bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stakeholders Assessment of Constraints to Project Delivery in the Nigerian Construction Industry
Authors: Tanko Bruno L. , Abdullah Fadhlin , Ramly Zuhaili Mohamad 
Published: October 2017

The central goal of construction stakeholders is to successfully deliver projects to stated objective (s). However, for decades, construction projects have been plagued by perennial constraints of cost and time overruns, poor quality, and lack of sustainability. The objective of this paper is to identify and assess the constraints to construction project delivery, and to recommend solutions to enhance project performance. This paper adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods to establish the constraints in the Nigerian construction industry. A pilot survey and literature reviewed revealed a total of fifty (50) construction constraints, which were further classified into eight (8) major groups. Well-structured questionnaires were administered to construction stakeholders (client, consultant and contractor) in Abuja, the federal capital city of Nigeria. Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to analyze the data using Likert scale. The results suggest that cost/time overrun related factors (inability to reduce project cost), Stakeholders interactive-related factors (inability to establish client value system), Client-related factors (Delay in interim payment and finance problem), and Labor/material-related factors (escalation of material prices and materials quality variability) are the most prevalent constraints in the Nigerian construction environment. To mitigate the effects of these challenges, it is suggested that a formal innovative approach should be used by stakeholders to address the problems of poor communication, high project cost, and delay. Clients should also take measures to provide adequate funding and should promptly honor interim certificates.
Unleashing the Potentials of Housing Sector in Nigeria as Perceived by Users
Authors: Olugbenga Taiwo David , Yusoff Nooraini , Aziz Norsiah Abd , Baba Adams Ndalai 
Published: October 2017

Housing is a basic need and a human right. The role that housing plays in the social and economic development of a country cannot be underestimated. Interventions in housing by government are widely acknowledged as one of the ways by which the social aspect of the life of the citizenry can be impacted especially through mass housing otherwise called social housing. This paper aims to examine the various potentials in the housing sector in order to enhance the delivery of more housing to Nigerians. A survey research approach was used in the study. Descriptive analysis was employed to explain the potentials in the housing sector. Housing deficit in Nigeria currently stands at about 17 million units. Efforts to meet and rectify the deficit will need a concerted effort of individuals and government. It requires unleashing the potentials in the housing sector to stimulate growth in the economy, thereby diversifying the economy from the mono to a multi sector economy. Interventions of governments at all levels as well as the involvement of informal sector in the housing sector will have a multiplier effect. It will generate multiple employment opportunities which will in turn stimulate the economy through the circulation of money in the system. The paper noted that interventions in housing sector will stimulate industries in the production of local building materials. Additionally, ailing companies will be revitalized, thereby improving the standard of living of the citizens. The paper concludes that strengthening and repositioning of agencies such as the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, will accelerate the release of the potentials in the housing sector and thereby enhance the delivery of affordable houses for Nigerians.
Urban Greenery a pathway to Environmental Sustainability in Sub Saharan Africa: A Case of Northern Nigeria Cities
Authors: Zakka Solomon Dyachia , Permana Ariva Sugandi , Majid Mohammad Rafee , Danladi Amos , Bako Parah Emmanuel 
Published: October 2017

The Northern Region of Nigeria, which is located south of Africa biggest desert - the Sahara, is highly vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change for some reasons. This paper attempts to review the variance between urban greenery, urban development and the quest for environmental sustainability. A critical review of relevant materials related to the study was carried out. The quantitative nature of the study was backed empirically. Findings from the study reveal that physical development plans for some urban areas have been very ad-hoc and loosely defined. Allocation of open green spaces is not in harmony with the urban population and it mostly characterized by a low percentage. Abuja master plan, for instance, has the highest allocation of 32.87%, while allocation in other master plans fall below 30% with Suleja master plan counts 2.5% only. Outdated master plan and the lack of will power from urban authority in plan implementation has often resulted in the distortion, encroachment, and conversion of green areas to other land uses. Increase carbon emission and pollution especially from the transport sector has been marked by a decline in greenery. Therefore, reducing the sequestration capacity of the urban area, weak urban planning and harsh climatic condition could be regarded as critical challenges. This study suggests the strict adherent to sustainable urban planning that integrates physical development and environmental consideration to enhance greenery. The study also recommends the placement of urban greenery on the same platform with the urban grey infrastructure by urban stakeholders.
Sustainable livable housing: A review of what traditional urban areas residents find important
Authors: Lukuman Musibau , Sipan Ibrahim , Raji Fauziah , Aderemi Olofa S 
Published: October 2017

