bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Characterization of Amine-Clay Hybrid Adsorbents for CO2 Capture
Authors: Elkhalifah Ali E.I. , Bustam Mohammad Azmi , Mohd Shariff Azmi , Ullah Sami , Riaz Nadia , Gonfa Girma
Published: December 2015

The present work aims at a better understanding of the influences of the intercalated mono-, di- and triethanolamines on the characteristics and CO2 adsorption ability of sodium form of bentonite (Na-bentonite). The results revealed that the molar mass of intercalated amines significantly influenced the structural and surface properties as well as the CO2 adsorption capacity of Na-bentonite. In this respect, a stepwise increase in the d-spacing of Na-bentonite with the molar mass of amine was recorded by XRD technique. However, an inverse effect of the molar mass of amine on the surface area was confirmed by BET method. CO2 adsorption experiments on amine-bentonite hybrid adsorbents showed that the CO2 adsorption capacity inversly related to the molar mass of amine at 25 ͦC and 101 kPa. Accordingly, Na-bentonite modified by monoethanolammonium cations adsorbed as high as 0.475 mmol CO2/g compared to 0.148 and 0.087 mmol CO2/g for that one treated with di- and triethanolammonium cations, respectively.
Esterification of Corn Silk Fiber to Improve Oil Absorbency
Authors: Asadpour Robabeh , Sapari Nasiman , Hasnain Isa Mohamed , Kakooei Saeid , Orji Kalu Uka , Daneshfozoun Safoura
Published: December 2015

Oil contamination has caused more public anxiety than other waste or spilt materials into the marine environment. Oil sorbents of high sorption capacity, biodegradable, readily available and low cost, are important for protection of water environment, especially from oil spillage. This work deals with raw and modified corn silk, an agricultural waste, as a low cost sorbent for oil-products spill cleanup in the aquatic environment. Corn silk was modified using fatty acid (oleic acid) to improve its sorption capacity. The chemical functional groups of raw and modified corn silk were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Kinetic tests were conducted with a series of contact times. The kinetic studies showed good correlation coefficients for a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The oleic acid treated corn silk (OTCS) showed high degree of hydrophobicity and oil sorption capacity of approximately 10.7 and 11.90 g oil/g sorbent for Tapis and Arabian crude oil, respectively. Corn silk is a cheap waste material that can be treated to have an acceptable sorption capacity which can be used as an alternative to the commercial synthetic sorbents such as polypropylene.
Catalytic Gasification of Oil Sludge Wastes from Petroleum Industries for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Mandal Pradip Chandra , Chowdhury Sujan
Published: December 2015

Catalytic gasification of oil sludge such as aromatic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) (composed of benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, trimethylbenzene, and styrene) is attractive for the industrial and environmental aspect. In this study, catalytic gasification of oil sludge was conducted in the presence of 10 wt% NiO/Al2O3 at temperature of 773 K in a lab-scale gasifier. Particles of NiO/Al2O3 in the size of 10-20 nm were detected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image analysis. Nitrogen adsorption analysis confirmed the surface area of 10 wt% NiO/Al2O3 as 130 m2/g. Finally, product gases and experimental intermediates were separated by a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method to generate 99.9% pure hydrogen.
Properties Evaluation of Micro-Crystalline Cellulose and Starch as Bio-Filler in Rubber Compounding
Authors: Mansor Mohd Khairulniza , Che Ali Ruslimie
Published: December 2015

Effects of filler loading on the mechanical properties of Epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) filled with bio-fillers were studied. The compounds with different filler loadings (0, 30, 50, 70 phr) were prepared in a Haake internal mixer. Result showed that the viscosity of the compounds increased with filler loading and exhibited longer cure time with higher loading of the bio-filler. The mechanical properties of starch-filled vulcanisates present better tensile strength at 50 phr when compared to micro-crystalline cellulose (MCC) filled vulcanisates at similar filler loadings. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of tensile fracture surface of 50 phr starch-filled vulcanisates illustrated a homogenous distribution in comparison with MCC-filled compounds.
Effect of Time on the Fabrication of Bioresorbable Biphasic Granules of Gypsum-Carbonated Apatite for Paediatric Orthopaedic Application
Authors: Abu Bakar Syazana , Hisham Siti Farhana , Ahmad Mohamad Azmirruddin , Abdul Manaf Abdul Yazid , Mohd Sabri Siti Noorzidah
Published: December 2015

A carbonated apatite (CO3Ap) has a closer chemical composition to the bone mineral which may be suit as an artificial bone substitute. In this study, the fabrication works of biphasic gypsum-carbonated apatite granules has been done through the phase transformation by carbonation and phosphorization of the gypsum granules. Gypsum also known as calcium sulphate dihydrate (CSD) granules was immersed into the 2 M of carbonate and phosphate salt solution at 50 °C and room temperature in variable time. The effect of time on the fabrication of biphasic granules were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The XRD analysis was done to confirm the formation of gypsum and hydroxyapatite phases in the biphasic granules. The FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the formation of carbonate apatite was formed in these biphasic granules. The cross sectional morphology of the biphasic granules was observed using SEM. The compositional elucidation was quantitatively measured by CHN analysis to obtain the contents of CO3.Based on the results obtained, it is observed that the CSD was successfully transformed into carbonated apatite to form biphasic granules and time had influenced on the fabrication of these biphasic.
Thermal Effect of the Spray Drying Process on the Quality of Tongkat Ali Extract
Authors: Noor Hafiza Harun , Azila Abdul Aziz , Wan Mastura Wan Zamri , Harisun Yaakob , Ramlan Aziz
Published: December 2015

