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Causes of construction delays and effects on construction projects delivery: A study of selected projects
Full text linkThis thesis is for the award of Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Project Management TechnologyThe major objective of this research work was to examine the causes of construction, projects delay and its effects on project delivery and that was to be accomplished by working at the following specific objectives: identifying the causes of delays in construction project delivery, ascertaining their effects on project delivery time project budgeted cost. To carry out the research work, a questionnaire was structured with the Likert-5-point scale and distributed to twenty-four respondents that were randomly picked. The respondents included Engrs, Architects, Surveyors, Builders, Projects Mangers, Clients, Contractors and others. The data collected was analyseby the help of the frequency Tables and percentage, while the hypothesis formulated for the study were analysed with the Multiple Regression Analysis in the SPSS software, version 23. The results and findings from the analysis showed that the major causes of delays,especially in Government owned projects are problems arising from funding, planning of the projects and their control. The study therefore concluded that clients, whether they are private or public ones, should endeavour to make funds available for project execution, so that project delivery would not be delayed
Evaluation of optimal malting conditions of three rice varieties for improved brewing trials
Full text linkThis thesis is for the award of Master of Science (MSc.) in Food Science and Technology (Food Processing Technology option)Gluten-free beer could be produced with rice, although the latter would primarily serve as an adjunct in combination with barley malt in today’s brewing. But, the recent growing realisation of the potentials and applications of rice malt for brewing an all-rice malt beer through varying malting conditions cannot be overlooked. In this current study, therefore, the characteristic changes in malt, wort and beer from different Nigerian rice varieties (FARO 44, FARO 57, NERICA 7) as influenced by varying malting conditions (steeping duration [18, 24 and 30 h], germination periods [2, 3 and 4 days] and kilning temperatures [50 and 55 °C]), were investigated. Rice (grain) samples were examined by thousand corn weight Germinative Energy, Germinative Capacity, and Degree of Steeping. To ensure that rice wort/beer of unique beer style and enhanced attributes comparable to barley wort/beer is produced, only malting conditions that delivered rice malts with peak Diastatic Power, Cold Water Extract and Hot Water Extract were selected. Peak Diastatic Power, Cold Water Extract and Hot Water Extract wereobtained at FARO 44 [18h steeping, 3days germination, 55°C kilning (S18G3K55°)], FARO 57 [30h steeping, 2days germination, 50°C kilning (S30G2K50°)] and NERICA 7 [24h steeping, 3days germination, 55°C kilning (S24G3K55°)]. Selected malts were further tested for Moisture Content, Total Nitrogen, Malt Yield, and Malting Loss, which subsequently progressed to wort and beer production. Wort’s pH, Total Soluble Nitrogen, Brix, Kolbach Index, Free Amino Nitrogen, Dextrose Equivalent, Original Extract, and Sugar Profile were determined, as well as beer’s pH, Colour, Apparent Extract, Alcohol by volume (%ABV), Turbidity, and Sensory attributes. Rice grains’ Thousand Corn Weight, Germinative Energy, germinative Capacity, and Degree of Steeping significantly varied (p0.05) across varieties, the wort’s Brix, Kolbach Index, Free Amino Nitrogen, Sugar profile as well as beer’s %ABV, differed significantly (p0.05). Overall, the rice beer, though very slightly hazy, represented a pale yellow light lager, which suggested a peculiar beer style. In addition to benefits of increased Diastatic Power and enhanced hydrolysis, varying malting conditions could be key in reducing the cost of exogenous (commercial) enzymes or barley malt imports, together with decreasing barley’s dependency for brewing in the tropics
Assessment of ground and surface water quality in some sub-urban area of Owerri, Imo state
Full text linkThis thesis is for the award of Master of Science (MSc.) in Environmental Management.This study was carried out to evaluate the water quality of the two major sources of water, for drinking and domestic use, in Owerri-north; a suburban area of Owerri metropolis. The two main water sources, the boreholes and Uramiriukwa river representing ground and surface water respectively, were sampled in this study. The water samples from the river were collected from three spatial points, upstream, middle and downstream, while three boreholes, point 1, point 2 and point 3, were sampled, at different spatial points of approximately 14 km apart, while FUTO borehole served as the control point. The pollution levels of the water sources were determined using their physiochemical and biological parameter including, temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solid (TDS), while the chemical parameters include pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), (HCO3), total hardness (TH), Chloride (Cl), Nitrate (NO3), Phosphate (POS4), sulphate Acidity, Alkalinity, Total iron (Fe2+), and biological parameters of e. coli, klebsiella, total coliform count and total bacterial count for which mean and standard mean error (SEM) were determined using the IBM SPSS software. The T-test was used to determine the difference in the physiochemical and biological properties of the Uramiriukwa river and the borehole water samples. Water quality index (WQI) of the Uramiriukwa river and borehole water samples were also determined using the weighted arithmetic method. Results from this study shows that the physical