Diagenetic evolution and reservoir quality of the Oligocene sandstones in the Baiyun Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea

The Oligocene Zhuhai sandstones are significant reservoirs for hydrocarbons in the Baiyun Sag, South China Sea.For effective appraisal, exploration and exploitation of such a deep-water hydrocarbon sandstone, samples of five wells from depths of 850 m to 3 000 m were studied. A series of comprehensive petrographic and geochemical analyses were performed to unravel the diagenetic features and their impact on the reservoir quality.Petrographically, the sandstones are dominated by feldspathic litharenites and lithic arenites with fine to medium grain sizes and moderate to good sorting. The reservoir quality varies greatly with a range of porosity from 0.2% to 36.1% and permeability from 0.016 ×10~(–3) μm~2 to 4 301 ×10~(–3) μm~2, which is attributed to complex diagenetic evolution related to sedimentary facies;these include compaction, cementation of calcite, dolomite, siderite and framboidal pyrite in eogenetic stage;further compaction, feldspar dissolution, precipitation of ferrocalcite and ankerite, quartz cements, formation of kaolinite and its illitization, precipitation of albite and nodular pyrite, as well as hydrocarbon charge in mesogenetic stage. The dissolution of feldspar and illitization of kaolinite provide internal sources for the precipitation of quartz cement, while carbonate cements are derived from external sources related to interbedded mudstones and deep fluid. Compaction is the predominant factor in reducing the total porosity, followed by carbonate cementation that leads to strong heterogeneity. Feldspar dissolution and concomitant quartz and clay cementation barely changes the porosity but significantly reduces the permeability.The high-quality reservoirs can be concluded as medium-grained sandstones lying in the central parts of thick underwater distributary channel sandbodies(>2 m) with a high content of detrital quartz but low cement.

Monitoring and evaluation of the water quality of the Lower Neches River, Texas, USA

Increasing bacteria levels in the Lower Neches River caused by Hurricane Harvey has been of a serious concern.This study is to analyze the historical water sampling measurements and real-time water quality data collected with wireless sensors to monitor and evaluate water quality under different hydrological and hydraulic conditions.The statistical and Pearson correlation analysis on historical water samples determines that alkalinity,chloride,hardness,conductivity,and pH are highly correlated,and they decrease with increasing flow rate due to dilution.The flow rate has positive correlations with Escherichia coli,total suspended solids,and turbidity,which demonstrates that runoff is one of the causes of the elevated bacteria and sediment loadings in the river.The correlation between E.coli and turbidity indicates that turbidity greater than 45 nephelometric turbidity units in the Neches River can serve as a proxy for E.coli to indicate the bacterial outbreak.A series of statistical tools and an innovative two-layer data smoothing filter are developed to detect outliers,fill missing values,and filter spikes of the sensor measurements.The correlation analysis on the sensor data illustrates that the elevated sediment/bacteria/algae in the river is either caused by the first flush rain and heavy rain events in December to March or practices of land use and land cover.Therefore,utilizing sensor measurements along with rainfall and discharge data is recommended to monitor and evaluate water quality,then in turn to provide early alerts on water resources management decisions.

Assessment on eco-environmental quality of the Yellow River Basin by considering desertification index

Desertification has had a significant impact on the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin(YRB)in China.However,previous studies on the evaluation of the ecological environment quality(EEQ)in the YRB have paid limited attention to the indicator of desertification.It is of great significance to incorporate the desertification index into the spatiotemporal assessment of the EEQ in the YRB in order to protect the ecological environment in the region.In this study,based on multi-source remote sensing data from 91 cities in the YRB,this article proposes a desertification remote sensing ecological index(DRSEI)model,which builds upon the traditional Remote Sensing Ecological Index(RSEI)model,to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in the EEQ in the YRB from 2001 to 2021.Furthermore,using the geographic detector(GD),and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)model,the study assesses the impact of human and natural factors on the EEQ in the YRB.The research findings indicate that:(1)Compared to the traditional RSEI,the improved DRSEI shows a decreasing trend in the evaluation results of the EEQ.Among the 24 cities,the change in DRSEI exceeds 0.05 compared to RSEI,accounting for 26.37%of the YRB.The remaining 67 cities have changes within a range of less than 0.05,accounting for 73.63%of the YRB.(2)The results of the GD for individual and interactive effects reveal that rainfall and elevation have significant individual and interactive effects on the EEQ.Furthermore,after the interaction with natural factors,the explanatory power of human factors gradually increases over time.The spatial heterogeneity results of GTWR demonstrate that rainfall has a strong direct positive impact on the EEQ,accounting for 98.90%of the influence,while temperature exhibits a more pronounced direct inhibitory effect,accounting for 76.92%of the influence.Human activities have a strong negative impact on the EEQ and a weak positive impact.

