Experimental study of the effects of a multistage pore-throat structure on the seepage characteristics of sandstones in the Beibuwan Basin:Insights into the flooding mode

To investigate the relationship between grain sizes, seepage capacity, and oil-displacement efficiency in the Liushagang Formation of the Beibuwan Basin, this study identifies the multistage pore-throat structure as a crucial factor through a comparison of oil displacement in microscopic pore-throat experiments. The two-phase flow evaluation method based on the Li-Horne model is utilized to effectively characterize and quantify the seepage characteristics of different reservoirs, closely relating them to the distribution of microscopic pores and throats. It is observed that conglomerate sandstones at different stages exhibit significant heterogeneity and noticeable differences in seepage capacity, highlighting the crucial role played by certain large pore throats in determining seepage capacity and oil displacement efficiency. Furthermore, it was found that the displacement effects of conglomeratic sandstones with strong heterogeneity were inferior to those of conventional homogeneous sandstone, as evidenced by multiple displacement experiments conducted on core samples with varying granularities and flooding systems. Subsequently, core-based experiments on associated gas flooding after water flooding were conducted to address the challenge of achieving satisfactory results in a single displacement mode for reservoirs with significant heterogeneity. The results indicate that the oil recovery rates for associated gas flooding after water flooding increased by 7.3%-16.4% compared with water flooding alone at a gas-oil ratio of approximately 7000 m^(3)/m^(3). Therefore, considering the advantages of gas flooding in terms of seepage capacity, oil exchange ratio, and the potential for two-phase production, gas flooding is recommended as an energy supplement mode for homogeneous reservoirs in the presence of sufficient gas source and appropriate tectonic angle. On the other hand, associated gas flooding after water flooding is suggested to achieve a more favorable development effect compared to a single mode of energy supplementation for strongly heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs.

Zimberelimab plus chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma(MPeM)is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis at advanced stage,and the standard first-line treatment for inoperable patients is chemotherapy.Although combining programmed cell death 1(PD-1)inhibitors with chemotherapy is generally considered safe and effective in several malignant solid tumors,there are few reports regarding initial immunochemotherapy in advanced MPeM.CASE SUMMARY Here,to our knowledge,we present the first case of a patient with epithelioid subtype MPeM,who was treatment-naïve and benefited from initial PD-1 inhibitor plus standard chemotherapy with a prolonged progression-free survival(PFS)and good tolerance.A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for a persistent burning sensation in the abdomen.Computed tomography revealed a solid mass in the lower abdomen,which was subsequently diagnosed histologically as epithelioid subtype MPeM by core needle biopsy.The patient received eight cycles of pemetrexed 800 mg(day 1),cisplatin 60/50 mg(day 1–2),and zimberelimab(PD-1 inhibitor)240 mg(day 1)every 3 wk.He achieved significant reduction of peritoneal tumors with remarkable improvement in symptoms.The best tumor response was partial remission with a final PFS of 7 mo.No immunerelated adverse event occurred during the combination treatment.CONCLUSION The outcome of the present case demonstrates the promising anti-tumor activity of immunochemotherapy to treat inoperable MPeM in the future.

Correlation between anti-fibrotic effect of baicalin and serum cytokines in rat hepatic fibrosis

AIM： To investigate the correlation between the antifibrotic effect of baicalin and serum cytokine production in rat hepatic fibrosis, METHODS： Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into four groups： normal control group, model group, baicalin-treated group, and colchicine-treated group. Except for the normal control group, all rats in the other groups were administered with carbon tetrachloride to induce hepatic fibrosis. At the same time, the last two groups were also treated with baicalin or colchicine. At the end of the 8 wk, all animals were sacrificed. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALl＇）, aspartate aminotransferase （AST）, transforming growth factor （TGF）-β1, tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α, interleukin （IL）-6 and IL-10 were measured. Liver index, hepatic hydroxyproline content and the degree of liver fibrosis were also evaluated. RESULTS： The levels of ALT, AST and liver index in the baicalin-treated group were markedly lower than those in the model group （ALT： 143.88 ± 14.55 U/L vs 193.58± 24.35 U/L; AST： 263.66 ± 44.23 U/L vs 404.37± 68.29 U/L; liver index： 0.033 ± 0.005 vs 0.049± 0.009, P 〈 0.01）. Baicalin therapy also significantly attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis, collagen area and collagen area percentage in liver tissue （P 〈 0.01）. Furthermore, the levels of serum TGF-β1, TNF-α and IL-6 were strikingly reduced in the baicalin-treated group compared with the model group, while the production of IL-10 was up-regulated： （TGF-β1：260.21 ± 31.01 pg/mL vs 375.49 ± 57.47 pg/mL; TNF-α： 193.40±15.18 pg/mL vs 260.04 ± 37.70 pg/mL; IL-α：339.87 ± 72.95 pg/mL vs 606.47 ± 130.73 pg/mL; IL-10：506.22 ± 112.07 pg/mL vs 316.95 ± 62.74 pg/mL, P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Baicalin shows certain therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis, probably by immunoregulating the imbalance between profibrotic and antifibrotic cytokines.

