bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acoustic Analysis of Fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ and Affricate /ʧ/ in Persian-Speaking Cochlear-Implanted Children and Normal-Hearing Peers
Authors: Roohparvar Rahimeh , Karimabadi Mahin , Ghahari Shima , Mirzaee Mogaddameh 
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim: Hearing-impaired individuals have difficulty comprehending and producing speech sounds. Cochlear implantation is used to augment hearing. The present study aims to compare the production of fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ and affricate /ʧ/ by Persian- speaking Cochlear-Implanted (CI) and Normal-Hearing (NH) children
Methods: Fifteen Persian-speaking NH children and 15 Persian-speaking CI children, matched for age, gender, and general health conditions, were included in the study. The stimuli included two voiceless Persian fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ and one voiceless Persian affricate

/ʧ/ along with the open front vowel /æ/ in three Consonant-Vowel (CV), Consonant-Vowel- Consonant (CVC), and Vowel-Consonant (VC) contexts (/sæ/, /æsæ/, /æs/, /ʃæ/, /æʃæ/, /æʃ/,/ʧæ/, /æʧæ/, /æʧ/). After recording all utterances, Praat software was used to measure the friction duration, rise time, and spectral peak of the consonants
Results: The CI children could not distinguish between /ʃ/ and /ʧ/ and produced affricate
/ʧ/ as an allophone of /ʃ/ (p=0.01). Moreover, distinguishing between two fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ was difficult for both groups. While NH children slightly treated these two sounds differently, the CI group produced fricative /s/ as an allophone of /ʃ/ (p=0.02). The rise time of /ʃ/ was longer in the NH children, except for /ʧæ/, where the CI children had a longer rise time.
Conclusion: The speech of CI children is different in producing /s/, /ʃ/, and /ʧ/ from their NH peers. The results can help speech therapists, clinical linguists, and application designers focus on speech sounds that are challenging for CI children to produce.
Keywords: Cochlear implant; speech production; fricatives; affricate
Effect of Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation on Spatial Learning and Memory of Rats
Authors: Soufinia Bahareh , Lotfi Younes , Mirshekar Mohammad Ali , Shaabani Moslem , Bakhshi Enayatollah 
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim: Previous studies have shown promising findings on effectiveness of noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (nGVS) in various cognitive disorders. The connections of the vestibular system with the hippocampus has been proven. Here we investigated the effect of vestibular galvanic stimulation on the improvement of spatial learning and memory of rats.
Methods: Twelve Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and nGVS groups. The nGVS group underwent 30-minute sessions of stimulation at sub-threshold levels for a duration of fourteen days. Following the intervention, both groups underwent assessments of cognitive indices through the Morris water maze task, hippocampal neuronal spike rate by Single-Unit Recording (SUR) and the concentrations of c-fos protein in the hippocampus were measured using ELISA device.
Results: The nGVS group exhibited a significant difference compared to the control group in both the time taken to reach the target platform and the percentage of time spent in the goal quarter during the Morris water maze test. The nGVS treatment significantly enhanced spike rate of hippocampal dentate gyrus (p<0.01) compared to the control group. Additionally, c-fos protein concentrations were increased in the nGVS (5.833) than the control group (4.126), (p<0.001).
Conclusion: According to the obtained results, nGVS plays a role in improving spatial memory, and a longer duration of intervention is suggested to achieve more obvious improvement results.

