bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longissimus from Berkshire pigs in a small-scale supply chain have increased oxidative metabolism, tenderness and water-holding capacity, compared with Large White × Landrace pigs in a modern commercial supply chain
Authors: LeMaster Michelle Nicole , D’Souza Darryl Nicholas , Hewitt Robert John Edward , Chauhan Surinder Singh , Ha Minh , Leon Batt Linton George , Dunshea Frank Rowland , Warner Robyn Dorothy
Published: November 2024

Context Selection for leanness in the modern Australian pig has resulted in inconsistent quality, including a lack of pork tenderisation during ageing. Inconsistent quality is potentially a result of differences in supply chain and breed as well as the variation in muscle fibre-type proportion in pork longissimus. Aim The aim was to investigate differences in fibre-type proportion and pork quality between Large White-Landrace pigs in a large supply chain and Berkshire pigs processed in a small supply chain. Methods Pigs (n = 22) from two suppliers with different breeds (Supplier 1, Large White × Landrace, SC1-LWLR, n = 12, modern commercial pigs; Supplier 2, Berkshire, SC2-Berk, n = 10, heritage pigs) were slaughtered and samples from the longissimus were extracted at 3, 24, and 48 h postmortem for enzyme and pH analyses. Longissimus samples were subjected to ageing for either 2 or 16 days postmortem (Day 2, Day 16), assessed for colour, muscle fibre-type proportion (%), muscle fibre diameter (μm), water-holding capacity (purge, % and cook loss, %), Warner–Bratzler peak shear force (WBSF, N), and protein denaturation temperature using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC, peak temperature, °C). Key results SC1-LWLR had higher purge than SC2-Berk (2.85% and 1.83% respectively; standard error of the difference (SED) = 0.33; P = 0.003), higher cook loss on Day 16 (24.63% and 16.79% respectively; SED = 1.62; P = 0.017) and higher WBSF on Day 2 and Day 16 (Day 2, 30.9 N and 26.7 N respectively; Day 16, 28.6 N and 22.0 N respectively; SED = 0.98, interaction P = 0.003). SC1-LWLR had a lower proportion of Type I (10.1% vs 16.0%; SED = 0.51) and Type IIA (14.0% vs 22.0%; SED = 0.77) and a higher proportion of Type IIB (75.9% vs 62.0%; SED = 0.74) (P < 0.001 for all) fibres. SC1-LWLR had lower DSC temperatures for two peaks. SC2-Berk had higher citrate synthase activity (P = 0.003) and glycolytic potential (P < 0.001) than SC1-LWLR. Conclusions SC2-Berk longissimus had improved quality compared with SC1-LWLR pork, most likely owing, in part, to higher proportion of oxidative and intermediate fibres in the Berkshires. However, effects of differences in environmental conditions and/or processing conditions cannot be ruled out. Implications The experiment increased our understanding of how variation in supply chains and muscle fibre-type proportion can impact the production of consistently high-quality pork.
Effects of Italian ryegrass desiccation timing on corn performance: is growth inhibition due to the release of plant allelochemicals or nitrogen immobilization?
Authors: Marchese José A. , Trezzi Michelangelo M. , Scariotto Silvia , Pagnoncelli Fortunato B. , Brusamarello Antonio P. , Salomão Helis M. , Sartor Laércio R. , Oldoni Tatiane L. C. , Rogers Craig D. , Talamini Marcus V.
Published: November 2024

Context There is no consensus between farmers and researchers about timing for ryegrass desiccation before corn sowing, considering interactions between ryegrass straw, nitrogen immobilization, and allelochemical release impacting corn growth. Aims This study aims to assess the effects of different desiccation timings of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and nitrogen management on corn. We sought to elucidate whether corn growth inhibition is attributable to allelochemical release or nitrogen immobilization. Methods A two-year field factorial experiment was conducted, with Factor A comprising fallow and three ryegrass desiccation timings before corn sowing, and Factor B involving two nitrogen fertilization methods to evaluate N immobilization. Laboratory experiments assessed allelopathic properties using a 3 (desiccation periods) × 5 (ryegrass extract concentrations) factorial design. Assessments included corn (Zea mays) germination, seedling radicle and coleoptile length, and germination speed. Results Ryegrass desiccation timing of less than 20 days before corn sowing reduced corn stature at the beginning of development and grain yield, due to nitrogen immobilization and allelopathic influences possibly exercised by caffeic acid and epicatechin present in roots and shoots, released as residues decomposed. Non-desiccated ryegrass aqueous extracts reduced germination speed and germinability. Root/shoot extracts reduced seedling elongation. Desiccated aqueous extracts at 15 and 30 days before corn sowing didn’t present inhibitory effects. Conclusion Nitrogen enhances corn growth regardless of ryegrass influence, under these experimental conditions. Ryegrass desiccation timing affects corn yield; and delaying corn sowing post-desiccation mitigates losses. Ryegrass extracts inhibit corn germination and viability, regardless of concentration, possibly due to phytotoxic compounds.
The environmental and social opportunities of reducing sugar intake
Authors: Shepon Alon , Sun Zhongxiao , Makov Tamar , Behrens Paul
Published: November 2024

