Comprehensive Process Research Articles

Network Pharmacology Analysis of the Therapeutic Potential of Colchicine in Acute Lung Injury.

This study employed integrated network pharmacology approach to explore the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of colchicine against acute lung injury (ALI). We analyzed the expression profiles from 13 patients with sepsis-related ALI and 21 controls to identify differentially expressed genes and key modules. ALI-related genes were curated using databases such as DisGeNET, Therapeutic Target, and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database to curate ALI-related genes. Drug target fishing for colchicine was conducted using the DrugBank, BATMAN-TCM, STITCH, and SwissTargetPrediction. Potential drug-disease interactions were determined by intersecting ALI-associated genes with colchicine target genes. We performed comprehensive pathway and process enrichment analyses on these genes. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed, and topological analysis was executed. Additionally, an ALI mouse model was established to evaluate the effect of colchicine on CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels through western blot analysis. Analysis revealed 23 potential colchicine-ALI interaction genes from the intersection of 253 ALI-associated genes and 389 colchicine targets. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted several inflammation-related pathways, such as cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, CXCR chemokine receptor binding, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and IL-17 signaling pathway. The protein-protein interaction network demonstrated complex interactions for CXCL12 and CXCR4 among other candidate genes, with significant topological interaction degrees. In vivo studies showed that colchicine significantly reduced elevated CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels in ALI mice. Our findings suggest that colchicine's therapeutic effect on ALI might derive from its anti-inflammatory properties. Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms of colchicine's interaction with sepsis-induced ALI.

HR practices, service orientation and employee outcomes: a regulatory foci

PurposeUnderstanding employees’ multi-dimensional motivations is at the core of realizing the potential of a well-designed human resource (HR) system. This study aims to investigate whether the effects of HR practices on employee motivations, and their performance would be dependent on the service orientation of HR department.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data in two surveys: a pilot survey and a main survey with a two-wave design. The pilot survey with 93 respondents was to verify the newly developed HR service orientation scale. In the main survey, a total of 276 supervisor-subordinate pairs from 48 companies were valid for analysis.FindingsThe authors find support for their hypothesis that promotion-oriented motivation mediates the relationship between discretionary HR practices and employee outcomes [in-role performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB)]. Furthermore, the indirect effect of discretionary HR practices on employee outcomes is stronger when the HR service orientation is higher. Transactional HR practices, however, are not evidenced to relate to employee prevention-focused motivation and outcomes.Practical implicationsThe findings illustrate a comprehensive process of HR practices on employees’ multi-dimensional motivations. High service skills of HR professionals in handling internal employees’ needs could amplify employees’ promotion-focused motives, which in turn increase their in-role performance and OCB.Originality/valueIn sum, the authors' study contributes to both human resource management (HRM) and employee motivation literature by demonstrating the different impacts of discretionary and transactional HR practices on employees’ motivations. In addition, by revealing HR service orientation as an important contingency factor, the authors shed greater light on when and how HR practices can motivate employees.

Effects of linguistic context and noise type on speech comprehension.

Understanding speech in background noise is an effortful endeavor. When acoustic challenges arise, linguistic context may help us fill in perceptual gaps. However, more knowledge is needed regarding how different types of background noise affect our ability to construct meaning from perceptually complex speech input. Additionally, there is limited evidence regarding whether perceptual complexity (e.g., informational masking) and linguistic complexity (e.g., occurrence of contextually incongruous words) interact during processing of speech material that is longer and more complex than a single sentence. Our first research objective was to determine whether comprehension of spoken sentence pairs is impacted by the informational masking from a speech masker. Our second objective was to identify whether there is an interaction between perceptual and linguistic complexity during speech processing. We used multiple measures including comprehension accuracy, reaction time, and processing effort (as indicated by task-evoked pupil response), making comparisons across three different levels of linguistic complexity in two different noise conditions. Context conditions varied by final word, with each sentence pair ending with an expected exemplar (EE), within-category violation (WV), or between-category violation (BV). Forty young adults with typical hearing performed a speech comprehension in noise task over three visits. Each participant heard sentence pairs presented in either multi-talker babble or spectrally shaped steady-state noise (SSN), with the same noise condition across all three visits. We observed an effect of context but not noise on accuracy. Further, we observed an interaction of noise and context in peak pupil dilation data. Specifically, the context effect was modulated by noise type: context facilitated processing only in the more perceptually complex babble noise condition. These findings suggest that when perceptual complexity arises, listeners make use of the linguistic context to facilitate comprehension of speech obscured by background noise. Our results extend existing accounts of speech processing in noise by demonstrating how perceptual and linguistic complexity affect our ability to engage in higher-level processes, such as construction of meaning from speech segments that are longer than a single sentence.