The effect of heat on the quality of spray dried Tongkat Ali extract was investigated at three different air inlet temperatures (100°C, 180°C and 2200C). Response surface methodology employing the Box-Behnken Design was employed to hunt for the optimum operating conditions at these temperatures. Good retentions of eurycomanone, total polysaccharides and glycosaponins were exhibited during the spray drying process. However, protein was found to be susceptible to thermal degradation during the spray drying process. Use of high air inlet temperatures (i.e. 1800C and 2200C) in spray drying led to greater process yield, lower moisture contents, produced non-sticky particles, and resulted in good powder size distribution of Tongkat Ali extract compared to spray drying at 1000C.
Preliminary Study on the Synthesis of ZIF-8 Membranes via In Situ and Secondary Seeded Growth Methods
Authors: Lai Li Sze , Yeong Yin Fong , Lau Kok Keong , Azmi Mohd Shariff
Published: December 2015

In this work, synthesis of ZIF-8 membranes via in situ and secondary seeded growth methods was conducted at the preliminary stage. Synthesis durations were varied at 4 h and 36 h using in situ growth method. For secondary growth, the seeding procedure was applied through rubbing and dip-coating of the seeds on the support. The resultant membranes were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Subsequently, the defects of the resultant membranes were determined using nitrogen gas permeation test. The results showed that, ZIF-8 membrane synthesized using in situ growth method for 4 h exhibited highest crystallinity and lower defects with the nitrogen gas permeance of 5.09 × 10-7 mol/m2·s·Pa. Besides, in situ growth method has shown its potential in synthesizing high quality ZIF-8 membrane through an easy and faster route.
Parametric Study on the Heating Values of Products as via Steam Gasification of Palm Waste Using CaO as Sorbent Material
Authors: Inayat Abrar , Ahmad Murni Melati , Abdul Mutalib Mohamed Ibrahim , Yusup Suzana , Khan Zakir
Published: December 2015

In Malaysia, due to abundance of oil palm waste, it is a good candidate to be used as a feedstock for syngas and hydrogen production. Biomass steam gasification is one of the promising methods for syngas production. This work focuses on the steam gasification with in-situ CO2 capture using CaO as absorbent materials for hydrogen production from palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB). Three parameters (temperature, steam/biomass ratio and sorbent/biomass ratio) has been studied on the lower heating value (LHV) and higher heating value (HHV) of product gas. The results shows that the current study gives higher value of LHV at lower temperature of 823K. The higher value of LHV is obtained due to the lower concentration of CO2 caused by using CaO as sorbent material. Furthermore, CaO materials enhanced the concentration of concentration of the CO, H2 and CH4 in the product gas. The results are also compared against published data as well.
Development of Biodegradable Mg-Ti Alloy Synthesized Using Mechanical Alloying
Authors: Salleh Emee Marina , Ramakrishnan Sivakumar , Hussain Zuhailawati
Published: December 2015

The aim of this work was to study the effect of milling time on binary magnesium-titanium (Mg-Ti) alloy synthesized by mechanical alloying. A powder mixture of Mg and Ti with the composition of Mg-15wt%Ti was milled in a planetary mill under argon atmosphere using a stainless steel container and balls. Milling process was carried out at 400 rpm for various milling time of 2, 5, 10, 15 and 30 hours. 3% n-heptane solution was added prior to milling process to avoid excessive cold welding of the powder. Then, as-milled powder was compacted under 400 MPa and sintered in a tube furnace at 500 °C in argon flow. The refinement analysis of the x-ray diffraction patterns shows the presence of Mg-Ti solid solution when Mg-Ti powder was mechanically milled for 15 hours and further. Enhancements of Mg-Ti phase formation with a reduction in Mg crystallite size were observed with the increase in milling time. A prolonged milling time has increased the density and hardness of the sintered Mg-Ti alloy.
Linear Density and Surface Morphology of Kenaf Fibres from Different Extraction Methods
Authors: Anuar Atikah , Ahmad Mohd Rozi , Yahya Mohamad Faizul
Published: December 2015

The fineness and morphology of kenaf fibres are the main focus of this paper. The kenaf fibres were processed through water retting, chemical retting and mechanical extractions. The water retting method produces finer fibres between 3.2 to 3.7 Tex while other methods produces fibres between 4.0 to 5.0 Tex. The chemical retting method resulted in smoother fibre surface when examined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy under different magnifications. The fibre diameters from the different retting and extraction methods vary from 33 to 134 m and did not show to have any relationship with fibre fineness.
Investigation on Elastic Behaviour of DP800 Dual Phase Steel
Authors: Mohamad Noor Noraishah , Samekto Haryanti , Yusoff Ahmad Razlan , Mohideen Rasool , Kasim Nazrul Idzham , Musa Nurulhisham , Musa Mohd Azam , Mohamed Ibrahim Azalan , Wan Saidin Wan Ahmad Najmuddin
Published: December 2015

