Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research

1-6

Authors: Wafa Barhoumi, Hula AlKhassawneh

As online learning environment is growing among universities worldwide including developing countries; still, there are some difficulties that might interrupt the implementation of this environment; such as: Technological difficulties and/or Skills lacking. The aim of this research is to identify the usage of Blackboard as a blended learning tool by which the faculty members and students recognize the perceptions and scope of e-learning programs and get trained to use the technology like blackboard in Education. The sample surveyed in this study was 35 faculty members and instructors at University of Hail (UOH), College of Computer Science and Software Engineering and 150 students. A descriptive methodology has involved analysis of the implemented online system at the college CCSE of UOH and how faculty members and students are interacting with it. The main obstacles found in the study were: Lack of needed training and experience in using ICT (Information & Communication Technology), lack of continuous internet connection and smooth communication, lack of encouragement and restricted rules. Faculty members are invited to develop their technological skills and the experience in using ICT especially in producing electronic materials such as: recording lectures via Echo application, upload videos on YouTube channel, slide share etc.

11-13

Authors: Shakhrukh Kh. Daliev, Sergey I. Vlasov

By means of methods of capacitance spectroscopy CC-DLTS and is high-frequency capacitance-voltage characteristics non-equilibrium processes in the bulk and at the interface Si-SiO2 of MIS-structures on the basis of the silicon-doped hafnium are investigated. It is revealed, that presence of electro-neutral impurity Hf at structures leads to increase Nss, but appreciable change in distribution Nss on Eg is not observed. It is established, that presence electroactive Hf leads to a further increase Nss of structures and occurrence of the peaks connected with levels hafnium in silicon.

22-27

Authors: Ahmad Adlie Shamsuri, Muhammad IzzuddinSyariff Tan

In this research, natural fibre such as kenaf core fibre (KCF) was used as filler for preparation of the biocomposites. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has been selected as a polymer matrix for preparation of the biocomposites due to its low production cost. Besides that, chitosan was used as secondary filler to investigate its effect on mechanical properties of the prepared biocomposites. Brabender internal mixer was used to composite the materials at temperature of 150°C. The process was taken about 15 minutes to complete the compositing. After that, the biocomposites were moulded into sheet with 1 mm thickness by using compression moulding machine at 150 °C for 2 minutes. Then, the samples were cut into dumbbell and rectangular shapes to perform tensile and impact tests, respectively. For tensile test, the machine used was Instron universal testing machine which done according to the ASTM D638-10, while for impact test, the machine utilised was Instron impact testing machine which conducted in accordance with the ASTM D256-10. The results of tensile stress,tensile modulus, tensile strain and impact strength were recorded and analysed at the end of the tests.

31-38

Authors: Kareem MO, Oluwasegun KM, Alabi IO, Aderonmu MA

This work studied the effects of precipitation hardening on multistage stirred cast alumina reinforced AA 6063 composite through production of alumina reinforced AA6063 alloy by four stage stir casting method, determination of effect of precipitation hardening heat treatment and characterization of microstructures and some mechanical properties of as-cast and heat treated samples of aluminium matrix composites. The amounts of AA 6063 and alumina particles required for the production of aluminium composites with 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 volume percent of alumina were determined by charge calculations. The particles of alumina were initially pre- heated at 300 oC to enhance wetability with aluminium alloy. The AA 6063 alloy was charged into a gas fired crucible furnace and the liquid was allowed to cool to a viscous mass at temperature of about 600 oC so as to introduce alumina particles. Stirring operations were performed manually and mechanically at 750 oC and 300 rpm, to ensure uniform distribution of reinforcement within the matrix, before pouring into permanent metal mould. The samples produced were solutionized at 550 oC for one hour, quenched in water and later aged at 180 oC for 2, 3 and 4 hours. Some samples were reserved for control experimentation. Mechanical responses of the composite were investigated by tensile, hardness and impact test carried out on the samples. The structures of the samples were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopes. The results trend showed that as the volume fraction of alumina and aging time increase, the strength and hardness values also increase with corresponding decrease in impact value. Composite with 15% alumina aged at 4 hours showed highest strength and hardness values of 262.77 MPa and 64.12 BHN, respectively with impact value of 9.86 J. The study showed that multistage stir casting method and precipitation hardening heat treatment are capable of improving the mechanical properties of AA 6063-Al2O3 composites.