The Effects of Age and Reading Experience on the Lifespan Neurodevelopment for Reading Comprehension.

Reading comprehension is a vital cognitive skill that individuals use throughout their lives. The neurodevelopment of reading comprehension across the lifespan, however, remains underresearched. Furthermore, factors such as maturation and experience significantly influence functional brain development. Given the complexity of reading comprehension, which incorporates lower-level word reading process and higher-level semantic integration process, our study aims to investigate how age and reading experience influence the neurobiology underpinning these two processes across the lifespan. fMRI data of 158 participants aged from 7 to 77 years were collected during a passive word viewing task and a sentence comprehension task to engage the lower- and higher-level processes, respectively. We found that the neurodevelopment of the lower-level process was primarily influenced by age, showing increased activation and connectivity with age in parieto-occipital and middle/inferior frontal lobes related to morphological-semantic mapping while decreased activation in the temporoparietal regions linked to phonological processing. However, the brain function of the higher-level process was primarily influenced by reading experience, exhibiting a greater reliance on the frontotemporal semantic network with enhanced sentence-level reading performance. Furthermore, reading experience did not significantly affect the brain function of children, but had a positive effect on young adults in the lower-level process and on middle-aged and older adults in the higher-level process. These findings indicate that the brain function for lower- and higher-level processes of reading comprehension is differently affected by maturation and reading experience, and the experience effect is contingent on age regarding the two processes.

A Framework of Contractual Protocol for Building Information Modelling (BIM) Implementation in Water Treatment Plant Projects

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is becoming a comprehensive collaborative process in the construction industry. Since the introduction of BIM in Malaysia in 2009, the technology adoption rate is slow when compared to other countries of the world. Most of the construction companies in Malaysia have an insight on the BIM concept but are yet to implement it in the management of their construction projects. By the year 2020, the Malaysian government will make BIM mandatory, this makes it important to carry out research on the possible applications of the technology. The aim for this research is to establish a Framework of Contractual Protocol for BIM-Water Treatment Plant projects in Malaysia. This research focuses on four (4) objectives which are: (a)to explore the Contractual Issues on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. (b) to identify the Contractual provision on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. (c) to determine the Requirement Components of Contractual Protocol for on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. (d) to establish a Framework of Contractual Protocol for on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. A qualitative method of enquiry was used for this study in Klang Valley using semi structured interview. The responses received were analyzed by using SPSS. The result of the analysis showed that the contractual issues posed by the adoption of BIM, the contractual provision, the requirement component of contractual protocol and to establish the framework of contractual protocol for BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. The implication of this findings is that to prove the studies on legal and contractual aspect of BIM implementation in water Treatment Plant Projects is increase to meet the demand of the implementations of BIM technology is regarded as the future of construction industry, which makes it very important for the industry.