Sustainable livable housing is pre-condition for healthy living, improve quality of life and critical to economic and social survival. It also encompasses various aspects that predominantly depend on economic, social, cultural and environmental (ESCE) conditions within the locality. To this end, this paper seeks to explore, classify and assess the sustainable livable housing attributes from the existing literatures through content analysis. A review of literature revealed a total of ninety two (92) constructs, which were further grouped nine (9) livable housing-related attributes groups. Well-structured questionnaires were administered to residents of traditional urban areas (TUA) of Iwo Osun State, Nigeria with ninety two (92) constructs on Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and relative importance index (RII). Out of (92) constructs from nine (9) livable housing-related attributes groups, the results identified seventy eight (78) important attributes (i.e. 35 most important and 43 important) across groups and construct that TUA residents found important. Over RII was 0.409 for overall assessment of sustainable livable housing condition by TUA residents indicating that TUA residents are dissatisfied with their current housing conditions.
Extraction of rubber (hevea brasiliensis) seed oil using soxhlet method
Authors: Mohd-Setapar S.H. , Nian-Yian Lee , Mohd-Sharif N.S. 
Published: October 2017

Soxhlet extraction which is also known as solvent extraction refers to the preferential dissolution of oil by contacting oilseeds with a liquid solvent. This is the most efficient method to recover oil from oilseeds, thus solvent extraction using hexane has been commercialized as a standard practice in today’s industry. In this study, soxhlet extraction had been used to extract the rubber seed oil which contains high percentage of alpha-linolenic acid. In addition, the different solvents will be used for the extraction of rubber seed oil such as petroleum ether, n-hexane, ethanol and water to study the best solvent to extract the rubber seed oil so the maximum oil yield can be obtained. On the other hands, the natural resource, rubber belongs to the family of Euphorbiaceae, the genus is Hevea while the species of rubber is brasiliensis. Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seeds are abundant and wasted because they had not been used in any industry or applications in daily life. The oil of rubber seeds had been found that contained a significant percentage of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids especially alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Alpha-linolenic acid is one of the important elements of omega-3 fatty acids which play important roles in human metabolism, not only playing structural roles in phospholipid bilayers but also acting as precursors to bioactive molecules. Moreover, rubber seed oil also contains a high percentage of oleic acid and linoleic acid, these all are valuable compounds. Thus, rubber seed oil can be regarded as a plant derived oleic-linolenic acid. Rubber seeds can be considered as good sources for human food, animal feed and biofuel with its high content of fat, protein, amino acids and fatty acids. Therefore, it is important to study the method of extraction to extract the valuable components from rubber seeds, purify the extracted seed oil, so that the rubber seeds oil can be utilized into difference industries pharmaceutical, food, oleochemical and cosmetics.
The effect of mercerization process on the structural and morphological properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) pulp
Authors: Mat Nayan Nadirul Hasraf , Wan Abdul Rahman Wan Aizan , Abdul Majid Rohah 
Published: October 2017