Sugar is the largest agricultural crop by mass and has seen a rapid increase in consumption around the world. There are widespread public health efforts to curb sugar intake through targeted policies given its association with noncommunicable diseases. Although curbing sugar intake aligns with sustainable diets that meet essential environmental and health targets, such a shift may be challenging from a political economy perspective. Utilizing sugar for other purposes such as the production of microbial protein, biofuels, and bioplastics, or using sugar lands to grow other food items, or rewilding could provide health and environmental win–wins that could be more politically palatable. Here, we explore several potential scenarios to illustrate the option space from which national and international stakeholders could choose locally appropriate pathways for alternative utilization of sugar or its lands. While beneficial, such alternative pathways would require the integration of environmental, economic, and health policies to provide a smoother diet transition that reduces stakeholder tensions. Given the trade in sugar as a commodity crop, international approaches that compensate sugar producers for avoided production or incentivize them for redirecting sugars to other uses will be needed. Such approaches could borrow concepts from Just Transition Partnerships that have been applied to energy system transitions in ensuring a transition for major exporters of sugar cash crops across low- and middle-income nations.
Wear-free sliding electrical contacts with ultralow electrical resistivity
Authors: Wu Zhanghui , Wang Yiran , Wu Tielin , Wang Yelingyi , Chen Weipeng , Zhou Chucheng , Ma Ming , Zheng Quanshui
Published: November 2024

Sliding electrical contacts are commonly applied in electrical connectors, such as conductive slip rings, pantographs, switches, and commutators. However, they suffer from several unavoidable problems caused by friction and wear, including high energy consumption, intermittent failures, limited life, and even failure disasters. In this study, we realized an ultralow-friction and long-distance wear-free state, defined as structural superlubricity (SSL), between sliding electrical interfaces under ambient conditions. A conductive SSL can be implemented in experiments with single-crystal graphite flakes on flattened metals, such as Au and Ni films. Furthermore, we found that depositing a 2 to 3-nm-thick diamond-like carbon (DLC) film on a nickel alloy can lead to an even lower resistivity than that of metals alone. In addition, we revealed the mechanism by which DLC films can improve the conductivity between graphite and metals through density functional-theory simulations. In addition, we prepared a prototype of the SSL slip ring and proved that it possessed ultralow friction, was wear-free, and had no intermittent failures. Consequently, our results demonstrate a unique type of electrical-contact interface for applications requiring conduction while sliding. Thus, we opened the door for SSL electromechanical coupling.
Molecular signaling predicts corticospinal axon growth state and muscle response plasticity induced by neuromodulation
Authors: Zareen Neela , Yung Halley , Kaczetow Walter , Glattstein Aliya , Mazalkova Ekaterina , Alexander Heather , Chen Liang , Parra Lucas C. , Martin John H.
Published: November 2024

Electrical motor cortex stimulation can produce corticospinal system plasticity and enhance motor function after injury. We investigate molecular mechanisms of structural and physiological plasticity following electrical neuromodulation, focusing on identifying molecular predictors, or biomarkers, for durable plasticity. We used two neuromodulation protocols, repetitive multipulse stimulation (rMPS) and patterned intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), incorporating different stimulation durations and follow-up periods. We compared neuromodulation efficacy in promoting corticospinal tract (CST) sprouting, motor cortex muscle evoked potential (MEP) LTP-like plasticity, and their associated molecular underpinnings. Only iTBS produced CST sprouting after short-term neuromodulation (1 d of stimulation; 9-d survival for sprouting expression); both iTBS and rMPS produced sprouting with long-term (10-d) neuromodulation. Significant mTOR signaling activation and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein deactivation predicted axon growth across all neuromodulation conditions that produced significant sprouting. Both neuromodulation protocols, regardless of duration, were effective in producing MEP enhancement. However, persistent LTP-like enhancement of MEPs at 30 d was only produced by long-term iTBS. Statistical modeling suggests that Stat3 signaling is the key mediator of MEP enhancement. Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) alone did not affect baseline molecular signaling. Whereas iTBS and rMPS after SCI produced strong mTOR activation and PTEN deactivation, only iTBS produced Stat3 activation. Our findings support differential molecular biomarkers for neuromodulation-dependent structural and physiological plasticity and show that motor cortex epidural neuromodulation produces molecular changes in neurons that support axonal growth after SCI. iTBS may be more suitable for repair after SCI because it promotes molecular signaling for both CST growth and MEP plasticity.
Parallel phosphoproteomics and metabolomics map the global metabolic tyrosine phosphoproteome
Authors: Hillis Alissandra L. , Tamir Tigist , Perry Grace E. , Asara John M. , Johnson Jared L. , Yaron Tomer M. , Cantley Lewis C. , White Forest M. , Toker Alex
Published: November 2024

