Archives-December 

Changing individuals’ knowledge and viewpoint especially the youth and teenagers as decision makers of next generation through educating is one of the most important concerns and policies of policy makers of the environment. In present study, to survey and compare the effect of performing Image-Concept Approach as well as common teaching method on the amount of learning, and the amount of students’ naturalism in elementary schools’ sixth-grade in science course in the area of Mahidasht-Kermanshah, the quasi-experimental plan with two groups (n1=20 and n2= 20) was used to answer this question whether or not the learning performance and the amount of naturalism is statistically different among students educated by this pattern? In two study groups, students learned the concepts of the relation between human and environment via using Image-Concept Approach and the common method, respectively. In order to collect data, the teacher-made learning test and scale of the relation with nature by Nisbet and et al (2009) was used that after being approved in terms of validity and reliability, it was performed before and after applying quasi-experiment and the data were collected. The survey results show that learning is higher among students using Image-Concept Approach with another group and also in term of naturalism, student taught by Image-Concept Approach had more positive attitude regarding nature in comparison with control group.

The present study aimed to compare mental health of female athlete and non-athlete students in the city of Indica. The research methodology was a descriptive survey, which initially described the mental health and then compared it among the students. The statistical population of the study included all high school girls in the academic year of 2012-2013 in the city of Indica accounting for 919 subjects. The sampling was done in this study by two methods of census (enumeration) and multi-stage cluster random sampling. Due to the limited number of athletes (85 subjects), all were included in the study sample. Of the non-athletic population, 106 non-athlete subjects were selected using Cochran formula by multi-stage cluster random sampling method. The measurement tool in this study was the Goldberg and Hiller GHQ Standard Questionnaire (1979) consisting of two parts. The fist part includes demographic information, including questions about demographic and individual characteristics of study samples such as age, type of illness, etc. The second part consisted of 28 questions to measure four subscales (somatic symptoms, anxiety, social functioning and depression). The reliability (reliability coefficient) of the questionnaire was obtained as 0.85 through Cronbach's alpha coefficient. For data analysis, the descriptive statistics was used in order to summarize the data, and the inferential statistics, including Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney tests were used to test the hypotheses. The results showed significant differences between physical symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and depression in two groups of female athlete and non- athlete students. It also indicated that the athlete students had a better status than the non-athletic students regarding mental health and its four subscales. It is therefore suggested to encourage students to participate in sports activities in order to enhance their mental health.

The geometries of various tautomers of different ring size lactams have been studied by ab initio Hatree–Fock and Density Functional Theory calculations at B3LYP level with different basis sets in the gas phase. Optimized geometries and total energies for 12 possible tautomers of studied lactams were determined. Thermodynamic properties and tautomeric equilibria between different tautomers were calculated using the frequency calculations. The results of calculations are applied to the bond lengths of ?- lactam which showed a good agreement with experimentally determined data. In the gas phase, the amino tautomers are computed to be more stable than the lactim tautomers. Equilibrium constant results suggested that the lactam form is a more dominant tautomer for all cases and the lactim forms are not present in detectable amounts. 

Technology today offers many new opportunities for innovation in educational assessment through rich new assessment tasks and potentially powerful scoring, reporting and real-time feedback mechanisms (Scalise, K. & Gifford, B. 2006). This paper elaborates on the pros and cons of computer-based assessment. The intended purpose is to provide a new assessment horizon for assessment developers and teachers and to help them to get a better understanding of using computer-based assessments in the educational settings.

This research work examined the consumption pattern of Irvingia gabonensis in Ukwuani area of Delta State, Nigeria. The target respondents were the households in the study area. Data for the study was collected by administering structured questionnaires to and interview of one hundred (100) respondents. Data analysis was done using simple descriptive statistics, T-test and Chi-Square. The students T-test was used to compare the different uses of Irvingia gabonensis in the study area by the consumers/households. The result showed that 100% of the respondents are aware of the species; most of the respondents (89.4%) consume it while 10.6% did not utilze it. It was also discovered that, majority of the respondents (62.4%) use it for soup only while 37.6% consumed it as food and fruits. Most of the respondents (67.1%) sourced them from the markets, 4.9% from the collectors and 2.8% from forested areas. The result also confirmed that it is widely accepted (87.1%) in the study area. The study also revealed that the utilization rate of Irvingia gabonensis in the study area is increasing (76.5%) while 23.5% asserted that it is decreasing. Majority of the respondents (79.2%) confirmed that they use it because of its nutritional importance while 20.8% consume it because of its medicinal uses. The socio-demographic results showed that all of the respondents (100%) that used it are less than 30 years, 100% of students and civil servants utilize it more than other categories while the result of the Chi-square reveals that utilization depends on primary occupation and also educational background of the respondents. This paper therefore recommended among other things that domestication and interventions of this species should be encouraged for proper management and sustainability.

