The Effect of Iron (II) Chloride in Microalgae Cultivation for Bio-Oil Extraction

The world is facing a problem regarding the use of petroleum fuels that has led to a search for a suitable alternative fuel source. Researchers have come up with the idea of producing biofuel to overcome this problem. In this study, microalgae were explored as a high potential feedstock to produce biofuel. In order to produce a large quantity of biofuel with low cost at a short time, the manipulation of nutrients is a factor in microalgae cultivation. In this study, Iron (II) Chloride (FeCl2) was added to the nutrients to initiate a stressful condition during growth which contributes to the produce of lipid. Isolated microalgae species were identified as Scenedesmus sp. During mass cultivation, the microalgae cultures were scaled up to 2 L of culture. Three flasks of microalgae culture were labelled with S1, S2, and S3. Flask S1 acts as a control without the addition of FeCl2, while another two flasks acted as experimental flasks. Flask S2 was supplemented with 0.5 mg FeCl2 while Flask S3 was supplemented with 1.0 mg of FeCl2. With the addition of Iron (II) Chloride, microalgae entered a stationary phase at day 9 and day 10 as compared to the control flask which enters the stationary phase at day 7. This also affects the dry weight. Flask 3 produces 0.8658 g of microalgae powder compared to Flask 1 and 2 which produced 0.4649 g and 0.5357 g respectively. Lipid analysis was done by using GCMS and GC-FID. Flask 3 produced various types of fatty acids which can be used for biodiesel production compared to other cultivates. In Flask 1, docosanoic acid which is a saturated fatty acid was detected. While in Flask 2 (S2), with the addition of 0.5 mg of FeCl2, docosapentaenoic acid was produced. In the last flask which involved the addition of 1.0 mg of FeCl2, more fatty acid was detected. In GC-FID data, 6 types of fatty acids were detected. Linolein acid, linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and docosanoic acid were produced at different retention times. Most of the fatty acids produced are polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). In transesterification, the fatty acid reacts with methanol and acid catalyst. The reaction produces fatty acid methyl ester. In Flask 1, the control flask, without the addition of FeCl2, no fatty acid methylesters (FAME) was produced. However, in Flask 2 and 3 which were added 0.5mg FeCl2 and 1.0 mg FeCl2, n-hexadecanoic acid methyl ester which is also known as palmitic acid was produced. Palmitic fatty acid can be used for biodiesel production

Social learning approach in designing persuasive e-commerce recommender system model

Intention to purchase in existing online business practice is learned through observation of information display by online seller. The emergent growth of persuasive technologies currently holds a great potential in driving a positive influence towards consumer purchase behavior. But to date, there is still limited research on implementing persuasion concept into the recommender system context. Drawing upon the principle design of persuasive system, the main purpose of this study is to explore social learning advantages in creating persuasive features for E-Commerce recommender system. Based on Social Cognitive Theory, the influence of personal and environmental factors will be examined in measuring consumer purchase intention. In addition, dimensions of social learning environment are represented by observational learning theory and cognitive learning theory. From those reviews, this study assumed that social learning environment can be created based on attentiveness, retentiveness, motivational, knowledge awareness and interest evaluation cues of consumer learning factors. Furthermore, the persuasive environment of recommender system is assumed to have positive influence towards individual characteristics such as self-efficacy behavior, perceived task complexity and confused by over choice. Findings from those reviews have contributed to the development of a research model in visualizing social learning environment that can be used to develop a persuasive recommender system in E-Commerce and hence measures the impact towards consumer purchase intention

Rheological behaviour and thermal conductivity of polyvinyl ether lubricant modified with sio2-tio2 nanoparticles for refrigeration system

Before any nanolubricant is being applied in a refrigeration system, its thermo-physical properties shall be investigated. In this paper, hybrid nanolubricant is prepared by dispersing SiO2-TiO2 nanoparticles at 50:50 composition ratio into the polyvinyl ether (PVE) compressor lubricant using a two-step method. The investi�gation was done for volume concentrations from 0.01 to 0.10% under temperature range of 303 to 353 K. The Newtonian behaviour of the nanolubricant was obtained, and relative thermo-physical enhancement was determined by comparing its performance to the pure lubricant. It was observed that the maximum increment viscosity does not exceed 3% from the base fluid, while thermal conductivity for 0.1% concentration increases up to 1.6%. Overall observation also reveals that both rheological and thermal properties increase by increasing concentrations, but the same properties decrease with temperature. An interesting finding is the nanolubricant had viscosity decrement than the pure lubricant specifically at 303 K. New regression models were suggested for thermo-physical properties with high accuracy R-squared values of 0.9989 and 0.9920 for viscosity and thermal conductivity, respectively. As a conclusion, SiO2-TiO2/PVE nanolubricant is recommended in refrigeration sys�tems with a volume concentration of less than 0.10%

