Using Test Theories Models to Assess Senior Secondary Students Ability in Constructed-Response Mathematics Tests

Testing is essential in education and other behavioural science fields because many decisions and policies are made according to the results of testing. It is therefore, imperative that besides ensuring that the test items are valid and reliable, the scoring of the items must be reliably and validly conducted. It has been established by chief examiners of examining bodies that students most times obtained low scores in the constructed-response items aspect of mathematics and this could be as a result of the assessment procedures adopted by the examination bodies. Also, many research works have been carried out to confirm the similarity between West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) in Nigeria using multiple choice items. Against this backdrop, this study assessed the ability of senior secondary students in constructed-response mathematics tests of WAEC and NECO with test theories models and as well established the similarity between the two examinations. Non-experimental design of ex post facto type was adopted. The target population consists of all senior secondary school students in Ibadan Metropolis of Oyo State in Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to randomly sample 24 schools and 1151 students. The compulsory section A of Paper II of three years past constructed-response items of WAEC and NECO were used as instruments for data collection. Data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation, Person Product Correlation Movement; Classical Test Theory, generalized partial credit and graded response models of Item Response Theory. Results of the finding shows that students mean score in the examinations were below 50% using CTT and above 50% using IRT models respectively. It was concluded that the two examinations mathematics constructed-response items are equal and IRT models are more efficient and reliable in determining students’ ability compare to CTT. Keywords: WAEC Mathematics Constructed-Response Test, NECO Mathematics Constructed-Response Test, Classical Test Theories Model, Item Response Theory Models, DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-7-05 Publication date:March 31st 202

Disruptive and Nondisruptive Selection for Bulk Oat Populations

A mixture of F3 seeds from 75 oat crosses was divided into four lots, with one being propagated in central Iowa for nine generations (i.e., stationary line of descent) and three being propagated in a rotational pattern in central, southern, and northern Iowa in successive generations (i.e., disruptively selected line of descent). An evaluation experiment was conducted to test whether any changes in genotypic frequencies were caused by the two propagation procedures. Increases in the means of yield traits occurred, but the magnitude and timing of the changes varied among lines of descent. The changes in the stationary and rotational lines of descent were indistinguishable. There was some trend for reduced genotypic variances for most traits with advancing generations. Probably the disruptive selection scheme did not cause differential results from the stationary one because the selection pressure due to differences in propagation sites was mild relative to the pressure due to differences in weather patterns during the years of the propagation period

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF VARIETIES OF COWPEA AND ITS EFFECT ON FERTILTY STATUS OF LATERITIC SOIL OF LANDMARK UNIVERSITY

Identification of cowpea varieties with superior grain yield and high soil fertility enhancing potential is crucial to increasing productivity of the crop among small-scale farmers in Omu-Aran, Kwara State. A field experiment was carried out during the 2014 growing season to evaluate two cowpea varieties for their grain yield and their effect on fertility status of Lateritic soils of Landmark University Teaching and Research Farm. The varieties evaluated were IAR 48 and IAR 2.5.6. Variety IAR 2.5.6 produced the highest grain yield compared to variety IAR 2.5.6. The study also revealed the potential of cowpea in improving the fertility status of Lateritic soils as there was significant difference observed in some of the chemical properties analyzed including available Phosphorus, Exchangeable Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium

Modeling the Grade Point Average (GPA) System in Nigerian Universities

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students’ academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for students to understand the functionalities of the impact of the credit system on his overall academic progress. Keywords: Mathematical Model, Course credit system, Semester system, Grade Point Average (GPA) system, Student Academic Progres

Potentials of Mangifera Indica Seed Oil Extract as Bio-preservative Against Termite Attack on Wood

