Rapid detection and estimation of low numbers of spoilage fungi

Two methods were established for the detection and estimation of low levels of some of the spoilage fungi which are responsible for severe crop losses during storage under tropical conditions. The fungi examined produce the enzyme pectinesterase (EC.3.1.1.11) and both methods described, made use of this fact. A modification of the Most-Probable-Number technique (used for estimating Coliform bacteria in liquid samples) was utilized and this enabled low numbers of Aspergillus flavus to be detected and estimated within 18 hours. This method was based on the use of a medium supplemented with pectin in which the pectinesterase produced by the fungus, hydrolyses the ester linkages of the pectin to produce methanol and polygalacturonic acid. This results in pH depression of the medium causing an indicator-dye to change colour. Counts by this method were generally higher than traditional Surface and Pour Plate methods but the method has the advantage of being capable of accommodating large sample volumes. In the course of the MPN work it was found that the amount of methanol liberated varied with the size of the spore inoculum. A dialysis-cell procedure was developed for the removal of the methanol from the medium followed by its estimation by Gas Liquid Chromatography and this formed the basis of the second method. A relationship Y = ce -ß/x was established; where y = log 10 of initial spore number/ml OR dry weight of spore material (mg/ml), x =amount of methanol (~g/ml) released after a fixed incubation time (15 hours) and c, e and e are constants. Linearization of this function resulted in a straight line relationship between spore numbers/ml of inoculum and methanol production (R = -0.963). When dry weight of spores was plotted against methanol production a better correlation (R = -0.988) was obtained. Either of these plots when used as a calibration graph enabled the detection and estimation of spores of some spoilage fungi belonging to the Aspergillus and Penicillium groups in the range 20 - 106 spores/ml within 20 hours. The accuracy obtained was comparable to traditional standard plating methods. The spoilage Yeast strains examined did not obey the above relationship, neither could a generalized equation be produced solely for the yeasts

Biological assessment of Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae; Linne, 1958) in a tropical floodplain river

Biological assessment of Oreochromis niloticus was conducted monthly between January, 2004 and December, 2006 in 3 zones [(Zone I: upper Cross River (savanna wetlands) Zone II: middle Cross River(savanna/forest wetlands) and Zone III: lower Cross River (forest wetlands)] along 200 km length of the inland wetlands of Cross River, Nigeria. Major items in the diet of O. niloticus were algae and plant 38and 20.4% (Zone I), 21.7 and 18.0% (Zone II), 20.2 and 26.9% (Zone III), respectively. Diet breadth ranged from 0.820 - 0.913. Food richness and Gut Repletion Index were 12 and 100%, respectively. Sex ratio was 1: 1 (Zone1), 1:0.78 (Zone II) and 1: 0.89 (Zone III). Mean allometric coefficients (b) of the lengthweight relationship were 2.194 ± 0.215 (Zone I), 2.935 ± 0.333 (Zone II) and 3.03 ± 0.202 (Zone III).Fecundity varied from 70 eggs for fish (total length (TL) = 11.00cm and weight (W) = 37.9 g) to 502 eggs (TL = 25.8cm and W = 198.8g) in Zone I, 60 eggs (TL = 13.3cm and W = 19.8g) to 709 egg (TL = 26.5, W= 317.0) in Zone II and 110 eggs (TL = 13.7cm, W = 24.0g) to 811 eggs (TL = 22.8cm, W = 278.8g) in Zone III. Relationship exists between fecundity and body size. Mean condition index ranged from 0.770 ± 0.128 minimum for males at Zone I to 1.188 ± 0.157 maximum also for males at Zone III. Therefore, male O. niloticus were in better condition than females and the forest wetlands of Cross River (Zone III) offered more favourable living conditions for the species than the savanna wetlands (Zone I and II)

Innovative Management of Functional Adult Continuing Education for Leadership and Sustainable National Development in Cross River State

This study sets out to examine the role of well managed adult continuing education, innovation and re-orientation of leadership value for sustainable national development. It adopts the survey technique since it involves a group of people by analyzing collected data from few members considered to be representative fraction of the entire population. A total of one hundred and ten (110) respondents who were randomly selected participated in the study

Effect of strikes on management and planning of educational activities in Nigerian universities

