This study determined the total aflatoxin and deoxynivalenol levels in grains traded in the commercial city of Katsina-Ala, North-Central Nigeria, from 300 samples obtained from 30 composites, of 10 different locations, using the direct competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Moisture content, total aerobic microbial count, mould count, coliform and Escherichia coli were determined using standard analytical methods. Mycotoxins were detected in all samples across the study locations; total aflatoxin ranged from 2.30 to 8.4 ppb, which were within the maximum limits for aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration ranged from 2,900.00 to 8,400.00 ppb that was above the maximum limits. Moisture was high in all samples with content ranging from 9.0279 to 12.3851 %, microbial contamination was observed on the grains. It was also observed that, these grains were more predisposed to DON than aflatoxin, thus vulnerability of the grains to DON was in the order: sorghum > maize > millet, whereas total aflatoxin level was in the order: sorghum > millet > maize respectively. Pearson’s 2-tailed correlation at 0.05 level of significance revealed strong correlation of deoxynivalenol with moisture content across locations, while ANOVA at 5 % level of significance established the presence of mycotoxins and their precursors across the locations. This fundamentally, showed microbial tainting of these cereals in the study location indicating that farmers and marketers handle these grains in an unhygienic manner.
Page(s): 01-12 Date of Publication: 31 August 2022
DOI : 10.51244/IJRSI.2022.9803Download PDF
Philosophy has always preoccupied itself with questions about the mind and consciousness. However, there are ways in which one could become confused. If there are purely mental facts, then they are so because they are not physical, and they are not completely explainable in a physicalist lexicon. The materialist on some accounts wanted to tell the dualist that mentalese is not translatable (and maybe should be wiped out, as eliminative materialism would have it). Or, on others, that there isn’t any ‘mental’ activity left after reducing it? I hold that qualia and ‘What it is Like’ phenomena both show that there are concepts that can’t be explained in a purely physicalist vocabulary.
Page(s): 13-15 Date of Publication: 31 August 2022
Download PDF
This study on the challenges faced under the rice value chain programme Central River Region of The Gambia. The instruments used for data collection was Focus Group Discussion and in-depth interview. Simple random sampling was used to select sixteen (16) villages out of which three hundred and eighty-four (384) farmers were used for the study. The data collected were transcribed for all the focus group comments, the comments were rearranged to have answers grouped together for each interview protocol. The main ideas were organized into themes to generate an idea or ideas and quotations were identified for each theme. The findings were written in narrative to describe the themes with quotations. From the findings it was revealed that, farmers from the study area faced challenges ranging from inadequate machinery, fertilizer, seeds and market structures were some of the problems reported. From these findings it is recommended that Non-Governmental Organizations and investors should supplement government efforts by providing sufficient and quality inputs (seed/fertilizer/machinery) and credit facilities to the rice farmers at a subsidized rate and on time and strengthen the linkages between farmer groups/cooperatives with buyers (Producer-Buyer linkage) for easy market access.
Page(s): 16-29 Date of Publication: 1 September 2022
Download PDF
Students with weak mathematics background are often overwhelmed by the many mathematics courses that they have to take during their undergraduate Computer Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) programmes; and tend to question the relevance of mathematics to their CSET studies. This paper examined the syllabuses of undergraduate CSET courses being offered in 10 Ghanaian universities and discussed the importance of relevant mathematics courses to them. Furthermore, it proffered recommendations to promote students’ academic success in CSET programmes.
Page(s): 30-34 Date of Publication: 03 September 2022
DOI : 10.51244/IJRSI.2022.9801Download PDF
A pandemic is a form of urban disruption, another example that has recently emerged is related to urban online transportation. This study is needed to explain what capabilities cities then need in the face of change, which can be termed an urban disruption. Then how do cities strengthen the manageability of their territories by using the identification of the indicator variables found? This research uses two methodologies, namely quantitatively and qualitatively. To obtain quantitative data, the survey was conducted by distributing questionnaires through Google Form to respondents in three cities, namely Semarang, Yogyakarta, and Surakarta. Cities in the face of change, need a strong platform, which can guarantee the interaction of government collaboration with other stakeholders. This statement is proven by the discovery of ten variables of urban management platforms. These variables are related to coordination, environmental aspects, planning, infrastructure management, sources of funds, leadership, policies and regulations, empowered communities, data, and community networks.
