Mathematical Research in Digital Age

The time when someone can do real, publishable mathematics completely without the aid of a computer is coming to a close; the use of computers in mathematical research is both widespread and under-acknowledged. Mathematicians use computers in a number of ways. This paper highlights the importance of mathematics and digital age in today2019;s technological advancement; it also explains the influence of digital age on Mathematics research. Key areas where Information and Communication Technology can be applied to Mathematical research are discussed. To demonstrate the use of computer program on Mathematical analysis, some problems were solved analytically and were also solved using computer programs (Mathlab and Python). These two procedures are compared and it is clearly shown that using computer packages to solve Mathematical problems are more efficient, easier and accurate

Nutrient Intakes and Nutritional Status of Mothers and their Under-Five Children in a Rural Community of Oyo State, Nigeria

Malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa contributes to high rates of childhood morbidity and mortality which make it a public health concern in Africa. This study assessed the nutrient intakes and nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children in a rural community of Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 500 households with a mother and child pair were sampled using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Information on household socio-economic status, hygiene practices, breastfeeding practices and clinical observation for signs of malnutrition were collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires by trained interviewers. Weight for age (WAZ), weight for height (WHZ), and height for age (HAZ) for underweight, wasting and stunting, respectively were calculated and assessed by Epi Info software using the NCHS/WHO international reference values. BMI (weight/height2) of mothers were also constructed from the measurements of mothers’ weights and heights. The waist/hip ratio of mothers was also determined. An interactive 24 h recall repeated for three days was used to obtain data on food and nutrient intakes of the women. Information on foods consumed was converted into quantitative data of nutrients using Food Composition Table. The result showed a high proportion (81%) of mothers ate three times daily while 14% ate twice and 5% ate more than thrice daily. The mean daily intakes of calcium, vitamins A, B6, B12, niacin, and folate were found to be inadequate compared with the Recommended Intakes. The WHR of the mothers indicated that majority had low risk. Most of the mothers (69.2%) were normal, underweight 9.6%, overweight 15.8% and obese 5.4%. About 37% of the children were stunted, 18% were underweight and 14.3% were wasted. BMI correlated negatively with age (r = -0.41; p <0.05), and positively with education (r = 0.22; p<0.05) and income (r = 0.45; p <0.05). Clinical observation revealed PEM prevalence in 12% children while eyes pallor and palm pallor were present in 15% and 20% respectively. The nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children is poor with respect to the overall food consumption and micronutrient intake. Consequently, nutrition programmes in this area should include effective measures to promote nutritional status of mothers and children

Biodiesel Washing Water Treatment Using Zeolite and Activated Carbon as Adsorbents

Biodiesel production was produced from the transesterification of palm oil and methanol using KOH catalyst. The process variables considered are methanol to oil mole ratio of 4 – 6 and catalyst concentration of 0.2 – 1.0 wt/wt% Oil, at constant reaction temperature of 60℃ and constant reaction time of 60 minutes. Response surface plot showed that maximum yield of biodiesel (92 %) was obtained at 0.4 wt/wt% catalyst concentration and methanol/oil mole ratio of 7. The conventional activated carbon and zeolite produced were used separately as adsorbents in the treatment of biodiesel washing water. Comparatively, zeolite produced displayed better adsorption property compared to the conventional activated carbon in removing the six heavy metals considered from the biodiesel washing water. For instance, Chromium concentration of 0.0096 mg/L was reduced to 0.0023 mg/L after adsorption treatment with activated carbon (76 % efficiency), while the concentration was reduced to 0.0010 mg/L after the adsorption treatment with zeolite (89 % efficiency)

EFFECTS OF SUBSTITUTION OF FAT WITH MELON SEED MEAL ON QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF PORK SAUSAGES

A study was conducted in which melon seed meal (MSM) replaced fat at 0, 33, 66, and 100% levels in four batches of pork sausages. The chemical and storage properties, cooking weight losses, and sensory properties, of the sausages were determined in the meat processing laboratory. The results showed that MSM increased both ash and crude protein contents. The highest ether extract (36%) was obtained for batch 1 (control) while the lowest value (25.50%) was recorded for batch 4. The values obtained for refrigeration weight losses increased with increase in MSM while the results for dry matter were statistically insignificant. Batch 3 had the highest cooking weight loss of 0.83% whilebatch one had the lowest value of 0.30%. The values obtained for sensory properties increased with increase in the level of MSM up to 66%. It was concluded that pork back fat can be replaced with MSM in pork sausage without adverse effect on processing yield

