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.

Phytochemical Screening of Aqueous, Ethanolic and Methanolic Extracts of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., Leaves

Abstract: Aim: This study focused on the phytochemical screening of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts on the species Morus mesozygia linn. Study Design: This study was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Plant Anatomy and Physiology Research Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt, between July, 2018 and November, 2018. Methodology: Morus mesozygia linn leaves were collected and washed with distilled water, air dried for seven days and milled into fine powder. Maceration method was use to extract the powdered leaf into a brownish paste using three different solvents; distilled water, ethanol and methanol. The different plant extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins and anthraquinones. Quantitative phytochemical analysis was done using a Gas chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy machine. Results: Results showed that the powdered Morus mesozygia linn leaves contained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins, but not anthraquinones. The methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts contained high amounts of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and tannins, Original Research Article Joshua et al.; AJBGMB, 5(1): 38-46, 2020; Article no.AJBGMB.60688 39 while the ethanolic extract also contained high amounts of the aforementioned phytochemicals in the same proportion, but had saponins in moderate amounts. The result of the GC-MS analysis showed that the three extracts contained complex compounds in varying amounts. Conclusion: Phytochemical screening test of Morus mesozygia has revealed the presence of the substances like alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, oils, phenolic compounds, tannins and some complex compounds discovered using GC-MS technique.

Strategic Thinking and Flexibility of Deposit Money Banks in South-South, Nigeria

Abstract: This study examined the relationship between strategic thinking and flexibility of Deposit Money Banks in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design with primary data was generated through self- administered questionnaire. The population for this study was five (5) tier-one banks in South-South, Nigeria. The study however focused mainly on their Regional Offices located in Port Harcourt. Six Regional Managers for each bank were used as the study respondents giving a total of 30 respondents. Census sampling was adopted since the study sample was small. The reliability of the instrument was achieved by the use of the Cronbach Alpha with all the items scoring alpha coefficient above 0.70. The hypotheses were tested using the Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient with the aid of SPSS version 23.0. The tests were carried out at a 95% confidence interval and a 0.05 level of significance. The study findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between strategic thinking and flexibility of Deposit Money Banks in South-South, Nigeria. The study recommends that deposit money banks should build strategic thinking competencies of its managers and employees through such activities such as brainstorming, scenario visualization, repertoire building and dialogue as critical means by which they can respond most effectively to rapid change and achieve sustainable success.

Web-based training needs of agricultural professionals in tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: This study assessed the web-based training needs of agricultural professionals in tertiary institutions in Rivers State; it identified their socio-demographic characteristics, determined their web-based training needs and ascertained the benefits of web-based training to these agricultural professionals. The study also determined the availability of computers and other web-based training facilities and identified the factors affecting the application of web-based training by the respondents. Ninety structured questionnaires for data collection were administered to randomly selected agricultural professionals in three universities in Rivers State. However, only 83 of these questionnaires were recovered and analysed. Analyses were done using simple percentages and mean scores. The hypothesis was tested using chi-square technique. Findings from the study revealed that a higher percentage (36.1%) were in the age range of 25-34 years, male (66.3%) agricultural professionals were more than the female, 73.5% were married and were all specialized in different areas of agriculture. Among the web-based training needs of agricultural professionals were; how to type documents, browse on the internet, set data in spread sheet. The benefit of web-based training were to facilitate communication with researchers (M=3.60), improve access to agricultural knowledge (M=3.75), conduct field surveys (M=3.12) and access to new knowledge and technologies (M=3.75). Factors limiting the application and benefits of web-based training for agricultural professionals were identified to include lack of computer facilities (m=3.58), high cost of operation (M =3.33) and inadequate electronic power (M=3.70). Therefore the study recommended that prices of computers and cost of operation of web-based facilities should be subsidized by government.

Study of food habits of Goby, Porogobius schlegelii (Gunther, 1861) from Elechi creek, off Bonny River, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examines the food habits of goby, Porogobius schelgelii from the artisanal fisheries of the Bonny River in the Niger Delta. The results show that detritus, diatoms and blue-green algae are the primary food items followed by sand granules, macrophytes and nematodes as secondary food items. Protozoa. Fish eggs and parts were observed as incidental food items. The Shannon-Weaver Relative Index (J) showed that Porogobius schelgelii are omnivores with no preference for any food items. Also, Shorygin Index (X) indicates that there is a positive intra specific feeding relationship among the various size groups leading to competition for food items. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCES Volume 16, Number 2, October 2001, pp. 79-82 KEY WORDS: Food habits, Goby, Elechi Creek, Bonny River, Niger Delta

Role of Mathematical Competencies in Enhancing Students’ Academic Performance in Physics in Port Harcourt Local Government Area Rivers State

Abstract: The study investigated ‘‘Role of Mathematical Competencies in Enhancing Students’ academic Performance in Physics in Port Harcourt Local Government Area Rivers State’’. The study specifically sought to determine; the mathematical competencies of Physics students, the mean score of students with high mathematical competencies (HMC), medium mathematical competencies (MMC), and low mathematical competencies (LMC) in Physics, and also the mean difference that exists between the performance of students with HMC, MMC and LMC in Physics. The study adopted correlation design. The total number of S.S.3 science students in these four schools was 76 students but due to certain circumstances during the time of the study, only 62 of the students were present and used in the study. The instrument used in the study was mathematics achievement test and physics achievement test. In MCT, students who scored 40 below were grouped as those who have low mathematical competencies, those who scored 41-69 were grouped as medium mathematical competencies while those who score 70 above were grouped as those with high mathematical competencies. Both tests were score and analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient PPMC at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that 22.58 %of respondents haveHMC, 30.65% has MMC and majority of them has LMC 46.77%. The study also found that students with HMC performed significantly better than those with MMC and LMC in Physics tests. The hypothesis confirmed that there was a strong positive correlation between mathematical competency and performance in physics. The researcher therefore recommends that science students should strive hard to be adequately competent in subjects involving abstract logical reasoning and numeric calculations as this may enhance their overall academic performance.