ALGAE TO BIODIESEL

In the spring of 2010, a CBE 459 design team focused on cultivating algae with the SimgaeTM Algal Biomass Production System, extracting algal lipids using OriginOilTM single-step extraction technology, and converting lipids into green diesel fuel. It was determined that the process was profitable, but required a staggering capital investment of 2.8 billion dollars. In the past year, both public and private institutions have joined the race to produce biofuels from an algal feedstock in an economically responsible manner that is by maintaining profitability while minimizing high capital costs. The intention of this report is to contribute to the global discourse on alternative-fuels and to reevaluate the promise of algae as a renewable resource for alternative fuels in light of the latest research and technological advances. The algae-to-biofuel venture was segmented into three modules: algal cultivation, lipid extraction and lipid processing. Each module was studied thoroughly and several strategies were proposed for the reduction of its associated fixed, capital and variable costs. As contrasted with a previous study, it was concluded that heterotrophic algal cultivation and transesterification lipid- processing technologies would improve the efficiency and reduce the total capital investment. Once each module was designed in detail, the three segments were stitched together to perform an overall economic analysis. Based on the current market price of $3.30 per gallon for pure biodiesel, a project life of 15 years, and a 15$1.3 billion and the Return on Investment (ROI) was determined to be 32%. Although these economic results are promising, they are based on an analysis that necessarily invoked highly uncertain postulates in the dearth of published data. For example, the kinetics used to model the lipid-processing module were based on data collected for palm oil at similar conditions, while the details of lipid-extraction energy usage for a high-density slurry were approximated on the basis of results for low-density slurry. Furthermore, it was concluded that the income from the sale of the algal biomass byproduct of lipid-extraction is a critical factor in the profitability. Based on its protein content, this report considered the use of algal biomass as animal feed and determined its economic worth accordingly. However, to ensure the economic success of biodiesel production, an additional analysis should focus on algal usage of biomass as a feedstock and confirm the safety of its use. Further analyses could examine other potential applications for the byproduct, including opportunities within the pharmaceutical and power generation industries. Overall, in order to convince investors that the attractive economics published in this report may be translated into actual earnings, it is critical to move beyond modeling. Pilot studies must be conducted in order to bolster the proposed algae-to-biodiesel venture with experimental data and identify possible pitfalls

Exact Solutions for Chebyshev Equations by using the Asymptotic Iteration Method

The asymptotic iteration method is used in order to solve the Chebyshev differential equations, and to reproduce the Chebyshev polynomials T n ( x ), U n ( x ) of the first and second kinds respectively. It is shown that the asymptotic iteration method is valid for any degree \u3b

Antecedents of user attitude toward e-government services use: Empirical study on department of lands and survey

This qualitative study examined the impact of social media characteristics on the attitude of users toward the use of e-services by the Department of Lands and Survey. The study population comprised users of Department of Lands and Survey e-service, while the study sample comprised 407 users. Data from respondents were analyzed using SEM run using Amos (23). Results showed reliability, security, website design, ease of use, awareness, and digital divide as direct significant antecedents of user attitude toward the use of e-services from the Department of Lands and Survey. Also, all antecedents showed direct significant relationships with user attitude. Results showed a direct significant relationship between user attitude and the use of e-services from the Department of Lands and Survey. Through mediation of user attitude, five indirect significant relationships between the antecedents and the use of e-services from the Department of Lands and Survey were found. The inclusion of new antecedents such as privacy and site content may enhance the understanding of how users use e-services provided by the Department of Lands and Survey

Neurobrucellosis with transient ischemic attack, vasculopathic changes, intracerebral granulomas and basal ganglia infarction: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Central nervous system involvement is a rare but serious manifestation of brucellosis. We present an unusual case of neurobrucellosis with transient ischemic attack, intracerebral vasculopathy granulomas, seizures, and paralysis of sixth and seventh cranial nerves.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 17-year-old Caucasian man presented with nausea and vomiting, headache, double vision and he gave a history of weakness in the left arm, speech disturbance and imbalance. Physical examination revealed fever, doubtful neck stiffness and left abducens nerve paralysis. An analysis of his cerebrospinal fluid showed a pleocytosis (lymphocytes, 90%), high protein and low glucose levels. He developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures, facial paralysis and left hemiparesis. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated intracerebral vasculitis, basal ganglia infarction and granulomas, mimicking the central nervous system involvement of tuberculosis. On the 31st day of his admission, neurobrucellosis was diagnosed with immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G positivity by standard tube agglutination test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples (the tests had been negative until that day). He was treated successfully with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, doxycyline and rifampicin for six months.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our patient illustrates the importance of suspecting brucellosis as a cause of meningoencephalitis, even if cultures and serological tests are negative at the beginning of the disease. As a result, in patients who have a history of residence or travel to endemic areas, neurobrucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any neurologic symptoms. If initial tests fail, repetition of these tests at appropriate intervals along with complementary investigations are indicated.</p

Measurement of the inelastic proton-proton cross section at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

This Letter presents a measurement of the inelastic proton-proton cross section using 60  μb −1 of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy √s of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Inelastic interactions are selected using rings of plastic scintillators in the forward region (2.0710 −6 , where M X is the larger invariant mass of the two hadronic systems separated by the largest rapidity gap in the event. In this ξ range the scintillators are highly efficient. For diffractive events this corresponds to cases where at least one proton dissociates to a system with M X >13  GeV . The measured cross section is compared with a range of theoretical predictions. When extrapolated to the full phase space, a cross section of 78.1±2.9  mb is measured, consistent with the inelastic cross section increasing with center-of-mass energy

Beitrag zur Charakterisierung von Arten der Gattung Acer durch Untersuchungen an Samen und Keimlingen

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: DW 7600 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

A capacitated lot sizing procedure for material requirement planning systems

M.S.Leon F. McGinni

Exact Solutions for Chebyshev Equations by using the Asymptotic Iteration Method

The asymptotic iteration method is used in order to solve the Chebyshev differential equations, and to reproduce the Chebyshev polynomials T n ( x ), U n ( x ) of the first and second kinds respectively. It is shown that the asymptotic iteration method is valid for any degree