Volume 13 Issue 10

Abstract: Games are becoming more frequent in educational settings, and various technologies have been established to meet the needs of designing an education as a game.  Aside from education, game-based learning is rising in popularity in various areas, including professional development and networking sites. By incorporating gaming components into the training process, educational platforms that use games will increase student engagement, motivation, and productivity. One of the most defining characteristics of game-based learning environments is their ability to produce innovative and engaging learning experiences (Gee, J. P. 2020; Hamari, J., et al 2021). Games-based learning integrates instruction with authentic gaming experiences. Scientific and popular interest in severe goal games has increased tremendously (Huang, W. H.-Y. et al. 2021; Kapp, K. M. 2020; Zhang, Y. et al. 2023). Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks, damage, or unauthorized access. With the increasing reliance on technology and the internet, the significance of cybersecurity has grown tremendously. It encompasses various measures, including: Threat Prevention, Incident Response, Data Protection, Awareness and Training and Compliance (Kshetri, N. 2021; Stallings, W., et al 2022; Kaspersky, E. 2020). Cyber security occupies a major part of society today. Cyber security educational games are a popular form of hands-on exercises that use gamification to train information security skills and enhance cyber security awareness. The objectives of the game application are to (1) create awareness of the necessity of the importance and function of cyber security such as password security, phishing awareness, identity theft, encryption, and network security among others. (2) to distinguish between the various topics of cyber security while playing the game application (3) to determine the evaluation tool to use in the assessment of the cognitive abilities of gamers. A quantitative research design was used to determine the process of the application while the Agile model is commonly used in game development due to its iterative and flexible nature. Technical Aspect which is the ISO 25010 and Game Aspect Method was used for the Evaluation with 60 respondents. The study can identify the genders of the respondents as male and female. The mechanics of the game can make the gamers use and test their knowledge about cyber security. Evaluation results of gamer respondents show the average mean of both males and females are interpreted as "Strongly Agree". This means that they strongly agree that cognitive abilities are used when playing the application. Meanwhile, evaluation results of technical respondents' average mean for both males and females are interpreted as also "Strongly Agree". This means that they strongly agree on all the technical aspects of the application. Overall, evaluation results of all respondents whether gamer or technical are interpreted as "Strongly Agree".

Abstract: A considerable advancement of automation over the decades shows automation is very much essential in every sectors especially where time is a major factor. Hence there is a huge demand for automated notification or bell system which has high degree of accuracy and low cost. The main purpose of this project is to develop a smart bell system which can be used all kinds of educational institutions. Smart school bell implement a smart way to manage class periods and breaks without use of manually operated manpower.  There is a controller machine, where each class can be set up as desired and from this machine one speaker will be installed in each class. Bell will play in every room through the speakers. The machine will be equipped with a microphone that allows the headmaster or anyone to send the message to all classes simultaneously or to any class separately. The system is made by establishing a serial interface between PIC microcontroller (PIC16F877A) and a Real Time Clock (RTC) is designed with the help of PIC 16F72 module and the LCD display units provide real time and class time separately. The software coding part is done using micro C and hardware implementation is done using the components. The main advantage of this project is due to very easy circuit operation it is easy to operate, cost effective and can be password protected to avoid unauthorized access.

Abstract: TVET offers opportunities to equip youth with industry-relevant skills, bridging the gap between education and employment. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, outdated curricula, limited access to modern equipment, and negative perceptions hinder its potential. This study assessed the effectiveness of TVET training in enhancing youth employability n Kisumu County, Kenya. Social learning theory and Human capital theory were adopted. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The study targeted a population of 20,857 consisting of 20,814 TVET students, 42 Heads of TVET institutions and 1 County Education Officer in Kisumu County Government. The sample size was 379 determined using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula. Sampling was conducted by means of disproportionate stratified random sampling. Structured questionnaires and interview guide were used to collect data. Data analytical methods were content analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics. Linear relationships between variables were determined using Pearson`s Correlation analysis method. The correlational coefficient for youth employment was=0.57 implying a moderate positive relationship between TVET training and youth employability. Government as policy-maker was recommended to institute regular reform for reviewing the existing TVET curricula in order to incorporate feedback from students and adapt to emerging dynamics of demographic dividends. The Government should increase funding, resources for TVET Institutions: The government should allocate more financial resources to TVET institutions to enhance infrastructure and support the development of industry-relevant programs and strengthen industry partnerships and collaborations between TVET institutions and industries to ensure that training programs are aligned with current labor market demands.

