18 Articles Published

1. ROLE OF THE INJECTION WATER MICROORGANISMS ON CORROSION OF FIBERGLASS IN TFT ALGERIAN OIL FIELDS

Authors: M.L. GANA , S. KEBBOUCHE-GANA

Abstract: The most severe corrosion due to bacterial activity in pipe steel for the transportation of water and the injection systems is influenced by sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB), thiosulphate reducing bacteria (TRB) and others microorganisms. In the aim to reduce the impact of bacterial corrosion, steel pipes were substituted by fiberglass pipes. These types of materials are very resistant to corrosion and the life of use was prolonged. Fiberglass pipes are used for the water transportation that be used for the water flooding systems in the oil fields and fire systems. During the opening of a section of the fiberglass line, the scale found inside this line, produced a smoke that was followed by a fire that provoked the inflammation of the fiberglass. Also, the aim is to understand the phenomena and a suspicion of the role of some bacteria in this phenomenon. The identified bacteria in all the samples show the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria, methanogenic bacteria and fermentative bac

Keywords: corrosion, Fiberglass pipes, biofilms, methanogens, sulfate reducers bacteria)

Pages: 1 - 5 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-01

2. MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF TOMATO LEAF CURL VIRUS DISEASE

Authors: MOHAMMAD NURUL ISLAM , NADRA TABASSUM , SUJAY KUMAR BHAJAN

Abstract: Tomato leaf curl virus disease (ToLCVD) is one of the major causes for maximum yield loss of tomato. This disease is caused by tomato leaf curl viruses (ToLCV) belongs to the genus Begomovirus. The infected plants emerge with severe leaf curling, puckering, and yellow margin, reduced leaf size and stunted growth. Tomato leaf curl symptoms caused due to physiological reason sometimes may misguide the farmer for proper identification. In this study, we described about the molecular diagnosis of ToLCVD in the samples collected from six major tomato cultivating areas of Bangladesh. Molecular methods were followed to diagnose and characterize tomato leaf curl virus coat protein (CP) gene. We have isolated total DNA from symptomatic leaves and subjected to rolling circle amplification (RCA). Restriction digestion, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing was performed using the RCA products. The coat protein of ToLCV was sequenced by the begomovirus specific “BGCP” forward and reverse

Keywords: Begomovirus, CP, Diagnosis, Phylogeny, RCA, ToLCV

Pages: 6 - 10 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-02

3. CARBON CAPTURE USING AQUEOUS SUSPENSION OF AMINATED POLYACRYLATE PARTICLES

Authors: ADACHUKWU N. NKWOR , CYRIL SUNDAY UME , ERDOGAN ALPER

Abstract: Efficient and viable carbon capture technology is a panacea to sustainable use of fossil fuel with less discharge of carbon dioxide to the environment. This research work investigates the kinetics of reaction between carbon dioxide (CO2) and aqueous suspension solutions of mono-dispersed polyacrylate particles containing amine group using stopped flow technique. Two types of suspensions of mono dispersed aminated polyglycidylmethacrylate particles, poly(GMA) were synthesized: non-porous mono dispersed aminated particles, (NPGMA) and porous mono dispersed aminated particles, (PGMA). The dispersion polymerization process was applied to experimentally synthesize the polymer particles, poly(GMA) of average size 2μm in a glass sealed cylindrical reactor. The epoxy group on the micro surface was reacted with ammonia and become covalently attached to the primary amine group on the micro surface. The particles in colloidal suspensions were respectively reacted with CO2 in aqueous solution at 2

Keywords: CO2,capture, reaction, kinetics, poly(GMA), stopped, flow, technique.

Pages: 11 - 14 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-03

4. EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVATING AGENTS ON THE PRODUCTION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM RAW DATE FRONDS OF SAUDI PALM TREES

Authors: ASHFAQ AHMAD , HASSAN MOHAMMED AL-SWAIDAN

Abstract: In this study activated carbon (AC) was prepared from raw date’s fronds (RDFs) of Saudi palm trees through a single step chemical activation method using H3PO4, KOH and ZnCl2. The effects of different parameters such as, concentrations, carbonization temperature and carbonization time (dwell time), on the BET surface area of ACs were studied. The raw date’s frond charcoal (RDFC) and ACs were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The highest BET surface area 1901 m2g-1, 1581 m2g-1 and 607 m2g-1 were obtained at optimum condition of 60 % H3PO4, ZnCl2 and 40% KOH concentration respectively at 400oC carbonization temperature for 3 h carbonization time.

