bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triple MPD Technique for Drilling and Intelligent Completion Deployment on an Abandoned Deepwater Well
Authors: Fernandes André Alonso , Schnitzler Eduardo , Fabri Fabio , Grabarski Leandro , Malfitani Marcos Vinicius Barreto , Roman Roger Savoldi , Ascâneo Willian Medina
Published: August 2021

This is a case study of a presalt well that required the use of 3 different MPD techniques to achieve its goals. The well was temporary abandoned when conventional techniques failed to reach the final depth. Total fluid losses in the reservoir section required changing the well design and its completion architecture. The new open hole intelligent completion design had to be used to deliver the selective completion in this challenging scenario.

From the hundreds of wells drilled in the Santos basin presalt, there are some wells with tight or no operational drilling window. In order to drill these wells different MPD techniques are used. In most cases, the use of Surface Backpressure (SBP) technique is suitable for drilling the wells to its final depth. For the more complex cases, when higher fluid loss rates occur, the use of SBP and Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD) enables the achievement of the drilling and completion objectives.

After the temporary abandonment of this specific well in 2018, the uncertainty of the pore pressure could not ensure that the SBP and PMCD techniques would be applicable when reentering the well. To avoid difficult loss control operations, the completion team changed the intelligent completion design to include a separated lower completion, enabling its installation with the MPD system. Besides the previously used MPD techniques, the integrated final project considered an additional technique, Floating Mud Cap Drilling (FMCD), as one of the possible contingencies for the drilling and completion phases.

Well reentry and drilling of the remaining reservoir section included the use all the previously mentioned MPD techniques (SBP, PMCD and FMCD). The lower completion deployment utilized the FMCD technique to isolate the formation quickly and efficiently, without damaging the reservoir. The planning and execution of the well faced additional difficulties due to the worldwide pandemic and personnel restrictions. The success from the operation was complete with no safety related events and within the planned budget. At the end, the execution team delivered a highly productive well with an intelligent completion system fully functional, through an integrated and comprehensive approach.

MPD use on deepwater wells is relatively new. Different operators used several approaches and MPD techniques to ensure safety and success during wells constructions over the last decade. This paper demonstrates the evolution of MPD techniques usage on deepwater wells.
Novel Active Slug Control in Angola - Development & Field Results
Authors: Brenskelle Lisa Ann , Morles Martin Bermudez , Flores Lauren Annette
Published: August 2021

Slug flow in multiphase flowlines can cause operational instabilities which, when severe, lead to mechanical damage or even shutdown of processing facilities. While a number of control schemes to handle slugging have been published, many of them require subsea instrumentation or make use of calculated "pseudo-variables" for control, values which have no real physical meaning. Hydrodynamic slugging was anticipated during design of a new facility in Angola, and a simulation study demonstrated that a control scheme from the published literature could be applied effectively to control the slugging. However, that solution was rejected because of the use of a pseudo-variable as the principal control point. Therefore, a novel control scheme was developed and tested on simulation for both hydrodynamic slugging and severe riser-induced slugging and later patented.(1,2) The project implemented the novel active slugging control using a topsides control valve and topsides instrumentation. While a pseudo-variable, a pseudo-flow controller, was employed, it was part of a cascade scheme such that the principal control variable was a real topside pressure measurement. Upon commissioning, slugging at the facility was found to be more severe than anticipated during design, but the novel active slug control scheme was effective in controlling incoming slugs.
Minimising the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement HE and Hydrogen Assisted Stress Cracking HASC Within Steel Lifting Products Used in the Marine Environment
Authors: Burgess Ben
Published: August 2021

Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE) and Hydrogen Assisted Stress Cracking (HASC) are processes that detrimentally affect certain steels. These processes are understood and well documented.

In recent years there has been an accumulation of product failures involving steel lifting components in the offshore industry. These failures have individually been investigated and confirmed as the result of Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE) and Hydrogen Assisted Stress Cracking (HASC).

There continues to be an assumption that steel lifting components that comply with international standards are suitable for use offshore, however the corrosive environment and effects of dynamic load amplification on lifting components in the offshore environment significantly increase their susceptibility to HE and HASC.

Our intention is to provide the offshore industry with technical guidance on the correct material selection in steel lifting components, over and above the requirements of international standards, to mitigate the risk of failure caused by Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE) and Hydrogen Assisted Stress Cracking (HASC).