Comparative Study of the Physicochemical Quality of the Waters of the Méné River (Sassandra Watershed, Ivory Coast) in the Dry Season and in the Rainy Season

The study carried out on the waters of the Méné River led to an overall assessment of its water quality during the dry season and the rainy season. The analysis focused on eight (8) water samples taken from the river during a period of dry season (January-February) and a period of rainy season (June and September). The various physicochemical parameters were measured according to Afnor standardized methods. The readings of temperature, turbidity, pH and conductivity made it possible to account for the disturbances occurring in water quality. A temporal variation correlated with the seasons (dry or rainy) is noted. Turbidity depends on the concentration of suspended solids (SS) in the water and drained particles and therefore on the seasons. Just like the temperature, the conductivity changes with the season. The waters of the Méné River are generally acidic. The results obtained show that there is a low level of pollution by chlorides, phosphates, nitrites and nitrates. A slight pollution of the waters of Méné in organic matter (chemical oxygen demand values are less than 25 mg∙L−1 during dry season and 32.33 ± 4.73 mg∙L−1 during rainy season) was observed. The concentrations of metallic trace elements such as iron, manganese and aluminum indicate significant pollution of these waters by these elements. Overall, the waters of the Méné River are of satisfactory quality because all the physicochemical parameters analyzed have values below standards during the dry season as well as during the rainy season with the exception of COD and a few metallic trace elements.

The need to develop tailored tools for improving the quality of thematic bibliometric analyses: Evidence from papers published in Sustainability and Scientometrics

Purpose: The aim of this article is to explore up to seven parameters related to the methodological quality and reproducibility of thematic bibliometric research published in the two most productive journals in bibliometrics, Sustainability(a journal outside the discipline) and Scientometrics, the flagship journal in the field.Design/methodology/approach: The study identifies the need for developing tailored tools for improving the quality of thematic bibliometric analyses, and presents a framework that can guide the development of such tools. A total of 508 papers are analysed, 77% of Sustainability, and 23% published in Scientometrics, for the 2019-2021 period.Findings: An average of 2.6 shortcomings per paper was found for the whole sample, with an almost identical number of flaws in both journals. Sustainability has more flaws than Scientometrics in four of the seven parameters studied, while Scientometrics has more shortcomings in the remaining three variables.Research limitations: The first limitation of this work is that it is a study of two scientific journals, so the results cannot be directly extrapolated to the set of thematic bibliometric analyses published in journals from all fields.Practical implications: We propose the adoption of protocols, guidelines, and other similar tools, adapted to bibliometric practice, which could increase the thoroughness, transparency, and reproducibility of this type of research.Originality/value: These results show considerable room for improvement in terms of the adequate use and breakdown of methodological procedures in thematic bibliometric research, both in journals in the Information Science area and journals outside the discipline.

Origin of carbonate minerals and impacts on reservoir quality of the Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale, Sichuan Basin

The Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale in the Sichuan Basin were studied to understand the genesis and diagenetic evolution of carbonate minerals and their effects on reservoir quality. The results of geochemical and petrological analyses show that calcite grains have a negative Ce anomaly indicating they formed in the oxidizing environment of seawater. The high carbonate mineral contents in the margin of basin indicate that calcite grains and cores of dolomite grains appear largely to be of detrital origin. The rhombic rims of dolomite grains and dolomite concretions with the δ^(13)C of –15.46‰ and the enrichment of middle rare earth elements were formed during the sulfate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane. The calcite in radiolarian were related to the microbial sulfate reduction for the abundant anhedral pyrites and δ^(13)C value of –11.34‰. Calcite veins precipitated in the deep burial stage with homogenization temperature of the inclusions ranging from 146.70 ℃ to 182.90 ℃. The pores in shale are mainly organic matter pores with pore size mainly in the range of 1–20 nm in diameter. Carbonate minerals influence the development of pores through offering storage space for organic matter. When calcite contents ranging from 10% to 20%, calcite grains and cement as rigid framework can preserve primary pores. Subsequently, the thermal cracking of liquid petroleum in primary pores will form organic matter pores. The radiolarian were mostly partially filled with calcite, which combining with microcrystalline quartz preserved a high storage capacity.

Sanitary Quality of the Meals Served in the Canteens and Vicinity of the Lagoon Mother and Child University Hospital Centre and National Hospital and University Centre Hubert Koutoukou Maga of Cotonou (Benin)

Background: Food safety is an integral part of food security. It refers to the protection of the food supply against risks of microbial, chemical and physical origin at every stage of the food chain. The study aimed to investigate the sanitary quality of meals served in the canteens and vicinity of the Lagoon Mother and Child University Hospital Centre (CHU-MEL) and National Hospital and University Centre Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM) of Cotonou. Methods: It was a cross-sectional with a data collection period from 16 March to 22 April 2021. There were 32 vendors surveyed and 40 meals sampled for microbiological examination. We collected data on the vendors’ socio-demographic characteristics, working environment, health status, knowledge and food hygiene practices. Results: About 83% of the meals contained pathogenic microorganisms. All meals had a temperature from 4°C to 60°C called the “danger zone”. The level of knowledge about food hygiene was low in 65.7% of the vendors. About 47% had poor personal and clothing hygiene, food storage and service practices. Conclusion: These results show that the meals sold in the CHU-MEL and CNHU-HKM could present a health risk for the consumer. There is a need for improvement of the sanitary quality of the meals delivered in the canteens and vicinity of these hospitals.

Assessment of the Water Quality of the Benin River, Southern Nigeria, Prior to the Seaport Development Project

Water resources in the form of rivers, oceans and seas are prime natural resources that man has either explored or exploited. The need for clean water is on the increase and water degradation due to industrialization and development has further exacerbated the state of water bodies’ degradation. The need to assess the quality status of the Benin River prior to the seaport development was inherent to document the baseline of the physicochemical parameters of the study stretch. Four stations were studied from Ajoki to opposite Young Town between January 2019 and December 2020. Physicochemical parameters and heavy metals for water were collected and analyzed adhering to quality assurance/control measures and standard procedures. Significant spatial variations (P < 0.001) were observed in water physicochemical parameters, except pH across the four stations. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Pollution Load Index and Water Quality Index (WQI) were used to establish a relationship among water quality parameters and determine the water quality status. The first six components of PCA accounted for 87.77% of observed variations. WQI for sampling Station 2 was very poor for drinking (90.46) and Stations 1, 3 and 4 were unsuitable (113.13 - 188.21) for human consumption. PLI showed turbidity as the major pollutant across stations. The concentrations of heavy metals in the Benin River stretch are within background concentration level, except Fe and Cd. The mean dissolved oxygen was below the recommended level of 7 mg/l for aquatic life. The continuous monitoring of this stretch of the River during the seaport development activities and during operational stage is very paramount to prevent further degradation of the environment.

Evolution of the Quality of the Partogram in 96 Health Care Facilities of 3 Provincial Health Divisions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The partogram is an accurate labor monitoring tool for reducing maternal and perinatal mortality due to prolonged labor and dystocia. The aim of this study is to assess how the quality of the partogram has evolved in health care institutions (HCI in short) that have benefited from the primary health care support project (ASSP in short) after formative supervision. This is a descriptive study by periodic clinical audit between 2020 and 2022, carried out in 96 HCI in 3 provincial health divisions (DPS in short) of DR Congo. Each photographed partogram page was sent to the project’s central level for review by a team of experts (3 obstetric gynecologists and 3 midwives). The compliance rate for completing partograms in the 96 health facilities of the 3 DPS was 86.8%. The rate of traceability of labor continuity was 88.2%, and that of traceability of acts, incidents and treatments during labor was 87.1%. Finally, the compliance rate for filling out partograms in the immediate post-partum period was 81%. A clear improvement was noted between the January 2020 and March 2022 assessments.