Exchange rate hedged deposit account as a macroprudential monetary policy instrument

Purpose - In the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, central banks have resorted to macro discretionary monetary policies in order to prevent the risks that the fragility of macroeconomic indicators in national economies may pose on financial stability. Accordingly, in December 2021, the CBRT initiated a comprehensive monetary policy process that will provide long-term and permanent returns in the fight against high inflation and high exchange rates, and introduced the "Currency Protected Deposit" instrument to encourage and support real persons to make their investment preferences in TL. The liraization process and exchange rate-protected deposits are aimed to make a lasting contribution to price stability in the medium term. In this study, the purpose of the Exchange Rate Protected Deposit (ERD) scheme and its impact on macroeconomic indicators will be evaluated for the 2021-2023 period. Methodology - After explaining the implementation, characteristics and the need for the KKM, the impact of the utilization rate of the KKM on the exchange rate and interest rates in the December 2021-December 2023 period is evaluated.. Findings - With the KKM implementation, which aims to contribute to strengthening macro financial stability by supporting Turkish lira time deposits, the utilization rate of the KKM is seen to have contributed to the strengthening of the monetary transmission mechanism through the increase in the policy rate, the increase in the demand for Turkish lira instruments, and the rise in loan and deposit rates together. Turkish lira deposits are on the rise while FX-protected deposits are on the decline. Conclusion - It is observed that the KKM' implementation contributed to the lira appreciation process and partially contributed to the recovery in exchange rates between December 2021 and July 2023. Keywords: Currency protected deposit, macroprudential monetary policy, exchange rate JEL Codes: H30, E52, F31

Multi-Fault Diagnosis of Electric Vehicle Power Battery Based on Double Fault Window Location and Fast Classification

As energy supply units, lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in the electric vehicle industry. However, the safety of lithium-ion batteries remains a significant factor limiting their development. To achieve rapid fault diagnosis of lithium-ion batteries, this paper presents a comprehensive fault diagnosis process. Firstly, an interleaved voltage sensor topology structure is utilized to acquire battery voltage data. An improved complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise method is introduced to process data. Then, the reconstructed voltage data sequence is used to eliminate the influence of noise. A fault location is performed using dichotomy correlation coefficient and time window correlation coefficient. Afterwards, principal component analysis is used to select the principal components with high contribution rate as classification features. The gray wolf optimization algorithm is used to find the parameters of the least squares support vector machine, constructing an optimal classifier for fault classification. A fault experiment platform is established to realize the physical triggering of faults such as external short circuit, internal circuit, and connection of experimental battery packs. Finally, the accuracy and reliability of the method are verified by the results of fault localization and fault type determination.

Hearing Loss Among Families with 2 and More Affected Members in Golestan Province, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study of 320 Families.

Our study centers on various aspects of families who have 2 or more members with hearing loss (HL) and are living in Golestan province in Iran. We aimed to identify those families with the highest probability of hereditary HL and also to examine the impact of consanguinity among them. The families included in the study underwent a comprehensive screening process that involved their prenatal and postnatal histories as well as family medical histories. Additionally, each patient received a thorough clinical ear examination. The evaluation also took into account factors such as patterns of inheritance, consanguinity, a 3-generation pedigree, and physical examination. Following this initial assessment, patients were referred for a complete hearing evaluation, which included pure-tone audiometry, speech recognition threshold, otoacoustic emission, and auditory brainstem response tests. We identified a total of 8553 individuals living in Golestan province who are hearing impaired. Among those, our records indicate that 320 families had at least 2 affected members. The rate of consanguinity marriage in non-syndromic families was 64.43%. Also, a significant number (88.12%, or n=282) of the families exhibited hereditary HL, among which a substantial proportion (89.72%, or n=253) presented with nonsyndromic forms of HL. Furthermore, bilateral, stable, and prelingual HL were the most frequently observed types, and a majority of the patients were diagnosed with sensorineural and profound HL. This study revealed a correlation between consanguinity and the incidence of familial HL, with more probability of bilateral, prelingual, sensorineural, and profound forms.

