A High Performance Lattice Boltzmann Solver with Applications to Multiphase Flow in Porous Media

Multiphase flow is significant to many industrial processes such as the geologic storage of CO2 and oil recovery. Microscale simulation of flow in complex geological formations such as saline aquifers or oilfields is a complex and challenging task. The main goal of our study is to overcome high computational demand of multiphase flow simulations by using high performance computing. To model multiphase flow in porous media, we used a multiphase flow lattice Boltzmann (LB) method, which is recognized as an alternative to the classical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. The developed LB model used an extended Color-Gradient approach with improved numerical stability, and it can be used to compute multiphase flow simulations with low capillary number and high viscosity ratios. To optimize computational efficiency, we apply the LB model to a parallel scheme written in C++ using the Message Passing Interface (MPI). Highly parallel runs of these simulations were performed using the HPC system at the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas at Austin. We herein introduce the capability of our tool for multiphase flow simulation in porous media and present its application to CO2 sequestration in geological formations. The model has been applied to the simulation of CO2 and brine in sandstone rocks, by employing three-dimensional micro-CT images of rock samples. Injection of supercritical CO2 into the brine-saturated rock samples is simulated and complex displacement patterns under various reservoir conditions are identified.Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC

Effect of nifedipine with and without sildenafil citrate for the management of preterm labor in pregnant women: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Preterm labor is one of the main causes of neonatal mortality and its treatment is still challenging. Objective: The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of nifedipine (Nif) with and without sildenafil citrate (SC) for the treatment of preterm labor in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 126 pregnant women referred to the Fatemieh hospital, Hamadan, Iran with a complaint of preterm labor were evaluated. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups of Nif 20 mg orally (single dose), then 10 mg every 6-hr, and at the same time vaginal SC 25 mg every 8 hr (Nif + SC) or Nif alone. Treatment was continued for 48-72 hr if uterine contractions did not resolve in both groups. Delivery rates at the time of hospitalization and neonatal outcome were compared between the 2 groups. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 study groups in terms of mean age, gestational age, body mass index, and parity. 76.2% of Nif + SC participants in the first 72 hr of hospitalization and 57.2% of Nif participants remained without delivery (p = 0.02). The neonatal hospitalization rate of the Nif + SC group in the neonatal intensive care unit was 25.4% and in the Nif group was 42.9% (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Nif with SC is superior to Nif alone in women at risk of preterm labor due to increasing gestational age and better neonatal outcomes. Key words: Nifedipine, preterm labor, Sildenafil citrate, Randomized trial

The need for social support in adult patients with cancer

Background: Patients with cancer experience many emotional and psychological burdens as they encounter different disease stages and receive treatments. Social support plays a crucial role in the patients' function, emotions, and symptoms. The present study aimed to evaluate the viewpoint of adult patients with cancer about the role of social support to caring for them, describe their common social support demands, and discuss their experience different components of social support current situation that are available for older adults with cancer. Methods: Samples were selected from all adult patients hospitalized for at least 24 hours in a cancer referral center to receive the appropriate treatments. Among them, 12 patients who accepted to participate in the study were interviewed using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Data analysis was performed by the qualitative content analysis approach. Results: According to the patients’ experiences, major social support concepts could be categorized as emotional, informational, and instrumental supports. They believed that social support needed to be enhanced in these three aspects, which each of them consisted of different needs. Conclusion: Patients with cancer are demanding social support, which could improve their psychological well-being and their quality of life. The health care providers need to pay attention to this demand, identify this need, and support the patients, properly

Convection-diffusion-reaction of CO2-enriched brine in porous media: A pore-scale study

Bureau of Economic Geolog

Investigation of genes associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using expression profile analysis

Glaucoma is recognized as one of the most common causes of global blindness observed in various types such as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This condition is characterized by progressive optic neuropathy, leading to damage of optic nerve fibers. Having no symptoms at the beginning, glaucoma results in decreased vision and eventually blindness over several years. Early treatment can prevent the progression of the disease. We performed a study to evaluate differential gene expression in normal control and POAG cases. A total of 179 DEGs were discovered with 60 up-regulated and 119 down-regulated genes. After the selection of DEGs, we constructed the protein-protein interaction network. The result of GO enrichment showed the DEGs involved in antioxidant activity, haptoglobin binding, and oxygen carrier activity. Then Four modules of the primary protein network were obtained using a STRING database, using the K-means method. Next, gene ontology analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment were performed for four modules. These genes include TYRP1, FMOD, OGN, PAX6, COL8A2, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DMB. The results showed that the Selected module is highly related to glaucoma pathogenesis genes. Using integrated bioinformatical analysis, we have identified DEGs candidate genes and pathways involved in glaucoma, which could improve our understanding of the cause and underlying molecular events, and these candidate genes and pathways could be therapeutic targets for glaucoma

