Archives-j  

The effect of traffic density on soil along Nwanga-Ekoi- Mfamosing road Cross River State, Nigeria, was carried out. The spatial variability of pollutant concentration in high traffic density areas exerts an importance influence on some road deposited sediment characteristics due to activities of people and vehicles. The movement of vehicles from one point to another may spread contaminants on the soil. The main processes of the movement of vehicles can spread contaminants on the soil which may include wearing of car parts (Exhaust pipes, tires, brakes, engines block, leaking of oil and corrosion metal parts). These processes may release heavy metals on the surface of the soil along roadsides. The heavy metals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and paired sampled T-test method were used for the statistical analysis of soil along High Traffic Density (HTD) and Low Traffic Density (LTD) sites. The results from AAS revealed that heavy metals concentration in HTD were Calcium 0.041, Copper 0.037, Iron 0.037, Manganese 0.086, Nickel 0.033, Lead 0.207 and Zinc 0.11 respectively. Heavy metals concentration in LTD were Calcium 0.007, Copper 0.008, Iron 0.007, Manganese 0.007, Nickel 0.005, Lead 0.003 and Zinc 0.003 respectively. The result for the ANOVA analysis shows significant difference of (F=9.1, p<0.05) between HTD sites and LTD sites. The paired sample t-test also indicates significant difference of (t6=2.9, p<0.05).This implies that heavy metals concentration in HTD sites were higher than heavy metals concentration in LTD sites. Therefore, high traffic density sites increases soil heavy metals concentration along roadside.

High Performance Concrete (HPC) is that concrete which meets special performance and uniformity requirements that cannot always be achieved by conventional materials, normal mixing, placing and curing practices. The grade of concrete selected was control mix (CM) of M80. Investigation was carried out on mixes of partial replacement of cement with metakaolin (MK) 10% and silica fume (SF) 15%. Regression analysis equations were developed for each type of curing based on compressive strength and age of concrete (7, 14, 28 and 56 days). In this study the effect of various curing conditions on compressive strength of HPC were studied. The various curing conditions adopted were normal curing (NC), wet cover curing (WCC), membrane curing (MC) and accelerated curing (AC). Normal water curing includes immersion of concrete cubes in water. Wet cover curing includes covering concrete with burlap. Membrane curing includes application of wax coating on concrete cubes. Accelerated curing includes application of heat at ordinary pressure. The overall finding of this study suggests that concrete should be cured by water curing to achieve a better compressive strength.

Commitment is a manifestation of individual owns self and reflect values standard that are basic to an individual’s existence as a person. Based on the result shown that the commitment a closely associate with the attitudes of each employee in an organization. Attitudes can be described as an evaluative statements or judgments concerning objects, people or events (Robbins & Judges, 2007), it’s because employee’s attitudes can reflect from the emotion on attachment to the particular organization and amplify employee’s productivity. This study particularly examines the importance employee attitudes that can be revealing from the aspect on affective commitment. Affective commitment is one part of the organizational commitment. Which is organizational commitment can be classified into three (3) aspects which are affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment. The objective of this study is to measure the employee attitudes among non academic in UiTM Kedah by using the affective commitment. 100 samples were selected involved eight departments in UiTM Kedah. The results show affective commitment is positively influence the employee commitment. In conclusion, it is hoped that this paper will give some insight to promote the importance on affective commitment among the government servant especially the non-academic staff in UiTM Kedah in order to increase their level of efficiency concerning the attitudes stability towards their own organization attached.

This research project sought to determine the effects of financial planning on the performance of transport and logistics firms in Mombasa County. The general objective was to establish the determinants of performance. The independent variables under consideration were: fund allocation, external funding, fund control and budgeting. These independent variables created the basis for the specific objectives under review as follows: to find out how the fund allocation influences the decision to growth and profitability; to establish how the degree of external funding influences the decision of firms to growth and profitability; to find out how budgeting affects the decision to growth and profitability; and to find out how fund control the decision to growth and profitability. Transport firms in Mombasa have grown in importance in the economy of the region during the last couple of decades. Although transport firms are growing speedily they face a range of challenges which work against their progress. Lack of financial knowledge is been a major setback to transport firms’ progress. Inefficient financial planning may damage transport firms profitability and, as a result, complicate the difficulties of transport firms’ growth. Conversely, efficient financial planning will help transport firms to strengthen their profitability and, as a result, these difficulties can partly be overcome. This study is motivated by the need to determine the financial planning practices used by transport firms and their impact on the financial performance of the transport firms. The target population of this study will be 102 transport firms operating in the Mombasa County. A modified Liker scale questionnaire will be developed divided into three parts. A pilot study will be carried out to refine the instrument. The quality and consistency of the study will further be assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis will be performed on a PC computer using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 22) for Windows. Analysis will be done using frequency counts, percentages, means and standard deviation, regression, correlation and the information generated will be presented in form of graphs, charts and table.

