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Nutritive and Antinutritive Values of Fermented Guinea Corn (Sorghum bicolor L.) Fortified with Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) Flour
Get PDFThe fermented guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor L) is a processed “ogi baba” and a popular starchy porridge in the west coasts of Africa. Although it is consumed by both young and old as a breakfast cereal, its main use is as weaning food for infants. In this study, the nutritive values of “ogi baba” from a composite mixture of guinea corn and bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L) were evaluated using standard processing techniques. Sorghum flour was substituted with bambara flour at ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 guinea corn:bambara groundnut; with 100% sorghum–ogi and 100% bambara groundnut flours as controls. The results showed that the contents of ash, crude fat, crude protein and crude fibre were enhanced with increased bambara groundnut flour substitution. All the nutritive minerals such as Na, K, Ca, Mg and P also recorded increased concentrations in the fortified samples. Harmful metals such as cadmium and lead were not at detectable range of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The total essential amino acids ranged from 28.74–37.14 g/100g crude protein or from 43.70–44.26% of the TAA while 60:40 substitution ratio has the best essential amino acid score values amongst the fortified samples based on the provisional FAO/WHO standards. There were decrease in the values of saponins, phytate, oxalate and alkaloids in the fortified samples compared with the controls. The results of sugars showed that there was gradual increase in the total sugar concentration with increased bambara groundnut flour substitution from 1.54 g/100g (90:10 ratio) reaching 2.41 g/100g (60:40 ratio).
BREAKING OF DORMANCY AND SPROUTING OF SOME POTATO (Solanum Tuberosum l.) VARIETIES UNDER DIFFERENT STORAGE CONDITIONS AND DURATIONS IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFA study was carried out at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Potato program (NRCRI) Kuru, Jos Plateau State, Nigeria (Longitude 08OE 47I, Latitude 09O N 44I and 1,239 meters above sea level (msl) during the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012- 2013 seasons to investigate “The Breaking of Dormancy and sprouting of some Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties under Different Storage Conditions and Durations in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria”. Five potato varieties: Nicola, Bertita, Diamant, BR63-18 and Roslin Ruaka were stored for three periods: 12, 24 and 32 weeks in three types of stores, the Room temperature Store, Diffused light store (DLS) and Air conditioned store. The experimental design used was completely randomized design in factorial combination of 5 potato varieties, 3 storage conditions and 3 storage durations. There were 45 treatment combinations replicated 3 times. Weekly temperatures and Relative humidity were recorded in each type of store. The result showed that the number of days to breaking of Dormancy tubers varied with variety. In all the seasons, Nicola took the longest number of days to break dormancy (102.67, 121.33 and 119.00 days in seasons 1, 2and 3 respectively) while, BR63-18 was the earliest to break dormancy except in season 3 where Diamant was the first to break dormancy. Storage under Air condition took the longest number of days to break dormancy in all the seasons (85.67, 97.07 and 102.20 days in seasons 1, 2 and 3 respectively) while the Room temperature store was the earliest to break dormancy (67.66, 85.40 and 78.87 days in seasons 1, 2 and 3 respectively). The number of sprouted tubers varied with variety. Nicola resulted in the highest number of sprouted tubers in seasons 1 and 3 (35.56 and 33.85 respectively) while BR63-18 was highest in season 2. Storage under air condition resulted in highest number of sprouted tubers in seasons 1 and 3 (33.44 and 35.80 respectively). The number of sprouted tubers increased from 12 to 24 weeks and declined at 32 weeks in seasons 1 and 3. Seed tuber storage for 32 weeks resulted in significantly lower number of sprouted tubers in all the seasons. There was significant interaction of variety X store type, variety X storage duration and store type X storage duration with respect to number of sprouted tubers. The interaction may be attributed to genetic composition of the varieties and environmental conditions of the storage
GROWTH INHIBITION OF ROT FUNGI BY COMPETITIVE GROWTHOF TRICHODERMA VIRIDE
Get PDFA study was carried out in vitro to evaluate the antagonistic growth potential of a Trichoderma viride strain in the biological control of some common post-harvest and storage rot fungi of food crops. The experiment was set up in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three treatments and two replicates. Data obtained were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5 % level of probability using SPSS software version seventeen. 5 mm diameter agar discs of 2-7 days old cultures of antagonist and rot fungi obtained using a sterile 5mm diameter cork borer were cultured simultaneously in dual cultures on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) in 8.5 mm diameter petri dishes and incubated for a total duration of 9 days at 280C. Radial growth inhibition of rot fungi increased steadily from the 1st to the 9th day of post-inoculation. Radial growth of Aspergillus flavus was inhibited the most (42.94 %), followed by Aspergillus niger (30.88%) and lastly Fusarium oxysporum (30.65 %). In pairing with A. flavus, massive sporulation of T. viride on growth surface of rot fungus was accompanied with extensive degradation of mycelia of A. flavus by T. viride after 9 days post-inoculation. Zones of mycelia growth inhibition were observed in dual cultures of T. viride with A. flavus and F. oxysporum. Differences in growth inhibition of rot fungi by T. viride were significant (P<0.05) except between pairing with A. niger and F. oxysporum. The T. viride strain used in the study exhibited significant biocontrol potential through competitive growth against the test fungi and could be applied in biocontrol of rot fungi in storage as a means of enhancing shelf life as well as preserving the market value of harvested farm produce
