bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study on Structure Optimization and Cuttings Removal Efficiency of a Vortex Cuttings Cleaner
Authors: Zhang Yiqun , Hu Zhaowen , Wu Xiaoya , Liu Ya , Hu Xiao , Li Linling 
Published: January 2023

Summary
Cuttings easily accumulate in the horizontal section during the process of horizontal well drilling, causing tripping difficulty, drillpipe sticking, or even breaking. Existing hole cleaners work while the drillpipe is rotating continuously. In this paper, we describe a vortex cuttings cleaner that combines mechanical cuttings removal with hydraulic cuttings transport without drillpipe rotation. First, a 3D numerical model of vortex cuttings cleaner is established. The flow field characteristics (e.g., velocity distribution and pressure distribution) and energy conversion efficiency of different structures of cuttings cleaner are compared to define an improved structure of cuttings cleaner. Then, the annulus flow field of the cuttings cleaner with improved structure is analyzed to identify the factors influencing the cuttings removal efficiency. Finally, by comparing and analyzing the simulation results and field test results, the influence on cuttings removal efficiency of the vortex cuttings cleaner is clarified. The results show that the energy conversion efficiency of the vortex cuttings cleaner can be improved by reducing the angle of inclined tube and the number of spiral strips or increasing the rotation angle of spiral strips. Moreover, compared with the number of spiral strips, the rotation angle of spiral strips has a more significant influence. The pressure drop of the tool is also investigated. The cuttings removal efficiency increases with the increase of turbine speed, drilling fluid displacement, and viscosity and decreases with the increase of cuttings particle size. Each of these influencing factors has a critical value. When the turbine speed and drilling fluid displacement are higher than the critical values and the cuttings particle size is smaller than its critical value, the cuttings removal efficiency does not increase significantly. After the vortex cuttings cleaner is run into the hole, the circulated cuttings volume increases significantly, and the friction reduces noticeably. The vortex cuttings cleaner has a long failure-free working time, and all parts tripped out of the well are in good condition for future use. This study provides reference for the design and process optimization of hole cleaners in horizontal wells.
Long-Term Microbial DNA-Based Monitoring of the Mature Sarukawa Oil Field in Japan
Authors: Kobayashi H. , Goto A. , Feng X. , Uruma K. , Momoi Y. , Watanabe S. , Sato K. , Zhang Y. , Horne R. N. , Shibuya T. , Okano Y. 
Published: January 2023

Summary
Microbial DNA-based monitoring is a promising tool for reservoir monitoring that has been used mainly for shale reservoir development. In this study, long-term microbial DNA-based monitoring was applied to the Sarukawa oil field, which has a complex reservoir structure with no practical simulation model available. Fluid samples were collected periodically from nine production wells and two injection wells from October 2019 to July 2021. DNA was extracted from the samples, and the microbial composition was analyzed by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Based on similarities between the microbial profiles, the samples were classified into seven clusters that corresponded closely to the original fluid type (i.e., injection or production fluid) and specific environment (e.g., geological strata or compartments). A comparative analysis of the microbial profiles suggested possible well connectivity and water breakthrough. These results demonstrate that microbial DNA-based monitoring can provide useful information for optimizing production processes (e.g., waterflooding) in mature oil fields.
Updated beliefs and shaken confidence: Evidence from vaccine hesitancy caused by experiencing "COVID arm"
Authors: Fukai Taiyo , Kawata Keisuke , Nakabayashi Masaki 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background

Public health depends on both medical treatment development and the public’s willingness to take such treatment. To determine whether having experienced delayed localized hypersensitivity reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, i.e., “COVID arm” symptoms affect confidence in the safety of vaccination, willingness to take COVID-19 vaccines, and the acknowledgement of the importance of vaccination, and also confidence in science.

