Stabilization of Flue Gas Desulfurization sludge for application in marine environments

Flue Gas Desulfurization sludge (FGD, CaSO4·2H2O, CaSO3·1/2H2O) is a waste by-product produced when sorbent slurry is passed through wet scrubbers. FGD contains higher concentrations of Ca, S, Si, Fe, Al and Br making it of great environmental concern. Presently only 16% of 24 million metric tons (MT) of FGD sludge produced is being recycled; the rest is disposed in landfills. This research was focused towards stabilizing FGD sludge with Portland Type II cement and Class C fly ash to produce lightweight fill material to be used in the construction of coastal devices. The specific objectives included the development of a FGD briquette composition that under submerged conditions: 1) maintained physical integrity, 2) has minimal dissolution of Ca2+ and SO42- to the surroundings 3) demonstrates acceptable engineering properties of a fill material and 4) economical to fabricate. The leaching behavior of all the FGD composites was found to be similar and the effective diffusion coefficients from the 77-day dynamic leaching test ranged 4.87–7.01 x 10-13 m2·s-1and 0.67– 3.71 x 10-13 m2·s-1, for calcium and sulfate respectively. The metal concentrations in the TCLP leachate were well below the USEPA toxicity characteristics limits. The engineering properties test results indicated that the composite material could be classified as well-graded gravel or well-graded sand with little or no fines. The USCS classification would also qualify FGD briquettes as a potential fill material in embankment construction having excellent workability and shear angle of 48° to 49°. For all the tests conducted the 63%:35%:2% briquette fabricated in small size performed better than the large size briquette. Among the selected four 77%: 20%: 03%, 69%: 30%:01%, 67%: 30%:03%. and 64%: 35%: 1% FGD: Class C fly ash: Portland Type II cement composites the 77%: 20%: 3% FGD: Class C fly ash composite showed promising results with lowest diffusion coefficients for Ca2+, SO42-, no signs of degradation after eight months of field submergence and lowest production cost of $11.35·ton-1 (year 2003)

J/ψ\psi production in proton-proton collisions at ALICE LHC

A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) studies the strong interaction part (Quantum Chromo Dynamics) of the Standard Model at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. ALICE has been designed as a general-purpose heavy-ion detector in order to explore phenomena of strong interacting matter and the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) at extreme values of energy density and temperature in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Results are presented here on the study of J/$\psi$production in pp collisions at ALICE. In particular, a measurement of J/$\psi$ cross-section at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV energy has been performed, together with a study of a possible algorithm to separate primary J/$\psi$ from those coming from decays of B hadrons. The validity of this algorithm in ALICE has been demonstrated using Monte-Carlo samples. The J/$\psi$ particles have been searched exclusively in the decay channel J/$\psi$ -> e+e−. The study focused on what would be achievable in a period of early running, with integrated luminosity of L=1.25 nb-1, at a proton-proton centre of mass collision energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV

Insights Into the Ribosomal, Extra-ribosomal And Developmental Role of Rp L13a In Mammalian Model

Ribosomal protein L13a plays an extra-ribosomal function in translational silencing of GAIT (IFN-gamma-activated inhibitor of translation) element bearing mRNAs encoding inflammatory proteins but the underlying molecular mechanism of translational silencing and ribosomal incorporation of L13a remains poorly understood. Also, our laboratory showed that L13a acts as a physiological defense against uncontrolled inflammation in macrophage-specific knockout (KO) mice. However, the consequence of a total knockout of L13a in mammals remains unexplored. Therefore, our current study is focused on (i) identifying the amino acid residue(s) of L13a essential for incorporation and translational silencing of target mRNAs and (ii) studying the consequences of systemic loss of L13a in a mouse model. To address the first question, we compared prokaryotic L13 structure with human L13a, which depicted the presence of an a- helical extension of ~55 amino acids at the C-terminal end of human L13a. We observed that deletion of this helix impairs ribosomal incorporation and the translational silencing ability of L13a. We have identified the amino acids within this helix at position 159(K) and 161(K) that are essential for ribosomal incorporation. Cryo EM studies of the human ribosome showed the interaction of the amino acids at position 185(V), 189(I) and 196(L) ofL13a with RP L14. We found that mutating these residues abrogates the ribosomal incorporation of L13a. Importantly, we also showed that mutation of the amino acids at position 169(R), 170(K) vii and 171(K) to Ala abrogate translational silencing activity, but not ribosomal incorporation, showing mutually exclusive ribosome incorporation and translational silencing domain. To address the second question, we generated heterozygous L13a mice (L13a+/-). However, the homozygous KO (L13a-/-) mice are embryonically lethal at an early stage. We have identified the KO embryos in the pre-implantation (morula) stage, suggesting an essential role of L13a in early embryonic development. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis of morula stage embryos harvested from L13a+/- heterozygous parents, identified several potential targets with altered expression. Together, these studies provide a comprehensive analysis of the amino acid residues of L13a essential for ribosome incorporation and translational silencing activity and its essential role in early embryonic development in mammals