Abstract: This study aims to analyze the disclosure of online loan users to their partners through social penetration theory. Information technology-based money lending services are one of the innovations in the financial sector, utilizing technology to facilitate lending transactions without meeting in person. This transaction mechanism is carried out through a system provided by the Fintech Lending Organizer, either through an application or a website. Several problems arise because of the characteristics of online loans that often terrorize and intimidate people close to them without asking permission. This study is descriptive, using data collection techniques on ten pairs of online loan informants with their partners. Data analysis was carried out using interactive techniques involving interactions between data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions. Based on the social penetration analysis, five pairs of informants decided to separate/divorce, while five pairs did not divorce. The five pairs of informants who did not divorce were at stages 3 (affective exchange) and 4 (stable exchange). The five pairs who divorced were at stage 2 (exploration of affective exchange), which decreased the development of their relationship to deterioration. Couples who eventually divorce receive negative Feedback from their partners in the form of anger, annoyance, and regret. The perpetrators decide to get involved in online loans without discussing it with their partners but also have no desire to discuss it. The perpetrators' mindset, household economic problems, characteristics of online loans, and skills in communicating issues to their partners color the couple's interactions towards the end of the relationship. On the other hand, supportive Feedback, personality, and gender of the partner are factors that influence self-disclosure.

Abstract: In this study, maintenance strategies in an oil and gas production facility were optimized to minimize maintenance costs. The centrifugal pump system in Port Harcourt Refinery was selected for this study because it significantly impacts on the productivity of the refining plant. The pump system’s failure mode effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) were examined, and an optimized maintenance task was developed for the system. The exponential reliability method was employed to analyse the pump’s failure data to determine the pump systems' failure rate and reliability while reliability centred maintenance (RCM) and linear programming (LP) model were employed to optimize the pump’s maintenance strategies and the pump’s maintenance labour force respectively.  Broad-based results of the optimized maintenance strategies consisted of on-condition-directed (CD) maintenance, preventive maintenance (PreM), and Proactive maintenance (ProM) strategies to be carried out monthly. The optimized maintenance labour force result revealed that approximately three engineers and two technicians should be employed for the pump’s maintenance task with a minimum of N2, 585, 700 as cost of salaries for the labour force monthly as against the current maintenance labour force requiring fourteen engineers and thirteen technicians monthly. The results showed that the labour cost decreased from N180,000,000 per year to N31,028,400 per year (approximately 82.76% reduction) using the proposed optimized maintenance task compared to the current maintenance plan. Conclusion and recommendation were made that the maintenance optimization technique presented in this work should be adopted by the oil and gas processing and production companies in order to minimize maintenance cost.

This paper attempts to analyze the costs, return and production problems of tomato in three districts namely Gazipur, Rangpur and Cumilla in Bangladesh. It is necessary to enunciate that through purposive sampling technique, the data were collected from 225 tomato cultivators of Cumilla and Rangpur districts. Human labour, fertiliser, bamboo sticks, thread, seeds and seedlings, ploughing, irrigation, insecticides and pesticides, hormone, etc. are all necessary for the production of tomatoes. Transport expenses must be taken into account as well. Together, the aforementioned elements were taken into account to estimate the cost of tomato production. Every data set was subjected to statistical and economic analysis, with validated outcomes via a series of tables. Numerous issues affect farmers, and this study sheds insight on this situation. The findings showed that the total cost was highest in Gazipur (Tk.333,800/ha) than that of  Rangpur ( Tk. 304,600/ha) and Cumilla ( Tk.282,670/ha). Gross returns from tomato in Cumilla and Rangpur were Tk. 234,942/acre and Tk. 212,213/acre respectively. The net returns were found higher in Gazipur (Tk. 206,200/ha) than that of Rangpur (Tk. 135,400/ha) and Cumilla (Tk. 97,330/ha). Based on overall costs, the Gazipur, Rangpur and Cumilla districts' benefit cost ratios for tomato production per hectare were determined to be 1.60,1.40 and 1.30, respectively. The most notable limitations in were the high cost of inputs, the absence of storage facilities, price fluctuations, and damage from insects and diseases.

