Principals’ Perception of Entrepreneurship Education as a Management Strategy for Economic Security in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study x-rayed the perception of principals of public senior secondary schools on the role of Entrepreneurship education as a strategy for economic security in Rivers State. Three research questions were utilized for the study while the design of the study was descriptive survey design. Data was analyzed with mean and rank order. Findings revealed that entrepreneurship education is a strategy for economic security, However, findings revealed that although there are many challenges facing entrepreneurship education there were prospects. The study finally recommended that government should improve funding among others. Key words: Entrepreneurship Education, Management Strategy; Economic Security

Conflict and Crisis Management for National Security: The Role of Educational Managers in Rivers State

The paper x-rayed the role of Educational Managers in the management of crisis and conflict for national security in Nigeria. The paper identified conflict as a tension state which attempts to frustrate managers from actualizing school goals  which  is caused by internal and external factors.  The paper further submitted that security has posed many challenges to all sectors of Nigeria. The paper identified compromise, withdrawal, arbitration amongst others as some of the strategies of educational managers for conflict and crisis management.  Finally, the paper recommended that government and all stakeholders should organize seminars   for school administrators on conflict and crisis management. Keywords:  Crisis, Conflict, National Security, Educational Manager

Production of Periwinkle Shell Reinforced Grindstone

The study involves the use of periwinkle shell particles as reinforcement in the production of grindstone to meliorate its physical and mechanical properties. The assessment of the properties of the periwinkle shell reinforced concrete grindstone showed that reinforcement yielded several promising results. The compressive strength was higher for samples with lower water/cement ratio (7%) than those with higher water/cement ratio (10%). The introduction of concrete that contains periwinkle shells as fine aggregates resulted in the loss of smooth like appearance and reduction in weight. The loss of its smooth like nature introduces the rough nature which improved its functionality. The reinforced sample had the lowest hardness test and in hardness test the lower the number the higher the hardness. There was an increase in the density after absorption test was carried out on specimens. There was also reduction in production cost with periwinkle shells partial replacement of cement and gravel as fine aggregate. The composite was adequate for grindstone production since its sample has a compressive of 18.15Mpa and thus satisfied MOR requirements of 11.5 MPa for general purpose boards

Response Surface Optimization of a Plastic Powder Processing Machine using Desirability Function Approach

Optimal performance and operational parameters of a plastic powder processing machine used for converting used PET bottles into powdered form was assessed in this study. The geometrical (operational) parameters investigated include: speed of hammermill shaft, number of blades on the hammermill, length of hammermill blade and intrinsic viscosity of the PET processed while grain size produced, throughput and conversion efficiency constitute the machine’s (performance) parameters. The interactions of these factors (operational parameters) and responses (performance parameters) were evaluated and estimated using a completely randomized Box-Behnken blocked design layout which comprises twenty seven (27) experimental runs. Desirability function approach was the optimization technique applied. Results revealed the optimal values of hammermill speed, number of blades, blade length and intrinsic viscosity as 1400 rpm, 4, 109.6 mm and 0.82798 respectively with responses of 89.71%, 1.9953 kg/min and 139.9998 for conversion efficiency, throughput and grain size respectively. These optimal operational parameters will make the machine economical to operate in terms of labour, time and energy requirement

Domestic Violence against Women in the Nigerian Rural Context

The problem of domestic violence is not new to African societies. This study focused on the remote causes and implications of domestic violence among rural women. The study adopted a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The respondents were selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Findings revealed that 82.3% of the respondents agree that the economic dependence of women on men is among the major causes of domestic violence, while 52.3% of respondents believe that their communities encourage and tolerate some abusive behavior. A total of 61.5% of the respondents posit that religious and traditional beliefs aid the persistence of domestic violence. On the implications of domestic violence, 84.6% of the respondents agree that children of domestic violent homes will model their behavior according to their experiences. The X2 value of 13.437 is significant at 3.841 and shows that domestic violence has a serious psychological implication on women. Lack of authorities to report cases of violence to and fear of the consequences of such reports prevented many of these rural women from seeking help when they were abused. This study posits that advocacy groups should employ more practical and appropriate communication mechanisms peculiar to each rural area. Specifically, the use of indigenous languages to form songs, playlet, and proverbs to communicate the implications of domestic violence against women in their communities should be encouraged. Community and women leaders should ensure that women who report cases of domestic abuse are adequately protected from the perpetrators. In doing this, they are able to accept the sensitization processes rather than disregard them or term them ‘western’

