Effects of a proper feature selection on prediction and optimization of drilling rate using intelligent techniques

One of the important factors during drilling times is the rate of penetration (ROP), which is controlled based on different variables. Factors affecting different drillings are of paramount importance. In the current research, an attempt was made to better recognize drilling parameters and optimize them based on an optimization algorithm. For this purpose, 618 data sets, including RPM, flushing media, and compressive strength parameters, were measured and collected. After an initial investigation, the compressive strength feature of samples, which is an important parameter from the rocks, was used as a proper criterion for classification. Then using intelligent systems, three different levels of the rock strength and all data were modeled. The results showed that systems which were classified based on compressive strength showed a better performance for ROP assessment due to the proximity of features. Therefore, these three levels were used for classification. A new artificial bee colony algorithm was used to solve this problem. Optimizations were applied to the selected models under different optimization conditions, and optimal states were determined. As determining drilling machine parameters is important, these parameters were determined based on optimal conditions. The obtained results showed that this intelligent system can well improve drilling conditions and increase the ROP value for three strength levels of the rocks. This modeling system can be used in different drilling operations

Simulation and Seasonal Characteristics of the Intra-Annual Heat Exchange Process in a Shallow Ice-Covered Lake

The intra-annual heat exchange process has a considerable influence on the energy circulation, material metabolism, and ecological succession of lakes. The input and output of heat in an ice-covered lake provide the basic dynamic force driving changes in the biochemical state of the lake. Based on the heat balance between the lake surface and the atmosphere, we established a thermodynamic model for calculating the thermodynamic factors of shallow inland lakes during the ice and open seasons. The data of the Ulansuhai Lake, Inner Mongolia, from two years (2012 and 2013) are used to analyze the seasonal characteristics and associated influences of the heat budget on the ecosystem. The results indicated that the monthly mean lake temperature over the past 10 years was 1.7–2.2 °C lower than in the previous 50 years. The absorbed solar radiation reached up to 210 W/m2 in 2012 and 179 W/m2 in 2013, and there were clear differences in the heat budget between the ice-covered and open seasons. The mean net heat fluxes in the ice season were −33.8 and −38.5 W/m2 in 2012 and 2013, respectively; while in the open season water, these fluxes were 62.5 and 19.1 W/m2. In the simulations, the wind was an important factor for intensive evaporation in summer and the main driver of the ice cover formation patterns in winter, involving the transmission and diffusion of material and energy in the lake. The results provide a theoretical foundation for simulating ice cover growth and ablation processes in shallow lakes. They also present data on the ecological evolution in these lacustrine environments

Assessing Heavy Metal Pollution of the Largest Nature Reserve in Tianjin City, China

Embargo until June 10, 2023Beidagang Wetland (BW) Nature Reserve is centrally situated in Tianjin City, experiencing an extreme industrial development. This study uses index characteristic analysis systems for assessing the individual and combined heavy metal pollution loading in the water during the spring and autumn seasons. By combining the pollution level of single pollutant, a more comprehensive evaluation of water quality in BW was achieved. Water quality was worst during autumn due to high level of Cd and Pb, which indicate the type of anthropogenic activities have a serious effect on heavy metal pollution in BW. In addition, high exchangeable amounts of Cd (> 40%) were found in the sediments of BW, indicating Cd pollution has emerged. There is a need for appropriate abatement actions curbing heavy metal loading and improving water quality of the BW Nature Reserve, thereby ensuring a sustainable management of its ecosystem services.acceptedVersio

Effect of single-patient room design on the incidence of nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies have yielded varying conclusions regarding the impact of single-patient room design on nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU). We aimed to examine the impact of ICU single-patient room design on infection control.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and CBM databases from inception to October 2023, without language restrictions. We included observational cohort and quasi-experimental studies assessing the effect of single- versus multi-patient rooms on infection control in the ICU. Outcomes measured included the nosocomial infection rate, incidence density of nosocomial infection, nosocomial colonization and infection rate, acquisition rate of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and nosocomial bacteremia rate. The choice of effect model was determined by heterogeneity.ResultsOur final analysis incorporated 12 studies involving 12,719 patients. Compared with multi-patient rooms in the ICU, single-patient rooms demonstrated a significant benefit in reducing the nosocomial infection rate (odds ratio [OR]: 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59, 0.79; p < 0.00001). Analysis based on nosocomial infection incidence density revealed a statistically significant reduction in single-patient rooms (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.92; p = 0.02). Single-patient rooms were associated with a marked decrease in nosocomial colonization and infection rate (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.62; p < 0.00001). Furthermore, patients in single-patient rooms experienced lower nosocomial bacteremia rate (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.59, 0.89; p = 0.002) and lower acquisition rate of MDROs (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.73; p = 0.002) than those in multi-patient rooms.ConclusionImplementation of single-patient rooms represents an effective strategy for reducing nosocomial infections in the ICU.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/)

