Archives-September 2018

The Sustainable development goals are contained in paragraph 54 of the UN resolution A/RES/70/1 of September 2015. They were achieved through a collaborative process of 194 countries, civil society and other interested parties. They succeed the Millennium Development Goals. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were formulated following the principles agreed upon under resolution A/RES/66/288 which is also known as The Future We Want. The passing of the Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was a long process involving deliberations and consultative meetings starting from Rio+20 Conference in 2012. Kenya made a commitment to actualize the 17 SDGs. However, Kenya runs the risk of failing to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals and their 169 targets if the challenges that led to the failure to achieve MDGs are not addressed. The most notable challenge was the failure to anchor the policy goals within the legal framework. This paper examines the legislative and policy gaps in the implementation of SDGs in Kenya. It will also explore the challenges that Kenya is facing in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and propose possible solutions to those problems.

Modern wastewater treatment technique is effective in removing inherent contaminants in influent, which leaves the effluent with permissible minimum regulatory standards that would support the demand for water economy, recycling and re-use. Most industrial wastewater (untreated) entering a water body represents a heavy source of environmental pollution. It affects the water quality as well as microbial flora and aquatic lives. With competing demands on limited water resources, awareness of issues involved in water pollution, has led to considerable evaluations concerning environmental effects of industrial effluents discharged into aquatic environments. Effluents rich in decomposable organic matter constitute high level of organic pollution that promotes growth of significantly high coliforms and other microbial forms leading to eutrophication. Finally, this could pose serious health issues to users especially when discharge into water bodies, but could be remedied in the recent times with the advent of modern wastewater treatment techniques.

Mycotoxin contaminations are ubiquitous in livestock diets. This comes under many generic names of which Fumonisin B1 (FB1) was the object of evaluation on its influence on growth and laying performance of laying birds fed with graded level of FB1 with or without vitamin C supplementation. One hundred and five (105) point-of-lay Isa brown breed at 18 weeks and twenty-one (21) cocks at 25 weeks were purchased for the experiment. The birds (layers) were assigned to Seven (7) dietary treatments of 15 birds each at three (3) birds per replicate. The treatments were classified according to inclusion level of Fumonisin B1 and Vitamin C. Treatment A served as the control, B (10 mg/kg of FB1), C (20 mg/kg of FB1), D (30 mg/kg of FB1), E (10 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), F (20 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), and G (30mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C). Feed intake and weights of the birds were taken for performance evaluation. Eggs were daily collected and counted and analysed for Hen-house and Hen-day production. The relative weight of organs were taken to examine the influence of fumonisin on them. It was observed that there are no significant difference (P>0.05) in the final weight, total weight and daily weight gain of hens when compared with the control. Increased inclusion of FB1 resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in total feed intake, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. There were no significant difference in the organ weight for treatment and levels of inclusion. The weight of the laying hens was reduced with increased feed intake. This showed that FB1 caused poor feed conversion rate which was evident in the result of this study. Meanwhile, the Vitamin C effectively ameliorated the toxic effect of the FB1. It is therefore important to include Vitamin C in the diet of laying hens so as to reduce the negative effects of FB1 on the performance and Carcass characteristics.

Cellulase is any of the several enzymes produced chiefly by fungi, bacteria and protozoan that catalyze cellulolytic materials. The aim of the study was chiefly to screen cellulolytic bacteria using different staining reagents. Soil samples were collected from different sites in and outside of Sokoto State University. Cellulase producing bacteria were screened individually by transferring pure cultures of bacteria isolates in CMC agar plates and incubated for 48 hours,. CMC agar plates were flooded with 1 % Congo red and allowed to stand for 15min. at room temperature. One molar NaCl was thoroughly used for counterstaining the plates, and the plates were observed for clear zones around colonies. The same procedure was repeated when CMC plates were flooded with Iodine, Safranin, Crystal violet and lactophenol cotton blue. The result revealed the colonial characterization such as shape, color, size, elevation, and gram reactions were determined for each of the isolates. A Total of 12 isolates were obtained from which 8 showed cellulolytic activities when screened using Congo red on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), agar plates most of them were gram negative rods..The isolates labeled KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS6, and KS7 produced clearance zones when stained with crystal violet, the isolate labeled KS2. KS3, KS4, and KS8 produced clearance zones when stained with lactophenol cotton blue, the isolates KS4, KS6, KS7 and KS8 produced clear zone when stained with iodine while Safranin produced no clear zones when used to stain the CMC agar plates The study revealed that other staining reagents could be used to screen cellulolytic bacteria and this reagents are more readily available.

