The Influence of Eco-friendly Ash on Sustainable Construction Material: A Review

Nowadays climate change is one of the major concerning factors due to increasing temperature throughout the world. Carbon dioxide is a significant gas in the greenhouse effect which leads to global warming. The construction industries released 40% carbon emissions from thermal calcium carbonate decomposition especially in cement production and combustion of fossil fuels of non-renewable energy. Renewable energy acts a vital part in the evolution of sustainability. Bioenergy has been deliberated carbon neutral as the released carbon is absorbed by flora. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the pozzolanic properties of waste ash and the performance of concrete. Ash is a by-product produced from various resources such as rice husk, wood, coal, sawdust combustion, etc. Waste ash is reused as supplementary material in eco-friendly concrete production. This helps for the disposal of waste as well as contributes the sustainability by reducing carbon emission into the environment

Complement protein C1q interacts with DC-SIGN via its globular domain, and thus may interfere with HIV-1 transmission

Dendritic Cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen presenting cells capable of priming naïve T cells. Its C-type lectin receptor, DC-SIGN, regulates a wide range of immune functions. Along with its role in HIV-1 pathogenesis through complement opsonization of the virus, DC-SIGN has recently emerged as an adaptor for complement protein C1q on the surface of immature DCs via a trimeric complex involving gC1qR, a receptor for the globular domain of C1q. Here, we have examined the nature of interaction between C1q and DC-SIGN in terms of domain localization, and implications of C1q-DC-SIGN-gC1qR complex formation on HIV-1 transmission. We first expressed and purified recombinant extracellular domains of DC-SIGN and its homologue SIGN-R as tetramers comprising of the entire extra cellular domain including the α-helical neck region, and monomers comprising of the carbohydrate recognition domain only. Direct binding studies revealed that both DC-SIGN and SIGN-R were able to bind independently to the recombinant globular head modules ghA, ghB and ghC, with ghB being the preferential binder. C1q appeared to interact with DC-SIGN or SIGN-R in a manner similar to IgG. Mutational analysis using single amino acid substitutions within the globular head modules showed that TyrB175 and LysB136 38 were critical for the C1q-DC-SIGN/SIGN-R interaction. Competitive studies revealed that gC1qR and ghB shared overlapping binding sites on DC-SIGN, implying that HIV- 1 transmission by DCs could be modulated due to the interplay of gC1qR-C1q with DC-SIGN. Since C1q, gC1qR and DC-SIGN can individually bind HIV-1, we examined how C1q and gC1qR modulated HIV-1-DC-SIGN interaction in an infection assay. Here, we report, for the first time, that C1q suppressed DC-SIGN-mediated transfer of HIV-1 to activated PBMCs, although the globular head modules did not. The protective effect of C1q was negated by the addition of gC1qR. In fact, gC1qR enhanced DC-SIGN-mediated HIV-1 transfer, suggesting its role in HIV-1 pathogenesis. Our results highlight the consequences of multiple innate immune pattern recognition molecules forming a complex that can modify their functions in a way which may be advantageous for the pathogen

Effects of surface application of dolomitic limestone and calcium-magnesium silicate on soybean and maize in rotation with green manure in a tropical region

Although lime is currently the material most frequently used to ameliorate soil acidity in Brazil, silicate could efficiently replace this source because of its greater solubility and its greater silicon content, which are beneficial for plant development. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of superficial lime and silicate application on soil chemical attributes as well as on soybean and maize nutrition and grain yields when these crops are grown in rotation with green manure. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with sixteen replicates. Plots were treated with one of two materials for acidity correction (dolomitic lime and calcium/magnesium silicate) or with no soil correction, as a control. Silicate corrected soil acidity and increased exchangeable base levels in soil at greater depths faster than does liming. The application of both acidity-correcting materials increased N, Ca and Mg leaf concentrations, and all yield components and grain yield in soybean; but in maize, just silicate also increased N and Si when compared with lime, whereas both acidity-correcting increased just two yield components: grains per ear and mass of 100 grains, resulting in highest grain yield. The application of both acidity-correcting materials increased dry matter production of green manures, but for pigeon pea the silicate provided the best result in this dry-winter region.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ)Embrapa Amapá, Transferência de TecnologiaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho Departamento de Produção VegetalUniversidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho Departamento de Produção VegetalFAPESP: 2006/01705-