48-50

Authors: B. Tirumala Rao, B. Venkateswarlu, C. V. Narasimha Murthy

Fluoride has been known to cause significant effect on human health through drinking water. Excessive ingestion of fluorides not only causes dental and skeletal fluorosis but also leads to gastro intestinal disturbances. Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, India is having severe fluorosis. Higher concentrations of fluorides in water disturb the metabolism of animals including fish and other aquatic animals. Fish, are sensitive to environmental disturbances and in particular to any chemical change in aquatic environment. Fluoride mainly affects the level of glucose, lipid, protein, cholesterol and glycogen metabolisms, which play an important role in growth, reproduction and survival of fishes. Bioaccumulation of fluorides in aquatic animals is a serious threat to human beings because they are going to consume these aquatic animals as their food. Hence in the present study an attempt is made to know the fluoride concentration in the Fish, Prawns and crabs that were grown in the Prakasam district. The results shows that the fluoride levels in different fish and prawns were beyond the admissible limits. Potential adverse effects of fluoride in fishes and role of fluoride on aquaculture were discussed. This information is highly useful in the environmental risk assessment of freshwater fish and other aquatic organisms due to fluorides. The implications of fluoride toxicity to the fish and prawn to human beings was discussed.

53-61

Authors: R.S. Asatryan, H.S. Karayan, N.R. Khachatryan

The creation of optoelectronic devices and systems with the best metrological parameters that enable the operational analysis of basic physical and environmental parameters, and distant monitoring of the atmosphere and air infrared environmental control of vast forest spaces (for detection of fires in the early stages of their development) and pipelines of natural gas is a very important task. The present work is devoted to presenting the results of research and development work on the development of metrological providing methods and manufacturing of optical-electronic instruments for environmental purposes to explore the basic physical and ecological parameters of the atmosphere, as well as monitoring atmospheric CO2 and H2O vapor on the horizontal path, infrared (IR) spectral analysis of hot gas ejections from industrial plants in the spectral range from 2.5 to 5.5µm, at a distance of 3000m, and forest spaces and main gas pipelines.

67-73

Authors: V. HariPriya, R. Senthil Kumaran

Mobile Sink based Routing Protocol (MSBPR) is used to send the packets from source to destination directly without visiting all the regions in the scenario. Packets are not sent from source to destination directly in a previous proposed protocol. The performance of MSBRP is compared with the previously proposed protocol that is Mobile Sink-based adaptive Immune Energy Efficient clustering Protocol (MSIEEP). In that protocol Adaptive Immune Algorithm (AIA) is used to find the Cluster Heads (CHs), after finding the CH the packets are sent from source to destination not in a straight form, it sends the information region by region. Simulation result show that MSBRP is more reliable and energy efficient as compared with other protocols. Furthermore, it improves the lifetime and stability period over the previous protocol, because it always selects CHs from high-energy nodes.

86-90

Authors: Zhu Mengshu, Pan Haize, Miao Wei, He Jian

Dredging project has the characteristics of large investment, long construction period and complicated engineering. It is because of these characteristics that the risk of dredging is high, so it is necessary to carry out the risk management research on the dredging project. In this paper, according to the characteristics of dredging engineering, the risk source of the project is identified and the countermeasures are put forward to provide reference for the risk management of the dredging project.

99-105

Authors: Mücahit Eroğlu, Dursun Şen

This study was carried out between the March 2008 and February 2009 so as to search seasonal changes of serum testosterone and cholesterol of 180 male individuals and estradiol and cholesterol of 180 female individuals belonging to Capoeta trutta population in Karakaya Dam Lake. Reproduction period of the population was determined to be between May and June. The amount of testosterone which belongs to male individuals of C. trutta population was reported to be changeable between 20.20 ng/dl and 1423 ng/dl and the amount of cholesterol was found to be 112.62 mg/dl – 937.91 mg/dl. Amount of estradiol was determined to be between 20.10 pg/ml – 3855 pg/ml and the amount of cholesterol was between 83.67 mg/dl – 984.71 mg/dl for the female population.

116-122

Authors: C. Setyawan, C. Y. Lee

Land degradation in form of erosion and sedimentation has been known as one ofthe critical issues in the last decade. Heavy erosion results a huge number of sludge and sediment in downstream, reducesthe capacity of the reservoir and destroys many public facilities. This study was focusing on sediment delivery ratio (SDR) assessment. A tropical river basin which is located in the upstream of a multi-purpose reservoir was selected as the study site. We calculated soil erosion, suspended load sediment and classified the basin into ten sub-basins to estimate the SDR. Erosion in each sub-basin was calculated using RUSLE model, integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), meanwhile, suspended load was calculated by regression equation. The results shown that the mean SDR value of the study site was 0.14. Suspended load concentration in the south part was higher than the north part. This study provides useful references to estimate the suspended load yield and also provides reference forsedimentation studies, particularly in the tropics.

