Role-Playing Games in a variety of cultures: experiences from the ComMod group

The ComMod group has developped and implemented a common approach of using agent based simulations and role playing games in several parts of the world: Africa, Europe,Oceania, South-East Asia and Latin America. The communication introduced by this extended abstract describes the variations among these various implementations of the same methods in these different cultural contexts, with a focus on experiments with water management issues

Experimental investigation of air lift pump

Air lift pump has been predominantly used for lifting of waste-water, aggressive fluid, transportation of solids and radioactive fluids in nuclear recycling plants and also for deep sea mining. The air lift pump performance depends on some fluid and geometric properties. Experiments were carried out by setting up a model air lift pump to unearth some of these parameters and their influence on the performance. Thereafter a Lift Dimensionless Number (LDN) and Pump Dimensionless Number (PDN) were derived to capture all the flow parameters. Using the experimental  results obtained a logarithmic plot of the dimensionless numbers was obtained to established a relationship between the dimensionless numbers. It was generally observed that air lift pumps with smaller riser pipe diameters yielded higher lifts. From the experiment it was also noted that fluid with better adhesive properties (e.g. water) produced higher lifts. For all cases of injection pressures for different fluids and mixture of fluid and solid, the lift increased with increasing submergence. A logarithmic plot of LDN against PDN yielded a slope 0.22 and intercept -0.78. The study has therefore been able to generate dimensionless parameters for characterizing the lift pump

Evaluation of Canaanland Camp House B, Ota, Ogun State

Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) has been identified as one of the key methodologies in identifying the performance of buildings. It is important for building industry professionals as well as end users to understand the efficiency and effectiveness of their buildings through proper analysis of feedback. The purpose of POE is to improve how buildings are constructed by reducing design and maintenance costs, enhancing occupant satisfaction, comfort, and performance, and to increase return on building owners’ investments. This paper adopts a strategic review using POE in an investigative format with particular focus the Camp House B which served as accommodation for post-graduate students of Covenant University and lodging for groups on spiritual programmes. A survey was carried out using a structured questionnaire as research instrument. The 48 Masters students of architecture representing 30.57% of the total of 157 Post Graduate students were chosen as the sample. The study variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics, tests for correlations and significant relationships were established. The results show significant correlation between the time spent in the rooms and the perceived air quality of the building and significant relationship between adequacy of room space and change in needs of the occupant. The paper concludes with results that show relative user comfort in the buildings and rated the buildings condition as good with a rating of 2.88/4.00. The paper recommends concerted efforts towards improving plumbing services and the inclusion of passive cooling features in design solutions. Keywords: Evaluation, Feedback, Maintenance and Performanc

Development of oil-in-water (o/w) nanoemulsion formulations for spontaneous transdermal delivery of ciprofloxacin

Nanoemulsions have attracted attention in delivery of therapeutically active agents since most of the new chemical entities are hydrophobic in nature and the delivery of poor water soluble drugs is a challenge. This study was carried out to adopt nanoemulsion as a means of entrapping ciprofloxacin in the oil phase of the emulsion for transdermal drug delivery. Nanoemulsions were formulated as oil in water (O/W) type and prepared by self-mild mechanical nanoemulsification method. The formulation consisted of Sandbox (Huracrepitan) and Sesame seed (Sesamumindicum) as the organic phase of the emulsion, Polyethylene (20) sorbitanmonooleate (Tween 80) and Polyethylene (20) sorbitanmonolaurate (Tween 20) as the surfactants and Polyehtylene glycol (PEG 400) as co-surfactant. The formulations were tested and characterized. Ciprofloxacin (0.075 g) was incorporated into the oil phase of the most stable nanoemulsion formulation prior emulsification and tested on Escherichia coli. Transdermal application was done on male Wister rats (R) followed by biopsification. The result showed the zones of inhibition of HCa3+Ciprofloxacin (Ciprofloxacin-loaded, Huracrpitan oil based nanoemulsion) and SSA3+Ciprofloxacin (Ciprofloxacin-loaded, Sesame oil based nanoemulsion) to be 26.00 and 25.00 mm respectively. The HPLC results showed that, out of 75000 µg of ciprofloxacin loaded in the oil phases of HCa3 and SSA3 formulations, 6.0076 (R2), 0.4112 (R3) and 6.7241 µg (R6) were absorbed in HCa3 while 1.9519 (R1), 1.2631 (R4) and 2.1801 µg (R5) were absorbed in SSA3. The SEM images revealed an encapsulation with globule size diameter of 94 and 63 nm respectively. The findings of this work showed that sandbox and Sesame seedoil based nanoemulsions are effective for transdermal drug delivery

