Conditions Of Depletion Research Articles

Nutrient starvation and nitrate pollution impairs the assimilation of dissolved organic phosphorus in coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis

Phosphorus (P) is an essential but limiting nutrient for coral growth due to low concentrations of dissolved inorganic concentrations (DIP) in reef waters. P limitation is often exacerbated when concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) increase in the reef. To increase their access to phosphorus, corals can use organic P dissolved in seawater (DOP). They possess phosphatase enzymes that transform DOP into DIP, which can then be taken up by coral symbionts. Although the concentration of DOP in reef waters is much higher than DIP, the dependence of corals on this P source is still poorly understood, especially with different concentrations of DIN in seawater. As efforts to predict the future of corals increase, improved knowledge of the P requirements of corals living under different DIN concentrations may be key to predicting coral health. In this study, we investigated P content and phosphatase activities (PAs) in Stylophora pistillata maintained under nutrient starvation, long-term nitrogen enrichment (nitrate or ammonium at 2 μM) and short-term (few hours) nitrogen pulses. Results show that under nutrient depletion and ammonium-enriched conditions, a significant increase in PAs was observed compared to control conditions, with no change in the N:P ratio of the coral tissue. On the contrary, under nitrate enrichment, there was no increase in PAs compared to control conditions, but an increase in the N:P ratio of the coral tissue. These results suggest that under nitrate enrichment, corals were unable to increase their ability to rely on DOP and replenish their cellular P content. An increase in cellular N:P ratio is detrimental to coral health as it increases the susceptibility of coral bleaching under thermal stress. These results provide an overall view of the P requirements of corals exposed to different nutrient conditions and improve our understanding of the effects of nitrogen enrichment on corals.

Coproduction of lipids and carotenoids by the novel green alga Coelastrella sp. depending on cultivation conditions

A novel green alga Coelastrella sp. D3–1 was isolated, and its unique and significant lipid and carotenoid coproduction capability was characterised depending on cultivation conditions. The main component of produced lipids was triacylglycerol under nutrient depletion conditions, in which fatty-methyl-esters made up 20−44% of the dry cell weight (DCW) and consisted of abundant C16:0 and C18:1 fatty acids. The red (orange)-stage cells also produced a large portion of carotenoids (38.5% of the DCW) involving echinenone, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin as major components accumulated over only 5–6 days under optimal conditions. Stress tests revealed resistance of the cells to pH 2–11, high temperatures (40–60 °C), ultraviolet irradiation, drought, and H2O2 treatment, thereby showing a robust nature. Both green- and red (orange)-stage cell extracts also showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities, implying that they have significant functions as useful biorefinery materials.

3D simulation of hydrogen distributions affected by a passive auto-catalytic recombiner in an oxygen-starved condition

In this paper, we simulated the change in hydrogen behavior according to a Passive Autocatalytic Recombiner (PAR) under oxygen depletion conditions and compared the results with the THAI project experimental results. In order to reduce calculation cost, we calculated the hydrogen-oxygen bonding reaction in the catalyst region through correlation equations of the hydrogen removal rate according to the PAR type, and we did not consider the shape of the catalyst with a relatively small size and the detailed hydrogen-oxygen bonding reaction. The hydrogen concentration at the PAR inlet and outlet, mixed gas temperature, flow rate at PAR inlet, pressure and total hydrogen removal rate were similar to the experimental results and analysis values in all cases and the reduction in the hydrogen removal rate agreed well under oxygen depletion conditions. However, after the hydrogen injection was stopped, errors of the hydrogen concentration and flow rate at the PAR inlet increased as the buoyancy decreased because the high temperature of the catalyst was not taken into account.

Human serum albumin depletion based on dye ligand affinity chromatography via magnetic microcryogels

One of the primary purposes of proteomic studies is to analyze the proteins in the blood to be considered as biomarkers. Albumin, which constitutes the majority of total serum proteins, complicates the discovery of low-density proteins that are important for the diagnosis of diseases. Based on this, an alternative approach for albumin depletion was developed in this study by covalently attached Cibacron Blue 3GA (CB) to magnetic microcryogels. After detailed characterization of CB attached magnetic microcryogels synthesized via a microstencil array chip, albumin adsorption studies were performed to examine the optimum depletion conditions. In the presented study, the maximum albumin adsorption capacity (Qmax) was calculated as 149.25 mg/mL in pH 5.0 acetate buffer solution, which is the optimum pH value for albumin. Experimental studies have demonstrated that CB-attached magnetic microcryogels can be reused without loss of performance for albumin depletion after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles.

