This paper deals with the inhibition effect of oxalic acid on the corrosion of copper in concentrated propionic and dilute citric acid solutions. The copper samples (in acid…
Abstract
This paper deals with the inhibition effect of oxalic acid on the corrosion of copper in concentrated propionic and dilute citric acid solutions. The copper samples (in acid solutions) were left in a water bath for a period of six days and were examined on a daily basis. The solutions were continuously fed with oxygen (air) and the temperature of the solutions was always maintained at 30°C. The oxalic acid in all three cases behaved like an inhibitor under the experimental conditions. The mass of the copper samples increased due to the formation of oxide layers on the surfaces of the samples.
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C. Giacomelli, F.C. Giacomelli, J.A.A. Baptista and A. Spinelli
The effect of oxalic acid (OA) on corrosion resistance of carbon steel in sulphuric acid pH=2.5‐6.0 solutions containing 10−7‐10−3M OA was investigated by means of potentiodynamic…
Abstract
The effect of oxalic acid (OA) on corrosion resistance of carbon steel in sulphuric acid pH=2.5‐6.0 solutions containing 10−7‐10−3M OA was investigated by means of potentiodynamic polarisation measurements and immersion tests. The results suggest that OA is a good corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel, exhibiting inhibition efficiencies (IE) ranging from 50 to 85 per cent in dilute 10−7‐10−5M OA solutions of pH>3.0, whereas for pH≤3.0 solutions, an increase in corrosion rate was found. Non‐accelerated experiments (weight loss tests) carried out by immersing carbon steel specimens into OA‐containing solutions during at least 6 h revealed only positive IE values, regardless of both solution pH and OA content. The results were explained considering the solution composition as function of pH.
F.V. Adams, P.A. Olubambi, J.H. Potgieter and J. Van Der Merwe
The purpose of this paper is to supplement the scant previous investigations on the corrosion behaviour of 2205 and 2507 duplex stainless steels in selected organic acids…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to supplement the scant previous investigations on the corrosion behaviour of 2205 and 2507 duplex stainless steels in selected organic acids containing chloride additions.
Design/methodology/approach
Microstructural examination of the alloys was first carried out, after which the corrosion behaviour of the alloys in citric, oxalic, formic and acetic acids containing chloride additions at varying temperatures was studied using electrochemical techniques.
Findings
The alloy 2507 material had a larger grain size than did the alloy 2205 sample. The corrosion resistances of the alloys generally are highest in acetic acids and lowest in citric acid. The addition of chloride had a pronounced effect on their corrosion resistance. Alloy 2507 generally exhibited higher corrosion resistance in all of the acids than alloy 2205, with the exception of acetic acid at room temperature. The 50:50 ratio of ferrite to austenite composition, as revealed by phase compositional analysis, indicated no significant possibility for galvanic corrosion between the phases. This suggests that the corrosion behaviour of the alloys is controlled by their grain sizes and chemical compositions.
Originality/value
Although the corrosion behaviour of duplex stainless steels in some organic acid media has been reported, this investigation covers the major organic acids not previously reported. Since in real industrial systems a mixture of both organic and minerals acids/salts may typically exist, investigations of the combined effect of chloride ions with the organic acids reported in this paper typify real industrial operations. The paper thus provides a basis for material selection for the application of 2205 and 2507 in industrial systems where organic acids are mostly used.
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Baah Aye Kusi, Elikplimi Komla Agbloyor, Asongu Anutechia Simplice and Joshua Abor
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of foreign bank assets (FBA) and (FBP) presence is examined on banking stability in the economies with strong and weak…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of foreign bank assets (FBA) and (FBP) presence is examined on banking stability in the economies with strong and weak country-level corporate governance (CLCG) in Africa between 2006 and 2015.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a Prais–Winsten panel data model of 86 banks in about 30 African economies, findings on how FBA and presence influence banking stability in strong and weak corporate governance economies under different regulatory regimes are reported for the first in Africa.
Findings
The findings show that foreign bank presence (FBP) and assets promote banking stability. However, the positive effect of FBA and presence is enhanced in economies with strong CLCG, whereas the positive effect of FBA and presence is weakened in economies with weak CLCG. After introducing different regulatory regimes, it is observed that the enhancing effect of FBP and assets on banking stability in the full sample and economies with strong and weak CLCG systems is deepened or improved under the loan loss provision regulation regime. However, under the private and public sector-led financial transparency regulations, the reducing effect of FBP and assets on banking stability in economies with weak corporate governance systems is further dampened.
Practical implications
These findings show that the relationship between FBP and assets is deeply shaped by corporate governance systems and regulatory regimes in Africa. Hence, policymakers must build strong corporate governance and sound regulatory regimes to enhance how foreign bank operations promote banking stability.