This paper examines the effect of strike on management and planning of educational activities in Nigerian universities. The meaning of strike was defined, and a brief history of strike in tertiary institutions in Nigeria was analyzed including the 2017 strike by ASUU. The causes of strikes were thoroughly explained. The effect of strike on management and planning of universities in Nigeria was also treated. It was concluded that Strike is a problem that has lingered for too long, yet nothing serious has been done about it. That management of strike in Nigeria requires the attention of both the government, educational managers, academic and non-academic staff, as well as other relevant stakeholders. That strike makes planning for universities’ academic and non-academic activities to be very difficult. That everyone must play his or her role by abiding to agreements signed. That educational managers faces the challenge of re-planning educational activities, re-preparing the school calendar, re-assigning old task to new staff and not achieving certain long term goals due to the prolonged unaccomplishment as a result of the strike. Strike is an event that consumes and waste a lot of time which implies that urgent attention is needed to solve this problem. Recommendations were also made based on the observations from this paper.KEYWORDS: Strikes, Management, Planning, Educational, Activities, Universitie

Vocational training duration and university graduates’ job performance in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study focused specifically on determining the extent to which duration of vocational training influence university respectively. In achieving this, two research questions were raised and two research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The pop study include a total of 123 baking business and 208 computer business centres in the Area. Out of this population, a proportionate stratified sampling technique was used to select 10% resulting in the selection of 12 baking and 21 computer adopted to select 36 and 63 graduate respectively, resulting in a sample of 99 respondents. A rating scale was used as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was administered by the researchers. The data obtained, were analysed using descriptive statistics, while the hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance using one analysis of variance (One vocational training influenced university graduates job performance in baking and computer business enterprises respectively. Discussions, conclusion and recommendation were all made based on the findings of the study

Students’ perception towards management of discipline and their academic performance in Cross River State

This study investigated the students’ perception of discipline management and their academic performance in Cross River State. Two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a correlational research design while a simple random sampling technique was used in selecting a sample of 180 students. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire tagged: “Students’ Perception of Discipline Management and Academic Performance Questionnaire (SPDMAPQ).” Pearson product moment correlation statistical technique was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance and 178 degrees of freedom. The findings revealed that students’ perception of suspension and expulsion management is significantly related to their academic performance respectively. Based on these findings, it was recommended among other things that; parents should encourage their children/ward to maintain good attitudes that will not lead to their suspension or withdrawal from school; and that principals should listen properly to offenses of students and mete out the right discipline so that students will not be suspended or expelled in an unjustifiable manner

Teachers’ attitudes to work and effective teaching of english language in primary schools in akpabuyo local government area of cross river state, nigeria

The study was carried out to examine the relationship between teachers’ attitudes to work and effective teaching of English Language in primary schools in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Variables as they affect teachers’ effective teaching of English Language were briefly surveyed to provide multidimensional explanation. The sub variables of teachers’ development attitudes to work considered in this study were teachers’ attitude towards grading and questioning techniques.   The design adopted for the study was ex-post-facto.  The population of the study comprised all the teachers in the 15 public primary schools in the study area.  Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data and the sample size was one hundred and eight (180) teachers, 80 males and 100 females.  The measuring instrument was a questionnaire which the researchers administered on 180 teachers drawn from six (6) public primary schools in the study area. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis revealed that the teachers’ attitudes to work such as attitudes towards grading and questioning techniques correlate positively with effective teaching of English Language. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that government should ensure that more efficient and competent teachers are recruited to teach in the primary schools. Also teachers should change their attitudes towards grading system, they should stop scoring pupils “zero of something” no matter how bad the child’s work is

Managing education for sustainable national income and economic growth rate in Nigeria.

This paper examined managing and improving education for sustaining national income and economic growth rate in Nigeria. It attempts to explore the ways in which education can be effectively managed to lead to an improvement in national income and economic growth rate in Nigeria. Concepts relating to the topic were clearly defined. The meaning of national income, economic growth, and economic growth rate was explained. The importance and determinants of national income were identified and explained. Efforts were made to explain the reasons for the slow national income growth rate in Nigeria as well as the ways to improve the national income growth rate. The role of education in sustaining national income and economic growth rate was shown using literature from other scholars. Conclusions and recommendations were made based on the observations from the study

ENHANCING INFORMATION DELIVERY SERVICES FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

The paper assessed information delivery services for distance education programmes. The study traces briefly the history of the National Open University and the National Teacher Institute. The e-resources and current issues on services provided by librarians. The study adopted the survey design methods. The questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. From the analysis of the data collected, it was found that the current issues on information services are in support of open and distance education programmes, technologies used in the delivery of information services for distance learners, concepts of distance education in Nigeria, value of social media (networking) information delivery to distance learners. It was recommended that the management and library administrators enhance planning, orientation programs, the renewed focus on developing the flexibility of services offered, and also ensure strategies used by the librar

Biological assessment of Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae; Linne, 1958) in a tropical floodplain river

Biological assessment o