Biography:

Dr Saif Al Ghafri is a postdoctoral research fellow at UWA working in the Thermophysical properties measurements. He obtained his PhD in 2013 on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) from Imperial College London, focusing on measurements of the Thermophysical properties of mixtures of carbon dioxide with reservoir fluids. Dr Al Ghafri worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Imperial College for two years before joining UWA. He is currently involved in different LNG projects within the Fluid Science and Resources (FSR) group including vapor-liquid equilibrium, viscosity, solid-liquid equilibrium, density, bubble points and boil-off gas measurements.

Abstract:

Knowledge of the thermophysical properties of complex mixtures at extreme conditions have always been essential to the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry’s evolution because of the tremendous technical challenges present at all stages in the supply chain from production to liquefaction to transport. In this work, we present a wide range of experimental measurements made for different binary and ternary mixtures relevant to LNG processing. For this purpose, customized and specialized apparatus were designed and validated over the temperature range (200 to 423) K at pressures to 35 MPa. The mixtures studied were (CH4 + C3H8), (CH4 + C3H8 + CO2) and (CH4 + C3H8 + C7H16); in the last of these the heptane contents was up to 10 mol %. Viscosity was measured using a vibrating wire apparatus, while mixture densities were obtained by means of a high-pressure magnetic-suspension densimeter and an isochoric cell apparatus. Surface tensions was measured using the capillary rise method in a visual cell, which also enabled th

Biography:

Mohammad Wasi Ahmad has completed his PhD at the age of 29 years from Kyungpook National University (KNU), South Korea. He was a Post-Doctorate fellow at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering Research, KNU between 2011-2014. He worked as a Visiting Research Professor at the Institute of Advanced Medical Technology Cluster for Diagnosis and Prediction, School of Medicine, KNU for one year. Currently, Dr. Ahmad is an Assistant Professor at Dhofar University, Oman. He has successfully published 23 research articles as a principal and co-author in reputed journals that have been cited over 235 times. His publication H-index is 8. He has added two patents to his name. His research activities focus on the synthesis of organic compound for antimicrobial activity and sensor, nanomaterials for biomedical applications and renewable energy.

Abstract:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used in modern clinical medicine as a diagnostic tool, and provides noninvasive and three-dimensional visualization of biological phenomena in living organisms with high spatial and temporal resolution. Therefore, considerable attention has been paid to magnetic nanoparticles as MRI contrast agents.

We report a facile method to synthesize high quality and bio-functionalized Gd₂O₃ nanoparticles (BFNPs) for use as contrast agents in MRI. The bonding status of BFNPs were confirmed by FT-IR and TGA analysis. The surface coating amount was estimated to be from 40% to 60% in weight percent from a TGA analysis. High voltage electron microscope (HVEM) shows that the BFNPs were spherical in shape with an average diameter 3 mM. In addition, the bio-compatibility of the nanoparticles were measured by cytotoxicity tests by using human prostate cancer (DU145) and normal mouse hepatocyte (NCTC1469) cell lines which indicated that BFNPs are not toxic up to 250mM. BFNPs are paramagnetic but have an appreciable magnetic moment at room temperature. This is because Gd(III) has seven unpaired 4f-electrons (S = 7/2). Therefore, appreciable r₁ and r₂ values are expected from sample solutions, which were in fact observed in this study. The r₁ and r₂values of BFNPswere estimated to be 13.77 to 64.14 s ^-1 mM ^-1respectively. The high relaxivities provide an opportunity to conduct perfusion MRI experiments with significantly lower concentrations than those needed for current commercial agents. A pronounced positive and negative contrast enhancement was clearly observed in 3 tesla T₁ MR images of a rat with a liver tumor after injection of an aqueous sample solution into a rat tail vein.

