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Vegetables, water snails and fish samples were collected from farmlands, river, streams, wetlands, and stagnant waters within Makurdi metropolis and analysed for two common herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glyphosate) residues using GC-MS. This was to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on the samples. The result of the analysis indicate only Tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) to contain about 0.01mgL-1 of 2,4-D acid, while glyphosate was not detected in all the samples. The result of the study revealed that all the samples were free from the two herbicides except Oreochromis niloticus that was contaminated with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. This implies that these activities had not impacted sternly on the surrounding environment; however it is believed that long term exposure may result to some health threat. Contribution/ Originality
The radio frequency field levels of some Globacom and MTN telecommunications base stations in Makurdi metropolis were measured using electromagnetic field tester (EMF827 Lutron). Measurements were done at distances of 5.00, 10.00, 15.00 and 20.00 metres away from the base stations in the north, south, east and west directions. The electric field intensity and specific absorption rate (SAR) were calculated with references to some human tissues. The results show the average magnetic field levels of MTN and GLO base stations to range between 0.09µT to 0.16µT. The mean electric field values for eye, brain and muscles ranged between 18.81υm-1 to 35.20υm-1. The specific absorption rate (SAR) values for the selected human tissue were found to range between 0.18Wkg-1 to 1.17Wkg-1. The results of the research denote that the radiations emitted by GSM base stations conform to the standards set by regulatory bodies, as such; there are no inherent danger to residents found within the base station areas. Contribution/ Originality
Personal achievement evaluation process is necessary to understand each employee’s abilities, competencies, and relative merits which are very important for an organization. The results of evaluation process are analyzed between achievement targets and actual achievement scores, which are collected and stored from many data sources and documents such as evaluation patterns, groups of person, and kinds of workload. Furthermore, for each evaluation period, flexible policies and procedures are needed. This study presents an architecture for personal achievement evaluation system in an university by using an open source ECM software tool for managing their links of the supporting document with actual data, and BI technology is used to inspect, evaluate, and create personal achievement reports by applying open source software principles to be able to gather all data and store the supporting documents into an evaluation database. XML schema is a dynamic mechanism for managing constant change. We propose a formulate principle and an implementation procedure which is expected to be able to apply with other university’s departments to support their personal achievement evaluation process. Contribution/ Originality
The spectacular and unprecedented growth of FDI in the global economic landscape over the last two decades has made it an integral part of the development strategy of both the developed and developing nations. It acts as major catalyst in the development of a country through up-gradation of technology, managerial skills and capabilities in various sectors. Indian retail industry is one of the sunrise sectors with huge growth potential. According to the Investment Commission of India, the retail sector is expected to grow almost three times its current levels to $660 billion by 2015. However, in spite of the recent developments in retail sector and its immense contribution to the economy, it continues to be the least evolved industries in India when compared to the rest of the world. This dismal situation of the retail sector despite the ongoing wave of incessant liberalization and globalization stems from the absence of an FDI encouraging policy in the Indian retail sector. Until 2011, Indian government denied FDI in multi-brand retail, forbidding foreign groups from any retail outlets. In November 2011, India’s central government announced retail reforms. FDI in the retail can expand markets by reducing transaction and transformation costs of business through adoption of advanced supply chain and benefit consumers and suppliers. Oppositions have raised concerns about employment losses, promotion of unhealthy competition among organized domestic retailers resulting in exist of small domestic retailers from the market and distortion of urban cultural development. This paper captures the existing retail scenario in India and presents the limitations of the current set-up. The paper discusses about opening up of the retail sector to FDI by the government and tracks the efforts taken by the government with regard to foreign direct investment in retail sector. The paper also analyzes the reason why foreign retailers are interested in India, the strategies they are adopting to enter India and their prospects in India. The present paper also focuses on the strategic issues and implications of FDI retail in India and the major challenges that it faces. Contribution/ Originality
Decision makers are looking at all expenditures to see where to cut costs and install greater IT systems management efficiencies. For implementation of an IT governance program successfully, it is important to understand management needs. IT service management is becoming more important in any kind of business sector including in higher education sector or university education. In the university education system, it can be used to enhance competitiveness and performance of related stakeholders.
