Reversible solid oxide cells can provide efficient and cost-effective scheme for electrical-energy storage applications. However, this technology faces many challenges from material development to system-level operational parameters , which should be tackle for practical purposes. Accordingly, this study focuses on developing novel robust artificial intelligence-based blackbox models to optimize operational variables of the system. A genetic-programming algorithm is used for Pareto modeling of reversible solid oxide cells in a multi-objective fashion based on experimental input-output data. The robustness of the obtained optimal model evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations technique. An optimization study adopted to optimize the operating parameters, such as temperature and fuel composition using a differential evolution algorithm. The objective functions that have been considered for Pareto multi-objective modeling process are training error and model complexity. In addition, the discrepancy between maximum and minimum output voltage in the whole operation of the system is chosen as the optimization process objective function. The robustness of the optimal trade-off model is shown in terms of statistical indices for varied uncertainty levels from 1 to 10%. The optimized operational condition based on the suggested model reveals optimal intermediate temperature of 762 °C and fuel mixture of about 29% H 2 , 25% H 2 O, and 14% CO.

No abstract

We investigated the use of bacterial cells isolated from paddy crab for the extraction of oil from Jatropha seed kernels in aqueous media while simultaneously preserving the protein structures of this protein-rich endosperm. A bacterial strain—which was marked as MB4 and identified by means of 16S rDNA sequencing and physiological characterization as either Bacillus pumilus or Bacillus altitudinis—enhanced the extraction yield of Jatropha oil. The incubation of an MB4 starter culture with preheated kernel slurry in aqueous media with the initial pH of 5.5 at 37 °C for 6 h liberated 73% w/w of the Jatropha oil. Since MB4 produces xylanases, it is suggested that strain MB4 facilitates oil liberation via degradation of hemicelluloses which form the oil-containing cell wall structure of the kernel. After MB4 assisted oil extraction, SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the majority of Jatropha proteins were preserved in the solid phase of the extraction residues. The advantages offered by this process are: protein in the residue can be further processed for other applications, no purified enzyme preparation is needed, and the resulting oil can be used for biodiesel production.

Amyloglucosidase is one of the enzymes that are widely used in liquid sugar

Brachychiton rupestris and Brachychiton luridum are deciduous trees belonging to family Malvaceae. Several members of the genus Brachychiton and its related genus, Sterculia, are used in folk medicine for the treatment of infections. Herein, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of the total extracts, n-hexane, dichloromethane as well as the ethyl acetate fractions of the leaves of both species using agar well diffusion method in an effort to better consolidate the scientific basis for their traditional uses. The study was carried out against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria together with two fungi. The extracts and fractions showed mean inhibition zones diameter in the range of 10.97-14.98 mm with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging between 39.06 and 625 µg/mL against the susceptible bacteria and fungi. The ethyl acetate fraction of B. luridum exhibited notable activity against Staphylococcus aureus while the total extract showed moderate activity against Salmonella typhi. Regarding B. rupestris, the total extract, n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions showed moderate activity against Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Salmonella typhi, respectively. Other extracts and fractions showed weak or no activity against the tested microorganisms. Qualitative phytochemical screening of both plants was performed to preliminary unveil the classes of secondary metabolites present in the leaves. The results indicated the existence of flavonoids, tannins, sterols, triterpenes, carbohydrates and/or glycosides in both plants.

Garlic (Allium sativum) contains a wide range of phytocompounds that produce various responses in human body. However the knowledge on the potential of fermented form of garlic in protecting negative impacts of radiation is very limited. In this research in vitro efficacy of fermented garlic in protecting negative impact of gamma ray was studied using cytogenetic test. A set of culture of human lymphocytes was irradiated with 60 Co gamma rays at dose of 2 Gy (dose rate of 2 Gy/min) and fermented garlic extract at four working concentrations of 0, 125, 250 and 500 mg/mL were added to these cells and then were incubated at 37 o C for 48 hrs. Colcemid was added at 3 hr before harvest to collect metaphase cells and it was done by standard methodology for cytogenetic analysis. The fermented garlic extract significantly (p<0.05) did not exhibited antigenotoxic effect of gamma rays and its effectiveness was same as in control (without extract treatment) group. In contrary all concentration of chemicals (125, 250 and 500 mg/mL) were seemingly tend to induce higher number of dicentric and fragment chromosomes than control under microscopic observation. Mitotic index of the cell that was determined with programmed metaphase finder also did not influenced by garlic addition. It was concluded that aqueous garlic extract did not possesses its efficacy in protecting impact of ionizing radiation.Keywords : fermented garlic, chromosome aberrations, genotoxic, ionizing radiation. ABSTRAKBawang (Allium sativum) mengandung berbagai macam senyawa fito yang menghasilkan bermacam respon dalam tubuh manusia. Akan tetapi pengetahuan tentang potensi bawang dalam bentuk fermentasi untuk melindungi efek negatif radiasi masih sangat terbatas. Dalam makalah ini kemampuan bawang fermentasi dalam melindungi efek negatif sinar gamma secara in vitro telah dipelajari menggunakan uji sitogenetik. Satu set kultur limfosit manusia diiradiasi sinar gamma 60 Co pada dosis 2 Gy (laju dosis 2 Gy/min) dan ekstrak bawang fermentasi pada empat konsentrasi kerja (0, 125, 250 dan 500 mg/mL) ditambahkan pada sel tersebut dan kemudian diinkubasi pada 37 o C selama 48 jam. Colcemid ditambahkan 3 jam sebelum pemanenan untuk mendapatkan sel metafase dan dilakukan dengan metodologi baku untuk analisis sitogenetik. Bawang fermentasi secara nyata (p<0.05) tidak menunjukkan kemampuan menekan dampak negatif sinar gamma dan efektivitasnya sama seperti dalam kelompok kontrol (tanpa pemberian ekstrak). Sebaliknya semua konsentrasi senyawa kimia (125, 250 dan 500 mg/mL) diduga cenderung menyebabkan jumlah kromosom disentrik dan fragmen yang lebih tinggi daripada kontrol pada pengamatan mikroskopis. Indeks mitosis sel yang ditentukan dengan programmed metaphase finder juga tidak dipengaruhi oleh penambahan bawang. Disimpulkan bahwa larutan ekstrak bawang tidak memiliki sifat melindungi dampak radiasi pengion.Kata kunci : bawang fermentasi, aberasi kromosom, genotoksik, radiasi pengion 116 Jurnal Ilmiah Aplikasi Isotop dan Radiasi