Educational building conditions and the health of users

In order to maintain a healthy learning environment, diagnosis and management of defects in the educational facility are paramount. The preliminary results of the ongoing research reported here seek to identify defects associated with educational buildings and their effects on the health of polytechnic students and staff in Nigeria. A questionnaire survey, including 34 defects based on a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) was used to establish relationships with the health of polytechnic students and staff. Two hundred (200) respondents were randomly selected based on their schools (faculty) within Lagos State Polytechnic. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis of the collected data. The results of the study indicate that defects such as plumbing and dampness problems, cobwebs and dust, are prominent in the institution. Also the relationship between building conditions (defects) and health problems was established, with the predictors of the health problems. Based on the findings, it is important for designers and managers of facilities within tertiary institutions to develop and implement design and maintenance policies targeted at minimizing the likelihood of plumbing, dampness, electrical, cobweb and dust problems in educational buildings due to the health risks induced by the defects. It is evident that effective maintenance schedules and policies should be put in place to ensure that facilities are not left to decay before replacement

Antidiabetic activity of anacardium occidentale in alloxan – diabetic rats

This study investigated the hypoglycemic effect of inner bark extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn. (Anacardiceae) in normal (normoglycemic) and in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The inner reddish bark of the plant was extracted with ethanol and screened for hypoglycemic activityin a model of alloxan-induced diabetes in at species. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract led to fractions that displayed diverse hypoglycemic effects at doses of 34.0, 200.0 and 300.0 mg/kg body weight. The alloxan-diabetic rats showed significant reduction in plasma glucose level after treatment with the fractions. These results lend support to the validityof the folkloric use of A. occidentale in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type II

Effects of Mineral and Organo-mineral Fertilization on Sweet Potato (Ipomea batata {L} Lam) in Makurdi, Benue State, Southern Guinea Savanna Nigeria

A Research was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi Benue State located between 7045’N and 8037’E during 2019 cropping season to evaluate the effect of mineral and Organo-mineral fertilization on growth and yield of sweet potato (Ipomea batata {L} Lam). The fertilizer sources used as treatments were: NPK20:10:10 (100, 200 and 300 kg/ha), Poultry manure (2, 5 and 8t/ha), Fertiplus (2, 5 and 8t/ha) and control. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Vines of sweet potato was sourced from National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, cut into 25 cm long and planted at a spacing of 0.3 m (100 cm x 30 cm) inter-row and intra-row respectively which gave a plant population of 33,333 plants per hectare. The growth parameters of sweet potato were significantly increased (vine length, plant girth, number of leaves, leaf width) over the control. The longest vine length (153.30 cm) at 12 WAP was obtained from poultry NPK 300 kg/ha and the least from the control (11.80 cm) at 4 WAP. The longest leaf length (12.27 cm) was obtained from Fertiplus 8t/ha at 12 WAP and the least (6.00 cm) from the control at 4 WAP. The broadest leaf width (10.80 cm) was obtained from poultry 8t/ha at 6 WAP and the least (5.27 cm) from the control at WAP. The highest yield (48.67) in terms of number of marketable roots was obtained from poultry 5t/ha and the least (18.67) from the control. The highest weight of marketable root 18.70 t/ha was obtained from poultry manure 5t/ha and the least 2.97 t/ha from the control. Application of 5t/ha of poultry manure is recommended for soil fertility improvement and root yield of sweet potato in the study area. Keywords: Organo-mineral, Fertilization, Sweet Potato, Southern Guinea Savanna DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-12-02 Publication date:June 30th 202

Debt-output gap nexus in Nigeria: Does inflationary pressure matter?

Abstract. The study examined the impact of external debt on economic growth in Nigeria using Extended Hausman Rodrick Valesco growth diagnostic framework and Three Gap Model. Annual time series data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin between 1981-2018 was regressed using the Augmented Dickey Fuller test (ADF) to check the stationary properties of the series, and the Engel-Granger Co-integration test to estimate the long-run relationship of the variables. The results show that external debt had negative impact on the Nigerian economy.Keywords. External debt, Economic growth, Economic development, Johansen Cointegration, Time series models, Nigeria.JEL. F34, F43, F63, C01

Does Conservation Agriculture Matters in Swazis’ Economy? Evidence from Maize Producing Farmers in Ngwempisi Rural Development Area of Swaziland

The purpose of the study was to determine the economic impact of conservation agriculture on maize production in the Ngwempisi Rural Development Area of Swaziland. Data were obtained from maize farmers distributed equally among farmers practicing conservation agriculture and conventional agriculture. Data obtained were analyzed by the use of descriptive analysis as well as budgeting technique of analysis. Results showed that maize farmers operating under conservation agriculture obtained higher profit level with an average gross margin of about E 3609 compared with an average gross margin of about E161 obtained for maize farmers who operated under conventional agriculture. Majority of farmers practicing conservation agriculture were males with an average age of about 48 years. It was recommended that famers who are currently not practicing conservation agriculture should adopt the method. Key words: Conservation agriculture, production, input costs, Swazilan

Response of Cucumber to Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization in Makurdi, Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

