Job prospects and labor market conditions significantly influence choice of vocational course. Family enterprises, socioeconomic factors, and career counselling can influence trainees' choices. Guidance and information are crucial for informed decisions about vocational training. However, making wrong course choice leads to lack of work enjoyment, increase job stress and performing tasks poorly. A society's degree of poverty makes it harder for trainees to find work prospects. This study aimed at assessing the influence of job opportunities on the Choice of Course in Vocational Training Centres in Taita Taveta County, Kenya. Utilizing questionnaires and interview schedule, this research examines the factors that influence course selection among 2,386 trainees and 29 major managers in Taita Taveta County VTCs. The relationships between variables were found using a correlational research design. In the study, 714 trainees and 7 managers participated, who were stratified using the Stratified VTC approach. Collected data was coded into SPSS version 26 and analysed using descriptive (Frequencies and means) and inferential statistics (Regression analysis, the chi-square and ANOVA). Results indicated that employment opportunities insignificantly predicted course choice, F (1,706) = -.110, p > 0.05, which indicates that the employment opportunities played none significant role in shaping the course choice (b= -.579, p > 0.05) among the study participants. The study recommended that VTCs should focus on demand, marketable and direct job opportunities. Additionally, VTCs should have career offices for vocational guidance and counselling services.

This study examines the feasibility of utilizing atmospheric air as a clean water alternative to address water scarcity, considering Oman's normal humidity levels of 75% to 85%. The study utilizes a thermoelectric cooler (TEC 1-12706), augmented by a heatsink and fan on its hot side to improve heat dissipation. A copper cooling coil functions as both a heat absorber and a condenser for ambient air flowing through it. The coil, with a diameter of 7.9 mm and a length of 1000 mm, receives its cooling source from a water block affixed to the cold side of the cooler. Experiments were performed in three environmental conditions: laboratory, residential area, and coastal area, with variations in the airflow rate of the heatsink cooling fan. The data collection encompassed a humidity range of 72.27% to 83.01%. The findings indicated a clear association between the air mass flow rate of the heatsink cooling fan and the volume of water extractable from the air. During preliminary laboratory testing, a mass flow rate of 0.046 kg/s yielded 4.25 ml/hour, 0.069 kg/s resulted in 4.625 ml/hour, and 0.092 kg/s produced 5.5 ml/hour. Moreover, among the three environmental settings evaluated, a greater volume of water may be retrieved from coastal regions compared to labs and residential areas. In coastal regions, the air mass flow rate is 0.092 kg/s, with a potential water extraction of 7.75 ml/hour; in laboratory settings, it is 5.5 ml/hour, and in residential zones, it is 4.75 ml/hour. These encouraging results advocate additional research to enhance water extraction by optimizing the contact area between the air cooler and the coil surface, potentially providing a feasible solution for the scarcity of clean water.

The Agile transformation of 132/11 kV Capital Substation Projects has significantly improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability in infrastructure development. By leveraging Lean and Agile methodologies, including Scrum frameworks, process streamlining, and extensive workforce training, project delivery timelines were reduced by 30%, cutting construction duration from 30 to 21 months. This transformation resulted in AED 1.8M in cost savings per substation, amounting to AED 27M annually, alongside an 84% improvement in first-time drawing approvals. Additionally, the integration of precast construction methods reduced 3,165 tons of CO₂ emissions across 15 substations, reinforcing Agile’s role in sustainable project management. The benchmarking of these innovations against other government authority CFR process further highlights Agile’s scalability and industry relevance. These findings demonstrate that Agile is not only a project management methodology but a transformative approach that enhances speed, cost-efficiency, governance, and sustainability in capital infrastructure projects.

Investigation of the inhibiting effects of Dioscorea rotundata, Zea mays and Manihot exculenta leaves extracts on the corrosion of mild steel in a selected media using weight loss method was carried out. The mild steel samples were pre-weighed, immersed in mixture of NaOH, NaCl and H2SO4 solutions with the extracts from the leaves and the control samples immersed in solution of the media with no extracts. The samples were allowed to stand for 672 hours and a set of samples from each environment withdrawn at intervals of 168 hours for corrosion characterization. The research findings indicate that the corrosion rate decreased as a result of the leaves extracts introduced into the media thereby confirming that the extracts functioned as effective and excellent inhibitors in the alkaline, salt and acidic media. Among the three plants extracts used, it was observed that Dioscorea rotundata (Yam) has the best inhibition efficiency in both alkaline, salt and acidic media, followed by Manihot exculenta (Cassava) and Zea mays (Maize) which also showed good inhibition efficiency. The results show the very good potentialities of the leaves extracts for application in the mitigation of corrosion in our various manufacturing industries.