Environmental awareness and depletion of the wood resources are among vital factors that motivate various researchers to explore the potential of agrobased crops as an alternative source of fiber material in paper industries such as writing, printing, wrapping, and packaging. Fibers from agro-based crops are available in abundance, low cost, and most importantly its biodegradability features, which sometimes referred as “ecofriendly” materials. This paper attempt to study the effect of mercerization treatment on the structural and morphological properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) pulp. It was shown that the PALF pulp achieved favourable structural and morphological properties as characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mercerized fibers (15% NaOH) achieved the best tensile properties compared to that of pristine fibers.This modification have the potential to be utilized as pulp for paper based products.
Intelligent GA optimizer for single supply operational amplifier and MMIC low noise amplifier
Authors: Siew Chin Neoh , Ishak Izatul Syafina , Wei Jer Lim , Marzuki Arjuna 
Published: October 2017

Single-Supply Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp) is important to the applications on battery-powered equipments whereas MMIC Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) is a type of integrated circuit device used in capturing operating signal in microwave frequency. This paper presents an optimization study of a Single-Supply Op-Amp and a MMIC LNA using Genetic Algorithm (GA). GA is proposed to optimize multiple input variables so as to achieve the required circuit design outputs. In Single-Supply Op-Amp, a single objective GA optimization study is conducted. Based on the single objective circuit design justification, GA is further investigated for its capability to deal with multiple design objectives in 5 GHz MMIC LNA. In this research, the Single-Supply Op-Amp design is synthesized via LTSpice whereas the MMIC LNA design is simulated through Agilent Advanced Design System (ADS). The optimization performance of GA for both single and multi-objective circuit designs is studied and the developed multi-objective GA optimizer is further compared with ADS built-in optimizers of Gradient and Quasi-Newton respectively. From the results, GA is shown to be capable in optimizing both single objective Op-Amp and multi-objective LNA.
Mixed convection boundary layer flow of a casson fluid near the stagnation point over a permeable surface
Authors: Isa S. P. M. , Arifin N. M. , Nazar R. 
Published: October 2017

The problem of steady mixed convection boundary layer flow of a Casson fluid near the stagnation-point on a vertical surface when the wall is permeable, where there is suction or injection effect, is considered. The governing partial differential equations are converted into ordinary differential equations by similarity transformation, which is then solved numerically using the shooting method. Results for the skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, velocity profiles as well as temperature profiles are presented for different values of the governing parameters. It is found that the imposition of suction is to increase the velocity profiles and to delay the separation of boundary layer, while the injection parameter decreases the velocity profiles.
Effect of organic and aqueous dispersion medium on the development of polystyrene nanoparticles in nanoprecipitation method
Authors: Bukhari Attaullah , Idris Ani , Atta Madiha 
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this study is to develop polystyrene nanoparticles using nanoprecipitation method. Formation of nanoparticles from pre-polymer by nanoprecipitation is a beneficial technique involving the diffusion of polymer phase into dispersion phase. However, selection of solvent /non-solvent couple has intensive influence on nanoprecipitation of specific polymer. In this study the potential of chloroform (CHCl3) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) is explored as the solvent for polystyrene. Effect of dispersion phase; methanol, chloroform, acetone and water have been investigated on nanoprecipitation of polystyrene. It was found that the addition of surfactants enhanced the stability of nanoparticles.Tween-40 has a more pronounced stabilizing effect than Pluronic F-68 on polystyrene nanoparticles in aqueous phase. More stable nanoparticles of polystyrene were obtained in the aqueous medium containing 2-g/L of Tween-40. Interface interaction of mixing phases and surface active agents affect the size and stability of nanoparticles in nanoprecipitation.
Effect of different solvents on the thermal, IR spectroscopy and morphological properties of solution casted PLA/starch films.
Authors: Saidi M. A. A. , W. A. Rahman W. A. , Majid R. A. 
Published: October 2017

PLA/starch films were prepared by using three different solvent which is consist of chloroform, acetonitrile, and tetrahydrofuran. Similarly, composite films prepared using co-solvent of choloroform-acetonitrile (C-Ac) and choloroform- tetrahydrofuran (C-THF) were also investigated. Their properties were characterized by using TGA, DSC, IR spectroscopy and SEM. It was found that the acetonitrile casted biodegradable film achieved superior properties compared to films prepared by Ac, THF, C-Ac and C-THF.
MHD double diffusion flow by free convection past an infinite inclined plate with ramped wall temperature in a porous medium
Authors: Ismail Zulkhibri , Khan Ilyas , Imran Anwar , Hussanan Abid , Shafie Sharidan 
Published: October 2017