Tyrosine phosphorylation of metabolic enzymes is an evolutionarily conserved posttranslational modification that facilitates rapid and reversible modulation of enzyme activity, localization, or function. Despite the high abundance of tyrosine phosphorylation events detected on metabolic enzymes in high-throughput mass spectrometry-based studies, functional characterization of tyrosine phosphorylation sites has been limited to a subset of enzymes. Since tyrosine phosphorylation is dysregulated across human diseases, including cancer, understanding the consequences of metabolic enzyme tyrosine phosphorylation events is critical for informing disease biology and therapeutic interventions. To globally identify metabolic enzyme tyrosine phosphorylation events and simultaneously assign functional significance to these sites, we performed parallel phosphoproteomics and polar metabolomics in nontumorigenic mammary epithelial cells (MCF10A) stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the absence or presence of the EGF receptor inhibitor erlotinib. We performed an integrated analysis of the phosphoproteomic and metabolomic datasets to identify tyrosine phosphorylation sites on metabolic enzymes with functional consequences. We identified two previously characterized (pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme, phosphoglycerate mutase 1) and two uncharacterized (glutathione S-transferase Pi 1, glutamate dehydrogenase 1) tyrosine phosphorylation sites on metabolic enzymes with purported functions based on metabolomic analyses. We validated these hits using a doxycycline-inducible CRISPR interference system in MCF10A cells, in which target metabolic enzymes were depleted with simultaneous reexpression of wild-type, phosphomutant, or phosphomimetic isoforms. Together, these data provide a framework for identification, prioritization, and characterization of tyrosine phosphorylation sites on metabolic enzymes with functional significance.
Distinct evolutionary trajectories following loss of RNA interference in
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Huang Jun , Larmore Connor J. , Priest Shelby J. , Xu Ziyan , Dietrich Fred S. , Yadav Vikas , Magwene Paul M. , Sun Sheng , Heitman Joseph
Published: November 2024

While increased mutation rates typically have negative consequences in multicellular organisms, hypermutation can be advantageous for microbes adapting to the environment. Previously, we identified two hypermutator
Cryptococcus neoformans
clinical isolates that rapidly develop drug resistance due to transposition of a retrotransposon, Cnl1. Cnl1-mediated hypermutation is caused by a nonsense mutation in a gene encoding an RNA interference (RNAi) component,
ZNF3
, combined with a tremendous transposon burden. To elucidate adaptive mechanisms following RNAi loss, two bioinformatic pipelines were developed to identify RNAi loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in a collection of 387 sequenced
C. neoformans
isolates. Remarkably, several RNAi-loss isolates were identified that are not hypermutators and have not accumulated transposons. To test whether these RNAi LOF mutations can cause hypermutation, the mutations were introduced into a nonhypermutator strain with a high transposon burden, which resulted in a hypermutator phenotype. To further investigate whether RNAi-loss isolates can become hypermutators, in vitro passaging was performed. Although no hypermutators were found in two
C. neoformans
RNAi-loss strains after short-term passage, hypermutation was observed in a passaged
Cryptococcus deneoformans
strain with an increased transposon burden. Consistent with a two-step evolution, when an RNAi-loss isolate was crossed with an isolate containing a high Cnl1 burden, F1 hypermutator progeny inheriting a high transposon burden were identified. In addition to Cnl1 transpositions, insertions of a gigantic DNA transposon KDZ1 (~11 kb) contributed to hypermutation in the progeny. Our results suggest that RNAi loss is relatively common (7/387, ~1.8%) and enables distinct evolutionary trajectories: hypermutation following transposon accumulation or survival without hypermutation.
Fabrication and experimental investigations on mechanical properties of stir cast aluminum MMC with the addition of ash
Authors: Kumar Gupta Pankaj , Verma Mayank , Bajpai Tapas
Published: November 2024

Aluminium alloys are lightweight and high strength materials which are extensively used in engineering applications. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) based on aluminium have significantly increased in the field of newer materials for high-performance mechanical uses. Aluminium metal matrix composites (Al-MMCs) are more involved in mining, aerospace, marine, and automobile applications. Aluminium liquid casting is typically used to treat metal matrix for composites. Such casting is carried out using the liquid casting method. In this article, using the stir casting technique, an effort has been made to create a metal matrix composite by choosing aluminium (Al6061) as matrix material and silicon carbide, cow dung and buffalo dung ash as reinforcement. This ash is biodegradable in nature. Four types of samples were prepared from this composite for all the tests which were named S1, S2, S3, and S4, with Al6061 as 100%, 84%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. Four mechanical properties, i.e., micro hardness, density, tensile strength and compressive strength, were investigated and the effect of hybrid ash was studied. Maximum density, microhardness, tensile strength and compressive strength were achieved for sample S2 due to the highest percentage of silicon carbide and the lowest percentage of hybrid ash. Addition of ash proved good alternative as a sustainable reinforcement.
Parametric analysis on the sulfone adsorption of using iron impregnated bentonite
Authors: Alcaraz M G T , Choi A E S , Dugos N P , Wan M W
Published: November 2024

