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This study investigated the development of thermo-regulated and eco-friendly bricks for thermo-regulated houses using anthill clay. Anthill Clay samples obtained from two tropical climatic locations were crushed, properly mixed with adequate water and varied proportions of Cement (0 - 20%), and subjected to standard laboratory experiments. The anthill clay samples for chemical composition, particle size distribution using sieve analysis and Atterberg limits tests were drawn before the compounding of the mixture for other tests. Specimens prepared using anthill clay and anthill-cement mix were tested, for physical, mechanical and thermal properties. The results of chemical composition, particle size distribution, atterberg limits and natural moisture content, showed that the Anthill Clay is a fireclay composed of inorganic coarse silt materials with mild plasticity. The chemical composition revealed that the clay contained residual carbon on ignition of 1.2% which is from the organic matter used by the white ants (termites) in compounding the clay, it is also responsible in regulating the amount of heat that enters the anthill. The effects of Cement on the anthill clay were visible on the dry density with an optimum value of 1878 kgm-3 at 10% additive. The Linear shrinkage and water absorption showed an inversely proportional effect to increasing additive amounts with optimum values of 1.86% and 4.22% at 10% additive respectively. The compressive strength increased with a maximum value of 9.04 Nmm-2 at 20% additive and an optimum value of 3.75 Nmm-2 at 10% additive, while the abrasion index decreased with a minimum value of 0.162units at 20% additive. The thermal conductivity had a direct proportional increase with % cement increase in the bricks, with a minimum value of 0.621W/mK at 0% additive with acceptable values at the other additive percentages. Based on the need to develop a thermo-regulated-eco-friendly brick with improved functional properties and thermoregulatory ability, the optimum product was achieved at 10% admixture (Anthill Clay + Cement 10%) which adhered to all recommended standards of the selected properties for clay bricks. The anthill clay does not emit CO2 and hence the control was from the quantity of cement added. This percentage proportion of the additive is suitable for the production of Anthill Clay brick for building thermo-regulated houses and agricultural storage structures, in urban and most especially in rural areas that are capable of withstanding the recent global warming effects in Nigeria and the world.

The devolved system of governance should not instill a change dilemma in the Kenyan people. It is evident that devolution is likely to be met with resistance from leaders and other members. It is also evident that devolution may intensify inequalities among communities in Kenya since some regions have more natural resources endowed than others Devolution may also be a transfer of the evils committed at the central system of government like corruption and misappropriation of funds to devolved systems. Ultimately, leadership should embrace reducing change resistance methodologies of building trust in the people involved in devolution, discuss upcoming changes, avoid threats in initiating change and involves all stakeholders in implementation devolution for successful implementation of the new structure of governance. The national and county levels should embrace optimum utilization of natural and human resource, focused strategy planning, aggressive resource mobilization and financial planning management. In addition each level of government should exercise integrity and respect constitutional, functional status and government institutions at various levels. Finally, different levels of the devolved structure have an obligation to build on their strengths and opportunities while seeking to eliminate weakness found and boldly face their threats.

We are very happy to announce that from 27th April 2013, Dr. Sunanda Sharma has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. She will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Animal Reproduction, Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Dr. Sunanda Sharma is currently working as Faculty Member, Department of Animal Reproduction, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Veterinary & Animal Science, Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bikaner-334001, Rajasthan, India. The appointment of Dr. Sunanda Sharma as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief

We are very happy to announce that from 24th July 2013, Dr. Tarun Kumar Lohani has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Civil Engineering. Dr. Tarun Kumar Lohani is currently working as HOD, Department of Civil Engineering, Orissa Engineering College, Bhubaneswar, India. The appointment of Dr. Tarun Kumar Lohani as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief

This paper evaluates the economic impact of projects fund and personnel costs of propagation on operating performance of the country's two main products, namely wheat and canola, between the years 1997-2007, in Parsabad Moghan region. In this study, data is consisting of three sections: descriptive analysis, and regression relations. In regression analysis, "projects’ fund and propagation of personnel costs" is the independent variable; and “wheat yield" as well as "canola yield" are dependent variables which are inserted into two separate equations, respectively. And given the significance of the value of F (P = 0/0000), in both equations, and also with regard to the high amount of R ¬ 2, it can be concluded that propagation credits are the major role in increasing or reducing the performance of these two products. It can also be concluded that the effect of propagation in increasing the wheat is more than canola yield and it is able to explain 91% of the performance of this product. Also, given the amount of R2, the credits in the case of canola is able to explain 71% of the changes in performance of this product.

Cyperus Articulates extract (CA), was investigated as a green corrosion inhibitor for C steel in 0.5 MH2SO4 solution using mass loss, electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM), potentiodynamic polarization, and (EIS)electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The temperature effect on corrosion behavior with addition of various concentrations was done in the temperature range of 25-45 ºC by weight loss. Polarization diagram given that the investigated extract is a cathodic behavior. The inhibition efficiency was found to rise with increase in the investigated extract concentration and lower with increase in solution temperature. Adsorption of inhibitor on metal surface found obeyed the adsorption isotherm Langmuir’s. The activation and adsorption parameters were measured and illustrated. The data from electrochemical and chemical methods are a good agreement.

