Synthesis and characterization of acrylated Parkia biglobosa medium oil alkyds

Acrylated Parkia biglobosa medium oil alkyd prepared by the reaction between an acid containing acrylic copolymer and a monoglyceride followed by the addition of polyol and dibasic acid has been investigated for improved properties. The results revealed that acid functional acrylic copolymers containing maleic anhydride as a functional co-monomer can successfully be used to modify alkyd resins yielding acrylated resins with better drying, flexibility, scratch hardness, impact resistance and chemical resistance properties. However there exist optimum levels for modification of alkyds with such copolymers beyond which certain film properties are adversely affected. KEY WORDS: Parkia biglobosa, Medium oil alkyd, Acrylated resins, Alkyd resins  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2004, 18(2), 167-174

High field 13C NMR spectroscopic analysis of the triacylglycerols of Jatropha curcas oil

Gated decoupled 13C NMR has been employed to determine the acyl composition and acyl positional distribution on the glycerol backbone in the triacylglycerols of Jatropha curcas oil. Results revealed the presence of saturated, oleic and linoleic acids in the oil. Integrals obtained from the allylic carbons were used for semiquantitative analysis of the oil and gave the percentage of total saturated, oleic and linoleic acids in the oil as 27, 41 and 32, respectively. The results obtained by 13C NMR compared favourably with those obtained by gas chromatographic analysis. Analysis of the spectra further revealed that the saturated acyl esters are randomly distributed in the a and b glyceridic positions, with oleic being approximately 60% distrbuted at a glyceridic carbons and linoleic approximately 52% distributed at b glyceridic carbon. KEY WORDS: Gated decoupled 13C NMR, Acyl composition, Acyl positional distribution, Triacylglycerols, Jatropha curcas oil  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2004, 18(1), 59-65

Influence Of Emotional Intelligence On Work-Family Role Conflict Management And Reduction In Withdrawal Intentions Of Workers In Private Organizations

This study investigated the impact of emotional intelligence on work-family role conflict management and reduction in withdrawal intentions among workers in private organizations in Nigeria. The descriptive survey was adopted for the study. A total of 321 respondents were selected using a purposive stratified sampling technique.  Three sets of questionnaires entitled ‘Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), Work-Family Role Conflict Management Scale (WFCMS) and Withdrawal Intentions Scales` (WIS) were utilized for data collection. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation and t-test statistics were utilized for data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that emotional intelligence has significant influence on work-family role conflict management. It was also found that a significant relationship does not exist between emotional intelligence and reduction in withdrawal intentions. Moreover, the findings showed that a significant relationship exists between work-family role conflict management and withdrawal intentions.  In order to possibly guarantee effective management of work-family role conflict and foster reduction in withdrawal intentions among the workforce, it is recommended that human resource training programmes that are capable of incorporating some work-oriented psychological issues, such as work-family role conflict management, employee retention strategies and emotional intelligence, should be organized for workers and managers on a continuous basis   in both service and manufacturing organizations

Managerial Effectiveness: Impact of Emotional Intelligence and Work-Family Role Conflict in Work Organizations in Nigeria.

This study investigated the impact of emotional intelligence and work-family role conflict on managerial effectiveness of managers in work organizations in Nigeria. The descriptive survey research method was adopted for the study. Instruments used for data collectionin this study are: Emotional Intelligence Scale, Work-Family Role Conflict Scale and Managerial Effectiveness Scale. Linear Regression Analysis was used to test hypotheses that were generated for the study at 0.05 alpha levels. Finding reveals that there was asignificant combined contribution of emotional intelligence and work-family role conflict to managerial effectiveness. Also, it was found that emotional intelligence significantly predicts managerial effectiveness of the managers. Also, the finding shows that there is nosignificant contribution of work-family role conflict to managerial effectiveness. Besides, the finding indicates that the role conflict experienced by the managers resulting from work-family role interface has deleterious effects on their performance effectiveness.Based on the findings of the study, the emotional intelligence of the managers needs to be considered in the selection and placement process for managerial effectiveness to be guaranteed. The managers with high emotional intelligence should be posted to highlychallenging managerial positions while the low emotional intelligence should be posted to less challenging managerial positions for their leadership effectiveness to result in goals achievement

