Natural ventilation : an evaluation of strategies for improving indoor air quality in hospitals located in semi-arid climates

PhD ThesisThis thesis is an investigation into improving natural ventilation in low rise hospital wards in Northern Nigeria. The climate of this region is semi-arid, during the dry season, sub-Saharan fine dust (Harmattan dust) is blown into the region from the North East and during the wet season, Mosquitos are prevalent. The energy infrastructure in the whole of Nigeria is under resourced; hence ventilation strategies’ based on mechanical extraction are not possible. Five wards within low rise hospital buildings were studied; these were purpose designed hospital buildings, not converted buildings. Questionnaire surveys of health care workers in the hospitals was conducted and revealed dissatisfaction with the buildings’ ventilation and Indoor Air Quality. The questionnaires were then followed up by Tracer Gas measurements and during the period of measurement there was only one occasion when a ward achieved an air change rate of 6-ach-1, the ASHREA Standard requirement for hospital buildings. To investigate methods of improving natural ventilation in these wards, a CFD model was developed of a representative ward, the model was validated against the Tracer Gas measurements; with an acceptable agreement of ≤ 15%. Using the CFD model, achievable ventilation strategies within the context of the location, were investigated, and a combination of cross ventilation utilizing windows on the windward and leeward sides of the ward together with a roof ventilator on the leeward side proved the most successful. All openings were screened to prevent the entry of mosquitos. This best case was further investigated with the wind direction at an oblique angle to the ward side. The oblique angle of wind attack reduced the air change rates but improved air circulation/mixing within the ward. With the exception when the wind direction was parallel to the ward side. To reduce the ingress of Harmattan Dust, was problematic given the energy restrictions, a low energy solution of introducing screened plenums on both the windward and leeward sides of the building proved successful. Larger dust particles were detained within the windward plenum and the smaller dust particles were exhausted into the leeward plenum. With the mosquito screens located on the large surface area of the plenum, the window screens were removed resulting in higher air change rates. Thus, it is recommended that, openings should be provided on the windward and leeward walls and on the roof toward the leeward side for efficient ventilation and airflow circulation at the occupancy level. The longer sides of the wards should be oriented toward the North-South to capture the North-East trade winds and South-West monsoon winds with oblique angle of attack. Plenums should be incorporated to the windward and leeward facades and Insect screen should be installed on the plenums instead of the wards’ openings to increase ventilation rates while excluding mosquitoes and decreasing dust particle concentration in the hospital wards. Openings should be at the middle of the windward and leeward walls and on the roof toward the leeward to avoid airflow short-circuiting. It is recommended to use insect screen with the porosity of 0.2 and when the outdoor local wind speed is ≤ 1.26 m/s (2 m/s: airport value), the ventilation should be supplemented with fan.Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Borno State Government and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND

Strategies for Reducing Energy Consumption in a Student Cafeteria in a Hot-Humid Climate: A Case Study

Increasing attention is being given to energy consumption and potential for energy savings in public buildings in order to improve energy performance. Due to their size and functional requirements, public buildings especially cafeteria facilities tend to consume a significant amount of energy. Furthermore, due to their operational characteristics and construction pattern, unnecessary energy is likely to be used for maintaining acceptable indoor environmental quality. In this study, a student cafeteria at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, was selected for the assessment of its energy performance and potential energy conservation opportunities. Energy simulation software Visual DOE 4.1 was used to develop an energy performance model for assessing various energy conservation measures pertinent to the building envelope and HVAC system design. Data required for setting up the model were gathered through simple energy audits. The architectural and mechanical drawings and the history of electrical consumption were collected. Various energy conservation strategies were then implemented including standards, single and combined energy conservation measures. These measures resulted in a combined design saving of 27.4%, the HVAC system saving 10.6%, implementation of standards saving about 16.7%, lighting 6.6%, equipment 2.6%, insulation 2.5% and glazing 1.4%. Based on these results, it is apparent that there is a significant potential for improving energy performance and justification to employ the suggested measures for achieving substantial energy savings and minimize energy consumption

Assessment of Knowledge Sharing Practices in Nigerian Construction Firms

Knowledge generated during construction projects is wasted as a result of a lack of awareness of the benefits of sharing knowledge. Moreover, knowledge is scattered in the construction firms through various documents and individual brains without a platform to retrieving it for sharing among the employees. Therefore, this paper aims to assess knowledge sharing practices in Nigerian construction firms. A detailed review of relevant literature was conducted with the view of collecting relevant data necessary for this paper. A total of 150 numbers of questionnaires was distributed to Engineers, Quantity surveyors, Builders and Architects in construction firms that are based in Abuja. The descriptive method of analysis was used to analyze the data obtained from the survey. The result shows the followings as methods of knowledge sharing practices in Nigerian construction firms: (1) face to face interaction, (2) site & Departmental meetings, (3) mentoring and tutoring, (4) project briefing and interviewing session, and (5) internal training courses. In addition, the followings were established as construction activities that are commonly used for knowledge-sharing practices: (1) site visitation, (2) estimation & price forecasting, (3) evaluation of BOQ, (4) preparation of scheduling for site activities, (5) development of tender programme, (6) taking off and (7) understanding of construction technologies and methods. Therefore, the paper recommended that the top management should encourage knowledge-sharing practices in the construction firms through face to face interaction, seminars/workshops, and post-project review

