The median total dissolved phosphorus concentration (0.41 mg/L P) of groundwater from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stream nutrient criteria (of 0.1 mg/L P) and the national background for phosphorus in groundwater (0.02 mg/L P). A general association between elevated phosphorus and dissolved iron concentrations suggests that reducing conditions that mobilize iron in the aquifer also may facilitate transport of phosphorus. These elevated concentrations of phosphorus may indicate phosphorus in the study area may be concentrated through irrigation return flow and groundwater discharge, and may contribute to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. The data do not appear to follow any spatial, geologic, or application pattern. The research indicates that phosphorus concentration in the aquifer was primarily sourced from natural geochemical reactions within the aquifer media.

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These studies indicate that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) alters albumin permeability and unlike bradykinin (BK) the increased albumin permeability lasts for the duration of the application. Neither agonist requires the presence of white blood cells or other blood-borne substances to produce this inflammatory response. These experiments were completed in the in situ, microcannulated, perfused venules of the mesentery in the anesthetized hamster. Albumin transport was measured using intravital fluorescence microscopy, TRITC-labeled albumin, and densitometric tracking. Further, by varying the intravascular pressure, the hydraulic (L(p)(1 - σ)) and diffusive permeability (P0) coefficients of these microvessels were determined. Both BK and TNFα produced an increase in albumin flux, which was dependent upon the dose and time domains. This response was present when the agonists were given by either intra- or extravascular presentation. Both hydraulic coupling and microvascular permeability were increased by BK and TNFα. TNFα increased albumin permeability rapidly and its effect lasted as long as TNFα was present, whereas the increased albumin transport by BK was biphasic. The results implicate a dynamic modification in the microvascular wall to these inflammatory agonists and the mechanism(s) for transduction in the endothelium are quite different.

Romantic, dyadic relationships arise, in part, from communication, disclosure, and boundaries. Information communication technology (ICT), such as smartphones, has rapidly integrated into our personal lives and affected relationship initiation, maintenance, and dissolution. To this point, models attempting to account for this emerging dynamic center on past theories about relationships. However, counselors and researchers would benefit from understanding contemporary couple dynamics that reflect the ICT-mediated changes to coupling that occurred during the last decade. To address this need, researchers conducted a grounded theory study to explore relationship dynamics, mediated by ICT, based on stories and descriptions provided by 16 participants. Findings showed technology influenced relationships in four domains: access, intimacy, boundaries, and presence.

Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmaceutical Technology Author: Denisa Kubátová Supervisor: PharmDr. Andrej Kováčik, Ph.D. Consultant: PharmDr. Lukáš Opálka, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Study of sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine and phytosphingosine in skin barrier models The stratum corneum (SC), the uppermost layer of the skin, localized in the uppermost part of the epidermis, represents the skin barrier of the organism. SC is composed of corneocytes and an intercellular lipid matrix, which is formed by ceramides (Cer), free fatty acids (FFA), and cholesterol (Chol) in an equimolar ratio. Substances from the group of sphingolipids - Cer, are sphingoid bases (for example, sphingosine (S), dihydrosphingosine (dS), phytosphingosine (P)) acylated with a fatty acid (for example, lignoceric acid (LIG)). In the lipid matrix, the metabolic products of Cer (free sphingoid bases) are also present, but their role in SC barrier functions is not clear. Some studies show that Cer with different sphingoid bases, and increased presence of free sphingoid bases, can lead to a change in the permeability of the skin barrier. This work aimed to study the effect of permeability of sphingoid bases on the model membrane permeability. Nine types of membranes were prepared; they...

