No abstract

The high cost of construction materials and increased axle loads has motivated researchers to seek alternative cost-effective materials for road construction. Studies on the use of waste thermoplastic polyethylene material to improve bitumen properties have been investigated. However, few studies on the use of thermoset polyethylene (cross-linked polyethylene) to modify bitumen have been carried out. This research investigated the use of waste cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable coating on bitumen properties. An FTIR analysis carried out on waste XLPE cable coating revealed that it is predominantly composed of XLPE material. A comparative study carried out on the bitumen properties revealed that the modifier had a decreasing effect on its penetration and ductility but, had an increasing effect on softening point and specific gravity; Hence, a considerable improvement in the temperature susceptibility and stability of the bitumen. The short-term ageing analysis carried out revealed that the modified bitumen can withstand short-term ageing requirements at 2% and 4% by weight of pure bitumen. FTIR analysis carried out on the pure and modified bitumen revealed that changes observed in bitumen properties with increasing modifier content were a result of physical changes and not chemical changes. A one-way ANOVA carried out on the properties of various bitumen content revealed that the modifier had a significant effect on the properties of pure bitumen with increasing bitumen content. The regression models developed properly described the relationship between the modifier content and the bitumen properties as they expressed very good R2 values.

This study examined the comparative effects of demonstration and brainstorming methods on students’ performance in agricultural science in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Pre-test post-test quasi experimental design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 12770 SSII agricultural science students during 2017/2018 academic session in Zamfara State. A sample of 80 students (40 males and 40 females) was used as an intact class. Data was collected using a multiple-choice test consisting of 30-items developed by the researchers. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics in form of mean and standard deviation while the null hypotheses were tested using t-test analysis. The study results indicated that, there is no significant difference in the academic performance of male and female agricultural science students using demonstration method. But male students performed significantly better than their female counterparts in brainstorming method. Yet, both groups of the students significantly did better in demonstration method than in brainstorming method. The study recommends among others that, agricultural science teachers should always make use of demonstration in teaching agricultural science while governments through ministries of education should provide schools with necessary facilities needed for effective demonstration.