Sulfur left in liquid fuel is oxidized during combustion and released into the atmosphere, contributing to the worsening of global warming. To address this, oil refineries make use of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) to reduce sulfur content in the fuel. Alternatives to HDS are being studied due to its extreme operating conditions. An alternative for treating sulfur in fuel is oxidative desulfurization, which converts sulfur to sulfones and can be extracted using adsorption methods. This study focuses on the use of bentonite modified with Fe3+ to improve its adsorptive performance for removing dibenzothiophene sulfone (DBTO) in model oil. The prepared Fe3+-bentonite adsorbents resulted in lower removal of sulfur compared to raw bentonite. This is due to Fe3+ being a hard acid, thus lowering the affinity of bentonite in adsorbing DBTO, which is a soft base. Three parameters were varied in this study, namely adsorption time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. Results showed that DBTO removal increased with adsorption time as the DBTO molecules occupy more adsorption sites. Increasing adsorbent dosage also increases sulfur removal as it introduces more reaction sites for DBTO removal. The DBTO and bentonite system was also found to be endothermic as desulfurization increased with the temperature rise. With the data collected in this study, it is recommended to explore the possible upscaling of adsorptive desulfurization.
Preparation of activated biochar from durian shells for the extraction of phytohormones from waste coconut water via adsorption
Authors: Paranaque Julienne Eris L. , Detras Monet Concepcion M. , Alfafara Catalino G. , Migo Veronica P.
Published: November 2024

The demand for activated carbon increases due to its effectiveness in wastewater treatment and other soil applications. However, its growing demand in the market resulted to higher price, thus, this study aimed to develop a cheaper alternative. The use of agricultural waste for biochar production has been the focus of several studies nowadays. Aside from the cheaper cost of the feedstock and the process, the problem on waste generation in the country will be lessened. In this study, activated biochar derived from Durian (Durio zibethinus) shells was prepared as adsorbent for the extraction of phytohormones from waste coconut water. Phytohormones or plant hormones are all-natural substitute to synthetic plant growth regulators (PGRs) used for different tissue culture practices in the country. Chemical activation conditions (alkali-to-raw biochar ratio and holding time) were determined to maximize phytohormone adsorption efficiency of the activated biochar. The activation of the durian shell-derived biochar was done using potassium hydroxide as chemical activating agent. Factors such as KOH-biochar ratio (high level: 5:1 (w/w), low level: 1:1 (w/w) ) and carbonization holding time (high level: 90 mins, low level: 45 mins) were applied to test its significance on the activation of durian shell biochar with percent phytohormones removal from waste coconut water as a response. The parametric study showed that KOH-biochar ratio as a main effect was significant and its interaction with holding time was also significant. This result will be used in the ongoing study to produce optimized activated biochar and will be used for batch and column adsorption. The prepared durian shell activated biochar will then be used for the extraction of phytohormones from waste coconut water via adsorption.
Optimization study for chemical activation of biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse for maximum phytohormone adsorption from waste coconut water
Authors: Castillo Katrina Joy T. , Detras Monet Concepcion M. , Alfafara Catalino G. , Migo Veronica P.
Published: November 2024

Improper treatment and disposal of sugarcane bagasse (SB) in farms and sugar industries can lead to environmental and health concerns. Instead of burning these wastes, bagasse can be utilized for biochar production which can be applied as adsorbents. Additionally, studies reported that the performance of biochar adsorbents can be improved by activation. Hence, this study aimed to optimize the chemical activation conditions of biochar from SB for maximum adsorption of phytohormones from waste coconut water (WCW). Pretreated SB was first converted into biochar though pyrolysis and was chemically activated using potassium hydroxide (KOH). Response Surface Methodology was used to determine the optimum activation conditions to maximize phytohormone adsorption efficiency. Factors considered were KOH-biochar ratio (1:1 to 5:1 g/g) and carbonization holding time (45 to 90 minutes). Analysis of Variance showed that the adsorption efficiency of activated biochar is significantly affected by KOH-biochar ratio. Increasing the ratio created cavities on the surface which serve as adsorption sites; however, further increase in ratio resulted in pore degradation lowering the adsorption performance of activated biochar. Conversely, carbonization holding time did not have significant effect on the response for the range of factors considered. The optimum conditions which were 3.18:1 KOH-biochar ratio and 65.64 minutes holding time resulted to ~82.14% actual phytohormone adsorption efficiency. The characteristics of the optimized activated biochar (SBAB) were then compared with that of the unmodified biochar (SBB) in terms of morphology, surface elemental composition, functional groups, adsorption efficiency, average particle size, and bulk density. The SBAB produced can be applied in further studies focusing on the adsorption of phytohormones from WCW and desorption from the adsorbent to isolate them. Results of this study can also provide a sustainable solution in minimizing the disposal of sugarcane bagasse and waste coconut water while increasing their economic returns and environmental benefits.
Valorization and investigation of volcanic ash as an aggregate building brick component
Authors: Daranciang Erish T. , Tria Kenneth B. , Santos Elizabeth O. , Rodriguez Ner C.
Published: November 2024

