Occurrence and distribution of dibenzofurans and benzo[b]naphthofurans in the crude oils from the Northern and offshore Niger Delta basin,Nigeria

The occurrence and distributions of dibenzofurans (DBFs) and benzo[b]naphthofurans were investigated in crude oils from Niger Delta, Nigeria, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry. The distribution of DBFs was characterized by the predominance of C₂-dibenzofurans. 4-Methyldibenzofuran was the most abundant among the methyldibenzofurans isomers while dimethyldibenzofuran-2 (DMDBF-2), ethyldibenzofuran-1, DMDBF-3, and DMDBF-6 occurred in higher amounts when compared with other DMDBFs. Among the benzonaphthofurans, the abundance of benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]furan was higher than other isomers. The DBFs distributions in the oils were not affected by source facies and depositional environments. However, the DBFs concentrations increased with increasing maturity in oils from ADL and MJO oilfields.     

United Nations advances global environmental awareness

The need to address global environmental concerns on an international basis is discussed. Programs underway are noted. The role of the United Nations (UN) in the International Space Year is examined. Activities planned by the UN are described, and their purpose and funding are discussed     

Processing Effects on Chemical,Functional and Pasting Properties of Cowpea Flour from Different Varieties

Cowpea varieties (IT88D-867-11, IT89KD-288 and MALA) were boiled, roasted, dehulled and later milled into powder. The proximate composition, functional and pasting properties as well as anti-nutritional contents (Tannin) of the product was subsequently determined. The result of the study revealed significant increase (P < 0.05) in the crude protein, crude ash, swelling power and water absorption capacity. Conversely, significant decrease (P < 0.05) was observed in crude fat, starch content, moisture content, solubility and peak viscosity. Boiled samples have significantly higher (P < 0.05) crude protein, swelling power, water absorption capacity, with concomitantly lower solubility and tannin content. Crude ash, moisture, solubility and tannin content of dehulled samples decreased significantly with an increase in protein, swelling power and water absorption capacity. However, IT89KD-288 has the highest protein content irrespective of the processing used. But raw IT89KD-288 showed highest percentage of swelling power, solubility, water absorption capacity and Tannin content. The result revealed that both boiling and dehulling will greatly reduce tannin content of cowpea.     

放电等离子烧结对纳米TiN增强Ti-6Al-4V显微组织和磨损行为的影响（英文）

采用放电等离子烧结(SPS)成功制备Ti-6Al-4V/TiN复合材料。加入Ti-6Al-4V中的TiN含量变化范围为1%~5%(体积分数)。研究添加TiN对Ti-6Al-4V材料致密度、显微组织、硬度和磨损行为的影响。实验结果表明,随着TiN含量的增加,材料的烧结密度从99%降低至97%;而显微硬度值却从HV_(0.1) 389增加至HV_(0.1) 488。X射线衍射(XRD)分析表明,伴随着少量二次Ti_2N相的形成,复合材料中TiN相的衍射峰强度增加。SEM分析表明,SPS烧结Ti-6Al-4V纳米复合材料具有细化的α/β相组织及均匀分散的TiN颗粒。与无添加烧结Ti-6Al-4V相比,Ti-6Al-4V/TiN复合材料的磨损表面呈现非连续的凹槽,抗磨粒磨损性能得到提高。     

Analysis for selected pathogens in water used during rinsing of broiler carcasses in small processing operations in Trinidad

The study was undertaken to quantitatively and/or qualitatively determine the level of selected bacterial pathogens in the water used during the rinsing stage at small retail broiler processing operations utilizing a stagnant rinsing system in Trinidad. Water samples (n=6) were collected weekly from thirteen “pluck shops”, across Trinidad, over a 6-week period. Standard media and procedures were used for isolation, detection and quantification of bacterial pathogens. A significant difference was noted for the prevalence (P=0.004) and mean counts (P=0.03) of Campylobacter spp. across counties. Total aerobic plate count ranged from log₁₀ mean±SD, 4.0±1.3 in Caroni to 5.4±1.0 in St. Andrew/St. David and was significantly different (P=0.01). The differences in the prevalence of Campylobacter for tub-style plucking (83.3%) and drum plucking (58.3%) and mean counts for medium sale log₁₀ mean±SD (2.6±0.8) and low sale shops (2.2±0.9), as well as for tub-style plucking (2.5±0.8) and drum plucking (1.8±0.9) were statistically significant (P<0.05). The prevalence of E. coli, the prevalence and mean count of staphylococci were significantly higher (P<0.05) in operations where tub-style plucking was used compared with drum plucking. Since the quality of the in-process rinse water would affect the quality of the final product, it is recommended that the use of running water or a high frequency of changing the rinse water be implemented in these shops.     