A field experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State in the Southern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria during 2017 cropping season to evaluate the effect of varying rates of Nitrogen and Potassium on the growth and yield of Cucumber.  Nitrogen (50Kg N/ha, 100Kg N/ha and 150Kg N/ha), Potassium (50Kg K2O/ha and 75Kg K2O/ha) were combined randomly with basal Phosphorous (50Kg P2O5/ha) to give seven treatment combinations. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The crop data collected include number of leaves, leaf area and number of branches, vine length, vine diameter, fruit weight and yield. The result showed that application of Nitrogen and Potassium fertilizers at various rate significantly (P<0.05) increased the growth and yield of cucumber over the control. The highest rate of 150 KgN/ha + 50 Kg P2O5 /ha + 50 Kg K2O/ha result to higher vegetative growth than fruit yield. The combination of 50 KgN/ha + 50 Kg P2O5 /ha + 75 Kg K2O/ha gave the highest yield and therefore considered optimal for cucumber production in the study area. Keywords: Nitrogen and Potassium, Fertilization, Guinea Savanna, Cucumber DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-12-05 Publication date:June 30th 202

Theoretical study of the catalytic desulfurization mechanism of thiiren and its methyl derivative

The desulfurization process of compounds implicates two steps. The first step is the adsorption process on the catalytic site and the second, the breaking of the carbon-heteroatom bond leading to the heteroatom elimination. The adsorption process of thiiren have been studied and published in previous works. The results obtained on MoS3H3+ and MoS4H4 have shown that the adsorption of this molecule was very good on the two and three anionic vacancies sites based on molybdenum. In the present study, we have carried out the adsorption according to vertical and horizontal geometries of dihydrothiiren, methylthiiren, and methyldihydrothiiren, and the desulfurization of all these molecules including thiiren molecule. The results obtained have shown that, the desulfurization of thiiren and its methyl derivate pass through the hydrogenation of the aromatic ring on the two types of catalytic sites. KEY WORDS: Catalytic site, Adsorption, Desulfurization, Thiiren, Icon program, PSI/77 program, QCPE  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2003, 17(1), 75-84. 

EVALUATION OF VIABLE OPERATING STRATEGIES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT BETWEEN FUNAAB CAMPUS AND CAMP TERMINUS IN ABEOKUTA

Transportation is a live wire for national development regardless of a nation industrial capacity, population or technological development. It gives expressions to policy initiative in areas like health, education, employment, etc., and in the absence of it, these facilities would be inaccessible. Viable operating strategies for public transport between Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State Nigeria Campus and Camp Terminus in Abeokuta were evolved. Traffic study was conducted for seven (7) days to determine traffic volume and peak periods (morning and evening) along the route. Questionnaires were administered to the road users to obtain factors (availability of vehicles, travel time from Camp Terminus to FUNAAB, road condition, operational cost, comfortability of the vehicle) needed to generate operating strategies. These factors were subjected to statistical analysis. The traffic volume revealed that Private cab had the highest traffic flow for a.m. peak period (8: 00 – 9: 00 am) from Mondays to Thursdays while Public cab had the highest on Fridays to Sundays, and at the pm peak period (4:00 – 5:00 pm), Public cabs had the highest traffic volume on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays while the Private cabs had the highest on the rest days of the week. The analysis of the sampled population showed that public cab had the least total time travel (36.1 minutes) followed by mini- bus (37.8 minutes) while the school bus had the highest (43.7 minutes) and this justified the reason why 40% of the population choose to travel by public cab, 33% by mini– bus  and 27% by the school bus. However, for the viability of the operating strategies, more public cab and min-buses should be provided to ply the road because of their lesser travel time, also provision of more school buses because of the large number of passengers they carry per trip should be provided.     &nbsp

EXPERIMENTAL PREDICTION AND OPTIMIZATION OF MATERIAL REMOVAL RATE DURING HARD TURNING OF AUSTENITIC 304L STAINLESS STEEL

This work involves a predictive model for material removal rate (MRR). It investigates the influence of machining process parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut on the material removal rate (output parameter) during hard turning of AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel (0.03 wt. % C (max)). A total of 27 experiments were conducted using a MORISEIKI SL-253B CNC machine with cemented carbide cutting tool under three different spindle speeds (1000, 1200, 1400rev/min), feed rates (0.05, 0.10, 0.15mm/rev) and depths of cut (0.4, 0.8, 1.2mm). The machining parameter settings were determined using the Taguchi experimental design method. The Taguchi method and relationship between MRR and input parameters were arrived at through MINITAB16 software package. The optimum machining parameters combination was obtained by using larger-the-better analysis of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. The optimal cutting condition is at spindle speed level 2 (1200 rpm); feed rate at level 3 (0.15mm/rev) and Depth of cut at level 3 (1.2 mm) which gave an optimum MRR of 77.80243mm3/min. The S/N ratio response table, main effect plots and the relationship between cutting parameters and the MRR was obtained. A mathematical model was developed using multiple regression analysis to predict MRR during hard turning of AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel. The level of importance and performance characteristics of the machining parameters on MRR was determined by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). From the results, the feed rate had the most significant effects on the MRR followed by depth of cut.The spindle speed has the least effect on MRR. It was also revealed that the predicted results found a good correlation with the experimental results as the regression line fits well for both results data at 95% confidence interval.Keywords: Machining; material removal; optimizatio

Effect of Manganese Additions and Wear Parameter on the Tribological Behaviour of NFGrey (8) Cast Iron

The effect of manganese and wear parameter on the abrasive wear behaviour of NFGREY8 cast iron composition under dry lubrication conditions was investigated. The wear parameters studied are sliding speed, applied load, time and percentage of ferro-manganese additions. The experimental data were taken in a controlled way. Scanning electron microscope was used to examine the morphology of the samples. The results from linear regression equation and analysis of variances (ANOVA) shows that manganese additions, load and speed variable are more pronounced on the wear behaviour of the NFGrey (8) cast iron. The result showed that the additions of the 75 % ferro manganese grade decreases the carbon equivalent CE and fortify the matrix with the formation of tough (FeMn)3C inter-metallic leading to increased wear resistance of the examined composition