Graphics Evolutionary Computations in Higher Order Parametric Bezier Curves

This work demonstrates in practical terms the evolutionary concepts and computational applications of Parametric Curves. Specific cases were drawn from higher order parametric Bezier curves of degrees 2 and above. Bezier curves find real life applications in diverse areas of Engineering and Computer Science, such as computer graphics, robotics, animations, virtual reality, among others. Some of the evolutionary issues explored in this work are in the areas of parametric equations derivations, proof of related theorems, first and second order calculus related computations, among others. A Practical case is demonstrated using a graphical design, physical hand sketching, and programmatic implementation of two opposite-faced handless cups, all evolved using quadratic Bezier curves. The actual drawing was realized using web graphics canvas programming based on HTML 5 and JavaScript. This work will no doubt find relevance in computational researches in the areas of graphics, web programming, automated theorem proofs, robotic motions, among others.     

Relative quantitation of intact proteins of bacterial cell extracts using coextracted proteins as internal standards

A method for quantitating protein expression using LC/MS of whole proteins is described. This method is based on the fact that some proteins present in cells are abundant universal proteins whose expression levels exhibit little variation. This method demonstrates that these coextracted proteins can be used as internal standards to which the other proteins in the sample can be compared. By comparing the intensities of a selected protein to marker proteins, or internal standards, a relative ratio is obtained. This ratio can then be used to determine the relative amount of protein expression between cellular extracts. The validity of this approach is described for a standard protein mixture, as well as, E. coli cells that were known to differentially express green fluorescent protein.     

The emission characteristics of a petrol–ethanol–diethyl-ether blend as a carbon monoxide reduction additive in spark ignition engine

The emission characteristics of a petrol–ethanol–diethyl-ether blend as a carbon monoxide reduction additive in a spark ignition (SI) engine is presented. The experimental set-up is consisting of a Villiers G200, 6.5?hp, 4-stroke; single cylinder SI engine. The blend used was synthesised using petrol, ethanol and diethyl ether in the following percentage proportion by volume as 75:15:10, 60:25:15, 80:15:5, 85:10:5, respectively. These blends were tested at full engine load and at an operational speed of 2500?rpm. Exhaust emission probe was inserted at the exhaust pipe in order to determine the emission characteristics of these blends under different operating conditions. The results obtained during the emission test carried out show that CO emission level of petrol is higher than that of any of the blends with the 60:25:15 blends having the least emission level. The lowest CO emission of the blend is due to the high oxygen content of fuel blend. The above result shows a great promise in the fight against carbon oxide emission.     

Microstructural analysis of the brass seat of a valve from the 1907 steam tug “Hercules”

The steam tug Hercules was an ocean-going and bay tug for 55 years before being retired. It is now being restored by the National Park Service (as of 1993 printing of this article). A broken steam valve was obtained for microstructural examination. The body was gray cast iron, and the stem and seat were brass. The examination centered on corrosion of the brass components. The seat and shaft were α brass, with a hardness of 64 and 79 DPH, respectively. A nut held the shaft onto the seat and was α-β brass with a hardness of 197 DPH. Welded on the end of the shaft was a ring of hard (DPH 294) α-β brass, which seated against the nut. The brass seat and stem showed little corrosion. However, the α-β brass nut and welded tip show extensive dezincification. This process of removal of Zn and the retention of Cu began in the high Zn β phase, but eventually both phases were attacked. The depth of penetration was consistent with dezincification rates reported in the literature for such brasses in salt water if the valve had been in service about 55 years. Reprinted from Microstructural Science, vol. 20, Metallographic Characterization of Metals after Welding, Processing and Service, Proc. of the Twenty Fifth Annual Tech. Meeting of the International Metallographic Society, W.R. Kanne Jr., G.W.E. Johnson, J.D. Braun, and M.R. Louthan, Jr., ed., The International Metallographic Society, Columbus, Ohio, and ASM International, 1993, pp. 471–484.     

Appropriate buffer sizes for Internet nodal devices: A networks' topologies–based solution

Switched networks' (including the Internet) nodal devices require buffers to hold packets during periods of congestion and when traffic streams on more than one input port need to access the same output port. Appropriately sizing the buffers has been a contentious issue among researchers over the last couple of years. Three main buffer sizing formulas have been reported in literature, which are: bandwidth‐delay product or BDP, small buffer, and the tiny buffer formulas. But researchers are largely agreed that the BDP formula results in unrealistically large and wasteful buffers, while a number of researchers have held with good reasons, that the small and tiny buffer formulas are theoretical formulations that cannot be generally and practically applied to real networks. Some researchers have even asserted that deriving a single, universal formula for sizing buffers may not be possible. The main purpose of this paper is to explain an approach, which we term “network topology point –of –view,” that we developed to derive a novel, empirical, generic, practical, easy‐to‐apply, closed‐form formula that can be used to obtain the buffer capacity that is optimal—in terms of the minimum capacity possible for lossless operation, for any switched network node, including nodes (switches and routers) in the Internet. The results obtained from utilizing the formula to specify typical nodal buffers' capacities are largely in agreement with the values of the tiny buffer formula in literature; but this paper's formula additionally specifies what we term “very tiny buffers.” The simple approach adopted for presenting this paper makes it a handy tutorial material that explains this “network topology point‐of‐view” concept.     

