Dhahran Health Center

The rising demand for sustainable energy is driving attention in biomass as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. This review explores biomass composition, pretreatment methods, and main conversion technologies, including pyrolysis, gasification, and fermentation. Biochemical methods such as enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation enable bioethanol, biobutanol, and biogas production. Conversion efficiency depends on factors like feedstock properties, pretreatment methods, and reactor configurations. Thermochemical processes, particularly pyrolysis, effectively convert lignocellulosic biomass into bio-oil, syngas, and biochar. Product distribution is strongly dependent on operating parameters such as reactor type, temperature, heating rate, and biomass feedstock properties. Under optimized fast pyrolysis conditions at 450–600 °C and rapid heating with short vapor residence time, typical yields include 60–75 wt% bio-oil, 10–20 wt% biochar, and 10–25 wt% syngas. Emerging techniques, such as microwave-assisted pyrolysis, have shown promise in improving fuel quality and reducing process residues. Overall, biomass conversion technologies represent a viable pathway toward sustainable energy production, offering significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil resources.

The motion of ferrofluid droplet on hydrophobic surface has attracted significant research interests due to its potential applications in biomedicine, sensor technologies, and oil–water separation processes. This study investigates ferrofluid droplet impact on a hydrophobic surface and analyzes how ferromagnetic particles in the droplet affect the interaction characteristics of droplet in terms of spreading, retraction, and the formation of secondary droplets during rebound cycles. The results reveal that introducing a magnetic field reduces the droplet spreading factor by approximately 20%. Additionally, increasing ferro particles concentrations to 0.05% (wt%) gives rise to a significant reduction in the spreading factor. The effect on the droplet rebound height is also noteworthy: for a lower particle concentration (0.005%, wt%), the restitution coefficient decreases by 15.5%. However, at high weight concentration (0.05%), this decrease is as much as 69%, which indicates a strong dependency on particle concentration. The analysis shows that the force generated under magnetic field, which is around 2.28 × 10−5 N, is substantially greater than the capillary force, which is ~ 2.69 × 10−6 N, leading to the attachment of droplets at magnet when the spacing from the magnet to droplet becomes small. During the rebound, the droplet experiences momentum dissipation, which results in the break-off of smaller “newborn” droplets. This phenomenon is primarily governed by the interfacial force (∼ 1.47 × 10−4 N) due to the particles and the surrounding liquid that is larger than the magnetic force itself. The newborn droplets tend to have a higher concentration of particles and are prone to sticking on the magnet.

The fast-changing nature of sustainable mobility and the exponential growth of electric vehicles (EVs) have now placed battery supply chains (SCs) at the forefront of environmental concern. This review article examines 84 peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2025, highlighting that 78% of the studies were published from 2020 to 2025, reflecting the rapid acceleration of EV battery sustainability research in recent years. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, the review has identified significant environmental hotspots and trade-off issues across six phases of the battery SC, as well as inconsistencies regarding methodology, such as functional units of measurement, and missing data in relation to the Global South. Hotspots are most prominent in South America and Central Africa (extraction), China and South Korea (manufacturing) and Southeast Asia (end-of-life). New contributions include a comparison of the life cycle assessment approaches, using new data from 2023 to 2025, adding updated insights on policy evolution, improved recycling efficiencies and digital traceability technologies that enhance supply-chain transparency. Furthermore, this review highlights ignored areas, such as informal recycling of batteries and unfair regulations across borders, and it provides recommendations, which are relevant to policymakers, industry and academia, to improve transparency in the SC, better compliance with environmental, social and governance requirements and sustainability initiatives.

The fast-changing nature of sustainable mobility and the exponential growth of electric vehicles (EVs) have now placed battery supply chains (SCs) at the forefront of environmental concern. This review article examines 84 peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2025, highlighting that 78% of the studies were published from 2020 to 2025, reflecting the rapid acceleration of EV battery sustainability research in recent years. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, the review has identified significant environmental hotspots and trade-off issues across six phases of the battery SC, as well as inconsistencies regarding methodology, such as functional units of measurement, and missing data in relation to the Global South. Hotspots are most prominent in South America and Central Africa (extraction), China and South Korea (manufacturing) and Southeast Asia (end-of-life). New contributions include a comparison of the life cycle assessment approaches, using new data from 2023 to 2025, adding updated insights on policy evolution, improved recycling efficiencies and digital traceability technologies that enhance supply-chain transparency. Furthermore, this review highlights ignored areas, such as informal recycling of batteries and unfair regulations across borders, and it provides recommendations, which are relevant to policymakers, industry and academia, to improve transparency in the SC, better compliance with environmental, social and governance requirements and sustainability initiatives.

Abstract This comprehensive study presents a detailed lifecycle cost analysis and cost-benefit evaluation for implementing High Integrity Protection Systems (HIPS) in the Marjan Increment Program Package 6 (MIP-6) onshore oil facilities project. The analysis thoroughly compares the costs of HIPS with alternative solutions, such as facilities upgrades and additional capacity, to determine the most cost-effective approach. The results unequivocally show that HIPS offers significant cost savings over a 20-year operating lifetime, making it a highly attractive option. The study demonstrates a strong business case for the adoption of HIPS in the MIP-6 project, highlighting its potential to enhance safety and reduce costs. HIPS provides an additional layer of protection against hazardous events while resulting in substantial cost savings, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the project. The implementation of HIPS is a viable and cost-effective solution for the project's safety strategy, and its adoption is expected to yield long-term benefits.

