Search

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are a rare subset of dendritic cells that exhibit antiviral functions in response to toll-like receptor 7/8 stimulations. Alternative toll-like receptors such as TLR4 have been known to be active in plasmacytoid dendritic cells for immune regulatory functions. However, it is unclear whether these toll-like receptors differentially activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells as compared with canonical toll-like receptor 7/8 stimulation. Here, we assessed alternative plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation states mediated by toll-like receptors other than endosomal toll-like receptors via the RNA sequencing approach. We found that toll-like receptor 4 stimulation induced a high degree of similarity in gene expression pattern to toll-like receptor 7/8 stimulation in plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Despite high resemblance to toll-like receptor 7/8, we discovered unique genes that were activated under toll-like receptor 4 activation only, as well as genes that were induced at a higher magnitude in comparison to toll-like receptor 7/8 activation. In comparison between toll-like receptor 4–activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells and conventional dendritic cells, we revealed that plasmacytoid dendritic cells and conventional dendritic cells expressed distinct gene sets, whereby conventional dendritic cells mostly favored antigen presentation functions for adaptive immune response regulation while plasmacytoid dendritic cells leaned toward immune response against infectious diseases. Last, we determined that toll-like receptor 4 activation sensitized plasmacytoid dendritic cells against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) single-stranded RNA by enhancing antiviral-related responses and type I interferon production. These findings provided greater insights into the toll-like receptor 4 activation state in plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which can be beneficial for alternative therapeutic interventions involving plasmacytoid dendritic cells for various diseases.Toll-like receptor 4 activation in plasmacytoid dendritic cells induces an alternative activation state that shares similarities to toll-like receptor 7/8 activation but with its own distinct traits and enhances antiviral functions to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.Graphical abstract

•Connection of Rio Conventions on biodiversity, land degradation, and climate change with the ratified national policies to assess watershed vulnerability.•Development of risk assessment method derived from the connection policies on climate change risk, biodiversity, and watershed health in Indonesia.•The method contains indicators to measure the risk level (i.e., maintained or restored) of a watershed, applied to a study area of Way Khilau Watershed of Lampung, Indonesia.•Future climate change will increase the risk level of the Way Khilau watershed, which urges the needs for devising adaptations to sustain watershed functions and services.•Adaptation options can be formulated by considering the contributing indicators and sub-indicators determining the watershed vulnerability.

Ionic liquids have been widely discussed as potential lubricants, however, their properties make them also very good potential candidates as lubricant additives (e.g., friction modifiers and anti-wear). In this work, the tribological study of two ionic liquids (tributylmethylphosphonium dimethylphosphate (PP), and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (BMP)) as lubricant additives has been performed on stainless steel (AISI 316L) exposed to polar (water-glycol) and non-polar (polyalphaolefin) based lubricants under boundary lubricating conditions. The performance of these ionic liquids as lubricant additives has been compared to a classical organic friction modifier (dodecanoic acid (C12)). The water-glycol lubricant formulated with the two ionic liquids showed friction values higher than the same base lubricant formulated with dodecanoic acid, however, opposite results were observed for polyalphaolefin (PAO). A detailed surface chemical analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed differences in the passive/tribofilm thickness and chemical composition of the stainless steel surface tested in all lubricants. In the case of the polar lubricant additivated with ionic liquids, the tribochemical reaction accompanied by a tribocorrosion process led to the formation of an unstable passive/tribofilm resulting in high friction and wear. However, in the absence of tribocorrosion process (polyalphaolefin base lubricant), the tribochemical reaction led to the formation of a stable passive/tribofilm resulting in low friction and wear. A detailed surface and subsurface investigation of the microstructure using scanning electron microscopy equipped with a focused ion beam (SEM-FIB) showed that high wear rates resulted in thicker recrystallization region under the wear track surface. Among all lubricant additives tested in this work, BMP in non-polar lubricant media showed the best tribological performance.