The concepts of weak or strong reduction of topologies are introduced. Closely related to these, and introduced as well, are the concepts of weak and strong base reduction of topologies. We also defined extensible topologies; and defined weak and strong base extension of topologies. We proved that there exists a topology γ, weaker than a weak topology τ, on X, which has a chain of strong reductions if one of the range spaces, say (Xα, τα) of τ, has a chain of strong reductions. It is proved that the usual topology of the set R of real numbers can be reduced in the weak sense to chains of infinite families of pairwise comparable topologies; and that the usual topology of R can neither be reduced in the normal sense nor in the strong sense. We proved that a weak topology has a chain of weaker topologies if one of its range topologies is reducible to a chain of topologies

In this paper, we carried out an in-depth study of the various roles of technology in classroom and the effects on the students’ learning. The study was conducted using descriptive survey research design. A sample of 300 teachers and students of secondary school was randomly selected from six secondary schools in Awka south Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The data for this study was collected using questionnaire titled Technology’s Role and Effect Questionnaire (TREQ) which explored the roles of technology in classroom and the effects on the students’ learning. Data was analyzed using percentages and mean scores. Result shows a good number of ways in which technology has facilitated classroom teaching and learning. It also pointed out some of the positive and negative effects of technology on students’ learning while exploring the various means of overcoming these negative effects. The study concludes that although technology can make or mar students’ learning, its positive impact supersedes its adverse effect on students’ learning and as such recommended that technology-based education should be encouraged and adopted in various schools to promote students’ learning

This study investigates the impact of cultural intelligence (CI) on organisational performance among the staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Nigeria. The research targeted all 989 staff members, with a sample size of 278, determined via Cochran's formula and selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire using a 4-point Likert scale and disseminated via Google Forms. The instrument demonstrated high validity and reliability, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.880. Multiple linear regression analysis performed with SPSS indicated that CI, especially its cognitive and metacognitive dimensions, significantly affects organisational performance, shown by an R-squared value of 0.542. Cognitive intelligence enhances problem-solving, innovation, and adaptability, while metacognitive intelligence fosters reflective practices and teaching effectiveness. The study underscores the significance of CI in diverse educational settings and recommends tailored CI training and ongoing professional development to foster an inclusive and high-performing workplace

Background: Partnership between the university and the industry is now seen as an inevitable vehicle for the modern world's knowledge-driven innovative and competitive socio-economic and technological milieu. Description: The traditional role and stereotyping of the university as only academic and the industry as profit-based is no longer sustainable in light of the emergence of a worldwide knowledge-based economy driven by world-leading research universities in symbiosis with an industrial sector that thrives on innovative knowledge exchange. Lessons learned: The world's developed economies have increasingly sustained university-industry collaborations for socio-economic growth, but the same cannot be said of West African countries, especially Nigeria. Myriads of developmental challenges currently facing Nigeria, not least of which is unemployment, especially the issue of unemployable university graduates and the depletion of the manufacturing/industrial sector. Conclusion: This paper aims to identify the developmental issues that call for the urgent need for university-industry partnership, as a socio-economic and technological development vehicle.      

The research considered the design or size of a plug flow reactor for the production of 1,000,000 tons of ethyl acetate per year from the esterification of acetic acid and ethyl alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. The PFR design models for volume, height, diameter, space time, space velocity, quantity of heat generated, quantity of heat generated per unit volume of the reactor as well as the temperature effect models were developed using the conservation principle of mass and energy at steady state operation of the reactor.  The developed models were simulated using MATLAB at initial feed and operating temperature of 299.830k and 343.15k respectively and fractional conversion variation between 0 to 0.95 at an interval of 0.05. At a maximum conversion of 0.95, the PFR size specification for volume, height, diameter, space time, space velocity, quantity of heat generated and the quantity of heat generated per unit volume of the reactor was 15.2774m3, 4.2691m, 2.1346m, 2.9956sec., 0.3338sec-1, 12821.5800j/s and 839.2536j/sm3 respectively. The effect of the operating parameters on the performance or functional parameters of the reactor are presented in profiles as shown in figure 2 to 12 and the profile behaviour or trend were in agreement with process behaviour of PFR steady state operation in various literatures. The research have shown that in order to ensure sustainability and continuous production of ethyl acetate to meet the global demand of the economic and viable product, the plug flow reactor have demonstrated a good performance characteristics as a reacting media for the esterification process especially in the energy efficiency of the process as well as the product yield.

