Adsorptive desulphurization of model oil by Ag nanoparticles-modified activated carbon prepared from brewer’s spent grains

This study reports removal of dibenzothiophene (DBT) from model oil (DBT dissolved in n-heptane) by silver nanoparticles modified activated carbon prepared from brewer’s spent grains using wet impregnation (WI) method. The removal efficiency follows the order AgNPscw=AC > AgNPskp=AC> ACB. The AgNPskp/AC and AgNPscw/AC exhibit higher adsorption capacities for DBT with maximum values of 25.7 and 29.8 mg DBT/gAds at 25 �C respectively, than ACB with 13.9 mg DBT/gAds. The two-fold enhancement in the DBT uptake capacities of modified ACs can be attributed to the introduction of Ag(1) ion, a weak Lewis acid as an additional adsorption site. A significant decrease from 212.9 to 136.2 m2/g in the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of AgNPscw/AC is observed following the loading of DBT. The equilibrium adsorption data is adequately represented by Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption kinetics of DBT by these adsorbents followed pseudo second-order (PSO) model and the mechanism of adsorption was controlled by film and intra-particle diffusion. The change in entropy and heat of adsorption for DBT adsorption by these adsorbents range from 0.18 to 0.19 kJ/mol K and 21.5 to 23.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The results indicate that Ag nanoparticles-modified ACs from brewer’s spent grains can be used as adsorbent for the removal of DBT from model oil

Handover in Mobile Wireless Communication Network - A Review

Mobility is the characteristics of mobile communication that makes it irresistible by all and sundry. The whole world is now engaging in wireless communication as it provides users\u27 ability to communicate on-the-go. This is achieved by transferring users from a radio network to another. This process is called handover. Handover occurs either by cell crossing or by deterioration in signal quality of the current channel. The continuation of an active call is a critical characteristic in cellular systems. Brief overview of handover, handover type, commonly used handover parameters, some methods employed in the literature and we present the convergent point for furtherance in the area of mobile wireless communication Handover

Towards implementing integrated building product libraries

Electronic product catalogues and brochures are gaining popularity but there is little agreement on content, format and searching methods. This limits their usability and integration with existing construction software tools. This paper examines a productmodelling approach to delivering building product information and describes a proposed multi-tier client-server environment. ISO/STEP and IAI/IFC building product models are considered to facilitate representation, exchange and sharing of product information. The proposed architecture incorporates scalability with middleware components that would provide single or few points of entry to integrated product information. This paper is part of a research project, which builds on the results of related projects including ConstructIT Strategy, PROCAT-GEN, Active Catalog, COMBINE and ARROW, towards implementing the required software components

Architecture for implementing IFC-based online construction product libraries

Construction product information providers have responded to the demand for electronic delivery by providing online access, CD-ROMs and DVDs but these solutions have limited usability and are generally incapable of supporting prevalent and emerging industry practices. The product library implementations attempt to replicate the functionalities of the paper versions, which serve for independent specification and procurement but gives little thought to teams and tools integration through support for automated information exchange and sharing. The IFC standard provides common terminologies, technologies, syntax and semantics necessary to address present and future compatibility and integration issues, hence IFC-based implementation of product libraries have good prospect for meeting the industry requirements. This paper reviews current product information delivery methods and examines the applicability of the IFC and other standards. The requirements for IFC-based construction product libraries are identified and an architecture for realising the requirements was presented

Safety and efficacy of cladribine tablets in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Results from the randomized extension trial of the CLARITY study.

BACKGROUND: In the 2-year CLARITY study, cladribine tablets significantly improved clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes (vs placebo) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of cladribine treatment in a 2-year Extension study. METHODS: In this 2-year Extension study, placebo recipients from CLARITY received cladribine 3.5 mg/kg; cladribine recipients were re-randomized 2:1 to cladribine 3.5 mg/kg or placebo, with blind maintained. RESULTS: A total of 806 patients were assigned to treatment. Adverse event rates were generally similar between groups, but lymphopenia Grade ⩾ 3 rates were higher with cladribine than placebo (Grade 4 lymphopenia occurred infrequently). In patients receiving cladribine 3.5 mg/kg in CLARITY and experiencing lymphopenia Grade ⩾ 3 in the Extension, >90% of those treated with cladribine 3.5 mg/kg and all treated with placebo in the Extension, recovered to Grade 0-1 by study end. Cladribine treatment in CLARITY produced efficacy improvements that were maintained in patients treated with placebo in the Extension; in patients treated with cladribine 3.5 mg/kg in CLARITY, approximately 75% remained relapse-free when given placebo during the Extension. CONCLUSION: Cladribine tablets treatment for 2 years followed by 2 years' placebo treatment produced durable clinical benefits similar to 4 years of cladribine treatment with a low risk of severe lymphopenia or clinical worsening. No clinical improvement in efficacy was apparent following further treatment with cladribine tablets after the initial 2-year treatment period in this trial setting.This study was sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc., a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (in the United States), and Merck Serono SA, Geneva, an affiliate of Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany (rest of the world)

Gastroprotective Effects of the Aqueous Seed Extract of Entada gigas (Linn.) Fawc. and Rendle (Fabaceae) in Ulcer Models in Rats

