Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Influence of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L Walp) variety on protein quality and sensory properties of akara, a popular West African cowpea-based food

Abstract: The influence of newly developed cowpea varieties (IT81D-699, IT82E-18, IT84S-2246-4 and TVx3236) on the proximate composition, protein quality and sensory properties of akara, a popular West African cowpea-based food, was investigated and the results obtained were compared with those for akara prepared from a local blackeye cowpea variety. Protein quality was evaluated using weanling albino rats fed diets which were formulated to supply 10% protein using defatted akara samples, with casein as a control. Akara samples prepared from IT81D-699 and TVx3236 had crude protein contents, texture and overall acceptability comparable to those of akara prepared from the blackeye variety. Also, akara diets formulated using IT81D-699 and TVx3236 showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher values for weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, net protein ratio and true digestibility than diets formulated with IT82E-18, IT84S-2246-4 and blackeye, suggesting an improvement in the nutritional quality of akara produced using these (IT8ID-699 and TVx3236) newly developed cowpea varieties. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

Water Quality Index for the Assessment of Selected Borehole Water Quality in Rivers State

Abstract: Water quality of different locations in River state, Nigeria was evaluated using Water Quality Index (WQI) approach to assess the suitability of water from three local government areas in Rivers State. The study revealed that WQI was determined by the following parameters: pH, Temp, EC, BOD, Chloride, Sulphate, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate, Total Hardness, Nitrate, Pb Calcium, Cd, Cu, and Fe. The result obtained indicated that the water quality index of borehole water exceeded the status of water quality in all sampling locations due to groundwater contamination, making the water unsafe for human and animal consumption. Residents within the State should be enlightened on the adverse effect of drinking polluted water and the need for water treatment before consumption.

Recent distribution data and conservation status of the leopard (Panthera pardus) in the Niger Delta (Nigeria)

Abstract: The leopard (Panthera pardus) is increasingly threatened in West Africa, and is apparently very rare and has been driven to extinction across much of Nigeria. In the Niger Delta, where it is considered extremely threatened, with very few sightings in the last decades. In this study we document both direct (skins, footprints, scats, etc.) and indirect (village hunter’s interviews) signs of leopard presence in order to reconstruct leopard presence in the Niger Delta, across the period 2000–2015. Data were combined into three survey periods: 2000–2002, 2006–2008 and 2012–2015, and compared with literature data for 1996–1997. Recent skins were recorded in 2.2–4.3% of the villages (n = 39–62). In addition, the leopard was reported to be present by hunters in another 3.3–10.3% of the villages. Overall, some specific sectors of the Delta were recurrently target of both direct and indirect signs of leopard presence (barrier islands and flood forest along the central axis of the River Niger), but all direct sighti...