Energy Consumption, Economic Growth Relationship and Causal Independence: Evidence from Panel Data Forselected Low Income Countries

This paper uses the panel data of energy consumption (EC) and economic growth (GDP) for 8 countries from 1975 to 2010. These countries are divided into two groups: selected low income country in Asiaand selected low income country in Africa. A long run relationship was found to exist betweenenergy consumptionandeconomicgrowthisinvestigatedby employing Wadalla and Wu (1999) panel cointegration method. Panelcausalitytestisappliedtoinvestigatethewayofcausalitybetweentheenergyconsumptionandeconomic growth which shows that causality runs from GDP to economic growth for Africa and a reverse of that was observed for the selected countries in asia.The findings of this study have important policy implication sand it shows that this issue still deserves further attention infuture research. Keyword: Energy consumption, economic growth, panel analysis, cointegratio

The Real Exchange Rate of Oil Exporting Countries: An African Experience

Oil prices traditionally have been more volatile than many other commodity or asset prices since World War II and has have a lot implications on major macroeconomic variables such as inflation, exchange rate, money supply, capacity utilisation and economic growth among others. The goal of this paper is investigate the long run effects of real oil price and real interest rate differential on real exchange rate for a quarterly panel of 3 countries from 1980 to 20012. The modelling exercise follows three steps. In the first step, the paper investigates the integration properties of the data and finds them to be integrated of order one. In the second step, using several different panel cointegration tests, the paper finds evidence for cointegration among the three variables. In the third step, using pooled mean group estimator, the paper finds a positive and statistically significant impact of real oil price on real exchange rate for net oil importing countries, implying that increase in oil price leads to real exchange rate depreciation. Keyword: Exchange rate; oil price; Cointegratio

Corruption and Economic Growth in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis 1996 - 2013

That corruption is the bane of Nigeria’s socio-economic development is to state the obvious. Today, in Nigeria, there is a consensus among well-meaning individuals and foreign nations that corruption has inevitably become a major clog in the quest for sustainable growth and development. It is further agreed that it must be halted before it shut down the country. Since 1996, Nigeria was labeled the most corrupt nation three times: 1996, 1997, and 2000: and placed in the bottom five four more times: fifth from the bottom in 1998 and second bottom in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Thus, this study investigates the impact of corruption on economic growth in Nigeria for the period 1996 – 2013. The result of the regression analysis shows that there is a negative relationship between the dependent variable (GDP) and corruption level in Nigeria. This invariably means that as the level of corruption activities increases, economic growth decreases significantly. This findings thus made the argument against corruption relevant. Based on the findings, we therefore recommend as follows: The activities of the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should be strengthened; The public should be educated about the problems that corrupt practices create for the economy and the society at large, and be discouraged from participating in corrupt practices. Nigerians should put in leadership positions honest individuals who would serve as role models to minimize the negative consequences of corruption with its negative impact on the development and growth of Nigeria; corruption is made easy in Nigeria because government involvement in economic decision making is high. Therefore, privatization of government business interest especially in the oil sector should be carried out. Keywards: Corruption Economic Growth, Privatization, Transparency Nepotism, Vandalisation

Minimizing Interference in Ultra-Dense Femtocell Networks Using Graph-Based Frequency Reuse Technique

This paper investigates the performance of graph colouring schemes for frequency assignment in Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks with ultra-dense femtocells. The aim of the study is to minimize interference in such networks while ensuring efficient spectrum use for these femtocells. The three schemes investigated are the conventional greedy graph colouring algorithm, the saturation degree algorithm and our proposed graph-based theory (GBT) algorithm. The process of frequency assignment is similar in the last two except that the proposed GBT partitions the femtocells into independent sets for an efficient frequency re-use. The performance of these three schemes was analyzed through extensive simulations to determine the SINR and network capacity that can be obtained with the deployment of these schemes using the ITU-R P1238-7 path loss model. The outcome of this study showed that with the absence of a dynamic frequency assignment scheme, interference level is increased as the number of femtocell users within a particular coverage is increased, leading to a reduction in the capacity of such networks. Simulation results showed that all three algorithms considered have the ability to allocate frequencies to femtocells and minimize interference in a densely deployed environment, thereby increasing network capacity. The proposed GBT assigned the least sub-band thereby ensuring spectral efficiency while minimizing harmful interference. Results show that the greedy algorithm has a disadvantage of inefficiently assigning sub-bands randomly, while the saturation degree assigns more sub-bands when compared with the GBT scheme.Keywords — Femtocell, graph colouring, frequency assignment, LTE

The Multi-reference Correlation Consistent Composite Approach: A New Vista In Quantitative Prediction Of Thermochemical And Spectroscopic Properties

