New construction of wavelets base on floor function

In this paper, the properties of the floor function has been used to find a function which is one on the interval [0, 1) and is zero elsewhere. The suitable dilation and translation parameters lead us to get similar function corresponding to the interval [a,b). These functions and their combinations enable us to represent the stepwise functions as a function of floor function. We have applied this method on Haar wavelet, Sine–Cosine wavelet, Block-Pulse functions and Hybrid Fourier Block-Pulse functions to get the new representations of these functions.     

Methane Production Characteristics of an Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Pig Manure and Fermented Liquid Feed

Methane production characteristics of anaerobic co-digestion of pig manure (PM) and fermented liquid feed (FLF) were investigated in a continuous digester under mesophilic conditions. The experiment followed three phases. PM alone was digested in phase I. In phases II and III, PM and FLF were mixed in a ratio of 95:5 and 90:10 (% v/v), respectively. The specific methane yields (SMYs) during phases I, II, and III were 238, 278, and 326.8 mLCH₄·gVS⁻¹-added, respectively. It was due to the effect of balancing the feedstock carbon-to-nitrogen ratio by adding FLF. This improvement can also be attributed to the readily biodegradable compounds in the FLF. The higher SMY obtained in this study showed a positive synergistic effect in the anaerobic co-digestion of PM and FLF. The results also indicate that adding the FLF positively affected and maintained a constant pH level, avoiding volatile fatty acid accumulation and ammonia inhibition in the anaerobic digestion (AD). Thus, this study provides valuable information regarding the usage of unused or wasted FLF as a co-substrate for the practical AD of PM. The production of fermented liquid additives such as FLF to improve the methane production from the AD of PM is a potential novel alternative to food waste recycling in Japan, besides compost and animal feeding.     

Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology,Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular Benefits

Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum), belonging to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family, is widely recognized for its uses in culinary and traditional medicine. C. sativum contains various phytochemicals such as polyphenols, vitamins, and many phytosterols, which account for its properties including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and analgesic effects. The cardiovascular benefits of C. sativum have not been summarized before, hence this review aims to further evaluate and discuss its effectiveness in cardiovascular diseases, according to the recent literature. An electronic search for literature was carried out using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, preprint platforms, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Articles were gathered from the inception of the database until August 2021. Moreover, the traditional uses and phytochemistry of coriander were surveyed in the original resources and summarized. As a result, most of the studies that cover cardiovascular benefits and fulfilled the eligibility criteria were in vivo, while only a few were in vitro and clinical studies. In conclusion, C. sativum can be deemed a functional food due to its wide range of cardiovascular benefits such as antihypertensive, anti-atherogenic, antiarrhythmic, hypolipidemic as well as cardioprotective effects.     

Zerumbone Ameliorates Neuropathic Pain Symptoms via Cannabinoid and PPAR Receptors Using In Vivo and In Silico Models

Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain condition persisting past the presence of any noxious stimulus or inflammation. Zerumbone, of the Zingiber zerumbet ginger plant, has exhibited anti-allodynic and antihyperalgesic effects in a neuropathic pain animal model, amongst other pharmacological properties. This study was conducted to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying zerumbone’s antineuropathic actions. Research on therapeutic agents involving cannabinoid (CB) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) is rising. These receptor systems have shown importance in causing a synergistic effect in suppressing nociceptive processing. Behavioural responses were assessed using the von Frey filament test (mechanical allodynia) and Hargreaves plantar test (thermal hyperalgesia), in chronic constriction injury (CCI) neuropathic pain mice. Antagonists SR141716 (CB₁ receptor), SR144528 (CB₂ receptor), GW6471 (PPARα receptor) and GW9662 (PPARγ receptor) were pre-administered before the zerumbone treatment. Our findings indicated the involvement of CB₁, PPARα and PPARγ in zerumbone’s action against mechanical allodynia, whereas only CB₁ and PPARα were involved against thermal hyperalgesia. Molecular docking studies also suggest that zerumbone has a comparable and favourable binding affinity against the respective agonist on the CB and PPAR receptors studied. This finding will contribute to advance our knowledge on zerumbone and its significance in treating neuropathic pain.     