A Conceptual Study Of Privatization Of Public Enterprises And Industrial Relations Practice In A Mixed Recessional Economy

This paper examines the effect of privatization of public enterprises on industrial relations practice in a mixed recessional economy.  This is with a view to ascertaining the economic effect of privatization on labour–management relations in Nigeria.  The qualitative approach was adopted for this study.  The paper submits that privatized public enterprises in a recessional economy does not create enabling environment for harmonious labour–management relations.  Also, it is established that though privatization policy implementation enhances efficiency and improved workers’ performance, however, retrenchment and job insecurity of the workers are always the resultant effects of any privatized public enterprises.  Therefore, it is recommended that privatization policy implementation should be normally be designed to guarantee workers’ job security, while pragmatic efforts towards sustaining the level of efficiency and productivity attained by the privatized public enterprises should always be given a priority

Ethylmethyldioxirane epoxidation of Plukenetia cononophora oil

Epoxidation of Plukenetia conophora oil by ethylmethyldioxirane has been studied. The epoxidation reaction was best accomplished using the Curci’s biphasic method employing 2-butanone as the solvent. Spectroscopic techniques (IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR) indicated complete conversion of double bonds to epoxy groups. Overall, OxoneTM can be said to be an inexpensive oxidant that is easily handled and with demonstrated utility in preparing epoxidised oils from natural triglycerides. KEY WORDS: Plukenetia conophora oil, Epoxidation, Ethylmethyldioxirane, OxoneTM  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(1), 95-102

Book Review: “The Routledge Handbook on Disengagement and Deradicalization” by Stig Jarle Hansen and Stian Lid (eds),: London and New York, Routledge, 2020 pp. 374, £152.00 (hardback) ISBN: 9781138229969

Review of "The Routledge Handbook on Disengagement and Deradicalization” (Routledge, 2020) by Stig Jarle Hansen and Stian Lid

Synthesis and characterization of poly(hydroxylalkanethiol-ether) derivatives of Plukenetia conophora oil

Biobased additives for metal working or industrial oils are desirable due to their eco-friendly nature.  In this work, 1-butanethiol, 1-decanethiol and I-octadecanethiol were employed to synthesize three useful poly(hydroxyalkanethio-ether) derivatives of Plukenetia conophora oil. The optimum experimental conditions of solvent, catalysts, time and temperature were investigated. The reactions were monitored and products confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The physico-chemical properties, polymer molecular weight and oxidative stability of the products were carried out to determine their end-use applications. Using perchloric acid as catalyst and a temperature of 500C, the reactions proceeded smoothly to the desired products after 3, 3.5 and 5hr for butylthio-ether, decylthio-ether and octadecylthio-ether derivatives of Plukenetia conophora oil respectively, while retaining the triglyceride structure of the oil. The resulting derivatives of Plukenetia conophora oil possess potentials for application in formulation of lubricants and industrial fluids. Keywords:Plukenetia conophora oil, polyhydroxylalkanethiol-ether, epoxy ring opening

Job Security, Labour-Management Relations And Perceived Workers` Productivity In Industrial Organizations: Impact Of Technological Innovation

This study investigated the influence of technological innovation on job security, labour-management relations and perceived workers’ productivity in industrial organizations in Nigeria. The descriptive ex-post-facto research method was adopted for the study. A total of 321 respondents were selected for the purpose of the study using the proportionate stratified sampling technique. Three sets of questionnaires were utilized for data collection. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation and t- test statistics were used to test hypotheses generated for the study at 0.05 alpha levels. Findings revealed that a significant relationship does not exist between technological innovation and workers` job security. The findings further revealed that technological innovation has not significantly influenced harmonious labour-management relations. It was also found that there is no significant relationship between technological innovation and perceived workers` productivity. It is recommended that a participatory management style, which could foster workers` participation at the planning and implementation stages of technological innovation, should be encouraged among the managers in order to foster workers` participation in decision-making and workers` supportiveness towards implementation of technological innovation. Moreover, skill re-engineering programmes should be organized for workers at regular intervals in order to sensitize them and foster skill acquisition and utilization towards improved labour-management relations and increased productivity