Produced water is the aqueous component of crude oil and has not been previously characterized for noxious oxidation states: Cr3+/Cr6+ and As3+ /As5+. It is often returned to the environment where it could create an unwanted hazard. It remains unexplored in this context largely because standard HPLC techniques do not permit convenient simultaneous separation of Cr3+/Cr6+ and As3+/As5+ due to proximity of corresponding retention times. Our group has adapted a facile process for rapid elution and concurrent mass separation of all four species in an affiliated HPLC/ICP-MS system equipped with a dynamic reaction cell (DRC). Oxygen gas was circulated through the DRC to remove interferences and enhance detection of the eluted components, especially the arsenic constituents. The stationary phase consisted of a C8 deactivated silica based column (length 150 mm; internal diameter: 4.6 mm; particle size: 5 ?m); and the mobile phase was composed of a mixture of TBAH/EDTA in 2% methanol/water, adjusted to a pH of 7.2. The rate of elution was 1 mL/min; and recorded retention times (min) were: As3+: 1.81; As5+: 5.50; Cr3+: 1.83; and Cr6+: 5.74. The oxygen flow rate in the DRC was 0.7 mL/min. The Cr3+/ Cr6+ constituents were detected with m/z values of 52; the arsenic species coalesced with oxygen and were detected as adduct ions, AsO+, m/z, 91. Standard reference materials were deployed to test the competency of the analytical system. Typical recorded levels in the samples were: Cr3+: 0.5 – 20 mg/L; Cr6+/As3+/As5+: 1-5 ?g/L. Our results were evaluated in terms of the potential source of toxicity of produced water to the environment. The significance of the study to petroleum and environmental science is discussed.

Addition of biochar to soils has the potentials to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from soil. The primary objectives of this study were to see the impacts of biochar and the corresponding biomass application on the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), phosphine (PH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from soil investigated in a closed container experiment. Three replications of seven different treatments were applied: i) soil only (control), soil incorporated with - ii) rice husk, iii) biochar produced from rice husk, iv) straw, v) biochar from straw, vi) saw dust and vii) biochar produced from saw dust. The study reveals that addition of biochar had significant effects (P<0.05) on reducing CO2 and PH3 emission while no statistically significant effects on VOCs emanation was evident. Application of biochar could not suppress the CO emissions. Our study indicates that, different types of biochars have different effects on the emission of different gases.

Coffee beans can be affected by storage microorganisms, the most notable of those are the fungi that cause severe deterioration of the infected beans. The objective of this study was to investigate the existence of fungi in the samples of Arabica and Robusta ground coffee, as it was observed that they were contaminated with fungi, based on the degree of roasting, humidity and storage duration. The results show the capability of the fungi to produce aflatoxin and ochratoxin A in ground coffee of harari and barri as well as Robusta coffee stored in various temperatures and moisture conditions. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A were produced in most samples in various amounts. Furthermore, there was not any correlation between the number of existing fungi and the concentration and types of these toxins. For the samples stored in 10% humidity, the total of aflatoxin in barri and dark roasted coffee was 4.387 ?g/g, but cappuccino was free of aflatoxin. For the samples under relative humidity of 25%, the french coffee was the most contaminated with toxins with Aflatoxin concentration of 10.436 ?g/g, whereas Barri mild roasted coffee was the least contaminated with total Aflatoxin concentration of 0.547 ?g/g. In the samples of the relative humidity of 45% stored for 30 days at room temperature, the Barri white roasted coffee was the most contaminated samples, as the total toxins 4.604 ?g/g, whereas there 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The objective of this paper was to study the adsorption isotherms of decolourisation of shea butter. The adsorption of pigments from aqueous extracted shea butter using tonsil fuller earth was carried out. The absorbance of crude and decolourised black and yellow shea butter using 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mass % of the adsorbent at different temperatures (55, 65, 65, 75, 85 and 95°C ) were measured. The experimental data obtained were analysed and fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir equations. Langmuir adsorption isotherm model fitted well the decolourisation of yellow shea butter at 95°C, while Freundlich model significantly fitted the decolourisation of black shea butter at 65°C. Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy of adsorption were generated from the experimental data. The absolute value of enthalpy of adsorption showed that the decolourisation process of shea butter is a physical phenomenon, whereas the negative values of Gibbs free energy suggested that, the adsorption is spontaneous process.

