Search Results (146)

Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus involves demanding challenges that interfere with family functioning and routines. In turn, family and social context impacts individual glycemic control. This study aims to identify this recursive interplay, the mutual influences of family systems and diabetes management. Design: Data was collected through a cross-sectional design comparing patients, aged 22–55, with and without metabolic control. Methods: Participants filled out a set of self-report measures of sociodemographic, clinical and family systems assessment. Patients (91) were also invited to describe their perception about disease management interference regarding family functioning. We first examined the extent to which family variables grouped dataset to determine if there were similarities and dissimilarities that fit with our initial diabetic groups’ classification. Results: Cluster analysis results identify a two-cluster solution validating initial classification of two groups of patients: 49 with metabolic control (MC) and 42 without metabolic control (NoMC). Independent sample tests suggested statistically significant differences between groups in family subscales- family difficulties and family communication (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression shed light on predictors of explained variance to no metabolic control, in four models: Sociodemographic, Clinical data, SCORE-15/Congruence Scale and Eating Behavior. Furthermore, groups differ on family support, level and sources of family conflict caused by diabetes management issues. Considering only patients who co-habit with a partner for more than one year (N = 44), NoMC patients score lower on marital functioning in all categories (p < 0.05). Discussion: Family-Chronic illness interaction plays a significant role in a patient’s adherence to treatment. This study highlights the Standards of Medical Care for Diabetes, considering caregivers and family members on diabetes care. Full article

Communication about moral decision-making involves complex emotional and cognitive processes, especially in critical situations. This study adopted a hyperscanning paradigm to explore neural convergence during moral negotiation. Twenty-six healthy young adults (mean age = 23.59 years; 16 women, 10 men), with no neurological or psychiatric conditions, were paired into 13 same-gender dyads at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Each dyad discussed a medical moral dilemma while their electrophysiological (EEG) activity was simultaneously recorded. Participants were first categorized according to their Dominant Reasoning Profile (DRP) (cognitive or affective), and subsequently convergence in DRP within the dyads was established. EEG band dissimilarities within each dyad were analyzed across frontal, temporo-central, and parieto-occipital regions. The results revealed significantly greater dissimilarity in frontal delta-band activity compared to parieto-occipital areas, regardless of the dyad’s DRP. Such results might suggest different emotional and motivational reactions between the two individuals, reflecting a broader gap in how the moral decision-making process was interpreted and internalized by each member, despite their DRP. The EEG hyperscanning paradigm proves useful in the study and understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in social interaction about morally sensitive decisions and provides novel insights into dyadic brain dynamics. Full article

Background: Cow-milk-induced allergic proctocolitis (CMIAP) is a non-IgE-mediated food hypersensitivity that often resolves spontaneously but may predispose infants to IgE-mediated allergies and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. Understanding its pathophysiology is crucial for microbiota-based interventions. Methods: We enrolled 32 exclusively breastfed infants—16 with confirmed cases of CMIAP and 16 age-matched healthy controls. The cohorts were sex-balanced (8 F/8 M), term-born (gestational age ± SD: 40 ± 1.2 vs. 39 ± 1.3 weeks), vaginally delivered, and sampled at a mean age of 2.0 ± 0.44 months (range 1.5–3.0) vs. 2.4 ± 0.66 months (range 1.5–3.5). Faecal samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Illumina NovaSeq platform, with diversity and differential abundance analyses. Results: The maternal dairy intake was similar (total dairy: 250 ± 80 vs. 240 ± 75 mL/day; yoghurt: 2.3 ± 1.0 vs. 2.5 ± 1.2 days/week; p = 0.72). Bray–Curtis dissimilarity assessments revealed distinct microbiota in infants with CMIAP. Infants with CMIAP had a lower abundance of Bifidobacterium (log₂FC−2.27; q = 0.022; ANCOM-BC), Collinsella (−29.35; padj < 0.0001; DESeq2), and Limosilactobacillus (−8.01; padj = 0.0285; DESeq2; q < 0.0001; ANCOM-BC) compared with controls. In contrast, Hungatella (+24.99; padj < 0.0001; DESeq2), Veillonella (+4.73; padj = 0.0221; DESeq2), Citrobacter (+10.44; padj = 0.0124; DESeq2), and Ruminococcus gnavus (+2.69; q < 0.0001; ANCOM–BC) were more abundant in the CMIAP group. Conclusions: Infants with CMIAP exhibit gut dysbiosis, which is characterised by the depletion of beneficial commensals and the enrichment of potential pathogens, independent of maternal dairy intake. Further studies should establish whether these microbiota alterations are causal or consequential in CMIAP. Full article

