NIL(1971)

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the ethical implications and moral rights associated with it are becoming more significant. This research looks into whether AI systems, especially those that are very advanced, deserve moral attention. The analysis focuses on important ethical concepts, including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, to assess the moral position of AI. Furthermore, it looks at different standards for moral personhood, such as awareness, independence, and the ability to feel pain. This study also explores the actual effects, such as legal systems, the role of AI in making decisions, and the possible impacts on society if AI does or does not receive moral consideration. By examining these debates, this research seeks to offer a fair perspective on the challenge of whether machines can or should be granted moral rights, as AI technology becomes more integrated into our lives. In this research, we will be using the critical analytic method for us to be able to understand the topic

Extracting oil from tight reservoir formations is notoriously difficult. These rocks have tiny, poorly connected pores and properties that vary wildly across the formation—all of which make conventional waterflooding ineffective. Water channels through easier paths, leaving most of the oil trapped. Smart Water Injection offers a different approach by adjusting the chemistry of injected water—tweaking salt content and ionic composition—to change how oil and rock interact at the molecular level. This wettability shift helps release trapped oil. I used CMG software to simulate Smart Water performance in two low-permeability reservoirs: one moderately heterogeneous (0.45 mD) and one ultra-tight and highly variable (0.28 mD). I adjusted relative permeability curves and capillary pressure functions to represent the wettability changes Smart Water causes. The results were striking. Smart Water boosted recovery by 37% in the moderate-heterogeneity case and 66% in the ultra-tight reservoir compared to conventional waterflooding. These numbers prove Smart Water can unlock significant oil volumes even in reservoirs considered extremely challenging. This study shows Smart Water is both technically sound and economically viable for tight formations. The simulation workflow developed here provides a practical screening tool for identifying good candidates without expensive upfront lab work

This study investigated the levels of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in cow offal (shaki, liver and kidney) consumed within Benin City to assess potential human health risks associated with its exposure. Samples of liver, kidney, and intestine were collected from three different abattoirs (University of Benin abattoir, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) abattoir and Ekosodin abattoir) and analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) to determine the heavy metal concentrations. Results showed cadmium levels ranging below detectable limits to 1.00 mg/kg was obtained for the duration of the sampling campaign with the highest concentration obtained in Ekosodin market and University of Benin abattoir. Also noteworthy is that cadmium was detected in 25% of all the samples collected. The concentration obtained in this study was found to exceed the Codex Alimentarius limits of 0.5 mg/kg in liver and 1.0 mg/kg in kidney. Zinc concentrations, though essential, were also found in higher than recommended amounts, suggesting contamination from feed or environmental sources. A zinc concentration range of 47 to 197 mg/kg was obtained with the highest concentration obtained in kidney sample from Ekosodin market with a concentration of 197mg/kg while the lowest concentration of 47 mg/kg was obtained in intestine sample from University of Benin Teaching Hospital abattoir. The elevated metal content reported poses potential health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly. The findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of slaughterhouse practices, feed sources, and environmental pollution. Increased public awareness and enforcement of food safety regulations are essential to minimize exposure and protect public health

Groundwater remains a vital source of potable water in Benin city, yet its quality is decreasing in most parts of Nigeria. This study assessed the effect of on-site sanitation facility proximity on the physiochemical, total and fecal coliform load of groundwater from selected boreholes in Ikpoba Hill and Sapele Road, Benin City. Water samples are collected from four boreholes located within varying distances (11.8m in Ikpoba Hill to 32m in Sapele Road) from onsite sanitation facilities. In-situ measurements of pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were performed using a multifunction water quality meter, while nitrate and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations were determined using spectrophotometric methods. The pH values ranged from 4.3±0.01 in Ikpoba Hill to 5.2±0.5 in Sapele Road, indicating slightly acidic water across all samples. EC and TDS values ranged from (19±0 in Ikpoba Hill - 133±0µS/cm in sapele road) and (9±0 in Ikpoba hill - 66±0 mg/L in Sapele Road), respectively, reflecting low mineralization. Nitrate (0.46±0.11 in Sapele Road – 0.713±0.04 mg/L in Ikpoba Hill) and ammonia-nitrogen (0.85±0.17 in Ikpoba Hill – 1.50±0.77mg/L in Sapele Road). Aside from ammonia-nitrogen, other parameters were below NESREA permissible limits and there were no total or fecal coliforms detected in the samples. The observed differences between the mean physiochemical values were not significant (p>0.05). Aside from borehole C and D, the other boreholes (A and B) were sited well above the minimum distance (15m) from the nearest sanitary facilities (septic tank). It is recommended that sensitization be conducted to enlighten intending property owners with respect to the health implications of improperly siting water sources from onsite sanitation facilities.

