Federal University Of Technology , Akure Research Articles

Effect of Fermentation on the Nutrient and Anti-nutrient Contents of African Bush Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) Seeds

Aim: Effect of fermentation on nutrient and anti-nutrient contents of defatted and un-defatted African bush mango seeds.
 Study Design: Ground African bush mango seeds used in this study were divided into two portions; A, and B. Portion A was defatted while portion B was not defatted; both portions were fermented.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology and Chemistry Department, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State between November 2017 and July 2018.
 Methodology: Microbial analysis was carried out using pour plate technique. The temperature, pH and total titratable acidity were monitored throughout the fermenting period. Proximate, mineral and anti-nutrient contents of the samples were carried out using standard methods.
 Results: Seventeen microorganisms comprising 11 bacteria and 6 molds were isolated and identified as; Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, S. epidermis, B. licheniformis, Micrococcus luteus, Proteus vulgaris, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus fermentum, L. plantarum, L. brevis, Aspergillus clavatus, A. flavus, A. niger, Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium chrysogenum and A. fumigatus. The pH and TTA values reduced and increased respectively while the temperature varied significantly as the fermentation day increases. The non-defatted fermented sample showed increase in protein (10.34-12.09%), moisture (6.98-7.84%) and carbohydrate contents (24.98-29.20%); while there was a reduction in the ash (3.91-2.93%), fibre (1.55-1.30%) and fat (52.24-46.64%) contents. The defatted fermented sample showed an increase in the protein content (17.39-26.44%) while there was a reduction in the moisture (26.60-26.46%), carbohydrate (41.02-38.96%) ash (4.07-3.01%), fat (9.44-4.02%) and fibre contents (1.48-1.11%). The mineral composition of the fermented samples increased significantly when compared to the raw samples. The anti-nutrient content of the samples decreased significantly with fermentation.
 Conclusion: This study revealed that African bush mango seeds can be defatted and fermented to produce food of enhanced nutritional value.

SURVEY OF INDOOR RADON LEVELS IN SOME UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA.

Indoor radon investigation was carried out in offices of three university campuses located in South-Western part of Nigeria; Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ekiti State University (EKSU) and Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) using CR39 detectors. The mean activity concentration of indoor radon for the investigated offices of all three university campuses was estimated to be 222 ± 44 Bq m-3, which was below the reference level of 300 Bq m-3 recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP 115). For the three institutions, the probability of lung cancer induction at age 70 years with respect to age of exposure (40, 50, and 60 years) ranged between 1.06 × 10-7 and 6.24 × 10-5. The expected mortality rate due to exposure to a radon activity concentration ranging from 7 to 1358 Bq m-3 was estimated to range from 0 to 44 deaths among a population of 10,000 persons.

Antimicrobial Properties of Cooked African Locust Beans (Parkia biglobosa) Effluent with and without Its Chaff

Aim: This study aim to determine the antimicrobial properties of the Parkia biglobosa (Jacque Benth.) effluents (waste water from the preparation of Parkia biglobosa). The effluents were tested against some typed and clinical pathogenic microorganisms for their antimicrobial properties using the conventional antibiotics as the control.
 Study Design: Effluent with and without chaff is to serve as agents used to determine its antimicrobial properties on the clinical and typed isolates.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out between November- 2015 and July- 2016 at the Department of Microbiology Laboratory, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
 Methodology: Locust beans bought from “Oja Oba” market, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo state were cooked until the coat was soft and the effluent (waste water from the locust beans) was decanted, cooked again and the effluent with chaffs was also decanted. Both effluents (with and without chaffs) were used against the test and clinical microorganisms using agar well diffusion method. The Minimum inhibitory concentration was carried out using tube dilution method using Mueller Hinton broth.
 Results: The typed pathogenic microorganisms were subjected to antimicrobial tests using the P. biglobosa effluents at 100mg/mL; the effluents were able to inhibit S. pyogenes (ATCC 29212) S. aureus (ATCC 43300), S. typhi (ATCC 35240) and E. coli (ATCC 35218) while P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and K. pneumonia (ATCC 48891) were resistant to the effluents. E. coli (ATCC 35218) had the lowest susceptibility at 6.33 ± 0.58bmm and S. pyogenes (ATCC 29212) had the highest susceptibility with 13.00 ± 1.73amm zones of inhibition for the locust beans effluent. For the clinical isolate, the effluent (waste water from the boiled locust beans) and effluent containing chaffs were also able to inhibit S. aureus, S. typhi, E. coli and S. pyogenes. For the effluent containing chaffs, S. aureus had the lowest susceptibility at 2.33 ± 0.58a mm while S. pyogenes had the highest susceptibility at 9.33 ± 0.58a mm. P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to the effluents.
 Conclusion: This study has provided useful information on the antimicrobial activities of the effluents against clinical and typed microorganisms used in this study.