Keywords: Galvanic vestibular stimulation; spatial cognition; single-unit recording; hippocampus; rat
Effects of Different Doses of Nitrogen on Growth and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Berekum Municipality of Ghana
Authors: Santo Kwadwo Gyasi , Ansu Eric , Khalid Abdul Aziz , Abdulai Muntala , Afreh Daniel Ntiamoah , Atakora Kwabena , Norshie Patrick Mawuenyegan , Novor Samuel 
Published: May 2024

Background: Adequate and balanced use of plant nutrients could increase crop performance and reduce adverse environmental effects. Farmers in Berekum have little information on the specific rate of nutrient, especially nitrogen application for hybrid and open pollinated maize varieties. Methods: A field experiment was carried out in Berekum Municipality of Ghana to determine the effects of different doses of N fertilizer (0, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1) on growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of Pannar 12 (hybrid) and Omankwa (open-pollinated) maize varieties. The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice. Result: Experimental results revealed that incremental doses of nitrogen significantly impacted vegetative growth and NUE of maize. The studies indicated that the growth response in terms of plant height, number of leaves per plant and stem diameter of Omankwa was better than that of Pannar 12. It was found that in the main cropping period of 2019, the maximum NUE of 14.58 kg/kg was gained when Pannar 12 was grown with 150 kg N ha-1, while the highest NUE (15.91 kg/kg) was recorded when Omankwa was grown with 90 kg N ha-1. In the minor season of 2019, NUE was highest (13.54 kg/kg) when Pannar 12 was grown with 150 kg N ha-1, while application of 120 kg N ha-1 to Omankwa resulted in the highest NUE (10.85 kg/kg). The studies indicated that application of nitrogen at 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1 improved NUE in maize. However, NUE was optimized in Pannar 12 due to application of 150 kg N ha-1, while application of 90 kg N ha-1 was enough to optimize NUE in Omankwa.
MASLD-mimicking microenvironment drives an aggressive phenotype and represses IDH2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Korhan Peyda , Bağırsakçı Ezgi , Islakoğlu Yasemin Öztemur , Solmaz Gülhas , Sarıkaya Burcu , Nart Deniz , Yılmaz Funda , Atabey Neşe 
Published: May 2024

Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly NAFLD) is expected to be a significant public health issue in the near future. Therefore, understanding the tumor microenvironment interactions in MASLD-induced HCC is crucial, and the development of relevant preclinical models is needed. Hence, we aimed to determine the effects of a MASLD-mimicking microenvironment (ME) on the aggressiveness of HCC cells and identify target genes that drive HCC by developing a 3D-in vitro co-culture system.
Methods: A 3D co-culture system mimicking the MASLD-ME was created with LX-2 liver stellate cells embedded in 3D collagen gel in the lower and SNU-449 HCC cells on the upper parts of Boyden chambers, and cells were grown in an optimized metabolic medium (MM). The effects of NAFLD-ME on motility, sphere formation, proliferation, and cell cycle of SNU-449 cells were tested by Boyden chamber, 3D sphere formation, XTT, and Flow cytometry, respectively. The protein expression/activation profiles of motile SNU-449 cells that passed the membrane toward NAFLD-ME or control condition were investigated using a multiplex protein profiling system DigiWest and confirmed with RT-PCR, WB, and Flow cytometry. IDH2 levels were examined in primary human HCC and adjacent liver tissues by IHC and in TCGA and CPTAC cohorts by bioinformatics tools.
Results: MM treatment increased fat accumulation, motility, and spheroid formation of both SNU-449 and LX-2 cells. MASLD-ME induced activation of LX2 cells, leading to the formation of bigger colonies with many intrusions compared to related controls. DigiWest analysis showed that metabolism-related proteins such as IDH2 were the most affected molecules in SNU-449 cells that migrated toward the MASLD-ME compared to those that migrated toward the control condition. Downregulation of IDH2 expression was confirmed in SNU-449 cells grown in MASLD-ME, in primary HCC tumor samples by IHC, and in HCC patient cohorts by bioinformatics analysis.
Conclusion: This study reports the potential involvement of MASLD-ME in the downregulation of IDH2 expression and promoted motility and colonization capacity of HCC cells. The 3D MASLD model presented in this study may be useful in investigating the mechanistic roles of MASLD-ME in HCC.
