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Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023(camphor tree) is an important non-conventional edible plant species found in East Asia. Here, a detailed characterization for the chemical composition and nutritional...
(camphor tree) is an important non-conventional edible plant species found in East Asia. Here, a detailed characterization for the chemical composition and nutritional value of seed kernels (CCSKs) collected from different regions in China is provided. The results showed that there were significant differences among the CCSK samples in weights (1000 fruits, 1000 seeds and 1000 kernels), proximate composition, minerals, phenolics, flavonoids and amino acid contents. The highest contents of oil (62.08%) and protein (22.17%) were found in the CCSK samples collected from Chongqing and Shanghai, respectively. The highest content of mineral in the CCSK samples was K (4345.05-7186.89 mg/kg), followed by P (2735.86-5385.36 mg/kg), Ca (1412.27-3327.37 mg/kg) and Mg (2028.65-3147.32 mg/kg). The CCSK sample collected from Guizhou had the highest levels of total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC), while that from Chongqing had the lowest levels. In addition, the most abundant fatty acid in the CCSK samples was capric acid (57.37-60.18%), followed by lauric acid (35.23-38.29%). Similarities in the fatty acid composition among the CCSK samples were found. The CCSK sample collected from Guizhou had the highest percentage (36.20%) of essential amino acids to total amino acids, and Chongqing had the lowest value (28.84%). These results indicated that CCSK may be developed as an excellent source of plant-based medium-chain oil, protein, dietary fiber, minerals, phytochemicals and essential amino acids.
PubMed: 37444368
DOI: 10.3390/foods12132630 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023The adsorption of asphaltene on the rock surface and the changes in its wettability are very relevant issues in flow assurance and oil recovery studies, and for...
The adsorption of asphaltene on the rock surface and the changes in its wettability are very relevant issues in flow assurance and oil recovery studies, and for carbonate reservoirs, they are even more important. During microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) processes, wettability alteration is considered a crucial mechanism leading to improved oil recovery. Therefore, it is essential to understand the mechanisms of surface wettability changes by bacteria and biosurfactants and find new and reliable methods to prevent asphaltene adsorption. Hence, the main aim of this research was to investigate the effect of a mixture of thiobacillus thiooxidans and thiobacillus ferooxidans microorganisms with an optimum effective temperature of around 30 °C (referred to as mesophilic bacteria), as well as a mixture of two moderate thermophiles Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans for operating temperatures around 50 °C (referred to as moderately thermophilic bacteria) on the adsorption of asphaltene samples isolated from two different crude oils onto main reservoir minerals (i.e., quartz and dolomite). The results indicated that after two weeks of mineral aging in moderate thermophilic bacteria, the adsorption of asphaltene on both minerals increased between 180 and 290%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis for quartz and dolomite samples demonstrated that after aging in bacterial solution, bonds related to the adsorption of bacterial cells and biosurfactant production appear, which are the main factors of change in wettability. Alteration in wettability towards hydrophilicity expands hydrogen bonds on the surface, thus improving asphaltene adsorption due to polar interaction. Asphaltene 1 changed the contact angle of dolomite from 53.85° to 90.51° and asphaltene 2 from 53.85° to 100.41°. However, both strains of bacteria caused a strong water-wetting effect on the dolomite rock samples. The influence of moderate thermophilic bacteria on surface wettability is more significant than that of mesophilic bacteria, which may be caused by the high protein content of these bacteria, which expands hydrogen bonding with the surface. Adsorption of asphaltenes on dolomite rocks previously aged with bacteria showed that the wetted rock samples retained their water-wet state. This study highlights the dual impact of the used microorganisms. On one hand, they significantly reduce contact angles and shift wettability towards a strongly water-wet condition, a crucial positive factor for MEOR. On the other hand, these microorganisms can elevate the adsorption of asphaltenes on reservoir rock minerals, posing a potential challenge in the form of formation damage, particularly in low-permeability reservoirs.
Topics: Wettability; Quartz; Adsorption; Oils; Bacteria; Water
PubMed: 38057408
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48680-7 -
ACS Omega Jun 2024Common B7 biodiesels consist of mixtures of mineral oil-based diesel and 7% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). While biocontent increase can be achieved with these blends...