Influence of water activity on belite (β-C2S) hydration

The hydration of the two most reactive phases of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), tricalcium silicate (C₃S), and tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) is successfully halted when the activity of water () falls below critical thresholds of 0.70 and 0.45, respectively. It has been established that the reduction in relative humidity (RH) and  suppresses the hydration of all anhydrous phases in OPC, including less explored phases like dicalcium silicate, that is, belite (β-C₂S). However, the degree of suppression, that is, the critical threshold, for β-C₂S, standalone has yet to be established. This study utilizes isothermal microcalorimetry and X-ray diffraction techniques to elucidate the influence of on the hydration of -C₂S suspensions via incremental replacements of water with isopropanol (IPA). Experimentally, this study shows that with increasing IPA replacements, hydration is increasingly suppressed until eventually brought to a halt at a critical threshold of approximately 27.7% IPA on a weight basis (wt.%_IPA). From thermodynamic estimations, the exact critical threshold and solubility product constant of -C₂S () are established as 0.913 and 10^−12.68, respectively. This study enables enhanced understanding of β-C₂S reactivity and provides thermodynamic parameters during the hydration of β-C₂S-containing cementitious systems such as OPC-based and calcium aluminate-based systems.     

Autonomous Unbiased Study Group Formation Algorithm for Rapid Knowledge Propagation

Knowledge propagation is a necessity, both in academics and in the industry. The focus of this work is on how to achieve rapid knowledge propagation using collaborative study groups. The practice of knowledge sharing in study groups finds relevance in conferences, workshops, and class rooms. Unfortunately, there appears to be only few researches on empirical best practices and techniques on study groups formation, especially for achieving rapid knowledge propagation. This work bridges this gap by presenting a workflow driven computational algorithm for autonomous and unbiased formation of study groups. The system workflow consists of a chronology of stages, each made of distinct steps. Two of the most important steps, subsumed within the algorithmic stage, are the algorithms that resolve the decisional problem of number of study groups to be formed, as well as the most effective permutation of the study group participants to form collaborative pairs. This work contributes a number of new algorithmic concepts, such as autonomous and unbiased matching, exhaustive multiplication technique, twisted round-robin transversal, equilibrium summation, among others. The concept of autonomous and unbiased matching is centered on the constitution of study groups and pairs purely based on the participants’ performances in an examination, rather than through any external process. As part of practical demonstration of this work, study group formation as well as unbiased pairing were fully demonstrated for a collaborative learning size of forty (40) participants, and partially for study groups of 50, 60 and 80 participants. The quantitative proof of this work was done through the technique called equilibrium summation, as well as the calculation of inter-study group Pearson Correlation Coefficients, which resulted in values higher than 0.9 in all cases. Real life experimentation was carried out while teaching Object-Oriented Programming to forty (40) undergraduates between February and May 2021. Empirical result showed that the performance of the learners was improved appreciably. This work will therefore be of immense benefit to the industry, academics and research community involved in collaborative learning.     

Synthesis and characterisation of biodiesel from Nigerian physic nut,castor bean,dika nut and sandbox seed oils

Biodiesel fuels were synthesised from Nigerian physic nut seed (Jatropha curcas), castor bean seed (Ricinus communis), dika nut (Irvingia gabonensis) and sandbox seed (Hura crepitans) oil. The direct base-catalysed transestetification process was employed in the biodiesel production using methanol and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as alcohol and catalyst, respectively. The transesterification process involved 500 ml of J. curcas, castor bean seed, dika nut and sandbox seed oils, 100 ml of methanol and 1.0% of NaOH by weight for each oil. The process was carried out at different reaction temperatures in order to examine the effect of temperature on biodiesel yield of the oils. An average maximum biodiesel yield of 89.00% at 50 °C, 61.50% at 45 °C, 74.33% at 50 °C and 88.50% at 55 °C were obtained for Jatropha, castor, dika nut and sandbox oils, respectively. The calorific values of diesel decreased from 42.7 to 42.475, 41.48, 42.330 and 42.13 MJ/kg with a blend of 10% of physic nut, castor bean, dika nut and sandbox seed biodiesel, respectively. The calorific values of the produced biodiesel from physic nut, castor bean, dika nut and sandbox seed oils are 40.45, 30.50, 39.00 and 37.00 MJ/kg, respectively. The cetane number, kinematic viscosity at 40 °C and pour point of the produced biodiesel are 59.4, 4.20 mm²/s and?1°C for physic nut biodiesel; 50, 10.75 mm²/s and?45°C for castor biodiesel; 52, 3.20 mm²/s and?6°C for dika nut biodiesel and 50, 4.20 mm²/s and 6 °C for sandbox seed biodiesel, respectively. The results showed that the addition of biodiesel to diesel generally increases the density, kinematic viscosity, flash point and pour point but, on the other hand, reduces the calorific value of the produced blend.     

Object Tracking-Based “Follow-Me” Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System

The applications of information technology (IT) tools and techniques have, over the years, simplified complex problem solving procedures. But the power of automation is inhibited by the technicality in manning advanced equipment. To this end, tools deliberately combating this inhibition and advancing technological growth are the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). UAVs are rapidly taking over major industries such as logistics, security, and cinematography. Among others, this is a very efficient way of carrying out missions unconventional to humans. An application area of this technology is the local film industry which is not producing quality movies primarily due to the lack of technical know-how in utilizing these systems. This study therefore aim to devise an autonomous object tracking UAV system that would eliminate the complex procedure involved in stabilizing an aerial camera (aerial bot) midair and promote the creation of quality aerial video shooting. The study adopted Unified Modeling Language (UML) tools in modeling the system’s functionality. The traditional Server-Client model architecture was adopted. The OpenCV library employed proved highly efficient in aiding the tracking procedure. The system provided a usable web controller which provides easy interaction between the pilot and the drone. Conclusively, investments in UAVs would enhance creation of quality graphic contents.