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The transformer mineral oil is generally hydrocarbon-based and is not environmentally friendly, so it holds a significant share in environmental pollution. As an alternative to conventional transformer oil, plant-based insulation oil has been investigated globally in the past few decades. Even though vegetable oils are considered an environmentally viable alternative to mineral oil, the extensive utilization of vegetable oils could create a threat to Indian food security. The present work focuses on using Pongamia Pinnata oil (PPO) as a significant alternative to conventional transformer oil (CTO) in distribution transformers. The effectiveness of the proposed PPO is experimentally verified using thermal studies and electrical studies through a low-level distribution transformer of 1 kVA. A comparative analysis was carried out between the proposed and conventional oil regarding physical, chemical, and thermal properties. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis have been carried out for fibreglass cloth insulation material with PPO and CTO to ensure the intrinsic structural strength of the insulation material. The structural strength ensures the bonding and life span of the insulation in the transformer. The cost–benefit analysis is also favourable for the proposed oil as a better green liquid dielectric for transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work explores experimentally the effects of DC electrical currents on lubricant film thickness alteration in lubricated sliding steel contacts in the boundary and mixed regime as measured by ultrasound. The experiments were performed in a two-electrode cell-based pin-on-disk tester instrumented with ultrasonic transducers. Unelectrified and electrified tribological tests were conducted on steel flat-on-flat contacts under various speeds and loads using both a mineral base oil and a gear oil. Film thickness, coefficient of friction (CoF), and electrical contact resistance (ECR) were measured during short experiments (30 s) in unelectrified and electrified (1.5 and 3 A) conditions. The results suggest that film thickness, CoF, and all ECR are altered by passing DC currents through the contact. In particular, film thickness increased and decreased, respectively, by applying electricity at the different speeds and loads tested. These alterations were majorly ascribed to oil viscosity decrease by local heat and surface oxidation caused by electrical discharge and break down at the interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional cellulosic packaging materials lack the ability to resist the penetration of water, mineral oil, and harmful chemicals. These poor barrier properties of the conventional cardboard packaging materials make them ineffectual in various industrial applications. Hence, the present work focuses on the development of hydrophobic polybenzoxazine coated cellulose paper with improved tensile strength for the replacement of existing cardboard packaging materials. The trifunctional polybenzoxazines have been synthesized and coated on cellulose paper for the hydrophobic packaging material application. A new type of series of tri-functional polybenzoxazines were synthesized using leucoaurin with paraformaldehyde and separately with five different aliphatic amines of varying chain length (i.e.) butylamine (ba), hexylamine (ha), ethylhexylamine (eha), dodecylamine (dda) and octadecylamine (oda) through Mannich condensation. In the present work, the influencing effect of aliphatic chain length present in the skeleton of polybenzoxazines has been studied and the hydrophobic behavior was exploited for water-proof packaging application by coating polybenzoxazines on normal cellulosic printable paper-75 GSM (CP) and Wattman paper (WP) through spray coatings. The hydrophobic behavior of leucoaurin based benzoxazines coated cellulose paper was tested using goniometer and the coated cellulosic paper possesses good hydrophobic behavior with value of water contact angle above 125º. Among the polybenzoxazines synthesized, the leucoaurin with octadecylamine benzoxazine coated on cellulosic WP paper shows better water repellent property (water contact angle 136 ± 2º) than that of others. In addition to that, the value of tensile strength of leucoaurin based polybenzoxazines coated papers was tested using UTM and the results obtained were compared with that of non-coated papers. The tensile strength of the coated papers was found to be 2 to 3 times higher than that of non-coated paper with the value of 21 MPa and 18 MPa for LA-PBZ coated copier paper and Wattman paper respectively. The obtained results suggest that the leucoaurin based polybenzoxazines coated papers can be considered for effective utilization for water-proof packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out on benzyl alkoxycarbonyl methyl disulfides as multifunctional additives to lubricating oils. Results are given for testing the anticorrosion, anti-wear, anti-microbial action of previously synthesized benzyl alkoxycarbonyl methyl disulfides containing several functional groups. Efficiency was demonstrated for a series of benzyl alkoxycarbonyl methyl disulfides. Depending on their composition and structure, these disulfides improve the anticorrosion, anti-wear, and antimicrobial properties of oils. The antimicrobial properties of these compounds were studied as components of M-11 oil. The synthesized compounds in concentration 0.5-1.5 mass % enhance the resistance of mineral oil to biological damage and also display antimicrobial and antifungal activity. These compounds are more efficient than sodium pentachlorophenolate, which is a commonly used biocide. Testing in a four-ball friction machine indicates that these compounds possess anti-wear properties. Our derivatograph data on the thermal stability of these additives are in accord with the results of thermoanalytical testing of commercial additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies; understanding their compatibility with other biocontrol options is of crucial importance in promoting their use. In this study, the toxicity of azadirachtin, sulfoxaflor, spindle oil (Mineral oil), and thyme oil was tested on the survival and pathogenicity of Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser, 1955) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), Steinernema bicornutum sp. n. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1976) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), and Heterorhabditis indica (Poinar, Karunakar & David, 1992) under controlled conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 10% RH). The toxicity of aforementioned agrochemicals to EPNs was evaluated in 12-well plates and the infective juveniles (IJs) of each EPN species (6000 IJs/50 µL ddh2O) were exposed to the recommended field concentrations of agrochemicals. In the pathogenicity tests, the agrochemical and IJs solutions (3000 IJs/ml agrochemical) were applied to potato tubers in plastic containers which contained 20 adults of Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The survival of IJs and P. citri (Adults) was evaluated daily for three consecutive days after treatment. The results revealed that all tested EPN species were quite compatible with tested agrochemicals and showed survival of over 95% after 72 h of exposure to tested agrochemicals. EPNs and spindle oil combination induced the highest mortality of adult P. citri, and all EPN species caused mortalities over 90% at 72 h after treatment, except for S. bicornotum-spindle oil combination. Additive effects were observed in all combinations of EPNs with agrochemicals except for thyme oil. It appears, therefore, that EPNs applied in combination with azadirachtin, sulfoxaflor, and spindle oil have a great potential for successful control of P. citri. However, further studies are still required to determine the antagonistic or otherwise synergistic effects of tested chemicals on EPNs in controlling P. citri under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated genotypic effects on the olive leaves mineral profile and its correlation with soil minerals. Likewise, olive oil extracted from four Mediterranean cultivars ('Arbequina', 'Haouzia', 'Menara', and 'Picholine Languedoc') at early and full ripening stages, was studied in terms of basic quality indices, fatty acids, sterols, pigments, and polyphenols. Our outcomes reveal important variations among cultivars and between ripening stages in terms of olive leaf elemental profiling and oil physicochemical traits, while there were no significant (p < 0.05) differences in soil mineral profiling. However, mineral profiling of leaves, basic quality indices, pigments, and polyphenols content of oils showed important inter-cultivar variations. Regarding fatty acid composition, oleic acid (C18:0) was the most abundant. For phytosterols profile, β-sitosterol was found to be the major phytosterol followed by campesterol. Olive oil from fully ripe fruits was marked by reduced chlorophylls (up to − 67.1%), carotenoids (up to − 68.73%) in 'Menara' and polyphenols (up to − 45.95%) in 'Picholine Languedoc', but an increase of total sterols (up to + 23.5%, 'Haouzia'). Likewise, saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) tended to decrease (up to − 13.5% and − 6.44%, respectively) found in 'Menara'. However, 'Arbequina' had an inceased SFA (+ 7.35%) and MUFA (+ 8.62%). Polyunsaturated fatty acids tended to increase (up to + 41.98%, 'Menara') except for 'Picholine Languedoc' (− 7.92%). These outcomes were confirmed by principal component analysis with important positive and negative correlations among minerals and oil physicochemical traits. These results showed that the analyzed components could be