A Review of Soil Dynamics in Traction Studies

As the world population increases more than ever before and increasing demand on food, feed and fiber, and security, the number of off-the-road vehicles is rapidly increasing for agriculture, forestry, military, mining and construction industries. Many researchers have studied and still investigating traction as it relates off-road vehicles and publications abound especially from developed countries of Europe, America and others. In our generation scientists are trying to put robotic vehicles on the lunar and Martian terrains. This trend makes the study of soil dynamics in traction a sine qua non in our tertiary and research institutions. In Nigeria there is a dearth of publications in this specialized area of study. This is a review paper and the purpose is to highlight some of the studies that have been conducted over the years, with a view to enlightening, encouraging, stimulating and challenging would be researchers. Trends in the development of soil bin with single wheel testers were reviewed including tractive and transport devices used in them. Traction parameters including motion resistance, measurement and data acquisition systems, traction predictive equations including wheel numeric and mobility numbers were also reviewed. Efforts made in the development of soil bin for soil dynamics research and further research interest at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) were highlighted.

Antibacterial Effects of Honey in Nigeria on Selected Diarrhoeagenic Bacteria

Aims: This study is geared to evaluating honey as an alternative of conventional antibiotics to treat infections caused by the selected diarrhoeagenic bacteria.
 Place and duration of Study: Research laboratory of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria between December 2017 to May 2018. 
 Methodology: Honey samples from ten (10) different locations in Nigeria were screened for possible antibacterial activity on both the clinical and typed cultures of the selected diarrhoeagenic bacteria; Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus using agar well diffusion method. Conventional antibiotics were used as control. Data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using XL-Start, 2016 version.
 Results: All the honey samples used exerted growth inhibitory activity on all the test bacteria including the ones that were resistant to the conventional antibiotics (Ofloxacin and augmentin) used as control. In some cases, the growth inhibitions mediated by the honey samples were superior to that of the conventional antibiotics.
 Conclusion: This study showed that honey has antibacterial activity against the selected bacteria and therefore can be exploited as an alternative to conventional antibiotics to treat infections caused by the selected diarrhoeagenic bacteria especially the ones that were resistant to conventional antibiotics.

Variations of physico-mechanical, mineralogical and geochemical properties of marble under the influence of weathering

The authors appreciate the custodians of rock mechanics laboratory at the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, geology laboratory at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and Centre for Energy Research and Development at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria for making the laboratories available for the experiments.

Microbiological and Proximate Analyses of Lebanese Bread (Pita) from Akure Metropolis

Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the microbial quality and proximate composition of pita samples from Akure metropolis.
 Place and Duration of Study: Microbiology and Industrial Chemistry laboratories of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria, between January 2016 and June 2016.
 Methodology: Pita samples were evaluated using standard microbiological techniques to ascertain microbial load and types after purchase from vendors utilizing them alone or in production of other foods. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of isolates was also determined. Proximate composition analysis of samples was also performed.
 Results: Average bacterial count was 1.0±0.9 cfu/g, while average fungal count was 2.0±1.2 sfu/g. The fungi isolated were Rhizopus stolonifer, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger; while the bacteria isolated were Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus sp., Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris. Microbial zones of inhibition ranged from 17 mm to 23.50 mm. Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most susceptible to gentamycin, pefloxacin and amoxycillin, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus showed the widest antimicrobial resistant pattern. The highest carbohydrate content was recorded as 78.99 %, while bread samples showed low ash content (0.65 %).
 Conclusion: Pita bread is not a common staple compared to leavened breads but provides appreciable level of nutrients. Pita bread requires regular microbial assessment to determine their safety for direct consumption or use in production of other food products.

