Hydrocarbon accumulation in deep ancient carbonate-evaporite assemblages

The Ediacaran–Ordovician strata within three major marine basins(Tarim,Sichuan,and Ordos)in China are analyzed.Based on previous studies focusing on the characteristics of the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian strata within the three major basins(East Siberian,Oman,and Officer in Australia)overseas,the carbonate–evaporite assemblages in the target interval are divided into three types:intercalated carbonate and gypsum salt,interbedded carbonate and gypsum salt,and coexisted carbonate,gypsum salt and clastic rock.Moreover,the concept and definition of the carbonate-evaporite assemblage are clarified.The results indicate that the oil and gas in the carbonate-evaporite assemblage are originated from two types of source rocks:shale and argillaceous carbonate,and confirmed the capability of gypsum salt in the saline environment to drive the source rock hydrocarbon generation.The dolomite reservoirs are classified in two types:gypseous dolomite flat,and grain shoal&microbial mound.This study clarifies that the penecontemporaneous or epigenic leaching of atmospheric fresh water mainly controlled the large-scale development of reservoirs.Afterwards,burial dissolution transformed and reworked the reservoirs.The hydrocarbon accumulation in carbonate-evaporite assemblage can be categorized into eight sub-models under three models(sub-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation,supra-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation,and inter-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation).As a result,the Cambrian strata in the Tazhong Uplift North Slope,Maigaiti Slope and Mazatag Front Uplift Zone of the Tarim Basin,the Cambrian strata in the eastern-southern area of the Sichuan Basin,and the inter-evaporite Ma-4 Member of Ordovician in the Ordos Basin,China,are defined as favorable targets for future exploration.

Hydrocarbon accumulation and orderly distribution of whole petroleum system in marine carbonate rocks of Sichuan Basin,SW China

Based on the situation and progress of marine oil/gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin,SW China,the whole petroleum system is divided for marine carbonate rocks of the basin according to the combinations of hydrocarbon accumulation elements,especially the source rock.The hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics of each whole petroleum system are analyzed,the patterns of integrated conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon accumulation are summarized,and the favorable exploration targets are proposed.Under the control of multiple extensional-convergent tectonic cycles,the marine carbonate rocks of the Sichuan Basin contain three sets of regional source rocks and three sets of regional cap rocks,and can be divided into the Cambrian,Silurian and Permian whole petroleum systems.These whole petroleum systems present mainly independent hydrocarbon accumulation,containing natural gas of affinity individually.Locally,large fault zones run through multiple whole petroleum systems,forming a fault-controlled complex whole petroleum system.The hydrocarbon accumulation sequence of continental shelf facies shale gas accumulation,marginal platform facies-controlled gas reservoirs,and intra-platform fault-and facies-controlled gas reservoirs is common in the whole petroleum system,with a stereoscopic accumulation and orderly distribution pattern.High-quality source rock is fundamental to the formation of large gas fields,and natural gas in a whole petroleum system is generally enriched near and within the source rocks.The development and maintenance of large-scale reservoirs are essential for natural gas enrichment,multiple sources,oil and gas transformation,and dynamic adjustment are the characteristics of marine petroleum accumulation,and good preservation conditions are critical to natural gas accumulation.Large-scale marginal-platform reef-bank facies zones,deep shale gas,and large-scale lithological complexes related to source-connected faults are future marine hydrocarbon exploration targets in the Sichuan Basin.

