The metallic keyboards of automated teller machines situated within Calabar metropolis were investigated for microbial contamination due to their vast dermal contact by multiple users. Swab sticks soaked with normal sterile saline were used to collect specimens from the keypads. Isolation was done on nutrient agar and eosine methylene blue (EMB) for bacteria and Sabouraud dextrose agar for fungi using standard microbiological procedures. Identification of microorganisms was done using colonial, microscopic and biochemical characteristics. The results reveal that these machines that serve as cash dispensing device can be a potential disease dispensing machines as samples analyzed revealed bacterial isolates such as Staphylococcus spp (32%)), Bacillus spp (24%), Escherichia spp (20%), Pseudomonas spp (18%) and Salmonella spp (6%) while fungal isolates of the samples analyzed include microorganisms such as Rhizopus spp (56%), Aspergillus spp, (25%) and Penicillium spp (19%). These findings necessitate the need for adequate personal hygiene by users and frequent routine cleaning of these machines by the bank's authorities is highly recommended.

Aim: Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) were studied to assess the influence of x-ray irradiation on the morphological performance. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, irradiation was done in the x-ray unit of a medical laboratory, planting and data analysis were done at the experimental farm and laboratory of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar. Methodology: Stems of Sweet potatoes were grouped and non-control groups irradiated at different x-ray doses, planted and morphological parameters analyzed. Results: The results showed no significant difference in the treatments for parameters such as number of leaves, leaf area, leaf length, plant height, leaf width and days to sprouting when kilo voltage (kV) was constant at 40kV and milli Amperes per second (mAs) varied from 1.6mAs to 3.2mAs. There was also no significant difference in the treatments for parameters such as leaf area, leaf length, leaf width and days to sprouting when mAs was constant at 1.6mAs and kilo voltage (kV) varied from 40kV to 100kV. The results also showed that the low doses of x-ray irradiation did not cause aberrations in the morphological performance of sweet potato. Conclusion: These findings necessitate the need for adequate irradiation doses in the use of ionizing radiations on crops in order to maintain and improve their varieties.

Aim: Zooplanktons in the Calabar Great Kwa River were studied to assess the effect of pollution from human activities around the river on their respective abundance. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected at the Esuk Atu and Esuk Atimbo stations of the Calabar Great Kwa River. Identification of Zooplanktons was carried out at the Laboratory of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. Methodology: Collected samples were preserved, transferred to the laboratory, identified using a dissecting microscope and classified according to their different taxonomical groups. Results: The Results showed that zooplankton abundance and distribution recorded in the stations were low due to pollution and interference from high human activities around the river such as domestic solid wastes, sewage waste waters, industrial effluents, pesticides, sand mining activities, hydrocarbons and other toxic substances. In Esuk Atu, the total abundance of zooplanktons in the periods of sampling were 12, 6, 3 and 11, while the numbers of taxa represented in the periods of sampling were 4, 3, 1 and 4. In Esuk Atimbo, the total abundance of zooplanktons in the periods of sampling were 7, 5, 9 and 10 while the numbers of taxa represented in the periods of sampling were 3, 3, 3 and 2. The zooplankton taxa identified in station 1(Esuk Atu) are Cladoceran (38%), Ostracoda (22%), Copepoda (19%), Rotifera (12%), Lepidoptera (6%) and Protozoa (3%). The zooplankton taxa identified in station 2 (Esuk Atimbo) are Copepoda (26%), Cladoceran (23%), Nemata (23%), Lepidoptera (16%), Rotifera (6%), Polycheata (3%) and Paguridae (3%). Conclusion: These findings necessitate the need for the regulation and control of pollution from human activities around the Calabar Great Kwa River so as to ensure that the river is free from harmful contaminants thereby preserving the zooplanktons and other relevant organisms.