What I Learnt The Previous Week #3: Catalytic Hydropyrolysis, Smartphone Biosensor for Water Quality test, Cherophobia, Ocean Quahogs - the World Oldest Animal and The Transforming Robot Aquanaut

Hi, dear steemians! Welcome again to my blog.

Today I bring to you the third episode of my “What I Learnt The Previous Week" series. The topics below represent some interesting discoveries I made within the last week which spanned between 30th of April to 4th of May 2018.

Again, I'll like to acknowledge @mobbs for letting me be a partaker in this wonderful series he started. I will also like to thank my very own @samminator whose participation I saw and got me interested. Thanks for referring me to @mobbs

MONDAY: Catalytic Hydropyrolysis - the answer to making GREEN BIOFUELS

The depleting ozone layer, polluted water, foggy atmosphere and many other environmental derailing phenomenon arising in recent years have been putting heat on us all. We are beginning to find different ways to go green, help our innocent planet - Earth survive the consequences of technological developments killing it.

In recent weeks, we have seen many authors both here on steemit and the other world writing on different ways of improving this situation. One very interesting one is the Carbon Sequestration post from @addempsea. Also, Scientists and Researchers have really been working on saving us from this issue.

One of the highest contributors to the environmental derailing activities is from burning of fossil fuels during energy generation both in companies and locally. Each day, machines and motors plying the road releases a great amount of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. This and many other means releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere have been alarming and have kept scientists on their feet.

In my researches last week, I found out about Catalytic Hydropyrolysis - a scientifical development which will help us tackle the problem of conversion of Biomass into Biofuels in a more efficient and environmentally conscious manner.

What is Catalytic Hydropyrolysis?

To explain this phenomenon, I'll first need to explain the processes which we need to perform to convert our biomass (like wood, food waste, etc.) into Biofuel. In converting biomass into biofuels like biochar and syngas, pyrolysis is usually employed. This is a thermochemical process that is used on organic products in the absence of oxygen at high temperature and pressure. This process, also known as rapid heating, helps to convert the solid biomass at high temperature into gas, bio-oil and coke residues. These products, especially the bio-oil contains solid molecules that aren't stable and can produce solid coke that could prove environmentally dangerous.

In improving this, an extra catalytic process is needed to obtain gasoline and diesel by reacting the bio-oil products from pyrolysis with hydrogen. This, however, proves hard to do with highly reactive oils which could deactivate the catalysts and still form coke when the oil is heated to achieve this. So, the process of Catalytic Hydropyrolysis which combines the catalytic and pyrolysis reaction with hydrogen in a step, hence eliminating this issue is needed.

The Catalytic Hydropyrolysis involves keeping the catalyst rotating in constant motion and hydrogen is been fed to the Biomass placed in a reactor. This ensures that the most reactive parts of the Biomass reacts with hydrogen and also prevent the molecules from reaching a state where coke that deactivates the catalyst is formed. Thus, we eliminate the initial problem from independently carrying out pyrolysis and catalyzation.

This process is less energy consuming as no extra energy is needed to perform the process as the reaction of hydrogen and the Biomass produces heat energy already. It is also marked by increased energy generation as compared to that of pyrolysis. The elimination of solid coke generation also makes the products environmentally safer thus contributing to the "green" dream.

You can read more Catalytic Hydropyrolysis here

TUESDAY: Use of DNA-magnetic particle technology and Multiplexing detection with Smartphone Biosensor in detecting water quality

A report delivered by the Minister of Water Resources, Nigeria states that:

Over 59,000 people under the age of 5 die yearly from preventable water and sanitation related diseases.

Also in 2012, Nigeria, China and India are the three most ranked countries with the largest population without adequate clean water supply and poor sanitation problem. All these amongst others contributes to the high death rate owing to water-borne diseases with diarrhea and cholera being the highest. Other than these countries, many other places in the world are as well facing the issue of contaminated water, especially from bacteria, fungi or protozoa.

Over the years, we've been seeing many scientific interventions all to help reduce this scenario. We have the optical techniques that helps detect color changes in water or fluorescence of organisms in water. The limitation of this technique is, however, its inability to be used in unclear or turbid waters like cloudy rivers. It would need the extra step of filtering before it could be used and takes time and extra cost.

