Organic matter in rock–water systems of petroliferous basins: interrelationships (a case study: South Caspian Basin)

International audienceGeneralizations and analyses are given of the data accumulated to date on the content of Organic Matter (OM) in formation waters of various stratigraphic complexes, as well as of mud volcanoes, and the correlation with OM in South Caspian Basin (SCB) sedimentary rocks. Results are based on about 300 analyses of formation waters and waters of mud volcanoes, as well as on more than 400 analyses of the content of OM in rocks (outcrops and wells from both onshore and offshore petroleum fields of the SCB). The stratigraphic interval covers the period from the Lower Pliocene to the Jurassic, and the depth interval from 73 m to 6043 m. In these intervals, the values of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) in reservoir waters vary from 4.1 mg/L to 271.2 mg/L, averaging (219 analyses) 48.9 mg/L. A good correlation has been established between the values of DOM and OM in rocks. Paleogene and Jurassic rocks have the highest correlations. DOM varies with depth with an increase in value from a depth of about 3.3 km, likely due to catagenetic transformation of OM into hydrocarbons in the rock–water system. The highest values of DOM are for waters with mineralization less than 50 g/L. Mud volcano waters are characterized by low levels of DOM and low mineralization, likely due to the condensate nature. The results of the studies show that underground water, as one of the components of a single rock–water system of the Earth’s sedimentary cover, together with the rocks, participates in the processes of hydrocarbon generation and migration

An ethos of hospitality as public morality in the face of the disorderly process in Nigeria today?

Abstract Nigeria, a highly populated country in West Africa, has for the past fi ve years been embroiled in turmoil. Agitation arising from displacement of a large number of people coupled with alienation in their own ancestral lands and homes, due to activities of the unpopular Islamic sect, Boko Haram (roughly translated in English as "Western education is an abomination"). Th is radical religious sect seeks in the most poignant way, to create a wide gap for its own conceived Islamic world order by killing, dispossessing, kidnapping and alienating people, especially in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, bordering Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republics. Economic, religious, cultural and political lives of the locals including Muslims are destroyed. No end is in sight. However, in the face of hostility, hatred, injustice, disorder, despair and an attempt to create order, a new form of public morality is desperately needed in Nigeria, today. Th e questions then are: what is this public morality? How can a public morality be facilitated to salvage such a disturbing situation

"Participating in God's mission of reconciliation" - Nigerian churches' response to ethnic conflicts

CITATION: Akper, G. I. 2012. "Participating in God's mission of reconciliation" - Nigerian churches' response to ethnic conflicts. Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 53(suppl. 2):89-102, doi:10.5952/53-0-198.The original publication is available at https://ngtt.journals.ac.zaThe paper appeals to the Faith and Order paper on “Ethnicity, National Identity, and the Search for the Unity of the Church” (ETHNAT) to evaluate whether or not and in what way, Nigerian churches are responding to ethnic challenges. After a brief statement of the Faith and Order paper’s invitation to participate in the ministry of reconciliation (1), the paper describes categories of churches in the Nigerian context (2). The Nigerian churches’ responses to ethinic identities and their impact on the unity of the church is then evaluated (3). It is argued that not all Nigerian churches are responding to the call to reconcile societies divided along ethnic lines and, therefore, issues a call to participate in a ministry of reconciliation in their country (4).https://ngtt.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/198Publisher's versio

Surgical peripheral lymph node biopsies in Makurdi, Nigeria.

This study aims at determining the diagnostic value of peripheral lymph node biopsy and common causes of lymph node enlargement from biopsies obtained from patients with lymph-node enlargement at different sites in a teaching hospital in north central Nigeria town of Makurdi, Benue State. This is a retrospective study of surgical peripheral lymph node biopsies received in the department of Anatomic Pathology, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria from February, 2012 to September, 2019. Total number of lymph node biopsies during the period was 47 representing 1.0% of surgical pathology specimens submitted to the department; 25 cases were females and 22 were males. Metastatic nodal involvement (57%), lymphoma (23%) and tuberculosis lymphadenitis (11%) were the most common causes of lymph node enlargement. All the studied nodes were localized. The most common sites of lymphadenopathy were axillary (21%), cervical (16%) and Inguinal (6%). While axillary lymph node enlargements were mostly associated with tumor metastasis, cervical and inguinal node enlargements were mostly associated with tuberculosis and lymphoma, respectively. Surgical excision of nodal enlargement for histological examination represents a simple, good diagnostic yield with lack of significant morbidity or mortality

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in human mobility patterns in Holocene Southwest Asia and the East Mediterranean