Page(s): 35-45 Date of Publication: 08 September 2022
Download PDF
Students with weak mathematics background are often overwhelmed by the many mathematics courses that they have to take during their undergraduate Computer Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) programmes; and tend to question the relevance of mathematics to their CSET studies. This paper examined the syllabuses of undergraduate CSET courses being offered in 10 Ghanaian universities and discussed the importance of relevant mathematics courses to them. Furthermore, it proffered recommendations to promote students’ academic success in CSET programmes.
Page(s): 46-49 Date of Publication: 08 September 2022
Download PDF
This report is an empirical study that looks at compromising conflict strategy and workplace harmony in oil servicing companies in Rivers State. The cross section research design was adopted as the design of the research; the population of the study covers all the oil servicing companies in Rivers State. Data for the study was analyzed using Pearson product movement correlational coefficient aided with SPSS version 21.0. The study found that compromise as a dispute management strategy significantly impacts workplace harmony in oil servicing companies in Rivers State. Considering the study’s findings, we conclude that dispute management through the use of compromise strategy significantly influence workplace harmony in relation to teamwork, and communication and this is able to the poor management activities among oil servicing firms. And also the issues of insecurity, poorly designed workstation, excessive noise, oil spillage, insufficient safety measures among oil servicing companies in Rivers State. Based on the conclusion we recommend that for the success of the organization and to get total committed workforce, management of oil servicing firms should ensure the goal of the organization are design such that, its achievement connect with visible strategy of dispute management.
Page(s): 50-54 Date of Publication: 10 September 2022
Download PDF
The relationship between career development methods and employee effectiveness in hotels in Rivers State is investigated theoretically in this research. This research was based on the social exchange and human capital theories. Employee training and mentorship were used to operationalize career development strategies, while innovation and knowledge management were used to assess employee effectiveness. The analysis discovered that employee performance is strongly linked to career advancement, as evidenced by the literature evaluated. Due to this, the study suggests that hotels should strengthen employee relationships to be able to achieve strong performance and be successful in a competitive market. Hotels should do what they believe is essential to create and maintain better relationships with their employees.
Page(s): 55-61 Date of Publication: 10 September 2022
Download PDF
Background: Hypertension is a serious public health issue and a major risk factor for a variety of other illnesses. The hazards of untreated hypertension, the benefits of better control, and poor management techniques are all obstacles to effective hypertensive care. The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge of hypertension among adults living in the Owerri Metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 201 respondents who were residents of Owerri Metropolis at the time of the study was conducted. Data was collected using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data was examined with the SPSS version, and the chi-square test was performed to determine the link between demographic characteristics and hypertension knowledge. Results: The study population consisted of 96 (48%) males and 105 (52%) females. 134 (69%) stated that blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg was normal. The main aggravating factors for hypertension identified by participants were excess weight 155 (77%), high salt intake 191 (98), excess alcohol consumption 159 (79%), smoking 181 (90) and excess thinking 129 (64). The respondents identified stroke at 94% (189), heart failure at 91% (183), and heart ache at 72% (145) as health conditions associated with hypertension by the respondents. Very few of the adults had a high (15%) level of knowledge of hypertension. Conclusion: The respondents had enough awareness of hypertension, its consequences, and management options. Females aged 50 and older who are Christians from Igbo have a high level of understanding about hypertension. Furthermore, those without a tertiary degree had a higher level of knowledge. To enhance understanding and reduce the consequences of poorly treated hypertension, targeted health education programmes are urgently needed.
