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Organisational Culture and The Development of Digital Competencies: Experiences of Employees in Nigerian Upstream Oil and Gas Companies
Get PDFIn today’s upstream oil and gas industry, employees are encouraged to develop digital competencies to support their organisations’ digital transformation initiatives. However, there is limited understanding from the employee viewpoints, of what influences their motivation to support digital workforce transformation in the context of upstream oil and gas companies’ organisational culture. This study proposes the need to comprehend the relationship between organisational culture and employees’ motivation to develop and use digital competencies from the employees’ viewpoints rather than from managers and business leaders only. Building on the digital workforce transformation and employee-driven innovation literature, the aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of employees who are required to develop and use digital competencies in their companies. Specifically, the guiding principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis were adapted in a qualitative approach to explore the employees’ experiences. Data was collected from sixteen employees selected from across four of the five international oil and gas companies in Nigeria. The findings show that three core modalities of the organisational culture (Digital Transformation Messaging & Resource Availability; Leadership and Management Styles; and Employee Mindsets & Change Management Inertia) are important considerations for the motivation of employees to develop and use digital competencies. The findings contribute to understanding the dynamics of employee mindsets regarding digital workforce transformation and highlight the relevance of incorporating employee viewpoints in the planning and implementation of change management initiatives required for digital transformation. Theoretically, the contribution from this study is a demonstration of the use of a qualitative interpretive approach to update the digital workforce transformation body of knowledge
Control of extrudate swell and instabilities using a rotating roller die
Get PDFYesThermoplastics extruded from dies will always swell and above a critical flow rate display instabilities (sharkskin, stick-spurt or gross melt fracture). Prior research has shown that the best way to suppress these instabilities is to reduce the entry converging angle using a smooth convergence and induce permanent wall slip. In this research we go a step further by allowing the walls to move using a rotating roller die. Thus both extrudate swell and flow instabilities become controllable. This paper presents data to support this claim. The practical benefits are important as stable operation at higher flow rates become permissible. Also, by providing extra control variables, this device becomes a useful tool to help unravel the causes of the various instabilities that arise in polymer melt die extrusion. A first from this research, using this roller die geometry we were able to tease out surface roughness instability with polystyrene hitherto not reported.EPSR
Advances in Modelling and Prediction on the Impact of Human Activities and Extreme Events on Environments
Get PDFYesThis book is an edition of the Special Issue Advances in Modelling and Prediction on the Impact of Human Activities and Extreme Events on Environments that was published in Water journal
Biomass-derived nanocellulose modified cementitious composites: A review
Get PDFYesCementitious composites, the most abundant human-made materials in the world, are challenged to be more sustainable, durable and cost-effective to adapt to the development of structural engineering, economy and environment. Owing to their excellent strength, toughness and durability, nano-fillers reinforced cementitious materials have attracted broad attention in civil engineering researches and applications. However, it is worth noting that nano-fillers reinforced cementitious materials achieve their proprieties by using of different industrial nano-fillers, i.e., graphenes, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, etc. Although the properties of conventional cementitious materials are improved, the incorporation of the above nano-fillers are high cost and environmental footprint. Different from high-energy consuming carbon nanofillers, nanocellulose is one of the biomass-derived nanofillers with excellent nanometer properties, biological performances and composite effects, and it has proved to be a promising green filler to enhance the mechanical properties, durability and functional properties and lower the carbon footprint of cementitious composites. Therefore, this paper provides an overview on biomass-derived nanocellulose modified cementitious composites, mainly focusing on their fabrication, properties (early performance, mechanical performance, durability, and functional performance) and applications. It also concludes with an outline of some future opportunities and challenges in the development of biomass-derived nanocellulose modified cementitious composites
The effect of mob justice on the rule of law and democratisation in Africa: a case study of Ghana
Get PDFYesThe emergence of globalisation has promoted human rights education, the
media and scholarly works have drawn attention to the issue of the rule of law and mob justice activities constantly recurring in developing countries. The
paper examines the effects of mob justice on the rule of law and democratisation in Africa using Ghana as a case study. The paper is of the view that mob justice has both negative and positive effects on the rule of law and democratisation in Ghana. This is because the legal and criminal justice systems in some societies are seen by citizens as illegitimate as they fail to punish suspected criminals
appropriately; thus, negatively destroying democracy and the image of the State. Positively, mob justice serves as a wake-up call for the State to take its
responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens seriously. The paper draws on
international human rights law in the light of international legal instruments,
such as the UDHR, ICCPR, and African Charter, as well as the 1992 Constitution
of Ghana and employs mainly the Tylerian procedural justice perspective, as well as Liberal democratic theory. It uses theoretical, critically analytical and
qualitative empirical evidence (based on semi-structured interviews from
purposive sampling of 15 expert opinions and relevant organisations with a keen interest in the subject matter) for the analysis.Ghana Scholarship Board funded the research on the Rule of Law & Mob Justice in Ghana
Introduction to International Energy Arbitration Disputes in Africa
Get PDFYesThis chapter provides a background on the roles of international arbitration as an important mechanism for dispute resolution in Africa’s dynamic and evolving energy and mining sectors. Given its abundant endowment with renewable and non-renewable energy sources, Africa has for several decades provided significant opportunities for international energy companies to spearhead energy production activities and investments in the production, distribution, and sale of energy.
Despite these investment opportunities, entrants into energy markets in Africa often face legal risks that pose monumental threats to the economic viability of investments. If not properly mitigated and addressed, such risks may result in complex and protracted legal disputes. Over the last decade, arbitration has emerged as a key mechanism for dispute resolution in Africa’s growing energy industry.
