Modelling of DPF regeneration using microwave energy

FEM based models in COMSOL multiphysics have been used to simulate regeneration of diesel particulate filter following the layout of an existing microwave cavity. The study utilized the physics packages in the software to model the electric field and thermal profiles of the microwave cavity and DPF. This was used to establish dimensions for microwave cavity and DPF. Further it was possible to integrate the heating properties of the Silicon Carbide used in the DPF substrate. The electric field and thermal profiles of the microwave cavity, as well as the DPF were investigated for the established dimensions and simulated results were compared with experiments. In the experiment, we deployed microwave power generated by a 2.45GHz magnetron into the existing microwave cavity to regenerate DPF. The results of the experiments showed the thermal profiles during DPF regeneration to be in agreement with the profiles from the simulated results. The scheme was further used to improve the design of the cavity for better energy utilization and DPF regeneration efficiency. Electric field and thermal profiles of the microwave cavity were established for various dimensions of microwave cavity for a given DPF size and the results were investigated. It was found that cylindrical cavity (diameter of 153mm and length of 533mm) gives the optimal dimensions for the regeneration of a commercial DPF (143mm (diameter) x 183mm (length) viewed in terms of near homogeneous electric field distribution.Authors wish to acknowledge InnovateUK for the financial support provided to the project ‘Marine Exhaust Gase Treatment System (MAGS) {grant reference number 42471-295209)’, in which, the presented work is part of

Empirical Analysis of Money Demand Stability in Nigeria

The main focus of this study is to identify the variables influencing the demand for money in Nigeria; and to ascertain the stability of money demand in Nigeria. Related theories and empirical researches in this area were reviewed in order to ensure the relevance of variables under study and possible expectation of their relationship with money - demand in Nigeria. Four explanatory variables were specified for this study based on theoretical underpinning. Stationarity test were conducted and all variables were stationary at first difference, with two cointegrating equations after using the Johansen Cointegration test. The error correction model (ECM) was rightly signed and revealed a recovery rate of 18 percent. It was also recommended among others that the monetary policy strategy of the CBN should be structured to deal with the growing challenges posed by financial innovations. The stability test revealed that M2 money demand in Nigeria is stable using both CUSUM and CUSUMSQ at 5 percent critical lines. Keywords: Money-Demand, Non-Bank Financial Institutions, Speculative demand for money, Liquidity, cointegration.

Women’s Entrepreneurship and Improved Family Lifestyle in Abia State, Nigeria

Women's entrepreneurship is an important source of employment and potential growth, not just for the economy but as a means of improving family lifestyle. Hence, this paper evaluated women's entrepreneurship and its impact on improved family lifestyle in Abia State, Nigeria. The objectives were to ascertain the motivation behind women’s involvement in entrepreneurship and to find out if women entrepreneurs increase the level of family income. A survey design was used, while a multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted. Data were analyzed using percentage and weighted mean, while results show that, that the motivation behind women’s involvement in entrepreneurship included financial need (41.1%), self-independence (33.8%), becoming employers of labour(6.9%), serving as role models to their children (4.2%), being able to assist in the spouse/family’s business(3.3%), among others. Also, women entrepreneurs were able to increase the level of their family income through involvement in several enterprises ranging from agriculture (3.5), support for spouse business (3.5), personal enterprise (3.9), skill acquisition (3.7), and provision of essential services (3.6). The paper, therefore, recommended that there is a need to encourage financial adequacy, self-independence, and support for spouse/family’s businesses among women. More importantly, women should strive to become employers of labour, and be role models to their children, especially as it concerns increasing the family’s income and ensuring their welfare

