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.

Assessment of The Capacity Building Needs of Agricultural Science Teachers for Innovative Instructional Delivery in Secondary Schools in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: The study was conducted to assess the capacity building needs of Agricultural Science teachers for innovative instructional delivery in secondary schools in Rivers State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design with a sample of 28 Agricultural Science teachers drawn through purposive sampling from a population of 244 teachers in secondary schools drawn from both Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of Rivers State was used. Three research questions guided the study. A 20-item research instrument entitled “Capacity Building Needs of Agricultural Science Teachers Questionnaire (CBNASTQ)” was developed and used for the study. Likert 5-point mean rating scale was adopted. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the CBNASTQ and a reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The study revealed amongst others that Agricultural Science teachers need to improve on the skills acquired through continuous professional development. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that Government should ensure the continuous capacity building of teachers through the organization of workshops, seminars, symposia, and conferences to enable them to interact with one another and acquire new skills.

Precision of full polynomial response surface designs on models with missing coefficients

Abstract: The precision of using full polynomial response surface designs on models with missing coefficients (reduced models) is studied using efficiency measures. The loss in D- and G-efficiency of constructed first-order exact designs is minimized for the model with missing interaction coefficient. However, higher losses in D- and G-efficiency are recorded when constructed second-order exact designs are used on the model with missing interaction coefficient with few exceptions showing preferences for using the designs on the reduced model. Lower condition numbers are observed for the designs under the first-order reduced models thus indicating that the N-point exact designs are closer to being orthogonal for the reduced model than for the full model. Perfect orthoganality is achieved at design sizes 4 and 8. In fact, N-point exact designs of multiples of N=4 show perfect orthoganality when defined either for the full or reduced first-order models. In comparison to a design with perfect orthoganality, the second-order designs are far from being orthogonal.

Comparison of Compressional-wave Velocity-depth Profiles from Surface and Downhole Detectors in the Near Surface in the Southeast Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract: Seismic refraction survey was conducted in the south-east Niger Delta at 27 stations using surface-detectors, and estimated near-surface compressional-wave velocities. At each station, a borehole was drilled with casing down to 60-m depth, and determined downhole compressional-wave velocities. Compressional-wave velocities estimated by surface-detectors were then compared with those estimated by downhole survey. The acquisition system includes 0.2kg dynamite, 12-channel-geophone and 11-channel-hydrophone receiver cables for surface-detectors and downhole surveys respectively. The soil layers in the Niger Delta has 2 distinct layers specified as follows, namely, top weathered layer of loose sand sediments with compressional wave velocity ranging from 213 to 763 ms-1 with an average of 503ms-1. Weathered-layer thickness ranges from 2.7 to 16.50m, with an average of 8.1m. Consolidated-layer compressional wave velocity ranges from 1580 to 1906ms-1, with an average of 737ms-1. A vertical velocity gradient of 30.5s-1 was calculated for the area. There exists a 7-18% difference between the velocities determined by the surface-wave and downhole methods. The surface-wave method gives spatially-averaged velocities along the line of traverse coincident with the geophone spread. In the case of downhole seismic method, velocities are specifically applicable only to the borehole location. The implication is that downhole measurements can be adversely affected by the local borehole factors and conditions resulting from casings and excessive collapse around the flushed-zone of the borehole. The spatially-averaged velocities and depths estimated by surface-detector method are more reliable for the site-specific characterization for reflection seismology, geotechnical engineering and groundwater.

The ethics of Nigeria's proposed withdrawal from the organisation of petroleum exporting countries

Abstract: In the wake of the prevailing world oil glut which has affected the revenue earning powers of OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) members, there are serious proposals and arguments in favour of Nigeria's withdrawal from OPEC. The mission of this paper is to question the ethical basis of this proposed strategy after she has benefited from OPEC membership for over a decade. This paper postulates that it would be ethically wrong to do so and suggests a strategy that would boost the petrochemical industry for agriculture, building, pharmaceuticals, automative industry, etc.