The pore pressure, bulk density and lithology prediction

The pore and fracture pressures are the two most important parameters required for the effective well design. In general, the difference between the two parameters at any given depth dictates the drilling window with no consideration for wellbore stability. While pore pressure prediction from the drilling parameters started in the mid-nineties, very few improvements have been made in these areas when compared to other pore pressure prediction techniques such as seismic and well logs. Pore pressure prediction using the d-exponent method does not consider the effect of bit hydraulic energy on the rate of penetration (ROP). This limits the application of the d-exponent to mostly hard rock environments. Under downhole conditions where the bit hydraulic energy has a significant influence on the ROP (soft rock environments), the d-exponent method may produce inaccurate results. Hence, the primary goal of this research is to develop new pore pressure prediction models from the drilling parameters that incorporate the bit hydraulic energy, making them suitable for any subsurface drilling conditions. The new pore pressure prediction models use the concept of specific energy to predict the onset of overpressure. The concept of specific energy is then extended to the real-time identification of subsurface lithology. Furthermore, overburden pressure is an important input parameter in pore pressure prediction. Inaccurate prediction of overburden pressure may result in the erroneous prediction of pore pressure which can lead to well control and process safety incidents. In areas where density logs are not available, synthetically derived density logs are used for overburden pressure computations. In this research, an attempt is also made to improve the accuracy of pore pressure prediction by improving the accuracy of overburden pressure computation via improvement in density logs prediction. Finally, since pore and fracture pressures are closely related, an attempt is made to develop a new fracture pressure prediction model for the Niger Delta basin

Signal fingerprinting and machine learning framework for UAV detection and identification.

Advancement in technology has led to creative and innovative inventions. One such invention includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAVs (also known as drones) are now an intrinsic part of our society because their application is becoming ubiquitous in every industry ranging from transportation and logistics to environmental monitoring among others. With the numerous benign applications of UAVs, their emergence has added a new dimension to privacy and security issues. There are little or no strict regulations on the people that can purchase or own a UAV. For this reason, nefarious actors can take advantage of these aircraft to intrude into restricted or private areas. A UAV detection and identification system is one of the ways of detecting and identifying the presence of a UAV in an area. UAV detection and identification systems employ different sensing techniques such as radio frequency (RF) signals, video, sounds, and thermal imaging for detecting an intruding UAV. Because of the passive nature (stealth) of RF sensing techniques, the ability to exploit RF sensing for identification of UAV flight mode (i.e., flying, hovering, videoing, etc.), and the capability to detect a UAV at beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) or marginal line-of-sight makes RF sensing techniques promising for UAV detection and identification. More so, there is constant communication between a UAV and its ground station (i.e., flight controller). The RF signals emitting from a UAV or UAV flight controller can be exploited for UAV detection and identification. Hence, in this work, an RF-based UAV detection and identification system is proposed and investigated. In RF signal fingerprinting research, the transient and steady state of the RF signals can be used to extract a unique signature. The first part of this work is to use two different wavelet analytic transforms (i.e., continuous wavelet transform and wavelet scattering transform) to investigate and analyze the characteristics or impacts of using either state for UAV detection and identification. Coefficient-based and image-based signatures are proposed for each of the wavelet analysis transforms to detect and identify a UAV. One of the challenges of using RF sensing is that a UAV\u27s communication links operate at the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. Several devices such as Bluetooth and WiFi operate at the ISM band as well, so discriminating UAVs from other ISM devices is not a trivial task. A semi-supervised anomaly detection approach is explored and proposed in this research to differentiate UAVs from Bluetooth and WiFi devices. Both time-frequency analytical approaches and unsupervised deep neural network techniques (i.e., denoising autoencoder) are used differently for feature extraction. Finally, a hierarchical classification framework for UAV identification is proposed for the identification of the type of unmanned aerial system signal (UAV or UAV controller signal), the UAV model, and the operational mode of the UAV. This is a shift from a flat classification approach. The hierarchical learning approach provides a level-by-level classification that can be useful for identifying an intruding UAV. The proposed frameworks described here can be extended to the detection of rogue RF devices in an environment

