Evaluation of Composting Process and Quality of Compost from Coffee By-Products (Coffee Husk & Pulp)

Coffee pulp and husk are the main by-products generated by the coffee processing station and are disposed into arable land and surface water. Due to the contribution of these by-products to environmental pollution, environmentally friendly disposal methods are necessary. Therefore, composting as environmental friendly option for utilization of coffee by-products is important. The objectives of the study were to assess the properties of coffee by-products compost and analyzing changes in physico-chemical properties during process of composting. To this end, (coffee husk + pulp) (control), (coffee husk + pulp + cow dung), (coffee husk + pulp + Millettia ferruginea), (coffee husk + pulp + cow dung + Millettia ferruginea), (coffee husk + pulp + effective microorganism) were used to prepare compost. The experiment was laid in RCBD (5x3). The physico-chemical parameters were determined for all the treatments at 25, 45 and 70 days of composting. The level of pH in coffee by-products compost amended with Millettia ferruginea were highly significant (P<0.0001) as compared to coffee by-products compost amended with cow dung and effective microorganism alone. The level of N and Exch. K in coffee by-products compost amended with cow dung and Millettia ferruginea were highly significant (P<0.0001) as compared to the control and coffee by-products compost amended with cow dung and effective microorganism alone. The level of total N, OM, and C/N ratio in 25 day of composting were highly significant (p<0.0001) as compared to 70 day of composting. The physico-chemical parameter in different time of composting indicates that, composting coffee by-products compost up to 70 day were important to acquire quality compost. Comparison of experimental results proved that coffee byproducts compost amended with Millettia ferruginea and cow dung was better than other treatments for quality compost preparation. It is better to amend the coffee by-products with organic material before composting to improve the quality of the compost.Key words: Coffee by products, Composting, Quality compos

Manajemen Persediaan Bahan Baku pada Industri Kopi “Bumi Mutiara” di Kota Palu

The aim of this study was to know the amount of economical purchase of raw coffee materialsand to know the exact time to reorder the coffee in “Bumi Mutiara” palu industry. The location was chosen intentionally in the coffee industry“Bumi Mutiara” that produces coffee with the main raw material is coffee beansand the industry has not had good management of materials supplies. Respondent was determined purposively. Respondent was chosen by 4 persons consisting of 1 leader and 3 employees. Supply analysis used was the analysis of (EOQ, ROP, Safety Stock). The result showed that the number of economical purchase of raw coffee materials should be done by industry of “Bumi Mutiara” in January-Desember 2014 is about 1.499,02kilograms. Reorder which should always be available in the warehous is amount83,00kilograms.Thesafety supplies as many as 33.3 kilograms. The total cost of economic supplies that produced out in January-Desember 2014 an average Rp.145.462,56

Voltammetric determination of nicotine in cigarette tobacco at electrochemically activated glassy carbon electrode

The electrochemical behavior of nicotine was investigated using cyclic and square wave voltammetric techniques. Electrochemical activation of glassy carbon electrode significantly increased the oxidation peak current of nicotine compared to the bare glassy carbon. At the activated glassy carbon electrode, the square wave voltammetry of nicotine revealed an oxidation peak at +838 mV (vs. SCE) in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7. Under optimized conditions, the linear range (R2 = 0.998) and detection limit (3σ) for nicotine determination were found to be 1-200 µM and 0.7 µM, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination of nicotine in two brands of commercial cigarettes and acceptable recovery values of 97-108% were found. KEY WORDS: Nicotine, Activated glassy carbon, Square wave voltammetry, Cigarette Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2013, 27(3), 321-328.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v27i3.

The Toxicity of plant material, Drimia Altissima (Urginea Altissima), Against the Field Rat, Arvicanthis Abyssinicus: A potential non-synthetic rodenticide

Background: Rodents are important pests of public health and agricultural importance, capable of transmitting diseases to humans and causing crop damage. The present rodent control strategy depends primarily on synthetic rodenticides, which are highly toxic, affect non-target species, and are expensive. Naturally produced organic pesticides may be more desirable as they are less toxic to non-target animals and are  economically sustainable.Objective: The objective of the study is to explore the toxicity and palatability of the bulbs of Drimia altissima against the field rat, Arvicanthis abyssincus with the aim of developing locally based organic rodenticides.Method: This is a laboratory study for evaluating the toxicity of D. altissimia bait against the field rat, Arvicanthis abyssincus. In the study, field rats were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment groups received different concentrations of D. altissimia poison bait prepared in the lab. The control groups received the plain bait. Mortality was recorded during the test period.Results: Of the treatment groups, 80%-100% of the rats receiving the poison bait died, while none of the rats offered a choice between the plain bait and the poisoned bait died. It is estimated that 8% of the powdered bulb would produce 50% mortality.Conclusion: The powdered bulb of D. altissima resulted in rat mortality in the test but not in the control group. The liberation of the toxic substance from the poisoned bait might have been slowed by the presence of the plain bait in the choice test. The result of this study suggests that further work is needed for understanding the toxicological properties of the active agents in the bulb

