In a nanotechnological approach we have investigated the use of natural lipids in the preparation of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). Three different NLC composed of copaiba oil and beeswax, ...sweet almond oil and shea butter, and sesame oil and cocoa butter as structural matrices were optimized using factorial analysis; Pluronic® 68 and lidocaine (LDC) were used as the colloidal stabilizer and model encapsulated drug, respectively. The optimal formulations were characterized by different techniques (IR-ATR, DSC, and TEM), and their safety and efficacy were also tested. These nanocarriers were able to upload high amounts of the anesthetic with a sustained in vitro release profile for 24h. The physicochemical stability in terms of size (nm), PDI, zeta potential (mV), pH, nanoparticle concentration (particles/mL), and visual inspection was followed during 12months of storage at 25°C. The formulations exhibited excellent structural properties and stability. They proved to be nontoxic in vitro (cell viability tests with Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts) and significantly improved the in vivo effects of LDC, over the heart rate of zebra fish larvae and in the blockage of sciatic nerve in mice. The results from this study support that the proper combination of natural excipients is promising in DDS, taking advantage of the biocompatibility, low cost, and diversity of lipids.
Illustrative representation of a NLC prepared with natural lipids. Three different optimized NLC systems for lidocaine delivery were prepared, using copaiba oil and beeswax, sweet almond oil and shea butter, or sesame oil and cocoa butter as the lipid matrix, plus Pluronic® 68 as surfactant. The systems were evaluated from pre-formulation to in vivo studies and the most prominent results are highlighted. Display omitted
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout released 3.19 million barrels (435 000 tons) of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Driven by currents and wind, an estimated 22 000 tons of spilled oil were ...deposited onto the northeastern Gulf shorelines, adversely impacting the ecosystems and economies of the Gulf coast regions. In this work we present field work conducted at the Gulf beaches in three U.S. States during 2010–2011: Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, to explore endogenous mechanisms that control persistence and biodegradation of the MC252-oil deposited within beach sediments as deep as 50 cm. The work involved over 1500 measurements incorporating oil chemistry, hydrocarbon-degrading microbial populations, nutrient and DO concentrations, and intrinsic beach properties. We found that intrinsic beach capillarity along with groundwater depth provides primary controls on aeration and infiltration of near-surface sediments, thereby modulating moisture and redox conditions within the oil-contaminated zone. In addition, atmosphere–ocean–groundwater interactions created hypersaline sediment environments near the beach surface at all the studied sites. The fact that the oil-contaminated sediments retained near or above 20% moisture content and were also eutrophic and aerobic suggests that the limiting factor for oil biodegradation is the hypersaline environment due to evaporation, a fact not reported in prior studies. These results highlight the importance of beach porewater hydrodynamics in generating unique hypersaline sediment environments that inhibited oil decomposition along the Gulf shorelines following DWH.
Price formation in crude oil markets is the result of the action of many participants (
e.g., producers, governments, speculators, etc.) whose effects are perceived at different time scales, from ...days to years. The diversity of participants as well as the occurrence of extreme socio-political events yields a market with complex price evolution. This paper uses entropy methods to monitor the evolution of crude oil price movements. As the complexity of the price can depend of the time horizon, entropy computations are performed for different time scales via low-pass filtering of the price difference dynamics. The results are interpreted in term of relative market efficiency concepts in the sense that high entropy values should be related to a more complex and, hence, less predictable market evolution. It is shown that the highest market efficiency is found for small time scales up to one or two weeks. The multiscale entropy pattern for high time scales, longer than one quarter, is interesting as it shows alternating periods of high and low entropy levels. Interestingly, this alternating pattern has a dominant spectral component of about 4.3
years, which could be related to macroeconomic (Kitchin) business cycles. It is shown that U.S. recessions in the recent 25
years are coincident with periods of reduced entropy levels, meaning that during economic downturn the long-run market complexity is drastically reduced. The possible effects of extreme events (
e.g., Iraq War) are analyzed in terms of the relative market efficiency, suggesting that some events have affected the short-term but not the long-term market complexity. Overall, these results show that methods based on entropy concepts can shed light on the structure of crude oil markets as well as on its link to macroeconomic conditions and socio-political extreme events.
► Use of entropy measure for studying the complexity of crude oil prices. ► Entropy concepts can be related to informational market efficiency. ► Temporal variations of the crude oil price revealed a 4.3-year cycle. ► Economic recessions induce complexity entropy reductions in the crude oil market.