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii A2-165 metabolizes host- and media-derived chemicals and induces transcriptional changes in colonic epithelium in GuMI human gut microphysiological system
Authors: Huang Yu-Ja , Lewis Caroline A. , Wright Charles , Schneider Kirsten , Kemmitt John , Trumper David L. , Breault David T. , Yilmaz Omer , Griffith Linda G. , Zhang Jianbo 
Published: May 2024

Aim: Recently, a GuMI gut microphysiological system has been established to coculture oxygen-intolerant Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii ) A2-165 with organoids-derived primary human colonic epithelium. This study aims to test if this GuMI system applies to different donors with different healthy states and uses metabolomics to reveal the role of gut microbes in modulating host- and diet-derived molecules in the gut lumen.
Methods: Organoids-derived colonic monolayers were generated from an uninflamed region of diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease patients and then integrated into the GuMI system to coculture with F. prausnitzii A2-165 for 2 to 4 days. Apical media was collected for metabolomic analysis. Targeted metabolomics was performed to profile 169 polar chemicals under three conditions: conventional static culture without bacteria, GuMI without bacteria, and GuMI with F. prausnitzii . The barrier function of monolayers was measured using transepithelial resistance.
Results: GuMI successfully cocultured patient-derived monolayers and F. prausnitzii for up to 4 days, with active bacterial growth. Introducing flow and oxygen gradient significantly increases the barrier function, while exposure to F. prausnitzii slightly increases the barrier function. Targeted metabolomics screened 169 compounds and detected 76 metabolites, of which 70 significantly differed between at least two conditions. F. prausnitzii significantly modulates the levels of nucleosides, nucleobases, and amino acids on the apical side. Further analysis suggests that F. prausnitzii changes the mRNA level of 260 transcription factor genes in colonic epithelial cells.
Conclusion: The GuMI physiomimetic system can maintain the coculture of F. prausnitzii and colonic epithelium from different donors. Together with metabolomics, we identified the modulation of F. prausnitzii in extracellular chemicals and colonic epithelial cell transcription in coculture with human colonic epithelium, which may reflect its function in gut lumen in vivo .
Low-Field NMR as a Vital Spectral Tool in Organic Chemistry
Authors: Gašparová Marcela , Pavílek Branislav , Tisovský Pavol , Ilková Simona , Tokárová Zita 
Published: May 2024

The growing interest in benchtop NMR systems is visible in a vast number of applications in science and industry. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) became an instant in technologies that productions are dependent on the reliable structure identification, grade and purity control, chemical process inspection or reaction monitoring. Beyond the benefits of being cost-, space-, maintenance- and user friendly, insufficient sensitivity and low signal resolution are the main drawbacks, due to which the low-field NMR (LF-NMR) in the fields of organic chemistry and synthesis remains limited to solely academic teaching purposes. Herein, we discuss the possibilities of LF-NMR for the needs of organic chemistry and synthesis on a set of compounds 1-4 achieved as the products of student’s laboratory course and organic derivatives 5-8 that are from our research interests. Chemical structure determination of all compounds 1-8 presented herein was performed using the benchtop-type NMR instrument operating at 60 MHz (Pulsar Oxford Ltd.). Structure of novel compounds 5-7 prepared under the aims of our research was characterized by combined 1H/19LF-NMR and compared with an appropriate high-field NMR data from Bruker Ascend Instrument (400 MHz). Finally, possibilities of the low-field NMR as an analytical tool for the research purposes in the fields of organic chemistry and synthesis are documented on a set of 1H and 2D 1H-1H COSY for azomethine 8.
