Prediction of mechanical properties of short fiber reinforced composite fabricated by Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method using Machine Learning

The tremendous increase in the application of additive manufacturing (AM) has gained much attention in recent times due to its usability and capacity to ascribe improved mechanical properties on printed parts with no tooling. AM process with the use of FFF is becoming an integral fabrication method for producing the complex geometries and machine components with intricate parts. There is a corresponding increase in dataset derived from AM process which has ushered the use of highly computational models like machine learning (ML) and deep learning for analysis, prediction, classification, dimensional accuracy, and optimization of methods and printing properties of fabricated parts. This study explores the contribution of printing parameters, e.g., printing speed, layer height and infill density on mechanical properties of short carbon fiber samples produced using FFF technology. ML models will be used for classification of samples built with different print parameters, the models will analyze microstructural images captured under microscope as input dataset and make prediction and classification based on their microstructural attributes (bead shape). In this study, the computation ability of ML models will be used in the predictions for improved mechanical properties based off results of tensile tests conducted on FFF material samples with various printing parameters. The findings of this study provide evidence and insight that ML can be used to optimize printing performance and its applications

Recovery as a Gift of Blackness: Epistemic Justice in Community Engagement and Learning

The submission illuminates the use of Recovery Circles, a community-based practice developed in and by a San Francisco African American community, as a participatory methodology for on-site multicultural student reflection and growth

An investigation into the local production technology of burnt bricks in Nigeria

The acceptability of fundamental features of burnt clay bricks is a control course obtained during the production process. The applied knowledge and skills in production technology of burnt clay bricks were subjectively evaluated and quantified. Multi-method research approaches were adopted which included questionnaire instruments and experimental analysis. Assessing the source of knowledge and skill, the experience of labour and team capacity showed that most of the participants have been in the burnt brick production business for 6-10 years (37.3%) through the tutelage of their friends (72.9%) and participated in the groups of 4-5 people (25.4%). There was a deficiency in knowledge and skills needed for forming and firing stages for standard quality burnt clay brick but only effective in the extraction and preparation stage but deficient in shaping, drying, building the field kiln and firing the field kiln. The independent-sample t-test showed that the mean of the measured water absorption value of the locally produced burnt clay brick was statistically higher (mean ± SD = 29.51±0.58) than the minimum allowable standard water absorption value (mean ± SD = 20.00±0.0) significant at p = 0.00. A similar observation was made for compressive strength as the measured mean compressive strength value for the locally produced burnt clay brick was 3.98±0.30 N/mm² which was statistically higher than 3.5 N/mm². However, the dimensions of the burnt clay bricks were with the tolerance of approximately 5% for locally produced bricks. Considering the importance of good quality burnt clay bricks in construction local producers need a training

Heat transfer study in a convective-radiative fin with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and magnetic field using variation parameters method

In this work, a heat transfer study is carried out in a convective-radiative straight fin with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and a magnetic field using the variation of parameters method. The developed heat transfer model is used to analyze the thermal performance, establish the optimum thermal design parameters and investigate the effects of thermo-geometric parameters and non-linear thermal conductivity parameters on the thermal performance of the fin. The results obtained are compared with the results in literature and good agreements are found. The analysis can serve as basis for comparison of any other method of analysis of the problem and it also provides a platform for improvement in the design of fin in heat transfer equipment

MSME technology adoption, entrepreneurial mindset and value creation: a configurational approach

For micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) technology adoption provides a basis to accelerate their growth ambitions and to enhance their value-creation activities for disruptive and competitive purposes. However, we have a limited understanding of how MSMEs engage in new technology adoption for value-creation purposes. Integrating the determinants of technology adoption and entrepreneurial mindset—cognition and opportunity recognition—the purpose of our paper is to examine what factors determine MSME technology adoption. Set in the Danube region of Europe we focus on MSMEs in the automotive, electronics and IT sectors that are traditionally characterized by the relatively rapid uptake of high-performance computing (HPC). As a new technology, HPC combines infrastructure and applications that are highly complex and can be deployed in an array of contexts to address market-based opportunities. Employing fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, we find the potential presence of a complementary relationship between the technological, organisational, and environmental factors and the entrepreneurial mindset for technology adoption among MSMEs for value creation. We find that cognition is not a necessary condition for technology adoption and opportunity recognition is. Furthermore, we unveil that opportunity recognition combined with organisational or environmental factors can enable technology adoption among MSMEs

Opinions of Undergraduates on the Use of Electronic Examination in a Nigerian University