Morfología de la cavidad orofaríngea y esófago del bagre africano adulto (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i> Burchell, 1822)

The morphology of the adult farmed African catfish -Clarias gariepinus a prominent omnivorous cultivable species in Nigeria was investigated. It revealed cornified horny plates lining the buccal surfaces of the lips. The tongue was not free moving, and the oesophagus was a narrow tube connecting the oropharyngeal cavity to the stomach with no valve or constriction separating it from the later. Histologically, the cavity wall was lined by stratified squamous epithelium containing eosinophilic club cells, mucous cells and taste buds. The laminar propria contained dense collagen fibres. No taste bud was seen on the tongue suggesting it non involvement in food selection through gustation unlike the cavity wall which contained taste buds. The oesophagus was lined by stratified mucous epithelium containing club cells. Histochemistry revealed the presence of neutral, acid and combination of the two. The large extent of oesophageal mucification indicates need for mucin lubrication of food since teleost is known to lack salivary glands and also an adaptation to ingestion of varied feed.La morfología bagre africano del adulto cultivado -Clarias gariepinus- una especie omnívoras cultivables prominente en Nigeria fue investigada. Reveló placas córneas que cubren las superficies vestibulares de los labios. La lengua no tiene movimiento libre y el esófago es un tubo estrecho que conecta la cavidad orofaríngea al estómago sin válvula o constricción que lo separe. Histológicamente, la pared de la cavidad estaba revestida por epitelio escamoso estratificado que contiene células eosinófilas, células mucosas y papilas gustativas. La laminar propia contenía fibras de colágeno denso. No fie vista ninguna papila gustativa en la lengua lo que sugiere la no participación la selección de los alimentos a través gustación a diferencia de la pared de la cavidad que contiene papilas gustativas. El esófago estaba revestido por epitelio estratificado que contiene células mucosas. La histoquímica reveló la presencia de ácido a neutro, y la combinación de los dos. La gran extensión de mucificación esofágica indica la necesidad de lubricación de mucina de los alimentos se sabe que los teleósteos carecen de glándulas salivales y también una adaptación a la ingestión de alimentos variados.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Morfología de la cavidad orofaríngea y esófago del bagre africano adulto (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i> Burchell, 1822)

The morphology of the adult farmed African catfish -Clarias gariepinus a prominent omnivorous cultivable species in Nigeria was investigated. It revealed cornified horny plates lining the buccal surfaces of the lips. The tongue was not free moving, and the oesophagus was a narrow tube connecting the oropharyngeal cavity to the stomach with no valve or constriction separating it from the later. Histologically, the cavity wall was lined by stratified squamous epithelium containing eosinophilic club cells, mucous cells and taste buds. The laminar propria contained dense collagen fibres. No taste bud was seen on the tongue suggesting it non involvement in food selection through gustation unlike the cavity wall which contained taste buds. The oesophagus was lined by stratified mucous epithelium containing club cells. Histochemistry revealed the presence of neutral, acid and combination of the two. The large extent of oesophageal mucification indicates need for mucin lubrication of food since teleost is known to lack salivary glands and also an adaptation to ingestion of varied feed.La morfología bagre africano del adulto cultivado -Clarias gariepinus- una especie omnívoras cultivables prominente en Nigeria fue investigada. Reveló placas córneas que cubren las superficies vestibulares de los labios. La lengua no tiene movimiento libre y el esófago es un tubo estrecho que conecta la cavidad orofaríngea al estómago sin válvula o constricción que lo separe. Histológicamente, la pared de la cavidad estaba revestida por epitelio escamoso estratificado que contiene células eosinófilas, células mucosas y papilas gustativas. La laminar propia contenía fibras de colágeno denso. No fie vista ninguna papila gustativa en la lengua lo que sugiere la no participación la selección de los alimentos a través gustación a diferencia de la pared de la cavidad que contiene papilas gustativas. El esófago estaba revestido por epitelio estratificado que contiene células mucosas. La histoquímica reveló la presencia de ácido a neutro, y la combinación de los dos. La gran extensión de mucificación esofágica indica la necesidad de lubricación de mucina de los alimentos se sabe que los teleósteos carecen de glándulas salivales y también una adaptación a la ingestión de alimentos variados.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION SOURCES ON FARMERS’ INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

