bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Factors Reduce Costs of Downhole Proppant Delivery
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: July 2022

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 204153, “Reducing the Placement Cost of a Pound of Proppant Delivered Downhole,” by Jon Sochovka, SPE, Kyle George, and Howard Melcher, Liberty Oilfield Services, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The shale industry has changed immensely during the last decade and is once again in rapid transition. The authors write that they are unsure about the nature of innovations to make US shale more competitive, but that they are certain that the current downturn will drive a further reduction in the total cost to lift a barrel of US shale oil to the surface ($/BO). In the complete paper, the authors discuss what components have contributed to this reduction and use several case studies, only three of which are discussed in this synopsis, to illustrate the potential for further cost reductions.

Background

The industry has been changing to address the issues of proppant delivery, constantly striving to find better chemical products while pumping fewer of them.

First, a general desire exists to move away from more-expensive chemical-derivative guar systems to simpler low-concentration guar systems and fiction-reducer (FR) -based fluid systems. Second, both proppant-delivery and formation-treatment chemicals that are part of the fracture treatment have become more effective, fewer in number on the market, and smaller in quantity.

The intended approach is to measure the individual and combined performance of these chemicals and the effect they have on physical rock and fluid parameters using a range of laboratory and field-testing tools and to compare the potential effects of these choices in the authors’ extensive production database.

The elusive goal for fracturing fluids is to be composed 100% of water. In some cases, a water composition of 99.83% has been achieved. Higher rates still may be realized if pump rates for fracturing jobs continue to rise, proppant size reduces, and properties of some concentrated additives continue to improve as they have during the rapid progression to water experienced over the past 15 years of the shale revolution.
Method Integrates Pressure-Transient and Fracture Area To Detect Well Interference
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: July 2022

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of URTeC paper 208395, “Integration of Pressure-Transient and Fracture Area for Detecting Unconventional-Well Interference,” by Mazher Ibrahim, SPE, Matt Sinkey, SPE, and Thomas Johnston, SPE, Shear Frac Group, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Hydraulic fractures created during completions are assumed to produce back to the original well. While multiwell-pad completions increase efficiencies, they complicate fracture connectivity between wells. The proximity of newly completed wells to a pre-existing producing well suggests a depleted zone that can “steal” fracture surface area. The complete paper presents a real-time method to estimate the stage-to-stage interference and well-to-well interference and their implications on completions efficiency.

Introduction

The primary challenge for the industry with regard to unconventional resource development is to optimize well spacing to improve well net present value. Shale heterogeneity and completion design influence fracture orientation and geometry. The industry still lacks accurate methods in characterizing these.

Fig. 1 shows three well-spacing types that the authors write could be classified as “good,” “bad,” or “ugly”—the A+ spacing type (good), the B spacing type (bad), and the C spacing type (ugly).

The A+ spacing type has no interference between wells that perfectly drain the reservoir; however, it is hard to achieve. In the B spacing type, there may be 10–15% interference between either hydraulic or natural fracture systems. B spacing can be achieved with proper integration of reservoir and completion engineering. This spacing type usually can provide more predictable well-level estimated ultimate recovery (EUR). C spacing type is characterized by closer-than-needed spacing, resulting in shared stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) between wells. Some operators use this spacing when oil and gas prices are high in order to accelerate production.
Holistic Machine-Learning Approach Recognizes Trouble Stages
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: July 2022

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 204145, “Employing a Suite of Machine-Learning Algorithms in a Holistic Approach to Trouble Stage Recognition and Failure Diagnostics,” by Jessica Iriarte, SPE, Well Data Labs; Matthew McConnell, SPE, Hawkwood Energy; and Sam Hoda, SPE, Well Data Labs, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The complete paper explores a holistic approach to characterizing trouble stages by applying automated event recognition of abnormal pressure increases and associating those events with formation and operational causes. This analysis of pressure increases provides insight into the potential causes of operational difficulties, and the related diagnostics can suggest improvements to future pump schedules. Improving how stages are pumped is profitable in both the short and the long term. Quantifying how design decisions ultimately affect operations can help decrease the frequency of operational problems and help realize these gains.

Introduction

The Cretaceous Eagle Ford Shale is the source rock for the Woodbine, Buda, and Austin Chalk. The wells included in this study are between the San Marcos Arch and the eastern edge of the East Texas Basin (Brazos and Burleson Counties). The Eagle Ford is similar to many other resource plays, such as the Marcellus, Utica, Barnett, Bakken, Haynesville, and Woodford shales. Among the many characteristics that make these plays similar is that each formation has provided stages with abnormal pressure behaviors (APBs).
Time-dependent moderating effect of exposure to nature on relations between perceived interior crowding, social isolation, and psychological distress during pandemic of COVID-19
Authors: Mousavinia Seyyedeh Fatemeh
Published: July 2022