The need for preservation of wood to prolong it serviceable life is necessary and thus developing a new safer ecofriendly preservative is of importance because of the damages caused by the chemical preservatives. This study, therefore, investigates the bio preservative potentials of Mangifera indica seed oil extract against termite attack on Triplochiton scleroxcylon and Terminalia superba wood. The pods of M. indica were collected and dehulled after which the seeds were removed from the pods, sundried, and blended to fine powder. The fine cotyledon was subjected to solvent extraction for oil using a Soxhlet apparatus and N-hexane as the solvent. Data collected was analyzed using simple statistics and analysis of variance at α = 0.05. The wood was dimensioned into 5 x 5 x 30 cm and 200 ml of seed oil was applied to it using a brush. The treated wood was exposed to field termites and the absorption rate and weight loss to termite attack were determined. Data collected were analysed with t-test at α = 0.05. The percentage weight loss of wood samples due to T. scleroxcylon and T. superba were 13.76 and 11.52 % respectively. These values are lower than the mean values obtained for the control (14.84 and 12.44 %). The absorption of seed oil extract by the wood samples differ significantly (P≤0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant differences (p>0.05) in the weight loss due to termite between treated wood samples but untreated wood samples differ significantly (p≤0.05). The M. indica seed extract can serve as an alternative preservative against termite attack thereby reducing environmental pollution that may arise from the use of conventional chemical preservatives

An Assessment of the Factors Responsible for Flooding in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria

This study examined factors responsible for flooding in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained through questionnaire administered on residents in flood prone areas of the metropolis. These were residential areas within less than 15m, between 16-30m and within 31-45m to major rivers in Ibadan metropolis. In each of these strata, there were 327,219 and 189, residential buildings. Twenty percent (20%) of the buildings was systematically selected for survey in each stratum out of which 11.7% of  buildings in less than 15m to the river had incidence of flooding, 8.8% and 1.4% of buildings within  15-30m and 31-45m respectively had been flooded at one time or the other. Residents attributed causes of flood in the metropolis to one or more factors. It was established that indiscriminate dumping of waste was the major cause of flooding in Ibadan metropolis (33.2%). Other causal factors were poor channelization (29.4%), flood plain encroachment (19%), and Pave surface (13.2%). Only excessive rainfall (5.3%) while clearing of drainage (36.4%) was the major actions of the residents toward reducing flooding in the area. The study concluded that various factors were responsible for flooding in Ibadan and strategies to reduce this menace must address each of the factors. Keywords: Flood, Disasters, Waste, Drainage, Environment.

MEAT QUALITY AND LIPID PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA) POWDER AND CAYENNE PEPPER (CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS) POWDER AS ANTIOXIDANTS

This experiment was designed to determine the meat quality and lipid profile of broiler chickens fed diets containing turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder (Tur) and cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) powder (Cay) as antioxidants. Two hundred and forty three (two-week old) Abor Acre broiler chicks were randomly allotted to nine treatment groups of 27 birds each, consisting of three replicates of nine birds each in a completely randomised design. Three levels of Tur (0, 2 and 4 g/kg) and three levels of Cay (0, 1 and 2 g/kg) were used to provide nine dietary treatments.  Meat quality indices such as cook and refrigerated losses, water absorptive power, etc were measured and determined at the 8th week. Broiler Chickens fed the basal diet had highest meat dry matter, protein content and least (p<0.05) meat pH, cook and refrigeration loss values. Meat triglyceride and meat malondialdehyde value was best (p<0.05) in treatments fed dietary 2 g/kg Cay, while chickens fed 2 g/kg Cay, 2 g/kg Tur + 1 g/kg Cay and 2 g/kg Tur + 2 g/kg Cay had better meat lipoprotein values. For meat sensory characteristic, meat flavour of broiler chickens fed diets containing 2 and 4 g/kg dietary Tur, were  moderately liked while overall flavour was best (p<0.05) in groups fed the basal diet with no dietary additive. It was evident in the study that the dietary inclusions of the test ingredients limited lipid oxidation, thus improved storage duration and meat flavor.   &nbsp

MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPROVED INDIGENOUS CHICKENS (FUNAAB-ALPHA) FED TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) OR CLOVE (Syzygium aromaticum) AS FEED ADDITIVES