The study investigated and characterized the microbes that contaminate and cause spoilage of most dry herbal medicinal powders/teas sold on the Ghanaian Market. Also investigated was the microbial load of these herbal powders/teas using pour plate and/or spread plate methods. Ten herbal medicinal powders were analyzed. The powdered herbal medicinal powders were taken through irradiation processes at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. The results showed that all the dry powders were contaminated. The microbial load count of the samples indicated thirty percent (3 out of 10) of the dry powders achieved the specifications for both aerobic bacteria and fungal growth whilst one hundred percent (10 out of 10) of the dry powders irradiated were free from microbial contamination. The characterization of the isolated microbes confirmed the dominance of members of the genus Bacillus, Rhizopus, Aspergillus and Candida in the dry powders included. In conclusion, the study confirmed that most herbal medicinal products on the Ghanaian market are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Therefore, there is the need for constant monitoring and control of the standards of herbal medicines.

This study was designed to evaluate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials of ethanolic extract of leaves of Newbouldia laevis in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by intravenous injection of freshly prepared solution of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight). Diabetic rats were then treated with extract of the leaves of N. laevis (500 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days after which serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) and interleukin -1 beta (IL-1?) were estimated using ELISA kit while serum concentration of nitric oxide (NO) was determined by Griess assay. The activities of catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also estimated. Free radical scavenging activity of the extract was measured by decrease in the absorbance of methanol solution of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The extract significantly reduced (P < 0.05) serum levels of nitric oxide, IL-1? as well as TNF-? in diabetic rats. The activities of CAT, GSH, GPx and SOD were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in treated diabetic rats compared to diabetic control. The extract also possesses free radical scavenging activity against DPPH with IC50 of 7.2 ?g/ml. The study showed that ethanolic extract of N. laevis leaves possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

This study is an attempt to analyze the allelopathic effect of various organs of walnut on germination of wheat experimentally and in a quiet accidentally frame of 10 treatments and 4 replications for it. The treatments of the experiment included an aqueous extract of the root, leaf, and fruit\\\'s green skin (each of them in concentrations of 25, 50, and 100% percent) and distilled water (control). The Results showed that the strong allelopathic effect of the extract of various organs of walnut on germination of wheat seeds in such a way that the statistical comparison indicates the reduction of germination percentage of seeds in treating the aqueous extracts in comparison with control in the level of one percent. Moreover, the results indicated that the extract of the fruit\\\'s green skin has a stronger allelopathic effect comparable with the leaf and root.

To examine the effect of hyperglycemia on production of glucose by-products, we determined the concentration of glyoxal, methylglyoxal along with glucose, insulin and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Using radioimmunoassay, chromatographic and spectophotometric techniques, the interactions of these compounds have been used to elucidate a possible cause of clinical significance in the diabetic state. Our study has shown that the selected analytes interacts in uncommon ways to exercerbate glycemic stress. We observed a positive linear relationship between glucose concentration and glycated haemoglobin and identified glucose excess as being a responsible factor controlling the creation of glucose by-products. Concomitant with the knowledge of the fact that both compounds are detoxified by the activity of their respective glyoxylase, we observed glyoxal concentration 3-4 folds higher than methylglyoxal in patients investigated. Further analysis of data with a scatter plot of subjects according to their blood glucose and HbA1c, glyoxal and methyloxal shows a positive linear correlation and the linear regression had a coefficient of r=0.820 significant at P > 0.05. The biochemical evidence suggests that production of carbonyls increases glucose toxicity and imposes the need to provide substances that will inhibit their formation. This is expected to enhance diabetes mellitus management.

In the present study, the effects of Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) on the fauna of the wetlands were studied and inventories of the fauna and the flora were prepared. During the study period from 2007 – 2012, water samples taken from three sampling sites from the study areas viz., RBOD at Gharo, near Haleji Lake and near Keenjhar Lake were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters, pesticides and heavy metals. The mean salinity value of all sampling sites was recorded. RBOD at Gharo and RBOD near Keenjhar Lake showed high salinity value as per limit of World Health Organization standard. Water samples taken from RBOD near Keenjhar Lake showed pesticide OC compounds below the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC). However, no serious adverse effects of environmental pollution were detected on the aquatic biodiversity except for some minor toxic effects due to the presence of heavy metals in water. Regarding biodiversity, two species of protozoans, 104 species of arthropods, 23 species of zooplanktons, 13 species of molluscs, 228 species of birds, 28 species of mammals, 31 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians and 59 species of fishes were recorded from the study areas. The biodiversity of RBOD is in decline mainly due to hunting, capturing, habitat destruction, cutting of trees, commercial fishing, anthropogenic activities and growing human population around the RBOD area.