The security and reliability of cloud computing environments face significant threats from the escalating frequency and sophistication of Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks, which cause substantial financial losses and service disruptions while often serving as entry points for further system compromise. This research addresses this critical challenge by developing and evaluating deep learning-based detection models using two contemporary datasets: CICDDOS2019 (254,797 normal and 51,404 attack instances with 78 features) and IDS_ISCX_2012. To mitigate class imbalance, a balanced subset of 50,000 instances per class was created through random under-sampling, with optimal feature selection performed using the K-best method. Two advanced recurrent neural network architectures were implemented and compared: Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BI-LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), both enhanced with temporal attention mechanisms to focus on critical attack patterns within sequential network traffic. Experimental results demonstrated that GRU outperformed BI-LSTM across both datasets, achieving accuracies of 0.93 and 0.65 on IDS_ISCX_2012 and CICDDOS2019 respectively, compared to BI-LSTM's 0.91 and 0.61. The GRU model's simplified architecture proved more computationally efficient while effectively addressing the vanishing gradient problem common in recurrent networks. This study successfully establishes a robust framework for DDOS attack detection in cloud environments, contributing to enhanced network security through improved accuracy, reduced false positives, and practical implement ability for real-time threat mitigation

This study investigates the influence of phenol-based oxidative discoloration on the raw rubber properties of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). Three fresh latex samples namely samples A, B and C (control) were collected randomly on the Rubber field at the Rubber Research Institute, Benin City, Nigeria and processed. The discoloration was observed immediately after tapping, resulting from the oxidation of naturally occurring phenolic compounds present in the latex upon exposure to air. Evaluation of the three samples’ raw rubber properties - dirt content, volatile matter, ash content, nitrogen content, initial plasticity (P₀), plasticity after 30 minutes (P₃₀), and plasticity retention index (PRI) – were done and compared with the standard ISO procedures. Results showed that the phenol-oxidized samples A and B exhibited a slight increase in volatile matter (0.34–0.41%) and nitrogen content (0.47–0.56%), alongside a reduction in PRI values (76–82%) compared to the control but all three samples remained within the acceptable ISO acceptable range for the raw rubber properties. However, dirt (0.020.05%) and ash (0.39–0.43%) contents remained within the acceptable limits specified by ISO standards. These findings indicate that natural oxidative discoloration caused by phenolic compounds slightly reduces the oxidative stability and elasticity of raw rubber but does not significantly compromise its conformity to industrial quality standard

This study aims to investigate the impact of celebrity ambassadors as promotional strategies in brand advertising. A study of Globacom Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to identify the extent to which celebrity ambassadors influence consumer perception of Globacom, examine how celebrity endorsement affects brand loyalty among Globacom subscribers, assess whether the use of celebrity ambassadors translate into increased competitiveness for Globacom in the telecommunications industry, ascertain the challenges associated with using celebrity ambassadors in Globacom’s brand advertising. The theory adopted was the source credibility theory, while the methodology meant used was the survey research design. Copies of questionnaire were distributed to students of Theatre Arts, UNIBEN. The findings show that celebrities enhance brand visibility, appeal, and consumer trust while fostering emotional connection and long-term loyalty. The findings also showed that their presence is not sufficient to prevent subscriber churn, and the impact on competitiveness, while positive, is not universally assured. Furthermore, celebrity endorsement comes with notable challenges, including high costs, reputational risks, and the potential to overshadow the brand or product. It was concluded that celebrity endorsements significantly influence consumer perception, brand loyalty, and competitive positioning for Globacom. It was therefore recommended that management should organize regular management training programs and professional Globacom should ensure that celebrity endorsements align closely with brand values and marketing objectives to avoid overshadowing the core product or service. It was also recommended that the company must establish protocols to manage reputational risks associated with scandals or negative publicity involving celebrity ambassadors.