The experiment was conducted to investigate meat quality of improved indigenous chickens (FUNAAB alpha) fed diet containing turmeric (Curcuma longa) and clove (Syzigium aromaticum) powders. One hundred and thirty-five (135) mixed sexed day-old improved indigenous FUNAAB alpha chicks were brooded collectively for two weeks, and assigned into three (3) treatment groups. Each treatment was replicated three times, consisting of fifteen (15) birds. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum through the duration of experiment. The control group was fed the basal diet at starter and  finisher phases (T1), while the other groups were fed clove (Syzygium aromaticum) powder at 3 g/kg (T2) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) (T3) powder at 4 g/kg respectively as additives.   Data obtained were subjected to a One – Way Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomised Design. Muscle obtained after evisceration was subjected to quality analysis. Proximate composition of meat obtained from chickens fed the basal diet had the highest (p<0.05) moisture content value of 75.45% compared to other treatments. Water absorptive capacity and cook loss of meat obtained from chickens fed 4 g/kg dietary turmeric showed (p<0.05) values of 3% and 16.4% respectively. Meat sensory properties analysed revealed (p<0.05) score in groups fed 3g/kg and 4 g/kg clove and turmeric powders respectively, for tenderness (6.14) and overall acceptability (7.19). Meanwhile (p<0.05) lipoprotein profile was observed in group fed 4 g/kg turmeric powder. Inclusion, turmeric and clove had beneficial effects on FUNAAB Alpha. &nbsp

Novi pristup spektrofotometrijskom određivanju metronidazola i tinidazola koristeći p-dimetilaminobenzaldehid

A new approach to the spectrophotometric determination of metronidazole (MZ) and tinidazole (TZ) has been developed. The procedure involves coupling of diazotized nitroimidazoles with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DMAB) to form a greenish-yellow solution. Optimal temperature and time for diazotization were 0 oC (iced) and 3 minutes and 30 oC and 2 minutes for coupling was, respectively, for both MZ and TZ. Coloured adducts of MZ and TZ showed peaks at 406 nm and 404 nm, respectively, which were selected as analytical wavelengths. The reaction with p-DMAB occurred in a 1:1 mole ratio. Beer’s law was obeyed within the 4.8–76.8 µg mL1 concentration range with low limits of detection. The azo adducts were stable for over a week. Molar absorptivities were 1.10 x 103 (MZ) and 1.30 x 103 L mol1 cm1 (TZ). Overall recoveries of MZ and TZ from quality control samples were 103.2 ± 1.3 and 101.9 ± 1.3 % over three days. There was no interference from commonly utilized tablet excipients. No significant difference was obtained between the results of the new method and the BP titrimetric procedures. The azo approach using the p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde procedure described in this paper is simple, fast, accurate and precise. It is the first application of DMAB as a coupling component in the diazo coupling reaction.U radu je opisan novi način spektrofotometrijskog određivanja metronidazola (MZ) i tinidazola (TZ). Postupak uključuje reakciju diazotiranog nitroimidazola s p-dimetilaminobenzaldehidom (DMAB), pri čemu nastaje zelenkasto-žuta otopina. Optimalna temperatura i vrijeme za diazotaciju su 0 oC (ledena kupelj) i 3 minute, a za reakciju kondenzacije 30 oC i 2 minute. Obojeni adukti imaju maksimum apsorpcije pri 406, odnosno 404 nm pa su te valne duljine izabrane za analitički postupak. Reakcija s p-DMAB zbiva se u množinskom omjeru 1:1. Reakcija slijedi Beerov zakon u koncentracijskom rasponu 4,8–76,8 µg mL1 s niskim granicama detekcije. Azo adukti su stabilni preko tjedan dana. Molarna apsorptivnost bila je 1,10 × 103 (MZ), odnosno 1,30 × 103 L mol1 cm1 (TZ). Ukupni povrat MZ i TZ iz kontrolnih uzoraka bio je 103,2 ± 1,3, odnosno 101,9 ± 1,3 % tijekom tri dana. Nije zamijećena nikakva interferencija uobičajenih pomoćnih tvari koje se koriste za tabletiranje. Ne postoji značajna razlika između rezultata dobivenih novom metodom i rezultata dobivenih BP titrimetrijskim postupkom. Metoda određivanja opisana u ovom radu je jednostavna, brza, pogodna, točna i precizna i po prvi puta uključuje DMAB u reakciji diazo kopulacije