bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microalgae detection based on improved YOLOv5
Authors: Duan Ziqiang , Xie Ting , Wang Lucai , Chen Yang , Wu Jie
Published: May 2024

Accurate detection of algae in microscopic image plays a crucial role in water quality monitoring. However, the existing object detection methods still face challenges in accurately detecting different categories of algae in microscopic image. In order to improve the accuracy, an improved YOLOv5s model is proposed for microalgae detection, by combining a Receptive Field Enhancement (RFE) module, the Wise‐IoU v3 dynamic non‐monotonic focal loss function, and a Dynamic head (Dyhead), which is termed receptive field enhancement wise‐IoU dyhead (RWD)‐you only look once (YOLO). Firstly, to detect microalgae of various scales, the Bottleneck in the C3 module of YOLOv5s is replaced with a more reasonable RFE module. Secondly, Wise‐IoU v3 is applied to enhance detection accuracy by assigning varying weights between high‐quality and low‐quality images. Finally, Dyhead is introduced to enhance the representation capacity of the detection head by integrating three attention mechanisms: scale awareness, spatial awareness, and task awareness. The proposed RWD‐YOLO model significantly enhances the accuracy of algae detection in microscopic image. Specifically, the experimental results on the microalgae dataset show that the RWD‐YOLO achieves an mAP@0.5 of 93.2% and an mAP@0.5:0.95 of 65.1%. Compared to the original YOLOv5s, mAP@0.5 and mAP@0.5:0.95 are improved by 3.7% and 5.7%, respectively.
Fast formation of large ice pebbles after FU Orionis outbursts
Authors: Ros Katrin , Johansen Anders
Published: May 2024

During their formation, nascent planetary systems are subject to FU Orionis outbursts that heat a substantial part of the disc. This causes water ice in the affected part of the disc to sublimate as the ice line moves outwards to several to tens of astronomical units. In this paper, we investigate how the subsequent cooling of the disc impacts the particle sizes. We calculate the resulting particle sizes in a disc model with cooling times between 100 and 1000 yr, corresponding to typical FU Orionis outbursts. As the disc cools and the ice line retreats inwards, water vapour forms icy mantles on existing silicate particles. This process is called heterogeneous nucleation. The nucleation rate per surface area of silicate substrate strongly depends on the degree of super-saturation of the water vapour in the gas. Fast cooling results in high super-saturation levels, high nucleation rates, and limited condensation growth because the main ice budget is spent in the nucleation. Slow cooling, on the other hand, leads to rare ice nucleation and efficient growth of ice-nucleated particles by subsequent condensation. We demonstrate that close to the quiescent ice line, pebbles with a size of about centimetres to decimetres form by this process. The largest of these are expected to undergo cracking collisions. However, their Stokes numbers still reach values that are high enough to potentially trigger planetesimal formation by the streaming instability if the background turbulence is weak. Stellar outbursts may thus promote planetesimal formation around the water ice line in protoplanetary discs.
Size and kinematics of the C IV broad emission line region from microlensing-induced line profile distortions in two gravitationally lensed quasars
Authors: Hutsemékers Damien , Sluse Dominique , Savić Đorđe
Published: May 2024

Microlensing of the broad emission line region (BLR) in gravitationally lensed quasars produces line profile distortions that can be used to probe the BLR size, geometry, and kinematics. Based on single-epoch spectroscopic data, we analyzed the C IV line profile distortions due to microlensing in two quasars, SDSS J133907.13+131039.6 (J1339) and SDSS J113803.73+031457.7 (J1138), complementing previous studies of microlensing in the quasars Q2237+0305 and J1004+4112. J1339 shows a strong, asymmetric line profile deformation, while J1138 shows a more modest, symmetric deformation, confirming the rich diversity of microlensing-induced spectral line deformations. To probe the C IV BLR, we compared the observed line profile deformations to simulated ones. The simulations are based on three simple BLR models, a Keplerian disk (KD), an equatorial wind (EW), and a polar wind (PW), of various sizes, inclinations, and emissivities. These models were convolved with microlensing magnification maps specific to the microlensed quasar images, which produced a large number of distorted line profiles. The models that best reproduce the observed line profile deformations were then identified using a Bayesian probabilistic approach. We find that the line profile deformations can be reproduced with the simple BLR models under consideration, with no need for more complex geometries or kinematics. The models with disk geometries (KD and EW) are preferred, while the PW model is definitely less likely. In J1339, the EW model is favored, while the KD model is preferred in Q2237+0305, suggesting that various kinematical models can dominate the C IV BLR. For J1339, we find the C IV BLR half-light radii to be r1/2 = 5.1−2.9+4.6 light-days and r1/2 = 6.7−3.8+6.0 light-days from spectra obtained in 2014 and 2017, respectively. They do agree within uncertainties. For J1138, the amplitude of microlensing is smaller and more dependent on the macro-magnification factor. From spectra obtained in 2005 (single epoch), we find r1/2 = 4.9−2.7+4.9 light-days and r1/2 = 12−8+13 light-days for two extreme values of the macro-magnification factor. Combining these new measurements with those previously obtained for the quasars Q2237+0305 and J1004+4112, we show that the BLR radii estimated from microlensing do follow the C IV radius–luminosity relation obtained from reverberation mapping, although the microlensing radii seem to be systematically smaller, which could indicate either a selection bias or a real offset.
Osteoporosetherapie – quo vadis?
Authors: Obermayer-Pietsch Barbara , Siggelkow Heide
Published: May 2024

