Resource Schedule of Concrete Fish Pond Construction Using Network Analysis

In the construction of building, preparation of bid, maintenance and planning of oil refinery and preparation for agricultural activities, there is a need to know the completion days of the project without delay and the earliest time and the latest time for which each activity will take. It was based on this that we decide to analyze the construction of concrete fish pond using Network Analysis through the use of Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT). Sixty-four days was arrived at for the completion of the construction using CPM while sixty-eight days with 99% probability was arrived at using PERT method. In deciding which of the method is best suitable for the construction of the fish pond, PERT serve as the best method due to the fact that it considers the Pessimistic Time (longest time possible and can be seen as usual delay) and Optimistic Time (shortest time possible if things go perfectly) as well as the probability [which is 99%] of completing the task within a specific time. The result established some useful facts for researchers in this area as well as managers of industry in carrying out their study from the feasibility stage to the other stages so as to have a good practical target towards the completion of the project as planned. Keyword: Network Analysis, Critical Path Method, Program Evaluation Review Technique, Pessimistic Time, Optimistic Time and Probability DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/57-04 Publication date:June 30th 201

Impact of Building Construction Activities on the Environment: A Case Study of Southwest, Nigeria

The environment is threatened severely by so many problems, some of which are caused by the activities of Construction Projects. The global concern to address environmental degradation caused by various developmental actions (construction projects inclusive) is the basis for calls to evaluate and assess environmental impacts of building construction projects in Nigeria. This paper deals with the effect of environment in construction work in a particular area. Surrounding environment has immense effect in construction plan, site management, costs and implementation. On the contrary, it affects the workmanship’s availability as well as material availability. Moreover, duration of a certain projects also depend on the impact of environment. Effect of climate, rainfall, humidity and temperature are the noticeable fact in the paper. This article represents the environmental effect of a particular place in south western Nigeria. Outcome of the investigation shows that the significant effect can be observed in the various ingredients of environment as well as construction project. Also, all environmental regulatory agencies and sensitization organizations should continuously sensitize the building construction public on requisite environmental management practice and sanction erring agents. Keywords:Environmental Impact, Humidity and Temperature, Construction Projects, Building Construction, Material DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-19-02 Publication date:October 31st 202

TRANSMUTED HALFNORMAL DISTRIBUTION: PROPERTIES AND APPLICATION

In this research, we generalize the Half normal distribution which is a special case of folded normal and truncated normal distributions. We provide a comprehensive description of the statistical properties of the subject distribution along with its reliability behavior. The usefulness of the transmuted Half normal distribution for modelling reliability data is illustrated. Keywords: Half normal Distribution, Hazard Rate function, Reliability function, Order Statistics and Parameter EstimationDOI: 10.7176/MTM/9-1-0

Simplified Methods of fitting the truncated Negative Binomial Distribution: A model that allows for Non users

Retailers monitor customer buying-behaviour as a measure of their stores’ success. However, summary measures such as the total buying-behaviour provides little insight about individual-level shopping behaviour. Additionally, behaviour may evolve over time, especially in a changing environment like the Internet. This research developed a useful stochastic model for analysing period to period fluctuations in sales thereby generalizing the model proposed by Goodhardt and Ehrenberg to allow for nonbuyers of the product category. So as the composition of the customer population changes (e.g., as customers mature or as large numbers of new and inexperienced Internet shoppers enter the market), the overall degree of buyer heterogeneity that each store faces may change. A systematic bias in their simple negative binomial distribution [NBD] model is demonstrated. If the proportion of nonbuyers is large, the simple model will be wrong. As a result, frequent buyers often comprise the preferred target segment. We find evidence supporting the fact that people who visit a store more frequently are more likely to buy. We also gives explicit formula and directions that allow a moderately analyst to perform his own conditional trend analysis. KEYWORDS:  Buying Behaviour, Negative Binomial Distribution,  Heterogeneity, Conditional Trend Analysis

Consumer Purchase Behaviour in a Frequently bought product Category: Investigation and measure of Brand loyalty.

Past research has predominantly relied on models without incorporating heterogeneity as part of their methodological tools. This research investigates different ways of modeling brand loyalty using a competing risk model that incorporate brand loyalty and study its time dependence. We introduce previous models by including switch-specific hazard functions, repeat purchases, marketing mix Variables, unobserved heterogeneity and mover- stage type loyalty. An empirical example based on household purchases of disposable products is provided to illustrate the modeling approach. Results indicate that ignoring heterogeneity will lead to biased inferences concerning time dependence of brand loyalty. Keywords: Heterogeneity, Mover-Stayer loyalty, Hazard function, and Marketing mi

