Survey Report Kosovo

During April and May 2019, approximately 120 surveys were distributed to high-level individuals involved in political, economic and cultural spheres in Kosovo

Testing Higgs boson scenarios in the phenomenological NMSSM

There could be another scalar in nature quasi-degenerate with the observed one (h125). This is possible in models such as the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM). The scenario(s) with a single Higgs boson can be compared to that with multiple ones, all near 125 GeV. In order to assess the extent to which the current set of collider, cold dark matter relic density and direct detection limits are capable of discriminating these scenarios, we perform, for the first-time, global fits of a weak-scale phenomenological NMSSM with 26 free parameters using the nested sampling implementation in PolyChord, a next-generation tool for Bayesian inference. The analyses indicate that the data used shows a moderate tendency for supporting the scenario with an additional scalar much lighter than h125 with mass distribution centred below the W-boson mass. More stringent constraints are, however, needed for decisive inference regarding an additional Higgs boson with mass much less than or near 125 GeV.Comment: v3: major revisions, to appear in EPJ

Development and characterization of treated kaolin filled polypropylene/kaolin nanocomposites

This research work focused on producing modified kaolin filler in polypropylene/kaolin (PP/K) nanocomposite by melt compounding process in order to improve its mechanical and thermal properties for industrial applications. The surface treatments of micron sized Malaysian kaolin were conducted to produce nano sized kaolin by acidification of kaolin fillers with sulphuric acid and planetary milling using urea (mechanochemical milling). Testing on both surface treated kaolin were carried out with the aid of Field Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Particle Size Analyser and results of both treated kaolin were compared. However, the surface treated kaolin using acidification was unsuccessful as shown by XRD, FTIR and BET results. A successful delamination of micron sized into nano sized kaolin was achieved by mechanochemical milling. The additional bands at 3624, 3445 and 3388 cm-1 and illite phase at lower 2θ by FTIR and XRD studies respectively, indicated delamination of kaolin. Surface area increased by 400% from BET results. The PP/K nanocomposite was produced by incorporating low weight (1-7%) percentages of organically modified nanokaolin into PP by melt compounding with polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) as coupling agent. The FTIR and XRD analyses on chemical structure showed successful synthesis of PP/K nanocomposites by the vanishing of characteristic of OH bands and peaks of kaolin respectively. The tensile and impact strength, tan δ, loss modulus and melt flow index of PP/K nanocomposite decreases by 17, 27, 36, 32 and 78% respectively. Conversely, the results show that incorporation of nanokaolin clay into PP causes increase in thermal degradation (200%), crystalinity (17%), nucleation effect (17%), storage modulus (10%), surface roughness (87%), and optical (262%). Whereas, TEM of PP/K nanocomposite exhibit nanokaolin dispersion with nanoscale sizes. Therefore, the PP/K nanocomposites formulated shall be a potential candidate for manufacturing novel new materials of attraction in many sectors

Perception of Nigerian SMEs on electronic data interchange adoption

The wide adoption of electronic data interchange (EDI) by the SMEs is important for the success of the technology. A review of past EDI adoption literature indicates that past studies have focused mainly on large businesses. With the advance of technology, SMEs businesses are now able to enjoy the benefits of EDI. SMEs businesses are the backbone of the economy in Nigeria, despite these facts, there are relatively no identified studies on perception of EDI adoption among the Nigerian SMEs. A conceptual model is then proposed to address the above issues. The model may help Nigerians SMEs to achieve higher impacts on their businesses from the adoption of EDI and may also provide strategic roadmap for SMEs in other African countries. Using a technology, organization, and environment framework, this study tested a perception base model against the data collected from 204 SMEs firms in Nigeria. Four factors that were found to be significant in the SMEs EDI adoption were direct benefits, indirect benefits, financial resources, and external pressure to adopt EDI. The results of this study could provide insight into unique factors that drive EDI adoption by SMEs in Nigeria and serve as a guide to policy initiatives to the SMEs owner managers. Key words: Technology adoption, EDI technology, Nigerian SMEs

New integral transform: Shehu transform a generalization of Sumudu and Laplace transform for solving differential equations

In this paper, we introduce a Laplace-type integral transform called the Shehu transform which is a generalization of the Laplace and the Sumudu integral transforms for solving differential equations in the time domain. The proposed integral transform is successfully derived from the classical Fourier integral transform and is applied to both ordinary and partial differential equations to show its simplicity, efficiency, and the high accuracy

Exchange Rate Volatility and Export Trade in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation

The paper seeks to quantitatively assess the impact of exchange rate volatility on non oil export flows in Nigeria. Theoretically, volatility-trade link is ambiguous, although a strand of studies reported inverse link between export flow and volatility. The paper employed fundamental analysis where the flow of non oil exports from the Nigerian economy is assumed to be predicated on fundamental variables: the naira exchange rate volatility, the US dollar volatility, Nigeria’s terms of trade (TOT) and index of openness (OPN). Empirical results showed presence of unit root at level, however, the null hypothesis of nonstationarity was rejected at first difference. Cointegration results revealed that a stable long run equilibrium relationship exists between non oil exports and the fundamental variables. Using quarterly observations for twenty years, vector cointegration estimate revealed that the naira exchange rate volatility decreased non oil exports by 3.65% while the same estimate for the US dollar volatility increased export of non oil in Nigeria by 5.2% in the year 2003. The paper recommends measures that would promote greater openness of the economy and exchange rate stability in the economy