The study investigated opinions of university undergraduates on the use of electronic examination (e-exams). Participants were 600 undergraduates selected from six faculties in Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti using stratified random sampling technique. The strata recognised gender (Male=300, Female=300) and faculties (Arts=100, Education=100, Engineering=100, Management Sciences=100, Science=100, Social Sciences=100). Data were collected using a 25-item opinionnaire, each item rated on a four-point scale: Strongly Agree=4, Agree=3, Disagree=2 and Strongly Disagree=1, with a reliability coefficient=0.79 using Cronbach-α and analysed using means, standard deviations, t-test and one-way ANOVA, tested at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that the undergraduates favoured the use of e-exams in the university. However, there existed significant variation in opinions of males and females in favour of females while variation in opinions of undergraduates across faculties was insignificant. It was recommended that the university should embrace e-exams and extend same to degree programmes for quality examinations and valid examination results, provide adequate human and material resources for effective operations of e-exams, and prepare the undergraduates electronically to enable them gain proficiency in computer and operation of e-exams for desirable success of the system. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s1p7

The Effects of Bank Distress on The Nigerian Economy

Bank distress poses threats to financial intermediation process with serious detrimental effect on the economy. Despite all attempts made by the supervisory authorities, the problem appears to defy already established approach and the menace still continues to resurface. Hence, the need to investigate the effects of bank distress on the Nigerian economy. The cointegration and error correction mechanism were used to test the data which covers a period of thirty-one  (31) years from 1982 to 2012. The research findings revealed that the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans, and total loans and advances have significant negative effect on economic growth with p-values of 0.0240 and 0.0445 respectively. Also, total bank deposit and cash reserve ratio have significant positive effect on economic growth with p-values of 0.0020 and 0.0374 respectively. The implication of this result is that the Nigerian economy is significantly affected by bank distress. The paper suggests that careful evaluation of loan proposals should always be carried out by banks to determine the viability of the projects and the repayment of the principal sum and its interest ensured to prevent weak asset quality

A palynology and paleoenvironmental study of a section from the Amansiodo-1 well, Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria

Palynological analysis was carried out on twenty (20) ditch cutting samples from a section (1284.73–1496.57 m) of the Amansiodo-1 well, Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria with the aim of determining the age, biozone, and depositional environment of the sediments within the depth interval. The laboratory techniques of digesting sediments in hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids for silicates and carbonates removal were followed to process the samples for the recovery of palynomorphs. Fifty two (52) palynomorph specimens were recovered. An assemblage zone of Echitriporites trianguliformis Zone has been established. The section was dated to the upper Maastrichtian due to the occurrences of age diagnostic marker species such as: Cingulatisporites ornatus, Distaverrusporites simplex, Proteacidites sigalii, Dinogymnium cf auclaense, Echitriporites trianguliformis and Retidiporites magdalensis. Based on the palynomorph marine index and environmental indicator flora, the section was inferred to be deposited in marine to brackish (coastal) environments with little influence of fresh water

Health facility assessment of small and sick newborn care in low- and middle-income countries: systematic tool development and operationalisation with NEST360 and UNICEF.

BACKGROUND: Each year an estimated 2.3 million newborns die in the first 28 days of life. Most of these deaths are preventable, and high-quality neonatal care is fundamental for surviving and thriving. Service readiness is used to assess the capacity of hospitals to provide care, but current health facility assessment (HFA) tools do not fully evaluate inpatient small and sick newborn care (SSNC). METHODS: Health systems ingredients for SSNC were identified from international guidelines, notably World Health Organization (WHO), and other standards for SSNC. Existing global and national service readiness tools were identified and mapped against this ingredients list. A novel HFA tool was co-designed according to a priori considerations determined by policymakers from four African governments, including that the HFA be completed in one day and assess readiness across the health system. The tool was reviewed by > 150 global experts, and refined and operationalised in 64 hospitals in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania between September 2019 and March 2021. RESULTS: Eight hundred and sixty-six key health systems ingredients for service readiness for inpatient SSNC were identified and mapped against four global and eight national tools measuring SSNC service readiness. Tools revealed major content gaps particularly for devices and consumables, care guidelines, and facility infrastructure, with a mean of 13.2% (n = 866, range 2.2-34.4%) of ingredients included. Two tools covered 32.7% and 34.4% (n = 866) of ingredients and were used as inputs for the new HFA tool, which included ten modules organised by adapted WHO health system building blocks, including: infrastructure, pharmacy and laboratory, medical devices and supplies, biomedical technician workshop, human resources, information systems, leadership and governance, family-centred care, and infection prevention and control. This HFA tool can be conducted at a hospital by seven assessors in one day and has been used in 64 hospitals in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania. CONCLUSION: This HFA tool is available open-access to adapt for use to comprehensively measure service readiness for level-2 SSNC, including respiratory support. The resulting facility-level data enable comparable tracking for Every Newborn Action Plan coverage target four within and between countries, identifying facility and national-level health systems gaps for action

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely