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A Review of Membranes Classifications, Configurations, Surface Modifications, Characteristics and Its Applications in Water Purification
M. A. Abd El-Ghaffar,
Hossam A. Tieama
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2017
Pages:
57-82
Received:
6 December 2016
Accepted:
23 January 2017
Published:
2 March 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.cbe.20170202.11
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Abstract: Today, membrane separation technologies are widely used in many areas of water and wastewater treatment. Membrane processes can be used to produce potable water from surface water, groundwater, brackish water, or seawater, or to treat industrial wastewaters before they are discharged or reused. Membrane separation systems have many advantages over traditional water or wastewater treatment processes, lower operating and maintenance costs in comparison to conventional systems consisting of coagulation, clarification, and aerobic and anaerobic treatments. • Membrane separation systems are easy to operate and the performance is more reliable. • Membrane systems give a compact and modular construction, which occupies less floor space in comparison to the conventional treatment systems. In this review, we will introduce fundamental concepts of the membrane and membrane-separation processes, such as membrane definition, membrane classification, membrane formation, module configuration, transport mechanism, system design. Four widely used membrane separation processes in water and wastewater treatment, namely, microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO), will be discussed in detail. Some basic requirements for membranes are • high flux of the product, good mechanical strength for supporting the physical structure, good selectivity for the desired substances. Generally, high selectivity is related to membrane properties, such as small pores and high hydraulic resistance or low permeability.. The permeability increases with increasing density of pores, and the overall membrane resistance is directly proportional to its thickness. Therefore, a good membrane must have a narrow range of pore sizes, a high porosity, and a thin layer of material. Membranes can be either dense or porous. Separation by dense membranes relies on physicochemical interaction between the permeating components and the membrane material. Porous membranes, on the other hand, achieve separation by size exclusion, where the rejected material may be either dissolved or suspended depending on its size relative to that of the pore. Membranes can be organic (polymeric) or inorganic (ceramic or metallic), according to its composition, and their morphology is dependent on the nature of the material. There is a need for improved membranes that have higher efficiency and are more resistant to the chemical environment, especially chlorine. This article summarizes the art of membrane technology.
Abstract: Today, membrane separation technologies are widely used in many areas of water and wastewater treatment. Membrane processes can be used to produce potable water from surface water, groundwater, brackish water, or seawater, or to treat industrial wastewaters before they are discharged or reused. Membrane separation systems have many advantages over ...
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Starter Cultures Used in the Production of Probiotic Dairy Products and Their Potential Applications: A Review
Md. Rezaul Hai Rakib,
Md. Ahsanul Kabir,
Sardar Mohammad Amanullah
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2017
Pages:
83-89
Received:
2 January 2017
Accepted:
31 January 2017
Published:
4 March 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.cbe.20170202.12
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Abstract: The preservation of food by fermentation is one of the oldest methods known to mankind. Fermented dairy products are popular due to their differences in taste and their favorable physiological effects. A typical example is lactic acid fermentation, which is widely used for the preparation of several fermented milk products, such as dahi (curd), yoghurt, sour cream, kefir, acidophilus milk and various varieties of cheeses. Starter cultures have a multifunctional role in dairy fermentations. Dairy starter cultures are carefully selected microorganisms, which are deliberately added to milk to initiate and carry out desired fermentation under controlled conditions in the production of fermented milk products. Most of them belong to lactic acid bacteria (Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Leuconostocs). In some cases, few non-lactic starters (bacteria, yeast and mold) are also used along with lactic acid bacteria during manufacturing of specific fermented milk products. Today, fermented dairy products in general are produced locally by using traditional methods. Recently, due to the increased demand for natural nutrients and probiotic products, fermented dairy products have reached a different position and are considered to have an important impact on human health and nutrition.
Abstract: The preservation of food by fermentation is one of the oldest methods known to mankind. Fermented dairy products are popular due to their differences in taste and their favorable physiological effects. A typical example is lactic acid fermentation, which is widely used for the preparation of several fermented milk products, such as dahi (curd), yog...
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Biomedical and Micro-Robots: An Overview of Recent Developments
Alireza Shamsabadi Masoudi,
Mohammad Sadegh Hassanli,
Zahra Taavili,
Yasaman Sadeghizade
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2017
Pages:
90-95
Received:
7 January 2017
Accepted:
29 January 2017
Published:
4 March 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.cbe.20170202.13
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Abstract: This paper aims to provide an overview of recent challenges in the development of micro-robots for future biomedical applications. This paper first considers a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art in medical micro-robots. Consequently, it investigates the critical aspects and emerging ideas associated with designing of such medical micro-robots in order to navigate in viscous environments and inspire future research for healthcare applications. Potential biomedical micro-robots are used for a wide variety of applications into different organs of the patient's body, such as clearing heart occlusion, treatment of Nephrolithotomy, minimally invasive surgery, micromanipulative, released into the bloodstream and targeted drug delivery. Challenges and emerging concepts include functionality, powering, robot localization, communication and safety have been proposed, thereby leading to enable an extensive range of medical operations locomotion features, obtain and process information, being able to operate within specific constraints. This review provides details insight of medical micro-robot developments and the existing solutions for challenges and emerging concepts paving the way for designing such a medical micro-robot for operation inside, fast recovery and increased quality of life of patients.
Abstract: This paper aims to provide an overview of recent challenges in the development of micro-robots for future biomedical applications. This paper first considers a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art in medical micro-robots. Consequently, it investigates the critical aspects and emerging ideas associated with designing of such medical micro-ro...
