The copolymerization of L-methyl styrene and methyl methacrylate at high pressures

Imperial Users onl

Experimental investigation of biogas production using biodegradable municipal waste

Waste is undesirable matter, which is most frequently generated by human activity. It is one of the sources of environmental pollution. In the contemporary world, with growing population, the amounts of generated waste are increasing as well. Unsorted municipal waste, including biodegradable waste, is transported to operated landfills. A negative impact of landfills on the environment is determined by waste as well as gas emissions and polluted sewage. Annual increase in amounts of waste is one of the most urgent problems of today, and therefore effective measures have to be employed to address it. In order to apply anaerobic organic waste treatment technologies and minimise the harmful effect on the environment, waste has to be sorted. The article presents the results of experimental investigations performed with fruit, vegetable and meat waste and its mixtures. The concentrations of methane, hydrogen sulphide and oxygen under mesophilic operation of a bioreactor were observed during the experiments. As determined experimentally, meat waste is mostly suitable for the production of biogas while mixtures of other biodegradable municipal wastes with meat also produce good results. Anaerobic digestion of meat waste produces the maximum amount of biogas, which averages to 0.8 m3/m3d. In this case, the methane content amounts to about 30%. Volume of biogas generated from digestion of meat and fruit mixture of waste was approximately 0.68 m3/m3d. Methane content in the mixture amounts to 25%. Meat and vegetable waste mixture has an average amount of biogas amounting to 0.54 m3/m3d, with 25% of methane content. Article in English. Biodujų gamybos eksperimentiniai tyrimai naudojant biologiškai skaidžias komunalines atliekas Santrauka. Atliekos – nepageidaujamos medžiagos, kurios dažniausiai susidaro dėl žmogaus veiklos. Jos yra vienos iš aplinkos teršimo šaltinių. Šiuolaikiniame pasaulyje didėjant žmoniu skaičiui, dideja ir susidarančių atliekų kiekiai. Nerūšiuotos komunalinės atliekos, tarp jų ir biologiškai skaidžios, patenka į eksploatuojamus sąvartynus. Sąvartyno neigiamą poveikį aplinkai lemia ne tik pačios atliekos, bet ir iš jų sklindančios dujos, užterštos nuotekos. Kasmet didėjantys atliekų kiekiai yra viena iš svarbiausių šių dienų problemų, todėl reikia imtis efektyvių priemonių šiai problemai spręsti. Norint pritaikyti anaerobinio organinių atliekų apdorojimo technologijas ir kuo labiau sumažinti kenksmingą poveikį aplinkai, atliekas būtina rūšiuoti. Straipsnyje pateikiami eksperimentinių tyrimų su vaisių, daržovių bei mėsos atliekomis ir jų mišiniais rezultatai. Eksperimentų metu stebėtos metano, sieros vandenilio ir deguonies koncentracijos bioreaktoriui veikiant mezofiliniu režimu. Tyrimų metu nustatyta, kad geriausiai biodujų gamybai tinka mėsos atliekos. Šias atliekas anaerobiškai perdirbant gaunamas didžiausias biodujų kiekis. Vidutiniškai 0,8 m3/m3d, o metano kiekis siekia apie 30%. Taip pat kitas biologiškai skaidžias komunalines atliekas maišant su mesos atliekomis gaunami geresni rezultatai. Skaidant mesos ir vaisių atliekų mišinį biodujų kiekis siekė vidutiniškai 0,68 m3/m3d, metano kiekis 25%, skaidant mėsos ir daržovių atliekų mišinį biodujų kiekis buvo vidutiniškai 0,54 m3/m3d, metano – 25%. Reikšminiai žodžiai: biologiškai skaidžios komunalinės atliekos, biodujos, metanas, anaerobinis perdirbimas. Экспериментальные исследования по производству биогаза с использовaнием биоразлагаемых муниципальных отходов Резюме. Отходы – нежелательные материалы, являющиеся в основном результатом деятельности человека. Это один из источников загрязнения окружающей среды. В современном мире с увеличением числа людей увеличивается и количество отходов. Неотсортированные муниципальные отходы, в том числе и биоразлагаемые, попадают на эксплуатируемые свалки. Негативное воздействие на окружающую среду оказывают не только сами отходы, но и выделяющиеся из них газы, загрязненные сточные воды. Ежегодное увеличение количества отходов является одной из основных проблем в наше время, требующих принятия эффективных мер для их решения. Для того, чтобы применить анаэробную технологию для обработки органических отходов и свести к минимуму неблагоприятное воздействие на окружающую среду, отходы необходимо сортировать. В работе представлены экспериментальные исследования, касающиеся отходов фруктов, овощей и мяса, а также их смесей, и их результаты. Во время эксперимента наблюдались концентрации метана, сероводорода и кислорода в мезофильном режиме работы биореактора. Исследования показали, что наиболее приемлемыми для производства биогаза являются мясные отходы. Благодаря анаэробной переработке мясных отходов можно получить максимальное количество биогаза (в среднем 0,8 м3/м3д) и около 30 % метана. Хорошие результаты были получены также при переработке смесей из других биоразлагаемых муниципальных отходов и мясных отходов. От переработки смеси из мясных и фруктовых отходов получено среднее количество биогаза (0.68 м3/м3д) с содержанием 25 % метана, а от переработки смеси из мясных и овощных отходов – в среднем 0.54 м3/м3д биогаза с содержанием 25 % метана. Ключевые слова: биоразлагаемые муниципальные отходы, биогаз, метан, анаэробная переработка