Page(s): 62-70 Date of Publication: 10 September 2022
Download PDF
Background: Personal hygiene is the process of keeping one’s own body clean, and it is considered a global concern among schoolchildren. Every year, it is estimated that diarrhoea kills more than 1.5 million school-aged children due to unclean water, a lack of sanitation, and a lack of cleanliness. Poor hygienic habits among schoolchildren raise a huge concern in underdeveloped nations. The purpose of this study was to analyse personal hygiene practises among students in secondary schools in Southeastern Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilised in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The study population consisted of secondary school students at Okigwe LGA, Owerri, Imo State. A multistage sampling technique was utilised to select 404 respondents. Ethical approval was obtained from the Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Results: Of the respondents, 44% (176) were within the age group of 10–12 years. 98.5% (394) were aware of personal hygiene practices, with 67.2% (269) of the respondents obliged to knowledge that personal hygiene includes bathing, washing your hands, brushing your teeth, etc. The study showed that the majority of 83.3% (333) of secondary school students in Okigwe always brush their teeth daily and 78.7% (315) also affirmed they always cut their nails as a mark of hygiene practice. 89.0% (356) indicated lack of adequate water supply as a challenge to the practise of hygiene, which means that the Okigwe community service lacks water provision at school and in the community at large. Conclusion: The study concluded that there is a need for regular reinforcement to sustain the gains particularly with areas of assessment in the study showing that sanitary provisions of water is lacking.
Page(s): 71-78 Date of Publication: 03 September 2022
Download PDF
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary red blood cell defect characterised by persistent hemolytic anaemia and a variety of clinical complications. The aim of this study is to determine the awareness, knowledge, and attitude of undergraduates towards sickle cell disease in southeastern Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, with individuals chosen using a multistage sample procedure. Data was obtained using a self-administered, pre-tested questionnaire and processed with SPSS software version 20. Results: There were a total of 402 participants in the study, with 192 (47.8%) males and 210 (52.2%) females. The participants’ average age was 22.32.7 years. All of the participants (100%) were aware of the presence of SCD, with the most prevalent sources of knowledge being schools (38.1%) and health personnel (19.9%). Two hundred and seventy-seven participants (68.9%) had sufficient understanding of SCD, although many of them had misconceptions. The majority of the participants in this survey, 344 (85.6 percent), have a good attitude toward people with SCD. Conclusion: The majority of people with an appropriate understanding of SCD had a favourable attitude, but those with insufficient information had the opposite perspective. The participants in this study have information gaps concerning SCD. Health education should be enhanced to provide students with an adequate comprehensive understanding of SCD to enable them to make educated marriage decisions, thus preventing the reproduction of SCD-affected children.
Page(s): 79-84 Date of Publication: 10 September 2022
Download PDF
Pandemic is an enormous challenge to education systems worldwide, and this viewpoint suggests to practitioners and policymakers a need for pragmatic approach to cope with various crisis that may be affecting academic activities in the world, and particularly in Nigeria. Moreover, a reflective view of this development is necessary to provoke adaptation and adjustment as a result of this new ecosystem of practice. In addition, reflective practice is an ongoing process that practitioners in every profession should adopt in order to build resilience to overcome challenging circumstances in such practices. Therefore, this is a pragmatic discourse of; 1. Adaptation to the new realities 2. Pragmatic Pedagogy
Page(s): 85-87 Date of Publication: 12 September 2022
Download PDF
This study aims to determine other action plans as a type of business improvement technique in CV. Various Different Technics utilize the Business Model Canvas. The type of examination used is descriptive qualitative. The research results from the Business Model Canvas can be the right business progress system decisions for CV. Assorted different Technics. The customer segment is divided into demographics and psychographics. Value proposition is Performance and Customization. Channels through industrial facilities, verbal, business cards, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Youtube. Customer Relations CV. Aneka Technics uses personal assistance and co-creation. Revenue streams are asset sales. Key resources are physical power and human resources. Key activities are creation based on advertising target planning and training, human asset enhancement, and limited time training. Key partnerships are larger suppliers, resellers, similar businesses. Cost structure is fixed costs, variable costs and fixed costs are directed to reduce variable costs.
