Purely predictive method for density, compressibility, and expansivity for hydrocarbon mixtures and diesel and jet fuels up to high temperatures and pressures

This study presents a pseudo-component method using the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory to predict density, isothermal compressibility, and the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (expansivity) of hydrocarbon mixtures and diesel and jet fuels. The model is not fit to experimental density data but is predictive to high temperatures and pressures using only two calculated or measured mixture properties as inputs: the number averaged molecular weight and hydrogen to carbon ratio. Mixtures are treated as a single pseudo-component; therefore binary interaction parameters are not needed. Density is predicted up to 470 K and 3,500 bar for hydrocarbon mixtures and fuels with 1% average mean absolute percent deviation (MAPD). Isothermal compressibility is predicted with 4% average MAPD for hydrocarbon mixtures and 9% for fuels. The volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is predicted with 7% average MAPD for hydrocarbon mixtures and 13% for fuels

e-Procurement in Malaysian construction industry: benefits and challenges in implementation

In this paper, the benefits and challenges embedded in Electronic procurement (e-procurement or ePerolehan) are highlighted. Specifically, the benefits of introducing e-procurement for tendering and online registration of businesses and companies in Malaysia was emphasized.The study highlighted E-procurement advantages such as cost reduction, improved efficiency in government business with the aid of internet-based information and communication technology.The study concluded with recommendations to policy makers to pay more attention to the availability of infrastructure such as information technology for a better E-procurement implementation

Moderating effects of government support on the relationship between organizational innovativeness, culture and sustainable construction among Malaysian contractors

Drawing upon organizational readiness for change and resource-based view theories, this study examined the role of government support in moderating the effects of organizational innovativeness and organizational culture on sustainable construction among Malaysian large contractors (the G7 contractors). A total of 172 contractors from the eleven states in peninsula Malaysia participated in the survey. The data collected were initially screened using SPSS (version 21), while Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) algorithm and bootstrap techniques were employed to test the hypothesized paths in this study. Specifically, the results indicated that the extent of sustainable construction among Malaysian large contractors is high (mean score: 3.95). The empirical evidence also supported the hypothesized direct effects of organizational innovativeness and organizational culture on sustainable construction. However, government support was found to be negatively but significantly related to sustainable construction. There also was a stronger positive relationship between organizational innovativeness and sustainable construction, to such an extent that this relationship becomes stronger (i.e. more positive) for contractors that are being aided by the government than it is for those that are disadvantaged in that regard. Similarly, the result regarding the moderating effect of government support on the relationship between organizational culture and sustainable construction was supported. Generally, these findings supported the view that government support has a strong contingent effect on the influence of contractors’ innovativeness and culture on sustainability adoption in construction project execution. Therefore, to enhance sustainable construction adoption, more efforts are suggested to be applied to developing and utilising organizational innovativeness and organizational cultural dimensions, while more government support is also encouraged. Some limitations of the study are indicated, suggesting opportunities for future research

Fluid properties at high pressures and temperatures: Experimental and modelling challenges

Thermophysical properties impact many aspects of the chemical process industries. Here three example areas, primarily in the energy sector, are highlighted to provide context for the experimental and modelling challenges associated with obtaining fluid property data at high pressures and temperatures (HPHT). These three areas include the recovery of petroleum reserves in ultra-deep reservoirs, the use of lubricants to reduce frictional losses in the automotive industries, and the use of high-pressure, common rail diesel fuel delivery to reduce soot emissions for greener environments. The accurate knowledge of thermodynamic and transport properties in these three focused areas minimizes associated operating uncertainties and accelerates safe, reliable, and robust process and product development

The Relevance of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) In Agroforestry Practices

This paper x-rays the relevance of ICTs in Agroforestry practices. Existing areas of applications such as forest andenvironmental management, specie identification and research publications are identified. The paper also looked into futurepossible usage of ICT and concludes that while the application of ICTs to Agroforestry practices in the 21st century is oftremendous importance it is important to know that there are still more areas where ICT would be applicable in Agroforestrywhich are yet to be discoveredKeywords – ICTs, Agroforestry, Applications, Fuzzy Logic, Environmental management

