Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta: FUNAAB Journal
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MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF CHICKENS FED WITH DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM IN THE TROPICS
Full text linkClimate change has created a pronounced heat-stress challenge to the poultry industry in the tropics with resultant effect on the quality of meat produced, therefore it becomes vital to seek methods in alleviating this problem. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of dietary vitamin E and selenium (VE+Se) on quality characteristics of meat. A total of 150-day old broiler chickens were fed diet containing VE+Se at 0,100 mg VE+ 0.05 mg Se, 200 mg VE+ 0.1 mg Se, 300 mg VE+0.15 mg Se and 400 mg VE+0.2 mg Se Kg of feed. At the 49th day of age, birds were slaughtered for meat evaluation. Data generated on meat quality: carcass characteristics, sensorial profile, water holding capacity (WHC), water absorption capacity (WAC), colour and proximate composition, were arranged in a One-way ANOVA. The highest (p<0.05) dressing (%) and prime cuts (thigh, drumstick and breast) were observed from the 400 mg VE + 0.2 mg Se feeding. Highest flavour and tenderness were recorded from the 400 mg VE + 0.2 mg Se feed while juiciness and overall flavour were highest in control and 400 mg VE + 0.2 mg Se diet. Dietary VE+Se had significant (p<0.05) effect on meat colour, highest (p<0.05) b*(yellowness) intensity was observed from 100 mg VE + 0.05 mg Se and 400 mg VE+0.2 mg Se diets, a*(redness) in 0 mg and lightness in the VE+Se supplemented groups. These findings showed dietary supplementation of VE+Se up to 400 mg Ve + 0.2 mg Se in poultry diets influenced prime cuts (thigh, breast and drumstick) and improved consumer perception and meat colour.
 
SHELF LIFE AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF CARROT (Daucus carota L.) ROOT WITH PACKAGING MATERIALS
Full text linkCarrot, (Daucus carota L.) is an edible orange-yellow coloured root which adds attractiveness to different delicacies. Retailers often pack carrot with polythene bags, which is observed to lose its attractiveness in few days. Three different packaging materials and unpackaged were studied and their effects investigated on the shelf-life and organoleptic properties of carrot roots. The packaging materials were: Polythene bag, Thaumacoccus danielle leaf and foil paper. An unpackaged storage served as the control. Prior storage, the carrot samples were washed, cleaned, air dried and sorted. After packaging into different materials, roots were stored in cartoon boxes (CB). The following parameters were measured: physiological weight loss (PWL), shelf-life and organoleptic properties: taste, flavour, mouth fill, sweetness, colour and overall acceptability. Sixty (60) carrot roots of optimum size were arranged randomly into four treatments (packaging materials) including the control (unpackaged), replicated five times and stored for twenty-seven days under average temperature of 32.80C and RH, 72.8%. Carrot roots were marketable on the 24th day using foil paper. Use of foil paper was effective in extending the shelf-life of carrot for 27 days before showing symptoms of bloating. Visual quality of colour, flavour, taste and sweetness were excellent with carrot packaged in foil paper when compared with other packaging materials and with the unpackaged control in the following order: Foil-paper > leaf > Polythene bag > Control. The type of material used to package carrot roots elongates the shelf-life and delays rotting significantly.
 
PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF PINEAPPLE FRUIT (Ananas comosus) STORED IN DIFFERENT MEDIA
Full text linkProvision of adequate storage facility enhances the postharvest quality and shelf-life of fruits. An experiment was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to determine the postharvest quality and sensory acceptability of pineapple fruits stored in different media. Pineapple fruits from the Directorate of Farms at FUNAAB were harvested at colour break stage and stored in the evaporative cooling structure (ECS) - pots in pot design and ventilated wooden boxes (VWB) while fruits stored in the open shelf served as the control. The experiment was laid out in completely randomised block design, replicated four times. Shell and pulp colour, physiological weight loss (PWL), total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity, pH, proximate contents and sensory acceptability of the fruits were evaluated at pre-storage and after storage at 11 days (DAS). Quality and sensory attributes of pineapple fruits were affected by storage media. Fruits TSS contents increased with storage time while PWL and vitamin C contents reduced with storage time, across the media. Fruits stored in the ECS had comparable vitamin C content with pre stored fruits. Crude protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate contents were comparable in fruits stored in all media. Shell colour change from green to full yellow was reduced in fruits stored in the ECS and had better sensory acceptability when compared with fruits stored in VWB and open shelf. Pineapple fruit stored in the ECS retained fruit quality with better sensory acceptability
 
COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF CARBON STORAGE IN BIOMASS AND SOIL ORGANIC CARBON IN TEAK PLANTATION OF DIFFERENT AGES IN YEWA NORTH, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
Full text linkTree act as a sink for CO2 by fixing carbon during photosynthesis and is a vital tool to alleviate climate change through CO2 absorption from the atmosphere. This study was conducted to assess carbon storage in tree biomass and soil carbon stock in Teak (Tectona grandis) plantations of different age series (5, 9 and 12 years). Data were collected on diameter at breast height (Dbh) and total height (TH) of all the trees in a sample plot of 1000 m2 in each plantation of age series. Carbon stored was evaluated based on tree growth variables, soil parameters and above ground biomass. Topsoil and subsoil (0-15 and 15-30 cm) samples collected from three sites were analyzed for organic carbon (OC) following standard methods. Mean diameter at breast height were 67.11, 45.42, and 21.35 cm ha-1 and the mean volumes were 0.39, 0.16 and 0.02 m3ha-1 for 12, 9 and 5 years old were significant different (p<0.05). The highest value of total soil organic carbon (TSOC) was 8464.65 t.ha-1 for the 12year-old followed by 4430.25 t.ha-1 for 9 years old stand and 3004.95 t.ha-1 for 5years old were significant different (p<0.05) respectively. The total soil organic carbon per hectare were higher for the older than the younger Tectona grandis stand (8464.65 t.ha-1, 4430.25 t.ha-1 and 3004.95 t.ha-1) were significant different (p<0.05). Total carbon storage by soil and in biomass (CSB) was 15899.85 and 49.31 tons.ha-1 and total carbon accumulated by the plantation under investigation was in the order of 12 years old > 9 years old > 5 years old, respectively. The results of this study confirm that teak has good potentials to offer carbon sequestration through its soil and accumulate large amount of biomass carbon. The plantation ownership should be guided properly on the management activities such as thinning, pruning and weeding operation as well as indiscriminate removal of individual caused by anthropogenic activities should be avoided.
 
EVALUATION OF HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION IN BODY FLUID OF THE INHABITANTS LIVING ALONG ABA RIVER, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
No full textRiver pollution and its health effects has been one of the main issues in urban water management in Nigeria and globally due to the ever increasing population and developmental activities. Aba River is being polluted by a number of domestic, industrial and commercial activities. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of some heavy metals in body fluids of the inhabitants living along Aba River, Abia State, Nigeria, using water and blood samples. Water samples were collected from locations along the river within the six selected communities. The communities were purposely targeted for medical outreach. Convenience sampling was used to select people for blood samples test. Water and blood samples collected were analysed in the laboratory for heavy metals. The water results were compared with national standards. Two-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation co-efficient were used to determine significant differences among the communities and seasons, relationships between metals in water and metals in blood. The results identified 8 heavy metals of varying concentrations in the water and blood samples collected. The dominant metals were: Zinc, Manganese, Iron and Lead recorded in higher concentrations in water in the downstream stations and dry season as well as in blood samples in the communities. Some of the heavy metals in water exceeded acceptable limits while the blood levels though high, were still within cut off levels. High levels of Zn, Mn, Fe and Pb recorded in the bloods portends potential public health risk. A drastic action must be taken to stem the trend.
 
COMPUTATIONAL MODEL FOR MEASURING THE INFROMATION AND COMMUNICATION MATURITY INDEX OF NIGERIA ECONOMY
No full textThe Information and Communication Technology maturity of an enterprise is a strong foundation for successful implementation of knowledge management. The fundamental issue within the Nigeria economy that has resulted in skewed ICT planning is the uncertainty surrounding the stage or level of ICT maturity. This paper therefore, evaluates and measures the level of ICT maturity of selected firms in all the sectors listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) using the ICT maturity model of Small-and -Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This model was based on a 5-stage road map of ICT development in SME: Inactive, Basic, Substantial, Web-based and Knowledge-oriented, in which knowledge-oriented is the highest development stage. The result has shown that the Nigeria economy is web-based in ICT maturity, with an index of 0.67; an indication that the ICT maturity of the Nigerian economy has not grown to the fullest level. This could give SMEs knowledge of their current situation and strengthen their competitive capability for effective management of knowledge resources for their improvement in this knowledge economy.
 