Gut microbiota composition plays a crucial role in host health and may be influenced by age and disease conditions. This study investigates the gut microbiota diversity of 175 dogs across three age groups (Junior (20–46 months, 43 dogs), Adult (47–92 months, 58 dogs), and Senior (93–168 months, 74 dogs), and examined the impact of osteoarthritis on microbial composition. Alpha diversity analysis using the Shannon and Chao1 indices were significant (p < 0.05) in Senior dogs Beta diversity analysis based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity indices demonstrated substantial overlap in gut microbiota composition across age groups, with no significant clustering observed (p > 0.05). A second analysis compared the microbiota of 69 healthy dogs and 81 dogs affected by osteoarthritis (OA) in the three classes of age. No significant differences were shown for alpha diversity and beta diversity between healthy and OA dogs. This indicates that aging and osteoarthritis do not induce significant shifts in microbial beta diversity, although high inter-individual variability was noted. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis identified distinct bacterial taxa associated with different age groups. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis identified distinct bacterial taxa associated with different age groups. Junior dogs exhibited enrichment in Blautia, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Clostridium, while Adult dogs were characterized by higher abundances of Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Ruminococcaceae. Senior dogs had increased representation of Prevotella and Ruminococcus. In OA dogs, Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Clostridiaceae, and Coprobacillus were significantly enriched in comparison to healthy dogs, suggesting potential microbiota shifts associated with osteoarthritis. Overall, these findings indicate that gut microbiota diversity varies across different life stages, specific bacterial taxa were differentially enriched in relation to age and OA. This study enhances our understanding of gut microbiota dynamics in dogs and provides insights into potential age- and disease-related microbial signatures. Full article

Objectives: The aim of our study is to evaluate whether texture analysis of 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT images can predict clinical outcome in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Methods: Forty-seven NET patients who had undergone 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT were studied. Primary tumors were localized in the gastroenteropancreatic (n = 35), bronchopulmonary (n = 8), and other (n = 4) districts. NET lesions were segmented using an automated contouring program and subjected to texture analysis, thus obtaining the conventional parameters SUVmax and SUVmean, volumetric parameters of the primary lesion, such as Receptor-Expressing Tumor Volume (RETV) and Total Lesion Receptor Expression (TLRE), volumetric parameters of the lesions in the whole-body, such as wbRETV and wbTLRE, and texture features such as Coefficient of Variation (CoV), HISTO Skewness, HISTO Kurtosis, HISTO Entropy-log₁₀, GLCM Entropy-log₁₀, GLCM Dissimilarity, and NGLDM Coarseness. Patients were subjected to a mean follow-up period of 17 months, and survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests. Results: Forty-seven primary lesions were analyzed. Survival analysis was performed, including clinical variables along with conventional, volumetric, and texture imaging features. At univariate analysis, overall survival (OS) was predicted by age (p = 0.0079), grading (p = 0.0130), SUVmax (p = 0.0017), SUVmean (p = 0.0011), CoV (p = 0.0037), HISTO Entropy-log₁₀ (p = 0.0039), GLCM Entropy-log₁₀ (p = 0.0044), and GLCM Dissimilarity (p = 0.0063). At multivariate analysis, only GLCM Entropy-log₁₀ was retained in the model (χ² = 7.7120, p = 0.0055). Kaplan–Meier curves showed that patients with GLCM Entropy-log₁₀ >1.28 had a significantly better OS than patients with GLCM Entropy-log₁₀ ≤1.28 (χ² = 10.6063, p = 0.0011). Conclusions: Texture analysis of 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT images, by revealing the heterogeneity of somatostatin receptor expression, can predict the clinical outcome of NET patients. Full article