The elastic relaxation behavior of dual phase steel DP800 is studied in this investigation, based on experimental and numerical methods the true stress-true strain curve obtained from a standard uniaxial tensile test differs according to angular rolling direction The relationship between true stress and true strain are presented in the form of power law equation. This form of material constitutive model shows that the strength coefficient and strain hardening exponent vary significantly in describing the nonlinear true stress-true strain relationship of the material. Finite Element (FE) calculations with Belytschko-Lin-Tsay shell element formulation are performed using the non-linear FE code Ls-Dyna to predict the plastic deformation of the material. Power Law Isotropic Plasticity criterion is adopted for these numerical analyses. The local strains in plastic deformations zone and true stress-strains characteristics obtained by experiment are compared. Using the same parameter the simulation was applied in different modes which are known as Isotropic Elastic-Plastic Model and Piecewise Linear Isotropic Plasticity Model providd in Ls-Dyna simulation for comparison. In general, good agreement in results is obtained between Power Law Isotropic Plasticity Model is obtained compared to Isotropic Elastic-Plastic Model and Piecewise Linear Isotropic Plasticity Model. It is demonstratedthat the behavior of the strain and the Power law criterion can be determined from uniaxial tensile test with the aid of non-linear FE analyses.
XPS Study of Plasma Modified PVDF-TrFE Films Surface
Authors: Sarip Muhamad Naiman , Mohd Dahan Rozana , Seong Ling Yap , Mohd Wahid Mohamad Hafiz , Arshad Adillah Nurashikin , Kamarun Dzaraini
Published: December 2015

The impact of surface plasma modification on PVDF-TrFE film with different exposure time was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The main emphasis of this study was to optimize the exposure time of argon plasma on the surface of PVDF-TrFE films The surface of spin coated PVDF-TrFE film was modified with argon plasma at exposure time of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 min/s. Prior to modification, only small amount of atomic percent (1.92 %) of O1s peak was observed at 540.8 eV, but upon modification, the atomic percent for O1s peak was found to increase to 8.8 %. Meanwhile, the atomic percent for F1s peak observed at 695.3 eV was found to decrease from 70.6 % to 61.2 %. This phenomenon is an indication that plasma modified PVDF-TrFE films were readily oxidized. Importantly, most of the fluorine elements were removed from the modified PVDF-TrFE film surface, which rendered the film favourable for adhesion with other material for coating aplications.
Dyeing of Silk Fabric with Extracted Dyes from Lichens
Authors: Mohamed Nor Atiqah , Ahmad Mohd Rozi , Abd Kadir Muhammad Ismail , Ismail Asmida , Wan Ahmad Wan Yunus
Published: December 2015

Two lichens species (ParmotremapraesorediosumandHeterodermialeucomelos)were assessed for dye production using boiling water method (BWM) and ammonia fermentation method (AFM). The dyes were applied on silk fabric. Three types of mordant were used i.e. alum, iron and vinegar through meta-chrome (simultaneous) method of natural dyeing. The K/S values, colour coordinates values and colour differences (ΔE) of the dyed samples were measured. Dyeing fastness properties of the dyed silk fabrics were assessed for washing, rubbing and light. TheP.praesorediosumextracts yielded beige to dull brown shades using BWM and pinkish-purple using AFM, whereas theH.leucomelosextracts produced yellowish-brown shades for both BWM and AFM on the silk substrate. Modanting seemed to be effective in increasing the K/S values of all mordanted fabrics except in the case of silk fabric dyed withP.praesorediosumextracted from AFM. Fastness ratings to washing and rubbing were all very good (5-4) for bothP.praesorediosumandH.leucomelosdyed silk fabrics. The fabrics dyed withP.praesorediosumandH.leucomelosextracts produced strong and deep colours as their ΔE values were higher and increased obviously of all mordanted fabrics. It can be concluded thatP.praesorediosumandH.leucomelosextracted from BWM and AFM methods can be used as an alternative dye source.
Some Studies on the Moisture Management Properties of Cotton and Bamboo Yarn Knitted Fabrics
Authors: Amran Nadhirah Mohd , Ahmad Mohd Rozi , Yahya Mohamad Faizul , Fikry Amily , Che Muhamed Ahmad Munir , Razali Ruhil Amal
Published: December 2015

This paper reports on the moisture management properties of fabrics made from yarns of 100% cotton, 100% bamboo and combination of bamboo and cotton yarns. The fabrics were knitted on a circular knitting machine and scoured before measuring them for moisture management capability, air permeability and water vapour permeability. The results showed that all fabrics have good overall moisture management capability which classified them as water penetration fabric with small spreading area. The fabric consisting of the combination of bamboo and cotton yarns of 83/17 ratio gave the highest air and water vapour permeability.
A Review on the Recent Research of Polycaprolactone (PCL)
Authors: Mohamed Rabiatul Manisah , Yusoh Kamal
Published: December 2015

The concept of biodegradable plastics is of considerable interest with respect to solid waste accumulation. Greater efforts have been made in developing degradable biological materials without any environmental pollution to replace the traditional plastics. Among numerous kinds of degradable polymers, polycaprolactone sometimes called PCL, an aliphatic polyester and biocompatible thermoplastic, is currently a most promising and popular material with the brightest development prospect and was considered as the ‘green’ eco friendly material. The application for this biodegradable plastic includes controlled drug releases, tissue engineering, bone scaffolds, packaging and, compost bags etc. This review will provide information on current PCL development, material properties of PCL and its composites, and also its wide spectrum applications.
Ultrasound Dyeing of Polyester Using Natural Colorant from Melastoma malabathricum l.
Authors: Tuan Zainal Abidin Tengku Muna Shaheera , Ahmad Mohd Rozi , Ab Kadir Muhammad Ismail , Mohd Yusof Nor Juliana , Wan Ahmad Wan Yunus
Published: December 2015

