Computationally synthesised inorganic and organometallic complexes : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Catalytic aromatic ring C–H bond functionalisations by transition metal cyclometallation reactions are important for organic transformation reactions. The cyclometallated product, which contains a new metal–carbon bond is formed as a consequence of different types of carbon–hydrogen····metal (C–H····M) interactions. These C–H···M interactions have been known as anagostic, preagostic and agostic interactions. By nature, the anagostic interaction has mainly electrostatic components, the preagostic interaction has electrostatic components with some back-bonding from metal to C–H antibonding orbital involved and the agostic interaction has mainly covalent components when the C–H bond donates electron density to the partially occupied metal centre. Prior to the current thesis work, an in-depth study that addresses the influence of steric and electronic factors on the anagostic, preagostic and agostic carbon–hydrogen····metal interaction was missing. In this thesis, the influence of both the steric and electronic factors on the anagostic, preagostic and agostic C–H···M interactions has been studied. It is seen that the electronic and steric influences play differently for different ligand systems as with the flexible tetralone ligand, a maximum of steric and electronic influence results into another type of anagostic interaction named as the 'C-anagostic' interaction. It is also seen that a stronger steric and electronic effect can trigger agostic covalency at the anagostic stage of the reaction. The inflexible ligand ensures the short anagostic approach, which has some back-bonding character and the nature of the interaction lies into the preagostic category. Finally, the aromatic ring agostic interactions have more complexity as new donations named as 'syndetic' from C–C pi bond to metal antibonding orbitals were recognised which shares the same antibonding acceptor orbitals as the agostic donation does. The recognition of new bonding situations in C–H····M interactions can have significant implications for C–H bond functionalisation reactions

The Urban Informal Sector in an Adjusting Economy: The Case of Pakistan

The concept of the informal sector has gained popularity since the well-known study by International Labour Organisation [ILO] in 1972 Kenya. Since then it has become a centre stage in policy discussion regarding unemployment and poverty alleviation. Though economists are still not able to give an authentic and unanimous definition of the informal sector, it is commonly known as the non-regulated sector of the economy. Despite the fact that the informal sector provides a large chunk of GDP and employment in the national economy, this sector is very much neglected in Pakistan. A few studies have been conducted to measure the size and the role of urban informal sector in past. However, the employment estimates provided by these studies have always been controversial. In addition, in all of these studies attention has been focused mainly to the manufacturing sector. Though the importance of the manufacturing sector cannot be denied, the services sector is also of significant importance as well, however it has received relatively less attention in the past. In this study, sufficient attention has been given to this neglected sector and focus is given to its role in employment in the urban informal sector.

Wheat growth and phytoavailability of copper and zinc as affected by soil texture in saline-sodic conditions

Nutrient disorders in saline-sodic soils can adversely affect crop growth. In order to evaluate the growth response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to Cu and Zn and the phytoavailability of these essential elements, a pot experiment was conducted in three different textured saline-sodic soils [sandy loam (SL), sandy clay loam (SCL) and clay (C)] having an ECe 8.63, 8.80, 8.98 dS m–1 and SAR 21.66, 23.48, 24.84 (mmol L–1)1/2 respectively. Seven treatments including levels of Cu (4, 6 and 8 mg kg–1) and levels of Zn (4, 6 and 8 mg kg–1) were separately applied together with a single control treatment. Dry matter yield (straw + grain) of wheat increased up to 35.2% with Cu and up to 31.2 % with Zn application relative to the control. As soil clay content increased, dry matter yield decreased up to 39.2% in SCL and up to 62.7% in C soil when compared to SL soil. Application of Cu increased the concentration in both wheat straw and grains up to 2.46 and 2.20 mg kg–1 DW respectively relative to the control. Zinc concentration in wheat straw and grains was also increased up to 29.97 and 29.40 mg kg–1 DW respectively relative to the controls. Copper application significantly increased Zn concentrations in wheat plants

Penerapan model pembelajaran problem based instruction untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa kelas X MAN Semarang 1 pada mata pelajaran fisika materi pokok hukum Newton tentang gerak tahun ajaran 2009/2010