Research strategies and methods for precious animal medicine substitutes

Animal medicine is a large category of Chinese medicinecommonly used in clinical practice and has important scientific and therapeutic value. Animal medicine isscarcer than herbal medicine. In recent years, with the vigorous development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),the contradiction between the increasing industrial demand andsupply of scarce and even endangered medicinal animals has become increasingly prominent. The continuous lack of medicinal animal resources affects the clinical demandandalso causes serious damage to the ecological environment. Only relying on artificial breeding is not enough to alleviate the current condition of depletion. In the face of this dilemma, it is a major challenge for the current industrial development to protect animal resources and meet clinical and industrial needs with "available medicines". The application of substitutes for animal medicines isthe key focus to alleviate this problem, and it is also the key scientific issue to be solved urgently in the modernization of TCM. This paper summarizedand reviewedthe history, current situation, strategies, and methods of animal medicinesubstitution and put forward the point of view of "similar chemical characteristics, similar efficacy, and higher safety" to provide references for scientific substitution and resource protection of rare animals.

Why and how targets’ negative workplace gossip exhort knowledge hiding? Shedding light on organizational justice

PurposeExtant scholars identified negative workplace gossip as a social stressor that negatively influences employees’ behavior and attitude. Despite the burgeoning interest in workplace stressors, limited studies have explored how the detrimental consequences of targets’ perceived negative workplace gossip spur their emotions and behaviors. Grounding on conservation of resources and ego depletion theories, this study aims to investigate why and how targets’ negative workplace gossip may contribute to trigger knowledge hiding. Specifically, the authors explore the underlying mechanism of personal ego depletion and boundary conditions of organizational justice to shed new light on the above process.Design/methodology/approachUsing two time-wave survey, the authors collected 340 sample data from employees working in high-tech companies of China. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine hypothesized relationships of moderated mediation model.FindingsThe empirical results revealed that negative workplace gossip exacerbates knowledge hiding by increasing personal ego depletion. Furthermore, through testing moderated mediation model, the results showed that organizational justice (i.e. distributive and procedural justice) with the low presence moderates the stronger strength of the linkage between negative workplace gossip and personal ego depletion, and likewise, it also moderates the stronger effect of negative workplace gossip on knowledge hiding via personal ego depletion.Practical implicationsThis study recommends several guidelines for managers and practitioners to mitigate negative gossip by strengthening organizational justice.Originality/valueThis study first enriches novel understanding in the literature between negative workplace gossip and knowledge hiding by using a new emotional mechanism (i.e. personal ego depletion). This research also contributes new insights by incorporating contextual boundary conditions (i.e. organizational justice) that have not been yet researched on negative gossip and knowledge hiding linkage.

Experimental investigation of the flow properties of layered coal-rock analogues

Coals are heterogeneous and the zones of interest for gas production (high fracture density) are often friable. 3D printed (3DP) rocks can create a repeatable analogue by minimizing specimen variability. This study investigates a series of 3DP coal seam gas packages under various flow conditions to determine the impact of fracture network and interburden rock on the dynamics of permeability. The 3DP coal analogue is treated with sodium silicate and carbon dioxide to reduce porosity and permeability. Seven cylindrical specimens are analysed including: the intact 3DP coal analogue, the intact interburden analogue, the unidirectionally and multi-directionally fractured coal analogues, and packages of coal-interburden-coal with different fracture systems. These specimens are subjected to isotropic triaxial flow tests to compare the properties of natural and synthetic rocks. The experimental results revealed that the pore compressibility of 3DP rock treated with sodium silicate is in the same range as coal. 3DP specimens with multi-directional fractures exhibited lower fracture compressibility than ones with unidirectional fractures. The results suggested that the flow properties of a single coal layer might differ from that of a composite coal-interburden rock. The experimental outcomes indicate that 3D printing is a valuable tool to investigate coal behaviour under depletion conditions.

