Reliability Based Design Format for High Strength Reinforced Concrete (HSRC) Beam Containing Periwinkle Shell Ash (PSA) [PDF] Onadeko A. S., Wasiu J., Ibrahim A. O. and Atunde T. I.
This study evaluated the effects of Periwinkle Shell Ash (PSA) on High Strength Reinforced Concrete (HSRC) beam with typical structural reliability design format. The periwinkle shells were obtained as an agricultural waste then ground into fine powder and charred at a control temperature (500ºC). Laboratory/experimental investigation was also carried out on the PSA and its effect on high strength concrete (HSC) within 0% to 15% replacement with cement were recorded using 64 cubes and 16 beams samples. Engineering properties such as compressive strength, water absorption test, slump test, flexural test were studied on concrete with PSA replacement from 0% to 15%. Reliability index of high strength reinforced beam was also calculated. The results indicate 2.49 as specific gravity of PSA with major chemical properties constituent (SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, P2O5, TiO2 & LOI) responsible for pozzolanic reaction during hydration. The results of compressive strength of concrete from 0% to 5% PSA replacement revealed values of a high strength concrete (51.22N/mm2- 40.11N/mm2) while 10% to 15% PSA replacement indicated conventional concrete strength (35.78N/mm2- 34.89N/mm2). Slump test indicated that concrete slump decreased with increase in PSA percentage while rate of concrete water absorption increased as percentage of PSA increase. The flexural test revealed that as the percentage replacement of PSA increases the applied load (151,75kN, 137kN, 122kN and 99.75kN) decreases and the percentage of applied load ranges from 9.72% to 34.27%. The calculated reliability index values (2.61, 3.26, 3.37 and 4.13 in bending and 3.35, 3.98, 3.97 and 3.21in shear respectively) were within allowable range for moderate consequences of structural element failure. 5% PSA replacement with cement should only be adopted in the production of high strength concrete while reliability based design should be incorporated into structural design analysis as it will reduce possibility of structural failure and increase safety.
Precision Fermentation: A Molecular Mimic for Animal Protein [PDF] T.C.U Peiris, S.P. Samarasingha, A.U.A.D Jayawardena, S.S. Ranatunga, H.Y Priyani, D.M.H.D Dissanayake, H.G.C Madushanka, S.K.S Sumuditha
The conventional animal agriculture industry faces significant challenges including
environmental degradation, ethical, and social concerns, and the growing global
demand for proteins. Precision fermentation is a cutting-edge technology, that offers a
promising approach to producing animal proteins without the need for traditional animal
husbandry. This review interprets the principle of precision fermentation, utilizing
genetically modified microorganisms to produce specific proteins by introducing target
genes, and illustrates the current applications of precision fermentation in animal
protein production. A range of meat proteins, including collagen, hemoglobin,
myoglobin, dairy proteins, such as lactalbumin, lactoglobulins, caseins, lactoferrin,
whey protein, and egg white proteins have been produced with the use of the
technology, which the review demonstrates their applications in various animal product
processing companies worldwide, through their products in meat substitutes such as
plant-based burgers, egg white proteins in processed foods; ice-cream, bakery items,
milk, cheese and dairy alternatives such as cheese, ice-cream, yogurt and frozen dairy
products, functional ingredients, flavoring agents and fat types in replacing popularly
demanded animal-based products. The review overviews their production, market
availability, functional properties, and end uses. Furthermore, the review highlights the
advantages and challenges associated and the regulatory aspect of the technology in
replacing animal proteins.