The combined effects of heat and mass transfer on unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) free convection flow in a porous medium past an infinite inclined plate with ramped wall temperature have been investigated. The closed form analytical solutions have been obtained for the velocity, temperature and concentration fields by using Laplace transforms method. The analytical expressions for non-dimensional skin-friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number have been computed. The effects of the embedded flow parameters such as inclination angle, radiation parameter, magnetic field parameter, and Grashof number on flow fields are shown graphically. It is found that increasing the inclination angle and radiation parameters, the fluid velocity along an inclined plate will be decreased.
Fuzzy information graph of epileptic seizures
Authors: Ahmad Tahir , Ramachandran Vinod 
Published: October 2017

The mathematical modelling of EEG signals provides valuable data to neurologists, and is heavily utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. The erratic nature of these signals, coupled with their lack of a consistent visible trend results in a high degree of difficulty in forming a statistical model to describe seizures. Working with Delia-normalized signals, the authors compute the associated Shannon entropies for three sets of data, and show via construction that the information flow during an epileptic seizure can be viewed as a type-2 fuzzy graph.
Plant growth regulator eEffect on adventitious roots induction of labisia pumila
Authors: Hasan Nor’Aishah , Hussein Sobri , Ibrahim Rusli 
Published: October 2017

Labisia pumila or locally known as ‘Kacip Fatimah’ is an herbaceous plant commonly used for dysentery, flatulence, dysmenorrhoea and gonorrhoea. A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different plant growth regulators at various concentrations on adventitious root induction from the leaf explants of Labisia pumila. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with auxins; indole-acetic acid (IAA), indole-butyric acid (IBA) and naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA) each at the concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 mg/L were evaluated for their effects on adventitious root induction. No adventitious roots formed in the control medium devoid of any PGRs. Among the plant growth regulators (PGRs) used, IBA showed the best adventitious roots formation for all explants, followed by NAA and IAA. Leaf explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/L of IBA showed the best rooting ability. In this treatment, 72.4 ± 9.3 % of rooting, 17.8 ± 9.4 roots per explants and 0.123 ± 0.096g of dry weight were recorded. NAA and IAA showed ability to induce adventitious roots from leaf however the rooting ability was relatively lower that IBA treatment. The highest rooting ability for NAA and IAA was achieved in 7 mg/L and 3 mg/L with (71.2 ±10.9 % and 10.6 ± 3.6%) of rooting, (14.9 ± 0.669 and 1.60 ± 0.179) roots per explants and (0.044 ± 0.002g and 0.014 ± 0.001g) of dry weight, respectively.
Effect of dopants [Gd3+, Sm3+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+] on the performance characteristics of ceria based electrolytes for application in solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Reni M.L. , Nesaraj A. Samson 
Published: October 2017

Doped CeO2 based materials are now-a-days proposed as alternate electrolyte materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) working at low temperature (~723 – 873 K). In this research work, nanoparticles of CeO2 doped with Gd3+, Sm3+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+were prepared by a simple homogeneous chemical precipitation method. The prepared materials (after heat treatment at 1023 K for 2 hours) were systematically characterized by XRD, EDAX analysis, FTIR , particle size analysis and SEM. Lattice parameters were calculated from the XRD data. The XRD results indicate that all the doped ceria samples studied are single phase with a cubic fluorite structure. The average particle size of the doped ceria powder was about 48 – 115 nm and the particles have shown narrow particle size distribution patterns. AC impedance spectroscopy studies performed on the sintered specimens have shown better oxide ion conductivity values and hence these materials may be suitable for application as electrolyte materials in solid oxide fuel cells working at low temperature (~723 – 873 K). ________________________________________GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Effect of soil extracts concentration on specific growth rate and lipid content of chlorella vulgaris in bolds basal medium
Authors: Idris Ani , Atta M. , Bukhari A. 
Published: October 2017