properties of the river were poor considering the high turbidity, TSS, TDS, colour, and turbid appearance, while the borehole was heavily polluted with coliforms, and bacteria, including e.coli and klebsiella. Spatial variations have no significant difference (p>0.05) for the river water samples at upstream, middle stream and downstream, while there was significant difference in the three borehole water samples used in this study. Also, there was significant difference (p≤0.05) between the means physiochemical and biological parameters of the river and borehole water samples. Calculation for WQI showed that the borehole water was good for drinking, while the Uramiriukwa water samples were unfit for drinking with WQI score of 38.92 and 169.46 respectively. it was concluded that the river was polluted with solid and chemical wastes as a result of anthropogenic activities, including dredging, industrial activities, laundry, and indiscriminate municipal waste disposal, as observed during field study. The presence of high level of coliform in the borehole and river water samples is an indication of fecal contamination, which is an indication of possible health risk. Standard water treatment especially filtration and disinfection, are required for the surface and ground water in the study area, in order to improve their quality for drinking and domestic use. There is need to monitor and regulate human activities around the water sources, since they are major factor for the water qualities
Critical factors for successful total quality management (TQM) implementation in manufacturing food and beverage industry
Full text linkThis thesis is for the award of Master of Science (MSc.) in Project Management TechnologyThe need to drive the implementation of total quality management in organization cannot be over-emphasize, hence the research on critical success factors in implementation of total quality management in manufacturing food and beverage industries. In this research, critical success factors in implementation of (TQM) total quality management is understudied and analyzed. The objective of this research study were understudied which included the following as stated,(i) Identified the critical success factors to Total quality management(TQM) implementation in manufacturing food and beverage industry (ii) Evaluated the contribution of these factors to TQM implementation and (iii) determined the impact of these factors to TQM implementation to food and beverage industry. , We were able to identify twelve independent variables and we downsized the number of variables to five, from secondary and primary data which used factor analysis technics in the reduction process. The most important variables so identified includes the following, (1) quality of food and beverage materials & additives(x1), (2) quality of food and beverage process planning & design(x2), (3) quality of food and beverage top management policy & supports(X3), (4) quality of food and beverage regulatory bodies(X4) and (5) quality of food and beverage environmental hygiene & safety(X5).An exploratory research method was adopted, results were determined and in-depth data analysis was carried out. The significance level of the independent variables was statistically achieved. In this research, with a significance level of 0.05 and confidence level of 95%, we were able to determine the various values of t-statistics in order to rank these factors. A multiple regression analysis was adopted in the cause of this research, having determined these with an R2 value of 0.586. With these, a multiple regression analysis model was designed to determine the impact of these independent variable against a dependent variable. From our findings we were able to identify the critical success factors in implementation of total quality management in manufacturing food and beverage industry, also the impacts of these factors so determined. However, it is noted that implementation of these success factors will increase the productive output of an organization and most especially in food and beverage industry. It is recommended that food beverage and manufacturing industry should adopt these critical success factors in total quality management implementation (TQM). The areas of recommendation for further studies includes how we can deploy a software in product management to manage different set standards in the industry and TQM software product application
Evaluation of different solvent extracts of Vernonia amygdalina on some biochemical indices of diabetic albino rats
Full text linkThe master's thesis contains figuresThe present study was designed to evaluate of different solvent extracts of Vernonia amygdalina on some biochemical lindices of diabetic albino rats. Five different solvents (having different polarity) were used for the extraction purpose. These solvents include Toluene, Benzene, Methanol , Ethanol and Water. The aim of this study was to determine the antidiabetic effect of Vernonia amygdalina extracts on Adult Male albino rats. The result showed that Ethanol and Methanol extract gave 33.19% and 43.66% blood glucose reduction. Hence, it compared favorably with the standard drug Metformin. Diabetic rats showed a gradually steady increase in body weight within the study period with the exception of the diabetic control and Benzene extract treated group. The diabetic control group showed increase in body weight which reduced at the end of the study period. However, group treated with Benzene extract showed a drastic decrease in body weight after 3 days of treatment. Thereafter, the body weights was gradually being restored but were not normalized. The serum enzyme activity of ALT, AST, ALP in the groups receiving Ethanol, Methanol, Toluene and Benzene extract were significantly reduced when compared to diabetic control group. However, administration