Development of the Kinetic Parameters for Enhanced Production of Ethylene Glycol in a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor

This research aims to optimize the kinetic parameters of the ethylene glycol production process in a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) using Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) simulations to enhance the efficiency of the process. Ethylene glycol is a petrochemical product that plays an essential role in various industries due to its applications in the production of paint, polyesters, synthetic waxes, plastics, coolants, and automotive radiators. As such, process industries have been making significant efforts to produce ethylene glycol more effectively. The proposed method involved the simulation of the CSTR process using MATLAB based on the principles of mass and energy conservation. The initial and final reaction kinetic parameters for the process were obtained from literature data and were optimized using an Excel spreadsheet and the simulation tool. The optimized kinetic parameters resulted in better performance characteristics as indicated by the profiles of temperature and concentration of ethylene glycol, which indicated a significant increase in the yield of ethylene glycol using the optimized parameters. The optimized kinetic parameters were found to be (21793kJ/mol and 88.9781g/mol) for activation energy, (0.044185-1 and 0.07035-1) for the pre-exponential factor, and (0.70% and 0.10%), (0.01% and 0.18%), and (0.87% and 34.10%) for the rate constant, temperature, and catalyst loading, respectively. These optimized parameters led to higher yields and purities of the target product, ethylene glycol, indicating that the optimization of kinetic parameters was an effective strategy for enhancing the efficiency of the ethylene glycol production process. The simulation of the CSTR process using MATLAB and the optimization of kinetic parameters showed promising results in enhancing the efficiency of the ethylene glycol production process. The model proposed in this research can be used as a basis for designing more efficient and cost-effective processes for ethylene glycol production and other chemical reactions in CSTRs

Application of Utilization Rate Approach for the Evaluation of Effective Numbers of Servers for A Parallel System of Single-Server Queues

Prospective service delivery and manufacturing firms as the case may be, are desirous of knowing the number of servers and service delivery operating equipment to be installed in their proposed facilities, to ensure adequate service delivery. Perhaps, this underlining interest may not be unconnected with the fact that finite facility space and limited income constraints probably will not allow for infinite severs and manpower. In this paper, the M/M/K (an exponentially distributed interarrival, service time and multiple servers) parallel system of single-sever queues model is modified and deployed to analyse the services of a petroleum product loading depot. The adequacy or otherwise of the loading process is measured by a stability equation developed from the utilization rate equation. The constraints of the stability equation required to be satisfied to ensure effective service delivery (bounded queues and decongested facility) establish a range of new queue parameters. The least mean service rate value within this range can be evaluated with a server equation to produce the minimum number of effective servers, required by any firm that will yield a utilization factor of less than one. A numerical evaluation of the stability equation and the server equation is carried out with primary data sourced from the Warri refinery depot. It is found that the current operating system in the depot with nine parallel servers is ineffective with a utilization factor of 1.17, hence the resultant congestion in the depot. Upon satisfying the stability equations constraints, a new mean service rate value is estimated that gives a utilization factor of 0.97 less than one. The new service time value corresponds to a minimum effective number of eleven servers by the server equation, to give a utilization factor of 0.97. Better services with lower utilization rate values can be achieved by varying the mean service time along the established range of the stability equation’s constraint

The Moderating Role of Work Passion in the Relationship Between Organizational Climate and Burnout in a Sample of Secondary School Teachers

The study investigated the moderating role of work passion in organizational climate and burnout relations among secondary school teachers. A total of two hundred and one (201) participants comprising 28 male and 182 female secondary school teachers from the ages of 24 to 46 years (M = 32.54,SD = 4.03) were drawn for the study using two-stage sampling. Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1986), Organizational Climate Scale (Litwin & Stringer, 1968) and Work Passion (Vallerand, Houlfort & Bourdeau 2003) were used for data collection. A correlational design was adopted for this study , while a moderated hierarchical multiple regression was used for data analysis. Findings show that work passion negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion dimension of burnout of (r= -.12,p < .05), work passion negatively correlated with depersonalization dimension of burnout (r= -.23,p < .001), work passion did not correlate with feeling of reduced personal accomplishment. Organizational climate did not correlate with any dimension of burnout (emotional exhaustion, r= -.08, depersonalisation, r= -.09 and feeling of reduced personal accomplishment, r= .02 at p< .05). Work passion negatively moderated the relationship between organizational climate and two dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, β= -.21 and depersonalisation, β= -.20 at p< .01). Thus, school management should motivate school teachers to enhance work passion, so as to contribute to a decrease in both emotional exhaustion and depersonalization

Depression as a Predictor of Suicidal Ideation among Enugu State University of Science Undergraduate Students

The study investigated depression as a predictor of suicidal ideation among Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) undergraduate students. A sample of 118 students 65 males and 53 females were sampled in the study. The age range of the participants ranged from 17 to 27 years  with mean age of 19.68 and standard deviation of 2.33. Simple (balloting) and systematic sampling techniques were used in selecting the participants. Information was obtained from the participants through the administration of two instruments: Self-rating Depression Scale and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation. The study adopted a correlational design while simple linear regression analysis was applied on the data. The result shows that the predictor variable (depression) accounted for 6.9% (R2 change) variance in suicidal ideation, which is significant to F change (1,116) = 8.543, sig.004; β = .218 t(118) = 2.923 sig. = 0.004. Gender as a control variable showed that female students are prone to suicidal ideation more than their male counterparts. The implications of this study were discussed in relation to literature reviewed and recommendations made. It was concluded that ESUT undergraduate students who manifest depression are may experience suicidal ideation

