Search Results (672)

The Ordos Basin hosts significant shale gas resources in China, yet its marine-continental transitional sedimentary setting causes intense reservoir heterogeneity that severely hinders accurate sweet spot identification in the Permian Shanxi Formation. This study aims to reveal the synergistic controls of lithofacies, mineralogy, and organic matter on shale gas sweet spot formation in the southern Yishan Slope of the eastern Ordos Basin. A multi-dimensional characterization approach was adopted, integrating drilling/logging data and systematic core analyses including X-ray diffraction (XRD), organic geochemical testing, porosity/permeability measurement, and on-site gas content desorption, to quantify reservoir heterogeneity across lithofacies, mineralogy, organic geochemistry, and petrophysical properties. The results show that three lithofacies associations are identified in the target interval: mud-wrapped sand, sand-mud interbedding, and sand-wrapped mud, among which sand-mud interbedding and mud-wrapped sand associations exhibit higher total organic carbon (TOC) contents and strong inter/intra-well heterogeneity. The organic matter in the reservoir is dominated by Type III kerogen, with TOC values ranging from 0.04% to 12.15%, and the Shan 2 Member shows significantly higher average TOC (2.55%) than the Shan 1 Member (1.36%). The reservoir is characterized by ultra-low porosity (average of 0.77%) and low permeability (average of 0.26 × 10⁻³ μm²), with mesopores and macropores contributing over 99% of the total pore volume and showing a significant positive correlation with gas content. Quartz (average of 34.86%) and clay minerals present strong vertical heterogeneity, with the Shan 2 Member being more heterogeneous than the Shan 1 Member due to differences in sedimentary environment evolution. A TOC threshold of 1.5% is determined for sweet spot identification in the study area, and shale gas sweet spots are synergistically controlled by high TOC abundance, moderate brittle mineral content, and 0.1–3 m thick sandy interbeds. This study enriches the theoretical understanding of marine-continental transitional shale reservoirs and provides a scientific basis for sweet spot prediction and development optimization in similar heterogeneous shale gas systems worldwide. Full article

Flavor is a pivotal determinant of goat meat quality, influenced by multiple factors. This study investigated flavor formation from a lipid perspective by comparing two distinct breeds at two years old and fed the same diet: the high-altitude Xizang goat (XG; n = 6, 26.23 ± 0.72 kg), renowned for its unique meat flavor, and the low-altitude meat-type Jianzhou big-ear goat (JBG; n = 6, 63.93 ± 0.98 kg). Lipid profiles were analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), and flavor variations were assessed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). We identified 630 significantly differential lipids (VIP > 1, p < 0.05) between the breeds. The XG group exhibited a distinct lipid composition characterized by a higher proportion of glycerophospholipids (45.1%) and the upregulation of specific species such as PC (13:0_16:0) and PE(16:0_20:5), whereas glycerolipids were markedly more abundant in JBG (24.3%) than in XG (6.4%). A total of 14 key volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified as potential drivers of flavor divergence based on the criteria of |log₂(fold change)| ≥ 1, VIP > 1, p < 0.05 and rOAV ≥ 1. Correlation networks revealed significant positive associations (r > 0.8, p < 0.05) between several upregulated glycerophospholipids—including PC (13:0_16:0), PE(16:0_20:5), PE(20:5_16:1), PMeOH(16:0_22:4), and PS(18:2_20:5)—and fruity esters such as ethyl heptanoate and butyl butyrate in XG meat, directly contributing to its more intense fruity sensory profile. Collectively, this study demonstrated that the phospholipid-rich lipidome of high-altitude XG served as a key substrate for generating fruity esters, which fundamentally distinguishes its more complex and preferred sensory profile from the triglyceride-dominated lipidome of JBG meat. These findings establish a potential molecular link between lipid composition and meat flavor, providing a biochemical explanation for traditional flavor preferences and highlighting the importance of lipid metabolism in determining the quality of goat meat. Full article

