Design of a pre-water filter to provide aeration in filtration process

Occasionally, the tap water of housing area at Gambang, Pahang is detected to have the presence of odour and brownish in colour. The water filter cartridge turns brown rapidly. This issue has harassed the residents and caused doubtfulness by using the water supply. In order to verify this perception, tests of colour, turbidity, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were carried out by using the water supply from five houses in Gambang area. The results obtained were compared with the water quality standards. A pre-water filter was designed to solve this problem, which included an aeration and filtration process. The aeration process was induced by a free-fall in the system. Hence, the relationship between the height of the fall and dissolved oxygen level was determined to obtain the best and most feasible height in the aeration process. A high rate dual media filter with filter media of graded sand and activated carbon made from coconut shells;• and a support layer of gravel was used for the filtration process. By the completion of pre-water filter design, a running of the water filter was carried out and water after passed through the filter was then tested with colour, turbidity, BOD, TS and TSS amount, along with the confirmation of increased in dissolved oxygen value to ensure the water freshness. The results obtained were compared with the results of water before induced to the pre-water filter, and also the water quality standard. From this research, the final model of the pre-water filter was able to decrease above 50 % of the colour, turbidity, BOD, TS and TDS; and increased the dissolved oxygen level for 5.3 1%

Diode Like Attributes in Magnetic Domain Wall Devices via Geometrical Pinning for Neuromorphic Computing

Neuromorphic computing (NC) is considered as a potential vehicle for implementing energy-efficient artificial intelligence (AI). To realize NC, several materials systems are being investigated. Among them, the spin-orbit torque (SOT) -driven domain wall (DW) devices are one of the potential candidates. To implement these devices as neurons and synapses, the building blocks of NC, researchers have proposed different device designs. However, the experimental realization of DW device-based NC is only at the primeval stage. In this study, we have proposed and investigated pine-tree-shaped DW devices, based on the Laplace force on the elastic DWs, for achieving the synaptic functionalities. We have successfully observed multiple magnetization states when the DW was driven by the SOT current. The key observation is the asymmetric pinning strength of the device when DW moves in two opposite directions (defined as, xhard and xeasy). This shows the potential of these DW devices as DW diodes. We have used micromagnetic simulations to understand the experimental findings and to estimate the Laplace pressure for various design parameters. The study leads to the path of device fabrication, where synaptic properties are achieved with asymmetric pinning potential

Transient Stability Analysis of Battery with Fuel Cell Driven to Electric Powertrain

In marine industry, fuel cell (FC) is being exploited as the primary power source with battery energy storage system (BESS) as complementary resource to be introduced for peak shaving and smoothing control in load fluctuation. As such, an integrated system of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) with BESS is being developed to propose to meet the dynamic three-phase load demand onto micro-grid configuration. In this paper, transient stability is verified by MATLAB/Simulink has shown BESS is more adaptable than FC to meet constant and dynamic load demand. Moreover, there is an unstable power generation from PEMFC when non-linear load is introduced. As such, in micro-grid’s paradigm that consists of BESS that has same energy capacity as FC, can significantly enhance output power quality during transient period to electrified dynamic load. In addition, a proposed control algorithm is designed in this paper

Power System Stability of Offshore Wind with an Energy Storage to Electrify O&G Platform

The Capital Expenditure (CapEx) of offshore floating wind turbine generation (WTG) and battery energy storage system (BESS) are declining over the years. This can mitigate gas turbine power generation in offshore oil and gas (O&G) platforms with lower cost impact. This paper proposes integrated systems consisting a WTG and O&G production platforms with BESS onboard to meet the load demand. Cost analysis shows that this integrated system paradigm with BESS can lower overall cost in CapEx and Operational Expenditure (OpEx) compared with typical system. Moreover, transient stability in simulation shows that the system 2 has a significant reduction in term of both voltage and frequency transient deviation, with transient recovery time that could meet the IEC standards 61892-1 for O&G platforms

Effects of stimulating interleukin -2/anti- interleukin -2 antibody complexes on renal cell carcinoma