Keywords: Activated carbon, Date Fronds, Chemical Activation, Surface area.

Pages: 18 - 22 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-05

5. MICROBUBBLE DISTILLATION OF BIO-OIL MODEL COMPONENTS

Authors: ATHEER AL-YAQOOBI , DAVID HOGG , WILLIAM B. ZIMMERMAN

Abstract: Bio-oil has been recognized as a promising renewable energy resource and important feedstock for valuable chemicals. Unfortunately, bio-oil needs upgrading before it can be used as fuel or sources of downstream chemicals. This is due to the complex properties of the bio oil and variable compositions encountered over time. The fractionation of bio oil by traditional distillation quit often leads to form a solid residue of coke and gums consequently formed from polymerization of the mixture components. The use of microbubble distillation is a novel approach used for the distillation of bio oils to avoid the decomposition characteristics observed using traditional methods. In this study a mixture of water, acetic acid, cyclohexanone and salicylaldehyde was chosen as the representative of bio-oil components. The separation extent of water and acetic acid from mixture was observed during the experiment, while varying liquid level and sparge air temperature, showing the effect on the perform

Keywords: Microbubble distillation, bio oil, bio oil model component

Pages: 23 - 27 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-06

6. BIO-INSPIRED PEDESTRIAN DETECTION AND TRACKING

Authors: JOAO M.F. RODRIGUES , J.M.H. DU BUF , MIGUEL FARRAJOTA

Abstract: Pedestrian detection and tracking remains a popular issue in computer vision, spawning many applications in robotics, surveillance and security, biometrics and human-computer interaction. In this paper we present a biological framework for detecting and tracking pedestrians by using a monocular moving camera. This framework is based on visual cortex cells, namely complex and end-stopped cells, the last being used to extract keypoints. By employing a modified HOG descriptor combined with the responses of complex cells and a linear SVM, pedestrians can be detected. By combining the above information with keypoints, motion information and tracked features, persons can be tracked in complex scenarios where partial occlusions exist.

Keywords: Cortical cells, tracking, keypoints, pedestrians.

Pages: 28 - 33 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-07

7. DFT STUDY OF CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE ON FUNCTIONALIZED GRAPHANE SHEETS

Authors: CHI-MAN LAWRENCE WU , YANJUN XIAO , ZHIGANG DENG

Abstract: CO2 capture and storage is a potential means to alleviate global warming and ocean acidification. Herein, CO2 capture with various functionalized graphanes and the effects of functional groups are investigated by density functional theory (DFT). Our results show that CO2 adsorbs weakly on a bare graphane sheet, and absorbs slightly better when functionalized with P-substituted graphane, and increasingly better with PH2-grafted on H atoms. Further, the presence of H2O would provide strong CO2 adsorption and the exothermic adsorption energies could reach about -42 kJ/mol with PH2-grafted on graphane. This computational work provides an atomic-level strategy in the design of functionalized graphane and carbon-based adsorbent materials for CO2 capture and storage.

Keywords: DFT, CO2 capture, Graphane, Functional groups

Pages: 34 - 38 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-08

8. PROTEIN STRUCTURE PREDICTIONS OF HISTORICAL SILK TEXTILES BY ATR-FTIR SPECTROSCOPY

Authors: BANU CAKAN , SAIT BASARAN , SEVIM AKYUZ , TANIL AKYUZ

Abstract: n this study some historical silk textiles were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The main aim of our research was to investigate conformational changes of silk protein, fibroin, caused by ageing depending on environmental conditions. Silk textiles obtained from the wall decorations of an Ottoman Kiosk (Istanbul-Turkey) and some excavated silk textile specimens obtained from Ancient Ainos excavations were investigated in comparison with those of new and 100 years old Bombyx mori silk specimens. It was found that structural transformations from β-sheet domain to β-turn and random coil conformations occur due to degradation. It was shown that IR spectroscopy provides a quantification of degradation of silk objects

