Optimization methods for petroleum fields development and production systems: a review

In this review, we survey the widespread use of numerical optimization or mathematical programming approaches to develop and produce petroleum fields for design and operations; lift gas and rate allocation; and reservoir development, planning, and management. Early applications adopted linear programming alongside heuristics. With continuous advancements in computing speed and algorithms, we have been able to formulate more complex and meaningful models including nonlinear programs and mixed-integer linear and nonlinear programs. Various formulations and solution strategies have been used including continuous and discrete optimization, stochastic programming to handle uncertainty, and metaheuristics such as genetic algorithms to increase solution quality while reducing computational load.     

Antibody purification using porous metal–chelated monolithic columns

A novel monolithic material was developed to obtain efficient and cost‐effective purification of IgG from human plasma. The porous monolith was obtained by bulk polymerization in a glass tube of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and N‐methacryloyl‐(L )‐histidine methyl ester (MAH). The poly(HEMA‐MAH) monolith had a specific surface area of 214.6 m²/g and was characterized by swelling studies, porosity measurement, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. Then the monolith was loaded with Cu²⁺ ions to form the metal chelate. Poly(HEMA‐MAH) monolith with a swelling ratio of 74% and containing 20.9 μmol MAH/g was used in the adsorption/desorption of IgG from aqueous solutions and human plasma. The maximum adsorption of IgG from an aqueous solution in phosphate buffer was 10.8 mg/g at pH 7.0. Higher adsorption was obtained from human plasma (up to 104.2 mg/g), with a purity of 94.1%. It was observed that IgG could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed with the poly(HEMA‐MAH) monolith without significant loss of adsorption capacity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 395–404, 2006     

PHEMA cryogel for in-vitro removal of anti-dsDNA antibodies from SLE plasma

Supermacroporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) cryogel carrying DNA was used in the removal of anti-dsDNA antibodies from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient plasma. The PHEMA cryogel was prepared by bulk polymerization which proceeds in an aqueous solution of monomer frozen inside a plastic syringe. After thawing, the PHEMA cryogel contains a continuous matrix having interconnected macropores of 10–200 μm size. Pore volume in the PHEMA cryogel was 67.5%. Ester groups in the PHEMA structure were converted to imine groups by reacting with poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) in the presence of NaHCO₃. Amino (? NH₂) content of PEI-modified PHEMA cryogel was determined as 82 mg PEI/g. Then, DNA was attached onto the PHEMA cryogel via amino groups (53.4 mg DNA/g cryogel). Anti-dsDNA-antibody concentration declined significantly from 780 IU/ml to 80 IU/ml with the time. The maximum anti-dsDNA-antibody adsorption amount was 70 × 10³ IU/g. Anti-dsDNA-antibodies could be repeatedly adsorbed and eluted without noticeable loss in the anti-dsDNA-antibody adsorption amount.     

Radionuclides and heavy metals concentrations in Turkish market tea

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. The Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey is one of the main tea producers in Turkey and the fifth in the world. Thus, the chemical components in tea have received great interest because they are related to health. Since this region was contaminated by the Chernobyl accident in 1986, a comprehensive study was planned and carried out to determine the radioactivity level in the tea growing region. The activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were measured in 29 black tea and one green tea samples from local Turkish markets using gamma spectrometry with an HpGe detector. The average activity concentration of ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were found 3.2 ± 0.6 Bq/kg, 6.4 ± 0.7 Bq/kg, 445.6 ± 17.8 Bq/kg and 42.0 ± 1.4 Bq/kg in tea samples, respectively.In addition, the concentration of five heavy metals including Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb were determined by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP/OES) on tea samples. Among the investigated metals, Mn was the highest levels. The levels of manganese were in the range of 1850.75–292.65 μg/g (mean: 1286.35 ± 0.58 μg/g). Levels of Pb in the tea samples analyzed were below the detection limits. The concentrations of all elements for daily intake are below safety levels for human consumptions.     

A sociotechnical approach to smart card systems design: an Australian case study

Sociotechnical theory represents an important frontier as an effective design tool for new technology. This paper suggests a working model for adopting the objectives of sociotechnical principles for smart card systems design. As an example, a case study based on the collective design practices of Australian firms known to be using smart card is presented. It is found that we are witnessing the birth of a new capacity of Australian firms to understand in a practical way, how sociotechnical knowledge can be applied. It is concluded that current smart card design practices of Australian firms are not responsible for the limited success of attempts by Australian firms to introduce smart card technology. Rather, it is suggested that there are good economic and organizational reasons why smart card acceptance and use in Australia may have been inhibited. Some important challenges that must be addressed have been noted.     

