Hydrocarbon source rock assessment of the shale and coal bearing horizons of the Early Paleocene Hangu Formation in Kala-Chitta Range, Northwest Pakistan

The present study aims to investigate the origin, type, thermal maturity and hydrocarbon generation potential of organic matter and paleo-depositional environment of the Early Paleocene (Danian) Hangu Formation outcropped in the Kala-Chitta Range of Northwest Pakistan, Eastern Tethys. Organic-rich shale and coal intervals were utilized for geochemical analyses including TOC (total organic carbon) and Rock–Eval pyrolysis coupled with carbon (δ13Corg) and nitrogen (δ15Norg) stable isotopes. The organic geochemical results showed that the kerogen Type II (oil/gas prone) and Type III (gas prone) dominate the investigated rock units. The TOC (wt%) and S2 yield indicate that the rock unit quantifies sufficient organic matter (OM) to act as potential source rock. However, the thermal maturity Tmax°C marks the over maturation of the OM, which may be possibly linked with the effect attained from nearby tectonically active Himalayan Foreland Fold-and-Thrust Belt system and associated metamorphosed sequences. The organic geochemical analyses deciphered indigenous nature of the OM and resultant hydrocarbons. The δ13Corg and δ15Norg stable isotopic signatures illustrated enrichment of the OM from both marine and terrestrial sources accumulated into the Hangu Formation. The Paleo-depositional model established using organic geochemical and stable isotopic data for the formation supports its deposition in a shallow marine proximal inner shelf environment with prevalence of sub-oxic to anoxic conditions, a scenario that could enhance the OM preservation. Overall, the formation holds promising coal and shale intervals in terms of organic richness, but due to relatively over thermal maturation, it cannot act as an effective source rock for liquid hydrocarbon generation and only minor amount of dry gas can be expected. In implication, the results of this study suggest least prospects of liquid hydrocarbon generation potential within Hangu Formation at studied sections.

Effect of Thermomechanical Treatment of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu with Minor Amount of Sc and Zr on the Mechanical Properties

In this study, the mechanical and microstructural properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr cast alloy with 0.1% Sc under homogeneous, dissolution, and T6 and thermomechanical treatments with the aim of increasing the volume fraction of MgZn2. Al3(Sc,Zr) reinforcing precipitates were examined by hardness, microscopic examinations, tensile tests and software analysis. The results showed that, firstly, the hardness results are well proportional to the results of the tensile properties of alloys and, secondly, the strength of the alloy with thermomechanical treatments compared to T6 treatments increased from 492 MPa to 620 MPa and the elongation increased from 8% to 17% and was 100% upgraded. Microstructural and fracture cross section investigations showed that Al3(Sc,Zr) nanosize dispersoids were evenly distributed among MgZn2 dispersoids and the alloy fracture was of semi-ductile type and nanosize dispersoids less than 10 nm were observed at the end of the dimples in the fracture section. The volume fraction of nanosize dispersoids in the whole microstructure of thermomechanical treatment samples was also much higher than that of T6 heat treated samples, so that the percentage of Al3(Sc,Zr) precipitates arrived from less than 1% in T6 operation to 8.28% in the quench-controlled thermomechanical operation (with 50% deformation). The quality index (QI) in thermomechanical treatment samples is 19% higher than T6 samples, so that this index has increased from 641 in T6 operation to 760 in samples under thermomechanical treatment due to precipitate morphology, volume fraction of precipitates, their uniform distribution in the matrix, and nano sized precipitates in samples under thermomechanical treatment.

