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TIME-SAVING DESIGN AIDS FOR ONE-WAY HOLLOW SANDCRETE BLOCK SLAB
Get PDFAlthough efficient computer programs are available for analysis and design of most structural systems, design aids are very important in engineering designs. This research study presents a time-saving design aids for oneway hollow sandcrete block slab. The slabs are designed to conform to the specifications of BS 8110, and are intended in design offices for preliminary designs and for checking computer results outpu
DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A BRIQUETTE MAKING MACHINE
Get PDFThe mechanical compaction process for increasing the density of bulky material is referred to as briquetting. Briquetting of agricultural waste represents one of the possible solutions to the local energy shortages in many developing countries. It constitutes a positive solution to the problem of increasing rates of desertification in many areas worldwide. This study puts forward a machine of simple design which could be manufactured locally in any part of the country and has high productivity. The study presents a detailed design of the briquette making machine. The prototype was made and tested in Niger state in Nigeria. The low-pressure briquette making machine is powered by a hydraulic jack which is easy to operate and thus can be operated by a large range of people. It is a batch operational process which extrudes 16 briquettes per batch. Each batch which comprises of loading the cylinder, closing the machine lid and pumping the jack hydraulic jack took between 3 to 6 minutes depending on the operator. Bath saw dust and rice hull were used to test the developed machine and it was observed that the saw dust had a higher compression ratio than the rice hull of 3:1. Bothbriquette fuels produced were found to dry in relatively short time due to their size. 
THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONTENT ON PAVEMENT FAILURE ALONG LAGOS – IBADAN EXPRESSWAY
Get PDFHighway pavement failure in Nigeria has increased in the past decades despite the huge amounts of money appropriated annually for rehabilitation. Apart from losses due to fatalities and disruptions to normal daily activities, annual loss to structural deficiency, functional obsolescence and operating cost is about ₦133 billion. One of the causes is associated with inadequate moisture in pavement materials. This study aimed at examining the effect of moisture on other geotechnical parameters as the factor of pavement failure along Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. Samples were collected at the failed and stable portions on some selected road segments and subjected to laboratory tests including Natural Moisture Content (NMC), Linear Shrinkage (LS), particle size distribution and California Bearing Ratio (CBR). Pavement Distress Score (PDS) was also determined on these road segments. Data generated were subjected to statistical analyses and Models for predicting road pavement performance were also developed. The NMC along the failed sections was on the high side (ranged from 13.11% to 26.89%) compared with the stable sections (ranged from 11.11% to 16.40%). The maximum dry density(MDD) for the samples at failed and stable sections ranged from 1550 kg/m3 to 1860 kg/m3; 1650 kg/m3 to 1980 kg/m3 respectively while the Optimum Moisture Content(OMC) ranged from 8.30% to 20.30%
PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTICS SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILEOF Listeria monocytogenes ISOLATED FROM PROCESSED ANDUNPROCESSED MEAT PRODUCTS
Get PDFThe antibiotics susceptibility pattern of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from processed and unprocessed meats were investigated. Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes was done using the FDA BAM method. A total of fifty (50) retail meat samples consisting of twenty (20) raw meats, 15 fresh processed meat samples and 15 processed ready-to-eat samples were analyzed on Listeria Selective Agar and Listeria Chromogenic Agar following pre-enrichment. Isolates were screened for thei
ASPECTS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF HETEROBRANCHUS LONGIFILIS (VALENCIENNES, 1840) IN RIVER OKURA, KOGI STATE CENTRAL, NIGERIA
Get PDFThe reproductive biology of Heterobranchus longifilis was studied from October, 2011 to October 2012. Aspects studied include identification of gonad maturation stages, the sex ratio, breeding season and fecundity of the species. 654 samples of Heterobranchus longifilis were obtained from the local fishermen at Ofejiji. They were caught with gill net (4.5 x 4.5cm mesh size), setline with hooks of various sizes (12, 7, and 4). Samples were weighed and measured using the kitchen weighing balance and a meter rule respectively. The gonads were classified into stages I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. There was no significant difference in the female to male ratio (p > 0.05). There were 28 fecund females used for estimation of fecundity. Fecundity ranged from 17,001 (body weight = 625g, SL = 38.6cm) to 97,122 (body weight = 5158g, SL = 71.5cm) with mean value of 37744 ± 21648 eggs. Gonadosomatic index was observed to be highest in October with value of 2.80 ± 0.2 for female and 1.05 ± 0.1 for male. The frequency of occurrence of gonad stage VI was highest in October with value 85.7% and 74.2% for male and female respectively. In February, frequency of occurrence of gonad stage VI (15.6% for male and 16.7% for female) and mean gonadosomatic index peak were observed for female (1.2 ± 0.1) and male (0.4 ± 0.05). Monitoring the mean monthly gonadosomatic index and frequency of gonad maturation stages, spawning occurred mainly in October. The gonadosomatic index peak and presence of gonad stage VI observed in February could possibly be due to the residual left over eggs in the gonads of the species after its breeding season in October. 