Sarcastic Feminism: A Lexico-Syntactic Analysis of Judy Syfers’ I Want A Wife

This work examines the relationship between language and the plights of women as espoused by Judy Syfers in her text “I Want a Wife”. It seeks to establish the concerns of the writer and the choices she made in her agitation and struggle for women liberation. To achieve this, Feminist CDA approach was adopted in order to critically identify the implications of the writer’s lexical items within the context of her language. This would enable us demystify her language and see how gender power is constructed; see where women are placed on the ladder of power and the effort the writer makes to ameliorate the social status of women. Thus, attention was given to lexis and syntax (noun phrase). This helped us to find out that the context in which the writer agitates for women liberation is within the family and its attendant responsibilities. It was discovered through the examination of syntax of the language that the use of sarcasm and rankshifting were paramount. Through rankshifting, the writer presented the enormity of women’s plights, and condemns such man-made, imposed and killing plights using sarcasm

Expected Success Factors for Public Sector Projects in Nigeria: A Stakeholder Analysis

Analysing and managing stakeholders’ views have been recognized as necessary for the success of projects or programs. This research set out to investigate the expectations of client and contracting organizations in the Nigerian construction industry on their priorities for public project implementation. An opinion survey of client and contracting organizations in the Federal Capital Territory and some selected states of Nigeria was done. A set of 151 questionnaires was administered through the use of purposive and snowballing techniques on clients and contracting organizations. 67 completed questionnaires were returned. The data collected was subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The results suggest that there are no significant differences, between client and contracting organizations, in their assessment of the six identified priorities in public sector project implementation. The study recommends that the homogeneity of perceptions by the two organizations can be a platform for intervention efforts for improvements in public sector project delivery

Shared Knowledge and Communication: A Pragmatic Analysis of Taofiq Azeez’s Brigandage

Pragmatics is the study of meaning as used in context and interpreted by the listener. Bearing the focus of Pragmatics in mind, this work adopts Cooperative Principles formulated by Paul Grice to analyse Taofiq Azeez’s Brigandage. The aim is to see how the cooperation between the characters facilitates communication in the text and to determine the extent to which the characters in the text observe the principles formulated by Paul Grice. This work also identifies the implicature generated by the characters as they break the maxims. That is, what meaning a character implies as he fails to observe the maxim(s). Some data were collected from the text and analysed. It was observed that interlocutors, as represented by the characters, strive to cooperate with each other but, for obvious reasons, flout the maxims; thus, implying additional meaning beyond what is explicitly said. The study revealed that non-observance of maxims does not impair communication owing to the fact that listeners, through shared knowledge, infer the implied meaning from the speaker’s contribution and this sustains communication

Perforation of the appendix and the sigmoid colon by an ectopic IUD

The perforation of both appendix and sigmoid colon by an ectopic Intrauterine device (IUD) by an intrauterine device is a rare occurrence. We present a case of a patient is a 47- year- old hispanic woman who presented at the Gynaecology clinic with complaints of chronic right sided pelvic pain. She had an intrauterine device inserted 10 years prior with no recent gynaecological follow-up. The device was identified by ultrasonography and she was planned for a hysterectomy and IUD retrieval by the gynaecology team. An intra-operative finding of sigmoid colon and appendiceal perforation by an IUD during a total abdominal hysterectomy and emergent involvement of the general surgery team. She underwent a segmental resection of the involved sigmoid colon, appendectomy and removal of the IUD.  All missing Intrauterine devices should be accurately localized by tomographic or magnetic imaging preoperatively

Expected success factors in the procurement of public sector projects in Nigeria: a stakeholder analysis / Martin Dada

Perceptions, whether right or wrong, have the capacity for determining human interactions and responses to issues. Analysing and ultimately managing stakeholders' views have been recognized as necessary for the success of projects or programs. This research set out to investigate the expectations of client and consulting organizations in the Nigerian construction industry on priorities in public project procurement or implementation. An opinion survey of client and consulting organizations in some selected states of Nigeria was done. A set of 155 questionnaires was administered through the use of purposive and snow balling techniques on clients and consulting organizations. 65 completed questionnaires were returned. The data collected was subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that project completion at 'least or budgeted cosf is regarded as the most important issue of emphasis by consulting organizations while 'project meeting transparency and accountability' requirements is the most important to client organizations. The results further suggest that there are no significant differences, between client and consulting organizations in the rankings of the six identified expectations on public sector project implementation. It is recommended that the homogeneity of perceptions by the two organizations can form the basis of intervention efforts for improvements in public sector project delivery. Furthermore, the result provide the stakeholders of public projects feedback on perceptions, which can be useful in planning for future public projects