129-136

Authors: Sung Bin Han

Spark ignition engines for gasoline were mixed with ethanol and methanol fuel, and various performance characteristics and exhaust gas characteristics were compared and analyzed. Regarding the engine speed change, the torque, the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP), and the engine output are the largest gasoline, and although there is a slight difference, the torque and engine output tend to be reduced when the amount of mixture of ethanol and methanol is increased. The emission of CO, HC, and NOx decreased rapidly as the ethanol and methanol contents increased. Especially, when ethanol and methanol were added to gasoline at 1,400 rpm, exhaust gas was optimal. Especially, the effect of ethanol addition was greater than that of methanol.

143-151

Authors: Muneeb Ahmed, Muhamad Waqas, Atif Saleem, Uzair Mehmood

This article presents a novel control algorithm to quench the chaotic behavior in nonlinear magnetic levitation system. This algorithm not only mitigates the chaotic vibration and enables system to track reference command. System dynamic modeling is presented, the open loop system is simulating and chaotic behavior is analyzed using system state trajectories. A control algorithm is proposed and closed loop system is simulated and analyzed using its state trajectories. The results show that the proposed control algorithm not only has simpler structure to be implemented but also it is optimal with respect to the convergence time. This algorithm is very successful in eliminating the chaotic vibration as well as allows the system to synchronize with an external reference signal.

157-162

Authors: Xinyu Xue, Zhiyan Wang, Shuang Fang

Ozone layer refers to the stratospheric stratosphere in the relatively high concentration of ozone, which plays an important role in absorbing ultraviolet light, heating the atmosphere and greenhouse gases. However, since the 1970s, the total amount of atmospheric ozone has been found to remain in a state of continuous decline. In this paper, we select the total amount of atmospheric ozone and ozone hole area as the index that we measure the level of atmospheric ozone indicators. Meanwhile, establish ARIMA time series model based on the continuity of the development of things to predict the next five years of ozone levels to predict ozone levels in the next fifty years. First, in order to eliminate the trend, seasonal and nonstationarity of the actual time series, we use Box-Jenkins method (difference method) to transform the sequence into a stationary sequence by the A-order difference operation. Secondly, based on the continuity of the development of things, we use the AIC and BIC criteria to establish the ARIMA model, and use Matlab software programming to solve the model parameters, calculate the original data 50 step prediction.

166-171

Authors: Paul Kizito, Marystella K. Lubega

This study sought to address the issues pertaining to injection risky behavior among the drug dependent youth in Korogocho slums, Nairobi County. A sample size of 200 respondents comprising of youths living in Korogocho slums aged between 15-30 years was used. The descriptive research design was used in the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). The ethical issues were a priority for this study.The study finding revealed that to a larger extend, education level tend to determine the knowledge capability in terms of effects of drugs on HIV/AIDS transmission. The findings indicated that 60% of the respondents had attained secondary education; however, 85% of respondents had no specific jobs despite their education level. Education is vital in determining risky injection behaviour in relation to HIV/Aids. Most youths were married and some are separated or widowed at an early age a fact which exposed them to engage in risky injection drug behaviour with subsequent exposure to HIV/Aids. The study recommended that more health awareness programs pertaining to injection related risky behaviors in relation to HIV/Aids be unveiled. Education must also be a priority in order to produce a skillful generation of youth who can access employment.

176-197

Authors: Andris Buikis

In this paper we look over history of conservative averaging method in last 50 - 100 years. Some well-known mathematicians in classical papers investigated problems with non-classical boundary conditions, which have derivatives in boundary conditions equal or higher as derivatives in the main partial differential equation. Forty or fifty years ago it was important to construct mathematical models for intensification of the crude oil or gas output. We have experience in around 30 years in these fields. Most of the papers were published in Russian language. We have made short overlook of some most important papers. In these papers were investigating problems with non-classical boundary conditions, mathematical basis of method of conservative averaging was constructed. For the situation with layered media we have introduced integral spline, which fulfils the energy or mass conservation in new simplified (less dimensional) formulation of the problem. We introduce new hyperbolic approximation for conservative averaging method. In the paper is given a new representation for classic cubic spline. Our new formula allows calculating spline values with O(n) operations.

