Cut Samples Research Articles

Pneumatic separation for crushed spent lithium-ion batteries

Pneumatic separation was used to separate the valuable current collectors and harmful separators in spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to avoid the plastic pollution caused by the separators in this study. Theoretical calculations for suspension velocities of the current collectors and separators indicate that they could be separated under special conditions. Furthermore, a special Z-shaped pneumatic separator was used to separate the current collectors and separators for the first time. Experiments for manually cut samples indicate that the efficiency of pneumatic separation is approximately 100% with the sizes and airflow velocities in the range of 3–4 cm and 6.96–7.8 m/s, respectively. Furthermore, industrial experiments of pneumatic separation indicate that the recoveries of the current collectors and separators are approximately 99.23% and 98.64%, respectively. Computer simulations of the separation process indicate that the turbulence and the changes in high-speed zones in the pneumatic separator benefit the separation of current collectors and separators. In conclusion, pneumatic separation is a promising technology to separate crushed current collectors and separators.

Source rock evaluation of the Cenomanian Raha Formation, Bakr oil field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Observations from palynofacies, RGB-based sporomorph microscopy, and organic geochemistry

The Gulf of Suez area in eastern Egypt is one of the most prospective and promising hydrocarbon provinces all over the world. Sixty drill cuttings samples of the Upper Cretaceous Raha Formation (70–120 m) have earlier been processed for their palynomorph and palynofacies contents, including 36 geochemically screened samples for their source-rock potential using TOC, Rock-Eval®. 6 Turbo, the new Rock-Eval® 7S instrument along with one of its latest modules, the CleanSim method. The combination between visual palynofacies and RGB-based sporomorph color image analysis along with the geochemical results are presented as part of a detailed assessment of the organic matter (OM) types, OM-richness, and thermal maturity levels.Palynofacies analysis defined three associations of OM types. The first and third associations consist of kerogen Type II; the former is dominated by a moderate abundance of amorphous organic matter (AOM) and phytoclasts, whilst the latter is dominated by high AOM content. Conversely, the second association is dominated by terrigenous fragments of gas-prone Type-III kerogen. The application of RGB analysis indicated a thermally immature to mature stage for some intervals in one of the three studied wells, the B-109.Geochemical screening results led to divide the Raha Formation into three distinctive groups, which are characterized by varied OM qualities and quantities, hydrocarbon potential, and thermal maturity levels.Varied thermal maturity levels was related directly to the Late Cretaceous tectonics like the effect of Syrian Arc System and the Oligocene-Miocene syn-rift activity that led to the opening of the Gulf of Suez. Differences in kerogen types were observed between geochemical and palynofacies analyses. Microscopic investigations of palynofacies-dominated AOM suggested that most AOM particles were of terrigenous origin due to the effect of biodegradation and gradual transformation of phytoclasts into AOM, reflecting a kerogen Type III instead of kerogen Type II that was indicated by palynofacies analysis ternary plots.

Miocene-Pliocene biochronology of the Obregón Basin and it's bearing on the evolution of the Proto-Gulf of California

The content of dinoflagellates, foraminifera, and calcareous nannofossils in cuttings samples from the Cajeme-1 well defines the age and depositional environments of ~1500 m of marine sediments drilled in the Obregón Basin, in the south of Sonora. The base of the drilled column is composed of actinolite hornfels dated as 43 ± 2 Ma, which underlies ~500 m of pyroxene basalts, correlatable with local late Miocene extrusives. The sedimentary strata are deposited unconformably on top of the basalts, and its paleobathymetric evolution indicates that the sedimentary column represents a marine stratigraphic sequence that starts with late Miocene marine evaporites that grade upwards to upper bathyal shales. The upper part of the sequence represents a general shallowing to inner neritic, transitional, and even continental environments in the Pliocene to Holocene interval. Marine microfossil assemblages represent a mixed provenance, from subtropical and temperate forms, and dinoflagellate assemblages indicate deposition in a marine basin with a significant terrigenous influx and no evidence of upwellings. The Obregón Basin represents marine deposition on the Proto-Gulf starting sometime between 11 and 8 Ma and, reaching bathyal depths (150–500 m) at approximately 8 Ma. Marine sedimentation in the Proto-Gulf, however, seems to have started earlier to the north, in the Tiburon and Wagner basins, where marine microfossils indicate an age older than 11.2 Ma. By late Miocene (~6 Ma), there were marine environments to the north, from the Obregón Basin to the Salton Sea area. The marine Obregón Basin represents the oldest marine deposits in the central and southern parts of the Gulf of California.

