Preliminary Drying of Oil Palm Fronds Using Concentrated Solar Thermal Power

Biomass is an important renewable energy source. Malaysia has a great potential for biomass stock and especially oil palm wastes. The fact that oil palm fronds contain high moisture content makes it unsuitable to be used directly as a biomass fuel, neither for direct combustion nor gasification. In addition, conventional and costly drying methods make the fronds a non-attractive fuel. The objective of this paper is to find a cheap, sustainable and efficient way of drying oil palm fronds. A new design is proposed that utilizes concentrated solar thermal energy for drying the biomass. A solar dryer rig has been designed and fabricated. The system’s target is to maximize the thermal energy received into the system and to minimize energy loss out of it. The rig consists of three main components. A 49 inch Fresnel lens with a concentration ratio of 8 is used for concentrating the solar energy onto a receiver. The second component is the lens holder that provides the needed elevation for the lens according to the required temperature inside the drying chamber, having the maximum temperature at an elevation equals to the focal length. The third component is the drying chamber. It consists of a sheet of aluminum painted in black and a glazing made of 12 mm acrylic sheets. The aluminum sheet which acts as the receiver is designed to receive solar radiation at different times of the day; thus eliminating the need for a sun tracking system. The glazing is used for trapping the heat energy inside the drying chamber, and minimizing conduction of the heat to the surrounding environment. The chamber contains perforations in order to provide air flow inside the chamber; for a faster removal of humidity. Experiments have been performed on samples of oil palm fronds at a drying temperature not exceeding 110°C; in order not to affect the organic material of the biomass. Results have been compared with another experiment that used an electric oven for drying at the same temperature. Using the proposed system, the samples were completely dried in 6.5 hours with an average efficiency of 55.4%, compared to 10.5 hours when using the electric oven. The proposed system achieved an average drying rate of 4.75 g/hr compared to an average drying rate of 2.83 g/hr using the electric oven. These results were achieved since relative humidity value inside the drying chamber was lower compared to that inside the oven. One drawback of the system is its heavy dependence on the weather. Cloudy conditions affect the results severely. It is recommended to combine another source of heating to the current one. By converting the proposed system into a hybrid one the problem of inconsistent solar radiation can be reduced

Role of expression of atrial natriuretic peptide gene in essential hypertension among Egyptian patients

Introduction: Essential Hypertension has been a great burden on public health services for a long time, with many life-threatening complications. Therefore, we decided to study Atrial Natriuretic peptide (ANP) gene expression as one of the most important blood pressure controlling genes, in order to use ANP gene as a potential diagnostic or therapeutic marker in the near future.Methods: One hundred essential hypertensive patients and 100 normotensive controls were included. Study Subjects were subjected to ANP gene expression analysis, together with blood pressure measurement, Lab investigations, and BMI analysis.Results: There was a statistical difference between ANP gene expression and blood pressure, with lower ANP gene expression level (median of 0.3) being present among hypertensive patients and higher ANP gene expression level (median of 1.6) among normotensive controls (p < 0.001).Discussion: We proved that ANP gene expression to be low in essential hypertension patients compared with normotensive individuals

Not Our Land: An Analysis of a Socially Dysfunctional Community in El Fayrouz, Red Sea Region, Egypt

Community is an integral part of human social fabric; without a sense of belonging societies can no longer function properly. This paper investigates a low income residential area in El Fayrouz, an area located between the city of Hurghada and El Gouna in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. The methodological process of urban analysis is focused on understanding the residents of the area, their behaviours, challenges and expectations through studying qualitative and quantitative social and contextual data. The literature review, analysing similar case studies and benchmarks inspired the proposed solution. It is evident that the diversity of cultures of the migrants coming from Upper Egypt in search for economic opportunities hasformed social segregation in the area. This is magnified by the infrastructure deficiencies, the urban fabric and the unstable sources of income. “Not Our Land”, a manifestation of the sense of isolation and the disregard for the communal space is visualised through the solid waste in the street. This presents anopportunity for an environmental entrepreneurship model which integrates the community through an economic incentive: a solution that encompasses social, economic, ecological and infrastructural dimensions

Technical project for drilling an exploration and production well in terms of Skorokhodivsky oil and gas condensate deposit

The paper is compiled in accordance with the requirements of the guidelines. It contains information about the area of drilling, geological structure and characteristics of productive horizons. In the design part, the issues of well construction are resolved: the well structure has been designed, the equipment for the drilling rig, the rock cutting tool, the drilling and cementing technology have been selected. Measures have been developed to improve the quality of drilling fluids during preparation. Safety precautions are given when drilling wells. The issues of subsoil and environmental protection are highlighted. The estimate of well drilling has been substantiated.The object of the study is drilling a well in terms of the Skorokhodovsky gas condensate field with theThe object of the study is drilling a well in terms of the Skorokhodovsky gas condensate field with the development of measures to improve the quality of drilling fluids. development of measures to improve the quality of drilling fluids