Common B7 biodiesels consist of mixtures of mineral oil-based diesel and 7% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). While biocontent increase can be achieved with these blends at high-quality levels during cold temperature periods, fuel filter blocking events are reported from time to time. Based on a preliminary study on fuel filters, the selection of compounds responsible for filter blocking could be narrowed down to saturated monoglycerides (SMGs). The most abundant SMGs in Europe are 1- and 2-monopalmitin (1-C16:0, 2-C16:0) and 1-monostearin (C18:0), based on the FAME origin. Until now, there has been no simple, precise, and accurate method to quantitatively detect those SMGs in the B7 matrix, which was the aim of the following work. An improved gas chromatography electron ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the quantitative detection of 1-C16:0, 2-C16:0, C18:0, and C20:0 SMGs. During the method improvement, (a) the sample preparation and (b) the calibration were optimized for low concentrations. (c) The samples were analyzed by multiple reaction monitoring focusing on specific qualifier and quantifier ions with optimized collision energies, (d) time segments and improved scan time were implemented, and (e) limits of detection and limits of quantification were determined. The time-stability of SMG standards in CHCl with 4% neat biodiesel and the discrimination effects of the standard components were evaluated to assess method reliability. Overall, a highly sensitive and precise method for the improved detection of SMGs in biodiesel is presented.
PubMed: 38854581
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00513 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Cubeb, L., has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and culinary practices, with a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities.
INTRODUCTION
Cubeb, L., has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and culinary practices, with a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities.
OBJECTIVE
Herein, we determined the phytochemical profile, mineral, fatty acids, and amino acid contents of berries and assessed the dermacosmeceutical properties of their water extract and essential oil (EO). These included assessing their antioxidant and antibacterial activities as well as their inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and elastase enzymes. In addition, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were performed on the major identified compounds of the EO.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of forty-three compounds belonging to organic acids, phenolic acids and flavonoids were found in the water extract, while 36 volatile compounds were identified in the EO with Z-isoeugenol, dihydroeugenol, β-pinene, E-caryophyllene, and 1,8-cineole as major constituents. The berries were found to be rich in sodium and iron, have moderate zinc content along with low contents of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Amino acid analysis revealed a considerable concentration of isoleucine and phenylalanine, whereas 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid and linoleic acid were identified as the major fatty acids. In the DPPH and FRAP assays, the water extract elicited considerable antioxidant activity compared to the reference compounds. Enzyme inhibitory assays revealed that the EO had a potential to inhibit tyrosinase and elastase enzymes with IC values of 340.56 and 86.04 μg/mL, respectively. The water extract and EO completely inhibited the bacterial growth at MIC of 50 mg/mL and 20%, respectively. At sub-MIC concentrations, the extract and the EO substantially reduced the biofilm formation by up to 26.63 and 77.77%, respectively, as well as the swimming and swarming motilities in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics showed that the five main components of EO could be the major contributors to the elastase and tyrosinase inhibitory effect.
CONCLUSION
This study emphasizes the promising potential of as a valuable source of natural compounds that can be utilized for the development of innovative pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and dermacosmeceutical agents.
PubMed: 38835963
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1352548 -
PloS One 2024The micro-occurrence characterization of shale oil is a key geological issue that restricts the effective development of continental shale oil in China. In order to make...
The micro-occurrence characterization of shale oil is a key geological issue that restricts the effective development of continental shale oil in China. In order to make up for the lack of research in this area, this paper carries out a series of experiments on the shale oil of the Lucaogou Formation using a multi-step extraction method, with the aim of exploring the micro-occurrence types and mechanisms of shale oil in the Lucaogou Formation, as well as exploring its direct connection with production and development. In this paper, shale oil in the reservoir is divided into two categories: free oil and residual oil. The polar substances and OSN compounds are the key factors determining the occurrence state of shale oil. Abundant polar substances and OSN compounds can preferentially react with mineral surfaces (including coordination, complexation, ionic exchange, and so on) to form a stable adsorption layer, making it difficult to extract residual oil in actual exploitation. Free oil is mainly composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons, and its adsorption capacity is related to the length of the carbon chain, i.e. long carbon chain, strong adsorption capacity, and poor movability. Free oil is widely stored in pores and cracks, and that with high mobility can be the most easily extracted, making it the main target at present exploitation. In the current state of drilling and fracturing technology, research should prioritize understanding the adsorption and desorption mechanisms of crude oil, particularly residual oil. This will help optimize exploitation programs, such as carbon dioxide fracturing and displacement, to enhance shale oil production.
