Assessing the spatial variability of soils in Uganda

Uganda\u27s soils were once considered the most fertile in Africa, but soil erosion and soil nutrient mining have led to soil degradation and declining agricultural productivity. Lack of environmental awareness among farmers, traditional agricultural practices, minimal inorganic fertilizer use, and little to no use of improved crop varieties all contribute to continued soil degradation. The objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize the spatial distribution of selected physical and chemical soil properties in Uganda on a national scale utilizing the data collected by Nkonya et al. (2008), and (2) to identify the major factors and processes that are dominant in explaining the spatial variability of these physical and chemical soil properties in Uganda on a national scale. ^ This study used a 2003 Uganda National Household Survey dataset that included analyses of 2,185 soil samples that covered western, southwestern and northwestern Uganda, representing ∼50% of the country. Variables included pH, organic matter, total N, available K, total K, total P, and soil texture (Nkonya et al., 2008, IFPRI Research Report 159). Ordinary kriging was used for spatial analysis, while a generalized linear model was used to identify the most dominant factors influencing soil variability. ANOVA results found significant variation among soil properties means, as one would expect. Strong spatial correlation (\u3c 25% nugget to sill ratio) was observed in available K, pH, sand, total N, and silt, while moderate spatial correlation (25% to 75% nugget to sill ratio) was observed for total K, clay, total P, and organic matter. Distances where spatial correlation occurred ranged between 69 and 230 km. Interpolated soil quality maps identified the Mt. Elgon and the southwestern highlands regions as having soils above the critical soil chemical and physical thresholds, indicating that these are the most favorable agricultural areas in the country. The remaining areas of the country had numerous constraints such as acidity, very sandy soils, low N and/or low organic matter, making these areas less optimal for agricultural production. ^ There was no dominant factor that solely explained the variability of all the soil properties. However, climate had the strongest effect on the variability of total N, with higher soil N found in the cooler, higher elevations of Mt. Elgon and the southwestern highlands. This study showed that geostatistical approaches can be used to evaluate spatial diversity of natural resources at larger scales. Policy makers can use this information to implement region-specific soil management approaches to address soil quality degradation. For example, programs to increase the soil pH of acid soils should be focused on the southwestern region where soils are generally more acid than other parts of the country

Use of the virtual class (VC) application: a survey among students

This study investigates the use of the virtual class (VC) application by accounting students at the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM). Two main issues examined are the pattern of usage by students and their suggestions to improve the usefulness of the application for their learning process. The study shows that among the six modules of the VC application offered at the FEM, the "Assignment and Quizzes" module was used most frequently by students in the Intermediate Accounting course. There were students who viewed the VC application as an opportunity to be absent from lectures. The length of time spent in accessing the VC application is cited as the main problem in using the application. The major benefits of using the VC application include its ability to enhance the students' knowledge of a course and assist students to communicate with lecturers. A majority of the students maintain that VC application should be extended to all lecturers in the university. Suggestions given to improve usage of VC application include improvement of on-eampus facilities and provision of more complete sets of notes than currently available

Are Accounting Undergraduates Apprehensive About Oral Communication

Communication has been identified as one of the skills required to become successful professional accountants (IFAC 1994; AAA 1990). Studies have shown that the ability to communicate effectively has been hampered by the level of oral communication apprehension (OCA) (McCroskey, 1977a; Freimuth, 1976). This study investigates the incidence of OCA amongst accounting students at Universiti Putra Malaysia. It compares OCA level in terms of gender, seating position and participation in co-curricular activities. OCA level is operationalized using Personal Report of Communication Apprehension developed by McCroskey (1984). Adopting the t-test to determine differences in OCA level between groups, it is found that males do not differ significantly from females. In terms of seating position, it is observed that respondents who prefer the front and middle seats are significantly less apprehensive about communicating in group context only than those who choose the seats on the side and back of the classroom. Overall, there is no difference between OCA level of students according to seating position. The results also reveal that significant difference exists between undergraduates who participate in co-curricular activities at university level and those who do not

Anaesthetic management of patient with Ellis Van Creveld syndrome

A known case of Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome was scheduled for emergency repair of obstructed paraumblical hernia. We describe the anaesthetic management of the case with special reference to the classic physical and physiological manifestations of this syndrome present in our patient

The binding of cyanide to cytochrome d in intact cells, spheroplasts, membrane fragments and solubilized enzyme from Salmonella typhimurium