The kernel shell of oil palm (Elaesis guineensis) was milled, calcinated and synthesized into nanoparticles (np) with a view to analyzing and ascertaining its high temperature strength. The synthesized particles were characterized to reveal their elemental composition and temperature of maximal decomposition/destruction, with the solgel method employed in the nanoparticle synthesis. The morphology of the Palm Kernel Shell Ash nanoparticles (PKSAnp) viewed from Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) revealed that the nanoparticles were solid in nature but vary in sizes with some spherical particles visible, and an average particle size found to be 39.17nm. The Electron Dispersion Spectroscope (EDS) result shows that only elements such as C, O, Si, Al, Ca, and K are present in the PKSAnp, with silicon (Si) found to be dominant. Oxides of Silicon and Aluminum (SiO2 and Al2O3) were identified as the key chemical compounds in PKSAnp from X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) investigation whereas K2O, CaO and Na2O were among the other oxides present in traces. The Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve shows a lower proportion of breakdown and a residual weight stability at temperatures above 1000oC, coinciding with the silica content in PKSAnp. This is comparable and consistent with known high temperature coating materials in previous literature.

Abstract:  The oil and gas industry plays a significant role in the release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately gauge and minimize its carbon footprint which requires the thorough measurement of emissions and the identification of the primary sources of carbon emissions. By doing so, we can then determine the most effective methods for reducing these emissions. This study aims to precisely quantify and decrease the carbon footprint associated with drilling operations. To achieve this, we evaluated the diesel and petrol consumption from an onshore drilling project in the Niger Delta and used an emissions model to assess carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a drilling rig, thus gaining a comprehensive understanding of current emission levels and the potential for reduction. The data collected included the daily fuel consumption for power generation, transportation, and handling vehicles. The CO2 emissions resulting from fuel consumption were calculated and measured to be 103.5 metric tonnes. Our analysis determined that the primary contributor to the emissions was the energy generation on the site, primarily from the generators. Additionally, it was found that the circulating system on the rig was the main source of CO2 emissions. The study underscores the necessity for long-term impact assessments of drilling fluids and new technologies, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to further decrease emissions.

Insurance Company’s cash flows are subjected to the risk of interest rate (C-3 risk). To curb the effect of this risk, Insurance companies normally adopts an interest period model that predicts the movement of the rates of interest. The most common models adopted by the Insurance Companies are the vasicek (1977) model and The Cox, Ingersoll and Ross (1985) Model. These two models are stochastic single period short-rate models; however, they exhibit different assumptions and because of this, the future values of insurance Assets and liabilities are likely to differ when these models are applied to estimate their values. Valuing of Insurance Assets and liabilities, especially in the Kenyan market is very challenging because of the tremendous fluctuations of interest rates as a result of gradual increments of the rate of inflation. In order for insurance companies to correctly value their insurance policies, they need to have a substantive Knowledge of their cash flows. The current valuation methods of insurance assets, liabilities and Surplus based on a stochastic interest rate models do not consider the possibility of occurrence of model risk, and therefore there is a possibility of either under estimating the future values of insurance assets and liabilities or over estimating. In this research paper, Geometric simulation was used to explore the effect of model risk By creating a comparison between The vacisek and the Cox, Ingersoll and Ross interest rate model. First, we evaluated the value of an insurance company’s assets and liabilities by assuming that the interest rate process is followed by the Cox, Ingersoll and Ross model and The vasicek (1977). Model risk arose by the different Values obtained for both the vacisek and the Cox, Ingersoll and Ross model. The results of the simulation showed that the cox, Ingersoll and Ross interest rate model provided a better fit of interest as compared to The Vasicek model.

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the existing literature on the impact of work engagement on job performance. One objective was to examine work engagement and job performance definitions to develop working definitions for both concepts. The primary objective was to investigate gaps using a research gap classification model. Accordingly, key studies regarding the impact of work engagement on job performance were meticulously examined through a systematic literature review with a meta-analysis, which involved investigating research gaps. The study referred to databases such as Google Scholar and ResearchGate to examine the impact of work engagement on job performance, focusing on publications from 2013 to 2023. Initially, 33 documents were referred and only 16 were left after screening as the sample. Tables and graphs were utilized to synthesize research gaps across various domains. According to the gap’s classification model, four types were investigated; empirical gap, knowledge gap, methodological gap, and population gap. This study systematically identified and classified research gaps, providing a platform for future investigations that enhance existing knowledge. Considering the limitations of the study, several directions for future research are suggested

