Carbon Dioxide Sequestration and Drainage in Saline Aquifer

Geological storage of CO2 in saline aquifers is recognized as a favorable technique that could deliver a significant decrease in CO2 emissions over the short to medium-term. However, the major risk is the possibility of leakage and injection limitation due to pore pressure. This research investigates the three major mechanisms of CO2 trapping to determine which method safely captures the most CO2, interrogates the pore pressure effect on storage, and compares traditional core flooding methods for CO2 storage with CO2 drainage which is more practical in the aquifer. A core flooding set up was built to replicate reservoir conditions of the Anadarko Basin in Texas, USA. The research involved three reservoir pay zone rocks obtained from depths of about 7687ft that were pieced together to undergo core flooding at 4400psi-5200psi and a temperature of 168°F. In the first study conducted the core was flooded with supercritical CO2 and brine of salinity 4000ppm to generate relative permeability curves to represent drainage and imbibition. For the duration of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th studies the core saturated with brine is flooded with CO2 at pressures of 4400psi, 4800psi, and 5200psi. Parameters like the volume of CO2 captured, connate water volumes, differential pressure, Ph of produced water, trapping efficiency, relative permeability, and fractional flow curves are noted. After scrutinizing the result it is observed that the highest volume of CO2 is captured by solubility trapping followed by structural trapping and residual trapping in that order. From this research, it can be concluded that CO2 trapping, at least for these reservoir rocks, is not affected by pore pressure. Also contrary to most practices CO2 storage is best replaced in the laboratory using drainage experiments instead of the widely used relative permeability approach.

Auditory exostosis in Australian warm water surfers: a cross-sectional study

Background Surfing is a popular sport in Australia, accounting for nearly 10% of the population. External auditory exostosis (EAE), also referred to as surfer’s ear, is recognized as a potentially serious complication of surfing. Cold water (water temperature below 19 °C) is a commonly cited risk factor, with prevalence of EAE in cold water surfers ranging from 61 to 80%. However, there is a paucity of studies reporting the prevalence of EAE in surfers exposed to water temperatures above 19 °C. With mean water temperature ranging from 19 °C to 28 °C, the Gold Coast region of Australia provides the ideal environment to assess the main goal of this study: to assess the prevalence and severity of EAE in warm water surfers. Methods Eligible participants were surfers living and surfing on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia). Currently active surfers over 18 years of age, surfing year-round, with a minimum of five consecutive years of surfing experience were recruited to participate. Included individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire and underwent bilateral otoscopy. Results A total of 85 surfers were included, with mean age 52.1 years (standard deviation [SD] ±12.6 years) and mean surfing experience of 35.5 years (SD ±14.7 years). Nearly two-thirds of participants (65.9%) had regular otological symptoms, most commonly water trapping (66%), hearing loss (48.2%), and cerumen impaction (35.7%). Less than one-fifth of the surfers (17.7%) reported regular use of protective equipment for EAE. The overall prevalence of exostosis was 71.8%, with most of the individuals having bilateral lesions (59%) and a mild grade (grade 1, 47.5%). There was insufficient evidence for any significant associations between the main outcomes (presence and severity of EAE) and factors related to age, surfing experience, winter exposure, surfing ability, symptoms, and use of protective equipment. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assessing EAE in surfers exposed to warm waters (above 19 °C). The prevalence of 71.8% highlights the high prevalence of the condition in the surfing population, regardless of water temperature. Future research should focus on ways to prevent EAE.

Auditory Exostosis in Australian Warm Water Surfers: a Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundSurfing is a popular sport in Australia, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the population. External auditory exostosis (EAE), also referred to as surfer’s ear, is recognized as a potentially serious complication of surfing. Cold water (water temperature below 19⁰C) is a commonly cited risk factor, with prevalence of EAE in cold water surfers ranging from 61 to 80 percent.However, there is a paucity of studies reporting the prevalence of EAE in surfers exposed to water temperatures above 19⁰C. With mean water temperature ranging from 19°C to 28°C, the Gold Coast region of Australia provides the ideal environment to assess the main goal of this study: to assess the prevalence and severity of EAE in warm water surfers.MethodsEligible participants were surfers living and surfing on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia). Currently active surfers over 18 years of age, surfing year-round, with a minimum of five consecutive years of surfing experience were recruited to participate. Included individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire and underwent bilateral otoscopy.ResultsA total of 85 surfers were included, with mean age 52.1 years (standard deviation [SD] ±12.6 years) and mean surfing experience of 35.5 years (SD ±14.7 years). Nearly two-thirds of participants (65.9%) had regular otological symptoms, most commonly water trapping (66%), hearing loss (48.2%), and cerumen impaction (35.7%). Less than one-fifth of the surfers (17.7%) reported regular use of protective equipment for EAE. The overall prevalence of exostosis was 71.8%, with most of the individuals having bilateral lesions (59%) and a mild grade (grade 1, 47.5%). There was insufficient evidence for any significant associations between the main outcomes (presence and severity of EAE) and factors related to age, surfing experience, winter exposure, surfing ability, symptoms, and use of protective equipment.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assessing EAE in surfers exposed to warm waters (above 19oC). The prevalence of 71.8% highlights the high prevalence of the condition in the surfing population, regardless of water temperature. Future research should focus on ways to prevent EAE.