Biodegradation of Waste Papers: A Sustainable Technology for a Clean Environment

Solid wastes have posed problems of pollution in both developed and developing countries where they are found in large quantities due to domestic and industrial utilization of such materials, the inability to recycle all wastes has provided the nudging to delve into alternative method of waste management. This project aims at analyzing the effect of fungi metabolites (Enzyme); (Rhizopus) in the bioconversion of waste papers (Foolscap, Newspaper and Brown envelop) into fermentable or reducing sugars. Proximate analysis, alkaline pretreatment with sodium hydroxide and process of deinking for the removal of inks for higher susceptibility of the substrate were carried out on paper samples. Hydrolysis using enzyme was carried out for 7 days. Concentration of reducing sugar present in the samples was done using the Dinitrosalicylic acid test method. Effects of Temperature on the waste sample were analyzed at 37, 40 and 45°C

LAND REMEDIATION AND RECLAMATION TECHNIQUES THROUGH THE BIODEGRADATION OF WASTE PAPERS

Waste materials are one of the major components of solid organic waste that pollutes land. Inappropriate disposal of municipal waste (solid) not only affects land but is also a source of danger to inhabitants. The management of residue from incineration is an integral part of waste disposal/management systems. This research provides a collection and bio-treatment technologies for various types of waste paper such as office paper and newspaper as feedstock using two microorganisms: Serratia and Rhizopus to convert them to reducing sugars. The percentages of reducing sugar present in the samples before, during and after hydrolysis were determined using the dinitrosalicylic (DNS) acid test method. The effect of temperature on the substrate was analyzed at 37, 40, and 45°C. This research shows that waste paper can be converted into useful materials

Extraction of oil from selected plants using Response Surface Methodology [RSM]

This study involves the extraction of oil from three sources: orange peel, guava leaves, and cassia fistula leaves using Soxhlet apparatus. The variables considered in this study were time of extraction and sample weight. Minitab statistical software was used to randomize the runs. The combination of operating parameters that gave the optimum yield for the three sources were identified. The regression equation for each source was reported. The coefficient of determination (R2) value for orange, guava leaves and cassia fistula extract were 99.51%, 99.90%, and 99.77% respectively. This shows that the model is a good prediction tool for extraction of oil from these sources. Based on the R2 values guava leaves (99.90%) gave the highest prediction accuracy followed by Cassia fistula (99.90%), with orange leaves having the lowest R2 value (99.77%) among the three sources considere

Oxirane Ring Opening of Rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) Seed Oil by Perfomic Acid

Studies on the epoxidation of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed oil, a renewable source with formic acid was performed in the presence of 30% hydrogen peroxide at a of temperature 40, 50,60,70 oC. The process is favoured by an increase in temperature forming a product with high oxirane content which is as a result of mole ratios of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Products of high oxirane content are commercialy viable in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Natural rubber and other products can be obtained from this in- situ technique. Studies in this research shows that the rate of epoxidation increases with an increase in temperature.Oxirane values of 2.30, 3.62 and 4.73 for the various temperature. However high oxirane content of 6.22 was obtained at 70 oC which is in line with literature. FTIR analysis was also carried out on the epoxidized rubber seed oil which shows the peaks of oxirane cleavage

Phytochemicals and Anti-Microbial Properties of Neem (Azadirachta indica) Seed Oil Extract

The neem tree is popularly known in Nigeria as ‘Dogonyaro’ and has been known across the world for its various answers facing some major health concerns to human race. This paper aims at evaluating the oil extract of neem seeds for it anti-microbial properties, phytochemical screening as well as the GC-MS analysis. Soxhlet extraction method was used with hexane as solvent. Phytochemical analysis on the oil showed the presence of triterpenes within which the main ingredient azadirachtin was found while the anti-microbial analysis carried out on the oil indicated a high inhibition zone on fungal microbes – Candida albicans and Rhizopus which cause Candidiasis and ketoacidosis in man which can be fatal. Hence drugs can be formulated in treating such diseases from the neem oil