INFLUENCE OF METAL NITRATE TO FUEL RATIO ON THE MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF NIFE2O4

Objective: Nickel ferrite nanoparticles with dimensions below 30 nm have been synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion process. The nitrate-citrate gels were prepared from metal nitrates and citric acid solutions under various molar ratios of the metal nitrate to citric acid of 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 by sol-gel process. The results showed that nitrate citrate gels exhibit a self propagating behaviour after ignition in air at room temperature. The ratio of nitrates to citric acid also affects the combustion process. The as-prepared powder was annealed at 5000C for 6 hrs. The phase composition and structural properties of the obtained samples are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Analysis of the XRD patterns showed the presence of α-Fe2O3 phase and other refractions corresponding to cubic spinel structure. The lattice constant obtained from XRD data increases with metal nitrate to fuel (citric acid) ratio. PACS No: 75.50.Gg, 74.25.Ld, 43.35.C

The effect of gender, level of education and age on socio-cultural perceptions of women in leadership: Case of Kadoma urban district secondary schools in Zimbabwe

The study sought to find out whether gender, level of education and age have any effect on socio-cultural perceptions of women in leadership positions. Twelve school heads, 100 teachers and 100 school development association members from 15 Kadoma urban district secondary schools were used as research subjects. A five point Likert scale questionnaire with eight perception variable was administered. The study found out that male respondents had negative perceptions of women in leadership while female respondents had positive perceptions. On level of education, the study revealed that respondents with lower education had negative perceptions of women in leadership and that those with higher education had positive perceptions. The results also showed that younger people have positive perceptions of women in leadership positions. The study concluded that gender, level of education and age do have an effect on socio-cultural perceptions of women in leadership positions. Keywords: Age, Gender, Leadership, Socio-cultural perception