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.

Comparative Studies on Effectiveness of Branded and Unbranded Disinfectants on E. coli and Staphylococcus Species

Abstract: Aims: To compare the antimicrobial potential of branded and unbranded disinfectants on clinical bacterial isolates. Study Design: The agar-well diffusion and micro broth dilution were adopted for the study. Ten disinfectants of which five were branded (industrial prepared) and five unbranded (indigenous prepared) were used against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Rivers State University. the study was for a period of two months (June-July, 2018). Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from the University Medical centre and were analyzed in the Microbiology Laboratory for the isolation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using standard microbiological method. The antimicrobial potential of both branded and unbranded disinfectants on the clinical isolates were evaluated using the micro dilution technique and the well in agar technique. Results: The result in this study showed that both branded and unbranded disinfectants were effective on the E. coli and Staphylococcus isolates. However, the unbranded were only effective at high concentrations. E. coli had zone of inhibition ranging from 0 to 22 mm when tested with the unbranded disinfectant, while 0 to 17 mm was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus. The zones of inhibition of the branded disinfectant on E. coli ranged from 0 to 27 mm, while zone diameter of Staphylococcus aureus ranged from 0 to 25 mm. Among the unbranded disinfectants, Lysol produced the highest zone of inhibition While among the branded disinfectants, Savlon produced the highest zone of inhibition. The positive control was effective against all tested organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 9-28 mm. On the other hand, as expected, the negative control (sterile distilled water) did not show any zone of inhibition. Conclusion: The study showed that branded disinfectants were more effective on the clinical isolates than the unbranded disinfectants.

Rice and Climate Change: It’s Significance towards Achieving Food Security in Nigeria: A Review

Abstract: Climate change is already impacting on every aspect of man life on earth especially in the agricultural sectors of developing nations In Nigeria, and indeed the world over, seasons are shifting, temperatures are rising, landscapes are changing and sea levels are rising Extreme weather events like drought and flood are becoming more frequent and pronounced[3] stressed on the fact that Agriculture will suffer from major damage caused by changes in climate especially in the African continent Nigeria is one of the African country that is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, as Nigeria is still practicing rain fed agriculture [16] The impact of climate change is experienced in form of extreme climatic events like flooding, severe heats, and droughts which has led to the degradation of soil and consequently low yield in crops This will have consequences for rice cultivation in Nigeria, where the dominating climatic factor relied on by farmers in the choice of when to prepare the land for planting, the actual planting,the types of crop variety to plant and harvesting of crop is rainfall [23, 24]The implication of this will be interference with food security as rice is an essential food crop in Nigeria that is consumed by a large number of the population [26] has warned that hunger in Africa will be worsen by adverse effects of climate change, as it threatens the capacity of vulnerable countries like Nigeria to guarantee food security, eradicate poverty and actualize sustainable development in agriculture The increasing rate of inadequacy in food supply in the world leading to different form of malnutrition is worrisome and more needs to be done in the areas of agriculture so as to guarantee food security to some extent and improve on nourishment, if a world without hunger is to be achieved by 2030

Econometric Analysis of Food Crops’ Response to Climate Variability and Macroeconomic Policies’ Reforms in Nigeria (1978-2009)

Abstract: This study investigated the extent to which climate variability (proxied by rainfall variability) and macroeconomic policies influenced food crop output in Nigeria. It used time series data obtained from Central Bank of Nigeria and National Bureau of Statistics (1978-2009). Four functional forms of OLS models were tried. The Cobb-Douglas function was finally adopted based on standard econometric model selection criteria and diagnosis. Chow test was used to test the hypotheses of the study. It was found that rainfall variability influenced crop output negatively. Climatic factor, loans guaranteed by Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund and lending rate were all statistically significant drivers of crop output in the economy at p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively. Their elasticities were respectively 4.01%, 0.52% and 0.98%. No structural difference between the economic reform era and the preceding era’s regression coefficients was found. Programmes to stem corruption and loan diversion; subsidization of agricultural credit and climate change adaptation capacity building programmes were recommended to bring about sustainable food security in the country.

Pre-design Site Investigation for an Oil and Gas Facility in the Marginal Lands of the Nigerian Niger Delta Sub-region

Abstract: A pre-design site investigation for Oil and Gas Storage Tanks to be located at a project site between Latitudes N04° 47′32.2″ to N04° 47′49.5″ and Longitudes E006° 55′ 35.9″ to E006° 56′ 35.9″ within the Marginal Lands of the Niger Delta sub-region has been carried out for an Oil & Gas Company in Nigeria. A total of fourteen (14) 152.4 mm diameter, 40 m deep borings, using the Percussion Drill Rig were carried out along the shoreline of the site. Eight (8) of the borings were situated along the shoreline at high tide while the remaining six (6) borings were situated 20.00 m offshore. The lithology along the coastline consisted of an uppermost dark-greyish Organic Clay layer (OH) [7–10 m thick]; underlain by greyish Silty-Sands (SM) [3–5 m thick]. These are further underlain by Clayey Silts (ML) [2.00–4.50 m thick], Clayey Sands (SC) [3–10 m thick] and Well-graded Sands and gravels (SW) at the bottom of the borings [>40 m thick]. The borings off-shore had similar lithologies but with preponderance of Sands and Gravels at the lower depths of the borings. While the upper dark organic clays (OH) have friction angles (ϕ) ranging from 0°–6° and cohesion intercepts (Cu) from 14.50 kPa to 28.0 kPa, the Silty-Sands (SM) and well-graded Sands and gravels (SW) at depths of between 30 m–40 m have friction angles (ϕ) ranging from 10°–36° and cohesion intercepts (Cu) of 0.00 kPa. The average Standard Penetration Test (SPT) N-values of the Sands (SP) and Gravel layers (SW) at depths varied from 15 to >50 with corresponding Bearing Capacity values (based on Factor-of Safety [FS = 3.0]) of 100.00–478.50 kPa, indicating high to very high values. A proposed Quay wall to protect the project site is to be constructed with reinforced concrete tubular steel piles. These are to be embedded at depths of between 30.00 to 40.00 m with computed average Total Pile Loads [(Qb + Qs)] = qult varying from 323.25 MN to 1044.50 MN, [where: Qb = total Pile base load and Qs = Pile Skin friction]. Work on this project has since commenced to about 60% completion at the time of preparing this paper.

Product innovation and organizational performance of insurance companies in rivers state, nigeria

Abstract: This study examined the association between product innovation and organizational performance of insurance companies in Port Harcourt Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design, with a population of 55 Insurance companies registered with National Insurance Commission of Nigeria. Since the population was relatively small hence the entire population was used as a census. Primary data were collected using self-administered questionnaire distributed to the insurance companies. The data generated from the questionnaire were subjected to statistical analysis and the hypotheses were tested using the Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that there is a positive association between product innovation and each of the measures of organizational performance (increased profitability and increased market share) of the studied companies. Hence, the study concluded that a statistically significant and positive association exists between product innovation and organizational performance of insurance firms in Rivers State. Hence the study recommended that strong policies on product innovation should put in place so as to enhance the quality of service delivery in improving organizational performance. Key words: Product Innovation, Organizational Performance, Profitability, Market Share CITATION: Tamunomiebi, M. D., & Okorie, P. N. (2019). Product innovation and organizational performance of insurance companies in Rivers State, Nigeria. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6 (3), 428 – 436.