Effects of different packaging materials on the chemical and sensory properties of moi-moi

The preparation of moi-moi usually involves wrapping of cowpea slurry with packaging materials such as broad leaves, aluminium foils, aluminium cans, nylon, plastic plate or stainless steel plate before cooking to form a gel. There are concerns that these packaging materials are pathways for the migration of hazardous substances into the food. The packaging materials and ingredients for moi-moi preparation were obtained from Ndoro Oboro periodic market, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. The moi-moi mix was prepared using standard method and wrapped in the packaging materials listed before cooking. The proximate composition, heavy metals and volatile components of moi-moi samples were characterized using standard methods. The moisture, crude protein, fat and ash content of the samples were significantly affected by packaging material. The nickel content of the moi-moi samples ranged from 0.017 (in moi-moi cooked with plastic plate) to 0.335 mg/l (in moi-moi cooked with Aluminium foil). The cadmium content ranged from 0.031mg/l (in moi-moi cooked with leaves) to 0.092mg/l (in moi-moi cooked in aluminium foil). The aluminium content of the samples packaged in aluminium can and aluminium foil was significantly higher than that of the other samples. The lead content ranged from 0.009mg/l (in moi-moi packaged in stainless steel) to 0.036mg/l (in moi-moi packaged in plastic plate, aluminium can and nylon). A total of seventy seven (77) volatile compounds were identified in the moi-moi samples, some of which were suspected to have migrated from the packaging materials. Among which were Morphinan-4, 5-epoxy-3, 6-di-ol, 6,-[7-nitronenzofuran-4-yl] amino which was identified in moi-moi cooked in leaves and is a by-product of polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs) used as pesticide. The compound;10-Acetoxy-2-hydroxy-1,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,9,10,11,12,12a,12b,13,14b octadecahydro present in the moi-moi packaged in nylon is likely to be a product of triacetin used for manufacturing food contact plastics. The results from this study indicate that packaging materials have significant effects on the proximate, heavy metals, sensory and volatile compounds composition of moi-moi produced from the same bean slurry

Estimating a class of triangular simultaneous equations models without exclusion restrictions

This paper provides a control function estimator to adjust for endogeneity in the triangular simultaneous equations model where there are no available exclusion restrictions to generate suitable instruments. Our approach is to exploit the dependence of the errors on exogenous variables (e.g. heteroscedasticity) to adjust the conventional control function estimator. The form of the error dependence on the exogenous variables is subject to restrictions, but is not parametrically specified. In addition to providing the estimator and deriving its large-sample properties, we present simulation evidence which indicates the estimator works well.

Ribose 2′-O-methylation provides a molecular signature for the distinction of self and non-self mRNA dependent on the RNA sensor Mda5

The 5'-cap-structures of higher eukaryote mRNAs are ribose 2'-O-methylated. Likewise, a number of viruses replicating in the cytoplasm of eukayotes have evolved 2'-O-methyltransferases to modify autonomously their mRNAs. However, a defined biological role of mRNA 2'-O-methylation remains elusive. Here we show that viral mRNA 2'-O-methylation is critically involved in subversion of type-I-interferon (IFN-I) induction. We demonstrate that human and murine coronavirus 2'-O-methyltransferase mutants induce increased IFN-I expression, and are highly IFN-I sensitive. Importantly, IFN-I induction by 2'-O-methyltransferase-deficient viruses is dependent on the cytoplasmic RNA sensor melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5). This link between MDA5-mediated sensing of viral RNA and mRNA 2'-O-methylation suggests that RNA modifications, such as 2'-O-methylation, provide a molecular signature for the discrimination of self and non-self mRNA

Development, comparison and nutrient evaluation of moi-moi from different varieties of beans

This research on comparative nutrient compositions of moi-moi from different varieties of beans was aimed towards improving the utilization of underutilized beans varieties in moi-moi processing. The moi-moi samples were assessed for proximate, vitamins and minerals composition using standard methods. Proximate analyzes results showed that moisture ranged from 15.75 to 19.37 %, crude protein 15.92 to 21.64 %, crude fiber 1.95 to 4.11 %, fat content 3.53 to 9.57 %, ash content 2.17 to 3.18 %, carbohydrate content 49.71 to 54.66 %, the energy value 316.30 to 341.70 kcal/100 g. Mineral composition showed calcium content ranged from 13.22 to 48.23 mg/100 g, magnesium 29.95 to 71.37 mg/100 g, phosphorus 192.23 to 388.56 mg/100 g, potassium 102.74 to 248.34 mg/100 g, iron 1.76 to 3.27 mg/100 g, and zinc ranged from 1.13 to 1.56 mg/100 g. Vitamin composition of the moi-moi ranged from 77.51 to 166.08 µg/100 g for vitamin A, 0.07 to 0.26 mg/100 g for B1, 0.06 to 0.12 mg/100 g for B2, 0.40 to 1.18 mg/100 g for B3, and vitamin E content ranged from 2.46 to 4.27 mg/100 g.  Moi-moi from these underutilized beans varieties compared favorably with moi-moi from cowpea, in terms of nutrient composition. The carbohydrate and fat component of the black turtle beans moi-moi was higher than that of cowpea, while its moisture value was the least among the samples. The red kidney beans also recorded a protein value, very close to that of cowpea. This result will encourage the utilization of these underutilized crops, while making them available for use in other forms, order than moi-mo