Non-thermal plasma system for marine diesel engine emissions control

Air pollutants generated by ships in both gaseous and particulate forms, have a long term effect on the quality of the environment and cause a significant exposure risk to people living in proximities of harbors or in neighboring coastal areas. It was recently estimated, that ships produce at least 15% of the world’s NOx (more than all of the world’s cars, buses and trucks combined), between 2.5 - 4% of greenhouse gases, 5% black carbon (BC), and between 3-7% of global SO2 output. Estimation of contribution of maritime shipping to global emissions of VOC and CO is not yet available. In order to reduce the environmental footprint of ships, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently issued the legislation of Marpol Annex VI guidelines which implies especially the introduction of, inter alia, stricter sulphur limits for marine fuel in ECAs under the revised MARPOL Annex VI, to 3.50% (from the current 4.50%), effective from 1 January 2012; then progressively to 0.50 %, effective from 1 January 2020, subject to a feasibility review to be completed no later than 2018. The limits applicable in Emission Control Zones (ECAs) for SOx and particulate matter were reduced to 1.00%, beginning on 1 July 2010 (from the original 1.50%); being further reduced to 0.10 %, effective from 1 January 2015. The Tier III controls apply only to the specified ships built from 2016 while operating in Emission Control Areas (ECA) established to limit NOx emissions, outside such areas the Tier II controls apply. The United States and Canada adopted national regulations enforcing IMO Tier III equivalent limits within the North American ECA effective 2016. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule for Category III ships, however, references the international IMO standards. If the IMO emission standards are indeed delayed, the Tier III standards would be applicable from 2016 only for US flagged vessels. One of the proposed solutions towards marine diesel emission control is the non-thermal plasma process. We designed and built a non-thermal plasma reactor (NTPR) using a combination of Microwave (MW) and Electron Beam (EB) for treatment of marine diesel exhaust gas. A numerical model has been developed to better understand the marine exhaust gas/plasma kinetics. The reactor modelling and design can sustain 10kW of combined MW and EB power with a gas flow rate of 200l/s. The removal of NOx and SOx was continuously monitored using a portable dual Testo gas analyzer system while all other parameters (MW power, EB power, gas temperature/flow rate, etc.) were remotely recorded & stored through a Labview DAQ system. The reactor performance in NOx and SOx removal will be tested on a 200 kW two stroke marine engine. This study is a part of the DEECON (Innovative After-Treatment System for Marine Diesel Engine Emission Control) FP7 European project.The work was supported by the European Commission under DEECON FP7 European Project "Innovative After-Treatment System for Marine Diesel Engine Emission Control", contract No. 284745

Innovating Pedagogy 2015: Open University Innovation Report 4

This series of reports explores new forms of teaching, learning and assessment for an interactive world, to guide teachers and policy makers in productive innovation. This fourth report proposes ten innovations that are already in currency but have not yet had a profound influence on education. To produce it, a group of academics at the Institute of Educational Technology in The Open University collaborated with researchers from the Center for Technology in Learning at SRI International. We proposed a long list of new educational terms, theories, and practices. We then pared these down to ten that have the potential to provoke major shifts in educational practice, particularly in post-school education. Lastly, we drew on published and unpublished writings to compile the ten sketches of new pedagogies that might transform education. These are summarised below in an approximate order of immediacy and timescale to widespread implementation

The influence of stocking density on the growth performance and production of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in earthen pond

An experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of stocking density on the growth of the initial stocked tilapia (O.niloticus) in earthen ponds, the effect on the reproductive performance of the fish and impact on the economy of production. Six African Regional Aquaculture Centre (ARAC), Aluu, Port Harcourt earthen genetic ponds split into three compartments representing three replicates were stocked with 666 fingerlings of 4.33g average initial weight and 6.06cm average initial length at 37 per replicate. They were fed with a 28%CP blood meal based diet for nine months. The size of the ponds and depth of water was such as to attain average stocking densities of 6.33, 6.45, 5.05, 3.60, 2.88 and 2.05 fish/m3. The result showed distinct increase in growth as the stocking densities decreased. Ponds 5,6 and 4 with lower densities 2.88, 2.05 and 3.60 fish/m3 having higher final weights of 146.10, 120.79 and 108.69g than ponds 3, 2 and 1 with 85.37, 74.36 and 59.68g respectively (P<0.05). Average final length was higher in ponds 5, 6 and 4 at 14.46, 13.86 and 13.79cm than ponds 3, 2 and 1 with 12.09, 10.62 and 11.36cm. Relative weight gain followed suit with 3274.13, 2689.61 and 2410.16% in ponds 5, 6 and 4 as against 1871.59, 1617.32 and 1277.83% in 3, 2 and 1. Percentage survival increased as stocking density decreased at 28.18, 35.45, 37.27, 40.91, 41.82 and 45.45% for the 6.33, 6.45, 5.05 , 3.60, 2.05 and 2.88 fish/m3 treatment respectively, with the 3.60, 2.05 and 2.88fish/m3 treatment significantly higher (P<0.05). The 2.88fish/m3treatment (treatment 5) also provided the cheapest cost of producing 1kg of fish at N178.74 as against N457.14, N351.44, N312.41, N242.81 and N217.25 per kg fish of treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 respectively. The total number of off-springs produced all in progressive sizes increased as the stocking density decreased at 1530, 1636, 1674, 2053, 3160 and 3234 for ponds 1-6. The experiment showed that tilapia fingerlings stocked in earthen pond at low densities grow and reproduce more and at a lower cost of production than those with higher stocking densities. The ideal appears to be between 2 and 3 fish/m