IT infrastructure is growing increasingly complex as different technological advancements, such as IT governance (by some special methodologies like Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (CoBIT) & Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) etc.) and cloud computing, continue to enhance higher education networks. These systems management solutions can be very helpful to facilitate greater collaboration in learning and educational management.
In this study we investigated the problems of the Atılım University students ‘n Turkey about the course control system (Focusing on Time-Table scheduling system). In the survey we asked questions about registration process, time table managements, exam time clashes, course loads, student satisfaction about the time table and exam allocation system. The results are gathered, analyzed and documented and the results are discussed. Depending on the results we proposed a CoBIT methodology to improve the student satisfaction. Contribution/ Originality
Increasing health costs is becoming a burden for countries all over the world, and for the developing countries, it may reach a point where the government may not be able to provide the healthcare demanded by the public. It is not solely based on increasing the health spending; every aspect of health expenditure should be considered to improve efficiency. One of the aims of the tenth Malaysian plan is improving efficiency and reducing waste. We propose a measure to improve efficiency by decreasing the average length of stay, given the fact that hospital care is far more expensive than care in the community. Planned and managed early discharge to the homes, supported by community nurses and doctors, in addition to improved communications, can reduce average length of stay. At present the length of stay is 3.52 days in the public sector and 2.71 days in the private sector. There is a significant variation between states, not only for the average length of stay, but also for the bed turnover interval; providing less of an incentive for earlier discharge. By reducing the length of stay by merely 0.5 days, we suggest there would be savings up to RM250 million savings each year, and with other additional measures, there would be significant savings, making healthcare more affordable and sustainable, making Malaysia a shining example among developing countries. Contribution/ Originality
Poverty is a household name most especially in the Third World Nations. However, it is a plague that affects all people across the globe. Governments at all levels had embarked on policies and measures at different times to eradicate this menace to no effect. Thus, the phenomenon ‘poverty alleviation’ emanated.
This paper therefore examined different measures embarked upon by governments in Nigeria in general and Ondo State in particular with special attention on government activities since the inception of Democracy in 1999. Efforts were made to engage in descriptive comparative analysis of the efforts by successive governments in the state, using econometric analysis of simple ratios and percentages. Most importantly, an in-depth examination of the policies of the present day government (the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-led administration) was carried out. Not only this, the extent to which these measures had affected the lives of common man on the street was also examined. It was thus found out that the present day administration was able to achieve so much in poverty reduction in the state basically as a result of its grass root (house-to-house, door-to-door) policies implementation.
The paper therefore recommends that for a government to achieve its set goal of affecting the lives of her people, such people-based (see-and-buy) policies of the present day administration in Ondo state must be the main stream of such an administration. The type of unmonitored delegation; “money-must-pass-hands” policies where governance is maladapted and hide and seek; corruption laden governance prevail in the administration of a state must be totally jettisoned as this aid diversion of public funds, breeds corruption and enhances poverty. Contribution/ Originality
Iskandar Malaysia is one of the regional economic growth areas that have been identified by the government of Malaysia to spearhead economic transformation programmes as stipulated in the Tenth Malaysia Plan. The aims of the economic transformation programmes are to address the declining trend in foreign investment and outflow of human capital, as well as to spur the next stage of economic development. Thus, Iskandar Malaysia serves as the platform to highlight Malaysia’s structural shift to broader macro objectives that aims to transform Malaysia into a developed nation by a knowledge-based economy. Since its inception in 2006, Iskandar Malaysia has attracted foreign investments of about RM111.4 billion as of the first quarter of 2013 and 40% of the investments has already been realised. The entry of heavyweights foreign investors such as Temasek, Ascendas, CapitaLand, China’s Country Garden and Australia’ Walker Corp have propelled foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Iskandar Malaysia, making it highly dependent on foreign funds for development. Although FDI is the key catalytic agent of economic growth and development, it is not without pitfalls and setbacks, especially on local community and average households in Johore. The aim of this paper therefore, is to examine the affluences and setbacks of FDI in Iskandar Malaysia on average local households across the five flagship zones of Iskandar. The study would include analysing the impact of FDI on culture and social-economic environments as well as on natural surroundings in the Iskandar area, and subsequently, attempts to touch on the sustainability of FDI in maintaining rapid economic progress of Iskandar Malaysia. Contribution/ Originality
