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Resources Policy Oct 2023Since the 'shale revolution' of the late 2000s, unconventional oil and gas extraction (UOGE) has been hailed by many as a boon for local and regional economies, workers,...
Since the 'shale revolution' of the late 2000s, unconventional oil and gas extraction (UOGE) has been hailed by many as a boon for local and regional economies, workers, and property owners. While energy social science has documented many realities that counter this narrative - natural resource dependent economies, 'boom and bust' cycles of the energy industry, and 'resource curse'- there is less research examining economic impacts of UOGE for small-scale property owners. While some large-scale property owners lease their land, minerals, or water rights to oil and gas companies in exchange for royalties, other property owners are not able or do not wish to do so. Yet, nearby UOGE may negatively impact property values and thus threaten people's sense of economic stability. Several legal mechanisms - forced pooling, split estate, and rule of capture - significantly restrict the rights of many property owners while privileging other property rights. While property ownership represents a privileged status, it is the largest investment many Americans will make and is relied upon for retirement planning, financial stability, and transfer of generational wealth. Yet, despite the importance of property ownership, particularly home ownership, little is known about how proximity to oil and gas development impacts small-scale property owners. This paper analyzes how UOGE impacts property owners' sense of economic precarity. We conducted surveys of hundreds of affected households and interviews with 66 property owners in two Colorado towns that have experienced heavy UOGE. We find that the current regulatory regimes disempower small-scale property owners, create economic vulnerability, and ultimately privilege property rights of mineral owners and operators over others - creating uncompensated for small-scale property owners. We explore important implications, including the need for more responsive and community-based governance processes.
PubMed: 38883271
DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.104197 -
Chemosphere Jun 2024Biodiesel, a renewable diesel fuel that can be created from almost any natural fat or oil, is promoted as a greener and healthier alternative to commercial mineral...
BACKGROUND
Biodiesel, a renewable diesel fuel that can be created from almost any natural fat or oil, is promoted as a greener and healthier alternative to commercial mineral diesel without the supporting experimental data to back these claims. The aim of this research was to assess the health effects of acute exposure to two types of biodiesel exhaust, or mineral diesel exhaust or air as a control in mice. Male BALB/c mice were exposed for 2-hrs to diluted exhaust obtained from a diesel engine running on mineral diesel, Tallow biodiesel or Canola biodiesel. A room air exposure group was used as a control. Twenty-four hours after exposure, a variety of respiratory related end point measurements were assessed, including lung function, responsiveness to methacholine and airway and systemic immune responses.
RESULTS
Tallow biodiesel exhaust exposure resulted in the greatest number of significant effects compared to Air controls, including increased airway hyperresponsiveness (178.1 ± 31.3% increase from saline for Tallow biodiesel exhaust exposed mice compared to 155.8 ± 19.1 for Air control), increased airway inflammation (63463 ± 13497 cells/mL in the bronchoalveolar lavage of Tallow biodiesel exhaust exposed mice compared to 40561 ± 11800 for Air exposed controls) and indications of immune dysregulation. In contrast, exposure to Canola biodiesel exhaust resulted in fewer significant effects compared to Air controls with a slight increase in airway resistance at functional residual capacity and indications of immune dysregulation. Exposure to mineral diesel exhaust resulted in significant effects between that of the two biodiesels with increased airway hyperresponsiveness and indications of immune dysregulation.
CONCLUSION
These data show that a single, brief exposure to biodiesel exhaust can result in negative health impacts in a mouse model, and that the biological effects of exposure change depending on the feedstock used to make the biodiesel.
