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.

The Nigerian Fundamental Rights (Enforcement) Procedure Rules 2009: A fitting response to problems in the enforcement of human rights in Nigeria?

Abstract: This article reviews the Nigerian Fundamental Rights (Enforcement) Procedure Rules 2009 to determine whether it is a suitable response to the numerous problems arising in the course of two decades of the enforcement of fundamental human rights in Nigeria. Such problems include the highly technical and formally procedural nature of the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 1979; the requirement of standing to sue; and the distinction between principal and accessory claims. Through a review of the procedural changes made by the 2009 Rules and the overriding objectives in the application of the 2009 Rules the article demonstrates that the 2009 Rules may be regarded as a suitable response if the Nigerian judiciary recognises that utmost flexibility must be the fundamental ordering principle of human rights enforcement.

Characterization and preferred oviposition sites of Atherigona orientalis (Schiner) on Nigerian pepper fruits

Abstract: The pepper fruitfly, Atherigona orientalis (Schin.) has been considered and accepted as a potentially serious and important pest of pepper fruits in Nigeria. Females of A. orientalis oviposited on fruits of pepper ( Capsicum species ) both in the laboratory and in the field. Oviposition commenced about 2 weeks after fruiting and increased with rainfall. Six pepper cultivars were used for this study and parts of pepper fruits utilized as oviposition sites were calyx, grooves, blossom ends and receptacles in most of the cultivars. Records of the number of eggs isolated from the aforementioned portions of the fruits were made. Oviposition response of A. orientalis females was different on the four parts of pepper fruits. Statistical analysis showed significant differences on the number of eggs deposited on the calyx, grooves, blossom ends and receptacle of the six pepper cultivars. On sites that were preferred for oviposition, most of the eggs were collected from the calyx (40-75%) followed by the grooves. Significantly lower numbers were collected from the blossom ends or receptacles depending on cultivars. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 9 (1) 2005: 19-23

Methodological Approach to the Study of X-Efficiencies and Scale Economies in Banking: Are Smaller Banks More Efficient than Larger Banks?

Abstract: This paper surveys the parametric and non-parametric approaches adopted in estimating x-efficiencies and scale economies in banking. Specifically, the traditional stochastic cost frontier and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodologies, including recent refinements incorporating the profit efficiency frontier and a profitability test are also extensively reviewed. Recent empirical studies covering the late 1990s and early 2000s, and countries other than the U.S. are also reviewed and compared with the findings of earlier studies (1980s and early 1990s). The results are still mixed, suggesting more questions than answers. To a large extent the empirical evidence seems to support the view that smaller banks are more efficient than larger banks in most countries. The exceptional cases of cost efficiencies reaped by larger banks may be simply due to sheer size and market power. The pursuit of consolidation and deregulation of the banking system should therefore be implemented with caution, particularly in developing banking systems.

Threatening levels and extinction risks based on distributional, ecological and life-history datasets (DELH) versus IUCN criteria: example of Serbian reptiles

Abstract: Recent studies on the world reptiles’ extinction risks pointed out that about 20 % of species are threatened, with another 20 % are data-deficient following IUCN criteria. IUCN set up criteria for assessment of extinction risk at global and regional scales, relying on distribution data, population parameters and quantitative analyses. Only 12 % of reptilian species were listed as globally threatened upon population data. Long-term population studies are time-consuming, thus it would be practical to use some other parameters for estimations of extinction risks. Threatening level (and extinction risks) of Serbian reptiles have never been investigated. We aimed to scrutinize species threatening level (thus set up conservation priorities) on the basis of distributional, ecological and life-history datasets (DELH). We estimated which traits are the most important for the conservation of species. Separately, we used IUCN criteria for regional level to assess extinction risk and compared them with the results obtained by analyses of DELH datasets. The two types of criteria gave similar estimates for the chelonian species. In snakes, two species exhibited higher conservation scores by DELH than by IUCN criteria, the opposite being true for two other species. In lizards, only two species had higher extinction risks by IUCN whereas five lizards were more threatened according to DELH. Our intention was not discredit the values of IUCN criteria for setting regional (or national) extinction risks, but to suggest that use of additional features other than IUCN could be valuable for estimation of threatening level and setting conservation priorities for cases where precise distribution and population data are not available.