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.

Dynamic Risk Assessment – A MacGyverism to Worksite Incidents

Abstract: The industry is in constant research with consistent efforts to ensure that the no/less incidents occur during the course of operations. Notable and popular slogans/rules have been adopted among engineering and oil & gas organizations over the years in the industry to intimate the need for safe activities to be performed among staff. Slogans like Goal Zero, Golden Rule dictum, "Safe…Yes we can", Life Saving Rules, "No Wahala…Take 5" and many others have been used in recent times to inculcate the culture of safety and situational awareness in the mind of the work force. Tools like check cards, stickers, safety IDs and banners are also quick reminders of the environment being operated on. However while all these tools are fairly efficient, the need for proper risk assessment cannot be over-emphasized at all times before a job to be done can be certified safe. Worksite Tools like toolbox talk, last minute risk assessment (LMRA), Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) and post job debrief are veritable towards achieving this goal. But while risk assessment before the job commences is important, of equivalent or even much importance is the one conducted during the job and this is called dynamic risk assessment. This paper presents an approach and exposition of the risk assessment plan in the operations level in the oil and gas industry. It also discussed on the methods to be deployed a successful risk assessment and buttress further on static and dynamic risk assessment as it concerns operations in a gas process plant. A new conceptual risk assessment model has been developed. A case study was treated from Atabala Plant which is a gas processing facility in the south southern Nigeria.

Energy Challenges and In Security in Nigeria: A Sectoral Perspective, In Okene O.V.C (ed). Reading in Law and Policy: Current Issues and Trends. Faculty of Law Rivers State University

Abstract: Nigeria is energy rich yet its citizens are energy poor. Petroleum is the dominant energy source and the gas sector supplies 66% of fuel for powering the electricity generating plants in Nigeria. Petroleum is the main export commodity and a major foreign exchange earner for the country. Thus, if petroleum resource is properly harnessed, it may contribute seriously in promoting energy security, as well, galvanize the diversification to other energy resource base for Nigeria. An inclusion of renewable energy to the Nigeria’s energy mix would ensure more sustainable economic development and enhance poverty reduction. However, many factors are responsible for the failure to achieve a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supplies in Nigerian despite the abundant natural resources in the country. Each energy sector, oil gas, coal, hydro and even the emerging renewable energy resources are bedeviled with different and inherent challenges. However, petroleum resource is the main energy provider for this country. Consequently, it is important that a deeper consideration of major segments of this industry, including, the legal and policy framework that affect the various sectors, would help to uncover the potentials of this sector to contribute to sustainable development of Nigeria. The objective of this paper is to uncover and analyze the causes of energy insecurity in Nigeria through the lenses of various sectors of the petroleum industry such as crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products; together with the role of subsidies in promoting a secure energy supply in Nigeria. The paper argues that an elucidation and dissection of the various sectoral problems is apposite for the attainment of energy security in Nigeria.