Effects of Claims on Delivery of Building Projects in Nigeria

Claim has been the major reason why contractors in Nigeria failed in meeting up with obligations made and implementing the contract successfully. In order to observe and evaluate the claim situation in construction project and give way of settling them comfortably. This paper devotes the research and literature review to key problem in claims administration in construction project in Nigeria. Qualitative research was used; secondary data from archives was collected from the physical planning unit. Primary data was collected through interview made to principal quantity surveyor in the physical planning unit in order to elicit information on effects of claims on building projects in Federal University of Technology Akure. Data collected were analyzed using content based analysis where the most occurred types and causes of claims in FUTA projects were examined and rank accordingly. The result shows that variation claims was ranked the highest types of claims due to change of specification, architect instruction for additional works e.t.c. The second ranked was delay claim due to delay in supply of materials, delay in payment by client. The most occurred causes of claim were change in specification, delay in supply of materials, architect instruction for additional work and the least occurred causes of claim is increase in material or labor cost. The most occurred effects of claims in FUTA projects were non-completion at the right time, cash flow reduction, low quality and cost overrun. The paper therefore recommends that there should be complete and detailed design, payment of contractor as at when due to prevent delay of supply of materials as well as a proper way to process claim and document to back up any claim arising from contractor or client. Keywords: Claims, Delivery, Administration DOI : 10.7176/IEL/9-2-01 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Microorganisms Isolated from Tap Surfaces in Nigeria Campus

Resistance of microorganisms to available antimicrobial agents have resulted in pernicious effect to human health over the last decades. The increase in antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic microorganisms particularly in tap surfaces is a major concern to the society. This research focused on the investigation of antimicrobial resistance pattern of pathogenic organisms (bacteria and fungi) isolated from various tap surfaces in the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Obakere campus, in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Samples were obtained from different locations (laboratories, hostels and toilets) in FUTA. The samples were analyzed microbiologically on selective, differential and general purpose media. The isolated organisms were identified by the routine microbiological methods. Among the pathogenic microorganisms isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Citrobacter freundii, Acinectobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Fusarium oxysporium. The percentage distribution varies with P. aeruginosa (26.09%) having the highest percentage and Klebsiella sp. (4.45%) recorded at the lowest percentage of occurrence. All fungi isolated have simillar percentage distribution. The isolates displayed various levels of resistance to piperacillin (100%), ampicillin (66.67%). ceftazidime (66.67%), tetracycline (83.33%), cefepime (66.67%) and chloramphenicol (66.67%). The resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate by E. coli and C. freundii isolated from taps surfaces were 60% and 50%, respectively. K. pneumoniae from tap water surface has 100% resistance to cefepime. The high resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents indicated a great threat to people living within FUTA community that constantly obtaining water from these taps surfaces.

The Impact of Educational Trust Fund on Nigeria Tertiary Institutions: Ondo State as a Case Study

The study examines impact of Education Trust Fund on Nigeria tertiary institutions by using Ondo State of Nigeria as a case study. Four tertiary institutions were sampled in Ondo state namely (Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo and Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. A total sample of 200 were used for the study. Questionnaires were distributed among the students, teaching and non teaching staff in the same proportions, to gather data for the study Frequency counts and simple percentages were used to analyse the data. The result shows that Tertiary institutions in Ondo state have benefited greatly from the activities of the Educational Trust Fund (ETF) programmes in terms of training of staff, sponsorship attendance of conferences and infrastructural development programmes. Therefore, it is clear that the impact of Educational Trust Fund (ETF) has on Nigeria tertiary institutions particularly in Ondo state is paramount towards the achievements of better teaching and learning process. It is therefore recommended that Educational Trust Fund should make sure that they assign their projects to only contractors who are certified to be honest and competent. The monitoring team should be at work always to make sure that they evaluate the project at close interval Keywords : Educational Trust fund, Tertiary Institutions, Projects, Impact, Evaluate the project DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-6-04