Novel organisation and regulation of the pic promoter from enteroaggregative and uropathogenic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The serine protease autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs) are a large family of virulence factors commonly found in enteric bacteria. These secreted virulence factors have diverse functions during bacterial infection, including adhesion, aggregation and cell toxicity. One such SPATE, the Pic mucinase (protein involved in colonisation) cleaves mucin, allowing enteric bacterial cells to utilise mucin as a carbon source and to penetrate the gut mucus lining, thereby increasing mucosal colonisation. The pic gene is widely distributed within the Enterobacteriaceae, being found in human pathogens, such as enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and Shigella flexneri 2a. As the pic promoter regions from EAEC strain 042 and UPEC strain CFT073 differ, we have investigated the regulation of each promoter. Here, using in vivo and in vitro techniques, we show that both promoters are activated by the global transcription factor, CRP (cyclic AMP receptor protein), but the architectures of the EAEC and the UPEC pic promoter differ. Expression from both pic promoters is repressed by the nucleoid-associated factor, Fis, and maximal promoter activity occurs when cells are grown in minimal medium. As CRP activates transcription in conditions of nutrient depletion, whilst Fis levels are maximal in nutrient-rich environments, the regulation of the EAEC and UPEC pic promoters is consistent with Pic’s nutritional role in scavenging mucin as a suitable carbon source during colonisation and infection.

Strong T-cell activation in response to COVID-19 vaccination in multiple sclerosis patients receiving B-cell depleting therapies.

Immunocompromised individuals, including multiple sclerosis (MS) patients on certain immunotherapy treatments, are considered susceptible to complications from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and specific vaccination regimens have been recommended for suitable protection. MS patients receiving anti-CD20 therapy (aCD20-MS) are considered especially vulnerable due to acquired B-cell depletion and impaired antibody production in response to virus infection and COVID-19 vaccination. Here, the humoral and cellular responses are analyzed in a group of aCD20-MS patients (n=43) compared to a healthy control cohort (n=34) during the first 6 months after a 2-dose cycle mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination. Both IgG antibodies recognizing receptor binding domain (RBD) from CoV-2 spike protein and their blocking activity against RBD-hACE2 binding were significantly reduced in aCD20-MS patients, with a seroconversion rate of only 23.8%. Interestingly, even under conditions of severe B-cell depletion and failed seroconversion, a significantly higher polyfunctional IFNγ+ and IL-2+ T-cell response and strong T-cell proliferation capacity were detected compared to controls. Moreover, no difference in T-cell response was observed between forms of disease (relapsing remitting- vs progressive-MS), anti-CD20 therapy (Rituximab vs Ocrelizumab) and type of mRNA-based vaccine received (mRNA-1273 vs BNT162b2). These results suggest the generation of a partial adaptive immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in B-cell depleted MS individuals driven by a functionally competent T-cell arm. Investigation into the role of the cellular immune response is important to identifying the level of protection against SARS-CoV-2 in aCD20-MS patients and could have potential implications for future vaccine design and application.

Iron deficiency aggravates DMNQ-induced cytotoxicity via redox cycling in kidney-derived cells

Iron, an essential element for most of living organisms, participates in many biological functions. Since iron is redox-active transition metal, it is known that excessive levels stimulate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exacerbate cytotoxicity. An iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency disorder in the world (about 30% of the population) and is more common than cases of iron overload. However, the effects of iron deficiency on ROS-induced cytotoxicity and the maintenance of intracellular redox homeostasis are not fully understood. The present study reports on an evaluation of the effects of iron deficiency on cytotoxicity induced by several ROS generators. In contrast to hydrogen peroxide and erastin, the cytotoxicity of 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ), a redox cycling agent that induces intracellular superoxide anion formation, was exacerbated by iron deficiency. Cytochrome b5 reductase was identified as a candidate enzyme responsible for the redox cycling of DMNQ under conditions of iron depletion. Moreover, the DMNQ-induced intracellular accumulation of ROS and a decrease in NADH/NAD+ ratios were enhanced by an iron deficiency. These negative changes were found to be ameliorated by overexpressing NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in kidney-derived cells that originally showed a very low expression of NQO1. These results indicate that NQO1 plays a protective role against redox cycling quinone-mediated cytotoxicity under iron-depleted conditions. This is because NQO1 generates less-toxic hydroquinones via the two-electron reduction of quinones. The collective findings reported herein demonstrate that not only an iron overload but also an iron deficiency exacerbates ROS-mediated cytotoxicity.

