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.

Empirical Survey of Corporate Liquidity Management Practices of Nigerian-Quoted Manufacturing Enterprises

Abstract: This study is intended to investigate and subsequently improve the capability of corporate finance executives in handling acute liquidity shortages through optimal cash flow management practices within a risk-return framework in the Nigerian quoted manufacturing enterprises. The questionnaire survey which obtained a response rate of 75.5 percent show among others that most respondents are incapable of interacting with the financial markets in managing the cash flow cycle. Since financial liberalization fosters banking fragility, as the Nigerian experience shows, finance managers in manufacturing enterprises need to redefine their banking relationships regularly as a strategy for managing anticipated and unanticipated financing gaps.

Prevalence of Malaria among Children under Five Years in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 2 Department of Medical Microbiology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 3 Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 7 Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 8 Department of Pharmacology and Centre for Malaria Research and Phytomedicine, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 9 NDDC Professorial Chair on Malaria Elimination and Phytomedicine Research, Centre for Malaria Research and Phytomedicine, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 10 Department of Animal and Environmental biology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. . 11 Department of Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology and Centre for Malaria Research and Phytomedicine, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Zobo and Bay Leaf Extracts on Enteropathogenic Bacteria

Abstract: Aim: The antibacterial activity of Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis L.) and Zobo leaf (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) extracts on enteropathogenic bacteria was investigated. Study Design: The study utilized well in agar diffusion to investigate the antimicrobial properties of the extracts. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Rivers State University and the study was carried out in August, 2018 to October, 2018. Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from a medical laboratory and inoculated on eosin methylene blue and mannitol salt agar plates for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using standard microbiological techniques. The bacterial isolates were subjected to biochemical and molecular (PCR) identification so as to ascertain the distinctiveness of the isolates. Hot water and absolute alcohol were used as the extracting solvents. Concentrations of the extracted solvents was tested against E. coli and S. aureus using the well in agar method. Results: The result showed that both hot aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Bay leaf showed no sensitivity against the tested bacteria, whereas the extracts of hot dry aqueous and alcohol of Zobo leaf showed remarkable zones of inhibition against the tested bacteria. The zones of inhibition in the dry hot aqueous extract of zobo leaf with concentrations of 0.25 µg/mL, 0.125 µg/mL and 0.063 µg/mL were 31.3±0.1, 25.6±1.2 and 10.0±0.0, respectively. The minimal inhibitory concentration of the dry hot aqueous of zobo extract was observed at 0.063 µg/mL for E. coli, while zones of inhibition of 33.3±0.0, 30.1±0.3, 17.2±1.0 and 15.0±0.1 mm were recorded from the dry alcoholic extract of zobo leaf on E. coli given similar concentrations and the MIC was observed at the 0.031 µg/mL concentration. The result also showed that out of the four concentrations of the dry hot aqueous extract, only the 0.25 µg/mL concentration was able to show 14.2±0.0 mm inhibition on S. aureus, while the concentrations of 0.25 µg/ml and 0.125 µg/mL were the only two concentrations of the dry alcohol that showed levels of sensitivity with zone diameters of 29.3±1.0 and 25.2±0.0, respectively. Conclusion: The plant extracts of zobo leaves which displayed remarkable activity at fairly-low concentrations could be recommended for use against similar bacteria. Thus, investigation and adoption of plant extracts in modern medicine should be encouraged as this may be the break through needed to combat the ever-increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics.