Effective nutrient medium is the key factor that significantly influences the specific growth rate and the final concentration of microalgae. The main objective of this study was to optimize the microalgal growth in mass culture system under the effect of soil extract in modified Bolds Basal medium. Chlorella vulgaris was grown aseptically for 10 days at five different concentrations of soil extract (10, 20, 30, 40, 50ml/L) at 25°C cultivation temperature. After 10 days of cultivation, Chlorella vulgaris showed maximum cell concentration of 5x107/ml at 30ml/L of soil extract concentration which corresponds to the maximum specific growth rate 1.56μd-1 with the doubling rate of 2.25d-1 andlipid yield of 22.74 % of dry weight.________________________________________GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) gene expression in brain GD-10, hippocampal cell (mHT-22 Cell Line), human glioblastoma-astrocytoma (hLN-405), and rat glioma cell (rF98) using real time PCR.
Authors: Irnidayanti Yulia , Darmanto Win 
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study is to compare ECM and CAMs gene expression in hippocampal cell, glioblastoma-astrocytoma and glioma cell using real time PCR at gestation day of 10 (GD-10) Result of real time PCR showed that expression level of extracelluler matrix of vimentin was higher than the expression of fibronectin, Neural cell Adhesion molecule (Ncam), neurofilament high (Nfh), neurofilament medium (NFm), neurofilament low (Nfl) and tenascin. The expression of vimentin in the brain also shows the highest when compare to the expression in the human glioblastoma-astrocytoma (hLN-405), rat glioma cell (rF98) and mouse hippocampal cell line (mHT-22). The number of vimentin gene copy was 538.554, whereas in the culture of hLN-405 was 2.246.309, in culture of rF98 was 974.368 and mHT-22 was 1.542.529. These findings suggested that vimentin most dominant expressed compare to the another gen. Expression of vimentin was gradually lower from astrocyte cell (hLN-405 or human glioblastoma-astrocytoma), then in hippocampus cell, glioma cell and embryonic brain cell. ________________________________________GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Photoluminescence characteristics of strontium titanate thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis
Authors: Mat S. Aisah , Deraman Karim , Hussin R. , W. Shamsuri W. Nurulhuda , Ismail Bakar , Maarof Saleha 
Published: October 2017

Strontium titanate, SrTiO3 thin films were successfully prepared by spray pyrolysis. The strontium titanate, STO precursor solid thin film were fabricated from an aqueous solution of Sr(NO3)2/[(CH3)2CHO]4Ti/HNO3 = 19:1:20 (molar ratio) at room temperature on a substrate. The as-deposited STO thin film with those annealed at different temperature were prepared. Photoluminescence spectra of thin films were obtained using Photoluminescence Spectrophotometer and optical properties were carried out by using Shimadzu Uv-Vis Spectrophotometer. In conclusion, the band gap energy and the bandwidth of thin films have been analysed. ________________________________________GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
A new type of banana shape bifunctional monomer of ester chalcones
Authors: Ngaini Zainab , Mei Chee Chua , Lian Chin Lim 
Published: October 2017

A synthesis of a new type of chalcone analogue banana-shaped liquid crystals compounds is described. The approach involved the reaction of hydroxyl chalcones with isophthaloyl dichloride to form benzene-1,3-dicarbonyl-bis-1-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxylphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (7a-c and 8a-c) having two chalcone units via esterification reaction. The hydroxyl chalcones, which differ in the length of alkyl group, CnH2n+1, where n= 10, 12 and 14 were synthesised via Claisen Schmidt condensation prior to the reaction with isophthaloyl dichloride. The reaction was a catalyst dependence. No sign of product was formed by employing NaH (60%). It was only occurred in the presence of NaH (95%) to afford banana shape bi-functional monomer of ester chalcone 7a-c and 8a-c. The synthesized compound was characterized by 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR).________________________________________GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT