Search Results (878)

To optimize the corrosion mitigation process in the annular space of oil and gas well pipelines, this study introduces a secondary acceleration pneumatic conveying device for particles within the confined spaces of offshore oil and gas wells. This approach addresses the limitations of traditional offshore hydraulic transportation, which can lead to corrosion failure of drug particles. The study investigates the motion mechanisms of drug particles within the pipeline and identifies the critical structural parameters that influence the smooth transport of these particles. A DEM-CFD coupled simulation methodology was employed to conduct single-factor experiments on the minimum air pressure and particle injection quantity required for stable transportation. The results demonstrate that at an air pressure of 0.25 MPa, no particle retention or accumulation occurs within the pipeline, thereby satisfying the engineering requirements. A Box–Behnken three-factor, three-level experimental design was used to perform response surface analysis on the pneumatic device. The findings reveal that the particle outlet velocity initially increases and then decreases with the air injection angle, while the outlet velocity progressively increases with the diameter of the conveying hole and the number of small holes. The maximum outlet velocity achieved is 8 m/s, with the optimal structural parameters identified as an air injection hole diameter of 2.96 mm, an air injection angle of 47°, and 24 small holes. The simulation model was calibrated and validated through fluidized bed experiments, and the simulation optimization was further confirmed via bench-scale particle transportation tests. This research provides a theoretical framework and engineering guidance for optimizing pneumatic particle transport in the confined spaces of offshore oil and gas wells. Full article

Changes in food consumption are closely related to food production, loss, and waste. Few studies focused on people’s adaptation to climate warming through changes in food consumption quantity. This study examined how climate warming in the current year and the preceding year affects the per capita consumption quantity of 14 food items, identifying both passive and active adaptations. The study employed a dynamic panel data regression model based on annual average daily temperatures from 1985 to 2022 in 30 provinces of China. We found that Chinese residents actively adapted to climate warming by increasing their consumption of pork, mutton, eggs, and beef while decreasing their intake of dairy products, aquatic products, vegetable oil, beans and tubers, and animal fats. They passively adapted to climate warming by increasing their consumption of dried and fresh fruits, aquatic products, vegetable oil, animal fats, poultry, and beans and tubers while decreasing their consumption of grains, pork, dairy products, and beef. Moreover, climate warming drove region and income specific dietary shifts through active and passive adaptations that raise pork eggs grains and oils while cutting beef poultry beans and tubers across South/North and rich/poor areas. These findings will help policymakers achieve the goal of sustainable food consumption by aligning climate, nutrition, and equity targets for resilient food-system transitions. Full article

The aging process is closely linked to cognitive decline, and numerous studies have demonstrated a decrease in both the quality and quantity of sleep in the general population. Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) is a plant rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and essential oils, which are responsible for its neuroprotective and antidepressant properties. Its positive effects on the sleep quality are probably, at least in part, attributable to the presence of rosmarinic acid, which modulates γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase activity. This review aimed to investigate the effects of M. officinalis on cognition and sleep quality in human clinical trials. For cognition, studies have shown that the plant improved cognitive performance and mood. In elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease, extracts standardized in rosmarinic acid stabilized cognitive functions and reduced neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation. Regarding sleep, a combination of lemon balm and valerian significantly improved sleep quality in postmenopausal women. Isolated lemon balm extracts also reduced sleep disorders in cardiac patients. When compared to citalopram, lemon balm enhanced the quality of life, including sleep quality. It is concluded that lemon balm has the potential to improve cognition and sleep quality; however, robust evidence is needed, as more rigorous trials are required. Full article

Composites in which finely dispersed particles of the metallic phase are uniformly distributed over the surface of expanded graphite can be used as magnetic sorbents for crude oil and petroleum products, as well as a basis for creating screens that protect against electromagnetic radiation. The literature describes various approaches to obtaining such materials, but from a technological point of view, the most promising is the method in which the formation of a metal-containing phase on the surface of expanded graphite is directly combined with its expansion. For this purpose, graphite intercalation compounds with chlorides of metals of the iron triad (GIC-MCl_x) were obtained: GIC-FeCl₃ of I-VII stages, GIC-CoCl₂ of I/II stage and GIC-NiCl₂ of II/III stage, which were treated with liquid NH₃ or CH₃NH₂ in order to obtain an occlusive complex, which, due to the presence of a large amount of bound RNH₂, would be capable of effective thermal expansion during heating in an inert atmosphere with the formation of low-density expanded graphite, and the presence of reducing properties in ammonia and methylamine would lead to the reduction of the metal from chloride. The structure of GIC-MCl_x and GIC-MCl_x treated by NH₃ and CH₃NH₂ was investigated by XRD analysis and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The composition of the metal-containing phase in expanded graphite/metal composite was determined by XRD analysis and its quantity by the gravimetric method. The distribution of metals particles is investigated by SEM, TEM and EDX methods. Expanded graphite/metal composites are characterized by the high saturation magnetization (up to ≈ 50 emu/g) at a bulk density of 4–6 g/L. Full article