The devastating series of Taal volcanic eruptions from 2020 to 2022 covered several locations in the Philippines under a thick layer of ashes, destroying properties and halting business operations. In response, the Biñan City Government in Laguna, Philippines, proposed the development of eco-friendly bricks by leveraging the pervasive amounts of spewed volcanic ash as part of its solid waste management program. The materials recovery facility of the city produced several brick blends of combined Taal volcanic ash, cement mortar, and plastic waste materials. This study investigates the potential of Taal volcanic ash as an aggregate building brick component by measuring the compressive strength of the formulated bricks. With different blends of aggregate components, the bricks were tested for their durability based on the ASTM C67/C67M-20 standard after curing between 15 to 30 days. Per the ASTM C62-17 standard, all brick blends that were cured for 30 days including those with volcanic ash and plastic waste as aggregate components fall under the negligible weathering grade. This indicates that these bricks will be durable in building and structural applications where the average compressive strength requirement for bricks is at least 10.3 MPa. A regression model was also fitted with an adjusted r
2 value of 0.9413 and a p-value of < 2.2 × 10−16 using the experimental data.
Adsorption of phytohormones from waste coconut water using surface-activated biochar derived from cacao pod husk (Theobroma cacao L.)
Authors: Banzuela Jude Martin A , Detras Monet Concepcion M , Magboo Mart Merwin C , Alfafara Catalino G , Migo Veronica P
Published: November 2024

The study investigated the potential of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husk as feedstock for the production of activated biochar. The activated cacao pod husk biochar is to be used for the extraction of phytohormones present in coconut water. Cacao pod husk was dried, milled, sieved, and pyrolyzed at 500°C for 1 hour. The resulting raw biochar was then activated using ZnCl2. The chemical activation process was optimized by employing Central Composite Design with ZnCl2-biochar ratio and holding time as factors. The response was the phytohormone removal/adsorption efficiency from the coconut water. The goal of the optimization was to maximize phytohormone extraction performance. The low and high levels for ZnCl2-biochar ratio were 1:1 (w/w) and 5:1 (w/w), respectively. For the holding time, these were set at 30 minutes and 90 minutes, respectively. The optimum chemical activation conditions for phytohormone extraction performance were at 3.1:1 zinc chloride-biochar ratio and 30 minutes holding time. The predicted phytohormone adsorption (extraction efficiency) was 96.0%. Experimental verification of optimum conditions is ongoing. The results demonstrated that surface-activated biochar derived from cacao pod husk is an effective adsorbent for the extraction of phytohormones from waste coconut water. This approach not only helps mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with waste disposal in the chocolate and coconut oil industries but also provides an opportunity to create value-added products from these resources, contributing to sustainability efforts.
Effect of Reaction Time and Solvent Ratio on the Acetylation of Isolated Cellulose Fiber from Tropical Water Hyacinth
Authors: Tilendo AC , Filipinas JQ , Marohomsalic KMA , Edres SA , Ginco LV , Villame Jr AB
Published: November 2024

Isolated cellulose fibers from water hyacinth were used to create cellulose acetate (CA) polymers. The cellulose was acetylated using an acetic acid and acetic anhydride reaction, with sulfuric acid acting as the catalyst. The degree of substitution (DS) of synthetic CA was examined, along with the effects of acetylation time and solvent ratio. The study indicated that the appropriate DS for CA was found to be 2.47 and the matching ideal operating parameters included a reaction duration of 16 hours, and a ratio of 4:1 between acetic acid and acetic anhydride at temperature of 50°C. The results of the study showed that the cellulose isolated from water hyacinth was successfully acetylated, which was supported by the existence of distinct peaks in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. This suggests that the process of acetylating the isolated cellulose fibers is a straight-forward process that can be employed to create a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly CA. This CA has the potential to cost-effectively and sustainably replace expensive raw materials derived from fossil fuels in the polymer industry.
Removal of Bunker Oil in Contaminated Seawater Using Biochar from Chicken Bones Via Slow Pyrolysis
Authors: Decembrano K M , Hamor M A K , Sison D , Binay J , Roque E , Rubi R V , Olay J
Published: November 2024

An oil spill is the unintended or deliberate release of petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, particularly the marine ecosystem. The disseminated oil can either evaporate or form a surface slick, disperse in the water, or submerge and deposit in the sediments. One of the standard methods is the use of sorbents. Pyrolysis is one of the simplest methods for converting biomass, and it involves heating organic material in the absence of oxygen. The natural polymeric ingredients of the process are bio-oil (condensable vapours), char (solid fraction), and non-condensable gases. Chicken bones were used to produce biochar via slow pyrolysis at varying operating temperature (400°C, 450°C and 500°C) and residence time (45min, 60min and 75min) to acquire the Chicken Bones Biochar (CBB). The CBB was used to obtain Chicken Bones Activated Biochar (CBAB) after it was subjected to KOH Activation Process. For the yield obtained, the lowest temperature and shorter residence time acquired the highest yield for both CBB and CBAB. The characterization of the products was carried out by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The products were evaluated after it was subjected to a bunker oil contaminated seawater and the adsorption capacity was determined with varying contact time (40min, 50min and 60min). A high absorbance of the CBB and CBAB indicated the feasibility of the chicken bone as an adsorbent material.
Ranking Energy Storage Technologies Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and VIKOR
Authors: Cruzat Ron David M. , Fojas Jerico R. , Villena Ernest Andre S. , Uy Marcus O. , Ortenero Joseph R. , Tan Raymond R.
Published: November 2024