Double-Layer Micro Porous Media Burner from Lean to Rich Fuel Mixture: Analysis of Entropy Generation and Exergy Efficiency

Porous media burner (PMB) is widely used in a variety of practical systems, including heat exchangers, gas propulsion, reactors, and radiant burner combustion. However, thorough evaluations of the performance of the PMB based on the usefulness of entropy generation, thermal and exergy efficiency aspects are still lacking. In this work, the concept of a double-layer micro PMB with a 23 mm cylindrical shape burner was experimentally demonstrated. The PMB was constructed based on the utilization of premixed butane-air combustion which consists of an alumina and porcelain foam. The tests were designed to cover lean to rich combustion with equivalence ratios ranging from ϕ = 0.6 to ϕ = 1.2. It was found that the maximum thermal and exergy efficiency was obtained at ϕ = 1.2 while the lowest thermal and exergy efficiency was found at ϕ = 0.8. Furthermore, the findings also indicated that the total entropy generation, energy loss, and exergy destroyed yield the lowest values at ϕ = 1.0 with 0.0048 W/K, 98.084 W, and 1.456 W, respectively. These values can be stated to be the suitable operating conditions of the PMB. The findings provided useful information on the design and operation in a double-layer PMB.     

Dielectric permittivity of nickel ferrites at microwave frequencies 1 MHz to 1.8 GHz

NiFe₂O₄ prepared via the sol–gel technique were pre-sintered at 900 °C and synthesized at different sintering temperatures from 1,000 °C to 1,200 °C at 100 °C intervals. The samples were characterized for microwave dielectric properties. These samples were measured using Agilent Impedance/Material Analyzer at frequencies 1 MHz to 1.8 GHz. Results showed a decrease in the dielectric constant and loss factor with frequency except at the turning point, around 150 MHz, where the loss factor showed a gradual increase. However, both the dielectric constant and loss factor increase with increasing sintering temperature. The grain size and density also increased with increasing sintering temperature, but the porosity and grain boundary density showed a decrease. This paper was presented at the International Conference on Solid State Science and Technology 2006, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, Sept. 4–6, 2006.     

Carbon Dioxide Fixation Method for Electrosynthesis of Benzoic Acid from Chlorobenzene

Carbon dioxide fixation technique was developed as an alternative dechlorination method of chlorobenzenes.Electrolysis of chlorobenzene was carried out in a one-compartment cell fitted with an alu- minium anode and a platinum cathode.Electrolysis in N,N-dimethylformamide(DMF)solution contain- ing 0.1 M of tetrapropylammonium bromide(TPAB)at 0℃,100 ml/min of CO_2 flow rate and 120 mA/cm~2 of current density was found to be the optimum conditions of this electrocarboxylation,which gave 72% yield of benzoic acid from chlorobenzene.These conditions were then applied to 1,2-dichlorobenzene and 1,3-dichlorobenzene in order to convert them to their corresponding benzoic acids.     

Separation of elastin cross-links as phenylisothiocyanate derivatives.

A method has been developed for the separation and quantitation of desmosines in tissue samples. The tissue is treated with cold 10% trichloroacetic acid to remove collagen and hydrolysed in HCl vapours in sealed vials. Preseparation of desmosines from tissue acid hydrolysates is performed on a cellulose column, first eluted with n-butanol-acetic acid-water to wash out other amino acids and then with water to recover desmosines. Separated desmosines are then derivatized with phenylisothiocyanate and determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a gradient system with sodium acetate pH 6.4 and acetonitrile. Desmosines were detected spectrophotometrically at 254 nm. The method was applied to the determination of desmosine in elastin, rat aorta and bovine ligamentum nuchae.     

Current Status of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Type II Diabetes

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a multifunctional role in lipid biosynthesis, calcium storage, protein folding, and processing. Thus, maintaining ER homeostasis is essential for cellular functions. Several pathophysiological conditions and pharmacological agents are known to disrupt ER homeostasis, thereby, causing ER stress. The cells react to ER stress by initiating an adaptive signaling process called the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the ER initiates death signaling pathways when ER stress persists. ER stress is linked to several diseases, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Thus, its regulation can provide possible therapeutic targets for these. Current evidence suggests that chronic hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia linked to type II diabetes disrupt ER homeostasis, thereby, resulting in irreversible UPR activation and cell death. Despite progress in understanding the pathophysiology of the UPR and ER stress, to date, the mechanisms of ER stress in relation to type II diabetes remain unclear. This review provides up-to-date information regarding the UPR, ER stress mechanisms, insulin dysfunction, oxidative stress, and the therapeutic potential of targeting specific ER stress pathways.     

Apodized fibre Bragg grating with modulated refractive index change for transmissive gain equalization

This paper presents a new enhanced design of fibre Bragg grating for flattening the gain profile of an erbium-doped fibre amplifier in transmission configuration. This grating has modulation of refractive index change and constant chirp rate, wherein both profiles of the parameters are properly apodized. The design utilizes an alternative approach to the renowned inverse scattering method, yet produces a similar spectral response quality and conceptually simpler. Moreover, it offers precise control over all parameters of the grating structure. It is shown that the design approach could produce gain-flattening filters of satisfactory quality through simulations using the accurate transfer matrix method.