FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Ascorbic acid plays a critical role in various metabolic activities such as the absorption of iron from nonheme products and negates the formation of reactive oxygen, a major product responsible for oxidative stress and recent studies has shown that it is thermally labile. The effect of heat on its content in fruit juices has been successfully investigated. Fresh fruit samples were obtained from New Benin market and the juice extracts were obtained using mechanical press after which temperatures of 40,
60, 80, and 100°C were applied and the ascorbic acid contents of the fresh juice extracts and after treatment were determined using iodimetry at interval of 24 hours for five days. From the results obtained, the ascorbic acid content was found highest for
mango juice extract with a value of 11.40mg. The values obtained for grape, lemon, and tangerine are 10.42, 5.86, and 4.98mg respectively. From the values, it was obvious that heating played a major role in the ascorbic acid content of the extracts. This was demonstrated by plotting the contents in mg as functions of time from where it was seen that Lemon fruit juice had the highest correlation coefficient of 0.9918 at 60°C while the least was found for grape fruit juice at 40 and 80°C with a value of 0.9205.

The design and fabrication of a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) plasma cutting machine represent a significant advancement in precision manufacturing, enabling efficient and accurate cutting of conductive materials such as steel, aluminium, and brass. This project focuses on developing a cost-effective, versatile CNC plasma cutting machine tailored for applications in metal fabrication, automotive, aerospace, and artistic design. The system integrates a robust mechanical framework, including a stable frame, gantry, and linear motion components, with a high-performance plasma power supply and automated torch height control (THC) for consistent cut quality. Electrical systems, powered by stepper motors and a CNC controller, ensure precise movement, while CAD/CAM software facilitates the translation of complex designs into G-code for automated operation. The fabrication process involved sourcing materials, assembling mechanical and electrical components, and rigorous calibration to achieve cutting accuracy within ±0.1 mm. Key challenges, such as managing thermal distortion and electromagnetic interference, were addressed through careful design and shielding techniques.

This research introduces a pioneering method to improve latent fingerprint visualisation by synthesising silica nanoparticles from date palm seeds. Fingerprint identification is crucial in forensic science, but the quality of latent fingerprints greatly affects its reliability. Silica nanoparticles, with unique properties, are ideal for this purpose, and date palm seeds naturally contain them. This study focuses on extracting, purifying and confirming successful amorphous silica nanoparticle production. Preliminary findings indicate that these nanoparticles enhance latent fingerprint visibility on various surfaces, offering an eco-friendly approach to forensic science. This research promises to advance fingerprint identification by merging nanotechnology and forensic science through date palm seed-derived silica nanoparticle.

Ficus capensis, a wild fig tree remains the most readily available remedy to many of human problems. The free oxygen we breathe in comes from plants and many more nutritional and health benefits which are yet to be discovered. This is why the proximate analysis, phytochemical screening, mineral content and the ethanol isolate of Ficus capensis stem bark extracts were investigated. The proximate analysis, phytochemical screening and mineral content analysis were carried using standard methods and the Ethanolic extracts were obtained by maceration technique. The proximate analysis of the stem bark extracts revealed; 60.12%,
20.35% and 8.37% for carbohydrate, crude fibre and moisture content respectively. The presence of active phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, phenolics and eugenols were detected in the stem bark. Among the minerals present in the stem bark was potassium which gave the highest concentration of 17.7ppm respectively.
Others were Na (12.60ppm), Ca (5.62ppm), Mg (1.63ppm), Fe (5.30 ppm) and Cr (0.05 ppm). This study suggests that the plant samples have useful phytochemicals and minerals which can have useful pharmacological effects and also serve as nutritional supplement. The results of the ultraviolet-visible, gas chromatography spectral and infra-red analysis reveals the presence of
carboxylic acid and nitro functional group in the UV-VIS, for GC-MS spectra the compound detected were benzoic acid, 2-nitroso, acetic acid e.t.c and for IR analysis reveals the presence of Amines, alkyl group and alcohol functional group.

In an era marked by digital transformation and evolving consumer behaviors, the needfor efficient and user-friendly online trading platforms has grown significantly. This document presents the design and implementation of a specialized online multi-vendor trading platformtailored to the unique requirements of students, developed using the PHP programming language. The platform addresses the challenges faced by students in buying and selling various products, textbooks, and services within the academic community. With a focus on user experience, security, and scalability, this project offers a comprehensive solution to bridge the gapbetweenstudent buyers and sellers. Key features include user-friendly registration and product listing interfaces, secure payment processing, real-time communication channels, and a rating system for vendors. The useof PHP, a widely adopted server-side scripting language, ensures robustness and flexibility in theplatform's architecture. Throughout the development process, modern web development techniques and best practiceswere employed to ensure compatibility across multiple devices and browsers. Additionally, security measures were implemented to safeguard user data and financial transactions, promoting trust and reliability within the student community. The implementation of this online multi-vendor trading platform represents a valuable contribution to the academic ecosystem, offering students an efficient and convenient meansof trading products and services while fostering a sense of community engagement andentrepreneurship. Future enhancements and potential areas for expansion are also discussed, highlighting the platform's adaptability to evolving student needs and preferences. In summary, this project showcases the successful design and deployment of an online multi- vendor trading platform, demonstrating the potential for similar solutions in niche markets. It underscores the importance of user-centric design and technological innovation in addressingthe evolving demands of the digital age.

