bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional repression specifies the central cell for double fertilization
Authors: Zhang Meng-Xia , Zhu Shan-Shan , Xu Yong-Chao , Guo Ya-Long , Yang Wei-Cai , Li Hong-Ju
Published: March 2020

Significance

Double fertilization is a key innovation of flowering plants. The central cell is the second female gamete, and its fertilization gives rise to the endosperm, the nurse of a seed. However, how this cell is specified and evolved in angiosperm remains unknown. This study reveals a transcriptional repression mechanism to specify the central cell in
Arabidopsis
and provides insight into the origination of this mechanism in Brassicaceae.
Communication cost of consensus for nodes with limited memory
Authors: Fanti Giulia , Holden Nina , Peres Yuval , Ranade Gireeja
Published: March 2020

Motivated by applications in wireless networks and the Internet of Things, we consider a model ofnnodes trying to reach consensus with high probability on their majority bit. Each nodeiis assigned a bit at time 0 and is a finite automaton withmbits of memory (i.e.,2mstates) and a Poisson clock. When the clock ofirings,ican choose to communicate and is then matched to a uniformly chosen nodej. The nodesjandimay update their states based on the state of the other node. Previous work has focused on minimizing the time to consensus and the probability of error, while our goal is minimizing the number of communications. We show that, whenm>3⁡log⁡log⁡log(n), consensus can be reached with linear communication cost, but this is impossible ifm<log⁡log⁡log(n). A key step is to distinguish when nodes can become aware of knowing the majority bit and stop communicating. We show that this is impossible if their memory is too low.
Designing for wearable and fashionable interactions
Authors: Chang Wei-Chen , Lin Rung-Tai
Published: March 2020

This research examines wearable, fashionable interaction design to mediate the narrative and semiotic concepts
found in technology and fashion. We discuss the principles of design anthropology using Taiwan proverbs to transmit the
“people-situation-reason-object” method and analyze five case studies that provide new approaches for designers engaged in future
industry. Design anthropology attempts to engage physiological and psychological design through technological function, meaning
formation, and fashion aesthetics to achieve cognition between people and the environment. The wearable, fashionable interaction
displays characteristics of narrative and semantics transmitted through craft culture as well as collective, cheerful, and
creative performance. It is a confident and innovative attempt, which bears a joyful and fundamental interface. This study takes
two directions, with cultural thinking serving as the basis to establish a set of traditional craft designs and interactive
objects that assist designers in using the senses to inform and initiate new lifestyle values.
“Talk to you later”
Authors: Rollet Nicolas , Clavel Chloé
Published: March 2020

This article presents an applied discussion of the possibility of integrating conversation analysis (CA)
methodology into that of machine learning. The aim is to improve the detection of that which resembles disengagement in the
interaction between a robot and a human. We offer a novel analytical assemblage at the heart of the two disciplines, and namely on
the level of the annotation schemes provided by conversation analysis transcription methods. First, we demonstrate that the need
for a stable structure in establishing an interaction scenario and in designing robot behaviours does not prevent the emergence of
ordinariness or creativity among the participants engaged in this interaction. Secondly, based on an actual case, we emphasize the
possibility of systematicness in CA transcription to support the choice (a) of the categories targeted by prediction methods and
defined by the annotation scheme, and (b) of the verbal and non-verbal features used to create prediction models.
Determination of atomic oxygen state densities in a double inductively coupled plasma using optical emission and absorption spectroscopy and probe measurements
Authors: Fiebrandt Marcel , Bibinov Nikita , Awakowicz Peter
Published: March 2020

A collisional radiative model for fast estimation and monitoring of atomic oxygen ground and excited state densities and fluxes in varying Ar:O2 mixtures is developed and applied in a double inductively coupled plasma source at a pressure of 5 Pa and incident power of 500 W. The model takes into account measured line intensities of 130.4 nm, 135.6 nm, 557.7 nm, and 777.5 nm, the electron densities and electron energy distribution functions determined using a Langmuir probe and multipole resonance probe as well as the state densities of the first four excited states of argon measured with the branching fraction method and compared to tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The influence of cascading and self absorption is included and the validity of the used cross sections and reaction rates is discussed in detail. The determined atomic oxygen state densities are discussed for their plausibility, sources of error, and compared to other measurements. Furthermore, the results of the model are analyzed to identify the application regimes of much simpler models, which could be used more easily for process control, e.g. actinometry.
Nuclear chart in covariant density functional theory with dynamic correlations: From oxygen to tin *
Authors: Yang Yi-Long , Wang Ya-Kun
Published: March 2020

