Preliminary studies of the dual role of cotton-seed cake as fish feed and fish pond fertilizer in aquaculture

Many locally available fish feeds have been tried in fish culture. These include guinea corn, soya bean, groundnut cake and rice bran. Cotton seed cake has been successfully used as a fishpond organic fertilizer at Ado-Ekiti Government fish farm. Three fishponds stocked respectively with common carps, Heterotis, Tilapia spp., Clarias lazera and Heterobranchus were fed with cotton seed cake. Carps, Tilapia and Heterotis increased rapidly in weight and length while the catifishes did not gro

Estimating Demand for Nutrients in Nigeria: A Vector Error Correction Model

This article is designed to investigate the existence of relationship between daily per capita demand for nutrients (calorie, protein, and animal fat intake) and economic growth indicator measured by per capita real Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Using annual time series data covering 1961-2007 from Nigeria, the study employed vector error correction model (VECM). The daily per capita demands for nutrients are analyzed as endogenous variables while real per capita GDP was taken as exogenous variable. These series are defined in logarithm. Preliminary investigation revealed that the series were found to be I (1) process at initial level while the series become I (0) after first differences. The trace statistics test shows that the pear of the series on the daily per capita demand for nutrients and per capita real GDP are co-integrated. Hence, the results of VECM shows that in the long-run, per capita real GDP positively and significantly impact per capita demand for nutrients in Nigeria over the years. Specifically, we observed that 1% increase in real GDP significantly increases the demand for calorie, protein and animal fat by 0.073%, 0.068%, and 0.059%, respectively. Also, the result of the short-run dynamics indicated that the speed of adjustment of the demand for calorie, protein and animal fat intake towards long-run equilibrium relationship associated with the shocks in the real GDP from the previous period is about 29%, 41% and 26%, respectively in the current period. Furthermore, we noted that the result of the impulse response function lend support to the observation that real per capita GDP increases the demand for calorie, protein, and fat intake in Nigeria. Our findings provide no support for the hypothesis that growth in real GDP is constrained by the nutrient intake in the same period.Real per capita GDP, calorie, protein, fat, long-run relationship, short-run dynamics, Nigeria

Antifungal Effects of Carica Papaya and Azadirachta indica on Cocoyam (Colocassia esculentus L.) corm rot Disease in Umudike, Nigeria

Antifungal potency of two crude extracts (A. indica and C. papaya) was studied using four concentrations of aqueous and ethanoic plant extracts at 25, 50, 75 and 100% on cocoyam corms. The extracts were separately amended in potato Dextrose agar (PDA) in in-vitro control of fungal rot causing agents isolated from cocoyam corms  (Botryodiplodia, Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma and Rhizopus stolonifer). Infected cocoyam corms were collected from cocoyam program of National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike and taken to Plant protection laboratory of the Institute for analysis. Botryodiplodia, A. niger, Trichoderma and R. Stolonifer proved to be pathogenic from the pathogenicity test carried out since they all incited rots in cocoyam corms. The results further revealed that all the test botanicals were able to significantly (P<0.05) inhibit the mycelia growth of all the four test fungi. A. indica was consistently observed to be more potent to all the four test fungi and followed closely were ethanoic extracts of C. papaya (42.33-61.00%). The findings have shown the potential of plants extracts in the control of cocoyam corm rot caused by B. theobromae, A. niger, Trichoderma sp. and R. stolonifer. These botanicals A.indica and C.papaya will therefore, reduce the use of synthetic chemicals by farmers in controlling pathogens of stored cocoyam corms, cost of production and environmental pollution

A Model For Improving Ethics In Construction Materials And Products Supply Chain Using Blockchain

