Survey of the present and fast disappearing fish species along two rivers in the Niger Delta

Fisheries resources are on the decline in Nigeria due to over exploitation and inadequate management of her coastal waters. For sustainability of these resources, an adequate knowledge of species composition, diversity and relative abundance of her water bodies must be understood and vigorously pursued. A survey was conducted to determine fish species diversity in Brass and Nun River, Niger Delta, Nigeria and the socioeconomic studies carried out to determine the status of endanger or level of disappearance of fish species study area. The survey identified 53 species from 18 families caught from Brass and Nun stations respectively. The fish diversity from typically freshwater fishes such as Tilapia and Clarias to brackish species such as Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Penaeus species. The most abundant family within catch were the Scianidae, Cichlidae and Clariidae. A checklist of economically important fast disappearing fish species along the two water bodies was generated. Oil spillage, discharges from industries (industrialization) and the domestic wastes from boundaries settlements (urbanization) and farming activities along the tributaries were among the factors identified to have contributed to low species diversity and fast disappearance of certain species. Data generated from this study would serve as baseline information for fisheries resource management

Design and construction of a shrimp hatchery for the breeding of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

A shrimp hatchery for the breeding of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon was constructed by the Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research in 2008 by the reconstruction of an existing old shrimp hatchery. The new shrimp hatchery comprises of the following: water treatment, water storage, broodstock maturation, spawning/incubation, nursery and micro-algae units. The design included the construction of a concrete sump for the collection and treatment of wastewater before disposal, in addition to an aeration unit equipped with root blower for adequate supply of dissolved oxygen. The reconstructed NIOMR shrimp hatchery has been successfully used for the production of post larvae, which are presently being reared to adult shrimp in concrete tanks. The successful completion of the shrimp hatchery and breeding of P. monodon has confirmed that the species can be spawned and reared to adult size in Nigeria for local and export markets

Regional Analysis of Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines in Nigeria

Background: Attempts at curbing the spread of SARSCoV-2 have resulted in formulation and adoption of COVID-19 protocols in different countries. To further prevent contracting the virus, many developed countries are administering COVID-19 vaccines to their citizens and residents while the developing countries are not left out. The Nigerian government began administering COVID-19 vaccines on March 9, 2021. This study therefore analysed the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines across different states in Nigeria. Methods: The study utilised secondary data of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria. The dataset was obtained from OpenAFRICA, which was first created on September 1, 2021 and last updated in September 29, 2021. The data were statistically analysed and then mapped using the Geographic Information System. Results: The findings showed a very low level of acceptance of the full doses of COVID-19 vaccines vis-a-vis the population of each of the thirty-six (36) Nigerian States. Conclusion: We therefore conclude that the population responses to receiving COVID-19 vaccines is very low in Nigeria, which signals a high level of health risk and vulnerability to the virus

Čimbenici koji predviđaju prihvaćanje cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 u zapadnoj Africi

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the factors predicting the acceptance of COVID 19 vaccines in West Africa, with a focus on Nigeria. Four (4) hypotheses were posed for this study. Methods: This study employed a descriptive method design. The sample size was comprised of 32,224 respondents, all Nigeria citizens. A multistage sampling technique was employed for the survey involving quantitative data. A questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The data collected for this study were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA). Results: The findings of this study revealed that there is a significant difference in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance based on age F (9, 32214) = 812.114, P<0.05, ƞ2=0.1849; based on gender differences t = (32222) = -21.808, P<0.05; based on religion t = (32222) = --75.228, P<0.05; and based on income F (4, 32219) = 740.394, P<0.05, ƞ2=0.084. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that there is a significant relationship between age, gender, religion, income and the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria. The findings further show that men are more vaccine-hesitant than women; older people find it easier to accept vaccination; Christians are more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccines than people from other religions. It is therefore recommended that religious leaders should be well educated on the health benefit of the COVID-19 vaccination and that the government should put more effort into improving the economy of the country so that the individual income can improve.Pozadina: Cilj ove studije bio je ispitati čimbenike koji predviđaju prihvaćanje cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 u zapadnoj Africi, s naglaskom na Nigeriju. Postavljene su četiri hipoteze. Metode: U ovoj studiji primijenjen je dizajn deskriptivne metode. Uzorak se sastojao od 32 224 ispitanika, od kojih su svi građani Nigerije. Za istraživanje je primijenjena tehnika višefaznog uzorkovanja koja uključuje kvantitativne podatke. Kao instrument za prikupljanje podataka primijenjen je upitnik. Podaci prikupljeni za ovu studiju analizirani su primjenom deskriptivne i inferencijalne statistike (t-test i ANOVA). Rezultati: Nalazi ove studije otkrili su da postoji značajna razlika u prihvaćanju cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 na temelju dobi: F (9, 32 214) = 812 114, P < 0,05, ƞ2 = 0,1849; na temelju spolnih razlika: t = (32 222) = –21 808, P < 0,05; na temelju religije: t = (32 222) = –75 228, P<0,05; te na temelju prihoda: F (4, 32 219) = 740 394, P < 0,05, ƞ2 = 0,084. Zaključak: Nalazi ove studije pokazuju da postoji značajan odnos između dobi, spola, vjere, prihoda i prihvaćanja cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 u Nigeriji. Nalazi dalje pokazuju da muškarci više oklijevaju u pogledu cjepiva od žena; starije osobe lakše prihvaćaju cijepljenje; vjerojatnije je da će kršćani prihvatiti cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 nego ljudi drugih vjeroispovijesti. Stoga se preporučuje da vjerski vođe budu dobro obrazovani o zdravstvenim prednostima cijepljenja protiv bolesti COVID-19 te da vlada uloži više napora u poboljšanje gospodarstva zemlje kako bi se mogli poboljšati individualni prihodi

