Evaluating the role of hydrocarbon seepage in carbonate mound formation (offshore Ireland) using basin modelling

The goal of this project was to assess whether deep water coral mound growth on the continental slope of the north Atlantic could be related to active hydrocarbon leakage. The objects of interest are numerous buried and non-buried carbonate mounds, consisting mainly of corals, carbonate crusts and fine grained clastic sediments in the Porcupine Basin, which is located on the eastern Atlantic continental slope 200 km offshore Ireland and contains the sub-commercial Connemara oil field.To evaluate the possible link between hydrocarbon leakage and mound growth we used 2D and 3D basin modelling in combination with geochemical analysis of sediments from gravity cores. A total of 5 intersecting seismic lines were used as a basis for 2D modelling of basin evolution, hydrocarbon generation and migration. Data from six exploration wells were used for calibration of the basin burial and thermal history using vitrinite reflectance, bottom hole temperatures and apatite fission track data. 3D basin modelling was performed using data provided by UCD in the northern part of the Porcupine Basin.The results of this study indicate that a link between modelled hydrocarbon leakage and carbonate mound growth is possible both in the Belgica mound province on the eastern flank of the basin where stratigraphic pinch outs of carrier beds can lead to the localised leakage of hydrocarbons to the seafloor, as well as in the Hovland Magellan mound area in the northern half of the Porcupine Basin, where small-scale structural closures mapped on the main Miocene surfaces correlate roughly to observed mound locations.This study demonstrates the applicability of basin modelling in testing and identifying geologic processes related to geosphere/biosphere interactions

Improved molecular laboratory productivity by consolidation of testing on the new random-access analyzer Alinity m

Abstract Objectives Automated molecular analyzers have accelerated diagnosis, allowing earlier intervention and better patient follow-up. A recently developed completely automated molecular analyzer, Alinity™ m (Abbott), offers consolidated, continuous, and random-access testing that may improve molecular laboratory workflow. Methods An international, multicenter study compared laboratory workflow metrics across various routine analyzers and Alinity m utilizing assays for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV), and sexually transmitted infection (STI) (Chlamydia trachomatis [CT]/Neisseria gonorrhoeae [NG]/Trichomonas vaginalis [TV]/Mycoplasma genitalium [MG]). Three turnaround times (TATs) were assessed: total TAT (sample arrival to result), sample onboard TAT (sample loading and test starting to result), and processing TAT (sample aspiration to result). Results Total TAT was reduced from days with routine analyzers to hours with Alinity m, independent of requested assays. Sample onboard TATs for standard workflow using routine analyzers ranged from 7 to 32.5 h compared to 2.75–6 h for Alinity m. The mean sample onboard TAT for STAT samples on Alinity m was 2.36 h (±0.19 h). Processing TATs for Alinity m were independent of the combination of assays, with 100% of results reported within 117 min. Conclusions The consolidated, continuous, random-access workflow of Alinity m reduces TATs across various assays and is expected to improve both laboratory operational efficiency and patient care

Multicenter clinical comparative evaluation of Alinity m HIV-1 assay performance.

Abstract Background Accurate, rapid detection of HIV-1 RNA is critical for early diagnosis, treatment decision making, and long-term management of HIV-1 infection. Objective We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Alinity m HIV-1 assay, which uses a dual target/dual probe design against highly conserved target regions of the HIV-1 genome and is run on the fully automated Alinity m platform. Study design This was an international, multisite study that compared the diagnostic performance of the Alinity m HIV-1 assay to four commercially available HIV-1 assays routinely used in nine independent clinical laboratories. Alinity m HIV-1 assay precision, detectability, and reproducibility was compared across four study sites. Results The Alinity m HIV-1 assay produced comparable results to currently available HIV-1 assays (correlation coefficient >0.995), with an overall bias of -0.1 to 0.10 Log10 copies/mL. The Alinity m HIV-1 assay and its predecessor m2000 HIV-1 assay demonstrated comparable detection of 16 different HIV-1 subtypes (R2 = 0.956). A high level of agreement (>88 %) between all HIV-1 assays was seen near clinical decision points of 1.7 Log10 copies/mL (50 copies/mL) and 2.0 Log10 copies/mL (200 copies/mL). Alinity m HIV-1 assay precision was 0.08 and 0.21 Log10 copies/mL at VLs of 1000 and 50 copies/mL, respectively, with a high level of detectability (≥97 % hit rate) and reproducibility across sites. Conclusions The Alinity m HIV-1 assay provides comparable diagnostic accuracy to current HIV-1 assays, and when run on the Alinity m system, has the capacity to shorten the time between diagnosis and treatment