208-220

Authors: Chengdong Li, Xiao Du, Jing He, Fengxing Ge

Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) are materials designed for the aircraft industry applications, such as cargo door, upper fuselage and lower wing panels. They are composed of ductile aluminum layers with high strength fiber reinforced polymer layers. The three main types of FMLs investigated so far are based on aramid, glass and carbon fibers with aluminum alloys. FMLs with different metallic materials and polymer matrices are also introduced. Several important mechanical properties and test methods are discussed. It has been established that the off-axis angles of fibers affect the tensile properties significantly. As a result, multilayers with combinations of different fiber directions and fiber types have been used to face the complicated stress distributions in applications. So far, however, only uniaxial tests have been used to characterize the mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strengths, which cannot reflect the real loading situation of the FML applications. So, biaxial tensile tests are suggested to characterize the overall tensile and flexural behavior when different off-axis angle combinations are present. To provide a theoretical basis for the multiaxial tests, a general multiaxial stress-strain analytical model based on classical laminate theory is proposed to guide experimental methods and compare the test results. This model can apply to various configurations of laminates, including multiple fiber off axis angles and both the elastic and plastic regions of stress-strain curves.

230-238

Authors: Asadu AN, Chinemelu SE

This research was carried out on ditch cutting rock samples from an EXXONMOBIL exploratory well Z, located in offshore Niger delta and was aimed at the integration of lithostratigraphic and palynostratigraphic results for the purpose of interpretation of the depositional environment of the sediments. Palynological analysis revealed well preserved ecological groups of palynomorphs (dinoflagellate cysts, pollen and spores, archritarchs and foraminiferal test linings). Abundance and diversity plots of these ecological groups of palynomorphs were used as paleoenvironmental models supplemented with the lithological and textural characteristics of the rock samples. Three environmental zones were recognised. The coastal plain, the neritic and deep marine setting (open ocean). The coastal environment was interpreted for the very thin shale intercalation on thickly bedded, rounded to sub- rounded coarse grained, poorly sorted pebbly sandstones that are conglomeritic at the top with scattered mica flakes, shells and shell fragments; rare to non occurrence of marine Microplankton representing the Benin formation. While the shallow marine (neritic) setting was interpreted for the coarse to medium grained sand, silty shale and fine grained sand intercalations with shells and shell fragments and scattered mica flakes of the main paralic Agbada formation. the open ocean setting was interpreted for the thick, dark(organic rich) marine shales with inter beds of medium to coarse grained,rounded to sub rounded, moderately to well sorted sandstone and siltstones at the base with grey shales and sandy shales alternating with medium to coarse grained sand more paralic at the top representing the lower Agbada formation. The paleo shelf edge was recognised at 4800 ft depth.

243-250

Authors: Sallam A. Bakheit, Intisar E. Ibrahim, Intisar M. El Shafei, Musa A. Musa

Twenty eight Sudan Desert goats were used in these trials. The objective was to study the effects of some management factors (Water Deprivation and Environmental Temperature) on physiological responses of Desert goats. The trial was laid out as randomized complete block design (RCBD). The experimental period lasted for 10 months. The result showed that lowest average goat Respiration rate was at 12:00 pm while the highest Respiration rate was at 18:00 pm (P<0.001). Rectal temperature, on the other hand, was highest (P<0.001) at the evenings (18:00 pm) and lowest (P<0.001) at the morning (8:00 pm). Goats with access to drinking water everyday had slightly lower (P>0.05) Respiration rate and Rectal temperature compared with goats watered every other day, Goats had the lowest Respiration rate during the summer season and the highest Respiration rate during the rainy season (P<0.001), with winter season, but Respiration rate, Rectal temperature was lowest during the winter season. Dry goats had comparatively higher Respiration rate and Rectal temperature compared with pregnant ones. Goat consumed comparatively more feed during winter and had slightly more water consumption during summer. Goats recorded the highest (P<0.001) live body weights during winter, followed by rainy season and the lowest weights were recorded during the summer season. The results clearly indicated that goat performance is greatly influenced by changes in climatic factors either directly or indirectly.

259-265

Authors: Bukar Y. Abdullahi, Muhammad H. Shuaibu, Lucy J. Ogbadu

The national biotechnology development agency acquired the technology for the Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System. This is an automated system for mass propagation of elite plantlets. Since its acquisition in 2010, two establishments, National Center for Genetic Resource and Biotechnology (NAGRAB) and Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) are currently using TIBS. Some of the plantlets that have been successfully propagated using TIBS include pineapple, mango, banana and sugarcane. The TIBS is being installed at some NABDA centers of excellence for the propagation of trees that would aid in the prevention of desert encroachment. NABDA in collaboration with Raw Materials Research and Development (RMRDC) is currently installing TIBS for the propagation of planting materials (Valencia Orange, Mango and Pineapple) for orchards needed for the Fruit Juice industry. Through our contacts with these installed TIBS, we have modified the assembly so that the immersion timings and electrical systems are fully automated and a backup system put in place in case of power failure which in consequence will produce a higher and more uniform yield. We also recommend the use of solar panels as another power backup option that can equally reduce cost.

