Recovery of acerbic anaerobic digester for biogas production from pomegranate shells using organic loading approach

86-94Anaerobic digestion of pomegranate shells was conducted in 25 L bioreactor operating at 35±0.5°C. The digester showed a reasonable amount of biogas (0.71 m3/kg VS fed) and methane (55.7%) with stable pH and acid: alkali profiles when operated at organic loading rate (OLR) from 1.0 to 3.0 kg VS/day/m−3. The reactor exhibited stable performance with methane yield of 0.44 m3/kg VS fed and reduction of 38.5% volatile solids (VS) As organic loading rate increased to 3.5 kg VS/day/m−3, accumulation of volatile fatty acid (VFA; 2797 ppm), mainly propionic acid (1617 ppm) was noticeable. The digester turned sour (pH 4.32) with lower biogas (2.5 Ld−1) and methane (30.80%) production, reflecting the case of overloading. Reversal of organic loading rate from 3.5 to 3.0 kg VS/day/m−3 gradually restored the upset anaerobic digester to normal profile in 4 weeks as judged from a gradual increase in biogas (6.5 Ld−1) and methane (58.4%)

Numerical Modeling of Buried Pipeline Crossing a Fault

Pipelines are common transportation means for oil and natural gas, which act as an important lifeline facility for any nation. Often the design of these pipelines is a difficult task because they commonly are installed underground passing through different types of soil media. Many of these existing pipelines run through the faulted area, which continuously exposed to considerable risk of failure due to movement along the fault. In this paper, a numerical study is carried out to understand stress development in buried pipeline subjected to fault motion with Mundra-Delhi pipeline as a case study. For this purpose, a 3D finite element program is developed and the same is used to study stress development in the pipe subjected to fault motion. Also here study has been done to find out the effect of different soil media and effect of fault-pipeline angle for both strike slip and dip slip fault motion

Recovery of acerbic anaerobic digester for biogas production from pomegranate shells using organic loading approach

Anaerobic digestion of pomegranate shells was conducted in 25 L bioreactor operating at 35±0.5°C. The digester showed a reasonable amount of biogas (0.71 m3/kg VS fed) and methane (55.7%) with stable pH and acid: alkali profiles when operated at organic loading rate (OLR) from 1.0 to 3.0 kg VS/day/m−3. The reactor exhibited stable performance with methane yield of 0.44 m3/kg VS fed and reduction of 38.5% volatile solids (VS) As organic loading rate increased to 3.5 kg VS/day/m−3, accumulation of volatile fatty acid (VFA; 2797 ppm), mainly propionic acid (1617 ppm) was noticeable. The digester turned sour (pH 4.32) with lower biogas (2.5 Ld−1) and methane (30.80%) production, reflecting the case of overloading. Reversal of organic loading rate from 3.5 to 3.0 kg VS/day/m−3 gradually restored the upset anaerobic digester to normal profile in 4 weeks as judged from a gradual increase in biogas (6.5 Ld−1) and methane (58.4%)

Protein-protected luminescent noble metal quantum clusters: an emerging trend in atomic cluster nanoscience

Noble metal quantum clusters (NMQCs) are the missing link between isolated noble metal atoms and nanoparticles. NMQCs are sub-nanometer core sized clusters composed of a group of atoms, most often luminescent in the visible region, and possess intriguing photo-physical and chemical properties. A trend is observed in the use of ligands, ranging from phosphines to functional proteins, for the synthesis of NMQCs in the liquid phase. In this review, we briefly overview recent advancements in the synthesis of protein protected NMQCs with special emphasis on their structural and photo-physical properties. In view of the protein protection, coupled with direct synthesis and easy functionalization, this hybrid QC-protein system is expected to have numerous optical and bioimaging applications in the future, pointers in this direction are visible in the literature

Acute and subchronic toxicity study of Tamra Bhasma (incinerated copper) prepared with and without Amritikarana