COMPARATIVE DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA USING ROUTINE MICROSCOPY AND RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE WITH LACTAN DEHYDROGENASE
Get PDFThis study investigated the comparative analysis of rapid diagnostic techniques (RDT) and microcospy for malaria diagnosis using a population of clients attending National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Research Clinic. Two hundred and fifty-one clients with a clinical suspicion of malaria based on fever from Idu and surrounding communities were tested with both methods. Diagnostic test outcomes were separated into different age groups to assess the impact of age on test outcome. The significance of age-groups was assessed with Chi-Squared test at 95% confidence interval. Of the 251 clients110(43.82%) were positive by RDT, compared to 87(34.66%) by microscopy. The difference between the two methods was not statistically significant (Tab. t = 2.306 > Cal t = 0.3833; p > 0.05). Rapid diagnostic technique RDT test, detected malaria more in age group 11-20 years (17.3%) and 21-30 years old 38(15.14%), though lower in older ages 31 - ≥50 years (<7%). Using Chi-Squared (χ2), there was no significant difference in the detection of malaria in the age groups (Tab χ2=9.488 > Cal χ 2 df.4, 1 = 3.32, p > 0.05). In relation to sex, seroprevalence of malaria parasite was higher 41(35.96%) males compared to 46(35.58%) females withno significant difference (Tab χ2 = 9.488 > Cal χ2 =df.4, 1 = 4.58; p > 0.05). In all, RDT detected higher values in both sexes 51(44.74%) and 59(43.07%) for males and females respectively. The Pf (HRPII/PAN-LDH); HRP2-based RDT showed higher sensitivity compared to microscopy in detection of malaria and may perhaps be more appropriate for screening of malaria infection. Large scaleassessment of RDT for malaria screening is endorsed forPrimary Health Care (PHC) centres, and field research on malaria studies
A MYCOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE AIR QUALITY IN FLOOD-PRONE HOMES WITHIN LAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAWA STATE
Get PDFAir quality of three hundred (300) flood prone homes was assessed for the presence of fungal spores during the rainy season between September and November, 2015. Sixty (60) randomly selected households in five council wards namely Wakwa, Makama, Gayam, Ciroma and Akurba wards were assessed using the Koch sedimentation method by gravitational settlement on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Identification of isolates followed colonial and microscopic methods. Seventy-one fungal genera and species were identified, with Aspergillus niger (179; 59.7%) being the most predominant. Aspergillus niger was most isolated in Wakwa (40; 22.3%), Makama (31; 17.3%) and Gayam (51; 28.5%) wards while Bipolaris sp (40; 35.4%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (33; 28.2%) dominated isolates in Ciroma and Akurba wards respectively. The number of isolated genera and species in the wards was in the order Akurba (51) > Makama (42) > Wakwa (38) > Ciroma (36) > Gayam (32), while total frequency were 292, 290, 283, 274 and 249 in Akurba, Wakwa, Gayam, Ciroma and Makama respectively. The highest and least mean relative humidity obtained in the study were (76.3%) and (52.5%) respectively. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the mean relative humidity, number and total frequency of isolates in the wards. Homes that reared animals were more contaminated with fungal species than those that did not. The study has revealed unhealthy presence of fungal pathogens in the homes, a conducive environment for the proliferation of fungi and therefore advocates necessary actions to reduce flooding in Lafia local government area of Nasarawa Stat
MORPHOMETRIC INDICES AND PARASITES OF FROZEN CLARIAS GARIEPINUS AND OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS SOLD IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE
Get PDFThe study on morphometric indices and parasites of frozen Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus sold in Jos metropolis was carried out from January to April 2016. The indices measured were eye diameter, total length, standard length and weight. Twenty-two individuals of each species were measured. The mean of morphometric indices showed a very high significant difference (total length: t = 49.085, df = 42, P < 0.0001; standard length: t = 34.466, df = 42, P < 0.0001; eye diameter: t = 18.139, df = 27.906, P < 0.0001; weight: t = 2.1402, df = 28.785, P < 0.04094) between the two fish species. A total of eight parasites were recorded in this study, of which sporocyst of diplostomatid, Pallisentis tetradontis, Acanthella from Ostracod, Piscicolid leech were found in both fish species. However, Allocreaduim ghanensis, Coracidium and Rhabdochonacon golensis were found in only Clarias gariepinus, while Spinitectus allaeri was only found in Oreochromis niloticus. The prevalence of parasites in relation to internal organs was high in Clarias gariepinus and low inOreochromis niloticus. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in prevalence rate of parasites in relation to internal organs of the two fish species. The parasites recorded are of medical importance. This study underscores the need for bio-surveillance of fish borne parasites being sold to the general public. The internal organs of fishes should be discarded before cooking the remaining part
