Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) Test for Determination of Waste Engine Oil Modified Asphalt Binder as Pavement Material

Engineers have been using modified binders to improve the quality of flexible pavements. The use of waste material is one of the solutions taken in this direction. It is for this ground that the studies emphasis on the evaluation of waste engine oil as a modifier for asphalt binder as a pavement material. In the study uses four samples extracted from 80/100 penetration grade bitumen. From four sample first sample was checked for weather requirements of asphalt binder meet or not and the three were modified with different content of engine oil (3,6 and 9%). The behaviors of both unmodified and modified binder were checked for rheological properties. Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) was used to determine high temperature performance grade (PG) and multiple stress creep recovery tests to determine rutting resistance properties of the binder. PG analysis indicates that both aged and un-aged 3% and 6% modified binder have similar higher PG grade with the unmodified one and 9% modified to have lower PG vale. Jnr3.2 value of modified asphalt binder is lower than unmodified binder indicating that modification had improved the rutting resistance and design traffic load (ESALS). The study shows that it is possible to use waste engine oil-modified binder as a pavement material.

Parameters Identification for Three Groups of Squirrel Induction Motor

This paper presents a developed method to calculate the parameters for thirty-three squirrel cage induction motors operating at three-phase ac voltage of 380 volts. These motors are the total product of an Egyptian factory holding a license from SIEMENS international company to fabricate all parts of these motors. The parameters of all mentioned motors are computed based on the proposed method. Then, the performance characteristics of these motors are investigated at full-load using the conventional equivalent circuit in order to validate the proposed method. The obtained curves achieve significant convergence with the full-load values provided by the data sheets of investigated motors. This confirms the validity of the proposed method.

Modeling and Optimization of Gas-Solid Fluidization of Binary Mixtures using Box-Behnken Experimental Design

The influence of different factors on the fluidization of a binary mixture of red mud and aluminum was investigated. A new model was developed for predicting pressure drop through the solid bed using experimental data of other work. Statistical analysis based on response surface methodology has been used to develop correlations for bed pressure drop with three independent factors, minimum fluidization velocity (Umf), red mud to aluminum ratio (R/A), and static head (Hs). The design of experiments offers a best alternative to study the effect of factors and their response with the minimum number of experiments. The hydrodynamic characteristics of fluidization, bed pressure drop, superficial gas velocity (Umf), red mud to aluminum ratio (R/A), and initial static bed height (Hs) were modeled and optimized. ANOVA has been used to analyze the system parameters on bed pressure drop. A model of bed pressure drop was found to have a correlation coefficient of 0.98. The measured values of bed pressure drop from RSM were found to match the experimental values very well.

Influence of Additives on the Fatigue Life and Stiffness of Asphalt Concrete

Implementation of additives to the asphalt binder can enhance the overall physical properties of the modified asphalt concrete. In the present assessment, an attempt has been made to use 2 % of silica fumes and 4 % of fly ash class F for modification of asphalt binder in wet process. Asphalt concrete wearing course mixtures have been prepared and compacted by roller in the laboratory. The beam specimens of 400 mm length and 50 mm height and 63 mm width were extracted from the slab samples. The specimens were subjected to the four-point repeated flexural bending beam test. The flexural stiffness was calculated under three constant micro strain levels of (250, 400, and 750). The fatigue life was monitored in terms the number of load repetitions to reach the required reduction in stiffness. It was concluded that the flexural stiffness increases by (11, and 15) %, (17.7, and 63.6) %, (57.2, and 65) % when 2% of silica fumes or 4 % of fly ash are implemented and the specimen’s practices 750, 400, and 250 microstrain levels respectively. However, the fatigue life of asphalt concrete beam specimens increases by (40, and 72.8) %, (115, and 220.6) %, (46, and 94.6) % when 2% of silica fumes or 4 % of fly ash are implemented and the specimen’s practices 750, 400, and 250 microstrain levels respectively. It is recommended to use modified binder with fly ash and silica fumes in asphalt concrete to enhance the fatigue life and stiffness.

Comparative Assessment of Deformation Under Plate Bearing Test and CBR Test for Subgrade Soil

A significant variation in the strength and deformation behavior of subgrade soil when tested in the laboratory and in the field. However, correlation of such variables is essential to evaluate the quality of the constructed subgrade. An attempt has been made in the present investigation to assess the deformation of control and stabilized subgrade soil in the laboratory and in the field. California bearing ratio (CBR) test was conducted in the laboratory and the static plate bearing test (PBT) was conducted in the field. Subgrade soil samples were stabilized with 6% lime, 17 % Cationic Emulsion, and combination of lime and emulsion. Similar stabilization was conducted at test sections in the field. The behavior of the control and stabilized soil in deformation under static PBT in the field and CBR in the laboratory was monitored and evaluated. It was noticed that polynomial correlation exists with high coefficient of determination between laboratory and field deformation for stabilized soil. It was observed that the deformation under CBR test decreased after implication of lime by (96 and 88) % for unsoaked and soaked testing conditions respectively. The deformation decreases by (92 and 85.6) % for unsoaked and soaked testing conditions respectively when emulsion was implemented. The deformation decreases by (91 and 88) % for unsoaked and soaked testing conditions respectively when combined stabilization was implemented. However, the deformation under PBT decreases by (75, 56, and 50) % for lime, emulsion, and combined stabilization processes respectively. It was concluded that testing condition (soaked or unsoaked) has no significant impact on the deformation of stabilized soil while it has a significant influence on the deformation of untreated soil under CBR test. On the other hand, the deformation of control soil shows no significant variation among field and laboratory testing in the model, however, the stabilized soil samples exhibit higher influence of field deformation on the polynomial models.