Due to the results of the COVID-19 epidemic on mental health, some studies have highlighted the positive effects of nature exposure. Nevertheless, this beneficial role has not yet been explored over time of the pandemic. The current study examines the temporal changes in (a) social isolation, (b) psychological distress, (c) intensity of the effect of social isolation on psychological distress, and (d) moderating effect of nature exposure on the relation between perceived interior crowding, social isolation, and psychological distress. Focusing on six mid-rise housing developments in Mashhad, data were collected from 718 middle-aged women (Mage = 49.63, SD = 12.39) in two waves during the pandemic (wave1 in June 2020 and wave2 in September 2021, before nationwide vaccination). A paired-sample t-test showed increased social isolation and psychological distress after one year of the pandemic. Also, using structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis (wave 1 vs. wave 2) revealed that social isolation has an increasing influence on psychological distress over time. Exposure to nature moderates the effect of perceived interior crowding on psychological distress. However, this moderating role is time-dependent and nature exposure during the time did not necessarily assist in reducing the negative impact of perceived interior crowding. Finally, at any given time, nature exposure mitigated the effect of social isolation on psychological distress.
A parent-led intervention to reduce anxiety in autistic children with a severe to profound intellectual disability: protocol for the LADDERS pilot feasibility trial
Authors: Waite Jane , Tarver Joanne , Pearson Effie , Hughes Jessica , Edwards Georgina , Bird Megan , Greenhill Courtney
Published: July 2022

Background
There is a need for evidence-based approaches to reduce anxiety experienced by autistic children with severe to profound intellectual disability (ID). Avoidance of anxiety triggers, as a response to pronounced anxiety, occurs irrespective of age, background and neurodiversity. When avoidance is unhelpful, evidence-based anxiety reduction approaches aim to reduce it gradually (graded exposure), subsequently reducing anxiety. Combining graded exposure with emotional regulation techniques may be effective and acceptable for autistic children with severe to profound ID, if sensitive to needs and characteristics of autistic children. We have developed a 16-week, parent-led intervention (LADDERS) to reduce anxiety in this population of autistic children. LADDERS consists of psychoeducation, graded exposure-based tasks, and skills building, delivered utilising a person-centred approach. This study aims to assess whether LADDERS 1) reduces anxiety and 2) whether autistic children and parents find it acceptable and feasible.
Method
A single-site, multiple baseline, single case experimental study will be conducted. Participants will be parents of autistic children aged between 4–15 years. A minimum of 8 participants will be recruited through a research participant database, the Autistica Discover Network and social media. Once eligibility is confirmed, participants will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention and at a 2-month follow-up (week 24). The primary outcome measure will be a daily diary that assesses child anxiety.
Discussion
The study will provide preliminary evidence of whether LADDERS reduces anxiety in autistic children with severe to profound ID. Qualitative data from parents and child engagement will provide data on acceptability and feasibility.
Optimized Method of Lines for non-linear waveguide problems
Authors: Spiller Waldemar
Published: July 2022

The Method of Lines is a semi-analytical versatile tool for the solution of partial differential equations. For the analysis of spatial complex linear waveguide structures, this method is combined with impedance/admittance and field transformation, as well as with finite differences. This paper extends this approach to the treatment of structures with non-linear dielectric materials. The non-linear generalized transmission line equations are derived. An iterative algorithm based on the impedance/admittance transformation with the field transformation obtains efficient and self-consistent solutions. For demonstration, a non-linear stripe waveguide is considered. The Kerr non-linearity was investigated, though the general case is treatable. As a criterion for the correctness of the algorithm, a second harmonic generation as well as a bidirectional, spatially, and temporally energy exchange between the harmonics was examined. The specific limiting factors for the algorithm were explored. The approach can be used for any spatial structure, including, for instance, photonic crystal waveguides and metamaterials.
Transcriptomic analysis reveals that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor trigger a novel signaling pathway (TAF9-P53-TRIAP1-CASP3) to protect retinal ganglion cells after ischemic optic neuropathy
Authors: Wen Yao-Tseng , Lin Keh-Liang , Huang Chin-Te , Tsai Rong Kung
Published: July 2022