The growing consumer demand for minimally processed, “clean-label” foods is increasing interest in innovative technologies that maintain quality while ensuring microbial safety. This study sheds light on how the protein:lipid ratio in meat-like model matrices modulates the effectiveness of combined high-intensity ultrasound (20 kHz) and carvacrol treatments applied against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Three emulsified systems with geometrically spaced protein:lipid ratios (0.33, 1.0, 3.0) were subjected to combinations of ultrasound and carvacrol (0–1200 ppm) at $30\pm 2$ °C. To address the rheological non-linearity, the matrix index was log-transformed, and the process was modeled using both Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). While both models achieved high predictive accuracy ($R^2>0.96$), lack-of-fit analysis revealed that the reduced polynomial RSM model provided a more robust and statistically valid representation of the process compared to the ANN, which exhibited significant overfitting to experimental noise ($p<{10}^{-9}$). The results highlighted a distinct matrix dependency: ultrasound alone provided the fastest inactivation in the high-lipid matrix, while the high-protein matrix exhibited much slower kinetics due to viscous damping. Consequently, the explicit mathematical relationships derived from the RSM model are proposed as the preferred, transparent kernel for future digital twins and autonomous process-control systems in smart food-processing lines. Full article

Background: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of oral health complications, yet adults with diabetes remain less likely to obtain dental care in the United States. Objective: To examine socioeconomic, demographic, and insurance-related determinants of dental spending among adults with and without diabetes using nationally representative 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Materials and Methods: A two-part model was estimated: (1) a logistic regression predicting the likelihood of any dental spending, and (2) a generalized linear model (GLM) with a Gamma distribution and log link for positive spending. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, region, and insurance coverage. Results: The MEPS dataset included 15,071 adults (diabetes n = 2104; no diabetes n = 12,967), Adults with diabetes were less likely to have any dental spending than adults without diabetes (38.6% vs. 43.8%). Mean expenditures among users were higher for adults with diabetes but diabetes was not a statistically significant predictor of conditional spending after adjustment. Insurance coverage and preventive care were strong positive predictors of dental spending. Conclusions: Insurance coverage and preventive dental care are major drivers of dental spending and utilization among U.S. adults. Disparities observed among adults with diabetes appear to be driven primarily by reduced access to dental care rather than differences in spending intensity once care is obtained. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a severe form of peripheral artery disease characterized by ischemic rest pain or ulcer necrosis. In Europe, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can be offered to CLTI patients with chronic pain to improve mobility and prolong limb preservation. We evaluated the long-term, real-world outcomes of SCS therapy in patients with CLTI. Methods: In this observational study, medical chart review data from consecutive CLTI patients treated with SCS were analyzed. Results: Fifty-three patients (56.6% Fontaine Stage III, 39.6% Fontaine Stage IV, 3.8% Fontaine Stage IIb) had a single-stage SCS implant procedure between 2013 and 2022. Two years after SCS therapy activation, claudication pain intensity had significantly improved; the overall numerical rating scale pain score decreased from 9.4 ± 0.9 at baseline to 3.7 ± 3.2 (p < 0.0001). In addition, walking distance increased by more than 350 m (from 70 ± 87 to 429 ± 320 m, p < 0.0001), and pre-existing skin lesions stabilized in ten patients (63%). The probability of limb survival in Fontaine’s stage IIb/III and Fontaine’s stage IV patients at 12 months was 90% and 70%, respectively (log-rank p-value = 0.04). Finally, significant associations were found between the occurrence of an amputation after SCS and Fontaine Stage (p = 0.01), active smoking (p = 0.02), hypertension (p = 0.04), and prior minor amputation (p = 0.02). No major complications were reported. Conclusions: Our real-world experience suggests that SCS for CLTI patients provides significant and durable improvements in ischemic pain and functional outcomes. SCS may also help reduce the natural risk of major amputation, especially when implemented at early CLTI stages. Full article

