Rheological and physicochemical characterization of UAE crude oil

This study focuses on the rheological and physiochemical characterization of three samples of light crude oil and fuel oil from the United Arab Emirates. The dependence of density on temperature ranging from 20 to 200°C was determined. Also, the impact of temperature was investigated on viscosity, shear stress τ, shear rate, yield stress, and thixotropic behavior, and characterized by the Haake RheoStress. The exponential decrease of viscosity over temperature range was modeled using Arrhenius equation. The shear stress–viscosity data revealed that crude oil A solely exhibited Newtonian behavior while crude oils B and C and fuel oil followed the Herschel-Bulkley model.     

Effect of Natural Fermentation on the Chemical and Nutritional Composition of Fermented Soymilk Nono

Changes in the chemical and nutritional composition of naturally fermented soy nono were studied at ambient temperature (27 ± 2°C) for 72h. The differently fermented soy nono samples were collected at 6 h intervals and analysed for chemical, proximate and mineral composition using standard laboratory procedures. Biochemical changes in the fermenting soy nono showed a drop in pH from 6.90 to 4.09 while titratable acidity (lactic acid equivalent) increased from 0.42 to 1.82% after 72 h of natural fermentation. The moisture, carbohydrate and fat contents decreased from 93.45 to 92.70, 1.52 to 0.60 and 2.18 to 0.87 % respectively while total solids, ash and protein contents increased from 6.55 to 7.30, 0.23 to 0.74 and 2.62 to 5.09 % respectively. Results reveal that the calcium, iron and magnesium contents in fermenting soymilk increased from 52.86 to 71.43, 28.00 to 40.00 and 7.66 to 8.87 mg/l respectively within time intervals of 0 to 54 h and then decreased to 65.00, 28.00 and 7.83 mg/l respectively till the end of fermentation period while the zinc content increased from 4.42 to 6.75 mg/l throughout the fermentation period. It was evident that there was increase in protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron contents during natural fermentation of soymilk.     

Local anaesthesia in inguinal herniorrhaphy: our experience in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Over 75 pc of 138 patients prospectively studied tolerated field block local anaesthesia for inguinal herniorrhaphy. This tolerance was, however, lower in the younger age groups. There were few complications and patients were discharged within 24 to 72 hours.     

Study of resin fraction of Nigerian crude oil using spectroscopic/spectrometric analytical techniques

Organics and trace metals of the resin fraction of Nigerian crude oil were analysed in order to characterise the fossil fuel. The crude oil samples were deasphaltened by n-pentane, while maltene fraction was fractionated into its components (saturates, aromatics and resin) using column chromatography. The organic compounds and elemental concentrations of the resin fraction were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry respectively. The infrared spectra showed characteristic bands containing polar functional groups expected confirming that the resin was purely eluted. The elemental concentrations were found to be high compared to other fractions and was confirmed by their T-test values. Zinc had the highest mean concentration of 32.13 ± 35.66 mg/kg, while Mn had the least (1.14 ± 0.17 mg/kg). Results indicated that processing of the crude oil resin may cause catalyst poisoning/fouling, corrosion of equipment/pipelines. Therefore, adequate consideration of these trace metals must be taken before processing.     

近红外光谱技术在中草药口服液在线质量监控中的模型建立和模型转移

应用近红外光谱技术在线监测工业产品质量时,会出现环境条件变化或仪器的部件如探头或光纤更换的情况,使原模型不再具有原来的预测效果,但是完全从头开始采集数据重新建立新模型工作量大,造成原来宝贵的模型和数据的浪费。为了解决这一矛盾,本文以一种中草药口服液中多糖含量、可溶性固形物含量及pH 为研究对象,利用近红外光谱技术对其进行实时在线检测,研究了主从机分辨率不同的光谱之间的模型转移。模型转移过程利用已建模完成并成功上线应用的模型为原模型,在不能获取原主仪器和从仪器一一对应的标准标样的条件下,找到虚拟标样建立转移矩阵。以直接标准化法结合主成分分析降维作为模型转移方法,以质量指标化学参考值与预测值间的相对误差为指标筛选最佳模型。模型转移结果显示,多糖模型预测值与化学参考值间的相对误差可控制在10%以内,可溶性固形物相对误差在5%以内,pH 相对误差在3%以内。在线生产使用表明,转移的模型同原模型一样可有效应用于在线、快速对质量指标做出准确的预测。结果表明,本文提出的采用虚拟标样的模型转移方法对于无法获得主从机一一对应的标准标样的情况下的模型转移,是一个可行的有效方法。     

Investigation on the use of macro- and micro-nutrients to improve maize yield in South Western Nigeria

Investigation into the use of macro- and micro-nutrients to increase maize yield was conducted in both the glasshouse and in the field. The glasshouse studies involved ten soil series commonly cultivated to maize in South Western Nigeria, while the field studies were conducted on one soil at Ibadan.Dry matter yield increased above the control with a single application of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn, suggesting that most of the soils in the South Western Nigeria require additions of each of these elements for increased maize production. The size of the response to each element varied from series to series. Soils which were high in organic matter (over 3%) required the lowest N dressings for optimum dry matter yield of maize.In the field studies, a fertilizer combination which included N, P, K, Mg and the micro nutrients Fe, Cu and Zn gave a higher relative yield than the single application of N, P, K, and a combination of NP, NK, Pk or NPK.In the South West Zone of Nigeria, there is no soil testing programme and fertilizers applied by farmers and researchers have not increased yields as expected. Average maize yield on farmers' field is less than 1000 kgha^–1 while on research stations it is 2500 kgha^–1. When compared with 7000 kgha^–1 in U.S.A., these yields are still very low.Different recommendations for the major plant nutrients have been made by many workers in the South West zone based on fertilizer trials [1, 5, 8, 13, 16].None of the recommendations have included the micronutrients and secondary nutrients and the objective of this project was to supply relevant information on this important aspect.     

Use of microcomputers in monitoring instruments,data aquisition,analysis and control

The microprocessor is ideally suited to automating the collection of data, the control of processes and the measurement of important parameters in industry. A number of applications are presented here, where development and research work is carried out using a microcomputer made up of a Z80 microprocessor with additional circuit boards. The applications are in the areas of data acquisition, control and measurement of variables.     

Enrichment of Noodles with Soy Flour and Carrot Powder

Noodles were produced from four flour blends of whole wheat, wheat-cassava, wheat-cassava-soy flour and wheat-cassava-carrot flour blends respectively. The flours were analyzed for proximate analysis, functional properties and total carotenoid content. The cooking time of all samples was also determined. Results show that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between values obtained for moisture content, protein and total carbohydrates (p < 0.05) while values for fat and ash contents of the samples were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The functional properties also showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the pasting properties except for pasting temperature and the cooking time of the samples. The total carotenoid content of the dried carrot sample was found to be 28.34 mg/100 g dry weight basis, while the noodle sample containing 10% dried carrot sample (CSC4) had a total carotenoid content of 1.80 mg/100 g dry weight basis. The results suggest that noodles made from the different flour blends can compare favourably with conventional noodles made from wheat flour in quality and that carrot flour can be used for noodle enrichment.     

Correction to: Multiclass feature selection with metaheuristic optimization algorithms: a review

Neural Computing and Applications -