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.

COVID-19: Mental and Social Health-Related Complaints among Children and Adolescents in Nigeria: Parents’/Caregivers’ Perception – An Online Survey

Abstract: Aim: This survey aimed to highlight the mental and social health-related complaints of children and adolescents during the lockdown in Nigeria. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Respondents from all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, from May 9 to June 8, 2020.Nigeria. Methodology: A snowball sampling technique was used to recruit 260 respondents, consisting of parents/caregivers of children 18 years and below from states affected by the lockdown. An online Original Research Article Briggs and Kattey; INDJ, 14(4): 1-13, 2020; Article no.INDJ.61430 2 self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Logistic regression analysis was done on mental health-related complaints (dependent variables), with participation in the radio/TV sessions, presence of computer at home, access to the internet, and income-level of parents as independent variables. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: The median age of respondents was 38 years (with an interquartile range of 9); 155 (59.7%) were females, 239 (91.9%) married, 167 (64.2%) had tertiary education, 83 (31.9%) were low-income earners, 202 (77.7%) had computer devices at home, 243 (93.5%) had internet access at home. Logistic regression revealed that children who participated in the radio/TV sessions were more likely to complain of being bored; and children without internet access at home were more likely to complain of being unhappy, express anxiety/fear and show signs of stress. However, 113 (43.4%) agreed their children learnt a new skill, and 159 (61.1%) agreed there was increased family bonding during the COVID-19 lockdown. Conclusion: The pandemic threatens the mental and social wellbeing of Nigerian children. Policymakers must put in place measures that address factors which increase the likelihood of mental and social health-related complaints among children by improving access to the internet, subsidizing costs and developing child-focused mental health services with new strategies to reach those already affected.

Nutritional and Serum Biochemistry of the Edible Frog Hoplobatrachus occipitalis in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper investigated the proximate, minerals and serum biochemistry in Hoplobatrachus occipitalis. The proximate and selected minerals of edible frog Hoplobatrachus occipitalis were determined using standard analytical methods. The result showed that crude protein was 16.91% carbohydrate was 1.76%, crude fibre 2.85%, The fat was 4.96% ash content was 1.84% and moisture was 71.67%. The selected mineral constituent recorded showed that sodium> iron> calcium > potassium > manganese. The nutritive serum biochemistry was determined in male and female species, the results revealed that both sexes have high nutritional profile suitable for human consumption; nevertheless, the female species have higher nutritional values than the males.

Bio-security risk assessment of ship discharged ballast water based on some underlying theories

Abstract: The arrival of exotic marine species in a new area increases with proximity to seaports, thereby raising bio-security concerns for the seaports. Protecting the national borders from these aquatic invasive species following the discharge of ballast water in coastal waters, could be a very difficult undertaking. The objective of this study therefore, is to propose an appropriate ballast water treatment system for Port Harcourt Harbour (PHH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria and to also show theoretically, how the paradigms of “The Swiss Cheese Model” and “The Tens Rule” could be used to determine the invasion potentials of planktonic species introduced into a Harbour via ballast water. The model postulates that each prevention barrier has some likely weaknesses or holes (just like the Swiss Cheese) between hazards and accidents through which the unwanted organisms can slip through. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has in 2004 prescribed organisms numerical discharge standard in the Ballast Water Management Convention. Theoretically, the number of organisms that survive the treatment barriers will have to go through the mathematical law of the ‘Tens Rule’ to become invasive. This means that only 1/1000th of organisms that survive the three invasion transition stages of entrainment into the ballast water tank , introduction , and establishment will ultimately become invasive . In this study, water samples were taken from the following stations: PHH, OK (Okrika Oil Terminal), as well as from ballast water tanks of visiting ships. The samples were then subjected to taxonomic and physicochemical analysis, and three stage treatment of filtration , application of heat and biocides (these served as the “Swiss Cheese”). The resulting data were further analyzed using the “Tens Rule”. Conventional inferential statistics were employed to determine the relationships between the sampling stations, sea water, ballast water and the relative abundance of the various species found in the sampled waters. Based on the precautionary principle the employment of these risk management measures were employed as every organism is potentially invasive once it is translocated from one distinct geographical region to another. A total of 27 species were identified with Bacillariophycae (66%) being the most dominant taxonomic class, followed by Cyanophycae (25%), and then Copepods (8%). There were significant ddifferences in relative species abundance between sampling stations (one way ANOVA, df=5,8; p=0.0394), but no significant differences in relative abundance of planktonic species between PHH water and OK sea water (t-test; df=3; p=0.3578). Also, No significant difference was observed in relative total plankton abundance between ballast water of all sampled ships (p=0.1496). Only BOD had a positive correlation with phytoplankton abundance. Probability of phytoplankton invasion based on the number of species is p=0.045, while based on total classes of species sampled it is p= 0.142. This is because out of the total number of 14 classes of species identified, only two ( Nitszchia linearis and Playtias sp.) could be said to be introducible as they were not identified in the ambient water sampled. For the zooplankton population sampled, only one organism had the likelihood of being introducible. Based on the ballast water samples collected, the probability (at a priori alpha level of 0.05) of species found in sampled ships (but not present in PHH or OK) becoming invasive is not significant at p=0.043. Treatment of the ballast water (i.e barrier introduction or Swiss Cheese application) shall further reduce the invasion probability of the planktonic species. A further application of the statistical characterisation of the ‘Tens Rule’ logic showed that the resultant pressure posed only a significantly low risk of species introduction. This is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of regulation D-2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention of IMO. The study therefore showed that the ships sampled posed some biosecurity risks to PHH or to the Bonny Estuary.