Liebe Leserinnen und Leser der Osteologie, Innerhalb des breiten Spektrums an
pharmakologischen Möglichkeiten für die Osteoporose-Behandlung gibt es zwei große,
gut definierte Richtungen – Antiresorptiva, die den Abbau des Knochens hemmen (wie
Bisphosphonate oder Denosumab, Östrogene oder selektive Östrogenrezeptormodulatoren
(SERMs)) oder Osteoanabolika, die den Aufbau des Knochens fördern (wie Teriparatid
und Abaloparatid) und seit Kurzem auch einen „dualen“ Therapieweg dazwischen
(Romosozumab), mit Wirkungen auf beide Knochenstoffwechselwege. Im Laufe der
Vorgeschichte der Osteoporosetherapie sind viele ältere Therapieansätze wie
Fluor-Therapeutika, Strontiumranelat oder Odanacatib wieder vom Markt verschwunden,
u. a. auch wegen ihrer Nebenwirkungen oder unvorhergesehener Langzeitprobleme wie
einer Fluorose für die erste hier angeführte Medikationsgruppe. Welche praktischen
Aspekte in der Indikationsstellung, der Sicherheit der Medikation, der Dosierung, im
Nebenwirkungsprofil und in positiven Nebeneffekten der aktuellen Therapeutika
wichtig sind, wird in der aktuellen Ausgabe der „Osteologie“ anhand von vier
Beiträgen beleuchtet.
Homöopathie und Krebsbehandlung
Authors: Zauner Bernhard , Frass Michael
Published: May 2024

In Deutschland flammte beim Schreiben des Editorials wieder die Diskussion über die
Homöopathie auf. Gesundheitsminister Lauterbach behauptet, die Homöopathie sei
unwissenschaftlich und gehöre deshalb als Kassenleistung gestrichen. Geht es um
Homöopathie und Krebsbehandlung, dann wird es nochmals schwieriger. Gibt es nun
wissenschaftliche Daten?
Supplementierung von Vitaminen und Spurenelementen bei urologischen Malignomen
Authors: Bauer-Büntzel Christoph , Büntzel Judith
Published: May 2024

Die Einnahme von Vitaminen und Spurenelementen zählt zu den biologischen Verfahren der Komplementärmedizin. Sie wird von Patient*innen zur Prophylaxe und auch zur (Supportiv-)Therapie bei Krebserkrankungen eingesetzt. Die S3-Leitlinie „Komplementärmedizin in der Behandlung onkologischer PatientInnen“ bietet eine Übersicht über die Studienlage und gibt Empfehlungen für oder gegen den Einsatz von Nährstoff-Supplementen. Anhand der Leitlinie wird im Folgenden die Studienlage für ausgewählte Vitamine und Spurenelemente herausgearbeitet. Dieses praktische Werkzeug ermöglicht es Behandelnden, evidenzbasiert zur Nutzung von Supplementen zu beraten und auf potenzielle Fallstricke in der Anwendung hinweisen zu können. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt liegt hierbei auf urologischen Malignomen.
Ayurveda bei onkologischen Erkrankungen
Authors: Keßler Christian , K. Schiele Julia
Published: May 2024

In der Onkologie kann Ayurveda eine komplementärmedizinische Rolle spielen. Ayurveda betrachtet den Körper als selbstregulierendes Milieu, gesteuert durch funktionelle Prinzipien (v. a. Dosha, Agni) und physiologische Strukturen (v. a. Dhatu, Mala, Srotas). Krebserkrankungen werden im Ayurveda als Systemerkrankungen verstanden. So sind in die Ätiopathogenese onkologischer Erkrankungen zumeist alle 3 Dosha involviert.

Die supportive Ayurveda-Behandlung von Krebs kann je nach vorliegender Fragestellung Ursachenvermeidung oder Prävention, spezielle körperliche Reinigungsverfahren (Pancakarma), Stoffwechselkorrekturmaßnahmen, Immunmodulation, Geweberegeneration (Rasayana) sowie psychomentale Stärkung durch Meditation, therapeutisches Yoga und Manualtherapie umfassen. Die Grenzen der komplementäronkologischen Ayurveda-Behandlung in Deutschland liegen vor allem in der Verfügbarkeit seriöser Versorgungsangebote und -sicherer Phytotherapeutika sowie in dem finanziellen Aufwand, da Krankenversicherungsträger die Kosten dieser Therapien in der Regel nicht übernehmen. Wissenschaftliche Evidenz entsprechend EbM ist noch sehr limitiert, jedoch existiert ein breites, über mehrere Jahrtausende systematisiertes, erfahrungsmedizinisches Wissen. In der Praxis zeigt sich, dass Ayurveda eine sinnvolle Ergänzung zur konventionellen Krebsbehandlung sein kann, vor allem wenn es darum geht, die onkospezifische Lebensqualität zu verbessern und Nebenwirkungen zu verringern.
Phytotherapie bei rezidivierenden Harnwegsinfektionen
Authors: Kraft Karin
Published: May 2024