Experimental, algorithmic, and theoretical analyses for selecting an optimal laboratory method to evaluate working fluid damage in coal bed methane reservoirs

The existing laboratory methods have limitations that make it very difficult to select the most suitable method for obtaining precise permeability measurements for evaluating reservoir formation damage. To date, there has been no research critically addressing this issue. In this study, the permeabilities of core or cuttings samples taken from No.15 Reservoir in the Qinshui Basin before and after damage caused by drilling and fracturing fluids were randomly measured using six general laboratory methods. Their average permeability values, as well as the extent of absolute and relative formation damage, were calculated and analyzed using a simple ranking method, statistical screening algorithm, and theoretical method. The results show that, first, there is a regular distribution of absolute reservoir damage measured by the laboratory methods; and second, the application priority of permeability measurement methods for formation damage evaluation in coal bed methane reservoirs is as follows: cuttings pulse decay method > constant flow rate method > nuclear magnetic resonance method > plunger pulse decay method = pressure oscillation method = constant pressure method. The cuttings pulse decay method is therefore recommended for measuring core matrix damage, while the constant flow rate method is suggested for measuring overall damage to core samples.

Microstructure and dissolution of UO2 pellet after cutting by fiber laser

This study is aimed to investigate the microstructure of UO2 pellet cut by fiber laser and subsequent nitric acid solubility. A high power laser cutting system was employed to cut fuel rod which consists of stainless steel cladding and UO2 pellets. The influences of assist gas and cutting speed on the micromorphology, element distribution and phase of the cut-off surface of UO2 pellet were discussed. And the nitric acid solubility of laser cut samples was also studied. The results showed that there are defects such as shrinkage micro-pore, fragment, cave and crack on the cut-off surface of UO2 pellet, and UO2 may be converted into U3O8. However, subsequent nitric acid dissolution experiments demonstrated that the laser cut-off samples were soluble in nitric acid, and solubility and the dissolution rate were almost the same as those of the pristine UO2 pellets. This study illustrate that the laser can be employed to cut the fuel rod with the composite structure composed of stainless steel cladding and UO2 pellets with appropriate process parameters, and it has no adverse effect on subsequent nitric acid dissolution process.

Development of a modified enrichment method for the rapid immunoassay of Escherichia coli O157 strains in fresh cut vegetables

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a pathogen that colonizes human intestinal epithelial membrane and causes a characteristic lesion and severe syndromes, including diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. It is difficult to isolate and identify this pathogen. The purpose of this research was to establish a two-stage enrichment method for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in fresh cut vegetables. Fresh cut vegetable samples were first enriched in modified EC broth with novo-biocin at 42°C for 6 hr, and then transferred to sorbitol MacConkey broth containing cefixime and tellurite at 35°C for 18 hr. Finally, the enriched broth was verified for the existence of E. coli O157 by using an automated enzyme-linked fluorescence immunoassay (mini-VIDAS) or an immunostrip test. This two-stage enrichment method would decrease the false-positive E. coli O157 tested by immunostrip or mini-VIDAS. The pathogen in food sample could be as low as 10 CFU/g and selectively enriched to 105 or 107 CFU/mL required for the detection by mini-VIDAS or immunostrip. The presence of E. coli O157:H7 in enriched broth was confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thus, the two-stage enrichment method can be used to rapidly screen food samples for E. coli O157.

Mechanical and Microstructural Characterization of Friction Stir-Welded AA2219: TiCp-Reinforced Composites

Light materials having high strength-to-weight ratio plays a vital role in material science especially in the field of aerospace, marine transportation, military and structural applications. Composite serves the same. Aluminium matrix composite (AMC) is the aluminium matrix which has high strength-to-weight ratio. The purpose of the work is to investigate the mechanical properties of welded AA2219 aluminium alloy reinforced with titanium carbide particles (TiCp). Aluminium matrix is reinforced with TiCp using modified stir casting process. Optical colour graphs, XRD and EDX analysis reveal the presence of TiCp in cast AMC. Tensile test shows the ultimate tensile strength increases with the percentage of TiCp addition. Cut samples of size 100 mm X 50 mm X 6 mm cast AMC were friction stir welded using response surface modelling. Ultimate tensile strength and joint efficiency were calculated for the weld samples, and the effects of input parameters were investigated. Experimental results indicate that tool pin profile has a significant effect on tensile strength of friction stir-welded joints followed by welding speed. It is evident from the response that tool rotational speed had the least effect on ultimate tensile strength. The calculated joint efficiency of the most weld samples was more than 90% with respect to the ultimate tensile strength of the base metal. This work ensures defect free, high efficiency welded joints produced using a wide range of process parameters and recommends parameters for producing best joint tensile properties.

