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Salinity gradient energy (SGE) allows two solutions with different salt concentration to mixing and directly into electrical energy by reverse electrodialysis (RED) membrane. High power outputs are forecasted theoretically, but in real practice is still relatively low RED power efficiency. In this work, the spacer shadow effects on both membrane and solution compartment resistances are investigated by employing nylon spacer and without spacer. In addition, this experiment also proposes the power density performance of RED membrane under natural wetland water as low saline solution and variation of high saline solution i.e., artificial brackish water (0.3 wt% NaCl) and artificial seawater (3.5 wt% NaCl). The results indicate that the spacer shadow effect on RED membrane has a correlation with energy output generated. The used of spacer led to an increase in stack resistance and decrease in power density compared to without nylon spacer. This result increases the impact of RED renewable power source and brings it closer to practical implementation, especially for the potential natural wetland water as low saline solution. The power output was computed, obtaining a maximum power density of 0.19 W/m2 with variations without spacers, and 0.14 W/m2 with spacers. Results show that of the cell components directly influences the physicochemical principles governing the RED process and is closely related to the cell output parameters. In turn, it is possible to increase the performance of a RED cell by optimizing operation without spacers to avoid the shadow effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of studies of hydrogen absorption during electrolytic hydrogenation (current density 20 A/m2) of Ti49.4Ni50.6 (at.%) alloy samples in normal saline (0.9% NaCl). The changes in the structural-phase state of the surface layers of samples after hydrogenation and long-term aging at room temperature have been studied. The formation of an orthorhombic hydride phase in the near-surface layers of the studied samples was found. It is shown that in the process of long-term aging, due to the development of hydrogen diffusion from the near-surface layers into the bulk of the samples, the orthorhombic phase dissociates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lime mortars with partial replacement of lime by fine natural zeolite were first characterized in detail and then subjected to freeze-thaw cycles as well as to three different salt. Use of natural zeolite as pozzolanic admixture has led to a improvement in the frost resistance of lime mortars. Despite the decreasing porosity of the samples with increasing zeolite content, zeolitic mortars showed better ability to salt accumulation. The concentration of the monitored anions in the lime-zeolite mortars after treatment with saline solutions increased more than 100 times. The use of natural zeolite-modified lime mortars for desalination of chloride-contaminated masonry seems to be particularly suitable. From a comprehensive point of view, 40% replacement of lime with zeolite appears to be the most effective. It is possible to deliberate the use of these mortars for the repair of historical mortars in desalination of masonry as sacrificial renders, especially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of research on technical sulphur and sulphur-containing wastes as one of the effective binders in concrete production, allowing to create materials with high indicators of physical and mechanical properties and chemical resistance in saline and acid solutions. Mycelial mushrooms were used in experiments as microorganisms and various combinations of citric acid and hydrogen peroxide as pure chemicals, possible bio-corrosion agents. The result revealed that sulphur composites are fungus-resistant materials, but they are confirmed to be bio corrosive in the presence of external contaminants. Dependences of changes in materials resistance on the concentration of substances included in the aqueous solutions of metabolic products have been determined. Studies aimed at increasing the bio-corrosion resistance of sulphur composites have been carried out. The additives that impart fungicidal properties to sulphur composites have been identified: M-dinitrobenzene, biphenyl and tetrabromocresol. Tests have shown that sulphur composite compositions with basic copper carbonate and dimorpholine sulphide additives can be used in some buildings where the building structures do not have contaminants that serve as nutrient media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratin is a protein that is very difficult to break down. One of the ways to degrade keratin is enzymatic degradation using keratinase. Keratinase plays an important role in the leather tanning industry, so it is necessary to explore keratinase-producing microbes. This study used isolate GAM15 from the peat soil of Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan. The research stages were rejuvenation of protease-producing microbes, determination of isolate purity and identification of phenotypic morphology of isolates, a test of ability to degrade chicken feathers, determination of keratinase character, optimization of keratinase production using chicken feather substrate, and genotypic identification. The optimum GAM15 keratinase at pH 6, temperature 43 C, and the addition of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions had no effect on keratinase activity. Optimal keratinase production was optimized on the second day and media at pH 5 with an activity value of 7,829 U/mL. In determining the moisture ratio, the keratinase activity was 9.079 U/mL with a mass of chicken feather substrate and a volume of saline solution at a humidity of 1:3. The percent weight loss after optimization is 12.9%. GAM15 isolate is a type of microbe that already exists and has a similarity percentage of 100.00% to the Bacillus proteolytic strain MCCC 1A00365 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was designed to investigate the effect of Cinnamonum zeylanicum (Cz) aqueous extract in reducing the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in white male rats induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), Twenty five male white rats were used, Weights range (200 – 320) grams and ages (11-14) weeks, and Each group contains five Rats, The first group G1 returned the negative control group that was given normal saline solution, the second group G2 was injected with a dose of 0.1 ml with CFA in the right plantar foot to induce rheumatoid arthritis. On the first day of the experiment, positive control was returned for groups G5, G4, and G3, a dose of 250, 350, 450 mg/kg of (Cz) aqueous extract of body weight after 14 days of induction of arthritis, respectively, for 20 days. Blood samples were collected from animal groups. All from the last day of the experiment to measure the following parameters malondialdehyde(MAD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT), The results showed that arthritis induction led to a significant increase (p <0.05) in the MAD concentration level, compared with the G1 group., and the treatment of individuals of groups G5, G4, G3 with aqueous Cz extract led to a significant decrease (p <0.05) in the MAD concentration level,. The concentration level of both GSH and CAT decreased significantly (p <0.05). In the individuals of Group G2 compared with G1, then returns to a significant increase (p <0.05) in groups G3, G4, and G5, as the concentrations reached (compared with the positive control group G2, and from it, we conclude that arthritis induction by CFA leads to a significant increase (p <0.05) in the MAD concentration level in the serum of individuals of animals, as well as a significant decrease (p <0.05) in the concentration of both GSH and CAT, respectively, and treatment with different concentrations of Cz aqueous extract reduced joint inflammation by restoring the levels of the above parameters to a level close to normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants are widely used in herbal medicine because they contain a group of chemical compounds that can control the performance of important biological functions in the body of the organism, and in defense against external factors attacking by predators such as insects, parasites, fungi, as well as herbivorous mammals. The vast majority of these chemicals that are possessed by medicinal plants have beneficial effects on the long-term health of the organism, as they have been used effectively to treat many disease conditions that humans suffer from. This study aimed to test the efficacy of certain plant extracts, which are ginger extract, olive pomace and aqueous extract of pomegranate, on Cryptosporidium parivum in the body of an organism. 50 mice (9-10 weeks) and weighing (25-30 g) were used. Infection, the first group was treated with a dose of 657.14 mg / 1.0 mL of ginger water extract, second group 1000 mg / 1.0 mL / g of olive pomace extract in addition to a control group 2 x 10 sachets / 2.0 ml of suspension sachet and 1.0 ml of saline solution Normal, the results showed that all plant extracts achieved 100% positive results in treating mice infected with the parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]