Experimental biogas research by anaerobic digestion of waste of animal origin and biodegradable garden waste

Currently, one of the most efficient and prospective methods of biodegradable waste management is  anaerobic digestion in a bio-reactor. The use of this method for managing biodegradable waste generating in agriculture and elsewhere would result in the recovery of biogas that could be used as an alternative to natural gas. The article presents the results of the experimental tests of biogas production through  biological degradation of waste in a bio-reactor by using a mixture of pig manure (PM) and garden waste (GW) in a ratio of 90:10%, a mixture of hen manure (HM) and GW in a ratio of 90:10%. A higher  concentration of methane was recorded during the treatment of a pig manure and garden waste mixture in a ratio of 90:10%. The maximum concentration of methane reached 68.0%. Since the methane  concentration in this mixture was from 1.5 times higher than in the other mixture. The mixture of pig  manure and garden waste was better suitable for biogas and methane production. The biggest amount of bio-gas was registered in 22 days which amounted to 0.650 m3/m3d. The methane concentration in  biogas was largest (65%) and this mixture of organic wastes was the best for energy production. Anaerobic digestion of other mixtures showed the following biogas amounts and methane concentrations: 0.311 m3/m3d and 52% (in the case of a PM and GW mixture), respectively; and 0.39 m3/m3d and 26.7%  (a mixture of HM and GW), respectively. Key words: Bio-reactor, biogas, methane, anaerobic digestion, garden waste

The effect of cocoa supplementation on hepatic steatosis, reactive oxygen species and LFABP in a rat model of NASH

