Addressing Random Variations in MWD Penetration Rate with the DPM Algorithm

Measurement While Drilling (MWD) is an in situ technique for the assessment of ground conditions. It records the drilling parameters of a drilling machine when its drill bit is penetrating into new geomaterials below the bottom of a drill hole. Its penetration rate along drill hole depth, however, has various random variations. Such random variations are inconsistent with the fact that the geomaterials in the ground have piece-wise homogeneity. Many methods have been adopted to filter and normalize the random variations in penetration rate for ground characterization. However, they have not completely resolved the issue and obtained the piece-wise homogeneous distribution of geomaterials in the ground. This paper uses the time-series algorithm of the Drilling Process Monitoring (DPM) technique to remove the random variations in MWD penetration rate. It further obtains the piece-wise constant variations in the newly addressed DPM penetration rate along the drill hole depth. With this algorithm, the DPM penetration rate is consistent with the fact that ground geomaterials have the property of piece-wise homogeneous distribution. Consequently, the piece-wise constant variations in DPM penetration rate can be used to characterize the strength variations in geomaterials along the drill hole depth to substantially upgrade the MWD technique for ground investigation

Addressing Random Variations in MWD Penetration Rate with the DPM Algorithm

Measurement While Drilling (MWD) is an in situ technique for the assessment of ground conditions. It records the drilling parameters of a drilling machine when its drill bit is penetrating into new geomaterials below the bottom of a drill hole. Its penetration rate along drill hole depth, however, has various random variations. Such random variations are inconsistent with the fact that the geomaterials in the ground have piece-wise homogeneity. Many methods have been adopted to filter and normalize the random variations in penetration rate for ground characterization. However, they have not completely resolved the issue and obtained the piece-wise homogeneous distribution of geomaterials in the ground. This paper uses the time-series algorithm of the Drilling Process Monitoring (DPM) technique to remove the random variations in MWD penetration rate. It further obtains the piece-wise constant variations in the newly addressed DPM penetration rate along the drill hole depth. With this algorithm, the DPM penetration rate is consistent with the fact that ground geomaterials have the property of piece-wise homogeneous distribution. Consequently, the piece-wise constant variations in DPM penetration rate can be used to characterize the strength variations in geomaterials along the drill hole depth to substantially upgrade the MWD technique for ground investigation

Multiple Developmental Defects in sox11a Mutant Zebrafish with Features of Coffin-Siris Syndrome

A previous study suggested that human Coffin-Siris syndrome is related to the mutation of SOX11. Since the homozygous SOX11 mutant mice died soon after birth, no suitable model was available for the study of the pathogenic mechanism of Coffin-Siris syndrome. To solve this problem, we generated two viable homozygous zebrafish mutants, sox11a(m/m) and sox11b(m/m). We found that the sox11a(m/m) mutant possessed Coffin-Siris syndrome features. The sox11a(m/m) mutants exhibited growth deficiency from 3.3 hpf embryos to adulthood. Furthermore, the sox11a(m/m) mutant also displayed microcephaly, narrow pupillary distance, achondroplasia, and bone deformity in adults. Growth deficiency could be rescued by the injection of sox11a mRNA at the one-cell stage. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to cartilage and bone were downregulated in the sox11a(m/m) mutant, indicating that sox11a mainly affected the growth and development of zebrafish by regulating the expression of genes related to skeletal development. Our results indicate that sox11a(m/m) mutant zebrafish offered a potential model system to help with the search for pathogenic mechanisms of human Coffin-Siris syndrome

Projected Effects of Climate Change on Species Range of Pantala flavescens, a Wandering Glider Dragonfly

Dragonflies are sensitive to climate change due to their special habitat in aquatic and terrestrial environments, especially Pantala flavescens, which have extraordinary migratory abilities in response to climate change on spatio-temporal scales. At present, there are major gaps in the documentation of insects and the effects of climatic changes on the habitat and species it supports. In this study, we model the global distribution of a wandering glider dragonfly, P. flavescens, and detected the important environmental factors shaping its range, as well as habitat shifts under historical and future warming scenarios. The results showed a global map of species ranges of P. flavescens currently, including southern North America, most of South America, south-central Africa, most of Europe, South, East and Southeast Asia, and northern Oceania, in total, ca. 6581.667 × 104 km2. BIO5 (the max temperature of warmest month) and BIO13 (the precipitation of wettest month) greatly explained its species ranges. The historic refugia were identified around the Great Lakes in the north-central United States. Future warming will increase the total area of suitable habitat and shift the type of suitable habitat compared to the current distribution. The habitat suitability of P. flavescens decreased with elevation, global warming forced it to expand to higher elevations, and the habitat suitability of P. flavescens around the equator increased with global warming. Overall, our study provides a global dynamic pattern of suitable habitats for P. flavescens from the perspective of climate change, and provides a useful reference for biodiversity research and biological conservation

Projected Effects of Climate Change on Species Range of <i>Pantala flavescens</i>, a Wandering Glider Dragonfly