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Identification of Animal Muscle Proteins by 2D-Electrophoresis and Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Natalia Leonid Vostrikova,
Andrew Vladimir Kulikovskii,
Irina Mihail Chernuha,
Andrew Nikolay Ivankin
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2017
Pages:
96-105
Received:
14 January 2017
Accepted:
25 January 2017
Published:
4 March 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.cbe.20170202.14
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Abstract: A method for determining the quantitative content of meat proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D). The method is designed to quantify muscle protein in raw meat samples through proteomic technology complex comprising a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and densitometry obtained electrophoregrams computer.
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Bioinsecticides Induce Change in Biochemical and Immunological Parameters of Spodoptera Littoralis Larvae
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2017
Pages:
106-112
Received:
15 January 2017
Accepted:
6 February 2017
Published:
4 March 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.cbe.20170202.15
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Abstract: The cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis, is a major pest in Egypt causes severe quantitative and qualitative losses of cotton and other economic crops. This study examines the effect of Caltropis proceraa and Atriplex halimus extracts on the 4nd instar larvae. This study was carried out to identify the effect plant extracts on biochemical parameters and differential and total haemocyte counts of S. littoralis after treated with LC25 of Caltropis proceraa and Atriplex halimus extracts for 48 hours (treated with each extract in separate). Marked biochemical changes, however, being recognized in pest as marked decrease in total lipids, total protein and glucose contents. The activities of both aspartate amino transferase (ASAT) and alanine amino transferase (ALAT) are also being highly affected. Four types of haemocytes marked by; prohaemocytes (PRs), plasmatocytes (PLs), granulocytes (GRs) and oenocytoids (OEs). The percentage of PRs decreased in insects fed on leaves treated with Caltropis proceraa and Atriplex halimus plant. The percentage of PLs increased, while the percentage of GRs decreased in all tested insects treated. The percentages of oenocytoids (OEs) increased in insect fed treated compared with control. Results indicated that total Haemocyte Counts (THCs) of insects fed on leaves treated significantly decreased in all insects treated.
Abstract: The cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis, is a major pest in Egypt causes severe quantitative and qualitative losses of cotton and other economic crops. This study examines the effect of Caltropis proceraa and Atriplex halimus extracts on the 4nd instar larvae. This study was carried out to identify the effect plant extracts on biochemical param...
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Effect of the Energy of Consciousness (The Trivedi Effect®) on Physicochemical, Thermal, Structural, and Behavioral Properties of Magnesium Gluconate
Mahendra Kumar Trivedi,
Alice Branton,
Dahryn Trivedi,
Gopal Nayak,
Michael Peter Ellis,
James Jeffery Peoples,
James Joseph Meuer,
Johanne Dodon,
John Lawrence Griffin,
John Suzuki,
Joseph Michael Foty,
Judy Weber,
Julia Grace McCammon,
Karen Brynes Allen,
Kathryn Regina Sweas,
Lezley Jo-Anne Wright,
Lisa A. Knoll,
Madeline E. Michaels,
Margaret Kweya Wahl,
Mark E. Stutheit,
Michelle Barnard,
Muriel Mae Ranger,
Paromvong Sinbandhit,
V. J. Kris Elig,
Kalyan Kumar Sethi,
Parthasarathi Panda,
Snehasis Jana
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2017
Pages:
113-123
Received:
7 February 2017
Accepted:
18 February 2017
Published:
6 March 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.cbe.20170202.16
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Abstract: Magnesium gluconate is an organometallic pharmaceutical compound used for the prevention and treatment of hypomagnesemia. The objective of the current research work was to examine the influence of The Trivedi Effect®-Energy of Consciousness Healing Treatment (Biofield Energy Treatment) on magnesium gluconate for the alteration in the physicochemical, structural, thermal and behavioral properties using PXRD, PSD, FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, TGA, and DSC analysis. Magnesium gluconate was divided into two parts – one part was control without any Biofield Energy Treatment, while another part was treated with The Trivedi Effect®-Energy of Consciousness Healing Treatment remotely by twenty renowned Biofield Energy Healers and defined as The Trivedi Effect® treated sample. The PXRD analysis exhibited that the crystallite size of the treated sample was remarkably altered from -63.63% to 80.14% compared with the control sample. The average crystallite size was significantly reduced by 22.14% in the treated sample compared with the control sample. The particle size values in the treated sample at d10 and d50 values were significantly decreased by 4.41% and 8.67% respectively, whereas at d90 value was increased by 3.99% compared to the control sample. The surface area analysis revealed that surface area of the treated sample was significantly increased by 5.21% compared with the control sample. The FT-IR and UV-vis analysis showed that structure of the magnesium gluconate remained identical in both the treated and control samples. The TGA analysis shown four steps thermal degradation of both the samples and the total weight loss of the treated sample was significantly decreased by 4.29% compared with the control sample. The melting temperature of the control and treated samples were 171.02°C and 170.93°C, respectively. The latent heat of fusion was significantly increased by 32.33% in the treated sample compared with the control sample. The TGA and DSC analysis indicated that the thermal stability of the treated sample was significantly improved compared with the control sample. The current study revealed that The Trivedi Effect®-Energy of Consciousness Healing Treatment might produce a new polymorphic form of magnesium gluconate, which could be more soluble and bioavailable along with improved thermal stability compared with the untreated compound. The treated sample could be more stable during manufacturing, delivery or storage conditions than the untreated sample. Hence, The Trivedi Effect® Treated magnesium gluconate would be very useful to design better nutraceutical/pharmaceutical formulations that might offer better therapeutic responses against inflammatory diseases, immunological disorders, stress, aging, and other chronic infections.
Abstract: Magnesium gluconate is an organometallic pharmaceutical compound used for the prevention and treatment of hypomagnesemia. The objective of the current research work was to examine the influence of The Trivedi Effect®-Energy of Consciousness Healing Treatment (Biofield Energy Treatment) on magnesium gluconate for the alteration in the physicochemica...
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