This research is attempted to assess the strengths of poverty alleviation initiatives taken by foreign donors in Sri Lanka. Hence research basically studied the Matale Regional Economic Advancement Project (MREAP) which was funded by the International fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Study was based on both primary and the secondary data. Primary data were collected through interviews held with project officers, beneficiaries and other government officers who were involved with various activities in project villages. Descriptive analysis, , double difference method, and the regression analysis were the analytical tools used in data analysis. According to the results of the double difference analysis and the descriptive analysis microfinance facility provided by the MREAP has influenced significantly on income levels of the beneficiaries. In general, microfinance has influenced positively on poverty alleviation of beneficiaries. According to the beneficiaries MREAP was a successful project as it provided microfinance for the appropriate businesses during the project implementation period but, neither MREAP nor other government organization have monitored the sustainability of project activities. Analysis of the project reveals that Microfinance is one of the effective tools in poverty alleviation in Sri Lanka and, it is very essential to provide a healthy macroeconomic environment avoiding unnecessary political intervention for the microfinance projects to function effectively and efficiently. This information revels that monitoring of long term sustainability of the activities initiated during the project period after the termination of the project is a vital facto that due attention of relevant authorities should be received. Contribution/ Originality
Increasing competition in the finance sector in Sri Lank has created a huge competition among the banking sector. The high level of competition improved the bank efficiency and efficiency creates risk to the banks. Therefore, risk management is a vital in achieving efficiency. Therefore, this study addresses the question on “whether the Sri Lankan banks are efficient and how risk management improves the banks’ efficiency?. The main objective of the study was to identify the efficiency of the banks by incorporating risk factors.
This study adopted second Stage Data Envelopment Analysis based on Licensed Domestic Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka for the period from 2005 to 2011. At the first stage it use DEA to finds the efficiency scores by incorporating risk factors such as Credit, Market and Operational risk. In the second stage it applies Tobit regression to find the influence of external environment factors on bank efficiency.
The mean efficiency of Sri Lankan banks is high when it compares with the other well countries such as India, UK, US, Taiwan and Islamic Banks located in London. Risk management has improved the efficiency of the Licensed Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka. Therefore, banks should identify their standing on the market on efficiency levels and should analyze their inefficiencies to improve the efficiencies further. Contribution/ Originality
This paper examines the relationship between servant leadership and employees’ organizational commitment in a Malaysian situation and adding trust in leader as the mediator. The first objective of the study is to explore the relationship between servant leadership and organizational commitment of working adults in Malaysia. Second objective is to determine whether trust in leader mediate the relationship between servant leadership and organizational commitment among these working adults. There are 200 set of questionnaires were randomly distributed to the employees working with various organizations throughout Malaysia. Out of them, 143 were usable yielded a response rate of 71.5%. Data collected were analysed through correlational analysis and multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 20. The result of the study revealed that servant leadership has significant relationship with employees’ organizational commitment. In addition, trusts in leader do mediate the relationship between servant leadership and organizational commitment among working adults in Malaysia. This research therefore, highlighted the importance of having the right leadership in fostering employees’ positive job behaviour. The limitation and direction for future research also discussed. Contribution/ Originality
