The Design of Crude Palm Oil Clarifier

The objective of this research was to study the settling characteristics of crude palm oil (CPO), and use them to design a crude palm oil settler so that to increase the oil recovery , and hence the oil loss in the effluent can be minimized. The apparent viscosity {'1} of CPO after dilution with water was measured and an equation for its behaviour with shear rate (r) and temperature (I') was derived: '1 = 898 exp (19001T)Y-°·61) The equation was used to model CPO settling. Two approaches to determine the design criteria of the CPO settler were followed - conventional solid/liquid analysis, as proposed by Lim (1977), and liquid/liquid analysis . The liquid/liquid analysis underestimated the required settler height by 38-53 %, and the conventional approach by 55-63 %. Finally, a coagulation Jar test was carried out to examine the effects of five coagulants in the oil recovery from the effluent. The results showed that the use of coagulant can reduce oil loss in the clarifier. The recovered oil was 3 % of the plant throughput

Annual Assessment of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University ATU Sustainability Development Goals for GreenMetric World University Rankings

Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical university ATU, is one of the newly established academic institutions in Republic of Iraq. Since its emergence in 2014, presently the university is keen to secure its position among other internationally to be a well recognized academic institutions, thereby addressing all sustainable goals and related challenges in its futuristic development schemes. These include developing all existing educational programs and schemes, developing in campus faculty infrastructures, implementing alternative energy resources, developing waste managements, enhancing potable water conservation existing projects and evolving existing transportation structures. This current manuscript highlights in depth all the above indicated developments schemes thereby examining their implementation stages and addressing all associated challenges that face the university. It also looks at its potentials and capabilities to overcome such issues

SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURAL ELUCIDATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF 2-{4-(T-AMINO)-2-(BUT-2-YN-1-YL)}-1, 3 BENZOTHIAZOLE DERIVATIVES

Objective: A new series of 2-{4-(t-amino)-2-(but-2-yn-1-yl)}-1,3-benzothiazole derivatives, 2-[4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ2), 2-[4-(2-methylpiperidin-1-yl)but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ3), 2-[4-(piperidin-1-yl) but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ4), 2-[4-(azepan-1-yl)but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ5), 2-[4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ6), 2-[4-(2, 6-dimethylpiperidin-1-yl) but-2-yn-1-yl]-1, 3-benzothiazole (BZ7) were synthesized and screened in vitro as potential antimicrobial agents.Methods: In-vitro antimicrobial activity evaluation was done, by agar diffusion method and broth dilution test against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538p, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. The results of antimicrobial testing were compared to two positive control drugs ciprofloxacin (5 µg/ml) and fluconazole (500µg/ml).Results: Compound 2-[4-(azepan-1-yl) but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ5) showed the highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus with MIC value of 15.62 µg/ml while; Compound 2-[4-(2,6-dimethylpiperidin-1-yl)but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ7) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa with MIC value of 31.25 µg/ml. Compounds 2-[4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ2) and 2-[4-(azepan-1-yl)but-2-yn-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole (BZ5) showed the highest antifungal activity against C. albicans with MIC value of 15.62 µg/ml (for both).Conclusion: The results obtained showed variation in the antibacterial and antifungal activity based on the structure of the cyclic amines in these amino acetylenic benzothiazole derivatives. Keywords: Benzothiazole, Aminoacetylenic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Mannich reactio

Unexpected death after headache due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle

BACKGROUND: Colloid cysts of the third ventricle are rare benign intracranial non-neoplastic cysts. Headache is the most common symptom. We present a case of sudden death due to colloid cyst in a 17 year old female who had symptoms of intermittent headaches. CASE PRESENTATION: A 17 year old female presented with intermittent mild headaches for a period of two years. She complained of severe headache in the night and was found unresponsive the next morning. Resuscitation team was called on site but the patient was already dead. At post mortem examination a dilated ventricular system was found with a colloid cyst of the third ventricle. CONCLUSION: This report highlights the difficulty in the diagnosis and importance of recognizing colloid cyst of the third ventricle which should be in the differential diagnosis of headaches in children and young adults and of hydrocephalus at autops

The Predictive Ability of Self Emotional Awareness by Experiential Avoidance among Patients Recovering from COVID 19

This study is an attempt to identify the level of emotional self-awareness and experimental avoidance, and to verify the correlational relationship and predictive ability between them, according to the variables of (gender, age, and academic qualification). The sample consisted of (212) individuals recovering from (Covid 19 ). The study results showed that the sample members have a high level of emotional self-awareness and experimental avoidance, and there existed a correlation between emotional self-awareness and experimental avoidance, and predictive ability of emotional self-awareness by experimental avoidance. Furthermore, results indicated differences in emotional awareness according to the gender variable in favor of males, and for the educational qualification variable, in favor of master degree and above, while the results did not specify differences in emotional self-awareness according to the age variable, and the existence of differences in experimental avoidance according to the gender variable in favor of males, and according to the educational qualification variable, in favor of master degree and above, and according to the age variable (between 41-50 years of age)

DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL SCREENING OF AMINOACETYLENIC TETRAHYDROPHTHALIMIDE ANALOGUES AS NOVEL CYCLOOXYGENASE (COX) INHIBITORS

