Knowledge management implementation in information society: A study of IIUM library

Most organizations implementing knowledge management are thrilled by the numerous opportunities it offers and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) library is not left behind in the innovative shift.Even though knowledge management practice is demanded in information society, it does not exist as a full-fledged solution in most organizations yet.The reality in IIUM library is that it already employs certain elements of knowledge management through the use of IT to support various activities from administrative jobs to user education.Among the IT support system used include: the staff intranet and email to share and exchange information, library database to capture and store data and the digital library facilities to serve the diverse interest of its numerous customers.The following questions therefore arise: do these elements of knowledge management available in IIUM library suffice and provide the opportunities it affords? Do the staff and users of IIUM library see it in the light of the benefits that accrue from it? Therefore the purpose of this study lies in its concern for whether the elements of knowledge management involved in the administration of IIUM library is achieving the goals of knowledge management and whether the staff and customers of IIUM library are maximizing the benefits of knowledge management in information societies

Stereological Evidences of Epithelial Hypoplasia of Seminiferous Tubules Induced By Mesterolone in Adult Sprague-Dawley Rats

BACKGROUND: Anabolic-androgenic steroid compounds are one of the most widely abused drugs by athletes and muscle builders with the goal of improving performance/ability, appearance, or muscle mass. In addition, these steroids are widely used in the treatment of male infertility and subfertility. However, increasing concern has been shown that these compounds may not only offer unappreciable benefits to infertile and subfertile males, but might have deleterious effects on both human and animal physiology and sperm quality. There is a dearth of knowledge on the structural and quantitative changes of the testis secondary to this group of compounds. Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of mesterolone (proviron), an anabolic-androgenic steroid, on some of the histomorphometric and stereological parameters of the seminiferous tubules in Sprague-Dawley rat. Materials and Methods: Two groups of 10 adult male rats were used. The treated group was given 0.06 mg/kg body weight/day of mesterolone by gavage for six weeks while the control group received equal volume of 0.9% normal saline per day. Five μm of uniformly random serial sections of the processed testicular tissues were analyzed using un-biased stereological and histomorphometric studies. Results: The results showed that the percentage mean volume density of both the tubular lumen and epithelial height increased by 35% (p< 0.05) and decreased by 50% (

Antioxidant Activity of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract on Testicular Oxidative Stress after Experimentally-induced Cryptorchidism in Male Rats was Optimal at Low Dose

The antioxidant properties of Moringa oleifera leaf have been found beneficial in several conditions characterized by oxidative stress. It is widely used for medicinal purposes and its consumption is unregulated. It is also known that standard antioxidant could be prooxidants at doses higher than the recommended. The present study investigated the effects of low and high doses of methanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaf (MEMO) on testicular oxidative stress and histology of cryptorchid rats. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were assigned into four groups. Group A was sham-operated and administered distilled water (p.o), groups B, C and D were bilaterally cryptorchid and orally treated with distilled water, low dose MEMO (200mg/kg) and high dose MEMO (500mg/kg), respectively. After three weeks of treatments, the left testis was obtained, weighed and assessed for histopathological variation while, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) activities were determined in the right testis. Testicular SOD activity reduced while GGT was increased in the cryptorchid compared with the control. Low dose MEMO-treated cryptorchid had increased SOD with reduced GGT activity compared to the untreated cryptorchid rats. At high dose of MEMO, SOD activity was significantly reduced while GGT activity increased. Testicular histology showed distorted cytoarchitecture and degeneration of germ cells in the cryptorchid rats. This was ameliorated in the low dose MEMO-treated group while there was no difference between the testicular cytoarchitecture of untreated cryptorchid and the high dose MEMO-treated rats. Thus, Moringa oleifera leaf extract at low dose ameliorated the disruption of testicular cytoarchitecture while the condition was aggravated by high dose in the experimentally-induced cryptorchid rats

Creating Nigerian Graduate Entrepreneurs through Strengthened Mentorship Programmes

The success of attempts to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice among new graduates in Nigeria has been limited. Despite participating in compulsory entrepreneurship education classes at tertiary institutions and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme immediately after graduation, their desire to hunt for white collar jobs remains very high. Promoting entrepreneurship among new graduates remains a policy challenge, and requires effectively designed mentorship programmes that address the needs and ambitions of young people.The MasterCard Foundatio

Reflections on the Growth and Development of Islamic Philosophy

As a result of secular dimension that the Western philosophy inclines to,many see philosophy as a phenomenon that cannot be attributed toreligion, which led to hasty conclusion in some quarters that philosophy isagainst religion and must be seen and treated as such. This paper looks atthe concept of philosophy in general and Islamic philosophy in particular.It starts by examining Muslim philosophers’ understanding of philosophy,and the wider meanings it attained in their philosophical thought, whichdo not only reflect in their works but also manifest in their deeds andlifestyles. The paper also tackles the stereotypes about the so-called“replication of Greek philosophy in Islamic philosophy.” It further unveilsa total transformation and a more befitting outlook of Islamic philosophyaccorded the whole enterprise of philosophy. It also exposes thedistinctions between the Islamic philosophy and Western philosophy.Keywords: Islam, Philosophy, Reason, Revelatio