Akute Harnwegsinfektionen gehören zu den häufigsten bakteriellen Infektionen des Menschen. Sie werden in der Regel antibiotisch therapiert. Dennoch treten bei 8–20 % der Betroffenen innerhalb von 6–12 Monaten Rezidive auf. Wegen der zunehmenden Antibiotikaresistenzen werden nicht antibiotische Therapieoptionen immer bedeutsamer, mit denen eine antibiotische Langzeittherapie vermieden oder zumindest hinausgezögert werden kann. Im Rahmen einer Stufentherapie können neben Verhaltensänderungen und Maßnahmen der Immunmodulation verschiedene anitiinfektiv wirksame Phytotherapeutika wegen ihrer guten Verträglichkeit adjuvant zur antibiotischen Therapie oder als Monotherapie beim Rezidiv und insbesondere im Intervall langfristig eingesetzt werden. Neben einer Förderung der Durchspülung lindern sie typische Symptome, wirken verschiedenen bakteriellen Virulenzfaktoren entgegen und unterstützen körpereigene Abwehrmechanismen. Die Harnwegsdesinfizientien Bärentraubenblätter, Kapuzinerkressenkraut und Meerrettichwurzel wirken zudem auf verschiedenen Ebenen antibakteriell, Resistenzentwicklungen wurden bisher nicht beschrieben. Weitere klinische Studien mit antiinfektiv wirksamen Phytopharmaka sollten zukünftig besonders bei Risikogruppen wie z. B. geriatrischen Patienten oder Diabetikern durchgeführt werden, um die Wirksamkeit pflanzlicher Arzneimittel bei rezidivierenden Harnwegsinfektionen zu bestätigen und um deren Akzeptanz mit dem Ziel der Vermeidung von Antibiotikaresistenzen zu erhöhen.
Meine Blase lässt mich nicht los – Homöopathie bei neurogener Blasenfunktionsstörung
Authors: Pannek Jürgen , Pannek-Rademacher Susanne
Published: May 2024

Die Integrität des Nervensystems ist Voraussetzung für eine ungestörte Urinspeicherung und Blasenentleerung. Neurologische Systemerkrankungen (z. B. Rückenmarkverletzungen, Multiple Sklerose, Morbus Parkinson, Spina bifida, zerebrovaskulärer Insult) führen in aller Regel zu einer neurogenen Blasenfunktionsstörung (NBFS). Typische Folgen sind Harnwegsinfekte (HWI) und eine überaktive Blase, die sowohl die Nierenfunktion schädigen als auch die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen massiv beeinträchtigen können.

Die bisherigen Studien zeigen, dass durch klassische Homöopathie akute HWI effektiv, effizient und nebenwirkungsarm therapiert werden können. Bei 199 nicht fieberhaften HWI entschieden sich die Probanden in 104 Fällen für eine Antibiotikaeinnahme. In 78,8 % -waren die Betroffenen nach der initialen Antibiotikabehandlung beschwerdefrei. In 95 HWI-Episoden entschieden sich die Betroffenen für eine nichtantibiotische Therapie. Von den 59 HWI unter homöopathischer Behandlung waren die Patienten in 40 Episoden (67,8 %) nach der Erstbehandlung symptomfrei. Die Erfolgsraten der antibiotischen und der nichtantibiotischen Therapien waren nicht signifikant unterschiedlich.

Zudem ist Homöopathie auch eine wirksame Prophylaxestrategie bei rezidivierenden HWI. Die Anzahl der HWI/Jahr reduzierte sich in der Gruppe mit homöopathischer Behandlung signifikant, während die HWI-Frequenz in der Kontrollgruppe über die Studiendauer unverändert blieb. Somit kann die Homöopathie wesentlich zur Reduktion des Einsatzes von Antibiotika beitragen. Bei der Therapie der Detrusorüberaktivität konnte kein Einfluss der homöopathischen Therapie auf urodynamische Parameter nachgewiesen werden.

Aufgrund der unspezifischen und untypischen Symptome bei Menschen mit Rückenmarkverletzung sind gute medizinische Kenntnisse der Homöopath*innen unabdingbar, um die geschilderten Symptome einordnen zu können. Für eine erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit ist eine wechselseitig wertschätzende Beziehung zwischen allen Beteiligten eine Grundvoraussetzung.
Neonatologist at the Well-Child Clinic: A High-Risk Infant Follow-up Pilot Study
Authors: Reingold Stephen M. , Yotvat Liora , Schimmel Michael S.
Published: May 2024

Objective High-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) is a complex process lacking standardization. We present a simple, single-provider model that proved effective and is well-received by caregivers.

Study Design In this study, we measured caregiver use and satisfaction with an HRIF visit attended by an experienced neonatologist in a well-care setting, soon after discharge.

Results One hundred parents participated in the survey. Among the infants of these parents, 78% of infants were seen in the first 3 months of life and 39% within 1 month of discharge. Nutrition (98%) and development (97%) were the most commonly discussed topics, followed by general health (95%), iron supplementation (93%), and head size (90%). Using a 5-point Likert's scale, with 5 being the highest rating, parents responded that the meeting answered their questions (4.7, n = 93), organized their infants' needs (4.6, n = 90), and increased their confidence in caring for their infants (4.65, n = 92).

Conclusion HRIF with an experienced neonatologist is an effective means of increasing parents' understanding of their infants' medical needs and confidence in caring for their infants.