Recovery of rare earth elements and thorium from acid leaching residue of ionic rare earth concentrates

The acid leaching residue (ALR) of ionic rare earth (IRE) concentrates containing radioactive elements such as thorium (Th) is classified as low-level radioactive waste. ALR holds valuable strategic resources such as rare earth and Th, while improper long-term heaping storage of ALR poses a substantial environmental risk. This paper proposes a comprehensive process involving low-temperature roasting, hydrochloric acid leaching, single extractant enrichment, and stepwise stripping to recover rare earth elements and thorium from ALR. The achieved leaching efficiencies are 80.11% of LnY, 99.43% of Sc(III), and 98.67% of Th(IV) after the carbonization of the organic phase in the ALR through low-temperature roasting. Despite large amounts of acid and impurities present in the leachate, 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono 2-ethylhexyl ester (HEHEHP) still exhibits nearly 100% extraction efficiency for Sc(III) and Th(IV). The effective separation of LnY, Th(IV), and Sc(III) was achieved by implementing fractional extraction enrichment of Th(IV) and Sc(III), followed by Th(IV) removal through H2SO4 and Sc(III) removal via NaOH from the loaded organic phase. This scheme successfully achieves a recovery of RE and Th and offers a viable solution for the safe disposal of ALR.

EDUKASI PANGAN DAN JAJANAN YANG AMAN SEHAT SERTA BERMUTU DI SMA NEGERI 20 BATAM

This community service initiative is designed to provide an alternative educational platform targeting both educators and students. Furthermore, it seeks to engage the participation of students' parents and committees in supporting school food safety programs. Concurrently, educators are equipped with the skills to enhance the management of school canteens, ensuring the provision of snacks that meet stringent safety, quality, and nutritional standards. The primary objective is to cultivate awareness among all members of the school community regarding the paramount importance of selecting snacks that are not only safe but also of high quality and nutritional value. It is anticipated that this heightened awareness will empower the community to make judicious choices in their food consumption. The methodology employed in this community service initiative includes the dissemination of learning materials and references through structured presentations and interactive sessions, incorporating a question-and-answer format. Participants undergo a comprehensive learning process, acquiring knowledge and practical skills through demonstrative sessions that are subsequently applied. Through the evaluation of program implementation and outcomes, factors supporting or hindering the success of this community service initiative can be discerned. The socialization process places a particular emphasis on elucidating the potential hazards associated with the misuse of substances in food, such as rhodamine B, methanyl yellow, formalin, and borax. Participants are not only informed about these dangers but are also provided with guidance on effectively educating and guiding students towards the consumption of healthful snacks. The initiative additionally aspires to motivate educators to prioritize the psychological well-being of their students, with the ultimate goal of fostering independence within the school community concerning food safety.

Integrating Landscape Character Assessment with Community Values in a Scenic Evaluation Methodology for Regional Landscape Planning

The Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) method from the UK has proven effective in identifying landscape values and characteristics through a comprehensive mapping process. However, it is predominantly expert-led and lacks an evaluation of scenery, hindering the inclusion of the broader community’s preferences and visual attachment to their landscape. In Australia, the application of the Scenic Amenity Methodology (SAM) using Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping has engaged communities but has often overlooked the importance of landscape character. To overcome these limitations, this study presents an innovative scenic assessment methodology, referred to as modified Scenic Amenity Methodology (modified SAM). The methodology establishes landscape character types (LCTs) to map scenic preference ratings derived from community photo surveys. Simultaneously, it incorporates the visual exposure of the landscape from publicly accessible viewpoints, modelled using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The combination of scenic preferences and visual exposure enables mapping of the scenic amenity values held by the community. This methodology was first trialled in Bundaberg, then Cairns, the Whitsunday Islands, and, most recently, Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia. This paper presents the results of the Toowoomba study and reports on the challenges and limitations of informing landscape character type (LCT) values through a public photo survey, developing a scenic preference map from ratings of photos across a region, a map of the visual exposure of landscape elements from key public viewing locations, and, ultimately, a map of scenic amenity values across the Toowoomba Region. It indicates that integrating previous LCA approaches with public participation through community preferences is indeed feasible for regional landscape planning.