Lubricants significantly influence the performance and durability of internal combustion engines (ICEs), yet fresh oils seldom represent in-service conditions. To replicate realistic end-of-life scenarios, lubricants were artificially degraded in sufficient quantities for experimental investigation. This study introduces a methodology to evaluate the impact of altered lubricants on turbocharger dynamics under controlled laboratory conditions. A comparative analysis was performed on turbochargers operating with fresh and aged oils of varying compositions to establish correlations between lubricant properties and vibrational response. Particular attention was given to sub-synchronous phenomena and their implications for rotordynamic stability. Variations in damping and stiffness were assessed under constant pressure and temperature to support mathematical modeling of lubricant degradation and viscosity evolution. Experiments were conducted on a cold turbocharger test bench equipped with acceleration, speed, and displacement sensors, while a mobile oil control unit ensured precise regulation of inlet oil pressure and temperature. Full article

Additively manufactured (AM) aluminum (Al) alloys are very useful in sectors like automotive, manufacturing, and aerospace because they have unique mechanical properties, such as their light weight, etc. AlSi10Mg made by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the most promising materials because it has a high strength-to-weight ratio, good thermal resistance, and good corrosion resistance. But machining AlSi10Mg parts is still hard because they have unique microstructural properties from the way they were produced. This research investigates the machining efficacy of the AM-AlSi10Mg alloy in distinct cutting conditions (dry, flood, chilled air, and minimal quantity lubrication with castor oil). The study assesses how different cooling conditions affect important performance metrics such as cutting temperature, surface roughness, and tool wear. Due to castor oil’s superior lubricating and film-forming properties, MQL (Minimal Quantity Lubrication) reduces heat generation between 80 °C and 98 °C for the distinct speed–feed combinations. The Multi-Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis (MOORA) approach is used to determine the ideal cooling and machining conditions (MQL, Vc of 90 m/min, and fr of 0.05 mm/rev). The relative closeness values derived from the MOORA approach were used to predict machining results using machine learning (ML) models (MLP, GPR, and RF). The MLP showed the strongest relationship between the measured and predicted values, with R values of 0.9995 in training and 0.9993 in testing. Full article

With the deepening of unconventional oil and gas resource development, the gas–liquid two-phase flow phenomenon in horizontal gas wells is becoming increasingly complex. Accurate and efficient prediction of the flow state has become key to optimizing production. While traditional numerical simulation methods are highly accurate, their long calculation times make them unsuitable for real-time applications. Conversely, purely data-driven methods struggle with accuracy under sparse data conditions. This paper proposes a deep operator network method (PI-DeepONet) that integrates physical prior knowledge—specifically the drift-flux model—to rapidly predict two-phase flow parameters. By jointly training the network with both data loss and physical loss, the model’s accuracy and generalization are significantly enhanced. Comparing the results with the OLGA numerical simulator verifies the model’s high performance. The average relative error of the PI-DeepONet on the test set is less than 1%, with the error of some physical quantities controlled within 0.2%. Critically, the single prediction time is less than 0.1 s, achieving a calculation speed nearly 50,000 times higher than the traditional numerical simulation method. The model significantly improves prediction speed while ensuring accuracy, making it ideal for real-time simulation and rapid response requirements in horizontal wells. This study provides a new path for intelligent diagnosis and prediction of underground working conditions and demonstrates broad engineering application potential. Full article

The Northern Tibetan Plateau Basin is the most extensive and least explored Mesozoic marine basin in China and shows considerable potential for oil and gas exploration. This study systematically analyzed the abundance, type, hydrocarbon generation potential, and conversion rate of organic matter within three Jurassic drill core samples from the Biloucuo area of the Northern Tibetan Plateau Basin. The total organic carbon (TOC) content of these Jurassic source rocks was >4%, on average, permitting their classification as excellent source rocks. The average contents of sapropelinite, exinite, vitrinite, and inertinite in kerogen were 74%, 4%, 18%, and 4%, respectively. The H/C and O/C ratios of the kerogen mainly ranged from 0.8 to 1.3 and 0.06 to 0.11, respectively, indicative of type II₁ kerogen. The average S₁ + S₂ content was 15.0 mg/g rock, indicating a high hydrocarbon generation potential. On the basis of the relationship between the quantity of soluble hydrocarbons remaining in the strata and the S₂ and TOC contents, it can be inferred that the hydrocarbon generation conversion rate of these Jurassic source rocks was between 25% and 50%, and partial hydrocarbon expulsion has taken place. It is estimated that the maximum oil generation potential of the formation will reach 20 kg/t rock at a greater depth, which equates to good exploration potential. Full article