considered as specific markers to discriminate the studied cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral oil is a widely used quench media in the heat treatment industries. They are derived from petroleum crude oil, and are toxic, and non-biodegradable. Therefore, in order to minimize the use of mineral oil, the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from the used cooking oil through the transesterification process can be blended with mineral oil. However, due to the high amount of unsaturation, blending of FAME in mineral oil would decrease the thermal-oxidative stability of the oil. Therefore, in the present work, to improve the stability of the mineral/FAME blend quenchant, the unsaturation in the FAME is decreased through epoxidation. The stability of epoxidized FAME/mineral blended oil is assessed by thermogravimetric analysis and thermal quench cycling. The quench cycles were performed using an ISO 9950 Inconel 600 standard probe. The viscosity and cooling performance of the oil were assessed periodically after the 1st, 10th, 50th, and 100th quench cycle. Investigation of cooling performance was performed by carrying out cooling curve analysis and estimating metal/quenchant interfacial heat flux tranisents. The results indicated that the thermal stability of the blend quenchant was improved with the epoxidation of FAME. The relative increase in viscosity was lower for blend quenchants than that for the mineral oil. The epoxidized FAME/mineral oil blend showed comparable cooling performance as that of mineral oil as the number of quench cycles were increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oils are a highly promising alternative to produce various lubricants, owing to their biodegradability and eco-friendliness. In comparison to mineral oil, these oils possess a higher flash point and viscosity index, along with superior lubricating properties. Additionally, most of the vegetable oils are easily accessible in local markets in India. However, their industrial application is limited by poor thermal and oxidative stability, which can be addressed through chemical modification, the addition of appropriate additives, or by blending these oils. Greases, characterized by their semi-solid consistency, are widely used lubricants. Most of the grease production is based on mineral oils as base oil and lithium soap as a thickener. These materials are not only non-biodegradable but also scarce and have health implications. Consequently, biodegradable grease represents an eco-friendly and healthy alternative. Grease made using vegetable oils with the required properties has the potential to bring about revolutionary changes. The present work focuses on the feasibility of using chemically modified blended rice bran oil (RBO) and Calophyllum inophyllum oil (CIO) as a bio-lubricant. The oils undergo a two-step modification process, involving a transesterification reaction followed by epoxidation. Significant improvements have been observed in the chemical properties (acid, peroxide, and iodine values) of transesterified epoxidized rice bran oil Calophyllum inophyllum oil mixture–50:50 (ETRCIO) when compared with Unmodified Rice bran oil Calophyllum inophyllum oil mixture–50:50 (RCIO). The acid value, peroxide value, and iodine value improved by 91.66%, 87.08%, and 15.78% respectively. The rheological, tribological, and chemical properties of the blended samples have been evaluated and compared to pure oils using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Indian Standards (IS). Additionally, ETRCIO was used to develop a bio-grease, and its tribological properties were extensively analyzed. The mean coefficient of friction (COF) and wear scar diameter (WSD) of the ETRCIO grease sample improved by 10.20% and 29.32% respectively when compared with that of commercially available grease. These findings indicate that the ETRCIO bio-grease exhibits superior tribological properties in comparison to commercially available grease. Research highlights: • The study explores the potential of vegetable oils as a biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternative for producing lubricants, specifically focusing on rice bran oil and Calophyllum inophyllum oil. • The oils undergo a two-step chemical modification process (transesterification followed by epoxidation) to improve their thermal and oxidative stability, making them suitable for industrial use. • The chemically modified and blended oils showed significantly improved chemical properties. • The rheological, tribological, and chemical properties of the blended samples were evaluated according to ASTM, and IS standards and compared with those of pure oils. • A bio-grease was formulated using these chemically modified oils, exhibiting better tribological properties than commercially available grease, indicating its potential as an eco-friendly and health-conscious alternative to traditional mineral oil-based greases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are exposed to mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) e.g. through foodstuffs and cosmetics. Upon ingestion, MOH follow the absorption pathway of dietary lipids. Analytical chemistry has revealed the presence of the main fraction, designated as mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), liver, spleen, and adipose tissue. Recent results from animal studies raised concerns about a long-term, possibly irreversible accumulation of some MOSH in humans. To address this issue, we performed a statistical re-analysis of published biopsy and autopsy data regarding the age-dependence of MOSH levels in human tissue. MOSH concentrations in MLNs and adipose tissue showed a 1.2–1.4-fold increase per decade, pointing to very long-term accumulation in both tissues. There was no evidence for age-dependent MOSH concentrations in liver and spleen. There was no sex difference in the MOSH concentrations in MLNs, suggesting a similar oral exposure for men and women. On average, women had a 2.2–2.5-fold higher MOSH concentration in the liver, spleen and adipose tissue compared to men. This finding may point to a sex difference in metabolism, in line with animal data. The use of certain cosmetics was a relevant predictor in addition to age. Women that used cosmetics like lipstick, hand cream, and sun cream had an average 2.1-fold higher MOSH concentration in abdominal subcutaneous fat than non-users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remarkable development in high-voltage direct current and high-voltage alternating current transmission systems calls for a renewed assessment of dielectric liquids for insulation systems of transformers. The function of liquid insulation used in high-voltage equipment is cooling and insulation. It should have several features like high dielectric strength, low viscosity, high flash point, very low moisture or water content, high specific resistance and many more. Petroleum-dependent synthetic and mineral oil has been conventionally applied as dielectric fluids in transformers during previous some decades that disturbs the environment on account of their low biodegradability and low fire point which have persuaded the exploration of substitutes. The application of alternate insulating fluids is increasing gradually, with safety and environmental apprehensions at the lead of the grounds for shifting from mineral oil. Esters-based dielectric fluids have been used in dielectric industry for roughly four decades, with synthetic esters having initially been proposed to replace harmful polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs in late 1970s. Ester-based liquids found applications in distribution transformers without any significant design modifications in standard mineral oil designs, although could not be applied at high-voltage levels. From this finding, dielectric society and manufacturers have boarded on a search for an evident insight of the elementary differences between esters and mineral oil and how to adapt designs to allow the application of esters at high-voltage levels. Synthetic and natural esters have been exposed to research for years vis-a'-vis mineral oil around the globe. Even though several investigators are in favor of ester liquids use in high-voltage equipment, manufacturers and utilities are yet averse, and use of these alternative fluids stays a challenge. This paper will present an analysis of the published research results during the past few decades from various researchers, emphasizing the variations in dielectric performance between esters and mineral oil. This knowledge transfer is timely as it presents challenges and prospective attributes that would be considered further to enhance the accessible information of ester dielectric fluids for application in transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dutch Disease is a well-documented phenomenon observed in countries that have experienced a boom in a non-renewable resource such as oil and gas and minerals. The evidence documented from the numerous studies done on Dutch Disease can therefore be used as a guide for policy makers to equip countries in lieu of a resource boom. This paper synthesizes the literature on Dutch Disease to outline the key economic effects documented in the literature. The main thematic areas of economic effects from the countries identified in the literature synthesis were then analyzed using trend analysis from a time series of economic variables for each country to represent the respective thematic areas. The trends were then discussed against the theoretical literature on Dutch Disease. The trend analysis was then extended to the country of Guyana which is on the verge of an oil boom, primarily to identify if the synthesis can provide any possible indications of potential Dutch