Root initiation of bougainvillea from cuttings using different rooting hormones

An experiment on stimulation of rooting of six Bougainvillea species using three different rooting hormones was conducted in the nursery, department of crop soil and pest management of the Federal University of Technology Akure, March to June, 2013. The experiment was laid out in Completely Block Design (CRD) and replicated three times. Data were collected on number of days to sprouting, plant height, stem girth, stem length, wet root weight, dry root weight, the number of leaves per cutting and length of longest roots and subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the level of significance and Tukey Test was used to separate the means. The results showed that the Indole -3-butyric acid and the coconut water had significant effect on the root emergence and root growth of Bougainvillea species compared to the other hormones used and the hard wood cuttings enhanced the rooting of the Bougainvillea compared to the semi –hard wood. Therefore root initiation in cuttings of Boungainvillea could be enhanced with Indole -3-butyric acid (IBA) or dipped in coconut water for 5 minutes and growth was also enhanced using the hard wood cuttings.

Ethical climate and deviant behavior among employees of selected public and private universities: The case of the emerging country

The study was borne out of the need to assess the effect of ethical climate on deviant behavior among employees in the educational institutions and the need to ascertain whether workplace deviant behavior has a force to bear with institutional ownership. Questionnaires (375) were distributed among the academic and administrative staff of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) and Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin (EU); selected using multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics (table, percentage) and inferential statistics (simple regression) were employed to analyse the data. Simple regression was used to analyse the data. Based on the test of the hypothesis, the study found that deviant behavior among employees of selected public and private universities can be significantly determined by ethical climate factors. Ethical climate contributed significantly to deviant behaviors in the public and private universities showing probability of t-statistic (.012 &.022) lesser than 5%. Hence, it is concluded that the ethical climate or wrong ethical system is the major determinant of deviant behaviors in selected public and private universities.

Analysis of the Synthetic Gas Production from Saw Dust Gasification

Aims: Produce combustible gas from sawdust for domestic house use.
 Study Design: A fluidized bed gasifier suitable for sawdust gasification was used.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was done at the federal university of technology akure, Ondo state Nigeria
 Methodology: Sawdust was first processed by converting it to pellets. Tests were carried out on the pellets using a bomb calorimeter using the ASTM-E771 standard. On experimental, the pellets were loaded into the reactor and then fired. Air was forced into the plenum, after which the air distributor plate evenly distributed jets of air in the bed resulting in complete and incomplete combustion.
 Results: Experimental tests showed that the pellets have a heating value of 16.36 MJ of energy per kg and a higher percentage of volatile matter of 57.62% (ASTM-E872) and a lower percentage of fixed carbon than the initial sawdust sample. The produced synthesis gas composed of methane 63.4%, Ammonia 1.09%, Carbon monoxide 0.63%, Hydrogen sulphide 0.84% and carbon dioxide 34.04%.
 Conclusion: The gas was ignited showing it was combustible.

Response of maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield to different fertilizer application in rainforest agro-ecological zone of Nigeria: Evaluation of CERES-maize crop model

Field trials were carried out in the Rainforest agroecological zone of Nigeria to assess the usefulness of the CERES – maize model as a decision support tool for optimizing growth and yield production of maize crop through varying application of organic manure as well as recommended NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer rate. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three (3) replications. The trial was conducted in the 2016 growing season at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to calibrate and evaluate the performance of three (3) maize cultivars (Suwan-1-SR-Y, ART/98/SW1, ART/98/SW6 respectively) using sunshine organic manure (SOM) applied at the rate of 0, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1 and NPK 20:10:10 applied at a recommended rate of 70 kg N ha-1. Model performance across fertilizer management was evaluated using some statistical indicators such as Mean Square error (RMSE), Mean bias error (MBE), and R2 to measure its efficacy. Results showed that the model predictions captured the agronomic response of all the maize cultivars used across the fertilizer application rates. However, the model predicts accurately maize grain yield and total biomass with NPK 20:10:10 at 70kgNha-1 better than different rates of sunshine organic manure (SOM) application for all the maize cultivars. The result further showed good agreement between the model predicted and observed data with low RMSE of ≤ 1day for anthesis and ≤ 5 days for physiological maturity while the total leaf number ranged from 1.9 – 2.7. Model accuracy for predicting grain yield and total biomass was also good, for both the calibration and validation with lowest RMSE and NRMSE of the observed mean values.

