FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE

This study investigated the levels of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in cow offal (shaki, liver and kidney) consumed within Benin City to assess potential human health risks associated with its exposure. Samples of liver, kidney, and intestine were collected from three different abattoirs (University of Benin abattoir, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) abattoir and Ekosodin abattoir) and analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) to determine the heavy metal concentrations. Results showed cadmium levels ranging below detectable limits to 1.00 mg/kg was obtained for the duration of the sampling campaign with the highest concentration obtained in Ekosodin market and University of Benin abattoir. Also noteworthy is that cadmium was detected in 25% of all the samples collected. The concentration obtained in this study was found to exceed the Codex Alimentarius limits of 0.5 mg/kg in liver and 1.0 mg/kg in kidney. Zinc concentrations, though essential, were also found in higher than recommended amounts, suggesting contamination from feed or environmental sources. A zinc concentration range of 47 to 197 mg/kg was obtained with the highest concentration obtained in kidney sample from Ekosodin market with a concentration of 197mg/kg while the lowest concentration of 47 mg/kg was obtained in intestine sample from University of Benin Teaching Hospital abattoir. The elevated metal content reported poses potential health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly. The findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of slaughterhouse practices, feed sources, and environmental pollution. Increased public awareness and enforcement of food safety regulations are essential to minimize exposure and protect public health

Access to safe drinking water is essential for preventing waterborne diseases and maintaining public health, particularly in high-density living environments such as student hostels. This study assesses the microbial quality of water from Osasogie Hostel, Osasogie, Benin City, Nigeria, to determine contamination levels and potential health risks. Water samples were collected from a bore-hole and an overhead GeePee tank and analyzed using the membrane filtration method to detect the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli), total coliform bacteria, and fungi. The results revealed E. coli counts of 1 CFU in borehole water and 3 CFU in the overhead GPee tank, indicating fecal contamination and potential exposure to pathogenic microorganisms. Total coliform bacteria were found at 3 CFU in borehole water and 7 CFU in the overhead tank, suggesting inadequate water sanitation and possible environmental contamination. Additionally, fungi counts were higher in the overhead tank (4 CFU) compared to the borehole water (2 CFU), indicating poor storage conditions, biofilm formation, or organic matter accumulation.
The findings underscore the urgent need for improved water management practices, regular microbiological monitoring, and proper disinfection methods to ensure safe drinking water. Recommended interventions include chlorination, filtration, UV disinfection, and frequent cleaning of storage tanks to prevent microbial proliferation. Public health awareness campaigns should also be conducted to educate hostel residents on safe water handling and sanitation practices. Implementing these measures will help mitigate contamination risks and protect students from waterborne illnesses

This project explored how open-source software (OSS) is being used for academic activities in Nigerian universities, focusing on the University of Benin as a case study. The aim was to find out how aware students and ICT personnel are of OSS, how they use
it for learning, teaching, and research, the benefits they gain from it, and the challenges that limit its proper use. A descriptive survey design was used for the study, and data were gathered through a structured questionnaire created with Google Forms. Seventy (70) valid responses were collected from students and ICT staff across different faculties. The data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, and the results were presented in tables for clarity. Findings showed that most respondents were aware of and made use of open-source tools like Moodle, Google Workspace, DSpace, and Koha. These tools were mainly used for online learning, collaboration, and research work. The study also revealed that OSS is appreciated for being affordable, flexible, and easy to access, though some challenges—such as poor internet connection, limited training, and lack of Institutional support—still make it difficult to use effectively

This study evaluates the role of mobile applications in enhancing service delivery across various sectors, including healthcare, public services, and customer support. The rapid adoption of mobile apps has transformed how services are accessed and delivered, making it essential to assess their effectiveness, usability, security, and user satisfaction. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, this research analyzes the key factors influencing the use and success of mobile apps in service delivery. The study specifically examines the usability and user experience of mobile apps, the efficiency of service delivery, security and privacy concerns, adoption barriers, and the role of personalization features in boosting user engagement. A questionnaire was administered to users who regularly interact with mobile apps for service delivery, gathering insights into their satisfaction, challenges, and expectations. The findings reveal that while mobile apps generally improve service efficiency and engagement, significant challenges remain in areas such as technical stability, security, and accessibility. Notably, users expressed concerns regarding privacy and data security, which can hinder the broader adoption of mobile apps. This research highlights the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure the continued success of mobile apps in service delivery. Recommendations for improving app usability, enhancing security measures, overcoming adoption barriers, and leveraging personalization features are provided. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on mobile technology and its impact on service delivery, offering valuable insights for developers, service providers, and policymakers seeking to optimize the user experience and maximize the benefits of mobile applications.