Osterix Controls Cementoblast Differentiation through Downregulation of Wnt-signaling via Enhancing DKK1 Expression

Osterix (Osx), a transcriptional factor essential for osteogenesis, is also critical for in vivo cellular cementum formation. However, the molecular mechanism by which Osx regulates cementoblasts is largely unknown. In this study, we initially demonstrated that overexpression of Osx in a cementoblast cell line upregulated the expression of markers vital to cementogenesis such as osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), and bone sialoprotein (BSP) at both mRNA and protein levels, and enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Unexpectedly, we demonstrated a sharp increase in the expression of DKK1 (a potent canonical Wnt antagonist), and a great reduction in protein levels of β-catenin and its nuclear translocation by overexpression of Osx. Further, transient transfection of Osx reduced protein levels of TCF1 (a target transcription factor of β-catenin), which were partially reversed by an addition of DKK1. We also demonstrated that activation of canonical Wnt signaling by LiCl or Wnt3a significantly enhanced levels of TCF1 and suppressed the expression of OPN, OCN, and BSP, as well as ALP activity and formation of extracellular mineralized nodules. Importantly, we confirmed that there were a sharp reduction in DKK1 and a concurrent increase in β-catenin in Osx cKO mice (crossing between the Osx loxP and 2.3 Col 1-Cre lines), in agreement with the in vitro data. Thus, we conclude that the key role of Osx in control of cementoblast proliferation and differentiation is to maintain a low level of Wnt-β-catenin via direct up-regulation of DKK1

Latitudinal differences in early growth of largehead hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus) in relation to environmental variables

Largehead hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus) in the China Seas shows an increasing catch trend, despite continued overexploitation, which could be attributed to improved recruitment as a result of strengthened early growth. To understand the early growth variability of largehead hairtail, we examined the linkages between early growth, as revealed by otolith microstructure, and the associated environmental variables over both spatial and temporal scales. Young‐of‐the‐Year largehead hairtail were collected from three regions in the Bohai, Yellow and East China Seas between 29° and 39° N. Daily increment widths of sagittal otoliths were measured and used as a proxy for somatic growth. We found two spawning cohorts, Spring‐ and Summer‐spawned cohorts, that showed latitudinal differences in both mean growth and growth pattern. The transition time from larval to juvenile stage was identified at around 40 days. Daily increment widths of two cohorts showed similar growth pattern in the first 40 days, while location had a marked effect on daily growth over 41–110 days. This suggests physiologically constrained growth pattern in larval stage, but more plastic growth subject to habitat‐specific influences in juvenile stage. The gradient forest analysis identified sea bottom temperature, vertical temperature gradient, and sea surface salinity, as the most important variables in determining early growth. Latitudinal differences in early growth pattern and their response to environmental variables suggest adaptive plasticity of early growth, which has notable implication for the management and sustainable utilization of this important but heavily exploited resource in the China Seas.acceptedVersio

Precore Mutation of Hepatitis B Virus May Contribute to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk: Evidence from an Updated Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Studies focused on the correlation of mutations in the genome of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) like Pre-S mutation, Basal Core promoter (BCP), Enhancer II (EnhII), especially Precore mutation, with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have triggered stiff controversies. With an increasing number of studies in this field recently, we conducted this meta-analysis to appraise the correlations. METHODS: We searched the commonly used databases both in English and Chinese till February 1(st), 2012. Meta-analysis was performed in fixed/random-effects models using STATA 10.0. Publication bias was examined through Egger's test and Begg's funnel plot. RESULTS: In total, 85 case-control studies were included involving 16745 HBV-infected patients, of whom 5781 had HCC. Statistically significant correlations were observed in Precore mutation G1896A (OR = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-1.85, P(OR) = 0.002), G1899A (OR = 3.13, 95%CI = 2.38-4.13, P(OR)<0.001) and Pre-S mutation especially Pre-S1 deletion (OR = 2.94, 95%CI = 2.22 to 3.89) and Pre-S2 deletion (OR = 3.02, 95%CI = 2.03 to 4.50). Similar correlation existed between BCP double mutation A1762T/G1764A, T1753V, C1653T and HCC. In subgroup analysis, the Asians, genotype C or HBeAg positive patients with certain above mutations may be more susceptible to HCC. Besides, the mutations like G1896A and BCP double mutation may be associated with the progression of the liver diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Precore mutation G1896A, G1899A, deletions in Pre-S region as well as the other commonly seen mutations correlated with the increased risk of HCC, especially in Asians and may predict the progression of the liver disease