Disease effects for the country. The synthesis predominantly showed the impacts of Dutch Disease to manufacturing which had a cyclical and downward trend in its contribution to Gross Domestic Product and impacts to the value of the agricultural sector. The synthesis also showed sporadic economic growth and varying effects on the exchange rate and wages in the country. The data for Guyana show a pre-disposition for Dutch Disease effects with the incoming oil boom and the potential existence of the Dutch Disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present manuscript reports and discusses critical issues related to the determination of mineral oil hydrocarbon contamination in Citrus essential oils (EOs); an on-line liquid-gas chromatography system equipped with a Y-interface was used (with no additional off-line step for pre-concentration). In total, eighteen samples were analyzed, specifically eleven cold-pressed (CP) and seven distilled EOs. With regard to the CP EOs, various degrees of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbon (MOSH) contamination were detected, ranging between 10.7 and 338.4 mg kg−1 (only one sample was MOSH-free); different MOSH sub-fractions were determined, with the > C25- ≤ C35 sub-fraction always present, with an average concentration of 74.5 mg kg−1. Based on the EO composition, different sample amounts were injected to avoid the overloading of the LC column and consequently the GC one, thus leading to different limits of quantification (LoQ), which were either 2 mg kg−1 (for bergamot EO) or 5 mg kg−1 (for all the other investigated samples). For all samples, the mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbon level was always lower than the LoQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim of evaluate the thermal tolerance of twelve suspoemulsion formulations containing conidia of I. javanica (at low and high moisture content) as an active ingredient and the biological effectiveness in the greenhouse, we developed twelve oil-based formulations of I. javanica with canola, castor bean, corn, soybean, peanut and mineral oil and surfactant mixtures: six formulations with conidia at low humidity (5-7%) and six with conidia at higher humidity (40-50%). Formulations were developed using the HLB system; Span 80 (HLB 4.3) and Tween 80 (HLB 15) like surfactants were mixed with oils. Thermotolerance was evaluated after exposure to 45 °C for 2, 8 and 24 h. Additionally, to evaluate the functionality of the formulations, greenhouse bioassays were performed using tomato plants infested with Bemisia tabaci. To determine the viability and shelf life, 10 mL of each formulation was stored for 5 and 9 months, and the storage temperature oscillated between 12 and 34 °C (at typical room temperature), with 12 / 12 h light / dark cycles, after 9 months of storage. The viability of unformulated conidia and those contained in the formulations was >82% after exposure to 45 °C for 2 h. The B (mineral oil), C (corn, soybean and peanut oils), D (corn oil), E (canola and soybean oils), and F (castor oil) formulations (low humidity), unformulated conidia and PAE-SIN caused mortality ranging from 43-56%. The conidia in formulations on oil exhibited 53-65% viability at 24 h and were statistically similar to each other but significantly different from the conidia (unformulated) with the viability 5%; at 72 h, the viability of conidia in all formulations was 78-88%, and the values were statistically similar to each other but significantly different from that of the conidia (unformulated) with the viability 6%. The formulations evaluated in this work presented lethality in B. tabaci nymphs 1-4, it is also suggested that these formulations confer thermal protection acquired by the formulation since unformulated conidia are drastically affected. The humidity of the conidia in the moment of developing formulations is a factor that affects the final tolerance and the viability in the shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a intermingle of refractive index ( R I) sensing and spectroscopy for household oil monitoring. A spectroscopy sensing setup is shown to investigate transmission (%) and absorbance ( AU ) from household oil samples. Five different oil samples, olive oil, kerosene oil, red palm oil, turpentine oil, and mineral oil, are analyzed from the developed setup. The transmission (%) obtained for olive, kerosene, red palm, turpentine, and mineral oil is 75.65 , 72.10 , 69.68 , 67.12 , and 66.41 , respectively. The absorbance ( AU ) for olive oil, kerosene oil, red palm oil, turpentine oil, and mineral oil is 1.21 A U , 1.42 A U , 1.58 A U , 1.64 A U , and 1.77 A U respectively. Later a plasmonic refractive index ( RI ) sensor is designed and presented for household monitoring based on a RI variation. The RI range of household oils is 1.44 - 1.48 R I U and investigated at an interval of 0.005. The wavelength sensitivity ( WS ) obtained from the sensor model for X - p o l. and Y - p o l. are 24000 n m / R I U and 20000 n m / R I U , respectively. The amplitude sensitivity (A S) of the sensor is 21580 RIU - 1 and 18470 RIU - 1 corresponding to X - p o l . and Y - p o l. respectively. The sensor resolution ( SR ) of order 10 - 6 is obtained concerning both polarization modes. The figure of merit ( FOM ) of the sensor model is 187.50 RIU - 1 and 216.21 RIU - 1 corresponding to X - p o l. and Y - p o l. respectively. Finally, the novel link between the spectroscopy and RI sensing parameters is explored and presented in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a comparative experimental study of the current waveforms accompanying the propagation of creeping discharges over different liquid/pressboard interfaces under both negative and positive lightning impulse voltages; the investigated insulating liquids are mineral oil (MO), a synthetic ester (SE), a natural ester (NE) and an extra virgin olive oil (OO). Two different arrangements are used; in the first one, the point electrode was positioned in a perpendicular direction to the pressboard, and in the second one, the pressboard was positioned parallel to the axis of the point electrode. Due to the similarity of the recorded creeping discharge current shapes, it is hard to differentiate between the currents measured for each type of interface with time domain approaches. To circumvent this difficulty and identify the specific feature(s) associated to each type of interface, two techniques are used to analyze the signal of the discharge currents, namely discrete wavelet and fast Fourier-transform methods. It is shown that: (1) for the first arrangement, there is a particular spectral signature for each type of liquid/pressboard interface, and (2) for the second arrangement, the obtained results are in accordance to those obtained for the first arrangement only in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

False alarm resistant smoke detectors must pass the inflight smoke-detection certification test for implementation in aircraft. Inflight certification testing uses artificial smoke generators due to health and safety. Currently, there are no objective parameters to quantify an artificial smoke generator's aerosol production for certification testing. Therefore, this study's design was to create a framework for potential guidelines for standardizing an artificial smoke generator's aerosol production. Although the aerosols created by artificial smoke generators look like real smoke, there are inconsistencies between models that could create smoke detectors not activating during certification testing. Aerosols created by artificial smoke generators must be similar to smoke for many of the false alarm resistant smoke detectors to alarm. Therefore, verifying which artificial smoke generators produce an aerosol with similar particle characteristics to smoke is essential for the implementation of false alarm resistant detectors in aircraft. Furthermore, standardizing the artificial smoke generators for the total quantity of aerosol produced, rate of aerosol production, and repeatability of aerosol production and quantifying the effects of the ambient environment is necessary to ensure the reliability and integrity of the certification test. One possible result of a non-standard aerosol production during certification testing, specifically in regards to an unexpected overabundance of aerosol production, may cause the certification of smoke detection system that would not alarm the specified threat. Conversely, insufficient aerosol production during certification testing could create the requirement of a lower smoke detection threshold than intended, creating an unfair financial burden. This study found that artificial smoke generators produce an aerosol with similar particle size distributions and light scattering characteristics to smoke created by smoldering foam, smoldering wood, and lithium-ion battery thermal runaway vent-gas. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that aerosols from the tested artificial smoke generators are capable of alarming most false alarm resistant smoke detectors. Furthermore, there were measurable differences in the total quantity of aerosol produced and the rate of aerosol production between smoke generators used by four major airframe manufacturers for smoke-detection certification testing. In addition, changes in ambient temperature and pressure that may occur during a typical flight profile affected an individual smoke generator's production of aerosol. Sufficiently heating the smoke generator's mineral oil before aerosol production can mitigate the effects of varying ambient temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compressor is the main cause of energy intake in a vapor-compression refrigeration (VCR) system. The potential drop in compression work may improve the performance of the compressor's suction and discharge features of the refrigeration system. The proposed study has obtained VCR system with the hydrocarbon mixture of R290/R600 (50/50) as a refrigerant application to study the compound nanoparticles, such as graphene oxide (GO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) as the compressor lubricant oil. Also, six concentrations were utilized to test the system, which are MO, mineral oil + 100% GO, mineral oil + 100% TiO2, mineral oil + 75% GO + 25% TiO2, mineral oil + 50% GO + 50% TiO2, and mineral oil + 25% GO + 75% TiO2. The results showed that, compared to a conventional system, the compressor discharge temperatures and suction pressure were decreased when using various mass percentages of nanoparticles in the R290/R600 VCR system. With the addition of compound nanoparticles, mineral oil becomes more viscous. The results show that by 1.0 mass% concentrations of compound nanoparticles, the compressor's energy usage decreased by 8.48%. The addition of compound nanoparticles has raised the COP of the VCR system by a nearly 56%. The nanoparticles made of the 50% GO + 50% TiO2 compound thus performed well in the R290/R600 refrigeration system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of functional constipation in children includes faecal disimpaction and maintenance therapy. Conventional treatment options, such as polyethylene glycol (for disimpaction and maintenance), enemas (for disimpaction) and lactulose (for maintenance) have the greatest evidence for efficacy and safety in children. Alternatives such as stimulant laxatives, magnesium hydroxide and mineral oil are generally considered effective and well tolerated, but data in children are limited. Botulinum toxin injection should be considered as one of the last treatment options. Novel drugs have shown efficacy in treating constipation in adults; however, further studies are required before they can be routinely used in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) contain a wide structural diversity of molecules, for which the reference method of analysis is the online coupled liquid chromatography-gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (LC-GC-FID). These compounds are very heterogeneous from a toxicological viewpoint, and an accurate risk assessment when dealing with a MOH contamination can only be performed if sufficient information is available on the types of structures present (i.e., number of carbons, degree of alkylation, number of aromatic rings). Unfortunately, the separation performances of the current LC-GC-FID method are insufficient for such characterization, not even mentioning the possible coelution of interfering compounds which additionally hinder MOH determination. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC), while mostly used for confirmation purposes in the past, starts to prove its relevance for overcoming the weaknesses of the LC-GC method and reaching even better the analytical requirements defined in the latest EFSA opinion. The present paper therefore aims at highlighting how GC × GC has contributed to the understanding of the MOH topic, how it has developed to meet the requirements of MOH determination, and how it could play a role in the field for overcoming many of the current analytical and toxicological challenges related to the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two dielectric fluids, namely hydrocarbon (HC)-based mineral oils and water-based dielectrics, are generally used during the micro-electro-discharge machining (micro-EDM) process. However, mineral oils often endanger health and safety risks to the operator and ecology. In contrast, the machining accuracy gets compromised using water-based dielectrics due to uncontrolled electrochemical dissolution. Therefore, concerted research efforts have been made to find an alternative, sustainable dielectric based on vegetable oils. In this context, the feasibility of using castor oil as a dielectric fluid during a milling variant of the micro-EDM process is evaluated. Further, its performance as a dielectric is assessed to that of EDM oil and deionized (DI) water for corresponding parametric settings. The material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR), and width-over-cut (WOC) are considered the performance characteristics. The pulse current and pulse on/off periods are varied. Also, surface analysis is conducted using the optical interferometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that castor oil rendered the highest MRR and SR and the least WOC among all three dielectrics for corresponding parametric settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) has become an increasing threat to the cultivation of prickly pear crops in Morocco. To control this harmful insect scale pest, biological control is usually accompanied by chemical control applications. In this context, the use of some insecticides can alter the numerical response of beneficial organisms (predators) associated with this cochineal. In this study, we investigated the effect of the residues of some insecticides «(d-limonene (60 g/L) applied at 100 mL/hL, mineral oil (780 g/L) at 2000 mL/hL, potassium salts of fatty acid (500 g/L) at 40 mL/hL, pyriproxyfen (100 g/L) at 25 mL/hL, and potassium salts of fatty acid (C7-C18) (500 g/L) at 300 mL/hL)» on the numerical response of Cryptolameus montrouzieri (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on D. opuntiae females under laboratory conditions. The sublethal concentration residues of all tested insecticides did not have lethal effects on Cryptolaemus montrouzieri females. D-limonene (Efficiency of Conversion of Ingested food (E.C.I) = 1371.85), mineral oil (E.C.I = 1383.06), potassium salts of fatty acid (E.C.I = 1583.24), and pyriproxyfen (E.C.I = 987.13) were the most compatible with the predator C. montrouzieri, as they did not significantly affect the number of eggs laid by the females compared to the untreated control. Potassium salt of fatty acid (C7–C18) (500 g/L) (E.C.I = 905.93) was the least compatible with C. montrouzieri, as it led to a significant reduction in the number of eggs laid by predatory females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an investigation of important properties, including moisture content, pH, plant nutrients, organic matter, mineral oil, and the contents of heavy metals (HMs) in sewage sludge (SS) collected from 32 urban treatment plants in Shaanxi Province, China, was carried out. The test results showed that the pH and the moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and mineral oil contents of the SS varied over different rainfall periods, and most of the indicators met the standard criteria for SS agricultural reuse in China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis indicated that the pollutant characteristics of the SS depended on time span and geographical distribution. The mean contents of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Hg, and As in SS were 3.95, 16.38, 5.43, 7.70, 1.31, 1.53, 32.77, and 1.40 times higher than the soil background values, respectively. Speciation analysis showed that the forms of HMs in the SS were significantly different. Assessments based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI), and potential ecological risk index (RI) suggested that HM pollution risk levels were either uncontaminated or moderately contaminated in some regions and that SS recycled for agricultural applications carried a low risk. In conclusion, certain potential ecological risks exist for SS agricultural utilization in Shaanxi Province, and it is necessary to reduce the HM content before SS resource utilization for land application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research covers the development of novel metalworking fluids for machining of aluminium alloys which are based on renewable raw materials and do not contain mineral oil and conventional biocides. Glycerol/water and propanediol/water solutions were used as base fluids. The formulations were systematically optimized by the addition of performance enhancing additives. Thereby, the optimization steps were guided through laboratory investigations, like determinations of viscosities, corrosion protection properties, foaming characteristics, and microbiological stabilities. Furthermore, the fluids were investigated using tribological Brugger and tapping-torque tests. Finally, the metalworking fluids were applied in experiments on an industrial production machine with the processing routines deep drilling and thread forming. Two Al-alloys were used for the investigations: EN AW 6060 as a soft and EN AW 7075 as a hard alloy. For comparison purposes, a commercially available metalworking fluid for Al-machining, a mineral oil emulsion, was tested in parallel. As a result, a glycerol/water-based metalworking fluid was obtained that had a similar performance to the reference fluid. It is therefore already well suited for machining the Al-alloys. The propanediol/water-based metalworking fluid however was superior to the reference, especially concerning the surface qualities of the workpieces. No toxicological relevant emissions from the novel metalworking fluids were found by air samplings and measurements at the test machine. The concentrations of some identified carbonylic compounds were significantly below the occupational limit values, at least by a factor of 800. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Estrogen is well-known for preparing uterine receptivity. However, its roles in regulating embryo development and implantation are unclear. Our objective was to characterize estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) in human and mouse embryos and determine the effect of estradiol (E2) supplementation on pre- and peri-implantation blastocyst development. Methods: Mouse embryos, 8-cell through hatched blastocyst stages, and human embryonic days 5–7 blastocysts were stained for ESR1 and imaged using confocal microscopy. We then treated 8-cell mouse embryos with 8 nM E2 during in vitro culture (IVC) and examined embryo morphokinetics, blastocyst development, and cell allocation into the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE). Finally, we disrupted ESR1, using ICI 182,780, and evaluated peri-implantation development. Results: ESR1 exhibits nuclear localization in early blastocysts followed by aggregation, predominantly in the TE of hatching and hatched blastocysts, in human and mouse embryos. During IVC, most E2 was absorbed by the mineral oil, and no effect on embryo development was found. When IVC was performed without an oil overlay, embryos treated with E2 exhibited increased blastocyst development and ICM:TE ratio. Additionally, embryos treated with ICI 182,780 had significantly decreased trophoblast outgrowth during extended embryo culture. Conclusion: Similar ESR1 localization in mouse and human blastocysts suggests a conserved role in blastocyst development. These mechanisms may be underappreciated due to the use of mineral oil during conventional IVC. This work provides important context for how estrogenic toxicants may impact reproductive health and offers an avenue to further optimize human-assisted reproductive technology (ART) to treat infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the protection of crop plants from insect pest menace, growers are mainly relying on synthetic pesticides but indiscriminate and untimely application have created a number of unwanted side effects such as the development of resistant mechanism in insects, detrimental effect on natural enemies, environmental pollution and health hazards. For this, diversification of the management approaches is necessary and the use of oils may be a safe alternative of synthetic insecticides. Here, oil includes both mineral and plant oils. They exhibit their activity on a wide range of insect pests by various mechanisms like blocking the respiratory system; dissolve the insect outer body layer, interfering normal metabolism, affects reproduction of the pests etc. There are many research articles available which mainly focus on the use of essential oil for insect pest management but few are available regarding the use of mineral and vegetative oil for the above-mentioned purpose. For this, along with, essential oil, the role of mineral and vegetable oils for insect pest management have been discussed here with their recent development. Beside this, the present study is also intended to discuss the mode of action of oils in insects, effects on non-target organisms, activity enhancement and suggest potential further directions of research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural ester insulating oil has the advantages of environmental protection and high ignition point. FR3 is a natural ester insulating oil that can be used in high voltage transformers above 110 kV. In order to provide theoretical guidance for the application of FR3 insulating oil in transformer. The heat transfer performance of transformer with FR3 insulating oil is evaluated by means of experiment and numerical simulation. In this paper, a heat transfer model of large oil immersed transformer winding is established and verified. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the established heat transfer model can reach 98.5%. The heat transfer performance of FR3 and traditional mineral oil are compared and analyzed by using the established heat transfer model. Research results show that: In ODAF cooling mode, the heat transfer performance of natural ester insulating oil is stronger than that of mineral oil;When the inlet temperature or low rate of the model is increased, the heat transfer advantage of natural ester insulating oil will be reduced; With the increase of coil heat load, natural ester insulating oil shows a better cooling performance; Especially in the area close to the guide plate, the heat transfer advantage of natural ester insulating oil become more obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metalworking fluids (MWF) or flooded process based on mineral oil are widely used in industry, which is unsustainable and causes damage to employees and the environment, in addition to making up a significant part of the machining cost. On the other hand, abrasive machining methods, such as grinding, are increasingly used for their excellent finish and geometric precision but use large quantities of metalworking fluids. This work evaluates the alternative methods Minimum Lubricant Quantity (MQL), MQL + Cooled Air (CA), MQL + Wheel Cleaning Jet (WCJ), and MQL + Cooled WCJ in the grinding of AISI 4340 steel compared to the application of flooded process. Surface roughness, roundness error, G ratio, grinding power, specific energy, microhardness, cost per piece, and carbon emission tests were applied. From the results, MQL reduced the cost of grinding around 90% and carbon emission by 67% compared to grinding with flooded process. The MQL + CWCJ produced the best results of surface quality compared to other alternative techniques, significantly approaching the results of the flooded process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polydiphenylacetylene derivative containing a trimethylsilyl group in one of the two side phenyl rings (PDPA-C1) was examined for use in a film-type solid-state sensor to determine the viscosity of various fluids, such as alcohols, fatty oils, and mineral oils. The fluids readily diffused into the polymer film upon contact and, simultaneously, the fluorescence (FL) emission increased with time to reach a FL enhancing equilibrium. The FL enhancing rate decreased as the viscosity of the fluids increased. The relationship between the time to reach the FL enhancing equilibrium (teq, FL) and the viscosity of each fluid (η) was captured well by a modified Forster–Hoffmann equation, log teq, FL = C + x log η. The slope (x) values indicate the viscosity sensitivities of the PDPA-C1 film for the fluids, which were determined to be 1.02 for alcohols, 4.15 for fatty oils, and 0.63 for mineral oils. This sensing process yielded not only significantly higher viscosity sensitivities but also higher reproducibility than the conventional sensing process based on the measurement of FL intensity. The typical Forster–Hoffmann equation did not capture the relationship between the probe FL intensity and the fluid viscosity well. The unknown viscosities of commercial oils were identified exactly using the modified Forster–Hoffmann equation as a calibration curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the issues of maintaining operability of hinged friction joints operating at 500°C. The object of study is the hinged joint of a pipe dryer operating contact loads in the friction joint up to 100 kN and operation temperatures in the range from 200 to 500°C. The studies have been performed with WOLFRAKOTE TOP FLUID high temperature lubricant comprised of solid lubricants suspended in base mineral oil. The experimental results of the lubricating composition upon heating in mold have demonstrated that burn up of the liquid component is intensified at 450°C being accompanied by transfer of lubricating medium into powdered form. Assessment of changes in tribological properties of high temperature lubricant in various aggregate states has demonstrated that heating and transfer of lubricant from liquid to solid state at low contact loads and velocities does not impair its tribotechnical properties. However, the increase in load and velocity parameters causes sharp increase in friction forces with the use of lubricating medium in powdered form. Based on the performed studies recommendations are presented aimed at improving the operability of hinged joints operating at higher temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraffin (petroleum) oils have been used for many years for their insecticidal properties, but relatively little research had been conducted towards their introduction into the agricultural praxis, due to their potential phytotoxic effects. In the recent years, however, there has been an increased interest in petroleum-based pesticides due to their compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Various improvements in the refinement methods have enhanced the manufacture of commercial products with many advantageous features over the original oil formulas. However, literature is still lacking of a general overview about the applicability of newly introduced commercial petroleum oils in agriculture and their compatibility with modern pest management practices. Therefore, the present work aims to depict the current status of petroleum oils in arboriculture and beyond, providing an in-depth analysis of their insecticidal properties with respect to the knowledge gained over the years about the factors responsible for the pesticidal efficacy and the phytotoxic activity of petroleum-derived oil insecticides. Moreover, commercial aspects of petroleum oil formulations and their toxicological profile to non-target organisms have also been addressed through the current legislation in EU and the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research the evaluation of performance of R600a vapour compression system was investigated using CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanolubricants. Three different hybrid nanolubricants concentrations of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/L was considered for this study with 70 g of R600a refrigerant. The experiment was conducted for the analysis of various important