Optimization of Drying Conditions and Effect of Storage on Some Quality Attributes of Tomato Powder

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L) fruit is rich in nutrient and antioxidant properties. Drying accelerates some reactions that adversely affect the product quality especially nutritional value. Optimization of the drying process for Eva tomato was conducted to obtain a powder with high nutritional value and functional properties. The physical, chemical and microbiological properties of fresh Eva tomato fruit were determined. Central composite design of response surface methodology was used to obtain 13 combinations of drying temperature (60-70 ° C) and drying time (12-18 h). Tomato powder samples from the experimental runs were analyzed for chemical, functional and antioxidant properties using standard laboratory procedures. Tomato powder dried at optimum drying conditions were stored in low density polyethylene (LDPE) and laminated aluminum foil (LAF)] for three months at room temperature (28±2 °C) and analyzed for selected properties. Optimum tomato powder was obtained at 66.32 °C for 16 h and characterized by moisture (9.91%), lycopene (45.67 mg/100 g), vitamin C (15.23 mg/100 g), and redness (53.46) among other properties. Generally, an increase in the drying temperature and drying time caused a decrease in moisture content, β-carotene, pH, and bulk density while ash, total soluble solid, total titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, lycopene, non-enzymatic browning, total phenol, antioxidant activity, scavenging activity, bulk density, water absorption capacity and solubility content increased. Optimized powder stored in LAF had better properties. Keywords: Tomato, drying, optimization, food quality

EVALUATION OF VANADIUM IN SELECTED PLANT FOLIAGES

The vanadium content of forty plant foliages were determined by atomic absorption spectophotometry. The foliages were sun dried for eight days, ground, sieved and ashed in muffle furnace. The ashed samples were dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid. Vanadium was determined in the solutions using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results depicted the presence of vanadium between ND (Manihot palmeta, Pisidium quajava) to 9.92mg/kg (Colocaxia esculenta)

Survey of the present and fast disappearing fish species along two rivers in the Niger Delta

Fisheries resources are on the decline in Nigeria due to over exploitation and inadequate management of her coastal waters. For sustainability of these resources, an adequate knowledge of species composition, diversity and relative abundance of her water bodies must be understood and vigorously pursued. A survey was conducted to determine fish species diversity in Brass and Nun River, Niger Delta, Nigeria and the socioeconomic studies carried out to determine the status of endanger or level of disappearance of fish species study area. The survey identified 53 species from 18 families caught from Brass and Nun stations respectively. The fish diversity from typically freshwater fishes such as Tilapia and Clarias to brackish species such as Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Penaeus species. The most abundant family within catch were the Scianidae, Cichlidae and Clariidae. A checklist of economically important fast disappearing fish species along the two water bodies was generated. Oil spillage, discharges from industries (industrialization) and the domestic wastes from boundaries settlements (urbanization) and farming activities along the tributaries were among the factors identified to have contributed to low species diversity and fast disappearance of certain species. Data generated from this study would serve as baseline information for fisheries resource management.Includes: 11 references

Factors of predicting the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in West Africa

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the factors predicting the acceptance of COVID 19 vaccines in West Africa, with a focus on Nigeria. Four (4) hypotheses were posed for this study. Methods: This study employed a descriptive method design. The sample size was comprised of 32,224 respondents, all Nigeria citizens. A multistage sampling technique was employed for the survey involving quantitative data. A questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The data collected for this study were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA). Results: The findings of this study revealed that there is a significant difference in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance based on age F (9, 32214) = 812.114, P&amp;lt;0.05, ƞ2=0.1849; based on gender differences t = (32222) = -21.808, P&amp;lt;0.05; based on religion t = (32222) = --75.228, P&amp;lt;0.05; and based on income F (4, 32219) = 740.394, P&amp;lt;0.05, ƞ2=0.084. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that there is a significant relationship between age, gender, religion, income and the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria. The findings further show that men are more vaccine-hesitant than women; older people find it easier to accept vaccination; Christians are more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccines than people from other religions. It is therefore recommended that religious leaders should be well educated on the health benefit of the COVID-19 vaccination and that the government should put more effort into improving the economy of the country so that the individual income can improve.</jats:p

Design and construction of a shrimp hatchery for the breeding of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

A shrimp hatchery for the breeding of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon was constructed by the Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research in 2008 by the reconstruction of an existing old shrimp hatchery. The new shrimp hatchery comprises of the following: water treatment, water storage, broodstock maturation, spawning/incubation, nursery and micro-algae units. The design included the construction of a concrete sump for the collection and treatment of wastewater before disposal, in addition to an aeration unit equipped with root blower for adequate supply of dissolved oxygen. The reconstructed NIOMR shrimp hatchery has been successfully used for the production of post larvae, which are presently being reared to adult shrimp in concrete tanks. The successful completion of the shrimp hatchery and breeding of P. monodon has confirmed that the species can be spawned and reared to adult size in Nigeria for local and export markets.Includes:- 1 fig.;11 refs