47 research outputs found
A functional gene-array analysis of microbial communities settling on microplastics in a peat-draining environment
No full textConcerns about microplastic pollution arise from the rafting potential of these durable particles which potentially propagate harmful chemicals and bacteria across wide spatial gradients. The bacterial communities usually persist on the microplastics over a long period and eventually the genetic expression of those communities may change. These changes hold ecological importance as it has direct impact on the natural cycles and regulation of several compounds. This study looks at how the genetics of whole microbial communities in a river are affected when exposed to microplastics
Design and Development of an Interdisciplinary Nanotechnology Courses for STEM Education
No full textTitle: Design and Development of an Interdisciplinary Nanotechnology Courses for STEM Education
Mujibur Rahman Khan1*, Ishraq Shabib2, Rafael Quirino3, Aniruddha Mitra4
1,4Assistant Professor; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Southern University
2 Department of Engineering; Central Michigan University
3 Department of Chemistry; Georgia Southern University
The purpose of this project is to design and introduce interdisciplinary nanotechnology courses for STEM education. The planned courses are: a first year experience course and an applied studio laboratory course. Inclusion of a first-year-experience (FYE) module (title: Introduction to Nanoscale Science and Engineering) will expose freshmen to nanotechnology, serving as a recruitment tool for the more advanced senior-level courses. The courses will be cross-listed in other colleges for additional cross-talk between disciplines and is meant to develop interest and excitement about nanotechnology. The 2nd course (Title: Nanomaterials and Nonmanufacturing) will be a four hours studio (lecture and Lab) course. Lecture modules e will be divided into four modules where fundamental knowledge on nanoscale matter and nanotechnology will be taught, integrating engineering, chemical, physical, biological, manufacturing, environmental health, and economic aspects. The integrated laboratory section is designed to provide students with hands-on experience with fabrication and testing of a nanoscale materials, devices and characterization tools. The lab will also incorporate simulation and modeling at nanoscale to engage students in design of nanomaterials and devices. Empirically defensible educational techniques will be used to deliver an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum. The lecture and studio course teach not just engineering, but chemistry, biology, physics, environmental science, and economics, each delivered by experts in the various fields. The intellectual merit of this project is that it will provide an important initial model for how to approach interdisciplinary nanotechnology education at the post-secondary level. The newly designed courses and laboratory modules will implement the best practices in education to integrate nanotechnology into the existing curriculum. The course modules incorporate real world experiences and future vision to excite and enrich first-year experience and enhance engagement opportunities for upper level students. The project is designed to produce intellectual fusion across the academic spectrum allowing students to engage outside of the traditional silos of education.
Key words: Nanotechnology, Interdisciplinary, STEM, Nanomaterla
Developing load profile for domestic customers of Dhaka city through statistical prediction
No full textAssessing the suitability of two-group cross-sections and diffusion coefficients derived from SERPENT-2 for small modular reactor ACP-100
No full textThe focus of this work is to analyse the suitability of two-group diffusion coefficients and macro constants generated from SERPENT using out-scattering approximation (OSA), transport correction (TRC) and cumulative migration methods (CMM) for fuel and non-fuel materials. For this purpose, various assembly and core models of ACP-100 SMR were designed. Assessment of these constants was conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics. For six distinct fuels, the best models were proposed with the least error margin in keff. Fuel material affects the group constants of non-fuel components except for radial reflectors. The sufficiency of two-group calculation was justified through spectrum analysis. Additional analysis revealed that MOX-RG has the hardest spectrum among all the fuels. Moreover, the effectiveness of boric acid to control excess reactivity was observed. Subcriticality was achieved for all fuel types except MOX-RG at a boric acid concentration of 4500 ppm. The influence of variation of boric acid concentrations on group constants was investigated using TRC and OSA. The reactivity difference between SERPENT and COMSOL was determined. It was found that OSA generates the most accurate results for MOX-RG with maximum 863 pcm error, while TRC produces higher accuracy with maximum error of approximately 250 pcm for other fuels
Effects of Grain Boundary Density and Temperature on Thermal Conductivity of Fe-10%Cr Alloys with [001] Tilt Boundaries: An Atomistic Study
No full textDiverse approaches to manage early excess reactivity of VVER 1200 reactor
No full textThe objective of this study is to manage the initial excess reactivity of the VVER-1200 reactor through different approaches, including the use of burnable absorbers and control rods in fuel assemblies with varying enrichments (from 4.95 wt.% to 2.0 wt.%) by using the Monte Carlo code Serpent. It is found that 30 integrated burnable absorbers (IBAs) rods are required to reduce the infinite multiplication factor (kinf) from 1.32408 to 1.06983 in assemblies containing 4.95 wt.% enriched fuel. On the other hand, assemblies with enrichment below 2.5 wt.% do not require any IBA rods. Control rods (CRs) can also effectively reduce excess reactivity at the beginning of life (BOL), provided they are inserted more than 80% of the assembly’s height. When fully inserted, the CRs provide a reactivity worth of 85.5 pcm/cm in 4.95 wt.% enriched assemblies at BOL. Fuel enrichment has a significant impact on delayed neutron fraction as well as the FTC, and MTC. While the effect of IBA rods on these parameters is found to be insignificant; however they do harden the neutron spectrum at the BOL due to the thermal neutron absorption by isotopes 155Gd and 157Gd
A comparative neutronic analysis of U–Th fuels as potential alternatives to traditional UO2 fuel for enhanced performance and safety in the ACP-100 SMR
No full textThis study examines U–Th-based alternative fuel options for the ACP-100 reactor core through a neutronic lens. Neutronic simulations were performed utilizing the Monte Carlo SERPENT code for 540 EFPDs. This study seeks to overcome the limitations of traditional UO₂ fuel by exploring alternatives that provide enhanced performance, greater resource availability, and increased safety. This study evaluates U–Th-based carbide, nitride, and oxide fuels in comparison to conventional UO₂. Among the alternatives, U–Th-based fuels exhibit a 40 % higher conversion ratio compared to UO2, along with superior neutron flux and enhanced transmutation capabilities with isotopes relative to other evaluated fuel elements. A suppressed trend is noted in keff and burnup for U–Th-based fuels in comparison to UO₂. Nonetheless, U–Th fuels demonstrate favorable outcomes regarding safety parameters, including ppfs, MTC, FTC, and βeff. The U–Th-based fuel elements with added nitride and carbide exhibit reductions in ppfs of 1.78 % and 1.5 %, respectively, when compared to UO2. The findings offer important insights into the neutronic behavior of U–Th-based fuels and their potential to enhance the performance and safety of the ACP-100 reactor
Chemotactic Response of Vibrio coralliilyticus to mucus from various coral species
No full textVibrio coralliilyticus, a prominent pathogenic bacteria, is known to cause tissue damage in the coral Pocillopora damicornis and is attracted towards the coral via chemotaxis. However, the potential of V. coralliilyticus to infect most of the other coral hosts via chemotaxis is unknown. The present study used capillary assays to quantify the chemotactic response of V. coralliilyticus to the mucus of four tank-cultivated corals, Cataphyllia jardine, Mussidae sp., Nemenzophyllia turbida and Euphyllia ancora and mucus from three wild corals, Acropora sp., Porites sp. Montipora sp. The bacteria showed positive chemotactic response to each coral mucus tested, with the highest response recorded to the mucus of Acropora sp and the lowest response to the mucus of Montipora sp. A microfluidic chip was then used to assess the chemotactic preference of V. coralliilyticus to the mucus of the tank cultivated corals. Here too, the bacteria showed positive response with a slightly different ranking order. The strong chemotactic response of V. coralliilyticus towards the mucus tested could indicate a broader host range of V. coralliilyticus and in extension its threat to weakened coral reefs worldwide.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Computational validation and multiplier effects on tritium production in hybrid reactor blanket mock-up
No full textIn this study, a simplified computational model of the blanket mock-up is created using the SERPENT Monte Carlo Code. The nuclear data is obtained from the enriched ENDF/B.VII.1 data library to conduct this study. The model is validated, as the error percentage for 63Cu(n,2n)62Cu and 65Cu(n,2n)64Cu reactions is less than 10% when compared to experimental results. The computational model is used to calculate the tritium production rate in different lithium zones with various neutron multipliers (U, Pb) and without any multipliers. The results show that the tritium production rate with a uranium multiplier is 86% higher than with a lead multiplier and 238% higher than with no multiplier. The neutron energy spectrum shows a peak in the 0.1 MeV to 10 MeV energy range for every case. This study also examines the effects of fusion neutrons on different isotopes, providing valuable data on how materials behave under high-speed neutron exposure
PENAFSIRAN ISYARI DALAM SURAT AL FATIHAH PERSPEKTIF KIAI SOLEH DARAT DAN IMAM KHOMEINI
No full textTesis dengan judul “Penafsirna Isyari Dalam Surat Al Fatihah Perspektif
Kiai Soleh Darat Dan Imam Khomeini” ditulis oleh Nailyl Fida Al Husna dengan
pembimbing Dr. H. Ahmad Zainal Abidin, M.A. dan Dr. H. Salamah Noor
Hidayati, M. Ag.
Kata kunci; Tafsirt isyari, komparasi, metode, sumber dan corak penafsiran
Model penelitian komparasi merupakan salah satu metode interpretasi Alquran
dengan membandingkan ayat, hadist ataupun interpretasi mufassir yang
kontradiktif, baik yang memiliki kitab tafsir ataupun tidak. Penerapan model
penelitian ini, bertujuan mencari persamaan dan perbedaan interpretasi Alquran
perspektif tiap mufassir, baik itu dari pemaknaan, metodologi, sumber maupun
corak penafsiran. Oleh sebab itu, dalam kajian tesis ini penulis membandingkan dua
kitab tafsir dari masa yang berbeda, yaitu Tafsir Faid ar Rahhman karya Kiai Soleh
Darat dan Al Al Manawiyah Li As Salah karya Imam Khomeini terkait isyari dalam
surat al fatihah.
Keduanya, memiliki karakter dan sosio historis yang sangat berbeda. Kiai Soleh
Darat masyhur, menjadi mufassir pertama yang menginterpretasikan Alquran
dengan makna Jawa pegon. Selain itu, dialektika yang dilakukan Kiai Soleh Darat
menselaraskan interpretasi dengan kritik-konstruktif sosial. Sedang Imam
Khomeioni dikenal sebagai ulama sufi pelopor revolusi Iran, keduanya sama-sama
menggunakan Alquran untuk menyuarakkan keadilan. Akan tetapi interpretasinya
menggunakan bahasa Arab sastrra tinggi.
Tesis ini mengkaji metodologi, sumber dan corak penafsiran karya Kiai Soleh Darat
dan Imam Khomeini dengan objek isyari dalam surat al fatihah. Sedangkan metode
yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif-analisis,
menggambarkan penafsiran Kiai soleh Darat dan Imam Khomeini untuk
selanjutnya dilakukan analisis dengan membandingkan penafsirannya.
Dengan pendekatan dan analisis di atas, tesis ini menemukan beberapa kesimpulan.
(1) Metodologi penafsiran yang digunakan Kiai Soleh Darat adalah tahlili
sedangkan kitab Imam Khomeini identik maudhui (2) Corak tafsir Faid ar Rahman
adalah tafsir sufi isyari atau sunni amali sedangkan kitrab Al Adab Al Manawi ikut
li as Shalahah adalah ishraq falsafi.dan (3) sumber penafsirannya Kiai Soleh Darat
adalah Alquran, hadist, pendapat ulama salaf, asbabun nuzul dan hikayat sedang
Imam Khomeini bersumber dari Alquran dan tafsir isyar
