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.

Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of Heavy Metals in Farm Produce and Livestock around Lead-Contaminated Goldmine in Dareta and Abare, Zamfara State, Northern Nigeria

Abstract: Background. Hitherto studies in response to the June 2010 lead poisoning, Zamfara State, Nigeria, have focused on clinical interventions without information on livestock and other metals. Objective. This study has investigated the distribution of heavy metals in farm produce and livestock around lead-contaminated goldmine in Dareta and Abare, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Methods. Vegetables, soil, water, blood, and different meat samples were harvested from goat, sheep, cattle, and chicken from Dareta, Abare, and Gusau communities. The samples were digested with 10 mL of a mix of nitric and perchloric acids; the mixture was then heated to dryness. Lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium, copper, magnesium, and nickel were analysed using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The daily intake, bioaccumulation factor, and target hazard quotient (THQ) were calculated. Results. Chicken bone-muscles from Dareta had the highest concentrations of lead, zinc, and nickel (28.2750, 16.1650, and 4.2700 mg/kg, resp.), while chicken brain had the highest levels of cadmium, magnesium (0.3800 and 67.5400 mg/kg), and chromium (6.1650 mg/kg, kidney tissue inclusive). Conclusion. In addition to lead, cadmium may also be of concern in the contaminated mining communities of Zamfara State, Nigeria, given the high levels of cadmium in meat and vegetables samples from these areas.

Managerial competencies and marketing effectiveness in corporate organizations in Nigeria

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of managerial competencies on the marketing effectiveness of the organization. While many empirical works have centered on marketing effectiveness, the generalizability of its relationship to managerial competencies in the Nigerian context has been under‐researched.Design/methodology/approach – A 27‐item survey questionnaire was developed and 84 corporate organizations in Nigeria were selected from the 2005 edition of the Nigerian stock exchange gazette as a sample of this study. A hand‐delivered survey was conducted from key informants in the organizations. Returned instruments were analyzed using non‐parametric correlation through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.Findings – The results of the study reported in this paper validated the earlier instruments and find a strong association between managerial competencies and marketing effectiveness of corporate organizations in the Nigerian context. The main fi...

Activity of Zymomonas species in palm-sap obtained from three areas in Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract: The bacterium Zymomonas mobilis was isolated from fresh palm-sap samples from three different locations as to determine the contribution of the bacterial isolate to alcohol production in palm-wine. Carbohydrate (sugar) fermentation, alcohol tolerance, and growth of the bacterium at different pH and temperature values were determined; and a comparison of sugar fermentation by Z. mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was also determined. Z. mobilis contributes much to the fermentation of palm-wine due to its ability to ferment sucrose, glucose and fructose which are the main sugars in palm-sap. The bacterium reached its maximum density of 2.72 x 10 7 cells/ml between 12 and 15 hrs after tapping of the palm-sap. Z. mobilis is acid and alcohol tolerant being able to grow at pH values between 4.0 and 7.0 and in alcohol concentration of between 2.5% and 15% respectively. Z. mobilis was also found to ferment sugars at a faster rate than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Statistical analysis of the data obtained using ANOVA showed that there is no significant difference at p = 0.05 level of significance in the growth of isolates of Z. mobilis obtained from the three locations under different pH, alcohol and temperature values. @JASEM Palm-wine is an alcoholic beverage obtained from the fermentation of the sugary sap of various palm species in Nigeria. It is usually obtained from Raphia vinifera, Raphia hookeri, and Elaeis guineensis by methods described by Bassir (1965), Faparusi (1966) and Okafor (1972). Raphia palms usually yield more sap than oil palms although raphia palms can only be tapped once in its life time because its terminal inflorescence is destroyed during tapping (Okafor, 1977).

Petroleum contaminated water and health symptoms: a cross-sectional pilot study in a rural Nigerian community

Abstract: The oil-rich Niger Delta suffers from extensive petroleum contamination. A pilot study was conducted in the region of Ogoniland where one community, Ogale, has drinking water wells highly contaminated with a refined oil product. In a 2011 study, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) sampled Ogale drinking water wells and detected numerous petroleum hydrocarbons, including benzene at concentrations as much as 1800 times higher than the USEPA drinking water standard. UNEP recommended immediate provision of clean drinking water, medical surveillance, and a prospective cohort study. Although the Nigerian government has provided emergency drinking water, other UNEP recommendations have not been implemented. We aimed to (i) follow up on UNEP recommendations by investigating health symptoms associated with exposure to contaminated water; and (ii) assess the adequacy and utilization of the government-supplied emergency drinking water. We recruited 200 participants from Ogale and a reference community, Eteo, and administered questionnaires to investigate water use, perceived water safety, and self-reported health symptoms. Our multivariate regression analyses show statistically significant associations between exposure to Ogale drinking water and self-reported health symptoms consistent with petroleum exposure. Participants in Ogale more frequently reported health symptoms related to neurological effects (OR = 2.8), hematological effects (OR = 3.3), and irritation (OR = 2.7). Our results are the first from a community relying on drinking water with such extremely high concentrations of benzene and other hydrocarbons. The ongoing exposure and these pilot study results highlight the need for more refined investigation as recommended by UNEP.

Ascorbic acid content of some Nigerian local fruits and vegetables

Abstract: Ascorbic acid contents of some common local fruits and vegetables was determined. The ascorbic acid contents of the fruits ranged from 21.8 to 98.0 mg per 100 g sample while that of vegetables ranged from 21.3 to 98.8 mg per 100 g sample. The traditional processing of some of the fruits resulted in losses of ascorbic acid of between 43 and 58%. The traditional processing of the vegetables also resulted in losses of ascorbic acid of between 32 to 68%. On environmental exposure (storage) in the shade (27°C) for four hours the losses ranged from 22 to 34%. The peels of mango and African apple, which are normally discarded by the natives, contained higher contents of ascorbic acid than the edible portion.