Partial Replacement of Alum by Using Natural Coagulant Aid to Remove Turbidity from Institutional Wastewater

The quality of water is superior for the stability of the ecosystem. Institutional wastewater contains pollutants and exceed the level of contaminants beyond standards. Applications of natural coagulants are widely in practice due to abundant source, low price, environment-friendly and rapid biodegradable as compared to inorganic based coagulants. This study traces the potential removal of pollutants from institutional wastewater by coagulation-flocculation processes. Alum as primary coagulant and cassava peel starch as natural coagulant aid was used for removal of pollutants. The use of alum dose in wastewater treatment plant has harmful effects on human health and water drainage system, on the one hand and on the other hand, a process that alum coagulant dose used in wastewater treatment plant with a high processing cost. In this study, the use of cassava peels starch (CPS) (as a natural coagulant) instead of alum dose to treat wastewater to remove turbidity from institutional wastewater. The study samples were taken from the Tun Fatimah-UTHM. Experimental runs were carried out for three hours per run over weekend period with turbidities ranging from 20 to 400 NTU. Proven results of the study that by using natural coagulant CPS (which is a naturally contains potentials) instead of alum does not carry any impact on human health and has a high efficiency up to 81% in the removal of turbidity from institutional wastewater at pH 8. The turbidity ranges during most of the test runs satisfied the WHO and water quality standards (A & B) for potable water supplies

Cell specific analysis of Arabidopsis leaves using fluorescence activated cell sorting

After initiation of the leaf primordium, biomass accumulation is controlled mainly by cell proliferation and expansion in the leaves1. However, the Arabidopsis leaf is a complex organ made up of many different cell types and several structures. At the same time, the growing leaf contains cells at different stages of development, with the cells furthest from the petiole being the first to stop expanding and undergo senescence1. Different cells within the leaf are therefore dividing, elongating or differentiating; active, stressed or dead; and/or responding to stimuli in sub-sets of their cellular type at any one time. This makes genomic study of the leaf challenging: for example when analyzing expression data from whole leaves, signals from genetic networks operating in distinct cellular response zones or cell types will be confounded, resulting in an inaccurate profile being generated. To address this, several methods have been described which enable studies of cell specific gene expression. These include laser-capture microdissection (LCM)2 or GFP expressing plants used for protoplast generation and subsequent fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)3,4, the recently described INTACT system for nuclear precipitation5 and immunoprecipitation of polysomes6. FACS has been successfully used for a number of studies, including showing that the cell identity and distance from the root tip had a significant effect on the expression profiles of a large number of genes3,7. FACS of GFP lines have also been used to demonstrate cell-specific transcriptional regulation during root nitrogen responses and lateral root development8, salt stress9 auxin distribution in the root10 and to create a gene expression map of the Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem11. Although FACS has previously been used to sort Arabidopsis leaf derived protoplasts based on autofluorescence12,13, so far the use of FACS on Arabidopsis lines expressing GFP in the leaves has been very limited4. In the following protocol we describe a method for obtaining Arabidopsis leaf protoplasts that are compatible with FACS while minimizing the impact of the protoplast generation regime. We demonstrate the method using the KC464 Arabidopsis line, which express GFP in the adaxial epidermis14, the KC274 line, which express GFP in the vascular tissue14 and the TP382 Arabidopsis line, which express a double GFP construct linked to a nuclear localization signal in the guard cells (data not shown; Figure 2). We are currently using this method to study both cell-type specific expression during development and stress, as well as heterogeneous cell populations at various stages of senescence

Performance assessment of cassava peel starch and alum as dual coagulant for turbidity removal in dam water

The agricultural and food processing industries generate a significant portion of residues, refuse and waste. Conversion of these wastes into useful end product would be beneficial not only to the economy but also the environment as it reducing the solid waste disposal problem. The present study was aimed to investigate the performance of cassava peel starch (CPS) extracted from cassava peel waste in combination with alum to act as dual coagulant for turbidity removal in raw water from Sembrong dam. Comparative studies by employing both alum and CPS as primary coagulant using several series of Jar test were also conducted. Results showed that the usage of alum-CPS as dual coagulant not only enhanced the turbidity removal with maximum achievement up to 91.47%, but also significantly improve the coagulation process by reducing both alum dosage and settling time up to 50% which indicates broad prospects to be further developed as emerging green coagulant

