Physical and chemical characterization of drill cuttings: A review

Drill cuttings comprise a mixture of rocks generated during drilling activities of exploration and production of oil and gas. These residues' properties are variable, depending on several drilling parameters and drilled rock composition. Many scientific studies have been published regarding the characterization of these residues. Articles summarizing these residues' characteristics and toxicity data are poorly explored in the literature. This work reviews the principal methods used to characterize drill cuttings and data about these residues' properties. Some authors have reported the large content of Zn in drill cuttings. These cuttings can be associated with base fluids (as olefins, varying from C11 to C18), and some time crude oil (high range of TPH, unresolved complex mixtures, and PAH compounds). Acute and chronic toxicity tests have shown negative impacts of different types of fluids, the components of these fluids, and cuttings on other marine organisms.

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography of kidneys in healthy adult cats: preliminary results

OBJECTIVES

To describe acoustic radiation impulse force elastography in evaluation of kidneys of adult cats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten healthy adult short-haired cats were included. Echogenicity and texture, cortico-medullary relationship, size and edges of kidney were assessed by B-mode and by qualitative elastography to detect the presence of deformities and shear velocities of different portions (cranial, middle and caudal of cortex and medulla).

RESULTS

Findings of ultrasonography were normal in all cats. Qualitative elastography demonstrated that the renal cortex was not deformable and had homogeneous dark gray areas; the renal pelvis had lower stiffness (white); and the medulla showed a mosaic pattern. The results of shear wave velocity were different in cranial, middle and caudal regions of cortex and medulla: 2·46 ±0·45, 2·46 ±0·48 and 2·37 ±0·42 (P=0·795) in cortex and 1·61 ±0·69, 1·75 ±0·66 and 2·00 ±0·55 m/s (P=0·156) in medulla, respectively.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Quantitative and qualitative acoustic radiation impulse force elastography of the kidney in adult cats was easily performed and this study provides base line data to allow the use of acoustic radiation impulse force in diseased animals.

Adaptación marginal de restauraciones cerámicas inlay de dos sistemas cerámicos después de su cementación

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar y comparar la adaptación marginal de restauraciones, confeccionadas con dos tipos de sistemas cerámicos: CEREC® inLab (VITA) e IPS Empress 2 (Ivoclar-Vivadent), después de su cementación con cemento resinoso. Fueron tallados 20 premolareshumanos con cavidad MOD inlay, reproducidos con silicona de adición, y obtenidos modelos en yeso tipo IV, sobre los cuales fueron confeccionados las restauraciones conforme a las recomendaciones de los fabricantes. Diez inlays con el sistema IPS Empress 2 y 10 inlays conel sistema CEREC® inLab. Las restauraciones fueron cementadas bajo presión constante de 1,5 Kgf por 10 min, con cemento resinoso. Las desadaptaciones marginales fueron evaluadas con MEB, con magnificación de 200x, en 50 puntos equidistantes. Las medias fueron analizadas porel método estadístico t de Student de muestras dependientes. Resultando en una diferencia estadísticamente significante entre las desadaptaciones marginales en el sistema IPS Empress (93,8 15,5μm), que se mostraron menores que en el sistema CEREC® inLab (114,4±10,6μm). Cuando se compararon las medias entre las caras proximales (116,51±21,85μm) y Oclusal (112,26±8,49μm) del sistema CEREC®InLab, y las caras proximales (87,12±27,98μm) y Oclusal (100,47±22,23μm) del sistema IPS Empress 2, se verificó que esos valores no difieren estadísticamente. En frente a esos resultados se concluyó que las medias obtenidas son aceptables clínicamente.