Due to increasing global average temperatures, it is imperative to increase investment in renewable energy and energy storage technologies to reduce the negative impact to the environment. As such, improvements associated with renewable energy intermittency and variability is a priority. One solution is through the use of energy storage technologies (ESTs) to improve the reliability and stability of power supplies. ESTs come in various selections, each with its own application and attributes. Since no EST is universally applicable, utilization of MADM methods helps in narrowing selected technologies in a specific application. In this study, a hybrid AHP and VIKOR method is utilized for stationary power applications. AHP is used for determining weights associated with each EST attribute from surveyed experts in academe and industry. The attributes efficiency and cycle life obtained the highest weights of 0.2384 and 0.2322 respectively. VIKOR is used in ranking ESTs based on available data gathered. Supercapacitor is ranked as best alternative due to its cycle efficiency, storage lifetime, power capacity, and power density. Subsequent rankings are flywheel, pumped-hydro, and lithium-ion battery. Technology readiness level and specific application details could be incorporated in further studies to improve ranking. This study demonstrates the potential of hybrid AHP-VIKOR in guiding researchers and decision makers select the appropriate EST given competing performance in different criteria.
Sulfur oxidation of ferrate synthesized from sludge in the aspect of desulfurization: A parametric study
Authors: Haboc M M , Dugos N P , Choi A E S , Wan M W
Published: November 2024

The emission of sulfur in the atmosphere poses a significant threat to human health and the environment. To address this issue, stringent regulations have been implemented to limit the sulfur content in diesel, and novel desulfurization technologies are being developed. One notable technology is oxidative desulfurization (ODS), which employs oxidants to transform sulfur compounds into their corresponding sulfones, which are relatively easier to recover. The application of high-shear mixing in ODS has been studied to increase sulfur-to-sulfone conversion by creating smaller droplets and reducing mass transfer resistance. This research investigates the application of potassium ferrate derived from drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS), in the mixing-assisted oxidative desulfurization (MAOD) of a dibenzothiophene (DBT) model fuel. Potassium ferrate was synthesized using the wet oxidation method. The study evaluated the effects of ferrate concentration (400 to 600 ppm), agitation speed (4,400 to 10,800 rpm), and temperature (40 to 60 °C) on the efficiency of DBT conversion. The results revealed that 493.2 ppm DBT conversion was achieved at 550 ppm Fe(VI) concentration, 7,600 rpm agitation speed, and 50 °C temperature. Notably, increasing Fe(VI) concentration, agitation speed, and temperature had significant effects on sulfur reduction. This study demonstrates the potential of using potassium ferrate derived from DWTS in MAOD for effective desulfurization and discusses insights into the effects of operating conditions to enhance desulfurization efficiency. Ultimately, the study contributes to the development of environmentally friendly and cost-effective desulfurization technologies.
Effect of Polar Aprotic Solvents on the Physical, Chemical, and Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Acetate Bioplastic Films
Authors: Rizon M F U , Cabigting A K M , Sanchez K S , Tamargo R J I
Published: November 2024

There has been a growing interest in bioplastics as a solution to increasing greenhouse gases and the pile up of waste caused by fossil-based non-biodegradable plastics. However, the use of harmful solvents in their synthesis may continue to be detrimental to the environment. A novel bio-based solvent, CyreneTM, is seen as an alternative to toxic polar aprotic solvents. With this, the study aimed to compare the properties of cellulose acetate (CA) bioplastic films using acetone, dimethylformamide (DMF), and CyreneTM as solvents and glycerol as the plasticizer. The following tests were used to characterize the synthesized bioplastics: Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), density, moisture content, biodegradability, tensile strength, Young’s Modulus, and elongation at break. CyreneTM films were found to have significantly high moisture content and elongation at break. A weight loss of 29% in biodegradation was recorded for CyreneTM films without glycerol over the course of 23 days. The properties of the CyreneTM films show that it may be applicable for mulching films and seedling containers in agricultural applications due to their high affinity for water. It can be concluded that the study of CyreneTM solvent for the synthesis of CA films and its properties contributes to greener synthesis methods for bioplastics.
Zinc-imidazole-based metal-organic framework nanosheet membrane for H2/O2 separation
Authors: Tanaka Shunsuke , Kimura Yuka , Fuku Kojiro , Ikenaga Naoki , Nakagawa Keizo
Published: November 2024

Metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets are promising candidates for molecular sieve because of their structural diversity and minimized mass transfer barrier. However, design of appropriate MOF nanosheets and preparation of high-performance MOF nanosheet-based membranes, especially for gas separation, remains great challenges. Structural degradation may simultaneously occur with conventional exfoliation method, which has hindered its widespread application in high-performance molecular sieve membrane preparation. Even if nanosheets could be stacked, grain boundaries would form between the nanosheets, which could be applied to liquid separation but not to gas separation. To address these challenges, we applied bottom-up growth of Zn2(benzimidazole)4 nanosheet to fabricate defect-free membranes. Zn2(benzimidazole)4 is composed of benzimidazole-zinc tetrahedral units and layers are connected by van der Waals interaction. At first, the Zn2(benzimidazole)4 nanosheets were deposited onto a porous support to prepare gutter layer. Next, Zn-based amorphous layer was coated on the gutter layer and crystallized by benzimidazole vapor treatment. Highly oriented Zn2(benzimidazole)4 nanosheet based membranes were fabricated by anisotropically controlling crystallization. The prepared Zn2(benzimidazole)4 nanosheet-based membranes show separation performance in hydrogen purification with H2/O2 ideal separation factor of 11.6 and H2 permeance of 5650 GPU.
The effects of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT) on selected properties of crosslinked modified tapioca starch films
Authors: Rañada R A , Castro J L , Manalo R D , Ong H L , Herrera M U , Balela M D L
Published: November 2024

