Performance Evaluation On Structural Behaviour Of Sisal Fibre Reinforced Concrete

All over the world, construction industries looking forward for the green materials to meet the structural integrity and sustainability in terms of arresting micro cracks in the concrete and also for a secondary reinforcement materials for addition in the concrete. Internal micro cracks in the concrete will reduce the longetivity of the structure and also it results in structural failure. The use of fibres in the concrete is currently used as a secondary reinforcement for strengthening the reinforced concrete members. To make the concrete as a sustainable material and to improve structural integrity in this research Sisal Fibre was used as a secondary reinforcement. Natural fiber such as sisal fibre, appears as an one of the good alternative since they are available in fibrous form and can be extracted from plant leaves at very low cost. In this work, effect of sisal fiber on the strength of concrete for M 25 grade has been studied by varying the percentage of fibers in concrete. Fiber content were varied by 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, 0.25%, 0.30%, 0.35% and 0.40% by volume of concrete. Cubes, Cylinder and Prism were cast to evaluate the Strength Characteristics and to optimize dosage level of fibre in concrete. The reinforced concrete beam was cast by optimum dosage level of fibre to evaluate structural behavior of concrete such as Load deflection, Ductility factor and Stiffness. The result proven, there is significant improvement in structural behavior of Sisal Fibre added Reinforced Concrete when compared to control concrete.

Effect of Aluminium Oxide Nano Additive on Diesel along with Gasoline Fumigation in Single Cylinder Diesel Engine

The present investigation mainly focuses on overcoming the limitations of gasoline fumigation (GF) in diesel engines by adding up nano fuel additives. Experiments are conducted to ascertain the engine working characteristics in a single-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine using aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nano additives blended diesel as the main injection fuel along with GF as an inducted fuel. GF was achieved by controlling the electronic injector fitted at the intake manifold using open ECU software. Fuel map for GF was determined based on experiments with three divergent fumigation rates of 10%, 20%, and 30% based on energy consumption and optimized using the design of experiments. The optimization results showed 10% fumigation resulted in better performance and emission characteristics and it is selected for this present investigation. Fumigation results showed a decrease in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) at low and medium loads; increase at high loads.The two different mass fractions of 25 ppm and 50 ppm Al2O3 nano liquid are blended with diesel. Compared to GF with diesel, GF along with 25 and 50ppm Al2O3 nano additives blended diesel showed an increased BTE, maximum in-cylinder pressure, cumulative heat release rate; and reduced smoke opacity, CO, and unburned HC emissions at overall operating conditions. As the dosage level of Al2O3 increases from 25 to 50 ppm results in further enhancement of all working parameters except NOx emission. Finally, the addition of an Al2O3 nano additive is a suitable solution to overcome the limitations of GF in the CI engine.

Locust bean gum adsorption onto softwood kraft pulp fibres: isotherms, kinetics and paper strength

The adsorption of locust bean gum (LBG) onto Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp improved paper tensile and burst strength and lowered refining energy by strengthening inter-fibre bonding. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated to develop a fundamental understanding of the adsorption mechanism. The adsorption rate followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the activation energy was 99.34 kJ·mol−1, suggesting chemisorption. The adsorption rate constant increased rapidly with temperature from 25 to 45 °C (k = 1.93 to 24.03 g·mg−1·min−1), but the amount adsorbed at equilibrium decreased (qe = 1.91 to 0.48 mg·g−1 o.d. fibre). LBG adsorption to NBSK at 25 °C was consistent with the Langmuir adsorption model for LBG < 2.1 wt% of o.d. fibre, suggesting reversible, homogenous adsorption to a finite number of sites on the fibre surface. Refining to 3000 rev increased the heterogeneity of the NBSK pulp surface leading to multi-layer Freundlich adsorption with adsorption constant n = 5.00, and the equilibrium constant Kf = 2.57 mg·g−1·(mg·L−1)−1/n at 25 °C. Favorable adsorption conditions for negatively charged LBG were identified: 25 °C for 10 min, low dosage level (< 2 wt%), lightly refined (< 3000 rev) NBSK pulp at low fibre consistency (< 0.5 wt%), high agitation rate (> 150 r.p.m.), acidic or neutral conditions (pH 2–7) without salt addition. Graphic abstract