Keywords: ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, Fibroin, historical textile

Pages: 39 - 41 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-09

9. CATALYTIC STUDY IN THE HDO-HDT REACTION OF GUAIACYL MODEL COMPOUND FOR THE DIRECT VALORIZATION OF BIOMASSES PYROLYSIS OIL

Authors: ALESSANDRA PALELLA , FRANCESCO ARENA , LORENZO SPADARO

Abstract: A catalytic study in the HDO-HDT reaction of biomass pyrolysis product derivates, as guaiacyls species (2-methoxyphenol) have been carried out by using refinery commercial catalysts timely sulfided in flowing H2S at 400°C. Reaction kinetic studies were performed at high pressure (20 bar), and temperature (250°C). The reaction pathway in the hydrogenation process, approaching industrial conditions, has been assessed.

Keywords: biofuels production, bio-refinery, biomass valorization, catalysis, HDO-HDS processes.

Pages: 42 - 46 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-10

10. GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA) TO BIO-FERTILIZERS PRODUCED FROM ASPERGILLUS NIGER AND ANIMAL WASTE MATERIALS

Authors: AGBALA,C.C , ITELIMA , J.U , NWADIARO , P.O., NYAM , M.A, OGBONNA , A.I., ONYIMBA, I.A.

Abstract: This study involved the production of bio-fertilizers from plant and animal waste materials such as saw dust, cow dung and poultry droppings inoculated with a fungus (Aspergillus niger). The saw dust and the cow dung and or poultry droppings were mixed in a ratio of 30:1. The substrates were mixed with water in line with standard method after which they were placed separately into a locally constructed bio-digester. The substrates (cow dung-saw dust mixture and or poultry droppings-saw dust mixture) were stirred daily, while they were allowed to be degraded by the fungus (A. niger). The process of degradation of the different waste materials lasted for a period of two weeks after which the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) contents of the bio fertilizers were analyzed. After biodegradation process, the various substrates were used to amend the soil used for growing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Plant growth parameters and yield of cowpea plant grown on soil amended with bio-fertil

Keywords: Vigna unguiculata, bio-fertilizer, Aspergillus niger, animal waste materials.

Pages: 47 - 51 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-51

11. HYDROXYL RADICAL SCAVENGING, TOXICITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL INVESTIGATION OF STEM BARK EXTRACTS OF STERCULIAR TRAGACANTHA LINDL (MALVACEAE)

Authors: GANIYAT K. OLOYEDE , OLUWAKAYODE O. ODEJA , PATRICIA A. ONOCHA

Abstract: Plants contain natural products which have been recognized as building blocks for primary health care. Sterculiar tragacantha Lindl, used traditionally in Nigeria for the treatment of boils, diarrhea, gonorrhea, edema, gout, whitlow, fevers and malaria is one of such plants. The prevalence of drug resistant pathogenic microbes as well as the oxidative damage to cells by excess free radicals that lead to degenerate diseases, constitute major health hazards to man. In this regard, extracts of the stem bark of S. tragacantha Lindl was investigated for their toxicity to brine shrimps and ability to scavenge hydroxyl radical and inhibit microbial growth. Air dried and ground stem bark of the plant was extracted with methanol and partitioned in n-hexane and ethyl acetate. Hydroxyl radical scavenging assay of the three extracts obtained revealed that the percentage inhibition for all the extracts was above 90% at 0.625 mg/ml which is higher than that of one of the antioxidant standard (ascorb

Keywords: Phytochemicals, hydroxyl radical, toxicity, antimicrobial, Sterculiar tragacantha

Pages: 52 - 58 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-52

12. DIVERSITY OF FUNGI FROM SOILS OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. PLANTATION IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Authors: CHUKU ALERUCHI , ITELIMA JANET , OGBONNA ABIGAIL , OGBONNA CHIKE , ONWULIRI FESTUS