Effects of excluding grazing on the vegetation and soils of degraded sparse-elm grassland in the Horqin Sandy Land, China

Livestock grazing is a crucial cause of vegetation degradation and desertification in sandy lands. The sparse-elm grassland of Horqin Sandy Land, China has suffered severe degradation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Management to exclude grazing is often necessary for ecological restoration, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. We report effects on vegetation and soils in a 10-year experiment to exclude livestock, completely or seasonally, in comparison with a continuously grazed area in Horqin. Complete exclusion of grazing and restriction of grazing to summer both led to significantly increased plant cover and density relative to the grazed control. Species richness increased, reflected in higher Shannon-Wiener indices; only complete exclusion increased the Simpson diversity index, whereas Pielou evenness was significantly lowest under seasonal grazing. Exclosure treatments were also associated with improved soil texture, and increased water retention, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, total carbon and total phosphorus. Soil pH and C/N ratio were highest under the seasonal grazing regime. The results indicated that exclosure management indeed improved biodiversity and ecosystem services in an erosion-prone region. Although total exclosure was most effective in restoration of degraded sparse-elm grassland, seasonal grazing management was highly beneficial and represented a good compromise with resource utilization and economic development

Phosphogypsum Stack Reclamation Using Soil Amendments and Short-Rotational Woody Species

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a by-product of phosphorus fertilizer production that is stored in large piles (stacks). Typically, PG stack reclamation focuses on topsoil caps vegetated with grass which has limited economic return. Therefore, a study was conducted using the short-rotational tree species (Picea glauca, Populus balsamifera) to determine their potential in PG stack reclamation. Five soil amendments (compost, compost with mycorrhizal fungi, manure pellets, black earth, mycorrhizal fungi) with a control (no amendment on PG) were used in a field experiment to determine whether they would enhance the growth of the planted species. After two years, amendments had little effect on the height, diameter or biomass of either species. P. balsamifera on PG (control) was significantly healthier than in amended soils. The healthiest and most successful trees for both species were found in the control treatment. Organic amendments (compost, manure) had significantly higher nitrate and phosphorus than most of the other treatments. Black earth and mycorrhizal fungi did not affect any soil properties relative to the control. This study suggests short-rotational forestry plantations of Populus balsamifera appear to be meeting reclamation objectives for PG stacks, similar to traditional grass covers; however, the built soil profile could limit tree success in future

Water holding capacity of litter and soil organic matter in mixed prairie and fescue grassland ecosystems of Alberta

Litter and organic matter accumulations can reduce soil water through interception of precipitation and subsequent evaporation of absorbed water. Interception varies with mass and water holding capacity (WHC) of litter and organic matter, and is highest from small precipitation events. WHC varies with vegetation type, which is affected by grazing regime. Thus long-term grazing could affect WHC of litter and organic matter and would be important in the hydrologic assessment of rangelands subjected to many small precipitation events throughout the growing season. The study was conducted in mixed prairie, parkland fescue, and foothills fescue grasslands in Alberta, Canada. Grazing regimes were of light to very heavy intensities, grazed early, late, and continuously during the growing season. Litter and organic matter were sorted by sieving into various sized categories. Litter-soil cores were also evaluated. WHC of litter and organic matter was lower in mixed prairie than in fescue grasslands. WHC increased with increazed particle size, being higher for roots and standing and fallen litter than for organic matter. WHC of large particle-sized material decreased with heavy intensity and/or early season grazing. WHC was affected more by intensity than season of grazing. Grazing affected WHC through species composition changes, since species have different WHC, and through trampling which affected particle size. It was concluded that litter and organic matter WHC were important in rangeland hydrologic assessments.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202