Key Points
Association between Gestational Age and Perinatal Outcomes in Women with Late Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes
Authors: Schmidt Eleanor M. , Powell Jacqueline M. , Garg Bharti , Caughey Aaron B.
Published: May 2024

Objective The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests expectant management until 34 weeks for patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). New data suggest extending to 37 weeks might enhance neonatal outcomes, reducing prematurity-linked issues. This study aims to assess adverse neonatal outcomes across gestational ages in women with PPROM.

Study Design A retrospective cohort study was performed using linked vital statistics and the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision data. Gestational age at delivery ranged from 32 to 36 weeks. Outcomes include neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission >24 hours, neonatal sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and neonatal death. Multivariate regression analyses and chi-square tests were employed for statistical comparisons.

Results In this cohort of 28,891 deliveries, there was a statistically significant decline in all studied adverse neonatal outcomes with increasing gestational age, without an increase in neonatal sepsis. At 32 weeks, 93% of newborns were in the NICU >24 hours compared with 81% at 34 weeks and 22% at 36 weeks (p < 0.001). At 32 weeks, 20% had neonatal sepsis compared with 11% at 34 weeks and 3% at 36 weeks (p < 0.001). At 32 weeks, 67% had respiratory distress syndrome compared with 44% at 34 weeks and 12% at 36 weeks (p < 0.001).

Conclusion In the setting of PPROM, later gestational age at delivery is associated with decreased rates of adverse neonatal outcomes without an increase in neonatal sepsis.

Key Points
Linear stability analysis of the electrostatic drift wave in the electron thermal internal transport barrier in EAST
Authors: Wang Jie , Qiu Yuefeng , Wang Shaojie
Published: May 2024

An alternative local electrostatic gyrokinetic eigenvalue code is developed for the ion-temperature-gradient-driven mode, the trapped-electron mode (TEM), and the electron-temperature-gradient (ETG)-driven mode. It numerically solves the linear eigenvalue problem for the electrostatic drift waves in the Fourier transformed space and benchmarks well with the HD-7 code and FULL code. The linear ETG and TEM instabilities in the electron thermal internal transport barrier (eITB) with dominant electron heating in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak are analyzed by using this code. The linear analysis results are consistent with that from the critical electron-temperature-gradient threshold analysis. Moreover, the sensitivity of ETG and TEM instabilities to parameters during the eITB formation has been investigated. For the typical eITB discharge, it is found that the instability of ETG mode is more sensitive to the stabilizing effect of the electron–ion temperature ratio (τe), while the instability of TEM is more sensitive to the destabilizing effect of ηe. In addition, mixing length estimation of the turbulent transport in the eITB is also discussed, which suggests that the TEM may be saturated by other nonlinear effects than the resonance broadening.
Influence of surface slip on hydrodynamics and flow field around a two-dimensional hydrofoil at a moderate Reynolds number
Authors: Zhu Manfu , Huang Weixi , Ma Liran , Luo Jianbin
Published: May 2024

In the present study, the effects of surface slip on the hydrodynamics and flow around a two-dimensional National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 0012 hydrofoil are systematically investigated by numerical methods. The objective is to fully understand the effects of surface slip on the streamlined body. Three slip positions (both surfaces, the upper surface, the lower surface) and eight slip lengths (in a wide range from 1 to 500 μm) under 0°–10° angles of attack are fully investigated at a moderate Reynolds number of 1.0 × 106. Surface slip has been found to increase lift and reduce drag by postponing the flow transition, laminar separation bubble, and flow separation on the hydrofoil surface under both surfaces and the upper surface slip conditions. Slip has also been found to induce upshift of the mean velocity profile, decrease the displacement thickness, and mitigate the turbulent kinetic energy in the flow field. However, counterintuitive phenomenon occurs under the lower surface slip condition, where the total drag of the hydrofoil is increased compared to that under the no slip condition. Total drag increase is found mainly due to the increase in the pressure drag under small slip lengths and relatively large angles of attack. Flow maps demonstrating the complex interaction between different surface slip conditions and the flow field are further presented. The results suggest that surface slip can not only reduce drag, but also increase the drag of the streamlined body, which shall provide valuable insights for practical applications of slippery materials.
The single and double inverse Pareto–Burr XII distribution: Properties, estimation methods, and real-life data applications
Authors: Aljohani Hassan M.
Published: May 2024

Researchers consistently improve statistical tools to provide a flexible method to fit or predict. The solution needs to be more suitable since the approach is sometimes complex and complicated. Generally, statistical tools are generated from ordinary least squares and wavelet methods. However, the reliability tool provides a good fit comparable to state-of-the-art methods, including the complex posterior setting of hyperparameters. In this article, a flexible extension of the Burr XII model, which is the odd inverse Pareto–Burr XII (OIPBXII) distribution, is studied and investigated using statistical tools such as Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. The mathematical properties of the probability density distribution of OIPBXII are derived, and it shows a behavior shape, decreasing, increasing, J-shaped, reversed-J-shaped, bathtub, upside-down bathtub, decreasing–increasing–decreasing hazard rates, and right-skewed, symmetrical, and concave down densities. The OIPBXII parameters are investigated by using seven classical approaches to estimation. Extensive simulation results are presented to explore the performance of these methods for small and large samples. An application to two real-life sets of data from engineering and medicine is analyzed, showing the flexibility of the OIPBXII distribution as compared to existing Burr XII distributions.
Performance comparison of liquid, vapor, and liquid–vapor injection of single-screw compressor for an air-source heat pump
Authors: Wen Qiangyu , Zhi Ruiping , Wu Yuting , Lei Biao , Du Yanjun
Published: May 2024