This paper reports on the application of natural dyes on polyester fabric.Melastoma malabathricum l. was extracted using conventional method of boiling for an hour. Plain lightweight polyester fabric was treated with sodium hydroxide as an alkaline treatment and Chitosan prior to dyeing in an attempt to increase the dye uptake. The dye extract ofMelastoma malabathricum l. was applied on the polyester fabric at 85°C for an hour by exhaustion dyeing and 40 minutes for ultrasound dyeing. The colors of the dyed fabrics were measured using colour spectrophotometer and evaluated for washfastness. Ultrasound dyeing gave deeper colour shades to the fabric even though dyeing was conducted at lower temperature for 40 minutes. The alkaline treated fabrics dyed using ultrasound gave lower value of L* which indicate higher dye uptake and darker colour. The ratings for colourfastness to washing were between 4/5 to 5.
Trophic generalism at the population level in ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: Zalewski Marcin , Dudek-Godeau Dorota , Godeau Jean-François , Kujawa Krzysztof , Sienkiewicz Paweł , Tiunov Alexei V. , Ulrich Werner
Published: December 2015

A growing body of evidence suggests trophic generalism (feeding on resources from more than one trophic level and/or on different resources of the same trophic level) is a widespread feature among ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). However, it remains unclear whether trophic generalism applies to single individuals, at the intrapopulation or interpopulation level. Here we present stable isotope data (δ15N, δ13C) of seven common European carabid species on an archipelago of 18 lake islands in northeastern Poland. We found strong differences in isotopic ratios between individuals of the same population as well as between different populations, indicating that carabids are opportunistic feeders and that the degree of opportunism differs between habitats and between islands. Trophic niche breadth as assessed by isotopic ratios was influenced by local habitat diversity. We suggest that opportunistic usage of different local resources results in striking differences between local populations and a very broad trophic niche observed at regional level.
Earliest North American occurrence of Phyllotreta striolata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Québec, Canada
Authors: Rousseau Mélanie , LeSage Laurent
Published: December 2015

A pair of elytra of the striped flea beetle Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was recovered from a sample of sediment dating before 1668 collected in Ville de Québec, Québec, Canada, making it the earliest recorded introduction of the species in North America. It is proposed that its transatlantic voyage took place on crucifers either voluntarily transported as foodstock and animal fodder or involuntarily as weeds.
The potential for the use of herbarium specimens to determine the host plants of Ceutorhynchus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: Gillespie David R. , Gillespie Beth I.
Published: December 2015

The host plants of native Ceutorhynchus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) species are poorly known in North America, and knowledge of these is essential for biological control programmes involving this genus of weevils. We hypothesised that weevil larva emergence holes on plant specimens in herbarium collections might reveal potential plant-insect associations, and help locate populations of hosts for non-target testing. We examined 1114 plant specimens in 16 genera and 60 species of Brassicaceae and found 70 specimens among 30 species that showed evidence of feeding injury and exit holes typical of Ceutorhynchus. We used this information to locate populations of two species of Ceutorhynchus. Herbarium collections may be useful tools for developing knowledge of host plant associations for species of Ceutorhynchus.
Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Accumulate in Human Placenta and Polarize toward a Th2 Phenotype
Authors: Köstlin Natascha , Hofstädter Kathrin , Ostermeir Anna-Lena , Spring Bärbel , Leiber Anja , Haen Susanne , Abele Harald , Bauer Peter , Pollheimer Jürgen , Hartl Dominik , Poets Christian F. , Gille Christian
Published: December 2015

Tolerance induction toward the semiallogeneic fetus is crucial to enable a successful pregnancy; its failure is associated with abortion or preterm delivery. Skewing T cell differentiation toward a Th2-dominated phenotype seems to be pivotal in maternal immune adaption, yet underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are innate immune cells that mediate T cell suppression and are increased in cord blood of healthy newborns and in peripheral blood of pregnant women. In this study, we demonstrate that granulocytic MDSCs (GR-MDSCs) accumulate in human placenta of healthy pregnancies but are diminished in patients with spontaneous abortions. Placental GR-MDSCs effectively suppressed T cell responses by expression of arginase I and production of reactive oxygen species and were activated at the maternal–fetal interface through interaction with trophoblast cells. Furthermore, GR-MDSCs isolated from placenta polarized CD4+ T cells toward a Th2 cytokine response. These results highlight a potential role of GR-MDSCs in inducing and maintaining maternal–fetal tolerance and suggest them as a promising target for therapeutic manipulation of pregnancy complications.
Dietary Indoles Suppress Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity by Inducing a Switch from Proinflammatory Th17 Cells to Anti-Inflammatory Regulatory T Cells through Regulation of MicroRNA
Authors: Singh Narendra P. , Singh Udai P. , Rouse Michael , Zhang Jiajia , Chatterjee Saurabh , Nagarkatti Prakash S. , Nagarkatti Mitzi
Published: December 2015