PubMed: 38880256
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142621 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different reheating methods and conditions on the proximate composition, mineral content, oil quality, and...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different reheating methods and conditions on the proximate composition, mineral content, oil quality, and functional and microbiological properties of cow meat. For this, a survey was carried out to identify the reheating methods used in the community. For this study, 8.6 kg of raw beef was used and group 1 (500 g) served as raw control. The remaining 8.1 kg was boiled for 30 min in 5 L of water. Four hundred grams of boiled beef was removed and served as cooked control (group 2). The remaining 3688 g was divided into four groups of 922 g, which were, respectively, divided into subgroups of 307 g. The four sets of subgroups were, respectively, reheated by boiling, frying, microwaving and oven roasting for 3 days. Reheating was done three times a day and samples were collected at the end of each day for further analysis. Changes in proximate composition, mineral content, oil quality, functional properties, and microbiological count were evaluated using standard methods. Results showed that frequent reheating of food was the most used preservation method of cooked food, and boiling and steaming were the most used methods. Reheating time significantly reduces the protein, mineral content, and oil quality of cow meat in general. For the functional properties, reheating methods/conditions generally increased the water-holding capacity, loose and packed bulk densities as well the pH of the meat. Reheating by frying increased the porosity and Hausner ratio of the meat powder while all the reheating treatments reduced the swelling capacity and titratable acidity of cow meat powder. Generally, the reheating methods and duration significantly reduced the bacterial count of cow meat powder. Cow meat should not be reheated for more than 2 days in order to preserve its physiochemical properties.
PubMed: 38873459
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4083 -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Jun 2024Nonpolar suspensions of organically modified particles exhibit a strong temperature sensitivity owing to the high-temperature-induced desorption/decomposition and the...
Nonpolar suspensions of organically modified particles exhibit a strong temperature sensitivity owing to the high-temperature-induced desorption/decomposition and the low-temperature-induced disorder/order conformational transition of the modifiers. This strong temperature sensitivity limits their applications, such as lubricants and oil-based drilling fluids, which require the suspensions to operate over a wide temperature range (e.g., 0-200 °C). We hypothesize that the introduction of a flexible ethylene oxide (EO) chain into the modifiers can disrupt the low-temperature-induced ordered conformation to improve the stability of the nonpolar suspensions. In this article, nonpolar suspensions with temperature insensitivity in the range of 5-160 °C were obtained via the covalent modification of silica NPs and the introduction of EO chains into the modifier molecules. Here, octadecyl-grafted silica NPs (C18-SiO) and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether-grafted silica NPs (AEO-SiO) were synthesized and subsequently dispersed in mineral oil. The rheological properties of each suspension at different temperatures were evaluated, and the thermal stability of AEO-SiO in mineral oil was investigated along with the conformational changes of the grafted chains. In the temperature range of 5-160 °C, the apparent viscosity and gel strength of the C18-SiO suspension changed dramatically, whereas the AEO-SiO suspensions exhibited constant rheological properties over this temperature range. This temperature insensitivity of AEO-SiO suspensions is attributed to the excellent thermal stability of AEO-SiO in mineral oil and the disordered conformation of the EO chains upon cooling. This study provides a novel approach to preparing temperature-insensitive nonpolar suspensions, which have potential applications in the petroleum and lubricant industries.
PubMed: 38867510
DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01270 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Organic-inorganic interactions regulate the dynamics of hydrocarbons, water, minerals, CO, and H in thermal rocks, yet their initiation remains debated. To address this,...
Organic-inorganic interactions regulate the dynamics of hydrocarbons, water, minerals, CO, and H in thermal rocks, yet their initiation remains debated. To address this, we conducted isotope-tagged and in-situ visual thermal experiments. Isotope-tagged studies revealed extensive H/O transfers in hydrous n-CH-HO-feldspar systems. Visual experiments observed water microdroplets forming at 150-165 °C in oil phases near the water-oil interface without surfactants, persisting until complete miscibility above 350 °C. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detected hydroxyl free radicals concurrent with microdroplet formation. Here we propose a two-fold mechanism: water-derived and n-CH-derived free radicals drive interactions with organic species, while water-derived and mineral-derived ions trigger mineral interactions. These processes, facilitated by microdroplets and bulk water, blur boundaries between organic and inorganic species, enabling extensive interactions and mass transfer. Our findings redefine microscopic interplays between organic and inorganic components, offering insights into diagenetic and hydrous-metamorphic processes, and mass transfer cycles in deep basins and subduction zones.
PubMed: 38862499
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49293-y -
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 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Multiphasic buffer systems have been of greatest interest in electrophoresis and liquid-liquid electrotransfer; this study extends that foundation by exploring the...