Nuclear masses of even-even nuclei with the proton number

(O to Sn isotopes) from the proton drip line to neutron drip line are investigated using the triaxial relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory with the relativistic density functional PC-PK1. Further, the dynamical correlation energies (DCEs) associated with the rotational motion and quadrupole-shaped vibrational motion are taken into account by the five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian (5DCH) method. The root-mean-square deviation with respect to the experimental masses reduces from 2.50 to 1.59 MeV after the consideration of DCEs. The inclusion of DCEs has little influence on the position of drip lines, and the predicted numbers of bound even-even nuclei between proton and neutron drip lines from O to Sn isotopes are 569 and 564 with and without DCEs, respectively.
K* production in the KN → Kπp reaction *
Authors: Chen Shao-Fei , Liu Bo-Chao
Published: March 2020

We investigate the

production in the

reaction using the effective Lagrangian approach and the isobar model. To describe this reaction, we first take into account the contributions from the

,

and

exchanges, as in previous studies. We find that although the experimental data can be generally described, there are some obvious discrepancies between the model and the experiments. To improve the model, we consider the contributions of the axial-vector meson and hyperon exchange. It is shown that a large contribution of the axial-vector meson exchange can significantly improve the results. This may indicate that the coupling of the axial-vector meson, e.g.

, is large in the

channel. To verify our model, measurements of the angular distributions and spin density matrix elements of

in the

reaction would be helpful, and we make predictions for this reaction for a future comparison.
Phase diagram of two-color QCD matter at finite baryon and axial isospin densities *
Authors: Chao Jingyi
Published: March 2020

We study the two-color QCD matter with two fundamental quark flavors using the chiral perturbation theory and the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model. The effective Lagrangian is derived in terms of mesons and baryons, i.e. diquarks. The low lying excitations lie in the extended

flavor symmetry space. We compute the leading order terms of the Lagrangian as a function of the baryon and axial isospin densities. After numerically solving the gap equations in the two-color NJL model, the phase diagram is obtained in the

plane.
Co-evolution of nuclear rings, bars and the central intensity ratio of their host galaxies
Authors: Aswathy S. , Ravikumar C. D.
Published: March 2020

Using a sample of 13 early-type spiral galaxies hosting nuclear rings, we report remarkable correlations between the properties of the nuclear rings and the central intensity ratio (CIR) of their host galaxies. The CIR, a function of intensity of light within the central 1.5 and 3 arcsec region, is found to be a vital parameter in galaxy evolution, as it shares strong correlations with many structural and dynamical properties of early-type galaxies, including mass of the central supermassive black hole (SMBH). We use archival HST images for aperture photometry at the centre of the galaxy image to compute the CIR. We observe that the relative sizes of nuclear rings and ring cluster surface densities strongly correlate with the CIR. These correlations suggest reduced star formation in the centres of galaxies hosting small and dense nuclear rings. This scenario appears to be a consequence of strong bars as advocated by the significant connection observed between the CIR and bar strengths. In addition, we observe that the CIR is closely related with the integrated properties of the stellar population in the nuclear rings, associating the rings hosting older and less massive star clusters with low values of CIR. Thus, the CIR can serve as a crucial parameter in unfolding the coupled evolution of bars and rings as it is intimately connected with both their properties.
A magnetic confinement nuclear fusion mechanism for solar flares
Authors: Zhang Ying-Zhi
Published: March 2020

We propose a magnetic confinement nuclear fusion mechanism for the evolution of a solar flare in the solar atmosphere. The mechanism agrees with two observed characteristics of explosive flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that have proved to be very difficult to explain with previous mechanisms: the huge enrichments of 3He and the high energy gamma ray radiation. The twisted magnetic flux rope is a typical structure during the solar flares, which is closely related to the solar active region that magnetic fields have almost complete control over the plasma. Consequently, the plasma inside the flux rope is heated to more than 1.0 × 107 K by an adiabatic compression process, and then the thermonuclear fusion can take place in the flux rope accompanied with high energy gamma rays. We utilize the time-dependent ideal 2.5-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation to demonstrate the physical mechanism for producing flares, which reveals three stages of flare development with the process of magnetic energy conversion and intense release during the solar flares and CMEs in the solar atmosphere. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between magnetic reconnection and solar eruptions.
Long range frequency chirping of Alfvén eigenmodes
Authors: Hezaveh H. , Qu Z. S. , Breizman B. N. , Hole M. J.
Published: March 2020

A theoretical framework has been developed for an NBI scenario to model the hard non-linear evolution of global Alfvén eigenmodes (GAEs) where the adiabatic motion of phase-space structures (holes and clumps), associated with frequency chirping, occurs in generalised phase-space of slowing down energetic particles. The radial profile of the GAE is expanded using finite elements which allows update of the mode structure as the mode frequency chirps. Constants of motion are introduced to track the dynamics of energetic particles during frequency chirping by implementing proper action-angle variables and canonical transformations which reduce the dynamics essentially to 1D. Consequently, we specify whether the particles are drifting inward/outward as the frequency deviates from the initial MHD eigenfrequency. Using the principle of least action, we have derived the non-linear equation describing the evolution of the radial profile by varying the total Lagrangian of the system with respect to the weights of the finite elements. For the choice of parameters in this work, it is shown that the peak of the radial profile is shifted and also broadens due to frequency chirping. The time rate of frequency change is also calculated using the energy balance and we show that the adiabatic condition remains valid once it is satisfied. This model clearly illustrates the theoretical treatment to study the long range adiabatic frequency sweeping events observed for Alfvén gap modes in real experiments.
Observational constraints on the effective climate sensitivity from the historical period
Authors: Tokarska Katarzyna B , Hegerl Gabriele C , Schurer Andrew P , Forster Piers M , Marvel Kate
Published: March 2020