The multi-reference correlation consistent composite approach (MR-ccCA) was designed to reproduce the accuracy of more computationally intensive ab initio quantum mechanical methods like MR-ACPF-DK/aug-cc-pCV?Z-DK, albeit at a significantly reduced cost. In this dissertation, the development and applications of the MR-ccCA method and a variant of its single reference equivalent (the relativistic pseudopotential ccCA method) are reported. MR-ccCA is shown to predict the energetic properties of reactive intermediates, excited states species and transition states to within chemical accuracy (i.e. ±1.0 kcal mol 1) of reliable experimental values. The accuracy and versatility of MR-ccCA are also demonstrated in the prediction of the thermochemical and spectroscopic properties (such as atomization energies, enthalpies of formation and adiabatic transition energies of spin-forbidden excited states) of a series of silicon-containing compounds. The thermodynamic and kinetic feasibilities of the oxidative addition of an archetypal arylglycerol ?-aryl ether (?-O-4 linkage) substructure of lignin to Ni, Cu, Pd and Pt transition metal atoms using the efficient relativistic pseudopotential correlation consistent composite approach within an ONIOM framework (rp-ccCA-ONIOM), a multi-level multi-layer QM/QM method formulated to enhance the quantitative predictions of the chemical properties of heavy element-containing systems larger than hitherto attainable, are also reported

An artificial lift selection approach using machine learning: a case study in Sudan.

This article presents a machine learning (ML) application to examine artificial lift (AL) selection, using only field production datasets from a Sudanese oil field. Five ML algorithms were used to develop a selection model, and the results demonstrated the ML capabilities in the optimum selection, with accuracy reaching 93%. Moreover, the predicted AL has a better production performance than the actual ones in the field. The research shows the significant production parameters to consider in AL type and size selection. The top six critical factors affecting AL selection are gas, cumulatively produced fluid, wellhead pressure, GOR, produced water, and the implemented EOR. This article contributes significantly to the literature and proposes a new and efficient approach to selecting the optimum AL to maximize oil production and profitability, reducing the analysis time and production losses associated with inconsistency in selection and frequent AL replacement. This study offers a universal model that can be applied to any oil field with different parameters and lifting methods

Experimental Evidence of Quantum Confinement Impairment In The Optical Properties of Annealed Lead Sulphide Thin Film

Recent characterizations of compounds are undoubtedly one of the avenues for the emergence of new semiconducting-light emitting diode (LED) devices. The industrial application of the lead sulphide thin film has been proposed. The lead sulphide thin film was grown by Chemical Bathe Deposition Technique (CBDT) and annealed at four temperatures of 100oC, 150oC, 200oC and 250oC. The samples were analyzed via the 6045 U-V spectrometer. The results shows that PbS thin film has a low transmittance value ranging from 0.204709% to 0.85722%; absorbance value ranging between 3.026% and 3.564%; reflectance value ranging from 81% to 114%; direct band gap was between 1.66eV to 1.78eV. Hence, the calculated refractive index ranges from 1.67 to 1.669. The evidence of quantum confinement impairment in each annealed samples was proofed. This shows that the optical tuning of the lead sulphide is dependent on the thermal control of its constituent's diamete

Effect of Temperature and Residence Time on Torrefaction Characteristics of African Birch (Anogeissus leiocarpa)

In this study, the effect of temperature and residence time on African birch (Anogeissus leiocarpa) torrefaction characteristics was investigated. African birch trunk was procured from Aanu-Oluwapo Sawmill in Ogbomoso, SouthWestern Nigeria. The trunk was sawn into pieces. The pieces were machined into cylindrical samples of 40 mm diameter and 65 mm length using a wood lathe machine (Powermatic 3520B). Prepared samples were torrefied, one at a time, in an electrically heated fixed bed reactor at different torrefaction temperatures (200, 230, 260, and 290 oC) and residence times (10, 20, 30, and 40 min). The proximate analysis of both the raw sample and solid torrefaction products was done according to the ASTM D3174-76 standard. The mass and energy yields, Higher Heating Value (HHV), and water absorption characteristic of the solid torrefaction products were then determined. Findings revealed mass and energy yields of the torrefied solid products decreased with an increase in both temperature and residence time. HHV increased with temperature but did not show any consistent pattern with residence time. The water affinity of the torrefied biomass decreased with both temperature and residence time. Torrefaction inhibits biomass moisture uptake during storage while increasing its heating valu

Knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception by female junior secondary school students in an urban community of Oyo-state, South west, Nigeria

Background: Unintended pregnancies resulting in several maternal morbidities and mortalities are still a major public health challenge in most parts of the world. Female secondary school students are particularly vulnerable due to their engagement in unsafe sex and low uptake of family planning services. The study assessed respondents’ level of knowledge on, attitude to and practice of family planning.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 consenting female junior secondary school students in two public schools in Ogbomoso, South West Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling method was employed in recruiting the study participants and facilitated self-administered semi-structured questionnaire used for data collection. Descriptive statistics was done and Chi-square test used to compare categorical variables. The level of statistical significance was set at p <0.05.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 13.6±2.3 and 69.5% of them were early adolescents (10-13years of age). Almost all (92.3%) of the respondents were aware of family planning but only 58.1% and 55.3% of them had good knowledge on and positive attitudes towards family planning respectively. In all, 64.0% of the sexually active respondents had ever used family planning. Condom was the commonest family planning method ever used; reported by 65.0% of those who had ever used family planning. Fear of side effects was the main reason among non-users.Conclusions: Family planning uptake among sexually active female students is low in Southwest Nigeria. There is urgent need for aggressive awareness campaigns to improve the knowledge score and attitude of students to family planning in Nigeria