Lived experiences of everyday financialization: A layered performativity approach

To incentivise active engagement with investments and the development of a diversified asset portfolio for retirement, the government has introduced subsidized, tax-efficient financial products. Drawing on the narratives of 60 UK individuals, this paper reveals the unintended outcomes of financial products being employed as governmental technology. Whereas performativity studies have explored how institutional changes, discourses and devices impact financial practices, they concentrate on devices employed within institutions such as calculative tools, models and rankings rather than everyday financial products and their accompanying constraints. This study responds to this gap by centring the characteristics of financial products within a layered performativity framework and incorporating inequalities inherent in a capitalist welfare state. By unravelling the interaction between the characteristics of financial products and income and work constraints, this paper extends understandings of overflows within a performativity framework. Government-supported financial products inadvertently construct the conditions for passive financial practices, being utilized as savings tools instead of as a stepping stone for active engagement with investments. Yet, these mis- or backfires of financial products nevertheless conform to norms of self-reliance, showcasing how seemingly contrasting elements of performativity can be present at the same time

Development and Characterization of E-Glass Particulate Reinforced Epoxy Composite for Automobile Application

The structure and mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with E-glass particles have been evaluated to assess the possibility of using the composite as a new material for car bumper fabrication. Epoxy resin of the type LY556 reinforced with 5 – 25% of E-glass particles added at 5% intervals was investigated. The fabrication of E-glass particle reinforced epoxy composite was successful and a prototype car bumper was made. The newly developed E-Glass particles/epoxy composites were characterized for their mechanical and structural properties using Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Tensile, Flexural, and Impact tests. The results showed that 20 wt. % glass particle addition gave the ultimate mechanical properties with tensile and flexural strengths of 154.5 and 181.55 MPa respectively. SEM morphology had also shown good adhesion between fibers and polymer matrix up to 20 wt. % glass particle addition with minimal segregation of reinforcement glass particles. Thermal stability of the composite was not impaired going by a stable degradation temperature (Td) after E-glass particles addition. A prototype bumper was fabricated from epoxy-15 wt% E glass particle composite possessing peak impact energy

Development and Characterization of E-Glass Particulate Reinforced Epoxy Composite for Automobile Application

The structure and mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with E-glass particles have been evaluated to assess the possibility of using the composite as a new material for car bumper fabrication. Epoxy resin of the type LY556 reinforced with 5 – 25% of E-glass particles added at 5% intervals was investigated. The fabrication of E-glass particle reinforced epoxy composite was successful and a prototype car bumper was made. The newly developed E-Glass particles/epoxy composites were characterized for their mechanical and structural properties using Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Tensile, Flexural, and Impact tests. The results showed that 20 wt. % glass particle addition gave the ultimate mechanical properties with tensile and flexural strengths of 154.5 and 181.55 MPa respectively. SEM morphology had also shown good adhesion between fibers and polymer matrix up to 20 wt. % glass particle addition with minimal segregation of reinforcement glass particles. Thermal stability of the composite was not impaired going by a stable degradation temperature (Td) after E-glass particles addition. A prototype bumper was fabricated from epoxy-15 wt% E glass particle composite possessing peak impact energy

'Locked in the Rat Race': Variegated financial subjectivities in the United Kingdom

In the past four decades, the UK welfare state has been continuously reduced while asset ownership has gained in importance. Rather than relying on publicly funded welfare when not working, individuals are expected to mitigate future risks such as ill health, unemployment or old-age poverty through accumulating assets. Previous research employing a Foucauldian governmentality framework has explored how these norms of asset accumulation come into being through institutional changes and discourses. Documenting the narratives and practices of 60 UK individuals and bringing in an understanding of resistance being immanent in power technologies, the author sets out two key contributions to the everyday financialisation literature. First, this paper is the first study to conceptualise differential financial discourses and practices as distinct subject positions within the realms of financialisation. Due to feeling ‘trapped’ in having to provide financial security themselves, governable subjects amend asset norms to their own needs. Five subject positions emerged from the complex interplay between norms of conduct and counter-conduct. Second, these variegated financial subjectivities and practices are, it is argued, not only deviating from a theorised investor subject but are also necessary for everyday financialisation to take place. Counter-conduct helps to smoothen ambiguities inherent in norms of conduct, enabling asset accumulation and reinforcing a welfare system based on individual responsibility

Assessment of Interpersonal Communication Skills for Provision of Reference Services in Academic Libraries, Kogi State, Nigeria: A Study of Tertiary Institutions in Kogi State, Nigeria

