The relationship between Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil (NBLCO) induced hypoglycaemia and endogenous serum insulin concentration;the role of antioxidant vitamin C or E supplementation was the focus of this study. Fort...The relationship between Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil (NBLCO) induced hypoglycaemia and endogenous serum insulin concentration;the role of antioxidant vitamin C or E supplementation was the focus of this study. Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into group I, which served as the control, group II, which was oral gavaged 6 ml/kg of NBLCO, groups III and IV, which were in addition to 6 ml/kg of NBLCO supplemented with 9 ml/kg and 1 mg/kg of vitamin E or C, respectively for 28 days. Results showed that NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) lower body weight and food intake compared with control. These effects exerted by NBLCO were however significantly (p < 0.05) reversed by vitamin E or C supplementation. The NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) when compared with control, the antioxidant vitamins supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the crude oil effect. The mean serum insulin level in NBLCO, vitamin E or C supplemented groups is not significantly different from the control. There was no significant correlation between FBG and fasting serum insulin concentrations in all the groups on day 28. It has been demonstrated in this study that direct oral ingestion of crude oil (NBLCO) could reduce food intake, body weight and cause hypoglycemia;the hypoglycemia may not be a function of serum insulin concentration. Interestingly, the hazardous effects of NBLCO could be ameliorated with antioxidant vitamin C or E supplementation.展开更多
At present,petroleum remains the single largest global source of nearly all transportation fuel and the main source of industrial chemicals.But the legislative demand for cleaner fuel in automobile worldwide has force...At present,petroleum remains the single largest global source of nearly all transportation fuel and the main source of industrial chemicals.But the legislative demand for cleaner fuel in automobile worldwide has forced scientists to develop and adopt new technologies to reduce the amount of sulphur in fuel.In this study,a Co–Mo catalyst supported on zeolite synthesized from local clay was developed and tested in hydrodesulphurization reactions,using Bonny light crude oil feed.The Co–Mo was incorporated into the zeolite by wet impregnation method and its activity was evaluated in a batch reactor.The catalyst was characterized and the efficiency was investigated in terms of product distribution and reaction conditions.With a rise in the temperature,the sulphur in the crude oil gets released into the liquid and gas effluents.In the case of gas effluents,the removal of sulphur depends on the reaction temperature,while in the liquid products,the removal of sulphur lies on the reaction time rather than the reaction temperature.The use of this catalyst results in significant upgraded and enhanced oil production with an environmentally friendly fuel,which therefore recommended as an alternative to conventional industrial catalysts.展开更多
Notably, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project is the pioneer Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Nigeria, aimed at both the diversification of the petroleum industry and utilization of the vastly flared n...Notably, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project is the pioneer Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Nigeria, aimed at both the diversification of the petroleum industry and utilization of the vastly flared natural gas resources of the nation. However, large scale energy projects have been known to generate both positive and/or negative impacts. Environmental Management Plans (EMP) have often been the compendium of information on approved mitigations, which normally include activities that could maximize the benefits of the host communities, and it’s not unusual for the Community Development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CDCSR) department of such an organization to be saddled with these contributions. But the activities of Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s CSR department have often been the source of criticism, as well as aspiration for improvement by host communities and other stake holders. This article thus aims to present a comprehensive compendium of NLNG’s CDCSR activities, up to the year 2010, and also highlight the level of satisfaction of the immediate and distant host communities against the level of performance of other donors in the area. Also the arrays of negative socio-economic consequences of the Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s activities were identified based on community perception. The results generally showed that comparatively, NLNG project has made more innovative positive socio-economic and health contributions to its areas of operation than the three tiers of government and other donors (including SPDC and Mobil Producing Nigeria). Surprisingly, agitations against Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s activities have not overshadowed its community development provisions, which have been of major assistance in several communities. There is however a dire need to review several aspects of Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s CDCSR activities, especially in the fulfilment of documented promises, as well as in project conception and community participation, for better completed projects acceptance by indigenous host communities. Conflict management strategies also need to be improved, while the dissatisfaction over benefits in New Finima needs to be urgently addressed.展开更多