Al 7xxx alloy is a heat treatable Al alloy with superior strength. Solution treatment in precipitation hardening sequence of the alloy has an important role to dissolve second phases and bring vacancies out to form precipitates in the ageing process. Another strengthening can be done by Ti addition as grain refiner. As cast alloy by squeeze casting was homogenized at 400 °C for 4 h. Solution treatment was conducted at 220, 420, and 490 °C, followed by rapid quenching. Subsequent ageing was conducted at 130 °C for 48 h. Characterization was performed by optical microscope, SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy – Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy), Rockwell hardness testing, XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), and STA (Simultaneous Thermal Analysis). Ti added alloy showed rounder grains, lower hardness, and more reduction in second phase volume fraction along with increasing solution treatment temperature than those in alloys without Ti addition. Otherwise, the alloy final hardness was increasing and higher after the ageing process due to higher second phase dissolution which leads to more precipitates formed.

Enzymes are used to make a production of biomass based process more efficient and more selective. Lipase is a biocatalyst in the breakdown of fat reaction that is widely used in the industry, including the industry in Indonesia. Lipase production can be carried out by bacterial solid state fermentation by using agro-industry waste substrate containing carbon and nitrogen. The developments of various industrial sectors are demanding the use and application of lipase commercially in industrial processes as biocatalysts chosen by its ability to work in a friendly environment and have high specificity. Fermentation of Aspergillus niger are able to produce enzyme lipase that can be done by using solid-state fermentation method. In this study palm oil empty fruit bunches (POEFB), bagasse, and palm oil sludge are used as fermentation substrates and will be treated variations of inducer concentration and fermentation time. The results of solid state fermentation of solid substrates POEFB with inducer concentration of 8% for 7 days showed the highest activity value of 2.2 U/mL and 8.2 U/mL in the form of dry extract lipase. The result of the dry lipase enzyme immobilized so that enzyme was stable in repetitive use with cross linking adsorption method using macroporous resin as a support. Experiments showed that empty fruit bunches of oil palm fermentation substrate could produce lipase enzyme with enzyme loading of 56.6% wt. Enzyme activity test carried out in the synthesis of biodiesel through interesterification reaction mole ratio of reactants palm oil and metal acetate 1:12 at 40°C operating temperature conditions for 50 hours in 4 reaction cycles. Biodiesel synthesis results were analyzed using High Perfomance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) showed biodiesel yield values of 48.6% and the enzyme was able to move up to 68.60% initial yield of 4 cycles of biodiesel synthesis.

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are known to have high hardness, temperature and corrosion resistance, while being comparatively lightweight. One of many external factors that influence the mechanical properties of CMC is the compaction pressure given during fabrication process. Generally, greater amount of applied compaction pressure will result in improved final product density and bending strength. In this research, a type of CMCs was fabricated using Al2O3, SiC, and ZrO2 powder mixed with Nb2O5 additive of 81Al2O3-10SiC-5ZrO2-4Nb2O5 wt. % composition. Fabrication was done through mixing, compacting, and sintering process. Compaction was performed at 257, 308, and 359 MPa and finished with sintering process at 1400 °C for 4 h. Final samples were characterized by density measurement, 3-point bending strength testing, XRD for phase investigation, and microstructure observation using SEM-EDS. Results showing that samples with 308 MPa compaction pressure possessed the highest density and bending strength of 3.29 gr/cm3 and 14.91 MPa, respectively. These numbers however, declined on samples with higher compaction pressure of 359 MPa due to the formation of porosities caused by entrapped gas that failed to exit the sample of which compaction pressure was considered to be overwhelmingly high.

This study explored the feasibility of flexural performance of composite sandwich material composed of various low density polyurethane foam core thickness sandwiched between GFRP skins. The mechanical behaviour of this material was assessed by carrying out a flexural testing. Each spesimen had a nominal dimensions of 110 mm x 30 mm x (c + 4 mm). These spesimens with various core thickness (c) of 2 mm. 5 mm. and 8 mm were then tested in three point bending according to ASTM C 393-00. This study revealed that. by incorporating the thickest core ( 8 mm ) . the bending strength decreases by 42.3 % compared to 5 mm core and it further decreases by 72.6 % compared to 2 mm core. The material stiffness showed positive trend for the thickest core (8 mm). it increases by 53.1 % and 78.1 % compared to 5 mm core and 2 mm core respectively. Low shear modulus of polyurethane foam core contributed to the low bending strength of composite sandwich material with 8 mm core. This was further confirmed by failure analysis under optical microscope which revealed that core shear failure was the dominant failure mechanism for 8 mm core. Meanwhile the dominant failure mechanism for 2 mm core and 5 mm core was microbuckling which confirm the high modulus of GFRP skin. The material stiffness was affected by the high modulus of GFRP skin and the core thickness.