Algiers master plan, land use and forced relocation: Monitoring change with a spatial decision support system

Over the past two decades, Algerian authorities have made significant investments in the housing sector, leading to substantial changes in Algiers' urban landscape. The implementation of forced housing relocation programs, such as the Program for the Resorption of Precarious Housing (RHP), has been pivotal in transforming Algiers into the first African city without slums, recognized by the United Nations in 2016. However, the selection of receiving sites has presented challenges for the authorities, as the actual implementation deviated from the initial plans outlined in the PDAU master plan. This study focuses on examining the site selection process for relocation in Algiers and delineating the disparities between planned and implemented land mobilization. Using an integrated approach, the analysis targets an in-depth study of the PDAU documents. It draws on a comprehensive data collection process, complemented by interviews with all stakeholders which have been engaged in either in the relocation operations in Algiers or in the elaboration of the PDAU. Furthermore, the study is supported with by a large cartographic overlay of the PDAU investigated sites, which allows a better understanding of the subject. Similar studies conducted worldwide have shown that failures in master planning often result from difficulties in execution and compliance, which are common issues in developing countries. In Algiers, the slow process of land mobilization has compelled authorities to adopt unplanned alternative solutions, making land management a blind spot in the planning practice and hindering the implementation of the PDAU as well as limiting the monitoring of urban expansion and development. Additionally, the study shows that despite attempts to incorporate a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) within the PDAU, its execution was to a large extent clearly ineffective. The paper contends that failures in urban land management and data collection constitute weak links impeding spatial development. This has shed light on deficiencies in the cadastral system in Algiers, with ambiguities in the legal framework of land management. The study also shows that the strict adherence to master plans can be challenging when dealing with relocation operations due to various factors. Addressing these issues is crucial for the elaboration of more effective relocation programs. By learning from the gaps and weaknesses in the selection process and implementing improved strategies, Algerian authorities can optimize the outcomes of relocation projects and promote more sustainable urban development.

Research on the perception of the terrain image of the tourism destination based on multimodal user-generated content data.

Destination image is a powerful means by which destinations compete in the tourism industry, and the accurate identification of a destination image better serves destination marketing and management. This study uses multimodal data, such as text, images, and videos uploaded by tourists, to construct a comprehensive and systematic destination image process. The "cognitive-emotional-overall image" model, latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model, and deep residual neural networks are implemented to build a framework to examine the perception of a destination image, travelogues, and short videos from the sources called Ctrip, Qunar, and TikTok. The results show that tourists' overall perception of Sanya is based mainly on the cognitive image of natural scenery, human resources, and food. In addition, there are differences between textual and visual cognitive images among the perceptual images when multimodal data is under consideration. Furthermore, tourists have an overall positive affective image of Sanya as a destination.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATION CLUSTER

The article delves into the complex dynamics of innovation clusters moving through the complex landscape of global trends and challenges inherent in the comprehensive process of globalization. The multifaceted influence of global factors on the evolution of innovation clusters within the framework of the modern economic situation is also meticulously studied. In the course of the analysis, a special emphasis has been placed on a detailed examination of the challenges arising as a result of the current processes of globalization and the rapid development of innovative technologies. The present research identifies the key role played by innovation clusters as integral components of regional development and essential contributors to the tangled web of global production chains. One of the most important findings is the reconciliation of local and global interests in the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operation of innovation clusters. It has also been determined that globalization is a stimulus for innovative development and the emergence of new challenges to ensure the sustainable competitiveness of regional clusters in the global economic environment has been substantiated. It is noted that countries where innovation clusters demonstrate successful integration into global production chains actively use the advantages of globalization to develop their regional innovation systems. The primary purpose of the analysis was to determine the factors contributing to the successful integration of clusters into global processes. These factors include effective cluster management, the development of a flexible innovation strategy, and the ability to adapt to changes in the global economic environment. The role of innovation management in the context of globalization is considered separately, in particular, the need for constant monitoring and analysis of global innovation trends.