The Lower Mississippi River flows from the confluence of the Ohio River and Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois into the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi River and Ohio River pathway shifts have shaped and re-shaped the l...The Lower Mississippi River flows from the confluence of the Ohio River and Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois into the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi River and Ohio River pathway shifts have shaped and re-shaped the landscapes through which they flow and where their sediment-laden tributary waters co-mingle at the confluence on the voyage to the Gulf of Mexico. For much of their history, the lands adjacent to the Lower Mississippi River were bottomlands that flooded with the seasons unconstrained by human river training structures. Since 1717 European nations have fought over strategic navigational control of the Mississippi River. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States took controlled the Lower Mississippi River. During the Civil War, from 1861-1865, the Union and Confederate forces battled for navigational control of the Lower Mississippi River. The primary objective of this paper was to highlight how the strategic navigational and flooding control of the Lower Mississippi River and geological and landscape resources were responsible for the successful economic development of this rich historical region of North America.展开更多
This study presents data from a large-scale Before After Control Impact(BACI)design field experiment that measured the sediment reduction achieved by remediating large alluvial gullies.The study was carried out on Bon...This study presents data from a large-scale Before After Control Impact(BACI)design field experiment that measured the sediment reduction achieved by remediating large alluvial gullies.The study was carried out on Bonnie Doon Creek on the lower Burdekin River,in Queensland Australia.Prior to remediation,the four large alluvial gully complexes(active area of~17ha)were conservatively estimated to be delivering 5800±1500 t of fine sediment(<20 mm)per year(20 year average).The experiment demonstrated that the average remediation effectiveness across 10 different treatments was a 96%-99% reduction in fine sediment yield(or an annualised reduction of~5500t).High resolution lidar DEM of Difference(DoD)derived sediment yields in the unremediated gullies were found to be,on average,58% lower than yields derived from monitored suspended sediment concentration(SSC)data,albeit with some uncertainty.These data support the notion that even high resolution(0.1m)lidar DoD yields are missing erosion driven by rainfall driven downwearing across all internal gully surfaces that is below the limit of detection(LOD)of the lidar.The results highlight that the greatest uncertainty in predicting the sediment abatement from gully remediation is associated with the determination of the baseline sediment yield of each gully.Future research effort should be focused on improving our understanding of baseline(multi-decadal)sediment yields,and monitored(annual)yields in different types of unremediated gullies.This is dependent on developing a detailed understanding of how these gullies evolve through time,and what the processes are that drive ongoing gully growth.展开更多
文摘The relationship between Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil (NBLCO) induced hypoglycaemia and endogenous serum insulin concentration;the role of antioxidant vitamin C or E supplementation was the focus of this study. Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into group I, which served as the control, group II, which was oral gavaged 6 ml/kg of NBLCO, groups III and IV, which were in addition to 6 ml/kg of NBLCO supplemented with 9 ml/kg and 1 mg/kg of vitamin E or C, respectively for 28 days. Results showed that NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) lower body weight and food intake compared with control. These effects exerted by NBLCO were however significantly (p < 0.05) reversed by vitamin E or C supplementation. The NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) when compared with control, the antioxidant vitamins supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the crude oil effect. The mean serum insulin level in NBLCO, vitamin E or C supplemented groups is not significantly different from the control. There was no significant correlation between FBG and fasting serum insulin concentrations in all the groups on day 28. It has been demonstrated in this study that direct oral ingestion of crude oil (NBLCO) could reduce food intake, body weight and cause hypoglycemia;the hypoglycemia may not be a function of serum insulin concentration. Interestingly, the hazardous effects of NBLCO could be ameliorated with antioxidant vitamin C or E supplementation.
文摘At present,petroleum remains the single largest global source of nearly all transportation fuel and the main source of industrial chemicals.But the legislative demand for cleaner fuel in automobile worldwide has forced scientists to develop and adopt new technologies to reduce the amount of sulphur in fuel.In this study,a Co–Mo catalyst supported on zeolite synthesized from local clay was developed and tested in hydrodesulphurization reactions,using Bonny light crude oil feed.The Co–Mo was incorporated into the zeolite by wet impregnation method and its activity was evaluated in a batch reactor.The catalyst was characterized and the efficiency was investigated in terms of product distribution and reaction conditions.With a rise in the temperature,the sulphur in the crude oil gets released into the liquid and gas effluents.In the case of gas effluents,the removal of sulphur depends on the reaction temperature,while in the liquid products,the removal of sulphur lies on the reaction time rather than the reaction temperature.The use of this catalyst results in significant upgraded and enhanced oil production with an environmentally friendly fuel,which therefore recommended as an alternative to conventional industrial catalysts.
