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Non-Heme Iron Content and Antioxidant Activities of Wistar Rats Fed Aqueous Extract of Elaeis guineensis (Banga Soup) Cooked Using Different Utensils
Get PDFCooking utensils may leach toxic metals or trace elements into food.
Iron is an essential nutrient and both iron deficiency and iron excess
can affect optimal health. The aim of the study was to determine
non-heme iron (NHI) and some antioxidant parameters of rats fed banga
soup (BS) prepared using different utensils. Twenty-five Wistar albino
rats were used for the study. They were allowed to acclimatize for one
week before commencement of the experiment. Group 1 served as control.
Rats in Group 2, 3, 4 and 5 were administered BS cooked using cast iron
pot (CIP), aluminium pot (AP), blended mixture (BM) of BS and aqueous
tween 80 respectively. Rats in Group 1 to 5 received tap water daily
and standard laboratory diet (feed) throughout the experiment period of
28 days. There were no significant difference in aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) activities, albumin (Alb) and total protein (TP) in
the serum and liver of the entire experimental Groups. Significant
decrease were observed in total phenol content (TPC), total antioxidant
capacity (TAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ascorbic
oxidase (AO) activity in the serum and NHI content in the serum, liver
and kidney of Group 2, 3 and 4 when compared with Group 1 and 5
The Effects of Population Growth on Deforestation in Nigeria: 1991 \u2013 2016
No full textThis study examines the effects of population growth on deforestation
in Nigeria between 1991 and 2016. Anthropogenic factors especially
population growth were identified to be the major forces responsible
for deforestation in Nigeria. The Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test
was used to establish stationarity among the variables and the Johansen
cointegration test was used to establish a long run relationship
between population growth and deforestation in Nigeria. Population
growth was found to have a negative effect on the available forest
cover in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends the development of
rural areas, enactment of policies aimed at reducing population growth
and sensitization to protect the available forest resources in Nigeria
Influence of Sprouting on Proximate and Anti-nutritional Factors of Jacbean ( Canavalia ensiformis ) Flour
Get PDFThe influence of sprouting on proximate and anti-nutritional factors of
Jackbean flour was investigated. Jackbean was procured from the Genetic
Resources Unit of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. The seeds were carefully sorted and
sprouted for 10 days. The sprouted and unprocessed (control) bean were
then milled into flour and thereafter assessed for proximate and
antinutritional factors. The data generated were subjected to
statistical analyses using SAS 2.0 and SPSS 20.0 packages. The results
of influence of sprouting on proximate constituents and
anti-nutritional factors revealed that sprouting for nine days (S5)
resulted in flour sample with highest protein content and significant
reduction in anti-nutritional factors most especially trypsin inhibitor
from 32.08 \ub1 0.13; 29.18 \ub1 0.46 in control to 39.50 \ub1
0.06; 18.33 \ub1 0.03 in the sprouted samples respectively. Sprouting
thus had positive effect on proximate and anti-nutritional factors of
Jackbean flour
Effect of Planting Date on the Growth, Fibre and Seed Yield of Kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus L) in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria
Get PDFPlanting of kenaf usually commences from March - April as these months
mark the onset of the rainy season in Nigeria. On the contrary, it is
now difficult for anyone to predict when rain start due to climatic
variation. Hence, field experiments was conducted between 2015 and 2016
to determine the appropriate time of sowing kenaf that will optimize
its yield potential in South Western Nigeria. As a result of delay in
the commencement of rain, planting did not start until May. Hence,
kenaf seeds were sown in May, June, July and August at 30 days interval
in each year. The experiment was a 4
7 2 factorial laid out in a
randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The result
indicated that the highest fibre yield (1.00 t/ha) was from the kenaf
sown in June irrespective of the year, but not significantly different
from the one sown in July (0.98 t/ha). On the other hand, kenaf sown in
July had the highest seed yield (2.28 t/ha) with the lowest seed yield
(1.04 t/ha) obtained in May followed by August (1.19 t/ha). The
experiment conclusively affirm June for sowing of kenaf for fibre
cultivation and July for seed production
Automatic Water Level Control System Using Discretized Components
Get PDFThis study is based on the design of a portable automatic water level
control switch that is capable of switching on the pump when the water
level in the overhead tank goes low and switches it off as soon as the
water level reaches a pre-determined level to prevent dry-run of the
pump in case the level in the underground tank goes below the suction
level. The water in the tank is measured by the conductive probes and
displaced via the LED indicators. At maximum-set capacity the pump is
de-energized to automatically switch off, thereby stopping the inflow
of water into the tank. The design approach involves three major stages
which are: the power supply unit, the sensing unit, and the motoring
and relay unit. The uniqueness of this work is the use of discrete
components such as transistors to achieve water level control. This
approach is more economical, simpler and easier to implement than the
sophisticated programmable logic controllers and computerized
microprocessors
Antibacterial Metabolites Obtained from Fermentation of Peanut and Cowpea by Lactobacillus spp
Get PDFLactic acid bacteria elective habitat is food matrix, where they
release encrypted metabolites from several parent proteins as a result
of their proteolytic activity in the matrix. These metabolites when
decrypted confer different bioactive activity thus improving public
health. This study was aimed at producing peptide containing
metabolites with antibacterial efficacy from defatted cowpea and peanut
using Lactobacillus spp. Lactobacillus spp. isolated from spoilt
yoghurt were identified using culture dependent and independent method.