The observed warming in the atmosphere and ocean can be used to estimate the climate sensitivity linked to present-day feedbacks, which is referred to as the effective climate sensitivity (Shist
). However, such an estimate is affected by uncertainty in the radiative forcing, particularly aerosols, over the historical period. Here, we make use of detection and attribution techniques to derive the surface air temperature and ocean warming that can be attributed directly to greenhouse gas increases. These serve as inputs to a simple energy budget to infer the likelihood of Shist
in response to observed greenhouse gases increases over two time periods (1862–2012 and 1955–2012). The benefit of using greenhouse gas attributable quantities is that they are not subject to uncertainties in the aerosol forcing (other than uncertainty in the attribution to greenhouse gas versus aerosol forcing not captured by the multi-model aerosol response pattern). The resulting effective climate sensitivity estimate, Shist
, ranges from 1.3 °C to 3.1 °C (5%–95% range) over the full instrumental period (1862–2012) for our best estimate, and gets slightly wider when considering further uncertainties. This estimate increases to 1.7 °C–4.6 °C if using the shorter period (1955–2012). We also evaluate the climate model simulated surface air temperature and ocean heat content increase in response to greenhouse gas forcing over the same periods, and compare them with the observationally-constrained values. We find that that the ocean warming simulated in greenhouse gas only simulations in models considered here is consistent with that attributed to greenhouse gas increases from observations, while one model simulates more greenhouse gas-induced surface air warming than observed. However, other models with sensitivity outside our range show greenhouse gas warming that is consistent with that attributed in observations, emphasising that feedbacks during the historical period may differ from the feedbacks at CO2 doubling and from those at true equilibrium.
Surprisingly malleable public preferences for climate adaptation in forests
Authors: Findlater Kieran M , St-Laurent Guillaume Peterson , Hagerman Shannon , Kozak Robert
Published: March 2020

Researchers and policy-makers often assume that public preferences for climate change adaptation are positive and stable compared to those of mitigation. However, public judgments about adaptation in natural resource sectors (like forestry) require that people make difficult, value-laden and uncertain trade-offs across complex social-ecological systems. The deliberative methods (e.g. focus groups and in-depth interviews) that are typically used to explore the malleability of these judgments may underestimate the level of preference malleability in broader publics by encouraging participants to rationalize their choices in relation to their own knowledge, values and beliefs, as well as those of others. Here, we use a public survey (N = 1926) from British Columbia, Canada—where forestry is economically, environmentally and culturally vital—to investigate the malleability of public preferences for genomics-based assisted migration (AM) for climate change adaptation in forests. Following an initial judgment, respondents are given new information about AM’s potential implementation and impacts—simple messages similar to those that they might encounter through traditional and social media. The results show that respondents’ initial judgments are surprisingly malleable, and prone to large bi-directional shifts across all message types. The magnitude of this malleability is related to the degree of the proposed intervention, the type of message, and individuals’ demographic and psychographic characteristics. These results suggest that high levels of initial public support may be illusory, and that more attention should be paid to the potential for malleability, controversy and contradiction as adaptation policies are developed and implemented. Process-based arguments related to transparent, evidence-based and adaptive governance may be more influential than risk-based arguments related to climate change and economic impacts.
Open topological defects and boundary RG flows
Authors: Konechny Anatoly
Published: March 2020

In the context of two-dimensional rational conformal field theories we consider topological junctions of topological defect lines with boundary conditions. We refer to such junctions as open topological defects. For a relevant boundary operator on a conformal boundary condition we consider a commutation relation with an open defect obtained by passing the junction point through the boundary operator. We show that when there is an open defect that commutes or anti-commutes with the boundary operator there are interesting implications for the boundary RG flows triggered by this operator. The end points of the flow must satisfy certain constraints which, in essence, require the end points to admit junctions with the same open defects. Furthermore, the open defects in the infrared must generate a subring under fusion that is isomorphic to the analogous subring of the original boundary condition. We illustrate these constraints by a number of explicit examples in Virasoro minimal models.
Extended urbanization in smaller-sized cities and small town development in Java: The case of the Tegal Region
Authors: Mardiansjah F H
Published: March 2020

