Archives-July 2017

In the present work, the vibrational spectra of 1,2,4-trichloro-5-nitrobenzene (TCNB) was studied to identify the various normal modes with greater wave number accuracy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to support the wave number assignments. Further, density functional theory (DFT) combined with quantum chemical calculations was implemented to determine the first-order hyperpolarizability. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies shows that charge transfer occur within the molecule. Electronic excitation energies, oscillator strength and nature of the respective excited states were calculated by the closed-shell singlet calculation method.

Co-curricular is a group activity which is the activities that extension plan of the process of teaching and learning in classrooms that provide an opportunity to add, consolidate and practice the knowledge, skills and values learned in the classroom (Fadzil & Ahmad, 2010). It is a platform to develop physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual in line with the goals of the National Education Philosophy. Co-curricular plays an important role in education like fertilize of personality and unity. Participation of students as young people and folk in the country in co-curricular activities can cultivate goodwill, unity, national integration and inculcating good values indirectly and directly participating in such activities. This is in line with the second core in the Education Development Master Plan (PIPP) that is Developing Human Capital. Quality human capital is the main asset of the State to determine the future of the country and nation. It is also important in the formation of the concept of "One Malaysia" for unity among Malaysians of all races.

This study is focused on the empirical analysis of risk on Banks performance in Nigeria using time series data for the period of 1990 to 2014. This study employed Dickey Fuller unit root test, Johansen cointegration test and Parsimonious method augmented with error correction model. The emphasis was to test the long run relationship between non-performing loan, Average Liquidity Risk and the Return on Assets. The result of the analysis are in various folds: First, it shows that the variables were trend stationary and exhibited a long run relationships with Return on Assets (bank performance). The specific findings of the study using error correction model is that non-performing loan has made significant negative impact on Return on Assets while Average Liquidity Ratio has not made significant impact on Return on Assets. Second, this finding confirm that non performing loans is the most critical of all risk components. This study has some important policy implication: The banking operators and regulatory bodies should as a matter of urgency tighten up the monetary apparatus to safeguard and stabilize the depositors money and the banking sector in Nigeria. Also, there should be adequate credit administration, measurement, monitoring processes and good control over credit, liquidity and other risk components.

This paper looks at copyright and digitization of print literary materials for academic purposes. It was revealed that despite the exceptions to copyrights law, interpreting fair use for reproduced print materials in digitalised form is very difficult because of the inherent nature of digitalised materials which is self reproducible and distributable with no limitation. The only solution found for academic institutions was digitalising materials already in public domain or grey resources of institutions. It was also the opinion that digitalising government documents would be easier compared to materials whose copyright are privately owned. In conclusion, it was recommended that institutions should digitalise their grey print resources and materials in the public domain, seek permission from government establishment and get licence to digitalise print resources owed by private persons.

Teachers elavuate their roles in their school environment by what they feel as they go to work everyday. The ability of workers to adapt to the work environment is often associated with job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is urgently needed to provide comfort in performing tasks that have been entrusted to the teachers. It would be achieved if all requirement are met and it would indirectly increase the motivate the teachers. Nowdays there are few signs which indicate that job satisfaction has occured degradation. The stages of adaptation at the workplace often vary which will result in job dissatisfaction and thus the job performance is affected. Apart from that, findings of several studies has found that the key factors affecting job satisfaction to teachers is the development of motivation, attitude and behavior of an individual and the emotional stress due to workload and their internal problem. Job satisfaction is also closely related to the working-class pressure. The working pressure is always identified as factors leading to low production yield, absenteeism, resignations and poor health of workers. An individual who has high job satisfaction will focus on his career, will be not easily tired, hardworking, highly motivated and will strive to improve work performance. Aspects of job satisfaction is also associated with the psychological aspects inseparable from the concept of motivation. The emphasis on job satisfaction is very important because it will indirectly affect individual performance and contribution to the organization. Someone who do not get job satisfaction will be tempted to neglect their duty and does not carry out the mandate that was given to him.

The functional responses of Hippodamia (Adonia) variegata, one of the species of coccinellids found in association with aphids in cotton, were investigated by exposing it to increasing densities of cotton aphids in the laboratory. The aim was to determine how Hippodamia variegata’s feeding rate changes with increasing prey density and therefore to evaluate its potential as a biological control agent for Aphis gossypii. Leaves infested with of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 individuals of A. gossypii were placed in pillboxes measuring 2cm high and 5cm in diameter. A single adult of H. variegata was placed into each pillbox and the treatments were replicated four times. These treatments were repeated using the third instar larvae of H. variegata instead of the adults. Observations were made after 3 and 6 hours of feeding. A plot of the numbers of aphids consumed against the initial numbers of aphids placed in the pillboxes showed that an increase in aphid population resulted in an exponential increase in the feeding rate of coccinellids, before the prey density of 35 aphids was reached. Above 35 aphids, further increases in prey density did not result in further increases in the number of aphids consumed by H. variegata. H. variegata therefore displayed a Type 3 functional response and this implies that this coccinellid has potential as a biological control agent for Aphis gossypii.

