Preferential Paths of Air-water Two-phase Flow in Porous Structures with Special Consideration of Channel Thickness Effects.

Accurate understanding and predicting the flow paths of immiscible two-phase flow in rocky porous structures are of critical importance for the evaluation of oil or gas recovery and prediction of rock slides caused by gas-liquid flow. A 2D phase field model was established for compressible air-water two-phase flow in heterogenous porous structures. The dynamic characteristics of air-water two-phase interface and preferential paths in porous structures were simulated. The factors affecting the path selection of two-phase flow in porous structures were analyzed. Transparent physical models of complex porous structures were prepared using 3D printing technology. Tracer dye was used to visually observe the flow characteristics and path selection in air-water two-phase displacement experiments. The experimental observations agree with the numerical results used to validate the accuracy of phase field model. The effects of channel thickness on the air-water two-phase flow behavior and paths in porous structures were also analyzed. The results indicate that thick channels can induce secondary air flow paths due to the increase in flow resistance; consequently, the flow distribution is different from that in narrow channels. This study provides a new reference for quantitatively analyzing multi-phase flow and predicting the preferential paths of immiscible fluids in porous structures

Recognizing Speech in a Novel Accent: The Motor Theory of Speech Perception Reframed

The motor theory of speech perception holds that we perceive the speech of another in terms of a motor representation of that speech. However, when we have learned to recognize a foreign accent, it seems plausible that recognition of a word rarely involves reconstruction of the speech gestures of the speaker rather than the listener. To better assess the motor theory and this observation, we proceed in three stages. Part 1 places the motor theory of speech perception in a larger framework based on our earlier models of the adaptive formation of mirror neurons for grasping, and for viewing extensions of that mirror system as part of a larger system for neuro-linguistic processing, augmented by the present consideration of recognizing speech in a novel accent. Part 2 then offers a novel computational model of how a listener comes to understand the speech of someone speaking the listener's native language with a foreign accent. The core tenet of the model is that the listener uses hypotheses about the word the speaker is currently uttering to update probabilities linking the sound produced by the speaker to phonemes in the native language repertoire of the listener. This, on average, improves the recognition of later words. This model is neutral regarding the nature of the representations it uses (motor vs. auditory). It serve as a reference point for the discussion in Part 3, which proposes a dual-stream neuro-linguistic architecture to revisits claims for and against the motor theory of speech perception and the relevance of mirror neurons, and extracts some implications for the reframing of the motor theory

Library Operation and Services as Determinants of Researchers’ Satisfaction in an Agricultural Research Institute in Nigeria

Operations and services provided by libraries are seen as social services with a responsibility to encourage society\u27s reading habits, especially in academic settings. The educational, economic, cultural, and recreational life of the whole population are strongly impacted by library services. A special library is known to offer services like interlibrary loan, reference and information, current awareness, selective information dissemination, user education, literature searching, bibliography compilation, indexing and abstracting, knowledge management, preservation and conservation, bindery, information literacy, and information media literacy. The research focuses on the following goals: discovering the library services offered by research libraries in Kwara State; identifying the services that are highly demanded by research libraries in Kwara State; gauging user satisfaction with Kwara State research libraries; and identifying potential obstacles that might endanger library delivery services there. The study used a descriptive survey, and 73 researchers from a Kwara State agricultural research institution make up the sample. Findings of the study show that; users are satisfied with the facilities and equipment of research libraries in Kwara State; users are satisfied with the attitude of staff at research libraries in Kwara State; and quality service has a positive and significant impact on use. User education programmes, volumes of text books and reference books, and personalised assistance provided by the library staff are services available in the special library. In order to address the difficulties discovered while conducting the study, recommendations were made

Awareness and Protection of Human and Electronic Library Resources from Lightning Disaster: A Survey of Selected Nigerian Libraries