Urbanization processes in Java are characterized by the extended urbanization of its cities, that also create and develop small towns in surrounding areas of large and much smaller cities. This paper aims to bring greater attention to processes unfolding in smaller Javanese cities, and elaborates these processes through Tegal case study. To do this, long-term development is studied in the Tegal region through a time-series comparison by examining the development of urban villages within the administrative area of the region, based on statistical data collected from the Village Monographs (potensi desa) over a period from 1990 to 2017. Urban development in the Tegal Region is described in urban spatial development and urban population concentration to identify and analyse the small towns developed in the region. The study reveals that Tegal has undergone a similar process of core-periphery spatial development patterns that are experienced among larger urban agglomerations. The scattered towns surrounding the core city developed in a variety of sizes. The development of the city and towns in the surrounding areas in Tegal Region converging into an urban agglomeration that could already be considered its own metropolitan region with the city of Tegal as the core.
A review on carbon membranes for hydrogen purification
Authors: Sazali N , Ghazali M F , Siregar J P , Gunawan T , Salleh W N W , Yusof N.
Published: March 2020

Hydrogen (H2) as a high competence and clean energy bearer has pulled in reestablished and consistently expanding consideration around the globe as of late, basically because of advancements in power modules and ecological weights including environmental change issues. In thermochemical forms for H2 creation from non-renewable energy sources, separation and purification performance is a basic innovation. Specifically, microporous membranes indicate guarantees in water gas move response at higher temperatures. In this article, we survey the look at the basic issues in these membranes as for the specialized and financial focal points and weaknesses. Conclusions will be made on the significance of membrane innovation to the new age of zero-outflow control advancements.
Flory-Huggins Theory Based Approach for Estimation of Aqueous Solubility of Starch from Various Botanical Sources
Authors: Kumoro A C , Retnowati D S , Ratnawati R , Widiyanti M
Published: March 2020

Nowadays the importance of starches in industrial application in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries is well recognized. Unfortunately, their thermodynamics aspect has not been well understood. The objective of this study is to develop a simple thermodynamic model for the estimation of aqueous solubility of cereal, tuber and legume starches through Flory-Huggins theory approach. The aqueous solubility of starch was investigated experimentally as the mass percentage of dissolved starch per gram starch using shake-flask method at 338.2 to 368.2 K according to common practice in food science and technology. The solubility of starch was found to increase with the elevation of temperature. In general, starches from tuber exhibit higher aqueous solubility than starches from other sources. The results showed that Flory-Huggins theory is suitable to be used as the basis for the prediction of aqueous solubility of starch from various botanical sources. In most cases, the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters (χwst
) were higher than 0.5 suggesting that water is a poor solvent for starch. The Flory-Huggins interaction parameters were highly dependent on composition, which is in good agreement with previous report for synthetic polymer blends. Therefore, Flory Huggins approach can be used as a useful tool in the prediction of aqueous solubility of starches.
Effect of nitrogen bubble for biodiesel production from used cooking oil
Authors: Wiriya N , Kokoo R , Wichianwat K , Jiamrittiwong P , Srisurat T
Published: March 2020

Biodiesel is alternative energy produced using natural raw materials. The famous reaction used to produce biodiesel is transesterification. In the commercial scale, the mixing process is the crucial step for transesterification. Electric stirring motor used to mix raw materials in the conventional process consumes a lot of energy. This results in high production cost. In this research, bubbling technique was used to replace the electric stirring motor. Waste nitrogen gas obtained from the gas separation industry was fed to the bubble column filled with used sunflower oil and other reactants. Microbubbles of nitrogen gas were generated in the column. The results showed that the product yields obtained from the stirring technique is higher than the bubbling technique by 2.63% at the same operating time. In case of energy consumption, the bubbling technique can reduce electricity used by 50% compared with the stirring technique.
A Review Study of Biofilm Bacteria and Microalgae Bioremediation for Palm Oil Mill Effluent: Possible Approach
Authors: Al-Amshawee S K , Yunus M Y , Azoddein A A
Published: March 2020

It was known where water is, there is a life, but presently, water is the primary source of diseases, viruses, and microbes. Before the industrial revolution, freshwater was available in vast quantities and everywhere, but the unwell treatments of wastewater have contaminated our fresh water. The palm oil industries discharge palm oil mill effluent (POME) under the forced standards, but it still pollutes the freshwater because it streams contaminated water, and not freshwater. There are many methods for wastewater treatment, but most of it reached its maximum effort, for example, physical technologies probably can give 90% removal of total pollutants with high capital cost. Hence, industries are trying to evolve biological treatments such as microalgae, and biofilm because of being friendly, and cost-efficient. This article reviews microalgae and biofilm bacteria ability for POME processing, and what possible advantages or valuable byproducts can produce. It concluded that uniting both treatments can lead to outstanding performance defeating withdraws and limitations.
A Review on Aerobic Biological Processes for Palm Oil Mill Effluent: Possible Approaches
Authors: Al-Amshawee S K , Yunus M Y , Azoddein A A
Published: March 2020