创新教学报告2015 —探索教学、学习与评价的新形式 [Innovating Pedagogy 2015]

本报告提出了在教学应用方面呈现端倪的“十大创新教学法”，包括跨界学习、论证学习、随机 学习、基于情境的学习、计算思维、利用远程实验室在科学实验中学习、具身学习、适应性教学、情绪分析 和隐性评价，预期这些方法有可能在教育实践中，尤其是在学校后继续教育中引发重大变革

A Layman's handbook of marketing information

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/36223/2/b1371290.0001.001.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/36223/1/b1371290.0001.001.tx

Status of hookworm infection in junior secondary students, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria

Hookworm infection has long been classified as the second most common parasitic helminth disease of the tropic and sub-tropic most especially because besides its grievous public health implications, some of which are due to the pathological damage it causes in the human host’s tissue and organs, the disease also has negative impacts on both human and socio-economic developments in communities where it is endemic. This study aims to verify the prevalence and intensity of hookworm infection in secondary school students in Bwari Area Council, FCT, Abuja. Four secondary schools namely, Government Secondary School, Law School Road, St. Theresa’s Catholic Schools, Government Secondary School, Kuduru and Government Secondary School, Zuma II, were selected randomly as case study. Four hundred and eighty (480) stool specimens (i.e., 120 from each school) were collected exclusively from the Junior Secondary School students of these schools, ensuring that both sexes were equally represented in those to supply the stool specimens. Microscopic examination of the stool specimens was carried out using saline and iodine wet mounts, brine floatation and centrifugation/sedimentation methods to check for presence of ova of hookworm. Result obtained showed that only 167(34.8%) stool specimens contained ova of hookworm of which 107(64.1%) were those from male students and 60(35.9%) were from females. 67(62.6%) were from those within the age bracket of 9-13 years while the other 40(37.4%) were those from 14-18 years age bracket. Similarly, 33(55%) of the infected females were within 9-13 years’ age bracket while the rest 27(45%) were between 14-18 years. Further classification of the result revealed JSS 2 and JSS3 students as having the highest prevalence with 67(40.1%) and 57(34.8%), respectively, while JSS 1 had low infection with 43(25.7%). When infections amongst the schools were compared, it was found that Government Secondary School, Zuma II, had the highest with 48(40%) while the rest Government Secondary School, Law School Road, St. Theresa’s Catholic Schools and Government Secondary School, Kuduru, had 40(33.3%), 36(30%) and 43(35.3%), respectively. the study has confirmed that hookworm exist in Bwari Area Council. The observed high prevalence of infection amongst male students between the 9-13 years age bracket cannot therefore be unconnected with their active engagement in farming, hunting, sports (such as football, athletics, etc.) and other extra-curricular activities that make them expose themselves to unprotected and hookworm-infested soils. Prompt treatment of known cases beside adequate and regular health education campaign in primary, secondary, work places and public markets on the need for proper hygiene practices and regular environmental sanitation and avoidance indiscriminate human faecal disposal.Keywords: Hookworm; prevalence; intensity; secondary school; students; Bwari