MEDIA WEIGHTED JACKET DAN WEIGHTED BELT UNTUK KEKUATAN TUNGKAI ATLET POLO AIR : STUDI LITERATUR

Water polo is a full body contact sport. It is the combination of swimming, rugby, soccer, and basketball. The basic skills to be mastered in water polo are swimming, water trapping, and ball controlling using hands while floating in the water supported by egg-beater foot movement, where the leg endurance is the main point to perfect this technique. Athletes need leg endurance to float and swim during the game. This study is a literature review aimed at analyzing water polo athletes’ training using weighted jacket and weighted belt in water on their strength and leg endurance. The data were collected from research results published in national and international journals from 1991 to 2019. Therefore, the data were analyzed using content analysis. The review result revealed that the strategy to combine weighted jacket and weighted belt to train water polo athletes’ leg endurance was more effective. Weighted belts were worn around the athlete's waist, and heavy objects that were generally used for scuba diving were placed on belts. On the other hand, weighted jackets must be placed directly below the waist and the weight is suspended between the legs. The jacket with soft, durable, and waterproof material can be adjusted to the athlete's body size. The use of weighted jacket and weighted belt training media in water polo affected the strength and leg endurance of water polo athletes directly.

Contrasting effects of viscous and particulate fibers on colonic fermentation in vitro and in vivo, and their impact on intestinal water studied by MRI in a randomized trial

ABSTRACT Background Wheat bran, nopal, and psyllium are examples of particulate, viscous and particulate, and viscous fibers, respectively, with laxative properties yet contrasting fermentability. Objectives We assessed the fermentability of these fibers in vitro and their effects on intestinal function relevant to laxation in vivo using MRI. Methods Each fiber was predigested prior to measuring gas production in vitro during 48-h anaerobic incubation with healthy fecal samples. We performed a randomized, 3-way crossover trial in 14 healthy volunteers who ingested 7.5 g fiber twice on the day prior to study initiation and once with the study test meal. Serial MRI scans obtained after fasting and hourly for 4 h following meal ingestion were used to assess small bowel water content (SBWC), colonic volumes, and T1 of the ascending colon (T1AC) as measures of colonic water. Breath samples for hydrogen analysis were obtained while patients were in the fasted state and every 30 min for 4 h following meal ingestion Results In vitro, the onset of gas production was significantly delayed with psyllium (mean ± SD: 14 ± 5 h) compared with wheat bran (6 ± 2 h, P = 0.003) and was associated with a smaller total gas volume (P = 0.01). Prefeeding all 3 fibers for 24 h was associated with an increased fasting T1AC (>75% of values >90th centile of the normal range). There was a further rise during the 4 h after psyllium (0.3 ± 0.3 s P = 0.009), a fall with wheat bran (−0.2 ± 0.2 s; P = 0.02), but no change with nopal (0.0 ± 0.1 s, P = 0.2). SBWC increased for all fibers; nopal stimulated more water than wheat bran [AUC mean (95% CI) difference: 7.1 (0.6, 13.8) L/min, P = 0.03]. Breath hydrogen rose significantly after wheat bran and nopal but not after psyllium (P < 0.0001). Conclusion Both viscous and particulate fibers are equally effective at increasing colonic T1 over a period of 24 h. Mechanisms include water trapping in the small bowel by viscous fibers and delivery of substrates to the colonic microbiota by more fermentable particulate fiber. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03263065.

The Prevalence and Severity of External Auditory Exostosis in Young to Quadragenarian-Aged Warm-Water Surfers: A Preliminary Study

External auditory exostosis (EAE) has previously only been shown to occur in cold water surfers. We assessed young surfers living and surfing in Queensland, Australia, for EAE in water temp ranges from 20.6 °C (69.1 °F, Winter) to 28.2 °C (82.8 °F, Summer). All participants underwent a bilateral otoscopic examination to assess the presence and severity of EAE. A total of 23 surfers participated with a mean age of 35.4 years (8.3 years) and a mean surfing experience of 20.0 years (9.9 years). Nearly two-thirds of participants (n = 14, 60.9%) had regular otological symptoms, most commonly water trapping (n = 13, 56.5%), pain (n = 8, 34.8%), and hearing loss (n = 6, 26.1%). Only 8.7% (n = 2) of all surfers reported regular use of protective equipment (e.g., earplugs) on a regular basis. The overall prevalence of exostosis was 69.6% (n = 16), and the majority (n = 12, 80.0%) demonstrated bilateral lesions of a mild grade (<33% obstruction of the external auditory canal). This is the first study assessing EAE in young surfers exposed to only warm waters (above 20.6 °C). The prevalence of EAE in this study highlights that EAE is not restricted to cold water conditions, as previously believed. Warm water surfing enthusiasts should be screened on a regular basis by their general medical practitioner and utilize prevention strategies such as earplugs to minimize exposure to EAE development.

Australian surfers’ awareness of ‘surfer’s ear’

ObjectivesTo assess awareness of external auditory exostosis (EAE) among Australian surfers.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional observational study, assessing professional and recreational Australian surfers. Currently, active surfers over 18 years of age, surfing year-round, were eligible to participate. After initial screening, individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire. All included volunteers underwent bilateral otoscopic examination, to assess the presence and severity of EAE.ResultsA total of 113 surfers were included in the study and were divided into two groups, based on surfing status: 93 recreational surfers and 20 professional surfers. Recreational surfers were significantly older (p<0.005), more experienced (greater years surfing; p<0.005), with lower prevalence of otological symptoms (p<0.05). The most common symptoms were water trapping, impacted wax and hearing loss. Prevalence of EAE was high for both groups (95% in the professional surfers and 82.8% in the recreational surfers); however, recreational surfers had mild grade EAE (grade 1) as the most common presentation, as opposed to professionals who had severe grade EAE (grade 3) as the most common presentation (p<0.05 between groups). Awareness of the term ‘surfer’s ear’ was high for both groups, as was knowledge of prevention options. However, fewer considered the condition to be preventable, and an even lower number reported regular use of prevention methods.ConclusionAustralian surfers had a high level of awareness of EAE; however, few reported using prevention methods, despite having a high prevalence of the condition. Health practitioners should screen susceptible individuals in order to recommend appropriate preventive measures.