of the different solvent extracts of V. amygdalina did not result in a significant(p<0.05) normalization of altered serum bilirubin concentration. The extracts of Ethanol, Toluene, Benzene and Aqueous also produced varying degree of lipid profile reduction. The Methanol extract; Aqueous and Methanol extracts; Methanol, Toluene and Benzene; Methanol and Toluene; Ethanol, Methanol and Aqueous extracts caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction of total cholesterol concentration, Triacyglycerol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL cholesterol concentration as well as LDL/HDL ratio and cadio-vascular risk ratio respectively. The extracts normalized the concentrations of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol as well as SOD and GPx activity but offered a significant protection against Glutathione depletion when compared to diabetic control group. The Ethanol and Methanol extracts offered significant reduction in MDA concentration in both liver homogenate and serum when compared to the group treated with the standard drug. Histopathological examination results show mild inflammation and degeneration of the liver and kidney of rats induced with diabetes using120mg/Kg body weight of alloxan which was reversed by V. amygdalina leaf extracts of Methanol and Ethanol. These results therefore, indicated that V. amygdalina leaf extracts used in this study has varying hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective and endogenous antioxidant property with methanol showing a stronger protective effect against diabetes induced liver and kidney damage in rats compared to the other solvent extracts
Bioavailability and genotoxity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on two edible vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus and Telfiaria occidentalis)
Full text linkThis thesis is for the award of Master of Science (M.Sc) in BiotechnolgyBioavailability and genotoxic effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in two edible vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus and Telfairia occidentalis) using; physicochemical properties, biotolerence of the vegetables to PAH, molecular characterization, and health risk assessment of consumption of exposed vegetables. The study assessed PAH content in different tropical urban environment using soxhlet extraction flame ionization detection (SEGC-FID) method, physicochemical properties of soil, biotolerance of the two vegetables exposed to different concentrations of spent engine oil, benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P), benzo(k)fluoranthene (B[k]F) and benzo(ghi)perylene (B[ghi]P) in plant species, and health risk associated with the consumption of contaminated vegetables. The health risk assessment was done using health assessment models such as screening value (SV), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and margin of exposure (MOE). Molecular characterization of exposed plant species was carried out to determine the level of toxicity on the DNA, through DNA band breaks. This was carried out with three inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers (UBC 811, UBC 827, UBC 808). SE-GCFID method was used for the separation and identification of PAH. The results showed that a total of fourteen PAHs were detected in the different tropical urban environment which includes: acenaphthylene, phenanthrene, 1-2 benzanthene, acenaphthalene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, flourene, naphthalene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, anthracene, benzo(ghi)perylene, fluoranthrene and pyrene. The soil physical properties showed that the moisture content and bulk density where higher in the polluted soil, while porosity was higher in the unpolluted soil. However, the soil textural class remains sandy. In soil chemical properties; soil pH was low, effective cation exchange capacity, exchangeable base, exchangeable acidity and organic carbon were higher in the polluted soil samples. The biotolerance of the two vegetables exposed and unexposed to the pollutants showed low growth performance in the polluted plants as concentration increases. However, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the unexposed and the exposed plants using analysis of variance Dunnet multiple
comparison. The result of the genomic effect of these pollutant revealed alteration at genetic level through DNA insertion deletion and changes in band intensity. The three primers showed polymorphism level of 65%, 58% and 18% . The health risk assessment from dietary consumption of PAH contaminated vegetables showed low health risk concern in SV, ILCR and MOE. However, prolong exposure to these pollutants can affect humans as it possesses a high potential to bioaccumulate through the food chain. The study was able to suggest the presence of PAH component in the different tropical urban environs of Owerri. Also the impact of PAH on growth performance of the two plants species showed that it is concentration dependent which was reflected in the DNA of plants species as polymorphism occurred showing variations in DNA
Characterization of the aquifer systems in the coastal areas of Niger Delta using gamma ray and electric logs
