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.

The War against Oil Theft in the Niger Delta Region and Advocacy Campaigns by the Nigerian Press: A Normative Appraisal

Abstract: With the down turn in the Nigerian economy occasioned by the menace of oil theft in the Niger Delta region, this study sought to analyse how the Nigerian press, through content, stimulated highlights that may help curb the menace. This necessitated content analyses of two newspapers and a magazine. The Guardian and This Day were purposively selected based on the fact that they are foremost national dailies with widespread readership as outlined by the Audit Bureau of Circulation while Tell magazine was selected based on its ideological posture and national spread. The third quarter of 2013 formed the period of study. Thirty-six issues of the newspapers/magazine spread across twelve weeks were selected and studied using a constructed calendar. Inter-coder reliability stood at 0.73. Findings revealed that the newspapers/magazine studied devoted less than 2% of their total news space to straight news on the subject matter with about 3% on features. For the editorial and advertorial spectrum, a lateral 0% was observed. Deductively, the newspapers/magazine studied did not devote significant space to advocacy. The findings further revealed that the reportage given to the subject matter by the newspapers/magazine was not sufficient to draw attention to the menace of oil theft and its attendant consequences. It was therefore recommended that Nigerian newspapers and magazines should focus content on issues of socio-economic importance. It was further recommended that Nigerian newspapers and magazines should intensify advocacy for proactive policies that will stem the tide of oil theft while paving way for egalitarianism in the Nigerian socio-economic sphere.

Mathematical Model to Predict the Characteristics of Polarization in Dielectric Materials: The Concept of Piezoelectrcity and Electrostriction

Abstract: Model was developed for the prediction of polarization characteristics in a dielectric material exhibiting piezoelectricity and electrostriction based on mathematical equations and MATLAB computer simulation software. The model was developed based on equations of polarization and piezoelectric constitutive law and the functional coefficient of Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) crystal material used was 2.3×10-6 m (thickness), the model further allows the input of basic material and calculation of parameters of applied voltage levels, applied stress, pressure, dielectric material properties and so on, to generate the polarization curve, strain curve and the expected deformation change in the material length charts. The mathematical model revealed that an application of 5 volts across the terminals of a 2.3×10-6 m thick dielectric material (PZT) predicted a 1.95×10-9 m change in length of the material, which indicates piezoelectric properties. Both polarization and electric field curve as well as strain and voltage curve were also generated and the result revealed a linear proportionality of the compared parameters, indicating a resultant increase in the electric field yields higher polarization of the dielectric materials atmosphere.

Antibacterial and microbial assessment of breads in Abak local government area, Nigeria, West Africa

Abstract: Three types of ready-to-eat bread were purchased from the hawkers who purchased from different bakery shops in Abak Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. These samples were analysed for bacterial and fungal contamination, using Standard Microbiological Procedure[SMP] and Disc Diffusion Method[DDM] for sensitivity test. Organisms isolated were Bacillus subtilis 75%, Staphylococcus aureus 85%, Aspergillus niger 34.29%, Penicillium notatum 25.71% while Aspergillus cerus and mould were 20%. The most sensitive antimicrobial agents were ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, streptomycin and Gentamycin. The organisms resisted tetracycline, cloxacillin and ampicillin completely. The range of moisture content, temperature and pH favoured the growth of Aspergillus sp. The bread samples ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ were highly contaminated and should be best used for 3 days especially if the bread were not properly preserved.

Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of a Creek in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract: An investigation was carried out on the microbiological and physicochemical quality of Amadi-ama Creek in Rivers State. Samples taken from the Creek were subjected to some physicochemical analyses like pH, DO, BOD, Hardness, temperature, sulphate, phosphate, turbidity, electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solids, nitrate, ammonia, etc. pH ranged from 7.14 to 7.16, temperature, 26.4°C to 27.6°C while salinity was from 13.6 mg/l to 15.9 mg/l. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) ranged from 7.20 mg/l to 7.40 mg/l. Chemical oxygen demand was from 21.2 mg/ml to 26.1 mg/l . The total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 3.0x10 5 4.0x10 5 cfu/ml which exceeded the limit of 1.0 x 10 cfu/ml for natural water. The total Yeast and Mould counts ranged from 2.3x10 –2.7x10 sfu/ml and 2.0x10 -2.2x10 sfu/ml respectively. The total coliform counts were higher in point A for weeks 1 and 2 with 400 and 420 MPN Index/100 ml respectively while Point B had 390 and 400 MPN Index/100 ml for weeks 1 and 2. The total thermotolerant coliform for points A and B for both weeks was 85 MPN Index/100 ml. The genera of bacteria isolated included Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Bacillus sp., Klebsiella sp., E.coli, Staphylococcus sp., Streptoccocus sp., Corynebacterium sp. and Enterobacter sp. The study revealed few species of fungi and they include Penicillium sp., Fusarium solani, Mucor sp. and Rhizopus sp. These are a group of fungi that Original Research Article Williams and Madise; JAMB, 10(1): 1-10, 2018; Article no.JAMB.40795 2 invade the superficial layer of the skin and degrade the keratinized tissues of skin, hair and nails in living animals including man, causing skin diseases. Aspergillus was also present in this study and it is a group of moulds found everywhere worldwide. Only a few of these molds can cause illness in humans and animals. Most people are naturally immune and do not develop disease caused by Aspergillus. However, when disease occurs, it takes several forms. Any Water body contaminated with some of `these pathogenic microorganisms represent an unhealthy livelihood (poor personal and household hygiene) in the environment.

Evaluation of the role of monoaminergic and nonmonoaminergic systems in the psychotropic effects of morin in mice: an interaction study with receptor blockers

Abstract: Treatment-resistance depression and memory impairment disease, burdened with high levels of serious adverse effects of currently existing antidepressants and memory enhancers, have necessitated the search for alternative agents. Although previous preclinical studies have revealed the antidepressant-like and memory-enhancing potentials of morin, a compound isolated from Morus alba, the neurotransmitter receptor interaction mechanisms of action remain unknown. Hence, the role of monoaminergic and nonmonoaminergic neurotransmitter receptors in the antidepressant-like and memory-enhancing effects in naive mice were evaluated in this study. Male Swiss mice were pretreated intraperitoneally with D2-dopaminergic receptor antagonists (haloperidol), 5-HT1- and 5-HT2-receptor antagonist (metergoline), 5-HT synthesis inhibitor (para-chlorophenylalanine), α1-noradrenoceptor antagonist (prazosin), α2-noradrenoceptor antagonist (yohimbine), or cholinergic receptor antagonist (atropine) prior to the administration of morin (100 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (10 mL/kg, i.p.). The memory-enhancing and antidepressant-like effects were then evaluated 30 min later using the open-field test (OFT), Y-maze test (YMT), and forced swim test (FST). Morin reduced locomotor activity however, it was reversed by metergoline, pCPA, prazosin, yohimbine, haloperidol, and atropine independent of their actions. Morin exhibited antidepressant property in the FST when compared with control (p < 0.05). Metergoline, para-chlorophenylalanine, prazosin, and haloperidol decreased the antidepressant-like activity of morin. Morin showed memory-enhancing effect in the YMT relative to control. Pretreatment with metergoline, para-chlorophenylalanine, or atropine, however, decreased the memory-promoting effect of morin. These findings suggest that the antidepressant-like activity exhibited by morin might be mediated via interactions with 5-HTergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic receptors, while the memory-enhancing effect might involve interaction with both 5-HTergic and cholinergic receptors.