On large scale, many countries like Indonesia and Malaysia receive economic advantage from employing numerous mills to produce and sell palm oil. Despite the benefits, contaminated effluents from palm oil processing have polluted enormous quantities of fresh water, which leads to massive scarcity of fresh water. Moreover, vast quantities of fresh water with steady rainfalls were placed in a country known as Malaysia, but currently, it has massive fresh water wastage because of environmental pollution, and discharging unwell treated palm oil mill effluent (POME). Also, the increasing amounts of POME suffocate agriculture, fresh water, aquatic life, and human health and results in a fantastic medium for bacteria, viruses, and diseases growth. Therefore, palm oil mill effluent receives huge attention since treatment technologies are highly cost, which forces palm oil industries to reuse wastewater in several needs and conserve the available fresh water. Presently, palm oil industries are looking for treatments with low costs, low energy consumptions, and good performance to boost a greener image of palm oil production. This review shows and summarizes most of the possible approaches of aerobic biological treatments to decompose POME, showing their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, this review finds developing a hybrid system comprised from number of aerobic biological treatments can defeat stand-alone technology limitations and improve effluent quality.
Optimization of essential oil yield from Vietnamese green pepper (Piper nigrum) using hydro-distillation method
Authors: Dao T P , Tran T H , Nhan N P T , Quyen N T C , Tien L X , Anh T T , Quan P M , Nguyen N H , Anh L L T , Linh H T K
Published: March 2020

In this study, the essential oil of green pepper collected from Vung Tau City, Vietnam was recovered by hydro-distillation technique, giving the yield of approximately 0.75% yield on optimal conditions. Single factor investigation showed that optimal conditions of the extraction process consisted of water and material ratio of 5:1 mL/g, extraction time of 180 min, flow rate of 2.5 mL/min, size of material of puree, time for soaking of 3 hours. Nineteen components were identified in the obtained Piper nigrum essential oils using GC-MS. The main components of essential oils were Caryophyllene, 3-Carene, β-Pinene, α-Pinene, Sabinene, and Elemene.
Optimizatoin of Microwave-assisted extraction and compositional determination of essential oil from leaves of Eucalyptus globulus
Authors: Tran T H , Ngo T C Q , Dao T P , P T N Nguyen , Pham T N , Nguyen T D , Linh H T K , Nguyen N H , Cang M H
Published: March 2020

The extraction of essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus globulus leaves in Southern Vietnam by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was investigated. The experimental study was conducted to determine the effect of different extracting parameters such as size of material, water to material ratio (1 mg/mL to 5 mg/mL), time (20 min to 80 min) and microwave power (100W to 600W). The essential oil content is determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry GC-MS method. The main ingredients of Eucalyptus globulus essential oils were Eucalyptol (38.771%). The highest essential oil content of 2.65 mg/L was achieved with the ground material, at the ratio of raw materials to water of 1:3 mL/g, extraction time of 60 min, and microwave power of 450W. In conclusion, MAHD method is considered an efficient extraction process, saving time and cost of materials and heating.
Production of a bioadsorbent from oil palm kernel shell, and application for pollutants and colour removal in palm oil mill effluent final discharge
Authors: Nahrul Hayawin Z. , Ibrahim M. F. , Kamarudin H. , Norfaizah J. , Ropandi M. , Astimar A. A. , Abd-Aziz S.
Published: March 2020

In an effort to mitigate the palm oil mill effluent (POME) final discharge to the river water, palm kernel shell activated carbon has been identified as a promising adsorption technique for enhanced removal of pollutants (Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Suspended Solid) and colour from the wastewater treatment plant. The bioadsorbent was prepared by carbonize at 400°C using two-in-one carbonization and activation system and further steam activate at 900°C with a total process time of 7 hours. The adsorption capacity was evaluated at different bioadsorbent dosage, treatment time, and initial concentration of pollutants and colour. The bioadsorbent showed the maximum removal of pollutants with a bioadsorbent dosage of 40 g/L at treatment time of 12 hours. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the treatment image of bioadsorbent was filled with impurities and elements of POME final discharge. This demonstrated that palm kernel shell activated carbon is a potential bioadsorbent for pollutants and colour removal in POME final discharge.
Incorporation of gold and limestone mining waste materials for carbon capture and storage in bricks
Authors: Hasan S N M S , Kusin F M , Hassim M A , Molahid V L M
Published: March 2020

