New insights into transport phenomena involved in carbonated water injection: effective mathematical modeling strategies

Carbonated water injection (CWI) is a promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method that provides an efficient and a more environmentally friendly alternative to meet the ever-increasing demand for energy. An additional benefit from the implementation of CWI is the storage of anthropogenic CO₂ and this has made it even more attractive. Over the years, several attempts have been made to model CWI as an EOR process but have been of very little success due to the underlying assumptions used or the modelling strategy. There are several multi-physics involved during CWI and to have an accurate model to investigate CWI, these physics need to be adequately captured. In this thesis, we have attempted to model CWI adequately by using more realistic and practical assumptions to present a novel modeling strategy. This thesis shows our research in a manuscript-based format which is presented in each chapter as major contributions. Firstly, a comprehensive review of CWI where the behavior of fluids, fluid-rock interactions and challenges associated with CWI technique have been thoroughly discussed. Secondly, the modelling investigation to capture the critical salinity which plays an important role in EOR techniques for sandstones and carbonate as well as the solubility of CO₂ during CWI is presented. Thirdly, a 3-D modeling method to investigate CWI which considers important terms such as gravity, non-instantaneous equilibrium, heterogeneity, anisotropy and well orientation is presented. Fourthly, a 1-D core modelling approach which considers the reaction term and rock dissolution in an improved attempt to capture CWI is presented. Finally, a deterministic approach is presented to effectively predict oil recovery factor based on pattern recognition and artificial intelligence. To facilitate this, the use of artificial neural network (ANN), least square support vector machine (LSSVM) modelling and gene expression programming (GEP) are adopted

CONSUMERS’ PREFERENCES AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR VALUE-ADDED DAIRY PRODUCTS IN KENTUCKY - CONSIDERING PRICE, PROVENANCE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES

Many medium and smaller dairies are shifting to various kinds of value-added products that may expand in demand nationally aside from fluid milk. This study uses a latent class logit model to investigate the heterogeneity of consumer preferences and willingness to pay for dairy value-added products across four latent classes considering different local and environmental sustainability labels. The dairy products examined for this research are butter, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. This research revealed that younger consumers, especially those that reside in rural areas, always pay attention to product attributes when they shop for dairy products, mostly the local state brand (Kentucky Proud) and climate-smart labels. Most respondents defined local food products as food produced within the same state. Results show that cheese and butter are the most consumed dairy products across all four dairy products. The result from the latent class logit model shows that across all four classes, consumers had the highest willingness to pay for labels with low carbon levels ($1) and medium carbon levels ($0.52) compared to labels with high carbon levels. There was a low willingness to pay for the Kentucky milk label ($-0.44) and 100 miles label (-0.93), as most prefer the Kentucky Proud label. The results from this research are critical for product development and marketing strategies for small and medium-scale dairy farmers. It will also contribute to knowledge for efficient market segmentation strategies for farmers, retailers, and policymakers

Towards Improving the Strategies of Effective Teaching of Entrepreneurship Development Education Courses to Office Technology and Management Students of Polytechnics in Delta State

This study investigated the strategies and tools for effective teaching of Entrepreneurship Development Education to OTM students of Polytechnics in Delta State. The design of the study was survey. Research question was raised for the study. An instrument which consisted of 70 items was distributed to 30 respondents in the areas covered in the study. Frequency and descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data obtained. The finding of the study revealed that the implementation of EDE curriculum does not promote the acquisition and practical application of entrepreneurial skills as it is taught by incapable hands or taught theoretically. It was recommended that lecturers should be equipped in methodology and in content for effective service delivery. Keywords: Strategies, content; competencies; Entrepreneurial skills, unemployment, Panace

Alternative Methods of Financing Office Technology and Management Programmes of Polytechnics in Delta State, Nigeria

This study investigated the strategies of funding Office Technology and Management Programmes of Delta State Polytechnics for results. The design of the study was survey. Research question was raised for the study. An instrument which consisted of 32 items was distributed to 30 respondents in the three polytechnics located in Delta State. Frequency and descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data. The findings of the study revealed, among others, that the educational sector is experiencing gross under funding as a result of economic down turn in Nigeria; that alumni associations, philanthropists, organizations, clubs, industrial bodies, should assist in funding OTM programmes to enable students acquire appropriate skills needed for the world of work. It was therefore recommended that everybody that takes decisions or handles money in educational institutions should be cost conscious and prudent as well as sending institutional administrators/managers for training or seminars in financial management. Keywords: Strategies; Financing; OTM Programmes; NBTE; Polytechnics; Minimum Standards; Institutional Administrators; Educational Sector

Competence Level in the Use of Social Media by Urban Poultry Farmers in Ikorodu LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria

This study examined the level of competence in the use of social media by urban poultry farmers in Ikorodu LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select communities in Ikorodu LGA that had high predominance of poultry farmers. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, with a target audience of 120 poultry farmers. Objectives were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics such as such as frequency counts, percentages, mean statistics and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using the logit and multiple regressions. Results showed; Facebook ( = 3.75), WhatsApp ( = 2.57) and Google ( = 2.35) as preferred social media. Majority had high competence in the use of Facebook ( = 3.75), WhatsApp ( = 3.44) and Google ( = 3.25) but had low level of competence in Pinterest ( = 0.58), Slideshare ( = 0.82) and Academia ( = 0.85). Major information sourced from social media were daily routine management and general housing information. Farm status ( = -2.57), farm experience ( = 2.50) and stock size ( = 2.71) were significant at 1% with level of competence using social media. preferred sources of social media were Facebook, Whatsapp and Google which will help in effective information dissemination to the poultry farmers in the study area. Keywords: Competence, Poultry Farmers, Social media, Urban DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/81-03 Publication date:June 30th 201

Fitness to drive among commercial intercity drivers in Benin-City, Edo State

Background: Unfit drivers are prone to road traffic accident, therefore their health is paramount in ensuring the safety of road users. To determine the fitness to drive among commercial intercity bus drivers in Benin City, Edo StateMaterial and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 194 commercial intercity drivers. The respondents were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data was collected with the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Estimation of the alcohol level, visual acuity, blood pressure and body mass index was done for respondents using an Alcomate breathalyzer, Snellen’s chart, sphygmomanometer, measuring tape/weighing scale, respectively. IBM SPSS version 21 software was utilized for data analysis. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: The mean age of respondents was 40.5 ± 7.3 years. Eighty-seven (44.8%) of the respondents had blood alcohol level greater than the legally acceptable limit, 12 (6.2%) were observed to be visually impaired while 4 (2.1%) were hypertensive. Based on these indices, 95 (49.0%) of the respondents were unfit to drive.Conclusion: Almost half of the drivers were unfit to drive based on their abnormal blood alcohol level, visual acuity and high blood pressure. This emphasizes the need for proper pre-medical and periodic medical examination of drivers to ensure their fitness to drive. This will minimize the occurrence of road traffic accidents and their sequelae.Keywords: Fitness to drive; Commercial intercity drivers; Benin Cit

Knowledge and Adherence to Social Distancing Guidelines in Nigeria

Social distancing refers to actions or steps taken by an individual or groups of individuals with the main purpose of reducing physical and social interaction to curb the spread of infectious disease. This study sought to determine Nigerians knowledge of social distancing and why most people do not adhere to the guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was generated from respondents who filled an online survey form distributed on all social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. All respondents living in Nigeria were included in the study while those living outside at the time of the survey were excluded. Results from the survey revealed that most Nigerians are knowledgeable about social distancing guidelines but observed low or non-adherence to the rules. This non-compliance was partly attributed to poor knowledge of the guidelines due to inadequate information from the government, and majorly due to lack of basic amenities, poverty and hunger. Further research and policies on the best avenue of reaching this group of Nigerians with a substantial economic package, an improvement on information dissemination on social distancing guidelines will make a great difference. Finally, the authorities and policymakers can develop programmes to prepare citizen for the eventuality of a future pandemic

Strategies for Improving Quality of Education in Nigeria through the Use of Community Informatics Social E-Learning Network

Over the last few decades, the quality of education in Nigeria has declined leading to unacceptable low academic performance, high level of functional illiteracy, growing population of unemployable graduates. This paper presents Community Informatics Social E-learning Network (CISEN) strategies that use community-based approach to identify and address the challenges facing education in the various communities across Nigeria. The CISEN uses an online GeoHubNet Community Structure (GCS) to organize the geo-communities in the various states of Nigeria. The CISEN strategies focus on bringing together the stakeholders in each local community to create awareness, identify issues pertaining to education, develop appropriate educational program that will address the issues raised and improve the quality of education in the local communities. Furthermore, the CISEN provides a framework for evaluation of the academic performance of the pupils and students on a continuous basis. CISEN also has mechanism for impact assessment of the CISEN strategies on the quality of education in those local communities it supports.

Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing in Neurosurgery: An International Survey of Current Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

BACKGROUND: Because nearly 23,000 more neurosurgeons are needed globally to address 5 million essential neurosurgical cases that go untreated each year, there is an increasing interest in task-shifting and task-sharing (TS/S), delegating neurosurgical tasks to nonspecialists, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This global survey aimed to provide a cross-sectional understanding of the prevalence and structure of current neurosurgical TS/S practices in LMICs. METHODS: The survey was distributed to a convenience sample of individuals providing neurosurgical care in LMICs with a Web-based survey link via electronic mailing lists of continental societies and various neurosurgical groups, conference announcements, e-mailing lists, and social media platforms. Country-level data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The survey yielded 127 responses from 47 LMICs; 20 countries (42.6%) reported ongoing TS/S. Most TS/S procedures involved emergency interventions, the top 3 being burr holes, craniotomy for hematoma evacuation, and external ventricular drain. Most (65.0%) believed that their Ministry of Health does not endorse TS/S (24.0% unsure), and only 11% believed that TS/S training was structured. There were few opportunities for TS/S providers to continue medical education (11.6%) or maintenance of certification (9.4%, or receive remuneration (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: TS/S is ongoing in many LMICs without substantial structure or oversight, which is concerning for patient safety. These data invite future clinical outcomes studies to assess effectiveness and discussions on policy recommendations such as standardized curricula, certification protocols, specialist oversight, and referral networks to increase the level of TS/S care and to continue to increase the specialist workforce