Disaster prevention and management is a crucial aspect of library management. Creating awareness and protecting human and electronic library resources from lightning disaster require immediate attention of library managers. Lightning strike is a deadly natural disaster that poses serious danger to both human and electronic library resources, hence the need for creating awareness about its threat to human and material resources. This study was focused on creating awareness and protecting human and electronic library resources from lightning strike disaster in Nigerian university libraries. A descriptive survey method was adopted to elicit information from the respondents of this study. A questionnaire was designed with 29 structured questions including the demography of the respondents. Eighty (80) copies of questionnaires were distributed among the staff of the selected university libraries. Seventy two (72) questionnaires returned were all found usable. This study finds that majority of the respondents do not have awareness programme about protection from lightning disaster in their libraries. The study also finds that majority of the respondents are not aware that lightning strike can kill or cause serious health injury. The study also finds that human resources in the libraries require adequate protection from lightning strike and the advent of more electronic ICT equipment in the libraries necessitates the deployment of lightning protection equipment. The study finds that the libraries cannot ignore lightning strike equipment installation as this will be detrimental to the safety of human and material resources. Some recommendations were made based on the findings of the study and conclusions drawn. Keywords: Awareness and protection, Human and electronic library resources, Lightning disaster, Nigerian librarie

Mobile Phone as an Extension Tool among Female Agricultural Practitionersin Lagos State Nigeria

This study assessed the use of mobile telephone for extension among female agricultural practitioners in Lagos State. The study adopted purposive selection of Epe and Ikorodu Local Government Areas (LGA), while simple random sampling technique was used to select 60 female farmers and 5 female EAs in each of the two LGAs. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi square. Results showed that female agricultural practitioners in Lagos State cut across different age groups, changing trend of farming business as youths and the younger generation now take active part. The majority (97.69%) of the respondents owned and used mobile phone for accessing market information among others. Also, 90.8% respondents agreed that it’s an efficient and effective facility for extension communication. High cost of subscription, mobile phone and accessories were the major constraints reported. This study provided evidence on the role of mobile phones in reducing information search costs and asymmetries and increasing market efficiencies. It is recommended that an agricultural extension service incorporates/strengthens use of mobile phones for information dissemination by training EAs on opportunities inherent in the use of mobile phones

Mobile Phone as an Extension Tool among Female Agricultural Practitionersin Lagos State Nigeria

This study assessed the use of mobile telephone for extension among female agricultural practitioners in Lagos State. The study adopted purposive selection of Epe and Ikorodu Local Government Areas (LGA), while simple random sampling technique was used to select 60 female farmers and 5 female EAs in each of the two LGAs. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi square. Results showed that female agricultural practitioners in Lagos State cut across different age groups, changing trend of farming business as youths and the younger generation now take active part. The majority (97.69%) of the respondents owned and used mobile phone for accessing market information among others. Also, 90.8% respondents agreed that it’s an efficient and effective facility for extension communication. High cost of subscription, mobile phone and accessories were the major constraints reported. This study provided evidence on the role of mobile phones in reducing information search costs and asymmetries and increasing market efficiencies. It is recommended that an agricultural extension service incorporates/strengthens use of mobile phones for information dissemination by training EAs on opportunities inherent in the use of mobile phones

Achieving Sustainable Infrastructural Development in Developing Nations: Project Management Education to the Rescue