Leaf growth traits and photosynthetic pigments of maize as influenced by water deficit stress

Glasshouse study was carried out to evaluate the impacts of water deficit stress (WDS) on leaf growth and photosynthetic pigments of four maize varieties at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan. Seeds from ‘TZPBSR-W’, ‘ILE1OB’, ‘ART98SW6OB’ and ‘DTESYNSTR’ maize varieties were sown in sixty-four pots in a 4 x 4 factorial CR Design(r=4). The WDS treatments include 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% field capacities (FC). Data were taken weekly on specific leaf weight (SLW), leaf area (LA), leaf weight (LWT) and crop growth rate. At four weeks of WDS, extracts were obtained from 0.2 g cut leaf sample using 96% (v/v) ethanol. Light absorbance of the ethanolic leaf extract (cholorophyll-a (665 nm), chlorophyll-b (649 nm), total chlorophyll and the carotenoids (440 nm)) were read using spectrophotometer. From the results, WDS significantly reduced SLW, LWT, LA and CGR (p<0.001). The SLW ranged from 0.027±0.0 (g cm-2) (‘ART98SW6OB’) to 0.034±0.0 (g cm-2) (‘DTESYNSTR’), while the LA ranged from 269.7±25.4 (cm2) (‘ART98SW6OB’) to 220.9±20.9 (cm2) (‘ILE1OB’). Water deficit stress significantly reduced chlorophyll-b (p<0.01), chlorophyll-a and total chlorophyll (p<0.001) and the carotenoid (p<0.05). Chlorophyll-a ranged from 0.038±0.0 mg/g (‘DTESYNSTR’) to 0.050±0.0 mg/g (‘TZPBSR-W’), chlorophyll-b ranged from 0.021 mg/g (‘ART98SW6OB’) to 0.040 mg/g (‘TZPBSR-W’), total chlorophyll ranged from 0.063±0.0 mg/g (‘ART98SW6OB’) to 0.093±0.0 mg/g (‘TZPBSR-W’), while the carotenoid ranged from 0.084±0.08 mg/g (‘ART98SW6OB’) to 0.115±0.09 mg/g (‘TZPBSR-W’). The WDS and Variety interaction on photosynthetic pigments were significant (p<0.05). The Leaf growth traits, photosynthetic pigments and over all crop growth in maize are impaired when subjected to water deficit stress.

AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF CUTTINGS SIZE ON MUD RHEOLOGY

Effective hole-cleaning is vital for a successful drilling operation and has significant effect on optimizing factors such as penetration rate, bit optimization and well stability. Efficient transportation of drilling cuttings are dependent on factors such as fluid properties and rheology, cuttings size and shape, fluid velocity, cuttings concentration, cuttings transport velocity and rate of penetration. This experimental work examined the effects of cutting sizes on drilling fluid rheology. To achieve this, two fresh samples of mud were prepared and the rheological properties were analyzed at different temperature ranges representing the operating conditions of most Niger Delta wells. A mesh analysis was carried on dried fresh drill cuttings from the Anieze North Field and dried cuttings taken from the laboratory and two samples were selected at ASTM#40 and #18. 10 % of these cuttings samples were added to each mud sample and the rheological properties were measured at similar temperature ranges as the original mud samples. The results gotten shows that at the various temperature ranges, mud contamination with smaller drill cuttings size (ASTM #40=400um) showed a better performance than the larger particles. The mud rheological properties (viscosity, yield point, YP, plastic viscosity, PV and density) measured at different temperatures showed a remarkable non-linear behavior as shown in the results. KEY WORDS: Cuttings Size, Drill Cuttings, Mud Contamination, Mud Rheology, Temperature

Sterane biomarker analysis of Sargelu Formation, Miran West Field, MW-2 well, Kurdistan Region, NE Iraq: Implications for origin of organic matter, palaeoenvironment and maturity