PFS 1.0: A development tool applied to vision-based tactile sensor process formulation and fabrication

Vision-based tactile sensors (VBTS) have gradually garnered attention for their high performance. However, there is a lack of detailed technology summaries and available tools for process formulation. To simplify the development flow, this paper proposes a process formulation system (PFS) and establishes a visualization interface based on QT. The developer inputs the design goal, and the system automatically corrects these goals and then matches the process schemes by dictionary search. Following the fabrication sequence, the system outputs a complete reference fabrication flow. Furthermore, the PFS provides more comprehensive process details than large models. In addition, the PFS universality is verified via representative VBTS cases. A multimodal visuo-tactile skin (VTS) is developed with the PFS. The fabrication process of elastomer and coating is optimized based on the reference process. The results show that the VTS prototype achieves micron-level spatial resolution, high sensitivity, and high abrasion resistance. Consequently, the PFS is expected to provide technology guidance and assistant development for beginners and developers in this area.

Virtual Learning Communication Behaviors In Natural Birth Support Communities

Cesarean delivery rates are rising globally, presenting a growing concern, particularly in countries like Indonesia. Amidst this trend, the Cerita VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesar) on Telegram emerges as a crucial platform for pregnant women seeking insights and preparations for expected deliveries following Cesarean sections. This study, grounded in the constructivism paradigm, delves into the experiences of active speakers within the Cerita VBAC Community, aiming to understand the dynamics and impact of this virtual support network. Employing narrative ethnography methods, this research focuses on four prominent contributors within the Cerita VBAC Community. The constructivist paradigm guides the exploration of their experiences, emphasizing the role of narrative ethnography in unravelling the intricacies of this unique social context. Data analysis involves a manual modification process complemented by NVIVO 12 Plus, a comprehensive data processing application. The findings highlight that the learning delivery mechanism through Telegram aligns with Kolb's Experiential Learning model. Community members actively share concrete experiences, engage in reflective processes, formulate abstract concepts, and participate in experiential learning. Telegram serves as an information exchange medium and creates a positive and supportive environment, empowering pregnant women to navigate labor challenges.

Deep gold prospectivity modeling in the Jiaojia gold belt, Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern China using machine learning of geometric and geodynamic variables

Gold mineralization in the Jiaojia gold belt was formed in a structurally-dominant hydrothermal mineral system showing a close spatial association with the Jiaojia detachment fault. This study delves into the Jiaojia gold belt from the perspective of coupled spatial association and ore-forming processes by employing spatial analysis of three-dimensional (3D) models, 3D ore-forming numerical modeling, and 3D prospectivity modeling using machine learning techniques (random forest (RF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP)). The overarching goal is to gain insight into the structural-hydrothermal gold system and pinpoint potential areas of deep-seated gold deposits for future exploration endeavors. The spatial analysis of ore-controlling faults uncovers a close correlation between gold enrichment and specific fault geometrical attributes, including a dip angle ranging from 20° to 40°, minimal variations in dip angle (less than 5°), and convex topographical features. These attributes likely stem from the influence of fault morphology on the flow and pooling of fluids. In conjunction with this, 3D ore-forming numerical modeling of structural deformation and fluid flow reveals that gold mineralization is intertwined with moderate volumetric strain and shear strain of rock and fluid divergence. This interaction seems particularly pronounced in areas characterized by channel-like or gentle features. Consequently, it is plausible that gold distribution in the Jiaojia region is the outcome of a comprehensive coupling process involving strain localization, rock deformation, fluid flow, heat transfer and/or interaction. The deep gold prospectivity models of RF and MLP for the Jiaojia district jointly using the predictive variables of fault geometry features and ore-forming simulation data (volume strain, shear strain, temperature variation, and fluid flux) exhibit higher AUC (area under the curve) values compared to models employing individual predictor variable datasets. This improvement underscores their enhanced predictive capability. The prospectivity results thus were used for identifying gold potential within the Jiaojia region, where five promising gold targets at depth were ultimately determined.