Influence of Accounting Information Systems and Managerial Decisions in Small and Medium Enterprises in Rivers State [PDF] Sagbara Barileera Victory, Brown Barisoma Maxwel and Umukoro Joyce
In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Rivers State face increasing pressure to make timely and informed decisions to remain competitive. This study explores the influence of Accounting Information Systems (AIS) on managerial decision-making within these enterprises. Drawing insights from business owners and managers across various sectors, the research investigates how the adoption and effective use of AIS enhance financial reporting, budgeting, and strategic planning processes. Findings reveal that SMEs that leverage AIS tools experience improved accuracy in decision-making, better resource management, and enhanced operational efficiency. However, challenges such as limited digital literacy, inadequate infrastructure, and high implementation costs persist. The study underscores the need for capacity-building initiatives, government support, and increased awareness to foster the adoption of AIS in the SME sector. Ultimately, empowering SMEs with reliable accounting systems not only improves managerial effectiveness but also contributes significantly to economic growth in Rivers State
Cracking The Leadership Code: The Effect of Leadership Type in Achieving Work Productivity [PDF] Melody Trixie
Indonesia’s service industry has experienced rapid growth and increasing attention from the government. Various efforts have been made to improve work productivity in this sector. This study looks at how different leadership styles can help improve work productivity. Using survey data from 120 Indonesian service workers, the research applied ordered logistic regression and marginal effect analysis to explore the impact of three leadership types: servant, transformational, and charismatic. The results show that servant and transformational leadership both have a positive effect on employee productivity. The findings also suggest that female employees tend to report higher productivity than male employees in this setting.
Factors Influencing the Adoption of e-Procurement System Among Procurement Officers in the Bureau for Public Procurement, Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria [PDF] Aboki Philip Zhino, Apuru Jonathan Iliya,Eduseh Haruna,Seth Kobina Parbie,Doris Jonah Kyado
The research survey investigated the influence of Performance Expectancy and Effort Expectancy on the adoption of the e-procurement system among procurement officers in the Bureau for Public Procurement, Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria. Two research questions were raised and three hypotheses were formulated using a quantitative research approach, involving quantitative data collection techniques. A total enumeration was used for data collection because the population was not large. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Experts in the field of library and Information Science validated the instruments used for data collection. Collected data from the questionnaire were analysed using frequency distribution, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Regression Analysis. Findings of the research questions revealed that most procurement officers are aware of the e-procurement technology and the benefits that come along with its adoption. The investigation also revealed that Performance Expectancy (PE) and Effort Expectancy (EE) have a positive influence on procurement officers behavioral intention to adopt and use e-procurement at the Bureau for Public Procurement in Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria. Performance expectancy was correlated with Behavioural intention, the test of hypotheses revealed that Performance Expectancy was not significant (2-tailed) value arrived when PE was correlated with Behavioural Intention (BI), p value was .102. But when Effort Expectancy was correlated with behavioural intention to adopt e-procurement, the p-value arrived at was 0.000. This indicated a significant positive relationship and contributed to e-procurement officers being influenced by effort expectancy, unlike performance expectancy. The study finally revealed that performance expectancy and effort expectancy significantly had a joint positive influence on behavioural intention to adopt and use e-procurement technology, F(2, 30) = 7.888; R2 = 345; P< 0.05. However, the regression indicated that only effort expectancy (β=.480, p<.05) significantly determines the behavioural intentions to use e-procurement technology among procurement officers at the Bureau for Public Procurement, Taraba State, Jalingo. Based on the findings, recommendations were offered. Keywords: Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, procurement officers, E-procurement technology, Bureau for Public Procurement, Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Enhancing Fire Protection Systems in Industrial Facilities [PDF] Meshal Mohammed Alhassoun, Salem Faleh Alajmi
This paper explores advanced strategies for enhancing fire protection systems in industrial facilities. It highlights the growing need for modernization due to increasing industrial fire risks, evaluates traditional and smart protection mechanisms, and incorporates analytical comparisons and real-world case studies. By addressing current challenges and technological opportunities, this study provides a framework for reducing fire incidents and ensuring operational safety in industrial environments.
