Development of hybrid coconut shell-peek adsorbent for methane adsorption: optimization using response surface methodology

Adsorbed natural gas (ANG) provides efficient and clean combustion, with minimal emissions compared to diesel and gasoline. This article was designed to develop techniques of ANG for transportation application by apply RSM and CCD to identify the optimum preparation conditions for preparation of stable adsorbent for methane adsorption. Coconut shell and poly ether ketone (PEEK) was selected for synthesis of activated carbon (AC). The effectiveness of the parameters was determined using response surface method (RSM) couple with central composite design (CCD). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to identify the significant parameters. The quadratic model was adopted, as it has the highest F-value of 21.62 and P-value of less than 0.05, which relate the parameters and response. Microwave power has the highest F-value of 62.36. The maximum methane uptake of 5.12mmol g-1 was achieved. Overall, the hybrid coconut-PEEK adsorbent was found to be suitable for CH4 adsorption

Distinct roles for the IIId2 sub-domain in pestivirus and picornavirus internal ribosome entry sites.

Viral internal ribosomes entry site (IRES) elements coordinate the recruitment of the host translation machinery to direct the initiation of viral protein synthesis. Within hepatitis C virus (HCV)-like IRES elements, the sub-domain IIId(1) is crucial for recruiting the 40S ribosomal subunit. However, some HCV-like IRES elements possess an additional sub-domain, termed IIId2, whose function remains unclear. Herein, we show that IIId2 sub-domains from divergent viruses have different functions. The IIId2 sub-domain present in Seneca valley virus (SVV), a picornavirus, is dispensable for IRES activity, while the IIId2 sub-domains of two pestiviruses, classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and border disease virus (BDV), are required for 80S ribosomes assembly and IRES activity. Unlike in SVV, the deletion of IIId2 from the CSFV and BDV IRES elements impairs initiation of translation by inhibiting the assembly of 80S ribosomes. Consequently, this negatively affects the replication of CSFV and BDV. Finally, we show that the SVV IIId2 sub-domain is required for efficient viral RNA synthesis and growth of SVV, but not for IRES function. This study sheds light on the molecular evolution of viruses by clearly demonstrating that conserved RNA structures, within distantly related RNA viruses, have acquired different roles in the virus life cycles

Mechanical, thermal, tribological, and flammability properties of polybutylene terephthalate composites: Comparing the effects of synthetic wollastonite nanofibers, natural wollastonite, and graphene oxide

Abstract Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) composites were prepared with 1.0 phr synthetic :wollastonite nanofibers (SWN), natural wollastonite (NW) and graphene :oxide (GO) to study the effect of different fillers on mechanical, thermal, tribological,and flammability properties. The properties of PBT composites arerelated to the size, structure, and interfacial adhesion of the fillers in PBT matrix. PBT/SWN demonstrated the highest tensile strength and Young's modulus (6% and 9% increment), followed by PBT/NW (1.3% and 7% increment) and PBT/GO (2% decrement and 4% increment). PBT/SWN gave the highest degradation temperature (409�C), followed by PBT/GO (404.7�C). The maximum enhancement in wear resistance (73%) by PBT/SWN and anti-friction performance (26%) by PBT/GO evinced the excellent load-bearing ability of SWN and the great lubricating effect of GO. PBT/NW had the lowest peak heat release rate, smoke, and carbon dioxide production rate. This study shows that :PBT composites have great potential in different automotive applications. :KEYWORDS :flame retardance, friction and wear, mechanical properties, polymer-matrix composites,thermal properties Received: 24 August 2022 Revised: 28 October 2022 Accepted: 15 November 2022 DOI: 10.1002/app.53463 J Appl Polym Sci. 2022;e53463. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/app © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. 1 of 1

The DREEM, part 1: measurement of the educational environment in an osteopathy teaching program

Background Measurement of the educational environment has become more common in health professional education programs. Information gained from these investigations can be used to implement and measure changes to the curricula, educational delivery and the physical environment. A number of questionnaires exist to measure the educational environment, and the most commonly utilised of these is the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM). Methods The DREEM was administered to students in all year levels of the osteopathy program at Victoria University (VU), Melbourne, Australia. Students also completed a demographic survey. Inferential and correlational statistics were employed to investigate the educational environment based on the scores obtained from the DREEM. Results A response rate of 90% was achieved. The mean total DREEM score was 135.37 (+/- 19.33) with the scores ranging from 72 to 179. Some subscales and items demonstrated differences for gender, clinical phase, age and whether the student was in receipt of a government allowance. Conclusions There are a number of areas in the program that are performing well, and some aspects that could be improved. Overall students rated the VU osteopathy program as more positive than negative. The information obtained in the present study has identified areas for improvement and will enable the program leaders to facilitate changes. It will also provide other educational institutions with data on which they can make comparisons with their own programs