Scientific Temper among Academically High and Low Achieving Adolescent Girls

The present study was undertaken to compare the scientific temper of high and low achieving adolescent girl students. Random sampling technique was used to draw the sample from various high schools of District Srinagar. The sample for the present study consisted of 120 school going adolescent girls (60 high and 60 low achievers). Data was collected by using Nadeem and Rashid’s scientific temper scale. Statistical techniques of Percentage, Mean, S.D. and t-test were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that two groups differ significantly on curiosity, objectivity and rationality dimension of scientific temper scale. The results of the study further revealed that there exists no significant difference between high and low achieving adolescent girl on Open mindedness and Aversion to superstition dimension of scientific temper. Keywords: Scientific Temper, High Achievers, Low Achievers, Adolescent Girls

Immune cell profiling in COVID-19 recovered patients using mass cytometry

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the zoologic virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is among the most impactful pandemics in modern history. Infection impact has variating tendency within patients that experience mild disease compared to severely affected patients, such as respiratory failure and death. Currently, treatment strategies aim to alleviating the symptoms, but a healing cure except vaccination is not resolved yet, due to lack of knowledge about the virus and how it affects the immune system. Duration of immunological memory after experiencing COVID-19 is unclear and unknown, along with limited knowledge about the disease grade influence on the immune system recovery. Firstly, this thesis aimed to study the peripheral blood immune system in SARS-Cov-2 infected patients 6 months post-infection. Using a mass cytometric approach, fixed whole blood in SARS-Cov-2 infected patients and healthy controls were analyzed. We compared immune cell frequencies among moderate and severe disease patients compared to healthy controls. A SARS-CoV-2 specific heterogeneity was observed which indicated recovery based on other factors, such as genetics and medical history. Secondly, we aimed to identify cell-affecting concentrations of randomly selected phytochemicals (Ellagic acid, rumic acid, Dinatin 7-glucuoronide, and plantainoside D) that can potentially be used in COVID-19 treatment. MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was exploited to find concentrations that affected the cell proliferation on human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293), human embryonic kidney cells variant that express a temperature- sensitive allele of SV40 T antigen (HEK-293t) and colorectal adenocarcinoma cells 2 (CACO-2).Masteroppgave i FarmasiFARM399/05HMATF-FAR

A study of microvascular and macrovascular complications in prediabetes

Background: Prediabetes, a state defined by the presence of either impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance is a condition in which blood glucose or haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.Methods: The present study was conducted for a period of one year with effect from November 2014 to October 2015 and patients were recruited for study from OPD and wards of Department of General Medicine, ASCOMS Hospital, Sidhra. 50 Patients/subjects were selected as per specified inclusion criteria Method of collection of data is based on detailed history, clinical examination and routine investigations.Results: In this study, out of 50 subjects, 8 case who were in the range of impaired glucose tolerance initially at the time of start of study gradually progressed to frank diabetes i.e. 15% over a study period of 1 year.Conclusions: In this study, 50 Patients of impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes were included in the study. Among 50 subjects, 80% were male and 20% were females. Majority were 30-60 yrs of age, average weight was 65±5 kg, and average height was 150±10cm. In risk factors, 20% of the subjects suffered from hypertension, 40% from lipid derangement, 30% suffered from obesity, 50% suffered from central obesity, 56% are smokers, and 60% have family history of diabetes. 10 subjects out of 50 i.e. 20% suffered from cardiovascular complications, no subject presented with peripheral neuropathy

Role of place attachment in defining a relationship between green awareness and conservation commitment and environmental responsible behavior of university students in India

This study focuses particularly on Indian university students and tries to explore the role of place attachment in defining the relationship between Green Awareness, Conservation Commitment, and Environmental Responsible Behavior. The data was collected from the top ten awarded universities in the field of following green and sustainable practices by the government of India. A total of 352 valid questionnaires were obtained and further analyzed. The results offer an insight into how green awareness among students can positively influence their conservation commitment, leading to adopting environmental responsible behaviour, while place attachment moderates the overall relationship

The Development of Aden and British Relations With Neighbouring Tribes, 1839-1872.

In January 1839, the British occupied Aden for a number of reasons. These reasons and the early British contacts with the peninsula are discussed in the first two chapters of this thesis. During the period under study, Aden developed from a small poor village into a sizable town, a prosperous trading port, an important military and naval base and a vital communications centre. The factors and policies responsible for this development and the problems which had to be faced are dealt with in Chapters III-V. The British had no desire to use Aden as a base for expansion and wanted to keep contact with the interior to a minimum. However, for geographical, economic and political reasons, they could not avoid becoming involved with the neighbouring tribes. The last three chapters trace the course of Arab-British relations and analyse the factors which governed them