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has been shown to have profound influence on T cell differentiation, and use of distinct AhR ligands has shown that whereas some ligands induce regulatory T cells (Tregs), others induce Th17 cells. In the present study, we tested the ability of dietary AhR ligands (indole-3-carbinol [I3C] and 3,3′-diindolylmethane [DIM]) and an endogenous AhR ligand, 6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ), on the differentiation and functions of Tregs and Th17 cells. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with indoles (I3C or DIM) attenuated delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to methylated BSA and generation of Th17 cells while promoting Tregs. In contrast, FICZ exacerbated the DTH response and promoted Th17 cells. Indoles decreased the induction of IL-17 but promoted IL-10 and Foxp3 expression. Also, indoles caused reciprocal induction of Tregs and Th17 cells only in wild-type (AhR+/+) but not in AhR knockout (AhR−/−) mice. Upon analysis of microRNA (miR) profile in draining lymph nodes of mice with DTH, treatment with I3C and DIM decreased the expression of several miRs (miR-31, miR-219, and miR-490) that targeted Foxp3, whereas it increased the expression of miR-495 and miR-1192 that were specific to IL-17. Interestingly, treatment with FICZ had precisely the opposite effects on these miRs. Transfection studies using mature miR mimics of miR-490 and miR-1192 that target Foxp3 and IL-17, respectively, or scrambled miR (mock) or inhibitors confirmed that these miRs specifically targeted Foxp3 and IL-17 genes. Our studies demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, that the ability of AhR ligands to regulate the differentiation of Tregs versus Th17 cells may depend on miR signature profile.
Giant Dural Supratentorial Chondroma Generating the Question of How Large Can a Tumor Become without Revealing Itself
Authors: Doukas Alexandros , Tallo Annamarie , Parvin Richard , Hans Volkmar , Daemi Pooya , Cheko Azad , Scholz Martin , Petridis Athanasios
Published: December 2015

Chondromas usually affect the small bones of hand and feet and account for only 0.5% of all intracranial tumors. We present a case of a giant, supratentorial meningeal chondroma in a 19-year old male patient and discuss the preoperative diagnostic findings as well as the appropriate treatment options. A 19-old male presented with headache, new onset of focal seizures and paresis of left upper extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large right parietal tumor in the precentral region with local mass effect. The patient underwent right parietal craniotomy and gross total resection of the tumor. The histopathological report revealed a chondroma. Intradural supratentorial chondromas are extremely rare. As with other slow growing intracranial masses, they often reach a relatively large size before generating symptoms. Maximal surgical resection is the treatment of choice and if this is achieved no adjuvant therapy is necessary.
JNK inhibitors: is there a future?
Authors: Cicenas Jonas
Published: December 2015

JNK is a subfamily of MAP kinases that hat regulates a range of biological processes implicated in response to stress, such as cytokines, ultraviolet irradiation, heat shock, and osmotic shock as well as growth factors like PDGF, EGF, FGF, etc. They were originally identified as kinases that bind and phosphorylate JUN on S63 and Se73 within its transcriptional activation domain. The deregulation of these kinases is shown to be involved in human diseases, such as cancer, immune diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. The realization of the therapeutic potential of the inhibition of JNKs led to a thorough search for small-molecule inhibitors first for research purposes, but later also for therapeutic applications. Here, we discuss some of the most well-known JNK inhibitors and their use in basic research or clinical science.
SIMULATION OF HEAT TRANSFER FROM CANOPY SURFACES USING LOW-REYNOLDS NUMBER K-ε MODEL
Authors: Pillai Sivaraja Subramania , Yoshie Ryuichiro
Published: December 2015

This study focuses on the Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient (CHTC) from urban building surfaces by numerical simulation. The heat transfer effects because of various geometrical and physical properties of urban areas exhibits a differential heating and uncomfortable environment compared to rural regions called as Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomena. Investigation of Convective heat transfer coefficient becomes more important in the study of urban heat island phenomena. Experimental simulation of urban area with various urban canopy cases in thermally stratified wind tunnel is employed for the heat transfer kind of investigations in urban area. But, it is not an easy task in wind tunnel experiments to evaluate local CHTC, which vary on individual canyon surfaces transfer such as building roof, walls and ground. Numerical simulation validated by wind tunnel experiments can be an alternative for the prediction of CHTC from building surfaces in an urban area. In our study, Water evaporation technique used in wind tunnel experiment for the evaluation of convective heat transfer coefficient and naphthalene sublimation technique conducted by other researchers are used to validate the low-Reynolds-number k-ε model which was used for the evaluation of CHTC from surfaces. The calculated CFD results showed good agreement with both water evaporation technique and naphthalene sublimation experimental results. It is found that the low-Reynolds-number k-ε model is reliable for the investigations pertaining to heat transfer from urban canopy.
THE EFFECT OF THE COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION TO THE PARTICLE COLLECTION EFFICIENCY DURING THE PROCESS OF MAGNETIC FILTRATION - NUMERICAL APPROACH
Authors: Kouropoulos Giorgos
Published: December 2015

In the present study, the effect of the coefficient of restitution to the particle collection efficiency of magnetic filter during magnetic filtration of a fluid will be examined. Initially, are described the available mathematical models that give efficiency of magnetic filtration in relation to various parameters and physical quantities. Also, the role of coefficient of restitution in the magnetic filtration models will be reported. Furthermore, is formulated the basic equation that examines the change of filtration efficiency with regard to the coefficient of restitution. In the last step, a numerical example with given values from a real magnetic filter will be applied and the characteristic curves of magnetic filter will be drawn. The general conclusion that we have is that as the coefficient of restitution increases, the efficiency of magnetic filter decreases. The efficiency of magnetic filter converges in the same value, when there is elastic collision of a filtered particle.
CHARACTERIZATION AND COLUMN ADSORPTIVE TREATMENT FOR COD AND COLOR REMOVAL USING ACTIVATED NEEM LEAF POWDER FROM TEXTILE WASTEWATER
Authors: Patel Himanshu , Vashi R. T.
Published: December 2015