This study provides insights into the stabilization effects of certain oxides (CeO₂, Cr₂O₃, Cd₂O₃, In₂O₃, MnO₂, MgO, Nd₂O₃, and Pr₂O₃) in styrene–isoprene–styrene triblock copolymers with respect to neat materials. This study was performed via chemiluminescence (CL), which allowed for the determination of the main parameters characterizing the interphase coexistence: the oxidation induction times, oxidation rates, and onset oxidation temperatures. The improvement in the thermal performances of the pristine and γ-ray-processed samples at a moderate dose was highlighted differently due to the electronic interactions on the particle surface. While the non-isothermal CL measurements pointed to a weaker evolution of oxidation in the studied composites at a higher temperature range over 160 °C, the isothermal CL determinations revealed a delayed start of oxidation, slower oxidation rates, and greater activation energies in the nanocomposite aging patterns. The different individual behaviors of the investigated formulations were ascribed to the dissimilar electronic interactions between the particles and the surrounding matrix, where the oxidation initiators were formed by the molecular fragmentation of the polymer macromolecules. The kinetic features illustrate the influence of the peculiarities due to the electronic interactions. The higher resistance shown by the irradiated samples compared with the non-processed compositions demonstrates the stabilization efficiency of the fillers studied. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hypo-hydration is a major health concern that affects performance and is associated with increasing morbidity and growing health care costs. There is an emerging interest in optimizing hydration and identifying how factors such as ingestion rate and beverage composition affect hydration. This study examined three beverages with varying ingestion rates and measured markers of hydration. Methods: Thirty healthy, active participants between the ages of 18 and 45 years were given three different beverages on three separate days. The beverages were of identical volumes (1 L), but differed in the rate of ingestion, carbohydrate content and electrolyte content. Beverage 1 and water alone were both consumed at a metered rate of one liter over four hours, whereas Beverage 2 was used as a positive control and was consumed at a bolus rate of one liter in 30 min. Results: After six hours, Beverage 1 significantly improved markers of hydration compared to water alone or Beverage 2. Beverage 1 decreased cumulative urine output vs. water alone by 32% (absolute difference −0.33 L; CI ± −0.16 to −0.51) and vs. Beverage 2 by 26% (absolute difference −0.26 L; CI ± −0.13 to −0.38). Beverage 1 increased the beverage hydration index vs. water alone by 64% (absolute difference +0.64 L; CI ± 0.36 to 0.92) and vs. Beverage 2 by 48% (absolute difference +0.53 L; CI ± 0.30 to 0.76). Conclusions: Beverage 1 is superior to water alone at improving hydration when it is ingested at similar rates. Moreover, metered ingestion of Beverage 1 improved hydration compared to a bolus ingestion of Beverage 2, this could be due to the dissimilar ingestion rates and/or beverage composition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity remains a global health concern and is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease overall. Dissimilar hypertension guidelines are available for clinicians, namely those prepared by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), which may lead to distinctive appreciation of health outcomes of patients with obesity after bariatric and metabolic surgery, such as hypertension remission. The main goal of this study was to compare the effects of applying stricter (AHA) versus looser (ESC) blood pressure criteria on hypertension diagnosis pre-bariatric surgery and remission assessment one year post-op. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data from patients who underwent surgical treatment for obesity at a single university hospital was performed. To evaluate the hypertension improvement or remission, two different types of blood pressure (BP) categorization were considered (based on AHA and ESC guidelines), in which each patient would fit according to their BP values pre- (m0) and 12 months postoperative (m12). Results: From a sample of 153 patients submitted for surgical treatment of obesity, more patients were considered with hypertension based on the AHA guideline (130 vs. 102; p < 0.001), while a higher rate of hypertension remission at 12 months after bariatric surgery was observed when following the ESC guideline (58.82 vs. 53.08%). Baseline patients’ clinical characteristics based on each hypertension outcome were mostly independent of the guideline used (p > 0.05), where only age and systolic blood pressure were relatively higher in “ESC groups”. Conclusions: We conclude that only minor differences exist between the two guidelines used. If evaluated based on ESC guidelines, it is expected that less patients are considered with hypertension, and the remission rate may be, at least numerically, higher. Full article

