Investigation of average daily water consumption and its impact on weight gain in captive common buzzards (Buteo buteo) in Greece

This investigation was to find out whether captive common buzzards need additional drinking water to complement the water they obtain from their pre-slaughtered meat meals and to investigate their average daily water requirements. Twenty five (25) common buzzards were studied at the wildlife hospital and rehabilitation centre, Aegina, Greece with weight ranging between 498.4g and 911g. Large quantity of potable water was measured equally into same size ceramic bowls and served each bird under study in separate individual paper boxes. At the end of 24 hours, the left over water was carefully brought out and re-measured to determine the quantity the birds have consumed. A control was set with a ceramic bowl with same quantity of water put in a paper box without a bird to determine the quantity of water lost to the atmosphere through evaporation on each day of the experiment. The water lost from the control on a daily basis was corrected in order to determine the quantity the common buzzards consumed daily. The weight of the studied buzzards were carefully taken and recorded 6 times each during the study period with W1 and W6 as entry and exit weights respectively. The mean of W1-W6 was used for the computation of the average percentage live body weight of the buzzards. The investigation revealed that captive common buzzards took water every day and the average daily water consumption of 724.9g buzzard was 31.4cc or 4.3% of its live body weight. The investigation further shows that the average water lost by evaporation daily (10.7cc) and that consumed by each buzzard daily (31.4cc) add up to 5.8%, equivalent of the average live body weight of the studied captive common buzzards which was 724.9g. The regression coefficient indicated that weight gain/ loss = 0.942 + 1.795 H2O. This implies that a unit increase in the average quantity of water consumed resulted in a corresponding increase of 1.795 body weight gain by the captive common buzzards.Keywords: Daily water consumption, Weight Gain, Captive common buzzards

STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF NIGERIAN QUARTZITIC AND KAOLINITIC CLAYS IN WALL TILE COMPOSITION

Clays from four different deposits in Abeokuta, Nigeria (Abiola Way 1 (AW1), Abiola Way 2 (AW2), Asero (AS), Mysis (MY)) have been investigated. Their chemical compositions were determined by Atomic absorption spectroscopy and the most crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction. Wall tile specimens were formulated with clay, wood ash (flux) and quartz (filler). The compositions of the wood ash and quartz were kept constant in the wall tile composition. The results revealed that the  wall tile composition containing higher amount of quartzitic clays, exhibited lower shrinkage, higher water absorption rate while lower strength and the wall tile containing higher amount of kaolinitic clay showed higher shrinkage, higher strength due to better densification and lowest water absorption rate in the temperature range of 1050-11500C.Â

Evaluation of A Clay Mineral Deposit in Abeokuta, South-West Nigeria

Clay, in regard to its origin is unique. The kaolin of the mine of Ajebo has a hydrothermal geological formation. It presents itself a fragile and crumbly material, of whitish colour. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the clay mineral of Ajebo deposit, its microstructure using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis (DSC/TG). The results showed that Ajebo clay belongs to the kaolin group (Kaolinite, nacrite, dickite, and halloysite). Elementary analysis showed the mineral to be composed mainly of aluminium, oxygen and silicon, with a low content of iron. The dehydrated state of the mineral was confirmed by XRD analysis; the basal spacing reflections indicate a sharp peak at 7Å of d001 and the absence of a peak at 10Å, which is indicative of hydrated kaolin. The SEM/SE studies indicated that Ajebo clay mineral particles are smaller than 10μm, forming agglomerates. &nbsp

THE INFLUENCE OF INGOT GEOMETRY ON TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION IN HCSS316 DURING HOT ROLLING

The effects of material geometry on rolling parameters such as yield stress, rolling load and torque have been studied. In this work, geometrical variation is intruded into the Reverse Sandwich Rolling Model (RSM) for high carbon stainless steel type 316 (HCSS316). The modification affords evaluation of the possible effect of geometry of the in-going strip of HCSS316 on temperature distribution in the material during hot rolling. Simulation of the model was carried out using FORTRAN 77. The computer code was validated with hot rolling experimental data from two high-reversing hot rolling mills with different roll diameter. Results of the simulation revealed a symmetrical temperature distribution from the rolling surfaces, to the mid-thickness of the specimen where in peaked. Thos pattern was consistent for specimens with different geometry. The results showed agreement with experimental inferences

SIMULATION OF THE DYNAMICS OF CASSAVA STEM CUTTINGS ON AN INCLINED WOOD SURFACE

Development of precision machines to handle some of the field activities involved in the cultivation of cassava is a highly welcomed project among young enterprising farmers who are keen in resolving the posterity of their wellbeing as a big time farmer. Mechanization of cassava in the tropics is grossly hampered by lack of extensive knowlegde on the behaviour, physical properties of cassava stems and parameters that have great influence on the handling of the stems during cultivation, hence the limita-tion of advancing the present semi-automatic planter to fully automated one is still a mirage in the tropics. This paper presents the flow properties of cassava cuttings that can lend it to proper handling in a metering machine. A variable inclined wood surface rig with an ejection outlet was used to study the properties of the stem. Measured cassava stem predictive parameters; diamater, lentgh,weight; angle variation on the rig; response parameters; percentage ejected, percentage sliding through, forces acting on stems were obtained. The results from the study could be used to predict acurately the exact dynamics of a given stem isolated from the bulk of stem cuttings stacked in the metering hopper. Models to predict the flow properties of the stems were obtained; further simulation of the dynamics was embarked upon using MATLAB software. A major transition zone of stem characteris-tics per pecentage sliding to ejection occurred within the range of angles of 150 -300. This might be a favourable angular zone for isolating the stems from the bulk mass while the effectively isolated stems can be metered appropriately by another mechanism in the process of developing a metering device for cassava stem cuttings

Modeling and Simulation of Void Closure during Steckel Mill Rolling for Steel Plate

Internal void defects as shrinkage porosity, gas bubble, and thermo-mechanical cracks are usually formed during steel casting processes. These defects have critical impact on the quality and service life of hot-rolled products. Study of the possibility of self-healing of existing internal defects during hot-rolling process has been of interest to industry and researchers. Prediction of void closure is extremely useful in relation to better product design and manufacturing process optimization. Herein, a 3D finite element model of the slab hot-rolling process is developed to simulate and analyze the healing of internal voids in hot-rolled steel plate. The material model for the steel plate is developed based on Johnson–Cook constitutive relation to accurately represent its viscoplastic behavior at high temperatures as well as account for strain rate sensitivity. The study evaluates the thermal and mechanical response of low-carbon steel slabs having pre-existing voids during multi-pass strands reverse hot-rolling process. Through thickness plastic strains within the slab are found to influence void closure. Results show that variation in void size and locations also affect the healing possibilities. Finally, the effect of thermal history and thermo-mechanical stresses on void closure is studied