Analyzing Hiring Trends and Patterns Across Educational Institutions: A Study of Teachers’ Appointments and Institutional Practices [PDF] Author 1 Chester Don E. Bayocot, Student, Master of Science in Information Technology, Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology (chesterdon.bayocot@deped.gov.ph) Author 2 Florence Jean B. Talirongan, Master of Science in Information
This research, Analysis of Hiring Trends and Patterns Across Education Academic Institutions: A Case of Teachers Appointments and Institution Practices, examined the appointment of teachers in DepEd Zamboanga del Sur from 2020 to 2024 using clustering algorithms to uncover hidden hiring patterns. Based on 811 teacher appointment records from the DepEd Unified Information System (UIS), the study identified key differences in hiring speed, appointment type, and district practices. Through K-Means clustering, three main school types emerged: rapid-hiring schools favoring lateral entry; normal-hiring schools prioritizing internal promotions; and non-early-hiring schools that faced high-cost appointments influenced by geographical constraints. Institutional factors such as leadership structure, operational capacity, and the adoption of Quality Learning Circles (QuaLCi) significantly influenced hiring outcomes. Geographic proximity played a crucial role, with rural schools often falling behind in the hiring process. The study also highlighted how administrative decisions, logistical challenges, and appointment structures collectively shape unique hiring behaviors, offering new insights into the strengths and weaknesses of current human resource practices. Based on these findings, the study recommends adopting differentiated hiring strategies, enhancing human resource operations at the district level, and applying data-driven planning to improve recruitment efficiency. It emphasizes the importance of clustering analysis in managing the educational workforce and advocates for further research integrating predictive modeling with qualitative data to optimize teacher deployment in the Philippines.
Design of Hybrid Mobile Backhauling using Fiber, Microwave, and Free Space Optics (FSO) [PDF] Francis Padi 1, Solomon Nunoo 2, John Kojo Annan 3,
The study presents a novel method for hybrid mobile backhaul network architecture, combining fiber, microwave, and FSO technologies through advanced theoretical and mathematical frameworks. The methodology employs multi-criteria optimization, utilizing the Shannon-Hartley theorem, to analyze theoretical capacity limits based on bandwidth and SNR. Meanwhile, models such as Rain Fade Margin Prediction with machine learning enhance connection reliability in severe weather conditions. The system also includes a Dynamic Weighted Link Selection Model, which optimizes hybrid routing based on various QoS metrics, including capacity, latency, and availability. These models provide proactive link adaptation, fault tolerance, and resource allocation through MATLAB-based simulations that include real-world atmospheric and interference data. The key findings show that adaptive modulation, dynamic routing, and real-time link switching guided by machine learning considerably increase network resilience, lowering latency and maintaining service levels above 99.999% even during environmental interruptions. The contributions include advanced theorems such as the Modified Capacity-BER Trade-off, as well as models for rain fade margin prediction, redundancy quantification, and multi-metric link selection. Overall, the findings show that this intelligent, hybrid, and scalable design overcomes the constraints of individual technologies, assures high availability, and efficiently meets the changing
Advancements in Intelligent Fire Safety Systems for Industrial Facilities [PDF] Meshal Mohammed Alhassoun, Salem Faleh Alajmi
Industrial facilities face increasingly complex fire safety challenges due to the presence of flammable materials, high‑energy equipment, and dense operational layouts. This expanded paper augments prior work with empirical data and realistic figures from authoritative sources. It examines trends in industrial/manufacturing fires, combustible dust incidents, automatic sprinkler performance, and the efficacy of emerging detection technologies. Findings support a proactive framework that integrates AI‑enabled detection, IoT‑linked suppression, and rigorous maintenance to reduce fire frequency, consequences, and downtime
Heat Transfer Calculations for a Seagoing Tug
حسابات التعادل الحراري لساحبة بحرية [PDF] Hamed Saleh Mahdi
Abstract
This research investigates the thermal equilibrium calculations for marine tugboats, emphasizing the necessity of assessing the main engine thermal properties before construction. The study details the distribution of heat derived from fuel combustion across various components, including external work and wasted heat associated with cooling water and exhaust gases. Utilizing mathematical equations, the research calculates different heat quantities, focusing on maximizing thermal efficiency. The findings reveal that the heat lost via exhaust gases is insufficient for generating the required electrical energy, with main engines rated at 3500 HP producing less than the minimum threshold of 5000 KW. Consequently, the study recommends conducting comprehensive thermal equilibrium assessments and cooling system designs prior to the initiation of construction to ensure optimal performance and thermal stability of marine engines. These calculations are vital for enhancing energy utilization and preventing thermal stress on engine components.
