FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES

In an increasingly digital world, User Interlace (UI) and User Experience (UX) design have become pivotal in shaping the interactions between users and technology. This comprehensive study delves into the multifaceted realm of UI and UX design, aiming to unravel the intricacies and importance of crafting intuitive and user-centric interfaces. Through a meticulous exploration of principles, methodologies, case studies, and emerging trends, this study seeks to provide valuable insights for designers, researchers, and stakeholders in the field. By examining the symbiotic relationship between UI and UX, we aspire to illuminate the path towards creating memorable and meaningful digital experiences

In my work the mechanical, structural, vibration, and electronic properties of knbo3 perovskite using density functional theory (DFT). the aim of this research is to provide understanding of its characteristics and potential applications in felToelectlic devices.
In agreement with previously published theoretical values, Phonon dispersion analysis was conducted to assess the dynamical stability and vibrational behaviour of the crystal. In addition, the electronic band structure and density of states (DOS) were anaIyzed to understand the nature of its bonding and band gap. This work gave explanation to the computational techniques used and offer a rigid understanding of the structural, mechanical, and electrical properties of K
Nb03 perovskite.

This study focused on the growing environmental concern over conventional petroleum-based plastics by the development and characterization of biodegradable starch-based bioplastic films from carboxymethyl cassava starch. The starch powders were extracted from cassava by cold extraction method which gave a yield percent of 17.3%. The physicochemical properties of the extracted starch resulted in a moisture content 12.3%, pH, 6.0 and gelatinization temperature, 65oC. The cassava starch
was modified to carboxymethyl starch (CMS) for improved mechanical properties. The percentage yield of CMS from the native starch was 59%, degree of substitution and gelatinization temperature gave 0.27% and 50oC. The modified CMS was characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy. The FT-IR results showed the presence of O-H, C-H, C-O-C stretching and CO-C ring vibration of carbohydrate, and contained a more intense peaks around 1203-1241cm-1, 1417cm-1 and 932cm-1 which are consistent with the presence of new functional groups which indicates chemical modification of the native cassava starch. The CMS bioplastic films were prepared using casting method by varying ethylene glycol plasticizer (2g, 3g, 4g, 5g) and varying kaolinite filler (0g, 0.5g and 1g) for each weight of the ethylene glycol. The moisture absorption, acid absorption and water absorption showed similar trend of increased absorption as plasticizer levels increases. Films with no filler absorbed more, while filler addition lowered absorption. Solvent solubility showed that bioplastics were soluble in 1M NaOH and showed no significant change (mass and colour) in absolute ethanol. Mechanical testing such as thickness, tensile strength, elongation at break percent and yield percent of prepared bioplastic films were also evaluated. It was discovered that Increasing ethylene glycol improved flexibility but reduces tensile strength, whereas kaolin enhances strength at low plasticizer levels but reduces flexibility. Based on the mechanical testing, the most suitable sample in terms of strength and elongation occurred at 3g plasticizer with 0.5 and 1g filler. Biodegradable ability of prepared bioplastic films were also investigated using the soil burial method and all the films were found to have totally degraded after three weeks. The decomposition nature of prepared biodegradable CMS films was investigated by TGA/DTA. Analysis indicated thermal stability up to 180 – 200oC with kaolin contributing to improve heat resistance. This study demonstrates that CMS based films reinforced with
kaolin and plasticized with ethylene glycol offer an environmental friendly and functional alternative to conventional plastics showing strong potential for sustainable packaging applications.

