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EFFECT OF ADJACENT SHADING ON BUILDING ENVELOPE HEAT GAIN IN TROPICAL CLIMATE: Received: 10th June 2025, Revised: 20th June 2025, 10th July 2025, Accepted: 2nds August 2025, Date of Publication: 11th September 2025
No full textIn tropical regions, approximately 60% of building energy is consumed by cooling systems, with heat gain through the building envelope being a major contributor. The Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) is a metric used to quantify average heat gain in air-conditioned buildings. However, the standard OTTV calculation does not account for shading from adjacent buildings—an increasingly common feature in high-density urban areas. This paper presents an empirical study on the thermal performance of building envelopes considering adjacent shading in tropical climates. Dynamic simulations of annual heat gain were conducted for buildings with and without adjacent shading for comparative analysis. The results highlight the significant impact of adjacent structures on heat gain performance and offer supplementary data to improve the current OTTV calculation method, especially for multi-block developments
EFFECT OF SILICA NANOPARTICLES ON SURFACTANT ADSORPTION KINETICS
Get PDFThis study investigates the effect of fumed silica nanoparticles (SiO2) on the surface tension behavior of three surfactant types: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS; anionic), polysorbate 80 (Tween 80; nonionic), and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB; cationic). Surface tension measurements were conducted using the pendant drop method for pure surfactant solutions and surfactant/SiO2 suspensions at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 16 mM and SiO2 content of 0.1-0.5 wt %. The addition of silica nanoparticles altered the surface tension kinetics compared to pure surfactant solutions across the same concentration range. For SDS and DTAB systems, the isotherms showed non-monotonic changes with characteristic inflection points, whereas Tween 80 demonstrated more gradual modifications. This complex behavior indicates competitive adsorption mechanisms at the interface, where nanoparticles can either disrupt surfactant packing (increasing tension) or facilitate synergistic stabilization (decreasing tension) depending on concentration regime and electrostatic interactions. Understanding these concentration-dependent transitions is crucial for optimizing colloidal stability in practical applications such as agrochemical formulations
ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH COMBUSTION SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION IN REHEATING FURNACES: Received: 3rd October 2025 Revised: 16th October 2025, 20th November 2025 Accepted: 11th December 2025 Date of Publication: 17th December 2025
No full textReheating processes, which constitute a critical stage in steel industry production, hold significant importance in terms of energy efficiency due to their high energy consumption. In reheating furnaces, by-product gases, natural gas, or fuel oil are typically utilized. The walking beam reheating furnace examined in this study heats billets to the required temperatures— depending on product size and type—through 32 burners positioned in different furnace zones, providing stepwise heating. However, the imbalance in heat transfer within the furnace and the non-uniform distribution of heating rates lead to deviations from the target heating curve, thereby intensifying the scaling problem that causes production losses. The primary aim of this study is to reduce unnecessary natural gas consumption and minimize the carbon footprint by improving the control of the air–fuel mixture inside the furnace through burner optimization and automation systems. As a result of the implemented measures, considering the annual production capacity, a total of 1,950,000 Sm³ of natural gas savings was achieved, corresponding to approximately 3,705–3,900 tons of CO2 equivalent emission reduction. These findings demonstrate a successful large-scale industrial application aimed at enhancing energy efficiency in reheating furnaces while mitigating environmental impacts
TNFRSF1B-DRIVEN MYELOID PLASTICITY CONSTITUTES A CLINICALLY TRACTABLE IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE AXIS ACROSS HUMAN CANCERS
Get PDFThe immunosuppressive tumor environment (TME) is a major barrier to effective immunotherapy in ovarian cancer (OC), yet the regulatory drivers remain incompletely defined. Here, we applied a multi-omens workflow integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), bulk transcriptomics, immune decovolution, Mendelian randomization (MR), expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis, and functional validation to dissect the heterogeneity and regulatory circuits of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in OC. We identified a selective expansion of intermediate monocytes (IMo) within the OC TME, which promoted immunosuppressive niche formation. MR analysis identified TNFRSF1B (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1B, encoding TNFR2) as a causal risk gene, enriched in immunosuppressive myeloid cells across single-cell, spatial, and pan-cancer datasets. High TNFRSF1B expression was associated with M2-like polarization, elevated immune checkpoint signatures, and poor prognosis. Functional knockdown of TNFRSF1B in vitro reduced M2 polarization and cytokine secretion, while in vivo antibody blockade suppressed tumor growth and reversed CD8+ T cell exhaustion. Mechanistically, TNFRSF1B+ TAMs secreted SPP1, which engaged CD44 on CD8+ T cells and induced TIM3-mediated exhaustion. These findings nominate TNFRSF1B as both a prognostic biomarker and a promising immunotherapeutic target in OC and potentially other solid tumors