Multiphasic buffer systems have been of greatest interest in electrophoresis and liquid-liquid electrotransfer; this study extends that foundation by exploring the interplay of the geometric and viscous properties of an interleaving oil layer on the electrotransfer of a charged analyte from an aqueous solution into a hydrogel. We utilized finite element analysis to examine two complementary configurations: one being electrotransfer of a charged analyte (protein) in an aqueous phase into a surrounding hydrogel layer and another being electrotransfer of the protein from that originating aqueous phase - through an interleaving oil layer of predetermined viscosity and thickness - and into a surrounding hydrogel layer. Results indicate that the presence of an oil layer leads to increased skew of the injected peak. To explain this difference in injection dispersion, we utilize Probstein's framework and compare the Péclet (Pe) number with the ratio between length scales characteristic to the axial and radial dispersion, respectively. The formulation assigns electrotransfer conditions into six different dispersion regimes. We show that the presence or absence of an interleaving oil layer moves the observed peak dispersion into distinct electrotransfer regimes; the presence of an oil layer augments the electrophoretic mobility mismatch between the different phases, resulting in a five-fold increase in Pe and a six-fold increase in the ratio between the axial to radial dispersion characteristic lengths. We further show that oil viscosity significantly influences resultant injection dispersion. A decrease in oil-layer viscosity from 0.08 Pa·s to 0.02 Pa·s results in a >100% decrease in injection dispersion. Our theoretical predictions were experimentally validated by comparing the electrotransfer regimes of three different mineral oil samples. We show that lowering the oil viscosity to 0.0039 Pa·s results in an injection regime similar to that of the absence of an oil layer. Additionally, we measure the migration distance and show that average electromigration velocity over the transit duration is inversely proportional to the viscosity of an interleaving oil layer. Understanding of the impact of electrotransfer of charged species across multiple immiscible fluid layers on peak dispersion informs the design of multiphasic electrophoresis systems.
PubMed: 38853831
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596534 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Electrical discharge machining with solid electrodes represents an efficient solution to generate blind cavities with complex geometry. Vegetable oils represent an...
Electrical discharge machining with solid electrodes represents an efficient solution to generate blind cavities with complex geometry. Vegetable oils represent an alternative to conventional dielectrics, which are considered harmful for the environment and human health. This study tested the feasibility of two widely used vegetable oils, sunflower and soybean, under intense machining of three alloys with application in aeronautic industry, aiming for high process productivity and a good surface quality. The results have revealed that vegetable oils are capable to ensure an improvement of the material removal rates that can reach up to 55.15 % compared to mineral oil. Also, the vegetable dielectrics allowed an improvement of surface quality for non-ferrous alloys, up to a maximum of 19.70 %, whereas for the stainless steel, the mineral oil has provided a better surface finish.
PubMed: 38841480
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31772 -
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 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024The cast thin sections of tight oil reservoirs contain important parameters such as rock mineral composition and content, porosity, permeability and stratigraphic...
The cast thin sections of tight oil reservoirs contain important parameters such as rock mineral composition and content, porosity, permeability and stratigraphic characteristics, which are of great significance for reservoir evaluation. The use of deep learning technology for intelligent identification of thin section images is a development trend of mineral identification. However, the difficulty of making cast thin sections, the complexity of the making process and the high cost of thin section annotation have led to a lack of cast thin section images, which cannot meet the training requirements of deep learning image recognition models. In order to increase the sample size and improve the training effect of deep learning model, we proposed a generation and annotation method of thin section images of tight oil reservoir based on deep learning, by taking Fuyu reservoir in Sanzhao Sag as the target area. Firstly, the Augmentor strategy space was used to preliminarily augment the original images while preserving the original image features to meet the requirements of the model. Secondly, the category attention mechanism was added to the original StyleGAN network to avoid the influence of the uneven number of components in thin sections on the quality of the generated images. Then, the SALM annotation module was designed to achieve semi-automatic annotation of the generated images. Finally, experiments on image sharpness, distortion, standard accuracy and annotation efficiency were designed to verify the advantages of the method in image quality and annotation efficiency.
PubMed: 38834642
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63430-z