273-282

Authors: Adiela U.P., Ofuyah W.N.

The Nigerian Basement complex has undergone polyphase metamorphism and polycyclic deformation during the Late Proterozoic and Early Phanerozoic Periods. The structures of the Pan- African belt in the southwestern Nigeria (Eshiawa area of Igarra) are the result of a succession of several events. Igarra environ provided detailed information on the structures and the following deformations were identified: (1) the original bedding surface (S0) undergoes the first episode of deformation (Di) and produced folds (Fi). This indicates an early Pan-African stage (Di) of tangential movement. (2) Mineralogical banding (Si) produced in first episode of deformation (Di) undergoes second episode of deformation (D2) to produce disharmonic folds (F2). (3) The axial plane cleavage (S2) formed as a result of second episode of deformation undergoes third episode of deformation (D3) to produce asymmetric folds (F3). D2 phase is heterogeneous simple shear in dextral transpressive context and D3 tectonic phase, also marked by dextral transpressional movements, is the phase of superposed folding with a NNW-SSE, kinematics direction. D2 and D3 are associated with medium-grade amphibolites facies metamorphic. (4) The Fourth episode of deformation (D4) is responsible for the emplacement of granitic veins, faults and joints. The first three episodes of deformations were related to ductile deformation while the latter was related to brittle deformation. The similarities of these last phases with the central Cameroon shearzone suggest that the D3 and D4 stages are controlled by transcurrents tectonics. Transpressive tectonic seem to be the main deformation style in major shear zones of Igarra.

290-298

Authors: Acra E.J., Ogbonna-Orji O.C., Adiela U.P.

In recent times, there has been a growing need to understand as well as evaluate fluid movement, pressure and temperature changes as hydrocarbon is produced in any field in the oil and industry. This has made the acquisition of 4D seismic important. In this study, time-lapse Lion of hydrocarbon production using rock properties and attributes obtained from well and 4D seismic data comprising of two 3D seismic volumes acquired at different times, has been successfully applied in an offshore Niger Delta field. Cross-plots of the rock attributes were carried out on reservoir D2000 across three wells, to test their sensitivity to fluid type lithology, and to constrain the interpretation of the time-lapse inversion results. Lambda-rho, density, and P-impedance gave the best response to fluid among the cross-plotted attributes. Therefore, rock properties and attribute analysis can give Geoscientists greater confidence towards understanding fluid movement and better reserviour characterization over time.

306-311

Authors: Aregbesola, Moses Kehinde

Organisational Process Focus (OPF) and Organisational Process Definition (OPD) are two key process areas (KPA) of interest at the defined level of software process maturity. OPD and OPF are targeted at determining how well defined and focused the software process of an organization is. A lack or an inadequate definition of organizational software process has been identified as a key challenge to improving software process maturity in many organizations. The study was conducted to determine the extent of process definition and focus in software companies in Nigeria. A survey study was conducted covering 30 software companies. The study equally employed the action research approach with some of the companies selected as case studies for experiential appraisal. The study revealed a relatively weak performance of the key practices associated with the OPF and OPD key process areas.

322-326

Authors: Tariq Mahgoub Mohamed, Ette Harrison Etuk

Time series analysis and forecasting has become a major tool in different applications in hydrology and environmental management fields. Linear stochastic models known as multiplicative Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model were used to simulate and forecast monthly streamflow of Rahad River, Sudan. For the analysis, monthly streamflow data for the years 1972–2009 were used. A visual inspection of the time plot gives the expected impression of a generally horizontal trend and 12-month seasonal periodicity. The seasonality observed in Auto Correlation Function (ACF) and Partial Auto Correlation Function (PACF) plots of monthly streamflow data was removed using first order seasonal differencing prior to the development of the SARIMA model. Interestingly, the SARIMA (2,0,0)x(0,1,1)12 model developed was found to be most suitable for simulating monthly streamflow for Rahad River. The model was found appropriate to forecast three years of monthly streamflow and assist decision makers to establish priorities for water demand.