Let’s Go ‘Shoppie’ — Social Media Shopping’s Cool! Nigerian Students’ Acceptance of Online Shopping via Social Media

Advancements in information and communication, especially Web 2.0 have provided consumers and businesses with tremendous opportunities to utilize social media platforms effectively. Although both consumers and online retail stores have a wide variety of online platforms to do shopping and run modern, seamless businesses and reach consumers instantly around the world respectively, social media platforms have proven to be one of the most preferred online environments by many consumers. Despite the potential of online shopping via social media, limited attention is focused on this booming research area in Nigeria. Hence, the present study aimed to close the literature gap by to investigating consumer acceptance of social media shopping. Employing the UTAUT model perspective, a survey questionnaire was designed and administered face-to-face to 380 undergraduate students selected using purposive sampling method from two Nigerian universities: University of Maiduguri and Yobe State University. Consumers’ intention to do social media shopping was moderately high, with WhatsApp being the most preferred social media application for doing online shopping followed by Facebook. Keywords: consumers, Facebook, online shopping, social media shopping, WhatsApp DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/77-0

Impacts of Effective Communication Towards Performance of Construction Organization

The purpose of this study is to examine the significant impacts of effective communication towards the performance of the construction organization. The objectives of the study include to identify impacts of effective communication and evaluate the degree of agreement to which effective communication influence construction organization from construction contractors and consultants’ viewpoint. A sample of 200 construction contractors and consultants were randomly selected from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) database, out of which the response rates received were 160 (80%). Data analysis include Relative Importance Index (RII) for ranking comparison among the construction professionals on a scale range from 1-5 for rating their responses. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was used to evaluate the degree of agreement between construction professionals related to the ranking of each group of the practices. The results of RII revealed that improve productivity in the organization, reduce project delay, better safety precautions on construction sites, better use of materials and equipment and improve professional commitment to the organization are the top five impacts of effective communication towards the performance of construction organization. The results of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance revealed that a high agreement between construction professionals occurred in the ranking of the impacts of effective communication towards the performance of construction organization. The findings revealed that effective communication help to facilitate better understanding among all parties in the construction organization. It was recommended that stakeholders in the construction organization should adopt the use of effective communication tools and instruments for organizational performance

Insilico analysis of binding interactions and evaluation of mode of action of hydroxy tyrosol on candida albicans I, ii and parapsilosis

This work was aimed at purifying the most potent antibiofilm principle from Acalypha wilkesiana leaves against Candida species, analyzing its binding interactions with the molecular targets and evaluating its mode of action. Bioassay guided fractionation was carried and purification of the most potent fraction was achieved by Preparative -TLC. Proton NMR -spectroscopy was used to elucidate the structure of the most potent fraction which was hydroxy tyrosol (HT). There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in the IC50 of HT and caspafungin in the presence of sorbitol. In the presence of ergosterol, there was no significant (p > 0.05) increase in the IC50 of HT but there was significant (p < 0.05) increase in the IC50 of voriconazole. Insilico molecular studies revealed a good docking score (-7.7 and 4 hydogen bonds) with glucan synthase and (7.0 and 1 hydrogen bond) with lanosterole-14α- demethylase. The mode of action of HT is most likely by inhibiting the activities of β-1,3-D glucan synthase. The Significant increase in IC50 of HT in the presence of sorbitol showed that its inhibition leads to depletion of cell wall glucan and subsequent lysis of fungal cells

Book Chapter Review: Hate Speech and Nigeria’s Struggle for Democratic Consolidation: A Conceptual Review

Disinformation and hate speech or dislike are not new to Nigerian polity. However, since the internet revolution in recent decades, 2015 is seen as the year Nigeria “finally woke up to the threat of disinformation and the way internet technologies are secretly and subtly used to undermine democracy” (White & Elliott, 2018, p.5). Since then, whenever national, state or local council elections approach, Nigeria experiences tense and difficult times – chaos, crises, conflicts, media propaganda, hate comments and false information climax thereby exposing the heightened political horse-trading, war against systemic and widespread corruption, debilitating poverty, weak institutions, threats of secession, etc. that are already nibbling at the country’s fragile peace and unity. Because of the revolution in information and communication technology (ICT) and the attendant ‘relative’ democratisation of access and participation, election times in Nigeria should ideally be the time for the free flow of genuine, verified political information and tolerance. However, like in many other African countries, it is during these times that Nigeria wrestles with the rise in ethnic politics, regionalism and smear campaign that often escalate to the extent of threatening the country’s political framework. Using a critical review of extant literature, this chapter provides further understanding on the impacts and processes of fake news and hate speech in Nigeria especially during political activities. Keywords: Disinformation, Fake news, Hate speech, Nigerian democratic process DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/87-01 Publication date: January 31st 202

Information and communication technology, cyber crime and the administration of criminal justice system in Nigeria.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications. ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a digital form such as personal computers, digital television and robots. Other products include the internet, emails, wireless networks, cell phones and other means of communication. Cybercrimes, on the other hand, include offences that are committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally harm the reputation of the victim directly or indirectly, using modern telecommunication networks. Nigeria is confronted with the challenges of cybercrimes and the problems of weak administration of the criminal justice system. However, the coming into force of two important laws in 2015 is a pointer to the fact that the menace of cybercrime in Nigeria are about to be contained. This paper while giving an overview of the nexus between these two new laws examines how their application will bring about the speedy dispensation of justice as well as a cybercrime free society