Thidiazuron (TDZ) has potential for de novo multiple shoot induction without any callusing at any stage in Dendrocalamus strictus Nees. Longitudinal section through basal node region of the explants cultured in half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 2.3?M TDZ showed shoot bud initials within a day of culture initiation while those cultured in TDZ free half strength MS medium did not show any evidence for the presence of shoot bud. The organization of shoot bud initial was tunica corpus type and in 3-4 days a short cylinder of provascular tissue is differentiated as the initial stage of vascular differentiation. After about 8 days of culture the newly differentiated bud began to elongate and new shoot bud initials were originated successively from actively dividing cells at the base of elongating shoots. The above process of regeneration continued even after transfer of explants into medium without TDZ.

New measures of information including entropy, directed divergence and inaccuracy along with their generalizations have been introduced and their essential and desirable properties are studied. The relations between newly developed measures of directed divergence and the well-known standard measure of divergence existing in the literature of distance measures usually known as Kullback-Leibler’s measure have been established. Applications of these measures are provided to the field of coding theory for the study of source coding theorems.

Steady state one dimensional pseudo-homogeneous models of an axial flow industrial catalytic packed bed ammonia converter have been developed. The converter is a vertical four catalytic bed reactor with varying volumes of catalysts. Effects of temperature changes on the catalyst surface and in its interior were incorporated in the model by an effectiveness factor. The models were used to predict conversions, concentrations of reactant/product mixtures and temperature profiles along the catalyst beds. The developed models consisted of ordinary differential equations which were solved numerically using the 4th order Runge-Kutta algorithm implemented with MatLab ode45 solver. The accuracy of the models was ascertained with industrial plant data from Notore Chemical Industry, Onne, Rivers State. The results obtained from solutions to the models compared favorably with output plant data of the ammonia converter with a maximum deviation between models predictions and actual plant data of 6.7%. Consequently, simulation studies of the converter was performed varying operating parameters such as feed flow rates, inlet temperatures and pressures to determine their effects on the performance of the converter.

In this study polypropylene samples doped with varying levels of Mg, Ti and Zn were subjected to leaching under different pH conditions for a period of six months. Laser ablation and SEM techniques were used to investigate the samples in order to verify the presence of metals in the matrix. The leachates were subsequently analyzed by ICP-MS and the data were processed to compute the reaction kinetics. It was found that for all three metals of interest the leaching process was governed by first-order kinetics. The rate constant for the leaching reaction was noticeably low denoting that metal migration from polypropylene is protracted and does not particularly constitute a potential hazard. Significant differences between the leaching behavior of Ti and Mg/Zn from the polypropylene matrix were observed. The mechanism of the leaching process was considered to be analogous to aqueous degradation of polymorphic crystal structures of the embedded dopants.

Experimental modeling has over the past three decades been used in analyzing simultaneous heat and mass transfer in thin-liquid falling-film absorption processes. However, numerical modeling applications in this area have been minimal due to complications arising from the presence of waves. An approach in numerical modeling is to consider waves as a second order effect, thereby making it a smooth falling-film. The objective of this paper was to develop a numerical model for the absorption process on a thin-liquid smooth falling-film using lithium bromide (LiBr) and lithium chloride (LiCl) solutions. The absorption process of a thin-liquid smooth falling-film was considered as a two-dimensional steady laminar flow within the film thickness to the absorber wall. The conservation equations were used to determine temperature and concentration distribution within the film-thickness using the finite difference technique. Existing data on LiBr and LiCl solutions in the literature were used to validate the developed model. Standard values of absorber wall length, film thickness, solution mass flow-rate, absorbent inlet concentration, inlet temperature, absorber wall temperature, conventional film Reynolds number and absorption design effectiveness were used for both LiBr and LiCl solutions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and student’s t-test (p<0.05). The physical properties distribution for both LiBr and LiClsolutions were not significantly different from published results available in the literature(p<0.05). The nodal temperature distribution obtained within the film thickness both in the bulk and interface between the liquid and vapour regions were between 44.4 and 35.0oC while concentration was between 60.0 and 54.5% for LiBr-H2O. Similarly for LiCl-H2O, the model temperature distribution was between 35.0 and 30.0oC while the concentration was between 45.0 and 35.8%.A numerical model on a thin-liquid smooth falling film using LiBr and LiCl solutions was developed. Lithium bromide was also observed to have higher concentration values than lithium chloride thus suggesting a better working fluid combination especially in the absorption air-conditioning system.