Background: The physical activity of different groups of individuals results in the rearrangement of microbiota composition toward a symbiotic microbiota profile. This applies to both healthy and diseased individuals. Multiple myeloma (MM), one of the more common hematological malignancies, predominantly affects older adults. Identifying an appropriate form of physical activity for this patient group remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a 6-week Nordic walking (NW) training program combined with a 10/14 time-restricted eating regimen on the gut microbiota composition of multiple myeloma patients. Methods: This study included healthy individuals as the control group (n = 16; mean age: 62.19 ± 5.4) and patients with multiple myeloma in remission (MM group; n = 16; mean age: 65.00 ± 5.13; mean disease duration: 57 months). The training intervention was applied to the patient group and consisted of three moderate-intensity sessions per week, individually tailored to the estimated physical capacity of each participant. The taxonomic composition was determined via 16S rRNA sequencing (V3–V9 regions). The microbiota composition was compared between the patient group and the control group. Results: The alpha and beta diversity metrics for species and genus levels differed significantly between the control and patient groups before the implementation of the NW program. In contrast, no differences were observed between the control and patient groups after the training cycle, indicating that the patients’ microbiota changed toward the pattern of the control group. This is confirmed by the lowest values of average dissimilarity between the MMB groups and the control at all taxonomic levels, as well as the highest one between the control group and the MMA patient group. The gut microbiota of the patients was predominantly represented by the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Conclusions: The training, combined with time-restricted eating, stimulated an increase in the biodiversity and taxonomic rearrangement of the gut microbiota species. Full article

Dissimilar welding between aluminum and copper poses significant challenges, primarily due to differences in their thermal and mechanical properties, resulting in brittle intermetallic compounds, limited joint strength, and high electrical resistivity. This study aims to overcome these issues by employing Ag-18Cu-10Zn filler material and optimizing laser power with a focus on improving joint strength and electrical conductivity. The results indicate that the incorporation of silver and zinc enhances the phase composition and microstructure of the weld. By forming solid solution phases such as Ag₂Al and Cu₅Zn₈, the brittle Al₂Cu phase commonly found in traditional Al/Cu welding is replaced. This not only promotes the heterogeneous nucleation of fine silver-rich grains but also restricts the excessive growth of silver-poor grains, resulting in a uniform distribution of fine grains throughout the weld. These modifications contribute to both fine-grain strengthening and dispersion strengthening. At an optimal laser power of 750 W, joint strength reaches 109 MPa, while joint resistivity decreases to 3.19 μΩ·cm, 12.6% lower than that of the aluminum alloy base material. This study proposes a process for achieving highly conductive, reliable Al/Cu dissimilar metal joints, potentially impacting the aluminum–copper connections in battery modules for new energy vehicles. Full article

This study aims to explore the effects of various pre- and post-weld heat treatments (PWHTs) on the microstructural and mechanical properties of dissimilar aluminium alloys, namely AA7075 and AA2024, joined through rotary friction welding. The joints were rigorously evaluated through multiple characterization methods, revealing no signs of cracking or incomplete bonding. This study observed that dissimilar joints between AA7075 and AA2024 alloys showed increased flash formation on the AA7075 side due to its lower melting point relative to the AA2024 alloy. Various zones within the weld region were identified, such as the dynamic recrystallized zone (DRZ), the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ)—which includes TMAZ-1 with elongated grains and TMAZ-2 with compressed or distorted grains—the heat-affected zone (HAZ), and the base metal (BM) zone. Of all the welding conditions examined, the post-weld heat-treated (PWHT) AA2024/AA7075 joint produced by rotary friction welding showed the highest strength, with a yield strength (YS) of 305 ± 2 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 477 ± 3 MPa. This improvement in strength can be attributed to the significant strengthening precipitates of MgZn₂ (found on the AA7075 side), θ-Al₂Cu, and S-Al₂CuMg (found on the AA2204 side) formed during post-weld ageing. Notably, all dissimilar welds failed in the HAZ region on the AA2024 side due to coarse grain formation, identifying this as the weakest area. Full article