The need for adequate supply of infrastructure has long been viewed as a key ingredient for economic growth and sustainable development, both in the academic literature and policy debates. With the quest for economic development by governments in developing countries and the consequent emergence of public-private partnerships to deliver major infrastructural projects on time, within the approved budget and in accordance with the preset specifications. A linkage can be established between Sustainable infrastructural development and Project management. This will be seen from the need to maximize success in infrastructural projects that will deliver integrated social, economic, and environmental concerns.  In this setting, there would be need for the recruiting of multi-disciplinary teams with specialist backgrounds to implement these infrastructural projects. The question to ask is if project management as a profession is adequate in the delivery of a steady stream of experts to carry out needed project management activities in infrastructural development? We present evidence that project management is being increasingly seen not as a profession with a clear educational path, but as a skill that can be acquired with experience and as a second degree specialization. We also present evidence that shows that project management is not highly competitive in tertiary institutions in our Nigerian case-study and this may be as a result of a lack of clear understanding of the profession of project management.  We argue that there is an urgent need for harnessing the development potential of project management as a structured profession with a clear educational path; such that project managers can begin to take on the task of delivering sustainable infrastructural projects. They are to ensure that in the execution of these projects; the economic role of these infrastructural projects should not be accorded ‘precedence’ over the other dimensions of sustainable development – the social, cultural and environmental aspects.Key words: Sustainable development; Infrastructural projects; Project management; Education; Nigeria; Economic growt

The Potential of Some Non-Conventional Vegetable Oils in Biodiesel Applications

This work studied the potentials of some non-conventional oils biodiesel as an alternative to biodiesel made from a conventional seed oil (palm kernel oil), and petroleum-based diesel. The fruits of three non-conventional oilseeds, namely:PerseaAmericana (Avocado pear), Irvingiagabonenses (Dica nut) and Darcryodesedulis (Native pear)were obtained from local markets in Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria while petroleum-based diesel (PBD) used for comparative study was obtained commercially.The outer fleshylayers of the fruitswere separated from the seeds while both were air-dried for some days and later milled. The oils extracted from the milled samples were esterified to produce biodiesel usingmethanol in the presence of NaOH as catalyst. The biodiesels were analyzed for their fuel properties using standard methods.Results showed that the biodiesel yield ofIrvingiagabonensisoil diesel (IGOD),Darcryodesedulisoil diesel (DEOD) and Persia americanaoil diesel (PAOD) were94%, 82% and 96% respectively. These values compared favourably with that of palm kernel oil diesel (PKOD) (91%) produced under same conditions, and with the literature standard yield of 96.5% set for biodiesel. The pour pointsof PKOD, PAOD and DEOD were3, -6 and 1oC,respectively, with PAOD pour point very close to that of PBD (≥-10oC) obtained under similar experimental conditions. Except for IGOD, all the oils have pour points within the standard range of -15 to 16oC set for biodiesel suggesting the suitability of the oils for biodiesel applications.The iodine values of the biodiesel ranged between 9.64 and 16.52 meq/kg and agreed closely with 12-18 meq/kg reported in literature for PKOD. The biodiesel blend with PBD in the ratio 10:90, 20:80, 30:70 and 40:60 demonstratedimprovedphysico-chemical properties (including smoke point, flash point, cloud point, pour point, density, viscosity and acid value) that could meet the fluidity requirements for biodiesel applications

Predatory efficiency of Hippodamia variegata (Col.: Coccinellidae) on common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae (Hem.: Aphalaridae), under laboratory conditions

Common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt & Lauterer, is the most economically important species among the psyllid pests of pistachio in Iran. Hence, the possibility of using nonchemical control methods against A. pistaciae and the existence of its natural enemies need to be investigated. The spotted amber ladybird, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), is one of the most effective predators in pistachio orchards. It is a highly polyphagous coccinellid that preys mainly on aphid and psyllid pests of pistachio trees. This study is intended to improve the knowledge about the predation capacity of A. pistaciae. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions of 25oC and 30oC, 55 ± 5 RH and 16: 8 L: D. Logistic regression was used to determine the type of functional response and nonlinear regression calculated the parameters of the rate of searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th). The functional response on different density of prey at both temperatures was type II. The attack rate and handling time were 0.088 ± 0.012 h-1 and 0.0647 ± 0.011 h at 25ºC and 0.195 ± 0.031 h-1 and 0.0698 ± 0.056 h at 30ºC, respectively. The density and temperature affected the predation rate significantly. The data suggests that the H. variegata is a viable biological agent against A. pistaciae