The present investigation was aimed at screening twenty diverse wheat genotypes for their thermo tolerance potential at the seedling stage. The seedlings were raised in the germination boxes kept at 250C in an incubator. One week old seedlings were subjected to gradual heat pre-treatment (with rise of 50C/ hr) to achieve 350C +10C. The acclimatized seedlings were exposed to 400C for different durations to find lethal temperature (LT50 ), on the basis of wilting of the primary leaf. Wheat seedlings reacted differently to high temperatures in terms of the coleoptile length and seedling emergence. On an average coleoptile length (C.L) decreased by 29 % and total shoot length (T.S.L) by 12 % due to high temperature pulse in wheat. Highest decline in C.L was noted in NIAW34 (54 %) and minimum 6 % in WH711. In terms of the T.S.L maximum decrease was noted in P1626 (34 %) and minimum in WH712 (0.70 %). The detrimental effect of high temperature on the seedling emergence also got reflective in terms of the growth parameters resulting in reduction of fresh and dry weight of the seedlings. On an average seedling fresh weight reduced by 64 %, dry weight by 74 % and RWC by 20% due to high temperature pulse in wheat.

Previous studies indicate that career choice has become a problem to secondary school students all over the world, Kenya included. Migori sub-county in Kenya is particularly disadvantaged in terms of career development in comparison with neighboring sub-counties such as Kisii. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between self-esteem and career choice behavior among secondary school students in Migori sub-county. Descriptive Survey Design and Correlation Design were used. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Career Decision Scale were used to collect data from students. Test-retest reliability was estimated by Pearson’s r which yielded .82 for Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and .80 for Career Decision Scale. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics that included frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. Structural Equation Modeling was used to make statistical inference using model fit and regression estimates. The study revealed that the level of self-esteem and career choice behavior was high. However, career choice behavior for males was generally different from that of females. The relationship between self-esteem and career choice behavior was statistically significant (p<.05). It was concluded that self-esteem does influence career choice behavior. The findings are significant to students, career counselors and policy makers to improve students’ career choice by raising their self-esteem. 

The study investigated time management practices and job effectiveness among university lecturers in Rivers State. A 29 item questionnaire was designed, validated and administered on a sample of 150 lecturers drawn from a population of 260 (57.6%) Lecturers from Faculty of Educations University of Port Harcourt and Faculty of Education Ignatius Ajuru University Rivers State. The result of the data analysis revealed that university lecturers indicated minimal level of time management practice which reflected in ranking their priorities daily; establishing time frame to achieve personal career goals; limiting the amount of time spent on TV and internet; completing important task when energetic and working on the most important task before the less important one. They equally indicated high level of job effectiveness which reflected in prompt planning of lectures, being regular in class, timely completion of course outline, timely assessment of students and grading of their scores, available for consultation, attending academic conferences and timely met requirements for their next promotion. The result also revealed a significant positive relationship between time management practice and job effectiveness. The study recommended among others that planning of schedules, prioritization of activities, resistance to unrewarding activities, avoiding time wasting habits etc were important time management techniques that needed to be imbibed by lecturers for individual and organizational goal attainment.

The optimal expansion of rocket nozzle has been occasionally attained due to the variation of altitude as the ambient pressure of these altitudes decreases with increase in altitude. Optimal gas expansion occurs only at a particular altitude when the nozzle’s exit pressure (Pe) is equal to the ambient pressure (Pa) of that altitude. There are special altitude adoptable nozzles such as aerospike nozzles, expansion-deflection nozzles and others designed for optimal gas expansion as the altitude increases. However, these nozzles adds weight to the rocket and are expensive for production. This study has been conducted with an experimental Rocket nozzle designed and developed by NSS (Nair Service Society) College of Engineering Palakkad-Kerala, India using computational fluid dynamics to determine the effect of varying the combustion chamber pressure to balance the nozzle exit pressure to the ambient pressure as the rocket ascends in altitudes. From the results obtained, it was observed that there is a conformance of up to twenty three (23) kilometers using the nozzle understudy for which further variation in combustion chamber pressure developed subsonic flows and shock waves in the divergent section of the nozzle. Further analysis showed that the total mass of propellant consumed was 36% per stage engine less than most conventional method of launching rockets engines to orbits. This method of variation of chamber pressure to balance the nozzle exit pressure with the ambient pressure provides potentials for reduction in energy consumption of a rocket.