Guaranteed responsiveness of Web Services solutions may not be possible on a large scale, if the solutions are not tail tolerant i.e. able to consistently keep latency within reasonable limit. Software techniques that tolerate latency variability and in particular, tail latency are vital to building responsive large-scale Web services solutions. Replication Oriented Architecture (ROA) though proposed to help application programmers build scalable Web Services solutions appears capable of mitigating latency variability and tail latency. Consequently, we investigated ROA for tail tolerance. To do this, we built two ATM Web Services solution using Java technology – the first was not built on ROA (conventional solution) but the other was built on ROA (ROA solution). These Web Services solutions were subjected to load performance test using Apache JMeter. The results showed that the tail tolerance of Web Services solution built on ROA is significantly better than its equivalent conventional solution. Specifically, we established that ROA is capable of improving the tail tolerance of Web Services solution by about 4.60% with 96% confidence. The results also affirm the scalability capability of ROA.

Logarithms were defined for real positive numbers with a real positive base, but were later extended to real negative numbers with a real positive base. Logarithms of real negative numbers to a real positive base were defined as complex numbers. The Neparian logarithms take into consideration the hyperbola transcribed by the function f(x) = 1/x, x>0 for real positive axis. On a parallel analogy, we extend this concept to the real negative axis for the hyperbola transcribed by 1/x for x<0. This paper examines the concept of logarithms from its basics to prove that the logarithms of real negative numbers to real negative base are real numbers. The concept of logarithms as applicable to both real positive and real negative numbers has been generalized.

It is a well-known fact that in the literature of information theory, a variety of divergence (distance or cross entropy) measures is available, each with its own merits and limitations. These measures are applicable to various disciplines of Mathematical Sciences. One such discipline pertaining to Operations Research is portfolio analysis. In the present communication, we have developed two new parametric measures of cross entropy and consequently provided the applications of these measures for the study of optimization principles for the development of measures of risk in portfolio analysis. We have observed that minimizing these measures implies the minimization of the expected utility of the risk-prone person and maximization of the expected utility of a risk-averse person.

This paper presents an overview on an output feedback controller with a combination of H2/H?/?. The design objective is a mixture of robust stability, nominal/robust performance, strict limitations on control signal and minimization of disturbance effects. In a physical system, the several targets contribute in a system control. Each one of the nominal and robust performance targets has their own strengths and weaknesses. A new approach in the presented paper is a combination of the two output feedback controllers of ? and H2/H?. When all objectives are formulated in terms of a bounded real lemma, controller design results in a solution for a system of LMI. The purpose of the presented paper is to make balance between the nominal and the robust performance of output feedback. First, we use mixed H2 and H? norm for a nominal performance target while the other use ? synthesis for the robust performance. By combining these two controllers, the procedure of weights achievement will be formulated. Finally, modeling of an unmanned aircraft is applied to show the effectiveness and benefits of this method.

Ensuring the quality of any type of food, particularly seafood has increasingly become an important issue nowadays. The environment is polluted in many ways, such that the consumption of seafood by compromising the quality may cause diseases due to infection or intoxication. So the adoption of proper quality control systems is mandatory in any organization that deals with food processing and distribution. In this regard, we have proposed an ontology based system in seafood companies to ensure the quality of seafood. Ontology is a formal specification of the concepts within a domain and their interrelationships. It describes the logical structure of a domain, its concepts and the relations between them. The aim of ontology is to capture knowledge in related fields, provide a shared under standing of conceptual knowledge, define a common vocabulary in this field, and give clear definition to the mutual relationship between these words from different levels of formal models. This paper presents the initial phase of our research viz, design and construction of seafood ontology in Web Ontology Language [OWL]. It is an extension of our work which is published earlier. Protégé is used to implement the ontology