Optic nerve head (ONH) infarct can result in progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) protects the RGC after ON infarct. However, protective mechanisms of the GCSF after ONH infarct are complex and remain unclear. To investigate the complex mechanisms, the transcriptome profiles of the GCSF-treated retinas were examined using microarray technology. The retinal mRNA samples on days 3 and 7 post rat anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rAION) model were analyzed by microarray and bioinformatics analyses. GCSF treatment influenced 3101 genes and 3332 genes on days 3 and 7 post rAION, respectively. ONH infarct led to changes in 702 and 179 genes on days 3 and 7 post rAION, respectively. After cluster analysis, the levels of TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-associated factor were significantly reduced after ONH infarct but significantly increased after GCSF treatment. The network analysis revealed that TBP associated factor 9 (TAF9) can bind to P53 to induce TP53 regulated inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (TRIAP1) expression. To evaluate the function of TAF9 in RGC apoptosis, GCSF plus TAF9 siRNA-treated rats were evaluated using retrograde labeling with FluoroGold assay, TUNEL assay, and Western blotting in an rAION model. The RGC densities in the GCSF plus TAF9 siRNA-treated rAION group was 1.95-fold (central retina) and 1.75-fold (midperipheral retina) lower than that in the GCSF-treated rAION group (p < 0.05). The number of apoptotic RGC in the GCSF plus TAF9 siRNA-treated group is threefold higher than that in the GCSF-treated group (p < 0.05). Treatment with TAF9 siRNA significantly reduced GCSF-induced TP53 and TRIAP1 expression by 2.4-fold and 4.7-fold, respectively, in the rAION model. Overexpression of TAF9 significantly reduced apoptotic RGC and CASP3 levels and induced TP53 and TRIAP1 expression in the rAION model. Therefore, we demonstrated that GCSF modulated a new pathway, TAF9-P53-TRIAP1-CASP3, to control RGC death and survival after ON infarct.
Trauma-informed care in the UK: where are we? A qualitative study of health policies and professional perspectives
Authors: Emsley Elizabeth , Smith Joshua , Martin David , Lewis Natalia V
Published: July 2022

Background
Trauma-informed (TI) approach is a framework for a system change intervention that transforms the organizational culture and practices to address the high prevalence and impact of trauma on patients and healthcare providers, and prevents re-traumatization in healthcare services. Review of TI approaches in primary and community mental healthcare identified limited evidence for its effectiveness in the UK, however it is endorsed in various policies. This study aimed to investigate the UK-specific context through exploring how TI approaches are represented in health policies, and how they are understood and implemented by policy makers and healthcare professionals.
Methods
A qualitative study comprising of a document analysis of UK health policies followed by semi-structured interviews with key informants with direct experience of developing and implementing TI approaches. We used the Ready Extract Analyse Distil (READ) approach to guide policy document review, and the Framework method to analyse data.
Results
We analysed 24 documents and interviewed 11 professionals from healthcare organizations and local authorities. TI approach was included in national, regional and local policies, however, there was no UK- or NHS-wide strategy or legislation, nor funding commitment. Although documents and interviews provided differing interpretations of TI care, they were aligned in describing the integration of TI principles at the system level, contextual tailoring to each organization, and addressing varied challenges within health systems. TI care in the UK has had piecemeal implementation, with a nation-wide strategy and leadership visible in Scotland and Wales and more disjointed implementation in England. Professionals wanted enhanced coordination between organizations and regions. We identified factors affecting implementation of TI approaches at the level of organization (leadership, service user involvement, organizational culture, resource allocation, competing priorities) and wider context (government support, funding). Professionals had conflicting views on the future of TI approaches, however all agreed that government backing is essential for implementing policies into practice.
Conclusions
A coordinated, more centralized strategy and provision for TI health care, increased funding for evaluation, and education through professional networks about evidence-based TI health systems can contribute towards evidence-informed policies and implementation of TI approaches in the UK.
An Energy-Mix Model for Round-the-Clock Power Supply in a Decarbonized Electricity Generation Scenario: Case Study of South India
Authors: Kumar Ankit , Jayanti Sreenivas
Published: July 2022

There is increasing urgency towards integration of renewable sources into electricity generation so as to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Renewable power sources are highly specific in prevalence, both regionally and temporally, and their utilization at utility-scale for round-the-clock power supply poses the problem of matching power generation capacity and power demand at every instant of time. In the present work, we propose a model that integrates geographically distributed and diverse power sources with geographically spread-out power consumption centres and distributed and diverse electrical energy storage systems through transmission and storage loss models. For a regional electricity grid, the model computes, over a given day, the minute-by-minute power demand from and power generation in all districts, extracts matching power from a hierarchy of power sources so as to minimize transmission and storage losses, and stores/draws excess power in/from a variety of power storage options. For the specific case of the South Indian Power Grid (catering to about 285 million people in South India), the model shows that about 240 GWh of new electrical storage is required for round-the-clock power supply from non-GHG power sources.
Textual analysis of China's energy-saving and emission reduction policies based on a three-dimensional analysis perspective --A study based on the policy of 2010-2021
Authors: Wang Lingling , Yecai Fan
Published: July 2022

Energy saving and emission reduction has become a basic national policy in China, and the state has continuously introduced various energy saving and emission reduction policies. It is essential to grasp the mechanism and path of energy saving and emission reduction policies to realize energy saving and emission reduction better and promote green transformation. This paper establishes a three-dimensional analysis structure of "policy tool - policy objective - policy coordination "and uses textual analysis and social network analysis to analyze 154 energy saving and emission reduction policies in China from 2010 to 2021 in a single dimension. We can draw three conclusions from the analysis: first, there is a combination of overspill and deficiency in the use of energy-saving and emission reduction policy tools in China; second, the target system of China's energy-saving and emission reduction policy is gradually improving; third, the degree of policy coordination in China's energy-saving and emission reduction policies is increasing. Based on this, this paper proposes countermeasures to promote China's energy-saving and emission reduction policies.
FastMapSVM: Classifying Complex Objects Using the FastMap Algorithm and Support-Vector Machines
Authors: White Malcolm , Sharma Kushal , Li Ang , Kumar T. K. Satish , Nakata Nori
Published: July 2022