Self Interacting Dark Matter and Dirac neutrinos via Lepton Quarticity

In this paper, we put forward a connection between the self-interacting dark matter and the Dirac nature of neutrinos. Our exploration involves a $Z_4 \otimes Z_4'$ discrete symmetry, wherein the Dirac neutrino mass is produced through a type-I seesaw mechanism. This symmetry not only contributes to the generation of the Dirac neutrino mass but also facilitates the realization of self-interacting dark matter with a light mediator that can alleviate small-scale anomalies of the $\Lambda {\rm CDM}$ while being consistent with the latter at large scales, as suggested by astrophysical observations. Thus the stability of the DM and Dirac nature of neutrinos are shown to stem from the same underlying symmetry. The model also features additional relativistic degrees of freedom $\Delta N_{\rm eff}$ of either thermal or non-thermal origin, within the reach of cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiment providing a complementary probe in addition to the detection prospects of DM.Comment: 13 pages, 13 captioned figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Literature Survey of SAR Algorithm in Photovoltaic System

Every solar energy harvester systems have got two sources of energy loss: the MPPT circuit and the dc–dc converter. To increase the efficiency of the PV energy harvester, the energy losses from the MPPT circuit and the dc–dc converter need to be minimized. Here a new MPPT algorithm called successive approximation register is introduced. This MPPT algorithm has got a power down mode and a fast tracking time, to achieve low power consumption and energy savings. With this MPPT algorithm energy losses from the MPPT circuit can be minimized and this technique can be greatly applicable to low power application systems mainly as well as for high power application.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v4i2.455

Host Galaxies Catalog Used in LIGO Searches for Compact Binary Coalescence Events

An up-to-date catalog of nearby galaxies considered as hosts of binary compact objects is provided with complete information about sky position, distance, extinction-corrected blue luminosity and error estimates. With our current understanding of binary evolution, rates of formation and coalescence for binary compact objects scale with massive-star formation and hence the (extinction-corrected) blue luminosity of host galaxies. Coalescence events in binary compact objects are among the most promising gravitational-wave sources for ground-based gravitational-wave detectors such as LIGO. Our catalog and associated error estimates are important for the interpretation of analyses, carried out for LIGO, to constrain the rates of compact binary coalescence, given an astrophysical population model for the sources considered. We discuss how the notion of effective distance, created to account for the antenna pattern of a gravitational-wave detector, must be used in conjunction with our catalog. We note that the catalog provided can be used on other astronomical analysis of populations that scale with galaxy blue luminosity.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures, Accepted to Astrophysical Journal. To appear in March 20 2008 Astrophysical Journa

Embedded DSP Processor Design using Coware Processor Designer and Magma Layout Tool

A Digital Signal Processing (DSP) application can be implemented in a variety of ways. The objective of this project is to design an Embedded DSP Processor. The desired processor is run by an instruction set. Such a processor is called an Application Specific Instruction Set Processor (ASIP). ASIP is becoming essential to convergent System on Chip (SoC) Design. Usually there are two approaches to design an ASIP. One of them is at Register Transfer Level (RTL) and another is at just higher level than RTL and is known as Electronic System Level (ESL). Application Description Languages (ADLs) are becoming popular recently because of its quick and optimal design convergence achievement capability during the design of ASIPs. In this project we first concentrate on the implementation and optimization of an ASIP using an ADL known as Language for Instruction Set Architecture (LISA) and CoWare Processor Designer environment. We have written a LISA 2.0 description of the processor. Given a LISA code, the CoWare Processor Designer (PD) then generates Software Development tools like assembler, disassembler, linker and compiler. A particular application in assembly language to find out the convolution using FIR filter is then run on the processor. Provided that the functionality of the processor is correct, synthesizable RTL for the processor can be generated using Coware Processor Generator. Using the RTL generated, we implemented our processor in the following IC Design technologies: • Semi-Custom IC Design Technology Here, the RTL is synthesized using Magma Blast Create Tool and the final Layout is drawn using Magma Blast Fusion Tool • Programmable Logic Device IC Design Technology Here, the processor is dumped to a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The FPGA used for this purpose is Xilinx Virtex II Pro