Methods

We implemented a panel survey on internet in February 2021 and March 2022 in Japan, before and after COVID-19 vaccines were administered to the public in Japan, and we used “COVID arm” symptoms, which are independent of one’s prior confidence in vaccination, as our instrument. Out of the non-probability sample of 15,000 respondents in the first wave in February 2021, 9,668 responded to the second wave conducted in March 2022. We used “COVID arm” symptoms as a natural experiment conditional on the background characteristics of the respondents. Main outcomes are whether having experienced “COVID arm” symptoms affected 1) confidence in the safety of vaccination; 2) willingness to take the next dose of COVID-19 vaccines, 3) acknowledgment of the importance of vaccination, and 4) confidence in science. Measures are marginal means of the probability of a positive reaction to each question.

Results

Experiencing “COVID arm” symptoms significantly lowered confidence in the safety of vaccination by 3.4 percentage points and the probability of taking a second and third dose of COVID-19 vaccine by 1.2 and 3.4 percentage points, respectively. Adverse impacts were observed regardless of prior confidence in vaccination. Experiencing such symptoms affected neither the acknowledged importance of vaccination nor confidence in science.

Conclusions

Updates to beliefs about side effects affected confidence in the safety of vaccination. Acknowledgment of vaccination importance and general confidence in science are likely to have factored in the uncertainty and to be tolerant of updates to one’s beliefs about side effects. Belief updates of specific treatments had asymmetric impacts on the treatment and medicine in general.

Trial registration

The design of the survey was preregistered with the American Economic Association’s RCT Registry [1].
Closed-form formula for some recursively-defined integro-difference sequence of functions
Authors: Yadeta Hailu Bikila 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The main purpose of this paper is to derive the closed form solution the sequence (g n) n∈N of integro-difference equations that is defined recursively as follows: g 1 (x) = χ (−1/2,1/2) (x), g n+1 (x) = g n (x + 1/2) − g n (x − 1/2) + x+ 1 g n (s)ds, n ∈ N, where g 1 (x) = χ (−1/2,1/2) (x) is the characteristic function of the unit interval (−1/2, 1/2) has value equal to 1 on (−1/2, 1/2) and 0 elsewhere in R.
Standardized administration and scoring guidelines for the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Version 3.0 (SCIM-III)
Authors: Kim Rachel , Thielen Christina Calhoun , Heydeman Giulia , Mulcahey Mary Jane (MJ) 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Study Design: Qualitative studies
Objective: To develop clear and specific administration and scoring procedures for the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Version 3.0 as a performance-based and interview assessment.
Setting: Research lab
Methods: Modified Delphi Technique survey methods were used in this study. Previously developed SCIM-III administration and scoring procedures for performance-based and interview versions were presented to clinicians experienced in SCI and SCIM-III using the Qualtrix (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) online survey platform. Summary and descriptive statistics were used to assess the percent agreement survey responses.
Results: Three survey rounds were necessary to achieve 80% agreement or above for the performance-based version. Two survey rounds were necessary to achieve 80% agreement or above on the interview version.
Conclusions: This study describes the development of standardized administration and scoring procedures for the self-care and mobility sub scales of the SCIM-III as a performance-based and interview version.
Acceptability and readiness to promote human papillomavirus vaccination at ages 9-10 years: A pilot study among rural North Carolina clinics
Authors: Vielot Nadja , Lane Robyn M. , Loefstedt Kaitlyn , Cunningham Jennifer , Everson Jason , Tiller Eli , Patel Sallie , Smith Jennifer 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