Comprehensive Gene Expression Analysis of Human Embryonic Stem Cells during Differentiation into Neural Cells

Global gene expression analysis of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that differentiate into neural cells would help to further define the molecular mechanisms involved in neurogenesis in humans. We performed a comprehensive transcripteome analysis of hESC differentiation at three different stages: early neural differentiation, neural ectoderm, and differentiated neurons. We identified and validated time-dependent gene expression patterns and showed that the gene expression patterns reflect early ESC differentiation. Sets of genes are induced in primary ectodermal lineages and then in differentiated neurons, constituting consecutive waves of known and novel genes. Pathway analysis revealed dynamic expression patterns of members of several signaling pathways, including NOTCH, mTOR and Toll like receptors (TLR), during neural differentiation. An interaction network analysis revealed that the TGFβ family of genes, including LEFTY1, ID1 and ID2, are possible key players in the proliferation and maintenance of neural ectoderm. Collectively, these results enhance our understanding of the molecular dynamics underlying neural commitment and differentiation

Concomitant COVID-19 and acute ischemic stroke in patients transferred by emergency medical service during first wave of pandemic in Tehran, Iran; a cross-sectional study

Objective: We conducted this study to evaluate the prevalence of concomitant COVID-19 in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients admitted to stroke centers of Tehran, Iran. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in a 45-day period. AIS patients transferred by emergency medical service (EMS) to all medical centers of the city were included. Information was recorded and compared in two groups: patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and those who were negative. Result: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) screened 348 patients as AIS cases, of whom, AIS was ultimately confirmed in 311 (89.4%) patients; and 58 (18.6%) of the 311 AIS patients were diagnosed with concomitant COVID-19 infection. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores of COVID-19 positive AIS patients were significantly higher than non-COVID-19 AIS patients (16.3±3.7 vs. 11.8±4.3; p<0.001). There was also a significant difference in length of hospital stay between the two groups (11.1±1.8 vs. 8.8±4.3 days; p<0.001). However, data showed no significant difference regarding prevalence of in-hospital mortality between the two groups (1.6% vs. 3.5%; p=0.320). Conclusion: Our study results showed that AIS patients with concomitant COVID-19 infection had higher NIHSS scores and longer length of hospital stay compared to patients without concomitant COVID-19 infection

Evaluation of Palatal Bone Thickness and Its Relationship with Palatal Vault Depth for Mini-Implant Insertion Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the thickness of the palatal bone using cone beam computed tomography images for placement of mini-screws and their relationship with palatal vault depth.Methods: This study was performed on 150 maxillary cone beam computed tomography images, 50% (n = 75) had deep palate and 50% (n = 75) had normal palate and 27.3% (n = 41) were male and 72.7% (n =109) were female. Coronal sections with a thickness of 1 mm were prepared at distances of 4 mm, 8 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, and 24 mm from the posterior wall of the incisive foramen. Then, in each section, in the midsagittal line and at distances of 2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm from that to the lateral sides, the bone thickness was measured. The Korkhaus index was used to identify the patients with a high palatal vault.Results: The results showed that at the posterior sections in the midsagittal and parasagittal area, a significant difference (P < .05) was observed between deep and normal palate, and in these points, the bone thickness in the normal palate was greater. Also, in the section of 4 mm and 8 mm, a significant difference was observed between males and females in most of these points, and those were greater in males than females.Conclusion: The maximum thickness of the palatal bone was observed first along the midsagittal line and then the paramedian and in the anterior section. Patients with deep palate had less palatal bone thickness in the posterior sections

Leisure Questionnaire of People with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Leisure activities are an important part of life for people with multiple sclerosis )MS). Unfortunately, there are no proper assessment tools for evaluating the leisure activities of MS patients. The current research purposed to develop such a questionnaire and to determine its factor structure.Methods: This psychometric study aimed to determine the factor structure of a questionnaire for evaluating the leisure activities of MS patients and was conducted in explanatory and confirmatory phases.Results: The questionnaire was completed, and the data were entered in SPSS for the explanatory phase and using linear structural relations (LISREL) for the confirmatory phase. The lowest Eigenvalue was 1.01, which corresponds to the Kaiser criterion. The validity coefficients of the extracted factors are considerable. There is a very slight difference between the highest coefficient thatis related to the third factor (0.846) and the lowest coefficient that is related to the fifth factor (0.799), indicating the number of factors was correctly determined. Confirmatory factor analysis illustrated that the goodness-of-fit (GFI) and the comparative fit index (CFI) indices were considerable (higher than 0.95),showing good fit of data. RMSEA was 0.024.Conclusion: It can be concluded that the 5-factor structure (difficult, social,spiritual/religious, outdoor-physical, and cultural-artistic activities) of the multiple sclerosis leisure questionnaire with 50 items is confirmed