Our research highlights that a high-grade steel's hardness and toughness is critical. The definition of toughness in metallurgy and lifting is the ability of the material to absorb energy and to plastically ‘deform’ without fracturing.
Design and Installation of Leading Edge, Practical and Economic Mooring Systems for Commercial Scale Floating Offshore Wind Energy
Authors: Fulton Tom , Arikan Yusuf , Miller Regan , Longridge Jonathan Kent , Campbell Mike
Published: August 2021

Objectives/Scope

As Floating Offshore Wind moves from demonstration and pilot projects to full commercial scale, there is a need for mooring systems to be practical and economic while providing safe and efficient stationkeeping for floating wind turbines. Mooring systems for floating offshore wind must be designed to meet the needs to provide a reliable stationkeeping system, satisfy turbine motions criteria for maximum energy production, accommodate electrical power transmission cables, allow for other marine users (e.g., fishing vessels, service vessels for inspections and maintenance, etc.) and be environmentally friendly. To be commercially viable, this must be done with an understanding of the need to moor 30 or more turbines in close proximity to one another with hundreds of mooring lines. To accomplish this, there is no one perfect mooring system for all projects. This paper will investigate multiple mooring solutions including various configurations and material types and will reveal both the technical and commercial benefits of the various systems.

Methods, Procedures, Process

Multiple mooring systems will be designed to accommodate a 15 MW floating wind turbine. An installation methodology will be developed, and the supply chain will be investigated to enable calculation of the total installed cost of each system.

Results, Observations, Conclusions

The stationkeeping performance of each system will be compared as well as the economics for a large scale commercial floating wind farm. While no one system will be the clear best for all projects, guidance will be given which can aid in the selection of practical and economic mooring systems.

Novel/Additive Information

The paper will investigate multiple viable mooring systems from the design, procurement, and installation viewpoint to develop total installed cost estimates. This will be done while evaluating these mooring systems for a large commercial size floating wind farm while addressing the need for the supply chain to deliver industrialized solutions to deal with the large scale.
Friction Reduction Technology Tailored to Extreme Flow Rates
Authors: Trinh Khoi Quang , Xia Yufang Sandra , Franco Tamara Santiago , Perez Daniel , Emuchay Chigozie , Che Roman Vladimirovich
Published: August 2021

Non-thru bore drilling tools often feature limited flow range capabilities due to their design complexity. An ever-growing demand in high flow rates required a new technical solution that has the lowest possible pressure drop across the tool. Potential erosion issues as well as consistent functionality of the tool were key design requirements. A new friction reduction technology is presented that addresses the applications with flow rates ranging from low to high.

Initial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis suggested the flow split can be executed by restriction at the tail end of the power section. This, however, was challenged by the first test run that took place at 550gpm (5¼-in. tool outside diameter [OD]). While the run objectives were met in its entirety, upon tear down, the early signs of erosion were noticed on the valve assembly. With this evidence on hand, a critical design change was implemented, and as a result, the restriction was moved down the power section to spare the vortex at its tail end. Further improvement was retrofitted to protect the restriction itself with a simple addition of a sleeve.

Further field runs were executed with the new tool setup. As the run count progressed, the newly redesigned technology achieved the objectives by delivering effective friction reduction at consistent frequency and pressure drop. It soon became evident that the step change in flow rate did not affect the tool wear and tear.

Since its inception the tool has set two field records. The first commercial run marked the fastest curve in the county. As this technology rises to prominence in the US and international markets, more operators are experiencing the savings and lower Authorization For Expenditure (AFEs).

The novelty of the design presented in this paper is in the drilling engineer's ability to design and construct wells with increased complexity (high dog leg severity [DLS], directional difficulty index [DDI], extended reach, and multi-lateral) where friction reduction technologies are critical to achieving run objectives. This technology fills a technical gap by meeting the new standards of high torque and flow rates in a compact and robust design. At the time of this writing, no other friction reduction technology meets these tool specifications.
Epistaxis limits the performed activities of daily living in proportion to its severity: a cross-sectional survey among patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
Authors: Hayama M. , Maeda Y. , Tsuda T. , Akazawa H. , Nakatani A. , Obata S. , Takeda K. , Inohara H.
Published: August 2021

Background: We examined the severity of epistaxis in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and its relationship with the performed activities of daily living. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey included 36 patients with HHT in Japan. An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted regarding the severity of epistaxis, the measures adopted to prevent epistaxis, and the limitations in the performed activities of daily living. The latter was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The correlation between epistaxis severity and the VAS score was analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: Of the 36 participants surveyed, 94.4% had >1 episode of epistaxis/week. The mean epistaxis severity score (ESS) was 4.3 (range, 0.9–8.4). Limitations in daily life, going out (within a day), meeting with others, eating with others, and going on overnight trips were positively correlated with the ESS. To prevent nosebleeds, 44.4% and 41.7% of the participants used medications and avoided drying their nasal cavities, respectively. Conclusions: Epistaxis impacted the daily life of patients with HHT in proportion to its severity. Nonetheless, less than half of the patients used medications or took precautions. Hence, further educational activities should be considered for medical professionals and patients.
Utility of Nested Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction of Clinical Specimens for Early Diagnosis of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
Authors: Seo Jun-Won , Kim Da Young , Kim Choon-Mee , Yun Na-Ra , Lee Yu-Mi , Lawrence Panchali Merlin Jayalal , Kim Dong-Min
Published: August 2021