Analyzing Communication and Satisfaction in Mental Health Online Consults for Students
Authors: Mirawati Ira , Wirakusumah Teddy Kurnia , Rahmawan Detta 
Published: May 2024

Online mental health consultation applications have become increasingly prevalent in Indonesia. Teenagers, including college students use these applications to communicate their problems and seek solutions. This study aims to describe final year students' experiences in using these applications. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an online mental health consultation service through the perceptions of 118 users, utilizing a Likert scale across three key dimensions: usefulness, usability, also integration and infrastructure. The findings indicate a generally positive reception of the service. In the usefulness dimension, the service scored well in terms of meeting advertised expectations, maintaining consistent quality, fostering optimism, providing clarity on mental health issues, and making users feel at ease. The usability dimension highlighted the enjoyable nature of the application and its benefits, though it revealed a need for improvement in accessibility for users with disabilities. The integration and infrastructure dimension reflected positively on the service's intuitive design and user-friendliness, with high scores in data confidentiality, responsiveness of counsellors, clarity of communication, and effectiveness in addressing user issues. Users also expressed a willingness to reuse the service for future mental health needs, indicating its perceived value and reliability.
Pressure- and Rate-Transient Model for an Array of Interfering Fractured Horizontal Wells in Unconventional Reservoirs
Authors: Ozkan Erdal , Makhatova Meruyert 
Published: May 2024

Summary
An analytical solution is presented for pressure- and rate-transient behavior of an array of n parallel and fractured horizontal wells in an unconventional reservoir. Wells are of equal length but otherwise of unidentical properties. Each well has an arbitrary number of uniformly spaced identical, finite-conductivity fractures and is surrounded by a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). The properties of hydraulic fractures (HFs) and SRVs may vary from well to well. Different properties may also be assigned to the unstimulated reservoir sections between wells. Natural fractures in stimulated and unstimulated reservoir volumes are accounted for by transient dual-porosity idealization. The flow domain is divided into blocks of 1D flow under the trilinear-flow assumption. Solution for each block is obtained analytically and coupled with the solutions for the neighboring blocks by the continuity of pressure and flux at the block interfaces. Drainage volumes of wells are adjusted based on the variation of well production rates because of moving no-flow boundaries between wells. The superposition principle is applied to consider variable-production conditions as well as nonsynchronous production and shut-in schedules of wells. The final solution is in the form of a matrix-vector equation in the Laplace transform domain and inverted into the time domain numerically. The model is robust and reasonably accurate for most practical applications of single-phase oil and gas production from multiple wells in an unconventional reservoir. It is an efficient tool to assess well interference effects for different well completion designs and varying reservoir characteristics. The speed of the model makes it useful for pressure-transient and production-data analysis, as well as for the initial calibration and verification of more complex numerical models.
Fitness for Service of 13CrS and Q-125 OCTG Material for Sour Service
Authors: Tlatlik Harald , Hatscher Stephan , Johnsen Ståle 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
During well clean-up of four subsea wells in a new gas field, elevated concentrations of H2S were unexpectedly measured. The concentrations left the tubing (13CrS) and casing material (Q-125) outside of the pre-qualified areas of ISO 15156. Therefore, it was required to demonstrate the fitness of the materials against relevant environmental cracking corrosion. This publication describes the methods and processes followed to qualify the materials and well barriers for service.
Testing was performed conservatively to NACE TM0177 to establish the stability of the materials against Sulphide Stress Cracking (SSC) and Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC). The testing atmosphere designs included both partial pressure as well as fugacity approaches. As part of the Fitness for Service analysis, the mechanical stress as realistically expected in the wells was used in those experiments. However, for the casing and due to expected deviations from the ideal circular hollow cylinder geometry of the tubulars and the uncertainty on the casing wear evaluations, a 90% Actual Yield Stress (AYS) experiment was conducted on the casing material as well, and a statistical approach was selected to evaluate the risk of SSC, using Monte Carlo simulations including Finite Element Analysis. The laboratory testing for the tubing was passed with an adjusted stress level in an environment exhibiting the shut-in H2S partial pressure. For the casing, the simulations including casing wear indicated potential stresses above the yield strength in the deterministic scenario. For those, the Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that significantly lower stresses are realistic and thus, the risk for local stresses exceeding the established crack-safe stress level was very low. Further layers of well integrity were implemented, such as H2S scavenger injection or short-notice readiness of a rig for the unlikely event of communication to annulus A. Subsequently, all four wells could be successfully started up.