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD AND ITS IMPACT ON FERTILITY
Get PDFOccupational hazards represent a significant but underappreciated factor of fertility health. A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to chemical, physical, ergonomical and psychosocial risks in the workplace would enormously affects reproductive outcomes amongst both genders. The attributing factors are different, which conclusively impacts overall outcomes severely such as hormonal imbalance, gamete quality and general reproductive function. The paper is focussed on the causal relationship between occupational hazards and impacted fertility due to various medico-social reasons. The paper identifies such scenarios for quantified relation amongst them
LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF DISPUTES CONCERNING THE OUTER LIMITS OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF IN THE ABSENCE OF CLCS RECOMMENDATIONS
Get PDFThe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Article 76 and Annex II, Section 7, specify the procedures for the delineation of the continental shelf, requiring coastal states to submit scientific and technical data to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to demonstrate the extent of their continental shelf. In practice, some states have exercised authority over the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles without obtaining recommendations from the CLCS or have been rejected by the CLCS. These states argue that the recommendations of the CLCS are not decisive in delineation. Some of these states have even received support from international court judgments, sparking discussions on the effectiveness of CLCS recommendations and controversies over the validity of delineation beyond 200 nautical miles. This paper argues that since states have inherent rights to their territories, the absence of CLCS recommendations does not preclude them from claiming rights to these areas. In cases of litigation arising from delineation beyond 200 nautical miles, if a state can provide sufficient evidence to prove that its territory indeed extends beyond 200 nautical miles and that its delineation does not exceed the actual limits of its continental shelf, the international court will support the state. However, the court’s support does not equate to the validity of the delineation, valid delineation must still adhere to the procedures stipulated by UNCLOS
TRIAL OF PROGRAMMING EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPING ABILITIES OF SHIFTING VIEWPOINT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: THROUGH PROGRAMMING LEARNING ACTIVITIES USING ROBOTS
Get PDFWe organised learning activities for programming with a humanoid robot “Robohon” and conducted trial lessons with 73 third-grade elementary school students with the aim of cultivating their ability to shift their viewpoint at the physical level, the social level, and the third-person viewpoint. By shifting the viewpoint to Robohon the programming activities were adopted as those for cultivating each skill in the class. To measure the effectiveness of the learning activities, four tasks were used. The first was based on Piaget's "Three Mountains Problem", the second was a task to examine the developmental level of the role-taking ability, and the third task was a "Sally and Anne" test to measure the taking of a third-person viewpoint. Those were used in the pre- and post- surveys. Also included in the evaluation was a task to create a flowchart that the children produced in class. As a result of the study, no significant effects on these three abilities were confirmed from the pre- and post-surveys using the three tasks, but the flowchart worksheets created in class indicated that the children were thinking from the viewpoint of others
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF SENIOR NURSE MANAGERS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL: AN ASSESSMENT