Abstract In extended open-hole sections, the industry's typical operational sequence to preserve wellbore cleaning is performing frequent wiper trips to remove ledges/tight sections (example of the frequency is every 2,000 ft drilled) or performing single wiper trip across the entire open-hole. To reduce the operational time and operational risks of tripping in/out of the extended drilled section, level-1 casing-while-drilling (CwD) is utilized to hard ream the casing string across the entire open-hole to section total depth. It also serves to optimize the casing design of different areas to interest by combining multiple trouble zones in one section. To ease running casing through the extended already drilled open-hole, single or several wiper trips are performed clear ledge/obstructions/tight holes if any. After reaching the previous casing, the drill string is run back through the drilled section, reaming through obstructions/tight holes. The drill string is pulled out again to surface. This operational sequence consumes about 2.5-3 days, in addition to the increasing risk of getting the string stuck. All these operational sequences are replaced by the utilization of the Level-1 CwD technology to hard ream the casing string. The operational days and associated extra cost are controlled and reduced. Main challenge in drilling through unconsolidated sand zones in shallow sections, and time-dependent unstable shale zones in deeper sections is inability to secure them without significant rig time delay. Loss circulation zones exist around these problematic zones. When severe to complete loss of circulation is experienced, the complexity of securing the problematic zones increases. The level-I casing-while-drilling (CwD) technology was utilized successfully to hard ream and permanently isolate the problematic zones without nonproductive time. CwD were successfully utilized to hard ream the casing strings to target depth to case-off the severely unstable zones experienced in the offsets. The additional NPT trips were eliminated completely. In addition, the 9-5/8-in casing string hard reaming was performed while incorporating a multistage differential valve (DV) and cemented in two stages. During the job execution, the reaming parameters are constantly monitored to not exceed casing strings limitations, especially the accumulated fatigue on the string as they are rotated. As a result, the troubles experienced in offset wells were successfully managed. Complexity in drilling wells is increasing. Therefore, introducing innovative solutions that enable reducing the number of extra trips, is essential to reducing NPT. The offset wells drilling troubles related to securing unstable formations were studies thoroughly. Level-I CwD technology was successfully utilized to eliminate those identified troubles without adding additional time-delaying trips. The unstable zones were secured in a record time compared to the offsets. The results were reaming the casing through extended open-hole sections until reaching the longest open-hole interval worldwide to be reamed with the 9-5/8-in casing allowing combining and isolating multiple trouble zones together.

The fast-changing nature of sustainable mobility and the exponential growth of electric vehicles (EVs) have now placed battery supply chains (SCs) at the forefront of environmental concern. This review article examines 84 peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2025, highlighting that 78% of the studies were published from 2020 to 2025, reflecting the rapid acceleration of EV battery sustainability research in recent years. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, the review has identified significant environmental hotspots and trade-off issues across six phases of the battery SC, as well as inconsistencies regarding methodology, such as functional units of measurement, and missing data in relation to the Global South. Hotspots are most prominent in South America and Central Africa (extraction), China and South Korea (manufacturing) and Southeast Asia (end-of-life). New contributions include a comparison of the life cycle assessment approaches, using new data from 2023 to 2025, adding updated insights on policy evolution, improved recycling efficiencies and digital traceability technologies that enhance supply-chain transparency. Furthermore, this review highlights ignored areas, such as informal recycling of batteries and unfair regulations across borders, and it provides recommendations, which are relevant to policymakers, industry and academia, to improve transparency in the SC, better compliance with environmental, social and governance requirements and sustainability initiatives.

The authors describe a case of a 4-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1 and a large, inoperable periorbital plexiform neurofibroma involving the right trigeminal nerve treated with selumetinib, highlighting significant tumor reduction, visual improvement, and lightening of café-au-lait macules. The patient showed significant clinical and radiological improvements within 8 months of selumetinib therapy. Tumor volume decreased by approximately 70% with marked proptosis resolution and extraocular motility restoration. The visual acuity of the affected eye improved from 20/100 to 20/40, and the intraocular pressure was stabilized without surgical intervention. Adverse effects were mild and included transient elevations in creatine phosphokinase levels and mild hair loss, with no dose adjustment required. This case highlights selumetinib as a potential first-line treatment for inoperable periorbital plexiform neurofibromas in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, achieving functional and visual improvements. Future studies should explore the long-term efficacy and safety of mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors in similar cases.

BackgroundEpithelial ingrowth is one of the relatively uncommon complications that can occur post-LASIK surgery. The incidence of epithelial ingrowth is about 1–2% in primary and microkeratome-assisted flap creation cases. The incidence is much lower in Femtosecond assisted flap cases. Multiple pre-operative and post-operative risk factors for epithelial ingrowth have been identified, including poor flap adherence and trauma.Case PresentationA 38-year-old male presented with a homogeneous whitish mass under a flap of a previous LASIK surgery. Initially, the lesion was managed with a flap-lifting and an excisional biopsy. After 5 months from primary intervention, the patient presented with recurrence and was managed with flap amputation and mitomycin C application. Post flap amputation, patient reached 20/25 CDVA with clear cornea and minimal haze.ConclusionIn this study, we present an unusual case of epithelial ingrowth post-LASIK refractive surgery presenting as a corneal cyst which was managed successfully with flap amputation. In this article we discuss the diagnostic process, treatment, and clinical implications