Bladder tumors remain rare in young people. Tobacco is an important risk factor. The evolutionary profile of superficial tumors seemed to us different before and after 30 years. Tobacco is an important factor in the genesis of these tumors, but other factors may be hereditary. Their profile is still poorly known. The objective of this work is to:Specify the risk factors in this type of population.Define the characteristics of these tumors. Attempt to determine the evolutionary profile after treatment.

This work examined the effect of cultural diversity on organizational performance in manufacturing firms in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study reviewed relevant conceptual, theoretical and empirical literatures. This study is anchored on Resource Based View (RBV). The study adopted survey research design. Cultural diversity religion diversity, language diversity, cultural value system and gender diversity were employed as the explanatory variables while organizational performance was employed as dependent variable. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study comprised the staff of the selected manufacturing firms in Anambra State. This was found to be 2150. Sample size of four hundred twenty one (421) respondents was selected for the study, using Borg and Gall (1973) formula. Questionnaire was employed as the main instrument of data collection. The data generated were analyzed using frequency, percentage analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The study found that religion diversity had a significant negative influence on organizational performance in manufacturing firms. Language diversity had a significant positive influence on organizational performance in manufacturing firms. Gender diversity had a significant positive influence on organizational performance in manufacturing firms. Cultural Value system diversity had a significant positive influence on organizational performance in manufacturing firms. The study concluded that culture diversity has a significant effect on organizational performance. The study therefore recommends that there is a dire need to ensure that all employees are given an opportunity to practice their religion. In order to avoid conflict, the companies need to have its values in line with the employee cultural values. The company needs to conduct training on how to minimize communication barriers. Gender discrimination should be abolished in the workplace. Being a female does not make a woman less mentally fit compared to her male counterparts.

Problem Based Learning approach has been one of the recommended instructional strategies for teachers in Mathematics. Mathematics Project work is provided to give an opportunity for students to experience the Problem Based Learning model in the classroom for Grade 10 and 11 students. Therefore, this study explores the impact of Problem Based Learning on students in developing their Approaches to Learning skills using qualitative methods. Data were collected based on students’ perceptions from a focus group conducted in school. Information was gathered on students’ motivation level in learning Mathematics and on the development of their Approaches To Learning skills namely collaborative, communication, information literacy, and organization, transfer, reflection and thinking skills. The results indicated a positive impact on students' learning process in the Middle Years Programme Mathematics curriculum. Overall, the Problem Based Learning approach had favourable implications on enhancing students’ Approaches to Learning skills development.

The synchronization of the chaotic sequence using open plus closed loop (OPCL) coupling is presented in this paper by realizing 1D logistic map in microcontroller based hardware electronic experiment. The masking of the information signal in driver and demasking in the driven system is done in the chaotic region by using two microcontrollers ATMEGA 16 for secure communication. These two microcontrollers are used for driver and driven systems. In the synchronized condition driver system received the modulating signal from the signal generator and mask it with the chaotic sequence for transmitting to the driven system. In the receiver, section demasking is done to retrieve the information signal. The proposed scheme is simulated in Proteus simulator and the complete hardware circuit has been implemented and the obtained hardware experimental results confirm the validity of the proposed circuit.

The objective of the study was to find out adolescent the knowledge and use of contraceptives in Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis. Three hundred adolescent male and female students were randomly selected from three senior high schools in the metropolis to constitute the sample for the study. The questionnaire were used to collect data. Frequency distribution and percentages were used to summarize the data. The findings from the study indicated that adolescents have much knowledge about contraceptives but a few use them. They are familiar with condoms and femidom: most of them because they are easy to use. However, parents, guardians and church members disapprove of the use of contraceptives. The researcher recommended that there should be guidance and counseling programmes in the school to counsel the adolescent students on issues concerning their reproductive health and the use of contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.

As the present world challenges schools and the entire school community with many changes in the hope of improving the learning outcomes of students, schools and teachers, they are tasked with constantly upgrading the standards of education. Professional development has always been the focus of most of these improvements. In most schools and in the International Baccalaureate, teachers recognise that professional development does not end after the 1-hour or 3-days or 4-weeks sessions, it is continuous in nature and extends towards their everyday dealings. This study is a qualitative research that involves primary school teachers of an IB World School. The outcome of this research seems to capture the teachers’ perspective on professional development and how it has influenced their teaching practice. A review of relevant literature on the topic of professional development will give an idea on what professional development is, its purpose, how it has met the needs of teachers and how it has caused significant changes in teaching techniques. Mixed research methods were adopted in this study, the perspectives of a small group of primary teachers were recorded and analysed; allowing for comparisons with the results of the previous researches conducted in the field.