Archives-December 

This study examined the status of Sport coaching in secondary schools in Delta state, and strategies for its development. The concern was on the issue of manpower development, position of physical educators, facilities and equipment in our secondary schools in the state. It was a situational report, which entailed a descriptive survey where the variables were examined in retrospect. The researcher generated 3 research questions that guided the study. The population of the study was on physical and health education teachers in government public secondary schools in Delta state. There was no sampling as all the 177 physical education teachers in 359 public government secondary schools in Delta state was sampled. Data collected were entered and analyzed using the descriptive statistics of simple percentages. The findings of the study among others were that there is lack of quality facilities and equipment in our secondary schools in Delta state. It was therefore recommended among other things that the Government, Parents teachers association, old boys/Girls should endeavor to provide sophisticated Sports facilities and equipment to secondary schools to enhance effective teaching/learning and productivity. It was concluded that since the Sporting world is in a flux, a sustainable human capital development holds a position potential for cultivating a vibrant base for outstanding Sport performances.

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) are keenly investigated due to their Shape Memory Effect (SME), high frequency response and large magnetic field-induced strain. Polycrystalline Ni53.2Mn24.6Ga22.1 alloy was synthesized by arc-melting technique. X-ray diffraction revealed that annealed alloy at 1073 K exhibit a well-defined 5M structure .Scanning Electron Microscope image confirms the twinned martensite plate with magnetic domain walls. It is worthy to notice that a high saturation magnetization of 65 (emu/g) and martensitic transformation temperature of TM (334 K) are found by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

In this modern age, civil engineering constructions have their own structural and durability requirements. Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) is a composite material made primarily from hydraulic cements, aggregates and discrete reinforcing fibers. Fiber incorporation in concrete, mortar and cement paste enhances many of the engineering properties of these materials such as fracture toughness, flexural strength, resistance to fatigue, impact, thermal shock and spalling. The SFRC is a composite material made of cement, fine and coarse aggregates and discontinuous discrete steel fibers. Recently developed an analytical model to predict the shear, torsional strength and bending torsion behavior of fiber reinforced concrete beam with experimental substantiation. However, very little work has been reported in combined torsion and shear. Similarly to beam with conversional reinforcement, the presence of shear may significance influence on torsional strength of fiber concrete beams. Present investigate the mechanical properties like as shear strength, and torsion strength of concrete with different types of steel fiber with constant volume fractions and different aspect ratio.

This research was carried out from March 2014 to late August 2014 in Tang Soulak protected area in the Kohgiloye - Boyer Ahmad Province, I. R. Iran. The method used in this study was based on radius point counts. In the study area, 27 terrestrial bird species were identified. According to the “Margalef Index”, the most biodiversity richness was observed in May (3.12) and the least richness in March (2.92). According to “Menhink Index”, the most richness was seen in March (0.53) and the least in July and August (0.44).According to “Simpson Index”, the max. Biodiversity richness was in April (0.793) and the min. biodiversity was in March (0.699). According to“Shanon-viner Index” the max. Biodiversity richness was observed in April (3.396) and the min. biodiversity in March (2.892). According to “Simpson Index” the most uniformity was in April (0.193) and the least uniformity was in May and March (0.144). The diversity of species uniformity indices indicate a high habitat quality around “Tang Soulak protected area” area and status of good conditions for birds which should be considered in the management issues.

Complexes of monoethanolamine with Co, Ni, Zn and Cd are obtained according to the previously reported literature. Empirical formula assigned to the synthesized complexes from elemental analysis was found to be [Co(MEA)(H2O)2Cl2], [Ni(MEA)2Cl2], [Zn(MEA)(H2O)2Cl2] and [Cd(MEA)2SO4]. Thermogravimetry was done from ambient to 1000°C in order to check the thermal stability of complexes which was supported by FTIR spectra obtained at 150°C and 500°C. Initial decomposition temperature (Ti) values of complexes from Thermogravimetry showed the following order of thermal stability: [Cd(MEA)2SO4] > [Co(MEA)(H2O)2Cl2] > [Zn(MEA)(H2O)2Cl2] > [Ni(MEA)2Cl2].

Synthesis, spectroscopic (IR and electronic) and in-vitro antibacterial properties of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes of the enolimines derived from condensation of p-nitroaniline and benzoyl trifluoroacetone (HL1) / theonyltrifluoroacetone (HL2) were reported. The ligands coordinated to the metal ions through the azomethine N and enol O atoms in ratio 1M: 1L, resulting in complexes of the type [ML1NO3].xH2O, [ML2(CH3COO)].xH2O and [PdL(Cl)H2O]. The IR and electronic spectral measurements were consistent with the adoption of a 4-coordinate square planar/ tetrahedral geometry for the metal complexes. The in-vitro antibacterial studies of the Schiff bases and their metal(II) complexes against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli revealed that HL1 and its metal complexes were generally more active than HL2 and its complexes. Interestingly, [Zn(L1)NO3].½H2O, [Pd(L1)Cl(H2O)] and [Ni(L2)2] had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli with inhibitory zones range of 12.5-22.0 mm proving their potential usefulness as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents.

There are ways and processes of human learning by which knowledge is imparted, valued skills are developed, humans are trained which ultimately produces citizens who guarantee sustainable development in the society. The success of the acquisition of this system of education depends on the quality of men and women who are the interpreters and transmitters of what is desirable in terms of knowledge (education). In the quest for high quality education, the single most important factor in the school system is the teacher, who prepares as a professional to deliver effective tool of training. This paper therefore looks at teaching as a profession, the concept. The development and characteristics as well as the challenges that come with it and the way forward. The national policy on education however stressed that “no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers.”

Writer identification is the process of identifying the writer of the document based on their handwriting. Recent advances in computational engineering, artificial intelligence, data mining, image processing, pattern recognition and machine learning have shown that it is possible to automate writer identification. This paper proposes a model for text-dependent writer identification based on English handwriting. Features are extracted from scanned images of handwritten words and trained using pattern classification algorithm namely support vector machine. It is observed that accuracy of proposed writer identification model with Polynomial kernel show 94.27% accuracy.

A three notch multilayer antenna for C-Band applications is presented in this paper. The proposed antenna is composed of a FR-4 and air gap Dielectric material, By introducing the two parts, the impedance bandwidth of the antenna can be significantly enhanced. Analysis done with ground plan. Simulation results show that the proposed antenna can operate from 3.2GHz to 4.8 GHz with low VSWRs ? 2. Stable antenna gain (dB) is also achieved over the entire operating frequency band. Furthermore, the size of the proposed antenna is very compact, which is only at the centre of the operating frequency band.

In the present work, an effort has been made to investigate the effect of welding parameters on bead geometry. Mathematical models were developed by using 2- level half factorial technique to predict the bead geometry within the range of control parameters or operating variables for single wire submerged are welding. The models developed can be employed easily in automatic or robotic welding, in the form of program, for obtaining the desired high quality welds. Current, open circuit voltage, welding speed and nozzle-to-plate distance were taken as welding variables constant. The models were developed from the observed values, with the help of design matrix.  It was found that penetration increases significantly with current, decreases with welding speed and remains unaffected by open circuit voltage & nozzle to plate distance. Reinforcement was found to increase with current and decrease with open circuit voltage, welding speed and there is no effect by nozzle to plate distance. Weld bead width was found to increase with open circuit voltage, decrease with welding speed; but ‘w’ increases with increase in nozzle to plate distance. The adequacies of the models were tested by use of analysis of variance technique and signification of coefficients was tested by student’s-test’. The combined and main effect of different parameters involved has been presented in graphical form.