Biodiesel from low cost palm stearin using metal doped methoxide solid catalyst

Heterogeneous transesterification of vegetable oils offers an environmentally more attractive option for biodiesel production compared to the conventional homogeneous processes. Thus, the metal doped methoxide catalyst was developed in the present study which aims to improve the transesterification of low cost palm stearin (PS) and reduce the generation of waste. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (BET) and temperature programmed desorption-CO2 (TPD-CO2) coupled with mass spectrometer. The optimum parameters were studied via response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with central composite design (CCD). The synthesized catalyst exhibited a high biodiesel yield at 94.7% with methanol to PS molar ratio of 6:1, 1% catalyst loading and less than 3 h of reaction time. The better catalytic activity of the aforementioned catalyst in the biodiesel reaction could be attributed to the presence of optimal number of catalytically active acid site density on its surface

A Web-Based Application to Simulate Manual Bag-Valve-Tube Ventilation

What’s the Problem? The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened ventilator capacity in many locations which has led to alternative solutions to meet surge ventilator capacity including a strategy for deploying large-scale volunteer continuous bag-valve-tube (BVT) ventilation While an online training module may teach the manual ventilation volunteer force requisite knowledge, evidence suggests technology enhanced simulation training in health professions training is associated with improved outcomes for desired knowledge, skills and behavior

UK survey of non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMURx) as a valuable source of general population illicit drug use data.

PURPOSE OF STUDY: The aim of the study is to describe the prevalence of illicit drug use in England and Wales using data from the UK Survey of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs (NMURx) programme and to compare against the well-established Crime Survey England and Wales (CSEW). The rationale is that recreational and illicit drug use is common, but the prevalence is difficult to estimate with personal interviewing methods. STUDY DESIGN: We compared two cross-sectional population surveys (NMURx, n=8903 and CSEW, n=20 685) with data regarding self-reported recreational drug use and demographics. NMURx is an online survey using non-probability sampling methodology with preset demographical quotas based on census data. CSEW surveys drug use via computer-assisted self-interviewing as part of a computer-assisted personal-interviewing crime survey. RESULTS: Cannabis was the most frequently used drug regardless of demographics. Prevalence of drug use for specific substances was generally higher for males, younger ages and students. The relationship between income and drug misuse is less clear. Self-reported prevalence of drug use in the NMURx survey is consistently higher than CSEW (absolute difference 1%-3 % across substances and timescales) and persists after stratification for gender, age, student status and household income. CONCLUSIONS: The NMURx survey has a broad reach of participants, and a sampling scheme that achieves external validity, compared with general population demographics. NMURx's online format allows flexibility in items surveyed and in response to emerging trends. The self-reported drug use in the NMURx cohort is comparable, although slightly higher, than the CSEW estimates

Bioautographic screening for natural quinolone antimicrobial agents from Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) DC., Ruta angustifolia (L.) Pers. and Lunasia amara Blanco

Background The quinoline alkaloids are a group of alkaloids with diverse structural types. The 4-oxygenated quinolone and 2-substituted 4-quinolone are the types of quinoline alkaloids that possess the chromophore structures which are similar to the pharmacophore of the conventional 4-quinolone antimicrobial agents. Therefore it is presumed that these types of natural quinoline alkaloids could also share the same activity as the conventional quinolone antimicrobial agents. Although these conventional agents demonstrate an excellent treatment against so many infectious diseases, the emergence of quinolone resistance against some microbes has been a disturbing feature of microbial infection (Shigemura, et al., 2003). Objectives This study aims primarily to search for naturally occurring quinolone antimicrobial agents from three excellent plant sources of quinolone alkaloids, which are Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) DC., Ruta angustifolia (L.) Pers. and Lunasia amara Blanco. It is aimed that the natural alkaloids will provide new structural types of quinolone antimicrobial agents in view to overcome microbial resistance towards the conventional agents. Methods The plant materials, which include the leaves and root barks of G. pentaphylla, and the leaves of R. angustifolia and L. amara were dried and powdered and subjected to extraction. Acid base extraction was employed following the continuous extraction by hexane and acetone to furnish the crude alkaloidal extracts. The extract was then fractionated by column chromatography. The fractions yielding major alkaloidal compounds were selected to be screened by using TLC Agar Overlay Bioautographic Assay for antimicrobial active quinolone alkaloids against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Candida albicans ATCC 90028. Results The column chromatography on the crude alkaloidal extracts has afforded two fractions containing major alkaloids from G. pentaphylla and one fraction each from R. angustifolia and L. amara. TLC Agar Overlay Bioautographic screening for antimicrobial active alkaloids has revealed four antimicrobial active alkaloids. Two alkaloids, labeled as GP-3 and RA-3 which were active against S. aureus and C. albicans have been detected from the stem bark fraction of G. pentaphylla and the leaf fraction of R. angustifolia. Two major alkaloids such as GP-4 from the leaf fraction of G. pentaphylla and LA-4 from L. amara leaf fraction were found to be active against both S. aureus and E. coli. Conclusion The reported results of all three plant species therefore proved to have high potential in providing new structural types of lead compounds for synthesizing new drugs to overcome microbial resistance towards conventional quinolone antimicrobial agents