After providing an overview of the history, nature, and scope of energy arbitration in Africa, this chapter examines the drivers and sources of energy disputes in Africa’s energy and mining sectors and how the rise in arbitration provisions in energy contracts is shaping legal responses to such risk drivers. It analyzes how the full value of arbitration can be maximized as a tool for achieving fair, timely, efficient, and effective dispute resolution in Africa’s energy sector, especially in light of ongoing energy transitions
The urban fluvial and hydro-environment system
No full textYesWith the rapid urbanization of cities around the world, water security, flood control, and urban hydro-environmental management have become important tasks to tackle. The
majority of large to megacities are located in delta regions surrounded by river networks, due to their historical development. They are not only threatened by floods from upstream
river basins, but also endangered by the challenges of urban hydro-environmental governance. Fast urbanization causes interference and fragmentation of the river system and impedes its hydrodynamic potential, which is a primary driver of flooding, pollution, and sediment deposition. Consequently, water security and environmental problems are major issues for sustainable urban development. The purpose of this Research Topic (RT) is to examine the latest advances and developments in addressing the challenges in urban fluvial and freshwater systems as well as to discuss the opportunities they create for improvement in modelling, management practices and governance. This RT consists of twenty research articles from 99 authors under three different research themes, which feature contributions on urban space management, water pollution mitigation and urban watercourse behavioural sciences
to strengthen resilience. The RT includes the following themes:
• State-of-the-art numerical models,
• Urban environmental and hydrological advances, and
• Sustainable cities implementation
Assessing the determinants of circular behaviour of smart appliances owners in the United Kingdom
No full textUnder a product-oriented smart product-service system model, the manufacturer of smart appliances transfers the appliance’s ownership to the customer while delivering additional services such as repair and maintenance to extend the appliance’s lifespan and minimise environmental footprints. However, to expand an appliance’s lifespan and facilitate its circularity, customers are expected to perform two main circular behaviours: repair and resell. This thesis seeks to identify the drivers behind the intention of owners of smart appliances to perform circular behaviours under a product-oriented smart PSS category in the United Kingdom. Based on the theory of planned behaviour model, two novel comprehensive frameworks are suggested with additional constructs (eco-literacy, financial benefit, data security, cost of repair, and convenience).
Two self-reported surveys are adopted for gathering data. The sample size consists of 383 respondents for survey one and 348 participants for survey two. The partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to test the hypothesised models. The findings reveal that the cost of repair, attitude, eco-literacy, financial benefit, and perceived behavioural control are the key predictors of customers’ repairing intention. Our results also indicate that financial benefit, convenience, attitude, perceived behavioural control, and subjective descriptive norm are positively related to individuals’ reselling intention. This thesis supports the manufacturers of smart appliances, environmental NGOs, and second-hand stores (online and offline) in the development of effective communication campaigns that further enhance circular behaviours among smart appliances’ owners
Discovery of 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-one derivatives as possible antileishmanial agents
No full textNoA series of uniquely functionalized 2,3,-dihydro-1H-pyyrolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-one derivatives were synthesized in one to two steps by utilizing a post-Ugi modification strategy and were evaluated for antileishmanial efficacy against visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among the library compounds, compound 5m exhibited potential in vitro antileishmanial activity (CC50 = 65.11 μM, SI = 7.79, anti-amastigote IC50 = 8.36 μM). In vivo antileishmanial evaluation of 5m demonstrated 56.2% inhibition in liver and 61.1% inhibition in spleen parasite burden in infected Balb/c mice (12.5 mg kg-1, i.p.). In vitro pharmacokinetic study ascertained the stability of 5m in both simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid. All the active compounds passed the PAINS filter and showed no toxicity in in silico predictions.SERB, New Delhi (Grant No. CRG/ 2018/001897 [GAP0320], Grant No. CRG/2020/002932 [GAP0371]), DBT, New Delhi (Grant No. BT/PR32490/ MED/29/1457/2019
Explorative studies to understand if aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) expression in colon cancer can be exploited as a target for therapeutic intervention. Expression profiling of ALDH7A1 in colorectal cancer
No full textColorectal cancer (CRC) has been one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths worldwide. CRC patients with recurrent or metastatic disease remain difficult to treat with current treatment options.
Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are enzymes that play key roles in protecting cells against aldehyde-generated toxicity. Specific isoforms are also known to contribute to disease development. Emerging evidence suggests that specific ALDH isoforms might also be important for biomarker or drug discovery in CRC. The current thesis is focused on evaluating ALDH7A1 and other isoforms in patient samples while also investigating a novel library of naphthalimide-based compounds with potential to be used as hypoxia activated prodrugs (HAPs, and longer term as ALDH-targeting fluorescent probes. The current study is the first study to compare both Nigerian and UK patients with CRC disease. Interestingly, however, results showed ALDH7A1, and GLUT-1 were co-expressed in CRC xenografts and tissue microarrays (TMAs) revealing hypoxia also impacts on ALDH7A1 expression in clinical samples. Both ALDH1B1 and ALDH7A1 were shown to be highly expressed in all patient samples, however, in-depth mechanistic studies are required to fully elucidate the role of ALDHs in CRC.
Investigation of naphthalimide-based compounds including the anticancer agents amonafide and mitonafide (MITO) were carried out to understand the cytotoxic potency under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Only a few compounds were soluble in water and could undergo biological testing, which limited the structure-activity relationship studies. CD-10 was explored with MITO to develop a formulation to overcome the solubility issues. Studies presented in this thesis show for the first time that liposomes can be used to encapsulate naphthalimide compounds, providing an opportunity for investigating all compounds in the naphthalimide library in future studies.
In summary, the data in this thesis support the need for further studies to explore aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and its expression in CRC and whether it can be exploited as target for biomarker or drug discovery.Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Nigeri