Enterohepatic Circulation (EHC) is the process by which bile acid are secreted from the liver into the bile, excreted into the small intestine and then reabsorbed back into the liver. This efflux process is spurred by drug saturation, which is a condition in which the rate of absorption of the drug is limited by the rate of transport to the liver or the rate of secretion into the bile. EHC plays a crucial role for several liver and gastrointestinal functions such as bile flow, solubilization and excretion of cholesterol, clearance of toxic molecules, intestinal absorption of lipophilic nutrients, as well as metabolic and antimicrobial effects. Despite its positive impact in human homeostasis,it is known that EHC can increase toxicity of drugs(due to incomplete elimination during recycling), increased risk of gallstones which result to systemic diseases such as cholelithiasis, bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer and hepatotoxicity(drug liver injury). In the formulation of a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model of EHC Drugs with Saturation Kinetics is formulated. The model is affected by secreted drug in the hepatocyte and gastrointestinal compartment with delay effect on metabolites. The drug toxicity threshold parameter and delay effect accounting for gallbladder and intestine disorder(alter the rate of bile circulation) will be discussed. The model is rigorously analyzed on Drug Free Equilibria, Drug Saturation Equilibria, Toxicity Equilibria and Drug Reabsorption Equilibria. Threshold value for Pathological parameter for which there exist a trans from Hoph bifurcation to periodic system was established.
The direction of Stability (super critical and subcritical) was also established. Global and Local stabilities were also investigated. The results from the analysis showed that drug saturation induces toxicity in the
absence of pathological defect parameters when Drug Toxicity Number (DTN) is xi greater than one .Whereas in the presence of pathological parameters (Mild Case), Drug Toxicity does not annul the physiological state of the compartments hence cannot effect drug reabsorption. There exist a threshold for pathological parameters for which drug reabsorption occurs, and defect in physiological compartment progresses from mild to acute case when pathological parameters exceed this threshold i.e τ1 + τ2 > v2+2m2 η2 Hoph bifurcation analysis on the Drug Free and Drug Saturation Equilibria showed that there exist an upper bound for which the system remains asymptotically stable. Numerical results obtained from this work will provide a framework for Pharmaceutical Policies and decisions on EHC.Enterohepatic Circulation (EHC) is the process by which bile acid are secreted from the liver into the bile, excreted into the small intestine and then reabsorbed back into the liver. This efflux process is spurred by drug saturation, which is a condition in
which the rate of absorption of the drug is limited by the rate of transport to the liver or the rate of secretion into the bile. EHC plays a crucial role for several liver and gastrointestinal functions such as bile flow, solubilization and excretion of cholesterol, clearance of toxic molecules, intestinal absorption of lipophilic nutrients, as well as metabolic and antimicrobial effects. Despite its positive impact in human homeostasis,
it is known that EHC can increase toxicity of drugs(due to incomplete elimination during recycling), increased risk of gallstones which result to systemic diseases such as cholelithiasis, bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer and hepatotoxicity(drug liver injury). In the formulation of a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model of EHC Drugs with Saturation Kinetics is formulated. The model is affected by secreted drug in the hepatocyte and gastrointestinal compartment with delay effect on metabolites. The drug toxicity threshold parameter and delay effect accounting for gallbladder and intestine disorder(alter the rate of bile circulation) will be discussed. The model is rigorously analyzed on Drug Free Equilibria, Drug Saturation Equilibria, Toxicity Equilibria and Drug Reabsorption Equilibria. Threshold value for Pathological parameter for which there exist a trans from Hoph bifurcation to periodic system was established. The direction of Stability (super critical and subcritical) was also established. Global and Local stabilities were also investigated.
The results from the analysis showed that drug saturation induces toxicity in the absence of pathological defect parameters when Drug Toxicity Number (DTN) is xi greater than one .Whereas in the presence of pathological parameters (Mild Case), Drug Toxicity does not annul the physiological state of the compartments hence cannot effect drug reabsorption. There exist a threshold for pathological parameters
for which drug reabsorption occurs, and defect in physiological compartment progresses from mild to acute case when pathological parameters exceed this threshold i.e τ1 + τ2 > v2+2m2 η2. Hoph bifurcation analysis on the Drug Free and Drug Saturation Equilibria showed that there exist an upper bound for which the system remains asymptotically stable. Numerical results obtained from this work will provide a framework for Pharmaceutical Policies and decisions on EHC.

While traditional libraries face limitations in accessibility and scale, web-based elibraries have emerged as indispensable platforms for delivering vast digital content. They come with benefits such as the prevalent one of offering 24/7 access to digital resources from any device with internet accessibility. This project proposes the design of a web-based elibrary system using HTML, CSS and Javascript programming, specifically engineered to address the real-world problems of fragmented user experiences; which require the use of multiple tools for interacting with different file types, limited search functionalities within digital documents, especially Portable Document Format (PDF) files, inconsistent search capabilities, and over-reliance on external viewing applications. The core innovation lies in the integration of a robust, searchable PDF viewer directly within the platform, enabling users to perform full-text searches not only across document metadata but also within the content of uploaded PDF files. The system will feature a centralized, intuitive interface for managing and accessing a wide range of digital materials, including books, journals, and research papers, regardless of their original format. Furthermore, the proposed e-library will prioritize user accessibility through features such as responsive design and clear navigation. By providing an integrated, highly searchable, and user-friendly platform, the success of this project aims to significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of digital information access, thereby fostering a more productive learning and research environment.