Loneliness is the result of defect in individuals' social communications qualitatively and quantitatively, and also inaccessibility to close and desired relationships with others. So the aim of this research was to analyze effectiveness of social skills training on the reduction of loneliness in single parents (led families). The research design was quasi-experimental with pre-test post-test and control group. The research population was all the single parents (led families) supported by Komite Emdad institution. For this, 30 single parents (led families) aging from 35 to 55 were selected based on purposeful sampling method and were assigned to the two groups of experiment and control groups. Subjects of the experiment group went under eight sessions of 1.5 hours of training, while the subjects of the control group did not. Instrument used in this study was the Revised Questionnaire of Loneliness (UCLA). Data were analyzed with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The findings showed that social skills training results in the reduction of loneliness in single parents (led families) (p<0.05). Social skills training results in the reduction of loneliness in single parents (led families). And using such trainings we can help single parents (led families) to feel less lonely.

The effects of ethanol addition to the intake air manifold (ethanol fumigation) with percentage 10% and 20% on CO, HC, smoke and soot emissions of a single cylinder diesel engine have been investigated experimentally and compared with each other and with the original diesel engine (100 % diesel fuel). The results show that the optimum percentage for ethanol fumigation is 20%. This percentage produces an increase in CO emissions, HC emissions and reduction in engine smoke and soot mass concentration.

This research work is an investigation into how agbono cotyledon extracted from the seed of a specie of the agbono plant (irvingia excelsa) can be processed for long-shelf life. The agbono chaff extracted from agbono cotyledon through solvent extraction using petroleum spirit(60-80)oC was preserved in desiccators and also in black polyethene bags. The findings showed that agbono cotyledon can be processed and preserved to retain the cherished characteristics (sliminess, taste, aroma, etc ) without moulding or fungal growth. The processed agbono was welcomed by the general public. It is recommended that agbono cotyledons be processed by defatting and preserved for food preparations.

This study was investigated the factors influencing Somali women in political participation in Mogadishu, Somalia. The main objectives of the study was to determine the influence of culture on women?s political participation in Mogadishu, Somalia, to find out the influence of economic resources on women?s political participation in Mogadishu, Somali, to determine the influence of religious beliefs on women?s political participation in Mogadishu, Somali. To achieve the objective of the study, case study was employed as research design, the target population of this study was Somalia women those involve political activities; therefore, the total target population of this study was stand 147. This study concern Somali women on political participation in Mogadishu, Somalia. The sample size of the study was 129. The sampling procedure of this study was non-probability sampling procedure particularly purposive sampling to select the respondents based on these criteria. The questionnaire was used for collecting data. The frequency and percentage distribution was used to determine the demographic characteristics of the respondents. The mean and standard deviations was applied for the levels of Somali Women and small Political participation. The main finding of the study was that the cultural factors are the main causes of stereotypes influencing women?s political participation. Also finding revealed that economic resources are obstacles that influencing women?s political participation. Finally the study revealed that religious misperception hold women back to participation political activities. The study recommended government and the judiciary should ensure the enactment of family law and enforcing any other law intended for women?s political participation and emancipation.

Brachyuran crabs used in the present study were collected from the Salem fish market (Lat. 110 39 NS and Long. 780 12 EW) on south east Tamil Nadu, India. A random collection of berried crabs Portunus sanguinolentus were taken and their fecundity were studied from the year of 2013. The number of eggs in Portunus sanguinolentus ranged from 1, 42,413 to 6, 44,533eggs the lesser number of eggs observed in small size group of carapace width 50-59mm and more number of eggs in large size group of carapace width 120-129mm. The study indicated that with an increase in carapace width there was a definite increase in the total number of eggs. There was a direct a relationship noticed between the weight of the animal and diameter of the ovary. Variation in number of eggs was observed within the same class probabily indicating synchronous spawning within the same reproductive period. The present investigation suggested that the ovigerous female of large size is suitable for brook stock collection and maintenance for production of more number of seeds in aquaculture practice.

It is observed that formal training given on basic communication skills (CS) during medical undergraduate years can help to develop better doctor patient relationship throughout the clinical practice. Developing communication skills was felt as a need through formal training as well as in assessment, hence Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India, incorporated it in curriculum. To sensitize and train third year BDS students for communication skills and evaluate the module through their feedback. 55 third year BDS students were sensitized for communication skills through a module. The module was divided into four important aspects; 1) Components and barriers of effective CS while dealing with patients2) Training for effective communication viva voce examination 3) communicating effectively with different types of patients, 4) Improve Prescription writing as communication skill Knowledge gained by the participants through the module was statistically analyzed by comparing pre and post test results. At the end module was evaluated by the feedback obtained from students. Wilcoxon signed rank test used for comparison of responses before and after the implementation of module, showed highly significant differences. 98% students wrote in the feedback that the module was a key to learn nuances in routine clinical practice and guide to communicate well in viva. Sensitizing and training third year BDS students for communication skills was effective and would remain as an important component of University curriculum.