Clinical Significance of Serum IL-18 and IL-18BP in Patients with Benign or Malignant Primary Liver Tumors

OBJECTIVE To study the relationship between the serum levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP in the development and growth of primary liver cancer, benign liver tumors and liver cirrhosis and to determine the value of serum IL-18 and IL-18BP in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer. METHODS The serum levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP in 36 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) were detected. Eighteen patients were diagnosed with various benign liver tumors and 21 patients with cirrhosis of liver (LC), determined by using an ELISA assay. The serum levels of AFP in 36 patients with primary liver cancer were examined. The relationship among levels of serum IL-18, IL-18BP and AFP in the primary liver cancer was explored. RESULTS The sIL-18 levels in PHC were signi fi cantly lower than in control group, the benign liver tumor group and the LC group. The sIL-18BP in PHC was signi fi cantly higher than that in control group, benign liver tumor group and LC group ( P < 0.001). There was a close correlation between the levels of IL-18, IL-18BP and clinical stage in PHC: the later clinical stages had lower levels of IL-18 and higher levels of IL-18BP while the earlier clinical stages had higher levels of IL-18 and lower levels of IL-18BP. There was a negative correlation between serum levels of IL-18 and AFP in the PHC group ( r = -0.7152, n = 36, P < 0.01), and there was a positive correlation between serum levels of IL-18 BP and AFP in the patients with PHC (r = 0.6315, n = 36, P < 0.01). The IL-18and IL-18BP in the patients with various benign liver tumors or LC were significantly higher than those in control group. The differences were statistically signifi cant ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Serum levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP can reflect the immune function of patients with primary liver cancer, with various benign liver tumors or with LC and can also be indicative of the clinic stage of primary liver cancer. It can be used to assist in making a diagnosis and in determining the clinical stage of PHC. Detecting AFP concurrently can help make the diagnosis of primary liver cancer more precise

Vertical distributions of Plutonium and 137Cs in lacustrine sediments in northwestern China: quantifying sediment accumulation rates and source identifications

We investigated the vertical distributions of 239+240Pu and 137Cs activities and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in two lakes in northwestern China. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio from the Chinese nuclear test (CNT) site at Lop Nor is too complicated to identify the regional fallout source. However, radionuclides from the test site may be resolved mainly by the vertical distribution of radionuclides because there is no overlap between the global fallout peak and the local fallout peak. We analyzed Pu isotopes and 137Cs in sediments from two lakes (Sugan and Shuangta) located in northwestern China, near the CNT, and Lake Sihailongwan located in northeastern China to date recent lacustrine sediments and resolve global/local fallout sources. The apparently low 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio of 0.103+/-0.010 at Lake Sugan was likely representative of the fallout from the Lop Nor site. Our results also demonstrated that the 239+240Pu activity was more useful for recent chronology of lacustrine sediments, compared to 137Cs. Sediment accumulation rates of 0.651, 0.058 - 0.061, and 0.015 g/cm2/a-1 for sediment cores of Lake Shuangta, Lake Sugan and Lake Sihailongwan, respectively, were obtained by using the 239+240Pu fallout peak as a discrete time marker for 1964. The respective contributions of 137Cs and 239+240Pu from the CNT were estimated to be about 40% and 27% for Lake Sugan and 36% and 20% for Lake Shuangta. Plutonium isotopes in lacustrine sediments were proven to be useful for quantifying sediment accumulation rates and for source identification of the radioactive contamination

Distribution of artificial radionuclides in lacustrine sediments in China

The Third Asian and Oceanic Congress on Radiation Protectio