Topics: Oil and Gas Fields; Petroleum; Minerals; China; Adsorption
PubMed: 38315671
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297104 -
Biology Feb 2024Effective in a variety of insect orders, including dipteran, lepidopteran, and hemipteran, -based control tactics are investigated, noting the importance of sterile and... (Review)
Review
Effective in a variety of insect orders, including dipteran, lepidopteran, and hemipteran, -based control tactics are investigated, noting the importance of sterile and incompatible insect techniques. Encouraging approaches for controlling mosquitoes are necessary, as demonstrated by the evaluation of a new SIT/IIT combination and the incorporation of SIT into management. For example, may protect plants from rice pests, demonstrating its potential for agricultural biological vector management. Maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility dynamics are explored, while phenotypic impacts on mosquito and rice pest management are examined. The importance of host evolutionary distance is emphasised in recent scale insect research that addresses host-shifting. Using greater information, a suggested method for comprehending host variations in various contexts emphasises ecological connectivity. Endosymbionts passed on maternally in nematodes and arthropods, are widely distributed around the world and have evolved both mutualistic and parasitic traits. is positioned as a paradigm for microbial symbiosis due to advancements in multiomics, gene functional assays, and its effect on human health. The challenges and opportunities facing research include scale issues, ecological implications, ethical conundrums, and the possibility of customising strains through genetic engineering. It is thought that cooperative efforts are required to include -based therapies into pest management techniques while ensuring responsible and sustainable ways.
PubMed: 38534421
DOI: 10.3390/biology13030151 -
ACS Omega Mar 2024This study provides a detailed characterization and evaluation of Claytone-EM as a rheological additive to enhance the performance of oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs)...
This study provides a detailed characterization and evaluation of Claytone-EM as a rheological additive to enhance the performance of oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) under high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. It also offers a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of Claytone-EM with an existing organoclay, analyzing their mineral and chemical compositions, morphologies, and particle sizes. A series of experiments are performed to evaluate Claytone-EM's influence on crucial drilling mud properties, such as mud density, electrical stability, sagging tendency, rheology, viscoelastic properties, and filtration properties, to formulate a stable and high-performing OBDF. Results indicated that Claytone-EM had no significant impact on mud density but remarkably enhanced emulsion stability. Claytone-EM effectively mitigated sagging issues under both static and dynamic conditions, leading to improvements in the plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), apparent viscosity (AV), and YP/PV ratio. The PV, YP, AV, and YP/PV ratios were improved by 11, 85, 28, and 66% increments, respectively, compared with those of the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The addition of Claytone-EM resulted in enhancing gel strength and improving the filtration properties of the drilling fluid. The filtration volume was reduced by 2% from 5.0 to 4.9 cm, and the filter cake thickness had a 13% reduction from 2.60 to 2.26 mm. These findings highlight Claytone-EM as a valuable additive for enhancing OBDF performance, particularly under challenging HPHT conditions. Its ability to provide emulsion stability, reduce static and dynamic sag, and control filtration holds the potential to enhance drilling operations, minimize downtime, and bolster wellbore stability. This study acknowledges certain limitations, including its temperature range, which could benefit from exploration at extreme temperatures. Additionally, the absence of flow experiments limits a comprehensive understanding of sag effects, and further research and field-scale evaluations are recommended to validate and optimize the application of Claytone-EM in OBDFs.
PubMed: 38524495
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08967 -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Nov 2023Young's equation is fundamental to the concept of the wettability of a solid surface. It defines the contact angle for a droplet on a solid surface through a local...
Young's equation is fundamental to the concept of the wettability of a solid surface. It defines the contact angle for a droplet on a solid surface through a local equilibrium at the three-phase contact line. Recently, the concept of a liquid Young's law contact angle has been developed to describe the wettability of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) by droplets of an immiscible liquid. In this work, we present a new method to fabricate biphilic SLIP surfaces and show how the wettability of the composite SLIPS can be exploited with a macroscopic wedge-shaped pattern of two distinct lubricant liquids. In particular, we report the development of composite liquid surfaces on silicon substrates based on lithographically patterning a Teflon AF1600 coating and a superhydrophobic coating (Glaco Mirror Coat Zero), where the latter selectively dewets from the former. This creates a patterned base surface with preferential wetting to matched liquids: the fluoropolymer PTFE with a perfluorinated oil Krytox and the hydrophobic silica-based GLACO with olive oil (or other mineral oils or silicone oil). This allows us to successively imbibe our patterned solid substrates with two distinct oils and produce a composite liquid lubricant surface with the oils segregated as thin films into separate domains defined by the patterning. We illustrate that macroscopic wedge-shaped patterned SLIP surfaces enable low-friction droplet self-propulsion. Finally, we formulate an analytical model that captures the dependence of the droplet motion as a function of the wettability of the two liquid lubricant domains and the opening angle of the wedge. This allows us to derive scaling relationships between various physical and geometrical parameters. This work introduces a new approach to creating patterned liquid lubricant surfaces, demonstrates long-distance droplet self-propulsion on such surfaces, and sheds light on the interactions between liquid droplets and liquid surfaces.
