Search Results (99)

Horizontal wells have revolutionized hydrocarbon production by enhancing recovery efficiency and reducing environmental impact. This paper presents an enhanced Black Oil Model simulator, written in Visual Basic, for three-dimensional two-phase (oil and water) flow through porous media. Unlike most existing tools, this simulator is customized for horizontal well modeling and calibrated using extensive historical data from the South Rumaila Oilfield, Iraq. The simulator first achieves a strong match with historical pressure data (1954–2004) using vertical wells, with an average deviation of less than 5% from observed pressures, and is then applied to forecast the performance of hypothetical horizontal wells (2008–2011). The results validate the simulator’s reliability in estimating bottom-hole pressure (e.g., ±3% accuracy for HRU1 well) and water–oil ratios (e.g., WOR reduction of 15% when increasing horizontal well length from 1000 m to 2000 m). Notably, the simulator demonstrated that doubling the horizontal well length reduced WOR by 15% while increasing bottom-hole pressure by only 2%, highlighting the efficiency of longer wells in mitigating water encroachment. This work contributes to improved reservoir management by enabling efficient well placement strategies and optimizing extraction planning, thereby promoting both economic and resource-efficient hydrocarbon recovery. Full article

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was utilized to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of composite non-point source pollution in the Yapu Port Basin, China, and to quantify the pollutant load contributions from various sources. Scenario-based simulations were designed to assess the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies, focusing on both agricultural and urban non-point source pollution control. The watershed was divided into 39 sub-watersheds and 106 hydrologic response units (HRUs). Model calibration and validation were conducted using the observed data on runoff, total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN). The results demonstrate good model performance, with coefficients of determination (R²) ≥ 0.85 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiencies (NSEs) ≥ 0.84, indicating its applicability to the study area. Temporally, pollutant loads exhibited a positive correlation with precipitation, with peak values observed during the annual flood season. Spatially, pollution intensity increased from upstream to downstream, with the western region of the watershed showing higher loss intensity. Pollution was predominantly concentrated in the downstream region. Based on the composite source analysis, a series of management measures were designed targeting both agricultural and urban non-point source pollution. Among individual measures, fertilizer reduction in agricultural fields and the establishment of vegetative buffer strips demonstrated the highest effectiveness. Combined management strategies significantly enhanced pollution control, with average TN and TP load reductions of 22.18% and 22.70%, respectively. The most effective scenario combined fertilizer reduction, improved urban stormwater utilization, vegetative buffer strips, and grassed swales in both farmland and orchards, resulting in TN and TP reductions of 67.2% and 56.2%, respectively. Full article

Several studies on cultural–creative tourism, urban branding (UB), youth engagement, and sustainability have been conducted in isolation, obstructing comprehensive approaches to UB development challenges. This review article aims to develop an integrated framework representing the complex interrelationships between these factors through a theory-based review and case study analysis. Methodologically, the investigation adopts bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software version 1.6.20 to identify thematic clusters across keyword pairings within research from 2000 to 2025, followed by content analysis for classification. The primary result is the Hierarchical–Relational Urban Sustainability (HRUS) framework, which employs a dual-pathway approach: (1) a sequential integration pathway, positioning cultural–creative tourism as the foundational mechanism supporting UB as the central concept, facilitating youth engagement as the key demographic group, and ultimately contributing to sustainability, and (2) a direct relationship pathway, examining specific connections between each factor and sustainability alone. This article contributes the first comprehensive framework that systematically integrates four main themes for sustainable urban development. The HRUS framework facilitates cross-sectoral collaboration by establishing actionable mechanisms for urban planners, universities, and tourism authorities to achieve sustainable urban brand development. Full article