Improved up-and-down procedure for acute toxicity measurement with reliable LD50 verified by typical toxic alkaloids and modified Karber method

Background Up-and-down procedure (UDP) was recommended to replace traditional acute toxicity methods. However, it was limited due to the long experimental period (20–42 days). To improve UDP, an improved UDP method (iUDP) was developed by shortening observation time between sequence dosages. The aim of this study was to test the reliability of iUDP to provide a reliable method for the acute toxicity measurement of valuable or minor amount compounds. Methods Oral median lethal dose (LD50) of nicotine, sinomenine hydrochloride and berberine hydrochloride were measured both by iUDP and modified Karber method (mKM). Results LD50 of the three alkaloids measured by iUDP with 23 mice were 32.71 ± 7.46, 453.54 ± 104.59, 2954.93 ± 794.88 mg/kg, respectively. LD50 of the three alkaloids measured by mKM with 240 mice were 22.99 ± 3.01, 456.56 ± 53.38, 2825.53 ± 1212.92 mg/kg, respectively. The average time consumed by the two methods were 22 days and 14 days respectively. Total grams of the alkaloids used by the two methods were 0.0082 and 0.0673 (nicotine), 0.114 and 1.24 (sinomenine hydrochloride), 1.9 and 12.7 (berberine hydrochloride). Conclusion iUDP could replace mKM to detect acute toxicity of substances with comparable and reliable result. And it is suitable for valuable or minor amount substances.

Brassinazole Resistant 1 Activity Is Organ-Specific and Genotype-Dependent in Barley Seedlings

Brassinosteroids (BRs) control many plant developmental processes by regulating different groups of transcription factors, and consequently gene expressions. The most known is BZR1, the main member of the BES1 family. However, to date, it is poorly characterized in crop species. The main goal of the presented study was to identify HvBZR1 and determine its activity in 5-day-old barley (the stage is related to one leaf on the main shoot and a few seminal roots) using two cultivars with different sensitivities to BRs. Using the anti-OsBZR1 antibody, we identified the forms of HvBZR1 transcription factor with different molecular weights, which can be related to different phosphorylated forms of serine/threonine residues. Two phosphorylated forms in the shoots and one dephosphorylated form in the roots were determined. A minor amount of the dephosphorylated form of the HvBZR1 in the Haruna Nijo shoots was also found. The phosphorylated forms gave a higher band intensity for Golden Promise than Haruna Nijo. The bands were similar in their intensity, when two different phosphorylated forms were compared in Golden Promise, while a reduced intensity was detected for the phosphorylated form with a lower molecular weight for Haruna Nijo. Degradation of the phosphorylated forms in the shoots (complete degradation in Golden Promise and significant but not complete in Haruna Nijo) and the presence of the dephosphorylated form in the roots were proven for the etiolated barley. In the case of Haruna Nijo, a wider range of the regulators of the BR biosynthesis and signaling pathways induced the expected effects, 24-EBL (0.001 µM) and bikinin (10 and 50 µM) caused low amount of the phosphorylated forms, and at the same time, a tiny band of dephosphorylated form was detected. However, the expression of genes related to the BR biosynthesis and signaling pathways was not a determinant for the protein amount.

Silica-Based Composites with Enhanced Rheological Properties Thanks to a Nanosized Graphite Functionalized with Serinol Pyrrole

Silica-based rubber composites have tremendous importance, as they allow the reduction in hysteresis in demanding dynamic-mechanical applications such as tire compounds and hence have a lower environmental impact. However, they also present drawbacks such as poor rheological behavior. In this work, an innovative silica-based hybrid filler system was developed, obtaining a rubber composite with an improved set of properties. A nanosized high surface area graphite (HSAG) was functionalized with 2-(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)propane-1,3-diol, serinol pyrrole (SP), through a simple process characterized by a high carbon efficiency. The HSAG-SP adduct, with about nine parts of SP per hundred parts of carbon filler, was used to form a hybrid filler system with silica. An elastomeric composite, with poly(styrene-co-butadiene) from anionic polymerization and poly(1,4-cis-isoprene) from Hevea brasiliensis was prepared with 50 parts of silica, which was replaced in a minor amount (15%) by either pristine HSAG or HSAG-SP. The best set of composite properties was obtained with HSAG-SP: the same dynamic rigidity and hysteresis and tensile properties of the silica-based material and appreciably better rheological properties, particularly in terms of flowability. This work paves the way for a new generation of silica-based composites, with improved properties, based on a hybrid filler system with a nanosized edge functionalized graphite.