Originality/value
This study presents first-time evidence on how FBA and presence influence banking stability under strong and weak governance systems while considering different regulatory regimes.
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Baah Aye Kusi, Joseph Ato Forson, Eunice Adu-Darko and Elikplimi Agbloyor
Financial crises (FC) remain a global threat to the financial stability of financial institutions and international bank regulatory capital requirement (IBRCR) by the Committee on…
Abstract
Purpose
Financial crises (FC) remain a global threat to the financial stability of financial institutions and international bank regulatory capital requirement (IBRCR) by the Committee on Banking Supervision provides mechanism for curbing the adverse effect of FC on financial stability. Hence, the purpose of this study is to provide, evidence on how IBRCR tones down the adverse FC effects on bank financial stability (BFS).
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses 102 economies between 2006 and 2016 in a two-step dynamic generalized method of moments model.
Findings
The results show that while FC and IBRCR negatively and positively impact BFS, respectively, it is observed that under the increasing presence of IBRCR, the negative effect of FC on BFS declines. Additionally, the results show that economies that maintain minimum IBRCR above 10.5% recommended by BASEL III are able to reinforce a significant reduction in the negative effect of FC on BFS.
Practical implications
These findings imply that in as much as financial crisis is injurious to BFS, regulators and policymakers can rely on IBRCR to avert the injurious effects of FC on BFS. Clearly, while IBRCR is necessary for reinforcing BFS through FC, bank managers who maintain IBRCR above the recommended 10.5% stands a better chance to taming the avert effect of FC on BFS. Additionally, economies that have not full adopted the BASEL minimum capital requirement may have to do so given its potential of dampening the adverse effect of FC on BFS.
Originality/value
The study presents an international perspective of how BASEL capital requirements can help tame global financial crisis using a global sample of 102 economies.
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The definition of the term “family” around the Western world is more heterogeneous than ever before and so are its roles and the social expectations of it. However, prisoners’…
Abstract
The definition of the term “family” around the Western world is more heterogeneous than ever before and so are its roles and the social expectations of it. However, prisoners’ families (specifically parents and siblings) are expected to support their incarcerated son/brother as they are perceived responsible for his choices and as having the closest relationship with him. Based on a study of parents and siblings of incarcerated men in Israel, this chapter’s goal is to shed light on families’ choice to support their incarcerated son or brother and the struggles this choice entails. A thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 17 parents and 10 siblings of incarcerated men in Israel showed that nuclear family members may experience various struggles throughout the legal proceedings, including family hardships, negative social experiences, and negative experiences with formal institutions – all leading to social self-exclusion. Looking through the intersectionality lens, the findings show that when accumulating hardships that prisoners’ families experience encounter perceived harsh institutional systems of oppression, preordained marginalization can be deepened as families operate in opposition.
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William Baah-Boateng, Eric Kofi Twum and Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong
The study seeks to examine women’s participation in Ghana’s extractive growth-driven economy and the quality of this participation in terms of employment status and earnings…
Abstract
Purpose
The study seeks to examine women’s participation in Ghana’s extractive growth-driven economy and the quality of this participation in terms of employment status and earnings relative to their male counterparts and establish whether these differences constitute discrimination for policy attention.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts both quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches to assess the extent of gender inequality in employment and earnings in the Ghanaian extractive sector and the sources of these differences. It computes three segregation indices to ascertain the degree of unequal gender distribution of employment based on nationally representative labour force and living standards surveys followed by quantitative analysis of gender earnings differences using Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition technique. This is complemented by the results of Focus Group Discussion to go behind the numbers and examine the sources of the employment and earnings differences between men and women in extractive activities.
Findings
The authors observe lower participation of women in the extractive sector, with a considerable degree of gender segregation and existence of gender earnings gap in favour of men due to differences in observable characteristics such as age, education and occupational skills. There is also evidence of existence of discrimination against women and indication of barriers that impede women’s involvement in high-earning extractive activities in Ghana. The study suggests measures to remove these barriers and improve women’s education particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to address the gender imbalance in extractive activities in Ghana.
Social implications
Women’s low involvement in the strong extractive growth-driven process has implication for undermining the effort of empowering women economically.
Originality/value
The study draws argument from the literature and adopts a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques to establish gender in terms of employment distribution and earnings in favour of males in the Ghanaian extractive sector. This has the effect of undermining women’s economic empowerment and exacerbating gender inequality in the country.