A Novel Herbal Ointment Containing Extracts from Natural Products for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) Formulation & Preliminary Evaluations [PDF] Dr Salib Gad
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes, often leading to infection, hospitalization, and lower limb amputation. Herbal therapies offer multi-targeted, safe, and affordable wound care alternatives. This study aims to formulate a novel ointment recipe combining Turmeric, aloe vera gel, white honey, olive oil infused with green tea, and Fusidic acid. The targeted herbal ointment was formulated with authenticated ingredients and evaluated using in vitro assays (e.g., antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory). The ointment showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa, as well as potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, indicating promising healing potential. Further investigations in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are warranted.
Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus, Vaccine Status and Associated Risk Factors among Appointed Midwives towards Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus in Gezira state–Sudan (2018) [PDF] 1 Bakheet, A.BY; 2Magda Elhadi Ahmed Yousif, 3Yassir Ali Ahmed Idris, 4 Assad Adam Abass , 5Mohammed Omer Babekir Hassan 6 Abdalmagid, M.A. 1 Senior Public Health Specialist, Gezira state, Ministry of Health 2 Professor of Community Medicine UOG. 3
ABSTRACT
Background: Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic liver disease and chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), vaccine status and associated risk factors of appointed Midwives towards prevention of hepatitis B virus in Gezira state.
Methods: A descriptive design was used in the present study. Data about prevention of about prevention of hepatitis B virus Infection using a questionnaire at selected localities for 168 midwives in Gezira State. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.
Results: The prevalence of HBV was found to be 4.2%. Only 17.9% of midwives were vaccinated against HBV. About 5.4% of the midwives were taking 3 doses. While only 4.2% of the midwives had gap between dosages according to recommended (1 month). Most of midwives 24.4% were exposed with injury twice and 14.9% were exposed one time . The majority of midwives 69.6% were clean and sterile before and after exam and delivery. Only 17.9% of the midwives were work delivery without sterilization and clean (emergency and unavaiblity). All the disinfectants tools were available. The vast majority of midwives 88.1% were clime their nails two time per week. About 35.7% of the midwives were working in surgical activities. The most types of surgical activities that midwives work were ADL 21.4%. The most of midwives 17.3% work in surgical activities during this year.
The study showed that sociodemographic characteristics such as locality, age group, education level, work as midwives before employed, time take before they employed , total experience and were not significantly affect prevalence of HBV among midwives. Cleaning and sterilize equipment was significant associated with prevalence of HBV, P=.042.
Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV among midwives was found to be low. Cleaning and sterilization of equipment were significantly influence the prevalence of HBV among midwives. It suggested that the Gezira Ministry of Health and health centers should promote awareness, implement prevention programs, provide diagnostic, treatment, and care services, enhance information generation and utilization, and strengthen the health system to increase vaccination coverage among midwives.
Key words: HBV, Vaccination status, Risk, Gezira State
Awareness and Implementation Towards Resilience of School Disaster Risk Reduction Management [PDF] Bethel Aimee A. Cueva; Dr. Conniebel C. Nistal
The increasing occurrence of natural disasters highlights the urgent need for proactive measures in schools, prompting the researcher to assess teachers' awareness and school implementation related to contextual factors. The main objective of the study was to determine the level of awareness and implementation towards resilience of School Disaster Risk Reduction Management in the Division of Cagayan de Oro City. Specifically, this aimed to: find the level of awareness in School Disaster Risk Reduction Management, assess the level of Implementation of School Disaster Risk Reduction Management, examine the teachers’ level of resilience in School Disaster Risk Reduction Management, determine the significant relationship between the teacher’s awareness, implementation and their resilience in School Disaster Reduction Management. This study used a descriptive-correlational method of research. Data were collected from two hundred (200) respondents using a stratified sampling and modified instrument. Findings revealed that teachers' awareness of disaster plans contrasts with lower scores in practical application and physical safety, leaving students potentially vulnerable during emergencies. The schools demonstrate strong preparedness through well-communicated policies, safe facilities, and robust health and hygiene practices, and indicating a confident, prepared school community. The theory resulting to this study is about the fact that the higher is the awareness and implementation of School Disaster Risk Reduction Management the higher is the resilience. It is recommended that schools should improve disaster preparedness through workshops, updated safety procedures, and facility maintenance.