While 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV-9) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adolescents as young as age 9, providers typically recommend it at ages 11–12 per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Studies suggest that recommending HPV-9 at 9 or 10 years of age could increase up-to-date vaccination by age 13, which could benefit rural populations with reduced access to primary health care and lower HPV-9 coverage than urban areas. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of earlier recommendation of HPV-9 in rural clinics. We conducted in-depth interviews with providers and staff from two primary care clinics in central North Carolina, to understand attitudes toward recommending HPV-9 to 9- and 10-year-olds. All interviewees agreed that HPV-9 was important for cancer prevention and should be recommended before the onset of sexual activity, and agreed that HPV-9 could be initiated before age 11 to improve timeliness and completion of the vaccination series. However, opinions were mixed on whether it should be initiated as young as 9-years-old. Two key informants recruited from two urban clinics described their experiences recommending HPV-9 to 9- and 10-year-olds, including a modified vaccination schedule that promotes HPV-9 during routine well-child visits, prior to pubertal onset, and alongside other recommended adolescent vaccines. Earlier recommendation and administration of HPV-9 is possible with minimal changes to current clinical practices and could increase convenience and acceptability of HPV-9 in under-vaccinated settings.
Game theory model of corporate governance: Fitting real market environment
Authors: Zhu Yunxuan 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
In this paper, I use two game models to fit the market subject behavior in corporate
governance from dynamic dimension and static dimension, respectively. By further
expanding the main governance subjects and adding variables with practical
significance, such as "bribery" and "social welfare", into the game theory model,
some conclusions with practical significance are found in this paper. For example, the
factors such as the possibility to check out manager's violation, the punishment to the
irregularities, the supervision cost of the supervisory board, have an important impact
on the behavior of the corporate governance. In the static game model, this paper
finds that intersubjective games and restrictions avoid “the worst result” to occur.
Besides, social welfare even can be improved under certain conditions. In the
multi-coexistence game model, the equilibrium point of the static game model is
uncertain, which makes the social welfare situation uncertain. The conclusions of the
two game models can be used for reference to further improve the corporate
governance mechanism.
JEL classification: G30; M10; D21; D81
Developing a Natural History Model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Broomfield Jonathan , Hill Micki , Chandler Fleur , Crowther Michael , Godfrey Josie , Guglieri Michela , Hastie Jon , Larkindale Jane , Mumby-Croft Juliet , Reuben Emily , Woodcock Fionn , Abrams Keith 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to build a natural history model (NHM) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to provide new insights into the disease and to inform economic evaluations of new therapies. The study was conducted as part of Project HERCULES, a multi-stakeholder collaboration to develop tools to support the health technology assessment of new treatments for DMD.
Methods
Health states were identified based on a review of NHMs and input from clinicians, patients, and caregivers, and defined using outcomes commonly collected in clinical trials and real-world practice. The primary data source informing the NHM was the Critical Path Institute Duchenne Regulatory Science Consortium (D-RSC) database. This was supplemented, where data were scarce or absent, with expert input obtained via an elicitation exercise, and a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of mortality data.
Results
The NHM includes ambulatory, transfer, and non-ambulatory phases. Health states capture progression in each phase including loss of ambulation, ability to weight bear, and upper body and respiratory function, respectively. Scoliosis and cardiomyopathy were not included in health state definitions as the reporting of data in D-RSC for these diagnoses was poor. The NHM estimates that patients spend approximately 9.5 years in ambulatory states,
1.5 years in the transfer state, and the remainder of their lives in non-ambulatory states, with a median predicted survival of 29.8 years (95% CI: 29.1, 30.8).
Conclusion
The model developed includes a detailed disease pathway for DMD, including the clinically, patient, caregiver, and economically important transfer state which has not been identified or included in previous NHMs. The NHM will aid the understanding of disease milestones and may be used to support economic evaluations for new treatments for DMD, help facilitate inclusion of a lifetime time horizon within economic models and identify areas for further research.