Background Non alcoholic steatohepatitis is hypothesised to develop via a mechanism involving fat accumulation and oxidative stress. The current study aimed to investigate if an increase in oxidative stress was associated with changes in the expression of liver fatty acid binding protein in a rat model of non alcoholic steatohepatitis and whether cocoa supplementation attenuated those changes. Methods Female Sprague Dawley rats were fed a high fat control diet, a high fat methionine choline deficient diet, or one of four 12.5% cocoa supplementation regimes in combination with the high fat methionine choline deficient diet. Results Liver fatty acid binding protein mRNA and protein levels were reduced in the liver of animals with fatty liver disease when compared to controls. Increased hepatic fat content was accompanied by higher levels of oxidative stress in animals with fatty liver disease when compared to controls. An inverse association was found between the levels of hepatic liver fatty acid binding protein and the level of hepatic oxidative stress in fatty liver disease. Elevated NADPH oxidase protein levels were detected in the liver of animals with increased severity in inflammation and fibrosis. Cocoa supplementation was associated with partial attenuation of these pathological changes, although the severity of liver disease induced by the methionine choline deficient diet prevented complete reversal of any disease associated changes. Red blood cell glutathione was increased by cocoa supplementation, whereas liver glutathione was reduced by cocoa compared to methionine choline deficient diet fed animals. Conclusion These findings suggest a potential role for liver fatty acid binding protein and NADPH oxidase in the development of non alcoholic steatohepatitis. Furthermore, cocoa supplementation may have be of therapeutic benefit in less sever forms of NASH

Effectiveness research on a wavy lamellar plate-type biofilter with a capillary system for the humidification of the packing material applying introinduced microorganisms

To conduct research, a new generation plate-type air treatment biofilter for removing gaseous pollutants from air has been applied under laboratory conditions. A distinguishing feature of the packing material of the biofilter includes wavy lamellar polymer plates placed to each other and producing a capillary effect of humidification. While having such an arrangement, wavy lamellar plates also have rather wide spacing (6 mm), and therefore the employment of the structure of the plate-type packing material decreases the aerodynamic resistance of the device. A wavy porous plate is made of a polymer plate that ensures stiffness. Both sides of the wavy lamellar polymer plate have attached steam exploded birch fiber pellets under which, to increase plate capillarity, not-woven caulking material is put. This technological decision allows effectively enhancing the durability of the biopacking material. The work presents the results of research on the efficiency of the biodestruction process of acetone, xylene and ammonia. With reference to the conducted investigation, the high efficiency of air treatment and microbiological activity has been established. When pollutant gases (acetone, xylene and ammonia), under a velocity of 0.08 m s–1, passed through the biopacking material, microbiological activity in the material reached on average 1×108 cfu/cm2, and air treatment efficiency made 90.7%

Evaluation of serum chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronan: biomarkers for osteoarthritis in canine hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia (HD) is one of the most important bone and joint diseases in dogs. Making the radiographic diagnosis is sometime possible when the disease has markedly progressed. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronan (HA) are the most important cartilage biomolecules that are elevated in the serum taken from dogs with osteoarthritis. The serum CS and HA can be detected by an ELISA technique, with using monoclonal antibodies against CS epitope 3B3 and WF6 and the HA chain as the primary antibodies. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of serum CS (both epitopes) and HA in non-HD and HD dogs. All 123 dogs were categorized into 2 groups. The non-HD group was composed of 98 healthy dogs, while the HD group was comprised of 25 HD dogs. Blood samples were collected for analyzing the serum CS and HA levels with using the ELISA technique. The results showed that the average serum level of the CS epitope WF6 in the HD group (2,594 ± 3,036.10 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in the non-HD group (465 ± 208.97 ng/ml) (p < 0.01) while the epitope 3B3 in the HD group (105 ± 100.05 ng/ml) was significantly lower than that in the non-HD group (136 ± 142.03 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). The amount of serum HA in the HD group (134.74 ± 59.71 ng/ml) was lower than that in the non HD group (245.45 ± 97.84 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). The results indicate that the serum CS and HA levels might be used as biomarkers for osteoarthritis in HD dogs