•Photochemiluminescence assay was used for measuring total antioxidant activity of oils.•Minor constituent removed oils significantly reduced antioxidant activity in rat serum.•Minor constituent ...removed oils did not affect overall fatty acid composition of serum lipids.
This study evaluated the antioxidant activity of vegetable oils using photochemiluminescence based assay. The following oils were selected for the study – palm oil (PO); olive oil (OLO); sunflower oil (SNO); rice bran oil (RBO); sesame oil (SESO) and linseed oil (LSO). The antioxidant activity of oils was reduced significantly when unsaponifiable matter was removed from the oils. The rats fed unsaponifiable matter removed vegetable oils showed significantly reduced antioxidant activity but no change in overall fatty acid composition in serum lipids. Therefore the minor constituents in unsaponifiable matter influences antioxidant activity exhibited by vegetable oils.
Satellite observations of formaldehyde (HCHO) columns provide top‐down information on emissions of highly reactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We examine the long‐term trends in HCHO columns ...observed by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument from 2005 to 2014 across North America. Biogenic isoprene is the dominant source of HCHO, and its emission has a large temperature dependence. After correcting for this dependence, we find a general pattern of increases in much of North America but decreases in the southeastern U.S. Over the Houston‐Galveston‐Brazoria industrial area, HCHO columns decreased by 2.2% a−1 from 2005 to 2014, consistent with trends in emissions of anthropogenic VOCs. Over the Cold Lake Oil Sands in the southern Alberta in Canada, HCHO columns increased by 3.8% a−1, consistent with the increase in crude oil production there. HCHO variability in the northwestern U.S. and Midwest could be related to afforestation and corn silage production. Although NOx levels can affect the HCHO yield from isoprene oxidation, we find that decreases in anthropogenic NOx emissions made only a small contribution to the observed HCHO trends.
Plain Language Summary
We use satellite observations to diagnose long‐term trends in HCHO columns across North America from 2005 to 2014. HCHO generally increased from 2005–2009 to 2010–2014 but decreased in the southeastern U.S. We find significant regional trends in excess of 20% related to decreases in urban anthropogenic VOC emissions (Houston metropolitan area) and increases in oil/gas production (oil sands in western Canada). Significant regional trends in the northwestern U.S. and in the Midwest may be driven by afforestation and agricultural activity. The impact of declining NOx emission over the U.S. on HCHO columns is likely small over this time frame.
Key Points
We detect significant HCHO trends over North America from space
We see evidence of changing emissions of VOCs from space, in particular from oil/gas operations
The impact of declining NOx emissions on HCHO columns is greatest in the southeastern U.S.
Foamy oil flow is one reason that contributes to the high recovery factor observed in the heavy oil reservoirs. Although the viscosity of heavy oil, as a critical fundamental property, has been ...noticed by many researchers, the viscosity effect on foamy oil flow remains unclear. Therefore, this work conducted experimental analysis to study the viscosity effect on the foamy oil and oil recovery factor. Based on the experimental analysis, optimal oil viscosity was determined for optimizing foamy oil behavior in the porous media. Stronger foamy oil flow was observed with higher oil viscosity. Due to the low mobility of high oil viscosity, a stronger foamy oil flow does not necessarily mean a higher oil recovery factor. With the increases of dead oil viscosity from 2200 mPa·s to 6600 mPa·s, oil recovery increases from 10.55% to 14.10%. When the dead oil viscosity further increases to 144,000 mPa·s, oil recovery drops to 10.43%. Another important observation is the second foamy oil flow, which occurs during the late stage of oil production for experiments of relatively high oil viscosity. During secondary foamy oil flow, the oil production rate increases again with an increased pressure gradient of the sand-pack and gas production rate drops. All those phenomenal indicate that given preferable oil viscosity and gas-oil ratio (GOR), foamy oil can occur multiple times, which provides significant understanding of current foamy oil study. Therefore, optimizing oil viscosity during each production stage will result in stronger foamy oil flow AND maintained the oil mobility during production.