Employee work attitude remains a critical determinant of organizational effectiveness within local government administrations in Nigeria. This study examines the factors influencing work attitude among employees in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. Drawing on established public administration and organizational psychology literature, the research investigates how leadership style, job satisfaction, workplace environment, remuneration, organizational culture, and perceived fairness shape employee attitudes toward work. The study employed a mixed-method design, integrating quantitative survey responses from 120 staff members with qualitative interviews to enrich and deepen the contextual understanding of the findings. Findings indicate that supportive leadership, equitable compensation, and a conducive work environment significantly predict positive work attitudes, while bureaucratic constraints and inadequate career progression opportunities contribute to negative dispositions. The study concludes that targeted reforms addressing motivation, employee welfare, and administrative transparency are essential to improving work attitudes within local government structures. Recommendations for strengthening employee engagement and enhancing public service delivery are discussed

Cooking activities in residential and commercial kitchens generate significant amounts of heat, smoke, oil mist, odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and fine particulate matter, all of which contribute to poor indoor air quality and unhealthy working conditions. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants can result in respiratory irritation, thermal discomfort, and other long-term health challenges for kitchen users. In many developing regions, the high cost of imported kitchen ventilation systems and the lack of effective local alternatives make proper fume control difficult. This project was therefore aimed at the design and fabrication of a costeffective kitchen fume extractor using locally available materials to improve indoor air quality and enhance user comfort. The design of the kitchen fume extractor was based on the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and aerodynamic suction. Important design parameters considered included airflow rate, capture velocity, pressure losses, fan power requirement, structural stability, material durability, and noise control. Analytical calculations were carried out to determine the suitable hood dimensions, duct size, and axial-flow fan capacity required for effective fume extraction. Stainless steel was selected as the major construction material due to its corrosion resistance, thermal stability, ease of cleaning, and suitability for kitchen applications. The system was fabricated as a wall-mounted unit consisting of a hood, axial-flow fan, multi-stage filtration unit, and exhaust outlet, with the ability to function in both ducted and recirculatory modes. Performance evaluation was conducted under simulated cooking conditions, focusing on smoke extraction efficiency, fume clearing time, airflow uniformity, noise level, and general operational effectiveness. The results showed a significant reduction in smoke concentration and odor persistence within the kitchen environment, with stable airflow distribution and acceptable noise levels during operation. The extractor successfully removed cooking fumes within a short time and improved thermal comfort and air quality. The study concluded that an efficient and functional kitchen fume extractor can be designed and fabricated at low cost using locally available materials without compromising performance, providing a practical solution to indoor air quality control systems.

The John Harris Library at the University of Benin serves as a vital academic resource hub, yet its outdated Library Management System (LMS) significantly hinders operational efficiency and user satisfaction. The current system relies heavily on manual processes, lacks mobile accessibility, offers limited integration with university authentication systems, resulting in slow resource retrieval, user frustration, and reduced library engagement. This project addresses these challenges through the design and implementation of an enhanced web-based Library Management System designed to modernize library operations and improve the overall user experience. The proposed system leverages modern web technologies including Django REST Framework for
backend operations, React with TypeScript for a responsive frontend interface, and PostgreSQL for robust data management. Core innovations include automated cataloguing and circulation processes, an intuitive user interface with advanced search capabilities, secure role-based authentication integrated with university Single Sign-On (SSO) systems, comprehensive mobile and web accessibility across devices, and real-time analytics for data-driven decision-making. By automating routine tasks such as resource tracking, the system significantly reduces manual workload for library staff while simultaneously improving service delivery speed and accuracy. This project demonstrates that strategic application of modern software engineering principles and web technologies can effectively transform traditional library operations into dynamic, usercentric services.