Recommendations for Directing the Success of Roads Projects Management, Analysis of Triple Restriction

The present Project is developed in Ecuador, Morona Santiago Province as a response to prior research that determined the failure of projects execution is due to the poor management of restrictions set by the director project. This research constitutes a contribution to Scientific knowledge about Project Management, primary factors influencing the failure of projects and recommendations for the achievement of success on roads construction projects. In order to get the stablished objective in this study, it was necessary the analysis of the conditions on which roads projects were executed and completed over the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 by the Decentralized Autonomous Government of Morona Santiago on the modality of procurement, and it was also important to stablish the causes that contributed to a particular outcome on projects. The approach of the analysis is focused on the management of restrictions of costs, time, and scope (triple restriction) of projects in study. The technique that was used is the analysis of the content that was applied to contractual records of 81 hired projects by selection of minor amount, price, bid, reverse auction, and contingency plan according to the Ecuadorian legislation for public works procurement. For the record and further data analysis, the information was encoded identifying in contractual files the causes that directly or indirectly led to categories of costs management, time and scope of projects. The results achieved show the causes that contributed to the failure of projects and the state in which they were finished in terms of initially stablished costs, time and scope. The obtained information was the basis to come up with recommendations referring the good practices on projects management that will work people in charge of projects management of roads constructions in order to obtain success on future projects.

Bone Regeneration in Load-Bearing Segmental Defects, Guided by Biomorphic, Hierarchically Structured Apatitic Scaffold

The regeneration of load-bearing segmental bone defects remains a significant clinical problem in orthopedics, mainly due to the lack of scaffolds with composition and 3D porous structure effective in guiding and sustaining new bone formation and vascularization in large bone defects. In the present study, biomorphic calcium phosphate bone scaffolds (GreenBone™) featuring osteon-mimicking, hierarchically organized, 3D porous structure and lamellar nano-architecture were implanted in a critical cortical defect in sheep and compared with allograft. Two different types of scaffolds were tested: one made of ion-doped hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium-phosphate (GB-1) and other made of undoped hydroxyapatite only (GB-2). X-ray diffraction patterns of GB-1 and GB-2 confirmed that both scaffolds were made of hydroxyapatite, with a minor amount of β-TCP in GB-1. The chemical composition analysis, obtained by ICP-OES spectrometer, highlighted the carbonation extent and the presence of small amounts of Mg and Sr as doping ions in GB-1. SEM micrographs showed the channel-like wide open porosity of the biomorphic scaffolds and the typical architecture of internal channel walls, characterized by a cell structure mimicking the natural parenchyma of the rattan wood used as a template for the scaffold fabrication. Both GB-1 and GB-2 scaffolds show very similar porosity extent and 3D organization, as also revealed by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Comparing the two scaffolds, GB-1 showed slightly higher fracture strength, as well as improved stability at the stress plateau. In comparison to allograft, at the follow-up time of 6 months, both GB-1 and GB-2 scaffolds showed higher new bone formation and quality of regenerated bone (trabecular thickness, number, and separation). In addition, higher osteoid surface (OS/BS), osteoid thickness (OS.Th), osteoblast surface (Ob.S/BS), vessels/microvessels numbers, as well as substantial osteoclast-mediated implant resorption were observed. The highest values in OS.Th and Ob. S/BS parameters were found in GB-1 scaffold. Finally, Bone Mineralization Index of new bone within scaffolds, as determined by micro-indentation, showed a significantly higher microhardness for GB-1 scaffold in comparison to GB-2. These findings suggested that the biomorphic calcium phosphate scaffolds were able to promote regeneration of load-bearing segmental bone defects in a clinically relevant scenario, which still represents one of the greatest challenges in orthopedics nowadays.