Another is the Electrical techniques that detect bacteria presence through electrical signal capitalizing on the insulating properties of a bacterial cell wall. This method, however, becomes compromised when bacteria of the same size are present, it would be difficult to differentiate them.

During my research, I found an ongoing project by NUMEN which involves the development of an Electrochemical Biosensor operated from a smartphone for detecting the presence of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa in water.

This biosensor is based on Nucleic acid, aptamers, and antibodies which will aid detection of the microorganism and convert the detection into a real-time signal <Source>

This technology employs nanotechnology that enables us to exploit a target nucleic acid hybridization (or aptamers ligand) thus allowing for the detection of a particular microbe existing in the water. Using DNA-magnetic particle technology, nano-sized magnets which can help isolate some specific microbe, are planted in the water sample. A magnetic sensor strip is then inserted into the water sample to attract the nano-sized magnets which would have bound with the microbe. However, this method only allows for picking out specific bacteria.

But with the integration of another technique known as multiplexing detection into the system, it enables the DNA sequencing to detect multiple microbes at once making the system more effective and thus saves a lot of time.

The project, however, is still ongoing and they are trying to optimize the system so that all processes will be in simplified steps that can be fully controlled with the smartphone and possibly be available to monitor drinking water in the next two to three years.

What do you think? Wouldn't it be nice to have your water tested for the cleanliness and a microbe-free state just by using a biosensor from your smartphone? How wonderful will that be and how would it impact health issues arising from water-borne diseases?

You can read more about the NUMEN project here and more about technology integration here

WEDNESDAY: Cherophobia - "The Fear of Happiness"

Well I was like, what the f**k while reading this particular one. Like, how could one be afraid of being Happy? Like who doesn't want to be happy in life. In fact, isn't all we do for the sake of finding happiness in life? But then what do we do when some people are just helpless and feels being happy might be dangerous for them.

Cherophobia is simply explained as fearing the outcome of being happy. It is a mental state that makes Cherophobics think that being happy could expose them to the world and hence attract negative happenings to their life. They believe staying happy is close to announcing yourself to people that you have it all and may make people look for ways of making you sad hence, they prefer to stay sad (or at least hide their happiness) and thus, averting a bad happening (their belief though)

Is that even logical?

Well, a report has it that it is a mental state beyond their wish and control. It prevents Cherophobics from enjoying their life to the fullest like everyone would wish. It limits and restricts them to just some certain activities and they will do anything to abstain from any life cheering activities that could make them display their happiness.

Causes of Cherophobia

As we all know, a phobia is a learned response and could result from some specific happenings. Cherophobia is a specific phobia that may result from a previous experience by the individual. It could be an event whereby the individual experienced a tragic occurrence like the death of a relative after witnessing a moment of joy. This kind of situation might make the person wary of happy moments as it might lead to another tragedy.

Another cause may be from a perception planted into the person's head by his/her parent telling him/her to avoid being too happy as it might attract bad luck. This I can say is common amongst African Parents (especially Mothers), probably trying to caution the child from an extravagant joy that might annoy some people.

Excessive stress and previous panic attacks might also lead to a case of avoiding happiness. Such person would be used to sulking to him/herself and will find it hard to nurture happy moments.

Symptoms of Cherophobia

Being a specific phobia, the symptoms might not be something very visible. But Cherophobics are people that always feel disconnected from reality, trying to not believe some things are happening to them in a bid to avoid any consequences. They are known to shiver and tremble when any good thing happens to them. They wouldn't be bold enough to accept it and would probably feel dizzy or probably faint in response to it.

In extreme situation, however, Cherophobics might witness disabling attacks that could be very dangerous. It could be so serious that they will consciously try to avoid some certain people, places or things that can directly bring happiness to them. It is advised that an individual that experiences this phobia to seek medical attention if it persists for more than 6 months as it could be derailing and dangerous to the individual's life.