Sargelu Formation (Middle Jurassic) is well known to be one of the most important and wide distributed source rocks in the Middle East. In this study, nineteen cuttings samples from Sargelu Formation were studied from one subsurface section within Miran West Field (well MW-2) in Zagros Folded Belt, Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Formation was penetrated from the interval 2375m to 2475m, which is mainly composed of argillaceous limestone and shale. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC wt %) for all samples were calculated from the sonic and resistivity logs using Passey et al., method for TOC estimation from wireline logs. The range of TOC percentage in the selected interval is between 0.654 and 6.53%. In addition, all samples have been analyzed by Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) in order to identify and study the biomarkers distribution in the selected rocks. The short chain n-alkanes between C15-C18, with isoprenoids pristane (Pr) and phytane (Ph) are dominants in the Sargelu formation. The average of Pr/Ph ratio in the samples was 0.95. Furthermore, most of the studied samples show unimodal envelope chromatograms, maximum peak carbon n-C15- n-C20, and low CPI values (0.89-1.17). The calculated odd over even predominance (OEP) for the studied samples show near value 1.0 (av. 0.94). The TOC values reflecting well preservation and high productivity of organic matter in reducing/anoxic depositional environment. Moreover, ratios of Pr/Ph indicating to anoxic and commonly marine carbonate environments; and also unimodal envelope of n-C15- n-C20 shows a predominance of marine input, and the organisms derived from phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic bacteria with minor photosynthetic and terrestrial plants. The studied samples have C29 20S/(20S+20R) and ββ/ (ββ+αα) isomerization values ranging from 0.39 - 0.58 and 0.48 - 0.65 respectively, indicating high mature source rocks of Sargelu Formation in this well. In most studied samples, the C27 and C29 steranes predominate over the C28 steranes, reflecting a high contribution of aquatic planktonic-bacterial organic matter with a minor terrigenous organic matter input.

Methodology for processing mastectomy and cryopreservation of breast cancer tissue in a resource- poor setting: A pilot study

BackgroundThere is scarcity of breast cancer tissues derived from women of African origin available for patient - derived xenograft and organoid models. ObjectiveWe aim to create a versatile protocol for processing mastectomy and cryopreservation of breast cancer tissue. MethodologyAn immediate collection of breast cancer tissue from mastectomy was bathed in 4 °C HBSS and immediately transferred to 4 °C RPMI1640 containing HEPES, 10% FBS, Streptomycin and Penicillin. Tissues were processed over ice yielding nine samples of cold ischemic time (20–45 min) stored at 3 min interval. Cut samples were transferred into cryovials containing 4 °C cryoprotectant agent (90% FBS +10% Me2SO) before snap -freezing in liquid Nitrogen vapour and final short-term storage in −80 °C Freezer. The histomorphology, tissue and molecular viability were assessed. ResultsThe cold ischemic times had no detrimental effect to the nine samples despite being processed in a resource poor setting, hence providing a reproducible and reliable protocol.

Studies on Microbial Contamination of Cut and Exposed Onions

Onions (Allium cepa), a vegetable plant is consumed globally for its culinary and medicinal importance. Despite the various health benefits ascribed to onions, several rumours have been spread, especially on the online media as regards its ability to act as a sponge absorbing microorganisms from the atmosphere, once cut open and left exposed in the atmosphere.
 This research work involved the exposure of the half portion of an onion at different sites, while culturing the other half immediately without exposure, to serve as a control. Thirty healthy and fresh onion samples were exposed, and the sites of exposure include: living rooms, public conveniences, kitchens, fridge, freezer, and bole joints (roasted plantain eatery).
 After inoculation and identification of the cultured microorganisms, Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., yeast and Aspergillus sp., were isolated with Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. having the highest number of occurrence of 40% having been isolated from twelve test samples each. B. cereus had a percentage occurrence of 30%, having been isolated from nine test samples. E. coli had a 10% occurrence having been isolated from three test samples, while Enterobacter sp. had the lowest rate of occurrence having been isolated in just one test sample. For the fungi isolates, Aspergillus sp. had a percentage occurrence of 76.6% having been isolated in twenty three test samples, while yeast had a percentage occurrence of 66.6%, having been isolated in twenty test samples.
 The isolated organisms were all pathogenic organisms, and some such as Staphylococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. have been implicated in causing food poisoning. Some other organisms isolated have also been implicated in the spoilage of onions. It is therefore recommended that users of onions should reduce to the barest minimum the tendency to consume raw cut onion sample.