Panoramic azimuthal Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Sounding for fracture orientation and anisotropy quantification

Vertical electrical sounding (VES) data acquired with the Schlumberger configuration is popularly used to image the electrical resistivity variation with depth at a single azimuth. Apart from the random subjective choice of the single azimuthal direction by the field geophysicists, important hydrological information such as fracture orientation and anisotropic coefficients needed for understanding resultant groundwater flow direction are by design lost in the process. Panoramic (0°–360°) azimuthal VES data were acquired at two data points at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) at angular step of 15°, making a total of 24 data sets per data point. Each azimuthal VES data was inverted using equal number of layers in order to confirm the presence of anisotropy, quantify the anisotropic coefficients and image the orientation of fracture at a particular depth. Little to large apparent resistivity data and model suggested the presence of anisotropy which otherwise would have been lost in a single azimuthal survey. Elliptical fit of each layer azimuthal inverted resistivity was used to quantify the fracture orientation and coefficient of anisotropy with depth. From the results, it is established that anisotropy is present only at the near-surface: and the anisotropic coefficient increases from the surface to 7m. The result also showed the presence of an isotropic unit from 8m to the fresh basement. In agreement with existing published results on the geology of the area, the majority of the fractures trend North West and North East at stations 1 and 2 respectively. We hope that the methodology will foster detailed 3D panoramic imaging of the fracture network within and outside the study location, which will help in designing better groundwater management scheme and understanding resultant groundwater flow direction for contaminant and pollutant prevention and for flood control.

Experimental Investigation of the Performance and Energy Consumption of an Automated Ice-cube Making Machine

Aims: This study investigates the performance of a developed automated ice-cube making machine under controlled ambient conditions, in which its energy usage, rate of ice cube production and refrigeration system performance was analysed.
 Study Design: Average ambient temperatures of 24°C and 32°C were considered for investigation in order to determine their influence on ice production capacity, rate of ice-cube making and energy consumption. The choice of the ambient temperature is based on the extreme ambient conditions under which the machine is designed to operate in a wide range of geographical regions. The refrigeration system performance was carried out under normal room temperature (average of 23°C).
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State Central Workshop, Between December 2017 and January 2018.
 Methodology: The machine was set into operation for 5 consecutive ice production cycle during which the ice making time, harvest time, quantity of ice produced and energy consumption were recorded.
 Results: The ice production capacity, harvesting time and energy consumption show various dissimilarities at both temperatures. 0.618 kg of ice cubes were produced within an ice making cycle of 34.9 minutes, harvesting time of 1.28 minutes and total energy consumption of 0.14053 kWh at 24°C while at 32°C, the machine produced an average of 0.612 kg ice cubes within an ice making cycle of 38.5 minutes harvesting time 1.21 minutes and energy consumption of 0.15947 kWh respectively. Consequently, 13.5% more energy is consumed, with about 1% less quantity of ice produced at 32°C than at 24°C per ice production cycle.
 Conclusion: Therefore, the ice making capacity of the developed machine suggests that the temperature of the environment has a strong influence on the energy consumption, but little effect on the quantity of ice produced per cycle. The refrigeration system cycle performance analysis results showed a considerably high cooling capacity of 0.379 kW during the ice-making cycle with a corresponding coefficient of performance (COP) of 2.23, and a heating capacity of 2.24 kW during the harvest cycle with a corresponding COP of 8.21. The results obtained showed that the machine is reliable in operation with minimal energy consumption.

Insights from the Engineering Geological Mapping of Four Basement Rocks Derived Soils

