Cationic Starch Synthesis, Development, and Evaluation for Harvesting Microalgae for Wastewater Treatment

In the quest for a feedstock for the production of biofuels, microalgae are showing potential. High photosynthetic efficiency, combined with high lipid content and low fresh water requirement, has contributed to the \u27biofuels feedstock\u27 status of microalgae. In some communities, microalgae have also been cultivated in wastewater in facultative lagoons to remove phosphorus and nitrogen through the growth of microalgae. With such systems in place, complete biological wastewater treatment can be achieved and the harvested microalgae could provide feedstock for biodiesel and various other bioproducts. Due to small cell size, low culture concentrations, and the electrostatic repulsive forces that keep the cells in suspension, harvesting microalgae entails high energy inputs and associated high costs. Of the several harvesting methods tested, chemical precipitation has been shown to be the only method to harvest microalgae on a large scale. Although effective in wastewater treatment, the use of inorganic metal coagulants for microalgae harvesting leads to high dosage requirements, excess volume of sludge, and high costs, and due to the presence of associated metal hydroxide, the harvested biomass is unsuitable as feedstock for bioproducts. The drawbacks of inorganic coagulants for microalgae harvesting can be overcome by using cationic starch. Corn and potato starch were cationized using 3-methacryloyl amino propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and biogenic amines. Flocculation efficiencies of the cationic starches were tested in a jar test apparatus using single strain microalga, Scenedesmus obliquus, and mixed culture wastewater from the Logan City, Utah lagoons. Cationic starches showed better or comparable removal of total suspended solids compared to aluminum sulfate. Total phosphorus removal efficiencies for cationic starches were lower compared to aluminum sulfate. Effect of cationic starch harvested and alum harvested S. obliquus on biodiesel, acetone, butanol, ethanol production, and Escherichia coli growth was also studied. Results suggested significantly higher yields of bioproducts when cationic starch was used to harvest microalgae and the biomass was used as feedstock. Cationic starches are an organic, sustainable, and renewable form of coagulant/flocculant. The use of cationic starch for harvesting microalgae eliminates the need for metal salts while enhancing the production of algae-based bioproducts. Cationic starch along with advanced technologies in the processing of microalgae is the way forward in the realization of the “microalgae to biofuels” initiative

Peran Kinerja terhadap Saham Perbankan di Indonesia

Harga saham merupakan faktor yang sangat penting dan harus diperhatikan oleh investor dalam melakukan investasi karena harga saham menunjukan prestasi emiten. Rata-rata harga saham perbankan yang ada di BEI dari tahun 2017-2021 berfluktuasi, dari tahun 2017-2019 rata-rata harga saham perbankan konsisten meningkat, tetapi dari tahun 2020-2021 rata-rata harga saham perbankan berturut-turut mengalami penurunan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat pengaruh kinerja terhadap harga saham perbankan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia dari tahun 2017-2021. Jumlah sampel yang digunakan sebanyak 41 perusahaan perbankan di Indonesia yang konsisten terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia dari tahun 2017-2021. Data diolah menggunakan E-Views, dari hasil pengolahan data didapatkan hasil bahwa kinerja yang diukur dengan menggunakan rasio Return On Asset berpengaruh positif terhadap harga saham perbankan yang terdafatar di Bursa Efek Indonesia tahun 2017-2021

SUPERVISI PENDIDIKAN SEBAGAI UPAYA DALAM MENINGKATKAN MUTU PENDIDIKAN DI SEKOLAH

Educational supervision plays a crucial role in efforts to improve the quality of education in schools. Through educational supervision, various initiatives to enhance and improve the learning process can be undertaken. This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) method consisting of six stages: planning, literature search, criteria assessment (inclusion and exclusion), quality assessment, data collection, and data analysis. The study aims to determine the role of supervision in improving educational quality, the strategies for implementing educational supervision, and the challenges faced in its application. Data analysis results indicate that educational supervision plays a central role in enhancing educational quality by identifying strengths and weaknesses in teaching practices, providing constructive feedback to educators, and promoting professional development. Strategies used in educational supervision include direct observation, counseling or mentoring, peer coaching or collaboration among educators, and document or portfolio review. Challenges in implementing educational supervision include time constraints, ineffective communication skills of supervisors, and teachers' resistance to supervision due to discomfort

Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Pangsa Pasar Bank Syariah di Indonesia

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh Biaya Operasional terhadap Pendapatan Operasional (BOPO), Return On Asset (ROA), Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR) dan Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) terhadap Market Share Bank Syariah di Indonesia. Jenis penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif. Jumlah populasi sebanyak 11 Bank Umum Syariah. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan adalah total sampling yaitu 11 Bank Umum Syariah. Jumlah laporan keuangan sebanyak 33 didapat dari 11 Bank umum Syariah selama periode 3 tahun, yaitu tahun 2018 sampai dengan 2020. Analisis dalam penelitian ini bantuan program SPSS versi 23. Hipotesis di uji dengan menggunakan uji t. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa variabel Biaya Operasional terhadap Pendapatan Operasional (BOPO) dan Return On Asset (ROA) memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap Market Share sedangkan variabel Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR) dan Capital Adequacy Ratio tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Market Share

AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AIR POLLUTION DETECTION IN INDUSTRIES

In the terms of damage caused to the environment, air pollution can be easily characterized as the main culprit .The main sources of air pollution are industries. Therefore, this paper aims at using semi-conductor sensor for detecting the various pollutant gases at the emission outlets which detects the level of pollutants in the industries. Specifically in this paper, gas sensor MQ135 is used. When the pollution/emission level shoots beyond the permissible level, the process/machinery causing the polluted emission is immediately shut down and there will be an alarm (light alarm or buzzer) to indicate that the limit has been reached at a specific emission outlet. Simultaneously, the factory control room will be informed via GSM that the process/ machinery has been shut down and corrective action has to be taken. The execution and synchronization of the entire process is monitored and controlled by a microcontroller (PIC16F877A)

Revival of the magnetar PSR J1622-4950: observations with MeerKAT, Parkes, XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR

New radio (MeerKAT and Parkes) and X-ray (XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR) observations of PSR J1622-4950 indicate that the magnetar, in a quiescent state since at least early 2015, reactivated between 2017 March 19 and April 5. The radio flux density, while variable, is approximately 100x larger than during its dormant state. The X-ray flux one month after reactivation was at least 800x larger than during quiescence, and has been decaying exponentially on a 111+/-19 day timescale. This high-flux state, together with a radio-derived rotational ephemeris, enabled for the first time the detection of X-ray pulsations for this magnetar. At 5%, the 0.3-6 keV pulsed fraction is comparable to the smallest observed for magnetars. The overall pulsar geometry inferred from polarized radio emission appears to be broadly consistent with that determined 6-8 years earlier. However, rotating vector model fits suggest that we are now seeing radio emission from a different location in the magnetosphere than previously. This indicates a novel way in which radio emission from magnetars can differ from that of ordinary pulsars. The torque on the neutron star is varying rapidly and unsteadily, as is common for magnetars following outburst, having changed by a factor of 7 within six months of reactivation.Comment: Published in ApJ (2018 April 5); 13 pages, 4 figure

Brachial plexopathy in breast cancer: is it radiation related? An analysis technique and dose volume parameters to brachial plexus in breast cancer radiotherapy

Background: Brachial plexus dysfunction is a rare but well-recognized complication of breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy. Most of the time it presents as paraesthesia of the arm. In an earlier publication Dan Lundstedt et al from Sweden, quantitatively assessed the radiation related brachial plexopathy (mainly paraesthesia) with the help of dose volume histograms and its co relation between patient reported paraesthesia. Paraesthesia was reported by 25% after radiation therapy to the supraclavicular fossa, with a V40 Gy 13.5 cm3 and maximum dose to brachial plexus (Dmax) was not found to correlate with paraesthesia. In order to predict the risk brachial plexopathy in our patients we decided to analyze the dose volume parameters for brachial plexus in carcinoma breast patients treated at our institution with modern radiotherapy techniques.Methods: Twenty five consecutive patients who received post mastectomy radiation during the period September 2015 to January 2016 with a dose of 50Gy in 25 fractions were included for this analysis. Brachial plexus contoured using RTOG guidelines, and dose volume parameters for brachial plexus were documented from the existing treatment plans.Results: The maximum dose to the brachial plexus ranged from 5045cGy to 5679cGy with a mean value of 5312.8cGy. The mean dose received by the brachial plexus ranged from 3093cGy to 4714cGy and the mean value was 4137.28cGy. Volume receiving 40Gy, that is V40, ranged from 2.0078cc to 11.56cc with a mean value of 7.57cc.Conclusions: Maximum dose and V40 Gy values were well below the tolerance limit of plexus, and hence post mastectomy irradiation with modern techniques is unlikely to produce significant brachial plexus neuropathy

Correlation between Serum Phosphate, Serum Magnesium levels and Severity of Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most prevalent microvascular complications of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While magnesium and phosphate are essential for neuromuscular function, their association with DPN remains underexplored. Objective: To assess the correlation between serum magnesium and phosphate levels with the severity of DPN in patients with T2DM. Methods: This prospective observational study included 80 T2DM patients presenting with neuropathic symptoms. Severity of DPN was assessed using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS) and confirmed by nerve conduction studies. Serum magnesium and phosphate levels were measured and analysed against neuropathy severity. Results: The mean age of participants was 51.77 ± 11.1 years. DPN prevalence was 75%, with significant associations found between neuropathy severity and reduced serum magnesium (p=0.001), phosphate levels (p=0.003), higher HbA1c (p<0.001), older age (p<0.001), male gender (p=0.003), and longer diabetes duration (p=0.001). Magnesium demonstrated a stronger predictive value for DPN severity than phosphate. Conclusion: Serum magnesium and phosphate levels inversely correlate with DPN severity in T2DM. Serum magnesium may serve as a better predictive marker. Routine screening of these electrolytes could aid in early detection and management of DPN