Objective: To design and synthesise a new amino acetylenic tetrahydro phthalimide derivative and investigate their selective inhibitory activity to COXs.Methods: Aminoacetylenic tetrahydro phthalimide derivatives were synthesised by alkylation of tetrahydro phthalimide with propargyl bromide afforded 2-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-1H-isoindole-1,3-dione. The alkylated tetrahydro phthalimide was subjected to Mannich reaction afforded the desired amino acetylenic tetra phthalimide derivatives (AZ 1-6). The elemental analysis was indicated by the EuroEA elemental analyzer and biological characterization was via IR, 1H-NMR, [13]C-NMR, DSC was determined with the aid of Bruker FT-IR and Varian 300 MHz spectrometer and DMSO-d6 as a solvent, molecular docking was done using the Autodock Tool software (version 4.2). ChemBioDraw was used in the drawing of our schemes.Results: The IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DSC and elemental analysis were consistent with the assigned structures. The designers of the compounds as COXs inhibitor activity were based on the nationalisation of the important criteria that provide effective inhibitory binding with COXs–receptor. The results indicated that the synthesised compounds (AZ1-6) showed a close similarity in the binding affinity to both COXs and may be more specific to COX-1. AZ-5 showed the highest % of inhibition for COX-1 even better than aspirin. Which may suggest that the aryl group is required for COX-2 inhibition.Conclusion: For the first time, we indicate the requirement of aromaticity in COX-2 structural inhibitory activity.Â

Effect of the Photodynamic Therapy Applications with Potent Microalgae Constituents on Several Types of Tumor

Background In recent years, microalgae (MA) have attracted much interest considering their possible therapeutic application. They contain active natural compounds or derivatives (extracts, pure or chemically modified compounds) that have increasing applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Methods The present study aims to examine microalgae for new photosensitizers, with a potential to be used in the light-associated treatment of tumors. Semi-purified extracts of several microalgae strains were evaluated as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. Four tumor cell lines (A549, LNCap, MCF-7, and MDA-MB 435) were used to assess 34 samples extracted by three methods: cellulase enzyme, lysozyme enzyme and ultra-sonication. The fluorescence measurements and the recorded images alongside the spectral intensities between 650–800 nm wavelengths provided characteristic features to some of the contents of the examined extracts. Results Several microalgae constituents activated by blue light (BL), red light (RL) or both (in sequence) exhibited significant effects on the viability of the tumor cell lines, decreasing it as much as 95% for certain MA constituents. Majority of the MA constituents showed a higher phototoxicity after exposure to both blue and red lights than the photo-induced toxicity when exposed to a single light source. The viability of the tumor cells exhibited the dose dependent response with the MA constituents. Conclusion The results clearly showed that MA constituents are potential photosensitizers that have a significant photo-damage effects on the tested cancer cells

Satisfaction and Service Quality of Using High-Speed 4G Wireless Broadband in University Campus

This paper aims to examine customers’ satisfaction with the product service quality rendered by high-speed 4G wireless broadband (YES!) and YES! Campus Store. 161 of 300 students were engaged from numerous faculties at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Based on a survey, this study suggested that tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy produce negative results. It shows that the service rendered by YES! does not meet the expectation of customers’ satisfaction. This paper draws attention to the importance of having high-speed 4G wireless broadband in the campus as its impact on customers’ satisfaction as well as service quality at YES! campus store

Accurate and reliable quantification of total microalgal fuel potential as fatty acid methyl esters by in situ transesterification

In the context of algal biofuels, lipids, or better aliphatic chains of the fatty acids, are perhaps the most important constituents of algal biomass. Accurate quantification of lipids and their respective fuel yield is crucial for comparison of algal strains and growth conditions and for process monitoring. As an alternative to traditional solvent-based lipid extraction procedures, we have developed a robust whole-biomass in situ transesterification procedure for quantification of algal lipids (as fatty acid methyl esters, FAMEs) that (a) can be carried out on a small scale (using 4–7 mg of biomass), (b) is applicable to a range of different species, (c) consists of a single-step reaction, (d) is robust over a range of different temperature and time combinations, and (e) tolerant to at least 50% water in the biomass. Unlike gravimetric lipid quantification, which can over- or underestimate the lipid content, whole biomass transesterification reflects the true potential fuel yield of algal biomass. We report here on the comparison of the yield of FAMEs by using different catalysts and catalyst combinations, with the acid catalyst HCl providing a consistently high level of conversion of fatty acids with a precision of 1.9% relative standard deviation. We investigate the influence of reaction time, temperature, and biomass water content on the measured FAME content and profile for 4 different samples of algae (replete and deplete Chlorella vulgaris, replete Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and replete Nannochloropsis sp.). We conclude by demonstrating a full mass balance closure of all fatty acids around a traditional lipid extraction process

Cinnamon and ginger extracts attenuate diabetes-induced inflammatory testicular injury in rats and modulating SIRT1 expression

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of simultaneous administration of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) extracts in mitigating testicular changes associated with diabetes mellitus in rats and to investigate its molecular mode of action. After induction of diabetes using streptozotocin, 36 male rats were divided to six groups namely control, diabetic, metformin-treated, cinnamon-treated, ginger-treated and combined, each group having 6 rats. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, testosterone was measured. Expression of inflammatory mediators; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was assessed in the testicular tissue. Histopathological changes in the testis were observed and spermatogenesis and apoptosis were assessed immunohistochemically. The histological and biochemical studies of the untreated group confirmed structural changes in testes induced by diabetes. Oral administration of ginger and cinnamon increased insulin level significantly increased while the blood glucose level significantly decreased in diabetic rats, improving structural testicular changes considerably. Joint intake of ginger and cinnamon increased antihyperglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects markedly improving the testicular injury compared to the administration of either of them. SIRT1 expression in the testis significantly increased in ginger plus cinnamon-treated rats. These results indicate that when administrated together, ginger and cinnamon synergistically enhanced antioxidant, antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects and induced antihyperglycemic effect comparable to metformin. The combination of ginger and cinnamon also upregulated SIRT1 in the testis