Computational fluid flow analysis of a side mirror for a passenger car

Today, reducing the carbon dioxide emissions is vital. The car industry has a responsibility to reduce the fuel consumption and will thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions. One of the main questions in the automotive industry is how to go about this. One possibility is to change the propulsion system. Another option is to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the car; the topic of this thesis. The drag is of great importance when it comes to velocities over 60 km/h. There are many parts of the car that contribute to drag. One such part is the side-view mirrors. The mirrors increase the total amount of drag by 2-7 percent. The mirror plays a major role in drag contribution for the entire car and therefore mirror optimization is considered very important. Mirror optimization is not an easy task due to uncertainties in the CFD simulations of a few drag counts which makes it impossible to trust all findings. In order to find a good mirror design, a combination of wind tunnel testing in full scale, and CFD simulations is necessary. Mirror design optimization shows great potential. This thesis describes the evaluation of aerodynamic flow effects of a side mirror towards a passenger car based on the side view using ANSYS Fluent CFD simulation software. The parameters that are found in this research are pressure coefficient, total pressure, drag coefficient and lift coefficient. The pressure coefficient of the side mirror designs is evaluated to analyze the unsteady forces that cause fluctuations to mirror surface and image blurring. The fluctuation also causes drag forces that increase the overall drag coefficient, resulting in higher fuel consumption and emission. There are 3 types of model tested in this research. The model is tested in simulation using the speeds of 16.67m/s (60km/h), 25m/s (90km/h) and 33.33m/s (120km/h). The models are then compared using their drag coefficient and lift coefficient. The results indicate that the halfsphere design shows the most effective design with less pressure coefficient which causes fluctuation and has low drag and lift coefficient

Sediment analysis and assessment of water quality in spacial variation using water quality index (NSFWQI) in Moragoda canal in Galle, Sri Lanka

The Moragoda Canal in Galle, Sri Lanka is one of the most widely used canals for water supply for various purposes. Water quality is deteriorating due to industrialization, agricultural practices and sewage disposal. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of industrialization and human activities on water quality and sediment composition in the Moragoda Canal in terms of water quality indices based on the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSF-WQI). Sampling was done in three different stretches of the streams such as upstream, middle stream, and downstream for evaluation of water quality and sediment composition analysis. Nine water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, temperature, pH, turbidity, phosphate, nitrate, and total coliform were considered for index estimation. The correlation between water quality parameters generated by principal component analysis shows that the main parameters affecting the water quality are vary in three different stretches of the canal. Based on the water quality indicators, anthropogenic activities are accountable to deteriorate the quality of the canal. Therefore, the pollution status of the canal need to be aware publicly

Interaction between silicon and aluminium in conifers

Aluminium toxicity is one of the major limiting factors in plant growth in acidic soils. The Al³⁺ ion is believed to be an important component in determination of Al toxicity in plants and the availability of Al in the medium is affected by pH and presence of Al complexes in the solution. Aluminium is known to be toxic to plant growth, whereas Si is generally regarded as a beneficial element. Research suggests alleviation of Al toxicity by Si in hydroponic solution or in field conditions. While some results have been contradictory, it has been suggested that Si ameliorates Al toxicity by reducing the biological availability of Al. This thesis reveals whether Si could ameliorate Al toxicity at the cell level and investigation of the amelioration mechanism. Mineral analyses were performed in needles of Norway spruce and Douglas fir growing in the Breuil forest, France. Samples were analysed from different positions within the tree, at different locations (fertilised and unfertilised soils) and at two different ages. Results demonstrated that Si did ameliorate the toxic effects of Al in Douglas fir but there was no correlation between Al and Si in the needles of Norway spruce trees. In Douglas fir, the molar ratio of Ca/Al and Mg/Al were shown to be important indicators for Al stress.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo