ABSTRACT
To mitigate the adverse effects of fossil fuel-based energy, mankind is in constant search of clean and cost-effective sources of energy, such as solar energy. The economic viability of a power plant to harness solar energy mostly depends on the efficiency of solar panels. Investigations over the years show that the solar panel efficiency significantly depends on the different meteorological parameters. Therefore, there is an imminent need for a correlation explaining the relations between the efficiency and different meteorological parameters. In this study, an effort has been made to analyze the effects of various meteorological parameters on the efficiency and subsequently propose a correlation between them. Initial investigations reveal that the optimal tilt angle for the maximum power output is 26°. The study demonstrates that efficiency is directly proportional to solar intensity and wind speed while being inversely proportional to temperature, humidity, and dew point temperature. Regression analysis of a data set comprising 100 data sets establishes a strong correlation between efficiency and five meteorological parameters: temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar intensity, and dew factor. The calculated efficiencies using the developed correlation deviate from the experimental values, with absolute errors ranging from 0.08 to 1.20%. The findings provided valuable insights for optimizing solar power plant performance by understanding the relationship between efficiency and meteorological parameters.
ABSTRACT
Metakaolin is a supplementary cementitious material produced through the calcination of kaolinitic rocks. The scarcity of high-grade and commercial quantities of kaolinitic-based rocks makes metakaolin expensive. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the kaolinitic shale obtained from the mud-rich Qusaiba Member of Saudi Arabia as a source of metakaolin. The rock was dried, ground, and passed through a 75 µm sieve to obtain a fine powder. The powder was calcined at 1202, 1292, 1382, 1472, and 1562 °F for 1 h. The optimum calcination temperature required to convert the material into metakaolin was found to be 1562 °F using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry analysis techniques. The analytical techniques indicated that the kaolinitic shale is of high grade and less ordered, which would make it an excellent source of a highly reactive metakaolin. Cement systems designed at 12.5 ppg (1.50 g/cm3) with the metakaolin produced from the Qusaiba kaolinitic shale as 30% cement replacement exhibits mechanical properties that would be ideal for downhole oil-wellbore applications.
ABSTRACT
Liver performs number of critical physiological functions in human system. Intoxication of liver leads to accumulation of free radicals that eventually cause damage, fibrosis, cirrhosis and cancer. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) belongs to hepatotoxin is converted to a highly reactive free radical by cytochrome P450 enzymes that causes liver damage. Plant extracts derived quercetin has substantial role in hepatoprotection. This study highlights the possible mechanism by which quercetin plays significant role in hepatoprotection. HPLC analysis revealed the abundance of quercetin in the fruit extracts of Gynocardia odorata and Diospyros malabarica, were isolated, purified and subjected to liver function analysis on Wistar rats. Post quercetin treatment improved liver function parameters in the hepatotoxic Wistar rats by augmenting bilirubin content, SGOT and SGPT activity. Gene expression profile of quercetin treated rats revealed down regulation of HGF, TIMP1 and MMP2 expressed during CCl4 induction. In silico molecular mechanism prediction suggested that quercetin has a high affinity for cell signaling pathway proteins BCL-2, JAK2 and Cytochrome P450 Cyp2E1, which all play a significant role in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. In silico molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation have shown that quercetin has a plausible affinity for major signaling proteins in liver. MMGBSA studies have revealed high binding of quercetin (ΔG) -41.48±11.02, -43.53±6.55 and -39.89±5.78 kcal/mol, with BCL-2, JAK2 and Cyp2E1, respectively which led to better stability of the quercetin bound protein complexes. Therefore, quercetin can act as potent inhibitor against CCl4 induced hepatic injury by regulating BCL-2, JAK2 and Cyp2E1.