Crosslinked modified tapioca starch films with CNC and HNT have the potential to be good renewable and biodegradable food packaging. Starch, CNC, and HNT were used because of their availability and cheap cost. This study aimed to investigate the effect of varying concentrations of CNC and HNT on the morphology, mechanical and optical properties of crosslinked modified tapioca starch films as an initial step in developing an active food package. Both CNC and HNT have high crystallinity and a large amount of OH groups. The OH groups as well as the ion-dipole interaction in HNT increase the tensile strength of the films. The highest tensile strength and the lowest elongation were recorded in films containing 5% CNC and 5% HNT. Beyond 5%, the addition of these nanomaterials diminished the tensile strength due to agglomeration which is the weak point of the films. Below the 5%, the nanomaterials serve as good reinforcing agents which improve the tensile strength. In addition, all films have good transmission capacity for visible light, while films with HNT outperform films with CNC in UV blocking ability.
Titanium Dioxide-Decorated and Silanized Electrospun Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Fibers for Filtration
Authors: Macaraig L , Zingapan J , Alvarez K V N , Enriquez E P
Published: November 2024

Electrospinning methods have produced polymer-based non-woven fibers that have excellent filtration for use as air filter media, however most work have been focused on producing thinner fibers by reducing polymer loading. In this work, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic from used soda plastic bottles was electrospun and decorated with nano-TiO2 to produce nonwoven media with antimicrobial properties. Electrospinning parameters were optimized to maintain higher loading percentage of PET to as much as 30% (w/v) with resulting fibers having an average diameter of 1.8 μm. Electrospun fiber mats were then treated with a silane-based binder for surface-decoration with nano-TiO2 coating to impart antimicrobial properties to these fibers. XRF mapping showed uniform coating of the nanoparticles. Atomic ratios from XRF of Ti to Si did not significantly change before and after ultrasonication washing signifying the covalent coating of the nanoparticles onto the fiber matrix.
Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Interference System (ANFIS) Control of a Dynamic, Two-Region Nuclear Power Plant Pressurizer Model
Authors: Bautista D A , Mendoza J A
Published: November 2024

Designing modern control systems is a critical factor in producing rigid control and effective performance of non-linear and complex systems—particularly employing intelligence-based controllers, derived from soft computing algorithms. It is known to be well capable of exploiting tolerances for uncertainty and nonlinearity. Fuzzy logic, which utilizes soft computing techniques, deals with vague information and approximate reasoning, yet it lacks effective learning capability, while ANN is known for exceptional learning and adaptation of training data. Adaptive neuro-fuzzy interference system (ANFIS), a hybrid of these two algorithms, is a fuzzy interference system optimized by neural networks. Most nuclear generating stations still use PID controllers, which does not show good controlling capabilities, resulting in large coolant level overshoot and longer settling time. This paper bridges this gap by testing an ANFIS approach that yields high predictive and control capability. In validating the configured control loop model, three loss-of-load transients from a Shippingport reactor were tested, trained and demonstrated using the simulations in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The minimal training RMSE for the 51 MW(e), 74 MW(e), and 105 MW(e) loss-of-load transients are 18.85%, 19.37%, and 24.36%. The pressure response showed ideal output, with all three steady-state pressures close at setpoint (14 MPa), proving that the ANFIS controller is well capable of rejecting disturbances with lesser overshoot and faster settling times in maintaining level setpoint. Validating solely the pressurizer model was executed in a turbine leading power trip from a 100% to 75% reduction range in PCTRAN, a pressurized water reactor (PWR) simulator made available by IAEA. The comparative performance exhibited a good fit between the reported simulation data and model data. Both results against simulation and experimental transients captured the effective predictive and control capabilities of the pressurizer unit and control system.
Implementation of Skogestad’s Internal Model Control Rule in Tuning Proportional-Integral Controllers for Two-Input and Two-Output Systems Considering Individual Controller Performance Trade-off
Authors: Gacuan J M , Muñoz J C
Published: November 2024

In industrial plants, tuning of decentralized Proportional-Integral-Derivative feedback (PID) controllers in Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems is a complex problem, due to input and output interactions, that must be done to ensure individual control objectives are met, while system being sufficiently robust. In this study, a two-input and two-output (TITO) PI controller tuning algorithm was developed considering controller performance prioritization given performance trade-offs, expressed as the novel Individual Controller Performance Trade-off Coefficient (ICPTC), and system robustness, expressed as sensitivity peaks from the generalized Nyquist stability plot. Simplified effective open-loop transfer functions (EOTFs) of the two input-output channels were derived and used along with Skogestad’s Internal Model Control (SIMC) to calculate PI controller gains. Extensive simulations using Wood-Berry (WB) and Vinante-Luyben (VL) distillation column models were made to observe how the sensitivity peaks behave across the simulations, which was then used as the basis of the developed tuning algorithm. A simplified tuning algorithm, which requires less information compared to the main algorithm, was also derived. A mapping algorithm was also created, allowing specific controller gains from other studies to be mapped to an equivalent set of controller gains in the algorithm’s search field. The effectiveness of the three algorithms were tested using Wardle-Wood distillation column (WW) and Xiong and Cai (XC) process models. It was demonstrated using the main algorithm that there is a trade-off between controller performances when ICPTC is varied, at different values of design sensitivity peaks between 1.96 to 4. The usefulness of the simplified tuning and mapping algorithms were also illustrated in the study. This study is potentially useful in tuning TITO PI controllers in industrial plants, where meeting individual control objectives while maintaining robustness is more important than optimizing overall control performance.
A04 - EGS Evidenced competency in benign biliary surgery amongst UK general surgeons at certification: A JCST/ISCP study
Authors: Stott Martyn , Targett Iain , Kausar Ambareen
Published: November 2024