Neural Networks and related Deep Learning methods are currently at the leading edge of technologies used for classifying objects. However, they generally demand large amounts of time and data for model training; and their learned models can sometimes be difficult to interpret. In this paper, we advance FastMapSVM—an interpretable Machine Learning framework for classifying complex objects—as an advantageous alternative to Neural Networks for general classification tasks. FastMapSVM extends the applicability of Support-Vector Machines (SVMs) to domains with complex objects by combining the complementary strengths of FastMap and SVMs. FastMap is an efficient linear-time algorithm that maps complex objects to points in a Euclidean space while preserving pairwise domain-specific distances between them. We demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of FastMapSVM in the context of classifying seismograms. We show that its performance, in terms of precision, recall, and accuracy, is comparable to that of other state-of-the-art methods. However, compared to other methods, FastMapSVM uses significantly smaller amounts of time and data for model training. It also provides a perspicuous visualization of the objects and the classification boundaries between them. We expect FastMapSVM to be viable for classification tasks in many other real-world domains.
Application of the multi-walled carbon nanotube and sodium alginate based sol-gel coatings to enhance the electrically actuated performance of muscle-like biomass hydrogel paper actuators
Authors: Yang Junjie , Yu Tao , Yao Jintong , Wang Siyong , Wei Kang
Published: July 2022

To comply with green chemistry and achieve sustainable development, an electrically actuated membrane and two non-metallic electrode membranes are assembled into a muscle-like Biomass Hydrogel Paper Actuator (BHPA) similar to ‘sandwich’ structure, which has a great potential in engineering application due to the excellent properties such as light weight, low driving voltage and good flexibility. And the contact resistance between every two membranes of the BHPA is the key factor to improve its output force characteristics and tremor behavior. Thus, in this paper, based on the orthogonal experiment and control variates, under the excitation of electric field, the effect and mechanism of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) - Sodium Alginate (SA) based sol-gel coating and its thickness on electrically actuated performances of the BHPA were studied in depth and the results were compared with that of the BHPA samples assembled by the traditional hot laminating technology. Furthermore, with equivalent circuit model, the preliminary quantitative relationship between peak current and contact resistance of the BHPA was derived by a mathematical expression. The results demonstrated that the optimum dimension and testing voltage of the BHPA were 35 mm × 8 mm × 1 layer (0.352 mm) and 4 V, where its output force density and service life both reached the maximum values of 13.34 mN/g and 330 s with the lightest tremor behavior. Moreover, the internal resistance and elastic modulus of the BHPA achieved the minimum values of 2.13 Ω and 3.1 MPa respectively, and its specific capacitance acquired the maximum value of 81.3 mF/g under the sol-gel coating of 1 coating thickness. Generally, it is of great value to modify interface properties of the BHPA for actuation enhancement in demanding working conditions.
Association of PTPRC Exon 4 and 6 Gene Polymorphisms in Idiopathic Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Couple -Based Study from South India.
Authors: Avvari Srilekha , Kavutharapu Sri Manjari , Galimudi Rajesh Kumar , Ananthapur Venkateshwari , Akka Jyothy
Published: July 2022

Purpose
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) implies to two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks of gestation with the same partner. Numerous studies have investigated the role of biochemical parameters with respect to PTPRC (Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor C) in embryonic development and pregnancy success. However, the PTPRC genetic polymorphisms in RPL have not been reported in the literature.
Methods:
Our study included one hundred and twenty-five couples with a history of RPL and 125 healthy couples who had one or more successful pregnancies without history of miscarriages as controls. Peripheral blood was used to isolate the DNA, which was followed by genotyping of PTPRC gene, C77G and A138G polymorphisms, by Allele specific PCR method.
Results:
The results showed significant association of PTPRC, rs17612648 and rs4915154 in both the partners of RPL cases when compared to controls. It is observed that the CG genotype of rs17612648 was predominant in couples with RPL. With regard to PTPRC rs4915154 polymorphism, only AG genotype was significant in RPL females when compared to control females. However, males with history of RPL showed a greater risk for both AG and GG genotypes. Haplotype analysis revealed the presence of minor allele in both the exons 4 and 6 increases the risk for RPL.
Conclusion:
In summary, our pilot study in south Indian population revealed significant association of PTPRC gene polymorphisms C77G and A138G in couples with RPL. Further studies in other populations on functional and disease associations are warranted.
A New Missense Mutation in DPM2 Gene is Associated with a Milder Form of DPM2-CDG in Two Chinese Siblings
Authors: Zhao Peiwei , Hu Yanqiu , Hu Juan , Huang Yufeng , Zhang Lei , Luo Sukun , Xiong Ping , Zhu Hongmin , He Xuelian
Published: July 2022