The levels of radiation of radiology personnel were assessed in five major hospitals in Makurdi metropolis. A data collection instrument was a semi structured self-completion questionnaire, designed in line with the objectives of the study. Personnel radiation monitoring was available in only 1 out of 5 hospitals (20%). Radiation monitors were found to be fairly read about every quarter of the year only in one (1) hospital. Radiation safety officers were available in only 3 hospitals (60%). About (32.5%, n=13) believe the hospital management do not make provision for it. Dosimetric records of staff were not given any consideration in the establishment of radiology departments. Personnel radiation monitoring in Hospitals on the whole was found to be very poor. This is a significant precautionary lapse as radiation risk cannot be assessed and corrective measures taken. Contribution/ Originality
Decline in soil fertility is major constraint to agricultural production and food security in Ethiopian highland farming systems. Since farmers have limited capacity to invest in fertilizers, potential solution to the problem is to use green manure (GM) for their multiple advantages. Thus, this study was conducted to determine optimum time for decomposition and nutrient release from GM at different ages. The treatments were three levels of age (3, 4 and 5) months after planting (MAP), three GM species (Tithoniadiversifolia, Tephrosiavogelii and Crotalaria juncea) and five times of decomposition (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35) days after incorporation (DAI) laid out in Split-split plot design with three replications. Age, species and decomposition time were assigned to the main, sub and sub-sub plots, respectively. The interaction effect of age, species and decomposition time was significant (P < 0.05) on soil pH, OM and NO3--N. During the decomposition process decline in soil pH was observed whereas other parameters increased as decomposition time extended. Organic matter increased from 4.45% (non-treated) to 5.76, 5.40 and 5.96% due to C. juncea, T. diversifolia and T. vogelii, respectively, 28 DAI. On plots treated by C. juncea, soil NO-3-N was increased by 17.60 and 12.10 mg kg-1 compared to the control (11.31 mg kg-1) 35 and 21 DAI, respectively. In plots amended by T. diversifolia and T. vogelii the increment was 33.43 and 24.63 mg kg-1, respectively, 21 DAI compared to the control. Total N, available P and K were significantly (P<0.05) influenced only by time of decomposition. Significantly higher N (1.80 g kg-1) was observed at 28 and 35 DAI whereas higher available K (655.93 mg kg-1) was obtained at 35 DAI. Contribution/ Originality
The present work aims to synthesize novel diclofenac derivatives containing L-leucine moiety. The synthesized compounds docked into the active site to discover validated inhibitors of cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). The calculations in-silico were predicted that, the compound with lowest energy of docked poses was interacted with residues of active site, perhaps could be making them possible selective inhibitors against (COX-2) and physiologically active. The binding score of compound compared with reference drug, and show extensive interactions with the targets, which may consider it a suitable selective inhibitor against (COX-2). Contribution/ Originality
For cutting garnet rocks Titanium carbide (TiC) blades are used, which produces a fine waste material, a mixture of garnet and a few percent of Titanium carbide. In the present study, a reverse flotation technique was developed to recover the valuable Titanium carbide as tailings from the waste mixture using cationic surfactants such as, DA-1618 (Diethyl Amine ether) or DDAB (Dioctyl Dimethyl Ammonium Bromide) and poly-propylenimine (PPI) as a depressant for Titanium carbide. The effect of collector dosage, pH and depressant on the flotation parameters was investigated. It was found that both surfactants provided good recovery and grade of TiC, however DDAB was little better surfactant along with 0.35 kg/t of PPI at pH 9.0 provided 94% recovery of TiC with a grade of 97% . Contribution/ Originality
Enset (Ensete ventricosum) is a perennial, banana-like crop, endemic to Ethiopia that produces pseudostem and a starchy belly corm pulped for food, feed and fiber. This study was carried out to ascertain the value and magnitude of genetic diversity among 240 Enset accessions based on their morpho-agronomic traits. A considerable level of polymorphism was observed among Enset accessions for the majority of the morphological characters measured. The accessions were grouped in to five clusters. Cluster and principal component analyses were used to classify Enset accessions on the basis of phenotypic traits. Phenotypically all the cultivars were classified into five major groups. The highest inter-cluster distance (480.5) was observed between clusters I and VIII. Hence, crossing between accessions included in these clusters may give high heterotic response. The first nine principal components (PCs) with Eigen values greater than one explained 99.98% of the observed variation. Generally, the PC analysis confirmed high diversity of the Enset accessions since the entire variation cannot be explained in terms of few PCs. This in turn, indicates the involvement of the number of traits in contributing towards the overall observed diversity. Regardless of the limitation in estimating total genetic variation, the current study indicated that agro morphological traits were helpful for preliminary characterization and can be used as a broad-spectrum approach to assess genetic diversity among morphologically distinguishable Enset accessions. The distribution of accessions is characterized by high level of endemism which has implications for the conservation of Enset diversity. It is suggested that high land areas owing to the high concentration of diverse and unique landraces there should be given a high priority for collection and in situ germplasm conservation. Contribution/ Originality