Pembelajaran fisika pada umumnya masih didominasi guru yang menggunakan metode ceramah dan kurang melibatkan aktivitas siswa dalam melakukan kerja ilmiah, akibatnya hasil belajar siswa masih rendah dan kegiatan belajar siswa pun belum menyentuh aspek afektif dan aspek psikomotorik. Guru perlu mencari inovasi strategi belajar mengajar yang melibatkan siswa dalam pembelajaran untuk mencapai hasil belajar yang baik dan dapat mengembangkan keaktifan siswa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa kelas X-2 MAN Semarang 1 pada mata pelajaran fisika materi pokok hukum Newton tentang gerak melalui penerapan model pembelajaran Problem Based Instruction. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas yang dilaksanakan dalam tiga siklus. Tiap siklusnya meliputi 4 tahap yakni, perencanaan, pelaksanaan, pengamatan dan refleksi. Faktor yang diteliti adalah hasil belajar siswa (kognitif, afektif, psikomotorik). Data hasil belajar kognitif diambil dari nilai tes setiap akhir siklus. Data hasil belajar afektif dan psikomotorik diperoleh dari lembar observasi. Dari hasil penelitian, hasil belajar kognitif siswa sebelum tindakan masih dibawah rata-rata yaitu 55,75 dengan presentase ketuntasan 33,33%. Pada siklus I, nilai tes rerata 64,11 dengan presentase ketuntasan 52,77%. Pada siklus II, nilai tes rerata 72,56 dengan presentase ketuntasan 75%. Pada siklus III, nilai tes rerata 75,94 dengan presentase ketuntasan 88,88%. Hasil belajar afektif pada siklus I, diketahui nilai presentase ketuntasannya 53,75%. Pada siklus II, nilai presentase ketuntasannya 64,44%. Pada siklus III, nilai presentase ketuntasannya 75,50%. Hasil belajar psikomotorik pada siklus I, diketahui nilai presentase ketuntasannya 52,22%. Pada siklus II, nilai presentase ketuntasannya 58,89%. Pada siklus III, nilai presentase ketuntasannya 70,14%, sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa dengan penerapan Problem Based Instruction pada materi pokok Hukum Newton tentang gerak dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa kelas X MAN Semarang I tahun ajaran 2009/2010. Peningkatan hasil belajar dapat dilihat dari kenaikan nilai rerata dan ketuntasan belajar dari satu siklus ke siklus berikutnya. Diharapkan dengan penerapan Problem Based Instruction dalam pembelajaran físika dapat membantu siswa mengembangkan kemampuan berpikir dan memecahkan masalah melalui pelibatan dengan pengalaman nyata sehingga hasil belajar siswa bisa lebih optimal. Kata kunci: Problem Based Instruction, Hasil Belaja

PEMIKIRAN QURAISH SHIHAB TENTANG ZAKAT PROFESI

Skripsi ini atas dasar riset pustaka yang menelaah pemikiran tokoh M.Quraish Shihab. Penulis menemukan hal yang berbeda didalam Bukunya menjawab 1001 tentang keislaman karya M.Quraish Shihab mempersamakan zakat profesi dengan zakat perdagangan, karena hasil yang diterima biasanya berupa uang sehingga lebih mirip dengan hasil perdagangan atau senilai emas dan perak yaitu 2, 5 % dari hasil profesi seseorang. Penafsir lebih melihat adanya Prinsip solidaritas sosial dalam kehidupan, karena Manusia adalah makhluk sosial yang hidup bersama dengan individu-individu dalam masyarakat, meskipun manusia mempunyai sifat berbeda-beda ia tidak dapat dipisahkan darinya. Dalam bidang ekonomi, meskipun seseorang mempunyai kepandaian sendiri hasil material yang diperolehnya adalah berkat bantuan orang lain, baik secara langsung dan disadari ataupun tidak secara langsung dan tidak disadari. Fokus penelitian ini adalah Anailisis Pemikiran Quraish Shihab Tentang Zakat Profesi. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tekstual dengan menggunakan analisis kualitatif. Metode untuk mengumpulkan data menggunakan dokumentasi atau kepustakaan, terutama buku: M. Quraish Shihab Menjawab Pertanyaan 1001 Tentang Keislaman, Tafsir al-Misbah, buku tambahan lainnya. Berdasarkan hasil analisa data dan pembahasan, dapat disimpulkan: Menurut Quraish Shihab Zakat profesi adalah zakat yang dikeluarkan dari penghasilan profesi (hasil profesi) bila telah mencapai nisab. Profesi yang dimaksud jenis usaha manusia yang menghasilkan pendapatan, baik secara langsung tanpa keterikatan dengan orang atau pihak lain seperti para dokter, konsultan, seniman, maupun yang disertai keterikatan dengan pemerintah ataupun swasta, seperti gaji, upah dan honorium. Oleh karena itu, kewajiban mengeluarkan zakat setara dengan kewajiban keuangan lainnya dalam arti telah ditetapkan oleh Allah berdasarkan pemiliknya yang mutlak atas segala sesuatu dan juga berdasarkan istikhlaf (penugasan manusia sebagai klalifah) dan persaudaraan dalam kehidupan bermasyarakat yang sebangsa dan sekemanusiaan. Semoga skripsi ini menjadi referensi baru untuk dijadikan acuan dalam melakukan pemberdayaan kepada masyarak