Background
Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders caused by abnormal protein or lpid glycoproteins. DPM2 is a subunit of a heterotrimeric complex (dolichol-phosphate-mannose synthase, DPMS), a key enzyme in glycosylation, and only four patients with DPM2-CDG have been reported.
Methods
Whole exome sequencing (WES) was applied to analyze a Chinese family with two daughters with developmental delay, milder intellectual disability, hypotonia and increased serum creatine kinase. In vitro functional study was performed to evaluate the impact of pathogenic genetic mutation .
Results
A homozygous mutation, c.197G > A (p.G66E) in exon 4 of DPM2 gene (NM_003863) was identified by whole exome sequencing. In vitro functional analysis demonstrated that this variant increased the expression level of DPM2 protein and western blot revealed a significant decrease in ICAM1, a universal biomarker for hypoglycosylation in patients with CDG, suggesting abnormal N-linked glycosylation. We also review the 4 previously reported patients carried homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations of DMP2 gene, and found that mutations within the region encoding the first domain is correlated with more severe clinical symptoms than ones within the second domain, establishing the possible correlation of genotypes and phenotype based on the localization of the variants.
Conclusions
our study broadens the mutation spectrum of DPM2 genes, expands the genetic and phenotypic relevance of DPM2 variants, and emphasizes the need of further functional studies to understand the underlying pathophysiology of the phenotype heterogeneity.
Research trends and Hotspots of Thrombophilia with recurrent pregnancy loss: a Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Deng Ying-jun , Liu Sheng-Jing , Zhao Ming , Zhao Feng , Guo Jun , Huang Yu-xiao
Published: July 2022

Background: Thrombophilia is a group of disorders that result in a blood hypercoagulable state and induce thrombosis, which was found widely existed in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). More and more research about thrombophilia has been conducted but the association between thrombophilia and RPL remains uncertain. Thus, it’s necessary to combine relevant literature to find the research hotspots and analyze the internal link between different study points, and then predict the development trend in RPL with thrombophilia.Methods: Relevant articles between 1990 and 2022 were obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database. Software VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to perform the analysis and conduct visualization of scientific productivity and emerging trends.Results: 742 articles published in recent 30 years by 3205 authors from 1139 organizations and 68 countries were analyzed. 37authors, 38 countries, and 53 organizations published papers ≥5. The USA was the most productive country and Univ Amsterdam was the most productive institution. Journal thrombosis and haemostasis had the most total citations. In keyword and clusters, factor-v-Leiden, inherited thrombophilia, activated protein-c, low-dose aspirin, molecular-weigh heparin, polymorphism had high-frequency focus on its etiology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The strongest keyword bursts showed the research hotspots changed over time.Conclusions: By Bibliometric Analysis, we comprehensively reviewed publications related to thrombophilia and RPL during the past 30 years. The research in the relationship between thrombophilia and RPL suggested that there could be differences in the clinical relevance of the different types of thrombophilia. And we should attach more attention to this relationship in in-vitro fertilization.
Afebrile chemotherapy-induced neutropenia: international survey of oncologists’ perspectives against the standard of care in the COVID-19 era
Authors: Saad Ereny Samwel Poles , Qualla Karima , Talibova Narmin , Gening Snezhanna , Yousef Shady Yousef Gayed
Published: July 2022

Introduction:Afebrile chemotherapy-induced neutropenia represents a frequent clinical situation where chemotherapy protocol, patient’s comorbidities, and disease status determine the risk of infection hence the management plan. Internationally distributed, this questionnaire aims to evaluate the routine practice and the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on afebrile chemotherapy-induced neutropenia management. Material and Methods:Coordinators from Egypt, Morocco, Azerbaijan, and Russia developed a 12-item questionnaire using Google forms to explore how oncologists deal with afebrile chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. The link to the survey was available internationally through social media and to their local societies over the period from July to September 2021.Results:We received 151 responses from 4 world regions: 58.9, 9.9, 11.3, and 15.2% from the Mena area, Russia, Europe, and Asia. The responses deviated from the guideline-driven practice as G-CSF was the most chosen option for intermediate-risk that was statistically different based on the academic background of the treating physician. Half of the responders ignored patients and disease risk factors in the intermediate-risk cases that trend was statistically different based on the geographical distribution. The steroid was a valid option for intermediate and low-risk as per oncologists practicing in Russia. COVID-19 pandemic positively affected the rate of prescription of G-CSF as expected.Conclusion:The disparities in the routine practice of oncologists based on their geographical and academic backgrounds highlight the need to analyze the underlying obstacles that hinder guidelines-based practice like workload or lack of the proper knowledge.
Successful Experiments in Blending Rubber(s) with Polyester Waste Fabric to Produce Products of Industrial and Domestic Use
Authors: Padhiyar Bhavesh , Wagh Shrikant J.
Published: July 2022