PETROLOGY, PROVENANCE, AND DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS OF THE RESERVOIR SANDSTONES OF OSSU-IZOMBE OILFIELD, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Upper Eocene immature subarkoses derived from Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, older granites and metamorphic rocks, form the reservoir sandstones of the Ossu-Izombe oilfield, Imo State, Nigeria. These sandstones accumulated as part of a deltaic deposit. The vertical section of deltaic facies consists, from base to top, of a progradational sequence (prodelta and delta front), an aggradational unit (delta plain, marsh and interdistributary bay), and an overlying transgressive shallow marine interval. This sequence was penetrated by nearly all of the 15 wells drilled in the area. Reservoir sandstones are present within the distributary mouth bars, point bars, braided stream deposits, and the shallow marine interval.
Thin section studies, electric-log analyses, and data from modern deltas have aided in establishing the environments of deposition of these sandstone bodies. The principal results of this study are: (1) the basal C sandstone represents distributary mouth bar sands deposited at water depths of about 10 m; (2) the intermediate B group consist of point bar and distributary channel sandstone deposits of the lower delta plain; (3) the A-2 sandstone tops the deltaic cycle as a product of braided streams; and (4) a shallow marine deposit, the A-1.1 and A-1 sandstones, occurs at the top of the deltaic cycle.     

Functional properties of selected starter cultures for sour maize bread

This paper focuses on the functional properties of maize sour-dough microflora selected and tested for their use as starter cultures for sour maize bread. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts isolated from spontaneously fermented maize dough were selected based on dominance during fermentation and presence at the end of fermentation. Functional properties examined included acidification, leavening and production of some antimicrobial compounds in the fermenting matrix. The organisms previously identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lb. brevis, Lb. fermentum, Lb. acidophilus, Pediococcus acidilactici, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Leuconostoc dextranicum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used singly and as mixed cultures in the fermentation (fermentation time: 12h at 28+/-2 degrees C) of maize meal (particle size >0.2mm). The pH fell from an initial value of 5.62-3.05 in maize meals fermented with Lb. plantarum; 4.37 in L. dextranicum+S. cerevisiae compared with the value for the control (no starter) of 4.54. Significant differences (P 相似文献   

A Review on the Security of the Internet of Things: Challenges and Solutions

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a modern wave of Internet technologies that promises great transformation of life in areas such as smart health, smart cities, smart homes, intelligent transport, amongst others. However, security often serves as a critical reason for the widespread adoption of any innovation. While the IoT has increased business productivity and enriched diverse areas of life over the years, the world is yet to see a methodical revolution of its humongous application and transformation given its ubiquity and highly interconnected global network structure. The main culprit for such lapses is principally attributed to security and privacy issues which have been widely discussed in research articles and reviews but remain largely unaddressed in the literature. Hence, this paper provides a state-of-the-art review of IoT security and its challenges. It overviews technical and legal solutions that are useful to private, organizational, and governmental enterprises. The study encompasses the review and security analysis of IoT’s evolution and revolution, IoT security assessments, requirements, current research challenges in security and much more. Consequently, it offers potential solutions to address the security challenges discussed and further present open research issues, research gaps, opportunities, future development, and recommendations. This overview is intended to serve as a knowledgebase that will proffer novel foresight to guide users and administrators in positioning themselves and their organizations in a manner that is consistent with their overall objectives, mission, and vision for remarkable outcomes. Likewise, interested scholars and researchers can explore topics and directions from the study in providing better solutions to the numerous problems in IoT security.