parameters such as coefficient of performance, refrigeration effect and compressor power consumption, pull down of refrigerator and transmittance of both mineral oil without nanoparticles and nanodoped mineral oil while using CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles with the lubricant. The study was done with R600a refrigeration system and can be employed as better replacement for pure mineral refrigeration system. Addition of CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles in to a compressor lubricating oil resulted in enhanced coefficient of performance up to 27% from 1.17 to 1.6 and increase in cooling capacity up to 20% from 160 to 200 W and reduction in power utilized by the compressor up to 24% from 158 to 120 W in comparison with the R600a system without nanolubricants. CuO/Al2O3 hybrid nanolubricant refrigerator can be employed as better substitute for R134a refrigerator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, performed a partial discharge test on thermally aged liquids and solid insulating materials for analysing the withstand ability of insulating oil under applied electrical stresses. At first, breakdown strength, viscosity, flash point and fire point of oil samples have been measured for estimating critical characteristics of proposed oil's to meet standard requirements as a liquid dielectrics for transformer. Consequently, an accelerated thermal aging test was carried out on oil samples at 100 C for 80 hours. However, for every 10 hours of aging period, the properties of oil samples have been measured for estimating the thermal degradation of oil samples. The statistical analysis has been made to analyse the failure probability of oil samples under high voltage stress. Further, rod – plane electrode and sphere – plane electrode configuration was used to simulate the partial discharge of solid insulating materials, although needle – plane electrode configuration is used to simulate the creepage discharge on oil samples. The experimental results show that the breakdown strength and fire resistance characteristics of rice bran oil and sunflower oil are much higher than that of the mineral oil. After aging the critical properties of oil samples are gradually decreased. However, the rate of reduction of critical properties in rice bran and sunflower oil is lower than that of others. Weibull distribution and statistical analysis found that rice bran oil's deterioration rate is lower than that of others. Moreover, mineral oil has a lower creepage discharge voltage than other oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article covers simultaneous measurements of current, emitted light and voltage drop associated with DC discharges in power transformer mineral oil. These measurements are analyzed in both time and frequency domains. The study focuses on the nanosecond scale for electrical signals and on the megahertz scale for spectral analysis. All of these measurements are characterized by high-frequency activity between 20 and 125 MHz and are highly correlated. By using fast response sensors, the signals have been acquired and represented in a digital format. This representation has been used to differentiate between oil samples with different water content based on FFT light signals analysis. For in service aged oils, it was difficult to differentiate between their aging when based only on the latter approach. Then, a feature extraction of light emission signals and their classification based on SVM have been successfully performed. In the experimental section, it has been shown that the proposed approach is capable of distinguishing between two different classes of oil (new or aged). Hence, by the use of simple SVM protocol, aged oils are well identified with an accuracy of 99% by analyzing light signals provided from low energy discharges. Such techniques can be useful for sealed power equipments diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorption properties of recycled polyethylenes and thermal behavior of mixtures of recycled polyethylenes of different types (low- and high-density polyethylene) with a mineral oil, used as simplified model of bitumen, have been investigated by means of calorimetry, viscometry, IR spectroscopy, and gravimetry. The effects of type and structure of the recycled polyethylene on its sorption properties as well as thermal and rheological behavior of the oil–recycled polyethylene mixtures have been elucidated. It has been found that sorption properties of recycled polyethylene in the mixture with oil are determined by the content of the amorphous phase in the polymer, and the ability of the crystalline phase to restore its structure in the mixture is related to the polymer branching. The strongest polymer network has been formed in the mixtures of oil with linear low-density polyethylene, which has revealed the strongest sorption capacity towards hydrocarbons among the considered types of recycled polyethylene and has not been completely amorphized upon the oil sorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The few-layer Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 heterostructure was successfully prepared via vertically growing of MoS2 nanosheets on the few-layer Ti3C2Tx matrix using hydrothermal method. The tribological properties as additive in mineral oil (150N) were evaluated in detail. The 0.3 wt% of few-layer Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 heterostructure addition amount can reduce the friction and wear of 150N by 39% and 85%, respectively. Moreover, the enhancement effect of few-layer Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 on tribological properties of 150N is superior to that of few-layer Ti3C2Tx, MoS2 nanosheets, and their mechanical mixture. Based on the characterization and analysis of wear debris and wear track, such excellent tribological properties of the few-layer Ti3C2Tx/MoS2 heterostructure derive from its structural advantage toward good dispersion, the synergistic lubrication of Ti3C2Tx and MoS2 nanosheets during the rubbing process, and the formation of tribo-film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm kernel and castor oils are two vegetable oils available in tropical climates which have been proposed as an alternative to mineral oils, and their methyl esters, also called monoesters, have been previously elaborated. As the insulation system of many power transformers is made up of oil and paper, it is essential to study the interaction between these methyl esters and insulating paper. In this paper, we present the results of thermal aging of insulating paper immersed in methyl esters of palm kernel (MEPKO) and castor (MECO) oils. A comparison is made with insulating paper immersed in mineral oil (MO) based on the total acid number, the kinematic viscosity, the quantity of dissolved decay products through Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–visible) spectroscopy, the paper breakdown voltage, and the physical appearance of the insulating oils. UV–visible spectroscopy and total acid number show that the quantity of decay dissolved products of methyl esters is greater than the quantity of decay dissolved products generated by MO during initial thermal aging. However, the viscosity of MEPKO is smaller than the viscosity of MO. In addition, the paper breakdown voltage when dipped in methyl esters is greater than when dipped in MO. Therefore, methyl esters better preserve the insulating paper than mineral oils during initial thermal aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The scale insect, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) (Diaspididae: Hemiptera), is one of the most serious insects in citrus orchards in Egypt. The efficiency of two different formulation types (emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and nanoemulsions) based on the essential oils Artemisia herba-alba (Asso.) (Asterales: Asteraceae) and Laurus nobilis (L.) (Laurales: Lauraceae) at two concentrations of 3 and 5%, compared with the commercial mineral oil, Active Cable, was examined against P. ziziphi. The green formulations were named Artemisia and Laury relative to A. herba-alba and L. nobilis, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the tested formulations have been studied. Results: All the EC formulations of the essential oils (EOs) as well as the nanoemulsions with ratios of EOs to Tween 1:1.5 (Artemisia) and 1:2 (Laury) passed all the tested characteristics. The droplet sizes of the successful nanoemulsions' formulations by the ultrasonic emulsification were 153.7, 113.4 nm for Artemisia and 139.3, 89.4 nm for Laury at 3 and 5% concentrations, respectively. Laury EC caused average reductions of 92.79 and 94.94% (nymphs and females) when applied at 3 and 5%, respectively, while the same oil prepared as nanoemulsions caused average reductions of 50.02 and 55.32% at the same concentrations, compared with 91.74% reduction resulted from spraying Active Cable. Moreover, Artemisia caused reduction percentages of 74.97, 91.52 for EC and 43.7, 54.01 for nanoemulsions, sprayed at 3 and 5%, respectively. Although EC emulsions were more effective in reducing insect populations than nanoemulsion formulations, the efficiency of nanoemulsions gradually increased with time elapsed. The antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and polyphenol oxidase enzymes were researched. It is recognized that insect infestations increase plant enzyme activity to defend them against insect attack. The results revealed a significant reduction of all the examined enzymes which were more obvious for EC emulsions than nanoemulsions. Conclusions: The EC formulations originated from the EOs, especially Laury 3% EC and Artemisia 5% EC, could be an alternative to the traditional insecticides for controlling the scale insect, P. ziziphi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ways to intensify the main extraction processes in multistep production of base oils from petroleum feedstock are considered. These include the use of N-methylpyrrolidone containing 10 wt % triethylene glycol as an extractant in the step of selective treatment of oil distillates; the use of isopropyl alcohol as the base solvent component in the step of low-temperature dewaxing; use of aromatic extracts applied as softeners and plasticizers in rubber industry in the step of extractive treatment to remove carcinogenic compounds; and the use of the microwave electromagnetic field energy for the activation of the extraction feed. Implementation of these approaches allows the yield of the base oil to be increased (by 9.5 wt % in the step of selective treatment and by 2.1 wt % in the step of low-temperature dewaxing) and the product quality to be improved (in the step of selective treatment, the aniline point and the conventional ratio of aromatic structures to paraffin structures decrease; in the step of low-temperature dewaxing, the viscosity–temperature characteristic and the refractive index decrease). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polymethyl methacrylate, or "bone cement," can be used intraoperatively to replace damaged or diseased bone and to deliver local antibiotics. 3D printed molds allow surgeons to form personalized and custom shapes with bone cement. One factor hindering the clinical utility of anatomically accurate 3D printed molds is that cured bone cement can be difficult to remove due to the strong adhesion between the mold and the bone cement. One way to reduce the adhesion between the 3D printed mold and the cured bone cement is with the use of a surface coating, such as a lubricant. This study sought to determine the optimal surface coating to prevent bone cement adhesion to 3D printed molds that could be utilized within a sterile operating room environment. Methods: Hemispheric molds were 3D printed using a stereolithography printer. The molds were coated with four sterile surface coatings available in most operating theatres (light mineral oil, bacitracin ointment, lubricating jelly, and ultrasound transmission gel). Polymethyl methacrylate with tobramycin antibiotic was mixed and poured into the molds. The amount of force needed to "push out" the cured bone cement from the molds was measured to determine the efficacy of each surface coating. Tukey's multiple comparison test was performed to compare the results of the pushout test. Results: The average pushout force for the surface coatings, in increasing order, were as follows (mean ± standard deviation) --- bacitracin ointment: 9.10 ± 6.68 N, mineral oil: 104.93 ± 69.92 N, lubricating jelly: 147.76 ± 63.77 N, control group: 339.31 ± 305.20 N, ultrasound transmission gel 474.11 ± 94.77 N. Only the bacitracin ointment required significantly less pushout force than the control (p = 0.0123). Conclusions: The bacitracin ointment was the most effective surface coating, allowing the bone cement to be pushed out of the mold using the least amount of force. In addition, the low standard deviation speaks to the reliability of the bacitracin ointment to reduce mold adhesion compared to the other surface coatings. Given its efficacy as well as its ubiquitous presence in the hospital operating room setting, bacitracin ointment is an excellent choice to prevent adhesion between bone cement and 3D printed molds intraoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New metalloorganosiloxanes (MOSs) were prepared by hydrosilylation of Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Hf(IV), and V(IV) acetylacetonates with α,ω-dihydrooligodimethylsiloxane. The reaction products were studied by DTGA and IR spectroscopy. The effect of the metallosiloxanes obtained on the heat resistance of composites based on low-molecular-mass polydimethylsiloxane rubber (SKTN) containing various types of reinforcing fillers was examined. Introduction of MOSs in an amount of 7 × 10–3 g/(kg blend) increases the gelation onset time of the SKTN-based compound from 5 to 54 h at 250°С. In addition, the resistance of the silicone vulcanizates to thermal oxidative degradation is enhanced, and the vulcanized rubber samples preserve satisfactory physicomechanical characteristics after prolonged heat treatment. The organosilicon liquids modified with the synthesized thermal stabilizers exhibit high levels of dielectric characteristics and heat resistance in the temperature interval from 25 to 270°С. The synthesized MOSs are soluble in polyorganosiloxanes, which allows uniform distribution of small amounts of the modifier in the polymer. The presence of metals with high coordination number in the thermal stabilizer macromolecules allows efficient inactivation of free radicals in a wide temperature interval. The filled silicone vulcanizates obtained can be used as heat-resistant cable insulation and high-temperature sealants, and MOS-modified organosilicon liquids can be used as analogs of mineral oils for power transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based oil is an evolving oil with the potential to replace mineral oil from petroleum as a plasticiser in elastomers. Mineral oil has been described as environmentally harmful and derived from a non-renewable resource. Hence, this study investigates the potential of sunflower oil and soybean oil as bio-based processing oils in producing greener tyre treads. The ternary rubber blends with alternative processing oil (sunflower oil and soybean oil) were compared to a standard rubber vulcanizate containing petroleum-based mineral oil. Resultantly, the cure time and rheometric torque of bio-based oils were equivalent to mineral oil. However, a modest increase in the scorching time indicated that both bio-based oil compounds offer better processing safety and have lower crosslinking density than mineral oil. The sunflower oil compound reflected better tensile strength and abrasion resistance compared to the standard rubber vulcanizate with increments of up to 20.42 MPa and 227, respectively. Meanwhile, soybean oil significantly increased in tear strength up to 98.36 N/mm and offered a good fuel efficiency. Mineral oil compounds revealed a comparable dynamic mechanical performance in the elastic response under dynamic deformation and skid resistance compared to bio-based oil compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for measuring radon-222 in drinking water by liquid scintillation counting has been validated according to the ISO/IEC 17025 criteria. A two-phase counting method based on ISO 13164-4 was selected. The counting parameter settings were studied for two water-immiscible cocktails, namely Mineral Oil Scintillator and Opti-Fluor O. Validation of the method includes repeatability, accuracy, uncertainty and detection limit. In order to ensure the validity of the results, internal quality controls should be used and trends analysed. These include background and efficiency control, and precision and accuracy determination. Furthermore, regular participation in interlaboratory comparisons or proficiency-testing programmes are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral lubricating oils are widely used in various industrial sectors for their applications in maintenance and functioning of machineries. However, indiscriminate dumping of these used oils have resulted in polluting the natural reservoirs which subsequently destroys ecological balance. Bacteria can emulsify or lower surface tension between phases of immiscible substrates and can acquire them as their carbon and energy sources. Such a phenomenon is mediated by production of extracellular polymers which can function as eminent surface active compounds based on their surfactant or emulsifying nature. The comparison between bacterial strains (Gram-positive Bacillus stratosphericus A15 and Gram-negative Ochrobactrum pseudintermedium C1) on utilization of pure straight chain hydrocarbons, waste mineral lubricating oils as sole carbon source and chemical characterization of the synthesized surface active compounds were studied. Characterization analysis by Ultraviolet Visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, Carbon–Hydrogen–Nitrogen analysis has given detailed structural elucidation of surface active compounds. The contrasting nature of bacterial strains in utilization of different hydrocarbons of waste mineral lubricating oils was observed in Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy analysis. The variation between both strains in utilization of hydrocarbons can be manifested in chemical structural differences and properties of the produced surface active compounds. Scanning Electron Microscopy has given detailed insight into the microstructural difference of the compounds. The utilization of lubricating oils can address waste disposal problem and offer an economical feasible approach for bacterial production of surface active compounds. Our results suggest that these surface active compounds can maneuver applications in environmental bioremediation and agriculture, pharmaceuticals and food as functional biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the thermal conductivity, viscosity and thermal degradation of naphthenic-based mineral oil, palm oil methyl ester (POME) and its blend. Mineral oil and POME were mixed at various mass ratios (70:30, 80:20 and 90:10) via homogenisation for 10 min at 25,000 RPM. The thermo-physical properties of oil studied were thermal conductivity, viscosity, density, flash point and thermal degradation. Results indicated enhancement in thermal conductivity with an increase in temperature. The highest enhancement (0.185 W mK−1) was observed for the 70:30 blend