The Use of Self-cleaning Materials and Study Their Impact on the Quality of the Visual Appearance of Large Industrial Cities

One of the capabilities of the architecture is to respond to growing and,in some cases,varied needs of users.However,architecture and construction industry,in comparison with other sciences,have been very slow and inadequate to implement this technology despite very suitable ground for improvement.At the moment,one of the most essential discussions in this field is how to achieve qualitative understanding of construction materials.Accordingly,one of the key sections of a construction which plays a significant role in optimizing performance is shell of the building.In this article,in addition to the utilization technique of selfcleaning materials in construction industry which will result in embellishment of urban design,an attempt has also been made to present a suitable model on how to utilize these materials in order to improve the visual appearance quality of megalopolises.The technology of self-cleaning surfaces in order to increase durability and reduce costs and required time for equipment maintenance has currently become the focal point in construction industry.Now providing one answer to the question of whether will selfcleaning,purifying facades change the future of urban architecture?The main panorama of this research is to find and establish a dynamic and sustainable balance in embellishment of urban design.The necessity of research in this field as well as finding the best and most practical solution seem.To achieve all this,an analytical and descriptive research has been utilized,data has been collected by various books and national and international websites.

Artificial neural network modeling of water quality of the Yangtze River system:a case study in reaches crossing the city of Chongqing

An effective approach for describing complicated water quality processes is very important for river water quality management. We built two artificial neural network(ANN) models,a feed-forward back-propagation(BP) model and a radial basis function(RBF) model,to simulate the water quality of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers in reaches crossing the city of Chongqing,P. R. China. Our models used the historical monitoring data of biological oxygen demand,dissolved oxygen,ammonia,oil and volatile phenolic compounds. Comparison with the one-dimensional traditional water quality model suggest that both BP and RBF models are superior; their higher accuracy and better goodness-of-fit indicate that the ANN calculation of water quality agrees better with measurement. It is demonstrated that ANN modeling can be a tool for estimating the water quality of the Yangtze River. Of the two ANN models,the RBF model calculates with a smaller mean error,but a larger root mean square error. More effort to identify out the causes of these differences would help optimize the structures of neural network water-quality models.

Diagenesis and reservoir quality of the fourth member sandstones of Shahejie formation in Huimin depression,eastern China

Petrographic analysis combined with various techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, was used to assess the timing of growth and original mineral cements, the controls on reservoir and reservoir quality of the fourth member sandstones of Shahejie formation (Es4). The Es4 sandstones are mostly arkose and lithic arkose, rarely feldspathic litharenite, with an average mass fraction of quartz 51.6%, feldspar 33.8% and rock fragments 14.6% (Q51.6F33.8R14.6). They have an average framework composition (mass fraction) of quartz 57.10%, K-feldspar 5.76%, sodium-calcium feldspar 13.00%, calcite 5.77%, dolomite 5.63%, siderite 0.95%, pyrite 0.30%, anhydrite 0.04%, and clay mineral 11.46%. The diagenentic minerals typically include kaolinite, illite-smectite (I/S), illite, chlorite, authigenetic quartz and feldspar, and carbonate and pyrite. Es4 sandstone has undergone stages A and B of eodiagenesis, and now, it is experiencing stage A of mesodiagenesis. Reservoir quality is predominantly controlled by the mechanical compaction, for example, 45.65% of the original porosity loss is related to compaction. The original porosity loss related with cementation is only 26.00%. The reservoir quality is improved as a result of dissolution of feldspar, rock fragment and so forth. The porosity evolved from dissolution varies from 3% to 4%.