No full textDoctoral thesis in geophysics. It contains maps. pictures and tables.Gamma ray and electric logs obtained within the coastal areas of Niger Delta were utilized to characterize the aquifer systems in the area with the view to, among other things, isolate fresh water and contaminated aquifers as well as providing pragmatic results and a new lens for individuals and agencies to view the ever-increasing pursuit of groundwater development initiatives in the area. Sixty-two (62) wells and their accompanying logs as well as strata samples from these wells were studied across the five geomorphological zones of the area. The Geophysical logging operations were done using Mount Sopris Instrument, MGX II Logger. WellCAD software was used in the interpretation of the well log data. The gamma logs neatly delineated the different aquifers. The area generally is underlain by alternating sequences of sands and clay. This sequence is capped by laterized soil around the coastal plain sand areas. The area consists of a multiple aquifer system with three categories of aquifers delineated as Deep (410-600m), Medium (135-409m) and Shallow (5-134m) aquifers. Based on the amount of gamma Count Per Second (CPS), the aquifer system in the area can be classified into Very Low Gamma Count (Highly Sandy Aquifers), Low Gamma Count (Sandy Aquifers) and Medium Gamma Count (Slightly Clayey Aquifers).The very low gamma count aquifers indicating high sandy aquifer have counts ranging from 9.9 to 12.9 CPS. Considering the porosity of the aquifer media, aquifer systems of the area are classified as high (>65%), medium (36-65%), low (21-36%) and very low (<21%) porosities. Based on the distribution of aquifer resistivity values at different depths where aquifers were mapped, the entire study area was adjudged to have the following aquifer systems viz: Very Low Resistivity Aquifers with values ranging from 0 to 20 Ohm-m (Saline Water), Low Resistivity Aquifers ranging from 20 and 100 Ohm-m (High Ferrous Contamination), Medium Resistivity Aquifers with values ranging from 100 to 500 Ohm-m (Low Ferrous Contamination) and High Resistivity Aquifers with values above 600 Ohm-m (Fresh Water with no Saline or Ferrous Contamination). The saline-fresh water boundary varies from location to location within the study area. The boundary was observed to be shallow within Tunu flow station of Bayelsa State; NLNG Amadi Creek and Amadi Creek 2 of Rivers State; Erunailaje, Akpata Ijaw, Ayetoro and Adoloseimo areas of Ondo State. Deep saline–fresh water boundary occurs around Bonny water, Finima water
Board, Bille, Idama, Kula and Asaramatoru areas of Rivers State; Jinrinwo and Abealala Ilaje area of Ondo State as Well as Ogidigben area of Delta State. The study showed that there are aquifers deeper than 80 metres within the Onne, nAmadi Creek, Kidney Island and Amadi flats areas that can produce potable water free from saline water and ferrous contamination provided there is no over pumping and the hydrostatic balance is maintained. Aquifer resistivities of over
600 Ohm-m were established to be fresh water. The study also showed that salt water can be isolated in most of the areas particularly in the salt water swamps and coastal beaches areas by drilling very deep boreholes. Some of the aquifers in the coastal plain sand environments can be considered to be free from any contamination in depths exceeding 120m.The resistivity logs indicated different saline water aquifer depths for the boreholes in the area where the vertical distribution of saline water ranges from 0-80m around Onne, Amadi Creek and Kidney Island and 0-145m around Bonny, 0-218m around Finima Bonny and 0-260m in Bille. The implication is that, wells drilled from surface and terminated within these depth ranges at these locations will encounter saline water and wells drilled below these depths will not encounter saline water. It is recommended that because of the nature of the aquifers of the coastal area of
Niger Delta, there is an urgent need to protect the aquifers from further contamination by enacting appropriate laws to protect the groundwater of the area and to curtail indiscriminate drilling of boreholes and over extraction of water from the few fresh water aquifers of the Niger Delta It is hoped that the results will be useful to researchers, stakeholders and government agencies involved in developing local and regional water plans.Department of Geophysics, FUTO
Biochemical and histopathological studies of posible co-morbidity of cadmium, chromium and lead in albino rats
Full text linkA Doctoral thesis on albino rats. it contains diagrams, mathematical equations, tables and graphsCadmium, chromium and lead are known environmental pollutants that induce toxicity in living organisms when exposed to them. The risk assessment of Cd, Cr and Pb is done individually while in reality living organisms are exposed to them jointly as they co-occur in the environment, food or water. This study was aimed at investigating their possible co-morbidity through biochemical and histopathological evaluations of albino rats exposed to them simultaneously. Seventy male albino rats were used in the study. Specified doses of 5, 10, and 20mg/kg body weight respectively, of these pollutants/metals were administered by gavage thrice weekly to 60 albino rats and 10 albino rats were used as control. There were four treatment groups Cd, Cr, Pb and Cd+Cr+Pb (i.e. Cd alone, Cr alone, Pb alone and Cd, Cr, Pb combined) per dose with five animals per treatment group. The treatments were for 90 days, and salt solutions of the metals (i.e. CdSO4, K2Cr2O7, and Pb(NO3)2) were used while the control received only distilled water. Body weights (BW) of the rats were measured and percentage BW gains of the rats were calculated. The animals were sacrificed after 90 days and blood samples were analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),