THE RELEVANCE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs) IN AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES

Heathcote (2000) posited that “Within half a century, computers and information technology have changed the world andaffected millions of lives in ways that no one could have foreseen”. The great impacts, contributions to knowledge,importance and economic achievements that have emerged from the fields of computer science (information science) andelectronic engineering, in the 21st century, are revolutionary and mind boggling (Bamgbade,2011). This paper explores theextent to which ICT applications have improved agro-forestry practices and discussed areas of application such as forestryand environmental management, species identification, research publication, ICT in agroforestry education, plant pathologystudies, wood anatomy, biometrics, Data management, modeling, analysis and miningKeywords: ICTs, Agroforestry, Impact, Management, Computers, Practices and Applications

Current Practices and Insights on Supply Chain Risk Management in the Construction Industry: A Review

This paper reviews the related studies on the current practices and insights in supply chain risk management within the construction industry. Articles published between 2000 and 2018 are classified and analyzed using simplified systematic literature review, which is performed through the material collection, category selection and literature matrix. While the research on supply chain risk management started relatively recently, much of these studies were generic and not contextualized for the construction industry. Construction supply chains risk treatment and monitoring phase require further attention, with inputs from all the supply chain actors in the upstream linkage. Only peer-reviewed journal articles were considered in this study. And it is hoped that the findings will serve as a guide to construction managers who would like to better understand how risks in the upstream and downstream linkages of construction supply chains are managed. We acknowledged that the implementation of construction supply chain risk management is immature, and there is a dearth of literature in this area. This study also identifies the risk management process currently practised in the industry and provides a framework for literature classification. The study identifies literature gaps that can provide opportunities for future research in the area of CSCRM. It also discusses future research directions in this area

E-Inclusions and Information Technology Policy: Transformative Frameworks For The 21st Century Professionals In Nigeria

The overbearing impact of ICT on other professions the world over needs no emphasis in repositioning, re-organizing, reinventingand re-engineering the traditional systems of operations in Nigeria' public and private entities as it relates toglobalization. The contributions of ICT to governance, commerce, education, research, medicine and in making life easierfor mankind are germane to the present study. The paper reviews the relevance of ICT tremendous influence andcontributions to accomplishment in various organizations and businesses. It also suggested relevant recommendations togovernment, corporate entities and stakeholders on why ICT could no longer be ignored but should be fully embraced,deployed implemented. The need to enforce IT policies in Nigeria is also emphasized.Key words: e-inclusions, IT policy, professions, ICT, Framework, globalization

MEASUREMENTS AND MODELING OF HYDROCARBON MIXTURE FLUID PROPERTIES UNDER EXTREME TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE CONDITIONS