Abstract: The Centre for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (CBGE), University of Jos Artemisia annua L. Plantation situated at Gangnum, Langtang South Local Government of Plateau State, Nigeria has been unexplored particularly of its filamentous fungal diversity. This present study examined the diversity and abundance of filamentous fungi, pH, moisture and organic matter contents as well as elemental analysis of the Plantation soils which have stood uncultivated for years. Soil samples were collected (at a depth of 0-10 cm) from three locations selected randomly with cleaned and surface sterilized soil auger. The soil samples were collected on a monthly basis for 12months during both dry and rainy seasons. A total of 669 positive isolations were obtained. Of the number, 439 isolations were mesophilic, 109 were thermotolerant and 121 were thermophilic isolates. A total of 387 isolations were obtained during the dry season and 282 during the rainy season. The dry season had a higher diversity

Keywords: Artemisia annua, soil, season, filamentous fungi, Nigeria.

Pages: 59 - 62 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-61

13. DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL RECOMBINANT AGONISTS AND ANTAGO-NISTS OF GLYCOPROTEIN HORMONES USING SITE-DIRECTED MU-TAGENESIS AND GENE TRANSFER

Authors: FUAD FARES

Abstract: One major issue regarding the clinical use of many peptides is their short half-life due to the rapid clearance from the circulation. To overcome this problem, we succeeded to ligate the signal sequence of O-linked oligosaccharides to the coding sequence of the hormones. The cassette gene that has been used contains the sequence of the carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) of human chorionic gonadotropin  (hCG) subunit. The CTP contains 28 amino acids with four O-linked oligosac-charide recognition sites. It was postulated that O-linked oligo-saccharides add flexibility, hydrophilicity and stability to the protein. On the other hand it was suggested that the four O-linked oligosaccharides play an important role in preventing plasma clearance and thus increasing the half-life of the protein in circulation. Using this strategy we succeeded to ligate the CTP to the coding sequence of follitropin (FSH), thyrotropin (TSH), erythropoietin (EPO) growth hormone (GH) and thus to increase the longev

Keywords: recombinant proteins, half-life, CTP, EPO, FSH, GH, TSH

Pages: 63 - 67 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-62

14. EMERGING AGRIGENOMICS APPROACHES IN STRESS PLANT BIOLOGY

Authors: VINAY SHARMA

Abstract: Biotic stress owing to infection of the plants by phytopathogens causes immense losses in crop yield, up to 12% annually. Abiotic stress is another major cause of crop losses worldwide, reduces average yield by more than 50% for major crops. Globally, 22% of the agricultural land is saline and drought stress contribute to 26% in crop losses; in fact only 10% area is not affected by any stress factors. In recent times, high-throughput technologies (viz. next gene sequencing) have produced huge amount of genomic information and consequently the genome sequences of a large number of micro to higher organisms have been completed. The whole genome sequences of a large number of crop plants and their bacterial and fungal pathogens are now available. With the ever growing sequence data, the functional prediction/ annotation of proteins which is of paramount importance, has become a challenging task. Although the wet laboratory experiments identify the function of proteins correctly, these are

Keywords: Emerging, Agrigenomics, Approaches, Stress Plant

Pages: 68 - 68 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-63

15. NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS TREATMENT FROM DORMITORY WASTEWATER OF SRINAKHARINWIROT UNIVERSITY ONGKARUK BY ACROSTICHUMAUREUM L. AND EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS LABILL.

Authors: JIRAWAN TORIT

Abstract: Contaminated nutrients in wastewater is critical problem of worldwide. The aim of this study was nitrogen and phosphorus treatment from dormitory wastewater of Srinakharinwirot University Ongkaruk by Acrostichumaureum L. and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. The plants were cultured in the pot and treated wastewater for 4 cycles. The differed plant weight was compared the efficiency in nitrogen and phosphorus treatment. The result found that Eucalyptus globulus Labill which is perennial plant had better efficiency in nitrogen and phosphorus treatment than Acrostichumaureum L. which is aquatic plant. The plant could grow well in wastewater and removed nutrients until passed standard criteria for short time. Moreover, plant biomass increased after nitrogen and phosphorus treatment for one month. These results showed the sustainable system in nutrients treatment from wastewater. Eucalyptus globulus Labill is new selected plant to remove nutrients and suit to apply for nitrogen and phosphorus tr

Keywords: nitrogen, phosphorus, wastewater treatment, Acrostichumaureum L., Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

Pages: 69 - 73 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-70

16. DETERMINATION OF EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT AT SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE CONDITION FOR PITHECELLOBIUM JIRINGAN (JACK) PRAIN SEEDS.