Parental Involvement and Literacy Performance among Learners of Select Public Elementary Schools [PDF] Elizabeth A. Segura; Dr. Angelica Mae L. Mahistrado
Literacy is a fundamental skill essential for every learner’s academic success. However, a large number of Grade 1 learners in public schools have difficulty reaching the required reading level. Early grade learners in Manolo Fortich III District, Division of Bukidnon are low in literacy. The association between Grade 1 learner’s literacy performance and parental participation was determined in this study. The primary goal was to find out whether parental participation levels have an impact on learners' reading performance. The study specifically outlined the characteristics of the parents, evaluated their involvement in areas like communication with teachers, understanding of beginning reading,home reading practices and homework support and looked at how well the learners performed in five important literacy domains such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency and reading comprehension. The study used a documentary analysis research design involving 246 parent-respondents and their Grade 1 learners. Results showed that majority of the parent-respondents were mothers aged 31–40, college graduates and primarily spoke Binisaya at home. Parents were mostly engaged in informal work with earnings below ₱10,000 per month. Despite financial limitations, many parents showed a high level of involvement in supporting their children's literacy. Findings showed that higher parental involvement was associated with better literacy performance particularly in phonemic awareness. This study shown no significant relationship and difference between parents’ profile and learners’ literacy performance. Thus, concludes stakeholders, school heads, teachers and parents have to provide simple reading guides, conduct parent literacy orientations and promote flexible communication strategies to improve both parental involvement and learner’s reading achievement.
Keywords: literacy performance,parental involvement
GraphSense Interpretable Graph-Based Clustering with Explainable Boundaries [PDF] Dr. Benciya Abdul Jaleel
In this work we introduce GraphSense, a novel framework for graph based clustering that emphasizes interpretability and explainability. Unlike traditional graph clustering methods that yield opaque assignments, GraphSense associates each cluster membership with an explicit, human readable rule delineating its decision boundary. These rules—derived from simple features like node degree, neighbor counts, and local centrality—are expressed as logical conditions or shallow decision trees with limited depth, ensuring clarity.
GraphSense operates in two stages: first, it applies a strong base clustering method (e.g., spectral clustering or community detection) to establish an initial partitioning of nodes; next, it identifies boundary nodes whose memberships are ambiguous and learns concise decision rules explaining why each belongs to one cluster versus another. Nodes that fall well within cluster interiors remain unannotated but are confidently assigned. The result is a clustering with quality comparable to non interpretable baselines, accompanied by a compact rule set that covers a significant portion of boundary nodes with high accuracy.
Empirical evaluation on synthetic planted partition graphs and real benchmark networks (such as citation subgraphs and social media interaction graphs)—demonstrates that GraphSense achieves clustering quality metrics (NMI, modularity, conductance) on par with spectral clustering and modularity maximization, while producing concise rules that explain up to 80 % of boundary assignments with 90+ % rule accuracy. We provide theoretical justification, showing under reasonable separability conditions that simple rules suffice to approximate cluster boundaries with bounded error. GraphSense bridges the gap between performance and interpretability in graph clustering, opening avenues for more transparent analyses in social network analysis, knowledge graphs, and bioinformatics.
Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Shelf Life and Quality of Different Food Products: Systematic Review [PDF] Emmanuel Daniel Onoja, Eyiyere Peter, Onyekachi Godwin Aniekwe, Alegu Onuabuchi
Gamma irradiation is a thermal-free method of food preservation that is used continuously to enhance the microbial safety, increase shelf life of different food products, and preserve overall food quality. In this systematic review, the impacts of gamma radiation on physicochemical, sensory, nutritional and microbial properties of food are examined, especially, taking an interest in foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and spices. The full literature research was carried out with the use of databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, the studies published in the period of 2015-2025 (10 years). The studies were selected when they examined the dose of gamma radiation between 5Gy and 4 kGy and quantified alterations in quality factors or shelf-life. The initial 110 studies that were retrieved were screened and 52 were identified and included as per the PRISMA criteria and underwent qualitative synthesis. Most of the studies were reported to have successfully reduced the microbial count to negligible levels through the use of low to moderate doses of gamma irradiation (11, 5 kGy) without significant impact on sensory and nutritional quality. That shelf life has been extended between 50 and more than 300 percent in depending on the type of food and weather used. Although at the higher doses (>5 kGy) nutritional losses of some vitamins, especially those, which are not resistant to heat and radiation such as vitamin C and thiamine, were observed, the general content of macronutrients as well as the antioxidant activity remained intact. At suitable doses, textural alterations were small and only single shades and flavour changes were minimised whereas at the higher levels of irradiation, more drastic changes were found. In this review, it has been concluded that gamma irradiation as a practice up to limits internationally approved of doses is a safe and effective technology of food enhancement of shelf life without seriously affecting food characteristics that are within the acceptable consumer limits. These results endorse increased use of gamma radiation in food treatment after harvest, and in lesser-developed areas. Further studies with respect to consumer perception, dose optimum with respect to various types of food and thus combining its application with the other preservation methods should be conducted in the future.
Predicting Crop Yields Using Climate and Pesticide Data: A Machine Learning Approach [PDF] Nwanhele Udo Noble, Onwuka Chukwu
Accurate crop yield forecasting is the prediction of agricultural output per unit area before harvest. It is essential for effective agricultural planning, ensuring food security, and guiding policy decisions. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where many depend on farming, climate variability, such as changes in rainfall and temperature, poses a major threat to crop productivity. Pesticide use, though aimed at boosting yields by controlling pests, can also negatively impact crops if mismanaged. Reliable forecasting helps stakeholders prepare for supply fluctuations, optimize resource use, and reduce food insecurity. Thus, improving forecasting methods is key to sustainable agriculture in the region. This study explores the use of machine learning models to predict crop yields based on climate variables (average rainfall and temperature) and pesticide usage data across multiple African countries. Using a dataset containing crop-specific yield information along with environmental and input data, we trained and evaluated a predictive model. The Random Forest Regressor achieved an R-squared score of 0.99 and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 10,181.34, indicating high predictive performance. Scenario testing revealed that a 2°C increase in temperature could lead to a 17.14% increase in yield for certain crops, while projections for maize yield in Kenya for the year 2025 showed continued growth. The study highlights the importance of integrating data science into agricultural planning and offers a decision-support tool for stakeholders. Future work will consider satellite imagery and soil data to improve prediction accuracy.
Sur les déterminants des comportements déviants du personnel de l’Office Congolais de contrôle (OOC) en République Démocratique du Congo [PDF] Joseph BTUMBA MASUMBUKO
L’analyse des déterminants des comportements déviants du personnel de l’OCC est une problématique d’actualité, pas pour l’OCC seulement ; mais pour toutes les entreprises publiques de la République Démocratique du Congo.
L’approche quantitative (méthode statistique et technique d’échantillonnage) utilisée dans la présente analyse, nous a permis d’identifier les vrais déterminants des comportements déviants du personnel de l’OCC.
L’analyse univariée dudit comportement à l’OCC montre que sur 361 agents de l’OCC enquêtés, 228 soit 63 % ont reconnu avoir écopé une sanction suite à un comportement déviant, contre 133 soit 37 % ne l’ont pas reconnu. D’une manière générale, les comportements déviants sont fréquents dans les entreprises publiques.
