Archives-December 

This paper attempts to design a vane type feed inlet device to study the flow of vapour in vacuum column containing feed inlet device. The flow of inlet feed has been analysed for pure vapour and mixture streams. The primary function of the flash zone is to separate the entrained liquid feed from the vapour. This is achieved with a feed entry device that changes the direction and reduces the feed velocity as well as by providing adequate height between the wash and the flash zones. Liquid flow behaviour, such as velocity distribution, in the feed inlet device is of considerable importance in determining column performance. Using the volume-average method, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was proposed to describe the liquid flow behaviour in a structured vane type feed inlet device. The values of the geometrical parameters and operation Reynolds number that mark the transitions of flow regime in the inlet device and column are reported. The model of inlet device in column has been developed and meshed in Gambit and the velocity distribution of the flow has been studied at different sections of the column. The proposed study of flow in a column containing feed inlet device has been done in Fluent.

Characterization and phytochemical screening of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) coir dust was carried out. Studies were carried out on the extraction and characterization of unmodified coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) coir using water, acetone, acetone/water (70/30), (50/50) respectively. The percentage extract decreased in the following order:  acetone/water (70/30) > water > acetone > acetone/water (50/50). Amount of extract obtained from a fixed mass of coir dust increased with decreased particle sizes: 150µm > 300µm > 600µm for all solvent systems. The amount of extract obtained using water as extractant increased with increase in volume in the order of:  400mL > 200 mL > 100 mL of water. Characterization of unmodified coir dust reveal the moisture, ash, lignin, cellulose contents and pH of aqueous solution as 25.20%, 9.0%, 53.5%, 35.99% and 6.4 respectively. Phytochemical screening of acetone coir extract for the presence of active ingredients such as tannins, flavonoids, polyphenols, phlobatannins,  and also reveals the absence of saponins, anthraquinones.

Fruits are important elements of a healthy, balanced diet, be it as part of a main meal or as a snack. The quest for ready-to-eat fruits has resulted in cut-fruits such as pawpaw, watermelon and pineapple in the Ghanaian fruit market. However, the safety and quality of these products cannot be guaranteed due to the mode of preparation and packaging. These products have longer shelf life when properly preserved and, therefore, assure all year round availability of fruits in different forms. The objective of this study was to assess consumer knowledge, perception and acceptance of fresh-cut fruits and irradiated fruits in Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study involving respondents in Accra (a cosmopolitan city). Information was collected by an open-ended questionnaires administration. The responses were coded and analyzed using SPSS Statistical Software Version 16. The results revealed that consumption of fruits and cut-fruits in Greater Accra is relatively high. It showed that 94.5 % of the respondents like fruits of all kinds. Mango was the most preferred (40.5 %) and 79 % of respondents preferred the seedling (local) mango to the grafted (exotic) variety. More tertiary educated people (48 %) consume fruits than others. More people (69 %) always buy cut-fruits and more males (63.5 %) patronize cut-fruits than females. People between the ages of 21 – 30 years patronize more cut-fruits and only 52 % of the respondents have heard about irradiated fruits, however, only 47 % would buy irradiated fruits because they are hygienic and safe. Others associated irradiation with radioactivity. The knowledge of fruits irradiation is very low in Ghana however; the consumption of fresh cut- fruits is high.

The hindrance corrosion of Carbon steel in one molar Hydrochloric acid by Levofloxacin antibiotic was considered utilizing Electrochemical techniques ( EIS, EFM, and Tafel plots) and Chemical (WL, HE and thermometric) at 25ºC. The inhibitor was adsorped on metal surface is steady with Langmuir isotherm adsorption. The curves of polarization reveal that the expansions of Levofloxacin movements the cathodic and anodic branches towards lower currents. Such moves demonstrate that Levofloxacin goes about as a mixed inhibitor. The thermodynamic elements of adsorption procedures were ascertained from weight loss at distinctive temperatures information were utilized to analyses the mechanism of drug. The surface morphology of the metal examples was evaluated using (EDX and SEM) analysis.

The paper examines the possibility of providing a platform or base for extension of knowledge and wisdom in the virtual era to benefit all the people. Availability of knowledge and wisdom objectively influencing all the people and in all occasions, time wise and place wise, will go along way in limiting the role of beauracracy. The major objectives of the Study were to determine the main dimensions in the field of virtual education, Present a Research Model for Virtual Education and also to determine the proportional degree of the Research Model from the point of view of the teachers, educational experts and specialist in Iran and India. The Statistical sample of the present Study includes 400 of the teachers and educational experts in education technology, ICT and IT in Iran and India. In order to collect the needed data, a questionnaire was designed. The obtained data were analyzed on the basis of such descriptive and inferential statistical indexes as Factor Analysis, Coloration and Cronbach’s Alfa. The SPSS package was used. This research is based on a well though out and scientifically designed “Research Model”. The ‘designed Research’ Model facilitated in-depth ground Study of each component of Virtual Education Model. Based on the empirical finding, our Conceptual Model could be refined and applied to draw conclusions. All the eight components of the Research Model were confirmed from the point of the view of the teachers and educational experts in Iran and India.

