In this study, lignocellulosic biomass from oil palm trunk (OPT) and oil palm frond (OPF) of oil palm tree, Elaeis guineensis, were treated using the microwave-alkali (Mw-A) method, and their chemical constituents, namely cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, were analyzed. A number of instruments, i.e. FESEM, FT-IR, and XRD, were employed to analyze the morphology and structural changes of bio...

Malignant transformation of cells is associated with enhanced proliferation and alterations in cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity. To investigate the role of PKA in normal colonic cell proliferation, PKA was characterized in rat colonic mucosa. In addition, rats were fed diets containing different fats (corn oil, fish oil) and fibers (pectin, cellulose, fiber free) to elicit varying l...

We showed previously that the dietary combination of fish oil, rich in (n-3) fatty acids, and the fermentable fiber pectin enhances colonocyte apoptosis in a rat model of experimentally induced colon cancer. In this study, we propose that the mechanism by which this dietary combination heightens apoptosis is via modulation of the colonocyte redox environment. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n 60) wer...

Lubricant oils in cars engines are essential components for reducing friction and fuel consumption. The lubrication process can be improved by including effective additives. Carbon nanostructures have been recognized as excellent additives in lubricant oils. Amongst them carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced from carbon rich fly ash, are found to have excellent tribological properties in the sunflow...

Porous cellulose aerogel materials are attracting increasing interest due to their promising potential in multiple fields. In this paper, highly porous and mechanically strong cellulose aerogels were successfully prepared from microcrystalline cellulose and dissolving pulp in ionic liquid BmimCl via a sol–gel polymerization method. The surface morphology and physical properties were characteriz...

Patchouli, tea tree, geranium, lavender essential oils and Citricidal (grapefruit seed extract) were used singly and in combination to assess their anti-bacterial activity against three strains of Staphylococcus aureus: Oxford S. aureus NCTC 6571 (Oxford strain), Epidemic methicillin-resistant S. aureus (EMRSA 15) and MRSA (untypable). The individual essential oils, extracts and combinations we...

Oil spills are a global concern due to their environmental and economical impact. Various commercial systems have been developed to control these spills, including the use of fibers as sorbents. This research investigates the use of various vegetable fibers, namely mixed leaves residues, mixed sawdust, sisal (Agave sisalana), coir fiber (Cocos nucifera), sponge-gourd (Luffa cylindrica) and silk...

This paper presents results of experimental investigations on natural esters dielectric and coolant fluids regarding the breakdown strength. The breakdown voltage (BDV) for small and medium oil gaps (from 2 mm up to 40 mm) under AC and lightning impulse (LI), uniform and non-uniform electrical field is measured. Experiments involve new, aged and with mineral oil contaminated natural esters. The...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of localized treatments to persistently stop epistaxis in patients with inherited bleeding disorders. METHODS In a self-controlled comparative clinical trial, to offer the best solution to stop epistaxis at home (within 10 minutes), patients with inherited bleeding disorders were treated using three different topical hemostatic a...