Sulfate minerals (SMs), such as BaSO₄, SrSO₄, and CaSO₄, precipitate when incompatible solutions from the oil industry, such as seawater (SW) and high-salinity brine solutions (HSBSs), are mixed during the oil production process. To investigate the potentiality to extract SM by mixing three different brine solutions, such as HSBS-1, -2, and -3, with SW, at different temperatures and pressures, a practical simple model was used to predict the saturation index (SI), the quantity of precipitated minerals (Y), and the induction time (t_ind) required for precipitation. From the results, it was found that CaSO₄ hemihydrate and SrSO₄ yield lower amounts of precipitate. BaSO₄ precipitation ranges from 20 to 60 mg/L and 1500 mg/L of CaSO₄ anhydrous under ambient conditions. These findings suggest that recovering low-solubility minerals is technically feasible and environmentally preferable to direct disposal. Full article

This study investigates the diversity and provides a preliminary evaluation of the enzymatic potential of culturable fungi present in two-phase olive mill waste (TPOMW), a lignocellulose- and phenolic-rich agro-industrial by-product generated in large quantities in olive oil-producing countries. Ninety-four isolates, representing 31 species of the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota, were obtained and identified by using ITS, 28S, tef1-α, tub2, rpb2, act, and/or cal sequences. Among the identified taxa, two new Trichoderma species within the Harzianum clade, namely Trichoderma amurcicola (phylogenetically related to T. simile and T. guizhouense) and Trichoderma olivarum (phylogenetically related to T. simmonsii), were described following a multilocus phylogenetic analysis combined with a study of their morphoanatomical features. A rather high phylogenetic divergence was detected in Candida boidinii, Pleurostoma richardsiae, and Mucor circinelloides, while Cladosporium limoniforme, Mucor pseudolusitanicus, Stagonosporopsis ailanthicola, and Talaromyces nanjingensis were recorded for the first time in TPOMW. A preliminary screening revealed 29 species with cellulolytic and/or xylanolytic activities; 26 species displayed dye decolorization capacity, while ligninolytic and laccase activities were restricted to a few taxa. The most promising degraders of lignocellulosics included strains of Cladosporium limoniforme, C. ramotenellum, Fuscoporia ferrea, Peniophora lycii, and Pseudophlebia setulosa. Fungi detected in TPOMW are promising biotechnological tools to be exploited in the frame of circular economy applications. Full article

Dearth periods associated with less floral resources negatively impact Apis mellifera colony performance. Artificial diets offer nutritional supplements to sustain bee colonies under stressful conditions. An eight-week feeding trial was conducted using various artificial diets (eight diets, including a control diet), formulated with varying quantities of pulses, yeast, fenugreek powder, vegetable oil, dry apricot powder, and powdered sugar. Colony performance of bees subjected to different artificial diets was evaluated based on diet consumption, brood area, adult bee population, worker bee longevity, honey production, and enzymatic activity. Diet-7, which uniquely combined lupin, mung bean, and chickpea flours, proved the most efficacious and was the most consumed diet (84.29 ± 1.61 g), while diet-1 showed the lowest consumption (35.30 ± 1.08 g). Maximum brood area was recorded in colonies which were offered diet-7 (1385.95 ± 14.91 cm²), followed by diet-6, whereas the lowest was observed in the control (831.03 ± 18.95 cm²). The adult bee population was highest in diet-7 (21,594.50 ± 94.55 bees/hive), while lowest in the control (diet-0) (12,625.43 ± 385.06 bees/hive). Worker bee longevity was greatest in diet-7 (49.40 ± 0.41 days) and lowest in the control group (37.01 ± 0.39 days). Honey production was also highest in diet-7 (8.86 ± 0.21 kg), while lowest in the control (2.79 ± 0.35 kg). The results further showed that the enzymatic activities of bees were significantly improved due to diet-7, with the highest values for amylase (48.62 ± 0.23 U/mg), lipase (16.85 ± 0.20 U/mg), proteinase (25.21 ± 0.18 U/mg), and α-glucosidase (39.21 ± 0.21 U/mg). In conclusion, statistical analyses confirmed that diet-7 emerged as the most effective artificial diet, enhancing colony performance across all evaluated parameters. Future research should aim to optimize diet formulations and evaluate their effectiveness on colony health, including gut microbiome and immune function, across different seasons and ecological regions. Full article