There are countless materials and products that make up a building, including cladding, glazing, roofing, floors, ceilings, systems, etc., and the hidden and fragmented structure of the supply chain makes it highly vulnerable to several forms of ethical breaches at different tiers. Consumers also are increasingly concerned about where the products they are buying come from, highlighting important areas of concern that include the ethical, environmental, and social issues. Whereas current research identifies digitalization as a key part of providing transparency and increasing fairness in supply chains, and blockchain technology is lauded as having the potential to deliver this. However, while there has been a growing emphasis on ethics in construction in recent years, and an increase in studies around blockchain, there remains a paucity of studies related to how blockchain may help to improve the environmental and social dimensions of ethics in construction supply chains. A gap that this study fills through a holistic triple bottom line (TBL) approach. To achieve this, the study aims to develop and validate a model for improving ethics in construction materials and products supply chains (CMPSC) following the TBL construct using blockchain technology. The study also explores the current state of ethics in the CMPSC and the implementations of blockchain for ethics and applies the learnings to develop a conceptual model to improve environmental, social and business ethics in the CMPSC using blockchain. The model was then refined and validated via a dual-phase validation protocol consisting of expert interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 30 participants participated in this study, this comprised of 16 construction industry supply chain professionals, 10 professionals in the ethics/ sustainability in construction and 4 blockchain technology experts. NVivo 12 was utilised to thematically analyse both the interviews and the focus group data. This approach was utilised to investigate the data from both a data-driven perspective (a perspective based on coding in an inductive way); and from the research question perspective (to check if the data is consistent with the research questions and if it provides sufficient information). The 30 interviews resulted in 4 high-level themes, 15 mid-level themes and 28 low-level themes, with the total number of codes within the themes being 721. The analysis of the focus group data resulted in 3 high-level themes and 10 mid-level themes, bringing the total number of codes within all themes to 74. Results from this study revealed that the effectiveness of current ethical measures in the CMPSC has been limited due to weak implementation and compliance, the inability of the government to play its role, and the outright denial of unethical practises within supply chains. Results also show that even though greater emphasis is placed on the business component of ethics while the environmental or social component may only receive as much attention if it can be monetised or if it is demanded; nonetheless, the current state of ethics in the CMPSC remains weak across the three dimensions examined. Further results show that while blockchain may help improve ethics in the CMPSC, in addition to the transparency and digitization that technology provides, the need for education and the upholding of personal ethical values by supply chain players are key to the success of both current and new ethical supply chain initiatives. Individuals must first be made ethically aware in order to act ethically; only then may the implementation of a technological tool prosper. The main contribution of this study to knowledge is the development of a model for improving ethics in the CMPSC within the TBL construct through blockchain technology. The model developed in this study provides practical clarity on how blockchain may be implemented within fragmented supply chains and a significant understanding of a socio-technical approach to addressing the issue of ethics within construction supply chains. It also has a vital role in helping the intended users and actors improve their knowledge of the technology and how blockchain can help to improve ethics in the CMPSC and also understand their roles and responsibilities on the network, thereby providing a framework and prerequisite guidance for the Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) providers in the development of the computer model (blockchain network). The findings of this thesis demonstrate new insights and contribute to the existing body of knowledge by further advancing the discussion on the role of the blockchain in the construction industry

Performance Evaluation of Vegetable Oil-Based Cutting Fluids in Mild Steel Machining

Vegetable oils are being investigated to serve as a possible replacement for non-biodegradable mineral oils, which are currently being used as base oil in cutting fluids during machining processes. In this present study, the performances of palm oil and groundnut oil were compared with that of mineral oil-based cutting fluid during machining operation of mild steel. Temperature of the workpieces as well as their chip formation rates using these vegetable oils as cutting fluids under different cutting speed (rev/min), feed rate (mm/rev) and depth of cut (mm) were compared with that of mineral oil and dry machining. The average temperatures of the workpieces were obtained at different depths of cut; 5mm, 10mm and 15mm under different cutting conditions. The temperature of the workpiece when groundnut oil was used as the cutting fluid was very close to that of the conventional oil, which was the lowest. Palm oil gave the overall highest chip thickness of 0.27 mm probably due to its better lubricating property. This was followed by that of the groundnut oil and the conventional oil as compared with dry machining of 0.17 mm thickness. Vitamin-C- rich-lemon fruit extract was used as an antioxidant to improve the oxidative stability of the vegetable oils. Viscosities of the various fluids were also analysed, and lowest average viscosity value of 28.0 Poise was obtained using groundnut oil. This shows that groundnut oil possesses better fluidity and faster cooling capacity than other oil samples. Samples lubricated with mineral-oil based fluid show fine microstructures, similar to what obtained using groundnut oil based cutting fluid. Fine surface morphology indicates improved surface roughness compared to using other cutting fluids. Based on these results, groundnut oil and palm oil are being recommended as viable alternative lubricants to the mineral oil during machining of mild steel. Keywords: Vegetable oils, cutting fluids, drilling operation, mild steel, coolants