Effect of straw mulching and irrigation on physiological activities, yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and soil physical properties under available soil moisture depletion conditions in Mollisols

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 to evaluate the effect of residue mulch and irrigation on the physiological response and yield of maize and soil physical properties at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The experiment was laid-out in split-plot design which includes three irrigation scheduling in main plots and four residue mulch practices in sub plots. Soil temperature at 15 cm enhanced by 0.6-9.8 0C under mulch and by 0.7-1.2 0C with irrigation at 20% DASM over other irrigation levels. Mulch significantly decreased bulk density by 1.43-3.59% while increased saturated hydraulic conductivity by 3.8-41.0% and mean weight diameter by 6.0-20.0%. Irrigation at less depletion of available soil moisture favoured soil physical properties. Mulch and increase in irrigation frequency tended to increase in relative water content and transpiration rate while decreased leaf diffusive resistance. No noticeable differences in leaf temperature were observed under mulch and irrigation. Green gram straw mulch and irrigation given at 20% DASM produced 2.6-14.2 % and 1.3-9.2% higher grain yield, respectively. Combined application of green gram straw mulch @ 5 t ha-1 along with irrigation at 20% DASM was found most beneficial for maintaining favourable soil environment and can be recommended for obtaining higher maize yield in Mollisols.

Effect of straw mulching and irrigation on physiological activities, yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and soil physical properties under available soil moisture depletion conditions in Mollisols

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 to evaluate the effect of residue mulch and irrigation on the physiological response and yield of maize and soil physical properties at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The experiment was laid-out in split-plot design which includes three irrigation scheduling in main plots and four residue mulch practices in sub plots. Soil temperature at 15 cm enhanced by 0.6-9.8 0C under mulch and by 0.7-1.2 0C with irrigation at 20% DASM over other irrigation levels. Mulch significantly decreased bulk density by 1.43-3.59% while increased saturated hydraulic conductivity by 3.8-41.0% and mean weight diameter by 6.0-20.0%. Irrigation at less depletion of available soil moisture favoured soil physical properties. Mulch and increase in irrigation frequency tended to increase in relative water content and transpiration rate while decreased leaf diffusive resistance. No noticeable differences in leaf temperature were observed under mulch and irrigation. Green gram straw mulch and irrigation given at 20% DASM produced 2.6-14.2 % and 1.3-9.2% higher grain yield, respectively. Combined application of green gram straw mulch @ 5 t ha-1 along with irrigation at 20% DASM was found most beneficial for maintaining favourable soil environment and can be recommended for obtaining higher maize yield in Mollisols

Charge sensing properties of monolithic CMOS pixel sensors fabricated in a 65 nm technology

In this work the initial performance studies of the first small monolithic pixel sensors dedicated to charged particle detection, called CE-65, fabricated in the 65nm TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Company are presented. The tested prototypes comprise matrices of 64×32 square analogue-output pixels with a pitch of 15μm. Different pixel types explore several sensing node geometries and amplification schemes, which allows for various biasing voltage of the detection layer and hence depletion conditions and electric field shaping. Laboratory tests conducted with a 55Fe source demonstrated that the CE-65 sensors reach equivalent noise charge in the 15 to 25e− range and excellent charge collection efficiencies. Charge sharing is substantial for standard diodes, but can be largely suppressed by modifying their design. Depletion of the thin sensitive layer saturates at a reverse diode bias of about 5 V.

Increasing the efficiency of using resources as a factor of environmental business activity

In modern conditions of gradual depletion of natural resources, natural capital is becoming the main limiting factor of production systems. The dominant trend of exceeding the rate of use of natural resources over the growth rate of production leads to exclusive attention to the need to increase the productivity of natural resources in solving environmental problems and problems of rational use of mineral resources. The resource potential created in Ukraine, its uniqueness, scale of development, relevant infrastructure objectively determine in the long run the preservation of a significant share of the mineral complex in social production. The inefficiency of the technical and economic mechanism of subsoil use leads to large losses of minerals, which makes it objectively necessary to form conceptually new approaches to the rational use of natural resources. Strategic resources are a prerequisite for increasing not only economic but also environmental efficiency: the production of industrial waste is several times lower than from extracted natural raw materials, which creates the preconditions for increasing the profitability of the enterprise. Rational use of natural resources allows to increase volumes production per unit of resource, reduce costs marketable products, expand the market niche of the enterprise and optimize the size of penalties for environmental pollution. It is also crucial solving environmental problems: reducing the area of land that are taken away under dumps; reduction of the volume of stored waste and dustiness of the territory, etc. In view of this, it can be argued that strategic resources produce opportunities for synergy of environmental and economic results through rational use of natural resources. Development and implementation of management decisions aimed at ensuring a balance of resources enterprises is a combined process, which is based on use of various management methods and tools appropriate to the current conditions and development objectives of the entity.