Hydrocarbon production from mudrocks (“shales”) is vital to global economic growth and smooth transition to a clean energy infrastructure. The commercial development prospect of a shale play depends on its evolution history over millions of years. Economic hydrocarbon production from shale starts after hydraulic fracturing, that creates a multiscale fracture network leading to an increased overall permeability. The properties of the stimulated rock can be assessed via parameters at different scales (nano-, micro- and macro-scale). Better understanding of these parameters is the key to predicting well productivity and profitability. This work aims to deepen the understanding of the multiscale parameters that define effective hydraulic fracturing. To investigate permeability increase in shales, we start with a model of micro-capillary in contact with nanopores . We show that the nanopores that discharge gas into a fracture network in the source rock significantly increase and extend gas flow into the hydrofractured horizontal wells. We then use a fractal stimulated reservoir volume model to match production histories of 45 Barnett gas wells and to quantify connectivity between the nanopores and the fracture network. This model relies on a source term, ${s}$, and fracture permeability $k_f$ . Our analysis shows that the different degrees of coupling between ${s}$ and $k_f$ create distinctly different types of fracture networks after rock stimulation and impact the well production profiles. We then couple the fractal SRV model with universal scaling $τ − M$ model to simulate production history of 1000 wells each in the Barnett, Marcellus, Haynesville and Eagle Ford shale plays. The analysis shows the coupled effect of stimulated surface area $A$, fracture half-distance, $d$, and the fractal dimension ,$D$, on production and economics of gas production. These parameters define the key differences between different shale plays in the US. Finally, we simulate microfracturing associated with hydrocarbon expulsion in the Tuwaiq Mountain source rock, Saudi Arabia, and propose the pore/microchannel blocking by bitumen/pyrobitumen as a viable mechanism of sustaining the high pore pressure in the source rock for millions of years.

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[pt] Nesta pesquisa, ensaios de caracterização e de permeabilidade foram realizados em uma amostra da Areia da Praia de Ipanema, RJ, tendo como ponto de partida a pesquisa realizada por Simões (2015). A caracterização incluiu granulometria por peneiramento, densidade relativa dos grãos (Gs), análise microscópica e avaliação dos índices de vazios mínimo e máximo por diferentes metodologias. Os ensaios de permeabilidade sob carga hidráulica constante foram realizados em um permeâmetro de parede flexível em corpos de prova moldados nos domínios de compacidades relativa fofo e compacto. A amostra é caracterizada como uma areia fina e média, mal graduada e uniforme, sendo constituída basicamente por grãos de quartzo, com densidade relativa (Gs) igual a 2,656. Quanto à forma, os grãos são subangulares a arredondados, com esfericidade igual a 0,7 e arredondamento igual a 0,5. Os valores obtidos de índice de vazios mínimo e máximo são, respectivamente, 0,435 e 0,760. No domínio de compacidade relativa (CR) fofo (CR da ordem de 30 por cento) foi medido um coeficiente de permeabilidade (k20 Graus C) de 2,0 x 10-2 cm/s, ao passo que no domínio compacto (CR da ordem de 80 por cento) foi medido um coeficiente de permeabilidade (k20 Graus C) de 1,2 x 10-2 cm/s, em média. Os resultados indicam ainda que a expressão proposta por Taylor (1948) que relaciona o coeficiente de permeabilidade (k) e e (3) / (1 + e) por uma reta que passa pela origem seja aplicável à Areia da Praia de Ipanema. / [en] In this research, characterization and permeability tests were performed on a sample of the Ipanema Beach Sand, RJ, considering the research carried out by Simões (2015) as the starting point. The characterization included grain size distribution by sieve analysis, specific gravity (Gs), microscopic analysis and evaluation of minimum and maximum void ratios by different methodologies. Constant head permeability tests were carried out on a flexible-wall permeameter on specimens molded in loose and dense states of relative density (Dr). The sample is characterized as a fine and medium sand, poorly graded and uniform, essentially comprised of quartz grains with specific gravity (Gs) equal to 2.656. Regarding the shape, the grains are subangular to rounded, with sphericity equal to 0.7 and roundness equal to 0.5. The values obtained for the minimum and maximum void ratios are 0.435 and 0.760, respectively. In the loose state (Dr of the order of 30 percent) an average value of permeability coefficient (k20 C Degrees) equal to 2.0 x 10-2 cm/s was measured, whereas in the dense state (Dr of the order of 80 percent) an average value of permeability coefficient (k20 C Degrees) equal to 1.2 x 10-2 cm/s was measured. The results indicate that the expression proposed by Taylor (1948), which relates the permeability coefficient (k) and e(3) / (1 + e) by a straight line that passes through the origin, applies to the Ipanema Beach Sand.