80 research outputs found
Occupational mobility in engineering profession (craftman and artisan) in Oyo State, Nigeria.
This paper evaluate occupational mobility in engineering professional in Oyo State of Nigeria with the goal
assessing causes and readiness of the professionals to return to the profession when the hindering factors
are removed as well as sufficiency of the survey instrument in addressing the research problems. The
study was conducted using a well structured questionnaire administered in 20 local government of Oyo
State, Nigeria representing the sample space of 0.424. The Cronbach’s alpha of the reliability test of 0.453
was returned for the scale mean statistics of 11516.83 and variance of 0.0000007 showing that the survey
instrument was sufficient and could be relied upon. The result of the socio economic analysis showed that
80% of the respondents were married while (15%) were single and the rest (5%) were divorced. The age
distribution of the respondents ranged between greater than 50 years groups (12%) and 30 -39 years
group (39%).The result of the analysis of job characteristics of the respondents showed that the longer the
year of graduation, the lesser the number of graduates still in the business. The cross table analysis of the
socio-economic indices with the job status of the respondents showed that marital status and level of
education does not have significant effects on the job status of the respondents (whether still practicing or
not) because 1.454 and 5.223 returned for both marital status and level of education are not significant
(P<0.05). Also, the contingency table analysis of the effects of the skill acquisition methods showed that
more of the respondents who acquired their skill via Technical School (70%) are willing to go back to the
professions. However, for those who acquired their skill through Learning/artisanship, less than average
(32%) of the respondents are ready to return to the profession. Lastly, the establishment of the regression
model for the relationship between the proportion of the people wishing to go back to the profession and
year of practicing the profession provide a necessary impetus for addressing the Job mobility problem
faced by the profession
Observation for spoilage in fish and beef in a daily simulated local market style of Southwestern, Nigeria
The degree of spoilage of fish and beef in a daily simulated market style of southwest, Nigeria was determined by Trimethylamine (TMA) levels in each sample using the standard pictrate technique. 100g of each of the three different parts of a bull (liver, meaty and fatty tissues) and fresh African cat fish (Clarias gariepinus) (liver, meaty portion and head) were purchased twice a week for five weeks from the abattoir and Oja-Oba market in Akure respectively. The samples were subjected to ambient temperature and their degree of spoilage was assessed after 3 hours, 6 hours and 9 hours of purchase. The results showed that, there was no significant difference (P≥ 0.05) in the effect of time (hours) on TMA concentration in different parts of the fish and bull samples, though, the mean concentration of TMA in the fish samples increased with time. However, the degree of spoilage is slower in the bull compared to the fish samples but higher in the late evening (9 hours). Hence, buying and selling of beef in the late evening should be discouraged to avoid consumption of unwholesome meat with high TMA concentrations, while fish should be stored-frozen and sold in deep freezers
Toxicity evaluation of waste effluent from cassava-processing factory in lagos state, nigeria using the Allium cepa assay
Mutagenic and genotoxic effects of cassava wastewater (CWW) were investigated by assay of Allium cepa root
meristematic cells. The physicochemical parameters of the wastewater samples showing cyanide content were
also determined. In Allium root growth inhibition test, experimental onion bulbs were cultivated in various
concentrations of the CWW and distilled water was used as a negative control. After 72 h, the root tips from the
treated bulb were processed for cytological studies by orcein squash technique. The mean lengths of root
bundles were obtained and effective concentration (EC) values calculated. The cytotoxic effects on the onion
root tips showed strong growth retardation at high concentrations of the effluent with EC value of 10%. The 50
mitotic index (MI) rapidly decreased with increasing effluent concentration compared to control. There was
significant increase in frequency of chromosome aberrations (sticky chromosome, c-mitosis, vagrant
chromosome, bridges fragment, binucleated cells, multipolar anaphase, attached chromosome and laggard
chromosome) in root tip meristem cells of Allium cepa at all tested concentrations. Further analysis using oneway ANOVA revealed that there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in concentration-dependent
inhibition of onion root growth, mitotic index and induction of chromosomal aberration in the Allium cepa test.
