Sensitivity of atmospheric neutrinos in Super-Kamiokande to Lorentz violation

This talk, given at CPT'13, showed Super-Kamiokande atmospheric-neutrino Monte Carlo sensitivity to Lorentz-violation effects using the perturbative model derived from the Standard-Model Extension.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, presented at the Sixth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington, Indiana, June 17-21, 201

Design of (phenoxy)imine palladium complexes as homogeneous and immobilized catalysts for methoxycarbonylation of olefins.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Abstract available in pdf

Context Aware Instant Messenger with Integrated Scheduling Planner

The purpose of this paper is to do a research on context awareness concept in instant messaging applications. The widely used instant messaging systems usually incorporate the same context awareness function that displays the current status of other users. There are many prototypes of context aware instant messenger program that already being developed and being tested in order to ensure the applications are able to display the users' status in a more reliable and accurate manner. However, the availability indicators provided by instant messenger only useful for users who are planning to have communication with other users. This kind of context aware does not help users to use the instant messaging systems for another purpose such as to schedule an appointment with one of their contact list. By realizing this issue, the design of a Context-Aware Instant Messenger with Integrated Scheduling Planner system is proposed to cater the problems. The solution application is designed for all computer users especially for the staffs in organizations and universities students which will enable them to do any appointment through instant messaging system. Throughout this document, the existing prototype of instant messaging systems is discussed regarding their context awareness concept and at the same time is compared to identifY their strong and weaknesses. From the finding of the research, new project plan is discussed in order to develop a new brand prototype of instant messaging application starting from planning, analysis, design, prototype development until prototype system testing. Prototyping methodology is chosen for the development of this application because of the time constraint. There are three prototypes with different level of functionality has been produced by this project to exhibit the scheduling planner function. Based on the research done, the Context-Aware Instant Messenger with Integrated Scheduling Planner system was found to transcend current instant messaging products by having new feature which enable the users to schedule any event with their contact list

MODERATING EFFECT OF AUDIT LIBERTY ON REPORTING TIMELINESS OF NON-BANK FINANCIAL FIRMS IN NIGERIA

This study examined the impact of auditors' liberty on the timely submission of audit reports by financial institutions in Nigeria (2011-2020). For the study, two research hypotheses were developed, and tested based on the purview of  ex-post facto research design. All financial firms quoted and trading on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) as of December 31, 2021, were included in the study's population. Twenty-three (23) financial firms were chosen as a sample. The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) website and the annual reports provided by the sampled companies themselves served as the study's primary secondary sources of data. The hypotheses were validated using random effect least squares regression. The study found that audit fees have a significant negative impact on timely submission of audit reports, but that the gender diversity of the audit committee had no mitigating influence on this relationship. In light of the findings, the report suggests, among other things, that businesses hire audit firms with more experience who will prioritize professionalism and due diligence over any pressure brought on by large or low fees. In order to avoid spending more than is necessary without sacrificing audit quality and timely reporting, the study also advised organizations to budget an ideal amount for audit expenses. Other research can be done on additional particular elements that influence audit report latency in manufacturing firms and the oil and gas industry. Keywords: Audit Liberty, Audit Fee, Audit Committee Gender Diversity, Audit Report Timeliness

Mainstreaming Gender and Youth in Smallholder Sustainable Coffee Supply Chain in Kenya

This paper presents extracts of a study and focuses on the role of women and youth in managing supply chain risks associated with smallholder coffee farming in Kenya. The paper provides elements of the linkage between gender and youth mainstreaming in managing risks related to production, quality and consistency of coffee supply. It focuses on determining gender distribution and roles at smallholder farming in the coffee supply chain in Kenya, factors militating against effective participation of women and youth, and how they can effectively participate in the coffee supply chain. The study carried out in central highlands of Kenya has shown that there are more male household heads (77.6%) but with a lower average age of 59.3 as compared to that of female household heads at 63 years in the coffee growing areas. Predominantly, coffee and land are in the hands of male household heads but only as preferred trustees on behalf of the whole household. Women and youth still provide unpaid labour in coffee production and supply, and are mainly engaged in alternative enterprises to earn income for their daily household livelihoods. However, new technologies are beginning to facilitate participation of women in coffee farming. In summary the study confirmed that successful coffee supply chains depend on the willingness of all chain actors to communicate, coordinate and collaborate, and to which mainstreaming gender and youth is crucial in ensuring sustainability. Keywords: Coffee, Coffee Supply Chain, Sustainability, Agriculture, Mainstreaming, Women, Youth, Gender, Risk factors, Smallholder, Farming, Keny

Water quality evaluation from selected aquaculture ponds in Benin City, Nigeria

The present study evaluated water quality from selected aquaculture ponds in Benin City, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from deep concrete  pond, white plastic tank, black plastic tank, black tarpaulin pond, earthen pond and surface concrete pond. Standard procedures were adopted to analyze the selected physicochemical parameters of water. The analyzed results were subjected to WHO (2009) and FEPA (1993) permissible limits for aquatic water quality. Pond D (black tarpaulin pond) had the highest concentrations of EC, Total suspended solids (TSS), Total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, Sulphate, Biological oxygen demand, NO4, P, Ca, NH4, Mg, Na, K, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb and Cd. Pond D was more acidicand had the lowest alkalinity, Chemical Dissolved Oxygen (COD) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) values than other fish ponds. COD and P contents in all the fish ponds were above their permissible limits. The status of TSS, TDS, and turbidity, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb and Cd showed that these water indices were not toxic. The study recommends that fish pond water as well as water holding facilities should be monitored periodically. It also suggests that Pond D (black tarpaulin pond) should be least considered when setting up aquaculture system. Keywords: aquaculture ponds, water quality, physicochemical parameters and permissible limit

Resolving Octant Degeneracy at LBL experiment by combining Daya Bay Reactor Setup

Long baseline Experiment (LBL) have promised to be a very powerful experimental set up to study various issues related to Neutrinos. Some ongoing and planned LBL and medium baseline experiments are - T2K, MINOS, NOvA, LBNE, LBNO etc. But the long baseline experiments are crippled due to presence of some parameter degeneracies, like the Octant degeneracy. In this work, we first show the presence of Octant degeneracy in LBL experiments, and then combine it with Daya Bay Reactor experiment, at different values of CP violation phase. We show that the Octant degeneracy in LBNE can be resolved completely with this proposal.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figure