Predicting students' academic performance is a critical task in educational institutions to identify students likely to succeed or need intervention. This study leverages data mining techniques to analyze and predict student outcomes, contributing to more informed decision-making in educational management. Using data from various academic sources, the research implements three popular data mining algorithms—Naive Bayes, Multilayer Perceptron, and C4.5 Decision Tree—to classify student success. These techniques allow the identification of patterns and dependencies in student data, providing insights that can assist educators in creating tailored interventions. The results indicate that the Naive Bayes algorithm outperforms other classifiers in terms of prediction accuracy, making it a viable tool for predicting academic performance. This research underscores the potential of data mining to enhance educational outcomes by allowing proactive responses to students' academic needs.

Abstract:  The preservation of cultural identity among refugees, migrants and minority communities poses a serious challenge in the context of increasing global travel. This essay examines several tactics meant to support social cohesiveness and integration within host nations while still protecting cultural identity. This research identifies critical elements that support the effective preservation of cultural heritage by an extensive analysis of the body of existing literature. The study highlights the value of inclusive policies, community-driven projects, and educational programs in promoting a sense of respect and belonging across various communities. It also emphasizes how important intercultural communication and cooperation are to reducing cultural differences and promoting social harmony. This study offers a sound understanding of how cultural integration and preservation can coexist, ultimately leading to more inclusive and cohesive societies, by looking at successful models and potential roadblocks. Policymakers, social workers, educators, and community leaders who are dedicated to promoting social integration and cultural variety in a global community that is becoming more interconnected will find great value in these findings.

This study investigates the use of powdered peanut shells as a sustainable alternative in cement board production. With the growing emphasis on eco-friendly construction materials, exploring alternative resources is essential. Cement boards were fabricated incorporating powdered peanut shells at varying percentages (5%, 10%, and 15% by weight) relative to the total weight of the cement mixture. The preparation involved calculating the sample volume, adjusting the mixture weight to account for the peanut shells, and setting the water-cement ratio to 0.46. The process included grinding the peanut shells, measuring all components, and thoroughly mixing them before molding. The mixtures were cured in a controlled environment to promote proper setting. The physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the resulting boards were evaluated according to ASTM standards and analyzed using SPSS. Notably, the 5% mix achieved the highest density (1.60 g/cm³) and demonstrated excellent heat resistance, while the 15% mix exhibited the greatest thickness (1.24 cm) and lowest water absorption (10.99%). The 10% mix resulted in the highest compressive (11.28 MN/m²) and tensile strengths (0.24 N/cm²). The findings suggest that incorporating powdered peanut shells significantly improves the properties of cement boards, presenting a viable and sustainable construction option. Future studies should focus on optimizing these mixtures and assessing their long-term durability.

In the transportation industry, fleet maintenance is essential for ensuring operational efficiency, reducing costs, and extending vehicle lifespan. As fleets age, maintenance challenges escalate, impacting profitability. This study focuses on developing a maintenance reliability program for the Rivers State Transport Company (RTC) to optimize fleet management and enhance financial performance. The aim of this study is to assess RTC’s maintenance activities and design a reliability-based program that minimizes costs and maximizes profits. A mixed-method survey research design was adopted, with secondary data collected from RTC’s maintenance workshop records and financial reports spanning from 2014 to 2023. The dataset includes maintenance costs, replacement costs, and income for three vehicle models (Nissan Urvan, Toyota Hiace, and Ford Transit) across multiple years. The Dynamic Recursive Programming Model was employed to analyze vehicle age, cost, and income trends, and Microsoft Excel was used for data processing. The results show a significant rise in maintenance costs as vehicles age. For example, the Nissan Urvan’s maintenance costs increased from ₦1.2 million in 2014 to ₦2.6 million in 2023, representing a 116.7% increase over 9 years. Replacement costs for the Toyota Hiace surged from ₦4 million in 2014 to ₦8.5 million in 2023. Income generated by older vehicles also declined by approximately 25%, with the Ford Transit generating ₦5.1 million in 2023 compared to ₦6.8 million in 2014 due to frequent breakdowns and reduced reliability. The analysis further revealed that replacing vehicles after 6-7 years of operation would maximize financial returns, based on the balance of maintenance and income. In conclusion, maintaining an aging fleet presents a substantial financial burden, with rising maintenance costs, diminishing income, and increasing replacement expenses. This study recommends that RTC adopt a structured vehicle replacement policy guided by the Dynamic Recursive Programming Model. Furthermore, reliability-based maintenance strategies should be implemented to reduce unnecessary expenses and improve the overall performance and profitability of the fleet.