Assessment of transportation capacity balance of railway network polygons

Introduction.Traffic and transportation capacities of railway polygons and traffic flows are not constant throughout the year. Permissible capacity levels are determined by the condition of unhindered reception of trains by stations. It is necessary to calculate the balance of transportation capacity, making it possible to combine growing traffic with high rates with infrastructure development and repair works. The purpose of the study is to develop methodological solutions for assessing the balance of the railway transportation capacity and substantiating the procedure for implementing infrastructure measures in the context of the growing dynamics of the originating traffic and the tight deadlines for repairing and reconstructing the infrastructure.Materials and methods.The developed solutions are based on the data of the Russian Railways information systems, automated forecasting of the infrastructure and transportation resources of the railway network, and hybrid mathematical models.Results.The article presented the results of the substantiation of the normative restrictions on the daily time budget for the passage of trains, depending on the classification and specialisation of railway lines. The procedure for calculating the traffic capacity of sections with automatic locomotive signalling is determined as an independent means of interval control of train traffic with movable boundaries of block sections that change depending on the speed and mass of the train. The characteristics of the available, estimated, planned and required traffic and transportation capacities were determined with a distinction between measures for the development of traffic and transportation capacities and programs for improvement of infrastructure facilities. The authors put forward the problem of compromise management to ensure the required volumes of freight and passenger traffic, a given volume of reconstruction work on the development of infrastructure and repair work to maintain the required degree of its readiness. A classification of reconstructive, technological, organisational, technical and complex measures of influence on the unevenness of transport processes in the conditions of depletion of infrastructure and scheduling resources was presented.Discussion and conclusion.The developed solutions enable to increase the feasibility and efficiency of complex projects for the development of traffic and transportation capacities and measures to improve the operation of railway network polygons.

Gut microbiota depletion by antibiotics ameliorates somatic neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury, chemotherapy, and diabetes in mice

BackgroundGut microbiota has been found involved in neuronal functions and neurological disorders. Whether and how gut microbiota impacts chronic somatic pain disorders remain elusive.MethodsNeuropathic pain was produced by different forms of injury or diseases, the chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerves, oxaliplatin (OXA) chemotherapy, and streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in mice. Continuous feeding of antibiotics (ABX) cocktail was used to cause major depletion of the gut microbiota. Fecal microbiota, biochemical changes in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and the behaviorally expressed painful syndromes were assessed.ResultsUnder condition of gut microbiota depletion, CCI, OXA, or STZ treatment-induced thermal hyperalgesia or mechanical allodynia were prevented or completely suppressed. Gut microbiota depletion also prevented CCI or STZ treatment-induced glial cell activation in the spinal cord and inhibited cytokine production in DRG in OXA model. Interestingly, STZ treatment failed to induce the diabetic high blood glucose and painful hypersensitivity in animals with the gut microbiota depletion. ABX feeding starting simultaneously with CCI, OXA, or STZ treatment resulted in instant analgesia in all the animals. ABX feeding starting after establishment of the neuropathic pain in CCI- and STZ-, but not OXA-treated animals produced significant alleviation of the thermal hyeralgesia or mechanical allodynia. Transplantation of fecal bacteria from SPF mice to ABX-treated mice partially restored the gut microbiota and fully rescued the behaviorally expressed neuropathic pain, of which, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Desulfovibrionaceae phylus may play a key role.ConclusionThis study demonstrates distinct roles of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of chronic painful conditions with nerve injury, chemotherapy and diabetic neuropathy and supports the clinical significance of fecal bacteria transplantation.

The Androgen Receptor and Its Crosstalk With the Src Kinase During Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer Progression.

While the androgen receptor (AR) signalling is the mainstay therapeutic target for metastatic prostate cancers, these tumours will inevitably develop therapy resistance to AR pathway inhibitors suggesting that prostate tumour cells possess the capability to develop mechanisms to bypass their dependency on androgens and/or AR to survive and progress. In many studies, protein kinases such as Src are reported to promote prostate tumour progression. Specifically, the pro-oncogene tyrosine Src kinase regulates prostate cancer cell proliferation, adhesion, invasion, and metastasis. Not only can Src be activated under androgen depletion, low androgen, and supraphysiological androgen conditions, but also through crosstalk with other oncogenic pathways. Reciprocal activations between Src and AR proteins had also been reported. These findings rationalize Src inhibitors to be used to treat castrate-resistant prostate tumours. Although several Src inhibitors had advanced to clinical trials, the failure to observe patient benefits from these studies suggests that further evaluation of the roles of Src in prostate tumours is required. Here, we summarize the interplay between Src and AR signalling during castrate-resistant prostate cancer progression to provide insights on possible approaches to treat prostate cancer patients.