Refrigerant injection techniques are usually proposed to improve the performance and reliability of compressors when a single-screw compressor applied to an air-source heat pump works at low temperatures in winter. In this study, an experimental study was conducted to present the performance comparison of the single-screw compressor in the air-source heat pump under liquid, vapor, and liquid–vapor refrigerant injection at evaporation temperatures between −19 and −8 °C. The results indicate that, when the evaporation temperature decreases from −8 to −19 °C, the heating capacity under liquid–vapor and vapor injection increases by 16.7% and 12.7%, respectively, compared with that under liquid injection and that the COPh increment under liquid–vapor injection and vapor injection is, respectively, from 11.23% to 39.21% and from 17.18% to 30.82% compared with that under liquid injection. Therefore, the liquid–vapor injection method is conducive to the operation of the air-source heat pump at a lower ambient temperature. The experimental results can provide the basis for the future design of single-screw compressors applied to air-source heat pumps.
Modeling of the particle fluxes of a helium plasma jet onto water surface
Authors: Liu Yifan , Wang Sui , Peng Yan , Peng Wenyi , Liu Dingxin , Fu Feng
Published: May 2024

The interaction between an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) and an aqueous solution has great application prospects in biomedicine and many other fields. Reactive species adjacent to a water surface is critical to the activation of APPJ-treated water, which is affected by both the water evaporation and the admixture of ambient air. In this paper, taking He APPJ as an example, a two-dimensional (2D) cylindrically symmetric fluid model is developed to obtain the spatial distributions of gas components before discharging, and a series of global models are developed for the discharge in the boundary gas layer adjacent to the water surface. The interfacial distributions of reactive species and their fluxes onto the water surface are quantified. It is found that the electron density is 1016–1017 m−3 and it shows an annular distribution in the boundary gas layer. The density distributions of most reactive species there reveal ring-like shapes as well. The dominant cation and anion in such a boundary layer are H3O+ and OH−, respectively. The most abundant metastable is O2(a1Δ), the most abundant reactive oxygen species are H2O2 and OH, and the most abundant reactive nitrogen species are NO and HNO2. The species of H2O2, OH, HO2, and HNO2 are reportedly to have significant biological effects, and in our simulation, their fluxes onto the water surface are remarkable, higher than 1017 m−2 s−1. In addition, the effects of radial gas velocity and water evaporation on the particle flux distributions are also revealed.
Theoretical study of the effect of ionization effect on the thermal conductivity of stannous oxide
Authors: Wu Yangke , Shi Wei , He Chaoyu , Li Jin , Tang Chao , Ouyang Tao
Published: May 2024

Effectively modulating the thermal conductivity of materials is critical for meeting the various requirements of thermal-management devices. In this work, the influence of ionization on the phonon-transport properties of stannous oxide (SnO) was systematically investigated using first-principles calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport equation. The results show that ionization has a positive effect on the thermal conductivity of SnO, and this phenomenon can be further enhanced with increased ionization magnitude. Specifically, it was found that the thermal conductivities of SnO along the x (y) and z directions could be increased by 35%/200% and 65%/300% after the removal of four and eight electrons, respectively, from neutral SnO. The phonon mode information implies that the enhancement of thermal conductivity mainly originates from the suppression of anharmonicity in the ionized SnO. This behavior was further demonstrated by analyzing the root mean square displacement and potential-well structure. More in-depth examination suggested that the enhancement of the thermal conductivity of SnO does not originate from the ionization itself, but from the internal strain in the lattice caused by the ionization. The findings presented in this work elucidate how ionization can impact thermal conductivity, providing theoretical guidance for modulating thermal conductivity at the electron level.
Overall aspect for designing magnetron sputtering plasma sources and their applications in the deposition of ITO films
Authors: Nisha  , Sahu Bibhuti B.
Published: May 2024

This work reports a systematic review of the studies of magnetron sputtering (MS) discharges and their utilities for the deposition of transparent coating oxide thin films like indium tin oxides (ITOs). It collates the overall information of plasma science, diagnostics, and chemistry and their usefulness in controlling the plasma process, film growth, and properties. It discusses studies on various MS systems and their capabilities and reports scientific aspects like the formation of instability and plasma flares to understand the various discharge phenomena. The study also discusses various issues, progress, and challenges in ITO films for industrial applications. In addition, this work highlights the importance of plasma parameters and energy flux on thin film growth and film properties.
Forage accumulation and nutritive value in extensive, intensive, and integrated pasture-based beef cattle production systems
Authors: Pasquini Neto Rolando , Furtado Althieres José , da Silva Gabriele Voltareli , Lobo Annelise Aila Gomes , Abdalla Filho Adibe Luiz , Brunetti Henrique Bauab , Bosi Cristiam , Pedroso André de Faria , Pezzopane José Ricardo Macedo , Oliveira Patrícia Perondi Anchão , Rodrigues Paulo Henrique Mazza
Published: May 2024