Biography:

Awad syed is a researcher in chemistry from , Assiut University, Bulgaria, Egypt

Abstract:

A novel rhodamine and pyrazole based probe was designed and easily synthesized. The probe could to detect several analyts in aqueous solution at biological pH (HEPES, 7.2). the probe could to detect discrimintly Several catoions, including Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³, Hg²⁺ and Ni²⁺. The detection could be selective towards Cu²⁺ by using high concentration of HEPES (10^-3 M^-1) in aquous solution and could be selective towards Hg²⁺ (by absorption spectrum) by working in pure organic medium (acetonitrile). By low concentration of HEPES buffer and one equivalent of cation, Fe³⁺ was discrimined by the enhancement of both the absorption at 530 nm and emission at 560 nm, but Al3+ enhanced the emission at 560 nm remarkably (high quantum yield). Ni²⁺ could to be discriminated by increaing both absorption and emission after using ten equivalents of Ni²⁺ and low concentration of HEPES (10^-5 mole L^-1). Also, the probe exhibited a good selectivity towards S₂O₅^2- by both absorption and emission spectra. Moreover, probe-Cu²⁺ complex could to detect several anions, including F^-, CN^-. S^2-, CH₃COO^-, CO₃^2-, NO₂^-. A further exploition of the prepared probe, is its ablility to work as a molecular logic gate to perform many gates including AND, NAND, NOR and INHIBIT logic gates.   

Biography:

Granch Berhe Tseghai is a researcher in Chemistry from Kombolcha Institute of Technology

Abstract:

Cotton has poor fire retardance characteristics. Due the textile material is not recommended in areas of fire risks though it has high comfort factor; therefore imparting fire retardance is must to cotton. This research focuses on producing fire retardant cotton fabric using chicken eggshell to replace synthetic fire retardant chemicals. Chicken eggshell contains fire-retardant mineral such as calcium carbonate, phosphorous, nitrous, potassium and zinc. Imparting fire retardance using synthetic chemicals has many limitations; toxicity, environmental hazards, non biodegradable, non-renewable source and cost. On the other side chicken eggshell being bio-product has not any side effects since it occurs in nature abundantly. In most cases the chicken eggshell are removed after usage or hatching causing a big environmental pollution in appearance as well as in odor. Conversion of such wastes to treasure has a dual benefit in preventing cotton from burning extension and using the eggshell wastes for valuable treatment process. Treated fabric using chicken eggshell showed low flammability than untreated. In addition the treated fabric formed ash and char, whereas untreated fabric produced only ash and got totally burn. The fire propagations were 40 and 1.4 mm per second for untreated and treated fabrics respectively.

Biography:

HoussamRassy is an Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the American University of Beirut. He received his PhD in Chemistry from University Claude Bernard – Lyon I, France in 2003. He joined University Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris VI in 2003 as post-doctoral fellow before starting his independent career at AUB in 2005. His research interests combine physical and inorganic chemistry, material science, and chemical engineering. He focuses essentially on the design of novel highly porous metal oxide aerogels via the sol-gel process and their application in heterogeneous catalysis, wastewater treatment, selective adsorption, and production of biodiesel.

Abstract:

Biodiesel has become the most promising substitute or additive to diesel fuels since it is renewable, clean, and share similar properties to diesel. In this work, CaO/Al₂O₃ calcined aerogels and alcogels with different Ca:Al molar ratios were synthesized for the transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) using a rapid epoxide-initiated gelation sol-gel method. Synthesized catalysts were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique, scanning electron microscopy, and X-Ray diffraction. Calcined aerogels with low CaO content were found to be not as affected by calcination at 700 ^oC as their corresponding calcined alcogels, as well as maintaining different structures.The 3:1 CaO/Al₂O₃ calcined aerogel showed the best catalytic activity using the minimum amount of material to produce high biodiesel yield and conversion with no soap formation. The effect of CaO content, catalyst loading, methanol to oil ratio, and reaction time on biodiesel production were investigated. Maximum biodiesel yield (88.6 %) with highest purity (98.5 %) were achieved under the optimal conditions. This work reports the use of the first Ca-Al-based aerogels for the production of biodiesel from WCO in an economical and eco-friendly process.