AbstractBackgroundTamra Bhasma (TB) is one among herbo-metallic preparations extensively used in routine ayurvedic practice. In the present era, Bhasma preparations used in ayurvedic system of medicines are always under stern observations for containing heavy metals which may raise the question of safety aspect.ObjectiveIn the present study, TB prepared with and without Amritikarana was subjected to toxicity study to ascertain the role of Amritikarana on safety profile of TB in rats.Materials and methodsBoth the samples of TB were administered to rats for 28 consecutive days at the doses of 5.5, 27.5, and 55 mg/kg. The effects of both drugs were assessed on ponderal changes, hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathology of various organs.ResultsResults showed that both the samples of TB did not produce any sign and symptoms of toxicity at therapeutic dose level (5.5 mg/kg) and therapeutic equivalent dose (TED) × 5 (27.5 mg/kg) while at higher dose of TED × 10 (55 mg/kg) TB has mild toxicity in liver, kidney, heart, and thymus on repeated administration for 28 days in rats. The sample without Amritikarana has more magnitude of toxicity than the sample with Amritikarana.ConclusionFrom the present study, it is concluded that TB with Amritikarana was found to be relatively safer than TB without Amritikarana at different dose levels in rats and hence suggest for safely use in humans at therapeutic dose level. It proves the role of Amritikarana in the preparation of TB

Luminescent quantum clusters of gold in transferrin family protein, lactoferrin exhibiting FRET

We report the synthesis of highly luminescent, water soluble quantum clusters (QCs) of gold, which are stabilized by an iron binding transferrin family protein, lactoferrin (Lf). The synthesized AuQC@Lf clusters were characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), FTIR spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy along with picosecond-resolved lifetime measurements. Detailed investigations with FTIR and CD spectroscopy have revealed changes in the secondary structure of the protein in the cluster. We have also studied Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurring between the protein and the cluster. The ability of the clusters to sense cupric ions selectively at ppm concentrations was tested. The stability of clusters in widely varying pH conditions and their continued luminescence make it feasible for them to be used for intracellular imaging and molecular delivery, particularly in view of Lf protection

Wilms′ tumor with right heart extension: Report of a post-chemotherapeutic fatality

Wilms′ tumor (WT) has a strong propensity to invade the vasculature in the form of tumor-thrombus, into the renal veins, and inferior vena cava and even into the right atrium. This cavo-atrial propagation does not alter the prognosis and pre-operative chemotherapy produces shrinkage to the extent of even disappearance of caval or atrial extensions. We present a case of sudden death due to hemorrhagic expansion of the intra-atrial component of WT, immediately after commencement of chemotherapy, an uncommon incident

Perforation repair with artificial floor technique - A microleakage study

In endodontic practice one of the most common procedural accident is furcation perforation. Many materials and techniques have been tried to repair the furcation perforation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of calcium sulfate and hydroxylapatite matrix on the sealing ability of resin modified glass ionomer cement to repair the furcation perforation. The result of the study showed that the microleakage was least when perforation was repaired with resin modified glass ionomer cement over hydroxylapatite used as an internal matrix. And it was maximum when perforation was repaired with resin modified glass ionomer cement without any internal matrix material

AUTOMATED GUIDED MECHANISM FOR PICK AND PLACE APPLICATION AT OPPOSITELY PLACED VERTICAL MACHINING CENTRES

Earlier the purpose of automation was to increase productivity (since automated systems can work 24 hours a day) and to reduce the cost associated with human operators (i.e. wages & benefits). However, today, the focus of automation has shifted to increasing quality and flexibility in the manufacturingprocess.At PrecimacSolutions, we had an amazing opportunity to work on an industrial automation project for Sandwick Asia under the guidance of highly qualified engineers. The aim was to increase quality, productivity, and most importantly safety at a Vertical Machining Centres. Optimized production processes are essential to achieve a goodcompetitive position. This means flexible production systems with the right level of IT and automation. Automation gives faster, safer production processes that are more efficient, flexible, reliable, sustainable, and cost-effectiv