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is confirmed by the isolation of hantavirus from serum, detection of virus-specific IgM, or a four-fold change in IgG titers during the acute and convalescent periods measured using an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). However, these tests are inefficient for early diagnosis. Therefore, this study investigated the usefulness of reverse-transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) for early diagnosis of HFRS using clinical samples such as urine and serum. Electronic medical records of eight patients with confirmed HFRS using IFA and RT-nPCR between May 2016 and May 2020 at Chosun University Hospital were reviewed. The virus was detected in all patients using RT-nPCR targeting the large (L) segment of hantavirus during the early phase in urine and serum. Importantly, the virus was identified in urine at a time when it was not identified in serum. Additionally, the virus was detected in urine and serum for up to 1 month after initial presentation with illness, but not in saliva, using RT-nPCR. We report eight HFRS cases diagnosed using urine and serum, but not using saliva, with RT-nPCR targeting the L-segment. Hantavirus RNA detection by RT-nPCR in urine and serum may aid the rapid diagnosis of HFRS during the early phase of the disease. In particular, HFRS should not be ruled out based on negative RT-PCR results in serum, and RT-PCR should be performed using urine as well as serum during the early phase of symptoms.
A Study of Echocardiographic Changes in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Primary Hypothyroidism: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Khatri Prabin , Sapkota Suman , Neupane Aryan , Gautam Narayan , Subedi Saphal , Banjade Ashish , Kharel Smile
Published: August 2021

Background: Hypothyroidism is known to cause reversible cardiac dysfunction in humans. Thyroid hormone alters the cardiovascular hemodynamics. This study was performed to assess echocardiographic changes in untreated newly diagnosed primary hypothyroid states as such studies are scarce in our setting.Methods: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among 71 patients with newly diagnosed primary hypothyroidism who presented to the medicine outpatient department, at Universal College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital (UCMS-TH), Bhairahawa, Nepal from December 2018 to June 2020 after taking ethical clearance from institutional review committee (UCMS/IRC/212/18). Thyroid function test and echocardiography were carried out in patients under study. The data was analyzed with SPSS Version 16.Results: A total of 71 patients (52 females and 19 males) with primary hypothyroidism were enrolled for the study. Among these 58 cases were overt/clinical hypothyroidism, and 13 cases were subclinical hypothyroidism. Echocardiography was abnormal in 63.4% of cases with 43.7% showing diastolic dysfunction, 18.3% diastolic interventricular septal thickness abnormality, 8.5% diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness abnormality, and 8.4% pericardial effusion. Conclusion: Our study found diastolic dysfunction, diastolic interventricular septal thickness abnormality, diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness abnormality, and pericardial effusion as the common echocardiographic change in patients with newly diagnosed primary hypothyroidism. Therefore, our study highlights the need for cardiac evaluation of patients with primary hypothyroidism so that early intervention can be performed to improve the clinical outcome.
Implementation of the National Early Warning Score Tool in the Acute Care Setting
Authors:   , Reyes Amanda
Published: August 2021

Practice Problem: The organization arbitrarily called a rapid response or code blue call based on abnormal vital signs or intuition and needed a new process to identify early recognition of patient deterioration PICOT: For adult inpatients in an acute care setting in a large healthcare system (P), will implementation of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) across the organization (I) compared to data from the last fiscal year where NEWS was not used (C) decrease code blue calls (O) within 8-weeks (T)? Evidence: Eleven high quality studies met the inclusion criteria and found that the NEWS is a validated track and trigger tool, which promotes early detection of patients’ clinical deterioration and more accurate rapid response calls. Intervention: Staff fulfilled virtual training on completion of the NEWS tool within the computerized patient record system. Chart audits were conducted to measure compliance with the number of times the NEWS tool was used to trigger an event, and the number of times the trigger was missed. Outcome: The result of the two-tailed paired samples t-test was not statistically significant for rapid response calls. However, the clinical significance of NEWS implementation was that there was an increase in rapid responses and a decrease in code blue responses post NEWS implementation. Conclusion: The NEWS tool provided accurate identification of clinical deterioration to improve patient outcomes.
SISTEM PENDUKUNG KEPUTUSAN UNTUK MEMILIH PESERTA PERWAKILAN DESA PADA LOMBA MUSABAQAH TILAWATIL QURAN (MTQ) TINGKAT KECAMATAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE MOORA
Authors: Erwansyah Kamil , Winata Hendryan , Jaya Hendra
Published: August 2021