The results indicate that the effluent samples collected were highly mutagenic. The results of physicochemical
analysis revealed that the concentrations of some parameters (conductivity, total suspended solid (TSS), total
dissolved solid (TDS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate, cyanide, chloride and metals-magnesium,
aluminum, chromium, cadmium, manganese and iron) were above the maximum permissible limit set by world
health organization (WHO) and could partly be correlated with the toxicity of wastewater. The findings indicate
that the substances contained in the cassava effluents may be toxic to living organisms and may pollute the
environment if untreated
Modelling some ergonomic parameters with machine parameter using hand powered maize sheller
The economic situation in most developing countries have left farmers and processors operating at the small scale, hence the use of automated and electric power driven equipment is limited to the few large scale processors. The effect of the ergonomic parameters namely; weight, age, height and arm length in relation to the resulting efficiencies; shelling efficiency, cleaning efficiency, mechanical damage and percentage sieve loss of a hand powered Maize Sheller incorporating a blower were studied using a non linear regression analysis. The study was with a view to developing a model for the performance of the hand powered maize sheller. The power transmission increases the speed of the blower for high cleaning efficiency. Preliminary studies were carried out to determine the ergonomic data of operator, and moisture content and grain/chaff. The results on studies with maize with 12% dry basis moisture content and grain/chaff ratio of 3.04:1 show that weight has the most significant effect (p<0.05). The mean of the shelling efficiency, cleaning efficiency, sieve loss and mechanical damage of the machine are 94.3, 96.4, 2.3 and 5.23% respectively and the coefficient of determination for the regression equations relating the ergonomic parameters to machine efficiency and parameters ranges from 0.29 to 0.86 with quadratic regression obtained. Equations were derived to relate the variables and an approximate solution was obtained from a particular example, which validates the theoretical prediction with known results
SOME PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SELECTED VEGETABLE
Physical attributes of biomaterial are needed as parameter in computer simulation of
deformation of Agricultural and Food material under compressive loading using Discrete
Element method. In this study, two vegetable namely chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens)
and bell pepper (Capsicum annum) were selected and some physical properties (mass,
major diameter, intermediate diameter, minor diameter, and volume) at 10.88% w.b and
9.79% w.b moisture content were determined using standard methods. The results of the
study show that the frequency distributions of each of the size of the two pepper varieties
follow a normal distribution curve. The average geometric mean diameter and sphericity
of bell pepper are 43.94mm and 64.23%while that of chilli pepper are 25.55mm and 86%
respectively The mean mass, volume, true density and bulk density for bell pepper were
29.91g, 27.75cm3, 1.117gcm-3 and 0.52gcm-3 while that of chilli pepper were 8.4g,
8.23cm3, 0.90gcm-3 and 0.41 gcm-3 respectively. These data are useful in the design and
development of handling and processing machine
EFFECT OF MECHANICAL AND PHYSICALPROPERTIES ON BRAKE PADS PRODUCED FROM BAGASSE, BANANA PEELS AND PERIWINKLE SHELL
The study examined the effect of some mechanical and physical properties on brake pads produced from bagasse, banana peels and periwinkle shell in order to determine the materials suitability to develop new asbestos-free brake pads.These materials were sourced locally at Ede, Osun state.Samples were produced from different mix ratios of constituents using two sieve grades of 180 and 250 μm particle sizes. The percentage weights (wt%) of bagasse, banana peels and periwinkle shells were varied while those of crystalline silica, lead sulphide and epoxy resin were constant for both sieve grades. The density of each sample decreases from 2298 - 1199 Kg/m3 as the sieve grade increases. Also, the oil and water absorption rates increase from 0.007 - 0.022% and 0.012 - 0.037% respectively with an increase in sieve grade. Thehardness values of the brake pads produced range from 79.7 to 89.4 HRB and 77.1 to 84.8 HRB for both sieve grades, respectively. Likewise, the values of impact strength for the sieve grades ranged from 18.89 to 27.10J/mm and 17.97 to 24.85 J/mm, respectively.The samples B and C consisting of 15 wt% bagasse, 15 wt% banana peels, 30 wt% periwinkle shell, 10 wt% crystalline silica, 10 wt% lead sulphide, 20 wt% resin and 15 wt% bagasse, 30 wt% banana peels, 15 wt% periwinkle shell, 10 wt% crystalline silica, 10 wt% lead sulphide and 20 wt% resin for sieve grade of 180 μm, respectively, were regarded as the best among others because they gave the greatest properties. Therefore, the study concluded that the use of bagasse, banana peels and periwinkle shells as reinforced materials have properties suitable for the production of brake pads
Design and performance evaluation of centrifugal cashew nut sheller for improving the whole kernel recovery
Cashew nut centrifugal shelling machine was designed and constructed. Shelling efficiency and whole kernel
