Purely predictive method for density, compressibility, and expansivity for hydrocarbon mixtures and diesel and jet fuels up to high temperatures and pressures

This study presents a pseudo-component method using the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory to predict density, isothermal compressibility, and the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (expansivity) of hydrocarbon mixtures and diesel and jet fuels. The model is not fit to experimental density data but is predictive to high temperatures and pressures using only two calculated or measured mixture properties as inputs: the number averaged molecular weight and hydrogen to carbon ratio. Mixtures are treated as a single pseudo-component; therefore binary interaction parameters are not needed. Density is predicted up to 470 K and 3,500 bar for hydrocarbon mixtures and fuels with 1% average mean absolute percent deviation (MAPD). Isothermal compressibility is predicted with 4% average MAPD for hydrocarbon mixtures and 9% for fuels. The volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is predicted with 7% average MAPD for hydrocarbon mixtures and 13% for fuels

The Role of Voter Education in Combating Hate Speech and Electoral Violence in Nigeria

The paper examined the role of voter education in combating hate speech and electoral violence in Nigeria. Hate speech and electoral violence have been serious issues in Nigeria in recent time, they have caused many problems to the level of growth and development of Nigeria. There is no doubt in saying the development and culture of men affected by hate speech and electoral violence in Nigeria. Hence, this paper extensively discussed the concept of electoral violence and hate speech, forms, and causes of hate speech and electoral violence as well as the effects of hate speech and electoral violence. The paper concluded that the only mechanism in curbing hate speech and electoral violence which seed has eaten deep in the life of the electorates is voter education. To this end, the paper suggested among others that the government should create massive sensitization through voter education to prevent the menace of hate speeches in the country. Keywords: Political Campaigns, Electoral Violence, Hate Speech, Voter Education DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-24-05 Publication date: December 31st 202

The Relevance of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) In Agroforestry Practices

ABSTRACT This paper x-rays the relevance of ICTs in Agroforestry practices. Existing areas of applications such as forest and environmental management, specie identification and research publications are identified. The paper also looked into future possible usage of ICT and concludes that while the application of ICTs to Agroforestry practices in the 21st century is of tremendous importance it is important to know that there are still more areas where ICT would be applicable in Agroforestry which are yet to be discovere

Fluid properties at high pressures and temperatures: Experimental and modelling challenges

Thermophysical properties impact many aspects of the chemical process industries. Here three example areas, primarily in the energy sector, are highlighted to provide context for the experimental and modelling challenges associated with obtaining fluid property data at high pressures and temperatures (HPHT). These three areas include the recovery of petroleum reserves in ultra-deep reservoirs, the use of lubricants to reduce frictional losses in the automotive industries, and the use of high-pressure, common rail diesel fuel delivery to reduce soot emissions for greener environments. The accurate knowledge of thermodynamic and transport properties in these three focused areas minimizes associated operating uncertainties and accelerates safe, reliable, and robust process and product development

Building sustainability in the construction industry through firm capabilities, technology and business innovativeness: empirical evidence from Malaysia

While the identification of the drivers of social sustainability in construction firms has remained one of the popular topics in the literature, many questions about these drivers remain unanswered, especially in the context of the developing countries. This study empirically determines some organizational internal drivers influencing the social sustainability performance in construction firms. To achieve this, we developed a conceptual model and tested on a sample of registered and active large construction firms from the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board, using partial least-squares structural equation modelling for analysis. The study reveals that organizational internal drivers could trigger social sustainability performance. However, our analysis shows that organizational capabilities – complex tangible and intangible resources that are controlled by a firm through certain organizational practices and which enable it to implement value-creating strategies-partially mediates the relationship between these drivers and social sustainability. While few limitations of this study include the fact that the data used are the subjective opinions of the top officials who responded to the survey, our findings reveal that construction firms with efficient resource capabilities tend to adopt more sustainability in project delivery. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the important factors for social sustainability in construction

Multimorbidity, physical frailty, and self-rated health in older patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Holistic care models emphasize management of comorbid conditions to improve patient-reported outcomes in treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated relations between multimorbidity, physical frailty, and self-rated health (SRH) among older adults with AF. METHODS: Patients (n = 1235) with AF aged 65 years and older were recruited from five medical centers in Massachusetts and Georgia between 2015 and 2018. Ten previously diagnosed cardiometabolic and 8 non-cardiometabolic conditions were assessed from medical records. Physical Frailty was assessed with the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty scale. SRH was categorized as either excellent/very good , good , and fair/poor . Separate multivariable ordinal logistic models were used to examine the associations between multimorbidity and SRH, physical frailty and SRH, and multimorbidity and physical frailty. RESULTS: Overall, 16% of participants rated their health as fair/poor and 14% were frail. Hypertension (90%), dyslipidemia (80%), and heart failure (37%) were the most prevalent cardiometabolic conditions. Arthritis (51%), anemia (31%), and cancer (30%), the most common non-cardiometabolic diseases. After multivariable adjustment, patients with higher multimorbidity were more likely to report poorer health status (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.15 [95% CI: 1.53-3.03], \u3e /= 8 vs 1-4; OR: 1.37 [95% CI: 1.02-1.83], 5-7 vs 1-4), as did those with more prevalent cardiometabolic and non-cardiometabolic conditions. Patients who were pre-frail (OR: 1.73 [95% CI: 1.30-2.30]) or frail (OR: 6.81 [95% CI: 4.34-10.68]) reported poorer health status. Higher multimorbidity was associated with worse frailty status. CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbidity and physical frailty were common and related to SRH. Our findings suggest that holistic management approaches may influence SRH among older patients with AF

Factors Associated With Patient Engagement in Shared Decision-Making for Stroke Prevention Among Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation

Objective: To examine the extent of, and factors associated with, patient engagement in shared decision-making (SDM) for stroke prevention among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We used data from the Systematic Assessment of Geriatric Elements-Atrial Fibrillation study which includes older ( \u3e /=65 years) patients with AF and a CHA2DS2-VASc \u3e /=2. Participants reported engagement in SDM by answering whether they actively participated in choosing to take an oral anticoagulant (OAC) for their condition. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess associations between sociodemographic, clinical, geriatric, and psychosocial factors and patient engagement in SDM. Results: A total of 807 participants (mean age 75 years; 48% female) on an OAC were studied. Of these, 61% engaged in SDM. Older participants ( \u3e /=80 years) and those cognitively impaired were less likely to engage in SDM, while those very knowledgeable of their AF associated stroke risk were more likely to do so than respective comparison groups. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of older adults with AF did not engage in SDM for stroke prevention with older patients and those cognitively impaired less likely to do so. Clinicians should identify patients who are less likely to engage in SDM, promote patient engagement, and foster better patient-provider communication which may enhance long-term patient outcomes

Development of an Improved Convolutional Neural Network for an Automated Face Based University Attendance System

Because of the flaws of the present university attendance system, which has always been time intensive, not accurate, and a hard process to follow. It, therefore, becomes imperative to eradicate or minimize the deficiencies identified in the archaic method. The identification of human face systems has evolved into a significant element in autonomous attendance-taking systems due to their ease of adoption and dependable and polite engagement. Face recognition technology has drastically altered the field of Convolution Neural Networks (CNN) however it has challenges of high computing costs for analyzing information and determining the best specifications (design) for each problem. Thus, this study aims to enhance CNN’s performance using Genetic Algorithm (GA) for an automated face-based University attendance system. The improved face recognition accuracy with CNN-GA got 96.49% while the face recognition accuracy with CNN got 92.54%