The Effect of Iron Limitation on the Transcriptome and Proteome of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5

One of the most important micronutrients for bacterial growth is iron, whose bioavailability in soil is limited. Consequently, rhizospheric bacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescens employ a range of mechanisms to acquire or compete for iron. We investigated the transcriptomic and proteomic effects of iron limitation on P. fluorescens Pf-5 by employing microarray and iTRAQ techniques, respectively. Analysis of this data revealed that genes encoding functions related to iron homeostasis, including pyoverdine and enantio-pyochelin biosynthesis, a number of TonB-dependent receptor systems, as well as some inner-membrane transporters, were significantly up-regulated in response to iron limitation. Transcription of a ribosomal protein L36-encoding gene was also highly up-regulated during iron limitation. Certain genes or proteins involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), orfamide A and pyrrolnitrin, as well as a chitinase, were over-expressed under iron-limited conditions. In contrast, we observed that expression of genes involved in hydrogen cyanide production and flagellar biosynthesis were down-regulated in an iron-depleted culture medium. Phenotypic tests revealed that Pf-5 had reduced swarming motility on semi-solid agar in response to iron limitation. Comparison of the transcriptomic data with the proteomic data suggested that iron acquisition is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

Background: The EMPA KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population. Methods: EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110. Findings: Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5–2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62–0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16–1·59), representing a 50% (42–58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1). Interpretation: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council

Magnetic microbeads trapping using microfluidic and permanent magnet system

In Lab-on-Chip (LoC) magnetic system, magnetic microbeads are used in selective binding and separation of targeted biological cells under influence of a magnetic field. Enhancing magnetic trapping efficiency is vital for further biological analyses. In this study, trapping efficiency of 4.5 μm diameter magnetic microbeads under permanent magnet configurations and varying microfluidic flow rates has been investigated. In the experimental studies conducted, neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) permanents magnets and polydimethylsiloxane microfluidics with trapping chamber design were used as a LoC magnetic system. At 5 μl/min microfluidics flow, trapping efficiency of single magnet configuration was 92.06 %. Improved trapping efficiency of 95.24 % was observed with double magnet configuration. On the other hand, the trapping efficiency at greater microfluidics flow rate of 20 μl/min were only 20.63 % and 15.87 % for single and double magnet configuration respectively. Trapping efficiency is greater for double permanent magnets configuration and at the slowest microfluidics flow rate

Pemanfaatan Sisa Potongan Kain untuk Pembuatan Ghillie Suit

Limbah merupakan sisa-sisa produksi yang memiliki nilai ekonomis yang jauh lebih rendah daripada produk jadi. Namun limbah dapat diolah kembali menjadi produk yang memiliki nilai ekonomis yang lebih tinggi. Sisa potongan kain merupakan jenis limbah yang dapat diolah kembali. Sisa potongan kain dapat dimanfaatkan kembali untuk pembuatan suatu produk militer bernama ghillie suit. Produk ini dapat dibuat dengan cara menggabungkan sisa potongan kain tersebut pada lembaran jaring tentara

Multi-metals column adsorption of lead(II), cadmium(II) and manganese(II) onto natural bentonite clay

The present work was aimed at evaluating the multi-metals column adsorption of lead(II), cadmium(II) and manganese(II) ions onto natural bentonite. The bentonite clay adsorbent was characterized for physical and chemical properties using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and cation exchange capacity. The column performance was evaluated using adsorbent bed height of 5.0 cm, with varying influent concentrations (10 mg/L and 50 mg/L) and flow rates (1.4 mL/min and 2.4 mL/min). The result shows that the breakthrough time for all metal ions ranged from 50 to 480 minutes. The maximum adsorption capacity was obtained at initial concentration of 10 mg/L and flow rate of 1.4 mL/min, with 2.22 mg/g of lead(II), 1.71 mg/g of cadmium(II) and 0.37 mg/g of manganese(II). The order of metal ions removal by natural bentonite is lead(II) > cadmium(II) > manganese(II). The sorption performance and the dynamic behaviour of the column were predicted using Adams-Bohart, Thomas, and Yoon-Nelson models. The linear regression analysis demonstrated that the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models fitted well with the column adsorption data for all metal ions. The natural bentonite was effective for the treatment of wastewater laden with multi-metals, and the process parameters obtained from this work can be used at the industrial scale