The I in Optics

This thesis involves a film-based installation that explores the notion of authorship in cinema. Participants are invited to access and combine short video clips through an interactive device that facilitates the creation of individualized films. Combining elements of expanded cinema, customized editing software, and crowdsourced video, The I in Optics challenges the conventional hierarchy and compartmentalization of film production, along with the presumed passivity of the audience. My exhibition empowers spectators to take on the role of filmic experimentation regardless of their training or knowledge; the result will be an archive of films that demonstrates the agency and creativity of individuals who can become filmmakers if provided the opportunity. In recruiting a wide variety of participants to engage with my customized software, what will ultimately be gleaned from this exhibition is the different ways users cull their creativity from the same set of tools and clips

A Study Of Employee Perceptions About Performance Appraisal At Transnet Engineering, South Africa

Transnet Engineering is a division of Transnet, which is a key South African state owned enterprise that is responsible for providing railroad, freight and logistics services to South African and international business enterprises. Transnet Engineering is located at Koedoespoort, just outside Pretoria, South Africa. This manuscript is a result of data gathered from 198 employees of Transnet Engineering as part of an attempt made by the company to describe and quantify the perception held by employees of Transnet Engineering on the degree to which the performance of appraisal system used by the company for performance appraisal was suitable enough for its intended purpose. The perception of employees was measured by using a benchmark defined by Pichler (2012) in which similar measurements were made under near-identical circumstances. All measurements were taken based on a standardised, validated and pre-tested instrument. Pearson’s two-by-two chi-squared tests of associations, discriminant analysis and logit regression were used for analyses. The study found that about 63% of participants were happy with the performance appraisal system used by the company, whereas about 37% of participants held a negative perception. The results confirmed that the perception of employees about the performance appraisal system used at Transnet Engineering was affected by the perception of employees on fairness, and the assessment of performance of employees based on key performance indicators. Findings obtained from the study are quite relevant and valuable to all other South African state owned enterprises

A Review on Population Structure, Genetic Diversity Analysis, Genetic Distance between Population and Genetic Singularity in Livestock

This review was undertaken to clarify importance of genetic diversity and genetic distance of domestic livestock species in the future. Importance of farm animal genetic resources is very diverse, particularly for the poor and under smallholder production systems in the developing world. Uses include subsistence consumption of livestock products, manure, traction, savings, risk management, capital accumulation and socio-cultural functions. The present domestic animal diversity as represented in the multitude of our livestock breeds is the result of thousands of generations of rural communities manipulating their livestock populations according to the requirements of their environment, their subsistence needs and cultural concepts. Genetic characterization has recently been the method of describing and classifying livestock breeds/populations using measures of genetic distances between populations. Genetic markers like microsatellites, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and recently the whole genome are tools used for characterizing genetic diversity between and within populations.. Hence, SNP is more preferable to other markers for developing countries due to its simplicity, ability to differentiate variations, useful to identify genes of economically important traits and it is cheap. Keywords: Genetic marker, SNP, Genetic Diversity Analysis, Genetic Distanc

Assessment on the Shrinkage and Ecological Importance of Wetlands of Fogera Plain, North West Ethiopia

This study investigates the shrinkage, carbon sequestration potential and biodiversity richness of wetlands of Fogera plain, North West Ethiopia.  Landsat MSS of 1986, Landsat TM of 1994 and Landsat ETM+ 2011 were used to study the change in areas of wetlands over time. Supervised image classification through maximum likelihood classifier algorithm was used. Besides to this, interview and focused group discussion were used for the qualitative study of wetlands shrinkage. Soil sample were taken from three classes of wetlands i.e permanent wetlands (undisturbed wetlands), less disturbed wetlands and temporary wetlands. From each category of wetlands, 23 composite soil samples in three replications at a depth of 0-75 cm were collected. Sample soil organic carbon and organic matter were analyzed in soil laboratory.  The result of Landsat images analysis showed that the area of the wetland in Fogera plain is decreasing. It was 25% of the area in 1973, while it shrinked in to 19.59% in 2011. For this, sediment deposition, practice of unsustainable farming practices by local farmers and problem of land ownership are the major causes. There is a significant difference (p < 0.05) in soil OC and OM content in between different classes of wetlands. The organic carbon content of soils of permanent wetlands where there is sediment deposition is very low. In less disturbed wetlands, there is better carbon content than other state of wetlands. Totally, carbon sequestration potential of these wetlands is very low in comparison with the carbon content of the wetlands of other parts of the world. Because in these wetlands there is high deposition of sediment with high sand content transported from the upstream watersheds by Rib River.  This triggers the wetlands to lack their pristine nature.  The wetlands of Fogera plain are home for different species of birds and fish.  In these wetlands, 207 bird species during the wet and dry seasons were observed. The wetlands are rich in and nursery habitat for Labeobarbus and Clarias gariepinus fish species. This study recommends a call for wetland conservation and rehabilitation efforts through incorporating wetlands into watershed management plans, better community management system and effective land registration and certification program. Key words: wetland shrinkage, carbon sequestration, sedimentatio

Irrigation Management Practices In Tigray:The Case of Qorir Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme, Klite-Awlalo Woreda, Eastern Zone of Tigray