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) is an expensive and resource intensive procedure. This study aims to review the literature pertaining to healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs associated with allo-HSCT complications. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. The PubMed, EMBASE, and Health Business Elite were searched in addition to the grey literature. Eligibility criteria included studies that reported HRU and/or costs associated with adult (≥18 years) allo-HSCT. Studies were categorized according to complications of allo-HSCT including graft-versus-host disease (acute and chronic GVHD) and infections (fungal, cytomegalovirus, virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis, and acute respiratory tract infection). Commonly reported HRU and cost measures were extracted, including those associated with the direct management of allo-HSCT complications and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Reported costs were standardized to 2022 United States Dollars. Patients who experienced GVHD or infection post-transplant had an overall greater HRU including higher rates of hospitalization, hospital readmission, ICU admission, and longer length of stay compared to those patients who did not. Patients with severe or refractory GVHD and/or infection following allo-HSCT required greater healthcare intervention. This scoping review synthesizes the current literature on HRU and costs associated with post allo-HSCT complications. Patients who experienced post allo-HSCT complications had higher HRU and incurred higher costs overall, noting the variability across studies in their clinical context, reporting of HRU, and cost measures. Full article

Metal carbonyl clusters, which can be seen as monodispersed and atomically defined nanoparticles stabilized by CO ligands, were used to prepare Ru-based catalysts with tuned basic properties to conduct the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) aerobic oxidation to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) in base-free conditions. The controlled decomposition of the carbonyl cluster [HRu₃(CO)₁₁]⁻, a methodology not yet applied to Ru catalysts for this reaction, on different supports focusing on controlling and tuning the basic properties of support allowed the formation of small Ru nanoparticles with a mean diameter of around 1 nm. The catalytic systems obtained resulted in more activity in the HMF oxidation than those prepared through a more common salt-impregnation technique, and the deposition of Ru nanoparticles on materials with basic functionalities has allowed avoiding the use of basic solutions in the reaction. The characterization by CO₂-TPD of Mg(Al)O catalysts obtained from decomposition of layered double hydroxide hydrotalcites with different composition and activation has allowed disclosure of an important correlation between the selectivity of FDCA and the fraction of weak basic sites, which is decreased by the calcination treatment at increased temperature. Full article

Recent climate change has intensified extreme rainfall events, exacerbating soil erosion and agricultural nonpoint source pollution in South Korea’s steeply sloped farmlands. This study assessed soil erosion reduction measures by applying individual Best Management Practices (BMPs) in cropland and expanding upon existing management efforts through the implementation of additional BMPs aimed at further reducing soil erosion. Furthermore, priority management areas were identified based on soil erosion reduction efficiency within subbasins. For this evaluation, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was employed, with a spatially distributed Hydrological Response Unit (SD-HRU) module and calibrated Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) parameters tailored to Korean watershed conditions. Scenarios 1 and 2 were implemented in the study area to evaluate BMP effectiveness in controlling soil erosion and suspended sediment (SS) loads. Scenario 1 applied a set of BMPs already in place, while Scenario 2 involved the addition of supplementary BMPs to enhance soil erosion control. Scenario 1 resulted in a 34.6% reduction in annual soil erosion and a 35.0% decrease in SS concentration, whereas Scenario 2 achieved a 59.3% reduction in soil erosion and a 57.3% decrease in SS concentration. Subbasin-scale evaluations revealed considerable spatial variability in erosion control efficiency, ranging from 1.3% to 70.5%, highlighting the necessity for spatially targeted management strategies. These results underscore the importance of employing spatially adaptive BMP approaches and offer practical guidance for enhancing watershed sustainability, particularly in regions vulnerable to extreme hydrometeorological events. Full article