Bioactivity and Toxicological Actions of Carvacrol Suntres, Zacharias E; Coccimiglio, John; Alipour, Misagh
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition,
2015, Letnik:
55, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Carvacrol is a monoterpenic phenol produced by an abundant number of aromatic plants, including thyme and oregano. Presently, carvacrol is used in low concentrations as a food flavoring ingredient ...and preservative, as well as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetic formulations. In recent years, considerable research has been undertaken in an effort to establish the biological actions of carvacrol for its potential use in clinical applications. Results from in vitro and in vivo studies show that carvacrol possess a variety of biological and pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, spasmolytic, and vasorelaxant. The focus of this review is to evaluate the existing knowledge regarding the biological, pharmacological, and toxicological effects of carvacrol.
Shale oil is a promising alternative unconventional energy to conventional fossil fuels. Although some studies have been conducted on total oil content, little work to date was performed on sorbed ...versus free oil, which is essential for estimating shale oil reserves. This study proposed a sorbed oil model insights from the contribution of oil absorption in kerogen (Absk), oil adsorption on organic pores (Adsk), and oil adsorption on clay pores(Adsc). The model innovatively considers the effect of thermal maturation on kerogen sorption and the proportion of clay pores hosting adsorbed oil (f). A case study shows that the Absk ranges from 250 to 80 mg/g TOC in the vitrinite reflectance range of 0.5%–0.89%, while Adsk is 16.5–115.58 mg/g TOC because organic pores are not well developed. For clay pores, the oil adsorption capacity is 1.8 mg/m2 and f is mainly controlled by the oil saturation. At the early oil window, oil sorption associated with kerogen dominated, thus free oil instead of total oil contents should be considered when selecting favorable areas. The proposed model is useful to our understanding of the shale oil occurrence mechanism and provides a new way of estimating sorbed oil contents at different maturity.
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•A novel sorbed oil model is proposed by combining kerogen absorption, organic pore adsorption, and clay pore adsorption.•Thermal maturation has a great effect on kerogen sorption oil capacity.•Free oil instead of total oil contents should be considered in the selection of shale oil sweet spots at the early oil window.
As the oil and gas industry is crucial to the global energy market, policymakers need accurate information about local oil reserves and the harmful environmental effects of drilling, such as damage ...to public land and wildlife. Therefore, accurate automatic detection of the location, distribution and quantity of oil wells is essential. Recent advancements in remote sensing and deep learning technologies provide potential solutions for automatic oil wells detection using high-resolution remote sensing images. This study proposes an optimized Faster R-CNN-based model that incorporates three key modifications to improve the accuracy of oil wells detection. The modifications include replacing the VGG16 network with the ResNet50 network to improve the model's feature extraction capabilities, substituting the ordinary convolution of ResNet with a dilated convolution to improve the model's receptive field, and constructing a feature pyramid to improve the model's ability to detect small targets and objects at different scales. Also, an edge detection module is added to further improve the detection accuracy. Furthermore, a new framework based on Faster R-CNN and leveraging Soft-NMS (Non-Maximum Suppression) and the proposed ClusterRPN sub-network is combined to address the problem of clustered oil wells detection. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed optimized model outperforms existing models.
Abstract Alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3, ALA) is an essential fatty acid and the metabolic precursor of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) from the n-3 family with relevant ...physiological and metabolic roles: eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3, DHA). Western diet lacks of suitable intake of n-3 LCPUFA and there are recommendations to increase the dietary supply of such nutrients. Seed oils rich in ALA such as those from rosa mosqueta ( Rosa rubiginosa ), sacha inchi ( Plukenetia volubis ) and chia ( Salvia hispanica ) may constitute an alternative that merits research. This study evaluated hepatic and epididymal accretion and biosynthesis of n-3 LCPUFA, the activity and expression of Δ−5 and Δ−6 desaturase enzymes, the expression and DNA-binding activity of PPAR-α and SREBP-1c, oxidative stress parameters and the activity of antioxidative enzymes in rats fed sunflower oil (SFO, 1% ALA) as control group, canola oil (CO, 10% ALA), rosa mosqueta oil (RMO, 33% ALA), sacha inchi oil (SIO, 49% ALA) and chia oil (ChO, 64% ALA) as single lipid source. A larger supply of ALA increased the accretion of n-3 LCPUFA, the activity and expression of desaturases, the antioxidative status, the expression and DNA-binding of PPAR-α, the oxidation of fatty acids and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, whereas the expression and DNA-binding activity of SREBP-1c transcription factor and the biosynthetic activity of fatty acids declined. Results showed that oils rich in ALA such as SIO and ChO may trigger metabolic responses in rats such as those produced by n-3 PUFA.
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