Biography:

Andrei Sarbu is the chief of the laboratory 1: Polymer Advanced Materials and Polymer Recycling from National Institute for Chemistry and Petrochemistry- ICECHIM Bucarest. His fields of expertise may be summarized as follows: Hybrid hydrogels and micro and nanohydrogels, Molecularly imprinted polymers, Hybrid inorganic- organic polymer nanocomposites, Covalent immobilization of enzymes and microorganisms on polymers, Polymer membranes, Polymer recycling. He has 2 Gold Medals at Invention Salon Geneva (2013 and 2018) , 2 Gold Medals at Invention Exhibition Eureka Brussels (2008 and 2013), "Emilian Bratu" Medal of Romanian Chemistry Society", many other medals

Abstract:

Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer materials with high capacity of maintaining water. In the last decade these materials found a lot of application in many sectors, but especially in medicine and agriculture. The main drawbacks of hydrogels are related to their low mechanical resistance and low biodegradability. In order to surpass these drawbacks, hybrid hydrogel were developed: inorganic- organic hydrogels or natural-synthetic hydrogels. At the same time new production methods are using intermediate hydrogels, such as the gel casting method for various ceramic production. For medical applications the trend is to develop innovative nano or microhydrogels.

The present work presents the results of a research group form Romania in the field of hydrogels: IPN natural- synthetic hybrid hydrogels  using biocellulose- polyacrilate hydrogels [1], covalently immobilized enzymes on hydrogels [2], hybrid hydrogels  for gelcasting , in order to yield ceramic foams suitable for filtering hot gases from thermal power plants [3,4], hybrid hydrogels for obtaining of red mud ceramic foams with application in waste water treatment, hybrid nano and microgels for slow release of drugs [5]. The new materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, AFM, FTIR, TG- DTG, XRD, DLS, etc. Acknowledgement:This work has benn supported by Projects: PFE 31/2018, Rute PLAnano 91/2015 and PCCDI Intelmat 39/2018

Biography:

Yao Zhang was major in inorganic chemistry as a bachelor in Jilin University, China, and obtained hisdoctoral degree incondensed matter physics from Kyoto University, Japan. Yao focused on the field of itinerant electron magnetism, and suggested spin fluctuations may play a key role in universally explaining the magnetism of weakly itiernat-electron ferromagnets. Currently, Yao is working at Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His work designed on inorganic porous materials is proved to be functional as a radical indicator. Yao thanks the committee for originating the conference, and appreciate your opinions.

Abstract:

Well-established theories in field of magnetism are restricted to two narrow extremes, i.e., the localized and itinerant-electron regimes. Although great effort including Hartree-Fock approximation (HFA) and random phase approximation (RPA) in magnetic theories has been made to elucidate the magnetic properties in the intermediate range of the two opposite extremes, a successful theory remains elusive [1, 2]. The HFA underestimates the amplitude of fermion thermal excitations and the spin density fluctuations due to its oversimplified assumption that the thermal spin-flip excited electrons and holes move independently under a static mean field [3]. The RPA theory in terms of an oscillating molecular field, however, only takes into proper account the effects of spin waves as elementary excitations around the equilibrium state, missing the correlations between the excited modes of fluctuations [4, 5]. The self-consistent renormalization (SCR) theory of spin fluctuations and related theories successfully approach the localized regime based on the itinerant picture by mediating the magnetic momentum of itinerant electrons in terms of wave-number-dependent spin fluctuation and generalized dynamical fluctuations [6-8]. Despite this, however, a unified dynamical theory is still being debated, particularly due to the limited diversity of materials for further study, as well as the difficulty in reconciling these two polar extremes [9]. Here, we expose the case for theweakly ferromagnetic system FeGa3-yGey, wherein these twoopposite models are reconciled, such that the magnetic susceptibilityis quantitatively explained by taking into account the effects ofspin–spin correlation. With the electron doping introduced by Gesubstitution, the diamagnetic insulating parent compound FeGa3becomes a paramagnetic metal as early as at y = 0:01, and turnsinto a weakly ferromagnetic metal around the quantum criticalpoint y = 0:15. Our analysis implies a potential universalityfor all itinerant-electron ferromagnets.