Context A challenge for the livestock sector is to improve the production and nutritive value of forage grasses through sustainable management strategies. Aims This study evaluated the impact of management on the productive and nutritive value of five pasture-based production systems: irrigated pasture with 600 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1 (IP600); rainfed pasture with 400 kg N ha−1 (RP400); rainfed pasture with 200 kg N ha−1 (RP200); silvopastoral with 200 kg N ha−1 (SP200); and degraded pasture without N fertilisation (DP0). Methods During two experimental years, samples were collected pre- and post-grazing to determine forage and nutritional parameters. Land-saving effects and efficiencies of N fertilisation and water use were calculated. Key results For C4 grasses, forage mass accumulation was greater for IP600 and RP400. IP600 also presented the greatest leaf area index and crude protein concentration, whereas DP0 presented the lowest values of both. For C3 grasses in the IP600 treatment, greater forage mass accumulation and leaf area index were found in winter than in autumn; all nutritional characteristics were not affected by season of the year. For land-saving effect, and N- and water-use efficiencies, IP600, RP400 and RP200 presented higher values than DP0 and SP200. Conclusions More intensified systems with proper management allowed better productive and nutritional characteristics than degraded pasture or silvopasture, especially during seasons with greater precipitation or when irrigated. Implications Intensification practices make better use of natural resources (water and land) and agricultural inputs (N fertiliser) to ameliorate the effects of seasonality and improve quality and productivity of tropical grasses in pasture-based livestock production systems.
Beetaloo gas, hydrogen and geothermal resources – insights from 3D basin modelling
Authors: Faiz Mohinudeen , Crombez Vincent , Delle Piane Claudio , Langhi Laurent , Lupton Nicholas , Hidalgo Juan Carlos
Published: May 2024

The Beetaloo Sub-basin hosts a large proven shale gas resource, and this study demonstrates the opportunities for other low-emission energy sources including geothermal energy and natural hydrogen. CSIRO has developed a 3D basin model that predicts reservoir rock properties, pore pressure, composition of hydrocarbons and gas capacity of the Velkerri and Kyalla shales. Kinetic modelling also demonstrates that where Velkerri shale is overmature for hydrocarbons it potentially generated significant amounts of free molecular hydrogen. However, the proportion of this hydrogen currently preserved in the basin is unknown. The model also reveals considerable temperature anomalies around specific structural domains with heat flow up to 100 mW/m−2, and these are likely associated with radiogenic basement lithologies. These thermal domains are targets to further investigate geothermal and natural hydrogen resource potential in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.
Beetaloo or bust: the route to commercial success for an Australian shale play
Authors: Forbes Anne , Rodger Angus , Gibb John
Published: May 2024

There is a huge unconventional shale gas resource in the remote heart of the Northern Territory with the potential to trigger big new gas developments in Darwin, including export liquefied natural gas (LNG), and underpin the chronically undersupplied East Coast market. And yet despite this promise, the Beetaloo is not universally viewed as a viable commercial project. Nonetheless, the Beetaloo is one of the hottest topics in Australia’s upstream sector, and two of its key operators, Tamboran and Empire, are closing in on final investment decision (FID) for initial gas production. So why are many in the market still sceptical the play will work? To create a definitive answer, we investigate the key factors required to make the Beetaloo commercially viable. We will evaluate what a Beetaloo gas project could look like across a range of resource sizes, estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) from analogue production profiles, and well costs. The work aims to understand the key cost barriers and price hurdles that need to be broached for economic success. From here we can determine the full range of economic pitfalls and potential rewards that lie in wait for ambitious Beetaloo operators.
Decommissioning and restoration: early planning is critical to an efficient and risk-minimised process
Authors: Crew Quinton , de Weijer Robbert , Seccombe Kylie
Published: May 2024

Over the next 7 years, according to Wood Mackenzie, it is estimated that as many as 380 fields oil and gas facilities will be decommissioned across Asia–Pacific (Wood Mackenzie 2018). Many companies leave Decommissioning and Restoration (D&R) up to the respective project groups using their normal project management and control systems. However, managing D&R requires a different approach and mindset, as the value drivers and risk profiles for D&R projects are different compared to conventional construction projects. For D&R to be efficient – from operational, sustainability, regulatory compliance, environmental and financial perspectives – delivery must not be limited to an isolated project group. Rather, it must leverage corporate and operational knowledge, lessons learned from other decommissioning projects and industry best-practice to support the identification and management of the decommissioning risk profile and successful delivery thereof. Planning for D&R is essential at every stage of the life of an asset and should start as early as possible. Ideally, facilities are designed with D&R in mind at the project conception stage as the scope of D&R is often broader and more complex than operators realise, contributing to D&R projects often exceeding original cost estimates and timelines. Decommissioning and restoration opportunities may be missed or associated risks increased without timely recognition and management. In this paper, dss+ will provide companies with pragmatic guidance on how to plan and implement a D&R process that is managed well from an operational, risk, financial, contractor management and importantly, a stakeholder management point of view.
Energy efficiency as an accelerator to environmental and operational performance
Authors: Scott Stuart , Hastie Scott
Published: May 2024