Hollow Spherical ZnO with Mesoporous Shell for Highly Enhanced Gas Sensitivity and Selectivity

In this work, ZnO hollow spheres (ZnO-HS) with mesoporous shells were successfully synthesized via a facile two-step method. The hollow structure provides sufficient space and active sites for adsorbing gases. The mesoporous shells assembled from nanoparticles facilitate the diffusion of gas molecules into the inner space and ensure full contact with ZnO. Consequently, ZnO-HS-600 gas sensors deliver a satisfactory response to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and an excellent response-recovery time at the optimal working temperature of 300 °C, i. e., acetone (9 and 5 s), ethanol (10 and 6 s), and methanol (12 and 14 s), respectively. By combining the theoretical calculation and the experimental observation, the relationship between the structure and performance has been established. The results demonstrate that ZnO-HS-600 materials meet the regional depletion condition, i. e., L 2Ls , further explaining its superior response-recovery time. Our work provides a prospective strategy for high-performance ZnO gas sensors via structural design and theoretical calculations.

Effects of a Strategic Self-Talk Intervention on Attention Functions and Performance in a Golf Task under Conditions of Ego Depletion

States of reduced self-control described as ego depletion have been shown to impair sport task performance. Recently, self-talk has emerged as a successful method to counteract ego depletion effects in cognitive tasks. Extending this line of research, the present study examined the effects of a self-talk intervention on attention functions and performance in a golf-putting task under conditions of ego depletion. Two studies were conducted; the first involved a simple putting task, whereas in the second, a divided attention factor was introduced in addition. Participants in the first experiment were 62 sport science students (30 females and 32 males, Mage = 18.58, SD = 1.03) who were randomly assigned into experimental (n = 31) and control (n = 31) groups. Participants in the second experiment were 54 sport science students (27 females and 27 males, Mage = 19.91, SD = 1.04) who were randomly assigned into experimental (n = 27) and control (n = 27) groups. Both experiments were completed in a single session that lasted approximately 60 min. All participants were tested individually. The procedures included (a) baseline performance assessment consisting of two sets of ten putts, (b) practice period, consisting of six sets of five putts, during which the experimental group was also introduced to the use of strategic self-talk, (c) an ego-depleting task, and (d) final performance assessment, which was identical to the baseline. The results showed that in both experiments, performance of the experimental group increased from baseline to final assessment (experiment 1, p < 0.001; experiment 2, p = 0.023), whereas that of the control group had no significant change (experiment 1: p = 0.241; experiment 2: p = 0.407). The findings showed that self-talk is an effective strategy for buffering the effects of ego depletion and suggest that improved attention functions are a viable mechanism for explaining the facilitating effects of self-talk on sport performance tasks.

Concurrent 6. Presentation for: Progressive sanding evaluation at different stages of the Geographe field development, Otway Basin

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 6 Sanding risk assessments were conducted at different stages of development of Geographe field in the Otway Basin, Australia. The initial sanding analysis was conducted using the exploration and appraisal wells data in 2010. This analysis showed low sanding risk for the planned wells with the expected production plan. The sanding model was then updated in 2014. Logs, core tests and sand-free production data from the early production wells were used to improve the initial sanding model. The updated model reconfirmed the low sanding risk for planned horizontal wells and suggested no sand control would be required even at high depletions. The last model update was conducted in 2019 taking the advantage of about 5 years of sand-free gas production from two long horizontal laterals, with no downhole sand control. As of early 2022, the horizontal wells are still producing sand-free with depletion approaching more than 75%. A geosteered long horizontal well (approximately 2.1 km) at a different azimuth was drilled in the latter part of 2021. As the updated sanding model showed negligible risk of sanding for the planned well, a sand-face completion with pre-drilled liner was implemented. The progressing sanding analyses helped to augment the reliability of the initial prediction by calibrating against the actual production data from two horizontal wells. Drilling and production experiences are used to optimise geosteering and confirm suitability of the completion system for the well including later life of the field at high-pressure depletion condition. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here