Archives-April 2019

The research study investigates similar in eating habits and sleeps patterns among medical students studying for United State Examination Licensure Examination Step 1 and relationships between sleeping patterns, and eating habits on daily question banks performances. Eating Habits and Sleep Patterns Among Medical Students studying is quantitative research conducted at the Pass Program in Champaign, IL. Evaluation of eating habits and sleep patterns among medical students can be conducted by using a survey. The survey would consist of close-ended questions provided to the student for evaluations. The questionnaire would require the student to respond to eating habits such as if students are eating junk food, or eating at home by preparing their meal if students are all three meals. The second part of the survey requires an evaluation of sleep patterns such as how many hours of sleep students are getting. The third part of the questionnaire would consist of questions of on student’s performance. The surveys would require information on daily question banks based on eating and sleep habits such as if student performance increases or decreases with meals or if skipping meals have any effect on performance. The research study provided 210 students with questionnaires from which 196 Students responded, and 151 student responses were recorded. 45 Students got eliminated due to consumption of medication and fasting during the study. The results have shown 58.5% of students preferred to prepare home-cooked meals. 25.8% of students do not skip breakfast. 54.3% of students consumed pre-packaged meals on a weekly basis due to easier access and cost-effectiveness. 58% of students stated skipping meals could alter their USMLE question back performance. 67% of students indicated a lack of sleep could change their USMLE question back performance. Students are obtaining 6 hours of sleep daily but prefer 8 hours of sleep. The research study has identified risk factors such as stress, lack of sleep and time management as complications while studying for national boards. The research has shown a lack of sleep to be a significant factor that altering student’s daily performances on test bank rather than eating habits. Further evaluation of eating habits and sleep patterns are required to determine performances yearly as wells as other behavior patterns of students while studying for USMLE examinations.

This research was carried out during the 2016-2017 growing season at Bayburt University, Food and Agriculture and Livestock Application and Research Center (40°24'05.7"N 40°08'31.3"E). In the research determined morphological and agronomic characteristics of organic and conventionally grown common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes. In the study, 13 local bean genotypes and 3 registered varieties (Onceler-98, Aras-98 and Gungor) were used. A randomized complete block design was organized as a split parcel trial design with three replication. Common bean which was organic and conventionally grown, plant height, first pod height, stem diameter, pod width, pod length, pod number per plant, seed number per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield parameters were measured. It has been determined that there were significant differences in some traits between the genotypes. According to the results obtained from study, the Petekli local bean genotype has the same statistical group as the common bean cultivars (Gungor, Onceler-98, Aydintepe) in terms of seed yield. On the other hand there was no significant difference between organic and conventional farming methods in terms of seed yield. 

A matroid is a set with an independent structure defined on it. A matroid abstracts and generalizes the notion of linear independence in vector spaces and independence in graphs. Matroids unite the concepts of graph theory, linear algebra, projective geometry, transversal theory, and combinatorial optimization. Applications of matroids involve different areas such as combinatorial optimization, network theory, coding theory and many other areas. Matroids can be found in projective geometry; the fano plane of order 2 gives rise to a matroid. An important application of matroids in optimization involves the greedy algorithm. Kruskal’s algorithm for ?nding a minimal spanning tree which is an example of the greedy algorithm can be used to understand how matroids can be involved in the greedy algorithm. Consider a network of vertices with weighted links between the vertices. Our goal is to ?nd a collection of links that connect all vertices using the smallest weight. That is a spanning tree with minimal weights. Kruskal’s algorithm can be generalized to a matroid by taking a matroid M and a function w:M?R which assigns weights to each element. The goal is to ?nd the basis B of M such that ?w(x) where x?B is minimized. The greedy algorithm is a characterization of the matroid. Matroids are the structures in which the greedy algorithm works successfully