Permasalahan ialah karena semua kepala desa diharuskan mengutus pesertanya yaitu terdiri dari tingkat anak anak dan semua kafilah di harapkan pesertanya hasil seleksi dari masing masing desanya, tidak hannya asal tunjuk untuk memenuhi permintaan panitia dan di himbau untuk mengirim peserta harus sesuai dengan desanya masing-masing tidak dianjurkan mengambil peserta dari desa lain. Karena tidak adanya perlombaan MTQ tingkat desa Dalu X B, oleh karena itu Lembaga Pengembangan Tilawatil Qur'an (LPTQ) Desa cukup kesulitan untuk membuat keputusan peserta yang paling layak dan berkompeten untuk di kirim ke MTQ tingkat kecamatan.Oleh karena itu diperlukan sistem pendukung keputusan yaitu sistem informasi berbasis komputer yang dipakai untuk mendukung pengambilan keputusan dalam suatu organisasi atau perusahaan yang diharapkan dapat mempermudah dan membantu pihak Lembaga Pengembangan Tilawatil Qur'an (LPTQ) Desa dalam membuat keputusan untuk memilih peserta MTQ tingkat kecamatan salah satu metode yang di gunakan adalah metode MOORA  (Multi Objective Optimization On the basis of Ratio Analysis) Metode MOORA  adalah  metode  yang  memiliki  perhitungan dengan  kalkulasi  yang  minimum  dan  sangat  sederhana. Metode  ini  memiliki  tingkat selektifitas  yang  baik  dalam menentukan  suatu  alternatif
Sistem Informasi Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru di Universitas Dharmawangsa
Authors: Hayuni Sabrina , Hidayah Nur , Rahman M Arif , S Welnof
Published: August 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghasilkan perangkat lunak Sistem Informasi Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru Berbasis Web dengan PHP dan SQL yang mampu mengelola pelaksanaan Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru yaitu pendaftaran, seleksi, penjurnalan, pengumuman, dan pendaftaran ulang. Pada penelitian ini juga ditentukan tingkat kelayakan perangkat lunak yang telah dibuat. Jenis penelitian ini adalah Research and Development. Metode pengembangan perangkat lunak menggunakan Waterfall Model. Pengujian perangkat lunak dilakukan melalui pengujian white-box dan black-box, serta melalui pengujian alpha dan beta oleh sejumlah ahli dan pengguna. Instrumen menggunakan Faktor Kualitas McCall sebagai indikator untuk menentukan tingkat kelayakan perangkat lunak dengan skala pengukuran menggunakan Skala Likert. Pengujian instrumen dilakukan melalui uji validitas dan uji reliabilitas. Teknik pengumpulan data pada penelitian menggunakan wawancara dan kuesioner. Teknik analisis data menggunakan analisis deskriptif kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Sistem Informasi Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru Berbasis Web dengan PHP dan SQL ini mampu mengelola pelaksanaan Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru yaitu pendaftaran, seleksi, penjurnalan, pengumuman, dan pendaftaran ulang. Penilaian oleh ahli menunjukkan bahwa perangkat lunak ini sangat layak dari segi correctness dan reliability, sedangkan dari segi integrity dan usability adalah layak. Penilaian oleh guru menunjukkan bahwa perangkat lunak ini sangat layak dari segi correctness, reliability, dan integrity, sedangkan dari segi usability adalah layak. Penilaian oleh siswa menunjukkan bahwa perangkat lunak ini layak dari segi correctness dan usability, dari segi reliability adalah sangat layak, dan dari segi integrity adalah cukup layak
EMPIRICAL PERSPECTIVE OF INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT FUND FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY IN HENAN, CHINA
Authors: Li Zhang , Tham Jacquline , Azam S. M. Ferdous
Published: August 2021

To facilitate China’s economic reform, the rapid growth of the industrial fund has become a vital support force. This study aims to evaluate the Local Government’s Industrial Investment Fund Sustainability in Henan, China. Two-factor theories, quasi-public theory, market failure theory and sustainable development theory, along with a study of domestic studies on the development of local government industrial investment funds, were addressed to investigate the research phenomenon empirically and theoretically. For this analysis, quantitative methods are considered to be more fitting. The primary goal is to provide an overview of the apparent facts of interest to researchers. The quantitative findings include primarily statistical analysis of the data obtained. In this study, the description of statistical analysis data is used to explain the studies predicted final results. The empirical findings of this study that the structure of the supervisory system, the process of market exit and technical talents are essential factors that stimulate the industrial investment fund of the people for the local government in Henan, China, are similar and confirm with the results of previous scholars. Thus, the primary catalyst for China’s financial growth is accountability. There would be no China today without a transition and an opening. Nevertheless, in comparison to the real needs of monetary gain, China’s receptiveness to the outside world is still insufficient.