This study examines the geochemical and mineralogical compositions of five meta-sedimentaryrock samples from Ofu-Eba, Southwest Nigeria, focusing on marble, metaconglomerateandquartzite. One sample was taken from the Ugbogbo area (UGB5), two fromthe Ofu-Ebaarea(EBA3 & EBA4), and two from the Ogbe area (OGB1 & OGB2). Marble (OGB1 &OGB2) hadvery high CaO (87-88%), which set it apart from metaconglomerates (EBA3 &EBA4), whichwere enriched in SiO2 (61-73%) and Al2O3 (7-11%), and quartzite (UGB5), which showedhighSiO2 (70%) and K2O, according to geochemical data (Table 2). These results were supportedbymineralogical investigations (Table 1), which showed a carbonate protolith in marble sampleswith calcite (28–37%) predominating and substantial quartz (35–36%) and orthoclase (27–29%). A siliciclastic origin was suggested by the metaconglomerates' high quartz content (36–38%), feldspars (orthoclase 18–22%, anorthite), and mica (biotite, muscovite). The matrix of quartzitewas primarily composed of quartz (63%), which is indicative of a metamorphic rockthat isextremely siliceous. These variances show a distinct compositional divergence betweenthesilicate-rich metaconglomerates, the highly siliceous quartzite, and the carbonate-richmarble, reflecting variations in protolith composition and metamorphic grade. The results showthevarious metamorphic processes that have sculpted these meta-sedimentary rocks, whichadvances our understanding of the geological evolution of the Ofu-Eba region

The Internet-based electronic commerce environment has been widespread developed, which provides consumers with a convenient platform to search for information interact with retailers and purchase products online. The aim of the study is to design and implement a web based software that will eradicate the problems or the existing E-Commerce Website System stated above. The motivation that led to the implementation of the proposed system is that alot of customers have to queue for a long period of time before getting their desired product or goods from the grocery seller, which makes shopping within the store very stressful, and the customers have to spend all their time just to purchase an item in the store shop which is not right, all because of the manual approach towards grocery shopping. The methodology adopted in this study is the structure system analysis and design methodology (SSADM) which is a technical approach for analyzing and designing an application or system by applying object oriented programming as well as visual modeling throughout the software development process. The programming language used is HTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT, PHP, SQL and JQUERY. The reason why web programming languages was used is because, it is platform independent and it is a web based application. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations made are that formal analysis and design were used to give adequate understanding to the object-oriented technique used. The major quest is to ease the problem and stress encountered in customer’s grocery shopping experience and keeping records of stock list, customer lists, sales volume, and summary report. The expected result is a web based E-Commerce software that will apply cyber security features to the e-Commerce application for a grocery store online shopping and also updates new products like grocery items and other related items online.

In this work, the structural, mechanical, and electronic properties of PbSeperovskite materials are investigated in detail ab initio using spin-polarizedDFT, using the Ultra Soft Pseudopotential (USPP) method in the QuantumEspresso(QE)software package, the total energy was calculated and the lattice constantsoptimized using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) formulationof theGeneralized Gradient Approximation (GGA). In excellent agreement with previously published theoretical values, thestudyproduced optimized equilibrium lattice parameters, band structures, elasticconstants, and elastic moduli. Additionally, the Density of States (DOS) andbandstructures were analyzed in order to comprehensively study the electricalcharacteristics. The findings support the efficacy of the computational techniques used andofferathorough understanding of the structural, mechanical, and electrical propertiesofPbSe perovskites. These discoveries add to the growing corpus of informationon x perovskite materials and provide insightful information for upcoming studiesandtechnological uses.

This project aims to identify current and emerging phishing techniques and evaluate the level of awareness and preparedness among internet users, with the goal of proposing adaptive prevention measures. The methodology involved reviewing advanced global phishing tactics (including deepfake video phishing and QR code phishing) and conducting a primary survey among Nigerian youths. The study found that while exposure to phishing threats is high, the practical ability of users to correctly identify and prevent attacks is low, leaving them susceptible to scams like investment fraud and social media phishing. The project concludes that phishing is fundamentally a human-centric problem and proposes adaptive measures focused on integrating continuous education, practical simulation drills, and technological safeguards like 2FA to strengthen user vigilance.

This project focuses on the design and development of a web-based lost and found reporting system intended to improve the management of misplaced items within a campus environment. The system is built using Softr for the front-end and Airtable as the backend database, providing a lightweight and accessible platform for users to report, search, and view lost or found items. The project adopts the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model, emphasizing quick prototyping and iterative improvement. The resulting application eliminates the inefficiencies of manual lost and found processes by enabling instant reporting and retrieval through any web- enabled device. System evaluation, based on real user interaction, reveals that the platform is
easy to use, efficient, and reliable.