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The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024The volume of produced water, a by-product of oil & gas operations and other energy processes, has been growing across the United States (U.S.) along with the need to...
The volume of produced water, a by-product of oil & gas operations and other energy processes, has been growing across the United States (U.S.) along with the need to manage or recycle this wastewater. Produced water contains many naturally occurring elements of varying concentrations, including critical minerals which are essential to the clean energy transition. However, the current understanding of critical mineral concentrations in produced water and the associated volumes across the U.S. is limited. This study has assessed available databases and literature to gain insight into the presence and concentration of five high priority critical minerals, namely cobalt, lithium, magnesium, manganese, and nickel. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Produced Waters Geochemical Database was the main data source used for determining average critical mineral concentrations in produced water from the major oil and gas reservoirs in the U.S. The volumes of produced water for these major reservoirs were coupled with these concentrations to provide insights into where critical minerals are likely to have high abundance and therefore more recovery options. The analysis indicated the highest recovery potential for lithium and magnesium from produced water in the Permian basin and the Marcellus shale region. However, these assessments should be considered conservative due to the limited availability of reliable concentration data. It is expected more critical mineral recovery options could emerge with comprehensive characterization data from more recent and representative sources of produced water.
PubMed: 38641103
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172573 -
Journal of Food Science Jun 2024In this research, parboiling was carried out at different times (5 and 15 min) on germinated paddy rice (GPR) from various basmati and non-basmati varieties. The...
Effect of parboiling treatment times on the physicochemical, cooking, textural, and pasting properties and amino acid, phenolic, and sugar profiles of germinated paddy rice from different rice varieties.
In this research, parboiling was carried out at different times (5 and 15 min) on germinated paddy rice (GPR) from various basmati and non-basmati varieties. The results showed that as the parboiling time increased from 5 to 15 min, E, ash content, total dietary fiber, mineral content, cooking time, and textural properties increased while L*, lipid content, total starch, gruel solid loss, water absorption, oil absorption, foaming capacity, sugar profile, and total phenolic and flavonoid content decreased as compared to GPR. All pasting properties of GPR increased except breakdown as the parboiling time increased from 5 to 15 min. Parboiling altered the properties of GPR due to starch gelatinization. Total essential amino acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid decreased as the parboiling time (5 to 15 min) increased. The germinated parboiled brown rice could create a highly nutritious alternative to regular brown rice as it offers improved texture and cooking qualities.
Topics: Oryza; Cooking; Amino Acids; Germination; Phenols; Sugars; Dietary Fiber; Starch; Time Factors
PubMed: 38638063
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17048 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2024This research combines petrography and seismic analysis to assess the Upper Cretaceous Abu Roash (AR)/D's carbonate member composition in the Southwest Abu-Sennan oil...
This research combines petrography and seismic analysis to assess the Upper Cretaceous Abu Roash (AR)/D's carbonate member composition in the Southwest Abu-Sennan oil field in the Southern Abu Gharadig Basin within the Northern Western Desert of Egypt. Various datasets were used, including petrographic thin sections, and electrical well logs for four stratigraphic wells (01, -02, -03, and, -04), along with a time domain seismic dataset covering the study area. Petrographic analysis across multiple depths and intervals has provided valuable insights. Well-01 demonstrates mud-wackstone with diverse mineral components at 1671-74 m MD, indicating favorable reservoir quality. Well-02 exhibits diverse compositions at intervals 1740-43 m MD and 1746-49 m MD, also showcasing good reservoir quality. Well-03 reveals a packstone rock type at 1662-65 m MD with favorable reservoir characteristics. Well-04 displays peloids Wack-Packstone and Oolitic Packstone at intervals 1764-67 m MD and 1770-73 m MD, respectively, both indicating good reservoir quality. Integrating the petrography and seismic attributes results concerning the structural level of AR/D concerning the used wells, it's evident that Well-03 stands out due to its relatively high structural level, drilled near a major fault, revealing distinct fracture sets that contribute to a notably high reservoir quality as depicted in the RMS amplitude and Ant track attributes maps. AR/D reservoir levels in wells 02, and, 04, are relatively positioned at structurally lower levels, and face challenges with overburden pressure and mechanical compaction, resulting in diminished facies quality for the reservoir. Seismic attributes like the Ant track and RMS amplitude indicated that the presence of fractures within the AR/D Member's carbonate is linked to the prevalence of interpreted normal faults. The implemented procedure in this research can be applied to enhance comprehension of AR/D carbonate reservoirs in adjacent regions, thereby increasing the hydrocarbon exploration possibilities.