Basic substances of plant or animal origin are permitted for use in the protection of organic crops. Experiments were performed under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions using emulsified sunflower oil solution at 10%, water onion extract (Allium cepa L.) at 25%, chitosan at 2%, two commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (US 05 and Coobra), and a low dose of copper (2 kg/ha) to inhibit the growth of Phytophthora infestans, to contribute to the extension of the vegetation period, and to maintain the photosynthetic capacity responsible for the quantity of yield. Potato varieties with different levels of resistance to the pathogen were planted, and preventive treatments were performed. In the greenhouse experiment, inoculation of potato plants with the pathogen was carried out. The aim of the study was to develop strategies for the combined or alternating use of basic substances and copper in order to delay the appearance of potato late blight symptoms and keep them below the level of economic damage. The main factor determining the effectiveness of the tested strategies was the yield. Protective treatments contributed to an increase in yield compared with untreated plants. Strategies combining copper with sunflower oil, onion extract, or chitosan reduced late blight symptoms; however, the final effect on plant health and yields depended on the susceptibility of the variety to the pathogen. Strategies based solely on basic substances were effective in protecting potato varieties that were less susceptible to P. infestans (e.g., Red Sonya, Lilly, Tajfun). For more-susceptible varieties (e.g., Vineta, Satina, Lord) copper pesticide must be included in the treatment strategy; however, copper can be applied either as the first four foliar sprays followed by two treatments with basic substances or, alternately, with them. Full article

Soybean oil has recently emerged as the most widely consumed genetically modified (GM) vegetable oil globally. DNA-based methods offer considerable advantages for monitoring GM-derived products; however, their efficacy strongly depends on the quality and quantity of extracted DNA. Owing to intensive processing, refined oils typically contain extremely low concentrations of severely fragmented DNA, making DNA extraction highly challenging. To address this issue, we introduce an innovative magnetic bead-based DNA extraction protocol specifically tailored to refined soybean oils. Optimal DNA adsorption was achieved using 300 nm carboxyl (-COOH)-modified magnetic beads under optimized conditions, including 1 M guanidine isothiocyanate (GITC) buffer at pH 6.0, combined with ethanol at a 1:1 ratio. Subsequently, we developed a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-magnetic bead method in which DNA was efficiently transferred from the oil phase to the aqueous phase, concentrated via precipitation, resuspended in GITC buffer, and finally purified using magnetic beads. Comparative evaluations using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR confirmed that this method significantly outperformed traditional CTAB-based methods (CTAB alone, CTAB-hexane) and two representative silica membrane-based extraction kits. Spike recovery experiments further demonstrated its superior efficacy, achieving a DNA recovery rate of 76.37%. The proposed protocol is simple, user-friendly, cost-effective, and highly efficient, markedly reducing reliance on large volumes of organic solvents (e.g., hexane and chloroform) and minimizing the required centrifugation steps. This novel method established an effective approach for DNA extraction from refined vegetable oils, facilitating the development of rapid and reliable GM detection. Full article

Fatty acids (FAs) are vital for human nutrition and are classified into three categories (saturated, unsaturated, and trans). FAs have different physiological effects and can contribute to health problems in different ways. By-products from the oil industry are rich in bioactive compounds. These make them useful for further utilization in food formulation. There is a quantity of residual oil in the oilcake. Analysis of the fatty acid composition shows that unsaturated fatty acids are predominant. The predominant fatty acids in oilcakes are arachidic (sunflower), oleic, elaidic (flax), linoleic (LA), and linolelaidic (hemp, rape, and sesame) acids. The favorable and ideal (within the regulatory recommendations) results for the n-6/n-3 ratios of 3:1 indicate the high nutritional profile with beneficial effects for the human body of the oilcakes. The hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic for all samples ranged from 4.52 to 116.06, while atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes ranged from 0.01 to 0.3. This is in line with the favorable values found in the literature benchmarks. Full article

This paper is a result of the search for design assumptions for a sensor to detect oil dispersed in the sea waters (oil-in-water emulsions). Our approach is based on analyzing changes in the underwater solar radiance (L) field caused by the presence of oil droplets in the water column. This method would enable the sensor to respond to the presence of oil contaminants dispersed in the surrounding environment, even if they are not located directly at the measurement point. This study draws on both literature sources and the results of current numerical modeling of the spread of solar light in the water column to account for both downward and upward irradiance (Es). The core principle of the analysis involves simulating the paths of a large number of virtual solar photons in a seawater model defined by spatially distributed Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs). The IOPs data were taken from the literature and pertain to the waters of the southern Baltic Sea. The optical properties of the oil used in the model correspond to crude oil extracted from the Baltic shelf. The obtained results were compared with previously published spectral analyses of an analogous polluted sea model, considering vertical downward radiance, vertical upward radiance, and downward and upward irradiance. It was found that the optimal wavelength ratio of 555/412, identified for these quantities, is also applicable to scalar irradiance. The findings indicate that the most effective way to determine this index is by measuring it using a sensor with its window oriented in the direction of upward-traveling light. Full article