The textile wastewater samples before treatment processes has been collected and characterized using standard methods, in which COD, color and other contaminations are high and prior to remove before discharge. Feasibility of column adsorption of components contributing COD and color onto activated Neem Leaf Powder using sulphuric acid (a-NLP) from textile wastewater has been studied in this investigation. The effect of process parameters like different flow rate, bed-height and pH for COD and color removal has been analyzed, in which adsorption reached saturation faster with increasing the flow rate and pH; while it was the advantage of column adsorption with the increase in the a-NLP bed. The data were applied to Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) and Adams and Bohart Model to evaluation of efficacy of the column. The maximum adsorption capacity related to Adams and Bohart model was found to be 725.7 and 380.4 mg/g for COD and color respectively at flow rate of 5 ml/min and bed height of 15 cm when a-NLP was used.
TRIP RATES FOR CONDOMINIUM CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Authors: Hirun Wirach
Published: December 2015

The number of large scale condominium construction projects had dramatically increased in Bangkok. Many projects had occurred in either densely populated areas or in central business districts, where traffic conditions were usually highly congested. To prevent traffic problems, a traffic impact study must be prepared and submitted for review by concerned public authorities. Unit trip generation rates were important data in traffic impact analysis. Without accurate unit trip generation rates, public agencies could not obtain accurate information on the traffic that will be generated. This study aimed to study trip rates and the factors affecting them for condominium construction project in Bangkok. The data were collected from 30 condominium construction sites located in 15 districts of Bangkok. The analysis used the linear regression method and was divided into three cases: 1) trip rates for all vehicles, 2) trip rates for classified vehicles, and 3) trip rates for all types of condominium. All case analyses considered weekdays, Saturday, and Sunday. The results found that trip rates related to the number of dwellings in the condominium. The trip rates for all vehicle types on weekdays, Saturday, and Sunday were 10.636, 4.647, and 9.294 vehicles per 100 dwelling units per day respectively. The trip rates for six-wheeled and ten-wheeled trucks on weekdays, Saturday, and Sunday were 2.046, 0.975, and 0.575 vehicles per 100 dwelling units per day respectively. The trip rate for four-wheeled trucks and passenger cars on weekdays was 1.960. Regarding condominium types, the trip rate for low rise condominiums for all vehicle types on weekdays was 5.315 while the trip rates for high rise condominiums for weekdays, Saturday, and Sunday were 3.965, 2.667, and 1.261 respectively.
Heat conduciton properties of flowable composite resins
Authors: Yalçin Muhammet , Keleş Ali , Şişman Reyhan , Karagöz Şendoğan
Published: December 2015

Objectives: To investigate and compare heat conduction of different flowable composites. Materials and Methods: In this study, four different flowable composites; GC Gradia Direct LoFlo (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), Filtek Ultimate (3M ESPE, St. Paul, USA), Grandio Flow (VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) and SDI Wave (SDI, Victoria, Australia) were used. Flowable composites were placed into standard molds and used according to manufacturer instructions. The samples were prepared for every brand of flowable composites. The Heat Conduction Unit’s (P. A. Hilton Ltd., England) linear heat conduction module was used in determining the flowable composites heat conductivity. The data were statistically analyzed by Mann-Whitney U-test (SPSS 13.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Heat conduction values of flowable composites were found different each other. Results for GC Gradia Direct and Grandio Flow were significantly different from 3M ESPE and SDI (P < 0.05). However, result for 3M ESPE was and nonsignificant different from SDI (P < 0.005). Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, flowable composites transmit the heat. However, results for GC Gradia Direct and Grandio Flow were significantly different from 3M ESPE and SDI.
Why do Sequence Signatures Predict Enzyme Mechanism? Homology versus Chemistry
Authors: Beattie Kirsten E. , De Ferrari Luna , Mitchell John B. O.
Published: December 2015

First, we identify InterPro sequence signatures representing evolutionary relatedness and, second, signatures identifying specific chemical machinery. Thus, we predict the chemical mechanisms of enzyme-catalyzed reactions from catalytic and non-catalytic subsets of InterPro signatures. We first scanned our 249 sequences using InterProScan and then used the MACiE database to identify those amino acid residues that are important for catalysis. The sequences were mutated in silico to replace these catalytic residues with glycine and then again scanned using InterProScan. Those signature matches from the original scan that disappeared on mutation were called catalytic. Mechanism was predicted using all signatures, only the 78 “catalytic” signatures, or only the 519 “non-catalytic” signatures. The non-catalytic signatures gave indistinguishable results from those for the whole feature set, with precision of 0.991 and sensitivity of 0.970. The catalytic signatures alone gave less impressive predictivity, with precision and sensitivity of 0.791 and 0.735, respectively. These results show that our successful prediction of enzyme mechanism is mostly by homology rather than by identifying catalytic machinery.
О плотности некоторых модулей полианалитического типа в пространствах суммируемых функций на границах односвязных областей
Authors: Fedorovskiy Konstantin Yurievich
Published: December 2015

Рассматривается вопрос о плотности в пространстве $L^p$ на единичной окружности при $1\leq p\leq\infty$ подпространств вида $H^p+\sum_{k=1}^mw_kH^p$, где $H^p$ - стандартные пространства Харди, а
$w_1,…,w_m$ - заданные функции класса $L^\infty$. Этот вопрос тесно связан с задачами равномерной и $L^p$-аппроксимации функций полианалитическими многочленами на границах односвязных областей в $\mathbb{C}$. Полученные результаты формулируются в терминах неванлинновских и $d$-неванлинновских областей - специальных аналитических характеристик односвязных областей в $\mathbb{C}$, связанных со
свойством псевдопродолжения голоморфных ограниченных функций.
Библиография: 19 названий.
Неприводимые представления нильпотентных конечно порожденных групп
Authors: Beloshapka Iuliya Valerievna , Gorchinskiy Sergey Olegovich
Published: December 2015

