3D seismic and formation micro-imager (FMI) integrated study to delineate depositional pattern of Abu Madi (Upper Miocene) clastic reservoir rocks in El-Wastani gas field,onshore Nile Delta,Egypt

Ten wells (EW-4, EW-5, EW-6, EW-7, EW-8, EW-9, EW-10, EW-12, EW-13 and EW-15) were interpreted using the composite well logs, data of core analysis, gamma-ray logs, formation micro-imager logs (FMI), and 3D seismic data in SEGY format to understand the stratigraphy of the onshore, Nile Delta, Egypt.The amplitude analysis of 3-D seismic horizon slice of Lower Abu Madi rock unit together with the lithostratigraphic correlation through the study area depending on the gamma-ray log “HSGR” (left to right increasing), and the identification of type of bed geometry, nature of bed contacts, type of the sedimentary structures and the dominant formative paleocurrents by using some available borehole micro-resistivity images (FMI) and core photos. All of these techniques are used together to define the different depositional facies and depositional environment of the Messinian clastics (Lower Abu Madi rock unit), which is considered to be the main reservoir in the El-Wastani gas field, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt.The present study of depositional pattern of the Upper Miocene clastics reservoir (Lower Abu Madi rock unit) revealed that it is represented by high sinuous meandering channels or paleo-valley and three types of fluvial facies were defined; channel fill, channel margin, and floodplain basin.     

Polystyrene-poly(2-ethylhexylmethacrylate) block copolymers: Synthesis,bulk phase behavior,and thin film structure

Anionic polymerization was employed to synthesize well-defined diblock copolymers of polystyrene and poly(2-ethylhexylmethacrylate), PS-PEHMA. Diblock morphologies in bulk and in substrate-supported thin films were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. PS-PEHMA diblocks exhibited thermotropic order-disorder transitions; one diblock showed a thermoreversible transition between lamellae and a higher-temperature morphology assigned as perforated lamellae. Unlike PS-poly(alkylmethacrylate) diblocks where the alkyl group is n-butyl or n-pentyl, PS-PEHMA diblocks showed a typical decreasing Flory interaction parameter with increasing temperature. Thin films of PS-cylinder-forming PS-PEHMA diblocks showed a strong preference for the cylinders to lie in the plane of the film; films of incommensurate thickness readily formed terraces. Films of commensurate thickness were easily aligned over macroscopic areas through the application of mechanical shear.     

Finding home after homelessness: older men’s experiences in single-site permanent supportive housing

Abstract

Although research on supportive housing models for older homeless adults is gaining momentum, few studies have considered the unique experiences of formerly homeless older adults residing in single-site permanent supportive housing (PSH). Drawing on the concepts of home and social exclusion, this qualitative case study explored the everyday experiences of 10 formerly homeless older men residing in single-site PSH. A constructivist grounded theory methodology and in-depth interviews revealed that participants felt largely at home in PSH because the congregate design and surveillance fostered a sense of safety. However, certain design features coupled with housing rules triggered processes of territorial exclusion. Further, members of minority groups experienced identity and institutional exclusion because of discrimination linked to their ethnicity, language, and sexual orientation. Recommendations are provided to promote more inclusive, home-like models of supportive housing for older homeless adults.     

Comparison of the equilibrium sorption of five organic compounds to HDPE, PP, and PVC geomembranes

This experimental investigation quantified the sorption uptake of five commonly encountered organic groundwater contaminants, methyl tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE), benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,2-dichorobenzene (1,2-DCB), and trinitrotoluene (TNT), to geomembranes made from high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinylchloride (PVC). The organic compounds were chosen to span a range of aqueous solubilities and chemical properties. The geomembranes tested in this study exhibited sorption capacities that were of similar magnitude for each of the contaminants tested, with the exception of 1,2-DCB to HDPE, which exhibited strong uptake in comparison to the other solute/sorbent combinations. In general, the PVC geomembrane demonstrated the highest sorption capacities, while the HDPE geomembrane demonstrated the lowest sorption capacities. Measured partitioning coefficients for the contaminant/geomembrane combinations ranged from S_gf<1 to 160, but most commonly had values between 10 and 75.     

Using a chemical equilibrium model to predict amendments required to precipitate phosphorus as struvite in liquid swine manure

Precipitation of phosphate minerals from liquid swine manure is an established means of reducing the orthophosphate (OP) concentration. This project investigated the usefulness of a chemical equilibrium model, Visual Minteq, for prescribing the amendments needed to maximize struvite precipitation from liquid swine manure and thus reduce the OP phosphorus concentration. The actual concentrations of Mg(2+), Ca(2+), K(+), OP, NH(4)(+), alkalinity and pH from a liquid swine manure system were used as inputs to the model. The model was modified to remove species with extremely low formation rates, because they would not significantly precipitate in the reaction occurring in a short retention-time process such as those envisioned for swine manure struvite-formation reactors. Using the model's output, a series of 19-L reactors were used to verify the results. Verification results demonstrated that Visual Minteq can be used to pre-determine the concentration of amendments required to maximize struvite recovery.     

Forensically Robust Detection of the Presence of Morpholine in Apples—Proof of Principle

Morpholine is a precursor of carcinogenic nitrosamines and although the possibility of their formation in the human stomach after ingestion of morpholine-treated apples is reported as highly unlikely morpholine has not been authorised as a food additive in the EU. Methods for its detection are required since it is permitted in other jurisdictions and may be present on food through direct treatment of fruit with waxes containing the compound, through steam treatment during processing or from packaging. Methods using derivatising agents with the inclusion of UV chromophores such as dansyl chloride yield good separation and high sensitivity but with mass spectrometric fragment ions predominantly originated from the derivatising group rather than the morpholine moiety. An amine acetylation derivatisation method is proposed from which fragment ions originating from the morpholine group are detected using widely available GC–MS. With full validation, a forensically robust confirmation of the presence of morpholine via its N-acetyl derivative is possible in support of regulatory analysis.     

An adaptive production control system utilizing agent technology

Agents are intelligent software objects capable of reasoning about, and interacting with, their environment. This paper presents conceptual and prototypical models of an adaptive production control system based on agent technology. In the system presented both workpieces and resources are represented by agents. Supervisory agents are introduced as the production load on the resources increases and removed as the load decreases. These supervisory agents serve to balance the production load across resources and maximize overall throughput. Simulation studies are presented demonstrating improvements in throughput, resource utilization, and work-in-process inventories over systems invariant to production load.