JEL: L10; L16; L78

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STRUCTURAL FLEXIBILITY AND CORPORATE RESPONSIVENESS IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: A THEORETICAL REVIEW
Authors: Georgewill Ibiba Ambie
Published: August 2021

The diverse nature of modern business operations and environment has made it a strategic necessity for organization to have a proper understanding of the spontaneous activities in their business environment. It was based on this notion that this study theoretically reviewed literature on the role of structural flexibility on corporate responsiveness to business environment, x-rayed the three basic measures of corporate responsiveness. Consequently, the study found that structural flexibility plays inestimable role in the facilitating of corporate responsiveness in reacting to changes in business environment. Given these findings, we conclude that in the organization, structural flexibility predicts corporate responsiveness. Finally, the study recommended thus: that management of organization should emphasize the need for the effective reconfiguration of its system to ensure the development of capabilities that fosters flexibility and seamless operations and that organizations should provide the necessary leadership that will motivate employees to develop and sustain skills that facilitates responsive actions.

JEL: D01; D20; D23

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CONFIANÇA: O NÓ GÓRDIO DA INFORMAÇÃO FINANCEIRA / TRUST: THE GORDIAN KNOT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Authors: Rodrigues Jorge
Published: August 2021

Desde o início do século XXI tem-se assistido à revelação de uma série de escândalos de cariz económico e financeiro, cada um mais surpreendente que o anterior. Quase sempre aqueles escândalos são categorizados como fraudes contabilísticas quando, na verdade, se referem à manipulação dos resultados e à falta de princípios éticos. Organizações até aí insuspeitas pela reputação adquirida surpreenderam a Sociedade, quebrando as relações de confiança nelas depositadas. Como consequência, urge alterar alguns paradigmas de gestão, incrementando métodos eficazes de participação e de controlo das partes interessadas, onde a confiança na informação financeira divulgada, a par de outras variáveis de cariz mais qualitativo, serão incontornáveis. Esta estratégia terá o mérito de resolver um problema complexo de maneira simples e eficaz!

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, we have taken knowledge of numerous economic and financial scandals, each one more amazing than the last. Almost always those scandals are categorized as accounting fraud. In fact, they refer to the manipulation of results and lack of ethical principles. Organizations hitherto unsuspected because of the reputation they built are now a negative surprise for everybody. They are breaking trust relations that were deposited on them. As a result, it is urgent to change some paradigms of management, increasing effective participation methods and control by the stakeholders, where confidence in disclosed financial information, along with other variables, of more qualitative nature, will be unavoidable. This strategy will have the merit to solve a complex problem in a simple and effective way!

JEL: G10; G20

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A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REMOTE INTERVIEWS AND HIRING FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: Manko Barbara A.
Published: August 2021

In increasingly globalized societies, heavily dependent on online communication, it is crucial to provide children with exposure to various languages, cultural influences, and ideas linking people from all around the world. The choice to hire an au pair from outside the US not only allows families to broaden their intercultural horizons, but also provides unique opportunities for talented, specially trained childcare providers eager to experience life in America. Most families do not have the means to travel with their children internationally but can bring an authentic experience from another part of the world into their homes. People rely on online tools to ensure they have found the very best family-caregiver match. This study explores 123 host families’ experiences of interviewing and selecting au pairs, based on survey responses about the technological tools they used for interviewing and their recommended selection modalities.

 

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THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE IN SUPPORTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING
Authors: Kustyarini K.
Published: August 2021

Counseling is a communication process between counselor and client. In the counseling process, a counselor's skills in responding to client statements and communicating again are needed. To make a professional counseling service, it is hoped that the counselor will have the ability to choose specific interventions through counseling with the latest approaches that aim to help the counselee's problems. Therefore, to conduct individual counseling, counselors must look for an effective and efficient approach and some of the approaches used are Solution Focused Brief Therapy. In its application, Solution Focused Brief Therapy has weaknesses which include: it does not completely solve client problems; limited time into which to use it; demand counselor skills in using language and using mind skills techniques. Language is a communication tool used in education, guidance and counseling. Through language, individuals will produce new skills, such as: way of thinking, how to communicate, and manipulate the educational atmosphere or educational situation. Language is closely tied to human feelings and activities or behavior, so that language can reflect an individual's personality and the individual's perspective on the world. The function of language in guidance and counseling has various aspects, including: language as a means of self-expression, language as a means of communication, language as a social control and language as a means of social integration and adaptation.

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HUMANISTIC IDEAS IN MORE’S UTOPIA
Authors: Šabec Tina
Published: August 2021

This article focusses on the humanistic ideas of Thomas More (1478–1535), explained in his book Utopia, a work of fiction and socio-political satire, written in Latin and published in 1516. In Utopia Thomas More gives an exhaustive and detailed description of The State of Utopia which already exists somewhere in the New World. Those types of theories which are oriented into the future, into something which is not yet realised but is potentially possible are called utopian literature. It covers a wide area consisting of itineraries about fictional countries, suggestions of legal or moral legislation, and attempts to find the best state regulation. Humanism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively. But the questions are: are all More’s humanistic ideas entirely good? Who can take responsibility to judge what is good for each man? The article deals with the mentioned dilemma.