Page(s): 88-93 Date of Publication: 12 September 2022
Download PDF
Diabetes and hypertension are diseases that affect people all over the world. This study was carried out at the Department of Medical Out-Patient of Federal Medical Centre, Keffi. It was aimed at assessing the Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) levels in the blood of diabetics and hypertensive patients respectively. Magnesium and Potassium were determined using test kits produced by Teco diagnostics (USA). Blood samples were collected by venous puncture from one hundred and twenty (120) patients evenly distributed among Diabetic and hypertensive patients on gender basis. The result showed a low level of magnesium in diabetic patients in a range of 0.40-0.00mmol/l to the expected magnesium concentration range of 1.3-2.5mmol/l. The potassium level in hypertensive was within the normal range of 3.25- 1.55mmol/l compared to the expected concentration range (3.40-5.30mmol/l). This study showed high level of deficiency of magnesium in diabetics but normal level of potassium in hypertensive individuals. Though, further studies using larger sample size is advocated to substantiate these findings, magnesium potassium aspartate should be included in the supplements or fortified foods from time to time to increase the amount of magnesium and potassium intake of patients. Importantly, Health care providers should consider monitoring serum magnesium levels periodically in patients especially the elderly to provide medical assistance where necessary.
Page(s): 94-98 Date of Publication: 15 September 2022
Download PDF
This paper presents In-situ analyses of radon levels in water from Mutomo area located in the southeastern part of Kenya. The region is semi-arid and most resdents depend on water from boreholes and shallow wells for their domestic use. RAD 7 alpha detector was deployed in the In-situ measurements and geographical position of each water source sampled was determined and noted during the radon measurements. An average of 30 ± 1.5 Bq l-1 was determined from the measurements. This value is slightly higher than the maximum contamination levelof 11.1 Bq l-1 prescribed by USEPA but within the UNSCEAR recommended range of 4 – 40 Bq l-1. Ngosini Springs reported the highest radon activity of 120 ± 6 Bq l-1 while Munyoki, Katuuni and Musila shallow wells had no detectable radon activity. Annual effective doses from water averaged 6.0 ± 0.03 µSv y-1 for radiation doses taken through ingestion which is well below the limits of 0.1 mSv y-1 for doses taken via ingestion. The correlational analyses between 222Rn in water and 226Ra in sediments sampled from the proximity of water sources reveal a weak positive correlation suggesting radium mineral has an insignificant influence on the radon level in the water. Based on the findings, water from the sampled wells and boreholes is safe for drinking without remediation measures.
Page(s): 99-103 Date of Publication: 16 September 2022
Download PDF
Freedom of the press is the corner stone of information dissemination, with the media seen as the hallmark of gathering and dishing out that information. The right to freedom of information and responsible journalism are fundamental to health, economic, social and human development across the globe, Zimbabwe included. However, those rights are handled and applied differently in each country. With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the whole world, countries changed their media policies to implement restrictive measures that either curtailed access to information or enabled the media to project only what is positive to the authorities’ interests. Assumptions can be `made that in such an environment, press freedom is under siege through either subtle or more emphatic means of pressure mostly by authorities. Those that operate under state funding are seen with gatekeepers who suppress negative information against government. On the other hand, the private media experience stringent conditions that result to them failing to get the information that is even positive to government. Most governments that continue to control the press, approach to journalism as a tool of “propaganda” with the sole objective of fostering their objectives and suppressing dissent. Based on the known historic traditional roles and functions of the media and journalists, this article explores press freedom in Zimbabwe with great focus being made on the effects o f government entrenched policies on the media during COVID 19 lockdown. The study relies on interviews with journalists and is premised in a qualitative methodology in which the data collected from interviews based on a purposive non probability sampling is analysed through critical discourse analysis of their responses. Since the study deals with the experiences of journalists which is not quantifiable, qualitative methodology is the most appropriate. Findings based on the journalists interviewed show that majority of them, seven out of 12 were of the view that private media was totally under siege and their freedom to operate and move around was curtailed by the security agents, while access to information from the government sources on COVID 19 was a nightmare for them. It is also revealed that only the state media journalists were free to move around and access information easily from the government sources, while several private media journalists were either arrested, assaulted or harassed by the state security agents.