Non-woven polyester fabric waste is available in huge quantities from industry which is difficult to reuse. It cannot be melted nor can it be dissolved in any solvent owing to its complex structure and cross-linking. Presently it is incinerated or burned in cement industry. But its burning creates hazardous pollutants. This study focuses on utilizing the strength and durability of the two raw materials involved to form a Polyester Rubber Composite (PRC) with improved stability and process ability. A detailed chemical and mechanical analysis of PRC has been done, which indicates compatibility of the two polymers and enhancement in the hardness of the rubber by around 20–45 units. The PRC has been subjected to compression molding to fabricate commercial products like Bush and gaskets, which exhibit significant enhancement in chemical, processing and physical properties. A brief economic analysis of PRC gasket and virgin butyl rubber gasket shows a reduced cost margin of approx. 7.00% in the processing cost of the former, validating the market potential of the product. The utilization of these industrial waste materials, whose current disposal practices pose a concern at environmental level, into serviceable products gives a route for sustainable recycling practices.
Highly effectual photocatalytic degradation of tartrazine by using Ag nanoparticles decorated on Zn-Cu-Cr layered double hydroxide@ 2D graphitic carbon nitride (C3N5)
Authors: Akbarzadeh Abbas , Khazani Yeganeh , Khaloo Shokooh , Ghalkhani Masoumeh
Published: July 2022

Pollution of water resources is one of the main concerns of many countries. This issue originates from the entry of diverse pollutants, including dye compounds, into water sources. In this work, ternary Zn-Cu-Cr layered double hydroxides (LDH) supported on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N5) decorated by silver nanoparticles (C3N5-LDH-Ag) was first prepared. Application of various characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, and FT-IR revealed that the synthesized nanocomposite was composed of Zn-Cu-Cr LDH nanoparticles, g-C3N4 nanosheets, and Ag nanoparticles. The prepared nanomaterials were employed for the photodegradation of tartrazine in aqueous solutions. It was found that the C3N5-LDH-Ag catalyst outperformed their pure g-C3N5, Zn-Cu-Cr LDH, and C3N5-LDH composite in photocatalytic degradation of tartrazine under visible light irradiation. Tartrazine (20 mg/L) can be entirely removed by 0.25 g/L C3N5-LDH-Ag photocatalyst under one h visible light irradiation (200W) at pH 6 with a rapid degradation rate constant (k) that is 4.4, 3.9, and 2.6 times higher than that of pure C3N5, Zn-Cu-Cr LDH, and C3N5-LDH component, respectively. The formation of hydroxyl radicals on the surface of C3N5-LDH-Ag as the main active species was approved by the capturing experiment. The finding results approved the stability and reusability of C3N5-LDH-Ag in four photocatalytic degradation cycles. In general, our findings revealed that the synthesized nanocomposite could be employed as an efficient photocatalyst in environmental remediation.
Semi-supervised underwater acoustic source localization based on residual convolutional autoencoder
Authors: Pian Jin , Biao Wang , Bo Li Le , Peng Chao , Tong Xie Fang
Published: July 2022

Passive localization of underwater targets was a thorny problem in underwater acoustics. For traditional model-driven passive localization methods, the main challenges are the inevitable environmental mismatch and the presence of interference and noise everywhere. In recent years, data-driven machine learning approaches have opened up new possibilities for passive localization of underwater acoustics. However, the acquisition and processing of underwater acoustics data are more restricted than other scenarios, and the lack of data is one of the most enormous difficulties in the application of machine learning to underwater acoustics. To take full advantage of the relatively easy accessed unlabeled data, this paper proposes a framework for underwater acoustic source localization based on a two-step semi-supervised learning classification model. The first step is trained in unsupervised mode with the whole available dataset (labeled and unlabeled dataset), it consists of a convolutional autoencoder (CAE) for feature extraction and self-attention (RA) mechanism for picking more useful features by applying constraints on the CAE. The second step is trained in supervised mode with the labeled dataset, it consists of a multilayer perceptron (MLP) connected to an encoder from the first step and is used to perform the source location task. The proposed framework is validated on uniform vertical line array (VLA) data of SWellEx-96 event S5. Compared with the supervised model and the model without the RA, the proposed framework maintains good localization performance with the reduced labeled dataset, and the proposed framework is more robust when the training dataset and the test dataset of the second step are distributed differently, which is called “data mismatch”.
RegentK regenerative treatment available for ruptured anterior cruciate ligament? A scoping review
Authors: Tedeschi Roberto
Published: July 2022