Abstract Background Current therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have low cure rates or significant side effects. It has been reported that complexes composed of interleukin (IL)-2 and stimulating anti-IL-2 antibody (IL-2C) suppress malignant melanoma growth. We investigated whether it could have similar effects on RCC. Methods A syngeneic RCC model was established by subcutaneously injecting RENCA cells into BALB/c mice, which were administered IL-2C or phosphate-buffered saline every other day for 4 weeks. RCC size was measured serially, and its weight was assessed 4 weeks after RENCA injection. Immune cell infiltration into RCC lesions and spleen was assessed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results IL-2C treatment increased the numbers of CD8+ memory T and natural killer (NK) cells in healthy BALB/c mice (P < 0.01). In the spleen of RCC mice, IL-2C treatment also increased the number of CD8+ memory T, NK cells, and macrophages as compared to PBS-treated controls (P < 0.01). The number of interferon-γ- and IL-10-producing splenocytes increased and decreased, respectively after 4 weeks in the IL-2C-treated mice (P < 0.01). Tumor-infiltrating immune cells including CD4+ T, CD8+ T, NK cells as well as macrophages were increased in IL-2C-treated mice than controls (P < 0.05). Pulmonary edema, the most serious side effect of IL-2 therapy, was not exacerbated by IL-2C treatment. However, IL-2C had insignificant inhibitory effect on RCC growth (P = 0.1756). Conclusions IL-2C enhanced immune response without significant side effects; however, this activity was not sufficient to inhibit RCC growth in a syngeneic, murine model

Glucocorticoids—All-Rounders Tackling the Versatile Players of the Immune System

Glucocorticoids regulate fundamental processes of the human body and control cellular functions such as cell metabolism, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Moreover, endogenous glucocorticoids link the endocrine and immune system and ensure the correct function of inflammatory events during tissue repair, regeneration, and pathogen elimination via genomic and rapid non-genomic pathways. Due to their strong immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects on immune cells, tissues and organs, glucocorticoids significantly improve the quality of life of many patients suffering from diseases caused by a dysregulated immune system. Despite the multitude and seriousness of glucocorticoid-related adverse events including diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and infections, these agents remain indispensable, representing the most powerful, and cost-effective drugs in the treatment of a wide range of rheumatic diseases. These include rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and connective tissue diseases, as well as many other pathological conditions of the immune system. Depending on the therapeutically affected cell type, glucocorticoid actions strongly vary among different diseases. While immune responses always represent complex reactions involving different cells and cellular processes, specific immune cell populations with key responsibilities driving the pathological mechanisms can be identified for certain autoimmune diseases. In this review, we will focus on the mechanisms of action of glucocorticoids on various leukocyte populations, exemplarily portraying different autoimmune diseases as heterogeneous targets of glucocorticoid actions: (i) Abnormalities in the innate immune response play a crucial role in the initiation and perpetuation of giant cell arteritis (GCA). (ii) Specific types of CD4+ T helper (Th) lymphocytes, namely Th1 and Th17 cells, represent important players in the establishment and course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), whereas (iii) B cells have emerged as central players in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). (iv) Allergic reactions are mainly triggered by several different cytokines released by activated Th2 lymphocytes. Using these examples, we aim to illustrate the versatile modulating effects of glucocorticoids on the immune system. In contrast, in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders the pro-apoptotic action of glucocorticoids prevails, but their mechanisms differ depending on the type of cancer. Therefore, we will also give a brief insight into the current knowledge of the mode of glucocorticoid action in oncological treatment focusing on leukemia

Quinoline Group Modified Carbon Nanotubes for the Detection of Zinc Ions

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were covalently modified by fluorescence ligand (glycine-N-8-quinolylamide) and formed a hybrid material which could be used as a selective probe for metal ions detection. The anchoring to the surface of the CNTs was carried out by the reaction between the precursor and the carboxyl groups available on the surface of the support. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) unambiguously proved the existence of covalent bonds between CNTs and functional ligands. Fluorescence characterization shows that the obtained organic–inorganic hybrid composite is highly selective and sensitive (0.2 μM) to Zn(II) detection

Avoiding Loss of Catalytic Activity of Pd Nanoparticles Partially Embedded in Nanoditches in SiC Nanowires

Nanoditches from selective etching of periodically twinned SiC nanowires were employed to hinder the migration and coalescence of Pd nanoparticles supported on the nanowires, and thus to improve their catalytic stability for total combustion of methane. The results show that the etched Pd/SiC catalyst can keep the methane conversion of almost 100% while the unetched one has an obvious decline in the catalytic activity from 100 to 82% after ten repeated reaction cycles. The excellent catalytic stability originates from the limitation of the nanoditches to the migration and growth of Pd nanoparticles