AbstractThis investigation focused on the kinetics of cyanide binding to oxidized and reduced cytochrome d in Salmonella typhimurium intact cells, spheroplasts, membrane fragments and solubilized enzyme, and on the effect of pH on this binding. Cyanide bound to the oxidized form of cytochrome d under all experimental conditions, inducing a trough at 649 nm in the oxidized-cyanide-minus-oxidized difference absorption spectra. Vmax of cyanide binding to oxidized cytochrome d at pH 7.0 was 14.0±2.0 pmol/min/mg protein (prot.) in intact cells, 37.0±3.5 pmol/min/mg prot. in spheroplasts, 125.0±6.0 pmol/min/mg prot. in membrane fragments, and 538.0±8.5 pmol/min/mg prot. in solubilized cytochrome d. The pseudo-first order rate constants were 0.004 s−1 for intact cells, 0.005 s−1 for spheroplasts, 0.007 s−1 for membrane fragments and 0.025 s−1 for the solubilized enzyme. The Vmax value was highest at pH 7.0 for intact cells and solubilized cytochrome d and at pH 8.0 for both spheroplasts and membrane fragments. The Ks of binding at pH 7.0 was around 4 mM in intact cells, spheroplasts and membrane fragments, but was 10.5 mM in solubilized cytochrome d. This difference between the Ks values suggested a change in conformation, upon solubilization, leading to a decrease in the affinity of cyanide for the solubilized enzyme. The Ks value was nearly the same at all pH investigated (pH 5–10). Cyanide was found to also bind to the reduced form of cytochrome d in membrane fragments (Ks=18±3 mM, Vmax=377±28 pmol/min/mg prot. at pH 7) and the solubilized enzyme (Ks=18±1.2 mM, Vmax=649±45 pmol/min/mg prot. at pH 7) with a lower affinity of cyanide for the reduced cytochrome d than for the oxidized enzyme. Pseudo-first order rate constants were 0.025 s−1 and 0.042 s−1 respectively for membrane fragments and solubilized enzyme. The value of Vmax for cyanide binding to the reduced cytochrome d, whether membrane-bound or solubilized, increased slightly with pH (for pH 6–10) while the Ks value dropped significantly with increasing pH. The pH dependence observed here might be interpretable as a possible role for conformational transition associated with energy transduction. Finally, this investigation pointed to the influence of the microenvironment of a protein within the cell on its reactivity

Perbandingan antara tabung perniagaan kecil seliaan kerajaan dan pinjaman biasa dari perspektif pegawai bank

The Malaysian government has established various types of funds to cater the needs of small and medium industry (SMI). These funds are made available to entrepreneur through participating financial institutions such as commercial banks and development financial in institutions. Thc success of commercial banks in their roles, among others depends on certain characteristics of the people that are actually dealing with the funds. This article highlights the perceptions of commercial bank officers on several aspects of both ordinary loans and loans given from the government funds. Opinions sought from these officers include factors relating to the administration of the funds, the profitability of the funds, the contribution of the funds to job promotion, and the tendency of the loan under the funds becoming problematic loans. Divergence of opinions between branch managers and credit oficers, as well as between officers in town/metropolitan areas and rural areas, are investigated. Findings from this study would be useful to various parties, especially the government and financial institutions, in making the financial assistance programme for small and medium scale entreprises a successful endeavour

Do students studying Java perform better in short answer questions or computational questions? - A Case Study

There are numerous ways to assess students in a written Java test at University level. In this paper we try to determine whether students perform better in short answer type questions which test lower level cognitive skills or computational type questions which test higher level cognitive skills. Our case study is a Time Constrained Assessment for a level 5 module at Northampton University

On the Earthquake Response of Structural Systems Considering the Interaction Effects of the Ground

In earthquake engineering, it is important to estimate reasonably the effects of the ground characteristics on the earthquake responses of above-ground structures. In this paper, the ground characteristics in an elastic range are represented as the dynamic ground compliance of a foundation on an elastic half-space that means a force-displacement transfer function of an elastic ground-foundation system. Supposing bilinear hysteretic restoring force characteristics in an above-ground structure and an elasto-plastic boundary layer underneath the foundation, the nonlinear transient responses of a ground-structure system subjected to horizontal ground acceleration excitations are analyzed in a wide parameter range. The random time functions obtained through a noise generator are used for this response analysis as ground acceleration excitations. As a result of the present study, it is pointed out that an interaction effect of the ground may act advantageously on a structural earthquake response in usual cases, while a disadvantageous effect should be considered when large plastic behaviours of structures are anticipated during earthquakes

図書館関係者による図書館における貸与問題に関する議論の特徴

本研究の目的は、1997年以後の図書館関係者による図書館における貸与問題に関する議論の特徴を明らかにすることである。エンターテイメント系小説収集の目的（利用者の要求、読者の拡大、利用者・利用資料の拡大、利用の維持、資源節約、知る自由等の保障）、作家・研究者の意見の整理（問題設定、実態調査結果の解釈等）に関する主張を整理し、議論全体の特徴（議論の整理、意見の根拠、書店の売上げに関する認識、知る自由等の捉え方）について論じた。第65回日本図書館情報学会研究大会　日時：2017年11月4日（土）～5日（日） 　会場：椙山女学園大学星が丘キャンパス文化情報学部メディア