Oral nanotherapeutic formulation of insulin with reduced episodes of hypoglycaemia
Authors: Hunt Nicholas , Lockwood Glen , Heffernan Scott , Daymond Jarryd , Ngu Meng , Narayanan Ramesh , Westwood Lara , Kuncic Zdenka , McCourt Peter , Couteur David Le , Cogger Victoria 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Injectable insulin is an extensively used medication with potential life-threatening hypoglycaemic events. Here we evaluated silver sulfide quantum dots (QDs) with a chitosan/glucose (CS/GS) encapsulating polymer to produce an oral insulin nanocarrier (QD-INS-CS/GS). This formulation was insoluble at acidic-neutral pH, showed increased absorption in human duodenum explants and Caenorhabditis elegans; and was highly sensitive to glucosidase enzymes to mediate hepatic release. In C57BL/6J mice, 50% of QD-INS-CS/GS distributed to the liver and promoted a dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose. Compared to injectable insulin, QD-INS-CS/GS had a similar effect size and time-to-onset in non-obese diabetic mice and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats without promoting hypoglycaemia or weight gain. Non-diabetic baboons showed a dose dependent-reduction in blood glucose up to 30% with 10 IU/kg in insulin tolerance testing. No biochemical or haematological toxicity, or adverse events were observed. These studies demonstrate the successful application of this oral insulin platform with inhibited hypoglycaemia.
Successful diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma from a neuromyelitis optica presentation in a patient with primary Sjögren’s syndrome: a case report
Authors: Xu Qiaoqiao , Yang Jiajia , Sun Zhongwu , Xi Chunhua 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by the presence of serum anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibodies (AQP4 IgG). There have been previous reports of NMOSD associated with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), with syringomyelia, in a small number of NMOSD cases. We report here the case of a patient with NMOSD and pSS who presented with various clinical manifestations, including long segmental cavitated changes in the spinal cord, who was finally diagnosed with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) through adrenal biopsy.
Case presentation
An 80-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to the hospital with weakness in her extremities for half a month and progressive deterioration with urinary and bowel functions for a week. Cervical and thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patient indicated abnormal C2-T2 signals. Considering these findings in combination with clinical data, NMOSD was initially considered, and steroids and proglobulin were administered. However, the patient’s symptoms did not improve, and her level of consciousness gradually decreased. Subsequently, craniospinal MRI and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple abnormal lesions. Adrenal biopsy revealed atypical lymphoid cell invasion of the small vessels consistent with IVLBCL, which was treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone (CHOP).
Conclusions
Currently, cases of IVLBCL combined with NMOSD and pSS are rare, and the myelopathy of this patient presented with long segmental cavity-like changes. Early diagnosis of such patients is difficult, misdiagnosis rate is high, conventional treatment is not effective, and deterioration rate is high. When the central nervous system is involved, the effect of conventional CHOP chemotherapy is poor; therefore, early diagnosis and early application of chemotherapy drugs are recommended.
Source identification in river pollution incidents using a cellular automata model and Bayesian MCMC method
Authors: Wang Wei , Ji Chao , LI Chuanqi , Wu Wenxin , Gisen Jacqueline Isabella Anak 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Identification of contaminant sources in rivers is crucial to river protection and emergency response. A general Bayesian framework combining the forward transport model with observed data is proposed to identify unknown sources of river pollutions in this paper. The computational effectiveness of the Bayesian inference will be significantly influenced by the efficiency and accuracy of the forward transport model. Therefore, a forward cellular automata (CA) contaminant transport model is developed to efficiently simulates the concentration values of pollutant rivers in Bayesian estimation. These simulated concentration values are used to calculate the likelihood function of available measurements. A Markov chain Monte-Carlo (MCMC) method is used to produce the posterior distribution of contaminant source parameters. The suggested methodology is tested on a real case study drawn from the publicly available records of the Fen River. The research indicates that the proposed methodology is an effective and flexible way to identify the location and concentrations of river contaminant sources.