Azanza garckeana is a tropical wild plant that is found in Africa. It produces edible fruits that are used as food or herbal medicine. The fruits are used for the treatment of anemia, malaria, liver problems and infertility. This study was aimed at determining the effect of the aqueous-methanol pulp extract of Azanza garckeana fruits on biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters of male Wistar albino rats. The effect of the pulp extract on sex hormones was ascertained and the bioactive compounds present in the pulp and seeds of Azanza garckeana fruits were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Twenty-four (24) male Wistar albino rats were used for the study and grouped into four groups with six rats per group; Group 1 (control) and three dose groups of 50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight. The animals were acclimatized for two weeks. Those in the test groups were orally administered the aqueous-methanol pulp extract of Azanza garckeana fruits for twenty-eight (28) days. Analyses of biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters, as well as sex hormone assessment were carried out using standard methods. Methanol and aqueous extracts of the pulverized pulp and seeds of the fruits were used for GC-MS analysis.
Results obtained from this study revealed no significant change (p > 0.05) between the control and test groups in the biochemical parameters assessed except for creatinine levels for 300 and 2000mg/kg bodyweight test groups, which significantly increased (p< 0.05) compared to control. The platelet crit, platelet count and RDW values were the only haematological parameters that were significantly different (p < 0.05) from the control. Histopathological study of the following organ; liver, kidney, heart, colon and testes showed no abnormalities in both test and control groups. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in the sex hormone progesterone at 300 and 2000mg/kg body weight test groups was observed. GC-MS analysis of the pulp and seeds of Azanza garckeana fruits revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds such as 5hydroxymethyl furfural, hexadecanoic acid, octadecane, heneicosane, heptacosane with varying medicinal properties. The consumption of Azanza garckeana fruits can be considered safe with no adverse effect. Moreover, identification of several bioactive compounds with medicinal properties that are present in the pulp and seeds of Azanza garckeana fruits gives credence to their ethnomedicinal uses.

This study attempts to access the quality, spatial variation and economic viability of A and C reservoirs across eight wells in the Alero Field. Suites of wireline well log data for the wells of the Alero Field were evaluated to characterize the reservoirs. From the quantitative and qualitative analyses carried out, it was revealed that reservoir A has the following petrophysical characteristics across the wells; Gross thickness 14.85m to 193.01m, shale volume 16% to 28%; total porosity: 31%to34%; effective porosity: 25% to 29%; permeability: 9962.25mD to 12912.90mD;
water saturation: 7% to 24%, while for reservoir C across the wells; shale volume10% to 36%%; total porosity: 28% to 33%; effective porosity: 21%to 29%; permeability: 10174.20mD to 12498.70mD; water saturation: 5%to 59%. The results show both reservoirs to exhibit favourable properties across the wells, including moderate to high net-to-gross (NTG) ratios, effective porosity, high hydrocarbon saturation, and good permeability. However, variations in shale content (VSh), water saturation, as well as pay zone thickness across the wells suggest
spatial heterogeneity in reservoir quality. Overall, reservoir A is found to be a more promising candidate for oil production, showing better permeability (10174.20mD to 12498.70mD) and overall hydrocarbon saturation (75% to 93%).