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVALENCE AND DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERNS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTHEASTERN INDIA

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the disease prevalence and drug utilization pattern in the department of cardiology in a tertiary care hospital in northeastern India.Methods: Indoor case papers 112 of patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were included in this study. The study was performed in between December 2014 to February 2015. Case papers analyzed and documented for demographic variables, indication, disease prevalence, co-morbidities and prescribing pattern of the physician.Results: A total of 112 cases were evaluated. Patients of age group between 61-90 y were diagnosed 48.21% of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Male patients (67%) were diagnosed CVDs more than female patients (33%). Our findings indicated that hyperlipidemia (84.82%), hypertension (80.35%) and ischemic heart disease (66.96%) were most frequently diagnosed disease and most of the diseases were treated by the combination of two or three drugs. The use of statins, beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors was very common. Diabetes, anemia and asthma were the comorbidities associated with CVDs.Conclusion: Hyperlipidemia, hypertension and ischemic heart disease were the prevalent diseases among CVDs. Statins and antihypertensive were most prescribed drugs. Combinations of drugs were prescribed to the patients for effective therapy. The present study will help the healthcare professionals to optimize the efficient and safe use of cardiovascular drugs.Keywords: Ischemic heart diseases, Hypertension, Rational, Health professional

Diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced computed tomography in detection of colorectal cancer in clinically suspected patients

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) abdomen to detect the colorectal cancer in clinically suspected patients by taking histopathology as gold standard. Methodology: This was a descriptive Cross sectional study, which was carried out at radiology department of Civil Hospital, Karachi, from  January 2015 to  November 2015 and comprised patients referred for CECT of abdomen with clinical suspicious of colorectal carcinoma. The diagnosis of the colorectal cancer was made on the basis of radiological appearance on CT and then compared with histopathological findings. The primary performance of CECT abdomen in terms of sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma was calculated.   Results: Out of the 244 subjects, 154 (63.1%) were males and 90 (36.9%) were females. Mean age of the patients was 46.84±10.88 years. Colorectal carcinoma was labeled in 224 patients on CECT abdomen, out of these among 206 patients; carcinoma was proven on histological findings. Contrasted enhanced computed tomography showed diagnostic accuracy of 89.8% followed by sensitivity 92.0% and specificity 65.0%. Conclusion: Contrast enhanced CT is a non-invasive imaging technique in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer with sensitivity 92.0% and specificity 65.0%

Testing Pullout Strength of Pedicle Screw Using Synthetic Bone Models: Is a Bilayer Foam Model a Better Representation of Vertebra?

Study Design A biomechanical study. Purpose A new biomechanical model of the vertebra has been developed that accounts for the inhomogeneity of bone and the contribution of the pedicle toward the holding strength of a pedicle screw. Overview of Literature Pullout strength studies are typically carried out on rigid polyurethane foams that represent the homogeneous vertebral framework of the spine. However, the contribution of the pedicle region, which contributes to the inhomogeneity in this framework, has not been considered in previous investigations. Therefore, we propose a new biomechanical model that can account for the vertebral inhomogeneity, especially the contribution of the pedicles toward the pullout strength of the pedicle screw. Methods A bilayer foam model was developed by joining two foams representing the pedicle and the vertebra. The results of the pullout strength tests performed on the foam models were compared with those from the tests performed on the cadaver lumbar vertebra. Results Significant differences (p 0.05) in the pullout strength of pedicle screws between osteoporotic (0.85±0.08 kN) and extremely osteoporotic bone models (0.94±0.08 kN), but there was a significant difference (p 0.05) in pullout strength between cadaver and bilayer foam model in normal bones. Conclusions The new synthetic bone model that reflects the contribution of the pedicles to the pullout strength of the pedicle screws could provide a more efficacious means of testing pedicle-screw pullout strength. The bilayer model can match the pullout strength value of normal lumbar vertebra bone whereas the monolayer foam model was able to match that of the extremely osteoporotic lumbar vertebra