Contrasting Genesis of Lateritic Bauxite on Granodioritic and Andesitic Rocks of Mempawah Area, West Kalimantan

The lateritic bauxite deposits in the Mempawah area, West Kalimantan, were formed by the chemical weathering of Cretaceous granodioritic and andesitic rocks. They occurred locally on the low hills surrounded by swampy areas. Detailed surface geological mapping, test pits, mineralogical and geochemical analyses were performed to determine the characteristics and genesis of bauxite from different parent rocks. From bottom upward, the deposits are composed of fresh parent rocks, clay or pallid zone, bauxite zone with a few sparse ferricrete at the top of the bauxite zone, and soil. Bauxite derived from granodiorite exhibits brownish-red, massive, boulder to gravel-sized concretion in clay matrix and is composed of predominant gibbsite with subordinate kaolinite, quartz, goethite, and a minor amount of magnetite and hematite. In contrast, bauxite derived from andesitic rocks exhibits reddish-brown and is composed of predominant goethite. During the leaching process, SiO2 as a mobile compound decreased significantly in neutral pH, while Al2O3 and Fe2O3 precipitated as residual materials to form bauxite concretion. The enrichment anomaly of bauxite derived from andesitic rocks is caused by physio-chemical changes from hydrothermal alteration. Bauxite was formed by indirect bauxitization through the leaching of primary minerals under a tropical-humid climate.

Effect of thermomechanical treatment of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu with minor amount Sc and Zr on the mechanical properties

In this study, mechanical and microstructural properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr cast alloy with 0.1% Sc under homogeneous, dissolution, and T6 and thermomechanical treatments with the aim of increasing the volume fraction of MgZn2 and Al3(Sc,Zr) reinforcing sediments were examined by hardness, microscopic examinations and tensile tests and software analysis. The results showed that firstly, the hardness results are well proportional to the results of tensile properties of alloys and secondly, the strength of the alloy with thermomechanical treatments compared to T6 treatments increased from 492 MPa to 620 MPa and the elongation increased from 8% to 17% and 100 % upgraded. Microstructural investigation and fracture cross section showed that Al3(Sc,Zr) nanoparticles were evenly distributed among MgZn2 particles and the alloy fracture was of semi-ductile type and in the fracture section nanoparticles less than 10 nm were observed at the end of the dimples. Also, the volume fraction of nanoparticles in the whole microstructure of thermomechanical treatment samples was much higher than that of T6 heat treated samples, so that the percentage of Al3(Sc,Zr) sediments from less than 1% in T6 operation to 8.28% in quench-controlled thermomechanical operation (with 50% deformation) has arrived. QI index in thermomechanical treatment samples is 19% higher than T6 samples, so that this index has increased from 641 in T6 operation to 760 in samples under thermomechanical treatment due to sediment morphology, volume fraction of sediments, their uniform distribution in the matrix, and nano sized sediments in samples under thermomechanical treatment.

Effect of Minor Amount of Sc on the Thermomechanical Treatment of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr Alloy

In this study, mechanical and microstructural properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr cast alloy with 0.1% Sc under homogeneous, dissolution, and T6 and thermomechanical treatments with the aim of increasing the volume fraction of MgZn2 and Al3(Sc,Zr) reinforcing sediments were examined by hardness, microscopic examinations and tensile tests and software analysis. The results showed that firstly, the hardness results are well proportional to the results of tensile properties of alloys and secondly, the strength of the alloy with thermomechanical treatments compared to T6 treatments increased from 492 MPa to 620 MPa and the elongation increased from 8% to 17% and 100 % upgraded. Microstructural investigation and fracture cross section showed that Al3(Sc,Zr) nanoparticles were evenly distributed among MgZn2 particles and the alloy fracture was of semi-ductile type and in the fracture section nanoparticles less than 10 nm were observed at the end of the dimples. Also, the volume fraction of nanoparticles in the whole microstructure of thermomechanical treatment samples was much higher than that of T6 heat treated samples, so that the percentage of Al3(Sc,Zr) sediments from less than 1% in T6 operation to 8.28% in quench-controlled thermomechanical operation (with 50% deformation) has arrived. QI index in thermomechanical treatment samples is 19% higher than T6 samples, so that this index has increased from 641 in T6 operation to 760 in samples under thermomechanical treatment due to sediment morphology, volume fraction of sediments, their uniform distribution in the matrix, and nano sized sediments in samples under thermomechanical treatment.