As oil and gas operators continue to enhance and start implementing their plans to meet their regulators’ and customers’ net-zero related demands, the industry should not overlook those low-hanging fruit that will bear results in the short term and, if done well, also contribute to long-term objectives. An effective approach to energy management will contribute to environmental, operational and financial outcomes, by addressing resource scarcity and price volatility, delivering on licence-to-operate considerations, complying with regulations, and delivering a competitive advantage through greater efficiency and enhanced reputation. Key considerations are as follows. Data quality: fuel, power, steam, condensate balances will highlight data gaps and inconsistencies. Energy usage: inefficiencies in operations such as boilers, turbines, as well as systemic issues, such as cycle efficiency and steam and condensate losses, can be identified. Emissions monitoring and reporting: clear and consistent data about fuel and power consumption directly feeds into greenhouse gas corporate reporting schemes. Quality assurance of monitoring and reporting processes: review and challenge dashboards and reports for completeness, accuracy and clarity. Management operating system: redesign management processes to improve workflows and optimise operations. Loss accounting: Production and Energy Loss Accounting (PELA) improves staff collaboration and effectively tackles hidden losses. In this paper, dss+ will share how, using a mix of operational efficiencies and capex, an integrated oil and gas company active in 30 countries identified potential to reduce its emissions by 38 m tonnes of CO2 leading to over US$6 m in savings per annum over 4 years for just four of its assets.
A feasibility study of Boree Salt body mapping in the Adavale Basin using passive seismic data
Authors: Guo Peng , Saygin Erdinc , Talukder Asrar
Published: May 2024

Hydrogen plays a pivotal role in the global energy transition and may require underground storage. So far salt cavern storage is the only proven technology for underground hydrogen storage. The Boree Salt in the Adavale Basin, mostly at depths from 1 to 2.5 km and up to 550 m thick, consists predominantly of halite and is deemed suitable for hydrogen storage. However, current maps are inadequate. Recently passive seismic data (ambient noise) have received much interest for subsurface imaging. The main signal from passive data is surface waves (usually below 2 Hz). The capability of surface waves for the Boree Salt body mapping is examined. Parameters of seismic sensor spacing, the dominant frequencies of the surface waves, and data noise levels are all considered. It is demonstrated that surface waves from ambient noise can map the Boree Salt bodies with a survey distance of ~40 km. Between frequencies of 0.12 and 0.25 Hz, results from the latter have better resolution because of a shorter wavelength. Moving to higher frequencies of 0.5 and 1 Hz, however, the resolution becomes worse, because the depth sensitivity of surface waves moves to the shallower part of the model with increasing frequencies, rendering them incapable of effectively probing the targeted depths. For signal/noise ratio above five, station spacing can be as large as 1 km without compromising quality. Therefore, cost-effective and environmentally friendly passive seismic data can be a good alternative to the traditional active-source data for deep salt body imaging.
Requalification of pipelines for CO2 transport – giving new life to the Bayu-Undan and Reindeer pipelines
Authors: Lim Nigel , Green Bethwyn , Thomson Zakery
Published: May 2024

Australia has in the order of 3500 km of offshore pipelines currently operating in Commonwealth waters which will require either re-use or decommissioning at the end of hydrocarbon service. Santos are currently developing the Bayu-Undan and Reindeer CCS (carbon, capture and storage) Projects, to make use of the depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs to store carbon dioxide (CO2) via existing offshore infrastructure. A key aspect of these projects is the requalification of existing offshore hydrocarbon pipelines to transport CO2, both of which have been in operation for 10–20 years. The Bayu-Undan and Reindeer pipelines were designed and operated for (a) distinctly different hydrocarbon services and (b) with no initial consideration for future CO2 service. This presents two unique technical starting points in the delivery of safe and robust conversion to CO2 service. Using knowledge gained from this, the paper provides an outline of the key technical considerations to requalification of pipelines unique to the combination of life extension and CO2 service. These are framed in the context of existing industry codes and technical challenges with CO2 pipelines. The outcomes are structured against typical phases in the project lifecycle and opportunities for optimisation of future CO2 re-purposing projects are proposed.
Australia’s gas markets: similar problems…similar solutions?
Authors: Gibb John , Rodger Angus , Cullen Lucy
Published: May 2024

Declining supply and entrenched demand in all three of Australia’s domestic gas markets – the East Coast, Western Australia (WA) and the Northern Territory (NT) – is creating similar issues. We tend to think of these as essentially separate, disconnected and divided by vast swathes of land. But the reality is that scarce local supply has been sanctioned in all three markets – despite around 16 tcf being sanctioned for export as liquefied natural gas (LNG) – and domestic demand remains resilient, as per both Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Wood Mackenzie forecasts. Starting with the largest, the increasingly tight East Coast market continues to hit headlines as it deals with supply crises, government interventions and new regulations. Undersupplied, underinvested and underexplored, it is also divided by activism and state and federal politics. Traditionally more sedate, the WA market has slowly drifted in a similar direction. New forecasts highlighting potential gas shortages have sparked more state intervention in the market, including banning LNG exports by certain suppliers. The NT market might be the smallest, but it’s ahead of the curve, already experiencing emergency upstream shortages that sparked increased domestic supply from LNG exporters. While there is a less diverse range of supply sources in the NT, the answer to current shortages matches the options currently being looked at by regulators on both coasts.
Transitioning a hydrogen facility from project to operations
Authors: Chrisfield Gregory J.
Published: May 2024