Since modern society changes rapidly, styles of interpersonal communication changes as well. Of all, mobile phone plays a significant role in everyone’s daily life, becoming as the most popular communication tool. This study explored the use of mobile phones and its impact on interpersonal relationship among youth in Lahore. The study used the theoretical frameworks of “uses and gratifications” approach from media studies. The main objective of the study was to examine the overall impact of mobile phone and determine the role mobile phones are playing in effecting interpersonal relationship and gender differences. Data was collected through survey comprised 50 young adults (ageing 16 to 30 years) in Lahore. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed that there is strong relationship between mobile phone usage and interpersonal relationship. Continuous use of mobile phone negatively effect on youth and distort the relationship with their families and close friends. Study found that there were gender differences in the use of cell phones by young people. Further, males use more cell phone rather than the females.

The cyclic voltammetric measurement and molecular interaction studies using ultrasonic technique of Cu(II),Ni(II) and Pb(II) complexes of  8-[2-Methoxy-5-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-phenylazo]-naphthalene-1-ol using DMSO, were carried out at 303 K. The cyclic voltammetric were carried out at a stationary platinum electrode in DMSO with 0.1M tetrabutylammonium per chlorate (TBAP) as a supporting electrolyte. The measured values of ultrasonic velocity, density, acoustical parameters, adiabatic compressibility and free length are evaluated. From the properties of these parameters the nature and strength of the interactions in these complexes and oxidation, reduction behaviors were discussed.

Textile industry waste water from dyeing and finishing processes constitute a substantial source of water pollution which imparts intense colour, high chemical oxygen demand, fluctuating pH and other suspended particles. This coloured waste water must be treated before final discharge to attain legal standards. Conventional methods for removing dyes from industrial waste water consist mainly of biological and physiochemical treatments and their various combinations. Biological methods are cheaper than other methods but dye toxicity usually inhibits bacterial growth and limits therefore the efficiency of decolourisation. Physical methods usually need additional chemicals which produce secondary pollution and a huge volume of sludge. Water treatment based on electro coagulation technique has been recently proving to evade most of the problems also being economically attractive. This review deals with better understanding of the decolourisation of the textile waste water through Electrocoagulation process. Although there are various electrochemical methods for the treatment of waste water Electrocoagulation has proved to be a clean, versatile, selective, flexible and a powerful process. Decolourisation of the dyeing and finishing waste is greatly affected by the important operating parameters such as the current density, pH, dye concentration, treatment time, type of electrode material used, electrolyte and its concentration. Upon survey it is found that Electrocoagulation combined with other processes also has proved good in the improvement of the decolourisation efficiency.

Methods of design and built become new invention of Outcome Based Education (OBE) at Politeknik Kota Bharu (PKB). This paper prefer to the process of development Bicycle Chopper Hybrid (BCH) with Project Based Online Learning (PBOL) match with OBE that implemented at PKB. The Project Based Online Learning (PBOL) was implemented based on online learning management system call eSOLMS for this project development. This process related with engineering survey, planning, design and development of BCH by using sophisticated technology combination with mechanical machines at inside/outside of workshops at Politeknik Kota Bharu (PKB). The concept of Hybrid vehicle become the new innovation ideas for outcome based project 2012. The product of BCH generate with the power of 1400 rpm motor's to mobilize this vehicle machine. The use of coupling and chain extension as its power mechanism make this project function properly. The testing data’s of product BCH was carry out on Mac 2012 shows that the movement of Bicycle Hybrid Chopper is between 30 till 50 km/h. This speed is safe to ride for a people. In addition, the battery using can function for 3 hours journey. Distance can be traveled is between 10 km depending on battery power. Power Inverter playing role to convert DC current from the battery to AC current turn on. The cost of RM1000.00 for BCH product manufacture is a significant low cost factor of its new creation. This invention shows the effective of Project Based Online Learning (PBOL) implementation match with OBE needs. Hopefully this concept of Project Based online learning become next invention of Project Based Mobile Learning (PBML) of engineering student project development at Polytechnics & Community College, Malaysia.

Recently, modular multilevel inverter(MMLI) have gained interest for photovoltaic applications. This topology minimizes the total harmonic distortion both at the DC and AC side and reduces the voltage stress across the devices for high voltage applications compared to the conventional multilevel inverter. This paper explains the significance of a MMLI by employing phase shift PWM technique. This control algorithm is implemented in SPARTAN/FPGA board. The important aspect of this paper is the issues related to capacitor voltage balancing is addressed. The MMLI is powered by PV source and the modeling of PV alongwith MPPT is implemented in MATLAB. The validity of the proposed modular MLI topology is confirmed by simulation and experimentation.