Clamence et l’interlocuteur : pragmatique de la manipulation et de l’identification dans le discours de La Chute de Camus

Le double jeu de Clamence, à la fois juge et pénitent dans l’interface de l’être et du paraître, semble être le ressort de l’identification du lecteur à l’interlocuteur. Clamence s’adresse à une sorte de grand énonciataire : l’humanité en général et par ricochet le lecteur. La pragmatique du discours de La Chute se construit sur quatre actants : énonciateur-locuteur / interlocuteur-énonciataire. Ces deux entités n’en font qu’une seule et, par contrecoup, l’énonciateur sera assimilé à l’énonciataire par le biais du lecteur. Dans La Chute, émerge en fait tout un jeu de miroirs discursifs dans lequel, d’une part, Clamence élabore son mea culpa et, d’autre part, juge l’humanité comme s’il était une sorte de démiurge divin. Le réquisitoire s’achève sur une note pessimiste qui ne fait que traduire une farce noire dont le procès discursif n’est que pure ironie.The interplay between being and seeming, as well as the double game of Clamence, the judge-penitent, are the motivating forces behind the reader’s identification to the addressee. Clamence addresses a kind of global receiver, viz. Mankind and, by the same token, the reader. The pragmatics of discourse in Camus’ The Fall depends on four agents: the sender-addresser and the addressee-receiver. The two pairs are in fact only one and in such a way that the sender and the receiver become one and the same for the reader. The Fall is built around a series of discursive mirror games allowing Clamence both to blame himself and to judge mankind as though he were a demiurge. The indictment ends on a darker note, turning the whole situation into a farce whose discursive process is essentially ironic

The Impacts of Cash and In-Kind Transfers on Consumption and Labor Supply: Experimental Evidence from Rural Mexico

The authors use the unique experimental design of the Food Support Program (Programa Apoyo Alimentario) to analyze in-kind and cash transfers in the poor rural areas of southern states of Mexico. They compare the impacts of monthly in-kind and cash transfers of equivalent value (mean share 11.5 percent of pre-program consumption) on household welfare as measured by food and total consumption, adult labor supply, and poverty. The results show that approximately two years later the transfer has a large and positive impact on total and food consumption. There are no differences in the size of the effect of transfer in cash versus transfers in-kind on consumption. The transfer, irrespective of type, does not affect overall participation in labor market activities but induces beneficiary households to switch their labor allocation from agricultural to nonagricultural activities. The analysis finds that the program leads to a significant reduction in poverty. Overall, the findings suggest that the Food Support Program intervention is able to relax the binding liquidity constraints faced by poor agricultural households, and thus increases both equity and efficiency.Adult Work Incentives; Cash Transfers; Consumption; Difference-in-Differences; In-Kind Transfers; Mexico; Poverty Measures; PAL; Randomized design.

Modelling bacteria and bacteriophage population dynamics

Moreover, it is necessary to evaluate and to understand the phage and bacteria population dynamics in order to foresee its potential for use in vivo. To understand how natural communities are affected by environmental factors and will respond in time, it is important to develop predictive models. The aim of the present work was the development of a dynamic model that predicts the interaction between a Salmonella phage and its respective host. Simulated data are compared with the data obtained experimentally to assess the suitability of the model for two multiplicity of infection (MOI): 0.1 and 1.0. For a high multiplicity of infection (MOI=1.0), the simulated and experimental data have a better correlation than for a low MOI (0.1). In this case, the differences were also more notorious for bacterial concentration. From the results it can be concluded that the model produces better correlations in terms of phage concentration, when a higher MOI is used. So, for a high MOI (MOI=1), given the initial values and the parameters used in the model, we can predict the concentration of phage and bacteria. In this way, the model can be used to predict the amount of phage obtained in the production process. It is expected that the developed model may help the optimization of phage production and the guidance of the experimental studies of population dynamics by identifying and evaluating the relative contribution of phage and bacteria in the course and outcome of an infection