PubMed: 37874819
DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02205 -
Horticulture Research Apr 2024The homoterpenes (3)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) and (,)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT) are the major herbivore-induced plant volatiles that...
The homoterpenes (3)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) and (,)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT) are the major herbivore-induced plant volatiles that help in defense directly by acting as repellants and indirectly by recruiting insects' natural enemies. In this study, DMNT and TMTT were confirmed to be emitted from citrus () leaves infested with Asian citrus psyllid ( Kuwayama; ACP), and two cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes ( and ) were newly identified and characterized. Understanding the functions of these genes in citrus defense will help plan strategies to manage huanglongbing caused by Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) and spread by ACP. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis showed that and were significantly upregulated in citrus leaves after ACP infestation. Yeast recombinant expression and enzyme assays indicated that CsCYP82L1 and CsCYP82L2 convert ()-nerolidol to DMNT and ()-geranyllinalool to TMTT. However, citrus calluses stably overexpressing generated only DMNT, whereas those overexpressing produced DMNT and TMTT. Furthermore, ACPs preferred wild-type lemon () over the -overexpressing line in dual-choice feeding assays and mineral oil over TMTT or DMNT in behavioral bioassays. Finally, yeast one-hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift, and dual luciferase assays demonstrated that CsERF017, an AP2/ERF transcription factor, directly bound to the CCGAC motif and activated . Moreover, the transient overexpression of in lemon leaves upregulated in the absence and presence of ACP infestation. These results provide novel insights into homoterpene biosynthesis in and demonstrate the effect of homoterpenes on ACP behavior, laying a foundation to genetically manipulate homoterpene biosynthesis for application in huanglongbing and ACP control.
PubMed: 38617747
DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae037 -
ACS Omega Oct 2023Oil shale deposits of the Late Cretaceous from three boreholes in central Jordan were examined to assess the impact of thermal maturation on the content of nannofossils....
Oil shale deposits of the Late Cretaceous from three boreholes in central Jordan were examined to assess the impact of thermal maturation on the content of nannofossils. Thermal activity has been shown to have a strong effect on organic matter content and composition but its effect on calcareous nannofossil assemblages remains inconclusive. This study aims to determine the impact of thermal maturation on nannofossil assemblages and to compare this to an estimated maturity level based on bulk geochemical analysis. Micropaleontological and geochemical analyses were conducted on 31 samples from three oil shale wells drilled in Attarat Um Ghudran central Jordan. Several types of nannofossil preservation have been recorded, including dissolution, overgrowth, and breakage. In the Jordan oil shale sections, nannofossils exhibit a variety of preservation types, with intense dissolution in the middle part of the study sections. The vast majority of the samples had high TOC enrichment, with 29 samples exceeding values of >10%. Kerogen recovery and quality from the oil shale are very good, with a predominance of fluorescent amorphous organic matter (AOM) and minor algal components. The low fluorescence preservation index (FPI), which is 1 in most of the samples, indicates that alteration occurred due to intense thermal activities in the study interval. The palynomorph and AOM fluorescence, ranging from a spore coloration index (SCI) of 3 to 5, suggest that the studied samples were approaching the oil window. A correlation between the nannofossil preservation and geochemical parameters shows a predominance of poorly preserved nannofossils along with high total organic carbon contents and an elevated hydrogen index (HI). We show that low FPI values and a higher level of maturity are associated with poor nannofossil preservation, suggesting that nannofossils, in conjunction with petrographic analysis of kerogen, could be used as a rapid screening technique for estimating levels of oil-shale maturity. The nature of the tectonism in the study area, including faulting and a metamorphosed zone, enhanced the maturity, which might explain why the nannofossils were so significantly affected.
PubMed: 37901541
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06033