Background

Symptomatic gallstones are the most common reason for evaluation by an Emergency General Surgery (EGS) service, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) being performed by most general surgeons. Previous studies show that most LCs in the United Kingdom (UK) are performed by colorectal surgeons (CR). Emergency cholecystectomy requires advanced skills including intra-operative assessment of the bile ducts, and the ability to perform intra-operative cholangiogram (IOC) is part of the procedure-based assessment (PBA) that evidences competency for certificate of completion of training (CCT). This study aims to assess documented evidence of competency in benign biliary surgery amongst general surgeons in the UK.

Method

PBAs relating to LC and CBD exploration (CBDE) were retrieved for all UK general surgeons who received CCT between 2016 and 2021 from ISCP (702; 285 (41%) colorectal; 212 (30%) Upper GI (UGI)). All eLogbook entries relating to LC +/- IOC +/- CBDE were also retrieved. Subspecialty interest was determined from Part 2 of the FRCS examination. Competence (Level 4) as well as a granular assessment of IOC and CBDE was compared amongst trainees, taking into account their subspecialty interest.

Results

11,733 LC and 553 CBDE assessments from 160,570 LC +/- IOC +/- CBDE procedures recorded on eLogbook were retrieved. Knowledge of IOC indication was assessed in 467 (94%) surgeons, but performance was only assessed in 380 (75%) surgeons. Median satisfactory IOC performance assessments was 3 (2-5). UGI were more likely to do this than colorectal (4 (2-7) vs 2 (1-4) P < 0.001). Satisfactory CBDE was achieved by 86 surgeons (12 CR and 74 UGI). 486 surgeons (97% CR; 94% UGI) received Level 4 (independence) despite never achieving satisfactory ability to perform IOC.

Conclusion

Competency in acute biliary surgery for general surgeons at certification is extensively assessed using PBAs. Cholecystectomy training and assessment in the UK does not seem to include intraoperative bile duct anatomy assessment or treatment of CBD stones. Assumed competency in cholecystectomy by trainers in the UK does not seem to include the need to do this, as 97% of CR and 94% of UGI trainees achieve documented competence without the ability to perform IOC. This may have an impact on EGS service delivery of acute and emergency gallbladder surgery including the ability to deal with difficult cases.
A06 - OGC LAsting Symptoms after Oesophageal Resectional Surgery (LASORS): Multicentre validation cohort study
Authors: Paine Heidi , Chidambaram Swathikan , Dawas Khaled , Mohammadi Borzoueh , Qureshi Yassar , O’Neill Robert , Dai Nick , Alkhaffaf Bilal , Vohra Ravinder , Markar Sheraz R
Published: November 2024

Background

Patients are living longer with the long-term morbidity of oncological and surgical therapies as oesophageal cancer outcomes improve. Existing symptomatology and quality of life tools are cumbersome and moreover not designed for the post-treatment survivorship setting.

The LASER study identified six key symptoms thought to predict poor health-related quality of life. The current study aimed to validate this six-symptom LAsting Symptoms after Oesophageal Resection (LASOR) clinical tool, and assess its clinical utility.

Method

Between 2015 and 2019, patients from UK centres who underwent curative-intent oesophageal cancer treatment, and were disease-free at least one year postoperatively, were asked to complete LASOR, EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires. LASOR symptoms (low mood, reduced energy, thoracotomy pain, heartburn, diarrhoea, and bloating after eating) were correlated with EORTC HRQOL scores. Multivariable regression analysis identified symptoms associated with poor HRQoL. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to validate the LASOR tool.

Results

263 patients, spanning a combination of surgical approaches (two-stage, three-stage, left thoracoabdominal, transhiatal), techniques (open, minimally invasive, hybrid), and disease stage, completed the questionnaires. Four of the six LASOR symptoms were associated with poor HRQoL: reduced energy (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.20-2.87), low mood (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.4503.12), diarrhoea (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.06-2.05), and bloating after eating (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.03-1.77). The LASOR tool produced an area under the curve of 0.85.

Conclusion

The six-symptom LASOR tool generated a reliable model for identification of patients with a poor HRQOL, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of over 80%. This is the first clinical symptom and quality of life tool to be validated in esophageal cancer patients post-curative treatment. The LASOR tool is straightforward to administer and acceptable to patients. Clinical utility lies both in identifying patients at risk of poor HRQoL and in planning survivorship services.