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Comparative Review of the Magnitude of Transaction Costs in Construction Procurement Projects between Developed and Developing Countries
No full textContracting business in public sector within various counties has a
transaction cost to incur. This paper reviews transaction costs
magnitude of developed and developing countries using standard sampling
and procedure by analyzing data from four (4) developed countries;
United States of America, United Kingdom, Newzealand, and Czech
Republic and two (2) developing countries in Africa; Ghana and Nigeria.
According to the findings Newzealand have the highest TCs magnitude
among all countries compared of about 16.5% averagely and with Czech
Republic with 0.13% minimum that are incurred by stakeholders when
bidding public sector construction projects. This is an important
comparison and strengthens the assumption that there is a significant
link between transaction costs incurred in bidding and public sector
procurement, and that reducing such costs must be important for the
contracting firms of various countries
Seasonal and Temperature Dependent Variations in Proximate Parameters and Mineral Elements of Smoke-Dried Catfish ( Clarias gariepinus , Burchell, 1822) using Traditional and Eco-Friendly Kilns in Lagos, Nigeria
No full textSmoke-drying Clarias gariepinus (catfish) provides animal protein and a
source of livelihood in Lagos, Nigeria. Changes occurring to seasonal
and mineral compositions of smoke-dried catfish using local Traditional
Drum Kiln (TDK) and a newly constructed Eco-Friendly Kiln (EFK) fitted
with a flame, drying and electronic components was carried out in this
study. The smoke-drying process was carried out in both wet and dry
seasons and smoke-dried catfish samples stored at ambient and adjusted
refrigerated temperatures of 28 and 4 0C. The smoke-drying procedure
was standardized at 60 - 80 0C and kiln lasted 24 \ub1 3 hours.
Moisture content results showed a significant difference when the
catfish samples were smoke-dried using TDK and EFK and stored in
ambient and controlled temperatures in both wet and dry seasons while
crude protein, lipid, ash and crude fibre values were significantly
different when stored only in dry season. Mineral elements phosphorus,
sodium, copper, magnesium and iron showed a significant difference when
stored at both temperatures and seasons using both kilns. Mineral
elements were found to be most stable in smoke-dried catfish samples
when stored at controlled temperatures. This work proved that
standardizing smoke-drying process using both kilns resulted in good
quality smoke-dried catfish but showed that higher biochemical values
were obtained when EFK is used
Phytochemical Constituents and Insecticidal Efficacy of the Root and Leaf Powders of Mimosa diplotricha and Aspilia africana against Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
No full textThis study investigated the efficacy of the root and leaf powders of
Aspilia africana and Mimosa diplotricha against the cowpea beetle,
Callosobruchus maculatus. Newly emerged adults of C. maculatus were
exposed to grains treated with one of four treatments (powders: 0.5,
1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g) of the two plants at different exposure period of
24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Both A. africana and M. diplotricha exhibited
a high level of mortality which was a function of treatment
concentration and of exposure time. At 96 hours of exposure, 2 g of the
root and leaf powders of A. africana caused 70% and 54% mortality
respectively, in C. maculatus. When C. maculatus was exposed to 2 g for
a 96-hour exposure, the root and leaf powders of M. diplotricha,
however, resulted in 52% and 50% mortality respectively. Although
powders from all four treatment types exhibited insecticidal activities
by causing varying levels of mortality in C. maculatus, the highest
death rate was caused by the root powder of A. africana. Qualitative
analysis of the plants revealed that alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins,
steroids, tannins, terpenoids and glycosides were present in the leaf
extracts of A. africana and M. diplotricha. The moderately high
insecticidal activity demonstrated by the root powders suggest that
they hold more potential in the control of C. maculatus compared to the
leaf powders
Nutritional Composition and Growth Performance of Fish Meal Supplemented with Sesame indicum (Beni Seed) in the Diets of Clarias gariepinus
No full textThis study analyzed the chemical compositions, growth performance and
nutrient efficiency of fish meal supplemented with varying percentage
of S. indicum). A total of 150 of C. gariepinus fingerlings were
grouped into 6 tanks with 20 C. gariepinus per tank. Each tank of fish
was served with prepared fish meals supplemented with various levels of
beniseed (S. indicum ), namely, DT1 (commercial diet), stand as the
control group, DT2 (0% beniseed with 100% soya bean meal, DT3 (25%
beniseed with 75% soya bean meal, DT4 (50% beniseed with 50% soya bean,
DT5 (75% beniseed with 25% soya bean and DT6 (100% beniseed with 0%
soya bean, individually. Chemical compositions of each experimental
diet and fish carcass were determined and the feed utilization by
fishes was equally monitored and calculated. Higher levels of moisture
content (7.42%), crude fiber (4.24%), total ash (3.16%), crude protein
and fat (29.21 and 30.01%) and carbohydrate (27.21%) were established
for the dietary group (DT6) as compared to other dietary groups. In
contrast, the fish carcass moisture, crude fiber, and total ash
contents were high in fish fed DT4 and DT2 compared to others. Elevated
calcium (760.7 and 763.6 mg/100g), phosphorus (683.4 and 685.1
mg/100g), sodium (302.4 and 303.4 mg/100g), potassium (820.6 and 825
mg/100g) and iron (32.67 and 37.31 mg/100g) contents were noted in DT5
and DT6 than the other diets. The fish carcass fed DT6 were richer in
calcium (803 mg/100g), phosphorus (5023 mg/100g), sodium (492 mg/100g),
potassium (6313 mg/100g) and iron (5.12 mg/100g) than the others. C.
