The comparison of various gas turbine inlet aircooling methods for various ambient condition trough energy and exergy analysis

The strong influence of climate conditions on gas turbine behavior is well known. During the summer season the output of gas turbines falls to a value that is less than the rated output under high temperature conditions. Cooling the turbine inlet air can increase output power considerably, because cooled air is dense, giving the turbine a higher mass flow rate and resulting in increased turbine output and efficiency. This study is to use the energy and exergy analysis method to evaluate the air cooling method used for enhancing the gas turbine power plant. In addition, the effect of inlet air cooling method on the output power, exergy efficiency and exergy destruction have been analyzed. Also at the end of the paper the comparison of two mentioned methods has been investigated

Radio frequency radiation measurement for base tower station safety compliances: a case study in Pulau Pinang Malaysia

The residence of Pulau Pinang and Malaysia generally are worried with the possible health effects due to Base Tower Station (BTS) radiation. Particularly, the residents of Pulau Pinang are utilizing their mobile phones for multiple kind of tasks including communications, browsing the internet and other applications. With the recent advances in mobile communication technologies, the end user demanded a better coverage, great communication services, and faster speed for internet browsing. To fulfill the demand, service provider and communication companies are providing plenty of communication base tower leading to the beliefs of that the tower emitted radiation and cause harmful effect to human health and voiced out and complain to the municipal councils in Malaysia. In this paper, a measurement was conducted to study electromagnetic fields (EMF) radiation level in Pulau Pinang. The measurement is compared with the international standard provided by International Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Far field measurement of different values of long term evolution (LTE) exposure was demonstrated in radiofrequency (RF) shielded environment. LTE850, LTE1800 and LTE2600 field exposure was compared in term of its’ electrical field and power density that adhere to the standard provided by ICNIRP

Stability properties of asphalt mixture incorporating coconut shell

This study aims to evaluate the effect of coconut shell at varying percentages as an aggregatereplacement on the stability properties of the asphalt mixture. The performance of thespecimen was evaluated through stability, stiffness, density and flow tests. Five coconut shellpercentages namely 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% by weight volumes were used as aggregates replacements in asphaltic concrete. The mixture design incorporating the penetration grade 60/70 bitumen was used for specimen testing. The optimum content of bitumen for asphalt mixtures was 5%. Test results showed that ththe stability, stiffness, density and flow of specimen increased with the increase of coconut shell content to a peak level (10%) and then decreased with further additions of coconut shell. Results also indicated that 10% coconut shell was the optimum replacement as an aggregate in the asphaltic concrete.Keywords: stability; coconut; stiffness; density; flow

Mechanistic insight in the selective delignification of wheat straw by three white-rot fungal species through quantitative 13C-IS py-GC–MS and whole cell wall HSQC NMR

Background The white-rot fungi Ceriporiopsis subvermispora (Cs), Pleurotus eryngii (Pe), and Lentinula edodes (Le) have been shown to be high-potential species for selective delignification of plant biomass. This delignification improves polysaccharide degradability, which currently limits the efficient lignocellulose conversion into biochemicals, biofuels, and animal feed. Since selectivity and time efficiency of fungal delignification still need optimization, detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms at molecular level is required. The recently developed methodologies for lignin quantification and characterization now allow for the in-depth mapping of fungal modification and degradation of lignin and, thereby, enable resolving underlying mechanisms. Results Wheat straw treated by two strains of Cs (Cs1 and Cs12), Pe (Pe3 and Pe6) and Le (Le8 and Le10) was characterized using semi-quantitative py-GC–MS during fungal growth (1, 3, and 7 weeks). The remaining lignin after 7 weeks was quantified and characterized using ¹³C lignin internal standard based py-GC–MS and whole cell wall HSQC NMR. Strains of the same species showed similar patterns of lignin removal and degradation. Cs and Le outperformed Pe in terms of extent and selectivity of delignification (Cs ≥ Le >> Pe). The highest lignin removal [66% (w/w); Cs1] was obtained after 7 weeks, without extensive carbohydrate degradation (factor 3 increased carbohydrate-to-lignin ratio). Furthermore, though after treatment with Cs and Le comparable amounts of lignin remained, the structure of the residual lignin vastly differed. For example, Cα-oxidized substructures accumulated in Cs treated lignin up to 24% of the total aromatic lignin, a factor two higher than in Le-treated lignin. Contrarily, ferulic acid substructures were preferentially targeted by Le (and Pe). Interestingly, Pe-spent lignin was specifically depleted of tricin (40% reduction). The overall subunit composition (H:G:S) was not affected by fungal treatment. Conclusions Cs and Le are both able to effectively and selectively delignify wheat straw, though the underlying mechanisms are fundamentally different. We are the first to identify that Cs degrades the major β-O-4 ether linkage in grass lignin mainly via Cβ–O–aryl cleavage, while Cα–Cβ cleavage of inter-unit linkages predominated for Le. Our research provides a new insight on how fungi degrade lignin, which contributes to further optimizing the biological upgrading of lignocellulose. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13068-018-1259-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Variation in the solubilization of crude protein in wheat straw by different white-rot fungi

Besides their unique ability to depolymerize cell wall components, white-rot fungi are known to assimilate nitrogenous compounds from substrates. This modification may change protein solubility and fermentation in the rumen. To investigate this, the crude protein (CP) in fungal treated wheat straw (3 fungal species, 2 strains each) was fractioned according to the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) and assessed for in vitro protein fermentation using a modified gas production technique (IVGPN). Results showed that fungi increased fraction A (instantaneously soluble CP; ∼2.6 times) and B1 (rapidly degradable; ∼1.2 times); and decreased the slowly degradable fraction B3 (∼41.6%) and unavailable fraction C (∼48.3%). The IVGPN of straw treated with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora strains were not different to the control, but increased by 30.2 to 47.1% in Pleurotus eryngii and Lentinula edodes strains. The IVGPN was significantly (P <  0.01) correlated to all fractions of CP, except fraction B1 and B2 (intermediately degradable). All fungi also increased the arginine (∼56%) and lysine (∼15%) contents. This study shows the importance of assessing the protein solubilization by different fungal strains, which can uncover unique mechanisms in the cell wall depolymerization