Optimization of gamma ray irradiation dose on strawberry plantlets

As a commodity that is cultivated vegetatively, strawberries have a relatively low genetic diversity. One effort to increase the diversity of strawberries and genetic quality improvement can be made by using gamma-ray radiation. In vitro explant of strawberry cv Early Bright were radiated with Gamma-ray P3TIR BATAN facility. Starting with a radiosensitivity test to find out Lethal Dose (LD) 50 with dosage level; 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 Gy. LD50 observations were carried out to get the optimal dose. The treatment of several doses of gamma-ray radiation showed varied results, with the percentage of explants living decrease by increasing the dose of irradiation. Irradiation dose until 10 Gy did not affect the survival rate of explant—the treatment dose of 80 Gy and above causes 100% mortality on the final observation. The dose of 60 Gy had a significant effect on shoot growth, as indicated by curly leaves' growth. The next optimal dose recommended for radiation is set at 20 and 30 Gy to anticipate genetic changes that are not morphologically expressed and to avoid the negative effects of morphological changes.

Effect of Sugar Waste on Cement Concrete

This investigation deals with the effects of the sugar- waste (Molasses) on the cement concrete. Studies were carried out on a cement paste, the types of different mortar mixes and five types of different concrete mixes, with and without the use of molasses. Molasses is one among the four types of sugar waste and it contains 40-60 percent of total sugar content depending upon types of molasses. While other sugar waste are Bassage, pressed mud and Discharging water containing mud. Among these wastes first two contains 3 percent of sugar and three contains negligible percent of sugar. In the present work molasses was collected sugar mill name. The effects of different dosage level 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 5.00 percent of the molasses by weight of cement were studied for standard consistency, setting time, water – reduction behavior and air – entrainment in fresh concrete. The studies were also carried out for 7-day and 28-day compressive strength of the mortar, 7-day, 28-day, 56-day and 91-day compressive strength for five types of concrete mixes, 14-day tensile strength and flexural strength of concrete for the dosage levels 0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 percent of molasses by weight of cement. This test results indicates that molasses acts as accelerator upto 0.50 percent dose and then becomes retarder. Also it is slightly a water reducer and air entraining agent. The compressive strength of mortar, concrete, flexural strength and tensile strength of concrete get increased on using 0- 0.50 percent dose of molasses but the most favourable dose is 0.25 percent of molasses by weight of cement. Keywords: Air-entraining admixture, organic materials, microscopic bubbles, cohesion, durability, cavities

Quantitative Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis risk assessment from consumption of hard-boiled eggs, half-boiled eggs and raw eggs among Malaysians

High occurrences of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis outbreak from table eggs have been reported worldwide over the past two decades. Consumptions of hard-boiled and half-boiled eggs are popular among Malaysians. However, there is a lack of study in the risk assessment of salmonellosis associated with different egg consumption patterns. The purpose of this study was to determine the survival rate of S. enterica ser. Enteritidis in different methods for cooking eggs (hard-boiled, half-boiled and a minimally cooked egg with hot cocoa drink) using the simulation model of consumers eating habits and the risk associated with different egg consumptions patterns. In this study, S. enterica ser. Enteritidis was not detected in the hard-boiled egg samples. However, the survival rate of S. enterica ser. Enteritidis in both the half-boiled and the raw egg samples were 3.15 log CFU/mL and 7.01 log CFU/mL, respectively. The Monte Carlo Simulation applying quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA) was carried out using 10,000 iterations to access the risk of acquiring salmonellosis by consuming eggs cooked under different heat treatments. The total dosage of S. enterica ser. Enteritidis ingested per serving meal in the hard-boiled, half-boiled and minimally cooked eggs were 0.00 CFU/g, 7.526×104 CFU/ mL and 5.433×108 CFU/mL, respectively. The consumptions of half-boiled and minimally cooked eggs were above infectious dosage level (102 to 104 CFU/mL). The annual risk for the three feature of methods were 0.00, 1.00 and 1.00, respectively. In this study, it was indicated that there was a high probability of acquiring salmonellosis through the consumption of half-boiled and minimally cooked eggs. Thus, the fully cooked eggs should be taken instead of the undercooked eggs to avoid consuming S. enterica ser. Enteritidis.