The Impact of Fermentation on the Proximate and Mineral Composition of Phoenix dactylifera L Flour

Fermentation was carried out on Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit flour. Proximateanalysis and mineral analysis were carried out on both fermented and raw sample. Theproximate analysis (%) showed that the fermented sample contain higher compositionof Moisture, Ash, Crude fat, Crude fibre, and Crude protein except Carbohydrate (64.50± 0.01) which is lower compared to the result obtained in the raw sample (76.23 ±0.02). Mineral analysis (mg/l) of the samples depicted that fermentation increased theFe (7.64 ± 0.02), Mg (0.96 ± 0.00), Ca (6.26 ± 0.01) and Cu (0.16 ± 0.00) contentcompared to that of raw Fe (2.17 ± 0.01), Mg (0.94 ± 0.01), Ca (3.13 ±0.07) and Cu(0.13 ± 0.00) in the sample while the composition of Na (1.02 ± 0.90) and K (1.78 ±0.01) decreased compared with the values of Na (1.28 ± 1.07) and K (2.21 ± 0.02)obtained from the raw fruit flour. The result showed that fermentation transforms thefruit flour into a probiotic food supplement through increased mineral, protein and fibrecontent thereby enhancing digestibility. The pre-digested carbohydrate content in thefruit flour during fermentation also makes it beneficial for people with diabetes.Key Words: Fermentation, Phoenix dactylifera L, Proximate, Mineral

Numerical taxonomic study of some euphorbiaceae species within Ambrose Alli University Main Campus, Edo State, Nigeria

Numerical taxonomic studies have been described as highly effective in plant classification and delimitation even in difficult cases. This study employed numeric taxonomic methods in studying different Euphorbiaceae species within Ambrose Alli University campus with the goal of identifying similarities and differences between different species within the family. Twenty-five species comprising thirteen genera were studied using thirty-five morphological characters which included plant habit, colour of leaf, fruit shape, presence of sap, pubescence of leaves, presence of three-cell ovary, and inflorescence type. Data generated from the different morphological characters were scored and converted to binary numbers used for generating clusters of the Operation Taxonomic Units (OTUs) according to their overall similar Euclidean distance. Using both single and complete linkage, dendrograms were drawn to illustrate the relationship among the species. The dissimilarity shown in the OTUs were split into two clusters, C1 and C2 each comprising 10 and 15 species respectively. Species within the same cluster had greater similarity than those in the other cluster. Amongst diverse findings from the study is a great affinity between Jatropha curcas and Jatropha tanjorensis, Alcornea laxifolia and Mallotus oppositifolius; Hevea brasilensis and Croton zambesicus; and Acalypha hispida and Alcalypha wikisiena. Great dissimilarity was observed between Riccinodendron heudelotti and Euphorbia milli. The results from this study have shown that there is great similarity, and at the same time variety and heterogeneity among the different species of Euphorbiaceae considered.Keywords: Dendrogram; Euphorbiaceae; Numerical Taxonomy; Specie

Predictors Of Procurement Selection: An Investigation Of Traditional And Integrated Methods In Nigeria

A nation's construction industry plays a pivotal role in the nation's development. While the arrangement and organisation of participants for construction procurement is critical to project delivery, participants are often faced with a maze of possible procurement paths. This study used 94 construction projects in Nigeria that were executed or being executed with the traditional or integrated project procurement methods. A logistic regression analysis was conducted using dependent and independent variables. A model for predicting the chosen procurement method evolved from this analysis. The developed model was significant, and its robustness was validated. The model's predictive use is recommended for projects in the research environment. Further examination of ethical and cultural issues with respect to construction procurement in the research environment is recommended. Furthermore, a similar study should be done in countries with similar or dissimilar characteristics to elicit the effects of geographical and cultural difference