gariepinus fed DT6 recorded high weight gains (45.64 mg) while fish DT4
had a value of length gain (1.80 cm). Higher significant values were
observed for SGR (54.33%), PER (2.47%), FI (2.85%) and SR (80.23%) as
feed utilization in fish fed DT6. However, experimental diets (DT5 and
DT6) with 75 and 100% S. indicum inclusion look promising and would
enhance adequate growth performance and nutrient utilization of C.
gariepinus, which may be used for the development of the product in
various food industries
Kinetics Mechanism and Thermodynamic Study of the Oxidation of Iodide Ion by Dichromate Ion in Acidic Medium
No full textThis work introduces a newly developed kinetic mechanism and
thermodynamic study that gives a clear theoretical insight between the
iodine and chromium in acid solution. The paper mainly focuses on
evaluating kinetic mechanism and thermodynamic properties of the
oxidation of iodide by dichromate ion in acidic medium. This study was
investigated using iodometric method. The rate has been studied by
appropriate choice of concentrated conditions at constant temperature
and ionic strength. The kinetic studies revealed half order reaction
with respect to dichromate ion, first order for iodide ion and second
order for hydrogen ion concentration. The dependence of reaction rate
on the temperature was monitored in order to generate some
thermodynamic parameters, which can be used in predicting the direction
and spontaneity of the reaction. The thermodynamic studies of this
reaction revealed negative values for \u394G, \u394S and positive
values for \u394H which is an indication that the reaction was
spontaneous and endothermic. The oxidant chromium (vi) exist in acidic
media as H2CrO4. The effect of ionic strength on the rate of redox
reaction was investigated. The ionic strength was adjusted by varying
the concentration of the nitrate to maximum. The effect of temperature
was also studied to evaluate the thermodynamic parameters. Transition
metals should be use as catalyst for future purpose to monitor the rate
of redox reaction. The techniques employed on this research are very
useful in determining the rate of a redox reaction
Augmentative Modelling: A Template for Populus spp. Stand Biomass in Eurasia Region
No full textToday, estimating of biological productivity or carbon-depositing
ability of forests is going on the global level, and its increase is
one of the major factors of climate stabilization. In recent years, two
trends in the harmonization of allometric models of tree biomass have
been developing. The first of them is related to ensuring the
additivity of the biomass component composition, and the second one
\u2013 to the search for the so-called generic model applicable to a
wide range of environmental conditions. However, all "generic" models
give significant biases in their application in local conditions. In
our modeling, we adhere to the principle of biomass additivity, split
"generic" model into regional variants by introducing dummy variables,
and build the model at the transcontinental level for the first time.
When using the unique in terms of the volume of database on the level
of stand of the genus Populus spp. in a number of 212 sample plots, the
trans-Eurasian additive allometric models of biomass of stands for
Eurasian Populus forests are developed, and thereby the combined
problem of model additivity and generality is solved. The additive
model of forest biomass of Populus is harmonized in two ways: it
eliminated the internal contradictions of the component and the total
biomass equations, and in addition, it takes into account regional
differences of forest stands not only on total, aboveground and
underground biomass, but also on its component structure, i.e. it
reflects the regional peculiarities of the component structure of
biomass
Design, Fabrication, Evaluation and Calibration of an Improvised Soil Permeameter for Measurement of Soil Hydraulic Conductivity
No full textThis study aimed at the design, fabrication, evaluation and calibration
of an improvised soil permeameter for measuring saturated soil
hydraulic conductivities. A metal support frame with a permissible
strength of 50e-4 N/mm2 was made using steel galvanized pipes of 6
cm
8 (internal diameter) and metal flat bars of 8cm long and 0.4cm
thick. The water tank (thickness 0.6 cm, height 28 cm, internal
diameter 19 cm
8) and permeameter cylinder (thickness 0.6 cm,
height 23 cm, internal diameter 19 cm
8) were both made of Perspex
glass material. An electromechanical measuring device which was
programmed and operated wirelessly was designed and constructed to
measure head-in and head-out parameters. To calibrate the improvised
soil permeameter, sampled and particle analysed soils from different
locations within Zaria metropolis, were a test run on both foreign and
improvised soil permeameters and their respective Ksat readings were
subjected to regression analysis. According to theR2 values, the
generated 3rd order polynomial regression equation from the Ksat
readings of both foreign and improvised soil permeameter had a
satisfactoryR2 value of 0.985
Association between Biogas Quality and Digester Temperature for Selected Animal Dung-Aided Water Hyacinth Digestion Mixes
No full textIn this study, the association between biogas qulaity and digester
temperature for selected animal dung-aided water hyacinth digestion
mixes was evaluated. Substrates utilized in this study are water
hyacinth (WH), poultry manure (PM) and cow dung (CD) and pig dung (PD).
Thirty-one (31) co-digestion mix ratios were used in this study. The
temperature ranged from 28.6 to 32.2 0C for the PD-aided WH digestion,
28.2 to 31.4 0C for the CD-aided WH digestion and 28.2 to 31.8 0C for
the PM-aided WH digestion. This shows that the digestion process
occurred within the mesophilic temperature range. The data obtained
were analyzed using non-linear parameter estimation. The results
revealed that the PM-aided WH mix produced more gas but with less
methane content compared to the CD-aided and PD-aided WH digestion mix.
The results further revealed that the best quality of gas produced by
the PD-aided WH digestion. The association between the temperature and
gas quality was positive suggesting that an increase in temperature
within the digestion leads to an increase in the quality of gas
produced
Remediation of Artificially Hydrocarbon Polluted Vadose Zone Soil in Glass Column through Percolation with Solution of Nutrient, Nutrient-Surfactant or Surfactant
No full textRemediation of hydrocarbon polluted vadose zone (HPVZ) through
percolation with solution of nutrient, nutrient-surfactant, or
surfactant in glass columns was investigated in this study using
standard methods. Percolated liquids from the columns and soils
retrieved at the end of the experiment were analyzed for nitrate,
phosphate, sulphate, total-petroleum hydrocarbon, and selected
microbial groups. Results obtained showed that there were nitrate,
phosphate, and sulphate in the percolated liquids. Cumulative
hydrocarbon in the percolated liquids was 5.35 \u2013 7.59 % of
cumulative hydrocarbon start-up concentration in the columns.
Cumulative hydrocarbon attenuation across soil layers in column flooded
with solution of nutrients (column NT), nutrient-surfactant (column
NTS), and surfactant (column SF) were 89.29, 95.27, and 66.92 %
respectively. There was more phosphate reduction in column NTS, and
more sulphate reduction in column NT. Hydrocarbon-utilizing fungi in
columns NT and NTS increased from 3.5 Log10 CFU.g-1 to between 4.0
\u2013 5.0 Log10 CFU.g-1, whereas a decrease was observed for column
SF. Hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria in all the columns increased from
between 1.0 \u2013 2.5 Log10 CFU.g-1 to between 2.0 - 3.5 Log10
CFU.g-1. Emergence of hydrocarbon utilization among anaerobic bacteria
population was also observed in all the columns. It is concludedthat
percolation with nutrient-surfactant solution will be more effective in
remediation of HPVZ, and that consequential migration of nutrients
alongside hydrocarbons into groundwater can aid in enhancing
biodegradation of the infiltrated hydrocarbons
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Study of Oxidative Decolourisation of a Typical Food Dye (Tartrazine) in an Aqueous Environment
No full textThe study was carried out to describe the kinetics and thermodynamics
of hydrogen peroxide oxidation of a typical food dye (Tartrazine). The
effect of different operational factors were investigated
spectrophotometricallyat wavelength460 nm under pseudo first order
reaction.These included concentration of the oxidant and the dye, the
pH, ionic strength and temperature of the reacting medium and the
presence of transition metal ion as homogenous catalyst. A complete and
smooth decolourisation was observed. The results showed that the rate
of oxidation of dye increased with increasing in concentration of
substrate and oxidant. Increasing in temperature, ionic strength and pH
of the basic reaction medium also raised the reaction rate. The rate of
oxidation also increased with increasing in the concentration of Fe
(III) ion. Pseudo second order rate constant (k2) obtained was 1.95 x
10-3 M-1s-1 and 3.8 x10-3M-1s-1 in the absence and presence of Fe (III)
ion respectively. The Arrhenius activation energy for the oxidation in
the absence and presence of Fe (III) ion were 47.23 kJmol-1 and
42kJmol-1 respectively. Other thermodynamic parameters showed entropy
of activation (\u394S#), free energy of activation (\u394G#) and
Enthalpy of activation of the reaction (\u394H#) in the presence of Fe
(III) as -34.7 JK-1mol-1, 48.4 kJmol-1 and 40.30 kJmol-1 respectively.
The results in the absence of Fe (III) ion were -24.6 JK-1mol-1, 51.2
kJmol-1 and 44.0 kJmol-1 respectively. The relative lower activation
energy (Ea),fairly higher negative value of (\u394S#) and higher
(\u394G#) , with higher rate constant in the presence of Fe(III) ion
showed Fe(III) ion enhancement of rate of decolourisation