Mattresses and bed linen are clearly recognized as potential reservoirs for microorganisms and could be vectors of disease transmission. Bedding materials include bed sheets, blankets, towels and personal clothing (night wares). Pathogenic microorganisms can be transmitted from bed linen to human. This study therefore, assessed pathogenic bacterial isolates from bed linen and mattresses in Postgraduate hostels in University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus Samples were swabbed from bed linen and mattresses of Post-graduate Hostels in University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus with sterile swab sticks moistened in normal saline. Heterotrophic bacteria were cultured on nutrient agar, while hemolytic bacteria were isolated on sheep blood agar. Isolated pathogens were subsequently assessed for antibiotic resistance to common antibiotics using Kirby-Bauer Disc Diffusion method. The total bacterial counts of bed linen ranged from 4.00±0.60 x 10 3 cfu/cm2 - 82.1±3.91 x 10 3 cfu/cm2 while the bacterial count from mattress ranged from 4.29±0.31 x 10
3 cfu/cm2- 16.2±0.94 x 10 3 cfu/cm2 . Bacterial isolates identified in bedlinen and mattresses included three (3) Gram negative bacteria: Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two (2) Gram positive bacteria: Bacillus mycoides and Staphylococcus aureus. Frequency of occurrence of bacterial isolates from bed linen showed that Escherichia coli was the most occurring bacteria (36.4%) while the least occurring isolate was B. mycoides (5.45%). S. aureus (32.3%) was the most occurring bacterial isolates while the least was B. mycoides (10.8%) from mattresses. Staphylococcus aureuswas positive for Dnase, lipase and hemolysin characteristics, E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae exhibited positive DNase and Lipase characteristics. Staphylococcus aureus had the highest multiple antibiotic resistance (0.36%), followed by Enterobacter cloacae (0.33%) while E. coli had least multiple antibiotic resistance (0.29%). Bed linen and mattresses harboured pathogenic bacteria. There is need to strengthen existing infection control strategies in the postgraduate hostels in order to minimise proliferation of bacteria and diseases occurrence in the hostels.

Palm wine is a beverage both alcoholic and non-alcoholic depending on whether fermentation has commerce. Some tropical plants including; date palm(Phoenix dactylifera), coconut palm ( cocos nucifera), nipa palm(nypa fruticans), kithulpalm and raffia palm (Raphia), and palm tree(Elaeis guineensis). The palm wine used was from freshly tapped palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), samples of which where obtained from Uhe and Ugbeghe both in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Edo. The samples were collected in clean sterile bottles and kept in a cooler containing ice block, and taken to the laboratory where selected physicochemical properties of the palm wine samples were examined. The examined physicochemical properties including; pH, specific gravity, alcohol levels, and mineral elements contents were investigated using standard methods. Qualitative analysis of alkaloids, saponnis, phenols, flavonoids, anthraquinone, terpenoids and Tanins in the palm wine studied was carried out using standard method. It was gathered from result that the pH values of the 4 samples ranges from 5.10 – 5.21, 4.18 – 4.04, 3.56 – 3.07, and 3.90 to 3.63 from1to5hrsinterval. Specific gravity (NTU) were 1.20, 1.14, 1.23 and 1.96 Electrical conductivity (μScm-1) were 0.36x104, 0.34x104, 0.31x104 and 0.33x104 in all samples. The alcohol content range were 3.7% - 3.2%., 4.3%- 3.9%, 4.9%-4.5%, 5.3% - 4.9% and 5.9% - 5.3%. Findings also indicate the following respective values for the examined mineral elements; Ca [1.3-0.5], Zn[0.04-0.13], mg [1.58-1.51], Fe [0.37-0.41], Cu [0.15-0.08], K[1.46-1.42] ppm. It was also observed that the following phytochemicals were present in the studied palm wine alkaloids, saponnis, phenols, flavonoids, anthraquinone, terpenoids. However Tanins was not observed. From findings, it would appear that the consumption of palm wine will help meet the dietary needs in the examined nutritional induces.

This research examines the implementation process of AI-driven personalized learning systems, focusing on technical architecture, testing methodologies, and usability evaluation. The study identifies critical success factors including specialized implementation tools, comprehensive testing strategies, and multidimensional assessment frameworks. Findings emphasize the balance etween technical sophistication and pedagogical effectiveness while addressing concerns of scalability, accessibility, and cross-platform compatibility. This work provides essential insights for educational technologists and administrators seeking to leverage AI capabilities to create more equitable, engaging, and effective personalized learning experiences.

Face detection and recognition are computer vision techniques used to identify and locate human faces within digital images or video frames, and to subsequently analyze and verify the identity of individuals based on their unique facial features. Some of the algorithms used for implementing face detection and recognition are Local Binary Pattern, Histogram of oriented Gradient, Linear discriminant analysis, and convolutional neural networks with classifier such as Support Vector machine, e.t.c. Face detection and recognition system has become relevant in security and access control, automated Attendance tracking, user authentication, Biometric identification, Human Computer Interaction and many other areas. This project is implemented using python programming language, because python programming language allows programmers flexibility, therefore is of no threat to write- ability, readability and reliability, it has it libraries for the implementation of the project. And the test run of the project result is contained in Appendix D