Core versus cuttings samples for geochemical and petrophysical analysis of unconventional reservoir rocks

Core samples from petroleum wells are costly to obtain, hence drill cuttings are commonly used as an alternative source of rock measurements for reservoir, basin modelling, and sedimentology studies. However, serious issues such as contamination from drilling mud, geological representativeness, and physical alteration can cast uncertainty on the results of studies based on cuttings samples. This paper provides a unique comparative study of core and cuttings samples obtained from both vertical and horizontal sections of a petroleum well drilled in the Canadian Montney tight gas siltstone reservoir to investigate the suitability of cuttings for a wide range of geochemical and petrophysical analyses. The results show that, on average, the bulk quantity of kerogen or solid bitumen measured in cuttings is comparable to that of the core samples. However, total organic carbon (TOC) measurements are influenced by oil-based drilling mud (OBM) contamination. Solvent-cleaning of cuttings has been shown to effectively remove OBM contamination in light, medium, and heavy range hydrocarbons and to produce similar kerogen/solid bitumen measurements to that of core samples. Similarly, pyrolysis methods provide an alternative to the solvent-cleaning procedure for analysis of kerogen/solid bitumen in as-received cuttings. Microscopic study substantiates the presence of significant contamination by OBM and caved organic and inorganic matter in the cuttings, which potentially influence the bulk geochemistry of the samples. Furthermore, minerals in the cuttings display induced micro-fractures due to physical impacts of the drilling process. These drilling-induced micro-fractures affect petrophysical properties by artificially enhancing the measured porosity and permeability.

A Comparative Study of Structural Changes in Conventional and Unconventional Machining and Mechanical Properties Evaluation of Polypropylene Based Self Reinforced Composites

Abstract The present study addresses the mechanical behavior of polypropylene self-reinforced composites (SRC’s) considering polymeric structural changes after cutting. Self-reinforced polypropylene composite is fabricated using the HOT compaction method by maintaining the processing temperature at 164∘C. Conventional and unconventional cutting methods were used to cut the samples of standard dimensions. FTIR images revealed the formation of C=C, C-F, Halogen bonds after AWJ cutting initiated a decrease in the surface roughness value to 4.5μm (R a ). SEM analysis is performed to analyse structural integrity and damage of SRC’s. Structural changes formation after AWJ cutting leads to improve the ultimate tensile strength of the laminate by 20% compared to conventional cut samples. A similar trend is noticed for flexural properties and Shore –D hardness values for the SRC composite laminate correlated to polymeric changes with Conventional cutting due to the formation of C-N bond is observed after Laser cutting.

Influence of surface roughness on particle deposition distribution around multi-slot cabin supply air nozzles of commercial airplanes

Enhanced soiling due to particle deposition is often observed around multi-slot cabin supply air nozzles in commercial airplanes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of surface roughness on the particle deposition distribution around multi-slot cabin supply air nozzles of commercial airplanes. This investigation constructed a half-row cabin mockup installed with three 3D-printed supply air nozzles of a twin-aisle commercial airplane. A cutting method was proposed to measure the detailed particle deposition velocity distribution on the target surface of the nozzles covered by different grades of sandpaper with different roughness heights. This study also conducted numerical calculations for the particle deposition velocity distribution using an Eulerian particle deposition model. Both the experimental and modeling results show that strong particle deposition occurred on the cut samples near the slot dividers. When the surface roughness height was greater than or equal to 6 μm, the particle deposition velocity increased significantly with the surface roughness height. However, when the surface roughness height was less than or equal to 3 μm, the particle deposition velocity was relatively insensitive to the surface roughness. The analysis indicated that polishing the surfaces of cabin supply air nozzles may not effectively solve the problem of enhanced soiling in the aircraft cabin.

Using the Resource Potential of Drill Cuttings in Road Construction

The article discusses one of the national environmental problems - a negative impact on the environment from improper placement of drill cuttings. The main source of pollution is oil products, chemical reagents added to drilling mud and heavy metals that are part of drill cuttings. Methods for the treatment of drill cuttings, which consist of burial, neutralization and disposal are presented. A more promising and cost-effective method is the disposal of drill cuttings. A disposal method was chosen, consisting of the use of dried drill cuttings as a mineral powder for the preparation of asphalt concrete mixture. Samples of drill cuttings from different fields of Russia were selected. Laboratory studies of drill cuttings samples were carried out and the results of the content of heavy metals, physical and chemical indicators, physical and mechanical indicators of asphalt concrete samples were given. During the research it turned out that the content of heavy metals does not exceed the established norms, the physical and chemical indicators have exceeded the established standards, the physical and mechanical indicators of asphalt concrete samples comply with the requirements of regulatory documents.