Integrated Waterflooding Effect Evaluation Methodology for Carbonate Fractured–Vuggy Reservoirs Based on the Unascertained Measure–Mahalanobis Distance Theory

The waterflooding effect evaluation of carbonate fractured–vuggy reservoirs constitutes a comprehensive multiple-information decision-making process involving quantitative unascertained measure theory. This paper establishes a novel comprehensive methodology to evaluate the waterflooding effects of carbonate fractured–vuggy reservoirs for the first time. A new evaluation grading criteria is proposed using the Mahalanobis distance method based on the multi-index comprehensive unascertained measure theory derived from a modified five-scale analytical hierarchy process–entropy weight method. The actual field data from the carbonate fractured–vuggy reservoirs and the nine evaluation indices are specifically applied to demonstrate the calculation process for the construction of the grading system model on the waterflooding effects and to verify the accuracy of the Mahalanobis distance method by comparing the calculation results with the Minkowski and Euclidean distance methods. The proposed methodology facilitates the effective evaluation of the waterflooding strategies implemented in carbonate fractured–vuggy reservoirs with three categories; the ones with outstanding performance usually demonstrated favorable index characteristics, with substantial contributions to the enhanced oil recovery, manifesting with complete well patterns, a balance in the injection–production dynamics, excellent waterflooding utilization, and control competence. In contrast, fractured–vuggy units with fair waterflooding performance revealed limitations in the enhanced oil recovery. It can also be inferred that the mediocre waterflooding performance of the fractured–vuggy units is associated with incomplete well patterns, an imbalance in the injection–production dynamics, low waterflooding utilization, and a negligible waterflooding effect. The results in this study show that this newly proposed integrated model can effectively assess the waterflooding effects quantitatively and provide a more precise scientific basis for evaluating the waterflooding effects in carbonate fractured–vuggy reservoirs, with potential applicability in other fields.

Risk Factors and Prognosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Background: Among adult leukaemias, chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is one of the most prevalent types. The Philadelphia chromosome, which constitutively activates tyrosine kinase through the BCR-ABL1 oncoprotein, is central to the pathophysiology of CML.
 Objectives: To study the risk factors and prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia in Saudi Arabia.
 Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Science Direct were systematically searched for relevant literature. Rayyan QRCI was employed throughout this comprehensive process.
 Results and Interpretation: seven studies with a total of 658 patients and 357 (54.3) were males. Risk factors for the development of CML were shown to be limited to younger and middle-aged groups, with a slight male predominance. This study showed that imatinib for CML has both long-term efficacy and manageable side effects. Improved compliance, lower blast and basophil counts, increased haemoglobin, increased platelets, and a low-risk score were all associated with different molecular reactions to imatinib. Future research is required to assess the possible risk factors, management lines, and prognostic factors of CML in Saudi population.

Simulation of groundwater-flow dynamics in the U.S. Northern High Plains driven by multi-model estimates of surficial aquifer recharge

There is growing interest in incorporating higher-resolution groundwater modeling within the framework of large-scale land surface models (LSMs), including processes such as three-dimensional flow, variable soil saturation, and surface water/groundwater interactions. Conversely, complex groundwater models (e.g., the U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater-Flow Model, MODFLOW) often use simpler representations of land surface dynamics (e.g., surface vegetation, evapotranspiration, recharge) and may benefit from higher process fidelity and temporal resolutions in these inputs. This study investigates the potential of improving groundwater representation in LSMs and land surface dynamics in MODFLOW through forcing MODFLOW with recharge from LSMs. Groundwater simulations build on an existing and well-calibrated MODFLOW model of the U.S. Northern High Plains aquifer, a hydrologically complex basin under the dual impacts of conversion of native vegetation to intense irrigated agricultural fields and climate change. Simulated groundwater recharge from four different land models are used to drive MODFLOW groundwater simulations. Results show relatively large discrepancies between recharge estimates among simulations. Forcing MODFLOW using recharge simulated by some of the LSMs in place of a simple water balance model marginally improves MODFLOW groundwater simulation. Further, our results support the efficacy of coupling LSMs to a sophisticated groundwater model such as MODFLOW. The coupling results in notable improvements in matching the historical groundwater levels through reduction of the skewness coefficient in percent bias histogram (from 1.50 and 1.41 in original LSMs to 0.44 and 0.27, respectively, when MODFLOW is forced by groundwater recharge from LSMs) and reduction of bias. This modeling effort seeks to identify the best compromise between comprehensive land surface processes from global LSMs and advanced representation of groundwater from regional models.