Survey Error: It’s Implication on Research and Possible Remedies

This paper identifies and describes the primary sources of survey error in mail surveys and some methods typically used to assess and quantify some of these sources of error. Four sources of survey error- sampling error, non coverage error, non-response error and measurement error were discussed. Descriptions of how each of these sources of error occurs in mail surveys are provided. The paper summarizes ways of reducing these errors, if they cannot be totally avoided. Keyword: survey error, sampling error, non-coverage error, non-response error, measurement error, true score model

Moisture Sorption Characteristics of Dehydrated in-shell African Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum)

Moisture sorption isotherms are useful thermodynamic tools for determining water interactions within food systems and providing information that can assist in optimizing food processing operations such as drying, mixing, packaging and storage, as well as to maximize retention of quality parameters such as colour, aroma, texture, and nutrient. Moisture sorption isotherm characteristics of African walnut were evaluated at three different temperatures (28, 33 and 38°C) and relative humidity range of 11.20 - 97.00 % using gravimetric method; five mathematical models (GAB, BET, Peleg, Smith and Ferro Fontan) were fitted into the experimental data. Sorption isotherms of the dehydrated walnut gave type II (S-shaped) isotherms according to BET classification. Temperature had significant effect on the equilibrium moisture content (EMC). A nonlinear regression analysis method was used to evaluate the constants of sorption models. The models were evaluated statistically by calculating coefficient of determination (R2), the mean relative percentage error (P) and the reduced chi-square (λ2). The BET model gave the best fit for the obtained data among the tested models with R2 value of 0.9892. Calculated monolayer moisture (Mo) content from BET ranged from 5.018 to 7.922% db for adsorption and 9.842 to 10.143% db for desorption respectively

Phyto-extraction ability of Digitaria exilis (Fonio) to heavy metals

Among the different contaminants in the environment, heavy metals are unique due to the fact that they cannot be broken down to non-toxic forms. The research was conducted to determine the remediation potential of Digitaria exilis and to identify the varieties that can tolerate heavy metals contamination. Soil was collected in an Automobile mechanic workshop, Government Reserved Area (GRA) Ado-Ekiti. Five kilograms (5 kg) of soils collected was air dried, sieved and filled into plastic buckets. The experiment was a completely randomized designed with three replicates. Three different accessions of Digitaria exilis namely; Jakah D Iburua (JAK), Dinat D Iburua (DID) and Jiw D Iburau (JIW) were planted. Soils were watered till field moisture capacity. Plant height was determined every two weeks after planting. Soil analysis was carried out to determine the physical and chemical properties before and after the experiment. Heavy metals including Cd, Fe, Zn, Pb, As and Cu were determined in the plant roots and shoots using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Accession JAK Bio-accumulated heavy-metals in their root than shoot, consequently, significant high plant height was recorded. However, shoot of accession JAK accumulated 22 % Pb, 46.78% Cu and 37.5% Cd and 20.3% Zn than others whereas accession DID accumulated As than accession JAK. Therefore, accession JAK demonstrated highest phyto-extraction of heavy-metals potentials at the root. Variety JIW has the lowest plant height, root and shoots heavy metals accumulation. Although heavy metals contaminated soil affected the growth of D. exilis, nevertheless accession JAK has the highest productivity under this condition and can be further recommended in phyto-extraction of heavy-metals in polluted sites.Keywords: Phyto-extraction, Digitaria exilis and Heavy-metal

Monetary Policy and Commercial Banks’ Performance in Nigeria

The study was carried out to examine the impact of monetary policy on commercial banks’ performance in Nigeria in a micro-panel analysis. Interest rate and money supply were used as proxies for monetary policy, while profit before tax (PBT) was used to represent commercial banks’ performance. Pooled regression, Fixed effect regression, and random effect regression were all carried out in the analysis. However, Hausman test revealed that fixed effect regression is the most appropriate. The results show that there is a positive relationship between banks’ profits and monetary policies as proxied by money supply and interest rate. However, interest rate was not statistically significant at 1% and 5% levels. This study therefore recommends that interest rate policy should be looked into by the monetary authority in a way that is friendly to loan advancement in the country. Key words: Monetary Policy, Fixed effect, Hausman test, Banks’ Profits, Nigeri

Phytoremediation and Agricultural Productivity – A mini review

The productivity of Agricultural land has reduced drastically particularly in highly industrialized and oil producing Countries as a result of incessant discharge of toxic compounds from many human activities into the environment. Plants are described as effective organisms for remediating polluted environment mainly due to their exceptional biological features. Some of the popular, modern and commercialized processes that have been used over the years in decontaminating polluted sites are not eco-friendly and are expensive. This is why more emphasis is laid on less-expensive and eco-friendly technique which uses green plants called phytoremediation. This review described phytoextraction, phytostabilization, rhizofiltration, phytodegradation and phytovolatilization as various techniques of phytoremediation with examples of plants that are used for this purpose. It also clearly describes healthy soil as promoter of crops yield and improving the lively hood of man and other organisms in the ecosystem