Quantitative prediction model for the depth limit of oil accumulation in the deep carbonate rocks:A case study of Lower Ordovician in Tazhong area of Tarim Basin

With continuous hydrocarbon exploration extending to deeper basins,the deepest industrial oil accumulation was discovered below 8,200 m,revealing a new exploration field.Hence,the extent to which oil exploration can be extended,and the prediction of the depth limit of oil accumulation(DLOA),are issues that have attracted significant attention in petroleum geology.Since it is difficult to characterize the evolution of the physical properties of the marine carbonate reservoir with burial depth,and the deepest drilling still cannot reach the DLOA.Hence,the DLOA cannot be predicted by directly establishing the relationship between the ratio of drilling to the dry layer and the depth.In this study,by establishing the relationships between the porosity and the depth and dry layer ratio of the carbonate reservoir,the relationships between the depth and dry layer ratio were obtained collectively.The depth corresponding to a dry layer ratio of 100%is the DLOA.Based on this,a quantitative prediction model for the DLOA was finally built.The results indicate that the porosity of the carbonate reservoir,Lower Ordovician in Tazhong area of Tarim Basin,tends to decrease with burial depth,and manifests as an overall low porosity reservoir in deep layer.The critical porosity of the DLOA was 1.8%,which is the critical geological condition corresponding to a 100%dry layer ratio encountered in the reservoir.The depth of the DLOA was 9,000 m.This study provides a new method for DLOA prediction that is beneficial for a deeper understanding of oil accumulation,and is of great importance for scientific guidance on deep oil drilling.

Regulation of different light conditions for efficient biomass production and protein accumulation of Spirulina platensis

Light plays an important role in the photosynthesis and metabolic process of microalgae.However,how different light conditions regulate the biomass production and protein accumulation of microalgae is mostly unknown.In this study,the influence of different light conditions,including light colors,densities,and light:dark cycles on the cell growth and biochemical composition of Spirulina platensis was symmetrically characterized.Under different colored lights,S.platensis all shows an increase trend within the increased light intensity ranges;however,each showing different optimal light intensities.At the same light intensity,different colored lights show different growth rate of S.platensis following the sequence of red>white>green>yellow>blue.The maximum growth rate and protein accumulation were determined as 21.88 and 5.10 mg/(L·d)when illuminated under red LED.The energy efficiency of different light sources was calculated and ranked as red>white>blue≈green>yellow.Transcriptomic analysis suggests that red light can promote cell growth and protein accumulation by upregulating genes related to photosynthesis,carbon fixation,and C-N metabolism pathways.This study provides a conducive and efficient way to promote biomass production and protein accumulation of S.platensis by regulating light conditions.

Organic Matter Accumulation in the Upper Permian Dalong Formation from the Lower Yangtze Region,South China

The Late Permian was marked by a series of important geological events and widespread organic-rich black shale depositions,acting as important unconventional hydrocarbon source rocks.However,the mechanism of organic matter(OM)enrichment throughout this period is still controversial.Based on geochemical data,the marine redox conditions,paleogeographic and hydrographic environment,primary productivity,volcanism,and terrigenous input during the Late Permian in the Lower Yangtze region have been studied from the Putaoling section,Chaohu,to provide new insights into OM accumulation.Five Phases are distinguished based on the TOC and environmental variations.In Phase I,anoxic conditions driven by water restriction enhanced OM preservation.In Phase II,euxinic and cycling hydrological environments were the two most substantial controlling factors for the massive OM deposition.During Phase III,intensified terrestrial input potentially diluted the OM in sediment and the presence of oxygen in bottom water weakened the preservation condition.Phase IV was characterized by a relatively higher abundance of mercury(Hg)and TOC(peak at 16.98 wt%),indicating that enhanced volcanism potentially stimulated higher productivity and a euxinic environment.In Phase V,extremely lean OM was preserved as a result of terrestrial dilutions and decreasing primary productivity.Phases I,II and IV are characterized as the most prominent OM-rich zones due to the effective interactions of the controlling factors,namely paleogeographic,hydrographic environment,volcanism,and redox conditions.

Antimony, Arsenic and Thallium Bioaccumulation in Asiatic Clam (Corbicula fluminea) Transplanted along the Manadas Creek, Laredo, Texas

Manadas Creek is an urban tributary of the Rio Grande that flows past a decommissioned antimony smelter and processing plant. This antimony plant is associated with heavy metal contamination in the creek and still poses a threat to the surrounding aquatic environment. Corbicula fluminea was used to determine bioaccumulation from the water column and sediments in Manadas Creek. The metals arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and thallium (Tl) were analyzed in the water, sediments, gills, mantle, foot, digestive (DI) tract, gonads and shell of clams being monitored at eight sites between March and August 2013. Sediment, water, and dissected Corbicula fluminea samples from different sites in the Creek were acid-digested and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy. High levels of antimony (25.88 ug/L;75.96 mg/kg) and arsenic (8.26 ug/L;6.41 mg/kg) in the water and sediments were observed at the site downstream from the smelter. There were no detectable concentrations of arsenic, antimony, or thallium in the shell of C. fluminea. Arsenic and antimony were detected in the tissues of C. fluminea but thallium was not detected. Based on the results, the organotropism for arsenic is DI tract > gills > gonads > foot > mantle > shell and the organotropism for antimony is gills > DI tract > gonads > mantle > foot > shell. This study shows that the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) is a useful bio-monitor to provide data on the status of metal pollution in Manadas Creek, Laredo, Texas.

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction and organic matter accumulation of the paleogene shahejie oil shale in the Zhanhua Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China

The controlling factors of organic-rich shale accumulation is essential for the exploration and development of shale oil and gas resources.The sedimentary environment plays a vital role in the formation of organic-rich sediments in lacustrine facies.This article unravels the mineralogy,geochemistry,and paleoenvironmental evolution during the deposition of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation(Es_(3)^(L)).It discusses the effects of paleoclimate,paleosalinity,paleoredox conditions,paleowater depth,and paleoproductivity on organic matter(OM)enrichment.Finally,the OM enrichment model was established.The results show that the mineralogical compositions are mainly composed of calcite(avg.40.13%),quartz(avg.21.64%)and clay minerals(avg.24.07%),accompanied by dolomite(avg.7.07%),feldspar(avg.6.36%)and pyrite(avg.2.95%).The Es_(3)^(L) shale has a high abundance of OM,with total organic carbon(TOC)ranging from 1.07%to 5.12%.The organic matter type is mainly composed of type I-II_(1) kerogen,which is generally considered a good-quality source rock.The source of OM is a mixture of lower bacteria,algae,and plants.During the early sedimentary period,the paleoclimate was dry and cold,with high salinity,intense reducibility,and relatively low productivity.During the late sedimentary period,the climate became warmer and more humid.As a result,the salinity decreased to a level that was suitable for biological reproduction,and productivity increased gradually due to the input of terrigenous plants.Paleosalinity and paleoclimate determined the environment of the sedimentary period,in addition,paleoproductivity and paleoredox condition indicated the formation and preservation conditions of OM.The warm and humid climate,brackish water,suitable reduction conditions and high productivity are the favorable conditions for the generation and preservation of organic matter.The research results may have implications for the genetic mechanisms of organic matter accumulation.They will provide theoretical and technical insights into the exploration and development of shale oil.

Genetic source,migration and accumulation of helium under deep thermal fluid activities:A case study of Ledong diapir area in Yinggehai Basin,South China Sea