The isolates were screened for proteolytic ability on skimmed milk
agar. The selected isolate with highest proteolytic activity was used
for metabolites production through fermentation of defatted cowpea and
peanut at 37 oC for 72 h. Parameters analyzed during fermentation were
pH, Lactobacillus count, protease activity, peptide concentration and
antibacterial activity. The crude peptides produced were assayed for
antibacterial activity against bacteria isolated from spoilt meat. From
the identified Lactobacillus spp., L. plantarum CAU4347 had the
highest proteolytic activity with clear zone of 24.50 \ub1 0.707 mm.
During fermentation the highest and lowest Lactobacillus counts were
from cowpea and peanut media with values 294.2 \ub1 0.21
7107
and 0.60 \ub1 0.4
7107 cfu/ml respectively. Cowpea medium
inoculated with L. plantarum CAU4347, had the highest peptide
concentration of 79.92 \ub1 0.01 \u3bcg/ml. Consequently, peanut
medium showed higher antibacterial activity of 18 mm against
Escherichia coli . This result finding suggests that encrypted peptide
metabolites from cowpea and peanut flour can confer antibacterial
activity against meat spoilage bacteria thus could be utilized as a
potential bio-preservative
Assessment of Drinking and Irrigation Groundwater Quality in Bundung-West Coast, Gambia
No full textLaboratory investigation performed to examine the suitability of
groundwater quality from an open well, cover well and tap water for
drinking and irrigation purposes around Bundung West Coast of the
Gambia. The overall mean values obtained are; pH (7.89), Temperature
(26.5 oC), Electrical Conductivity (1070.8 mS/cm), Total Dissolved
Solids (696.00 mg/l), Salinity (0.44 %) and Faecal Coliforms
(55.2/100ml). The Coefficient of Variability (CV) among samples for
each analytical parameter was > 1, reflecting inconsistency among
analysed samples. Nitrate (9.2 mg/l), Phosphate (0.81 mg/l), Sulphate
(6.2 mg/l), Ammonia (1.61 mg/l), Nitrite (0.010 mg/l), Total Hardness
(273.9 mg/l) and Alkalinity113.5 mg/l) had shown high variance among
samples in the site (CV >1). Results of Total Hardness (273.9), is
indicative of contaminated groundwater. The microbiological properties
exposed colonies of microorganisms (coliforms) resulting from
contamination by faecal matter or seeping of sewage effluent into the
groundwater and hence unfit for consumption. The groundwater samples in
the study site were under high salinity class (>2250 \u3bcS/cm),
unsuitable for irrigation agriculture. The coefficient of variability
is > 1, high variance among samples in the entire site. Total
Dissolved Solids (CV>1) contents of the groundwater can be fit only
for tolerant crops. The findings suggest that groundwater is unsafe for
drinking purposes without decontamination, and measures should be in
place for quality water for irrigation agriculture
Effects of Annealing on the Structural and Optical Properties of Silver Thin Films
No full textSilver thin films were prepared on glass substrates using chemical bath
method. The thin films were annealed at different temperatures of 100
and 200oC for 1hour. The samples, as-prepared and annealed were
characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Uv-Vis
spectrophotometer. XRD results revealed that silver films present a
cubic phase with (111) preferred orientation. The XRD result and
analysis also revealed that the intensity of the peaks and the
crystallite size increase with increase in annealing temperature. All
the films showed very low transmittance within the visible region with
the 200oC annealed film having the highest at 1.4%. Reflectance was
found to reduce from 65% for the as-deposited film to as low as 17% for
the 200oC annealed film within the visible region of the wavelength.
The reflectance reduces with increase in annealing temperature. The
films also showed low percentage absorbance within the UV region of the
wavelength with the 200oC annealed film having the highest absorbance
of 2.79%
Geospatial Information as a Tool for Soil Resource Information, Management and Decision Support in Nigeria
No full textUnderstanding and addressing the complexity of soil resources
management and factors involved requires collection and interpretation
of relevant data that will serve as decision support tools. Geospatial
information is a veritable tool for soil resource information and
decision support for soil management, which is yet to be well embraced
in Nigeria. This paper emphasized the importance of geospatial
information as a decision support tool to make better and informed
decision in the management of soil resources. It also reviewed and
discussed status of soil information systems and need to promote
strategies for sustainable soil resource development in the country
Acquisition of Current and Vibration Data for Rewound Burnt Three-Phase Induction Motor
No full textInduction motors are used in the industries for various applications
because they are reliable and rugged. However, late detection of faults
and inappropriate maintenance of the machine often leads to damage of
the windings which results in production losses and outright
replacement. This study presents the use of a data acquisition system
(DAS) to acquire current and vibration data of re-designed and re-wound
burnt three-phase induction motor for the purpose of the motor faults
analysis. The designed number of turns per pole per phase is 253 turns
which were distributed in four slots per phase at 64, 63, 63 and 63
turns respectively. The DAS developed was used to acquire the current
and vibration data at both normal and fault conditions through tapings
prepared for the purpose. The average value of normal current data in
the red, yellow and blue phases from the sampled data are 3.4 A, 3.1 A
and 2.7A respectively. The average currents during short circuit
between phase A and phase B are 11.3 A and 12.2 A respectively while
vibration fault data stands at 1.62. Also, for the inter-turn short
circuit in phase A, the average value of the currents in the phases are
12.1A, 3.1A and 2.7A respectively. The Mean Square Error value of the
acquired and measured data is 0.00002