Evaluation of Intelligent Wells Performance in a Five-Spot Arrangement

The efficiency of water flooding processes can be improved by installing intelligent wells which are good candidates for control and optimization. Optimal control theory based on adjoint formulations was found to be efficient for reservoir optimization. However, this solution approach is local and may not be suitable for comparing design alternatives. In this work, an approach for determining an optimal starting point for optimal control theory procedure was developed to give near global optima. The performance in terms of net present value (NPV) of two forms of five-spot pattern was compared. The method results to similar performances of the two alternatives because it was formulated to give true optimal solution trajectories. It was found that regular five-spot pattern results to a NPV in excess of $4,900 over inverted design. Respective increase in oil and water productions of 0.23% and 0.22% were recorded for former design against the later.Keywords: intelligent wells; adjoint; optimal control theory; global optimum; water flooding

Purification characterization and inhibition studies on Phospholipase C from Opisthacanthus capensis (Black Scorpion) venom

Phospholipase C from Opisthacanthus capensis venom was partially purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified 105.2 fold with an overall yield of 13% using various purification steps involving ammonium sulphate precipitation, protamine sulphate treatment, sephadex G-75  fractionation and DE-52 anion exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme was  homogeneous with a molecular weight of 29 kDa. The  phospholipase C has pH and temperature optima of 7.2 and 600C, respectively with activation energy of 25KJ/mol and t1/2 of 1.50 hr. Initial velocity studies on O. capensis venom phospholipase C revealed a KM of 0.02 mM and Vmax of 0.015 μmol/min. Studies on the effect of pH on KM and Vmax gave PKa1 of 6.9 and PKa2 of 7.4 with enthalpy of ionization of 20 KJ/mol suggesting  histidine in the active site. The enzyme was positively modulated by Mg2+, Zn2+ and Ca2+ and negatively by Fe2+. While Hg2+ produced complete inhibition. Various concentrations of leaf aqueous extract of Momordica charantia also inhibited the activity of O. capensis venom phospholipase C in vitro with a competitive pattern. This study revealed the presence of phospholipase C in O. capensis venom and gave some scientific basis for the use of theplant in the treatment of scorpion envenomation.Keywords: Phospholipase C; Opisthacanthus capensis;  Momordica charantia; Veno

Determination of minerals, vitamins, antinutrient and amino acid profile of pumpkin pie produced pumpkin (cucurbeta spp) puree and wheat (tritium aestivum) flour supplemented with spices and butter

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), is one of the most popular vegetables consumed in the world, has been recently recognized as a functional food. Traditional crops including the pumpkins, which are rich in micronutrients, are not consumed widely by smallholder farmers in Africa. However, the cultivation of high yielding, nutrient-rich, multipurpose crops-like pumpkin is important in solving the problems of malnutrition and contributing to food security in Africa including Nigeria. Objectives: Therefore, this work aimed at producing Pumpkin pie from Pumpkin puree and wheat supplemented with some indigenous spices alongside butter. Methodology: Formulations into various formed were made using Pearson's method. The formulations were assayed for mineral, vitamin, antinutrient and amino acid composition using standard laboratory methods. A significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in Zn and Ca content of all the samples, with sample D recording the highest value for Zn (1.30±0.01) mg/g and Ca (0.47±0.01) mg/g. However, samples A and D had the least values for Na and Fe. An increasing and decreasing pattern was observed in all the vitamin contents(B 1, B 2 , B 6 , B12 and C), moving from samples A through to D. Vitamin contents of samples B1 and B6 and higher than he RDA, while B2 , B12 and C were below RDA. The overall antinutrient contents observed were generally low, with sample A having the lowest values for Phytate, Oxalate and tannins. The B, C and D are more enhanced in terms of essential amino acids compared to the control group (sample A). Conclusion: Pumpkin pie can be produced from pumpkin and its supplementation of the spices can boost the pie with essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamin composition. This shows the potential of using pumpkin pie as snacks in-between meals for the prevention of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM).&nbsp

Studies on the glycemic response of wheat at various level of processing fed to normal healthy rats