How to get rid of Cherophobia

Cherophobia is best cured by self-mindfulness. When the individual starts staying conscious of present happenings, differentiating between a dangerous display of happiness and normal display of happiness, he/she will understand more the concept of happiness.

Also, realizing that happiness has no direct relationship with bad luck also help the person train his mind and brain from avoiding happy moments. Reading about how to overcome fear and other related matters would also prove helpful and can help change the person's perception of happiness.

As earlier stated, medical attention should also be considered. Physiotherapies and advice are also methods to try in order to overcome this phobia.

May we never witness a situation where we will be afraid of being happy o. What do you think?

You can read more about Cherophobia here

THURSDAY: Ocean Quahogs - the World Oldest Animal

During the week, I was opportuned to read about the ocean quahogs which are the current holder of the Guiness Book of Records for being the oldest animal to have lived.

Initially, it was reported that they lived for 407 years but a recent research and experiment revealed that they even lived a century more i.e for 507 years!

Come'on..What would it be like if you can live that long? What would you do? How would you love to spend it?

What are Ocean Quahogs

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia (Taxon entry)
Order: Veneroida
Family: Arcticidae
Genus: Arctica

Ocean Quahog, also known as Arctica Islandica is a bivalve mollusk found in temperate regions and in boreal waters. They are from the family of Arcticidae and are native to the North Atlantic ocean usually eaten commercially in this region. In shell height, Ocean Quahogs are reported to grow up to 50 mm and are known for their longevity.

This longevity was traced to its slow metabolism as they are known to have a very low intake of oxygen. This gives them the "jinx" making them live longer.

The specific Ocean Quahogs that led to the age discovery was found in 2006 when some researchers went on an expenditure to Iceland. They picked it at the ocean seabed and was subjected to experiment which initially showed that it had lived for 407 years. But after some more refined research using some method like the Carbon-14 method, it was confirmed that it had lived for 507 years.

The Ocean Quahogs was killed as a frozen food by the researchers while on the ship and brought the end to the longest-lived animal.

Ocean quahogs are known to feed on phytoplankton using their siphons which are also used in pumping water for their consumption. They are mostly predated on by rock stars, sea stars, ocean pout, haddock amongst many others.

An adult male is believed to reach maturity in 4,780 days while the female does in 4,562 days. Adults are usually found in the dense beds existing at a temperature between 6-16 degrees.

Wanna know more about the Ocean Quahogs? check here

Other long-living animals other than the Ocean Quahogs are:

Bowhead Whales - 245 years
Greenland Sharks - over 200 years
Koi - Over 200 years
Tuataras - 100 to 200 years
Galapagos giant tortoise - 190 years
Eels - 150 years
Macaws - 80 to 100 years
Asian elephants - 86 years
Horses - 25 to 50 years

FRIDAY: The transforming Robot Aquanaut

I know some of us are familiar with the word Aquanaut. For the benefit of those who aren't, an Aquanaut is a person that swims underwater using aqualung.

We would be familiar with them in movies where they are usually dressed in mask and foot guns, carrying an air cylinder. These people are usually skilled swimmers that help in underwater scientific research or installation of industrial machines like in underwater oil ridges.

Houston mechatronics engineers, who were a group of former NASA robot engineers are currently working on a robot “Aquanaut” which doubles as a submarine and a "work" robot. It is an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) that transforms into two modes:

In an AUV mode - Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and
In an ROV work mode - Remotely Operated Vehicle

In its AUV mode, it acts as a submarine traveling miles down the water with little drag acting against it. While in ROV mode, the robot transforms into a working robot with a two-arm design, each about 3.5 meters long which can perform a series of operations that require dexterity.

The robot is being designed to be elegant and self-intelligent so as to transform successfully between both modes, work effectively with fewer instructions in ROV mode and as well perform an auto repair for its parts

This will really help reduce the risk of death to human aquanauts and as well improve efficiency and accuracy of the functions. Also, underwater installations could become automated and would really be of significant impact in the industries.

You can as well read more about the “Aquanaut” here

Thanks for Reading

So, guys! This is the summary of what I learned in the previous week. I hope you learned something.

References for further reading

Ref. 1, Ref. 2, Ref. 3, Ref. 4, Ref. 5