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ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS POETRY: A STUDY OF GARY SYNDER'S POETRY
Authors: Merzah Zaid Najah
Published: August 2021

Ecological consciousness poetry is considered as a modern literary movement, it has its roots in the west side of the world originated in the United States of America on the second half of 20th century. The concept of nature was the major theme in the Romantic era. On the other hand, eco-writers have their consideration of nature. This research highlighting on one of the most important parts in this movement which is "ecopoetry" by explaining its implications of nature in Gary Snyder's poetry, who is one of the pioneers of beat generation. The first section of the research concerns with Gary Snyder's early life and highlights on his most significant perspectives. The second one is a kind of a critical part, which concerns with eco-critical approach, its roots, concept, and a list of a critical questions which asks by its critics. The third section is the most important one in my opinion, which is the implication of ecological consciousness poetry in Gary Snyder's poems and how he reads this kind of poetry. And last but not least, a conclusion which sums up my perspectives and readings to the ecocriticism in general, and Gary Snyder's poetry in special.

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THE BLACK ATLANTIC TRADITION AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN NOVEL: SIGNIFYIN(G) AND THE FIGURE OF ESU ELEGBARA IN RALPH W. ELLISON’S INVISIBLE MAN
Authors: Hamdoune Lahoussine
Published: August 2021

By exploring the black Atlantic tradition, the present article aims to demonstrate that the narrator’s grandfather in Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man is not only an emblem of the black vernacular, but a correlative of the West African god and trickster Esu Elegbara. Likewise, the black characters, Tarp, Clifton, and Rinehart, function as interpreters of the grandfather’s ‘double-voiced’ text viewed as metaphoric of the black vernacular and evocative of Ifa, the ‘ambiguous’ West African religious texts. The first part of this article presents the main tenets of the black Atlantic tradition constituting the approach to be deployed. This is an integrative model comprising West African mythology and the African-American model of “Signifyin(g).” The second part examines the ways whereby the protagonist is guided into establishing linkage with the black vernacular. After examining those linguistic and functional aspects demonstrating the correlation between the grandfather and Esu, I will consider Tarp’s and Clifton’s Signifyin(g) strategies meant to enhance the protagonist’s interpretive ability. I will subsequently investigate Rinehart’s masquerading tricks inspiring both the protagonist’s subversion of fix identities and his positive reception of the ambivalence of his grandfather’s ‘Signification.’ Such interpretive enterprise ultimately brings about the protagonist’s emancipation from the alienating discourse of “Progress” and his realization of self-identification and self-expression through the black vernacular.

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REALITY (RE-)VISITED: CHILDREN OF PROSTITUTES IN BORN INTO BROTHELS
Authors: Chowdhury Touhid A.
Published: August 2021

The human quest for securing, recording, and preserving memories of reality lead to the invention of motion pictures, which then gave birth to documentary films. Documentary filmmaking has radically evolved in recent years. Capturing reality come into scrutiny as more and more technological development allows the documentary filmmakers to design and articulate reality more subjectively than ever before. Born Into Brothels is a film about real people from the red light districts of Calcutta. Poverty and disease are two common phenomena of the people who live in Sonagachi, Calcutta’s red-light district. Another name of the documentary, Calcutta’s Red Light Kids, skillfully turns audience’s focus on the children of the brothels from Calcutta, which in a way, establishes that this film is about kids and not prostitution. The fact that Born Into Brothels is about children of prostitutes and not about prostitution makes it an intriguing example in analyzing the presented “reality” as well as the filmmakers’ perspectives. This article intends to investigate specific filmic and editorial techniques that documentary filmmakers use in articulating the inevitable reality of society. This article argues that Born Into Brothels tries to invoke humanitarian awareness among the audience and in a broader sense into society.

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MISAPPREHENSION AS A CROSS-CULTURAL EFFECT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF JOSEPH CONRAD’S HEART OF DARKNESS AND SAMMY OKE AKOMBI’S THE RAPED AMULET / LA MALCOMPREHENSION COMME UN EFFET DE CROISEMENT DE CULTURE: UNE ETUDE COMPARÉE DE HEART OF DARKNESS ECRIT DE JOSEPH CONRAD ET THE RAPED AMULET DE L’AUTEUR SAMMY OKE AKOMBI
Authors: Séguédémè Hergie Alexis
Published: August 2021

This paper enrolls in an enhancement of Africa’s cultural representation, long time falsely perceived. England has most of time undervalued, subject to nourish misconceptions about Africa. This, because the black continent has a range of traditions that could not be seen through western glasses. In the same line of thought, Africa’s perception of England is not far from unholiness. This situation leads to discriminative behaviours towards African students in England and English tourists in African countries. In a basket, mutual-acceptance between Africans and English is difficult, because each of them misapprehend other’s traditions and perceptions. This study illustrates cultural divergences between Africans and English. The emphasis here is on cultural mutual-acceptance. To reach this goal, I use New historicism, Africana critical theory, post colonialism and reader-response to explore, interpret and analyse, facts relating to cultural misapprehension in Heart of Darkness and The Raped Amulet.

