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Interlayer Interference Mechanisms During Multi-Layer Commingled Production in Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs
No full textTo investigate the interlayer interference mechanism during multi-layer commingled production in low-permeability gas reservoirs, this study focuses on the strongly heterogeneous reservoirs in the central Linxing area of the Ordos Basin. Laboratory-scale physical simulation experiments of commingled production were conducted on core samples from the Shiqianfeng (Q5) and Shihezi (He4) formations, along with the No. 8 + 9 coal seam. The gas production behavior, including the evolution of flow rates, the occurrence of staggered production peaks, and the resulting interlayer interference coefficients, was systematically analyzed and compared between single-layer and multi-layer commingled production scenarios. Experimental results reveal a positive correlation between cumulative gas production and layer permeability under single-layer production conditions. Specifically, the high-permeability layer (0.6470 mD) yielded 65.22 mL, whereas the low-permeability layer (0.1061 mD) produced 36.51 mL, representing a 44.02% reduction relative to the former. Under commingled production conditions, the productivity of the low-permeability layer exhibited more severe inhibition, showing declines in instantaneous production of 34.02–48.96% and cumulative production of 15.50–20.61%. These reductions substantially exceed those observed in the high-permeability layer, which ranged from 6.14% to 6.35% and from 5.00% to 8.76%, respectively. Furthermore, a greater permeability contrast results in a more pronounced difference in gas breakthrough timing. For a permeability ratio of 3, the breakthrough time difference reaches 191 s, compared to 131 s for a ratio of 2. The interlayer interference coefficient exhibits a negative correlation with the permeability contrast. When the contrast is 3, the interference coefficient for the low-permeability layer reaches 79.39%, representing an 84.51% increase relative to the coefficient observed at a contrast of 2. This indicates that larger permeability contrasts lead to more severe interference effects on low-permeability layers. These findings provide theoretical support for optimizing the efficient development of multi-layer commingled production in low-permeability unconventional gas reservoirs, highlighting the necessity of incorporating permeability contrast analysis in commingled production design
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Pediatric Endocrine Tumors: Opportunities, Pitfalls, and a Roadmap for Trustworthy Clinical Translation
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are reshaping cancer research and care. In pediatric oncology, early evidence—most robust in imaging—suggests value for diagnosis, risk stratification, and assessment of treatment response. Pediatric endocrine tumors are rare and heterogeneous, including intra- and extra-adrenal paraganglioma (PGL), adrenocortical tumors (ACT), differentiated and medullary thyroid carcinoma (DTC/MTC), and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN). Here, we provide a pediatric-first, entity-structured synthesis of AI/ML applications in endocrine tumors, paired with a methods-for-clinicians primer and a pediatric endocrine tumor guardrails checklist mapped to contemporary reporting/evaluation standards. We also outline a realistic EU-anchored roadmap for translation that leverages existing infrastructures (EXPeRT, ERN PaedCan). We find promising—yet preliminary—signals for early non-remission/recurrence modeling in pediatric DTC and interpretable survival prediction in pediatric ACT. For PGL and GEP-NEN, evidence remains adult-led (biochemical ML screening scores; CT/PET radiomics for metastatic risk or peptide receptor radionuclide therapy response) and serves primarily as methodological scaffolding for pediatrics. Cross-cutting insights include the centrality of calibration and validation hierarchy and the current limits of explainability (radiomics texture semantics; saliency ≠ mechanism). Translation is constrained by small datasets, domain shift across age groups and sites, limited external validation, and evolving regulatory expectations. We close with pragmatic, clinically anchored steps—benchmarks, multi-site pediatric validation, genotype-aware evaluation, and equity monitoring—to accelerate safe, equitable adoption in pediatric endocrine oncology
The Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Endemic Alyssum bosniacum (Brassicaceae) from the Central Dinaric Alps, Balkan Peninsula