The industrial sector is the main contributor of carbon dioxide emissions which have an enormous impact on the planet’s weather. One of the approaches to sequester carbon dioxide permanently is through the utilization of potential mining waste to produce commercial materials such as bricks. This research emphasizes the use of gold and limestone mining waste as raw materials for carbon capture and storage in the manufacturing of bricks and to determine their physical and mechanical characteristics for construction purposes. The dimensions of the sand bricks in this research were 215×103×65 mm. Gold and limestone mining waste was used as a partial cement replacement in sand bricks. Findings showed that the gold mine waste bricks have an average of 1.8% higher water absorption value and hence are more permeable, compared to the average of 1.05% in limestone mine waste bricks. Compressive strength measurements indicated that bricks made up of limestone mine waste have an average of 34.72 N/mm2, which is greater than the average of 24.09 N/mm2 for gold mine waste bricks. Limestone mine waste bricks exhibit good durability of the bricks as compared to gold mine waste bricks, because of their low water absorption. Thus, they have greater strength for construction purposes. Limestone mine waste bricks are more appropriate for buildings because they are less permeable and have greater brick power than gold mine waste bricks. Thus, utilization of mining waste as a raw material for bricks production might increase the physical and mechanical properties of bricks and provide potential solutions for permanent carbon dioxide storage.
Potential recovery of sugar-derivative compounds from hydrothermal treatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch
Authors: Yuliansyah A T , Kumagai S , Hirajima T , Sasaki K
Published: March 2020

Biomass is a promising alternative energy resource due to its sustainability and environmental friendliness. In addition, it is also a potential candidate for chemical feedstock since many chemicals can be extracted or synthesized from biomass. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) is a biomass waste coming from the oil extraction process in a palm oil mill. In this study, potential recovery of chemicals from such biomass waste will be explored by hydrothermal treatment. Slurry of 300 mL of water and 30 g of material was treated in a 500 mL batch autoclave in temperature range of 200-350°C and initial pressure of 2.0 MPa. The slurry was heated up gradually to designed temperature, and then was kept for 30 min residence time. After filtrated, the liquid product was obtained. The liquid products were analyzed by TOC meter and HPLC. The analysis result showed that the liquid product contained several valuable chemicals from the decomposition of sugar compounds such as glucose, xylose, furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), formic acid and acetic acid. Yield of each compound varies at different temperatures. At elevated temperature, yield of sugar- derivative compounds tends to decrease.
Optimization of Inter-Plant Water Network Design Involving Multiple Contaminants
Authors: Azmi M A , Arifin M N , Handani Z B
Published: March 2020

Minimization of freshwater consumption and wastewater generation are being critical concerns in the process industry due to the scarcity in freshwater supply, the increase of freshwater and effluent treatment costs and stricter regulations. One of the efficient ways to reduce freshwater consumption in the process is by recycling and/or reusing wastewater that is generated by the process or utility after being treated to acceptable limits. This work presents the development of a systematic approach for synthesizing indirect inter-plant water network integration with centralized regeneration system involving multiple contaminants. In this approach, water reuse prospects were analysed within individual plants and between different plants via inter-plant water integration possibilities. The water network problem is formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) based on the water network superstructure and is solved using GAMS optimization software. The applicability of the proposed approach is illustrated using a wafer manufacturing process plants case study. At the end of this study, significant reductions of freshwater consumption and wastewater generation have been achieved, showing the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results show that the freshwater consumption and wastewater generation reduced about 47.61% and 53.48% respectively.
Phytoconstituents of the rhizome of Drynaria bonii and the effect of phytoconstituents on the cell proliferation of osteoblast MG-63 cells
Authors: Trinh Pham Thi Nhat , Giang Bach Long , Danh Tong Thanh , Hung Quach Tong , Du Cao Van , Tuan Nguyen Trong , Dung Le Tien
Published: March 2020

In folk medicine of Vietnam, the plant Drynaria bonii Heinrich Christ was used for the treatment of bone disease, osteoporosis, tinnitus and stimulate hair growth, instead of Drynaria fortunei. Up to now, there are very little studies on its phytochemical as well as bioactivities of Drynaria bonii. Treatments for osteoporosis through stimulating bone formation via osteoblasts is currently concerned In this paper, we report the isolation and chemical structural determination six compounds including of 24-methylen-cycloartan-3ß-ol (1), triphyllol (2), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (3), protocatechuic acid (4), rutin (5) and nicotiflorin (6) from the methanol extract of the rhizomes of Drynaria bonii. The cell proliferative effects of isolated compounds on MG63 osteoblast cell were also investigated. The result indicated that compounds 1, 2 and 4 stimulated the proliferation of MG63 osteoblast cells by 8.49%; 11.18 % and 7.68 % at the concentrations of 100 μg/ml, respectively. This is the first notification of six isolated compounds from Drynaria bonii and their cell proliferation activity in osteoblast-like cells.
Factorial analysis of mycelium growth in Pleurotus sp. cultivation by using agricultural wastes
Authors: Dzulkefli N A , Zainol N
Published: March 2020