L’analyse bivariée , les comportements déviants des agents de l’OCC sont liés significativement à : l’ancienneté de l’agent (X1) : certains manifeste l’orgueil et la routine ; au fait de recevoir des visiteurs ou collègues pendant les heures de services pour discuter des problèmes divers(X5) et aux absences au travail (X8) comme facteurs endogènes à l’agent ; et au retard de paiement de salaire : qui pousse certains agents à s’adonner aux extra times(X9) et au paiement tardif du salaire et à la modicité dudit salaire qui affecte l’attitude de l’agent au travail (X10) comme facteurs exogènes.
L’analyse multivariée faite par une régression logistique ( au seuil de 5%) montre que le fait de recevoir des visiteurs ou collègues pendant les heures de services pour discuter des problèmes divers , l’absence au lieu de travail (comme facteurs endogènes) et le retard de paiement de salaire, la nature de l’environnement au travail, que beaucoup d’agents jugent défavorable ( comme facteurs exogènes) , sont des facteurs qui ont des effets significatifs sur les comportements déviants des agents à l’OCC.
Ce faisant, notre hypothèse de base est confirmée, car les facteurs explicatifs des comportements déviants du personnel de l’OCC sont endogènes et exogènes.
Theoretical Approach for Manufacturing of Hybrid Basalt–Iron/Nickel Fibers & Development of a Low-Cost High-Performance Cement Formulation [PDF] Dr Salib Gad
The development of advanced construction materials requires a holistic approach that integrates both reinforcement technology and binder optimization. This research paper has two consecutive sections (A and B) that both refer to one subject: the materials used for construction, either concrete fibers or cement formulations. Section A, which explores hybrid basalt–iron/nickel fibers, provides a novel reinforcement system capable of enhancing tensile strength, toughness, and durability. Section B, which focuses on the formulation of new cement matrices, contributes to improving the binder’s chemical stability, mechanical performance, and resistance to environmental degradation. Since the effectiveness of fibers is strongly influenced by the microstructure and bonding properties of the cementitious matrix, combining these two research directions into a single framework allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of synergistic effects. Such integration not only bridges reinforcement and binder development but also offers a pathway toward designing next-generation composite concretes with superior mechanical and durability properties for structural and infrastructure applications. In Section A, Basalt fiber has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional steel fiber in concrete reinforcement due to its high tensile strength, low density, and chemical stability. However, its intrinsic brittleness and limited toughness restrict its application in structural elements subjected to dynamic loads and high-impact stresses. This paper presents a theoretical approach for the manufacturing of Hybrid Basalt–Iron/Nickel (Fe–Ni) fibers, wherein continuous basalt filaments are coated with a thin metallic shell of Fe–Ni alloy to combine the high specific strength of basalt with the ductility, toughness, and improved interfacial bonding provided by the metallic layer. The proposed process involves basalt fiber production via melt extrusion, followed by surface activation, catalytic seeding, and electroless/electroplating of Fe–Ni alloys under controlled conditions. Theoretical property analysis suggests the hybrid fibers can achieve improved pull-out resistance, higher flexural toughness in fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), and enhanced performance in impact and fatigue resistance compared with conventional basalt or steel fibers. The conceptual design offers a lightweight, corrosion-mitigated reinforcement solution with potential for precast, sprayed, and structural concrete applications. On the other hand, in Section B, for the context of reducing clinker content and CO₂ emissions in cement production while maintaining high mechanical and durability performance, this study also proposes a novel cement formulation composed of 40% clinker, 19% calcined clay, 12% limestone powder, 14% blast furnace slag, 6% basalt powder, 4% granite powder, and 5% gypsum. This blend utilizes locally available industrial by-products and mineral powders to partially replace clinker, thereby reducing production costs and environmental impact. The formulation was designed based on pozzolanic synergy between calcined clay and slag, filler effects of basalt/granite powders, and optimized particle packing. The anticipated performance is superior to conventional current used cement in terms of compressive strength, durability against sulphate and chloride ingress, and reduced heat of hydration. The proposed formulation could reduce clinker consumption by 60%, potentially lowering CO₂ emissions by over 30% per tonne of cement. This paper details the theoretical rationale for the formulation, expected mechanical and durability performance, potential environmental benefits, and guidelines for industrial-scale production