Community of orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in transitional vegetation between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

The community of orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossina) was studied at an area in the transition between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, from March, 2010 to February, 2011 in the Barroso region, state of Minas Gerais, eastern Brazil. Orchid-bee males were collected with bait traps containing three different scents (cineole, eugenol and vanillin) and with entomological nets for collecting bees on flowers. A total of 614 orchid-bee males were collected using aromatic traps, belonging to four genera and 15 species. Twenty-five female specimens belonging to two genera and at least three species were collected on flowers. Eulaema (Apeulaema) nigrita Lepeletier, 1841 was the most abundant species (50% of collected specimens), followed by Euglossa (Euglossa) truncata Rebêlo & Moure, 1996 (28%). Cineole was the most attractive compound (66.5% of males and 13 species), followed by eugenol (16% and 9 species) and vanillin (13.5% and 4 species). Eulaema (Apeulaema) marcii Nemésio, 2009 and Eufriesea auriceps (Friese, 1899) were attracted to all scents, whereas Euglossa species were collected only in cineole and eugenol.

Morphological and thermal analyses of flexible polyurethane foams containing commercial calcium carbonate

One filler often utilized in flexible polyurethane foams is calcium carbonate (CaCO3) because it is non-abrasiveness, non-toxicity and facilitated pigmentation. However, it is observed that the excess of commercial CaCO3 utilized in industry possibly causing permanent deformations and damaging the quality of the final product. The effect of different concentrations of commercial CaCO3, in flexible foams, was studied. Different concentrations of CaCO3 were used for the synthesis of flexible polyurethane foams, which were submitted to morphological and thermal analyses to verify the alterations provoked by the progressive introduction of this filler.

1,1-Diphenylbutane-1,3-diol: the First Structurally Characterized Example of an Intramolecularly Hydrogen-Bonded Open-Chain 1,3-diol

The crystal structure of the asymmetric 1,3-diol 1,1-diphenylbutane-1,3-diol has been determined and refined to a residual R of 0.039 for 795 observed reflections. Crystals are orthorhombic, space group P212121, with four molecules in a cell of dimensions a 9.625(4), b 16.002(3), c 8.834(3) Ǻ. The compound is unique among the known crystallographically characterized open-chain 1,3-diols in having only intramolecular hydrogen bonding involving the hydroxy groups [O-- -O 2.602(5) Ǻ].

The Preparation and Crystal Structure of Benzyl 3,4,6-Tri-O-methylsulfonyl-β-D-glucopyranoside

A series of methylsulfonyl derivatives of benzyl β-D-glucopyranoside has been prepared and isolated and the crystal structure of one, benzyl 3,4,6-tri-O-methylsulfonyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), as a dimethyl sulfoxide solvate determined by X-ray diffraction and refined to a residual R 0.035 for 1714 observed reflections.

Naturally-Occurring Dibenzofurans. VIII. The Synthesis of Isodidymic Acid

The synthesis of the lichen dibenzofuran isodidymic acid (2)(3-hydroxy- 7-methoxy-9-pentyl-1-propyldibenzofuran-2-carboxylic acid) by intramolecular Ullmann coupling of methyl 3-iodo-4-(2′-iodo-5′-methoxy- 3′-pentylphenoxy)-6-methoxy-2-propylbenzoate (22), and further transformations, is described.

Boron, Trichloride as a Selective Demethylating Agent for Hindered Ethers: a Synthesis of the Phytoalexins α- and Β-Pyrufuran, a Synthesis of Tri-O-methylleprolomin and its Demethylation

Boron trichloride has been found to be an efficient reagent for the selective cleavage of sterically hindered methoxy groups in methoxyarenes . The scope and utility of this reaction are explored with examples drawn from derivatives of benzene, naphthalene, 9,10- dihydrophenanthrene and dibenzofuran. The method is applied to the synthesis of the phytoalexins α-(56) and β- pyrufuran (58) (1,3,4- trimethoxydibenzofuran-2-ol and 1,2,4-trimethoxydibenzofuran-3-ol). A synthesis of tri-O- methylleprolomin (61), a derivative of the unusual lichen metabolite leprolomin (60), is described and its demethylation with boron trichloride is studied.

Phenanthrene synthesis: The synthesis of effusol a 9,10-Dihydrophenanthrene from the marsh grass Juncus effusus

The synthesis of 5-ethenyl-1-methyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diol (effusol) (1), a natural product isolated from the marsh grass, Juncus effusus, is described. The key step was the intramolecular Ullmann reaction of methyl 2-bromo-3-[2'-(6''-bromo-3''-methoxy-2-methylphenyl)ethyl]-5-methoxybenzoate (19).