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.

Official corruption and the dynamics of money laundering in Nigeria

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to examine the interface between official corruption and money laundering in Nigeria and suggest ways of curbing these crimes.Design/methodology/approach – The relevant laws dealing with these offences were examined to assess the adequacy or otherwise of the statutory provisions. The key provisions of the Criminal and Penal Codes were discussed in addition to the new enactments dealing with these crimes, namely, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, the Money Laundering Act as well as the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal provided for in the 1999 Constitution.Findings – It was found that these recent enactments have gone much further than the earlier provisions dealing with these crimes. They contain some far‐reaching innovations such as the provision for the appointment of an Independent Counsel to investigate allegations of corruption against the president, vice president, governors and deputy gover...

Physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties of chips produced from germinated African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa)

Abstract: There is a growing interest in the use of low-cost and adoptable technologies in the development of nutritious healthy snacks. The physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant properties of germinated (24–72 h) African yam bean (AYB) flour, and the prepared chips were determined. Germination significantly increased the ash (2.86–3.52 g/100 g), protein (21.60–24.58 g/100 g), essential amino acids in adequate quantity, in vitro protein digestibility, IVPD, (73.67–88.90%). calcium, magnesium, iron (3.04–5.70 mg/100 g), phosphorus, zinc (3.77–4.63 mg/100 g), total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activities. There was a reduction in phytic acid and trypsin inhibitor activity, by 10.31–33.59 and 13.58–36.09%, respectively, as germination progressed. The 72 h germinated AYB chips (GCS) contained higher protein (24.52 g/100 g) with adequate quantity of essential amino acids, IVPD (89.50%), minerals, TPC, antioxidant activities, and low residual antinutrients compared to the non-germinated AYB chips (NGC). The texture (hardness) of GCS (4.10 N) was significantly higher than NGC. Also, GCS had better colour and sensory attributes compared to NGC. Germination improved the physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant properties of AYB and the resultant chips.

Plasma Fibrinogen Levels in Nigerian Homozygous (Hb SS) Sickle Cell Patients

Abstract: The plasma fibrinogen levels in 50 Nigerian sickle cell disease (Hb SS) patients in steady state and 50 healthy age and sex-matched (Hb AA) control subjects were determined for the purpose of assessing their baseline values. The fibrinogen levels were assessed using two methods, the clot weight and Clauss, on all the samples for the purpose of comparison. It was observed in this study that the Hb SS patients had significantly higher fibrinogen levels than the healthy Hb AA control subjects, both by the clot weight method (p < 0.001) and the Clauss (p < 0.005). The mean fibrinogen levels (4.1 ± 2.1 g/L) of the Hb SS patients as determined by the clot weight method, were significantly higher than the values (2.2 ± 0.3 g/L) obtained by the Clauss method. The mean values for the two methods were 2.8 ± 0.9 and 2.0 ± 0.08 g/L, respectively, among the control individuals with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.005). Estimation of the plasma fibrinogen levels in sickle cell disease patients might be a ...

Antihyperglycaemic Effect of Tetracarpidium Conophorum Nuts in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Female Albino Rats

Abstract: The antihyperglycaemic activity of Tetracarpidium conophorum nut (walnut) was investigated in albino rats. A total of 20 albino rats were used for the study. The rats were divided into five groups (A-E) of four rats each. Diabetes were induced in the rats except four which served as the positive control group A. Groups B (negative control), C, D, and E contain diabetic rats each with blood sugar level ≥17.00 mmol/L. Groups A and B were fed on 85.2 g of top feed grower over the test period. Test groups C, D, and E were fed on 21.3 g, 42.6 g, and 85.2 g of walnuts, respectively, and their fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were checked on daily basis. Fasting blood glucose levels of the test groups were significantly lower than negative control P < 0.05, for 3rd, 7th, and 10th days of the test. There were also significant increase in the body weight and hemoglobin concentration and a decreased urine output of the test group compared with the controls. These results indicate that Tetracarpidium conophorum nut (walnut) has an antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic rats.

Food partitioning and the evolution of non‐randomly structured communities in tailed amphibians: a worldwide systematic review

Abstract: The evolutionary response to interspecific competition is the partitioning of the resources used by the competing species. At the community level, the ultimate outcome of resource partitioning determines how communities evolve in terms of their species composition, explaining the distribution and abundance of organisms within natural assemblages. Despite amphibians having attracted considerable attention from population biologists, niche partitioning patterns have never been explored with a systematic approach in tailed amphibians (order Urodela). To fill this gap we tested whether Urodela communities are assembled in a non-random fashion along the trophic niche and which determinants (environmental factors and interspecific interactions) explained the observed patterns. We used a suite of statistical tools, including Generalized Linear Models and Null Models with Monte Carlo simulations, in order: (1) to explore the occurrence of non-random assemblage structure among the Urodela communities, and (2) to test environmental features (habitat) and interspecific interactions (exemplified by the overlap in species’ body size) as predictors of non-random assemblage composition. Our systematic review pointed out that: (1) the evolution of non-random structure in Urodela assemblages was determined by both biotic and abiotic factors, and (2) the food niche plays a key role in the coexistence of Urodela syntopic species. The considered assemblages showed a non-random structure influenced by diet, habitat and morphological features acting in an interactive fashion. Lawlor's RA2 algorithm was more effective than any other randomization algorithms to reveal community structure based on interspecific competition. The assemblage structure was influenced by the niche breadth of the species in the generalist–specialist nature of the resource utilization: the much higher the niche breadth similarity among species, the most likely was a non-random structure in the assemblage. In an aquatic habitat, where species can partition the space in three dimensions, assemblages composed by species overlapping in body size and generalist in feeding behaviour show non-random structure. Conversely, in terrestrial habitats, probably due to the lack of vertical stratification, differently sized species composed assemblages in a non-random fashion.