Effect of rolling reduction and annealing process on microstructure and corrosion behavior of LZ91 alloy sheet

The effect of rolling reduction and annealing process on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Mg-9Li-1Zn(LZ91) alloy was investigated. The test alloy sheets were cold rolled with the reduction of 50% and 75%, respectively, and then were annealed at 200 ℃ for 1 h. The microstructure of test alloys was observed by OM and SEM while the phase composition was determined by XRD. The corrosion property was evaluated by electrochemical measurements and immersion tests. The results show that LZ91 alloy sheet consists of α-Mg, β-Li and precipitated Mg-Li-Zn compounds(MgLi2Zn and MgLiZn phases). Dynamic recrystallization grains appear in β-Li phase during annealing process, leading to grain refinement. The results indicate that the increasing rolling reduction and performing the annealing process can enhance the corrosion resistance of LZ91 alloy. The 75% cold-rolled and annealed LZ91 alloy shows the best corrosion resistance.

Fine-grained Mg−1Mn−0.5Al−0.5Ca−0.5Zn alloy with high strength and good ductility fabricated by conventional extrusion

Mg−1Mn−0.5Al−0.5Ca−0.5Zn(wt.%)alloy was fabricated by conventional extrusion at 673 K with an extrusion ratio of 25:1,followed by aging at 473 K.The microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy,electron back-scattered diffraction,and transmission electron microscopy.The mechanical properties were determined by the tensile test.The peak-aged sample shows fine recrystallized grains with an average grain size of 1.7μm.Area fraction of Al−Ca particles in the alloy increases significantly after peak aging.Meanwhile,botháañandác+añdislocations were observed to remain in the alloy after hot extrusion.Thus,the peak-aged sample exhibits simultaneously high strength and good ductility with the ultimate tensile stress,tensile yield stress,and tension fracture elongation of 320 MPa,314 MPa,and 19.0%,respectively.

Stabilization of Short Wavelength Resistive Ballooning Modes by Ion-to-Electron Temperature and Gradient Ratios in Tokamak Edge Plasmas

We numerically investigate the effects of ion-to-electron temperature ratio T_i/T_e and temperature gradient ratioη_i/η_e on resistive ballooning inodes(RBMs)under tokamak edge plasma conditions.The results show that the growth rates of the RBMs exhibit the characteristic of a quite broad poloidal wavenumber spectrum in the cold ion limit.The growth rate spectrum becomes narrower and the peak of the spectrum shifts from the short to long wavelength side with increasing T_i/T_e andη_i/η_e.The electron temperature gradient has a very weak effect on the stability of RBMs.However,the ion-to-electron temperature ratio and the temperature gradient ratio have strong stabilizing effects on short-wavelength RBMs,while they have relatively weak effects on long-wavelength RBMs.

Effects of Welding Speed and Post-weld Hot Rolling on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir-Welded AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

The as-rolled AZ31 Mg alloy sheets are welded by friction stir welding（FSW） in this study, followed by annealing and hot rolling with different reductions. The effects of welding speed and the rolling reduction on the microstructure, tensile properties, microhardness and fracture surfaces of the specimens are investigated. The results show that the microstructures of the FSW joint in different regions become more and more consistent as the hot rolling reduction increases. The mechanical properties of the FSW joints and the joint coefficient are improved with increasing rolling reduction; however,the hardness value in the stirred zone decreases firstly and then increases. When the rolling reduction is 50%, the tensile strength of FSW joint is close to that of base metal. The sample L_3 achieves the best comprehensive properties, with the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation of 162, 287.9 MPa, and 17.9%, respectively.

Microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of Mg–9Li–3Al–1.6Y alloy

Mg–9Li–3Al–1.6Y alloys were prepared through mixture method. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of the as-cast and asextruded alloys were studied by optical microscopy（OM）,scanning electronic microscopy（SEM）, X-ray diffraction（XRD）, mechanical properties testing, and electrochemical measurement. The as-cast Mg–9Li–3Al–1.6Y alloy with the average grain size of 325 lm is composed of b-Li matrix, block a-Mg, and granule Al2Y phases. After extrusion, the grain size of the as-cast alloy is obviously refined and reaches to 75 lm; the strength and elongation of the extruded alloy are enhanced by 17.20 % and49.45 %, respectively, owing to their fine microstructure and reduction of casting defects. The as-extruded alloy shows better corrosion resistance compared to the as-cast one, which may be related to the low stored energy and dislocation density in the extruded alloy, also the homogenization treatment before extrusion.

Kinetics of magnesium preparation by vacuum-assisted carbothermic reduction method

Metallic magnesium was prepared by vacuumassisted carbothermic reduction method, and its morphologies were observed and analyzed. The reduction ratios of reactions were carried out under various vacuums, reaction temperatures, and time. Reaction kinetics of carbothermic reduction process was investigated. The results reveal that the morphologies of metallic magnesium sample that crystallized in the bottom and top sections of the condensation cap appear as the shape of feather with close-packing needle structure and the shape of schistose with metal luster,compactly clumpy structure, respectively. The reduction ratio of reaction process can be facilitated through reducing vacuum, increasing temperature, lengthening time, or their combinations and can reach up to 83.7 % under the condition of 10 Pa and 1573 K with 60 min reaction time. At1423-1573 K, the reaction rate constant k of carbothermic reduction of magnesia in vacuum gets greater with the increase of temperature. The reaction activity energy is190.28, 219.71 and 451.12-528.54 k J mol-1when the procedure of carbon gasification reaction, interfacial reaction, or gaseous diffusion is the reaction rate-determining step at 1423-1573 K, respectively. The gaseous diffusion procedure has the largest activity energy value and is,therefore, the main reaction rate-determining step.