Athens by Sound

Architecture is not only that which is built. Architecture is made up of different aspects, both material and immaterial. The atmosphere, the sounds, the smells, the possibility of interaction between human bodies: these all constitute characteristics of space, characteristics that are assuming an increasing importance within architectural research worldwide. Within this field of thought about “Architecture Beyond Building”, we focus on one particular non-material spatial phenomenon that lies ‘beyond the built’: sound. We have created, thus, an interactive sonic map of Athens, which presents, in an unexpected way, fragments of the atmosphere of the city. What would a non-visual map look like? What would it feel like if you wandered within a forest of headphones, playing sounds from different places in Athens? How would it feel if you found yourself in a ‘map’ that only appeared when you walked in it? What would it be like if the map only appeared when you invited one more person to be with you? The Greek pavilion addresses these questions through an atmospheric interactive ‘game’, presenting fragments of sounds and visual sequences of Athens. The visitor recreates the space around him through his own presence and movement. The map appears only where he walks, and/or when he invites one more person to sit next to him. The bodies of the visitors react with one another and with the space itself, creating a dynamic, changing field. This walk in the pavilion takes you “out there”, through invisible Athens. The pavilion brings forth the aspects of architecture that are ‘beyond the material’: the ‘beyond the built’, the almost unreachable, elusive aspects of space, such as sound, non-visual senses, atmosphere. It challenges, thus, the limits of architecture, the limits of what can be mapped and re-located and what cannot. An edited collection by A. Karandinou, C. Achtypi, S. Giamarelos, including texts by: Ιntothepill, Katie Lloyd Thomas, Martin Parker, Panayiotis Tournikiotis, Mark Wigley, Dorian Wiszniewski, Leslie Kavanaugh, Stephen Cairns, Jonathan Hill, Vassilis Ganiatsas, Anastasios Kotsiopoulos, Constance Classen, Stavros Stavrides, Ole Bouman, William Mitchell, Richard Coyne, Neil Spiller, Kas Oosterhuis, Nora Schueler, Zissis Kotionis, Stelarc, Andreas Angelidakis, Aristide Antonas, Slavoj Žižek, Nikolaos Laskaris, Argyris Rokas, Andreas Kourkoulas, John Peponis, Yorgos Ioannou, Yorgos Tzirtzilakis, Konstantinos Vita, Dionyssis Kapsalis, United Visual Artists, Platon Rivellis, and Dimitris Filippidis. Contributors to the Greek National Participation to the 11th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia "Out there. Architecture beyond building" (2008) Organised by: Hellenic Ministry of Culture [yppo.gr] General Directorate of Modern Culture Directorate of Visual Arts Department for the Promotion of Contemporary Art Curators: Anastasia Karandinou Christina Achtypi Stylianos Giamarelos Video works by Intothepill net [intothepill.net] Artists: Yiannis Grigoriadis Yiannis Isidorou Lina Theodorou Sound Recording / Sound Design Dimitris Miyakis [movement.gr] Vangelis Lympouridis Exhibition Graphics / Catalogue Design Company [company-london.com] Design and Implementation of interactive environment 2monochannels [2monochannels.com] Audiovisual and interactive systems design / acoustic design / construction supervision Iraklis Lampropoulos Giorgos Lampropoulos Software programming Vassilis Boukis Electronic subsystem design Michail Kritsotakis Electrical Design Giorgos Satolias Interconnection of interactive elements Vangelis Lympouridis [inter-axions.com] Dimitris Miyakis Light design L+DG lighting architects [lightingdg.com] Thomas Gravanis Christina Frangeti Construction Gavrilos Michalis [gavrilos.gr] Digital printing Polichromo [polichromo.com] Translations Rachel Howard Nikos Masourides Catalogue photographs Intothepill – Internet video platform Catalogue published by futura publications Marketing communication Chryssa Vrouzi Communication associate Katerina Stamidi Photographer Cathy Cunliffe [cathycunliffeΑΤgmail.com] For their financial and material support for the Greek participation at the 11th International Exhibition of Architecture, La Biennale di Venezia, we express our deepest thanks to the sponsors: Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation [onassis.gr] Akzonobel [akzonobel.com] Carteco - Architectural Materials & Design [carteco.gr] L+DG Lighting Architects [lightingdg.com] Plaisio [plaisio.gr] Polichromo Advertising Applications [polichromo.com] iGuzzini illuminazione [iguzzini.com] Diathlasis Architectural Lighting [diathlasis.gr