Application of Index Analysis to Evaluate the Water Quality of the Tuul River in Mongolia

A study of water pollution determinands of the Tuul River was carried out in surrounding area of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia at 14 monitoring sites, using an extensive dataset between 1998 and 2008. An index method, developed by Ministry of Nature and Environment of Mongolia, applied for assessment and total, seven hydro-chemicals used in the index calculation. The research indicates that the Tuul River is not polluted until the Ulaanbaatar city and the contamination level spike appears when the river entering the city. The upper reaches of the river and tributaries have relatively good quality waters. Several pollution sources exist in the study area. Among them, the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant (CWTP) is a strongest point source in the downstream section of the river, recently. Pollutions at sites 7-10 are strongly dependant effluent treatment levels from the plant, and it contains a high amount of chemicals that can cause of major decrement of the water quality. This would definitely kill aquatic fauna in the stretch of the river affected. It certainly happened in 2007. The general trend of water quality gradually has been decreased in the study period. Clearly, there is a need to improve the water quality in the Tuul River in surrounding area of the Ulaanbaatar. In order to change this situation, operation enhancement of treatment plants, a water quality modeling and artificial increment of dissolved oxygen concentrations become crucial to improve the water quality significantly. Perhaps a new wastewater treatment plant is needed for Ulaanbaatar city.

Diagenetic and Depositional Impacts on the Reservoir Quality of the Upper Jurassic Arab Formation in the Balal Oilfield, Offshore Iran

The Kimmeridgian-Tithonian aged Arab Formation, as the main reservoir of the Jurassic succession in the Balal oilfield, located in the offshore region of the Iranian sector of the Persian Gulf, is investigated in this study. The formation is composed of dolomites and limestones with anhydrite interbeds. Based on detailed petrographic studies, six microfacies are recognized, which are classified in four sub-environments including supratidal, intertidal, lagoonal and the high energy shoal of a homoclinal carbonate ramp. The main diagenetic features of the studied succession include dolomitization, anhydritization, cementation, micritization, fracturing and compaction. Based on stable isotope data, dolomitization of the upper Arab carbonates is related to sabkha settings （i.e. evaporative type）. In terms of sequence stratigraphy, three shallowing-upward sequences are recognized, based on core and wireline log data from four wells of the studied field. Considering depositional and diagenetic effects on the reservoir quality, the studied facies are classified into eight reservoir rock types （RRT） with distinct reservoir qualities. Dolomitization has played a major role in reservoir quality enhancement, whereas anhydritization, carbonate cementation, and compaction have damaged the pore throat network. Distribution of the recognized RRTs in time and space are discussed within the context of a sequence stratigraphic framework.

Effects of Different Atmospheres on the Postharvest Physiology and Quality of the Sweet Cherry

The changes in physiological characteristics, quality and storability of the sweet cherry (Pru-mus avium L. cv. Hongdeng) stored in controlled atmospheres (CA), in modified atmosphere packages (MAP) and in air (CK) were investigated in this paper. The results showed that CA and MAP treatments significantly inhibited fruit rot and flesh browning, kept firmness and fruit color, reduced ethylene and ethanol content in pulp, slowed down the increase of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in comparison with CK. Meanwhile, CA treatments showed a better benefit of reducing ethylene and ethanol contents, inhibiting PPO and POD activities, declining rot rate and browning index compared to MAP. The fruit could be stored in CA conditions for 60 days without any off-flavor. The sweet cherries kept in CA with 5% O2 + 10% CO2 showed a better storability than that in CA with 5% O2 + 5% CO2.

Effects of social capital on the health quality of the rural elderly in Xihaigu,China: a hierarchical linear model analysis

Based on the analysis and measurement of the social capital and the health quality and structure of the elderly people,this paper examined the effects of social capital on the health quality of the elderly as well as its composition.The examination was conducted by applying a hierarchical linear model (HLM) and using survey data obtained in the Xihaigu area of Ningxia Province in 2017.The empirical results showed that individual social capital had a significant influence on the health of the rural elderly,but the impacts were different on its composition.Village social capital should improve both the physical and mental health quality of the elderly through building mutual trust and promoting stability,unity and a harmonious living environment.In addition,factors such as mode of habitation,diet,medical approaches,intergenerational interactions,and village geographical location also affect the health quality of the elderly.

