Peningkatan Nilai Kalori pada Batubara Lignit dengan Metode Aglomerasi Air dan Minyak Sawit pada PT. Indonesia Power Ujp Pltu Barru

Penggunaan batubara di PLTU sangat bergantung kepada kualitas batubara yang digunakan, karena semakin tinggi kualitas batubara maka akan memaksimalkan pembakaran dan secara langsung akan berdampak pada produksi listrik yang dihasilkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peningkatan nilai kalori pada batubara lignit. Pada penelitian ini digunakan metode aglomerasi dengan media air dan minyak sawit yang pada setiap sampel diberi perlakukan yang sama namun mengalami peningkatan yang berbeda. Ada tiga sampel yang digunakan pada penelitian ini dimana pada setiap sampel memiliki komposisi batubara lignit seberat 1 gram, minyak sawit sebanyak 10,20,30 ml dan air sebanyak 100 ml. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa semakin banyak konsentrasi minyak maka semakin tinggi kadar karbon yang diikat, sehingga dapat meningkatkan nilai kalori batubara. Dilihat dari konsentrasi 30% pada setiap sampel batubara mengalami peningkatan nilai kalori yang sebelumnya 3.765,23 cal/gr menjadi 5.279,46 cal/gr pada sampel pertama, 3.567,44 cal/gr menjadi 4.989,07 cal/gr pada sampel kedua dan 4.026,07 cal/gr menjadi 5.166,98 cal/gr pada sampel ketiga. Dari hasil penelitian ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa batubara lignit yang digunakan di PLTU dapat ditingkatkan nilai kalorinya menggunakan metode aglomerasi air dan minyak sawit

In vivo bone regeneration capacity of multiscale porous polycaprolactone-based high internal phase emulsion (PolyHIPE) scaffolds in a rat calvarial defect model

Globally, one of the most common tissue transplantation procedures is bone grafting. Lately, we have reported the development of polymerized high internal phase emulsions (PolyHIPEs) made of photocurable polycaprolactone (4PCLMA) and shown their potential to be used as bone tissue engineering scaffolds in vitro. However, it is essential to evaluate the in vivo performance of these scaffolds to investigate their potential in a clinically more relevant manner. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare in vivo performances of macroporous (fabricated using stereolithography), microporous (fabricated using emulsion templating), and multiscale porous (fabricated using emulsion templating and perforation) scaffolds made of 4PCLMA. Also, 3D-printed macroporous scaffolds (fabricated using fused deposition modeling) made of thermoplastic polycaprolactone were used as a control. Scaffolds were implanted into a critical-sized calvarial defect, animals were sacrificed 4 or 8 weeks after implantation, and the new bone formation was assessed by micro-computed tomography, dental radiography, and histology. Multiscale porous scaffolds that include both micro- and macropores resulted in higher bone regeneration in the defect area compared to only macroporous or only microporous scaffolds. When one-grade porous scaffolds were compared, microporous scaffolds showed better performance than macroporous scaffolds in terms of mineralized bone volume and tissue regeneration. Micro-CT results revealed that while bone volume/tissue volume (Bv/Tv) values were 8 and 17% at weeks 4 and 8 for macroporous scaffolds, they were significantly higher for microporous scaffolds, with values of 26 and 33%, respectively. Taken together, the results reported in this study showed the potential application of multiscale PolyHIPE scaffolds, in particular, as a promising material for bone regeneration

Mechanical and microstructural characterization of geopolymers from assorted construction and demolition waste-based masonry and glass

