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Global Value Chains from a 3D Printing Perspective

This paper outlines the evolution of additive manufacturing technology, culminating in 3D printing, and presents a vision of how this evolution is affecting existing global value chains in production. In particular, we bring up questions about how this new technology can affect the geographic span and density of global value chains. Potentially, wider adoption of this technology has the potential to partially reverse the trend towards global specialization of production systems into elements ...

Estimation of Risk Factors Affecting Screening Outcomes of Prostate Cancer Using the Bayesian Ordinal Logistic Model

Abstract Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. Almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas. The survival rate for prostate cancer patients depends on the screening outcome, which can be either no prostate cancer, early detection, and late detection or advanced stage detection. The main objective of this study was to estimate the risk factors affecting the screening outcome of prostate cancer. With ordinal outcomes, a generalized Bayesian ordinal log...

Impact of Money Supply on Economic Growth in Nigeria: Evidence from Vector Autoregressive Model

Abstract This study examines the impact of money supply on Economic Growth in Nigeria using time series data spanning 1980-2019. Data on currency in circulation (CIC), narrow money supply (M1), broad money supply (M2) and real gross domestic product (RGDP) were collected from the online database of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and were analyzed using the unrestricted Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model. Impulse response function (IRF) and Cholesky variance decomposition (VDC) were also obt...

Prospects of applying 3-D printing to economics of remote communities: reindeer herder case

Purpose – Isolated communities face a variety of inconveniences including severe remoteness, poor roads, extreme climate conditions, resulting in the lack of security of supply chains and exorbitant prices for cargo delivery. The paper investigates the present advantages and prospects of applying 3-D printing to improve economics and everyday life of remote communities, reindeer herder case taken as an example. Design/Methodology/Approach-This study covers the use of a low-cost open-source ...

Improved storage mitigates vulnerability to food-supply shocks in smallholder agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: Millions of smallholder farmers in low-income countries are highly vulnerable to food-supply shocks, and reducing this vulnerability remains challenging in view of climatic changes. Restrictions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic produced a severe supply-side shock in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, including through frictions in agricultural markets. We use a large-scale field experiment to examine the effects of improved on farm storage on household food security dur...

Assessing the Prospects and Challenges of Online Learning in Kenyan Public Universities: A Case Study of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

Abstract The increase in the number of internet users, the demand for education, and the widespread use of electronic devices among scholars have created a potential in online learning as an alternative to traditional education. This can be linked proper planning, clear online learning policies and trained personnel to facilitate the online learning process. Recent studies point to the possibility of African public universities adopting online learning more aggressively in the future than ev...

CONTRIBUTIONS, CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN NIGERIAN ECONOMY (International Journal Publication)

Abstract Small  and medium enterprises (SMEs) are notably the engines that drive economic development.  The businesses account for almost 90% of businesses in both leading and developing economies through job creations, employment, tax provision and contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, in Nigeria, besides their critical and positive role, many SMEs face numerous challenges ranging from power shortage,  lack of capital,  poor management  skills and competencies...

FARMERS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR PRIVATE IRRIGATION SUPPLY IN NANDOM DISTRICT, GHANA

This study investigated farmers willingness to pay (WTP) for private irrigation in Nandom district, Ghana. The study randomly sampled 236 farmers and analyzed data using descriptive statistics and ordered logit regression model. Results revealed that 94.5 percent of the farmers were WTP for private irrigation services with a mean of 35.83 cedis. Farmers’ WTP is determined by income, age, farm size, engagement in an off-farm occupation, labour hours invested in farm operation, yield losses e...

Characterization of algae oil (oilgae) and its potential as biofuel in Kenya

Abstract A survey of microalgae biodiversity in three Kenyan Rift valley lakes identified high oil yielding species abundantly distributed naturally. The species were cultured in BBM and BG-11 media to obtain pure clones and lipids (oil) extracted by the Bligh and Dyer method. The peak lipid content ranged from 1.5 – 10.5% of algal biomass with Chlorella species showing the highest yields (10.5%), followed by Euglena acus (5.88), Nitzschia (3.68%), Ankistrodesmus falcatus (1.58%) and Scene...

Vibrational Circular Dichorism and Non Linear optics of Azobenzene Derivatives; A Theoretical Study

The present work reports a theoretical study on vibrational spectra and nonlinear optical properties of azobenzene derivatives. The theoretical geometrical parameters in the ground state have been investigated by density functional method using B3LYP functional and 6-311G++ (d, p) basis set. The analysis of calculated IR and VCD indicates that the binaphthyl and alkoxy side chain of azobenzenes derivatives contribute differently to spectral line shape. The out-of-phase bending and twisting of...

Edible insect value chains in Africa

Abstract: This special issue was organised in the context of the 22nd meeting of the Association of African Insect Scientists (AAIS), in Wad Medani, Sudan in 2017. The aim was to ‘support impactful research that will yield genuine edible insects products and sustain value chains that enhance food and nutritional security and support sustained livelihoods in Africa’. The issue is composed of contributions from the following countries: Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Nigeria,Mali, Burkina Faso, Ca...

A Two-stage Group Sampling Plan Based on Truncated Life Tests for an Odd Generalized Exponential Log-logistic Distribution

ABSTRACT In this article, a time truncated life test based on two-stage group acceptance sampling plan is proposed for lifetime of an item follows odd generalized exponential log-logistic distribution (OGELLD). The ability about the lot acceptance can be made in the first or second stage according to the number of failures from each group. The optimal parameters for the proposed plan are determined such that both producer’s as well as consumer’s risks are contented simultaneously for the...

Preliminary Design of an Automated White Board Cleaner

ABSTRACT The work presented in this paper is on the preliminary design and fabrication of an automated whiteboard cleaner. The objective here in is to reduce the man-power involved in cleaning white boards after use. Though the use of smart boards is increasing, many institutions in the developed and developing world still make use of white boards. The Autodesk software was used for the CAD drawing and thereafter the design analyses and fabrication were done. The auto-board was designed to be...

Application of Small Scale Wind Turbine for Distributed Electricity Supply and Irrigation Farming A Case Study of Opanda Farm Settlement in Enugu State, Nigeria

Mechanised agriculture has the potential to supply Nigeria with the export needs, it requires to diversify and close its GDP gap. This potential can be actualised if the rural agricultural farmers adopted the use of mechanised irrigation farming techniques. The wind is widespread in Nigeria and wind-powered irrigation system is a clean and decentralised alternative for providing rural communities with electricity for meeting domestic and irrigation farming power needs in a sustainable way. In...

A Review of Underlying Causes of Maternal Deaths in Benue North Central Nigeria

Abstract: Most maternal death reviews are on impact assessment rather than the underlying factors. Maternal death review that goes beyond the number has not been widely studied in Nigeria despite the high contribution of underlying factors to maternal deaths in the country. To determine the underlying causes of maternal death in the facility. This was a comprehensive facility-based maternal death review at Federal Medical Centre Makurdi from 1st January to 31st December 2012. Factors surround...


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