Preparing any hazardous facility for transition from project to operations requires a rigorous management process. In the area of hydrogen operations, hazards are heightened and there are limited examples of transitioning a hydrogen facility from project to operations outside of large-scale oil refineries. This paper highlights the unique challenges of managing hydrogen process safety through the project to operate phase while maintaining safety standards that meet or exceed the expectations of the asset owner, regulator and the community in which we operate. Our experience transitioning hydrogen operations started in Queensland which has arguably the toughest engineering and safety standards in Australia. This experience has informed our methodologies and the important points of this paper detail for both owner and regulator, what to expect from the operator and what the operator will need to demonstrate compliance with. Hydrogen operations traditionally were on oil refineries which may have been in local communities, unlike remote upstream gas and oil projects far from the major populations. Refineries are typically close to transportation hubs and end users. Our experience is that hydrogen or hydrogen transport fluids such as ammonia, methylcyclohexane (MCH) and others are more likely to reside near major international ports with close access to both clean energy and available workforce which heightens the environmental, social, governance and community risk management requirements. This paper intends to inform regulators, owners and operators of the unique challenges and aspects of getting a hydrogen facility up and running in a safe and community sensitive way.
Pioneering CCS in Australia – the CarbonNet journey
Authors: Burton Jane
Published: May 2024

The CarbonNet Project (CarbonNet), a trailblazing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiative, is progressing through what has been a transformative 14-year journey. Situated in southeast Victoria, this project has evolved from an interesting concept into a multifaceted project that promises to contribute to decarbonisation via its carbon dioxide (CO2) transport and storage project. Established in 2009 and funded by both Australian and Victorian Governments, CarbonNet has been at the forefront of the CCS journey in Australia. Its primary objective is to establish a hub in the Latrobe Valley, where a diverse range of industries supply CO2 for transport through an underground pipeline to the project’s initial offshore storage site, known as Pelican, in the globally renowned Gippsland Basin. The CarbonNet journey has been marked by significant milestones, including legislative changes to accommodate its future storage goals. Knowledge sharing and regulatory engagement have also been an ongoing priority, facilitating a robust feedback loop to ensure alignment with contemporary environmental standards. Adapting to dynamic market conditions, the project is working to secure customers within the rapidly evolving CO2 market whilst seeking to create a robust business model. More recently CarbonNet has been observing the emergence of proposed offshore wind and onshore transmission projects in the Gippsland region. This explosive growth of new energy solutions within Gippsland has created challenges and opportunities for the project. Jane Burton will provide an insightful overview of CarbonNet’s remarkable evolution, highlighting the critical role it plays in the journey towards establishing a net-zero future.
Advocating for a behavioural science approach to inclusion and diversity
Authors: Lanwin Yhana
Published: May 2024

In recent years the benefits of inclusion and diversity have become increasingly clear. Australian and international studies have demonstrated the significant improvements in innovation, productivity and growth that can be achieved when teams are both inclusive and diverse. However, meaningful progress requires moving beyond traditional diversity initiatives. This paper highlights the potential use of behavioural science to design successful implementation strategies to improve diversity and inclusion in the upstream energy industry. This paper will also provide guidance on how scientific methodologies can be applied to measure impact and return on investment (ROI), aligning the business case for diversity and inclusion with individual interventions. Behavioural science involves the observation, hypothesis, experiment and analysis of human behaviour to draw conclusions. It is now a leading school of thought at the world’s top research and learning organisations. This paper argues that by measuring outcomes of diversity and inclusion interventions through a behavioural science approach, organisations can make informed decisions, identify areas of improvement, and refine their strategies to improve ROI. This approach not only ensures that resources are invested effectively but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, leading to sustainable and meaningful progress for all employees and stakeholders. Drawing on international research and local case studies, this paper showcases successful applications of behavioural science in transforming organisational cultures, creating safer and more inclusive workplaces. Ideas for quantitative and qualitative measurements are proposed for application in the upstream energy industry, with a particular focus on operational people and performance.
EOR simulation of polymer flooding
Authors: Cueille Pierre-Victor
Published: May 2024

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, such as polymer flooding, have gained significant attention as a means to maximise hydrocarbon extraction from reservoirs. The success of polymer flooding is intricately tied to the complex interplay between fluid properties, reservoir heterogeneity, and injection strategies. It is admitted in classical modelling methodologies, to account for the mobility ratio in polymer flooding by scaling it with the help of the shear rate in situ. The accuracy of shear assessment therefore rules the mobility of oil and the global process efficiency. It is assumed to depend not solely on pore radius, rate, and porosity, but also on a dimensional parameter known as the shape factor, which varies according to the specifications of several authors. When lab measurement is available, it is possible to adjust this value to match the shear rate recorded from a rheometer at feeding stage, ahead of the core. In the present paper the consequence of not performing this stage in the case of a core flood, then in the simulation of a polymer flood pilot is investigated. An alteration of the recovery factor is then expected. The amplitude shall result from the coupling between pore-scale effects and reservoir-scale response, induced by geological constraints such as reservoir layers productivity, aquifer response, and multiphase dynamics. Relative effect and influence on reservoir parameters will be quantified, commented, and discussed.