Archives-December 

This paper discusses the structural behaviour of latex modified ferrocement in comparison with conventional ferrocement particularly when exposed to severe environmental conditions. The development of strength, deformability and fracture properties were slightly different from conventional ferrocement. Test result indicates a significant improvement in reducing and bridging micro cracks, especially in the prepeak load region. Fracture toughness and deformability increased significantly. However, the post peak behaviour was quite similar to conventional ferrocement.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effect of ? -irradiation dose, polyvinyl alcohol content and nano-calcined clay ratios of PVA-NCC-cement mortar composite. PVA-NCC-cement mortar composite was prepared by the addition of PVA on blended cement mortar with different percentages namely 2, 4, 6 and 8% by wt. of blended cement. The fresh composites were first cured at 100% relative humidity for 24 hours and then subjected to ? -irradiation dose namely 10, 20, 30 and 50 KGy. The irradiated composites were cured in water for 28 days. Physico-mechanical properties such as compressive strength, bulk density, total porosity and water absorption were tested according to standard specifications. XRD, SEM, TGA were carried out on some selected samples to evaluate the effect of different factors on crystallinity, microstructural and thermal behaviour of the composites. Results showed that, compressive strength and bulk density of the composites increased with increasing the absorbed dose and PVA contents for certain values and then decreased while, total porosity and water absorption behave in an opposite direction. XRD, SEM, TGA confirmed these conclusions.

The present paper involves the application of chemical and photochemical homogeneous advanced oxidation processes on the decolourization of textile effluent and Methyl Orange (MO) Dye. The decolourization efficiency of various oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), fenton reagent i.e. hydrogen peroxide and hydrated ferrous sulphate (H₂O₂/Fe²⁺), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), UV/H₂O₂/Fe²⁺, Solar/H₂O₂/Fe²⁺, UV/NaClO and Solar/NaClO has been investigated. The effect of process parameters viz., oxidant dose, pH, concentration of dye and source of light (UV/Solar) for decolourization and COD reduction of dye effluent and MO has been studied. The decolourization efficiency was estimated from residual concentration spectrophotometrically. The experimental results show that the maximum decolourisation (more than 95 %) and COD reduction (40 %) of effluent occurred using combined Solar/NaClO (20 mg/L) system at pH 6 within 20 minutes. The decolourization efficiency of MO dye with H₂O₂ or UV alone was found to be negligible but more than 95% efficiency could be achieved either with UV/H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ (450 mg/L /150 mg/L) at pH 2 or Solar/NaClO (120 mg/L) at pH 6 within 30 minutes.

This paper examines the effects of macroeconomic variables like currency rate, inflation rate, real interest rate, gross domestic product and liquidity on the stock market index in Tehran Stock exchange during 1985 to 2015. Various econometric analyses such as Co-integration and Vector Error Correction Method (VECM) are employed on time series data. It finds that Iran’s stock market is positively influenced by the inflation and currency rates and negatively affected by the liquidity. On the other hand the relationship between real interest rates and stock price is positive but not significant.

The main purpose of this research is to determine the effect of job demand and job control in job design on job stress and subjective well-being. The population of the research was all the personnel of Isfahan Petrochemical Company in Iran from which 151 persons were randomly selected via simple random technique. The research method was correlational. To gather the required data, the following three instruments were used: Job Design Questionnaire of Wall, Jackson and Mullarkey (1995), Subjective Well-being Questionnaire of Mollavi (1386), and Job Stress of Eliot (1994). The obtained data were analyzed via one group MANOVA and multiple regressions. The findings were as follow: The relationships between job demand with job stress (P < 0.05) and positive affect (P < 0.01) were significant. Also, the relationships between job control with job stress (P < 0.01), subjective well-being (P < 0.01), positive affect (P < 0.01) and negative affect (P < 0.01) were significant. In the current research, employees were categorized as the Technical, Support and General staff. The results of subgroup analysis via one- way ANOVA showed that the job stress and subjective well-being of three groups have a significant difference.

The study investigated the replacement value of plantain peel meal for maize on feed intake, live weight gain and feed efficiency of a snail species (Achachatina marginata). Four diets were formulated as follows: diet 1, 30.7% maize without plantain peel; diet 2, 20.7% maize and 10% plantain peel; diet 3, 10.7% maize and 20% plantain and diet 4 ; 30.7% plantain peel without maize.48 medium size snails were randomly divided into four groups and each group was fed with one of the experimental diets for 3months . The snails were examined for performance using live weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency. The statistical analysis showed no significant difference among the treatments (experimental diets) but the result revealed that snails fed with diet 1 had the highest performance in live weight gain (5.67) and feed efficiency (0.56) while diet 4 had the least in live weight gain (4.03) and efficiency (0.41) but the greatest in feed intake (10.83).However, plantain peel is a feed ingredient that has no side effect on the snails although poorly consumed. Its inclusion in the diet should not exceed 10% based on the result of the study.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the exogenous and endogenous factors that determine the strategy of de-internationalization of SMEs in the sector of the footwear in the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara (ZMG). The proposed model explains the adoption of the strategy of de-internationalization from studies of comparative cases of SMEs in the footwear sector of the ZMG. In-depth interviews were applied to managers and staff involved during the time that the company was exporting. Analysis points out that lack of strategic planning and the instability in the foreign currency exchange rate are major factors that determine the strategy of de-internationalization in SMEs in the ZMG. Also, it is evident that the strategic imbalance during the de-internationalization strategy is not considered as a failure, but rather as an opportunity to redirect it and thus grow in the local market.

This article focuses upon the verbal voice in Kizombo (H.16h), also known in Bantu literature as verbal derivation. The voice is a grammatical category which allows speakers to elaborate strategies to connect the sets of themes roles and the grammatical relations. We discuss the extensions that decrease the valency: passive, reciprocal, reflexive, stative and the middle one. The goal is to understand and explain how Kizombo allows the opposition between the active and the passive; how reciprocal and reflexive are expressed in Kizombo by describing the participants in the event. In the grammatical theory, reciprocal and reflexive are discussed under the theory of bound anaphora, while Bantu languages studies claim that reflexivization was a process that reduces the structure of arguments and thus, deserves an independent treatment (Cf. Chomsky 1981, Nurse and Philippson 2006: 76; Mchombo 2004.:102 seq., Mchombo 2004:102 Apud Matsinde 1994) . What is the rationality of describing them together? Through description, we discuss the extensions one by one and the opposition between active and passive occurs by grammatical and semantic functions of participants. As for the reciprocal and reflexive, their extensions were distinctly well established. It was possible to see that these extensions reduces de valency.

Deterioration of mechanical components in locomotives is evident over kilometers covered. A Number of factors are responsible for this deterioration; wear out of components (Life of Components) over kilometers covered, Reaction due to dust accumulation & change of material properties due to open air weathering. Hence we design a equipment to measure the steering force of automotives.

We all have faced different learning experiences in life. Just go back a few years when you were sitting in the class, the professor or teacher teaching a subject. Suddenly he shoots up a question few hands goes up in the air and you are left wondering, why I am not able to grasp fast like them. With time the explanation you give to yourself ranges from “they being smart” to “me being not so smart”. This research paper gives an insight to a more rational reason for these differences. Which is - each person has their own learning styles and their own natural intelligences. This empirical research paper captures information based on Howard Gardner multiple intelligence questionnaire. The essence of it is as Howard believed is different individuals possess different multiple intelligence. And how these intelligences, provides the panacea by making use of this test, which can be considerably used by the HR managers while designing training program for the employees and designing the learning style of the individuals. This research paper will provide a powerful tool to be used during the employee training design.