This paper focuses attention on specific aspects of entrepreneurial decisions relating to investment, both in the total fixed investments and plant & machinery (separately). Demand and financial factors, internal and external, are considered in the investment analysis. Finally the influence of determinants of fixed investment and investment plans are examined in General Engineering industry in India.

The mastery of soft skill is very important among students nowadays, however, the issue on the most effective ways to inculcate this skill has yet been identified. Thus, the purpose of the study is to identify the most dominant channel that is effective to inculcate the skill to help students to embrace it. The objective of the study is to identify settings that are convenient for inculcation of soft skill. There are three different settings identified and researched; the skill could be inculcated through co-curriculum, workshops or in the classroom. The experiment is design to be a descriptive study. Data for the experiment was collected through instruments such as survey forms and interviews. The respondents of the survey were 196 students semester 5 and 6 from ADTEC Malaysia. The outcome of the experiment showed that levels of soft skill development are varied through co-curricular activity, workshops and classroom. From a Paired Sample t-Test that has been carried out, it showed that there is a significant different in level of soft skill development between co-curricular activities and workshops, and between co-curricular and classroom. On the other hand, the outcome of the Paired Sample t-Test does not show any significant difference of soft skill between workshop and class. The findings conclude that the most relevant difference is through workshop and class.

Farming today has gone beyond subsistence farming that produces for the farmer and his household. Research shows that the consumption of grains or cereal crops is at an alarming rate in the world, so to encourage small farm holders a manually operated multi-crop hand push planter with changeable metering devices for cowpea, maize and soybean was designed, fabricated and evaluated to improve planting efficiency and reduce drudgery involved in manual planting method. The laboratory and field tests were conducted to determine weight of seeds discharged from the planter, seed percentage damage, field capacity, average depth of placement of seeds in furrow, average inter-row spacing of seeds and the emergence of the seedlings. Results revealed that the planter had field efficiency and field capacity of 76.3% and 0.39 ha/hr with seed rate of 0.25 kg/ha, 0.18 kg/ha and 0.21kg/ha respectively for cowpea, maize and soybean. Percentage difference between the seed damage of 3.54%, 2.32% and 1.32% of cowpea, maize and soybean respectively obtained was from an average spacing of 40.8cm and depth of 3.98cm. The single-row multi-crop planter is very simple to use and it is maintenance free, except for the bearings which needs to be lubricated from time to time to allow the planter's ground wheel to move freely. For this design, the drive shaft directly controls the seed metering mechanism which eliminates completely attachments such as pulleys, belt systems, and gears thereby eliminating complexities which increase cost, and increasing efficiency at a highly reduced cost which is the focus of this project work. The planter can be easily maintained without any technicality and all materials used for the fabrication are locally available in the case of worn - out parts.

Present study was carried out to develop and validate a research instrument for the measurement of occupational stress among the medical doctors working in teaching hospitals. Review of literature was done and focus group discussions were held in order to generate items for the instrument. Initially item pool thus gathered, constituted of 80 items falling under the dimensions of psychological, physiological, social adjustment and personal life. After qualitative item analysis the items were reduced to 61 in order the establish reliability and validity of the statement empirically 61 statements were administered on 150 doctors working in teaching hospitals situated in Rawalpindi region namely Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital, Holy Family Hospital and Fauji Foundation Hospital. The data was subjected to prinicipal factor analysis; as a result five factors were extracted called subscales. Psychometric properties and percentile norm were determined for the final occupational stress scale for the medial doctors. Finding demonstrates that 44 items OSSMD is a reliable and valid instrument to be used to the measurement of occupational stress of the medical doctors working in the hospitals.

As a progressive and studied writer, Dionne Brand takes into her hand the responsibility of dealing with all the issues confronted by men and women and children of the Black community being not only the members of the proletarian class, but also because of belonging to the Black race. Right from the sufferings of the Blacks during slavery down through the periods of feudalism, early capitalism, the colonial period, the neo-colonial period and also globalisation-ruling currency are subject matter in her works. As a member of the Black community, she is committed to the task of unravelling the exploitative past and present of her people. She does it with panache and power.