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.

Utilisation of FACTS Devices in the Nigerian Transmission Grid

Abstract: In aiding the disposition of electrical power networks towards controlling and increasing its ability to transfer AC power, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems, FACTS is generally employed. This paper shows results of the study that assess the application of FACTS technologies into the expansion plans of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; as it transfers power through transmission lines to load centres. The load-flow, voltage and economic analysis were carried out and the results obtained to show how utilizing FACTS will give technical and economic advantages.

Targeting strategy for technological acquisition in the Sub-Saharan oil exporting states of Africa: The Nigerian experience

Abstract: During the last two decades, economic development has been slow in most of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 1981). In the middle of the 1970s when the world economy experienced inflation and recession, no where did the crises hit with greater impact than in Sub-Saharan Africa. This region shows slow overall economic growth, sluggish agricultural performance, rapid rates of population increase, and a balance of payment crises. Between 1960 and 1979, per capita income in 19 countries grew by less than 1% per annum. During the last decade 15 countries recorded a negative rate of income growth per capita (World Bank, 1981).

Structure and composition of snake assemblages across three types of plantation in south‐eastern Nigeria

Abstract: Assemblage structure, diversity measures and diversity/dominance patterns of snakes were studied between 1996 and 2013 in three types of plantation in the Niger River delta of southern Nigeria. The investigated plantation types were pineapple, banana/plantain, and cassava/yam. Over 74% of the census species (n = 27) were found in all three plantation types, with, overall, just two singletons (Bitis nasicornis, Lamprophis olivaceus) being observed. Despite an overall similarity in the taxonomic species composition, a principal component analysis placed the three plantation types in distinct zones of the multivariate space. Diversity/dominance diagrams for the three plantation types showed that banana/plantain and cassava/yam were nearly identical in terms of evenness profile, whereas the pineapple plantation had a higher evenness.

Absolute lymphocyte count as a marker for CD4 lymphocyte count: criterion for initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected Nigerians.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Few laboratories in resource-constrained countries can afford to perform laboratory-monitoring tests required for the implementation of HIV therapy. In this case control study, we have investigated the relevance of absolute lymphocyte count as a surrogate marker for CD4 lymphocyte count as a criterion for initiating HAARTin HIV-infected Nigerians. METHODS A total of 100 consecutive recruited HIV-infected, previously antiretroviral naive persons and 30 HIV-negative individuals blood samples were run for absolute lymphocyte and CD4 lymphocyte counts and results were compared by a model of linear regression analysis. RESULTS An overall modest correlation was observed between absolute lymphocyte count and CD4 lymphocyte (r = 0.51) and at CD4 lymphocyte threshold relevant for clinical management of HIV-infected; <200, 200-350 and >350 cells/microL (r = 0.41, 0.30 and 0.21) respectively. Mean absolute lymphocyte count of 1.60 +/- 0.77 x 10(9)/L, 1.88 +/- 1.11 x 10(9)/L and 2.04 +/- 0.54 x 10(9)/L was equivalent respectively to CD4 of <200, 200-350 and >350 cells/microL. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates a modest correlation between absolute and CD4 lymphocyte counts of HIV-infected Nigerians and at CD4 lymphocyte count threshold significant for clinical management of HIV-infected. Absolute lymphocyte count can become a minimal inexpensive alternative to CD4 lymphocyte count in conjunction with WHO staging and clinical status of patient in determining the optimal time to initiate therapy particularly in resource limited settings where other expensive methods of CD4 enumeration are unavailable.

Ovule dichotomy per locule of the trilocular pistil in cassava, Manihot esculenta: a useful abnormality for increased seed production?

Abstract: Histologically, the cassava pistil is trilocular with a single ovule in each locule producing a maximum of three seeds in nature. Heat stress (35°/45°C, night/day temperatures), as a physical treatment was attempted to induce useful reproductive and vegetative traits in 10 F1 hybrids derived from ‘OMR 36-41’and ‘OMR 36-42’crosses, and two Asian cassava cultivars,‘Rayong 60’and ‘Rayong 1′, under greenhouse and field conditions. Cytoembryological examination of the repro- ductive organs revealed morpho-structural features of normal pistil in all clones except ‘Rayong 1’which exhibited reproductive variations under greenhouse culture. Genetically, an important variation was ovule dichotomy per locule of the trilocular pistil so that each pistil contained six instead of the usual three ovules and lacked any outer integument. These ovules possessed functional embryo sacs with varying nuclear number. A pair of the dichotomous ovules possessed two embryo sacs of apparent different megaspore mother cells. Vegetatively, F1 hybrids were dwarf (0.50m) in their phenotype and flowered 1 month earlier than the 1.5-2.0m tall cultivars under greenhouse conditions.