Cet écrit s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un rehaussement de l’image culturelle de l’Afrique, longtemps faussement perçu. En toute sincérité, les Anglais ont longtemps mésestimé l’Afrique sur le plan culturel. Ceci est dû à la diversité des traditions africaines qui sont incomprises en raison des standards anglais. Pareillement, les Africains perçoivent à tort les pratiques et habitudes anglaises en référence aux valeurs promues en Afrique. Cette situation conduit à des comportements discriminatifs tant pour les Africains aux études en Angleterre que pour les Anglais en visites touristiques en Afrique. En somme, la cohabitation entre Africains et Anglais est difficile à cause des incompréhensions culturelles des uns et des autres. Cette étude illustre les divergences culturelles entre les peuples africains et anglais. Elle met un accent particulier sur l’acceptation mutuelle des cultures. Pour atteindre cet objectif, j’utilise le nouvel historicisme, la critique africaine, le post colonialisme et la réponse du lecteur, pour explorer, interpréter et analyser les faits relatifs au mépris culturel dans Heart of Darkness et The Raped Amulet.

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ICT TOOLS FOR PROMOTING SELF-PACED LEARNING AMONG SANDWICH STUDENTS IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY
Authors: Anurugwo Appolonia O.
Published: August 2021

Sandwich programmes are an innovation in teacher education geared towards the production of high-quality manpower. They are organized during school vacations so that teachers working full-time would also have the opportunity to advance academically and improve professionally. However, the intensive nature of the programme jeopardizes the actualization of its objectives. Sandwich students, as adult learners, are self-directed and self-paced learners. Self-paced learning is any kind of instruction that progresses according to the speed of the learner. It is a “teach-yourself” method that does not require on-the-spot feedback from instructors. Sandwich students, therefore, need ICT tools to encourage their self-paced learning. This study involved twenty-seven final year Guidance and Counselling sandwich degree students at Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri, who brainstormed in a round table setting and concluded that ICT tools such as audio tapes, smart phones, e-mail, video tape, internet, and other web-based learning should be applied to promote self-paced learning among sandwich students in Nigerian Universities. Based on the findings, recommendations were made and conclusions drawn.

 

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DETERMINANTS OF ACCIDENT IN THE MINES: A RETROSPECTIVE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF MINING ACCIDENTS IN GHANA
Authors: Frimpong Francis , Kwakye Kingsley
Published: August 2021

The mining industry continues to be an important sector of the Ghanaian economy, contributing to the foreign exchange, employment and socioeconomic development after the colonial period. The current trend of mining operations requires greater skills and technical knowledge because they involve sophisticated machines, dangerous chemicals and explosive mechanisms, underground operations etc. Accidents in the mines just like any occupational accident may lead to deaths, injuries, disabilities and financial losses. One of the ways of improving occupational knowledge and skills is to acquire some level of understanding of accident causation mechanism. An analytical technique which will form the basis for accident and injury epidemiological studies is therefore necessary to ensure operational safety improvement. A retrospective statistical analysis of accidents in eight gold mining companies was undertaken through measures of association, hypothesis testing, trend analysis and predictive measurements. The results of the study indicate that 20% of accident cases resulted in deaths, 30% were serious and 50% minor accidents. Underground mining increases the risk fatal accident by 1.46, morning shift increases the risk of fatal accident by 4.81 and being a contract miner increases the risk of fatal accident by 1.05. The part of body injured can predict the degree of injury by reducing the error of prediction by 40.2%. Since proportion of accident fatalities increases with increasing age of miners, it is recommended that miners with higher age should not be task with high risk jobs. It is recommended again that, miners should be given improved protective clothes to guide against occurrences of fatal incidents. Especially, clothes to cover the head and upper part of the body since they top the fatality chart and the fact that fatality is strongly associated with body part.