This study aimed to determine the Physical Activity and Students Performance of grade 11 students in Physical Education Class of Baliwasan Senior High School during the school year 2022-2023. The study employed quasi-experimental research design using pre-test and post-test in physical education during the second semester period. The participants of this study were 50 Grade 11 students of GAS A and 50 GAS B students under the GAS strand. A purposive sampling technique was utilized in determining the sample of the study. The findings revealed that the performance of grade 11 students was satisfactory. The pretest for both the control and experimental group was poor. The posttest results of the control and experimental group were satisfactory. The mean gain score of the control and experimental group increased significantly. There was a significant difference in the mean gain score of the control and experimental group. There was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest results in physical education of the control and experimental group. It is highly recommended that the senior high school teachers may use the FITT intervention program and the application of CSPAP strategy approach in teaching physical education. They may also integrate the SEAT in physical education class where the students’ performance was unified in their performance task and the teacher recorded their response and outcome through rubrics.

In this study, we introduce a novel approach to the solution of a nonlinear Volterra -Fredholm integral equations by applying the Adomian decomposition method under the effect of the Abaoub- Shkheam transform. We demonstrate the existence and uniqueness of the solution in Banach space and illustrate this idea with an example.

Network security is essential for data sharing on the internet. Traditional methods such as firewalls cannot detect fragmented packets and are often outmaneuvered by increasingly sophisticated attackers, resulting in productivity losses, financial damage, and reputational harm. This study investigates the use of machine learning (ML) models in developing effective intrusion detection systems (IDS) using signature-based methods. The research leverages the UNSW-NB15 dataset and compares four ML algorithms: K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), Bayesian Network (Bayes Net), and Decision Tree (J48), with feature reduction applied using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to improve efficiency. The models were built and evaluated using the WEKA platform, with 10-fold cross-validation applied to assess accuracy, precision, recall, and F-measure. Results show that J48 significantly outperforms the other algorithms in terms of overall accuracy, while Bayes Net produces the least accurate results. These findings underscore the efficacy of J48 and Random Forest in signature-based IDS for network security.

Pension schemes and annuity providers frequently guarantee their retirement payouts until the retirees' deaths. As a result of longer life expectancies and declining rates of death in old age, trends in mortality and longevity have become evident. Academicians and actuaries have been forced to concentrate their research on mortality and longevity concerns in particular as a result of this. Instead of a provident fund, the new National Social Security Fund Act Number 45 of 2013 established a pension fund that is a requirement for every employee. Annuity service providers are exposed to the longevity risk when the scheme's participants retire. For pricing and reserving, appropriate modeling tools or projected life tables are required. In comparison to deterministic models, which were based on projected present values, stochastic models allow a variety of risk causes and components as well as pertinent effect on portfolio performance. The long term mean level of Longevity has become more uncertain exposing the annuity service providers such as assurance companies and states to the risk of uncertainty after retirement. Most industrialized countries' national security systems, pension plans, and annuity providers have revised their mortality tables to account for longevity risks due to decline mortality rates and rising life expectancy. Kenya is one of the developing nations that has seen a drop-in death rates and a rise in life expectancy recently. Since developing nations choose to take the longevity risk into account when pricing and reserving annuities because such long term mean level in mortality rates declines and increases life expectancy, particularly at retirement age, pose risks to annuity service providers and pension plans that has been pricing annuities based on mortality tables that do not take these trends into account. The stochastic aspect of mortality was ignored by earlier actuarial models used to estimate trends. The actuary will therefore likely be interested in knowing how the future mortality trend utilizing stochastic models affects annuity pricing and reserve. Demographers and actuaries have since employed a variety of stochastic methods to forecast mortality while examining a variety of stochastic model ranges. The CBD stochastic model, which was the first to take longer life expectancies into account, is now extensively used, and a number of expansions and adjustments have been suggested to stop the major characteristics of mortality intensity. The CBD model, developed by Andrew Cairn, David Blake, and Kevin Dowd, is being used in this study to fit mortality rates, forecast mortality trends, using least square method and then calculate projections for life expectancy. Regarding the longevity risk, we take into account the possibilities of computing annuity benefits by connecting the benefits to actual mortality and calculating the present value on annuities. The results of the study showed that, the CBD model can be used to forecast mortality rates where parameters estimating the CBD model are performed using the bivariate random walk (drift).