The Smell of Rain

The Smell of Rain is a collection of four short stories: Harriet Tubman, Road Trip, Piano Lessons, and Friday Night Specia

Investigation of a novel hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator system

Effective thermal management of photovoltaic is essential for improving its conversion efficiency and increasing its life span. Photovoltaics can convert the ultraviolet and visible regions of the solar spectrum into electrical energy directly while thermoelectric generators utilize the infrared region to generate electrical energy. Consequently, the combination of photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric generators would enable the utilization of a wider solar spectrum. Therefore, this research aims to present an innovative thermal management technique for photovoltaic by the incorporation of thermoelectric generator (TEG) and heat pipe to form a hybrid photovoltaic system with improved overall efficiency, increased electricity generation and greater energy harvesting from the solar spectrum.The strength and innovation of the hybrid system studied in this thesis are as follows: (1) a low cost and high efficiency microchannel heat pipe (MCHP) is used to reduce thermal resistance of heat flow across interfaces and increase heat transfer capacity; (2) the flat plate structure of the MCHP eliminates geometry mismatch and reduces thermal losses; (3) water cooling is used for the TEG cold side thus, the hybrid system feasibility for co-generation of electricity and hot water is demonstrated; and (4) the use of flat plate MCHP results in significant reduction in TEG quantity needed thereby reducing the system cost. These structural innovations are intended to overcome some of the drawbacks and provide experimental data for the development of hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV-TE) systems.A basic methodology of combined theoretical and experimental analysis is followed in this thesis and it involves, detailed literature review, conceptual design, mathematical analysis, computer simulation model development, experimental testing, model validation, and optimization case studies. Computer simulation models are developed to predict and optimize the performance of the systems using three- dimensional finite element models and COMSOL Multiphysics software.Experimental results show that the electrical conversion efficiencies of the PV- TE-MCHP with and without insulation and that of the photovoltaic only after 1 h are 11.98%, 12.19% and 11.94% respectively. Therefore, the hybrid system provides an enhanced performance. In addition, the highest and lowest thermal efficiencies obtained are 69.53% and 56.57% respectively under certain conditions. Steady state computer simulation results show that that at a high ambient temperature of 50 °C, the PV-TE-MCHP overall efficiency is greater than that of the PV only and PV-TE systems by 9.76% and 14.46% respectively. Therefore, the hybrid PV-TE-MCHP is recommended for sunny regions with high ambient temperature. Results also show that the asymmetrical leg geometry provides enhanced TEG only performance compared to the symmetrical leg geometry although the reverse is the case for the hybrid concentrated PV-TE system.This research shows that the hybrid PV-TE-MCHP design is feasible and provides enhanced performance compared to the PV only and PV-TE systems. In addition, the effectiveness of thermoelectric geometry optimization for performance enhancement is demonstrated in this research. Therefore, the experimental and simulation results from this research provide fundamental data for developing highly efficient hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems and thermoelectric generators

Towards locating the Nigerian Shari‘ah Penal Codes’ provisions for willful homicide within the Shari‘ah

The punishment for willful homicide under Islamic law is retaliation (qiṣāṣ) that is death. However, relatives of the murdered are at liberty to waive this and accept compensation money (diyah) or pardon the culprit absolutely. These provisions of the Sharī‘ah were not in force in Nigeria until1999 when Zamfara State adopted Sharī‘ah as its legal system and eleven other states later followed suit. With the creation of Sharī‘ah Courts in those states to hear among other things, matters of criminal cases and the enactment of Sharī‘ah Penal Codes to replace the long existing Northern Nigeria Penal Code in seven out of those eleven states, Islamic Criminal Law came into force in parts of northern Nigeria. This work examined the extent at which the Sharī‘ah Penal Codes adequately incorporated the provisions of the Sharī‘ah on willful homicide. Descriptive research method was adopted and data of the work were collected from printed materials and statute law. Findings of the work revealed that the Sharī‘ah Penal Codes largely adhere to the Maliki School of Law which in some cases, proves to be harsher than the provisions of others. The paper asserts that the right to waive punishment and compensation or to uphold either of the two is with relatives of the murdered and not the judge or the authority. As a result, strict adherence to a specific school of jurisprudence may not adequately represent the interests of Nigerian MuslimsKeywords: Sharī‘ah, Sharī‘ah Penal Code, Willful Homicide, Takhayyur, Islamic Criminal La