The issue of food security is a serious concern especially in arid and semi-arid regions like Tigray, which is vulnerable to climatic instability and frequent droughts. To see the positive effect of irrigation on livelihood, the management aspect of irrigation must be taken in to account. Nevertheless, the management aspect of irrigation is often neglected while priorities are given to the construction of irrigation. Therefore, the purpose of this study has been to assess irrigation management practices with special reference to Qorir Small Scale Irrigation Scheme, Klite-Awlalo Woreda, Eastern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. The study has been focused on examining how users were organized for self-management of the scheme and how water management, conflict management, operation and system maintenance issues were practiced and challenges that hinder the sustainability of the scheme also included in the study. In order to undertake this study, household questionnaire, focus group discussion, interview and key informant interview were carried out to collect primary data from all beneficiaries of the scheme. Both quantitative and descriptive analysis techniques were used for analyzing the data. In addition, relevant literatures and essential documents were reviewed that was useful for the study. The findings of this study showed that the water committee is responsible for water allocation and distribution, coordinating maintenance activities and conflict management in the irrigation scheme with support from development agents and extension workers. Nonetheless, the water committee in the irrigation scheme is found to be inefficient in managing water distribution in terms of adequacy, timeliness and equity in the supply of water. The study result also revealed that conflict within and between groups was persistent due to water scarcity, water theft, lack of proper control of water distribution and competition (increasing number of users). Although the dam was meant to irrigate hundred hectares of the vast command area along the downstream, it irrigates about 50 hectares on average and that is small as compared to the expected potential of the irrigation scheme. This is because a significant number of beneficiaries (61.7%) faced a problem of water shortage for their agricultural activities

The Endemic Bale Monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis): Distribution and Threat, A Review Paper

The Endemic bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) is a little-known primate species recorded as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red list. Bale monkeys are believed to be confined to bamboo forest habitats, specializing on the young leaves of highland bamboo (Arundinaria alpina). Bale monkeys found at Harenna Forest (BMNP), Kacha and Rira area at altitude 2800 masl, and at Odobullu Forest, in the bamboo forest 23km northwest of Dodolla, and Djam-Djam Mountains near “Abera” area, a region east of Lake Abaya at about 3000 masl, Hagere Selam regions (Southern Nations Nationalities Region, Sidamo) and recently recorded at Geremba mountain of Arbegona Wereda (Southern Nations Nationalities Region, Sidamo Zone). The species inhabit a wide range of habitat types including savannah, woodland forest, grassland and riverine forests and are generalists inhabiting different habitat types and feeding on different food sources. The range of this species is less than 20,000 km² with severe fragmentation and there is continuing decline due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Habitat destruction, agricultural land expansion, and human settlement are major threats of the species. Keywords: Anthropogenic, Conservation, Habitat, Mammals, Threat

Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Some Soil Chemical and Physical Properties in Ameleke Watershed, South Ethiopia

This study investigates the effect of land use and land cover change on some soil chemical and physical properties. Soil samples were collected from six sample sites.  From these sample sites, composite soil samples were collected from agroforestry, crop land, grass land and shrub lands in three replications at 0-15cm and 15-30 cm depth. Soil samples’ chemical and physical properties were analyzed in soil laboratory. Laboratory result shows that there is a significant difference (p < 0.05) in soil available K, TN, OC, OM, available P, silt and sand content among land use and land covers of study watershed. There is also a difference in soil colour among land use and land covers. But there is no significant difference in soil pH and CEC among land use and land covers. The difference in soil properties among land use land covers is more significant at 0-15cm depth than at 15-30cm depth. Most soil nutrients subject to laboratory analysis are low at croplands of Cheketa sub catchment and grass lands of Debeka sub catchment. This study recommends a need to promote sustainable soil management practices and improving management of grass and shrub land uses in the watershed. Key words:land use and land cover change, changes in soil propertie

Improving Student Participation in Group Project Work: An Action Research

Group project work is a tool to share knowledge and skills among students and it is one way to assess students in a semester. However, a large number of students are not participating in group project work. This paper aims to improve students’ participation in group project work and identify challenges that hinder students’ participation in group project work. The primary data were collected by questionnaire and observation data gathering tools. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches and purposive sampling were used. Advanced Database Systems course was selected from the Information Systems Department and 13 groups were formed and each group has 5 members. The questionnaires distributed to all 65 students, and of which 61, were properly filled for analysis. Descriptive statistical analyses of percentage were calculated. The major factors that hinder students’ participation were a shortage of time, lack of interest and awareness, lack of monitoring, group members not given individual responsibility, and assessment method. The taken actions to improve students’ participation were creating awareness, distribute project guidelines, assigning roles, monitoring group members’ participation, and prepare assessment criteria. After the implementation of the actions and there is a great change in the participation of students in the group project work. Keywords: action research, group project work, implemented actions, students’ participation DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-13-06 Publication date:May 31st 202

Land use and land cover change in Ameleke Watershed, South Ethiopia

This study investigated the land use and land cover change at Ameleke watershed, middle catchment of Gidabo River, South Ethiopia that occurred from 1986-2006. Landsat TM of 1986, Landsat ETM+ of 2000 and SPOT of 2006 were used to produce land use and land cover maps of the watershed. A pixel-based supervised image classification through decision rule of maximum likelihood classifier algorithm was used to map land use and land covers on ERDAS Imagine 8.6.  For land use and land cover maps of 1986, 2000 and 2006, error matrixes were produced and have an accuracy assessment of 80%, 85% and 85.71% respectively. Focused group discussions and key informant interviews were also used for land use and land cover reconstruction. The result showed from 1986 up to 2006, cropland and mixed cover increased from 23.33% to 31% and 7.26 to 15.68% of the watershed respectively. In contrast grass lands and shrub lands decreased from 25.9% to 14.96% and 30.3% and 24.25% of the watershed respectively in 1986 to 2006. There was also an increasing trend on agroforestry while there was a decreasing trend on riverine forests. This study recommends further assessment and monitoring of spatial and temporal based land use and land cover change at homestead level having high resolution satellite images. Keywords: land use and land cover change, Ameleke watershe