Mechanistic studies of high temperature reactions of hydrocarbons

Imperial Users onl

Experimental studies of the resultant contact forces in drillbit-rock interaction

Peer reviewedPostprin

Leadership Behaviour and Worker Performance in the Nigerian Construction Industry

Leadership is a dynamic process in which an individual influence other to contribute to the achievement of an assigned task. This paper investigates leadership behaviour and its impact on construction workers’ performance in Lagos, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 50 site-supervisors and 250 construction-workers involved in simple construction works. An investigation was carried out using a questionnaire survey method. The leadership variables investigated were ranked, regressed and correlated to workers performance. From the primary data analysis, leadership behaviour exhibited by supervisors were found to influence the site workers commitment to achieving the goal of the construction projects. The most exhibited leadership behaviour on the studied construction site is transformational leadership behaviour with an overall mean score of 4.09. There also exists a positive linear correlation of transactional leadership behaviour with construction workers performance. Findings revealed that the adoption of laissez-faire leadership behaviour results in negative correlation with construction workers performance. The study concludes that the success of construction projects depends on the project manager and its employees, therefore leadership qualities is an important skill that everyone in the construction industry should possess as it enhances the timely delivery of construction works

Evaluation of cassava tuber resistance to deformation

Open Access JournalA study was carried out, hardness and resistant ability of cassava tuber was investigated, the study involved the use of laboratory penetrometer and a data lodger. Hand-drilling machine was fitted with a 500mm diameter blade. These devices were powered manually and by application of electricity. Forces were applied by allowing direct cutting of the tubers using rotating sharp blade. The penetrometer was used to test the strength of fresh tuber. The result obtained indicated that cassava tuber hardness increases with the reduction of moisture content. The penetration force of 5.4 Newton at 70% moisture content wet basis was recorded while 9.2 Newton was recorded at 50% moisture content wet basis. The cutting time of 5.3 seconds was recorded for equal size tuber when the moisture was at 70%, at 50%moisture content 9.7 seconds was recorded. The implication is that all process handling of cassava tuber involving cutting must be carried out when the tuber is still tender

The State of Reading in Selected Secondary Schools in Oyo State, Nigeria

The paper is a survey of reading in selected secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. It covered schools selected across the three senatorial zones of the State. In undertaking the study, the researcher with the support of research assistants first observed the teachers and students in the schools in their reading activities and later administered a self-designed questionnaire on them. The questionnaire sought information on the reading related activities of teachers and students as well as the availability or otherwise of materials to facilitate reading in the schools concerned. Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage counts were used to analyse the data generated from the study. The outcome of the study revealed that reading is not given adequate attention in the schools the way it ought to, all the subject teachersdo not handle the teaching of reading while the reading activities in theschool are left to the discretion of students. Among the teachers who giveattention to reading, we found a majority of them who failed to give students the necessary motivation to strengthen their interest in reading. It was also found out that most school heads contributed to the poor reading culture of the students by their attitude to issues that bother on reading and how it can be promoted in their schools. This is because most of the schools have no functional libraries and other facilities that can promote effective reading of reading. Based on the foregoing, adequate recommendations that would promote reading at the secondary school level in the State have been made in the paper