The deep reservoir of the K gas field in the Xihu Depression of the East China Sea Basin has ample storage space and a vast reserve scale. However, these deep intervals remain poorly explored and developed, and their reservoir attributes and key controlling factors are not yet well constrained. Using integrated analyses of cores, cast thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, petrophysical statistics, grain-size data, high-pressure mercury intrusion, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, together with conventional well logs, we evaluate the roles of sedimentation, diagenesis, and overpressure in the development and distribution of high-quality reservoirs. Based on clastic grain texture and composition, authigenic minerals, diagenetic types and intensities, pore architecture, petrophysical properties, and gas saturation, two types of high-quality deep sandstone reservoirs are identified: rigid, moderately porous sandstones and strongly compacted, low-porosity sandstones. Compaction is the dominant diagenetic process controlling reservoir quality in the Eocene Pinghu Formation. Overpressure prolongs kaolinite stability and promotes precipitation within pore throats, enhancing fluid sealing and retention, yet does not significantly reduce porosity. Rigid moderately porous reservoirs mainly occur in subaqueous distributary channels, whereas strongly compacted low-porosity reservoirs are concentrated in mouth bars and sheet-sand microfacies. This distribution pattern provides guidance for exploring high-quality deep sandstone gas accumulations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fear of pain (FoP) is a critical psychological factor influencing the experience of pain, yet the mechanisms behind this relationship remain unclear. HRV, indexed here by resting RMSSD, reflects individual differences in cardiac vagal tone and has been linked to pain perception and pain-related psychological processes. In this exploratory, cross-sectional study, we examined whether HRV mediates the relationship between FoP and the subjective perception of pain intensity. Methods: Twenty-two healthy participants completed several self-reported measures, including the Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ-SF), and underwent an experimental cold pain induction, as well as a continuous recording of HR at rest. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the indirect effect of HRV, calculated via the Root Mean Square Successive Difference (RMSSD), on cold pain perception. Results: In correlational analyses, the Fear of Severe Pain (FoSP) subscale was associated with lower resting logRMSSD and higher cold pain ratings. In mediation models, the pattern of results was consistent with an indirect association between FoSP and cold pain ratings via logRMSSD (bootstrap 90% CI), while the direct path from FoSP to pain was not significant. Conclusions: These preliminary findings are hypothesis-generating and suggest that individual differences in resting HRV may be one physiological correlate of the fear–pain relationship in healthy controls, rather than an index of autonomic responses during pain itself. Larger longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to test temporal ordering, specificity across FoP components, and whether autonomic measures during pain better explain fear–pain coupling. Full article

The structural characteristics of the Majiatan fault–fold system in the northwestern Ordos Basin are complex, and the detailed 3D distribution of faults and their evolutionary mechanisms remain insufficiently understood, which restricts effective petroleum exploration in this region. To address this, this study utilizes high-resolution 3D seismic data comprising 20 lines (total length 753.371 km, survey grid 3 × 3 km) and drilling and logging data from 13 wells (including synthetic seismograms) to establish a detailed 3D fault model. We aim to elucidate the fault styles and the formation mechanism of the fault–fold–thrust belt. Results indicate the presence of 47 Mesozoic faults, all of which are thrust faults classified into three types. Structural traps dominate the leading transition zone, whereas lithologic–structural traps are prevalent in the Tian-huan Syncline. Laterally, from south to north, the fault occurrence transitions from west-dipping east-thrust to east-dipping west-thrust, accompanied by a shift in tectonic style from thrusting nappe to late-stage reconstruction. The stress intensity generated during the Late Cretaceous increases northward, causing deformation to shift westward. Typical fault styles observed include “y-shaped”, “flower-shaped”, and “imbricated” structures. The middle-north zones of the Majiatan area and the Hengshanbu Thrust Belt share a unified formation mechanism: initiation in the Late Triassic, main development in the Late Jurassic, initial shaping in the Late Cretaceous, and final modification in the Eocene, driven by the rotation of the Ordos Basin and shear tectonic forces. The most favorable exploration zones are identified at the junctions between the leading zone, the fault–fold zone, and weakly transformed zones. The tectonic evolution model established in this study provides a valuable reference for understanding structural complexities and guiding hydrocarbon exploration in similar fold and thrust belts globally. Full article

Strawberries are a very fresh product, but they pose food safety concerns. In the present work, the conservative effect of Neutral Electrolyzed Water (NEW) on strawberries was evaluated on contaminated berries with Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 13311 and Escherichia coli O157:H7. In addition, the treated fruit underwent physicochemical analysis, evaluating color, pH, titrable acidity, reducing sugar, soluble solids, total phenolic compounds, and vitamin C content. The effects of NEW on strawberries were compared with those caused after treatment with NaClO and saline solutions; all evaluated solutions were applied by spraying. Subsequently, sensory analysis was performed to identify differences between treatments. NEW and NaClO showed similar in vitro bactericidal effects against E. coli, and for Salmonella Typhimurium, NEW and NaClO decreased their counts to 9.3 log CFU/mL and 5.16 log CFU/mL, respectively. When both solutions were sprayed on contaminated strawberries, S. Typhimurium counts were decreased to 1.9 log CFU/mL and 1.29 log CFU/mL with NEW and NaClO, respectively, and the E. coli counts were 2.12 log CFU/mL and 1.31 log CFU/mL, respectively. This work includes physicochemical properties of treated strawberries and a sensory study to identify how treatments affect fruit characteristics. The physicochemical properties of the treated strawberries were not affected statistically significantly. Sensory analysis revealed that although oxidizing sanitizers (NEW or NaClO) modified the overall sensory profile of strawberries, NEW-treated samples preserved key desirable attributes such as uniform appearance, fresh odor intensity, and characteristic strawberry flavor, without generating pronounced off-odors or unacceptable taste alterations. These results indicate that NEW is a promising postharvest sanitizing alternative capable of ensuring microbial safety while maintaining sensory quality relevant to consumer acceptance. Full article