Directional felling within selective management system of Peninsular Malaysia: comparison between current and extended techniques

Directional felling has been implemented in Peninsular Malaysia as part of the Selective Management System (SMS) to obtain optimum yield from the forest resources while reducing damage to the environment and residual trees. Some questions regarding its effectiveness have been questioned a few times, resulting in a joint research project at Ulu Jelai Forest Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia to compare between the current directional felling technique and the new (extended) techniques, in terms of accuracy of tree felling, volume of felling logs, expected damage on residual trees, and time taken for tree felling. For this study, 38 trees were felled with the current and extended techniques. By using the extended technique, 91.3% of the trees were felled within the 0°-5° range, and 100% within the 0°-10° range, compared to 28.01% (within the 0°-5° range) using the current technique. The extended technique also recorded higher volume recovery (14% higher) and lower damage on the residual trees by almost 50%. However, the extended technique took longer time, i.e. 4.56 minutes per tree, as compared to 2.50 minutes. The main contributor to the difference is the presence of gauge cut in the extended technique. Generally, the studies suggest that the extended technique is preferred as it is safer to the feller and surrounding people, while reducing the collateral damage on the harvested trees, as well as the residual trees

Dynamics investigation on motorcycle chassis based on Finite Element (FE) modelling and updating

Motorcycles built from multiple materials such as steel and aluminium that formed a welded of beams to construct the chassis. The frame is designed by combining the part-by-part saddle, handlebar and wheel that are attached together. In this study, the identification of structural dynamics study for motorcycle chassis was conducted to identify modal properties such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. This could be achieved by using two different analysis approaches; Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA). For FEA analysis, 3D modeling of the chassis frame is needed and modelled using CAD software. Normal mode analysis was run on modelled structure to determine modal properties after meshing type and properties of materials declared. Impact hammer testing using roving accelerometer method was conducted for EMA study and comparison of modal properties with FEA is carried out. Discrepancies that appeared after correlation among two approaches attempted to be reduced by performing model updating procedure and it was successfully reduced the average percentage of error to be less than 10%. The results show that the model updating was an effective technique for improving the discrepancy that may exist due to modelling issue and material properties prediction in FEA. This study clearly shows that model updating technique is an effective way of reducing the discrepancies between EMA and FEA

Local probing of ionic diffusion by electrochemical strain microscopy: spatial resolution and signal formation mechanisms

Electrochemical insertion-deintercalation reactions are typically associated with significant change of molar volume of the host compound. This strong coupling between ionic currents and strains underpins image formation mechanisms in electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM), and allows exploring the tip-induced electrochemical processes locally. Here we analyze the signal formation mechanism in ESM, and develop the analytical description of operation in frequency and time domains. The ESM spectroscopic modes are compared to classical electrochemical methods including potentiostatic and galvanostatic intermittent titration (PITT and GITT), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). This analysis illustrates the feasibility of spatially resolved studies of Li-ion dynamics on the sub-10 nanometer level using electromechanical detection.Comment: 49 pages, 17 figures, 4 tables, 3 appendices, to be submitted to J. Appl. Phys

Assessment of worn textile antennas’ exposure on the physiological parameters and well-being of adults

This paper presents the assessment of short-term wireless body area network (WBAN) exposure, which is operated at the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band (2.45 GHz) in the vicinity of the human body. The experiment utilizes two popular textile antenna topologies, a planar monopole and a patch antenna as the radiating sources. The objective of this experiment is to investigate whether the exposure from WBAN may influence the physiological parameters (body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate) and the well-being of the wearer. Counter-balanced, crossover, and the single-blind method was applied in the experimental setup. P-value is the probability value, under the assumption of no effect or no difference (the null hypothesis) of obtaining a result equal to or more extreme than what was actually observed. If P&lt;; 0.05, it indicates that P-value will be less than the level of significance. Thus, the null hypothesis (no effect or no difference) can be rejected, and it can be concluded that there exist effects to the respondents. The results showed that there is statistically no significant difference between the active exposure and the Sham (no exposure) which may affect the physiological parameters and well-being of the wearers, with P&gt;0.05, which failed to reject the null hypothesis (no effect)

Global gene expression profiling identifies new therapeutic targets in acute Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Global gene expression profiling can provide insight into the underlying pathophysiology of disease processes. Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limited vasculitis whose etiology remains unknown. Although the clinical illness shares certain features with other pediatric infectious diseases, the occurrence of coronary artery aneurysms in 25% of untreated patients is unique to KD. METHODS: To gain further insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying KD, we investigated the acute and convalescent whole blood transcriptional profiles of 146 KD subjects and compared them with the transcriptional profiles of pediatric patients with confirmed bacterial or viral infection, and with healthy control children. We also investigated the transcript abundance in patients with different intravenous immunoglobulin treatment responses and different coronary artery outcomes. RESULTS: The overwhelming signature for acute KD involved signaling pathways of the innate immune system. Comparison with other acute pediatric infections highlighted the importance of pathways involved in cell motility including paxillin, relaxin, actin, integrins, and matrix metalloproteinases. Most importantly, the IL1β pathway was identified as a potential therapeutic target. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed the importance of the IL-1 signaling pathway and a prominent signature of innate immunity and cell migration in the acute phase of the illness