Unconventional Solution for Well Operation and Maintenance: A Successful Case History of Surface and Downhole Leak Repair Using Robust Chemical Sealant
Authors: Saharuddin M. K. , Fadzin K. A. , Aziz M. F. , Ghaffar M. F. A. , Kasim M. H. , Mursalim M. H. , Xintee C. , Khalid M. S. , Chua H. L. , Choi Y. X. , Mokhtar M. K. M. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Operating and maintaining a healthy well is a demanding task for every energy producer worldwide. The loss of production and emerging environmental issues due to leaks is a concerning event and needs an immediate solution. Surface and downhole leaks on any well indicate a loss of well integrity barrier. The utilization of high-performance chemical sealant to reinstate the well barrier is evaluated during a non-routine well integrity campaign.
The approach was to gather and analyse the well leaked info data for each leak case. A methodology was then developed to properly design the diagnostic and rectification plan. Various leak-sealing principles were investigated during this stage. Several system integrity tests (SIT) were performed to demonstrate and approve the leak-sealing concept on a laboratory scale. Combinations of Pressure-activated sealant (PAS) and time-activated sealant (TAS), either polymer and epoxy resin-based, provide a wide range of leak-sealing opportunities for surface and downhole leaks.
A total of 10 well barrier elements (WBE) on different wells were diagnosed and rectified using high-pressure sealant, which includes downhole packer, surface wellhead component, sub-surface control line, and conductor casing. Most of the WBE reported experiencing unique leaks during diagnostic, and the correct sealant was deployed according to the design methodology and procedure. Acceptance criteria of well barrier enveloped were followed to qualify the rectification works. Ultimately, all 10 WBE managed to be rectified riglessly during the campaign.
The paper delineates the process of choosing a leak-sealing methodology and sealant working principle for each individual well integrity rectification, while also emphasizing the various factors that must be considered during the engineering study, diagnostic, and rectification activities, and the deployment strategy. Additionally, the paper shares the experiences and lessons learned during the execution phase. Finally, the paper also summarizes the post-monitoring result after one year of leak sealing application.
Maximize Well Integrity During Plug and Abandonment Through Perforate and Wash Operation
Authors: Tayar Abdulrahman A. , Betancourt Joya Mauricio G. , Aramco Saudi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of implementing Perforate and Wash operations as a proposed solution for maximizing well integrity during single and dual lateral well abandonment operations. The objective is to analyze the efficacy of these operations in preserving the structural integrity of the wellbore and preventing potential issues such as fluid migration or tubing-casing annuls communication after the abandonment. Through a comprehensive analysis and evaluation, this paper seeks to provide insights into the benefits and challenges associated with the proposed solution, contributing to the optimization of well abandonment practices and ensuring the long-term integrity of wells. The primary methodology involves studying and comparing different examples where the technique has been employed. Additionally, the approach integrates an experience-based methodology, complemented by direct observation of the implementation results and its impact on well integrity. The basic idea of implementing a Perforate and Wash operation is comprised of three key steps. It starts with perforating the casing at the desired interval. Then it includes washing and cleaning the annulus by removing unconsolidated solids behind the perforated casing. Lastly, cement is pumped in the newly cleaned annulus, creating a barrier that meets the standards for plug and abandonment of a well or a lateral. The advantage of implementing this approach than conventional plug and abandonment operation is that it maximizes the well integrity by eliminating any pressure communication through channels and achieve radial zonal isolation, minimizing the risk of cement contamination. Another advantage is that in multi-lateral system, it eliminates the risk of an abandoned lateral to have any pressure communication with other laterals. Depending on the results, this technique could open a new approach to be applied widely with higher rate of success and with a much higher confidence in terms of Well Integrity to achieve proper Zonal Isolation, even this technology has the potential to be used to correct Primary Cement jobs when Zonal Isolation was not achieved and other methods like squeeze cement are not successful.