Knowledge of thermodynamic fluid properties, such as density and phase behavior, is important for the design, operation, and safety of several processes including drilling, extraction, transportation, and separation that are required in the petroleum. The knowledge is even more critical at extreme temperature and pressure conditions as the search for more crude oil reserves lead to harsher conditions. Currently, there is dearth of experimental data at these conditions and as such, the predictive capability of the existing modeling tools are unproven. The objective of this research is to develop a fundamental understanding of the impact of molecular architecture on fluid phase behavior at temperatures to 523 K (250 °C) and pressures to 275 MPa (40,000 psi). These high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) conditions are typical of operating conditions often encountered in petroleum exploration and recovery from ultra-deep wells that are encountered in the Gulf of Mexico. This PhD study focuses on the fluid phase behavior of a low molecular weight compound, two moderately high molecular weight compounds, three asymmetric binary mixtures of a light gas and a heavy hydrocarbon compound with varying molecular size. The compounds are selected to represent the family of saturated compounds found in typical crude oils. Furthermore, this study reports experimental data for two dead crude oil samples obtained from the Gulf of Mexico and their mixtures with methane from ambient to HTHP conditions. A variable-volume view cell coupled with a linear variable differential transformer is used to experimentally measure the high-pressure properties of these compounds and mixtures. The reported density data compare well to the limited available data in the literature with deviations that are less than 0.9%, which is the experimental uncertainty of the density data reported in this study. The phase behavior and density data obtained in this study are modeled using the Peng-Robinson (PR), the volume-translated (VT) PR, and the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) equations of state (EoS). The EoS pure component parameters, typically obtained from the open literature, are derived from fitting the particular EoS to, critical point, or to vapor pressure and saturated liquid density data, or to HTHP density data. For the density data reported here, the PREoS provided the worst predictions, while the VT-PREoS gives an improved performance as compared to the PREoS. However, the PC-SAFT EoS provided the best HTHP density predictions especially when using HTHP pure component parameters. The situation is however reversed in the modeling performance for the phase behavior data whereby the PC-SAFT EoS with HTHP parameters provided the worst vapor-liquid equilibria predictions. Better predictions are obtained with the PC-SAFT EoS when using parameters obtained from fit of the vapor pressure data and is comparable to the PREoS predictions. This reversal in performance is not surprising since the phase behavior data occur at moderately low pressures. The performance of the PC-SAFT EoS is extended to the experimental density data reported for the dead crude oil samples and their mixtures with methane. The PC-SAFT EoS with either set of pure component parameters yield similar predictions that are within 3% of the reported crude oil density data. However, when using the HTHP parameters, the PC-SAFT gives a good representation of the slope of experimental data, which is crucial in the calculation of second-derivative properties such has isothermal compressibility. The PC-SAFT EoS is also employed to model the crude oil HTHP density data for both the dead crude oils and their mixtures with methane using correlations for both the Low-P parameters and the HTHP parameters. The Low-P parameters are derived from fitting the PC-SAFT EoS to pure compound vapor pressure and saturated liquid density data, while the HTHP parameters are obtained from fitting the PC-SAFT EoS to pure compound HTHP liquid density data. Interestingly, the PC-SAFT EoS with the Low-P parameters provided better HTHP density predictions that are within 1.5% of the experimental data for the dead oils than the HTHP parameters that are within 2 to 4% of the data. Density predictions for the dead oil mixtures with methane are however comparable for both sets of parameters and are within 1% on average. However, the PC-SAFT EoS with HTHP parameters clearly provided better representation of the isothermal property, a derivative property obtained from density data, within 10% while predictions with the Low-P parameters can be as high as 37%. The successful completion of the thesis work expands the current knowledge base of fluid phase behavior at the extreme operating conditions encountered by engineers in the petroleum industries. Furthermore, the reported HTHP experimental data also provide a means to scientists and researchers for the development, improvement, and validation of equations with improved modeling performance

Impacts of Peer Collaboration, Teacher Feedback, and STEM Career Exposure on Girls’ Attitudes Toward Science and Mathematics in Lagos State, Nigeria

The study examined impacts of Peer Collaboration, Teacher Feedback, and STEM Career Exposure on Girls’ Attitudes Toward Science and Mathematics in Lagos State, Nigeria. The population for this study was made up of the all teachers and students in Education District V, Lagos State. The two instruments employed for data collection were a 4-point Likert scale questionnaire and teacher interview guide with a reliability value of 0.79 and 0.82 respectively. The data were analysed using Means and Standard deviation z-scores and P-values. The findings revealed that peer collaboration, teacher feedback, and STEM career exposure play pivotal roles in shaping girls’ attitudes towards STEM subjects. The study recommended among other schools and policymakers should integrate structured peer learning programs, mentorship programs, and career exposure activities into the curriculum to ensure continuous engagement in STEM fields. Also, schools should provide regular teacher training programs to improve the effectiveness of feedback strategies and implement structured feedback mechanisms to provide timely and constructive support to foster girls’ interest in STEM. Keywords:  Peer collaboration, teacher feedback, career exposure, learner engagement, attitud