BackgroundConservative/regenerative therapy for cruciate ligament ruptures can be considered as primary treatment. However, nowadays, the first option is almost always only surgical, although studies on the efficacy of intervention exist in the literature.AimThis scoping review aimed to map and summarise the literature to identify interventions with Regentk therapy available for cruciate ligament ruptures.MethodsFour databases were searched until May 2022. Studies that considered anterior cruciate ruptures treated with the Regentk method could be included. All interventions and contexts were considered. No restrictions were applied regarding language, study design and publication type. No grey literature and reference lists of included articles were identified. Results were presented in numerical and thematic form.ResultsFrom 245 initial records, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of the articles were RCTs and considered sports patients with cruciate ligament ruptures. The authors discussed only one range of interventions: conservative (n = 7). Specifically, the conservative/regenerative Regentk treatment.ConclusionsThis is the first scoping review that provides a comprehensive overview of the topic. The results revealed clear gaps in primary research, confirming that current management is based on surgery. This review may be useful for overall management and may provide a starting point for future research.
A case study on the importance of secondary structural components in the seismic resilience of major bridges
Authors: Yazdani Ahmad , Bocchini Paolo , Dehkordi Morteza Raissi , Eghbali Mahdi , Samadian Delbaz
Published: July 2022

Any reduction in the performance of bridges, as one of the important components of transportation facilities, might lead to significant direct and indirect economic losses and casualties to communities, which should not be underestimated. This paper presents a case study on a major bridge in the metropolis city of Tehran, Iran, and adopts a comprehensive probabilistic approach for the assessment of fragility, recovery, and resilience of the bridge. One of the results of the case study is a set of fragility curves for this landmark bridge. More importantly, the study focuses on the significance of modelling secondary structural components for an accurate assessment of the system failure and, in turn, system resilience. The results show that the influence of secondary components on the resilience index and vulnerability of bridges under more severe events can be ignored; however, for events corresponding to lower hazard levels their impacts on resilience should not be overlooked. Also, the results reveal that the HAZUS fragility parameters for the major bridge classes would result in an inaccurate seismic resilience index, compared to that resulting from a comprehensive analysis. This framework would help policy makers and stakeholders to have reliable information to support their decisions to create safe and resilient transportation facilities for citizens.
Associations between competitive goals in sports and body size perception among Finnish adolescents: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mäkituomas Leevi , Heikkilä Laura , Nurkkala Marjukka , Korpelainen Raija , Alanko Lauri , Heinonen Olli Juhani , Kokko Sami , Kujala Urho , Parkkari Jari , Savonen Kai , Valtonen Maarit , Vasankari Tommi , Villberg Jari , Vanhala Marja
Published: July 2022

Background: Regardless of competitive athletes’ body image pressures, the role of competitive goals in sports on adolescents’ body perception has not been studied. We examined the factors associated with adolescents’ competitive goals in sports and body size perception, and the associations between adolescents’ competitive goals in sports and body size perception.Methods: The cross-sectional study included 475 goal-oriented sports club participants and 936 reference youths (aged 14–16 years) with self-reported data on health behaviours and accelerometer-measured physical activity. The multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations.Results: Adolescents with competitive goals in sports were more frequently satisfied with their body size than reference youths (68% vs 47%, p < 0.001 in girls; 74% vs 61%, p < 0.001 in boys). More than one-fourth of girls with competitive goals in sports perceived themselves as overweight, although only 7% of them were overweight. Adolescents with appearance/weight motives to exercise and poor perceived physical fitness had higher odds of perceived fatness. Additionally, BMI was positively associated with perceived fatness and negatively with perceived thinness. Having competitive goals in sports was not independently associated with perceived fatness or perceived thinness.Conclusions: Adolescents’ BMI, appearance/weight motives to exercise, and perceived physical fitness were more strongly associated with body size perception than their competitive goals in sports. However, body size dissatisfaction among girls with competitive goals in sports should be considered in organized sports.
A revised work on the Rayleigh-Bénard instability of nanofluid in a porous medium layer
Authors: Chang Min-Hsing , Yan Wei-Mon , Ruo An-Cheng
Published: July 2022

Instability of a horizontal porous medium layer saturated by a nanofluid heated from below is revisited. The study employs Buongiorno’s model for nanofluids and Darcy model for porous media. Different from the previous studies, this analysis is performed based on a nonlinear base-state solution, obtained by considering the dependence of thermophoretic diffusion coefficient on the volume fraction of nanoparticles. It is found that an infinitesimal temperature gradient is sufficient to overcome Darcy drag and trigger the onset of convection in a porous layer. In comparison with the previous works, the threshold of instability in presence of the nonlinear particle distribution shifts to lower concentration by two orders of magnitude. The physical mechanism causing the enhancement of instability is explained via an order of magnitude analysis. The theoretical result suggests that the instability in a porous media can be enhanced substantially by suspending nanoparticles.
Uplifted structures due to the obliquely subducted Gagua Ridge below the Nanao Basin imaged from MCS/OBS data
Authors: Deng Jia-Ming , Wang Tan K. , Wege Sebastian , Hu Wan Ting , Deng Yi Jie
Published: July 2022

