Nexus between Public Spaces and City Image: A Case Study of Akure, Nigeria

Public spaces connect one part of the city to the other. They are related to the physical elements of the city that shape the image. This study examined the nexus created by the relationship between the physical environment of public spaces and city image. The study noticed neglect which threatens the physical environment of public spaces and discourages users. The relationship assessment was based on the image of the physical and natural features of public spaces as perceived by the users. This study analyses the linkages between the uses and the physical environment in relation to public spaces to improve the city image of Akure, Nigeria and provides an insight into the user's perception of the totality of the physical environment in the context of legibility, imageability and perception to understand how the image of the city is formed. The study summarizes and interprets findings from the quantitative research approach using a structured questionnaire conducted with 384 respondents from the core, transitional and peripheral zones in Akure. The data obtained were subjected to single factor descriptive analysis, inferential analysis and hypothesis testing. The results showed there is a positive relationship between public spaces and city image. The study recommends that public spaces development must inculcate planning and control strategies and a holistic policy by managers of public spaces to improve the image of the city, effort should be geared towards creating an attractive space to attract visitors and investors through investment in public spaces

Short Communication- Effect of leaf-packaging on the microbiological assessment of some food items

Microorganisms associated with leaves of Thaumatococcus daniellii ("ewe eran"), Musa paradisiaca (banana) and Tectona grandis (teak) and the food wrapped in the leaves were investigated. The bacterial isolates from both the leaves and food include Bacillus cereus , B. subtilis, Micrococcus sp., Staphylococcus aureus , S. epidermidis, Corynebacterium sp. and Lactobacillus acidophilus . The fungal isolates were Aspergillus flavus , A. niger, Rhizopus stolonifer , Penicillium expansium and Mucor mucedo . M. paradisiaca leaf has the least load of bacterial isolates with an average count of 5.00 x 104 cfu/g; followed by Thaumatococcus grandis , 8.00 x 104 cfu/g and Tectona daniellii , 1.44 x 105 cfu/g. The pH of all the food samples wrapped in the different leaves decreased from the original values. The moisture contents ranged from 69.57 to 79.00%. Crude fibre, ash and crude protein increase slightly on the first two days of storage and decrease on the third and fourth days

Cardiovascular effects of the crude extract of Manihot esculenta crantz (Cassava) in animal models

No Abstrac