We present a spatiotemporal picture of human genetic diversity in Anatolia, Iran, Levant, South Caucasus, and the Aegean, a broad region that experienced the earliest Neolithic transition and the emergence of complex hierarchical societies. Combining 35 new ancient shotgun genomes with 382 ancient and 23 present-day published genomes, we found that genetic diversity within each region steadily increased through the Holocene. We further observed that the inferred sources of gene flow shifted in time. In the first half of the Holocene, Southwest Asian and the East Mediterranean populations homogenized among themselves. Starting with the Bronze Age, however, regional populations diverged from each other, most likely driven by gene flow from external sources, which we term “the expanding mobility model.” Interestingly, this increase in inter-regional divergence can be captured by outgroup-f$_3$-based genetic distances, but not by the commonly used F$_{ST}$ statistic, due to the sensitivity of F$_{ST}$, but not outgroup-f$_3$, to within-population diversity. Finally, we report a temporal trend of increasing male bias in admixture events through the Holocene

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in human mobility patterns in Holocene Southwest Asia and the East Mediterranean.

We present a spatiotemporal picture of human genetic diversity in Anatolia, Iran, Levant, South Caucasus, and the Aegean, a broad region that experienced the earliest Neolithic transition and the emergence of com- plex hierarchical societies. Combining 35 new ancient shotgun genomes with 382 ancient and 23 present-day published genomes, we found that genetic diversity within each region steadily increased through the Holo- cene. We further observed that the inferred sources of gene flow shifted in time. In the first half of the Holo- cene, Southwest Asian and the East Mediterranean populations homogenized among themselves. Starting with the Bronze Age, however, regional populations diverged from each other, most likely driven by gene flow from external sources, which we term ‘‘the expanding mobility model.’’ Interestingly, this increase in in- ter-regional divergence can be captured by outgroup-f3-based genetic distances, but not by the commonly used FST statistic, due to the sensitivity of FST, but not outgroup-f3, to within-population diversity. Finally, we report a temporal trend of increasing male bias in admixture events through the Holocene

Is God in Nigeria? : land dislocation and the challenge of confessing Belhar in Nigeria today

CITATION: Akper, G. I. 2018. Is God in Nigeria? : land dislocation and the challenge of confessing Belhar in Nigeria today. Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 4(1):61-72, doi:10.17570/stj.2018.v4n1.a03.The original publication is available at https://ojs.reformedjournals.co.za/stjOf the view that “in the land full of enmity, God is in a special way the God of the destitute and the wronged”, the essay explores the challenge of confessing the third article in the Confession of Belhar in Nigeria today. Nigeria has recorded a high number of displaced persons in the years between 1982 and 2016, who have been dispossessed of their lands and their hopes for better living standards. This situation has often been caused by the activities of radical religious activists. Also, a number of communal crises among ethnic nationalities especially in some parts of what can be described as northern Nigeria have added to the statistics of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). These destitute, many of whom are Christians, continuously cry out, hoping that God may intervene, and change their situations for the better, but seemingly to no avail. For some of them, it seems like all hope is lost. With such agonising situations among Christians, what sense will it make, “to preach” to them that “God is in a special way” their God? The essay examines this question by juxtaposing the Nigerian situation with South Africa’s past, when the Christians in South Africa confessed that God was still on their side amidst a seemingly hopeless situation. It also explores whether some lessons from the South African experience can be of any assistance or relevance to the Christians in Nigeria today.https://ojs.reformedjournals.co.za/stj/article/view/1862Publisher's versio

Hydrocarbon conditions of folded regions in view of geochemical prospecting of oil and gas fields

The investigation is concerned with the hydrocarbon conditions of the South Caspian, Rionian, Vienna, Pannonian and Transilvanian depressions and East European and Scythian-Turan platforms. The object is investigating into the geotectonic and geodynamic aspects of the conditions of the sedimentary basins with a view to refining the scientific fundamentals and technology of geochemical prospecting of oil and gas deposits in folded regions. The researchers have revealed the main specific features of the gaseous hydrocarbon status of the atmosphere,hydrosphere and sedimentary complex of the lithosphere of diverse tectonic types and developed on the basis thereof the scientific fundamentals of geochemical prospecting of oil and gas fields as applied to folded areas,developed new methods of geochemical prospecting of oil and gas deposits in folded areas, assessed the prospects and top-priority regions within the limits of the Mugan monoclinal fold, predicted the phase hydrocarbon makeup in the deep-set deposits in the South Caspian depression area and solved a number of applied problems. Based on the results of comprehensive geological and geochemical studies on the Mugan monoclinal fold. The Oil Producing Corporation "Azneft" has selected the Cashimkhanli area prospecting drilling areas. The obtained results may find application in the sphere of prospecting oil and gas deposits in folded areas, monitoring the air-tightness of subsurface gas reservoirs, predicting eathquakes and solving ecological problemsAvailable from VNTIC / VNTIC - Scientific & Technical Information Centre of RussiaSIGLERURussian Federatio