Group 4 Research 9 - Omicron
Uy, Labial, Baddie, Celdran
1. Adding Thermal Sensors to Compost Bins to Generate Electricity
Decomposition is the process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler organic
matter. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is essential for recycling the finite matter
that occupies physical space in the biosphere. Bodies of living organisms begin to decompose
shortly after death. Animals, such as worms, also help decompose the organic materials.
Organisms that do this are known as decomposers. Although no two organisms decompose in the
same way, they all undergo the same sequential stages of decomposition. The science which
studies decomposition is generally referred to as taphonomy from the Greek word taphos,
meaning tomb.
Compost bins are structures used to house and make compost until it can be used in the garden.
Most are designed to hasten the decomposition of organic matter through proper aeration and
moisture retention. With the proper combination of air and moisture, ideal conditions are produced
for the activity of aerobic organisms responsible for the high temperatures that transform the
organic materials into compost.
A thermoelectric generator (TEG), also called a Seebeck generator, is a solid state device that
converts heat flux (temperature differences) directly into electrical energy through a
phenomenon called the Seebeck effect (a form of thermoelectric effect). Thermoelectric
generators function like heat engines, but are less bulky and have no moving parts. However,
TEGs are typically more expensive and less efficient.
Thermoelectric generators could be used in power plants to convert waste heat into additional
electrical power and in automobiles as automotive thermoelectric generators (ATGs) to
increase fuel efficiency. Another application is radioisotope thermoelectric generators which are
used in space probes, which has the same mechanism but use radioisotopes to generate the
required heat difference.
Roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year —
approximately 1.3 billion tonnes — gets lost or wasted.
Food losses and waste amounts to roughly US$ 680 billion in industrialized countries and
US$ 310 billion in developing countries.
Industrialized and developing countries dissipate roughly the same quantities of food —
respectively 670 and 630 million tonnes.
Fruits and vegetables, plus roots and tubers have the highest wastage rates of any food.
Global quantitative food losses and waste per year are roughly 30% for cereals, 40-50% for
root crops, fruits and vegetables, 20% for oil seeds, meat and dairy plus 35% for fish.
This is where we propose our product. By adding thermal sensors to the compost bin, we can
utilize our wasted food very efficiently. Not only can we generate electricity, we can also use the
compost as fertilizers for recreational structures with vegetation such as gardens.
2. Creating an ointment using common marigold (Calendula officinalis) to relieve scars,
wounds, and warts
Calendula officinalis is in the plant family known as Asteraceae or Compositae. Calendula
marigolds are yellow-orange in color and form small florets of petals that are harvested and dried
for their numerous medicinal properties. While there are various species of marigold flowers
grown around the world, calendula is considered to be the most medicinal. It’s native to Egypt
and parts of the Mediterranean but is now grown in every continent, usually blooming during the
warmer months of the year (from about May through October in the Northern Hemisphere).
Botanical research shows that calendula marigolds contain many active constituents, including
various antioxidants and volatile oils. These are responsible for the flowers’ bright color and
strong smell; ability to repel certain fungi, pests and insects; and also its capability of improving
blood flow and controlling inflammation.
By making an ointment using the common marigold, can be used to soothe sunburns, warts,
bites, acne and ulcerations, in addition to healing wounds, dry skin and blisters. An article in the
US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health states that:
“Calendula officinalis flower extract possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity against
carrageenan and dextran-induced acute paw edema. Oral administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg
body weight Calendula extract produced significant inhibition (50.6 and 65.9% respectively) in
paw edema of animals induced by carrageenan and 41.9 and 42.4% respectively with
inflammation produced by dextran. In chronic anti-inflammatory model using formalin,
administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight Calendula extract produced an inhibition of
32.9 and 62.3% respectively compared to controls. TNF-alpha production by macrophage culture
treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was found to be significantly inhibited by Calendula
extract. Moreover, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL- 1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha
and IFN-gamma and acute phase protein, C- reactive protein (CRP) in mice produced by LPS
injection were inhibited significantly by the extract. LPS induced cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)
levels in mice spleen were also found to be inhibited by extract treatment. The results showed
that potent anti-inflammatory response of C. officinalis extract may be mediated by the inhibition
of proinflammatory cytokines and Cox-2 and subsequent prostaglandin synthesis.”
3. Artificial Bee Drones
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their role in pollination and,
in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey
and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea and are presently
considered a clade, called Anthophila. There are over 16,000 known species of bees in seven
recognized biological families. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, in every
habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants.
Humans affect the colonies of bees in numerous ways. Colony Collapse Disorder (as described
in a related page “Addition to the Endangered Species List”) is characterized by the
disappearance of adult honeybees from beekeeper hives, leaving behind bee larvae with no
caretakers. Scientists have concluded that there could be many reasons for CCD: climate change,
parasites, diseases, overexposure to pesticides, and loss of suitable habitat.
The vast majority of these reasons are caused by humans. There is data from over 50 published
studies that shows that in areas of extreme fragmentation due to human development, animal
grazing, logging, and crop fields, bee populations were smaller and the number of bee species
was lower than in natural or minimally disturbed areas (“Saving Our Bees,” 2008).
About 38 percent of beekeepers’ colonies died between October 1, 2018, and April 1, 2019, the
Bee Informed Partnership estimates. While it wasn’t the worst recent year overall for honeybee
losses — that was 2012–2013 — preliminary results released June 19 show it is the worst winter
die-off recorded over the University of Maryland–based nonprofit’s 13 years of surveying bee
populations.
This is where we propose our product. By engineering artificial bees, we can maintain the
balance of the ecosystem when bees fall extinct. These artificial bees can also continue to
pollinate crops, flowers, fruit trees and etc.
4. Using Carabao Grass (Paspalum conjugatum) extract to promote plant growth
Paspalum conjugatum, commonly known as carabao grass or hilo grass, is a tropical to
subtropical perennial grass. It is originally from the American tropics, but has been naturalized
widely in tropical Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands. It has also spread to Northern Africa
and Northern and Eastern Australia. It is also known as sour paspalum, T-grass (after the shape
of their panicl), or more confusingly, as "buffalo grass" or "sour grass".
Paspalum conjugatum is native to the tropics of the Americas. It was introduced to
tropical Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands during the colonial period. It is particularly
abundant in the Philippines from where the English common name "carabao grass" originates
(named after the carabao, the local water buffalo breed); and in Hawaii where it is known as
"hilo grass". They have also spread to Northern Africa and Northern and Eastern Australia.
Grass clippings once diluted, and then set-aside for a few days before straining the liquid proves
to be a rich source of nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus for the soil. Once sprayed over the soil,
even miniscule grass can do wondrous remarkable things to your organic gardening endeavors.
Weeds can also be added as they also break down quite easily and benefit the richness of your
soil. In fact, grass/weed is one of the best fertilizers.
Sources:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