Role of RNA Interference (RNAi) in the Moss Physcomitrella patens

RNA interference (RNAi) is a mechanism that regulates genes by either transcriptional (TGS) or posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS), required for genome maintenance and proper development of an organism. Small non-coding RNAs are the key players in RNAi and have been intensively studied in eukaryotes. In plants, several classes of small RNAs with specific sizes and dedicated functions have evolved. The major classes of small RNAs include microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which differ in their biogenesis. miRNAs are synthesized from a short hairpin structure while siRNAs are derived from long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA). Both miRNA and siRNAs control the expression of cognate target RNAs by binding to reverse complementary sequences mediating cleavage or translational inhibition of the target RNA. They also act on the DNA and cause epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. In the last years, the analysis of plant RNAi pathways was extended to the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens, a non-flowering, non-vascular ancient land plant that diverged from the lineage of seed plants approximately 450 million years ago. Based on a number of characteristic features and its phylogenetic key position in land plant evolution P. patens emerged as a plant model species to address basic as well as applied topics in plant biology. Here we summarize the current knowledge on the role of RNAi in P. patens that shows functional overlap with RNAi pathways from seed plants, and also unique features specific to this species

PENGEMBANGAN SISTEM INFORMASI PRAKTIKUM LABORATORIUM JARINGAN KOMPUTER TEKNIK ELEKTRO

Kegiatan praktikum merupakan kegiatan yang rutin dilakukan setiap semester di laboratorium jaringan komputer Teknik Elektro, Universitas Syiah Kuala. Namun, pengelolaan kegiatan ini masih menggunakan sumber daya kertas dalam pengolahan data-data penjadwalan maupun penilaiannya, praktikan harus mendaftar ulang sebelum mengikuti praktikum, belum adanya sistem informasi praktikum yang terintegrasi langsung dengan jaringan kampus untuk sinkronisasi data mahasiswa yang mengambil matakuliah praktikum. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan sebuah sistem informasi praktikum. Sistem informasi praktikum laboratorium jaringan komputer dibuat menggunakan metode waterfall model with feedback dengan antarmuka Graphical User Interface (GUI) dan berbasis web application. Sebelum sistem dapat di-implementasikan dalam kegiatan praktikum laboratorium, maka dilakukan terlebih dahulu pengujian terhadap sistem informasi yang dikembangkan. Implementasi dilakukan dalam sebuah jaringan virtual host sedangkan pengujian dilakukan menggunakan blackbox testing dan usability testing serta analythical hierarchy process (AHP). Berdasarkan pengujian yang dilakukan, fungsionalitas laboran, dosen, asisten dan praktikan telah berjalan sesuai yang diharapkan. Terbukti juga dengan analisa AHP yang memiliki nilai rasio konsistensi (CR < 0.1) pada masing-masing matriks pairwise comparison untuk setiap level kriteria dan hasil perhitungan bobot tingkat keparahan usabilitas paling parah dimiliki oleh alternatif laboran dengan nilai 0.4516

Impact of Remittances on Economic Growth and Poverty: Evidence from Pakistan

The study focused on the importance of remittances inflow and its implication for economic growth and poverty reduction in Pakistan. By using ARDL approach we analyze the impact of remittances inflow on economic growth and poverty in Pakistan for the period 1973-2007. The district wise analysis of poverty suggest that overseas migration contributes to poverty alleviation in the districts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan however NWFP is not portraying a clear picture. The empirical evidence shows that remittances effect economic growth positively and significantly. Furthermore the study also finds that remittances have a strong and statistically significant impact on poverty reduction thus suggesting that there are substantial potential benefits associated with international migration for poor people in developing countries like Pakistan. So the importance of remittance inflows can not be denied in terms of growth enhancement and poverty reduction that consequently improves the social and economic conditions of the recipient country.Remittances; Growth; Poverty; Pakistan

The behaviour of remolded Batu Pahat soft clay with different OCR values under cyclic loading

The Batu Pahat Soft Clay, (BPSC) of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, (UTHM) were low in shear strength, bearing capacity, and suffer large settlements when subjected to loading. They undergo varies of dynamic cyclic loadings during their design lifetime and the response was typically more complex, requiring engineers to investigate the dynamic behaviour of soils thoroughly in the laboratory. The objectives of this research were to simulate remolded Batu Pahat Soft Clay (RBPSC) samples with different σv’, to study the dynamic shear modulus, G and damping ratio, D of (RBPSC) under cyclic loading with different f, OCRs, σv’ and σc’ and to analyses the correlation between G and D of the (RBPSC) with the OCR values under cyclic loading. As result, the 100 x 50 mm of remoulded samples are succeed simulated by using large strain consolidation apparatus of 50, 80 and 100 kPa of pre consolidation stress, contain moisture ranging within 42 to 55%. The series of remolded consolidated undrained dynamic cyclic triaxial test were ran under OCR of 1, 2, 3.85 and 4. Hence, it could be concluded that the G decreased when increasing of f and OCRs subjected to increasing axial strain while the G corresponding to each σv’ increases slightly as the σv’ becomes higher. The D shows minor increased when increasing of the f, OCRs and σv’ when subjected to increasing axial strain. Thus, input of parameter G and D can be review as technical values to key design structure on top of soil layer