Aim: Electronic prescribing has allowed for the collection of prescription data in real time in Greece for the first time. Hence, the aim of the current study was to present the characteristics of prescriptions for the Greek population during the period from 2015 to 2021. Methods: This retrospective study was based on data extracted from the nationwide Greek electronic prescription database between January 2015 and December 2021. Descriptive statistics methods were used for the needs of the study. As the basic figures examined depend on the size of the population, in order for the results to be comparable, we estimated the corresponding measures per inhabitant, using population data from the Greek Statistical Authority. Appropriate indicators for the comparison of consumption and expenditure over time were estimated. A study of the trend was also carried out using time series and linear regression models. In order to facilitate the design and implementation of specialized policies, it is useful to identify the drug categories with the highest consumption and expenditure, as well as the geographical areas that present similar characteristics. For the first, ABC analysis was used, which helps to identify the most popular categories of drugs, while for the second, cluster analysis was carried out. Agglomerative clustering was used to divide the regions into similar groups. This hierarchical clustering algorithm classifies the population into several clusters, with areas in the same cluster being more similar, and areas in different clusters being dissimilar. The Ward linkage method with Euclidean distance was used. Results: The analysis of prescription drug consumption and expenditure from 2015 to 2021 revealed significant fluctuations and trends across various drug categories, age groups, and geographical areas. Notably, the quantity of prescriptions increased by 20% since 2015, while expenditure surged by over 30%, with significant spikes following the end of the MoU in 2019 and the onset of the pandemic in 2020. In terms of expenditure, antineoplastic and immunomodulation agents (category L) held the largest share, driven by the introduction of new, costly drugs. The expenditure per inhabitant revealed gender and age disparities, with older populations, particularly women, incurring higher costs. Geographically, drug expenditure, and consumption varied significantly, with distinct regional clusters identified. These clusters, while showing some overlap in consumption and expenditure patterns, also highlighted unique regional characteristics. Conclusions: The insights into prescription drug consumption and expenditure trends offer a valuable basis for developing targeted interventions aimed at optimizing healthcare resource allocation. Moreover, the findings underscore the importance of addressing regional and demographic disparities in pharmaceutical use, thereby contributing to more equitable and cost-effective healthcare strategies. More specifically, the age distribution of prescriptions shows the increase in younger ages, which, as a result, anticipates the overall increase in prescriptions. The knowledge of the most convex categories of medicine, as well as the percentages of the use of generic drugs, shows where interventions should be made, with financial incentives and information through new information channels. The geographic disparities recorded should lead to policies that help the residents of hard-to-reach areas to access prescriptions. In addition, the present study provides a strategic framework for policymakers and healthcare managers to guide future studies and inform decision-making processes. Full article

Background: Although some randomized trials have reported beneficial effects of protein intake on cardiometabolic risk factors, evidence from prospective studies have not supported a strong link between protein intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is also unclear whether diversity in protein intake plays a role in CVD risk. Objective: We investigated prospective associations of (1) protein intake, overall and by food source and (2) diversity of protein sources with risk of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke. Methods: In a multi-ethnic cohort of 5879 U.S. adults (45–84 years), who were free of CVD at baseline, protein intake was assessed at baseline (2000–2002) using a validated 120-item food frequency questionnaire. Two different aspects of protein diversity were assessed including count (number of protein food consumed at least once/week) and dissimilarity (diversity of the attributes of the protein sources consumed). Relationships with incident CVD outcomes through 2019 were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and comorbidity factors. Results: During 83,430 person-years, 1045 CVD cases were identified, including 668 CHD and 332 stroke cases. In multivariable models, we found no significant associations between protein intake, overall and by food source, with incident CVD, CHD, or stroke. Protein count, but not protein dissimilarity, was weakly associated with CVD risk. We found no significant associations between diversity of consumption of animal or plant food source and CVD outcomes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest protein consumption may not significantly impact CVD risk in middle-aged adults. Full article