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) have three stages of mushroom growth, which are mycelium growth (spawn running), pinhead initiation and fruiting body development. Rubber sawdust is commonly used as a media for oyster mushroom cultivation. However, the low availability of rubber trees has become serious problem to the mushroom’s grower. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting of mycelium growth in Pleurotus sp. cultivation by using agricultural wastes. Two different substrates were used namely, empty fruit bunch (EFB) and sugarcane bagasse (SB). The other selected factors were size of substrates (0.5 cm and 2.5 cm), mass ratio of spawn to substrate (SP/SS) (1:10 and 1:14), temperature (25°C and ambient) and pre treatment of substrates (steam and non-steam). The responses were mycelium extension rate (M) and nitrogen concentration in mycelium (N). Design Expert software was used to construct experimental design where all the factor was randomized. As a result, pre-treatment and type of substrate were the most contributing factors on both M and N, respectively. It can be concluded that the agricultural waste such as empty palm fruit bunch (EFB) can replace the sawdust as a media for oyster mushroom cultivation
Improving total sediment load prediction using genetic programming technique (Case Study: Malaysia)
Authors: Ahmad Abdul Ghani N A , Kamal N A , Ariffin J
Published: March 2020

Predicted total sediment load is usually used to identify the intensity of a sedimentation process. Currently, the existing available models to predict total load are mostly developed based on data collected from flumes, channels and rivers located in western countries. These models known as sediment transport model may not be valid to predict total sediment load of rivers in the tropics due to significant differences in the hydrological and sediment characteristics conditions. A new technique called Genetic programming (GP) technique is used to develop a new model to improve the prediction of total sediment load for rivers in tropical Malaysia. The new model named Evolutionary Polynomial Regression (EPR) model is compared with other three available sediment transport models using the different techniques including, Regression Equation, Modified Graf and Multiple Regression. Statistical analyses based on 82 data sets show the sediment transport model using this new technique perform well compare to other models.
Screening and interaction study of the operating parameter influence the wax formation using design of experiment
Authors: Ridzuan N , Subramanie P , Elarbe B S , Elganidi I , Kumar S D V
Published: March 2020

Oil and gas industry has been facing the wax deposition issue due to low temperature condition during the transportation of crude oil from offshore to onshore. The most common method to overcome this problem is by injecting polymeric wax inhibitor in the pipeline. The aim of this work is focused on the screening of the factors that affect the wax deposit inhibition using two types of wax inhibitor; which are poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and Petronas-pour point depressant (PPD) through Design Expert software version 7.1.6. The other three factors evaluated include cold finger temperature (5 & 20°C), rotation speed of impeller (100 & 600 rpm) and the duration of experiment (2 & 6 h). Sixteen experiments were run to observe the rate of wax deposition using cold finger apparatus suggested by level of factorial analysis. The results revealed a significant model with R2 value of 0.989 indicating that 98.9% of the variable response can be explained by the model. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), factor D, which has the addition of EVA in crude oil was found to be the main factor affecting the wax deposit inhibition followed by duration of the experiment, rotation speed, cold finger temperature and Petronas-PPD factors. Furthermore, the interaction between factor D (EVA) and factor E (Petronas –PPD) shows the greatest influence to reduce wax deposition. The best configurations to minimize the amount of wax deposit were found using standard order No 1 which is at 5°, 100 rpm and for the duration of 2 h using EVA as wax inhibitor. The amount of wax deposit measured is 0.018g. Hence, it can be concluded that factor D, and interaction between factors D and E need to be focused in controlling the parameters to minimize wax deposition.
Techno-economic Aspects of Sustainable Energy Development from Coal – A Review
Authors: Mohan Krishna S. , Krishnamurthy N , Febin Daya J L
Published: March 2020

This paper gives insight into the different technological and economical factors playing a role in the development of clean energy from coal based thermal power plants. Although, the world is slowly transiting towards the renewable energy format from the conventional fossil-fuel format, existing thermal power plants are still dependent on the supply of coal for fuelling them. Clean coal technologies have been incorporated to reduce the carbon footprint of these power plants. This study assumes significance for the reason that economics plays a major role in the technological evolution of the coal based thermal power plants.
Synthesis and characterization of phase change material integrated with aluminium waste as the thermal energy storage medium
Authors: Ghani S A A , Jamari S S , Abidin S Z
Published: March 2020