Get PDFThis descriptive correlational study assessed the emotional intelligence of senior nurse managers in a tertiary hospital utilizing the “Schutte Self-report Emotional Test (SSEIT)” by Schutte et al. (2009). Results showed that most senior nurse managers belonged to the 36-40-year-old group; female; married; have served in their current position for more than 5 years but less than 10 years; BSN holders; and Roman Catholic. They have a moderate level of emotional intelligence in all the dimensions: Perception of Emotion, Managing Own Emotions, Managing Other Emotions, and Utilization of Emotion. There was a significant relationship between the senior nurse managers' profile sex and their level of emotional intelligence in all the dimensions except managing their own emotions; the senior nurse managers' profile years served in the current position, and their level of emotional intelligence in the dimension - utilization of emotion; and lastly, there were no significant relationships as to their age, sex, marital status, educational qualification, or religion and their level of emotional intelligence in all the dimensions. It was recommended that senior nurse managers must be: willing to explore more and understand emotions – theirs and others; continue practicing mindfulness and be attentive to their thoughts, feelings, and reactions in various situations in the workplace; utilize their inner strength and resilience to steer difficult situations in the hospital with grace and composure like stepping outside their comfort zone even when it feels uncomfortable so they can seek new experiences and perspectives and embrace opportunities for emotional growth and self-discovery; lastly, they must continue practicing active listening skills and being connected with others like their co-workers or their patients on a deeper emotional level
STRATEGIC MARKETING PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA
Get PDFThe reports have shown that pharmaceutical industry operates in a highly competitive and dynamic environment, where strategic marketing practices are crucial for achieving sustainable performance. Despite the increasing relevance, many pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria struggle to adopt and effectively implement strategic marketing practices that align with the ever-changing market conditions. This gap in practice raises concerns about their ability to improve profitability, sales growth, customer satisfaction and market share. Consequently, the study explored strategic marketing practices and performance of pharmaceutical companies in southwest Nigeria. Four research questions were raised, and four hypotheses were formulated in line with the study's objectives. The literature was premised on four (4) theories; Schumpeter theory of innovation, dynamic capabilities theory, stakeholder theory and resource-based theory. Employing a mixed methods research design (MMR) with a survey method and convenience sampling technique, data were collected from 329 individual while in-depth interview were conducted among management teams each from the selected 9 pharmaceutical firms across the three states. Utilizing Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis to test the hypotheses, strategic marketing practices components (collaboration strategy, product distribution strategy, marketing leadership and innovative leadership) were found to have a significant impact on performance of pharmaceutical companies (profitability, sales growth, customer satisfaction and market share). This was shown in their coefficient of determinations and significant values for the four (4) hypotheses: collaboration strategy and profitability R= 0.832; P=0.000; product distribution strategy and sales growth R= 0.864; P=0.000; marketing leadership and customer satisfaction R= 0.791; P=0.000; innovative leadership and R= 0.804; P=0.000. Therefore, the study concluded that when effective collaboration strategies were put in place by the management of the pharmaceutical firms, there is possibility of increasing the sales revenue is of the firm provision of value to customers and solution to customer’s problem. The study recommended that pharmaceutical companies should try to be versatile in their collaborative strategy in a way so as to build a network with all their stakeholders in order to create value, boost their revenue profile towards the profitability posture of their organisation
FACTORS EFFECTING OF HOTEL’S REVISIT INTENTION AMONG TOURISTS IN THAILAND
Get PDFThe objective of this article is to present knowledge derived from a literature review on causal factors of hotel’s revisit intention among tourists. The article to explain the meaning, background, components, and relationships of variable related to hotel’s revisit intention among tourists. Methodology by documentary research from 250 articles, with the source of the articles from various databases and analyzed data by content analysis. Based on the literature review found that the variables commonly used to study hotel’s revisit intention among tourists include customer experience, service quality, brand image, and customer satisfaction.The objective of this article is to present knowledge derived from a literature review on causal factors of hotel’s revisit intention among tourists. The article to explain the meaning, background, components, and relationships of variable related to hotel’s revisit intention among tourists. Methodology by documentary research from 250 articles, with the source of the articles from various databases and analyzed data by content analysis. Based on the literature review found that the variables commonly used to study hotel’s revisit intention among tourists include customer experience, service quality, brand image, and customer satisfaction