文摘Notably, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project is the pioneer Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Nigeria, aimed at both the diversification of the petroleum industry and utilization of the vastly flared natural gas resources of the nation. However, large scale energy projects have been known to generate both positive and/or negative impacts. Environmental Management Plans (EMP) have often been the compendium of information on approved mitigations, which normally include activities that could maximize the benefits of the host communities, and it’s not unusual for the Community Development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CDCSR) department of such an organization to be saddled with these contributions. But the activities of Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s CSR department have often been the source of criticism, as well as aspiration for improvement by host communities and other stake holders. This article thus aims to present a comprehensive compendium of NLNG’s CDCSR activities, up to the year 2010, and also highlight the level of satisfaction of the immediate and distant host communities against the level of performance of other donors in the area. Also the arrays of negative socio-economic consequences of the Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s activities were identified based on community perception. The results generally showed that comparatively, NLNG project has made more innovative positive socio-economic and health contributions to its areas of operation than the three tiers of government and other donors (including SPDC and Mobil Producing Nigeria). Surprisingly, agitations against Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s activities have not overshadowed its community development provisions, which have been of major assistance in several communities. There is however a dire need to review several aspects of Nigeria LNG Ltd.’s CDCSR activities, especially in the fulfilment of documented promises, as well as in project conception and community participation, for better completed projects acceptance by indigenous host communities. Conflict management strategies also need to be improved, while the dissatisfaction over benefits in New Finima needs to be urgently addressed.
文摘The Lower Mississippi River flows from the confluence of the Ohio River and Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois into the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi River and Ohio River pathway shifts have shaped and re-shaped the landscapes through which they flow and where their sediment-laden tributary waters co-mingle at the confluence on the voyage to the Gulf of Mexico. For much of their history, the lands adjacent to the Lower Mississippi River were bottomlands that flooded with the seasons unconstrained by human river training structures. Since 1717 European nations have fought over strategic navigational control of the Mississippi River. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States took controlled the Lower Mississippi River. During the Civil War, from 1861-1865, the Union and Confederate forces battled for navigational control of the Lower Mississippi River. The primary objective of this paper was to highlight how the strategic navigational and flooding control of the Lower Mississippi River and geological and landscape resources were responsible for the successful economic development of this rich historical region of North America.
基金funded through NESP Project 3.1.7funded by the Queensland Government,Greening Australia's Reef Aid Programthe Australian Government's Reef Trust Program.
文摘This study presents data from a large-scale Before After Control Impact(BACI)design field experiment that measured the sediment reduction achieved by remediating large alluvial gullies.The study was carried out on Bonnie Doon Creek on the lower Burdekin River,in Queensland Australia.Prior to remediation,the four large alluvial gully complexes(active area of~17ha)were conservatively estimated to be delivering 5800±1500 t of fine sediment(<20 mm)per year(20 year average).The experiment demonstrated that the average remediation effectiveness across 10 different treatments was a 96%-99% reduction in fine sediment yield(or an annualised reduction of~5500t).High resolution lidar DEM of Difference(DoD)derived sediment yields in the unremediated gullies were found to be,on average,58% lower than yields derived from monitored suspended sediment concentration(SSC)data,albeit with some uncertainty.These data support the notion that even high resolution(0.1m)lidar DoD yields are missing erosion driven by rainfall driven downwearing across all internal gully surfaces that is below the limit of detection(LOD)of the lidar.The results highlight that the greatest uncertainty in predicting the sediment abatement from gully remediation is associated with the determination of the baseline sediment yield of each gully.Future research effort should be focused on improving our understanding of baseline(multi-decadal)sediment yields,and monitored(annual)yields in different types of unremediated gullies.This is dependent on developing a detailed understanding of how these gullies evolve through time,and what the processes are that drive ongoing gully growth.