Solutions of some Linear Volterra Integral Equations by Laplace Transform Method
Get PDFThis work provides solutions to some continuous and weakly singular linear Volterra integral equations of thesecond kind by Laplace transform method. Using basic definitions, results and fundamental theorems, Laplace transform method gives an efficient and remarkable performance.Test problems are presented to show the efficiency and reliability of the method
MODELING OF THREE TOMATO VARIETIES UNDER MICROWAVE DRYING
Get PDFDrying experiments of thin layer tomato samples were carried out by using microwave drying. The drying experiments were carried out at 120, 250, 420 and 520 W of microwave power. The drying rates increased with the increasing microwave power levels. There was a reduction in moisture content with increased drying time and microwave power while drying took place in the falling rate period. Dying processes were completed between 20 and 180 min for tomato samples depending on the microwave power level. All the three and four parameter models predicted well the drying characteristics of all varieties of tomato studied with R2 values greater than 0.99. The Demir and Midilii models were the best models selected based on R2, RMSE and Chi square values
PREVALENCE OF MALARIA PARASITES AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING A HOSPITAL IN MANGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFMalaria parasite is regarded as one of the most serious global health problems. Its large population, diverse weather conditions and cultures make it difficult to implement the same control measures in Nigeria. The current study was conducted from June to October, 2016 to determine some malariometric parameters such as malaria prevalence, transmission based on age and the gender among patients attending a Primary Health Center in Mangu, during the malaria transmission season. Out of the 200 (100%) samples collected and examined, an overall prevalence of 51(25.5%) was recorded. The highest prevalence rates was recorded among age group 1-10 years with 8(33.3%) followed by 61–70 years with 3(30.0%) while least prevalence was recorded among 11 – 20 years age group with 7(23.3%). Statistically, there is no significant difference on malaria based on age (P>0.05). The result also revealed that Males recorded the highest prevalence rate of 21(30.0%) while the Females had the least prevalence of 30 (23.07%
FOOD AND PASTURE PLANT DIVERSITY FROM PARI DISTRICT OF KAURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFAn ethno-botanical survey was carried out in October, 2017 on the food and fodder plants of the Chawai people of Pari, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A 10m x 10m quadrat size was used to sample 8plots, 200metres apart. Oral interviews were conducted with Elders, Alternative Medicine Practitioners, Hunters and women. 49 plants species were recorded as plant species used for food/culinary and fodder/veterinary purposes, by the inhabitants. The results of the study revealed that 31 (62.27%) of the 49 plants are used as food, condiment and/or spice. Out of the 31plant species collected, fruits are consumed more as food than any other part of the plant (74.19%).The Family Mimosoideae accounted for 6(12.12%) out of the 49 used for food and fodder purposes. Anacardiaceae, Sapotaceae, Euphobiaceae, Moraceae, and Apocynaceae had 3 species each. The remaining families had 1 and 2 species each.The study revealed that the plant part mostly used are the fruit 24 (42.11%)this was followed by the leaves14 (24.56%), seed and bark with 5each (8.5%), flower 4 (7.02%), roots 3 (5.26%) and stem 1 (1.8%). There is the urgent need for more documentation of the traditional ethno-botanical knowledge. 
INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIALS OF KEROSENE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DIESEL IN FORMULATION OF DRILLING FLUID
Get PDFfluids. Oil-based drilling fluids were formulated using bentonite, guar gum, calcium chloride, primary and secondary emulsifiers, lime, water, hydroxyethylcellulose ( HEC), barite, and base oils (diesel and kerosene). The oil to water ratios of the formulation were varied at 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, 90/10 100 (no water) when both diesel and kerosene were used as base oil. The Fann viscometer was used to study selected rheological properties and the mud balance was used for the mud weight analysis. The mud formulated using kerosene hadthe lowest apparent and plastic viscosities of 51 and 6 cP respectively at an oil/water ratio of 100 (no water), least mud density of 7.0 lb/gal at an oil/water ratio of 100 (no water), highest 10 sec and 10 min gel strength of 20 lb/100ft2 and 21 lb/100ft2 respectively. It was also observed that mud formulated with diesel had the highest mud density of 8.2 lb/gal at oil/water ratio of 60/40. Plastic viscosity of mud formulated using diesel as base oil decreased from 40 to 10 cP as the oil/water ratio was increased from 60/40 to 100; while that for mud formulated using kerosene as base oil decreased from 34 to 16 cP while yield points decreased from 145 to 101 lb/100 ft2 when oil to water ratio was increased from 60/40 to 100. Also, yield point decreased from 150 to 108 lb/100 ft2 as oil to water ratio was increased from 60/40 to 100 when kerosene was used as base oil. Kerosene has been found to present a better prospect as base oil for drilling mud than diesel with respect to plastic, apparent viscosities 10 sec and 10 min gel strengths.