With the growing insecurity in term contracts, especially during the 1979 oil crisis, many oil companies increasingly turned to the spot market, not for balancing their crude…
Abstract
With the growing insecurity in term contracts, especially during the 1979 oil crisis, many oil companies increasingly turned to the spot market, not for balancing their crude requirements at the margin but as a mainstream source of supply. Spot markets have a number of sources; they are fed by the balancing availabilities and requirements of producers and refiners. During periods of depressed prices, they receive a boost from large exporters in search of higher prices. North Sea oil production has been vital to the growth of the market. Being a non‐OPEC source and close to markets, production from this source has been close to maximum rates in order to service high fixed investment costs.
Chigoziri N. Njoku, Temple Uzoma Maduoma, Wilfred Emori, Rita Emmanuel Odey, Beshel M. Unimke, Emmanuel Yakubu, Cyril C. Anorondu, Daniel I. Udunwa, Onyinyechi C. Njoku and Kechinyere B. Oyoh
Corrosion is a major concern for many industries that use metals as structural or functional materials, and the use of corrosion inhibitors is a widely accepted strategy to…
Abstract
Purpose
Corrosion is a major concern for many industries that use metals as structural or functional materials, and the use of corrosion inhibitors is a widely accepted strategy to protect metals from deterioration in corrosive environments. Moreover, the toxic nature, non-biodegradability and price of most conventional corrosion inhibitors have encouraged the application of greener and more sustainable options, with natural and synthetic drugs being major actors. Hence, this paper aims to stress the capability of natural and synthetic drugs as manageable and sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions to the problem of metal corrosion.
Design/methodology/approach
In this review, the recent developments in the use of natural and synthetic drugs as corrosion inhibitors are explored in detail to highlight the key advancements and drawbacks towards the advantageous utilization of drugs as corrosion inhibitors.
Findings
Corrosion is a critical issue in numerous modern applications, and conventional strategies of corrosion inhibition include the use of toxic and environmentally harmful chemicals. As greener alternatives, natural compounds like plant extracts, essential oils and biopolymers, as well as synthetic drugs, are highlighted in this review. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of these compounds, as well as their effectiveness in preventing corrosion, are discussed in the review.
Originality/value
This survey stresses on the most recent abilities of natural and synthetic drugs as viable and sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions to the problem of metal corrosion, thus expanding the general knowledge of green corrosion inhibitors.
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Jose Manuel Sierra, Maria del Rocio Fernandez, Jose Ignacio Ignacio Rodriguez Garcia, Jose Luis Cortizo and Marta María Villazon
This paper describes the evolution of the design of a mechanical distractor fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) technology for use in surgical procedures, such as…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper describes the evolution of the design of a mechanical distractor fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) technology for use in surgical procedures, such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). The functionality of the final device was analysed and the suitability of different materials was determined.
Design/methodology/approach
Solid modelling and finite element modelling software were used in the design and validation process to allow the fabrication of the device by AM. Several prototypes were manufactured and tested in this study.
Findings
A new design was developed to greatly simplify the existing devices used in TEM surgery. The new design is easy to use, more economical and does not require pneumorectum. Different AM materials were investigated with regard to their mechanical properties, orientation of parts in the three-dimensional (3D) printer and cytotoxicity to select the optimal material for the design.
Social implications
The device designed by AM can be printed anywhere in the world, provided that a 3D printer is available; the 3D printer does not have to be a high-performance printer. This makes surgery more accessible, particularly in low-income regions. Moreover, patient recovery is improved and pneumorectum is not required.
Originality/value
A suitable mechanical distractor was designed for TEM, and different materials were validated for fabrication by AM.
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Emmanuel Adinyira, Emmanuel Akoi-Gyebi Adjei, Kofi Agyekum and Frank Desmond Kofi Fugar
Knowledge of the effect of various cash-flow factors on expected project profit is important to effectively manage productivity on construction projects. This study was conducted…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge of the effect of various cash-flow factors on expected project profit is important to effectively manage productivity on construction projects. This study was conducted to develop and test the sensitivity of a Machine Learning Support Vector Regression Algorithm (SVRA) to predict construction project profit in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The study relied on data from 150 institutional projects executed within the past five years (2014–2018) in developing the model. Eighty percent (80%) of the data from the 150 projects was used at hyperparameter selection and final training phases of the model development and the remaining 20% for model testing. Using MATLAB for Support Vector Regression, the parameters available for tuning were the epsilon values, the kernel scale, the box constraint and standardisations. The sensitivity index was computed to determine the degree to which the independent variables impact the dependent variable.
Findings
The developed model's predictions perfectly fitted the data and explained all the variability of the response data around its mean. Average predictive accuracy of 73.66% was achieved with all the variables on the different projects in validation. The developed SVR model was sensitive to labour and loan.
Originality/value
The developed SVRA combines variation, defective works and labour with other financial constraints, which have been the variables used in previous studies. It will aid contractors in predicting profit on completion at commencement and also provide information on the effect of changes to cash-flow factors on profit.