Entrepreneurship has played an important role in economic growth, innovation, competitiveness and in poverty alleviation. This study investigated the entrepreneurial culture and its influence on performance of enterprises in retail and services enterprises in Eldoret Town –Kenya. Entrepreneurial Culture (EC) on performance of fifteen Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in manufacturing, transport, pharmaceutical, hotel, communication and education sectors in Eldoret Town, Uasin Gishu County –Kenya were interrogated. The influence of entrepreneurial culture was assessed on performance dimensions such as profits, revenue, and the number of employees, customer growth & opening up of new branches. Interviews were used as the main instrument for data collection. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were applied for data analysis. Findings showed that over 95% of performance of MSMEs in the selected sectors was influenced by entrepreneurial culture. Profitability, sales revenue, employment vacancies, number of new businesses and customer growth were significantly correlated with entrepreneurial culture. Results indicated that there were correlations among independent variable which was entrepreneurial culture and dependent variable - in this case the performance of the enterprises. This study could be useful to among others, entrepreneurs, educationists and policy makers to plan their activities towards entrepreneurship development of MSMEs in the country.

This paper presents an embedded modeling approach for estimating the crack size in a rotating beam by predicting the vibrations of the cracked beam. The model embeds a non-linear switching function into a finite element model of the beam to characterize the effect of crack breathing on the local stiffness of the beam. Solving the model enables the prediction of the vibrations of the cracked beam and the evaluation of the modal frequencies of the vibrating signal using Chirp-z transform. Inputs to the model include the vibrations of the un-cracked beam to calibrate the model at the beginning, i.e., no need for run-to-fail tests. The model is validated and refined utilizing experimental data.

Suitability of alternative mixes for container vegetable production was studied in a Plant and Screen house of Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Ebonyi state University, Abakaliki. There were 5 growth media mixes and topsoil which included coconut husk mixed with pig dung, sawdust mixed with pig dung, burnt rice husk mixed with pig dung, fresh rice husk mixed with pig dung, burnt rice husk mixed with fresh rice husk mixed with sawdust mixed with coconut husk mixed with pig dung and native topsoil. The design used was a completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments were replicated four times to give a total of twenty-four experimental units. Amaranthus cruntus L. was used as a container vegetable to serve as a test crop. Data from both media mixes, topsoil chemical properties and agronomic yield of Amaranthus cruntus L. were analyzed using analysis of variance. Results showed that organic wastes based media mixes had superior chemical properties for vegetable production compared to native topsoil. Mixing each organic based media with pig dung significantly (P<0.05) improved their percent N,OC and pH contents relative to top soil. Percent N,OC and pH were 46, 46,91 and 15 % for sawdust mixed with pig dung, burnt rice husk mixed with unburnt rice husk mixed with sawdust mixed with coconut mixed with pig dung, coconut husk mixed with pig dung and sawdust mixed with pig dung when compared with control. There was generally significantly (P<0.05) better Amaranthus cruntus L. performance in organic based mixes when compared to topsoil. Coconut husk mixed with pig doing had superior significant (P< 0.05) effect on leaf number, number of branches, plant height, leaf area index and fresh shoot weight of Amaranthus cruntus L. in the study compared to topsoil and other media mixes. Coconut husk mixed with pig dung was higher by 23, 18, 15, 39, 37 and 14% than topsoil for leaf number, number of branches, plant height, leaf area index and fresh shoot weight of Amaranthus cruntus L. respectively. The media mixes and topsoil enhanced chemical properties and agronomic yield in the order of coconut husks mixed with pig dung > fresh rice husk mixed with pig dung > burnt rice husk with fresh rice husk mixed with coconut husk mixed with sawdust mixed with pig dung > burnt rice husk mixed with pig dung > sawdust mixed with pig dung > topsoil. It was concluded that growing Amaranthus cruntus L. in media mixes and particularly coconut husk mixed with pig dung could serve as suitable alternative to soil in container vegetable production in Abakaliki agro ecology.

The nutrient and phytochemical constituents of four eggplant cultivars (Solanum. marcrocarpon (round), Solanum aetheopicum, Solanum Marcrocapon (oval), Solanum gilo) were evaluated by standard procedures. The moisture content in the cultivars was high ranging from 88.31±0.023–91.94±0.11% while the protein, ash, energy and fat content were low. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the moisture, fiber and ash contents among the cultivars. The K+ content of all the cultivars was higher than other elements analyzed ranging from 821.00±13.10 to 764.00±10.00mg/100g. Na+, Ca2+ and Cu2+ were higher in S. gilo while S. aetheopicum had the lowest concentrations in all the elements analyzed except Na+ and Ca2+. The concentrations of alkaloids, tannins and saponins were very high. S. marcrocarpon (round) cultivar had the least values for both alkaloids and tannins while S. Macrocarpon (oval) and S. gilo had the highest concentrations of both phytochemicals. S. marcrocarpon (round) eggplant had the highest concentration of flavonoid (16.88±0.08mg/100g), S. aetheopicum (12.53±0.03mg/100g), S. gilo 12.87±0.06mg/100g and S. marcrocarpon (oval) (16.22±0.06 mg/100g). The results revealed that eggplants have rich mineral content and various important of phytochemicals which may account for their medicinal properties acclaimed. Thus, they could be valuable raw material for health and pharmaceutical industries.