In this paper, an investigation of a new innovation of heat storage properties of thermal conductivity enhancement via a newly formulated composite consists of paraffin wax incorporated with waste aluminum can from solid municipal waste as the potential PCM composite was studied. The samples composite was synthesized at different percentage of waste aluminum powder mass loading ranging from 0wt% until 100wt% into the paraffin wax and characterized. From differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, the rate of heat flow has been has found to be increased as more mass loading of waste aluminum was added. However, the latent heat during melting and freezing of DSC data has reduced. This is due to the high amount filler which has reduced the amount of PCM, whereby latent heat is only absorbed/released by the PCM; not the filler/additive. Besides that, the thermal stability has improved strongly when waste filler is added rather than lone paraffin PCM. The density of waste composite PCM materials has also be found to be higher and thus, has increased the heat flow between the materials and improves the energy storage process. From the addition of filler, the smooth surface of lone paraffin has improved as the surface area has becoming to be rougher and shinier, thus resulted with higher contact surface area. Therefore, the new formulated waste PCM composite of paraffin wax incorporated with aluminum waste ranging from 60wt% and above could become a promising material for TES medium.
Effect of microwaves energy on volatile compounds in Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) leaves essential oil
Authors: Tran T H , Ngo T C Q , Dao T P , Nguyen P T N , Pham T N , Le X T , Vo D M H , Minh P T H , Linh H T K
Published: March 2020

The Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) with spicy flavor, which is considered as one of the special spices in Vietnamese dishes. In the pepper contains a high content of essential oils contained in seeds and leaves, which not only have antioxidant and antibacterial resistance but also anti-Colon toxin, antidepressant, antifungal, analgesic, antidiarrhoeal. In the present study, we optimized the yield of essential oils obtained from Pepper leaves by Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) extraction method by examining the factors that affect the extraction process such as the size of leaves, the ratio of materials with solvent, time and microwave power. The highest essential oil performance achieved 0.94 mL/g by MAHD at grind size, extraction time (40 min), the ratio of water to raw materials (4:1mL/g), and microwave power (450W). A total of 22 volatile constituents were identified from the pepper leaves oil, with the major components being 3-Carene, D-Limonene, Caryophyllene, and β-Pinene.
Effect of plate amplified velocity on nanoparticle migration in free convection flow due to uniform heat flux
Authors: Syafiqah Nor , Narahari Marneni
Published: March 2020

The effects of the amplified velocity of the plate on nanoparticle migration and heat transfer characteristics in unsteady free convection flow have been studied with the uniform heat flux boundary condition. The governing set of partial differential equations for the non-homogeneous nanofluid model is employed. A numerically stable second-order accurate method is applied to solve the dimensionless governing equations. The numerical solutions are obtained for nanofluid velocity and temperature fields, nanoparticles displacement, skin-friction, and Nusselt number for different values of amplified velocity parameter, and shown in graphs. The results show that the amplified plate velocity decreases the nanoparticle migration slightly while it increases the average Nusselt number and skin-friction. Also, a good comparison is found between the present numerical results and available correlation results of steady-state local Nusselt number for the limiting case.
Hydrogen production from sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming chemical-looping
Authors: Noppakun Nichamon , Wongsakulphasatch Suwimol , Kokoo Rungrote , Assabumrungrat Suttichai
Published: March 2020

Conventionally, hydrogen is produced from steam methane reforming of which methane is reformed into syngas (H2/CO) and carbon dioxide as a by-product. However, high energy requirement is a drawback of this technique. This work aims to improve hydrogen production efficiency by focusing on the development of intensified process, named sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming chemical looping. The use of mixed metal oxide, NiO/CuO, as oxygen carrier and calcium oxide as CO2 sorbent were examined with different amount usages. Process performances were studied through thermodynamic analysis via process simulation using Aspen Plus program. The results showed that the reforming temperature of 500-650°C provides a maximum hydrogen yield of 84% using NiO:CuO = 0.8:0.2.
Electrochemical Disposition of Titanium Dioxide Photocatalyst on Micropores Silicon Wafer for Water Treatment Application
Authors: Basheer Esmail. A. M. , Mahmood Wafaa K. , Abdulbari Hayder A.
Published: March 2020

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), due to wide band gap, has a limited use in water treatment process because of its low activity under visible light. Such drawback is usually associated with the inadequate solar spectrum that activates its surface, i.e., most of the photoexcited electron-hole pairs tend to recombine, leading to a reduction in the photocatalytic performance. Immobilization of TiO2 on the surface of silicon is considered as a useful approach to overcome this drawback. However, the immobilization methods require high temperature and pressure, which limit the numbers and types of materials that can be utilized as a substrate. The known electrochemical deposition procedures are usually conducted through two major steps, electrochemical oxidation and hydrolysis of Ti(III) precursor to form a thin layer on the surface of the substrate, followed by thermal annealing to form crystalline phase. The present work introduces the immobilization of titanium dioxide on a microporous silicon (MPSi) wafer through direct electrochemical deposition, where titanium dioxide P25 was used in the electrolyte solution. The photocatalyst surface morphology and composition were characterized using Scan Electron Microscope (SEM), Electron Dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The photocatalytic activities of the new composites were investigated, and the experimental results indicate that the fabricated TiO2–MPSi showed higher methylene blue degradation rate than that of the conventional P25 catalyst. This is due to the unique photosensitivity and porous structure of the new photocatalytic composites. with the advantages of using this method, it is believed that more efficient photocatalyst can be produced.