Safety is one of important factors which has to be considered in designing automobile in the automotive industry. One of the components related to the automobile safety is bumper. Bumpers are attached on front and rear of vehicle’s body in order to protect the body from damage due to low speed crash. In this research, hollow glass microsphere (HGM) reinforced epoxy is used as the material for the bumper since this material has not been applied to this application yet. This research is conducted in order to find the ability of this composite material in absorbing impact energy from low speed crash by using finite element method. Thickness of the bumper varied from 4 mm to 8 mm with 1 mm increment. Low speed collision is simulated by following Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 42. The bumper energy absorption is analyzed and indicated by the internal energy, deformation, and equivalent stress from each bumper’s thickness.

Abstract: Alteration of illumination with optimum carbon dioxide fixation-based curve in this research successfully enhanced the CO2-fixation (qco2) capability ofChlorella vulgaris Buitenzorg cultivated in a bubble column photo bioreactor. The level of CO2 fixation was up to 1.91 times that observed from cultivation with intensification of illumination on an optimum growth-based curve. During 144 h of cultivation, alteration of light intensity on an optimum CO2-fixation-based curve produced a qCO2 of 6.68 h−1. Increases in light intensity based on a curve of optimum CO2-fixation produced a final cell concentration of about 5.78 g/L. Both cultivation methods were carried out under ambient pressure at a temperature of 29°C with a superficial gas velocity of 2.4 m/h (UG). Cells were grown on Beneck medium in a 1.0 L Bubble Column Photo bioreactor illuminated by aPhillips Halogen Lamp (20 W/12 V/50 Hz). The inlet gas had a carbon dioxide content of 10%.

Production of biodiesel using homogen catalyst: alkaline catalysts, acid catalysts, biocatalysts, and supercritical methanol are very inefficient, because these catalysts have a very high cost production of biodiesel and non-ecofriendly. The heterogeneous catalyst is then used to avoid adverse reaction of biodiesel production. The heterogeneous catalysts used is ion exchanger using natural zeolit catalists bayah banten (ZABBrht) and macroporous lewatit that can be used to produce biodiesel in the solid phase so that the separation is easier and can be used repeatedly. The results of biodiesel reach its optimum in engineering ion exchange catalyst natural zeolit bayah and macroporous lewatit which has been impregnated and calcinated at temperature 60 degC at reaction time 2 hours, are 94.8% and 95.24%, using 100 gr.KOH/100 mL Aquadest.

Corn husk is one of the agricutural waste that has not been used optimally. corn husk waste allows to be used as immobilized support for biocatalyst because it is easy to obtain, available abundant, renewable and easy to decompose. This research was conducted in two phases, namely the adsorption of enzyme immobilization on the support, followed by cross- linking between the enzyme and support through the addition of glutaraldehyde. The optimum conditions for cross-linked adsorption immobilization using support of corn husk were achieved at concentrations of 0,75 mg / ml at 4 hour reaction time. The biggest unit activity value is obtained at 2,37 U / g support through 0.5% glutaraldehyde addition.

Rice straws have been widely used as wall filler material in China, Australia, and United States, by spinning them into hays with an approximate dimension of 40 cm of height, 40cm of thickness and 60 cm of width, using a machine. Then, the hays are placed into a wall frame until they fill it completely. After that, the wall frame is covered with wire mesh and plastered. In this research, rice straws are to be used as concrete brick fillers, by pressing the straws into hays and then putting them into the concrete brick mold along with mortar. The objective of this research is to investigate the mechanical properties of concrete brick, namely: compressive strength, specific gravity, and water absorption power. This research used experimental research method. It was conducted by using concrete bricks which had 400 cm of width, 200 cm of height, and 100 cm of thickness, made from rice straws, cement, sand, and water as the test sample. The straws were each made different by their volume. The mortars used in this research were made from cement, sand, and water, with the ratio of 1:7:0.5. The concrete bricks were made by pressing straws mixed with glue into hays, and then cut by determined variations of volume. The variations of hays volume were 0 m3, 0.000625 m3, 0.00075 m3, 0.000875 m3, 0.00125 m3, 0.0015 m3, 0.00175 m3, 0.001875 m3, 0.00225 m3, and 0.002625 m3. There were 3 samples for each volumes of hays. The result shows that the straw concrete bricks reached the maximum compressive strength of 1.92 MPa, specific gravity of 1,702 kg/m3, and water absorption level of 3.9 %. Based on the provided measurements of products in the Standar Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian product standardization), the concrete bricks produced attained the prescribed standard quality.