recovery were evaluated for hot-oil roasted nuts on the machine. The design was based on the principle of the optimum kinetic energy that could break the cashew nut shell. The deformation energy used was 4.8763 J. The angular velocity of the impeller calculatec! from the energy was 376.12 r s·1 which was equal 3592 r min-1• The motor power used was more than 9 17.34 W, the minimum power requirement. The prototype of cashew nut sheller was constructed and evljluated for its shelling efficiency (SE) and whole kernel recovery (WKR) using three levels of moisture content (7.00% w.b., 8.46% w.b. and 9.83% w.b.), three levels ofirnpeller speeds and three grades (large, medium and small) of nut sizes. The results showed that the moisture content had a significant effect (at P<0.05) on the SE and WKR for all the grades of the nut. However, the impeller speed has a significant effect on the whole kernel recovery of medium and small nuts. The predicted optimal values of the WKR and SE for large nut were 65.4% and 96.8% respectively at 3110 r min-1 and 9.06% w.b. For medium nut, they were 51.62% and 93 .24% respectively at 3487 r min-1 and 8.92% w.b. For small nut, they were 37.95% and 92.56% respectively at 3487 r min-1 and 9.83% w.b
SELECTED WELFARE PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS ON DIFFERENT FEED QUANTITY AND TIME
This study was conducted to determine welfare of broiler chickens fed ad libitum and restricted feed during early (08.00hour) and late (16:00hour) of the day. One hundred and eighty (21d old) broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 4 treatments in a 2x2 factorial arrangement comprising of ad libitum and restricted feeding (75% of ad libitum) quantity at 8 and 16 hours feeding time in three replicates. Data were collected on leg problem, dust bathing, body temperature, mortality and haematology. Result revealed that neither feed quantity nor time had significant (P>0.05) effect on leg problem, dust bathing and mortality of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens under ad lib feed quantity and 16:00hours feeding time had (P<0.05) highest body temperature (40.93oC) while those under ad libitum morning (08:00hours) recorded the least (40.75°C). Pack Cell Volume had similar (P>0.05) increase from 26.75% at the beginning (21d) to 31.25 (%) at 56d with broiler chickens under restricted feeding and fed at 16:00hours feeding time. Basophil count reduced from a range of 0.5-2% (P<0.05) to 1% (P>0.05) with restricted feeding. Also eosinophil reduced from 2-4% (P<0.05) range to 0-2.5% (P>0.05) with restricted feeding while birds under ad lib increased from 0-1% (P<0.05) at 21d to 2.75% (P>0.05) at 56d. Better welfare (good body temperature) of broiler chicken could be achieved with early feeding time irrespective of quantity. However, restricted feeding could be explored in broiler production where reduced basophil, eosinophil and stress are vital for enhanced welfare and performance.
 
EVALUATION OF MAINTENANCE CULTURE OF SOME AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING MACHINE IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA
A survey on maintenance culture of some Agricultural processing machines was
carried out in Oyo state to investigate the type of maintenance practices carried out by
stakeholder in the small scale agro- processing industry. Well structured questionnaire
was used to source information on common machine fault, availability of spare parts,
technical knowhow and types of maintenance carried out. A total of 150 questionnaires
were administered while 86.7% were retrieved, collated and analyzed using descriptive
statistics. The study showed that 39% of the respondents practice predictive
maintenance, 24% practice preventive while 27% combine both predictive and
preventive maintenance, 8% of the respondents prefer overhauling and 3% corrective.
The technical know-how for the service maintenance of the machines surveyed is spare
part dependent as most of the machines are locally fabricated. However, 34.6% of the
respondent tends to leave their machine for a period of six month before maintaining
during the off season period. A good and effective training program on maintenance
procedures should be extended to stakeholder in the agro- processing industry to keep
those machines in optimum working condition
Association between Insulin Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) gene polymorphism and carcass traits in improved Nigerian indigenous chickens
The insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) is a key regulator of muscle development and metabolism in birds and other vertebrate. Our objective was to determine the association between IGF1 gene polymorphism and carcass traits in FUNAAB Alpha chicken. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of 50 normal feathered birds. At 10 weeks, the birds were slaughtered for carcass traits. Specific primers for chicken IGF1 were used for amplification of a 622 base segment. The amplified gene products were digested with Hinf1 restriction enzyme and the digested fragments were genotyped. Allele frequencies were 52% and 48% for A and B, respectively. Genotype frequencies were 27%, 50% and 23% for AA, AB and BB genotypes, respectively. All carcass traits values and the IGF1 gene polymorphism observed were subjected to analysis of variance and the mean were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the occurrence of the polymorphism did not affect all the carcass traits but AB genotypes had the highest carcass traits values than the AA and BB genotypes. The conclusion of this study demonstrated that IGF-1 gene, to some extent, could be a candidate gene that affects carcass traits in Improved Nigerian indigenous chicken.Keywords: IGF-1, PCR-RFLP, indigenous chicke
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