Improving Retention and HIV Viral Load Suppression among the Adolescents Living with HIV in TASO Soroti and TASO Mbale Centers of Excellence using Operation Triple Zero Model: A before and after study protocol
Authors: Oryokot Bonniface , Kazibwe Andrew , Kagimu David , Oluka Abraham Ignatius , Miya Yunus , Etukoit Michael Bernard , Namusoke Eleanor , Kato Darlius 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Background
Retention and HIV viral load suppression remains suboptimal among the adolescents living with HIV in many settings including TASO Uganda, despite the implementation of interventions such as regimen optimization and community-based approaches such as multi-drug dispensing. To this end, the implementation of additional intervention is proposed to address gaps in current programming which include inadequate centralization of the HIV positive adolescents in the designs. This study, thus proposes to adapt and implement the operation triple zero (OTZ) model in TASO Soroti and Mbale centers to improve both retention and viral load suppression among the adolescents.
Methodology
A before and study design is preferred, employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. To identify barriers and facilitators to retention and Viral load suppression among the ALHIV, secondary data, focused group discussions and key informant interviews will be used to understand perspectives of the adolescents, their caregivers and the health-workers. The consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR) will help in designing the intervention while knowledge to action (K2A) will support the adaptation process. To test the intervention, Reach, Effectiveness, Adaption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework will be used. A paired t-test will be used to compare means of retention and viral load suppression in the before and after study periods.
Discussion
This study aims at adapting and implementing the OTZ model in TASO Soroti and Mbale Centers of Excellence (COEs) to attain optimal retention and viral load suppression among the HIV positive adolescents in care. Uganda is yet to adapt the touted OTZ model and findings from this study will be important in providing the necessary lessons for potential scale up of the model. Furthermore, results of this study could potentially provide more additional evidence for the effectiveness of OTZ in attaining optimal HIV treatment outcomes among the adolescents living with HIV.
Advanced pathophysiology mimicking lung models for accelerated drug discovery
Authors: Phan Thanh Huyen , Shi Huaikai , Denes Christopher E. , Cole Alexander J. , Wang Yiwei , Cheng Yuen Yee , Hesselson Daniel , Neely Graham Gregory , Jang Jun-Hyeog , Chrzanowski Wojciech 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
Respiratory diseases are the 2nd leading cause of death globally. The current treatments for chronic lung diseases are only supportive. Very few new classes of therapeutics have been introduced for lung diseases in the last 40 years, due to the lack of reliable lung models that enable rapid, cost-effective, and high-throughput testing. To accelerate the development of new therapeutics for lung diseases, we established two classes of lung-mimicking models: (i) healthy, and (ii) diseased lungs – COPD.
Methods
To establish models that mimic the lung complexity to different extents, we used five design components: (i) cell type, (ii) membrane structure/constitution, (iii) environmental conditions, (iv) cellular arrangement, (v) substrate, matrix structure and composition. To determine whether the lung models are reproducible and reliable, we developed a quality control (QC) strategy, which integrated the real-time and end-point quantitative and qualitative measurements of cellular barrier function, permeability, tight junctions, tissue structure, tissue composition, and cytokine secretion.
Results
The healthy model is characterised by (i) continuous tight junctions, (ii) physiological cellular barrier function, (iii) a full thickness epithelium composed of multiple cell layers, and (iv) the presence of ciliated cells and goblet cells. Meanwhile, the disease model emulates human COPD disease: (i) dysfunctional cellular barrier function, (ii) depletion of ciliated cells, and (ii) overproduction of goblet cells. The models developed here have multiple competitive advantages when compared with existing in vitrolung models: (i) the macroscale enables multimodal and correlative characterisation of the same model system, (ii) the use of cells derived from patients that enables the creation of individual models for each patient for personalised medicine, (iii) the use of an extracellular matrix proteins interface, which promotes physiological cell adhesion and differentiation, (iv) media microcirculation that mimics the dynamic conditions in human lungs.
Conclusion
Our model can be utilised to test safety, efficacy, and superiority of new therapeutics as well as to test toxicity and injury induced by inhaled pollution or pathogens. It is envisaged that these models can also be used to test the protective function of new therapeutics for high-risk patients or workers exposed to occupational hazards.