In this Paper, a method based on the Tau method by canonical polynomials as the basis function is developed to find the numerical solutions of general nth order nonlinear integro-differential equations. The differential parts appearing in the equation are used to construct the canonical polynomials and the nonlinear cases are linearized by the Newton’s linearization scheme of order n and hence resulted to the use of iteration. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness, convergence and the computational cost of the methods. Contribution/ Originality
Microorganisms isolated from soil sample using enrichment culture technique have been grown in the minimal growth media where diazinon served as a sole carbon source. Total three bacterial strains were screened and identified by morphological and biochemical studies as Pseudomonas peli, Burkholderia caryophylli and Brevundimonas diminuta and designated as Pseudomonas peli BG1, Burkholderia caryophylli BG4 and Brevundimonas diminuta PD6, respectively. All these isolates were able to completely degrade 20 mg/l diazinon in mineral salt medium (MSM) as a sole carbon source within 12 days of incubation. The bacterial growth and diazinon degradation were accelerated by these isolates when MSM supplemented with 0.5 % (w/v) glucose as an additional carbon source. The maximum degradation rate by the isolates BG1, BG4 and PD6 were 3.350, 4.265 and 3.140 mg/l/d, respectively. The bacterial growth and diazinon degradation rates were increased by these three isolates when MSM supplemented with 0.5 % (w/v) glucose as an additional carbon source. The maximum degradation rates were 4.556, 5.367 and 5.885 mg/l/d for the isolates BG1, BG4 and PD6, respectively in the presence of glucose. pH of the growth medium decreased more sharply in presence of glucose as a consequence of microbial metabolism of glucose. The results of this study suggested a correlation among diazinon degradation, microbial growth and pH in MSM with or without glucose during diazinon degradation studies. Contribution/ Originality
Comparison and Review of the Advantages of the Fractal Method (Variogram) With Respect To the Nettelton in Determining the Density of the Bouguer Plane in the Southern Hormozgan: Iran
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Geography and Geology
In this paper we describe a comparison between the methods of Variogram and Nettelton to establish the density of the Bouguer plane. The Nettelton’s method is a common method for determining the density along a profile which is based on the least chosen profile’s topographic resemblance with the chosen density of related to that profile of the region. The variogram method based on fractal geometry. This method is based on minimizing surface roughness of bouguer anomaly. The fractal dimension of surface has been used as surface roughness of bouguer anomaly. Using this method, the optimal density of Charak area in south of Hormozgan province can be determined which is 2/7 g/cm3forthe under-research area. The density of the Bouguer plane in the region by the Nettelton’s method has been calculated 2/3g/cm3. This determined optimal density has been used in correcting and reviewing its result in the case of Isostazy state and some very good results have been achieved which has an amazing coincidence with the regional geology and the drilled exploration wells in the area. Contribution/ Originality
Optimum magnetic signatures for drill-hole targeting in gold exploration in Mbudzane were resolved from induced polarisation-resistivity and magnetic anomalies. Total magnetic field and a gold-in-soil map showed the area is magnetically quiet with high anomalous values along old gold workings. Induced polarisation was carried out along a grid for lines of 500m length, 50m separation and a baseline oriented at 330˚. The survey comprised a gradient array and three real sections. The magnetic survey was conducted over the same grid as the induced polarisation. Stations were set at 5m intervals for a line spacing of 50m. The results show intense anomalies that suggest different degrees of magnetic alteration and a set of conjugate lineaments and faults that possibly control the mineralisation in Mbudzane. The tilt derivative of the reduced-to-pole image resolves the separation between anomalies, giving information on the faulting. High chargeability is confined to the sheared and silicified mafic schist. The gradient resistivity image revealed contact between rock formations. Real section IP shows coincident low chargeability – low resistivity anomalies close to the surface. Chargeability intensity increases with depth, suggesting incipient development of disseminated sulphide replacement zones. A strong correlation between ground magnetic inferred contacts and apparent resistivity-chargeability anomalies forms the basis for suggesting a new drill-hole targeting. They dictate both the depth and angle at which drilling should be carried out. These results should be applicable to any region where drill-hole targeting in gold exploration may be required. Contribution/ Originality
Abstract