Characterization of bio-coal briquettes blended from low quality coal and biomass waste treated by Garant■bio-activator and its application for fuel combustion

Experimental research was carried out on the manufacturing of bio-coal briquettes from a blend of two different types of low-quality coal and biomass waste in the absence of coal carbonization,where the third blend of the material was fermented by adding a bio-activator solution before pressurizing the components into briquettes.The coal samples from Caringin-Garut Regency(BB-Garut)had a low calorific value and a high sulfur content(6.57 wt%),whereas the coal samples from Bayah-Lebak Regency(BB-Bayah)had a higher calorific value and a lower sulfur content(0.51 wt%).The biomass added to the coal blend is in the form of fermented cow dung(Bio-Kohe),and it had a calorific value of 4192 kcal/kg and a total sulfur content of 1.56 wt%.The main objective of this study is to determine the total decrease in the sulfur content in a blend of coal and biomass in which a fennentation process was carried out using a bio-activator for 24 h.The used bio-activator was made from Garant■(1:40)+molasses 1 wt%/vol,and its used amount was 0.2 L/kg.Also,the total sulfur content in the blend was 1.00 wt%-1.14 wt%,which fulfills the necessary quality requirements for non-carbonized bio-coal briquettes.The pyritic and sulfate content in the raw coal was dominant,and the organic sulfur,when fermented with Garant■,was found to be less in the produced bio-coal briquettes by 38%-58%.

Fermented Goat Milk and Cow Milk Produced by Different Starters of Lactic Acid Bacteria： Quality Studies

Lactic acid bacteria （LAB） is widely used as culture starters in dairy fermentation. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of fermented goat milk and cow milk, as well as the viability of LAB in the same products. Fermentations were performed with pasteurized goat milk or cow milk added with skim milk （18% of solids） using three separately different starters; yoghurt starter （a combination of Streptococcus thermophilus FNCC-0040 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus FNCC-0041）, single starter of Lactobacillus acidophilus FNCC-0029 and Lactobacillus casei FNCC-0051. The parameters observed were pH, acidity, nutritional quality including protein, fat and lactose content and product＇s viscosity. Acidity, pH and viability of LAB were also monitored during storage at refrigerated temperature （4 ℃） for 28 days. Results show that the different LAB starters did not affect the pH, acidity, lactose and protein content. Differences on LAB starters affected fat content and viscosity. The highest score of viscosity （30.00 Pa.s ± 7.02 Pa.s） was observed on products fermented by yoghurt starters, followed by products obtained using starter of L. acidophilus （17.7 ±11.4） and L. casei （8.62 ±0.35）. Protein content, acidity, pH and viscosity were not significantly different between products obtained from goat milk and cow milk. Fat content in fermented goat milk was higher （5.03% ±0.62%） than in fermented cow milk （3.52% ±0.37%）, however, lactose content was higher in fermented cow milk （5.16% ±0.40%） than in fermented goat milk （4.53% ±0.35%）. Total LAB concentration in fermented cow milk during storage was 8.03± 0.52 logt0 cfu/mL, while in fermented goat milk was 7.81 loglo cfu/mL ± 0.67 loglo cfu/mL. There was a 10.83% decrease in LAB viability in fermented cow milk and 11.40% in fermented goat milk after 28 days of storage. In conclusion, quality of fermented milk is affected by the starters applied, raw milk source and storage period.

Prediction of protein structure of novel protein (116 kDa) from human sperm membrane

Objective:To predict the protein similarity, biological function and structure of 116 kDa protein that was isolated from human sperm membrane of acrosome by usingin silico. Methods:Predictions for 116 kDa protein similarity was done through comparative analysis of its isoelectric point (pI) and molecular weight to the UniProtKB/TrEMBL protein database. The three-dimensional structure of the protein was built using SWISS-MODEL.Results:The 116 kDa protein with pI 4.4 was expected to have similarities with CDH23 proteins that had pI 4.38, thus they likely had similar physical and biochemical properties. The predicted protein had an extracellular N-terminal that likely acted as a receptor, and showed cell recognition characteristic, playing a role in fertilization.Conclusions:The 116 kDa protein isolated from acrosome membrane has similarity on its biophysical character to the CDH23.

Molecular interaction of zp3 to zp3r reveals a cross-species fertilization mechanism

Objective: To evaluate the role of ZP3R in the species-specific fertilization mechanism. Methods:ZP3/ZP3R protein sequences ofMus musculus,Rattus norvegicus, andCavia porcellus were downloaded from UNIPROT. Percentage of amino acids that was calculated by using the SIAS program. Protein sequences modeled was established by using the Modeller 9.14 program and glycosylation of the ZP3 using GlyProt program. Docking simulation of the ZP3R-ZP3 was performed between the same species and different species with PatchDock program.Results:Comparison of the ZP3R and ZP3 structure between species showed that ZP3 in these three species was more similar than ZP3R. Docking simulations of protein showed that changes in the pattern of the ZP3-ZP3R domain for interaction on cross-species compared to the same species. Changes in the pattern of binding ZP3R-ZP3 made sperm-egg binding was not functional and could inhibit cross-fertilization.Conclusions: ZP3R-ZP3 interaction is species-specific, and the role of ZP3R is greater than ZP3 in determining the species-specific recognition stage and sperm-egg binding.

Val279Phe variant of Lp-PLA2 is a risk factor for a subpopulation of Indonesia patients with acute myocardial infarction

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2),a member of the phospholipase A2 superfamily,is an enzyme that hydrolyses phospholipids,is found in blood circulation as a sign of inflammation,and takes a role in atherogenesis.There is an epidemiologic relation between increased Lp-PLA2 levels and coronary heart disease.Lp-PLA2 is an enzyme that is produced by macrophages and takes a role as an independent predictor of a coronary event.A genetic variant of Val279Phe on the Lp-PLA2 gene has been reported with various results in Japan,China,Korea,and Caucasian populations.This study aims to analyse the influence of the Val279Phe genetic variant on acute myocardial infarction(AMI)at Saiful Anwar Hospital,Indonesia.This study was conducted on 151 patients(111 AMI patients and 40 non-AMI patients).The genetic variant of Val279Phe was identified through a genotyping method.There were no significant differences in age,total cholesterol level,LDL-C(low-density lipoprotein cholesterol)level,and family history data between AMI and non-AMI patients.However,AMI patients had low HDL-C(high-density lipoprotein cholesterol),triglyceride levels,dyslipidaemia,and hypertension risk factors compared to non-AMI patients.The frequency of the GG genotype(279Val)was dominant in both AMI and non-AMI groups.Further analysis suggested that the GG genotype has a 2.9 times greater risk of AMI compared to the GT/TT genotype(279Phe).This study concluded that the Val279Phe genetic variant undoubtedly influenced AMI risk,which is a warrant for further development of early detection and improving strategy to prevent AMI in patients.