Biography:

KiyoshiKawai has his expertise in processing, preservation, and sensory analysis for biomaterials and food products. He has many techniques for the analysis of thermal and rheological properties.This approach is especially useful for the determination of glass transition temperature of the complex materials.

Abstract:

Some kinds of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are destabilized during freeze-drying and subsequent storage. Stabilizing effect of various protectants on the freeze-dried LAB, therefore, has been investigated intensively. Specific animals such as tardigrade and chironomid have a large amount of disaccharides (sucrose and/or trehalose) in the dehydrated state and survive. In addition, sucrose and trehalose play a role of effective protectant for dehydrated biomaterials. More recently, it was found that a leech capable could survive at the extremely low temperature. Furthermore, the leech has a large amount of antioxidant such as carnosine after the freeze-thawing. Taking this into account, there is a possibility that carnosine plays a role of stabilizer to freeze-dried LAB. The purpose of this study was to understand effect of sucrose, carnosine, and their mixture on the survival rate of freeze-dried LAB.

Lactobacillus reuteri JCM 1112^T (L. reuteri) were provided from RIKEN BioResource Center, Japan. Antioxidants such as carnosine, sucrose, and their mixtures were dissolved in PBS, and mixed with the LAB suspension (1×10¹⁰ CFU/ml). The formulations were freeze-dried, and stored in various water activity conditions (0.11~0.85) at 25 ºC for 4 weeks. Survival rate of LAB was evaluated after the storage.

There was no or very little reduction of survival rate for control (non-additive sample) after freeze-drying, but decreased drastically after storage. The control sample showed a relatively high survival rate at water activity = 0.11, but the survival rate remarkably decreased at a higher water activity. Carnosine and sucrose samples showed higher survival rate than control at water activity = 0.11, and decreased with increase in water activity. The carnosine-sucrose sample showed the best stabilizing effect among the samples. These results were discussed based on the “water substitution” and “glass transition” concepts.

Biography:

Teodor Sandu is Scientific Researcher 3rd Degree within Advanced Polymer Materials Group and Polymer Recycling, INCDCP- ICECHIM, Bucharest, Romania. During 9 years of research activity, he gained skills in biochemical compounds, polymer composites and advanced materials. His thesis, entitled Bioactive Materials Based on Covalently Immobilized Enzymes on Polymers, dealt with getting advanced and intelligent materials by covalent immobilization of enzymes on different types of polymers. He is author of 16 scientific papers, 1st author of 7 of them (6 ISI-rated). Three of his papers are on the topic of conference published in prestigious journals (2 in Journal of Applied Polymer science; 1 in Reactive and Functional Polymers) and were nationally awarded (2013-2015). He is author of 4 patents and 6 patent applications and gained also medals and awards during innovation fairs. In 2011, he attended an abroad internship (Touolon, France), on Biochemistry.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Industrial and urban development yields large amounts of pollutants. In this respect it becomes worth mentioning that textile industry consumes large amounts of water and releases, in turn, effluents rich in environmental harmful compounds, such as: suspensions of solids, detergents, amine, aldehydes, heavy metals and dyes. Dyestuffs, especially azo-dyes, are of utmost importance, because of their impact on the environment. Their hard biodegradability requires identifying viable water amendment means [1, 2]. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Biological treatment can remove significant amounts of biodegradable organic compounds, less expensive than physical and chemical methods. In this regard, the use of Bacterial Cells (BCs) may be a viable means of restoring water quality. Unfortunately, BCs show short catalytic lifetimes, which limits their use. To this end, an attempt was made to overcome the drawback of short catalytic lifetimes, by the immobilization of BCs on intelligent polymer materials. Findings: In this work intelligent materials were developed using immobilized BCs and involved in the amendment of waters bearing high dyes loadings. In this work, magnetic pearls were developed using two polymers (acrylic copolymer and Polyvinyl Alcohol) in mixture with Fe3O4 and used to immobilize BCs. Results concerning the effectiveness of BCs in the biodegradation of a blue azo-dye are provided, both free and immobilized BCs being tested. For a thorough investigation, not only unmodified pearls were used, but also chemically activated ones (with glutardialdehyde). Conclusion & Significance: The biodegradation process was studied by UV measurements after different contact times (24; 72 and 144 h) and it was found that remediation was successful. Pearls were also characterized by other modern techniques (FTIR, TGA, SEM). Acknowledgements: This work has been funded by the Romanian Project 39 PCCDI/2018 Intelligent Materials for Medical ApplicationsINTELMAT (PC 2) and by COST Action CA15133, supported by COST.

