“REAL ME VERSUS SOCIAL MEDIA ME:” FILTERS, SNAPCHAT DYSMORPHIA, AND BEAUTY PERCEPTIONS AMONG YOUNG WOMEN

Social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat are visual-based social media platforms that are popular among young women. One popular content many young women use on Snapchat and Instagram are beauty filters. A beauty filter is a photo-editing tool that allows users to smooth out their skin, enhance their lips and eyes, contour their nose, alter their jawline and cheekbones, etc. Due to these beauty filters, young women are now seeking plastic surgeons to alter their appearance to look just like their filtered photos (this trend is called Snapchat dysmorphia). This research study examines how these beauty filters and images that young women view and use on social media affect their perceptions of self and beauty. My participants consisted of 18 female college students who attend California State University, San Bernardino. Each participant was interviewed and asked questions regarding their social media experiences. My results indicate that many young women express how society’s beauty standards for young women play a role in their use of beauty filters and cosmetic surgeries. Overall, this study’s findings explain how beauty filters, fitspirations, and social media likes affect many young women’s perceptions of beauty and body image. By understanding why many young women use these beauty filters it can help and encourage companies to create reliable resources and campaigns that encourage natural beauty and self-love for women all around the world

Synthetic phonics as a tool for improving the reading skills of Nigerian pupils

PhD ThesisThis study explored whether the synthetic phonics method can improve the reading skills of beginning readers in primary schools in Nigeria using a case study action design underpinned by the sociocultural theory of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) . The official policy on education prescribes English as the language of instruction from the fourth year of school up to the highest educational level in Nigeria. However, research shows that by the fourth year of school, pupils are not equipped with sufficient skills in reading the English language. This poor foundation in the language of instruction has the tendency to affect the academic performance of students for much of their school years resulting in increasing rates of illiteracy in the country. 226 pupils, 9 teachers and 9 schools were included in the study which used intervention and control groups. The teachers for the synthetic phonics group were trained. All pupils were pre-tested before teaching began in the classes. The synthetic phonics classes were taught using the intervention method while the control classes were taught using the traditional method. The synthetic phonics class rooms were regularly observed. After the intervention, the groups were post-tested. Focus groups discussions were conducted with the teachers and interviews with pupils in the synthetic phonics groups. The study found that pupils were more eager to learn in the collaborative and engaging environment offered by the synthetic phonics programme. Also, teachers were more confident to teach English language and they found the synthetic phonics programme very useful and easy to use. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the improveme nt in the reading skills of the pupils in the synthetic phonics groups compared to the pupils in the control groups. The study concluded that synthetic phonics is a possible tool for improving the reading skills of Nigerian pupil

The influence of salt on rancidity development in salted-dried fish

Preservation of fish by salting or drying, or a combination of both, has been used for many centuries in many countries. These methods have developed over the years largely to suit local conditions e.g. availability of salt and climate. In general, rapid drying occurs under low humidity and high temperature conditions, although in practice fish drying is viable provided either the humidity is relatively low or the temperature relatively high. For example, fish drying at low humidities and low temperature is carried out in Canada, Norway, Iceland and the Netherlands, whereas drying of fish at relatively high humidity and high temperature is carried out in many tropical countries, However, dried fish products keep less well in a hot humid tropical climate than in a cool, dry temperate climate. [Continues.

Numerical modelling to predict fracturing rock (Thanet chalk) due to naturally occurring faults and fluid pressure

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Journal of Structural Geology on 30/07/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2018.07.021 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Outcrop mapping of a chalk cliff and wavecut platform in Thanet, Southeast England show a complex fracture pattern that seems to be controlled by meso-scale strike-slip faults within the chalk. The response of these faults to changes to in situ stress and fluid pressure is thought to control the nucleation and propagation of fractures in the chalk. In this study the DEM (Discrete Element Method) technique has been employed as a follow up to previous field and numerical (boundary and finite element method) investigations to ascertain the role of the faults in the initiation and nucleation of fractures The role of fluid pressure, in-situ stress, and fault geometry are recognised as focal factors. The generation of localised areas of tensile stresses due to fluid pressure and stress perturbations have been shown to cause the initiation of fractures around the fault bends. For releasing bends, localised tensile stresses tend to occur along the central segment of the fault bend, whereas for restraining bends, tensile stresses are more likely to develop on the outer edges of the fault bend. The dissimilarity in the fracturing process due to differences in the geometry of pre-existing faults demonstrates the significance of both fault geometry and fluid behaviour in controlling fracturing.Published versio

An Overview of Principles and Designs of Hydraulic Fracturing Experiments and an Inquiry into the Influence of Rock Permeability and Strength on Failure Mode