Authors: MOHD AZIZI CHE YUNUS , NUR HUSNINA ARSAD , ZUHAILI IDHAM

Abstract: Pithecellobium Jiringan (Jack) Prain (P.Jiringan) is one of the medicinal plant sources that consist of antioxidant compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction parameters on solubility and to determine the equilibrium constant of P.Jiringan oil in SC-CO2 and correlated the data with Chrastil and del Valle & Aguilera models. The experimental were conducted at temperatures ranging from 40 oC to 70 oC and pressure from 27.58 MPa to 44.82 MPa. The extraction duration was 60 minutes. The result shows the solubility of oil increased as the density of CO2 increased at constant temperature. The solubility experimental data correlated with both model was good agreement with more that 95% similarity where the Chrastil model was the best model correlated with the experimental data since the AARD% of Chrastil model (0.206%) is lowest compared to AARD% of del Valle and Aguilera model (0.5818). In addition, SC-CO2 give the highe

Keywords: Equilibrium constant, Chrastil’s model, Pithecellobium Jiringan (Jack) Prain, Solubility, Supercritical fluid extraction

Pages: 74 - 78 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-71

17. FABRICATION OF POLYMER MICROFIBER THROUGH DIRECT DRAWING AND SPLICING OF SILICA MICROFIBER VIA VAPOR SPRAY AND FLAME TREATMENT

Authors: R.ZAKARIA , S.W. HARUN , W. KAM , Y. S. ONG

Abstract: We report the simple fabrication technique of polymer microfiber with high surface smoothness and length uniformity using a molten polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in conjunction with direct drawing technique. With the aid of fabricated polymer microfiber, we successfully demonstrate a new splicing technique via two steps processes. The fabricated microfiber with diameter of 1.5 µm and length of 3 mm has been used in splicing the silica microfibers based on solvent vapor spray and flame treatment process. The permanent splicing has been achieved after silica fiber fused with flame and polymer fiber is removed. We were able to obtain an average splicing loss of about -0.69 dB. Using the same technique, we also demonstrated the splicing for ring resonator. The splicing technique demonstrated here promises high potential for robust optical integration of microfibers for various functional circuits and devices

Keywords: optical fiber, sensors

Pages: 79 - 79 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-76

18. ELECTROCHEMICAL DNA BIOSENSOR FOR DETECTION OF PORCINE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES USING [RU(BPY)2PIP]2+ COMPLEX

Authors: HASLINA AHMAD

Abstract: An electrochemical DNA biosensor for detection of porcine oligonucleotides based on ruthenium (II) complexruthenium(II) complex, [Ru(bpy)2(PIP)]2+, (bpy = 2,2’bipyridine, PIP = 2-phenylimidazo[4,5-f[[1,10-phenanthroline]) as label redox have been developed. The study was carried out by immobilization of porcine aminated DNA probes sequences on screen printed electrode (SPE) modified with succinimide-acrylic microspheres and [Ru(bpy)2(PIP)]2+ to detect DNA hybridization event. The electrochemical detection by redox active ruthenium (II) complex was measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The results indicate that the interaction of [Ru(bpy)2(PIP)]2+ with hybridization complementary DNA has higher response compared to single-stranded and mismatch complementary DNA. Under optimized condition, this porcine DNA biosensor shows linear response range towards target DNA within range of 1 x10 -5 uM to 1x10-13 uM

Keywords: DNA biosensor, ruthenium, electrochemical

Pages: 15 - 17 | DOI: 10.15224/978-1-63248-060-6-04