Characterization, modelling, prediction and inhibition of Naphthenate deposits in oilfield production

The production of acidic or sometimes heavier crudes often leads to the formation of either calcium naphthenate or sodium carboxylate soap emulsions during oil production operations. This problem has been recognised as a major flow assurance problem in the oil industry. In this work, both harder calcium naphthenates and more emulsion–like sodium carboxylates have been studied and these are viewed as “end members” in the spectrum of field naphthenate deposits which may occur. In this thesis, four related aspects of naphthenate deposits are studied, as follows: (i) Characterization of various field naphthenates samples from different parts of the world, involving naphthenic acid extraction method development and subsequent extract analysis using electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (APCI MS) techniques. It was observed that different naphthenic acid extraction and analysis methods affected the naphthenic acid identification and apparent composition; (ii) Geochemical studies have been carried out on various crude oils which form calcium naphthenate deposits, sodium carboxylate soaps and emulsions. Biomarker correlation analysis was employed on the aliphatic and aromatic fractions of the crude oil samples using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GCMS); (iii) Thermodynamic modelling of naphthenate formation was carried out, and both a simple thermodynamic pH change naphthenate model and a full naphthenate precipitation model have been developed. This thermodynamic model describes the chemistry of a simple partitioning “pseudo” naphthenic acid which may form calcium naphthenate “precipitate”, according to a solubility product type description. This model has been used in a wide sensitivity study which makes some predictions about the way a precipitating Ca-Naphthenate (CaN) system behaves and these predictions have been confirmed experimentally; (iv) Naphthenate chemical inhibition studies have been performed in order to develop a methodology for the mitigation of these deposits. Static “inhibition efficiency” tests have been conducted using 8 different naphthenate inhibitors in order to determine the most appropriate methodology for testing and also the effectiveness of these chemicals in preventing the formation of calcium naphthenates and sodium carboxylate soap emulsions.Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF

Democracy and Its Adoption in Nigeria: Western Liberal or Indigenous Option

This paper examined democracy and its adoption in Nigeria. The study was born out of the numerous debacles encountered by Nigeria and Nigerians in the process of achieving democracy. The study used secondary source to gather data. The study found that Nigerians desire and cherish to entrench a democratic system and government, the journey to achieve democracy is a long and trying one but Nigeria is still far from achieving it due to the failure of the system and the leaders to provide the suitable option and guidance, Nigeria’s present democratic setting is unnecessarily expensive and too accommodative, unwhole suitability of the Western liberal democracy to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political environment and failure to domesticate the democracy to suit Nigeria’s peculiar circumstances. It is also found that wholesome adoption of the Western liberal democracy will not suit the Nigerian context and so, there have to be adjustments to uniqueness of Nigerian state and societies and that excessive use of money in the polity hinders achieving democracy. The study recommended among others development and adoption of indigenous democratic values and principles, redistribution of national wealth, income and resources to ensure justice among Nigerians, extensive and intensive civic education to citizens,  constitutional enforcement of social justice among Nigerians, adoption of politics of pluralism and consensus, cultivation and institutionalization of habits of transparency and good governance especially on the part of the leaders, establishment of genuine national political parties, reviewing the presidential system currently operated to reduce excessive politics of accommodation and the cost of running government. Keywords: Democracy, Liberal Democracy, Adoption, Achievement.

Bibliometrics study: article usage and citation counts metric in trade liberalization

This paper examined the relationship between article usage count and citation count metric for published studies in trade liberalization. Data were extracted from Thomson Reuters Web of Science, Social Science Citation Index Expanded database a hub for markedly prominent journals. The data covers articles that are published from 1980 to 2015. Our study grouped articles published in trade liberalization according to their total citations into 4 categories. These are 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th top 50 cited articles. Kruskal-Walis test was used to analyze the total citation and citation per year data. While Spearman’s correlation was used to analyze prospective relationship between total citations received by articles and the length of abstract and article title word counts at 95% confidence interval. Based on the aforementioned arrangement, the usage count in the last 180 days and since from January 2013 to December, 2015 showed that 1st top 50 cited articles retained their position for both usage counts in the last 180 days and since 2013. Surprisingly, 4th top cited articles usage count since 2013 became second ranked to that of 1st top 50 articles. Thereby, surpassing 2nd and 3rd top 50 cited articles. Research and publication interest in the field of trade liberalization in the study period had grown remarkably. These research activities also attract huge usage counts especially from 2013 as acknowledged by this study. Moreover, this trend suggests that trade liberalization may have high impact on future research focus and on economic policies.Keywords: Bibliometric, Web of Science, article usage count, citation count metric, research tren

Underpinning Hawley’s Risk Theory of Profit on Risk Intelligence and Sustainability Relations of SMEs in Nigeria

Sustainable development is one of the topical issues posing a global challenge to the business world. To remain successful in today's competitive business environment, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) must find a way to exist by adapting to dynamic sustainability challenges. The study aimed to examine Hawley’s Risk Theory of Profit's underpinning role in explaining the connection between Risk Intelligence (RI) and SMEs’ sustainability (SUS). It was understood that risk could pose both opportunities and threats to business, and therefore, proactive detection is paramount to address the risk capable of ridiculing sustainability. Therefore, we proposed integrating the moderating role of financial performance in the relationship between Nigerian SMEs' risk intelligence and sustainability. The study found Hawley’s theory relevant to risk and sustainability tradeoff. Previous studies proxied risk intelligence by knowledge management, financial literacy, and risk-taking propensity, which paved the way for developing a framework for attaining sustainable SMEs in Nigeria. We concluded that SME’s sustainability could be ensured by effectively managing inherent risks and should be incorporated into Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) systems

Impact of published articles on trade liberalization from 1980-2015: a bibliometric study