Background: The extract of Entada gigas Linn. (Fabaceae) is used for the treatment of ulcer in Nigerian local medicine. Objectives: This study investigated the gastroprotective effects of the aqueous seed extract of E. gigas on gastric ulcers in rats. Methodology: The ethanol- (EIU), pylorus ligation- (PLIU) and cold restraint stress (CRSIU)-induced ulcer models were used. The aqueous seed extract was administered at doses of 50-400 mg/kg p.o. Estimations of gastric content volume, pH and titratable acidity in PLIU test and ulcer score/index in all models were done. Results: In the EIU test, E. gigas produced significant reduction (p < 0.05) in ulcer scores, with peak effect elicited at 100 mg/kg (2.30 ± 0.99; 87.22% inhibition), compared with control (10.80 ± 0.80). This effect was comparable to that of misoprostol (3.00 ± 1.31; 83.33% inhibition). In the PLIU test, the extract caused significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the ulcer score compared with control (6.30 ± 0.70). Peak effect was elicited at the dose of 200 mg/kg (ulcer score 2.90 ± 0.83; 63.17%). This effect was comparable to that of cimetidine (2.60 ± 0.93; 66.98%). Also, the extract at 50 and 200 mg/kg, and cimetidine 100 mg/kg (0.24 ± 0.07, 1.06 ± 0.22 and 1.02 ± 0.16 mL/4 h, respectively) significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the volume of gastric content relative to control (2.32 ± 0.33 mL/4 h). In the CRSIU test, E. gigas caused significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the ulcer score, with the greatest effect produced at the dose of 50 mg/kg (0.80 ± 0.49; 92.38% inhibition), relative to control (4.20 ± 0.64). This effect was comparable to that of misoprostol (1.40 ± 0.60; 80% inhibition). Conclusion: The aqueous seed extract of E. gigas possess significant antiulcer activity mediated via cytoprotective and anti-secretory mechanisms. Keywords: Entada gigas, Fabaceae, ulcer, gastroprotective effect, cytoprotective, anti-secretory

Design of a digital fuel gauge with distance-to-zero indicator

The fuel gauge in automobiles measures the amount of fuel in the tank through the sensing unit located in the tank and the analog indicator on the dashboard of the vehicle shows the quantity of fuel per time. This work is designed to ensure the display of the exact volume of fuel in the vehicle in digital form instead of the usual analog fuel indicator. It will also help to prevent inaccurate measurement of fuel at the filling station by showing the quantity of fuel during refuelling. So, a digital fuel gauge system has been designed and constructed to measure the exact quantity of fuel in the tank and display this measured quantity digitally in litres, by making use of an ultrasonic sensor and programmable microcontroller and the result obtain is ±0.96% accurate

Development of an Improved Convolutional Neural Network for an Automated Face Based University Attendance System

Because of the flaws of the present university attendance system, which has always been time intensive, not accurate, and a hard process to follow. It, therefore, becomes imperative to eradicate or minimize the deficiencies identified in the archaic method. The identification of human face systems has evolved into a significant element in autonomous attendance-taking systems due to their ease of adoption and dependable and polite engagement. Face recognition technology has drastically altered the field of Convolution Neural Networks (CNN) however it has challenges of high computing costs for analyzing information and determining the best specifications (design) for each problem. Thus, this study aims to enhance CNN’s performance using Genetic Algorithm (GA) for an automated face-based University attendance system. The improved face recognition accuracy with CNN-GA got 96.49% while the face recognition accuracy with CNN got 92.54%

The triterpene, methyl-3β-hydroxylanosta-9,24-dien-21-oate (RA3), attenuates high glucose-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis by improving energy metabolism

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia-induced cardiovascular dysfunction has been linked to oxidative stress and accelerated apoptosis in the diabetic myocardium. While there is currently no treatment for diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), studies suggest that the combinational use of anti-hyperglycemic agents and triterpenes could be effective in alleviating DCM. HYPOTHESIS: To investigate the therapeutic effect of methyl-3β-hydroxylanosta-9,24-dien-21-oate (RA3), in the absence or presence of the anti-diabetic drug, metformin (MET), against hyperglycemia-induced cardiac injury using an in vitro H9c2 cell model. METHODS: To mimic a hyperglycemic state, H9c2 cells were exposed to high glucose (HG, 33 mM) for 24 h. Thereafter, the cells were treated with RA3 (1 μM), MET (1 μM) and the combination of MET (1 μM) plus RA3 (1 μM) for 24 h, to assess the treatments therapeutic effect. RESULTS: Biochemical analysis revealed that RA3, with or without MET, improves glucose uptake via insulindependent (IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signaling) and independent (AMPK) pathways whilst ameliorating the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the H9c2 cells. Mechanistically, RA3 was able to alleviate HG-stimulated oxidative stress through the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation as well as the reduced expression of the PKC/NF-кB cascade through decreased intracellular lipid content. Subsequently, RA3 was able to mitigate HG-induced apoptosis by decreasing the activity of caspase 3/7 and DNA fragmentation in the cardiomyoblasts. CONCLUSION: RA3, in the absence or presence of MET, demonstrated potent therapeutic properties against hyperglycemia-mediated cardiac damage and could be a suitable candidate in the prevention of DCM.South African National Treasury and National Research Foundation.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/phymedpm2022BiochemistryGeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

New ecosystems in the deep subsurface follow the flow of water driven by geological activity

Eukarya have been discovered in the deep subsurface at several locations in South Africa, but how organisms reach the subsurface remains unknown. We studied river-subsurface fissure water systems and identified Eukarya from a river that are genetically identical for 18S rDNA. To further confirm that these are identical species one metazoan species recovered from the overlying river interbred successfully with specimen recovered from an underlying mine at −1.4 km. In situ seismic simulation experiments were carried out and show seismic activity to be a major force increasing the hydraulic conductivity in faults allowing organisms to create ecosystems in the deep subsurface. As seismic activity is a non-selective force we recovered specimen of algae and Insecta that defy any obvious other explanation at a depth of −3.4 km. Our results show there is a steady flow of surface organisms to the deep subsurface where some survive and adapt and others perish. As seismic activity is also present on other planets and moons in our solar system the mechanism elucidated here may be relevant for future search and selection of landing sites in planetary exploration.publishedVersio