PubMed: 38637582
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58846-6 -
Fertility and Sterility Apr 2024To study the development and clinical validation of the ART Pipetting Robot for the IVF Laboratory (APRIL), a liquid-handling robot customized for the precise...
OBJECTIVE
To study the development and clinical validation of the ART Pipetting Robot for the IVF Laboratory (APRIL), a liquid-handling robot customized for the precise preparation of microdroplet culture dishes in the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
DESIGN
A prospective randomized study conducted at an academic IVF center comparing mouse and human embryo outcomes and quantitative measures of accuracy in embryo dishes prepared using APRIL compared with standard manual preparation.
SETTING
Academic IVF center.
SUBJECTS
The study involved the assessment of the automated culture dish preparation system, APRIL, compared with manual preparation methods in the context of IVF treatment.
INTERVENTION
ART Pipetting Robot for the IVF Laboratory is an enclosed liquid-handling robot equipped with custom three-dimensional-printed adapters and designed to dispense embryo culture media and mineral oil into microdroplet culture dishes.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The study evaluated the precision and consistency of APRIL in culture dish preparation by looking at droplet mass, pH of prepared media droplets, and mouse and human embryo development rates. Clinical implementation was assessed by comparing embryo development and outcomes in dishes prepared by APRIL and human embryologists.
RESULTS
Compared with embryo culture dishes prepared using standard manual procedures, embryo culture dishes prepared using APRIL demonstrated a greater than 10-fold improvement in consistency (coefficient of variation, 0.46% vs. 6%-7%), maintained optimal pH levels (pH range, 7.281-7.33 vs. 7.275-7.311), and had a greater mouse embryo blastocyst rate (100% vs. 90%-91%). Human embryos cultured in dishes prepared by APRIL had a higher rate of development on days 3 (92.4% vs. 82.6%) and 5 (19.75% vs. 15.57%), and a total number of usable embryos (50.3% vs. 46.1%) compared with manually prepared dishes, although the last two outcomes did not reach statistical significance.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that the use of an automated robotic system for preparation of embryo culture dishes may improve accuracy and outcome measures while reducing the need for trained laboratory personnel to prepare the dishes manually.
PubMed: 38631505
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.04.016 -
Food Science & Nutrition Apr 2024To investigate the potential functional properties and added value of okra seed oil and provide a scientific basis for further industrial development and production of...
To investigate the potential functional properties and added value of okra seed oil and provide a scientific basis for further industrial development and production of okra seed oil, its fatty acid profile, total phenolic, fat-soluble vitamin composition, mineral element composition, and antioxidant activities were examined in this study. Also, correlations between bioactive components and the antioxidant activities of okra seed oil were explored. The study results show that okra seed oil contains 12 types of fatty acids, 65.22% of which are unsaturated acids, and among these unsaturated acids, linoleic acid (43%) and oleic acid (20.16%) are two dominant acid types. Compared with walnut oil and peanut oil, okra seed oil contains relatively high total phenols, fat-soluble vitamins, and a variety of essential mineral nutrients, with a total phenolic content (TPC) of 959.65 μg/mL, a total tocopherol content of 742.71 μg/mL, a vitamin A content of 0.0017 μg/100 mL, a vitamin D content of 1.44 μg/100 mL, and a vitamin K content of 52.54 ng/100 mg. Also, okra seed oil exhibits better scavenging activities on hydroxyl (IC = 0.50 mg/mL) and ammonium salt (ABTS) free radicals (IC = 6.46 mg/mL) and certain reducing power (IC = 17.22 mg/mL) at the same concentration. The scavenging activities of okra seed oil on hydroxyl radicals and ABTS radicals, as well as its reducing power, are significantly correlated with its contents of total phenol, total tocopherol, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol ( < .01). These results show that okra seed oil is rich in bioactive substances, thus presenting great nutritional potential.
