Possible propagation of the Zhang-Rice singlet as a probable Cooper channel in the CuO2CuO_2 planes

The issue of how superconductivity originate in the $CuO_2$ planes believed to be crucial to understanding the high $T_c$ superconducting cuprates is still an going debate. In the wake of recent experimental observations of the the Zhang-Rice singlet (ZRS), its formation and propagation need to be revisited especially by using a simple approach almost at a phenomenological level. Within a highly simplified correlated variational approach (HSCVA) in this paper, a new formation of the ZRS as constituting the ground state of a single-band t-J model of the $CuO_2$ planes is developed. This formation is then used to demonstrate how the ZRS can be propagated as a probable Cooper channel in the $CuO_2$ planes.Comment: 10 page

AWARENESS AND USAGE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

The study aims at investigating the awareness and usage of electronic information resources among postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The census sampling technique was adopted for this study. Thus, the entire population of three hundred and seventy-five (375) postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria were used as the sample for this study. The questionnaire tagged: Awareness and Usage of Electronic Information Resources by Postgraduate Students of Library and Information Science Questionnaire (AUEIRPSLISQ) was used as instrument for data collection. Four research questions were answered and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The simple percent statistical tool was used to answer the research questions and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) for testing the hypotheses. The results obtained revealed that postgraduate students of library and information science are quite aware and highly use electronic information resources. The study also reported that postgraduate LIS students are skilled in the use of electronic information resources. Based on the findings the study concluded that electronic information resources are essential tools for empowering postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria

Ultracold atoms in superlattices as quantum simulators for a spin ordering model and phenomena

Cold atoms in optical lattices is the application of two formerly distinct aspects of physics: quantum gases from atomic physics and laser theory from quantum optics. Its use to simulate quantum phenomena and models in condensed matter physics is a growing field. The major goal is to use cold fermonic atoms in these superlattices for the simulations. We present here a theoretical proposal for simulating a spin ordering model using fermions. We demonstrate superexchange interaction in the double well and resonating valence bond (RVB) states in kagome lattice which is important for understanding the CuO2 plane of the superconducting cuprates and other magnetic frustrated materials.Comment: 10 page

Computer Self-Efficacy, Computer Anxiety and Information Retrieval Skills as Correlate of Electronic Library Use among LIS Undergraduates in Southern Nigeria Universities.

The study examined computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety and information retrieval skills as correlate of electronic library use among library and information science undergraduates in universities in Southern Nigeria. One research question guided the study while one hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 10,345 library and information science (LIS) undergraduates from ten federal, seventeen state and eight private universities in Southern Nigeria. The study explores purposive and quota sampling technique to determine the sample size which arrived at 1, 006 used for the study. Four instruments: Undergraduates’ Computer Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (UCSQ), Undergraduates’ Computer Anxiety Questionnaire (UCAQ), Undergraduate Information Retrieval Skill Questionnaire (UIRSQ), and Undergraduates’ Electronic Library Use Questionnaire (UELUQ) were used for data collection. In other to establish the reliability of the instruments, Cronbach alpha was used to analyze data collected from twenty (20) LIS undergraduate students in one federal university (Federal University of Technology, Mina) in North-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The alpha coefficients of UCSQ is .88, UCAQ .90, UIRSQ .94 and UELUQ .89 respectively. The Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) was deplored to answer the research question while multiple regression was used to test the hypothesis. Findings revealed that computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety and information retrieval skills jointly had a significant relationship with LIS undergraduates’ electronic library use. The study recommends amongst others that all stakeholders in university education in Nigeria namely; Nigeria University Commission (NUC), Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) and Nigeria Library Association (NLA) should collaborate to redesign or tailor LIS curriculum to reflect information and communication technological courses with innovations prevalent in this 21st century like what is obtainable in developed world. Also, the new LIS curriculum advocated should ensure that the teaching of computer skills to LIS undergraduate in universities is promoted. This is to enable the moderate level of usage of electronic library information resources by LIS undergraduate changed to high and is sustained for adequate academic prowess

AWARENESS AND USAGE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

The study aims at investigating the awareness and usage of electronic information resources among postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The census sampling technique was adopted for this study. Thus, the entire population of three hundred and seventy-five (375) postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria were used as the sample for this study. The questionnaire tagged: Awareness and Usage of Electronic Information Resources by Postgraduate Students of Library and Information Science Questionnaire (AUEIRPSLISQ) was used as instrument for data collection. Four research questions were answered and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The simple percent statistical tool was used to answer the research questions and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) for testing the hypotheses. The results obtained revealed that postgraduate students of library and information science are quite aware and highly use electronic information resources. The study also reported that postgraduate LIS students are skilled in the use of electronic information resources. Based on the findings the study concluded that electronic information resources are essential tools for empowering postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria

Superexchange Driven Singlet-Triplet Transition in Quantum Dots Array Embedded in Kagome Lattice System

The envisaged revolutionary impact of the quantum computer has continued to elucidate diverse means to design and build physical quantum computers. In condensed matter physics, one of the means is to design materials to host two-electron quantum dots (QDs) which can be manipulated into singlet-triplet (S-T) transition. This transition which is read as the quantum bits (qubits) that is considered as a possible logic gate for the quantum computers is enhanced by external magnetic field which is a potential source of decohenrence. In the study here therefore, the possibility of using a superexchange induced internal magnetic field to drive the S-T transition in QDs embedded in a kagome lattice system (KLS) is examined. The design is by embedding the two-electron QDs into the frustrated sites of the KLS and then filling the other sites with single electrons. The parameter space of this KLS to achieve the S-T in the QDs array are obtained from the superexchange interaction in correlated  variational  study of the system.   Keywords: frustrated system,  kagome  lattice, quantum dot, singlet-triplet transition, quantum compute

Effect of hydromethanolic extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf on blood glucose, plasma insulin and histomorphology of the pancreas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic male wistar rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most dreaded health issues worldwide due to its exponential increasing rate and the limitations of synthetic drugs in providing complete cure for it, hence, the call by health stakeholders, for more researches on medicinal plants due to their promising results in providing solutions to some health issues with little or no side effect. In response to this call, this study investigates the effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf extract on blood glucose, plasma insulin and histomorphology of the pancreas of diabetic rats in an attempt to evaluate its anti-diabetic potentials. Methods: Diabetes was induced via intraperitoneal injection of 55mg/kg b. wt. streptozotocin and treated with hydromethanolic extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf (250mg/kg and 500mg/kg b. wt. doses) and glyburide (5mg/kg b. wt.) for 28 days. Blood glucose levels were measured after every 4 days of treatment during treatment period. Plasma insulin levels were estimated after 14 and 28 days of treatment via immunoassay; while the histomorphological study was done using hematoxylin and eosin staining technique. Results: Results from this study show dose dependent significant (P<0.05) decrease in blood glucose levels and a dose dependent significant increase in plasma insulin of the extract treated groups which were comparable to those of glyburide treated group. The histological study of the pancreas showed an improvement on the deranged pancreas of diabetic rats following 28-days treatment with Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf extract. This possibly explains the increase in plasma insulin levels and a corresponding decrease in blood glucose. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it is therefore concluded that Rauvolfia vomitoria has strong anti-diabetic property. The results show that Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf extract effect its anti-diabetic action by enhancing the regeneration of the pancreatic islets thereby increasing insulin secretion and plasma insulin level

Sodium fast reactors as potential nuclear power plants in Nigeria’s quest for nuclear electricity

The sodium fast reactor (SFR) was x-rayed in this work as a possible candidate for the Nigeria nuclear programme. In particular, the fuel economy and effects of reactivity were analyzed using the BN 600 as a prototype nuclear power plant (NPP). In a regime of closed fuel cycle, fast reactors are reputed for utilizing a large variety of fuels in sharp contrast to conventional reactors. Reaction rates and isotopic compositions of fuel elements were computed using the software “TIME 26”. The radial heat profile in the reactor core (RC) was aligned. Alignment was carried out by fuel enrichment in the peripheral part of the Active Zone (AZ), that is, Zone of Big Enrichment (ZBE). The corresponding fuel enrichment in the Zone of Small Enrichment (ZSE) was equally determined via a prompt enrichment factor (a) that ranges from 1.2 to 1.3. Parameters such as fuel campaign time and time interval between refueling were also determined. These parameters were limited to the maximum allowable burn-up value of the fuel which was set at 10%. With a Breeding Ratio (BR) of 1.2865, it is shown in this work that SFRs are able to reproduce their own fuel in contrast to thermal reactors. Further, the computed reactivity margin of 0.01283 is a key requirement for the plant internal safety. The implication for the Nigeria nuclear energy programme is discussed. Keywords: Nuclear energy, Sodium Fast Reactor, BN 600, Nuclear fuel, Reactivity Effect