Performance Studies of Natural Rubber/Organomodified Kaolin Vulcanizates Developed for Tire Sidewall Applications

This study aims at evaluating the performance of Natural Rubber/organomodified kaolin vulcanizates to ascertain its suitability for tire sidewall applications. The cure characteristics, filler dispersion, tensile and tear properties and De-Mattia flex fatigue characteristics of natural rubber (NR) filled with 2-10 phr of Rubber Seed Oil (RSO), and Tea Seed Oil (TSO) modified kaolin developed specifically for tire sidewall applications were assessed. The NR compounds containing RSO and TSO modified kaolin showed lower optimum cure time (t90 at 150°C) as against that containing the same dosage of unmodified kaolin. The results show significant increases in tensile modulus, tensile strength and tear strength for the NR vulcanizates containing the organomodified kaolins, compared to vulcanizates containing unmodified kaolin. TSO modified kaolin vulcanizates at 6phr showed better resistance to crack initiation and flex fatigue failure. The SEM and AFM micrographs of the vulcanizates containing organomodified kaolins also showed an excellent uniform dispersion of the filler particles in the NR matrix. The results obtained for Natural Rubber/Tea Seed Oil modified kaolin vulcanizates at 10phr shows a short optimum cure time, high maximum torque, better tear strength, excellent resistance to crack initiation and flex fatigue behaviour. These indicate that the Natural Rubber/Tea Seed Oil modified kaolin vulcanizates are preferred materials for tire sidewall applications

Effect of turning parameters on metal removal and tool wear rates of AISI 1018 low carbon steel

The quality of machined parts and tooling costs are major challenges encountered during the turning process. Therefore, optimum machining parameters suitable for turning operations must be selected in other to obtain the desired quality of the finished product at reduced machining time and cost. The present study was carried out on AISI 1018 low carbon steel during turning operation to reduce tooling costs as a result of tool wear and achieve optimum metal removal rate. Taguchi technique was employed using the L9 orthogonal array and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to investigate the effect of the turning parameters on Metal Removal Rate (MRR) and Tool Wear Rate (TWR). The LARGER THE BETTER signal to noise (S/N) ratio based on the Taguchi technique was applied for MRR while the LOWER THE BETTER S/N ratio was applied for TWR. The results revealed that depth of cut is the most significant process parameter for MRR with a percentage contribution of the cutting speed and the feed rate are the most significant process parameters for TWR with percentage contributions of and respectively. The study concludes that AISI 1018 low carbon steel has a maximum MRR of and a minimum TWR of . http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i4.20Orthogonal array, Robust design, Tool wear rate, Metal removal rat

Data-driven Customer Behaviour Model Generation for Agent Based Exploration

Customer retention is a critical concern for most mobile network operators because of the increasing competition in the mobile services sector. This concern has driven companies to exploit data as an avenue to better understand customer needs. Data mining techniques such as clustering and classification have been adopted to understand customer retention in the mobile services industry. However, the effectiveness of these techniques is debatable due to the increasing complexity of the mobile market itself. This study proposes an application of Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) as a novel approach to understanding customer retention. A dataset provided by a mobile network operator is utilized to automate decision trees and agent based models. The most popular churn modeling techniques were adopted in order to automate the development of models, from decision trees, and subsequently explore customer churn scenarios. ABMS is used to understand the behavior of customers and detect possible reasons why customers churned or stayed with their respective mobile network operators. Data analysis is able to identify that location and choice of mobile devices were determinants for the decision to churn or stay with their mobile network operator - with word of mouth as an important factor. Importantly, agent based simulation is able to explore further the determinants in the wider marketplace

Effective Preaching of the word of God: Concrete Considerations

Acts 2,5-6 talks of the crowd that gathered in Jerusalem for the annual Pentecost feast. It describes them as ‘devout men from nations under heaven’. This description could be an exaggeration, but it is a literary way of telling the readers that uncountable number of people went for the feast. The presentation posits species from every continent as present. They did not visit Jerusalem to listen to Peter’s preaching about the resurrected Christ. Their visit was an annual pilgrimage for Jewish agricultural feast called ‘Pentecost’. Undoubtedly, they were not interested in stories about Christ who as at the period was regarded as an insurrectionist, a brigand and a robber who died infamously. Truly, perception of an unusual sound necessitated their gathering together but staying on to listen to Peter talk about an infamous man and the historical conversion of about three thousand (3000) men (Acts 2,41) invites a sober reflection on the method used by Peter to pass on his message. If the early Christians were able to move the world at a time when Information Technology and pedagogical methods were not so much in vogue, then the method they adopted is worth being studied. The contemporary era is witnessing the decadence of mainline Churches – Catholicism, Anglicanism, Methodist, Presbyterianism, Lutheranism etc. On the other hand, Pentecostalism and Easter Transcendental Meditation have attractions on a geometrical increase. Evidently therefore, the problem is not with man’s incredulity or nonacceptance of Christocentric method. The submission of this paper is that the problem lies with our method of presentation. Therefore, this work confines itself in the main to an examination of what used to be the case, a look into the present and a suggestion on the way forward

Sensing gestures for business intelligence

The combination of sensor data with analytic techniques is growing in popularity for both practitioners and researchers as an Internet of Things (IoT) offers new opportunities and insights. Organisations are trying to use sensor technologies to derive intelligence and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Obtaining data from sensors might not pose too much of a problem, however subsequent utilisation in meeting an organisation’s decision making can be more problematic. Understanding how sensor data analytics can be undertaken is the first step to deriving business intelligence from front line retail environments. This paper explores the use of the Microsoft Kinect sensor to provide intelligence by identifying and sensing gestures to better understand customer behaviour in the retail space