Based on the geochemical parameters and analytical data,the heat conservation equation,mass balance law,Rayleigh fractionation model and other methods were used to quantify the in-situ yield and external flux of crust-derived helium,and the initial He concentration and thermal driving mechanism of mantle-derived helium,in the Ledong Diapir area,the Yinggehai Basin,in order to understand the genetic source,migration and accumulation mechanisms of helium under deep thermal fluid activities.The average content of mantle-derived He is only 0.0014%,the ^(3)He/^(4)He value is(0.002–2.190)×10^(−6),and the R/Ra value ranges from 0.01 to 1.52,indicating the contribution of mantle-derived He is 0.09%–19.84%,while the proportion of crust-derived helium can reach over 80%.Quantitative analysis indicates that the crust-derived helium is dominated by external input,followed by in-situ production,in the Ledong diapir area.The crust-derived helium exhibits an in-situ 4 He yield rate of(7.66–7.95)×10^(−13)cm^(3)/(a·g),an in-situ 4 He yield of(4.10–4.25)×10^(−4)cm^(3)/g,and an external 4 He influx of(5.84–9.06)×10^(−2)cm^(3)/g.These results may be related to atmospheric recharge into formation fluid and deep rock-water interactions.The ratio of initial mole volume of 3 He to enthalpy(W)is(0.004–0.018)×10^(−11) cm^(3)/J,and the heat contribution from the deep mantle(X_(M))accounts for 7.63%–36.18%,indicating that deep hot fluid activities drive the migration of mantle-derived 3 He.The primary helium migration depends on advection,while the secondary migration is controlled by hydrothermal degassing and gas-liquid separation.From deep to shallow layers,the CO_(2/3) He value rises from 1.34×10^(9)to 486×10^(9),indicating large amount of CO_(2)has escaped.Under the influence of deep thermal fluid,helium migration and accumulation mechanisms include:deep heat driven diffusion,advection release,vertical hydrothermal degassing,shallow lateral migration,accumulation in traps far from faults,partial pressure balance and sealing capability.

Stability analysis of loose accumulation slopes under rainfall:case study of a high‑speed railway in Southwest China

The high and steep slopes along a high-speed railway in the mountainous area of Southwest China are mostly composed of loose accumulations of debris with large internal pores and poor stability,which can easily induce adverse geological disasters under rainfall conditions.To ensure the smooth construction of the high-speed railway and the subsequent safe operation,it is necessary to master the stability evolution process of the loose accumulation slope under rainfall.This article simulates rainfall using the finite element analysis software’s hydromechanical coupling module.The slope stability under various rainfall situations is calculated and analysed based on the strength reduction method.To validate the simulation results,a field monitoring system is established to study the deformation characteristics of the slope under rainfall.The results show that rainfall duration is the key factor affecting slope stability.Given a constant amount of rainfall,the stability of the slope decreases with increasing duration of rainfall.Moreover,when the amount and duration of rainfall are constant,continuous rainfall has a greater impact on slope stability than intermittent rainfall.The setting of the field retaining structures has a significant role in improving slope stability.The field monitoring data show that the slope is in the initial deformation stage and has good stability,which verifies the rationality of the numerical simulation method.The research results can provide some references for understanding the influence of rainfall on the stability of loose accumulation slopes along high-speed railways and establishing a monitoring system.

Ordovician reservoirs in Fuxian area:Gas accumulation patterns and their implications for the exploration of lower Paleozoic carbonates in the southern Ordos Basin

In recent years,the Fuxian area in the southeastern Ordos Basin has undergone significant exploration,with industrial gas flow tested in wells drilled into the Ordovician marine carbonates.Despite this,the gas accumulation patterns of this area are not fully understood,posing challenges for further exploration.Our analysis of geological conditions indicates that the Ordovician Majiagou Formation in this area hosts two gas plays:one found in weathering crusts and the other found in interior of the formation.We investigated various typical gas reservoirs in the area,focusing on differentiating the geological conditions and factors controlling gas accumulation in the weathering-crust and interior gas reservoirs.The results suggest three primary gas accumulation patterns in the Majiagou Formation in the Fuxian area:(1)upper gas accumulation in weathering crusts,present in the high parts of landforms such as residual paleo-hills or buried paleo-platform(Pattern I);(2)the stereoscopic pattern with gas accumulation in both weathering crusts and strata interior,arising in high parts of landforms such as residual paleo-hills or buried paleo-platforms(Pattern II);(3)lower gas accumulation in strata interior,occurring in the upper reaches and on both sides of paleo-trenches(Pattern III).This study will serve as a geological basis for future exploration deployment in the Fuxian area.