In this study, glycemic response was studied using wheat at various forms of processing. The study was aimed at estimating the glycemic index of various processing effect subjected to wheat, in normal rats using white bread as standard (control). Twenty rats were separated into four groups of five rats: one control group and three experimental groups. Group one was given durum wheat spaghetti, group two was given whole wheat, group three was given dehulled wheat and group four was given white bread (control). For the purpose of consistency, the samples were ground into flour and made into viscous paste using flour and water in a ratio of 1:3 respectively. Blood samples were collected from the tip of rats' tails at fasting and also at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes post feed respectively. Blood glucose level was determined using Accu-Chek glucometer and test strips. Dehulled wheat showed the highest blood glucose level at 30 minutes and 60 minutes post feeding, while whole wheat showed the highest blood glucose level at 90 minutes. Durum wheat showed the lowest blood glucose level at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and 120 minutes. In conclusion, the study revealed that dehulled wheat has the highest glycemic response while durum wheat spaghetti has the lowest glycemic response

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen among hepatitis B surface antigen-negative blood donors in Ilorin, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Background: Post-transfusion hepatitis occurs even with stringent donor selection criteria and screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in HBsAg-negative blood donors.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 HBsAg-negative blood donors were recruited. Screening for viral markers was done using both a rapid test kit and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-HBc IgM. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of anti-HBc IgM was done by “capture” enzyme immunoassay using DIA.PRO HBc IgM test kits. The other viral markers were investigated using one step cassette style HBV tests. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis. A P-value of 0.05 or less was considered significant.Results: There were 190 male (95%) and 10 female (5%) blood donors, with a mean age of 31.7 ± 7.9 years. The prevalence of anti-HBc IgM was 4%. The other viral markers (HBeAg, anti-HBeAg, anti-HBs and total anti-HBc) had a prevalence of 1.5%, 23%, 2.5%, and 32.5%, respectively.Conclusions: The prevalence of anti-HBc IgM in this study was high, and this supports the fact that screening blood donors for HBsAg alone is not sufficient to prevent transmission of HBV

Effect of processing (sprouting and fermentation) of five local varieties of sorghum on some biochemical parameters

The effect of processing (combined sprouting and fermentation) on chemical composition, tannin content, in vitro protein digestibility and mineral element composition of five local varieties were studied. The five varieties studied were: "chakalari white, chakalari red, yafimoro, tumbuna and mire". The parameters were assayed using standard methods (proximate analysis, tannin content, in-vitro protein digestibility and mineral element composition). The results for tannin content showed that processing decreased tannin content between the ranges of 2.08%-14.58% for the five cultivars. As for mineral composition, there was a general decrease in percentage mineral composition of most varieties when comparison was made between raw and processed samples. Processing increased protein digestibility which ranged between 93.78%-95.68% as compared to the unprocessed samples. These result hence showed that processing (combined sprouting and fermentation) decreases the tannin content of sorghum, increases in-vitro protein digestibility and decreases mineral element composition of sorghum

Spatial analysis from remotely sensed observations of Congo basin of East African high Land to drain water using gravity for sustainable management of low laying Chad basin of Central Africa

The Chad basin which covers an area of about 2.4 million kilometer square is one of the largest drainage basins in Africa in the centre of Lake Chad .This basin was formed as a result of rifting and drifting episode, as such it has no outlet to the oceans or seas. It contains large area of desert from the north to the west. The basin covers in part seven countries such as Chad, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Cameroun, Niger, Sudan and Algeria. It is named Chad basin because 43.9% falls in Chad republic. Since its formation, the basin continues to experienced water shortage due to the activities of Dams combination, increase in irrigations and general reduction in rainfall. Chad basin needs an external water source for it to be function at sustainable level, hence needs for exploitation of higher east African river basin called Congo basin; which covers an area of 3.7 million square km lies in an astride the equator in west-central Africa-world second largest river basin after Amazon. The Congo River almost pans around republic of Congo, the democratic republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, part of Cameroun, and Tanzania. The remotely sensed imagery analysis and observation revealed that Congo basin is on the elevation of 275 to 460 meters and the Chad basin is on elevation of 240 meters. This implies that water can be drained from Congo basin via headrace down to the Chad basin for the water sustainability

Intestinal helminthiasis and its impact on haematological parameters of patients with endemic Burkitt ‘s lymphoma in northern Nigeria: clinical implications on cancer chemotherapy

Background: Endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma (eBL) and intestinal helminthiasis are common morbidities in Nigeria and share similar epidemiology with respect to age, tropical climate, underdevelopment and poverty. Hence, we predicted that eBL patients with helminthiasis will have a higher risk of anaemia than their counterparts without helminthiasis. Objective: To study the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis among eBL patients, and determine relative risk of anaemia in eBL patients with and without helminthiasis before commencing cancer chemotherapy.Methodology: Retrospective analysis of haematological parameters and stool microscopy data of eBL patients diagnosed in an aggregate period of 36 years at different time intervals between 1995-2013 in five northern Nigerian tertiary hospitals.Result: Out of 312 eBL patients, 233(74.7%) had helminthiasis. Soil transmitted helminths were predominant. Compared to their counterparts without helminthiasis, eBL patients with helminthiasis had higher mean eosinophil count (0.48 vs. 0.3x109/l, p=0.01), higher mean platelet count (405 vs. 236x109/l, p=0.007), lower mean corpuscular volume (77.2 vs. 83.3fl, p=0.02) and higher prevalence of anaemia (65.2% vs. 13.9%, p=0.008). Patients with helminthiasis have high relative risk of anaemia (RR=3.4, CI95%: 2.3-4.5, p=0.006).Conclusion: Prevalence of helminthiasis in eBL patients is high and strongly associated with microcytic anaemia. Helminthiasis and anaemia are undesirable in eBL patients because cancer chemotherapy would potentially depress marrow and immunity, disseminate helminthiasis, aggravate anaemia and increase risk of transfusion. Hence, there is need for mandatory pre-chemotherapy stool screening for helminthiasis among eBL patients. Infected patients should be de-wormed before commencing chemotherapy, while nutritional and iron supplementation should be offered to anaemic patients.Keywords: Gastrointestinal Parasites, Prevalence, Malignancy, Iron Deficiency, Anaemi

Pattern, indications and gastrointestinal complications of over-the-counter traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use among haemophiliacs in northern Nigeria: a critical appraisal of a small case series

Background: coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) is scarce in Nigeria. Therefore, musculo-skeletal bleeding and other painful conditions including dental diseases are neither promptly nor optimally treated, thus encouraging self-medication with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs), which are associated with gastrointestinal bleed. Frequency of self-medication with tNSAIDs among Nigerian haemophiliacs is unknown. Hence, pattern of tNSAID-associated gastrointestinal complications has not been documented.Objective: To determine pattern, indications and gastrointestinal complications of over-the-counter tNSAIDs self-medications among Nigerian haemophiliacs.Methodology: Retrospective analysis of demographic and clinical data of 17 haemophiliacs who used tNSAIDs on self-medication and subsequently self-reported at hospitals because of intolerable gastrointestinal symptoms as documented in five tertiary hospitals.Result: Indications for tNSAIDs self-medication showed adults had higher prevalence of chronic arthropathy (42.9%vs.10%), while children had higher prevalence of acute haemarthrosis (30%vs.14.3%) and toothache (30%vs.14.3%). Mean number of days of tNSAIDs consumption was 3.8 (for patients who reported dyspepsia only), 6.9 (for patients who reported dyspepsia and melaena), and 9.4 (for patients who reported dyspepsia, melaena and haematemesis).Conclusion: tNSAIDs are not safe in haemophiliacs. Risk and severity of tNSAID-induced dyspepsia and gastrointestinal bleed in haemophiliacs correlated with duration of consumption. Government should set-up haemophilia centres with adequate FVIII for optimal and prompt management of musculo-skeletal, dental and other morbidities. Healthcare personnel should intensify counseling against tNSAIDs self-medication, and ensure pain is always promptly and optimally managed according to World Federation of Haemophilia guidelines for safe analgesia in haemophilia.Keywords: Haemophilia-A, Musculo-skeletal pain, Toothache, Analgesics, Melaena, Haematemesi