AMELIORATIVE ACTIVITIES OF Vernonia amygdalina Delile METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS
No full textThere is an increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Africa. It is estimated that by 2030, people living with this condition would increase to 33 million in the African region alone. This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of Vernonia amygdalina on alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in male rats. Thirty adult male rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n=6). Diabetes mellitus was induced in animals allotted to groups A-D. Groups A and B were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg of V. amygdalina extract while C and D were treated with 5mg/kg glibenclamide and 10 mg/kg propylene glycol respectively. Group E (non-diabetic control) was treated with 10 mg/kg propylene glycol. All treatments were administered orally once daily for 21 days. Blood samples were obtained from the tail of the rats daily on days 1 – 7, days 14 and 21 for determination of fasting blood glucose using a glucometer. On day 21, five milliliters of blood was collected for haematology and serum biochemistry. Tissues were harvested for histopathology. There was a significant loss in weight in extract-treated groups. Similarly, blood glucose concentration was significantly lower (p≤0.05) in group B than in D. Haematology and protein profile values across the groups showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Low-density lipoprotein was higher significantly (p≤0.05) in group B than in group C. The cytoarchitecture of pancreatic islets and kidneys was maintained in the extract-treated groups in contrast to group C. V. amygdalina leaves extract possess anti-diabetic potential.
 
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF Clarias gariepinus FROM NATURE AND CAPTIVITY
No full textGradual shift from eating healthy to unhealthy food is a major contributor to development of non-communicable diseases . This study compared the antioxidant activity and chemical composition of wild and cultured Clarias gariepinus. A total of 10 fish each were collected from both environments. Nutrient composition, antioxidant activity, fatty acid and heavy metals load of the samples were determined using standard methods. Significant difference was observed in the proximate composition (crude protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE) and Nitrogen free extract in both samples, with higher values of CP (54.98 ± 0.66%) and EE (34.17 ± 0.33%) observed in the wild sample. No significant difference was observed in the values for sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron. However, manganese (350.93 ppm) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the cultured species. Scavenging activity against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was not statistically different (P > 0.05) at 50 mg/ml concentration. Hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity was however low in cultured and wild samples (1.27 and 8.12 mg/100 g) respectively. Heavy metals level in both samples were not statistically different (P>0.05). It was concluded that the cultured C. gariepinus compared favourably with the wild species in their mineral composition, antioxidant activity, and heavy metal content as opposed to local belief
EVALUATION OF STUDENTS-MANAGEMENT CONFLICTS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA (2010-2020)
Full text linkStudents-Management conflict is one of the major obstacles to smooth public tertiary education in Nigeria. Despite the myriad of efforts to mitigate students’ turbulences in tertiary institutions, the dissention between students and school authorities is unabated and strategies often adopted to eradicate this menace are not efficacious. This study examined students-management conflicts in public tertiary institutions in Osun State, Nigeria between 2010 and 2020. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were used for data collection. Three public tertiary institutions were selected for this study and a total number of 400 questionnaires were retrieved from respondents while interviews were conducted with 15 key informants. Data were presented quantitatively and qualitatively through the use of tables and narratives. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used in the analysis of the quantitative data. The study found that these conflicts occurred frequently (91%), are often violent in nature (82%) and that its causes were increase in fees (93.7%), insensitivity to students’ demands (91%), poor facilities (75%) among others. Findings through the interviews further revealed that the root cause of the students-management conflicts in the institutions was poor funding by the governments. Some of the effects of the conflicts were disruption of academic calendar (96.5%), closure of the institutions (93%) and ban of students’ unionism (87.3%). The study also revealed that 87% of respondents indicated that school authorities often made use of force in handling the conflicts while 86% confirmed that the strategies were ineffective. Based on the findings, the study recommended adequate funding of public tertiary institutions and effective peace education that will equip both the institutional authorities and the students with the necessary skills to prevent or manage conflicts constructively, with a view to realizing conducive and peaceful learning environments.