At the southernmost part of the Ryukyu subduction zone, data recorded by 28 ocean-bottom seismometers with active sources during the TAiwan Integrated GEodynamics Research (TAIGER) experiment in 2009 were re-analyzed. Additionally, six long-offset multi-channel seismic profiles across three forearc basins and the Yaeyama accretionary prism north of the southernmost Ryukyu Trench, obtained by the TAIGER experiment in 2009 and the TAICRUST project in 1995, were processed to generate pre-stack depth migration (PSDM) sections. Due to the NW convergence of the Philippine Sea Plate (PSP), the Gagua Ridge may have been obliquely subducting northwestward beneath the Yaeyama accretionary prism and below the Nanao Basin. The PSDM sections and the velocity-interface models show that the Yaeyama accretionary prism near the trench, the sedimentary basement and the lower crustal structure below the Nanao Basin were uplifted by the tip of the subducted Guagua Ridge. Furthermore, the sedimentary and crustal structures near ~ 122.5°E beneath the Nanao Basin were shown a north-trending uplift where shallow earthquakes had been occurred by the oblique subduction of the Gagua Ridge depicted in the isopach map of the crust. Moreover, a recent earthquake (Mw ~ 6.0) near the NE coast of Taiwan in 2018 at a depth of approximately 12 km below the Hsincheng Ridge was caused due to a thrust fault near the décollement that might have been formed by subduction of the PSP.
Second Seismic Anchor Point of the Martian Crustal Structure Away From the InSight Landing Site
Authors: Li Jiaqi , Beghein Caroline , McLennan Scott , Horleston Anna , Huang Quancheng , Bozdag Ebru , Golombek Matthew , Lekic Vedran , Lognonné Philippe , Banerdt William
Published: July 2022

The most distant marsquake, S0976a, recorded so far by the InSight seismometer occurred at an epicentral distance of 146.3 ± 6.9o (Horleston et al., 2022), close to the western end of Valles Marineris. We have identified both SS and PP precursors, i.e., underside reflections off the crust-mantle (or intra-crustal) discontinuity between the marsquake and the instrument, on the seismograms, which directly constrain the crustal structure away (4000 km) from the InSight landing site. Inversion results show that the Martian crust at the bounce point between the lander and the event is characterized by an interface at 20 ± 5 km depth, similar to that seen beneath the InSight landing site (Knapmeyer-Endrun et al., 2021). However, a likely distinct feature at the bounce point compared to the lander site is the absence of a shallow layer (at 8 ± 2 km, with low seismic wave speed, Knapmeyer-Endrun et al., 2021), indicating that this layer is either local structure beneath the lander or related to the type of geologic unit or that has been obscured at the bounce point by later processes.
Control of maleic acid-propylene diepoxide hydrogel for 3D printing application for flexible tissue engineering scaffold with high resolution by end capping and graft polymerization
Authors: Tran Hao Nguyen , Kim In Gul , Kim Jong Heon , Chung Eun-Jae , Noh Insup
Published: July 2022

Background
Control of 3D printing of highly tough hydrogel inks with adequate printability, scaffold fidelity and mechanical properties are highly desirable for biomedical and tissue engineering applications. However, developing a biocompatible tough ink with high-resolution printability, biodegradability, adhesion, and integration with surrounding tissues is a big challenge in 3D printing. The aim of this study was to develop extrusion-based 3D printing of viscous hydrogel composing of maleic acid and propylene diepoxide by controlling continuous mechanisms of condensation and radical polymerization.
Methods
The molecular weight of highly adhesive propagating poly(malate-co-propylene oxide) copolymer was controlled by capping its growing chain with mono-functional lipoic acid during condensation reaction to form lipoic acid capped gel (LP-capped gel). Poly(ethylene oxide)-diacrylate, PEGDA, is graft-polymerized to the LP-capped backbone polymer (MPLE gel) by UV irradiation during 3D printing process to control the properties of printability, cell adhesiveness and fidelity with high resolution and mechanical properties (MPLE scaffold). Both the highly adhesive LP-capped gel and printing-controlled MPLE gel/scaffolds are diversely characterized and compared with for their applications to the extrusion-based printability, including biocompatibility, self-healing, drug releasing, adhesiveness, multi-layered high-resolution printing, and in vitro/in vivo tests.
Results
The ratio at 1:0.3 (w/v) between LP-capped gel and PEGDA was chosen for the optimal results for 3D printing at high resolution (90–140µm in strut thickness) with various complex geometries (lattice, rhombus, and honeycomb). In addition, the long-term release profiles of bioactive molecules were well-controlled by incorporating high molecular BSA (21 days, 98.4 ± 0.69%), or small molecule ORN (14 days, 97.1 ± 1.98%) into the MPLE gel scaffolds for the tests of potential therapeutic applications. More importantly, the MPLE gels represents excellent in vitro cyto-compatibility against osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3) with viability value at 96.43% ± 7.48% over 7 culturing days. For in-vivo studies, the flexible MPLE scaffolds showed significant improvement on angiogenesis with minor inflammatory response after 4-week implantation in mice.
Conclusion
The MPLE gel inks was well-controlled for the fabrication of flexible complex tissue engineering scaffold with high resolutions, shear-thinning and post-printing fidelity, by modulating the composition of the highly adhesive LP-capped gel and inert PEGDA as well as end capping of lipoic acid to the propagating poly(malate-co-propylene oxide) copolymer.