This study presents the structural characterization of sawdust-palm kernel shellcrete composite. It proffers solution to absence of structural characteristics of sawdust-palm kernel shellcrete composite, which is a concrete component mixture of cement, sawdust and palm kernel shell(PKS). The materials used in the experiments work included: Ordinary Portland Cement, saw dust, palm kernel shell and water. The physical characterization tests were performed on the aggregates used in this experimental work, of which sawdust gave values of 554.9kg/m3, 0.503, 33.57%, 2.61, 1.0 and 2.83 for average bulk density, average specific gravity, average water absorption, finess modulus, coefficient of curvature (Cc) and uniformity (Cu) respectively. Palm kernel shell gave corresponding values of 729.09kg/m3, 1.63, 11.8%, 6.03, 1.36 and 2.64. Batching was done by weight and the low bulk density of the aggregate materials (sawdust and palm kernel shell) were taken cognizance of. The mixing of the components were done manually. A total of six (6) cubes of size 150mm x 150mm x 150mm, six(6) cylinders of size 150mm x 300mm and six(6) beams of size 150mm x 150mm x 600mm were produced from mix ratios (water : cement : fine aggregate : coarse aggregate): 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 2 and 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 3 for compressive strength test, split tensile strength test and flexural strength test respectively. The above water-cement ratio and mix ratio was adopted due to the high water absorption of the aggregate materials and to achieve the desired workability, strength and durability for light weight concrete. For the mix ratio of 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 2, the average compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength and average static modulus of elasticity were 7.73MPa, 2.76MPa, 1.57MPa and 4.41GPa. The corresponding values for the mix ratio of 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 3 are 3.84MPa, 2.51MPa, 1.42MPa and 4.06GPa. The average Poisson’s ratio ranges from 0.2 - 0.37. The shear modulus ranged from 1.48MPa – 1.84MPa. The average flexural strength of sawdust-palm kernel shellcrete beams ranged from 2.5MPa to 2.76MPa.

This paper will discuss about Machine Learning technology, its algorithms and its applications. In the new era of automations, business intelligence and the growing datacenters capacity, machine learning is a key component. Through literature review this paper demonstrates this new field and its characteristics. Different algorithms exist for various types of works, making it possible for average business to use the one that suits its needs the best. Machine Learning has come to stay for many years, providing added value to data and predictive mechanisms that will make our world a better place.

This study investigated the tactics used to curtail women participation in national elective leadership positions among the Abagusii of Western Kenya. Data for this study was collected from 15 Gusii women who were purposively selected because of their participation in the 2013 and 2017 national elections as contestants. The study found that women were unable to win any national elective seats which they competed with men. Their failure was attributed to the tactics male contestants used against them. These tactics were mostly based on moralistic codes of gender and sexuality. This study argues that policies that aim at enhancing women participation in elective leadership positions must first address the social construction of women sexuality in each community.

Studies worldwide have revealed that economic factors do affect academic performance of pupils. In Matete Sub County, the performance of pupils at KCPE has been declining from the year 2012-2015, with a mean of 248. What was unknown the extent to which economic factors affect the academic performance of primary school pupils in public primary schools in Matete sub-county. The objective of the study was to establish extent to which economic factors affect academic performance of pupils in Matete sub-county, Kenya. A conceptual framework was used to show the relationships between the dependent variable and independent variables. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study population comprised of 49 head teachers, 49 senior teachers, 75 standard eight class teachers, 1759 class eight pupils, and 1 Sub County Quality Assurance Officer. The study sampled 44 head teachers, 44 senior teachers and one sub-county Quality Assurance Officer who were selected through saturated sampling technique. Sixty-three class eight teachers were selected through simple random sampling technique. It also comprised 525 Standard 8 pupils, who were selected through stratified sampling technique. Instruments for data collection were questionnaire, interview schedules, focus group discussions and document analysis guide. Face validity of the instruments was ascertained by experts in educational administration. Pilot study was carried out among 15 pupils, 5 head teachers, and 5 senior teachers. A Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of 0.7 was found; hence the instruments were reliable. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data was transcribed and categorized on an on-going process as themes and sub themes emerge. The study showed that economic factors were rated at 3.81, hence, affect performance. The study provides the educational stakeholders with hints on the extent the economic factors affected the academic performance of pupils, hence should be given attention accordingly.