Regional Air Quality of the Nigeria’s Niger Delta

There is no systematic attempt to evaluate the air quality of any settlement in the Niger Delta region over a long period. Records of air quality data for this study were generated through secondary sources from impact assessment of facilities aimed at implementing air quality regulations on the environment. Suspended particulate matter in the region’s atmosphere ranged from 40 mg/m3 in Brass to 98 mg/m3 in Port Harcourt. Carbon monoxide concentrations were highest in Mbiama (191 mg/m3). Nitrogen dioxide concentration was highest in Bonny (187 mg/m3), and sulphur dioxide concentrations ranged from 19 mg/m3 in Ukwugba to 90 mg/m3 in Port Harcourt. Total hydrocarbon ranged from 78 mg/m3 in Odukpani to 192 mg/m3 in Nchia. Carbon dioxide ranged from 400 ppm in Buguma to 450 ppm in Port Harcourt. The most abundant of the VOCs is benzene and toluene. Ethylene was detected only in one station at concentration of 0.1 mg/m3 which was negligible. The most abundant of the metals was zinc, which was present at above 2 mg/m3 in most of the study settlements. In remote settlements like Buguma and Emuoha, some of the metals were not detected at all. In some instances, short-term limits for the pollutants exceeded WHO standards. The need for stakeholders in the region to articulate initiatives that support quality environmental practices was emphasized as laws pertaining to air quality regulations which are weak and less enforceable.

Anthropogenic Impacts on the Distribution and Biodiversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality of the Boufekrane River, Meknes, Morocco

The area of the city of Meknes (Morocco) undergoes anthropic pressure, which acts mainly on the rivers. River water is used, without preliminary treatment, for farm irrigation. A study of the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the distribution and biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates and water quality of the Boufekrane River (Meknes) was conducted. Four pristine stations from the upstream and two stations at the downstream receiving anthropogenic impacts were selected along the River. For 12 consecutive months (from January to December 2010), based on the SEQ-V.2 scoring system, water quality index classes, the upstream stations recorded significantly higher biological monitoring scores and better water quality indices than those of the downstream. Four variables are involved actively in the individualization of the physico-chemical environment: COD, dissolved oxygen, TSS and temperature. The total number of macrobenthic taxa and their overall richness indices and diversity indices were significantly higher at the upstream stations than at the downstream stations. The relationships between the physicochemical and the macrobenthic data were investigated by biotypology analysis (PCA and FCA) and Pearson correlation analysis. The analyses showed that the richness and diversity indices were generally influenced by the total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand and the electric conductivity of the river water. This study also highlighted the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the distribution and species diversity of macrobenthic invertebrate. Some sensitive (Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera) and resistant species (Oligochaeta such as Tubifex sp.) are identified as potential bioindicators of clean and polluted river ecosystems, respectively, in Morocco rivers. The data obtained in this study supported the use of the bioindicator concept (Innovative Biotechniques for controlling water quality) for North Africa rivers because it is more efficient than conventional methods.

Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Quality of the Vegetable Watering Water in the Dschang Town, Cameroon

Market gardening, in the swampy lowlands of the Dschangcity, plays an important role in terms of providing employment, and supply the city with fresh products. However, waterborne diseases, which occur in the city, are both attributed to the bad quality of drinking water and sanitation practices. This work aims to characterize watering waters of crop, to assess the health risks associated with the use of these waters. Water from eleven streams and five wells used to irrigate crops were sampled and analyzed once a week for a month. Analyses focused on physico-chemical parameters (temperature, suspended matter, pH, electrical conductivity, COD, BOD5, NO-3 , Al, Fe, Cu, Ni), parasitological (helminthes eggs) and bacteriological (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococcus). The results show that, the physico-chemical quality of well waters generally approaches the WHO standards of crop watering water. The physico-chemical of streams waters and bacteriological quality of wells and streams waters are bad, according to WHO guide. These bad quality waters could contaminate crops, some of which are eaten raw, which is surely a cause of the outbreak of waterborne diseases in the city. The waters from streams are more affected. The pretreatment of the water before use for irrigation of vegetables is highly recommended.