Liquid Exfoliation of Icosahedral Quasicrystals

The realization of quasicrystals has attracted a considerable attention due to their unusual structures and properties. The concept of quasicrystals in the atomically thin materials is even more appealing due to the in‐plane covalent bonds and weak interlayer interactions. Here, it is demonstrated that 2D quasicrystals can be created/isolated from bulk phases because of long‐range interlayer ordered aperiodic arrangements. An ultrasonication‐assisted exfoliation of polygrained icosahedral Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystals at room temperature shows the formation of a large area of mono‐ and few layers in threefold quasicrystalline plane. The formation of these layers from random grain orientation consistently indicates that the threefold plane is most stable in comparison to the twofold and fivefold planes in icosahedral clusters. The above experimental observations are further supported with help of theoretical simulations. The mono‐ and few‐layered aperiodic planes render plentiful active sites for the catalysis of hydrogen evolution reaction. The threefold 2D quasicrystalline plane exhibits a hydrogen evolution reaction overpotential of ≈100 mV (160 times less than bulk counterpart) and long‐term durability. These systems constitute the first demonstration of quasicrystalline monolayer ordering in a free‐standing thin layer without requiring the support of periodic or aperiodic substrate.     

Radionuclide concentration in tea, cabbage, orange, kiwi and soil and lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in Rize, Turkey

BACKGROUND: In this study, the activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were measured in tea, cabbage, orange, kiwi and soil samples collected from different stations using gamma spectrometry with a high‐purity germanium detector. RESULTS: The average activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were found to be 8.2 ± 1.8, 17.3 ± 3.3, 465.8 ± 11.8 and 20.9 ± 3.8 Bq kg^?1 in food samples, and 72.4 ± 9.8, 51.1 ± 8.3, 229.3 ± 14.7 and 312.9 ± 11.5 Bq kg^?1 in farm soils, respectively. The internal effective dose to individuals and excess lifetime cancer risk from the consumption of the food type radioactivity ranged between 11.7 and 53.6 µSv y^?1 and between 0.05 × 10^?3 and 0.24 × 10^?3, respectively. The annual external gamma effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk in the farms due to soil radioactivity ranged between 94.1 and 139.8 µSv y^?1 and between 0.43 × 10^?3 and 0.64 × 10^?3, respectively. The mean transfer factors of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs, from the soil to vegetables and fruit were 0.57, 0.32, 2.12 and 0.04, respectively. CONCLUSION: Annual effective gamma doses were found to be higher than the world's average in soil samples. The excess lifetime cancer risks were only found higher than the world's average in soil samples. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A highly efficient polymer non-fullerene organic solar cell enhanced by introducing a small molecule as a crystallizing-agent

Non-fullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) have attracted tremendous interest because of their potential to replace traditional expensive fullerene-based OSCs. To further increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE), it is necessary to offset the narrow absorption of the non-fullerene materials, which is often achieved by adding an additive (>10?wt%) to form a ternary blend. However, a high ratio of the third component can often be detrimental to the active layer morphology and can increase the complexity in understanding the device physics toward rationally designed improvements. In this work, we introduce 2,4-bis-[(N,N-diisobutylamino)-2,6-dihydroxyphenyl]-4-(4-diphenyliminio) squaraine (ASSQ) in the poly [(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl) benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b′] dithiophene)-co-(1,3-di(5-thiophene-2-yl)-5,7-bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzo [1,2-c:4,5-c′] dithiophene-4,8-dione)] (PBDB-T): 3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno [2,3-d:2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno [1,2-b:5,6-b′] dithiophene (ITIC) as an active layer “crystallizing-agent”. Through detailed morphology characterization, we find that the addition of 4?wt% ASSQ assists ITIC organization order and promotes PDBD-T:ITIC aggregation in the preferential face-on orientation. In addition, we demonstrate that the ASSQ and PBDB-T show efficient exciton dissociation in the ternary blend over Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). We reveal using surface potential and solubility measurements that a ASSQ-ITIC co-crystalline structure forms which facilitates a significant improvement in the device PCE, from 8.98% to 10.86%.