Effective Reward Management and Employee Performance in Civil Service (A Study of Anambra State Civil Service)

This study examined the impact of effective reward system as a tool for employee performance in civil service using Anambra state civil service as case study. As specific objectives, the study examined the relationship between employee performance and pay reward, employee recognition, conducive work environment and staff development. As a survey design, an item structured instrument developed by the researcher to reflect such options as strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree and undecided popularly referred to as the modified five (5) points Likert Scale, was used to elicit information from the   respondents. Out of the 1481 senior civil servants identified through the nominal roll of various ministries at the state secretariat, Awka Anambra state, 315 was estimated as the sample size. Statistical tools considered most appropriate for analyzing the data generated from the fieldwork were Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Findings from the study shows that pay reward and some non-financial rewards of employee recognition, conducive work environment and staff development are positively and significantly related to employee performance in civil service. The study recommended among others that the government at all levels should endeavour to provide employees with adequate pay incentives to facilitate the achievement of desired high level productivity in the service as obtains in the private sector of the economy. Keywords: Reward Management, Employee Performance, Non-Financial, Staff Development, Work Environmen

Statistical prediction of the drying behavior of blanched ginger rhizomes

ARS-680 environmental chamber was employed in this study to determine the drying behavior of sliced ginger rhizomes. Blanched and unblanched treated ginger rhizomes were considered at drying temperature of 40 °C for a period of 2 – 24 h. Linear and non-linear regression analyses were employed to establish the correlation that exits between the drying time and the moisture ratio. Correlation analysis, root mean square error (RMSE) and standard error of estimate (SEE) analysis were chosen in selecting the best thin layer drying models. Higher values of determination coefficient (R2) show goodness of fit and lower values of SEE implies better correlation; and RMSE values were also utilized in determining the goodness of fit. The drying data of the variously treated ginger samples were fitted into the twelve thin layer drying models and the data obtained were fitted by multiple non-linear regression technique. Blanched treated sample exhibited a better drying behavior losing about 82.87 % moisture content compared with unbleached sample that lost about 62.03 % of moisture content. Two-term exponential drying model proved to be the most suitable model for predicting the drying behavior of ginger rhizome. The model exhibited high R2 values of 0.9349-0.9792 (which are close to unity) for both blanched and unbleached samples. Also, it recorded relatively low values of RMSE and SEE (3.6865 - 2.0896 and 3.6564-2.7486 respectively) for both treatments. &nbsp

Process Flexibility and the Productivity of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

Changes emerging from the environment offer both challenges and opportunities to business organisations and also keep organizations embedded in less predictable environments. Acknowledging the increasing need for flexibility in organizational processes, this study examined the influence of process flexibility on the productivity of selected deposit money banks in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, variables were operationalized and models were specified. The study adopted descriptive research design. Data were gathered from primary source using structured questionnaire, and analyzed using Principal Components Analysis and Multiple Regression Technique. Results of the analysis showed all the indicators of process flexibility adopted except adaptability to be statistically significant and that process flexibility has positive significant influence on organizational performance. Based on the findings, the study recommended that managers should create organizational forms that will help organizations to exploit their current capabilities and explore future possibilities by adopting processes that can be improved easily and at minimal cost to the organization, and adopt systems that will allow for easy change in business methods. Keywords: Business process, Environment, Flexibility, and Productivit

Trade- GDP Nexus in Nigeria: An Application of Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model

This study examined Trade-GDP nexus in Nigeria using the autoregressive distributed lag(ARDL) approach. The study covers the periods 1970-2012, employing data sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin of various issues. Econometric evidence revealed that trade openness; foreign direct investment and exchange rate were some of the key factors that explained the trade-GDP nexus in Nigeria. In addition, the estimated ECM result revealed 31% speed of adjustment between the dependent variable (RGDP) and independent variables (TOP, FDI and EXR). Findings from the study also showed that the endogenously determined variables of (TOP, FDI & EXR) are jointly significant in explaining changes in Nigeria’s economic growth. However, trade openness and exchange rate management influences economic growth negatively because of unfavourable terms-of-trade between Nigeria and her trading partners and the continuous depletion of the external reserves. We therefore recommend among others, expansion of the economy’s export base by complete diversification of the economy away from the oil enclave as well as effective exchange rate management in Nigeria by the monetary authorities. Keywords: Trade, economic growth, ARDL co -integration. JEL Classification: F43, F14, C3

Impact of Health Sector Reform on Nigeria’s Economic Development: An Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model Approach

This study investigates the impact of health sector reforms on Nigeria’s economic growth from 1970-2013. The method of analysis is the Bound F-Test approach. The result shows that there is a long-run co-integrating relationship existing among the variables of GDP per capita, improved sanitation facilities (LISF), mortality rate under 5 years (LMTU 5) and Out-of-pocket expenditure (LOPE). It also shows that 58% of the total variation in GDP per capita is accounted for by the changes in LHIV/AID, LISF, LMTUS and LOPE. We therefore, recommend a universal policy of healthcare system that will guarantee the populaces’ access to healthcare services. Similarly, there is need to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses, healthcare beneficiaries incur in Nigeria