Xanthones from Calophyllum inophyllum

The roots of Calophyllum inophyllum (Guttiferae), furnished six xanthones which are rasilixanthone (1), 1,3,5-trihydroxy-2- methoxy xanthone (2), caloxanthone A (3), pyranojacareubin (4), caloxanthone B (5) and tovopyrifolin (6), Structural elucidations of these compounds, were achieved through 1D and 2D NMR and MS techniques. In this paper, the isolation and structural elucidation data for these xanthones are reported

Immune microenvironment dysfunctions enable malignification at the onset of myelodysplastic syndromes

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Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Multi-Layer Graphene Growth on Co-Ni Oxide/Al2O3 Substrate Using Chemical Vapour Deposition

The synthesis and characterization of multilayer graphene (MLG) growth on bimetallic Co-Ni oxide/Al2O3 substrate using chemical vapour deposition (CVD) were investigated. The synthesis of MLG was performed at a temperature range of 700-900 oC. Characterization was carried out using TGA, XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, EDX, XPS, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. The MLG growth on the bimetallic substrate was confirmed by XRD, FESEM, and HRTEM analysis. TGA and Raman spectroscopy analyses indicate the formation of thermally stable and high-quality MLG. The kinetic growth of MLG was investigated by varying the reaction temperature and monitoring the partial pressure of the ethanol (C2H5OH) as well as that of hydrogen. The data obtained were fitted to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model for the estimation of the reaction rate constants at different temperatures. The results showed that the reaction rate constant increased with temperature and the apparent activation energy of 13.72 kJ.mol-1 was obtained indicating a relatively fast rate of MLG growth. The parity plot obtained for the comparison of the predicted and observed rate of C2H5OH consumptions showed an excellent agreement. This study is important for understanding the growth kinetics of MLG in order to develop appropriate measures that can control the production of MLG thin films for use in the electronic industries. Copyright © 2018 BCREC Group. All rights reserved Received: 12nd August 2017; Revised: 15th February 2018; Accepted: 18th February 2018; Available online: 11st June 2018; Published regularly: 1st August 2018 How to Cite: Ali, M., Rashid, S.A., Hamidon, M.Z., Yasin, F.M. (2018). Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Multi-Layer Graphene Growth on Co-Ni Oxide/Al2O3 Substrate Using Chemical Vapour Deposition. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis, 13 (2): 341-354 (doi:10.9767/bcrec.13.2.1453.341-354

Facile synthesis and characterization of multi-layer graphene growth on Co-Ni oxide/Al2O3 substrate using chemical vapour deposition

The synthesis and characterization of multilayer graphene (MLG) growth on bimetallic Co-Ni oxide/Al2O3 substrate using chemical vapour deposition (CVD) were investigated. The synthesis of MLG was performed at a temperature range of 700-900 oC. Characterization was carried out using TGA, XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, EDX, XPS, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. The MLG growth on the bimetallic substrate was confirmed by XRD, FESEM, and HRTEM analysis. TGA and Raman spectroscopy analyses indicate the formation of thermally stable and high-quality MLG. The kinetic growth of MLG was investigated by varying the reaction temperature and monitoring the partial pressure of the ethanol (C2H5OH) as well as that of hydrogen. The data obtained were fitted to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model for the estimation of the reaction rate constants at different temperatures. The results showed that the reaction rate constant increased with temperature and the apparent activation energy of 13.72 kJ.mol-1 was obtained indicating a relatively fast rate of MLG growth. The parity plot obtained for the comparison of the predicted and observed rate of C2H5OH consumptions showed an excellent agreement. This study is important for understanding the growth kinetics of MLG in order to develop appropriate measures that can control the production of MLG thin films for use in the electronic industries

Two Planets, One Species: Does a Mission to Mars Alter the Balance in Favour of Human Enhancement?

In this chapter we examine the implications of a crewed mission to Mars, possible colonisation of the planet, and the wider implications this may have on genetic enhancement in both a terrestrial and space context. We consider the usage of both somatic and germ-line genetic engineering, and its potential impact on the evolution of Homo sapiens. We acknowledge that a mission to Mars may require the usage of such technologies if it is to be successful. Our investigation suggests that the use of such technologies might ultimately be linked with the transformation of our own species. We also consider projected timescales for the development of these genetic enhancements and the ethical questions raised by the possibility of speciation. Cooperation among spacefaring nations in this context and the development of norms for the use of such technologies is desirable