Effect Of Psychological Distress On Psychosocial Adjustment Among First-Year Students In Rivers State University

The study investigated the effect of psychological distress on psychosocial adjustment of first-year students at Rivers State University. A sample of 243 students participated in the research, providing data through surveys and assessments. The findings revealed that higher levels of psychological distress were associated with lower psychosocial adjustment, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health concerns for overall well-being. Practical recommendations were provided, including the implementation of mental health awareness campaigns, and gender-inclusive support initiatives. The study contributes to knowledge by advancing our understanding of psychosocial adjustment in higher education and offering actionable insights for universities to enhance the well-being of their first-year students. The inclusion of a holistic assessment method during the admission process was proposed as a novel approach to improve early identification of at-risk students and tailor support strategies effectively

Flooding and Food Security in Anambra State Nigeria: A Study of the 2022 Cases of Ogbaru Local Government Area

Food is connected to sustainable development goals in numerous ways, as food security is key to achieving sustainable development. The world is currently not on track to achieve the set sustainable development goals (SDGs). In Nigeria, flooding is a recurrent disaster and constitutes a setback to success with the SDGs and sustainable development. Flooding disasters are a threat to food security due to their impact on the food system. The contemporary food security concept has been broadened to encompass issues such as natural disasters that include floods, drought and diseases because of their impact on human survival in comparison to effects of war, genocide, and terrorism. The topic flooding and food security in Anambra state Nigeria: A study the 2022 cases of Akili Ogidi and Akili Ozizo in Ogbaru Local Government. The research is quantitative in nature and the survey research design was adopted, primary source of data collection was used through the instrument of questionnaires. While Eco-violence theory was utilized as analytic framework. The study found that there is a significant effect of flood on the lives and properties of the populace of Ogbaru Local Government Area and that there is a significant effect of climate change on food production which in turn has a devastating impact on the security of the area understudy. The study recommends a need for repair and construction of new drainages and construction of flood diversion channel, building of dams to harvest the rain water, relocation to higher ground as a necessary condition

Impulsivity and Perceived Social Support as Predictors of Suicidal Ideation among Senior Secondary School Students in Nsukka Educational Zone of Enugu State

This study investigated impulsivity and perceived social support as predictors of suicidal ideation among senior secondary school students in Nsukka Educational Zone Enugu State Nigeria. Three hundred participants comprising 153 females and 147 males with age range of 13-17 years (M 14.77, SD 1.48) and were drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique (balloting, systematic and simple random methods). The study adopted a correlational research design in which multidimensional scale of perceived social support (Zimet et al., 1988), The Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-JR (Reynolds, 1987) and Barratt Impulsive Scale -11: The BIS-11 (Stanford et al., 2009) were administered for data collection. While hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was used for data analysis. The results indicated that impulsivity positively predicted suicidal ideation among secondary school students β = 4.585, t = 15.677, P<.001).  This implies that students who are impulsive are at high risk of suicidal ideation. The results further revealed that perceived social support and its three dimensions did not predict suicidal ideation among secondary school students (β= 5.412,  t = 1.818, Significant others β= .745,  t = -.463, family β= 1.070,  t = .663, friends β= -2.519,  t = -.1.276 ,P>.05). Finally, impulsivity and perceived social support did not jointly predict suicidal ideation among secondary school students β= -.082, t = -1.972, p>.05. There is need for orientation/workshop among secondary school students to educate them against taking actions without foresight that are poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unnecessarily risky, and inappropriate to situations at hand in the bid to forestall suicidal ideation

Influence of Advertisement in Social Media Comedy Skit on Brand Awareness and Loyalty

With the transition from traditional entertainment methods to the burgeoning popularity of social media comedy skits, both researchers and advertisers have recognized the significant potential of this medium in achieving marketing goals. This study examines the impact of advertisements in social media comedy skits on brand awareness and loyalty. A survey research method using a purposive sample of 338 students from the University of Nigeria Nsukka was selected for the research. The findings reveal that all participants became aware of brands featured in social media comedy skits. However, less than half reported making a purchase based on these advertisements. Furthermore, the responses were split when assessing brand loyalty. This suggests that while social media comedy skits are effective in enhancing brand awareness, they do not necessarily guarantee brand loyalty

Major Factors Influencing Consumer Behaviour of Goods and Services: A Theoretical Perspective.

The researcher adopted an inductive approach to the study of factors influencing consumer behaviour of both physical goods and services.  The paper seeks to establish a relationship between consumer behaviour and certain identified factors like, culture, social institutions, reference group, personal and psychological. It was found that consumer behaviour with respect to physical goods and services is influenced by both endogenous and exogenous factors. And this has wide implications not only for marketing but also for other allied disciplines. The paper has stimulated research into why consumers behave the way they do