Enzymatic pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass: An overview

Lignocellulosic biomass is nature's most abundant alternative source of biofuels replacing traditional fossil fuels. Globally, more than 70% of renewable energy depends on biomass and contributes 14% of the total energy supply. The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is to remove lignin, modify the lignin structure, reduce the cellulose crystallinity and increase the porosity and surface area of lignocellulosic material. The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most expensive steps for biomass conversion and consumes about 40% of total costs. Traditionally physical and chemical methods have been used for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. However, these methods are unsustainable and have a huge negative impact on the environment. Pretreatment by the lignocellulosic laccase enzyme can overcome these problems. So the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass has been studied, presenting special attention to the enzymatic pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) gps jamming test by using software defined radio (SDR) platform

Overhang property issue has sustained over the past ten years in Malaysia. Major overhang property issue was contributed from the unsold residential property. Though the government announced to build a data system and provide the housing data to prevent a mismatch of supply-demand in the property market, there are still not many relevant studies or research on predicting residential property prices. Hence, it is essential to understand the factors that influence the price of residential properties. The study aims to predict the price of a residential property by using a machine learning algorithm. Three algorithms were selected, namely Decision Tree, Linear Regression, and Random Forest, tested against the training and testing datasets obtained from the Malaysian Valuation and Property Services Department. Results show that the Random Forest model produced high accuracy with lower r_squared (R2), RMSE, and MAE values. Significantly, the study has contributed a new insight into essential property features that primarily influence the property price, which will be useful for property developers and buyers who wish to invest in the property market

Avicenna and cancer study

Cancer is the main cause of mortality after COVID-19, reaching pandemicity and remains one of major public health concern. It is worthwhile to consider the perspectives of the renowned medical scholar, Avicenna and he is widely regarded as the prince of physicians. However not much recent paper discussed on his practice on treating cancer. The review's goal was to discuss the background of Avicenna's bibliography and history in cancer study. This review encompasses 25 literatures and begins with a description of his profile and attitude. It then explains his medical background and interests, with an emphasis on cancer research. His contribution and a major milestone in cancer research were described. It also explains in great depth his perspective on cancer research. His proposed and implemented cancer prevention and treatment are listed and advised in order to lessen the negative impacts of cancer. To conclude, early detection and preventative measures aid in the reduction of cancer progression. In addition, plant base and less irritant treatment as well as improving the diet help to reduce malignancy. This review might contribute to give an insight to improve the current cancer treatment by looking back into the perspective of great scholar in medical field

Synthesis of non-edible biodiesel from crude jatropha oil and used cooking oil

This study focuses on a feasibility study of alternative nonedible crude oil such as jatropha and used cooking oil in biodiesel production. Crude jatropha oil (CJO) and used cooking oil (UCO) were converted to biodiesel using a two-step transesterification process with presents of acid-based and alkaline-based catalysts. Each three biodiesel blends (B5, B15 and B25) have been produced by blended with conventional diesel fuel (CDF). Determination of the fuel properties for each blend including CDF, Jatropha Methyl Ester (JME) and Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) have been carried out. The average yield for jatropha and used cooking oil biodiesels production was 94.3% and 92% respectively. The increment of the percentage of JME or UCOME in its blends is proportional to fuels physical properties such as density, specific gravity, kinematic viscosity and surface tension, however inversely proportional to fuels calorific value. Based on the results of this study, it is acceptable to conclude that non-edible CJO and UCO are viable alternatives to edible oil as feedstock to renewable fuel in order to reduce the greenhouse gases produced

LPS induces IL-10 production by human alveolar macrophages via MAPKinases- and Sp1-dependent mechanisms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>IL-10 is a cytokine mainly produced by macrophages that plays key roles in tolerance to inhaled antigens and in lung homeostasis. Its regulation in alveolar macrophages (HAM), the resident lung phagocytes, remains however unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study investigated the role of intracellular signalling and transcription factors controlling the production of IL-10 in LPS-activated HAM from normal nonsmoking volunteers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>LPS (1–1000 pg/ml) induced <it>in vitro </it>IL-10 production by HAM, both at mRNA and protein levels. LPS also activated the phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK MAPkinases (immunoblots) and Sp-1 nuclear activity (EMSA). Selective inhibitors of MAPKinases (respectively PD98059, SB203580 and SP600125) and of Sp-1 signaling (mithramycin) decreased IL-10 expression in HAM. In addition, whilst not affecting IL-10 mRNA degradation, the three MAPKinase inhibitors completely abolished Sp-1 activation by LPS in HAM.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results demonstrate for the first time that expression of IL-10 in lung macrophages stimulated by LPS depends on the concomitant activation of ERK, p38 and JNK MAPKinases, which control downstream signalling to Sp-1 transcription factor. This study further points to Sp-1 as a key signalling pathway for IL-10 expression in the lung.</p