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ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF PUPILS IN SAND WINNING AREAS: THE CASE OF SELECTED JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE AWUTU-SENYA WEST, GHANA
Authors: Ghanney Robert Andrews
Published: August 2021

This study investigated the effect of sand winning activities on academic performance of Junior High School pupils in the Awutu-Senya West District in the Central Region of Ghana. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, a convergent mixed method design was employed. The sample size for the quantitative study was 105, comprising 70 pupils and 35 parents. In the qualitative phase, a sample size of 8 comprising 4 pupils and 4 parents were employed. The researcher used questionnaire and interview guide as the primary tools for collecting both quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The quantitative data were analysed using the version 22 of the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) whereas the qualitative data were analysed using the thematic approach. Among the findings of the study, it was revealed that, sand winning activities contributed statistically significantly to pupils’ poor academic performance in Social Studies. The study recommended that the Directorate of the Ghana Education Service at Awutu-Senya West District and traditional leaders should be in constant dialogue with members of the communities, especially parents, to appreciate the value of formal education in order to ensure that their children stay in school and study. It was suggested that further research be conducted in other basic schools in the country where sand winning activities are carried out to give the general overview regarding the influence of sand winning activities on academic performance of junior high school pupils and to come out with holistic approach in curbing the situation.

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EFFECTS OF YOUTH ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND ON THE PROMOTION OF YOUTH OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN NAKURU EAST SUB-COUNTY, KENYA
Authors: Njeri Wachira Christine , Mutundu Kennedy
Published: August 2021

The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of the YEDF on the promotion of youth owned business enterprises in Kenya focusing on youth groups in Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study included an analysis of the effect of financial services offered by YEDF on the promotion of youth owned business enterprises in Nakuru East County, an assessment of the effect of f capacity building offered by YEDF on the promotion of youth owned business enterprises in Nakuru East County, and an assessment of the effect of the marketing and linkages services provided by the YEDF on the promotion of youth owned business enterprises in Nakuru East County. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, with a target population of 240 registered youth groups hence a sample size of 71 youth groups generated from the Nassiuma’s Sample Size Formula for larger population. The study adopted the mixed sampling methods (stratified random sampling (for the youth group’s respondents) and purposive sampling technique was used for the interview guide. The study results revealed that the independent variables (Marketing and linkages, capacity building, and financial support) had a huge influence on the variation of the growth of the youth owned enterprises. The study concluded that marketing and linkages services of YEDF had a statistically significant influence on the growth of the youth owned enterprises. The study concluded that the capacity building of YEDF had a statistically significant influence on the growth of the youth owned enterprises. The study concluded that the financial support given by YEDF had a statistically significant influence on the growth of the youth owned enterprises. That in respect to the marketing and linkages services, the YEDF should place greater emphasis on the YEDF created trade fairs impact on the marketing of the products for youth enterprises and YEDF created trade fairs impact on the networking with suppliers.

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IMPACTS OF NON-SALARY PAYMENT ON LECTURERS’ PERFORMANCES IN CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTED UNIVERSITY - A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
Authors: Chigbu Eberechukwu Francisca , Onu Ebele Ann , Animba Ijeoma Evelyn , Nnabugwu Obiageli Chinwe
Published: August 2021

This study aimed at finding out the impact of non-salary payment on lecturers’ performances in climate change affected universities (a case study of UNN). The study adopted a gap analysis analysis and was carried out in University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). The population comprised 793 respondents lecturers’ randomly sampled from the University. The study was guided by two purposes of the gap analysis. The instruments called Nospol-Climate-Change-Affected-University for data collection were self-designed structured questionnaires of 5 points of Much above average, Above average, Average, Below average and Much below average. Methods of data collection were face to face administration and collection after every rating in the questionnaires was completed by the concerned respondents from various faculties of UNN. All data were collected, collated and analyzed. The methods of data analysis were descriptive statistics and t-test with Statistical Package for Social Science. The instrument was validated by experts whose imputes were incorporated before the final copies were made and administered. Reliability test showed a significant difference between the performance levels of the two groups of the lecturers at p<0.05 etc. based on the findings, the researchers recommended among others that integrated payment and personal information system (IPPIS) which is a central payroll platform by the federal Government operating as Treasury Single Account (TSA) should be upgraded to make prompt payment to lecturers without further delay.

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FACETS OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT FOR RAINFED AGRICULTURE: A PARADIGM SHIFT IS IMPERATIVE
Authors: Nazeerudin N.
Published: August 2021

Spanning several agro-ecological regions constituting 60% of total cropped area. The rain fed areas represent the geography with the largest concentration of poverty and backwardness. The cumulative neglect of the rainfed areas over the earlier plan periods in terms of institutional development, support systems, availability of appropriate inputs, credit, market access, agricultural research and extension has caused widespread desperation amongst farming community. Rain fed agriculture supports an estimated 40% of population (484 million) and has a large share of cropped area under rice (42%), pulses (77%), oilseeds (66%) and coarse cereals (85%). Harboring about 78% of cattle, 64% of sheep and 75% of goats rain fed areas cater to most part of the meat market in the country. In the light of the above, this paper made an attempt to briefly review the performance of Rain fed agriculture and critically examine the role of Livestock, Fisheries and Horticulture as a key component of rural livelihoods in rain fed regions and finally it also strongly advocates the hidden potential of Management of Common Pool Resources (CPRs) is an essential part of natural resource management in rain fed areas.

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