CRC.
Results:The DEMs were generated using microarray profiling of CRC tumor and non-tumor tissue. The DEMs were analysed using Gene Spring and a moderate T-test. The data is shown in a heatmap analysis and a volcano plot, with the filter set to p-value < 0.005 and fold change ≥ 2. We found 14 DEMs, 9 of which were upregulated and 5 of which were downregulated. The g:Profiler and Database for Annotation, Visualisation, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) are used to identify the gene ontology and pathways to broaden the findings on their predicted function and pathway interaction. Our DEMs targeted the genes that are significantly associated with CRC pathogenesis, but we were unable to determine which miRNA specifically act as one. Therefore, we predicted the miRNAs function individually and we identified and suggested hsa-miR-20a-5p, hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-23a-3p, hsa-miR-24-3p and hsa-miR-29a-3p to play profound roles in CRC pathogenesis. Based on the evidences provided by web tools g:Profiler and DAVID, these miRNAs were discovered to commonly interact with PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, WNT signaling pathway and FGFR signaling.
Conclusion:To summarise, even though all of the DEMs were found to be significantly expressed in CRC tumoral tissue, it does not appear that they are strongly linked to CRC pathogenesis. Thus, with the data enriched by web tools analyses may aid in specifying potential miRNAs to be studied further. Apart from deciphering the miRNAs function and their interactive pathway, our finding also provides an additional knowledge on the specific potential miRNAs for future biomarkers of CRC.
Trends of the burden of hypertension in Saudi Arabia between 1990 and 2019: an analysis from the Global Burden of Diseases study
Authors: Alharbi Talal , Uddin Riaz , Almustanyir Sami , Alashqar Mais , Ambia Ayesha a , Ghozy Sherief , Sarrafzadegan Nizal , Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful
Published: March 2023

Background: Hypertension is a widely prevalent condition associated with significant morbidity and premature mortality, primarily because it is a risk factor for CVDs. The aim of this study was to estimate the trend of the burden of hypertension in Saudi Arabia in the last three decades.
Methods: We conducted a systematic analysis of secondary data obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD). We estimated sex-stratified, age-standardised and age-specific rates (per 100,000) of prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted years (DALYs) associated with hypertension in adults aged 20-94 years in Saudi Arabia between 1990 and 2019.
Results: In Saudi Arabia, the age-standardised prevalence of hypertension increased from 87.7 cases per 100,000 in 1990 to 94.9 per 100,000 in 2019. More women than men had hypertension throughout the past three decades. The death and DALYs rate, however, decreased during this time. In 1990, 9.2 deaths per 100,000 in women and 3.0 deaths per 100,000 in men were due to hypertension; the respective rates declined to 6.5 and 2.8 in 2019. While the rates of DALYs in women declined steadily from 211.7 to 151.8 per 100,000 DALYs between 1990 and 2019, the rate in males did not decline considerably. The burden of hypertension–prevalence, deaths, and DALYs–were greater in older people.
Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension has increased in Saudi Arabia during the last 30 years; however, death rates and DALY related to hypertension has decreased during this time. Age- and sex-specific strategies are needed to decrease the prevalence of hypertension in Saudi Arabia.
Selective modulation of gene expression in activated normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by store-operated calcium entry blocker BTP2
Authors: Shankaranarayanan Divya , Mantri Madhav , Lagman Mila , Li Carol , Sharma Vijay K. , Muthukumar Thangamani , Xiang Jenny Z. , De Vlaminck Iwijn , Machaca Khaled , Suthanthiran Manikkam
Published: March 2023

Calcium is a critical signaling molecule in many cell types including immune cells. The calcium-release activated calcium channels (CRAC) responsible for store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in immune cells are gated by STIM family members functioning as sensors of Ca2+ store content in the endoplasmic reticulum. We investigated the effect of SOCE blocker BTP2 on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to query gene expression at the whole transcriptome level and identified genes differentially expressed between PBMC activated with PHA and PBMC activated with PHA in the presence of BTP2. Among the differentially expressed genes, we prioritized genes encoding immunoregulatory proteins for validation using preamplification enhanced real time quantitative PCR assays. We performed multiparameter flow cytometry and validated by single cell analysis that BTP2 inhibits cell surface expression CD25 at the protein level. BTP2 reduced significantly PHA-induced increase in the abundance of mRNAs encoding proinflammatory proteins. Surprisingly, BTP2 did not reduce significantly PHA-induced increase in the abundance of mRNAs encoding anti-inflammatory proteins. Collectively, the molecular signature elicited by BTP2 in activated normal human PBMC appears to be tipped towards tolerance and away from inflammation.
Reticulocyte hemoglobin content associated with the risk iron deficiency anemia
Authors: Ding Ning , Ma Yan-Hui , Guo Ping , Wang Tian-Kai , Liu Lin , Wang Jian-Biao , Jin Pei-Pei
Published: March 2023

Background/ Objective:
Reticulocyte hemoglobin content (MCHr) is considered to be a rapid and reliable marker for the investigation of iron deficiency (ID). We hypothesize that MCHr is associated with the risk of iron deficiency anemia in adults.
Methods
This is a dual center case-control study. A total of 668 anemia patients were recruited in Ruijin Hospital and Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2021 to December 2021, and 302 of them were IDA. According to MCHr level, individuals were divided into two groups, i.e. normal Mchr (≥ 25 pg) and decreased Mchr (< 25 pg) group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and adjusted subgroup analysis were conducted to estimate the relative risk between MCHr and IDA. Age, sex, hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Hematocrit (HCT), serum iron (Fe), ferritin (Ferrit), and total iron binding capacity (IBCT) were chosen as confounding factors.
Results
Compared with the non-IDA, the Mchr level with IDA decreased significantly. After fully adjusting the confounding factors, a decreased risk of IDA was suggested for individuals with normal level of MCHr (OR = 0.68 [0.60, 0.77], P < 0.0001) and IDA risk was up to 5 times higher for decreased MCHr.
Conclusion
Our findings supported the hypothesis that MCHr was associated with IDA risk in adults and extend the extensive literature regarding decreased MCHr in early stage of laboratory detection, which warrants further investigation.