This work presents the successful deposition of H. Sabdariffa(Zobo) dye-doped ZnS thin films with different volumes of Zn2+ solutions on cleaned glass substrate slides using inexpensive chemical spray-pyrolysis technique with the substrates kept at a constant temperature of 200oC. The final spray solution for the growth of the films contained aqueous solutions of ZnSO4.7H2O, SC(NH2)2, and H.Sabdariffa dye extracts. ZnSO4.7H2O and SC(NH2)2 served as precursors for Zn2+ and S2- respectively while H.Sabdariffa was used as dye. The sprayed film properties were characterized for optical properties using a HINOTEK 756S UV-VIS spectrophotometer. From the absorbance’s spectral analysis, other optical parameters such as transmittance, reflectance, absorption coefficient, band gap energy and optical density were calculated. The films indicated high absorbance in the UV region and high transmittance in the VIS – NIR regions, whereas reflectance is generally low. The films indicated direct band gap energy range of 2.10eV to 2.62eV. The optical density indicated range of 0.5 to 6.16. Based on relatively low reflection, strong absorption in UV region, high transmission and wide band gap indicated by the films. Therefore, it can be concluded that the films are suitable for the fabrication of solar cells. Also, the films are good for anti-dazzling coatings and thermal control coatings in automotive and architectural industries respectively.

Crude oil spillage is a major problem in Nigeria as it basically affects soils, plants grown on the soil, and the environment at large. The need to remediate crude-oil-contaminated soil to its original state is of utmost importance. The potential of oil palm frond (leaf) to remediate crude-oil-contaminated soil was investigated in this study. The soil samples were analyzed before and after contamination, during bioremediation process and after the treatment process by determining the pH, moisture content and total organic carbon (TOC) parameters of the soil sample each week for a period of four (4) weeks. The results obtained showed that the pH of the soil sample before and after contamination were pH 8.0 and pH 6.0 respectively, while during the bioremediation process with the oil palm frond (leaf) sample applied on the contaminated soil samples and at the end of the treatment process, the pH of the samples was pH 6.2, pH 6.3, pH 8.0, pH 7.0 respectively. The moisture content result obtained showed that the soil sample before and after contamination were 16.2% and 11.2% respectively, during the bioremediation process and at the end of the treatment process the moisture content were 7.5%, 1.4%, 7.4%, and 9.4% respectively. While the TOC result obtained for the soil sample before and after contamination were 2.55% and 1.22% respectively while during the bioremediation process the results were 1.22%, 1.22%, 1.29%, 1.36% respectively. This demonstrated the ability of oil palm frond (leaf) to reduce contaminants in the soil and consequently remediate the crude oil contaminated soil to an extent.

In the credit system, academic advising has become an essential factor for student success in universities. It is a student-centered initiative that promotes student engagement in the institution by supporting students in their academic and career goals. This study presents a comprehensive and effective academic advising model for Information Technology students, combining the traditional role of academic advisors with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The proposed model integrates virtual assistants to answer training regulations and curriculum questions, personalizes learning paths, and automatically recommends courses based on real-world data. The pilot study results on 100 IT students from second to four years show that the system significantly improves their access to information, learning resources, and satisfaction. This study marks a significant step forward in the application of AI in higher education, opening the potential to improve learning efficiency and training management on a large scale.

Six Sigma has developed as a powerful methodology in industrial engineering for improving process efficiency, reducing defects, and enhancing overall productivity. Established in statistical analysis and continuous improvement principles, Six Sigma provides a structured framework for identifying process variations and reducing inefficiencies. This research paper explores the application of Six Sigma methodologies in industrial engineering, focusing on its impact on quality control, cost reduction, and operational excellence. The study examines real-world case studies from manufacturing industries, highlighting successful implementations of Six Sigma tools such as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify). Additionally, it discusses the integration of Six Sigma with lean manufacturing principles to optimize workflows and reduce waste. The findings emphasize the significance of Six Sigma in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, driving competitive advantage, and ensuring sustainable growth in industrial engineering. This paper determines with recommendations for industries aiming to implement Six Sigma for long-term operational success.

Introduction: Open-access software has become an essential tool in higher education, significantly enhancing research productivity. This scoping review aims to explore the existing research on the impact of open-access software on research activities within higher education institutions. Objective of the Study: The primary objective is to investigate how open-access software facilitates access to scholarly resources, enhances researcher collaboration, and streamlines various research processes. Additionally, the study aims to identify gaps in existing knowledge and suggest areas for future research. Methods: A scoping review methodology is used, involving systematic searches and analyses of relevant literature from academic databases, including peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and grey literature. The review follows a structured framework: (1) identifying the research question, (2) developing a search strategy, (3) selecting relevant studies, (4) charting the data, and (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. Findings: The review indicates that open-access software significantly enhances research productivity by offering unrestricted access to various scholarly articles, datasets, and collaborative tools. Faculty members report increased efficiency in literature reviews, data analysis, and manuscript preparation, resulting in more publications and improved research quality. The review also highlights the role of open-access software in promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing. Discussion: The discussion delves into the implications of the findings, emphasizing the transformative potential of open-access software in higher education. It also addresses challenges such as limited awareness, technical issues, and data security concerns. Conclusions: The study concludes that open-access software holds significant promise for enhancing research productivity in higher education. By addressing the identified challenges, institutions can create an environment that supports high-quality research, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and innovation.