The persistent financial exclusion of micro-enterprises is fundamentally driven by information asymmetry, as traditional credit scoring models rely heavily on audited financial statements that small entities rarely possess. To address this “thin-file” challenge, this study proposes a shift from asset-based valuation to behavioral algorithmic profiling, hypothesizing that high-frequency operational risk patterns can serve as informative proxies for solvency compared to static liquidity ratios. Using an Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) architecture on a synthetic dataset of 5000 micro-enterprise transaction logs, we develop a predictive framework that extracts latent features such as supply chain latency, inventory turnover consistency, and digital footprint intensity. The proposed model achieves an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.94, outperforming traditional linear baselines and achieving performance levels above those commonly reported in micro-enterprise solvency prediction studies. The results indicate that operational stability emerges as a strong indicator of repayment capacity within the evaluated context, outperforming static liquidity-based measures. These findings suggest that computational intelligence approaches grounded in high-frequency operational data may contribute to mitigating information asymmetries in micro-enterprise credit assessment, particularly in environments characterized by limited financial disclosure, although further empirical validation is required prior to large-scale deployment. Full article

This paper presents a comprehensive study of statistical tests for comparing temporal point processes in general, with a particular focus on Poisson processes. We explore three key approaches: (1) an intensity-based test specifically for Poisson processes, (2) general parametric tests using the notion of maximum likelihood estimation, and (3) a general nonparametric test using the Isometric Log-Ratio (ILR) transformation. The first approach adopts a three-step procedure for comparing inhomogeneous Poisson processes by testing total and normalized intensities separately and then combining the corresponding p-values using Fisher’s method. The second method proposes a likelihood-based parametric test to examine the conditional intensity functions in point processes, emphasizing the application to Hawkes processes. Lastly, the third approach introduces a nonparametric test for general point processes, by transforming inter-event times into a Euclidean space via the ILR transformation, followed by conventional depth-based methods on multivariate data. We then conduct thorough studies on simulations as well as real-world data to illustrate these testing procedures and demonstrate their effectiveness. Full article

Background: Trisomy 18 (T18; Edwards syndrome) and Trisomy 13 (T13; Patau syndrome) are rare autosomal aneuploidies characterized by severe congenital anomalies, high neonatal mortality, and complex clinical trajectories. Objective: This study aimed to describe the clinical features, management approaches, and outcomes of genetically confirmed patients aged 0–18 years diagnosed with T18 or T13 in a tertiary care center. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed hospital records of genetically confirmed T18 and T13 cases identified through ICD-10 codes (Q91–Q92) between January 2015 and December 2024. Patients aged 0–18 years at diagnosis were included. Demographic, clinical, and interventional data were collected from electronic medical records. Survival analyses were conducted using the Kaplan–Meier method, with comparisons assessed using the log-rank test. Results: Among 29 patients, 23 had T18 and 6 had T13. Cardiovascular involvement was the most frequent anomaly, and overall mortality was high despite intensive care. Median survival was 90 days for T18 and 120 days for T13, with more than 80% surviving the first month but showing a steep decline thereafter. Most deaths were attributed to cardiopulmonary complications or sepsis secondary to prolonged intensive care. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed marked early mortality in both groups, with no significant survival difference (log-rank p ≈ 0.3). A small subset demonstrated longer-term survival with heterogeneous clinical courses. Conclusions: T18 and T13 are associated with high early mortality driven by complex congenital heart disease, respiratory instability, and infection-related complications. Although the overall prognosis remains poor, a minority of patients achieve extended survival, highlighting variable trajectories. Early multidisciplinary care, individualized decision-making, and strict infection prevention remain essential to optimize outcomes and support families. Full article