This paper examines the critical role of leadership in fostering technological innovation within cooperatives, drawing from multiple recent studies across diverse sectors. The researcher set to determine the role of cooperative leadership in driving technological innovation and to evaluate how such leadership can facilitate the development and implementation of sustainable solutions within cooperative organizations. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. To guide this study, research questions and hypothesis were formulated in line with the objectives of the study. The study was anchored on Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) Theory because of its relatedness. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The sample size of the study was 150 selected cooperative leaders, cooperative members and external stakeholders in Awka South Local Government. Data collected were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Inferential statistics such as chi-square tests was used to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that there is a 5 % significant effect between strategic Cooperative leadership and technological innovation that can foster sustainable solutions within the Cooperative organization with a critical value of 5.991. The study therefore, recommends that cooperatives can strengthen their leadership capabilities, adopt innovative technologies, and achieve sustainable growth while remaining aligned with their core values.

In this paper, we explore the uniform approximation of functions using Generalized Favard- Szász-Mirakyan -Durrmeyer operators of the max-product type with specific exponential weighted spaces. We analyze the approximation rate with an appropriate continuity modulus.

Efficient tool tracking and management are critical in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, particularly in aviation, where compliance, safety, and operational efficiency are paramount. This study evaluates the implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in tool control within Philippine MRO facilities, addressing challenges in tool retrieval, loss prevention, and accountability. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative data analysis and qualitative feedback from maintenance personnel to assess RFID’s impact on tool tracking. Data were collected on retrieval times, tool loss rates, and inventory accuracy, while interviews and surveys provided insights into user satisfaction and challenges encountered. Key findings indicate an 83% reduction in tool retrieval time, a 70% decrease in tool loss incidents, and an 85% improvement in inventory accuracy, underscoring RFID’s effectiveness in enhancing operational efficiency and compliance. Despite the benefits, challenges such as initial costs, technical issues, and the need for comprehensive training were identified. This study highlights RFID’s transformative potential in aviation maintenance, particularly for developing markets, and recommends phased implementation, ongoing training, and system updates to optimize performance. Future research should examine RFID’s long-term cost-effectiveness and adaptability in other aviation maintenance contexts.

Abstract: Induced topologies have been studied only from the standpoint of a superset down to its subset to get what we call subspace topology. Here we turn the focus around and show that subsets can induce topologies on their supersets. Also, induced topologies have so far only been constructed by collecting the intersections of open sets of a superset with a subset. Here again we extend the focus and show that a superset will always induce topologies on their subsets through other means than by taking intersections of open sets with a subset. All these warrant further research into a more extensive and comprehensive study of induced topologies; to establish how some topological properties such as compactness, separation axioms, etc. are shared or inherited in the wider context of inducement of topologies. The concept of reducible topologies has been explored and published by the authors before [1]. Here we extend the research by proving that any pairwise comparable family F of subsets of a set X generates a reducible topology τ on X, and that the chain C of reductions of τ can be constructed in such a way that card(F) = card(C).

Abstract: Social commerce has a strategic role in the sustainability of corporate brands. It has been discovered that little or no attention has been given to the cost-reduction strategy of social commerce to sustain corporate brands. Social commerce presents a three-way cost reduction (for manufacturers, members of trade, and consumers) to sustain brand performance globally. Social commerce works to reduce the cost of commercial advertising and other promotional elements. The study’s objective was to establish whether social commerce reduces the promotional cost of corporate brands and how that helps to sustain corporate brands. The study reviewed literature, with most spanning between 2010 and 2023, from the world and in both academia and industry. The study reveals that social commerce reduces the cost of managing corporate brands through brand trust and relationship building through social support and communities created on social media for brands. Social commerce has made many customers become company employees, resolving customer complaints and offering various forms of assistance to prospective and existing customers without adding cost to the company’s payroll. The study revealed again that customers now pay directly to disseminate brand messages shifting most of the communications cost to the customer. The cost of employing celebrities for product recommendation has been reduced due to both online and offline social commerce thus saving cost and increasing corporate brands profitability.