Доказана гипотеза Паршина, утверждающая, что комплексные неприводимые представления нильпотентных
конечно порожденных групп мономиальны тогда и только тогда, когда они являются представлениями с конечным весом. Рассматриваются (возможно, бесконечномерные) представления без какой-либо топологической структуры. Доказано, что для некоторых индуцированных представлений неприводимость следует из неприводимости по Шуру. Оба результата получены в более общей форме для представлений
над произвольным полем.
Библиография: 21 название.
Dissecting Japan's Dengue Outbreak in 2014
Authors: Quam Mikkel B. , Sessions October , Kamaraj Uma Sangumathi , Rocklöv Joacim , Wilder-Smith Annelies
Published: December 2015

Despite Japan's temperate climate, a dengue outbreak occurred in Tokyo for the first time in over 70 years in 2014. We dissected this dengue outbreak based on phylogenetic analysis, travel interconnectivity, and environmental drivers for dengue epidemics. Comparing the available dengue virus 1 (DENV1) E gene sequence from this outbreak with 3,282 unique DENV1 sequences in National Center for Biotechnology Information suggested that the DENV might have been imported from China, Indonesia, Singapore, or Vietnam. With travelers arriving into Japan, Guangzhou (China) may have been the source of DENV introduction, given that Guangzhou also reported a large-scale dengue outbreak in 2014. Coinciding with the 2014 outbreak, Tokyo's climate conditions permitted the amplification of Aedes vectors and the annual peak of vectorial capacity. Given suitable vectors and climate conditions in addition to increasing interconnectivity with endemic areas of Asia, Tokyo's 2014 outbreak did not come as a surprise and may foretell more to come.
The Role of Laboratory Supervision in Improving the Quality of Malaria Diagnosis: A Pilot Study in Huambo, Angola
Authors: Luckett Rebecca , Mugizi Rukaaka , Lopes Sergio , Etossi R. Cacilda , Allan Richard
Published: December 2015

In 2006, the Angolan National Malaria Control Program introduced clinical guidelines for malaria case management, which included diagnostic confirmation of malaria before administration of treatment; however, diagnostic practices were inconsistent and of unknown quality. In 2009, a laboratory supervision program was implemented in Huambo Province, with the goal of assessing and improving diagnosis of malaria within the confines of available in-country resources. Supervisions were carried out from 2009 to 2014 using a standardized supervision tool by national laboratory trainers. Data from the first supervision were compared with that from the final supervision. Over the study period, the number and level of training of laboratory technicians increased, and there was a nonstatistically significant trend toward improved laboratory conditions. There was a significant reduction in false-positive microscopy slide reading (P = 0.0133). Laboratory infrastructural capacity to diagnose other communicable diseases, including syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus infections (P = 0.0012, 0.0233 and 0.0026, respectively), also improved significantly. Laboratory supervision for malaria diagnosis found significant areas for improvement, and in combination with concurrent capacity-building activities, it improved the diagnostic capacity for malaria and other diseases. Importantly, this study demonstrates that locally available resources can be used to improve the accuracy of malaria diagnosis.
Las unidades de manejo tradicional, base de la conservación comunitaria en Morelos, México
Authors: Colín-Bahena Hortensia , Monroy-Martínez Rafael , Rodríguez-Chávez Juan M.
Published: December 2015

Las unidades de manejo tradicional (UMT) se analizaron participativamente en el Área Natural Protegida Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin, Morelos, integrando las formas de apropiación en variables etnobotánicas de conservación, para generar un índice de valor de importancia cultural (IVIC) y así elaborar propuestas ciudadanas. Se encontraron dos formas de organización; la tradicional que incentiva la independencia frente a los intereses sociopolíticos externos y la comunal que corresponde a la autoridad legal burocrática que regula los intercambios con el exterior. Las UMT analizadas fueron: agricultura, ganadería, bosque, selva baja caducifolia (SBC) y huertos frutícolas tradicionales (HFT). Acorde con el IVIC, en el bosque destaca el ocote Pinus montezumae con 120 %; en la SBC, el zompantle Erythrina americana con 105 %; y en los HF, el durazno Prunus persica con 67 %. Desde la percepción de los informantes, 75, 63 y 55 % de las especies presentan disponibilidad alta en el bosque, SBC y HFT, respectivamente. El diagnóstico permitió vincular las variables etnobotánicas del estado de conservación y las limitantes de apropiación con propuestas participativas; por ejemplo, el establecimiento de parcelas para validar la milpa, estabular la ganadería y promover programas de capacitación para recuperar la transmisión y retroalimentación del conocimiento local de las UMT.
Encinos mexicanos, un recurso no maderable con potencial para elaborar bebidas tipo Kombucha
Authors: Vázquez-Cabral Blanca D. , Moreno-Jiménez Martha R. , Rocha-Guzmán Nuria E. , Gallegos-Infante José A. , González-Herrera Silvia M. , Gamboa-Gómez Claudia I. , González-Laredo Rubén Francisco
Published: December 2015