Page(s): 104-110 Date of Publication: 16 September 2022
Download PDF
This paper presents a boiler efficiency analysis of a 220MW steam power plant using the direct method. The procedure employed to determine the boiler efficiency was done using the input-output method based on ASME PTC 4.1 standard. The experimental data used for the analysis were obtained from boilers installed in Egbin Thermal Power Plant located at Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. Instantaneous data on boiler thermal efficiency can determine the condition of boiler operation, heat generation, and heat loss. It was established that boilers#-1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 have 72.51%, 67.66%, 69.50%, 78.16%, and 79.73% efficiencies respectively, which is an indication of good performance achieved through condition monitoring, combined with routine maintenance. Similarly, boiler#-2 and boiler#-6 have a 1.02 factor of evaporation, which tells that both boilers generate steam at the same rate when 1 kg of natural gas is burnt. In the same way, boiler#-1 and boiler#-4 have a 1.05 factor of evaporation when 1kg of natural gas is burnt to generate 16.13kg and 15.47 kg of steam respectively. Whereas boiler#-5 boiler has a factor of evaporation of 1.08 when 1 kg of natural gas is burnt to generate 17.40 kg of steam. Furthermore, a load factor of the various boilers indicates that each of the boilers can generate 73.31%, 99.32%, 97.05%, 76.16%, and 88.53% of its installed capacity respectively
Page(s): 111-116 Date of Publication: 16 September 2022
Download PDF
The effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of neem plant parts (leaves, stembark and roots) on Colletotrichum capsici the causal agent of brown blotch of cowpea was carried out in Mubi. The isolate C. capsici was identified and proven through a pathogenicity test to be pathogenic. Cowpea plant parts (leaves, and pods) with similar symptoms of brown blotch such as dark brown to black patches were collected from farmers’ fields in four districts of Mubi North during November 2018. The locations included Mubi, Mayo Bani, Ba’a and Fali districts. A total of 240 samples of two plant parts (leaves and pods) were collected using a simple random sampling technique. The causal agent of brown blotch was isolated from an infected pod of cowpea collected from the periphery of Mubi North in November 2017. The in vitro control trial was carried out on the Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) polluted with aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Neem (Leaves, stembark and roots) in a completely randomized design with duplicates of 3; a restrain mycelial growth was observed in all the treatments 0.60 cm for leaves and stembark, 1.22cm for roots extract as against 0% inhibition by control. There was a corresponding growth of the action of ethanolic extract as to aqueous in vitro in all the treatments (leaves, stembark and roots) 0.63cm, 0.57cm, 0.57cm as for the ethanolic extract and 0.63cm, 0.67cm and 1.88cm for aqueous treatments respectively. It may be concluded from this study that C. capsici is a common pathogenic fungus that causes brown blotch of cowpea in the Study Area; result from the pathogenicity test indicated that the isolated fungus is pathogenic and attributed to the cause of brown blotch of cowpea in Mubi North. The inhibitory effect of the extract from neem tree against fungal isolate could be due to the anti-fungal substances present in the extract. Higher inhibition of fungus growth was observed at a higher concentration of the ethanolic extract as recorded. The result also indicates that ethanolic extract has more inhibitory compounds than aqueous extracts. This shows a clear indication of the potentials of plant extracts in control of the fungal pathogens.
Page(s): 117-121 Date of Publication: 21 September 2022
Download PDF
The study examined domestic investment and economic growth in Nigeria for the period 1980 to 2020. The dependent variable was real GDP while the independent variables include corporate domestic private investment (proxied by banking sector lending to private sector), public sector investment (proxied by government capital investment expenditure) and domestic portfolio investment. The data were sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin and analyzed using the Ordinary Least Square Multiple regression analysis technique. The result showed that corporate domestic private investment had positive and significant effect on Nigeria’s economic growth while public sector investment (government capital expenditure) had significantly negative relationship with economic growth in Nigeria and domestic portfolio investment had an insignificant negative relationship with economic growth in Nigeria. The conclusion drawn from that the private sector domestic investment outperformed that of the public sector and that domestic portfolio investment was negative in relation to economic growth. The study recommended that government should intensify its capital expenditure especially to the real sector as this will help to improve domestic investment especially by the public sector. Equally, government should intensify efforts to further encourage the private sector through enacting favorable policies and giving the private sector enough support through public-private partnership programmes in order to enhance their domestic investments
Page(s): 122-131 Date of Publication: 22 September 2022
Download PDF