Natural fractures are critical controls on shale oil storage and migration in the Upper Triassic Chang 7 Member of the Ordos Basin. However, conventional identification techniques—such as mud-invasion correction, R/S rescaled range analysis, and radioactive element analysis—are time-consuming, computationally intensive, and highly dependent on specialized logging data, limiting their large-scale application. To overcome these challenges, this study develops a multi-modal deep neural network that integrates conventional well logs with borehole imaging data. A coupled convolutional neural network (CNN) and deep neural network (DNN) architecture was constructed to predict fracture occurrence, dip angle, and aperture. The model achieves dip-angle prediction accuracies of 98.82% for both training and testing datasets, while aperture prediction accuracies reach 95.97% and 95.91%, respectively. Predicted dip angles are concentrated between 65° and 80°, deviating by less than 0.48° from measured values, whereas apertures fall mainly within 0.5–4.5 cm, with deviations below 0.21 cm except in extreme cases. The CNN branch effectively extracts spatial features from imaging logs, while the DNN branch captures nonlinear relationships in conventional logs. The integrated framework substantially improves fracture characterization accuracy and efficiency. This study provides a scalable and cost-effective approach for rapid fracture identification based on conventional logging data, reducing reliance on specialized imaging logs and supporting integrated geological and engineering evaluations in shale oil reservoirs. Full article

This study investigates how online discussion forums in an undergraduate Social Responsibility course support students’ SDG-oriented idea generation and collaborative knowledge construction. It also examines how participation roles, behavioral intensity, interaction-network influence, and goal-aligned discourse shape idea visibility and discussion. Using a mixed-methods learning analytics design, we analyzed forum logs and message texts across five SDG-linked themes (SDGs 6, 7, 12, 14, 15) by classifying contributor types, computing a Behavioral Participation Index (BPI), constructing a directed reply network and estimating PageRank centrality, extracting solution proposals, scoring semantic goal alignment, modelling weekly temporal dynamics, and fitting multivariate regressions predicting visibility (reads) and engagement (replies) while controlling for theme, message level, time, PageRank, and BPI. Results show role-differentiated participation (N = 514), meaningful cross-theme solution proposals that varied across academic groups, and peak-driven weekly activity. PageRank centrality emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of both visibility and engagement, whereas goal alignment showed weaker direct effects after controls, suggesting that SDG-aligned ideas do not necessarily diffuse without structural embeddedness. Among highly goal-aligned posts, specific communicative features differentiated which proposals attracted attention and interaction. These findings suggest that SDG forum design benefits from structured interaction pathways and scaffolded discourse strategies to support equitable diffusion and productive sustainability dialogue. The study does not evaluate the normative quality of sustainability positions but examines how interaction structures and discourse features shape the visibility and diffusion of student-generated ideas. Full article

The eastern Baltic region is rich in hemiboreal forests, which are both commercially important and provide habitats for rare and/or endangered forest-dwelling species, which are sensitive to accelerating climatic changes. Under the intensifying climatic disturbances that are stressing forests worldwide, sanitary logging is a widely used harvesting technique for the mitigation of commercial losses. The effects of salvage logging on the biodiversity of forests remain ambiguous due to the larger scale and higher intensity of timber harvesting, which can alter the recovery of stands and succession of their vegetation. Furthermore, EU legislation is increasingly emphasizing conservation/restoration and mandating its implementation. The recovery of ecosystems, and hence the biodiversity of disturbed managed forests, can take several decades to centuries, depending on the site conditions. Long-term (~60 years, four remeasurements) changes in the composition and structure of vegetation, as an indicator of overall health and nutrient cycling, were studied in conventionally managed hemiboreal forests. Potential forest transformation (paludification) risks associated with large-scale logging were assessed in mixed coniferous stands in the Baltics, Latvia. Following logging, the stands were conventionally managed, including artificial regeneration. According to ground cover vegetation, 50 years was the period for the disturbance effects to start subsiding, as a dynamic equilibrium was reached and the canopies of regenerating trees were closing. A gradual decrease in moisture levels in the middle parts of salvage-logged areas, and later at their edges, indicated that the stands have escaped paludification, likely as the climate has been warming. Distance from the edge of the salvage-logged areas had a secondary effect on ground cover vegetation recovery after storms, alleviating concerns about the explicit negative impact of the scale of harvesting. Thus, in managed seminatural forest landscapes with a historically small to moderate scale of anthropogenic disturbance, salvage logging at a scale locally deemed as large had a transient effect in the Baltics. This indicates successful regeneration of the forest ecosystem over a timeframe shorter than the conventional rotation period, suggesting overall conservation efficiency of conventionally managed forests. Accordingly, salvage logging can be sustainable in terms of biodiversity and forest continuity in the long run under traditional management, as environmental changes accelerate. Full article