The increasing demand for secure, transparent, and efficient electoral processes has led to the adoption of online voting systems in universities. This project presents a PHP-based online voting system designed to provide a secure, user-friendly, and tamper-proof election platform for universities. The system enables student authentication, candidate registration, real-time vote tallying, and automatic result generation after a set period. Security measures such as one-time voting enforcement and database encryption ensure election integrity. By leveraging web technologies, this system enhances electoral accessibility while minimizing fraud and administrative overhead, offering a scalable solution for university elections

Campus safety has become an increasing concern in modern educational institutions, as students are often exposed to various forms of emergencies ranging from fire outbreaks, theft, medical crises, to security threats. Traditional methods of handling emergencies, such as manual phone calls, word-of-mouth alerts, or notice board announcements, have proven to be ineffective, slow, and unreliable in reaching students and campus authorities on time. This project emphasizes the need for a more automated and responsive method of disseminating safety alerts and emergency notifications to students and relevant authorities. To achieve this, the project proposes an Online Emergency and Safety Alert System for Students on Campus, designed and implemented using WordPress as the core development platform. The system enables students to report emergencies, receive real-time alerts, and access safety information through an interactive web interface. It also provides administrators with tools to manage user accounts, verify reports, and broadcast urgent notifications to all registered users. The system was developed following the Agile software development methodology, which allowed for iterative design, feedback integration, and continuous improvement throughout the project cycle. Figma served as the primary design tool for creating an interactive and user-friendly interface prototype of the system. The implementation focuses on the front-end design and user interaction, integrating WordPress plugins such as Ultimate Member for user management and form-based input for emergency reporting. Overall, the system aims to improve campus security responsiveness, enhance communication between students and authorities, and create a safer learning environment within the University of Benin campus

This project presents the design and implementation of a Class Academic Resource Distribution System developed for the Department of Computer Science, University of Benin. The system was created to solve the problem of disorganized and unverified learning materials shared through informal channels such as WhatsApp and Google Drive. It provides a centralized web-based platform where lecturers and class representatives can upload course-specific, lecturer-approved materials, while students can easily access them in one place. The project adopted the Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodology and was implemented using HTML, CSS, Python (Django), and MySQL. System testing confirmed efficient performance, secure access control, and reliable file management. The platform successfully improves accuracy, accessibility, and communication among students, lecturers, and class representatives, laying a strong foundation for future departmental and university- wide deployment

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed cybersecurity, enabling attackers to use AI-enhanced social engineering techniques to exploit human behavior and bypass traditional defenses. This study investigates the impact of AI-driven social engineering attacks on modern cybersecurity, using the University of Benin (UNIBEN) student population as a case study. A survey was administered to 140 respondents to assess awareness, exposure, and perceptions of AI-powered scams, including phishing, deepfake impersonation, voice cloning, and chatbot-based attacks. The findings indicate that a majority of students (95%) are aware of social media scams, with 56% reporting prior victimization. Fake social media accounts, WhatsApp/Telegram scams, and phishing emails were the most commonly encountered threats. Participants reported difficulty distinguishing AI-generated attacks from human-driven scams, highlighting a significant vulnerability. The study further identifies gaps in current cybersecurity measures and emphasizes the need for enhanced awareness, training, and AI-aware defense frameworks. The results contribute to understanding the evolving threat landscape of AI- enhanced social engineering and provide actionable insights for improving digital security in academic institutions and beyond.

This study explores the extraction and characterization of starch composites derived from unripe banana (Musa spp.) reinforced with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) fibre, with a focus on their structural, chemical, and mechanical properties. The starch was extracted from unripe bananas sourced from Evbuotubu, Benin City, while okra fibres were obtained from Oluku Market. Composite formulations were prepared by blending 10 g of banana starch with 3 g of okra fibre and plasticized using 5mL of glycerol. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed enhanced hydrogen bonding interactions in the fibre-reinforced composite, evidenced by a stronger and slightly shifted O-H stretching peak (3300–3400 cm⁻¹) and the emergence of carboxyl (C=O) functionalities around 1700–1750 cm⁻¹. Elemental analysis revealed a decrease in carbon content from 70.02% (0G fibre) to 66.88% (3G fibre) and an increase in nitrogen from 23.40% to 29.56%, suggesting the introduction of nitrogen-rich organic components from okra fibre. The presence of calcium (0.48%) in the 3G fibre composite, absent in the 0G fibre sample, indicates mineral incorporation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed a denser microstructure in the 0G fibre composite, whereas the 3G fibre composite exhibited a rougher and more porous texture, indicative of improved fibre-starch interfacial adhesion. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) demonstrated enhanced thermal stability in the fibre-reinforced composite, with a higher degradation onset temperature and increased residual char content, confirming its resistance to thermal decomposition. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated a reduction in crystallinity upon fibre incorporation, as evidenced by broader and less intense diffraction peaks, suggesting a transition to a more amorphous structure. These findings demonstrate that okra fibre reinforcement significantly enhances the mechanical strength, thermal stability, and flexibility of starch composites, making them suitable for biodegradable applications in packaging and sustainable material development.