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.

Habitat preference and seasonal variations of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in Marigat area, Baringo District, Kenya.

Abstract: A number of natural and man-made habitats in Marigat area of Kenya were surveyed for sandflies in 1985/86. Of the 98,573 adult sandflies collected, 2.7 % belonged to the genus Phlebotomus and 97.3% to Sergentomyia . Relative abundance of sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus was four times higher in burrows than in termite hills, while sandflies of the genus Sergentomyia collected from termite hills were twice as numerous as those from burrows. Termite hills had the highest sandfly population compared to other sites, followed by tree holes and animal burrows. Fifteen species were identified, of which five belonged to Phlebotomus and 10 to Sergentomyia . The most abundant and widespread species were Sergentomyia antennatus, S. bedfordi, S. ingrami, Phlebotomus martini, S. schwetzi, S. africanus and P. duboscqi . Sandflies of both genera were present for the greater part of the year. Most species of sandflies decreased in numbers during the dry season. High population densities of sandflies were recorded during the wet period. Correlations between relative abundance of sandfly vectors of leishmaniases and rainfall were positive. However, none of the correlation coefficients was statistically significant.

A compact and simple estimate of reservoir rock tortuosity

Abstract: This study attempts to develop a simple expression for estimating rock tortuosity, which is important in determining permeability. Historically, attaining this goal has been rather complicated beca...

Prevalence and correlates of maternal morbidity in Enugu south-east Nigeria.

Abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of maternal morbidity following childbirth in Enugu, South East Nigeria. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of women with recent deliveries in Enugu was done. Respondent were 8 times more likely to report a symptom than not (OR 8.14 95% C.I. 5.48, 12.68). Puerperal sepsis, perineal pain, dyspareunia, postpartum haemorrhage, gestational (postpartum) hypertension and utero-vaginal prolapse were the commonest obstetric/gynaecological morbidities. Multivariate analysis showed that the main predictors of specific morbidities were high parity category, abdominal delivery and delivery by unskilled birth attendant. It is concluded that the prevalence of morbidity following childbirth in the population sampled was high due mainly to obstetric factors and that reportage of morbidity had little to do with the demographic characteristics of respondents. A population based study is recommended to determine the actual prevalence and predictors of morbidity following childbirth in the population (Afr. J. Reprod. Health 2010; 14[3]: 121-129).

Diet of a guild of geckos in a fragmented, human‐altered African rainforest

Abstract: The ecology of gekkonids occurring in African forests is poorly known. In this paper, we analyse the feeding habits of a guild of sympatric geckos at a forest‐plantation mosaic area in south‐eastern Nigeria. Faeces were collected on handling from Hemidactylus brookii, H. fasciatus, H. intestinalis, H. mabouia, H. echinus, and Lygodactylus conraui. All species proved to be dietary generalists, with diets based almost entirely on arthropods. However, food niche overlap values between pairs of species were relatively low and Monte Carlo simulations (with RA2 and RA3 algorithms) showed that the overlap values between H. fasciatus and H. intestinalis were significantly higher than those observed for other pairs of species. Monte‐Carlo simulations on co‐occurrence estimators (C‐score, V‐ratio, and number of species combinations) revealed that the gecko guild was not competitively structured along the trophic niche dimension.

Human Capital Investment as a Catalyst for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria

Abstract: Human capital development presupposes investments, activities, and processes facilitating the generation of technical and expert knowledge; skills, health or values that are embodied in people. It implies maintaining an appropriate balance and key massive human resource base and providing an encouraging environment for all individuals to be fully engaged and contribute to organizational or national goals. Human capital development is necessary in order for National development to occur. In addition, human capital development teaches people how to utilize the advantages of diverse thinking styles (analytical and intuitive) so that they achieve the best holistic practical solutions. Human capital development and training are basically the same. This paper aims to examine the meaning of human capital development in relation to nation-building. The authors also took a cursory look at the concept of business education and its roles for sustainable development for nation-building. The study examined human capital investment as a catalyst for sustainable economic environment in Nigeria. The broad objective of the study is to analyze the effect of human capital investment on the Nigerian economy from 1986 to2017. The data used for the study were sourced from the central bank statistical bulletin and national bureau of Statistics. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) techniques were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study reveal that there is a positive relationship between government expenditure on health and real gross domestic product. The adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) shows that 97.3% of variations in the real gross domestic product is being accounted for by government expenditure on education, government expenditure on health and gross capital formation while the remaining 2.7% is accounted for by variables not included in the model. The study suggests that Nigerian policymakers should pay more attention to the health sector and increase its yearly budgetary allocation to it. Nevertheless, the key to achieving best results lies not in ordinarily increasing particular budgetary allocation but rather in implementing a public expenditure and revenue and ensuring the usage of the allocated fund as transparently as possible.