Due to the rapid expansion and associated construction of civil engineering structures on the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) campus, there arose an urgent need for an engineering geological mapping of the underlying soils (residual soils). Generalized geological mapping revealed four types of basement rocks namely migmatite-gneisses, granites, quartzites and charnockites. Results from the fifty (50) soil samples from twenty-five test pits collected all over the spread of the campus coverage of 6.4 km2revealed that the campus is underlain by soils of granular and clayey composition, generally lateritic, having reddish to brownish colour. Engineering geological tests such as natural moisture content, particle size analysis, consistency limits, California bearing ratio and consolidation were carried out on the soils following standard procedures revealed that the values of natural moisture content do not generally follow a consistent pattern and varied from location to location. The grain size characteristics curve, displayed 84% and 16% subsoils are of well graded and poorly graded type respectively. The soils were grouped into CL (low plasticity), CI (medium plasticity) and CH (high plasticity) from consistency limits results. Compaction characteristics of the subsoils revealed 36% and 64% representative of fair to good and poor to very poor foundation materials respectively. Soils with settlement rates greater than 1mm/year were designated as high settlement subsoils. 72% and 28% of the subsoils fell into hard to stiff and soft categories from the shear strength characteristics respectively, and classified as c-ø soils. California Bearing Ratios values range from 10 – 70, indicating their suitability for pavement construction. Conclusively, areas underlain by migmatite-gneiss and charnockite-derived soils, and granite and quartzite-derived soils possessed low and high strength characteristics respectively which can be attributed to their textural characteristics. The subsoils of the entire campus spread are however capable of bearing very substantial loads.

Cooperative Principle Maxims In Whatsapp Conversations Among Undergraduates In The Federal University Of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

During interlocution, sentences, clauses, phrases, words are used. The utterances made can then be classified in various ways for the purpose of analysis or research. They can be classified according to length by counting the number of words in each utterance, for instance. The utterances can be classified grammatically or structurally in the English language along a number of dimensions: their clausal type and complexity; active-passive; statement-question-request-exclamatory and so on. This study examines the rate of flouting/obeying of Grice’s Cooperative Maxims in WhatsApp conversations among undergraduates in the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Theoretical framework for the study Cooperative Principle by Grice 1975 was used to analyse the data. The data include selected conversations from October 2016 to February 2017. The results revealed that the level of cooperation is high to some extent between the conversationalists in FUTA’s data. The maxims of relation and manner were of the same percentages (7.4) and these revealed that the rate of obscurity and the rate of diversion from the topic of discussion was high. This study therefore recommends that students should be more truthful and concise in making their thoughts known in other to reduce flouting of Maxims of cooperation in conversations.

Assessment of Facilities Management Practice in the Federal University of Technology Akure

In recent years, numerous definitions of facilities management have risen. Nonetheless, various definitions provide broad variance on the perception of what facilities management is all about, how it functions and to what extent it offers sustainable opportunities for enterprises (Tay and Ooi 2001). Atkins and Brooks (2009) describe Facility Management as an integrated approach to operating, sustaining, promoting and modifying the building and infrastructure of an organization to create an environment that strongly supports the primary objectives of that organization. Likewise, Pitt and Tucker (2008) interpreted FM as the integration and alignment of the non-core services, comprising those relating to premises, required to operate and retain a business to fully support the core missions of the organization. The questionnaire was administered to 253 respondent in the study area and 190 was retrieved. Data were analysed with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) through descriptive and weighted mean analysis majorly. One of the findings of this study proves that the best strategy that is employed by the university is the combination of both outsourcing and in - house for better outcomes.

Study of particulate matter of Akure, Nigeria using a sharp-cut inertial filter combined with an impactor-a preliminary study

In this study, the particulate matter (PM10) was studied over a six month period (from August 2017 to January 2018) at an urban and a suburban site (Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria). Three different sites were used, namely: Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); the National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Akure, and Science and Education Development Institute (SEDInst), Oba Ile. The monthly PM10 in these locations during the studied period ranged from 60.73 to 287.97 μm3 at FUTA, 96.1–175.63 μm3 for the National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Akure, while it ranged from 92.72 to 204.48 μm3 at SEDInst. The results were compared with national and international standards. It was observed that the PM10 were above the recommended limits. Meteorological parameters (Rainfall, relative humidity (RH), temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction) were obtained from a meteorological center and analyzed statistically. The essence in the study was to find out their relationship with PM10. The value of R of the PM10 samples had positive correlation with rain (r = 0.561, 0.820, 0.408), RH (r = 0.487, 0.799, 0.318), and precipitation (r = 0.388, 0.486, 0.784). There were strong correlations between RH and temperature (r = 0.741) and RH and wind (r = 0.977). This study suggested that individual meteorological factors had effects on PM10 concentration.