A Study on the Pollution Status of Akata Lake Sediments, Katsina-Ala Benue State, Nigeria

Heavy metals accumulation in biological system are by inhalation of contaminated air, intake of contaminated food or drinking water has been considered to be an ecological menace to man and other organisms. This study was carried out to ascertain the pollution status of Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in sediment of Akata Lake, Katsina- Ala Benue State, Nigeria. Sediment samples were collected, digested using 30% H2O2 followed by 0.5M HCl and the metal concentrations were determined with Varian AA240 Atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with Zeeman’s background correction (Varian, New Jersey, USA). The mean level of the heavy metals, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and Cr are 31.05, 2.72, 19.22 and 0.88 mg/kg while the concentration of Cr was below the detection limit of the instrument. The values obtained were compared with the established soil and sediment standard by World Health Organization (WHO). The contamination factors value for Zn, Cu and Cd are <1 while that of Pb is >1, hence it shows that the sediment is polluted by lead. The pollution load index (PLI) and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) levels for Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd heavy metals in sample A - E were less than 1 except for Pb which is >1, this show that, the sediment were polluted with Pb.

Instrumental Analysis of Chlordiazepoxide in Different Matrices

Chlordiazepoxide is considered one of most important sedative and hypnotic benzodiazepines drugs which is currently used all over the world with the increased rate of anxiety drugs. In this literature review, we will introduce the pharmacological action of this drug in addition to most of up-to-date reported methods that have been developed for determination of chlordiazepoxide in its pure form, combined form with other drugs, combined form with degradation products, and in biological samples. Most of the reported analytical methods will focus on spectroscopic, chromatographic and electrochemical techniques.

Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation of phytochemical derived compounds as potential anti cancer agent against tyrosine kinase

There is a continuous requirement to develop novel, safe, effective and affordable anti-cancer drugs because Cancer is a serious disease at current situation. A huge number of patients die annually due to cancer disease. Phytochemical are the secondary metabolites of medicinal plants and significantly used in conventional cancer research. Bioactive phytochemical is favored as they claim differentially on cancer cell only without altering normal cell. Carcinogenesis is an intricate process and includes multifold signaling procedures. Phytochemical are pleiotropic in nature, function and target these events in multiple manners so they are considered as most appropriate candidate for drug development. The aim of the present research was to find out the anti-cancer activity of the phytochemical constituents through computer aided drug design approach. In this experiment, we have find total 42 natural compounds with anti-cancer activity against the cancer target 1QCF tyrosine kinase. The data set comprising of phytochemical compounds was used for virtual screening and molecular docking in PyRx software. Along with screened compound, hit compound Carnosic acid was further docked to confirm the binding mode and confirmed the effective inhibition of 1QCF and anticancer activity. Molecular dynamic simulation studies were done to confirm the stability of the protein and ligand complex during a simulation. Parameters like RMSD, RMSF, and radius of gyration were experiential to understand the fluctuations. Protein-ligand interaction studies also expose that enough hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds are present to validate our results. Our study suggests that the potential use of Carnosic acid can come out as a potential candidate and in turn prevent cancer.

Analysis of Modern Aviation Fuels: A Review of Environment Effect

In our developing and changing world, the use of energy resources is becoming important. With the development of the aviation industry all over the world, the need to use more innovative, more sustainable resources emerges. When the demands in the transportation sector from past to present are examined, the transformation in energy resources will be inevitable. As stated, all studies have focused on the energy resources that reduce the environmental impact, sustainability, environmental friendliness, costs and dependence on oil producing states. In this study, the study of aviation fuels from past to present, its production, environmental impact, sustainability and the returns of alternative aviation fuels are discussed in detail. It is concluded that the world's developing and changing aviation sector should switch to sustainable alternative fuels as soon as possible.

Preparation and characterization of oxidized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes-Immobilized Aspergillus sp. Laccase Hybrid Materials

This work deals with preparation and characterization of immobilized laccase (Aspergillus sp.) over oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (ox-MWCNTs) via simple mixing technique. The resulting materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and particle size distribution analysis using dynamic light scattering technique (DLS). The results showed that the TEM images exhibited more separate individual carbon bundles with particle size around of 396 nm after enzyme immobilization rather than the spaghetti-like tubes with size about 180 nm in the case of ox-MWCNTs. Also, the lowering in the zeta potential negative value (-5 mv) proved that the free carboxyl groups at ox-MWCNT surface were decreased after enzyme immobilization. Moreover, the thermal stability was decreased after enzyme immobilization using TGA. These results confirmed that the laccase could be reacted at the side walls of the ox-MWCNTs without structure damage. The biocatalytic effect of the immobilized laccase was investigated after its incubation with silver nitrate solution for 1 and 24 h. It can be concluded that the biocatalytic efficiency of the immobilized laccase could be enhanced after its incubation with silver nitrate solution for 24 h at room temperature relative to the free form. On the other hand, the enzyme stability was improved after immobilization up to 50ºC and at pH 3.0, while no remarkable differences on the activity values were observed for immobilized and free laccases at acidic pH range (4-6).