Needs for this kind of catalyst derived from biological raw materials (biocatalysts) has increased along with development of products based on eco-friendly. To achieve the needs of biocatalyst (enzyme), large production is necessary. This study aimed to get the best conditions and design equipment to produce lipase enzyme based on solid state fermentation using SuperPro Designer v9.0. Several equipment such as Tray Bioreactor, Mixing Tank 1, Filter Press, centrifuge, Mixing Tank 2, and a dryer have been improved during the simulation. Economic analysis in the form of NPV, IRR, Payback Period, and the Benefit Cost Ratio was evaluated respectively. The result showed that production of 10 kg enzyme with NPV Rp112.796.147.423,00; IRR 54.20%; Payback Period 1.95 years; and Benefit Cost Ratio of 3.36 was more advantageous.

Armyworm (Spodoptera sp.) is highly polyphagous defoliator on various horticulture and grain plants. Various chemical insecticides have been created to control it. There is a need to create an eco-friendly and specific insecticide which only affect armyworm's nervous system. This research investigates cysteine-protease's enzyme activity of red ginger (Zingiber officinale var. Rubrum) which is called zingibain. Its catalytic site matches with residue site in armyworm's body so it can be used as bioinsecticide raw material which meets the criterias above. Fresh red ginger rhizomes were washed and extracted. The juice was then deposited in low temperature and centrifuged to get rid of its starch content. It was filtrated to remove large contaminants and poured into Potassium Phospate buffer. The liquid was then centrifuged again for 30 minutes before collecting the supernatant. Fresh leaves were then dipped into crude ginger protease extract and fed to fourth instar-armyworms. Leaves dipped into non-diluted extract were barely eaten by armyworm while the 50% and 25% dilution was half eaten and most eaten. The crude red ginger extract was not strong enough to kill them although the research showed its enzymatic activity reaches up to 169 PU. It still needs improvement to be produced as commercial bioinsecticide.

Aluminium composite material as an alternative to steel used in body of tactical vehicles has been studied. Addition of SiC was expected to have strengthening effect on the composite matrix therefore improving its ballistic performance. Composites of Al-11Zn-6.7Mg matrix and SiC strengthening particles with the fraction of 0, 10, and 15 vol. % were fabricated through squeeze casting process. Composite samples were then precipitation strengthened at 130 degC for 102 h to further improve their toughness. Final products were characterized by using chemical composition testing, optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope - Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and quantitative metallography to calculate porosity, hardness test, impact test, and type III ballistic test in accordance with NIJ 0108.04 standard. The results showed that increase in SiC volume fraction from 0 to 10 and 15 vol. % managed to improve the hardness from 73 to 85 and 87 HRB, respectively, while on the other hand reduced the impact values from 12,278.69 to 11,290.35 and 9,924.54 J/m2. SEM-EDS observation confirmed the presence of Mg3Zn3Al2 intermetallic compound which formed during solidification and indicated the precipitation of MgZn2 precipitates during ageing. The ballistic testing demonstrated a promising result of the potential of Al-11Zn-6.7Mg composite strengthened by 15 vol. % SiC to withstand penetration of type III bullet (7.62 mm).

Virginia Indonesia Company operates the Sanga-Sanga produdion-sharing contrad (PSC) onshore at the Mahokom delta, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The PSC has produced more than 70% of its estimated original gas in place. The fields are relatively mature, with the remaining gas resources in either pressure-depleted reservoirs or in lowpermeabilily reservoirs for which conventional techniques have not been effedive. A pilot development tested the use of horizontal completions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]