This study assessed the influence of information sources on farmers’ indigenous knowledge on soil fertility management in Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select one hundred and eighty respondents and the instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of simple frequency and percentage. The findings show that majority of the farmers sampled were female 57.2%, single 50.5%; and tertiary education 39.5%. The result on the sources of farmers’ information about soil fertility management indicated that television was 31.7%, and social media accounted for 31.1% of the total respondents while extension agents accounted for 22.2%. Indigenous ways of determining soil fertility by respondents was by crop appearance 55.5% followed by 22.2% for soil color, whereas indigenous way of soil fertility management by respondents was shifting cultivation 22.2%. Information source highly influence indigenous soil fertility management. It is recommended that government should increase their support for agricultural extension services to fulfill their mandate of appropriate information dissemination to farmers

Mycofiltration potentials of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer on fish pond effluent in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria

&nbsp;Fish pond effluent discharge into the environment is becoming a nuisance since it contains contaminants that harm the ecology and water quality. In this study, we examined the possibility of using a mushroom Lentinus squarrosulus Mont. in removing impurities from fish pond effluents before discharge into the environment. Untreated effluent was obtained from a fish farm in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria and tested for contamination levels using physicochemical and microbiological methods within 24 hours of collection. Sterilized sawdust was bagged, inoculated with mushroom spawn and given two weeks to colonization the substrate. The colonized substrate was prepared for mycofiltration after the third week. With a sterilized stainless-steel spoon, holes were drilled into the substrate's centre, and the untreated water sample was then poured into the holes and allowed to filter through into a sterile container. Filtrate samples were taken to a laboratory for evaluation. Statistical analysis of data obtained after 24&ndash;48 h of mycofiltration treatment of aquaculture effluents samples showed a substantial (P&le;0.05) decrease in heterotrophic count from 6.7&times;103 to 0 and total fungal/yeast count from 5.3&times;103 to 0. The findings revealed that mycofiltration technique is a useful, efficient and affordable technology as it reduced dissolved oxygen from 7.92 to 2.88 mg L-1, biological oxygen demand from 5.97 to 5.62 mg L-1 and chemical oxygen demand from 1.89 to 1.78 mg L-1. Other parameters such as pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, sulphate, nitrite and phosphate, and algae count were reduced significantly at the end of the filtration process. There were notable variations (P&le;0.05) between values obtained from fish pond effluents and that treated with L. squarrosulus, indicating that the mushroom played a promising role in the process of mycofiltration and also showed that&nbsp;mycofiltration&nbsp;is a healthier method for&nbsp;water&nbsp;quality improvement of&nbsp;fish&nbsp;effluent before discharge

Phenotyping and genotyping of CYP2C19 using comparative metabolism of proguanil in sickle‐cell disease patients and healthy controls in Nigeria

Polymorphic expression of metabolic enzymes have been identified as one of the key factors responsible for the interindividual/ethnic/racial variability in drug metabolism and effect. In Nigeria, there is a disproportionately high incidence of sickle‐cell disease (SCD), a condition characterized by painful crisis frequently triggered by malaria. Proguanil, a substrate of the polymorphic CYP2C19, is a chemoprophylactic antimalarial drug widely used among SCD patients in Nigeria. This study aimed to conduct a comparative CYP2C19 phenotyping among SCD patients and healthy controls and to compare the results with those previously reported. One hundred seventy‐seven unrelated subjects comprising 131 SCD patients and 46 non‐SCD volunteers were phenotyped. This was carried out by collecting pooled urine samples over 8 h following PG administration. Proguanil and its major CYP2C19‐dependent metabolites were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Metabolic ratios (MRs) were computed and employed in classifying subjects into poor or extensive metabolizers. Among SCD group, 130 (99.2%) were extensive metabolizers (EMs) and 1 (0.8%) was poor metabolizer (PM) of PG, while 95.7 and 4.3% non‐SCDs were EMs and PMs, respectively. MRs ranged from 0.02 to 8.70 for SCD EMs and from 0.22 to 8.33 for non‐SCD EMs. Two non‐SCDs with MRs of 18.18 and 25.76 and the SCD with MR of 16.77 regarded as PMs had earlier been genotyped as CYP2C19*2/*2. Poor metabolizers of proguanil in SCD patients are reported for the first time. Regardless of clinical significance, a difference in metabolic disposition of proguanil and CYP2C19 by SCDs and non‐SCDs was established