No full textThe Balkan mountain ranges are major hotspots of genetic diversity and endemism, yet many species remain poorly studied. One such species is Alyssum bosniacum, a narrow endemic of the Central Dinaric Alps. To fill this gap, we examined 143 individuals from 15 populations across the species’ range using flow-cytometric ploidy determination, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), nuclear microsatellites, and chloroplast DNA sequences. Microsatellite data revealed two genetic clusters, showing moderate differentiation and relatively high diversity. AFLP profiles indicated shallow but geographically structured variation, while chloroplast haplotypes showed limited divergence and regional clustering. Our data suggest possible persistence in multiple microrefugia within the Central Dinaric Alps, although further evidence is needed to confirm this scenario. Despite range fragmentation, genetic variation within the population remains high, indicating evolutionary resilience and supporting the species’ long-term future population stability under current conditions
Interindividual Variability in Duration of Action of Rocuronium in Paediatric Patients (DurAct): A Prospective Observational Study
No full textBackground: In adult patients, rocuronium shows interindividual variability related to weight, sex, and age, but paediatric data are limited. This study aimed to evaluate clinical factors influencing the duration of action of rocuronium in children. Methods: Patients aged between 0 and 18 years undergoing planned general anaesthesia were eligible. The primary objective was to compare the duration of clinical action of rocuronium after a single dose, measured until the return of TOF (Train of Four) 1, across three-group age categories. Secondary objectives explored the relationship between TOF recovery and sex, weight, height, initial body temperature, as well as the occurrence of postoperative complications related to general anaesthesia. Results: Among 96 analysed patients, no clinically relevant association was found between the duration of rocuronium action and the studied clinical factors. TOF 1 occurred at 18.1 ± 9.5 min in those aged 1 to 5 years (n = 26), 16.8 ± 14.5 min in those aged 6 to 10 years (n = 33), and 18.2 ± 13.8 min in those aged 10 to 17 years (n = 37), p = 0.626. A post hoc analysis revealed high variability in recovery times across TOF levels, both in the per-protocol population (e.g., TOF 1: 17.7 ± 12.9 min) and in patients who did not receive sugammadex. Conclusions: In paediatric patients, the duration of rocuronium action after a single dose demonstrated substantial interindividual variability, which was not explained by age, sex, weight, height, or body temperature
Integrated Transcriptomics and Targeted Metabolomics Approaches: Comparative Analysis of the Ileum in Neonatal Piglets with Different Birth Weight
No full textThis study was conducted to elucidate the molecular and metabolic differences in ileal development according to birth weight in neonatal piglets. A total of 126 neonatal piglets born from Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc crossbred sows were used, and the top 5% (H group, 1.77 ± 0.02 kg) and bottom 5% (L group, 0.72 ± 0.03 kg) of birth weights were selected for analysis. Ileal tissues were collected for transcriptomic (RNA-seq) and targeted metabolomic (GC–MS) analyses, and selected genes were validated using RT-qPCR. A total of 112 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, among which RFC3, PCNA, MCM3, MCM10, AURKA, AURKB, CCNB2, CCNA2, CCNF, and SI were significantly upregulated in the H group (p < 0.05). These genes were mainly involved in pathways related to DNA replication, cell division, and nutrient digestion and absorption. In addition, metabolomic analysis revealed that pyruvic acid concentrations were significantly higher in the H group (p < 0.05), indicating the activation of energy metabolic pathways. These results indicate that high-birth-weight piglets possess a genetic foundation for enhanced cellular proliferation and energy metabolism, and they further highlight potential molecular targets for improving growth performance and intestinal development in low-birth-weight piglets
Analysis of Major Global Oil Spill Incidents: Part 1—Environmental and Ecological Impacts
No full textOil spills remain among the most severe anthropogenic threats to marine ecosystems, with consequences that span ecological, socio-economic, and human health domains. While numerous studies have investigated individual accidents such as Exxon Valdez, Prestige, and Deepwater Horizon, systematic comparative analyses across multiple large-scale incidents remain limited. This review addresses this critical gap by synthesizing findings from fourteen major oil spills worldwide. It examines the roles of oil type and environmental conditions, emphasizing impacts on fish, seabirds, shoreline habitats, and benthic organisms, as well as on long-term ecosystem recovery. Across cases, coastal waters, shorelines, and benthic communities consistently emerged as the most impacted habitats, reflecting both the persistence of oil in nearshore environments and the challenges of long-term restoration. Biologically, all trophic levels were affected: plankton, fish, seabirds, and benthic invertebrates were highly vulnerable, while marine mammals and reptiles suffered population-level effects. By integrating cross-case evidence, this review highlights recurring patterns, key uncertainties, and long-lasting ecosystem disruptions that persist decades after acute events. The Deepwater Horizon spill stands out as the most ecologically severe incident, whereas earlier spills such as Exxon Valdez, Erika, and Prestige remain benchmarks for ecological damage. Thus, this state-of-the-art review provides the most comprehensive comparative assessment of oil spill impacts to date and offers technical recommendations for enhancing preparedness, response, and resilience in the face of future spills