Influence of the edge quality to the water sorption of remote laser and mechanically cut carbon fibre reinforced polymer

The processing of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) is complex due to the heterogeneous material structure and the hard and brittle fibres. For the creation of the final contour during component manufacture, the trimming of semi-finished products is necessary. For these processing steps, multiple cutting processes are available. Depending on the chosen process, the structure of the edges can show considerable differences [1]. Reference [2] proves that the surface condition of CFRP influences the diffusivity, maximum moisture content and concentration. The cutting edge forms part of the component surface.The aim of the present study is an evaluation of the influence of the cutting edge condition on the moisture uptake of CFRP. A systematic analysis of the water sorption behaviour of CFRP with edges generated with thermal remote laser and mechanical processing technologies was performed. Also, the effect of edge sealing was considered. Depending on the applied process, differences in the moisture uptake of CFRP could be shown. Several remote laser cut samples with a distinct heat-affected zone (HAZ) absorbed water rapidly. Thermally exposed fibre ends may form capillaries. By choosing suitable laser processing parameters or edge sealing, this effect could be avoided, resulting in inconspicuous water sorption behaviour.

Dimensional change and cook loss during heating of fish: Problem formulation and semi-empirical modeling approach

Shrinkage of cod filets and loins during heating is associated with unwanted changes in the product appearance and eating properties, including liquid loss, loss of juiciness and increased hardness. In this paper, shrinkage of minced cod filets exposed to 45–100 °C for up to 1800 s in a convection oven with 100% relative humidity was investigated and related to degree of mass loss. The result was compared to data for cut (non-minced) samples of the same dimension. A kinetic prediction for the mass loss was developed, and it was found that the volume of shrinkage could be approximated by the volume of mass loss. The kinetic prediction was coupled with a model for heat transfer to investigate the effect of shrinkage on the temperature prediction. Further work should include investigation of the effect of the fish macrostructure orientation on shrinkage, as well as optimization of the prediction and validation for large samples such as whole loins.

STUDY OF THE PROPERTIES OF DRILL CUTTINGS AT THEIR USE AS TECHNOGENIC RAW MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BUILDING CERAMICS

The possibility of utilizing drill cuttings in the technology of building ceramics is investigated. Using the microscopic and X-ray spectral methods of analysis, the chemical and mineral composition and radiological properties of two samples of drill cuttings – waste gas drilling in the Poltava region – are determined. Using the bioindication method, it is established that the studied drill cuttings are phytotoxic and harm the environment, therefore, they need to be disposed of. According to the radioactivity, the cuttings are investigated, they belong to the materials of the 1st class, which allows using them without restrictions in the construction and production of building materials. The main ceramic-technological characteristics of the cuttings are determined. It is established that one of the cuttings in its composition is pre-burning and burning properties similar to clay rocks, the second cutting is unsintered psammite- aleuropelite material with a high content of calcium and magnesium carbonates, quartz and feldspar. The fundamental possibility of using the studied drill cuttings as the main raw material and mineral additives in the compositions of the masses to obtain wall ceramics with the necessary consumer properties is established.

Relationships among expression of six representative genes, bacterial multiplication, color changes of fresh cut cabbages during storage with focus on accumulated storage temperature

Fresh cut cabbages are popular in Japanese cuisine. However, the quality of such cabbages declines rapidly. This study examined the potential of applying gene expression analysis for quality assessment of fresh cut cabbages during storage at different environmental conditions. Fresh cut samples were stored at temperatures of 0, 10, and 20 °C. At different time points, bacterial multiplication, color changes, and expression of six genes in the stored samples were evaluated, with a focus on the accumulated storage temperature. The bacterial population and color parameter of all the samples changed with increasing accumulated storage temperature value, irrespective of the actual storage temperature. Further, expression of the gene endoglucanase showed high correlation with the accumulated storage temperature values (R2 > 0.95), whereas that of PR protein was highly correlated with the multiplication of general bacteria (R2 > 0.99). Expression of the other genes was not stable under different storage temperature conditions. Our results indicate that at least partial assessment and estimation of quality changes of fresh cut cabbages under different storage conditions can be conducted by gene expression analysis.