Mechanism of cross-level settlements and void accumulation of wide and conventional sleepers in railway ballast

The cross-level and twist irregularities are the most dangerous irregularity types that could cause wheel unloading with the risk of derailments and additional maintenance expenses.However,the mechanism of the irregularities initiation and development is unclear.The motivation of the present study was the previous experimental studies on the application of wide sleepers in the ballasted track.The long-term track geometry measurements with wide sleepers show an enormous reduction of the vertical longitudinal irregularities compared to the conventional track.However,wide sleepers had higher twist and cross-section level irregularities.The present paper aims to explain the phenomenon by discrete element method(DEM)modeling the development process of sleeper inhomogeneous support at cross-level depending on the sleeper form.The DEM simulations show that the maximal settlement intensity is up to 3.5 times lower for a wide sleeper in comparison with the conventional one.Nevertheless,the cross-level differential settlements are almost the same for both sleepers.The particle loading distribution after all loading cycles is concentrated on the smaller area,up to the half sleeper length,with fully unloaded zones under sleeper ends.Ballast flow limitation under the central part of the sleeper could improve the resilience of wide sleepers to the development of cross-level irregularities.The mechanism of initiation of the cross-level irregularity is proposed,which assumes the loss of sleeper support under sleeper ends.The further growth of inhomogeneous settlements along the sleeper is assumed as a result of the interaction of two processes:ballast flow due to dynamic impact during void closing and on the other side high pressure due to the concentration of the pressure under the middle part of the sleeper.The DEM simulation results support the assumption of the mechanism and agree with the experimental studies.

Analysis of Characteristics of Snow Accumulation and Its Meteorological Influencing Factors during a Snowstorm Process in Ulanqab City

Based on the data of national observation stations of CMISS system,artificial encrypted observation data of snow depth,ERA5 reanalysis data,the snowfall process in Ulanqab City from March 17 to 19,2022 was analyzed.It is found that the influencing system of the snowfall process was upper-air trough combined with ground inverted trough.Snowfall was not proportional to snow depth,and the relationship between the maximum snow depth and total snowfall varied in different value intervals.A large intensity of snowfall was a necessary condition for the formation of abundant accumulated snow when ground temperature was higher than 0℃.After the formation of accumulated snow,ground temperature changed less,and it was easy to produce accumulated snow as ground temperature was lower.The lower the temperature,the more conducive to the generation of accumulated snow.

Research advances on the mechanisms of reservoir formation and hydrocarbon accumulation and the oil and gas development methods of deep and ultra-deep marine carbonates

Based on the new data of drilling, seismic, logging, test and experiments, the key scientific problems in reservoir formation, hydrocarbon accumulation and efficient oil and gas development methods of deep and ultra-deep marine carbonate strata in the central and western superimposed basin in China have been continuously studied.(1) The fault-controlled carbonate reservoir and the ancient dolomite reservoir are two important types of reservoirs in the deep and ultra-deep marine carbonates. According to the formation origin, the large-scale fault-controlled reservoir can be further divided into three types:fracture-cavity reservoir formed by tectonic rupture, fault and fluid-controlled reservoir, and shoal and mound reservoir modified by fault and fluid. The Sinian microbial dolomites are developed in the aragonite-dolomite sea. The predominant mound-shoal facies, early dolomitization and dissolution, acidic fluid environment, anhydrite capping and overpressure are the key factors for the formation and preservation of high-quality dolomite reservoirs.(2) The organic-rich shale of the marine carbonate strata in the superimposed basins of central and western China are mainly developed in the sedimentary environments of deep-water shelf of passive continental margin and carbonate ramp. The tectonic-thermal system is the important factor controlling the hydrocarbon phase in deep and ultra-deep reservoirs, and the reformed dynamic field controls oil and gas accumulation and distribution in deep and ultra-deep marine carbonates.(3) During the development of high-sulfur gas fields such as Puguang, sulfur precipitation blocks the wellbore. The application of sulfur solvent combined with coiled tubing has a significant effect on removing sulfur blockage. The integrated technology of dual-medium modeling and numerical simulation based on sedimentary simulation can accurately characterize the spatial distribution and changes of the water invasion front.Afterward, water control strategies for the entire life cycle of gas wells are proposed, including flow rate management, water drainage and plugging.(4) In the development of ultra-deep fault-controlled fractured-cavity reservoirs, well production declines rapidly due to the permeability reduction, which is a consequence of reservoir stress-sensitivity. The rapid phase change in condensate gas reservoir and pressure decline significantly affect the recovery of condensate oil. Innovative development methods such as gravity drive through water and natural gas injection, and natural gas drive through top injection and bottom production for ultra-deep fault-controlled condensate gas reservoirs are proposed. By adopting the hierarchical geological modeling and the fluid-solid-thermal coupled numerical simulation, the accuracy of producing performance prediction in oil and gas reservoirs has been effectively improved.