NUTRITIONAL STUDY ON THE SEEDS AND FRUITS OF THREE CUCURBITS IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA
Get PDFA comparative study was carried out on the nutritional contents of the seeds and fruits of Cucumis melo (L.), Lagenaria breviflora (Benth) and Citrullus lanatus (Thunb). Proximate composition, Vitamin C content and phytochemical analysis of air-dried, powdered epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the mature fruits were also carried out using standard procedures. Data on nutritional and phytochemical characteristics were collected and subjected to two - way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05. Means were compared using LSD. Total sugar and vitamins C were detected in the other parts of the fruits except the seeds in the three Cucurbits. Percentage dry matter, fat, ash and crude protein were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the seeds than in the epicarp and mesocarp. Crude fibre was highest in the epicarp for C. melo (1.75 0.13), L. breviflora (1.85 0.07) and C. lanatus (2.18 0.07
MARGINAL ANALYSIS OF THE DEMAND OF SEASONAL/ PERISHABLE GOODS: A SINGLE-PERIOD INVENTORY MODEL APPROACH
Get PDFInventory problem, a sub-specialty within operations research is concerned with the design of production of inventory systems to minimize costs. Managers of firms face different problems like quantity of goods to order, marketing strategies, preservative facilities, atmospheric conditions, cost minimization. This study assessed the marginal analysis of the demand of seasonal and perishable goods n Akwanga using a single period inventory model. The research reveals that wholesalers of tomatoes ordered quantities were less thanthe means of the distribution in both the harvest and scarce periods. Marketers of onions and pepper revealed that their ordered quantities were less than the means of the distribution for both harvest and scarce periodsHowever, one marketer of onions and pepper had ordered quantity equal to the mean of the distribution atharvest period. A MATLAB written script solved the critical ratios and ordered quantity faster with less timespent compared to the manual computation
Proton Beam Therapy-Based Computation in the Treatment of Human Ovarian and Liver Cancer using Srim
Get PDFProton beam therapy is a promising technique used to cure various types of cancer diseases in the human body. This technique can selectively damage cancer cells while leaving surrounding cells unaffected thereby minimizing collateral damage to the healthy cells. The position and the width of the cancerous cells are determined to calculate the energy required to destroy the affected cells. The energy loss to the damaged cells and other body parts is calculated separately with high accuracy. Computational analysis indicates that proton beams with energies of 46 MeV, 47 MeV, and 48 MeV effectively destroy localized cancerous cells of the ovary from the epithelial cells to the more invasive cancerous growth while proton beam energy range of 50 MeV to 89 MeV should be considered for the treatment of liver cancer of both the periphery tumours and tumours in the hilum. Transport of ions in matter (TRIM) data shows that more than 80% of proton energy is given off during ion bombardment at Bragg’s peak, while the remaining percentage is lost by phonon production and by recoils
SCREENING FOR CITRIC ACID PRODUCING FUNGI FROM THE SOIL ENVIRONMENT OF JOS NORTH, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThe investigation was aimed at screening for citric acid producing fungi from the soil environment of Jos North Local Government Area using standard mycological methods. Serial dilution method was employed using Potato Dextrose Agar as culture medium for fungi isolation. Total Fungal Counts at the different locations were determined and expressed as CFU/ml. Farin Gada had the highest fungi count of 2.9 x 103 while Angwan Rogo had the least fungi count of 7.3 x 102. The frequency of occurrence for each species of fungus was also determined using standard mycological method. Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum had the highest frequency of occurrence of 80% while Saccharomyces cerevisiae had the lowest frequency of occurrence of 10%. Fungal isolates were identified using standard methods based on their cultural and morphological features. A total of ten (10) fungi species were isolated and identified (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium glaucum, Penicillium rugulosum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Rhodotorula rubra and Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Six species were found toproduce citric acid at varying concentrations (Aspergillus niger, 3.2g/L; Aspergillus flavus, 2.3g/L; Penicillium glaucum, 2.0g/L; Penicillium chrysogenum, 1.9g/L; Penicillium rugulosum, 1.7g/L; and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 0.7g/L). This investigation demonstrated that there are citric acid producing fungal strains in the soil environment of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, which can be harnessed locally for industrial productio