total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, potassium (K), chloride (Cl), inorganic phosphorus, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (total) (WBC[T]), and red blood cell (RBC). Organ (liver, kidney, & heart) to BW ratio were measured. Histopathological evaluations of liver, kidney, and heart were done. Results of combined treatment showed hormetic response with regard to ALT, AST, total bilirubin, and urea as they were elevated in the low dose but decreased with high dose. This phenomenon was also observed in Cr individual treatment except in total bilirubin. The results showed that ALP, LDH, K, and inorganic phosphorus levels in the combined treatment group increased with increasing dose but was not significantly different (p>0.05) from that of the most hazardous metal in the individual treatments. Oxidative stress was observed in both the combined and individual treatments as MDA increased while GSH and ascorbic acid were reduced with increasing dose. SOD and CAT increased with increasing dose hence reducing the impact of the oxidative stress as observed. Less-than-additive interaction was observed in the 5mg/kg treatment group among the mixture components with regard to Hb and WBC. Combined treatment with the metals caused significant decrease in percentage BW gain but was not significantly different (p>0.05) from that of the
most hazardous metal in the individual treatments. Histopathological evaluation showed tissue injury in liver and kidney in the 20mg/kg combined and individual treatment groups only probably due to high dose. Mortality was observed in the course of the study as two animals died due to the combined treatment (i.e. one at 10mg/kg group and one at 20mg/kg group) while three animals died due to the individual treatments (i.e. one at 10mg/kg Cd group, one at 20mg/kg Cr group and one at 20mg/kg Pb group). Conclusively, the results suggested that there was no significant health risk posed by
simultaneous exposure to the metals beyond the risk already posed by the most hazardous individual metal for the endpoint of interest. Interactions where they occurred were predominantly less-than additive. Hormesis should be considered in their risk assessment. The concept of effect addition
(independent action) over-estimated the risk due to the combined treatments
Application of library database management systems in university libraries in Southeastern Nigeria
Full text linkThis article contain tablesThis study assessed the applications of library database management systems in academic libraries in Southeastern Nigeria. Two research questions bordering on the objectives of the study and two hypotheses drawn from the study research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study employed survey research design of the inferential type. The area of the study is the Southeastern Nigeria. The population and sample of the study comprises thirty-nine (39) academic libraries, consisting of 17 federal and 22 state owned university libraries. The sampling technique employed is census enumeration method due to the population size. The instrument used for data collection is a researcher-made rating scale entitled “Application of Database Management System Rating Scale (DBMSRS)”. The instrument was validated by three experts and found to have face validity. The internal consistency coefficient of 0.84 was computed for DBMSRS using Kuder-Richardson formula twenty. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency count and proportion) and t-test statistics. The finding of the study revealed among others that the proportion of university libraries that adopt library database management systems is low and less encouraging and that academic libraries in federal universities make use of library database management systems more than academic libraries in state universities. Based on the findings it was recommended that academic libraries both federal and state should be funded properly, and staff trained to adhere to global services obtained in academic libraries by adopting library database management systems, in order to shift away from the traditional print material
Study on the use of indigenous plants parts for food preservation among farmers in Ivo LGA, Ebonyi State
No full textIt has tables and figuresThis research work focused on “Study on the use of indigenous plants’ parts for food preservation among farmers in Ivo LGA, Ebonyi State”. The study employed a cross sectional descriptive survey design. The sample size comprised three hundred and six (396) farmers selected through multi-stage sampling technique. The researcher’s structured questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection, data generated were analyzed using frequency, mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics of ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance at appropriate degree of freedom. Analysis of data was done with the SPSS version 23. The result revealed that majority were knowledgeable of the alternate preservation of food with indigenous plants, 65.1% positively perceived the use of indigenous plants for food preservation while 93.2% used indigenous plants for food preservation. Results
also revealed that more than half of the respondents were knowledgeable that chilli pepper can be used to preserve dried form of rice (57.1%), beans (78.8%), maize (71.5%) and melon (57.3%) for more than 6 months duration. More than half of the respondents (66.3%) attested to bitter leaf efficacy in preserving some food items like fresh form of cassava for duration of 8 days to 1 month. The study also revealed that there was significant difference in utilization of the indigenous plants among sexes, different age groups, levels of education, years of farming experience, type of farming practiced and level of income. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that these indigenous plants parts should be processed to obtain forms and products that will substitute the chemical preservatives in the market because most consumers would show higher preference for products preserved with natural products. Neglecting this can lead to a negative setback for the farmers and local people which could result in decreasing interest on the use of these natural food preservatives. Future research should focus on the promotion of indigenous plants so that they can know their importance in addressing food and nutrition security