Biography:

Mark I. Mosevitsky is graduated from Leningrad Polytechnic Institute as an engineer-physicist in the field of polymers. Several years he worked in Prof. I. Poddubny lab. in the field of physical chemistry of synthetic rubber. Then he went to the lab of Biological polymers founded by Prof. S. Bresler. He also work there till now as Head of research group and studied genetic processes in bacteria (1), chromatin composition (2), brain proteins (3), brain extracellular peptidases (4), stabilization of therapeutic peptides (5) etc.

Abstract:

In brain, a group of weakly bound to neurons extracellular metallopeptidases (NEMP) is present (E. Kropotova, M. Mosevitsky. Neurochem. Res., 2016, 41, 2666-2674). It contains carboxypeptidase NEMP1 and aminopeptidase NEMP2, which can be responsible for rapid degradation of exogenous peptides introduced in brain. It was found that these enzymes are unable to break the peptide bonds formed by ?-alanine. Keeping in mind this finding, we designed several modifications of opioid peptide enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met). The modifications carrying the ?-alanine residues at the ends(?Ala-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-?Ala and ?Ala-Tyr-Gly-Gly-PheNH2)  showed high stability in the synaptosome suspension that mimics extracellular medium of the brain. These stable enkephalin modifications were tested in standard “pain” experiments on rats with intranasal peptide administration. Both “stable” modified forms have fully preserved anesthetic efficiency of enkephalin, but it is highly prolonged. Taking into account non-toxicity of ?-alanine and the simple structure of created enkephalin modifications, it should be assumed that described modifications have a good chance to become a promising anesthetic drugs. This work was supported by Russian Basic Investigations Foundation (grants 09-04-01571-a and 12-04-00505-a and 14-04-00587-? (to M.I. Mosevitsky)

Biography:

Researcher in Chemistry

Abstract:

High ultrasonic-assisted extraction technology (INEFU) was employed to extract the active components from natural materials (Green coffee bean, Citrus madurensis, Centella asiatica, Laminaria Japonica). The extraction conditions were optimized by response surface method and Box-Behnken design. The active component yields were obtained under the optimum parameters: ultrasound power 1800W, ultrasound time 42 min, and particle size 80 meshes. After INEFU by natural materials (Green coffee bean, Citrus madurensis, Centella asiatica, Laminaria Japonica) were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC analysis showed that four natural materials were composed of difference combination of Vitamin C, Polyphenol, Chlorogenic acid, Caffeine, Caffeic acid, Asiaticoside, Alginic acid. In addition, A method for the analysis of natural materials (Green coffee bean, Citrus madurensis, Centella asiatica, Laminaria Japonica) belonging to different classes has been developed and validated. The analyses were performed by HPLC–PDA directly after INEFU and HAE extracts for natural materials and after freeze dryer for five important active index components. The method was fully validated and applied to the analysis of active index component in samples from natural materials. Natural materials varieties and one well-known international cultivar, Wonderful. The method allowed qualitative and quantitative analysis of the principal active index component in the different extract methods (INEFU and HAE) of Green coffee bean, Citrus madurensis, Centella asiatica, Laminaria Japonica. Differences in active index component profile and concentration can be evidenced, allowing green coffee bean, Citrus madurensis, Centella asiatica, Laminaria Japonica to be distinguished on the basis of the concentration of compounds from INEFU extract methods.