Barley Protein LFBEP-C1 from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 Fermented Barley Extracts by Inhibiting Lipid Accumulation in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model

Objective This study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering activity of LFBEP-C1 in high glucose-fed Caenorhabditis elegans(C.elegans).Methods In this study,the fermented barley protein LFBEP-C1 was prepared and tested for its potential anti-obesity effects on C.elegans.The worms were fed Escherichia coli OP50(E.coli OP50),glucose,and different concentrations of LFBEP-C1.Body size,lifespan,movement,triglyceride content,and gene expression were analyzed.The results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison test.Results Compared with the model group,the head-swing frequency of C.elegans in the group of LFBEP-C1 at 20μg/mL increased by 33.88%,and the body-bending frequency increased by 27.09%.This indicated that LFBEP-C1 improved the locomotive ability of C.elegans.The average lifespan of C.elegans reached 13.55 days,and the body length and width of the C.elegans decreased after LFBEP-C1 intake.Additionally,LFBEP-C1 reduced the content of lipid accumulation and triglyceride levels.The expression levels of sbp-1,daf-2,and mdt-15 significantly decreased,while those of daf-16,tph-1,mod-1,and ser-4 significantly increased after LFBEP-C1 intake.Changes in these genes explain the signaling pathways that regulate lipid metabolism.Conclusion LFBEP-C1 significantly reduced lipid deposition in C.elegans fed a high-glucose diet and alleviated the adverse effects of a high-glucose diet on the development,lifespan,and exercise behavior of C.elegans.In addition,LFBEP-C1 regulated lipid metabolism mainly by mediating the expression of genes in the sterol regulatory element-binding protein,insulin,and 5-hydroxytryptamine signaling pathways.

Lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation levels determined adipogenesis and fat accumulation in adipose tissue in pigs

Background Excessive backfat deposition lowering carcass grade is a major concern in the pig industry,especially in most breeds of obese type pigs.The mechanisms involved in adipogenesis and fat accumulation in pigs remain unclear.Lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation(Khib),is a novel protein post-translational modification(PTM),which play an important role in transcription,energy metabolism and metastasis of cancer cells,but its role in adipogenesis and fat accumulation has not been shown.Results In this study,we first analyzed the modification levels of acetylation(Kac),Khib,crotonylation(Kcr)and succinylation(Ksu)of fibro-adipogenic progenitors(FAPs),myogenic precursors(Myo)and mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)with varied differentiation potential,and found that only Khib modification in FAPs was significantly higher than that in MSCs.Consistently,in parallel with its regulatory enzymes lysine acetyltransferase 5(KAT5)and histone deacetylase 2(HDAC2)protein levels,the Khib levels increased quadratically(P<0.01)during adipogenic differentiation of FAPs.KAT5 knockdown in FAPs inhibited adipogenic differentiation,while HDAC2 knockdown enhanced adipogenic differentiation.We also demonstrated that Khib modification favored to adipogenic differentiation and fat accumulation by comparing Khib levels in FAPs and backfat tissues both derived from obese-type pigs(Laiwu pigs)and lean-type pigs(Duroc pigs),respectively.Accordingly,the expression patterns of KAT5 and HDAC2 matched well to the degree of backfat accumulation in obese-and lean-type pigs.Conclusions From the perspective of protein translational modification,we are the first to reveal the role of Khib in adipogenesis and fat deposition in pigs,and provided new clues for the improvement of fat accumulation and distribution as expected via genetic selection and nutritional strategy in obese-type pigs.