Quality of Teachers: Effective Teaching and Learning of English Language in Secondary Schools, Akoko North West Local Government Area, Ondo State

This study examined qualities of teachers as a panacea to effective and learning of English Language in selected secondary schools. The study population comprised all the public secondary school teachers in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. Out of this a sample of 150 teachers was selected through simple ramdon sampling technique. Two instruments were used to collect data. The data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages and chi-square. The findings reveal that there is significant relationship between teacher’s quality and students’ academic performance in English Language in Secondary Schools; there is significant relationship between teacher’s experience and students’ academic performance in English Language in secondary schools; there is significant relationship between teachers’ qualification and students’ academic performance in English Language in secondary schools; there is significant influence between teacher’s qualification  and experience on students’ academic performance in English Language. Based on the findings, it is recommended that Ondo State Government should intensify more efforts in the training of teachers in order to acquire higher qualification; teachers should bring their wealth of experience in teaching students that would enhance the internal efficiency in secondary schools in the State. Keywords: Teachers, teaching, learning, English language, secondary schools. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-2-0

Weed Control Efficacy and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Colonization of Upland Rice Varieties as Affected by Population Densities

Field  experiments were  conducted in 2011 and 2012 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Latitude 7 20`N and Longitude 3 23`E) in the Forest/ Savanna Transition Agro- ecological zone of South Western Nigeria  to determine the weed control efficacy and AM colonization  of upland rice varieties   at different population densities. The experiment was a 3x3 factorial arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The three plant population used included 333, 333; 250, 000 and 166, 666 plants per hectare obtained by planting at 20cm x 15cm, 20cm x 20cm and 20cm x 30 cm respectively, while the three rice varieties used were ITA 150, NERICA 2 and OFADA. The results obtained from the study showed that plant population at 333, 333 plants per hectare significantly (p < 0.05) reduced weed population, number of tillers per hill and yield of rice varieties. Moreover, the local rice variety, OFADA was observed to be significantly (p < 0.05) taller than the other varieties, reduced weed biomass and consequently gave better yield advantage over the other tested varieties (ITA 150 and NERICA 2).   Panicle length and days to 50% flowering were significantly (p<0.05) longer in OFADA and NERICA 2.  Planting density did not affect AM root colonization but significant differences were observed among the rice varieties with respect to spore abundance. Keywords: rice, arbuscular mycorrhizal, plant population, varietie

Derivation of Stochastic Equations for Computational Uncertainties in Petro-Physical Properties Using a Simplified Algorithm

This paper presents a simple mathematical algorithm or procedure for computing the uncertainties at the various percent of data input, using the stochastic approach of simulating the input variables to compute the output variables. A simple algorithm was used to derive stochastic equations for some selected petrophysical parameters using the relative standard deviations techniques (σ). These equations also known as reference work equations were found to produce reasonably accepted magnitude of uncertainties in the different parameters associated with cores. Equations were derived for the percent uncertainties in the values of the pore volume of the core - Vp, the fluid saturation – Sw, Sor, the porosity of the core – Φ, formation factor - F, bulk density – ρB, the derived porosity - ΦL and the derived permeability – KBU, Kro, Krw. The uncertainty equations can also be used to define the maximum level of uncertainty that can be tolerated in any independent variable if the maximum uncertainty to be tolerated in the dependent variable is knownKeywords: Stochastic equations, petrophysical parameters, percent uncertainties, Mathematical algorithm, standard deviations, partial derivatives, degree of accuracy, empirical models

KEEPING UP WITH GLOBAL TRENDS: ASSESSING PRIVATE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS' TRAINING AND RETRAINING PROCESSES IN NIGERIA

This study examines the lifelong learning processes of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. One of the most unique attributes of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the ability to simplify processes and aid efficiency. Institutions are not run the way they used to some decades back. This is attributed to the evolution of ICT. Since new technologies evolve at astonishing speed, it should be expected that tertiary institutions should not only learn of them, but also adopt them in their administrative processes. This brings to the fore the role of staff members in ensuring the success of this process. This study, therefore, examines the processes adopted by selected tertiary institutions to train and retrain their staff to be able to keep up with ICT trends using multinomial logistic model approach