Vol. 04, No. 08 [August 2018]

This paper firstly sorts out the domestic research literature on copper futures, points out their contribution and shortcomings, and then selects the copper futures closing price data from 2009-2018 to May 31 (data from Shanghai Futures) Exchange), using Eviews software to process the data, and obtain a line graph of copper futures yield, indicating that the yield is stable, and there will be more obvious fluctuations at the end of the year; the histogram of the rate of return and related statistics Quantity, which proves that the copper futures yield series is not a normal distribution. The autocorrelation and partial correlation coefficient plots show that there are no autocorrelation and partial correlation problems in the sequence. In addition, based on the GARCH model learned, it is concluded that the copper futures yield does have a GARCH effect.
KeywordsCopper futures; GARCH; effect yield; stability

This paper uses the time series analysis method and establishes the ARMA-GARCH model to analyze and predict the ICBC stock price, roughly determine the rationality of ICBC investment, and put forward the corresponding investment advice.
Keywords: ICBC； ARMA； GARCH； Volatility

The Sino-US trade war, which intensified fluctuations in the agricultural product futures market and affects everyone’s normal life, would definitely has an impact on the agricultural product futures market under the exchange rate connection between two parties. This paper uses corn and cotton as examples to analyze the impact of exchange rate. The results show that there is a two-way causal relationship between exchange rate and corn, while one-way between exchange rate and cotton. In the long run, there is a balance between the exchange rate, corn and cotton. In the short term, the variance decomposition shows the exchange rate contributes to corn and cotton for 10.6% and 15.0% respectively, indicating that exchange rate fluctuations affect the prices of corn and cotton futures, and then will influence the spot prices of corn and cotton through the transmission mechanism.
Keywords: VAR model; trade war; exchange rate fluctuates; corn price fluctuation; cotton price fluctuation

The work performed in this paper concerns «The impact of mechanised stirring and scraping operations in a coffee and cocoa beans drying unit in Cameroon». The aim was to evaluate the impact of an equipment designed to perform the stirring and scraping operations during a drying cycle. In the case these operations are performed manually, some problems such as the risks of accident on the operators, enormous losses in time and work shutdowns are notified. Then a machine have been designed and sized to fulfil these functions. To evaluate the impact of this mechanisation, the adopted methodology start by the study of the existing mechanism. Come next the evaluation of the impact, based on the mixing degree, drying time and scraping duration criteria. The corresponding values for these criteria have been reported for ten non-mechanised drying cycles. The results obtained show the grains drying will be more homogeneous, with a mixing degree improved of 47.7% in lower value and 22.44% in upper value. The drying time will be reduced by 30% and the scraping duration will be reduced by 49.5%, both in lower value. Finally, the whole drying cycle will be reduced by 28.7% in lower value, which represent 01h24min42s.
Keywords: Drying unit, Beans, Mechanisation, Stirring, Scraping

This paper presents the effects of geometry variation on the damage initiation and growth in the CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) composite laminated plate of the single-lap, single-bolt, hybrid metal-composite joints. A detailed 3D finite element model (FEM) incorporating geometric, material and friction-based contact full nonlinearities is developed to numerically investigate the geometry effects on the progressive damage analysis (PDA) of the orthotropic material. The PDA material model integrates the lamina nonlinear shear response, Hashin-tape failure criteria and strain-based continuum degradation rules, which were developed using the UMAT user subroutine in Nastran commercial software. In order to validate the geometry variation effects on the failure modes of the protruded head bolted joints, experiments were conducted using the SHM (Structural Health Monitoring) nondestructive testing technique. The results showed that the plate geometry is an important parameter in the design process of an adequate bolted joint and its effects on damage initiation and failure modes were quite accurately predicted by the PDA material model, which proved to be computationally efficient and can predict failure propagation and damage mechanisms in hybrid metal-composite bolted joints.
Keywords: Progressive Failure, Nonlinear Shear Deformation, Hybrid Joints, SHM

The current paper presents the results of investigations of the effect of shear walls locations in reinforced concrete buildings on general structural performance when being subjected to lateral forces caused by earthquakes. The use of shear walls as a part of structural system to resists earthquakes is very common worldwide. However, they are usually located in buildings taking into consideration architectural constraints which results in bad structural performance. In this paper, the effects of different shear wall locations on lateral displacements and base shear are thoroughly examined to give recommendations on the best location of shear walls. It was found that shear walls are more effective when being placed at all sides of the periphery of a building while using a core wall at the center. The analysis results clearly show that the use of core shear wall at the center, the U-shaped shear walls would result in torsional mode of vibration which is not desirable.
Keywords: Shear walls, Reinforced concrete, Equivalent lateral method, Base shear, drift

The study dealt with the influence of Women Enterprise Fund on project sustainability of women self-help groups in Kisauni constituency - Mombasa County .Despite different interventions put in place by the Kenyan government to align the Kenyan woman with the Millennium Development goals and to sustain women projects, minimal impact on growth has been observed hence it explored the extent to which leadership, technological innovativeness and financial management skills influence project sustainability of women enterprise funded groups. A sample population constituting of 84 chairladies were randomly sampled. The study adopted Descriptive survey research design; Data was collected by use questionnaires. The results were edited and coded in line with the study objectives. Data was analyzed using the *Statistical Package for Social Science and tabulated in form of frequencies, percentages and cross tabulation tables. Study revealed that majority of women had attained secondary school level and also possess decision making and problem solving skills thus aiding them run their self help groups. The study concluded that leadership skills, financial management and technological innovativeness to an extent influence sustainability of women projects. Researcher women in leadership undergo training on stress management to enable them manage group stressors and be promoted through effective and efficient use of information technology to assimilate information.
Keywords: Financial management, Innovation Leadership, & Women enterprise fund