DAMPAK APLIKASI FLY ASH DARI PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK DI PT. GREAT GIANT PINEAPPLE-LAMPUNG TERHADAP AKTIVITAS BIOLOGI TANAH DI LAHAN MARGINAL

[EFFECT OF FLY ASH APPLICATION FROM POWER PLANT OF PT. GREAT GIANT PINEAPPLE ON SOIL BIOLOGYCAL ACTIVTY IN MARGINAL LAND]. Fly ash is a coal combustion waste containing nutrients that can be used to improve the soil fertility. The waste continues to increase but its handling is still limited because it is still classified as hazardous and toxic waste (B3). This study aims to determine the soil biological activity due to the application of fly ash and cow manure on marginal soils. The study was conducted using a completely randomized block design arranged factorial. The first factor is the dosage level of fly ash (F), namely 0 g/pot (0 ton/ha), 75 g/pot (50 ton/ha), 150 g/pot (100 ton/ha), and 225 g/pot (150 ton/ha) and the second factor is the dose of cow manure with three levels, namely 15 g/pot (10 ton/ha), 30 g/pot (20 ton/ha), and 45 g/pot (30 ton/ha). The observation parameters were (total population of fungi, bacteria, and soil respiration). The results showed that the addition of fly ash at various doses affected the soil biological activity by increasing the population of fungi, bacteria and soil respiration. The highest population of microorganisms was fungi, which was 17.8 x 107 Log CFU/g, bacteria 13.7 x 105 Log CFU/g, while the highest soil respiration was 54.53 mg CO2 at a dose of 100 ton/ha fly ash. In addition, the application of cow manure at a dose of 10, 20, 30 ton/ha did not affect observed variables.

Chemical Profiling, Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils from Three Grapefruit Cultivars from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa

The medicinal potential and volatile composition of different parts of three cultivars of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) were evaluated for their toxicity and anti-inflammatory activities. Fresh leaf and fruit peel were separately isolated by hydrodistillation for 4 h. The essential oils were subjected to GC/GC-MS analysis for chemical profile. Toxicity of the essential oils in mice were evaluated using Lorke’s method, while an anti-inflammatory assay was performed in a rat model using egg albumin-induced oedema. The oils obtained were light yellow in colour, and odour varied from strong citrus smell to mild. Percentage yield of fresh peel oil (0.34–0.57%) was greater than the fresh leaf oil yield (0.21–0.34%). D-limonene (86.70–89.90%) was the major compound identified in the leaf oil, while β-phellandrene (90.00–91.01%) dominated the peel oil. At a dosage level of 5000 mg/kg, none of the oils showed mortality in mice. An anti-inflammatory bioassay revealed that all the oils caused a significant (p < 0.05–0.01) reduction in oedema size when compared to the negative control group throughout the 5 h post induction assessment period. The study reveals that the oils are non-toxic and demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory activity. Our findings suggest that the leaf and peel oils obtained from waste parts of grapefruit plants can be useful as flavouring agents, as well as anti-inflammatory agents.

Whole Wheat and Bran Cereal Affects Microbiome Stability

Objectives Health outcomes in previous fiber intervention studies have been variable, potentially due to differences in gut microbiome composition. This study aimed to determine if the effect of fiber intervention on the microbiome differs by initial microbiome or the quantity of fiber provided. Methods This study was designed as a randomized, un-blinded, cross-over trial of fiber cereal dosage. The cross-over design tested the effect of two 2-week long interventions with a High (28g) and Low (14g) level of daily supplemental fiber from whole wheat and bran cereal. Analysis was also completed on the overall study as a single arm, non-randomized, intervention of fiber cereal. The study enrolled 31 healthy adults. The microbiome was assessed at baseline and after intervention for changes in diversity, composition, and stability. Results Across all individuals, fiber intervention increased microbiome alpha-diversity (paired t-test, P = 0.047), but the microbiome was otherwise resistant to the effects of the intervention. Increasing fiber dose (High v. Low) was not associated with consistent changes in beta-diversity (linear mixed models). Approximately 20% of subjects were identified as responders based on beta diversity effect size. At baseline, responders had higher Prevotella copri and lower Bacteroides abundance than non-responders (Wilcoxon rank sum, qval &lt; 0.05). In responders, fiber intake caused increased abundance of Bacteroides and Alistipes and reduced Prevotella (paired Wilcoxon, q &lt; 0.2). In all subjects, fiber intervention decreased microbiome stability (paired Wilcoxon signed rank test, P = 0.006). In responders, there was a significant effect of the fiber level on stability, with higher fiber further lowering stability (linear mixed model, P = 0.05). Conclusions Our data suggest a responder/non-responder microbiome signature for this whole wheat and bran fiber cereal. We find that many effects were not additive by dosage level. Overall, microbiome diversity was increased and stability was decreased during the fiber cereal intervention and in responders this was dose dependent; the clinical implications of the impact of changes in stability remain unknown, and it is possible that the microbiome would stabilize in a longer intervention study. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03623308. Funding Sources General Mills, Inc.