Impact of Organic and Conventional Production Systems on Mineral, Chemical, Antioxidants, and Colorimetric Composition of Grape Pomace from Different Cultivars
No full textThe winemaking industry represents one of the most important sectors of the Mediterranean agrifood economy, generating large amounts of solid residues, especially grape pomace. The study aimed to evaluate during two consecutive harvest years the influence of the production system (conventional vs. organic) and cultivar on the mineral, chemical, and antioxidant composition, as well as the colorimetric properties, of grape pomaces obtained from four Vitis vinifera L. cultivars in Alentejo-Portugal. The results showed that mineral composition was significantly affected by both production system and cultivar, with organic grape pomace showing higher K and Mn contents, whereas Ca and Cu showed consistently higher content under conventional. Protein content tended to increase under organic production, while fiber and fat were overall higher in conventional, particularly in the first year. Sugars displayed strong cultivar specificity, with Arinto showing the highest concentrations (30 to 40%), and considering all cultivars, total phenolic content ranged between 4000 ando 9000 mg GAE/100 g, while antioxidant capacity varied among cultivars and years. Colorimetric parameters were essentially influenced by cultivar and harvest year rather than production system. The PCA revealed that PC1 (44.06%) represented a gradient associated with mineral and antioxidant composition, while PC2 (21.26%) reflected minor variation in color and sugars, and the hierarchical clustering distinguished Syrah and Alicante Bouschet as the cultivars most responsive to production system, whereas Aragonez and Arinto exhibited greater compositional stability across years. Overall, the findings indicate that both cultivar and management practices (organic and conventional) influence the compositional profile of grape pomace, with organic showing a tendency to enhance K, Mn, protein, and antioxidant parameters, whereas conventional practices favored higher levels of Ca, Cu, and fiber. The results provide valuable insights for the valorization of grape pomace and the development of sustainable viticultural strategies in Mediterranean environments
Correction: Uğurenver, A.; Khudhur, A.I.K. Zone-Based Simplification of Fuzzy Logic Controllers for Switched Reluctance Motor Drives. Electronics 2025, 14, 4248
No full textThe authors would like to make the following correction to their published paper [...
A Circular Bioeconomy Framework for Biodegradable Waste: Strategies and Opportunities
No full textBiodegradable waste is commonly treated as a problem to be managed, but it can be a valuable resource when considered within a circular bioeconomy perspective. This article develops a practical and systems-based frame work for integrating biodegradable waste, ranging from municipal food scraps to wastewater biosolids, into valuable resources. It explores real-world strategies for transforming waste into value-added products, including composting, anaerobic digestion, biochemical conversion, and the creation of bio-based materials. The review also highlights key drivers and barriers, including technical, regulatory, and social factors, which shape the feasibility and impact of circular solutions. A visual model illustrates the full cycle, from identifying waste streams to reintegrating recovered resources. The paper also highlights case studies from Toronto, Milan and Brazil as examples of successful implementation. Overall, this paper emphasizes a pragmatic yet regenerative shift toward organic resource recovery aligned with sustainability and decarbonization goals
A Robust Recursive State Estimation Method for Uncertain Linear Discrete-Time Systems
No full textThis study presents a robust estimation approach for linear discrete-time systems subject to parametric uncertainties. To address model mismatch, the proposed method enhances the MHE framework, thereby improving estimation accuracy. Based on this framework, the estimator is derived by minimizing the expected estimation error. A detailed derivation is provided, along with a novel recursive formulation for the pseudo-covariance of the estimation error. The resulting estimator maintains structural similarity to the Kalman filter and supports recursive implementation. Theoretical analysis establishes convergence to a stable system, with guaranteed boundedness and asymptotic unbiasedness of the estimation error. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed strategy maintains high effectiveness and robustness under different uncertain conditions