Concrete is the most important building constituent during 20th century and also it is the versatile material giving architectural freedom. Continuous use of traditional raw materials for concrete reduces the natural resources. Global nations interested in sustainable development are carrying out researches to find out new raw materials which are easily available and capable of producing enough strength. Such researches are carried out with recycled tire rubber, plastic powder, coconut shell etc. Disposal of waste glass in the open environment cause tremendous issues, .By utilizing these waste glasses as an ingredient of concrete ,environmental issues can be reduced to a certain extent .At the same time this will become a nice solution for the scarcity of natural ingredients.In this project, coarse aggregate has been replaced by broken glass accordingly in the range of 5%- 15% by weight for M-20 mix. The concrete specimens were tested in two series of test such. It as compression test and modulus of elasticity test carried out up to 28 days. It was observed that both the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity values are higher than normal concrete up to 10% replacement of coarse aggregate with glass and further increase in glass reduces the strengths gradually.
Keywords: Concrete, broken glass bottles, partial replacement as coarse aggregate

The data of the balance of Yu Bao and the currency in circulation and the demand deposits in China Commercial Bank during the period from December 2015 to March 2018 were selected to study the interaction between Yuen Bao Scale and demand deposits in commercial banks in China. The relationship, through empirical analysis of the data for the past few years, shows that the scale of Yu'ebao has a significant impact on the deposit business of commercial banks in China. The impact of internet finance on commercial banks was analyzed, and the development direction and countermeasures of China's commercial banks in the transition process were put forward.
Keywords: Internet finance; Yuqianbao; commercial bank; impact;

Shanghai Lead Futures was listed on the Shanghai Futures Exchange on March 24, 2011. Futures trading is focused on matching the bidding price, and the price formed by it is ahead of the price change in the spot market. Therefore, this article will take the price of Shanghai Lead futures as an example, through the GARCH model to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth exploration and analysis of its volatility. In this way, an objective evaluation of the Shanghai-Lead Futures Market was made.
Keywords: futures; Shanghai-lead futures; GARCH model

Blockchain is receiving ever-growing attention from research and industry and is considered a breakthrough technology. This paper presents an overview of Blockchain Technology and its potential applications in developing countries especially Uganda. It was noted thatthese nations have the potential to progress, but do not have adequate access to present day technology, primarily due to lack of infrastructure and thus Blockchain Technology will fill the gaps. Fundamentally, these nations need transparency, security, and accountability in their processes, all of which are cornerstones of Blockchain technology. Finally, this paper reveals that due to the support from both government and non-governmental organizations, and the establishment of the Blockchain Association of Uganda, Uganda is ready forBlockchain Technology.
Keywords: Blockchain Technology; Developing Countries; Blockchain; Blockchain Applications

Nowadays, competition forces companies to continually evaluate their performance, in order to investigate the lost time in hierarchically organized industrial systems, a number of hypotheses have been formulated to clearly describe the periodic treatment of an unknown event that can disrupt the normal functioning of the system. In every circumstance, the time lost depends on the parameters of a given system. A methodology to help simulate and reduce the time lost has been proposed prior to the development of an indicator as a function of the variation of the periodicity of event management. Finally, observable data collected from a case study of a sugar-processing unit were compared to the testing and implementation of the theoretical model. The empirical data showed only minor deviations from the simulated results. Therefore, it was concluded that the model can be used to predict and optimize mechanical maintenance performance.
Keywords: Performance indicators, periodic processing, simulation, time loss.

Groundwater is a second thought for a safe water supply to fulfil the needs of living creatures on the earth surface. In Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), groundwater can be extracted from pumped well at Research Centre for Soft Soil Malaysia (RECESS) area, but the quality was not promising as drinking water supply. The purposes of this study were to characterize the surface morphology of unmodified Cucurbita as biosorbent for each part from peel, flesh and seed and determine the effectiveness of Cucurbita components by using biosorbent amount optimization. From the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) result, some porous surface texture was spotted and it was believed to assist in entrapping and adsorbing the contaminants exists in groundwater. The biosorption method involved cucurbita components namely peel, flesh and seed as sorbent while the groundwater acted as solvent that contains chloride and sulphate ions as sorbate. Three parameters were assessed namely chloride, sulphate and pH on series of biosorbent amount which affects biosorption performance. The percentage of biosorbent for optimization that was analyzed in this study was 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15% and 0.2%. The Ionize Chromatography (IC) result showed that peel was proven to be the most effective component in removing chloride and sulphate in groundwater by 16.8% and 12.8% respectively. Meanwhile, the data obtained showed that increases in adsorbent amount helped in reducing the pH value of groundwater. Hence, as referred to the Drinking Water Standard published by Malaysia Ministry of Health, concluded that pH and sulphate exist within permissible limit which are 6.5-9.0 and 250 mg/L while chloride ceased to present within 250 mg/L boundary. As a conclusion, cucurbita can be classified as a potential biosorbent for groundwater treatment but some improvements must be implemented to bring a significant impact for the benefit of mankind through a safe drinking water supply and cost effective treatment.
Keywords: Cucurbita, pumpkin, groundwater, biosorption process