The relevance of hydraulic fracturing experiments in the analysis of subsurface flow mechanisms and interactions during fracking operations underpins past and current efforts towards designing and implementing more representative physical models. An overview has been presented that comprehensively discusses the key elements and design requirements for successful experimentations. In setting up a hydraulic fracturing experiment, it is imperative that, in line with the research objective, the physical model that includes the initial and boundary conditions, wellbore configuration, type of fracturing fluid and injection rate be a true representative of actual reservoir/underground flow environments. This investigation recognises the main elements that form the framework for effective laboratory scale experiments, which comprise the specimen, in‐situ stresses, pore pressure, fluid injection, duration, and visualisation and monitoring. Furthermore, an examination of the influence of rock properties on the characteristics of fracturing and failure of rocks subjected to wellbore conditions indicates a trend highly dependent on rock strength and permeability. Soft and highly permeable rocks tend to cause an inward collapse of the wellbore cavity. Cavity size is also shown to have a considerable effect on the failure process. Wellbore stability is inversely related to cavity size; larger cavities are found to be less stable

Design and Fabrication of a Dual Power Water Pump

The work is designed to alleviate the challenges inherent in pumping water from one particular place to another in the rural areas. It has great applicability in water borehole systems, irrigation, building and bricklaying activities, palm oil and groundnut oil industries and other industries that deal with fluid. The power for the pump can either come from manual pedaling or the dc motor. It incorporated a manual gear assembly which disengages from the pump by means of a clutch when the pump is powered by the dc motor.The major components of the machine include; centrifugal pump, dc motor, sprockets, chain drive, spur gears and angle bar. Testing the pump showed that it has a flow rate of 14litres per minute during manual operation and 24litres per minute during operation with the dc motor. Keywords: Pump; Water-borehole; Manual-pedaling; dc-motor; sprocket; spur gear; chain-drive

DIGITAL ACCOUNTING PRACTICES AND QUALITY OF FINANCIAL REPORTS

Digital accounting has replaced the manual ways of processing financial transactions in almost all organisations. Digital accounting practices are very relevant in the processing of financial transactions. One of the many benefits of digital accounting is the improvement in the quality of financial reports. However, this role has often been overlooked. This study was therefore conducted to investigate whether the application of digital accounting practices hasany effect on the quality of financial reports. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether there is any relationship between the digital accounting practicesand the quality of financial reports. The independent variable in the study was the digital accounting practices which was measured by software application, network application and humanware application; while the dependent variable was the quality of financial statements which was modelled by the five attributes of financial reports: relevance, comparability, faithful representation, verifiability and understandability. The study adopted survey research design and the data were obtained from primary sources through questionnaires administered on randomly selected professional accountants in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Seventy out of eighty questionnaires were retrieved. The data were analysed with SPSS version 20 using correlation and regression models. The results of analysis showed that all the components of independent variable were positively and significantly related to the quality of financial reports. However, the humanware component showed a very high positive correlation portraying the importance of humanware in digital accounting practice. The study concluded that digital accounting practices affect the quality of financial reports of firms. The study recommends amongst others, the adoption of digital accounting in all aspects of the processing of financial statements. &nbsp

Pethidine and bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia: a comparative evaluation of postoperative complications and recovery profile

Background: Bupivacaine is commonly used as a sole agent for spinal anaesthesia unlike Pethidine. This study compares the immediate postoperative complications and recovery profile following spinal anaesthesia with pethidine and bupivacaine.Methods: Fifty-two patients who required short duration surgical procedures below the umbilicus were randomized to receive spinal anaesthesia with pethidine 1mg/Kg and 2.5 mL 0.5% bupivacaine. Time to recovery of pin prick sensation at S2, plantar flexion, proprioception of the big toe, and full motor recovery were compared for the two agents. Complications of pain, sedation, nausea and vomiting, pruritus and urinary retention in the immediate postoperative period were also compared.Results: Comparing Pethidine and Bupivacaine, time to return of pinprick sensation at S2 was 94.62±20.25 and 205.96±31.05 minutes respectively; return of plantar flexion was 92.88±12.01 and 193.85±39.56 minutes respectively; recovery of proprioception of the big toe was 31.15±9.41 and 172.50±42.70 minutes respectively; complete motor recovery was 47.89±14.08 and 221.73±44.72 minutes respectively. All the differences in recovery times were statistically significant (p<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of pain and sedation. Only 4 (15.38%) patients in the Bupivacaine group experienced mild pain. There was no incident of nausea and vomiting. However, pethidine group experienced pruritus (19.22%) and bupivacaine group none. Bupivacaine group also had urinary retention (11.54%), while pethidine group had none. These differences were statistically significant (p=0.01).Conclusions: Pethidine exhibited a shorter recovery profile than Bupivacaine and also caused no significant complication in the immediate postoperative period