PubMed: 38628218
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3924 -
La Radiologia Medica Jun 2024To develop a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phantom for producing F-score (for fat) and W-score (for water) and to evaluate the performance of these scores in...
OBJECTIVE
To develop a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phantom for producing F-score (for fat) and W-score (for water) and to evaluate the performance of these scores in assessing osteoporosis and related vertebral fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
First, a real-time phantom consisting of oil and water tubes was manufactured. Then, 30 female volunteers (age: 62.3 ± 6.3 years) underwent lumbar spine examination with MRI (using a novel phantom) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), following ethical approval. MRI phantom-based F-score and W-score were defined by normalizing the vertebral signal intensities (SIs) by the oil and water SIs of the phantom on T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively. The diagnostic performances of the new scores for assessing osteoporosis and vertebral fractures were examined using receiver operating characteristic analysis and compared with DXA-measured areal bone mineral density (DXA-aBMD).
RESULTS
The F-score and W-score were greater in the osteoporotic patients (3.93 and 2.29) than the non-osteoporotic subjects (3.05 and 1.79) and achieved AUC values of 0.85 and 0.74 (p < 0.05), respectively, when detecting osteoporosis. Similarly, F-score and W-score had greater values for the fracture patients (3.94 and 2.53) than the non-fracture subjects (3.14 and 1.69) and produced better AUC values (0.90 for W-score and 0.79 for F-score) compared to DXA-aBMD (AUC: 0.27, p < 0.05). In addition, the F-score and W-score had a strong correlation (r = 0.77; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
A novel real-time lumber spine MRI phantom was developed, based upon which newly defined F-score and W-score were able to detect osteoporosis and demonstrated an improved ability over DXA-aBMD in differentiating patients with vertebral fractures.
Topics: Humans; Female; Phantoms, Imaging; Middle Aged; Absorptiometry, Photon; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Lumbar Vertebrae; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Spinal Fractures; Aged; Bone Density; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 38625420
DOI: 10.1007/s11547-024-01814-x -
Translational Animal Science 2024Two experiments evaluated carcass characteristics of finishing steers administered the maternal bovine appeasing substance () prior to slaughter. In Exp. 1, 954...
Two experiments evaluated carcass characteristics of finishing steers administered the maternal bovine appeasing substance () prior to slaughter. In Exp. 1, 954 Angus-influenced finishing steers housed in 6 original pens were used. Each original pen was split into a pair of experimental pens 14.3 d ± 3 d prior to slaughter, in a manner that number of steers and average pen body weight (; 636 ± 4 kg) were similar. An oiler containing mBAS (Ferappease Finish Cattle 5%; FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals; College Station, TX) was added to one of the experimental pens 7 d prior to slaughter ( = 6), whereas the other pen did not contain an oiler (; = 6). The oiler delivered 120 mL of mBAS/steer during a 7-d period. Steer BW was recorded 7 d prior to and during loading (final BW) to the packing plant. No treatment effects were detected (≥ 0.51) for BW gain, final BW, and proportion of carcasses that graded Choice or Prime. Carcass dressing percentage was greater (= 0.02) in mBAS compared with CON steers (65.9% vs. 64.2%; SEM = 0.5), which was not sufficient to impact hot carcass weight (; = 0.29). Incidence of dark-cutting carcasses did not differ between treatments (= 0.23). In Exp. 2, 80 Angus-influenced finishing steers housed in 16 pens (5 steers/pen; 600 ± 4 kg of BW) were used. Pens were arranged in 4 rows of 4 pens/row, and rows were alternately assigned to receive an oiler containing mBAS ( = 8) or mineral oil (; = 8) 7 d prior to slaughter. Oilers were designed to deliver 120 mL/steer of mBAS or mineral oil during the 7-d period. Steer BW was recorded as in Exp. 1, and a blood sample was collected during exsanguination. No treatment effects were detected (≥ 0.20) for BW parameters, carcass marbling score, backfat thickness, muscle area, yield grade, and proportion of carcasses that graded Choice or Prime. Carcass dressing was greater (= 0.02) in mBAS steers compared with CON + (60.6 vs. 59.6%; SEM = 0.3) but HCW did not differ (= 0.47) between treatments. Plasma cortisol concentration was less (< 0.01) in mBAS steers compared with CON + (11.7 vs. 20.8 ng/mL; SEM = 1.6). Incidence of dark-cutting carcasses did not differ (= 0.53) between treatments. In summary, mBAS administration to finishing cattle using oilers during the last 7 d on feed alleviated the adrenocortical stress response elicited by the process of slaughter, which likely resulted in increased carcass dressing.