YesGeopolymers are mostly produced with main-stream precursors such as fly ash and slag. These precursors are successfully used and competitively demanded by the cement industry. Development of geopolymers from alternative precursors is appealing. The main aim of this work is the development of geopolymers with construction and demolition waste-based precursors including masonry units (red clay brick, roof tile, hollow brick) and glass. Different curing temperatures (50, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 115, 125 oC), curing periods (24, 48, 72 h), and Na concentrations (10, 12, 15%) of alkaline activator (NaOH) were employed. Compressive strength testing and microstructural investigations were performed including X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results showed that depending on the type of precursor (hollow brick), curing temperature/period (115 oC/24 h) and concentration of alkaline activator (12%), it is possible to obtain compressive strength results more than 45 MPa. Hollow brick is the most successful precursor resulting in higher compressive strength results thanks to a more compact microstructure. The strength performance of red clay brick and roof tile is similar. The compressive strength results of geopolymers with glass precursor are lower, most probably due to significantly coarser particles of glass used. The main reaction products of red clay brick-, roof tile- and hollow brick-based geopolymers are sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) gels with zeolite-like structures while they are sodium silicate gels in the case of glass-based geopolymers. Our findings showed that CDW-based materials can be used successfully in producing geopolymers. Current research is believed to help raise awareness in novel routes for the effective utilization of such wastes which are realistically troublesome and attract further research on the utilization of CDW-based materials in geopolymer production.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) of Turkey and British Council provided under projects: 117M447 and 218M102

Gelatin-containing porous polycaprolactone PolyHIPEs as substrates for 3D breast cancer cell culture and vascular infiltration

Tumour survival and growth are reliant on angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, to facilitate nutrient and waste exchange and, importantly, provide a route for metastasis from a primary to a secondary site. Whilst current models can ensure the transport and exchange of nutrients and waste via diffusion over distances greater than 200 μm, many lack sufficient vasculature capable of recapitulating the tumour microenvironment and, thus, metastasis. In this study, we utilise gelatin-containing polymerised high internal phase emulsion (polyHIPE) templated polycaprolactone-methacrylate (PCL-M) scaffolds to fabricate a composite material to support the 3D culture of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and vascular ingrowth. Firstly, we investigated the effect of gelatin within the scaffolds on the mechanical and chemical properties using compression testing and FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. Initial in vitro assessment of cell metabolic activity and vascular endothelial growth factor expression demonstrated that gelatin-containing PCL-M polyHIPEs are capable of supporting 3D breast cancer cell growth. We then utilised the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay to assess the angiogenic potential of cell-seeded gelatin-containing PCL-M polyHIPEs, and vascular ingrowth within cell-seeded, surfactant and gelatin-containing scaffolds was investigated via histological staining. Overall, our study proposes a promising composite material to fabricate a substrate to support the 3D culture of cancer cells and vascular ingrowth

Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with iron deficiency chlorosis resistance in groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea )

Iron deficiency chlorosis is an important abiotic stress affecting groundnut production worldwide in calcareous and alkaline soils with a pH of 7.5–8.5. To identify genomic regions controlling iron deficiency chlorosis resistance in groundnut, the recombinant inbred line population from the cross TAG 24 × ICGV 86031 was evaluated for associated traits like visual chlorosis rating and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading across three crop growth stages for two consecutive years. Thirty-two QTLs were identified for visual chlorosis rating (3.9%–31.8% phenotypic variance explained [PVE]) and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading [3.8%–11% PVE] across three stages over 2 years. This is the first report of identification of QTLs for iron deficiency chlorosis resistance- associated traits in groundnut. Three major QTLs (>10% PVE) were identified at severe stage, while majority of other QTLs were having small effects. Interestingly, two major QTLs for visual chlorosis rating at 60 days (2013) and 90 days (2014) were located at same position on LG AhXIII. The identified QTLs/markers after validation across diverse genetic material could be used in genomics-assisted breeding

Increased risk of venous thrombosis by AB alleles of the ABO blood group and Factor V Leiden in a Brazilian population

Most cases of a predisposition to venous thrombosis are caused by resistance to activated protein C, associated in 95% of cases with the Factor V Leiden allele (FVL or R506Q). Several recent studies report a further increased risk of thrombosis by an association between the AB alleles of the ABO blood group and Factor V Leiden. The present study investigated this association with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in individuals treated at the Hemocentro de Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil. A case-control comparison showed a significant risk of thrombosis in the presence of Factor V Leiden (OR = 10.1), which was approximately doubled when the AB alleles of the ABO blood group were present as well (OR = 22.3). These results confirm that the increased risk of deep vein thrombosis in the combined presence of AB alleles and Factor V Leiden is also applicable to the Brazilian population suggesting that ABO blood group typing should be routinely added to FVL in studies involving thrombosis