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Sulakshya Gaur, Satyanarayana Dosapati and Abhay Tawalare
Stakeholder assessment is based on attributes possessed by stakeholders, making the process heavily reliant on evaluating attribute weights. The present assessment methods are…
Abstract
Purpose
Stakeholder assessment is based on attributes possessed by stakeholders, making the process heavily reliant on evaluating attribute weights. The present assessment methods are based on Analytical Hierarchy Process, Analytical Network Process, and pairwise comparisons that heavily rely on decision-makers’ skills and knowledge. An objective evaluation of attribute weight needs to be done to overcome this challenge.
Design/methodology/approach
A Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) based approach, through the combined use of Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods has been incorporated to objectively evaluate the weights of the stakeholder attributes and their ranking with a specific focus on construction megaprojects. Five stakeholder attributes and twelve commonly associated stakeholders with megaprojects were considered to achieve this.
Findings
The new model presented power, durability and legitimacy as three important stakeholder attributes, further used to determine stakeholder importance. The client, contractor and project manager were identified as the top three internal stakeholders, and customers, local community and utility service providers as three crucial external stakeholders.
Research limitations/implications
The findings from the proposed method provide the practitioners with updated information about the attributes they need to look into when planning stakeholder involvement and management. Further, it also leads them to the established framework for the provided stakeholder ranking when planning their management strategies.
Originality/value
The use of CRITIC method allowed to address the possibility of any correlation between the attributes in their weight determination. This was one of the advantages as co-relation between the attributes during their weight determination has not been addressed in previous methods.
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Maryam Kriese, Gladys Awinpoak Abindaw Nabieu, Daniel Ofori-Sasu and Baah Aye Kusi
Existent literature suggests that Africa is heavily endowed with agriculture resources and entrepreneurship remains an important mechanism for promoting national productivity and…
Abstract
Purpose
Existent literature suggests that Africa is heavily endowed with agriculture resources and entrepreneurship remains an important mechanism for promoting national productivity and other economic outcomes. Despite these, empirical evidence on how agriculture resources promote the effect of entrepreneurship on national productivity in Africa is nonexistent given the abundance of agriculture resources and the need for Africa to increase its productivity, which has implications for improving welfare. Hence, this study aims to examine the interplay of how agriculture resources and entrepreneurship influence national productivity by way of exploring for threshold and complementarity effects of agriculture resources in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
This uses panel data of 29 Africa economies between 2006 and 2016 in a bootstrap quantile regression model.
Findings
First, it is reported that initial levels of agriculture resources in the form of crop and arable lands reduce national productivity while the extreme increase in agriculture resources promotes national productivity in Africa. This implies a nonlinear direct U-shape effect of agriculture resources on national productivity indicating that the enhancing effect of agriculture resources on national productivity is only achieved beyond a certain threshold of average agriculture resources. Second, agriculture resources complement entrepreneurship (which initially reduced national productivity) to promote national productivity. This implies that there is a synergetic-complementarity relationship between entrepreneurship and agriculture resources on national productivity.
Practical implications
These findings suggest that governments that are interested in boosting national productivity through agriculture resources may have to commit more financial resources to develop and reclaiming more agriculture resources (in the form of crop and arable lands) given that some threshold of agriculture resources are needed to promote national productivity. Similarly, developing agriculture resources by policymakers can help complement entrepreneurship to further improve the effects of entrepreneurship on national productivity.
Originality/value
This study attempts to present first-time evidence on the interplay between agriculture resources and entrepreneurship on national productivity by way of exploring for threshold and complementarity effects of agriculture resources in Africa.
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Kwasi Dartey-Baah and Rexford Kojo Agbozo
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of transformational and transactional leadership styles on employees’ work engagement and the moderating effects of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of transformational and transactional leadership styles on employees’ work engagement and the moderating effects of perceived organisational politics (POPS) in indigenous Ghanaian Banks.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a cross-sectional survey design and a quantitative approach to gather data from 430 respondents through the use of structured questionnaire. The covariance-based structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data with the aid of statistical package for social sciences and AMOS.
Findings
The analyses revealed that transformational leaders had a positive influence on employee engagement while transactional leadership did not have a significant influence on employee engagement. POPS also had no influence on employee engagement. Furthermore, POPS failed to moderate the relationship between leadership styles and employee engagement.
Practical implications
The findings of this study provide important practical implications for managers and policymakers in the banking sector of Ghana in engendering good leadership and political environments that will promote the engagement of employees.
Originality/value
The variables used in this study and the context, present interesting and fresh insights into the interplay between leadership styles, POPS and employee engagement, thereby contributing to the discourse on the leadership and human resource management literature. Furthermore, this study fills a gap in literature and challenges prior conceptions that negative political climates within the public and private banks is chiefly responsible for the recent troubles some banks have faced in Ghana’s banking sector.