Background/Objectives: An adapted version of an online pictorial food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), VioScreen-Allergy, assesses total dietary intake and intake of allergens and foods in the maternal diet index (MDI), linked to offspring allergy. This study assessed intermethod reliability, test–retest reliability, and external validity of the VioScreen-Allergy. Methods: Females of childbearing age were recruited at Denver Health and Children’s Hospital, Colorado, USA, and were asked to complete four 24 h recalls and two VioScreen-Allergy FFQs over the course of a month. All those with at least two 24 h dietary recalls and both VioScreen-Allergy assessments were analyzed. Energy-adjusted and non-adjusted linear mixed models (1) compared MDI scores and intake of nutrients and allergens as measures of intermethod reliability; (2) evaluated VioScreen-Allergy test–retest reliability as differences between repeated measurements; and (3) assessed external validity by modeling associations between VioScreen-Allergy-derived intake of beta-carotene and orange vegetables and Veggie Meter^®-assessed skin carotenoids. Bonferroni corrections controlled multiple comparisons within the assessment. Results: Of 53 participants enrolled, 25 demographically dissimilar participants were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences between 24 h recall and VioScreen-Allergy mean intakes of macronutrients, micronutrients, allergens, or MDI, except for Vitamin C, niacin, and cashew allergen protein. There were no significant differences between repeated measurements of VioScreen-Allergy, either energy-adjusted or unadjusted. Both beta-carotene and orange vegetable servings were significantly associated with Veggie Meter^®. Conclusions: Although non-significance could have been due to low power, clinical as well as statistical assessments of intermethod reliability, test–retest reliability, and external validity suggest that VioScreen-Allergy has reasonable utility for trials assessing food allergens and MDI in the context of overall intake. The VioScreen questionnaire can also be used in future studies to assess macro- and micronutrient intake. Additional validation studies assessing different portion sizes and foods eaten by infants and young children are currently undergoing. Full article

This investigation focuses on the prevalent continental oil shale within the Triassic Chang 7, a member of the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar Basin of western China, and delves into the impacts of hydrocarbon generation and the derived organic acids on the physical attributes of oil shale reservoirs. Water-soluble organic acids (WSOAs) were extracted via Soxhlet extraction and analyzed by a 940 ion chromatograph (Metrohm AG), supplemented with core observations, thin-section analyses, pyrolysis, and trace element assays, as well as the qualitative observation of pore structures via FIB-SEM scanning electron microscopy. The study discloses substantial disparities in the types and abundances of organic acids within the oil shale strata of the two regions, with mono-acids being conspicuously more prevalent than dicarboxylic acids. The spatial distribution of organic acids within the oil shale strata in the two regions is non-uniform, and their generation is inextricably correlated with the type of organic matter, thermal maturity, and depth at which they are buried. During diverse stages of diagenesis, the hydrocarbons and organic acids produced from the pyrolysis of organic matter not only exert an impact on the properties of pore fluids but also interact with diagenetic processes such as compaction, dissolution, and metasomatism to enhance the reservoir quality of oil shale. The synergy between chemical interactions and physical alterations collectively governs the migration and distribution patterns of organic acids as well as the characteristics of oil shale reservoirs. Furthermore, the sources of organic acids within the oil shale series in the two regions demonstrate pronounced dissimilarities, which are intimately associated with the peculiarities of their sedimentary milieu. The oil shale of the Yanchang Formation was formed in a warm and humid freshwater lacustrine basin environment, while the oil shale of the Lucaogou Formation was deposited in a brackish to saline lacustrine setting under an arid to semi-arid climatic regime. These variances not only illuminate the intricacy and multiplicity of the sedimentary attributes of oil shale but also accentuate the impact of the sedimentary environment on the genesis and distribution of organic acids, especially the transformation and optimization of reservoir dissolution by organic acids generated during hydrocarbon generation—a factor of paramount significance for the precise identification and effective development of the “sweet spot” area of shale oil. These areas, characterized by an abundance of organic matter, their maturity, and superior reservoir properties, are the foci of the efficient exploration and development of continental shale oil. Full article