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.

Effect of Concept Mapping in Teachng of Physics in Senior Secondary Schools in Portharcourt Local Government Area Rivers State

Abstract: The study examined the effect of concept mapping in the teaching of physic in senior secondary school in port Harcourt local government area Rivers state. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of concept mapping on the teaching of physics. The study also found the difference in the academic achievement of students taught physics with concept mapping and conventional teaching method. Eighty-four SS3 physics students were used for the study. Forty-three 43 comprised of the experimental group and fortyone in the control group. The study adopted pre-test post test quasi experimental design. The instrument used for the study was Physics achievement test (PAT).The instrument contained 25 multiple choice questions, in which each of the questions 2 marks. The instrument was validated by two experts in the department of science education in Rivers State University. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to ascertain the instrument’s level of reliability, which resulted to r value of 0.62. findings of the study shows that students taught Physics with concept mapping significantly better than those taught with conventional method. Also the study found that there was no significant difference between male and female students taught Physics with concept mapping. The study recommended that teachers should imbibe concept mapping method in the teaching of Physics so as to enhance students’ comprehension, identification of relationships that exits between concepts and creativity.

Case Studies from Africa

Abstract: This chapter entitle, “Case studies from Africa”, Bamidele Wale-Oshinowo, Sorbarikor Lebura, Nejla Yacoub and Laurice Alexandre-Leclair present case studies from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tunisia where, in recent years, women entrepreneurs have been consolidating a strong position in the sustainable fashion industry.

Response of Soil Microorganisms to Oilfield Wastewater

Abstract: Environmental pollution resulting from oil exploitation and exploration has impacted negatively on the biodiversity of the affected areas. Therefore, this study investigated the response of soil microorganisms to oilfield wastewater. The oilfield wastewater and soil samples were collected from an onshore oil producing platform fortnightly for a period of three months and microbiological analyses were performed using standard methods. Soil around pond average counts for THB and HUB (Log10 CFU/g) were 7.32 to 7.35 and 4.16 to 4.22 respectively. Soil 80 m away from pond average range for THB and HUB were 7.38 to 7.40 and 3.32 to 3.34 respectively. For TF and HUF, Soil around the pond mean recorded 4.65 to 4.85 and 4.12 to 4.16 (Log10 CFU/g) respectively. Mean monthly counts for soil 80m away TF and HUF (Log10 CFU/g) were 5.03 to 5.05 and 3.26 to 3.34 respectively. Soil around the pond recorded lower total heterotrophic bacteria count and total fungi count but higher hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria and hydrocarbon utilizing fungi than soil 80 m away. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between the THB and HUB in the various samples. For the fungi count there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between TF and HUF in all the samples except in sample obtained from soil 80 m away from pond. Bacteria species isolated from the study include: Bacillus, Aeromonas, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Chryseomonas, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella. Apart from Aeromonas and Chryseomonas the rest of the isolate were identified also as hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria. While fungi species isolated includes: Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Geotricum, Trichoderma, Fusarium and Penicillium. Hydrocarbon utilizing fungi that occurred includes: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The response of these microorganisms in the oil polluted environment suggests that the isolated bacteria and fungi could utilize the oil as energy and carbon source and could be effective in the cleanup of the polluted sites.

Prevalence and Antibiogram of Gram-negative Bacteria Isolated from Well Water in Ula-Ubie Community, Ahoada West, Nigeria

Abstract: Antibiotic resistance has become a great global problem. Thus, it has emerged as a public health challenge. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria in well water was characterized with a view of determining the level of resistance in the environment. Fifty well water samples were collected from ten different points in Ula-Ubie community, Ahoda, Rivers State for a period of five months. Standard microbiological methods were used to analyse the population and types of bacteria in the water while methods recommended by the American Public Health Association (APHA) was used to determine the physicochemical parameters of the samples. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the bacterial isolates was carried out using the disc diffusion methods. The total heterotrophic bacteria of the water samples ranged from 0.93±0.46 to 2.02±1.06 log10 CFU/ml. The coliform counts ranged from 0.45±0.42 2.55±2.33 log10 CFU/ml, respectively. Despite the variations in the counts of the different bacterial population, there was no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the different well water samples. The physicochemical parameters except the pH were all within the permissible Original Research Article Nrior et al.; MRJI, 30(2): 1-10, 2020; Article no.MRJI.55043 2 limits. Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Serratia spp and Enterobacter spp were identified in the well water. The pH of the water stations ranged from 4.66 to 5.80. The temperature ranged from 24.0 to 24.7. The electrical conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total hardness, alkalinity, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, chloride, calcium and magnesium ranged from 22.9 – 219, 0.03-0.13, 4.50-4.90, 5.00-22.0, ˂0.01-3.00, ˂0.01, 49.6-84.5, 1.00-17.4, 3.0024.5, 4.25-12.9 and 0,722-1.55 respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility profile showed that all the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime and augmentin, whereas Enterobacter spp were the most resistant bacteria amongst other bacterial genera to the antibiotics. Meanwhile there is an existence of multi-drug resistance. Thus, the wells could be considered not potable due to the presence of these bacterial isolates and the level of antibiotic resistant. Proper sanitation and cleanliness of well should be encouraged.

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Water and Fishes in Bodo/Bonny River Nigeria

Abstract: Several industrial activities around the Niger Delta region have contributed to the widespread contamination of marine ecosystems with organochlorine compounds (OCs), petroleum products that are a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These pollutants tend to be persistent in the environment and are also often highly toxic to the biota. The study was therefore, aimed at determining the concentrations of organic pollutants (PAHS) in the Bodo/Bonny coastal waters and their effect on the marine ecosystems. This is exacerbated by the risks posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oil spilled environments. Surface water, sediment and fish samples were collected from different sampling stations along the river and analyzed using standard analytical methods. Sampling of surface water was done on Link fish pond which served as control. The results of the value of TPH ranged from 0.31 to 40.85 mg/l, PAHs range from 2.06 to 2.73 mg/l and BTEX ranged from 0.043 to 0.081 mg/l. The Total Petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) values obtained were above DPR permissible Limit of 20 mg/l in all the stations. However, values of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons show that Benzo(a) anthracene had the highest concentration especially in all the surface water stations sampled. Also results showed a presence of carcinogenic PAHs in the fish tissues. This still poses a danger if accumulation was to take place over a long period of time. The values obtained from this study stations also exceeded the WHO quality criteria for drinking, aquatic life support and recreation. This reveals that Bodo/Bonny River is under pollution threat and underscore the need for early remediation if adverse health defects are to be prevented.