Studies on Microbial Contamination of Cut and Exposed Onions

Abstract: Onions (Allium cepa), a vegetable plant is consumed globally for its culinary and medicinal importance. Despite the various health benefits ascribed to onions, several rumours have been spread, especially on the online media as regards its ability to act as a sponge absorbing microorganisms from the atmosphere, once cut open and left exposed in the atmosphere. This research work involved the exposure of the half portion of an onion at different sites, while culturing the other half immediately without exposure, to serve as a control. Thirty healthy and fresh onion samples were exposed, and the sites of exposure include: living rooms, public conveniences, kitchens, fridge, freezer, and bole joints (roasted plantain eatery). After inoculation and identification of the cultured microorganisms, Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., yeast and Aspergillus sp., were isolated with Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. having the highest number of occurrence of 40% having been isolated from twelve test samples each. B. cereus had a percentage occurrence of 30%, having been isolated from nine test samples. E. coli had a 10% occurrence having been isolated from three test samples, while Enterobacter sp. had the lowest rate of occurrence having been isolated in just one test sample. For the fungi isolates, Aspergillus sp. Original Research Article Agi et al.; JAMB, 20(5): 1-11, 2020; Article no.JAMB.57219 2 had a percentage occurrence of 76.6% having been isolated in twenty three test samples, while yeast had a percentage occurrence of 66.6%, having been isolated in twenty test samples. The isolated organisms were all pathogenic organisms, and some such as Staphylococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. have been implicated in causing food poisoning. Some other organisms isolated have also been implicated in the spoilage of onions. It is therefore recommended that users of onions should reduce to the barest minimum the tendency to consume raw cut onion sample.

Assessment of Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Well Water Samples in Ido Community, Nigeria

Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of well water samples in Ido community. Thirty water samples were collected from five different wells ( six samples from each well) and subjected to standard microbiological and physicochemical analysis. All physicochemical properties showed difference (p<0.05) in all the wells analyzed except temperature and turbidity. Temperature ranged between 25.3±3.5 0 C and 26±2.35 0 C; pH, 6.3±0.7 and 6.9±0.3; electrical conductivity, 127.6±1.9 and 157.8±7.7μs/cm; total suspended solids, 25.2±8.9 and 53.2±1.8mg/l; turbidity, 0.15±0.7 and 1.20±1.4NTU; dissolved oxygen, 4.40±2.8 and 5.35±2.1 mg/l; Biological Oxygen Demand, 9.40±2.8 and15.4±2.8mg/l; Chemical Oxygen Demand, 177.2±1.6 and 260.3±1.6mg/l; chloride, 59.8±8.5 and 101.2±2.6mg/l and total hardness, 246.6±1.9 and 395.6±2.7mg/l. All values fell within WHO standards except Chemical Oxygen Demand (WHO Standard 40mg/l) and total hardness (WHO Standard 100mg/l). Results of microbial population did not show any difference (p>0.05) across the wells. However, Total Heterotrophic Bacteria ranged from 2.15±0.91×10 4 to 5.3±0.86×10 4 cfu/ml; total coliform, 3.00±0.77×10 4 to 6.18±0.73×10 4 cfu/ml; Total feacal coliform, 2.61±0.71×10 to 4.39±0.76×10 cfu/ml; Total vibrio count, 2.68±0.81× 10 to 4.4±0.86×10 3 cfu/ml; Total salmonella shigella count. 2.02±0.84×10 3 to 4.8±0.95×10 3 cfu/ml. Total Original Research Article Akani et al.; MRJI, 31(1): 1-10, 2021; Article no.MRJI.63945 2 coliform bacteria ranged from 220 to > 1600 coliform MPN index /100ml, while thermo tolerant coliform bacteria ranged from 220 to 1600 coliform MPN index /100ml -1 . A total of forty bacterial isolates belonging to ten genera were identified. They include species of Bacillus 22 (26.4%), Staphylococcus 14(16.8%), Vibrio 13(15.7%), Serratia 6(7.3%), Enterobacter 6(7.3%), Chromobacterium 4(4.8%), Salmonella 4 (4.9%), Shigella 4(4.8%) and E. coli 4(4.8%). This result highlights the fact that well water in Ido community are not safe microbiologically for drinking without additional treatment such as boiling or disinfection and this could lead to outbreak of water borne diseases. Good and proper environmental and personal hygiene is advocate especially by the users of those wells to prevent their contamination with bacterial pathogens.