Dragonflies are sensitive to climate change due to their special habitat in aquatic and terrestrial environments, especially Pantala flavescens, which have extraordinary migratory abilities in response to climate change on spatio-temporal scales. At present, there are major gaps in the documentation of insects and the effects of climatic changes on the habitat and species it supports. In this study, we model the global distribution of a wandering glider dragonfly, P. flavescens, and detected the important environmental factors shaping its range, as well as habitat shifts under historical and future warming scenarios. The results showed a global map of species ranges of P. flavescens currently, including southern North America, most of South America, south-central Africa, most of Europe, South, East and Southeast Asia, and northern Oceania, in total, ca. 6581.667 × 104 km2. BIO5 (the max temperature of warmest month) and BIO13 (the precipitation of wettest month) greatly explained its species ranges. The historic refugia were identified around the Great Lakes in the north-central United States. Future warming will increase the total area of suitable habitat and shift the type of suitable habitat compared to the current distribution. The habitat suitability of P. flavescens decreased with elevation, global warming forced it to expand to higher elevations, and the habitat suitability of P. flavescens around the equator increased with global warming. Overall, our study provides a global dynamic pattern of suitable habitats for P. flavescens from the perspective of climate change, and provides a useful reference for biodiversity research and biological conservation

Nomogram Model for Predicting the Prognosis of High-Grade Glioma in Adults Receiving Standard Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: To identify the critical factors associated with the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of high-grade glioma (HGG) in adults who have received standard treatment and establish a novel graphical nomogram and an online dynamic nomogram. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of adult HGG patients receiving standard treatment (surgery, postoperative radiotherapy, and temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy) at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between January 2017 and December 2019. We used uni- and multi-variable COX models to identify the significant prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Based on the significant predictors, graphical and online nomograms were established. Results: A total of 246 patients were enrolled in the study based on the inclusion criteria. The average PFS and OS were 22.99 ± 11.43 and 30.51 ± 13.73 months, respectively. According to the multi-variable COX model, age, extent of resection (EOR), and IDH mutation were associated with PFS and OS, while edema index (EI) was relevant to PFS. In addition, patients with IDH and TERT promoter co-mutations had longer PFSs and OSs, and no apparent survival benefit was found in the long-cycle TMZ adjuvant chemotherapy compared with the standard Stupp protocol. Based on these critical factors, a graphical nomogram and online nomogram were developed for predicting PFS and OS, respectively. The calibration curve showed favorable consistency between the predicted and actual survival rates. C-index and time-dependent AUC showed good discrimination abilities. Conclusions: We identified the significant predictors for the PFS and OS of HGG adults receiving standard treatment and established user-friendly nomogram models to assist neurosurgeons in optimizing clinical management and treatment strategies

Analysis of Key Factors Associated with Response to Salvage High-Dose Methotrexate Rechallenge in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma with First Relapse

Background: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare extranodal non-Hodgkin&rsquo;s lymphoma that occurs in the central nervous system. Although sensitive to chemotherapy, 35&ndash;60% of PCNSL patients still relapse within 2 years after the initial treatment. High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) rechallenge is generally used in recurrent PCNSL, especially for patients who have achieved a response after initial methotrexate (MTX) treatment. However, the overall remission rate (ORR) of HD-MTX rechallenge is about 70&ndash;80%. Additionally, the side effects of HD-MTX treatment endanger the health of patients and affect their quality of life. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with first relapse PCNSL at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between January 2000 and November 2020. By comparing the clinical characteristics and radiological manifestations of first relapsed PCNSL patients with remission and non-remission after receiving HD-MTX rechallenge, we screened out the key factors associated with HD-MTX rechallenge treatment response, to provide some help for the selection of salvage treatment strategies for patients with recurrent PCNSL. Additionally, patients with remission after HD-MTX rechallenge were followed up to identify the factors related to progression-free survival of the second time (PFS2) (time from the first relapse to second relapse/last follow-up). The Kruskal&ndash;Wallis and Pearson chi-square tests were performed to examine the univariate association. Further, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to study the simultaneous effect of different variables. Results: A total of 207 patients were enrolled in the study based on the inclusion criteria, including 114 patients in the remission group (RG) and 81 patients in the non-remission group (nRG), and 12 patients were judged as having a stable disease. In Kruskal&ndash;Wallis and Pearson chi-square tests, progression-free survival rates for first time (PFS1) and whether the initial treatment was combined with consolidated whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) were related to the response to HD-MTX rechallenge treatment, which was further validated in regression analysis. Further, after univariate analysis and regression analysis, KPS was related to PFS2. Conclusions: For PCNSL patients in their first relapse, HD-MTX rechallenge may be an effective salvage treatment. PFS1 and whether initial treatment was combined with consolidation WBRT were associated with HD-MTX rechallenge treatment response. In addition, patients with higher KPS at the time of the first relapse had a longer PFS2 after HD-MTX rechallenge treatment