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Maga-Pouss Rice Fields (Far-North Region, Cameroon) and Transfer to Rice Grains

Monitoring of heavy metals contamination of agricultural products and their transfer and bioaccumulation in crops like rice has become a hot topic worldwide over the last two decades. The present study was carried out to determine the accumulation of heavy metals in rice fields and their transfer to rice grains. Soil, irrigation water and rice grains samples were gathered in Maga-Pouss, Far-North, Cameroon. Concentrations of six heavy metals (lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, iron and mercury) were evaluated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Mercury was not detected in this study. Average concentrations of metals were in this order (in mg/kg): Fe (188.60 ± 97.06) > Pb (63.63 ± 7.11) > Cd (2.59 ± 0.29) > Zn (1.10 ± 1.05) > Cu (0.80 ± 0.73) in water and Pb (105.50 ± 31.11) > Fe (105.50 ± 31.11) > Cu (45.93 ± 14.39) > Zn (22.52 ± 6.40) > Cd (3.15 ± 0.49) in soil. Water in Maga-Pouss rice fields appears to be more harmful than the soil, notably for lead, cadmium and copper. In rice grains, heavy metals were found in this order (mg/kg): Fe (188.01 ± 82.62) > Cu (27.20 ± 0.00) > Zn (23.61 ± 12.42) > Pb (19.50 ± 19.91) > Cd (2.02 ± 1.05). The mean bioconcentration factor (BCF) of metals from soil to rice grains was in the following order: Fe (2.60) > Zn (1.05) > Cd (0.64) > Cu (0.59) > Pb (0.18). From water to rice grains, the order is: Cu (37.26) > Zn (22.49) > Cd (6.97) > Pb (2.74) > Fe (1.94). Rice field pH and electrical conductivity favored the uptake of lead, copper and cadmium by rice grains. The findings of this study will be good documentation for risk assessment, and decision-making by environmental managers in this region.

Effects of low molecular weight polysaccharide from Sargassum thunbergii against palmitic acid-induced intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocyte and HepG2 cells

Low molecular weight polysaccharides can be isolated from Sargassum thunbergii(LMPST)and in vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects on lipids.Two natures of LMPST were attained from S.thunbergii and appraised their LMPST on palmitic acid(PA)induced lipid accretion in Hep G2,and 3T3-L1 cells.LMPST treatment lessened lipid deposition and intracellular free fatty acid and triglyceride intensities in PA-treated above mentioned cells.The mechanistic study publicized that LMPST2 significantly suppressed adipogenesis and stimulated the PA-treated 3T3-L1 cells occupied in the lipolysis pathway.Furthermore,in PA-treated Hep G2 cells,the free fatty acid oxidation was significantly increased by LMPST2.Given these constructive properties of LMPST2 from S.thunbergii,is a potential candidate for diminishing the intracellular lipids,and for a therapeutic agent in those conditions.

Combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer alleviates the kernel position effect in summer maize by promoting post-silking nitrogen uptake and dry matter accumulation

Adjusting agronomic measures to alleviate the kernel position effect in maize is important for ensuring high yields.In order to clarify whether the combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer(CAOFCF)can alleviate the kernel position effect of summer maize,field experiments were conducted during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons,and five treatments were assessed:CF,100%chemical fertilizer;OFCF1,15%organic fertilizer+85%chemical fertilizer;OFCF2,30%organic fertilizer+70%chemical fertilizer;OFCF3,45%organic fertilizer+55%chemical fertilizer;and OFCF4,60%organic fertilizer+40%chemical fertilizer.Compared with the CF treatment,the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments significantly alleviated the kernel position effect by increasing the weight ratio of inferior kernels to superior kernels and reducing the weight gap between the superior and inferior kernels.These effects were largely due to the improved filling and starch accumulation of inferior kernels.However,there were no obvious differences in the kernel position effect among plants treated with CF,OFCF3,or OFCF4 in most cases.Leaf area indexes,post-silking photosynthetic rates,and net assimilation rates were higher in plants treated with OFCF1 or OFCF2 than in those treated with CF,reflecting an enhanced photosynthetic capacity and improved postsilking dry matter accumulation(DMA)in the plants treated with OFCF1 or OFCF2.Compared with the CF treatment,the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments increased post-silking N uptake by 66.3 and 75.5%,respectively,which was the major factor driving post-silking photosynthetic capacity and DMA.Moreover,the increases in root DMA and zeatin riboside content observed following the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments resulted in reduced root senescence,which is associated with an increased post-silking N uptake.Analyses showed that post-silking N uptake,DMA,and grain yield in summer maize were negatively correlated with the kernel position effect.In conclusion,the combined application of 15-30%organic fertilizer and 70-85%chemical fertilizer alleviated the kernel position effect in summer maize by improving post-silking N uptake and DMA.These results provide new insights into how CAOFCF can be used to improve maize productivity.

Weathering and accumulation of trace elements in the soils of the Porali Plain, Balochistan: repercussions in agriculture

This study is thefirst attempt to assess the nature of the soil,especially on the western side of the Porali Plain in Balochistan;a new emerging agriculture hub,using weathering and pollution indices supplemented by multi-variate analysis based on geochemical data.The outcomes of this study are expected to help farmers in soil manage-ment and selecting suitable crops for the region.Twenty-five soil samples were collected,mainly from the arable land of the Porali Plain.After drying and coning-quarter-ing,soil samples were analyzed for major and trace ele-ments using the XRF technique;sieving and hydrometric methods were employed for granulometric analysis.Esti-mated data were analyzed using Excel,SPSS,and Surfer software to calculate various indices,correlation matrix,and spatial distribution.The granulometric analysis showed that 76%of the samples belonged to loam types of soil,12%to sand type,and 8%to silt type.Weathering indices:CIA,CIW,PIA,PWI,WIP,CIX,and ICV were calculated to infer the level of alteration.These indices reflect mod-erate to intense weathering;supported by K_(2)O/AI_(2)O_(3),Rb/K_(2)O,Rb/Ti,and Rb/Sr ratios.Assessment of the geo-ac-cumulation and Nemerow Pollution indices pinpoint rela-tively high concentrations of Pb,Ni,and Cr concentration in the soils.The correlation matrix and Principal Compo-nent Analysis show that the soil in this study area is mainly derived from the weathering of igneous rocks of Bela Ophiolite(Cretaceous age)and Jurassic sedimentary rocks of Mor Range having SEDEX/MVT type mineralization.Weathering may result in the undesirable accumulation of certain trace elements which adversely affects crops.

Numerical Simulations of Snow Accumulation in the Bogie Region of a Train Considering Snow Particle Rotation

To investigate the influence of snow particle rotational motion on the accumulation of snow in the bogie region of high-speed trains,an Euler‒Lagrange numerical approach is adopted.The study examines the effects of snow particle diameter and train speed on the ensuing dynamics.It is shown that considering snow particle rotational motion causes significant deviation in the particle trajectories with respect to non-rotating particles.Such a deviation increases with larger snow particle diameters and higher train speeds.The snow accumulation on the overall surface of the bogie increases,and the amount of snow on the vibration reduction device varies greatly.In certain conditions,the amount of accumulated snow can increase by several orders of magnitudes.