PubMed: 38623564
DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae048 -
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo... Feb 2024This study aims to optimize the matrix formulation for the hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster of personalized traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations...
This study aims to optimize the matrix formulation for the hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster of personalized traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations and verify the applicability of the formulation. The central composite design in JMP Pro 16.1.0 was employed to optimize the dosages of styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer(SIS), hydrogenated petroleum resin, and lightweight liquid paraffin, with the fine powder of Yipifang as the model drug(drug loading of 10%) and the sensory score and objective evaluation as the comprehensive evaluation indicators. The quality evaluation system of hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster of personalized TCM preparations was established. The applicability of the optimized matrix formulation of hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster was verified with 16 TCM preparations for external application. Furthermore, the applicability of the matrix formulation was investigated with different drug loadings. The general molding matrix formulation was SIS∶hydrogenated petroleum resin∶lightweight liquid paraffin 3∶3∶5. The optimized matrix formulation showed good molding properties and high quality scores for 16 TCM preparations and were suitable for the plastering of finely powdered decoction pieces with a loading capacity of 10% to 30%. The results suggest that the optimized matrix formulation has good applicability and is suitable for TCM preparations. The findings lay a foundation for the application and promotion of the hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plasters of personalized TCM preparations.
Topics: Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Mineral Oil; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Polystyrenes; Petroleum
PubMed: 38621868
DOI: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20231121.302 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024To study thermal behaviour during spontaneous combustion of an open-pit coal mine, mixed slag (coal, oil shale, and coal gangue) was taken as the research object. Laser...
To study thermal behaviour during spontaneous combustion of an open-pit coal mine, mixed slag (coal, oil shale, and coal gangue) was taken as the research object. Laser thermal conductivity analyser and differential scanning calorimetry were used to test thermophysical parameters and heat release characteristics of the minerals. The parameters can be employed to calculate the apparent activation energy using the Arrhenius equation and evaluate the thermal behaviour of open-pit mixed slag. The results indicate that thermophysical parameters have stage characteristics. Thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of minerals, especially mixed slag, have a strong correlation with temperature. Heat flow of minerals exhibits five characteristic stages, and heat flow of the samples is consistent with the change in heating rate. During the heating process, thermal diffusivity and heat flow of the mixed slag are between those of a single mineral. Except for the mixed slag at 15 and 20 °C/min, the initial exothermic temperature of the other samples is mainly concentrated at 50-80 °C. Thermal energy release of the sample is mainly concentrated in the accelerated exothermic stage and rapid exothermic stage. Thermal energy release of mixed slag in rapid exothermic stage is always greater than that in accelerated exothermic stage, and the proportion of thermal energy release in these two stages exceeds 98 %. The apparent activation energy during the accelerated exothermic stage is lower, making it easier to release heat, and rapid exothermic stage is relatively high, which can readily lead to heat accumulation. Thermal analysis reveals that the thermal behaviour of mixed slag is significantly different from that of a single mineral. Its unique exothermic characteristics can provide a more accurate theoretical basis for the prevention and control of environmental pollution caused by slag spontaneous combustion.
PubMed: 38621544
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172477 -
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