The performance of pupils at the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in public schools in Kenya remains a challenge since the number of pupils performing poorly is still high. In Matete Sub County, the performance of pupils at KCPE has been declining from the year 2012-2015, with a mean of 2.48. Therefore, the objective of the study was to find out the extent to which government policies affect the academic performance of primary school learners in Matete sub county, Kakamega county. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study population comprised of 49 head teachers, 49 senior teachers, 75 standard eight class teachers, 1759 class eight pupils, and 1 Sub County Quality Assurance Officer. The study sampled 44 head teachers, 44 senior teachers and one sub-county Quality Assurance Officer who were selected through saturated sampling technique. Sixty-three class eight teachers were selected through simple random sampling technique. It also comprised 525 standards 8 pupils, who were selected through stratified sampling technique. Instruments for data collection were questionnaire, interview schedules, focus group discussions and document analysis guide. Face validity of the instruments was ascertained by experts in educational administration. Pilot study was carried out among 15 pupils, 5 head teachers, and 5 senior teachers. A Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of 0.7 was found; hence the instruments were reliable. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data was transcribed and categorized on an on-going process as themes and sub themes emerge. The study showed that Government policies moderately affect academic performance with a mean of 3.39. Staffing policy as one of the government policy profoundly affected KCPE performance with a mean of 4.39.

The corrosion inhibition and adsorption processes of L - METHIONINE SULFONE (LMS) on mild steel in 2 HCl was studied by means of chemical (weight loss), electrochemical and quantum chemical techniques. The inhibition efficiency increases with decreasing temperature and increasing concentration of inhibitor. It has been determined that the adsorption of LMS on mild steel obeys the Temkin adsorption isotherm at all studied temperatures with negative values of ?Goads, suggesting a stable and a spontaneous inhibition process. In potentiodynamic polarization, the curves shifted towards lower current density in the presence of LMS with well-defined Tafel regions suggesting that the inhibitor retard the corrosion process without changing the mechanism of the corrosion process; and exhibit cathodic and anodic polarization (mixed type inhibitors) because the change in Ecorr is less than 85 vM/SCE with respect to the blank. Corrosion current density was calculated by extrapolation of the linear parts of these curves to the corresponding corrosion potential; and corrosion potential (Ecorr), corrosion current densities (icorr), anodic Tafel slope (?a), cathodic Tafel slope (?b) were determined with maximum value of inhibition efficiency for 5 x 10-4 M concentration of the inhibitor at 303 K is 75.1%. From Nyquist plots of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, value of polarization resistance (Rp) increased with increasing inhibitor concentration whereas double layer capacitance (Cdl) decreased indicating a decrease in local dielectric constant or an increase in thickness of electric double layer suggesting that the inhibitors function by forming a protective layer at the metal surface. Inhibition efficiency value (? %) is 55.9%. Quantum chemical calculations were performed using Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the help of complete geometry optimization for theoretical calculations of EHOMO, ELUMO, and energy gap (?E). Inhibition efficiency increases with increasing EHOMO indicating that the molecule has tendency to donate electrons to the appropriate acceptor molecule with low energy empty molecular orbital; whereas low value of ELUMO suggests that the molecule easily accepts electrons from donor molecules.

Thyroid hormones play a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the human body. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is diagnosed when peripheral thyroid hormone levels are within normal reference laboratory range but serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are mildly elevated. The pathogenesis of SCH in the development of coronary artery disease has been the subject of several studies whose results remain contradictory. We report the case of a 50-year-old women admitted for complete atrioventricular block secondary to an acute coronary syndrome of lower topography whose exploration revealed subclinical hypothyroidism.