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Pawan Budhwar, Andy Crane, Annette Davies, Rick Delbridge, Tim Edwards, Mahmoud Ezzamel, Lloyd Harris, Emmanuel Ogbonna and Robyn Thomas
Wonders whether companies actually have employees best interests at heart across physical, mental and spiritual spheres. Posits that most organizations ignore their workforce �…
Abstract
Wonders whether companies actually have employees best interests at heart across physical, mental and spiritual spheres. Posits that most organizations ignore their workforce – not even, in many cases, describing workers as assets! Describes many studies to back up this claim in theis work based on the 2002 Employment Research Unit Annual Conference, in Cardiff, Wales.
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J. Marin‐Navarro and P.E. Alevantis
This article describes the system used for the introduction of textual data into the CELEX full‐text document databases. The solution implemented is based on the establishment of…
Abstract
This article describes the system used for the introduction of textual data into the CELEX full‐text document databases. The solution implemented is based on the establishment of a text production database for the management and validation of texts before introducing them into the CELEX dissemination databases, and the management of structured documents described with the help of an SGML syntax.
The work on friction in high vacuum was started some years ago in Dr. F. P. Bowdens laboratory in Cambridge University, using an apparatus designed by the late Dr. J. E. Young…
Abstract
The work on friction in high vacuum was started some years ago in Dr. F. P. Bowdens laboratory in Cambridge University, using an apparatus designed by the late Dr. J. E. Young. The object has been to examine the frictional behaviour of surfaces covered with known films, undisturbed by the contamination always present in a normal atmosphere. A general account of the work was given in Dr. Howe's paper at the Conference on Lubrication and Wear (1957) entitled “Vapour Lubrication and the Friction of Clean Surfaces”. Dr. Rowe was educated at Culford School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he took Mechanical Sciences Tripos in 1944 and Natural Science Tripos Part II (Physics) in 1950. He wrote a thesis on “Adhesion of Clean Metals” in Dr. Bowden's laboratory at Cambridge in 1953. From 1944–46 he was engaged on miniaturisation at the Telecommunications Research Establishment and for the next two years was at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment working on cyclotron design. He currently leads a small group interested in friction, lubrication and wear, at Tube Investments Research Laboratories, Cambridge. He is a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker.
Temidayo Oluwasola Osunsanmi, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa, Wellington Didibhuku Thwala and Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke
The model and existing practice of the construction supply chain (CSC) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia was presented in this chapter. The policies and reports that…
Abstract
The model and existing practice of the construction supply chain (CSC) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia was presented in this chapter. The policies and reports that support the practice of the CSC were examined in both countries. It was discovered from the review of literature that the UK has a more detailed report targeted at improving the CSC than Australia. However, both countries have a common factor affecting their CSC which originates from fragmentation experienced within their supply chain. Construction stakeholders in the UK and Australia believe that collaboration and integration are vital components for improving performance. The majority of the contractors in both countries embrace collaborative working for the sole purpose of risk sharing, access to innovation and response to market efficiency. However, most of the models developed for managing the CSC in the UK are built around building information modelling (BIM). Also, the reviewed studies show that supply chain management practice will be effective following the following principle: shared objectives, trust, reduction in a blame culture, joint working, enhanced communication and information-sharing. Finally, the UK has a more established framework and more CSC models compared to Australia.
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Temidayo Oluwasola Osunsanmi, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa, Wellington Didibhuku Thwala and Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke
The idea of implementing supply chain management (SCM) principles for the construction industry was embraced by construction stakeholders to enhance the sector's performance. The…
Abstract
The idea of implementing supply chain management (SCM) principles for the construction industry was embraced by construction stakeholders to enhance the sector's performance. The analysis from the literature revealed that the implementation of SCM in the construction industry enhances the industry's value in terms of cost-saving, time savings, material management, risk management and others. The construction supply chain (CSC) can be managed using the pull or push system. This chapter also discusses the origin and proliferation of SCM into the construction industry. The chapter revealed that the concept of SCM has passed through five different eras: the creation era, the use of ERP, globalisation stage, specialisation stage and electronic stage. The findings from the literature revealed that we are presently in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. At this stage, the SCM witnesses the adoption of technologies and principles driven by the 4IR. This chapter also revealed that the practice of SCM in the construction industry is centred around integration, collaboration, communication and the structure of the supply chain (SC). The forms and challenges hindering the adoption of these practices were also discussed extensively in this chapter.
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Marshall Clinton, Chantal Payette, Sophia Kaszuba and Sian Meikle
UTLife is the CWIS Gopher of the University of Toronto Library (UTL). Recently installed, it encountered many of the classic problems of Gopher development, including menu design…
Abstract
UTLife is the CWIS Gopher of the University of Toronto Library (UTL). Recently installed, it encountered many of the classic problems of Gopher development, including menu design and nomenclature, and staff and time constraints. UTLife is aimed at the large academic population at the University of Toronto and is also available to the public. Although much work remains to be done, the CWIS already includes a large range of documents of interest to all areas at the university.