Los encinos (Quercus spp.) son algunos de los árboles más importantes y abundantes en casi todos los bosques templados del hemisferio norte. El sudeste asiático y México destacan como centros de diversidad del género. La investigación sobre el encino se ha enfocado principalmente en sus aplicaciones maderables, siendo poco reconocido su valor como recurso no maderable. La tradición etnobotánica muestra que las infusiones de hojas de encino, solas o combinadas con otras plantas, presentan efectos contra el cáncer gástrico; sin embargo, el análisis sensorial de las infusiones ha mostrado relación inversa entre su aceptabilidad y su contenido fenólico. Por lo anterior, el hongo del té (Kombucha) es una alternativa para fermentar infusiones de encino, mejorando su aceptabilidad y carácter profiláctico. La bebida Kombucha es ligeramente ácida debido a que se prepara a partir de té negro endulzado que es fermentado por el consorcio microbiano Kombucha. El consorcio se forma por bacterias ácido acéticas y levaduras que cambian gradualmente la composición fenólica del sustrato, produciendo una bebida rica en antioxidantes. La conversión metabólica de los polifenoles puede deberse a su glucuronidación, que es un proceso que libera y realza la biodisponibilidad de los fitoquímicos presentes en el encino, incluyendo elagitaninos y flavonoides bioactivos.
Editorial
Authors: Rodríguez-Trejo Dante Arturo
Published: December 2015

Desde hace varios años la Revista Chapingo, Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente, ha tenido a bien invitarme para escribir el editorial de cada número, labor que ha resultado para mí de grata distinción y particular orgullo. Desde entonces he tenido la oportunidad de ser testigo del crecimiento y evolución de esta valiosa publicación, como fue el caso de su inclusión en ISI Thomson, JCR y en el índice de revistas de excelencia del Conacyt. Hoy la revista, en su constante desarrollo, da un paso más: el de la elaboración del editorial científico, un editorial que se enfocará a un tema en particular cada número y que será escrito por un especialista.
Apreciação da formação policial sob o modelo foucaultiano
Authors: Brunetta Antonio Alberto
Published: December 2015

Este artigo analisa a formação do policial militar, utilizando-se do referencial teórico foucaultiano que considera as práticas modernizantes dessas instituições atreladas às concepções liberais, de modo a complexar o controle social. As iniciativas modernizantes do ensino da Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo (PMESP) são igualmente aplacadas por essa tendência, da qual decorre uma contradição notável: o uso de procedimentos autoritários para a promoção de práticas democráticas anunciadas. Neste trabalho foram realizadas visitas às escolas de formação da PMESP (ESSd; ESSgt; EEF; APMBB; CAES; DEC), onde foram coletadas informações sobre a estrutura e funcionamento do sistema de ensino. No mesmo local, aconteceram as entrevistas com os coronéis que comandam essas escolas. O artigo também apresenta análises sobre as normativas específicas da ESSd com o intuito de demonstrar a tese supracitada.
As configurações urbanas e as trajetórias de mulheres: refletindo sobre as questões de gênero.
Authors: Zarbato Jaqueline Ap. Martins
Published: December 2015

Este artigo visa a investigar a violência contra a mulher na cidade de Três Lagoas/MS, bem como a análise sobre as ações de áreas como a Assistência Social, a delegacia da mulher e o empoderamento feminino. Pretende-se discutir a relação entre o aumento de casos de violência contra a mulher e a crescente urbanização e migração na cidade. A reflexão sobre as questões de gênero está relacionada às configurações culturais, com as complexas relações entre homens e mulheres. Para o artigo, utilizamos os dados do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), dos impressos jornalísticos, da Assistência Social e da Delegacia da Mulher.
Ensinando história e estudando gênero através de quadros históricos de Moacyr Freitas e Antônio Parreiras
Authors: Marques Ana Maria
Published: December 2015

As fontes visuais são recursos operacionais para o ensino de História. A proposta deste trabalho passa pelo debate da memória, da educação patrimonial, da História Visual e dos estudos de gênero. Toma-se como objetos empíricos uma seleção de quadros históricos de Moacyr Freitas e de Antônio Parreiras. As pinturas de Freitas têm como objetivo tratar de temas debatidos no campo da História de Mato Grosso, em articulação com o Instituto Histórico. Os quadros históricos de Antônio Parreiras trazem os embates de mercado, de concepção de história, de contexto de época e de arte. Ambos os artistas, em temporalidades e lugares diferentes, sinalizam um forte discurso que construiu lugares de mulheres e de homens, especialmente aqueles que se consagraram como heróis nacionais.
Frutos de uma safra bastante generosa: Apresentação do Dossiê "Relações de gênero, História, Educação e Epistemologias Feministas"
Authors: Soares Ana Carolina Eiras Coelho
Published: December 2015

Apresentação do Dossiê "Relações de gênero, História, Educação e Epistemologias Feministas"
RELAÇÕES RACIAIS NO NÚCLEO DE ESTUDOS DE GÊNERO, RAÇA E IDADE (NEGRI) : UM BALANÇO INICIAL (1992-2014)
Authors: Silva Marcos Antonio Batista da
Published: December 2015

Este artigo faz um balanço inicial das teses e dissertações defendidas no contexto do NEGRI do Programa Pós-graduados em Psicologia Social da PUC-SP no período entre (1992-2014) referente as relações raciais. O fato de que a desigualdade e a pobreza têm cor no Brasil faz com que nossas políticas sociais, supostamente universais, terminem por obter resultados insuficientes, na medida em que não contribuem para a superação dessa ordem de desigualdade.