Preliminary Drying of Oil Palm Fronds Using Concentrated Solar Thermal Power

Biomass is an important renewable energy source. Malaysia has a great potential for biomass stock and especially oil palm wastes. The fact that oil palm fronds contain high moisture content makes it unsuitable to be used directly as a biomass fuel, neither for direct combustion nor gasification. In addition, conventional and costly drying methods make the fronds a non-attractive fuel. The objective of this paper is to find a cheap, sustainable and efficient way of drying oil palm fronds. A new design is proposed that utilizes concentrated solar thermal energy for drying the biomass. A solar dryer rig has been designed and fabricated. The system’s target is to maximize the thermal energy received into the system and to minimize energy loss out of it. The rig consists of three main components. A 49 inch Fresnel lens with a concentration ratio of 8 is used for concentrating the solar energy onto a receiver. The second component is the lens holder that provides the needed elevation for the lens according to the required temperature inside the drying chamber, having the maximum temperature at an elevation equals to the focal length. The third component is the drying chamber. It consists of a sheet of aluminum painted in black and a glazing made of 12 mm acrylic sheets. The aluminum sheet which acts as the receiver is designed to receive solar radiation at different times of the day; thus eliminating the need for a sun tracking system. The glazing is used for trapping the heat energy inside the drying chamber, and minimizing conduction of the heat to the surrounding environment. The chamber contains perforations in order to provide air flow inside the chamber; for a faster removal of humidity. Experiments have been performed on samples of oil palm fronds at a drying temperature not exceeding 110°C; in order not to affect the organic material of the biomass. Results have been compared with another experiment that used an electric oven for drying at the same temperature. Using the proposed system, the samples were completely dried in 6.5 hours with an average efficiency of 55.4%, compared to 10.5 hours when using the electric oven. The proposed system achieved an average drying rate of 4.75 g/hr compared to an average drying rate of 2.83 g/hr using the electric oven. These results were achieved since relative humidity value inside the drying chamber was lower compared to that inside the oven. One drawback of the system is its heavy dependence on the weather. Cloudy conditions affect the results severely. It is recommended to combine another source of heating to the current one. By converting the proposed system into a hybrid one the problem of inconsistent solar radiation can be reduced

Serum Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Level in Cirrhotic Chronic Hepatitis C Patients With and Without Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This study will be carried out on 500 personnel divided into five groups : Group A: 100 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma without interventions. Group B: same 100 cases of group A before and 3 months after successful interventions.Group C: 100 cases of established cirrhosis. Group D: 100 cases with chronic hepatitis C virus infection without established cirrhosis. Group E: 100 healthy individuals as controls.Methods: Sera from selected patients and controls have been used for estimation of SCC-Ag using CanAg SCC EIA. Results: high significant increase in serum SCCA level in patients with HCC (groupA and groupB) when compared to cirrhotic, chronic HCV and control groups (P < 0.001). Positive significant correlation was found between AFP and serum SCCA level .The best cut-off value to differentiate HCC patients from cirrhotic patients was 3.2 ng/ml for SCCA yielded with 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity. When combined sensitivity of both markers was calculated in our study at the best-chosen cutoff values (SCCA 3.2 ng/ml and AFP 200 ng/ml) sensitivity improved to 93%.Conclusion: Combined SCCA and AFP can be used as in diagnosis of HCC and follow up 3 months after therapeutic intervention

Immunological and pathological adverse effects of avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 infection in aflatoxicated-broiler chickens

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗAflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a metabolic product of the Aspergillus spp. of molds, which grow on several feedstuffs stored in hot moist conditions. It is one of the immunosuppressive agents that might influence the pathogenesisof avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H9N2 in broilers, which can exacerbate the disease outcomes. The immunological, biochemical and pathological adverse health effects of an interaction between low levels of dietary aflatoxins (AFs) and H9N2 infection in broiler chickens were investigated. One hundred and eighty of unvaccinated 1-day-old COBB chicks were, therefore, raised for 35 days in the following treatment groups: control, AFs, AFs+H9N2, and H9N2. AFs in the basal diet was added at 200 ppb starting from the first day of age, while H9N2 virus was intra-nasally installed at a dose of 100 μl of 106 EID50/bird of allantois fluid at 23rd day. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated. Evidence of H9N2-AIV viral shedding was also detected. It has been observed that concurrent exposure of AFs and H9N2 virus negatively affected chicken performance traits i.e. lowered feed intake and body weights with exaggerated respiratory and digestive disturbances, and 20% mortality rate. Ten days’ post H9N2 infection, significant (p≤ 0.05) increment in serum transaminases (AST and ALT) and falling in cell-mediated immunity i.e. total leukocyte count, lymphocyte transformation activity and macrophage phagocytic activity were detected. Additionally, AFs+H9N2 significantly (p≤ 0.05) lowered H9N2-HI titers (5.5 Log2) than H9N2 alone (6.3 Log2). Pathologically, aflatoxicated chickens showed hydropic degeneration, hepatocytic vacuolation and necrosis of liver tissues with nephrosis and urates deposition in ureters, as well as bursal and thymic lesions, which were potent in H9N2–inoculated chickens. AFs exposure increased the incidence and titer of H9N2 viral shedding. It could be concluded that dietary contamination with AFs even at very low levels has explanatory effect in H9N2–inoculated broilers, and vice versa