Antioxidant Potentials of Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) Oil Extracts in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant potentials of Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) oil extracts in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Study Design: An experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Animal House, Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt and University of Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria, between February 2020 and August 2020. Methodology: Thirty Six (36) albino rats were purchased and allowed to acclimatize for two (2) weeks in the laboratory at the animal farm house of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University. They were fed the normal rat feed (Chow feed) and water was allowed ad libitum. The rats were weighed and randomly grouped into six (6) groups with six rats in each group. Group 1 (Negative control) was placed on normal diet while groups 2 to 6 were placed on a high fat diet (HFD) prior to the induction with Streptozotocin to achieve diabetes and the animals were treated according to their groupings for four weeks by means of oral gavage. The dose of Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) oil extracts administered to the rats was extrapolated from human doses. The high fat diet was prepared by mixing the animal feed (Chow diet) with margarine in a ratio of 3:1. After each period of treatments, blood samples were collected from the rats at the end of the treatments via cardiac puncture by anaesthetizing the rats with chloroform after a six (6) hour fast. Fasting blood glucose was determined using the Glucose Oxidase method, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione were analysed quantitatively and measured spectrophotometrically and the GC–MS analysis of bioactive compounds from Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) oil was done using Agilent Technologies GC systems with GC-7890A/MS-5975C model. Data generated were analysed using SPSS version 22.0 of windows statistical package. Results were considered statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). Results: After week 1 - 4 of exposure, the mean SOD (Superoxide dismutase) value of the Negative control group (NC), Positive control (PC) group, diabetic groups exposed for weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 expressed in U/ml were 299.41 ± 5.49, 217.38 ± 5.33, 220.56 ± 4.14, 240.45 ± 1.21, 258.19 ± 1.73 and 278.03 ± 1.98 respectively. The mean TAC (Total antioxidant capacity) value expressed in U/ml were 2.97 ± 0.10, 1.84 ± 0.04, 1.97 ± 0.04, 2.16 ± 0.02, 2.26 ± 0.02 and 2.46 ± 0.02 respectively. The mean GSH (Glutathione) expressed in µg/ml were 56.05 ± 0.60, 47.37 ±1.04, 47.94 ± 0.87, 50.80 ± 0.35, 53.07 ± 0.36 and 55.38 ± 0.33 respectively. The mean MDA (Malondialdehyde) expressed in nmol/l were 2.40 ± 0.13, 4.56 ± 0.28, 4.66 ± 0.06, 4.39 ± 0.01, 4.16 ± 0.03 and 3.70 ± 0.06 respectively. Comparison of different groups showed varying significant differences across groups. Conclusion: Hyperglycaemia induced in rats studied led to an increase in oxidative stress, depletion of antioxidant parameters was observed. However, after treatment with Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) Oil extracts, it was observed that there was improvement in the overall antioxidant status of the rats.

Assessment of Community Participation in Sustainable Development Projects of Total Exploration and Production Nigerian Limited in Rivers State

Abstract: The study assessed the level of participation of oil bearing host communities in sustainable development projects of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNL) in Rivers State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the level of participation of the respondents in the development stages of the sustainable development projects and to ascertain the constraining factors to effective participation of host community members in the sustainable development projects of TEPNL. Primary data were used to elicit information necessary for the study. The primary data for the study were obtained using a structured questionnaire and responses recorded from the respondents during the focus group discussion. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted from which 250 respondents were selected for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentages, mean scores, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. There was significant difference on level of participation among the recipient communities (F-cal of 31.80 was greater than F- tab of 2.37 at 0.05 probability level). Mean scores with different alphabets down the column were significantly different at 0.05 probability level when subjected to post hoc multiple comparison using Scheffe model. The study further revealed that lack of proper consultations, contractor related factors, and inadequate funding were among other factors that contributed to ineffective participation of host community members in the project development. Based on these findings, the study recommended among others, the need for formation of cooperatives and integrative social relation that will be more conducive for popular participation in and success of rural development efforts than the antagonistic divisive alternative.

‘Battle of Evermore’: A Treatise on the Theater of Transcendence

Abstract: The paper studies the essence and doctrinaire interpretation of ‘transcendence’ from the religious perspective covering the creeds of Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Baha’i. The paper also reviews the philosophical roots of ‘transcendence’ discussing its original definition, the medieval usage, colloquial usage, transcendent theosophy and the Kantian and modern philosophy of transcendence within which the views of Socrates, Plato, David Hume, Mulla Sadra, Jean-Paul Sartre and Stephen Palmquist, were brought to bear on the discourse. Essentially, the paper contends that there is an eternal scuffle that is taking place between higher and lower forces and the main arena of this struggle is in the human mind as encased in the human body. The paper furthers that in every individual, there is the tri-unity of the senses, the soul and the spirit. The senses are as imbedded in the human body with the sense of touch, taste, sight, sound and smell; the soul is the essence of man’s existence here on earth while the spirit is a spark of God in human. In its journey on earth, the soul continually utilizes the mind in choosing between the essence of the soft whispers of the spirit and the compelling demands of the senses. The soul is, therefore, constantly caught between these two forces; and this is what is dubbed the Battle of Evermore. The author holds that this second-by-second non-violent eternal conflict takes place in all human beings irrespective of color or creed and station or location on earth. Ascendancy in the single super consciousness of the ethereal is a direct product of the cumulative of the degree to which the soul defeats the compulsions of the senses. That, the paper concludes, is the essence of transcendence. Key Words: *Transcendence, *Human mind, *Senses, *Soul, *Spirit, *Philosophical perspective, *Religious perspective, *Transcendent theosophy, *The end of transcendence, *Personal enterprise, *Universal phenomenon.