Soil erosion is a critical factor impacting soil health and agricultural productivity, with soil erodibility often quantified using the K-factor in erosion models such as the universal soil loss equation (USLE). Traditional K-factor estimation lacks spatiotemporal precision, particularly under varying soil moisture and land cover conditions. This study introduces modified K-factor pedotransfer functions (Kmlr) integrating dynamic remotely sensed data on land use land cover to enhance K-factor accuracy for diverse soil health management applications. The Kmlr functions from multiple approaches, including dynamic crop and cover management factor (Cdynamic), high resolution satellite data, and downscaled remotely sensed data, were evaluated across spatial and temporal scales within the Fish River watershed in Alabama, a coastal watershed with significant soil–water interactions. The results highlighted that the Kmlr model provided more accurate sediment yield (SY) predictions, particularly in agricultural areas, where traditional models overestimated erosion by upto 59.23 ton/ha. SY analysis across the 36 hydrological response units (HRUs) in the watershed showed that the Kmlr model captured more accurate soil loss estimates, especially in regions with varying land use. The modified K-factor model (Kmlr-c) using Cdynamic and high-resolution soil surface moisture data outperformed the traditional USLE K-factors in predicting SY, with a strong correlation to observed SY data (R² = 0.980 versus R² = 0.911). The total sediment yield predicted by Kmlr-c (525.11 ton/ha) was notably lower than that of USLE-based estimates (828.62 ton/ha), highlighting the overestimation in conventional models. The identification of erosive hotspots revealed that 6003 ha of land was at high erosion risk (K-factor > 0.25), with an average soil loss of 24.2 ton/ha. The categorization of erosive hotspots highlighted critical areas at high risk for erosion, underscoring the need for targeted soil conservation practices. This research underscores the improvement of remotely sensed data-based models and perfects them for the application of soil erodibility assessments thus promoting the development of such models. Full article

The increasing frequency and severity of hydrological extremes due to climate change necessitate accurate baseflow estimation and effective watershed management for sustainable water resource use. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is widely utilized for hydrological modeling but shows limitations in baseflow simulation due to its uniform application of the alpha factor across Hydrologic Response Units (HRUs), neglecting spatial and temporal variability. To address these challenges, this study integrated SWAT with the Tree-Based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT), an automated machine learning (AutoML) framework, to predict HRU-specific alpha factors. Furthermore, a user-friendly web-based program was developed to improve the accessibility and practical application of these optimized alpha factors, supporting more accurate baseflow predictions, even in ungauged watersheds. The proposed HRU-specific alpha factor approach in the study area significantly enhanced the recession and baseflow predictions compared to the traditional uniform alpha factor method. This improvement was supported by key performance metrics, including the Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), the coefficient of determination (R²), the percent bias (PBIAS), and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). This integrated framework effectively improves the accuracy and practicality of hydrological modeling, offering scalable and innovative solutions for sustainable watershed management in the face of increasing water stress. Full article

The accuracy of soil databases is essential in hydrological modeling, yet limited studies have evaluated the implications of using emerging soil datasets like POLARIS compared to traditional ones such as SSURGO. This study evaluates the performance of POLARIS soil data for simulating the streamflow and sediment yield at both the sub-basin and field scales within the Big Muddy Watershed (BMW), Illinois, U.S.A., using a soft-calibrated SWAT+ model. The field-scale analysis focused on cropland-dominated HRUs from two sub-basins with contrasting POLARIS-SSURGO similarities at the sub-basin scale, optimizing computational efficiency. POLARIS results were compared to those derived from the widely used SSURGO soil database using a soft-calibrated SWAT+ model. At the sub-basin scale, the two datasets showed strong overall agreement for the streamflow and sediment yield over the 81 BMW sub-basins, with minor discrepancies, especially in sediment yield predictions, which exhibited more variability. At the field scale, the agreement between POLARIS and SSURGO was good for both variables, streamflow and sediment yield, though the sediment yield showed greater variability as shown at the sub-basin level. At both scales, the POLARIS and SSURGO outcomes for the streamflow and sediment yield did not always follow the same trend, with discrepancies observed in some sub-basins and HRUs. This suggested that while POLARIS can replicate SSURGO’s streamflow outcomes, this similarity does not always extend to sediment yield predictions and vice versa. At the sub-basin scale, the POLARIS and SSURGO outcomes showed strong alignment (88.9% in “very good” agreement). However, at the field scale, this alignment decreased to 42.9% and 33.3% in specific sub-basins. This indicates that sub-basin aggregation reduces local variability, while finer scales reveal greater sensitivity to soil and hydrological differences. This study highlights POLARIS as a robust alternative to SSURGO for hydrological modeling. Future research should explore its broader application across diverse conditions. Full article

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to investigate agricultural non-point source pollution in the Shitun River Basin (54.87 km²), China, where intensive agriculture dominates. This study analyzed spatiotemporal pollutant distribution from January 2021 to September 2023 and identified key pollution sources. The basin was divided into 46 sub-basins and 268 hydrological response units (HRUs). Model calibration and validation using runoff, total phosphorus, and ammonia nitrogen data demonstrated high accuracy (R² ≥ 0.6, Ens ≥ 0.5), confirming its applicability for area-source pollution assessment in agricultural regions. Agricultural area-source pollution was particularly concentrated from June to October, aligning with the high-flow period. Conversely, pollution levels saw a significant reduction during the medium- and low-flow periods. Severe pollution was mainly observed along the river and in the eastern part of the basin. By means of unit area load index method and Jenks natural fracture point method, it was determined that the key source areas of surface source pollution are mainly distributed in the upper reaches of the basin. The results can provide an adjusting basis and a theoretical basis for the control of agricultural surface source pollution in the watershed. Full article

Background: Lacertus syndrome, a condition characterized by median nerve compression at the elbow due to anatomical variations, is often misdiagnosed. This case report describes a 53-year-old female patient who presented with severe lateral elbow and shoulder pain, previously diagnosed with cervicalgia and tennis elbow. Methods: Upon admission, she reported significant pain (NRS—Numerical Rating Scale 8/10) and occasional radiating paresthesia in the first three digits of her left hand. Clinical examination revealed weakness in the wrist and finger flexion, which was exacerbated by a positive Cutaneous Scratch Test (CST), while Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine showed no definitive abnormalities. Electroneurography (ENG) indicated reduced amplitude in the left anterior interosseous nerve. Ultrasound excluded carpal tunnel syndrome but identified nerve flattening beneath the pronator teres muscle. A surgical decompression of the median nerve was performed, resulting in immediate improvement in muscle strength and significant pain reduction (NRS 1/10) postoperatively. Follow-up evaluations confirmed substantial recovery in nerve function and morphology. Conclusions: This case illustrates the atypical presentation of Lacertus syndrome, emphasizing the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches that include clinical, imaging, and neurophysiological assessments. Awareness of this syndrome is crucial for differential diagnosis in patients exhibiting uncharacteristic symptoms, such as shoulder or elbow pain, to ensure timely and effective treatment. Full article

Spatial discretization in hydrological models has a strong impact on computation times. This study investigates its effect on the performance of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) applied to a French Mediterranean watershed. It quantifies how spatial discretization (the number of sub-basins and hydrological response units (HRUs)) affects the SWAT model’s performance in simulating daily streamflow and whether this effect depends on the choice of soil and land use input datasets. Sixty-eight SWAT model configurations were created using various soil and land use datasets and 17 discretization setups, evaluated from 2001 to 2021 with the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) metric. The key findings include (1) while the number of sub-basins does not impact model performance, increasing HRUs significantly degrades it (KGE loss of 0.13 to 0.26) regardless of the number of sub-basins or input datasets. (2) SWAT is found to be more sensitive to variations in soil datasets than in land use datasets, but the observed performance decline with more HRUs is attributed to the calibration process and the increased heterogeneity in soil types rather than input dataset spatial resolution. (3) Minimizing the number of HRUs may improve both the accuracy of streamflow simulations and the computational efficiency of the SWAT model. Full article