ratio at 80 °C. The viscosity decreased as temperature increased, whereby POME resulted in lower values (2.3 mPa.s) than mineral oil (4.3 mPa.s) at 80 °C. Density also showed a decreasing trend with temperature with no significant difference between POME and mineral oil. However, POME (175.5 °C) resulted in a higher flash point compared to mineral oil (146.5 °C), resulting in the enhanced flashpoint of blend oils. Blend oil with a 70:30 ratio resulted in the highest thermal degradation of 274.56 °C in the air environment. Oxidation induction time (OIT) decreased with temperature from 160–180 °C where mineral oil resulted in higher induction time than POME. The results proved improvement in properties of mineral oil blend with POME, which can enhance the system performance and faster heat dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an interesting alternative for improving thermoplastic polyurethane's (TPUs) tribological properties by incorporating styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) via melt blending. Two TPUs with different molar masses, two compatibilizers SEBS-g-MA (C1) and SEBS-b-TPU (C2) and paraffinic oil were used in the formulated blends. The raw materials' effect on the morphology, rheology, physical–mechanical and tribological performance of TPU/SEBS blends was monitored. The phase morphology achieved depended on the addition of mineral oil and compatibilizer agent type. The rheological analysis showed a pseudo-liquid viscous behavior for all samples. However, this behavior was related to the compatibilizer type and molar mass of the TPU. No significant changes were observed between the compatibilizers C1 and C2 concerning the physicomechanical properties. The fact that mineral oil is preferentially contained in the SEBS phase is the fundamental point to explain the blends phase morphology and their rheological and physical behaviors. The swollen state SEBS modifies the TPU's performance. It also allows tuning properties such as abrasion and increasing the friction coefficient, enabling promising applications for these thermoplastic elastomers blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral oils used in the heat treatment industry are derivatives of non-renewable petroleum fuel and are toxic and non-biodegradable. Vegetable oils are an ideal substitute for mineral oil due to their superior heat transfer characteristics and eco-friendliness. However, the initial cost of vegetable oils is very high. In addition, the maintenance cost of vegetable oils would be higher due to their poor thermal and oxidative stability than mineral oil. In this context, recycling and reusing waste cooking oil could be a cheaper and eco-friendly alternative. In this study, the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) produced from the waste sunflower cooking oil through transesterification was blended with sunflower and mineral oils at various proportions. The cooling characteristics of the FAME/oil blends were assessed using the cooling curve analysis according to ASTM D6200 and ISO9950 standards. A solution to the inverse heat conduction problem was used to estimate the spatiotemporal metal/quenchant interfacial heat flux. The uniformity of heat flux was analyzed. The results indicated that blending waste cooking oil-derived FAME in sunflower oil up to 60 vol.% and mineral oil up to 50 vol.% provided comparable cooling characteristics to pure oils. The estimated heat flux transients showed a marginal decrease in peak heat flux for FAME blends in sunflower oil, whereas an increased peak heat flux with mineral oil. The FAME blends less than 60 vol.% in sunflower oil showed higher cooling uniformity. With mineral oil, the blend proportion of up to 50 vol.% increased cooling uniformities compared to pure oil. The characteristic cooling time (t85) increased with the increase in FAME blends in oils. However, the distribution of t85 in the quench probe was uniform for FAME/oil blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a comparative study of the electrostatic charging tendency (ECT) of a synthetic oil namely mono/dibenzyltoluene (M/DBT known as Jarylec, a product widely used for impregnating and filling power capacitors; and a mineral oil largely used in high-voltage oil-filled electrical equipment and which is Nynas Nytro Gemini X (NGx). The ECT of insulating oils generated by the charge concentration gradient at the oil-pressboard interface is investigated on a spinning disk system (CIGRE Cell) covered on its both sides with pressboard of different thicknesses versus the rotating speed of the disk and thickness of pressboard. Experimental outcomes show that the ECT of the two investigated liquids is very close at low rotating speeds of the disk that is for 200 and 400 rpm/min. While the ECT of Jarylec is higher than that of mineral oil NGx for higher velocity (600 and 700 rpm/min); the difference increases with the rotating speed of the disk and the thickness of pressboard. However, the observed difference is not so alarming and cannot be exclusive of this synthetic oil for possible use in power transformers provided that it fulfills the other required criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of contaminated top soil (0–30 cm) and uncontaminated soil (control) from two locations in Precambrian basement complex area were analyzed to assess the effects of single and mixed oil contaminants on the physico-chemical and thermal properties of soils. Pearson's correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to study the interrelationships of the studied parameters as well as variation of studied soil characteristics under the different oil contaminants, respectively. Results showed insignificant impact of pollutant(s) on the textural class of contaminated soils. The highest and lowest mean soil resistivity (SR) values were found in petrol-contaminated and mixed surfactants (shampoo + conditioner) -contaminated soils, respectively. The least values of mean specific heat capacity (SHC), heat capacity (HC), and soil water diffusivity (SWD) were found in soils contaminated by mixed surfactants-contaminants. However, mixed mineral oils (petrol + diesel + engine oil) and mixed vegetable oils (palm oil + groundnut oil) had mean SHC values lower than those of control soils at the two sampling locations. The mixed surfactants-polluted soil is characterized by lowest mean bulk density (BD) and highest mean gravimetric water content (GWC) while lowest mean GWC and highest mean SWD characterized engine oil-contaminated soils. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) result revealed significant variation in % sand at 5% level (p < 0.05) for petroleum-derived contaminants but no significant differences in mean values of all analyzed soil properties under vegetable oil contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bearings are the significant component in machinery applications to run a system; hence, the damage of bearings can stop a running machine. The bearing faults often arise because of poor tribological behavior and wrong lubrication. Several fault prediction models already exist, but if the data were too large, the conventional techniques took a wide time range, gaining very low accuracy. The present research work has focused on designing an efficient bearing faults detection system and optimized tribological characters to address this issue. Moreover, the proposed mechanism is named as Hybrid ant lion and African buffalo-based Modular Neural Frame. The dataset taken for estimating the fault is Case Western Reserve University bearing center. In addition, to gain the finest result, mineral oil is added as a lubricant to reduce friction and to enhance the bearing life. Here, the fitness of Ant lion and African buffalo was upgraded in the classification layer of the modular neural frame that helps to optimize the parameters and has improved the fault prediction ratio. In addition, the proposed model is implemented in the MATLAB R2018b environment. Finally, the parameters were calculated and compared with other models in terms of accuracy, wear, friction, precision, recall, time, F-score and have gained the finest results in all scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to summarize current knowledge on the use of oil in embryo culture systems, with a focus on proper management of different types of oil and possible impact on culture systems. Methods: PubMed was used to search the MEDLINE database for peer-reviewed English-language original articles and reviews concerning the use of oil in embryo culture systems. Searches were performed by adopting "embryo," "culture media," "oil," and "contaminants" as main terms. The most relevant publications were assessed and discussed critically. Results: Oils used in IVF are complex mixtures of straight-chain hydrocarbons, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, and unsaturated hydrocarbons, whose precise composition influences their chemical and physical properties. Possible presence of contaminants suggests their storage at 4 °C in the dark to prevent peroxidation. Washing, generally performed by manufacturers prior to commercialization, may remove trace chemical contaminants. Oils reduce evaporation from culture media at rates depending on their chemical physical properties, culture system parameters, and incubator atmosphere. Contaminants — mainly metal ion and plastic components derived from refinement processes and storage — can pass to the aqueous phase of culture systems and affect embryo development. Conclusions: Oils are essential components of culture systems. Their original quality and composition, storage, handling, and use can affect embryo development with significant efficiency and safety implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]