In this research, the viable impact of scholarly research on trade liberalisation by a bibliometric approach from 1980-2015 is examined. The paper analysed 886 academic articles extracted from the ISI Web of Science Core Collection database. Trade liberalisation research is notably interdisciplinary, with articles principally in journals for economics, international relations, and planning development. This study found that the field became evidently viable with more than ten articles per year from 1990 – 2015. The proportion of articles with at least one citation from 1980 – 2015 is 56.43%. The top 100 articles have a minimum of 25 citations. Given this, this study created a citation matrix trend to determine two decade’s total citation per year. The data are statistically analysed. Furthermore, the study produced a cloud map showing the Web of Science research categories. Based on the results of this study, insight into citation forecast for future research to advance knowledge on trade liberalisation is provided.Keywords: Article word count, citation matrix, publication trends, trade liberalisation, Web of Scienc

Printing of cotton fabrics using microwave irradiation

Irradiation Microwave was used in fixation of pigment prints on cotton fabrics with a colour strength parameters comparable with the previous research obtained in case of thermo-fixation procedures. However printing pastes was introduced to the fabric via screen printing methods. The printed fabrics was subjected to irradiation microwave for different periods of time at microwave power. Results of both covered and uncovered ranges from 3.8 to 10.70 and 1.66 to 8.20.Also the effect of irradiation microwave on printed cotton fabrics with yellow pigment for 6 min, for both covered and uncovered ranges from 3.50 to 15.52 and 5.20 to 16.80, likewise fastness properties of the cotton fabrics printed with yellow pigment fixed either by optimum conditions for irradiation microwave for both washing and rubbing which ranges from 4/5 for colour change(cc) and for colour staining(cs) which is 4. In order to compare the initial result, another samples of cotton fabrics were printed with the same paste, dried and subjected to fixation procedure. The colour strength of the printed cotton fabrics fixed through irradiation microwave was found to be time and microwave power dependent. Results of this investigation clarified also that, regardless of the time of microwave, covering the pigment printed cotton fabric samples with covered and uncovered sample. Furthermore, the influence of reduction of the particle size of pigment yellow colour to the nano-scale on the colour strength and overall fastness properties of cotton fabrics printed and fixed using irradiation microwave was determined

Review of patients with chronic suppurative otitis media in the National Ear care centre, Kaduna Nigeria.

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is the most common condition presenting to Otolaryngological clinics, often patients present late with consequent complications that require surgical intervention. This study aimed to review the mode of clinical presentation, modality and outcome of treatment of CSOM seen at NECC Kaduna. Methodology:This was a retrospective study carried out in the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna for a period of 3 years; from January 2016 - December 2018. Results: Two hundred and thirty-four patients with CSOM were studied. There were 127 males and 107 females making M: F =1.2:1. The age range was from 8-60years with a mean age of 26.5±12.6years. The age group 11-20 (31.2%) had the highest number. Majority presented with hearing loss and ear discharge 228(97.4%) and 182(77.8%) respectively. Other symptoms were otalgia, tinnitus, vertigo and nasal symptoms. Eleven (4.7%) had complications at presentation. Ninety-two (39.3%) had surgery, 64 had only aural toileting and dressing with topical antibiotic with recorded success as majority achieved dry ear, while 38 patients were lost to follow up. Postoperative complications include; loss of taste sensation, facial nerve palsy, recurrent/persistent ear discharge, persistent dizziness, and infection of the donor site and no mortality was recorded. Conclusion: One-third of the patients who benefitted from surgery had a good outcome and for those with conservative treatment, the majority achieved dry ear. Early presentation is advised to avoid complications

Comparison of Phytochemical, Proximate and Mineral Composition of Fresh and Dried Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Leaves

Mentha piperita well-known as peppermint is widely cultivated worldwide and used for its medicinal values. The purpose of this research was to evaluate fresh and dried M. piperita with the aim of quantifying chemical information, that might serve as a guide to exploit its potential and benefits for human nutrition. The phytochemical screening discovered that all of them possess flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, steroid, glycosides and volatile oils. The proximate composition were determined according to the perspectives methods, while mineral elements were determined using EDTA method. Proximate analysis of both samples revealed that it contained 92.31% and 56.31% carbohydrates, 2.19% and 7.69% protein, 0.50% and 5% lipid, 1.5% and 9% fibre, 3.57% and 22%, ash, 89.5% and 9%, moisture respectively. The most predominant mineral found was potassium with a value of 72% and 23%, sodium 13% and 7.75%, and other minerals were found in low values ranging from calcium 0.5% and 0. 045%, magnesium 0.005% and 0.235%, and phosphorus 0.341% and 0.325%, respectively. This study contributes to the development of nutritional database of  edible plants worldwide. In conclusion, fresh sample of M. piperita can be an excellent source of nutrients and antioxidant components

Modelling ultrasound waves bubble formation in ethanol/ethyl acetate azeotrope mixture

The separation of an azeotropic mixture such as ethanol/ethyl acetate in distillation process can be enhanced by ultrasound wave. The application of ultrasound wave creates bubble cavitation in the mixture and shifts the vapour-liquid equilibrium favouring the separation of the azeotropic mixture. This study investigates the formation of bubbles in the mixture through modelling and simulation. The results obtained show that bubble formation at low ultrasound frequency is favoured by the increase in intensity, which has a direct relation to sonic pressure. The optimal sonic pressure for bubble formation at equilibrium is 5 atm and conforms to the model for small bubble formation with radius of 0.14 /<m. Furthermore, the maximum possible number of bubbles at equilibrium in the ethanol/ethyl acetate azeotropic mixture of 1 L is 91 × 1015. The developed model can be used to determine the optimal sonic pressure, sound intensity, size of bubble, and possible number of bubbles formed at equilibrium