Objectives: Chronic pain is a common symptom in Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS), affecting 11–60% of patients, but the link between COVID-19 and chronic pain remains unclear. This study assesses healthcare resource utilization (HRU) for pain management among French COVID-19 survivors, using the National French Claims Database (SNDS). We analyzed medical consultations, rehabilitation services, diagnostic procedures, and medication dispensing to identify PACS-related pain patterns and their impact on the healthcare system. Methods: The cohort included 68,822 patients hospitalized during the first COVID-19 wave (March–June 2020), with 13,939 ICU survivors. HRU was assessed for six months pre- and post-hospitalization in four areas: (1) medical consultations and rehabilitation; (2) pain-related medication dispensing; (3) neuropathic diagnostic procedures; (4) hospital admissions for chronic pain. A post–pre ratio (PP-Ratio) compared post-COVID to pre-COVID HRU. Results: Significant changes in HRU were observed, particularly for ICU survivors. Neurology consultations (PP-Ratio 1.41) and outpatient physical therapy (PP-Ratio 1.69) increased. Dispensing of strong opioids, antiepileptics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics rose, while NSAID use decreased. Hospitalizations for chronic pain also increased (PP-Ratio 1.52). Similar trends were seen among ICU survivors, with notable increases in opioid and antiepileptic use. No distinct PACS-related pain patterns emerged. Conclusions: Non-specific increases in HRU for pain management were found following COVID-19 hospitalization, likely due to disease severity and ICU care rather than PACS-related chronic pain. Further research is needed to explore long-term pain outcomes in this population. Full article

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in detecting anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDWR) and anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDWoR) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods: A total of 144 TMJs was categorized into three groups according to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, which served as the reference standard: the normal disc position (NDP) group, the ADDWR group, and the ADDWoR group. Static images of the TMJ in full opening and maximum intercuspal positions, along with dynamic sequences during jaw opening, were obtained utilizing a 14 MHz L-shaped linear array transducer. The diagnostic efficacy of dynamic HRUS for identifying ADDWR and ADDWoR was evaluated in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the Youden index. Results: According to the MRI findings, the NDP, ADDWR, and ADDWoR groups consisted of 42 (29.2%), 47 (32.6%), and 55 (38.2%) TMJs, respectively. HRUS data revealed 54 TMJs (37.5%) in the NDP group, 26 TMJs (18.1%) in the ADDWR group, and 64 TMJs (44.4%) in the ADDWoR group. With MRI as the reference standard, HRUS exhibited a diagnostic accuracy of 71.4%, sensitivity of 51.4%, and specificity of 91.4% for ADDWR. For the ADDWoR, HRUS attained a diagnostic accuracy of 86.5%, sensitivity of 90.0%, and specificity of 82.1%. Conclusions: With MRI serving as the reference standard, dynamic HRUS has high diagnostic value for ADDWoR, with better diagnostic accuracy than ADDWR. Ultrasonography has the potential to be used as a highly effective and non-invasive imaging modality for the early screening of ADD in future clinical practice. Full article

Background: The prevention of thromboembolisms through anticoagulation and heart rate control is crucial in managing non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This study aimed to analyze the consequences of poor anticoagulation control with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in Spanish patients with NVAF, focusing on thrombotic events, bleeding, mortality, healthcare resources (HRU), and costs. Methods: This observational, retrospective study used electronic medical records (BIG-PAC^® database) of NVAF patients who started VKA treatment between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018. Patients were followed up for two years and classified by poor or adequate anticoagulation control. Demographic and clinical characteristics, treatments, incidence of cardiovascular events, mortality rates, HRU, and costs were analyzed. Results: Patients with poor control (n = 2136) had a 75% greater probability of suffering a cardiovascular event compared to patients with adequate control (n = 2351) (HR, 1.75 [95%CI: 1.43–2.14; p < 0.001]). Cardiovascular events, major bleeding, minor bleeding, systemic thromboembolism, and ischemic strokes were reduced by 32.1%, 46.2%, 29.6%, 22.2%, and 16.1%, respectively. It was estimated that adequate anticoagulant control saved EUR 455/patient with NAVF due to reduced hospitalization for cardiovascular events. Conclusions: For VKA-treated NVAF patients, poor anticoagulation control was associated with a higher number of cardiovascular events, greater consumption of HRU, and higher management costs than for patients with adequate control. Full article