The study dwells on the assessment of interpersonal communication skills for the provision of reference services in academic libraries in Kogi State, Nigeria. The study covered eight tertiary institutions in the State. Five research questions in line with the objective of the study were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consists of all professional and para-professional librarians in tertiary Institutions in Kogi State. However, a simple random sampling technique was used in selecting fifteen (15) library personnel each from the eight (8) tertiary institutions in Kogi state to make a total of 120 respondents for the study. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection and data collected from the field was analyzed using descriptive statistics of simple percentage, frequency count, and mean, which was further presented in pie chat and histogram. The result of the findings revealed that academic library personnel in Kogi State possess interpersonal communication skills to a great extent and these skills are quite effective in reference and information service delivery. The study recommended that academic libraries in Kogi State should be proactive in enhancing various reference services so as to be more committed to assisting the users in satisfying their needs. Furthermore, reference librarians and other library personnel should strive to possess various forms of verbal, and non-verbal interpersonal communication skills in order to be able to serve their users with the right information, at the right time and to enhance high patronage

The gendered construction of risk in asset accumulation for retirement

This work contributes to the political economy literature by elucidating gendered socio-cultural practices germane to everyday financialisation. The financialisation of retirement provision in the UK expects individuals to negotiate risk and reward across diverse investments. Existing quantitative research highlights gender disparities in terms of who saves and how much, often interpreted as inherent behavioural traits which cast female behaviour as irrational. Yet, this ignores the dominance of masculine norms in shaping financial capitalism and the impact of gender-normative roles on everyday behaviours. Building on insights feminist political economy, this paper examines how constructions of gender, meaning socialised gender roles and norms, shape the ways men and women deal with financial risk when accumulating assets for later life. Drawing on 105 semi-structured interviews, we find that men and women understand and respond to risk in different and contradictory ways based on constructions of gender. These distinct approaches lead to divergent investment strategies: men tend to align with the gendered role of the risk-seeking investor, while women tend to feel alienated by models of investment which do not appear to fit feminine norms. This disparity compounds the effect of structural inequalities with implications for long-term welfare under financialisation

Effect of Manganese Additions and Wear Parameter on the Tribological Behaviour of NFGrey (8) Cast Iron

The effect of manganese and wear parameter on the abrasive wear behaviour of NFGREY8 cast iron composition under dry lubrication conditions was investigated. The wear parameters studied are sliding speed, applied load, time and percentage of ferro-manganese additions. The experimental data were taken in a controlled way. Scanning electron microscope was used to examine the morphology of the samples. The results from linear regression equation and analysis of variances (ANOVA) shows that manganese additions, load and speed variable are more pronounced on the wear behaviour of the NFGrey (8) cast iron. The result showed that the additions of the 75 % ferro manganese grade decreases the carbon equivalent CE and fortify the matrix with the formation of tough (FeMn)3C inter-metallic leading to increased wear resistance of the examined composition

Ball Milling Synthesis of Al (1050) Particles: Morphological Study and Particle Size Determination

The milling characteristics of Al alloy containing 0.1% carbonised coconut shell was investigated. Milling duration up to 40 hours was adopted. Ball milling was carried out at 195 rpm of vial rotation and 8.5 charge ratios. Scanning electron microscope analysis was carried out before and after milling to study effect of ball milling on morphology and size of Al (1050) particles. Results revealed that a minimum particle size of 22.6µm was achieved. The synthesised Al (1050) particles can serve as initial powders for the synthesis of their nanoparticles and microfillers in polymer for polymer composite production for wear resistant and other engineering applications. Keywords: Al (1050), Milling, Particle, Morphology, Size

Effects of Silica Ceramic Particle Sizes on the Properties of Recycled Polyethylene Composites

ABSTRACTParticulate filled polymeric composites are becoming attractive because of their wide applications and lower production cost. To evaluate the possibility of using waste silica based ceramic materials as reinforcing filler in recycled polyethylene (PE) composite, the effect of ceramic (PC) particle sizes on the mechanical, wear and thermal behaviours of polyethylene (PE) composites were investigated at (2wt% filler) and grain sizes (40µm-150µm). The wear behaviour was characterized using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression to determine the main and interactive effects of the process parameters such as speed, load and time on the wear behaviour of the fabricated PE-PC composites. Test results show that the decreasing the ceramic particles 150µm-40µm improved the mechanical, wear and thermal properties of the recycled polyethylene (PE) composites. Factorial design of the experiment can be successfully employed to describe the wear behavior of the samples and developed linear equation for predicting wear rate with in selected experimental conditions