Analysis of track geometry index measurement methods

Degradation of railway track can be described by main geometry parameters such as profile, alignment, gauge, cant, and twist but track geometry quality index can be used for aggregating two or more geometric defects and represent health condition of track structure. This paper discusses different methods of quality indexes and analyzes numerically three methods based on real track geometry measurement data from Addis Ababa – Djibouti railway line and their advantages discussed for the purpose of recommending TQI method for predicting future state of track which will be used in Predictive maintenance. Data collected is from 25-27 of May 2020 for 215.8Km length. Results from analysis shows, track geometry index (TGI) represents track quality more reasonably. Chinese TQI method can also represent track quality but gives equal weightage for all types of degradation parameters on the other hand TGI allocated more weightage for parameters with higher effect on ride quality. J synthetic method can only represent two types of quality below and above threshold but the two other methods represent more quality levels. Theoretically, advantages and disadvantages of methods discussed can be referred but practically recommended method can be used in prediction models for implementing predictive maintenance

Rentabilitas Usaha pada Industri Bawang Goreng Sal-Han di Kota Palu Sulawesi Tengah

Kebijakan pembangunan pertanian di Indonesia saat ini diarahkan pada modernisasi yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan hasil dan mutu produksi dalam rangka peningkatan pendapatan sekaligus peningkatan taraf hidup masyarakat. Salah satu komoditi andalan khususnya di Kota Palu yang diharapkan dapat meningkatkan pendapatan petani adalah komoditi bawang merah lokal Palu. Hasil olahan bawang merah lokal Palu dikenal dengan produk bawang goreng Palu yang memiliki kekhasan cita rasa tersendiri sehingga produk ini berbeda dengan bawang goreng hasil daerah lain. Tujuan dari penelitian ini ialah untuk mengetahui besarnya pendapatan bawang goreng Sal-Han di Kota Palu dari kesuluruhan modal yang digunakan dan untuk mengetahui besar kecilnya angka rentabilitas ekonomi dan rentabilitas modal sendiri pada industri bawang goreng Sal-Han, berdasarkan penambahan modal pinjaman. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada industri bawang goreng Sal-Han di Kota Palu. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan dengan sengaja (Purpossive) dalam hal ini industri bawang goreng Sal-Han. Data yang dikumpulkan adalah data primer dan data sekunder. Analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis penyusutan, analisis pendapatan dan analisis rentabilitas. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa penambahan modal pinjaman sebesar Rp 100.000.000 dengan tingkat bunga 19,6% pertahun, industri bawang goreng Sal-Han memperoleh nilai rata-rata rentabilitas ekonomi sebesar 40,65%, artinya bahwa setiap penambahan modal sebanyak Rp 100 akan menghasilkan keuntungan sebesar Rp 40,65,-, sementara nilai rentabilitas modal sendiri menghasilkan nilai rata-rata sebesar 41,31%, hal ini berarti setiap penambahan Rp 100 akan mengahasilkan keuntungan sebesar Rp 41,31,-

Precise positioning of an ion in an integrated Paul trap-cavity system using radiofrequency signals

We report a novel miniature Paul ion trap design with an integrated optical fibre cavity which can serve as a building block for a fibre-linked quantum network. In such cavity quantum electrodynamic set-ups, the optimal coupling of the ions to the cavity mode is of vital importance and this is achieved by moving the ion relative to the cavity mode. The trap presented herein features an endcap-style design complemented with extra electrodes on which additional radiofrequency voltages are applied to fully control the pseudopotential minimum in three dimensions. This method lifts the need to use three-dimensional translation stages for moving the fibre cavity with respect to the ion and achieves high integrability, mechanical rigidity and scalability. Not based on modifying the capacitive load of the trap, this method leads to precise control of the pseudopotential minimum allowing the ion to be moved with precisions limited only by the ion’s position spread. We demonstrate this by coupling the ion to the fibre cavity and probing the cavity mode profile

Stable isotope metabolomics of pulmonary artery smooth muscle and endothelial cells in pulmonary hypertension and with TGF-beta treatment.

Altered metabolism in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and endothelial cells (PAECs) contributes to the pathology of pulmonary hypertension (PH), but changes in substrate uptake and how substrates are utilized have not been fully characterized. We hypothesized stable isotope metabolomics would identify increased glucose, glutamine and fatty acid uptake and utilization in human PASMCs and PAECs from PH versus control specimens, and that TGF-β treatment would phenocopy these metabolic changes. We used 13C-labeled glucose, glutamine or a long-chain fatty acid mixture added to cell culture media, and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to detect and quantify 13C-labeled metabolites. We found PH PASMCs had increased glucose uptake and utilization by glycolysis and the pentose shunt, but no changes in glutamine or fatty acid uptake or utilization. Diseased PAECs had increased proximate glycolysis pathway intermediates, less pentose shunt flux, increased anaplerosis from glutamine, and decreased fatty acid β-oxidation. TGF-β treatment increased glycolysis in PASMCs, but did not recapitulate the PAEC disease phenotype. In TGF-β-treated PASMCs, glucose, glutamine and fatty acids all contributed carbons to the TCA cycle. In conclusion, PASMCs and PAECs collected from PH subjects have significant changes in metabolite uptake and utilization, partially recapitulated by TGF-β treatment