Recent Advances in Solar Drying of Agricultural Produce in Nigeria: NSPRI Experience

Agricultural products are dried to enhance storage stability, in order to reduce post harvest losses, minimize packaging requirement and reduce transport weight. Crop drying through the sun is the most common practice in the country due to its no energy cost but often result in poor quality, unhygienic and contaminated products. This has been a major threat to food safety. Energy consumption and quality of dried products are critical parameters in the selection of drying process. An optimum drying system for the preparation of quality dehydrated products is supposed to be cost effective with less drying time and damage to the product. To reduce the energy utilization and operational cost as well to further produce high quality safe products, new trends in solar drying system were developed by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) in order to proffer solutions to the threat in food safety as well as farmers and processors quest for drying with minimal energy cost.  The technologies include mobile solar tent dryers, green house solar tent dryers and parabolic solar tent dryers. These entire dryers have great scope for the production of quality dried products and powders. These advancements have taken the advantage of material selection, design calculations to improve on the technology in order to achieve quality output in terms of environmental parameters and product quality. The advancement has also taken care of times of low solar irradiance especially during the rainy season which is highly humid. The temperature range obtained from the mobile, green house and parabolic solar dryers are 20 – 59.5°C, 21.5 - 68°C, and 25-78°C respectively while their respective  average relative humidity are 71.64%, 60.21%, 49.77%. The ambient temperature range and relative humidity are 20 – 42.5°C and 74.88%. Experimental studies on the performance of the varied solar tent dryers were conducted using Chilli Pepper, Yam, Meat, Fish, Vegetables and plantain have been carried out the Beef meat, Chilli pepper and Telefeiria occidentalis vegetable were dried in the mobile solar tent dryer, greenhouse  solar dryer and parabolic solar dryer. The beef of 71.243% initial moisture content was dried to 12.15%, 12.01% and 10.09% in the aforementioned respective dryers within a period of 5 days. Also the chilli pepper of 89.40% initial moisture content was dried to 12%, 11.3% and 9.3% moisture content respectively in the dryers within a period of 8 days; while the Telefairia occidentalis vegetable of 11.0% initial moisture content was dried within a period of 5 hours to 6.0%, 5.5% and 4.0% moisture content

Large Mammals and Wetland utilization: a case study in Yankari Game Reserve Nigeria

The African plain harbours high abundance and diversity of mammals, most of which are confined to protected areas (PAs) due to anthro‐ pogenic threats (Craigie et al., 2010; Dirzo et al., 2014; Estes, 1999; Kingdon, 1997). Also, PAs face problems of hunting, logging and live‐ stock grazing, conflict of interest and poor management (Caro, 2001; Dharmaratne, Sang, &Walling, 2000; Gardner et al., 2009; Geldmann et al., 2015; Geldmann et al., 2015; Hall, Harris, Medjibe, & Ashton, 2003; Pressey, 1994; Salum, Eustace, Malata, & Mbangwa, 2017; Thuiller, 2007), consequently disrupting conservation goals, effective monitor‐ ing and understanding of habitat utilisation dynamics of mammals. Although wetlands are important habitats for sustaining animal populations, there is a widespread trend of increasing degradation of these habitats (Fynn, Chase, & Rӧder, 2014) and dearth of infor‐ mation pertaining to wetland utilisation in most PAs. While this is integral for effective conservation practice, few studies focus on this area in Africa (Arzamendia, Cassini, & Vila, 2006; Kumar, Mudappa, & Raman, 2010; Rahman et al., 2017). Here, we investigated the wet‐ land utilisation dynamics of large mammals in Yankari Game Reserve (YGR). The objective was to determine abundance, density and di‐ versity of large mammals and whether these variables were associ‐ ated with wetland size and time of da

Effect of Temperature on Drying Characteristics and Quality of Three Nigerian Onion Varieties Using a Fabricated Electrically Powered Dryer

The research work is done to evaluate the effect of temperature on drying characteristics and quality of red, cream and white varieties Nigerian onion using a locally fabricated electrically powered dryer. Clean onion samples of 1.5 kg from each of the three varieties were sliced into 3 mm thickness. Fresh samples of the three onion varieties were analyzed to determine the initial values of protein, fat, ash, crude fibre, and moisture content on a dried basis (m.c.d.b.) using recommended AOAC methods.. Vitamin C and microbial loads content were determined before loading into a locally fabricated electrically-powered dryer. The onion samples were dried at varying pre-determined temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 oC. After drying, the proximate compositions, vitamin C and microbial loads were also determined. The protein, fat, ash and crude fibre of the fresh onion samples were 1.5, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.5%, respectively, while m.c.d.b, vitamin C content and microbial loads ranged from 85.1-88.2%, 8.1-8.3 mg/100 gm and 4.45-5.39 mg. Red onion samples were dried for 13:15h, 12:10h and 10:30h; white onion samples for 13:00h, 12:25h and 10:40h; while cream onion samples for 13:10h, 12:35h and 10:15h at 50, 60, and 70 oC, respectively. The protein, fat, ash, crude fibre, m.c.d.b, vitamin C content and microbial loads of the dried onion samples at all the drying temperatures ranged from 10.110.4, 1.1-1.5, 3.3-3.5, 5.5-5.8, 5.5-6.9%, 3.1-4.9 mg/100 gm, 1.314.17 mg, respectively. The drying temperature had a significant effect (p-value < 0.05) on the quality of all the onion samples. At 70 oC, protein, fibre, ash, fat and pungency retention were significantly (p< 0.05) high and within acceptable limits while microbial loads were low with the reduction in Vitamin C contents in all the onion varieties. Therefore, onion can best be dried at 70 oC to achieve the optimum quality and flavour required for its use as a spice

Talent management practices on employee performance: a mediating role of employee engagement in institution of higher learning: quantitative analysis

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of talent management (TM) practices on employee performance (EP) and to explore the mediating role of employee engagement (EE) on the relationship between TM practices and EP in Malaysian private universities (MPUs). Design/methodology/approach: The paper used both descriptive and quantitative approaches, and the unit of analysis of this research consists of MPUs academic staff. The research sample consists of 314 MPUs academic staff, and a questionnaire was used to collect data from the target respondents, while partial least squares-structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the study hypotheses through bootstrapping approach. Findings: The research outcome revealed that TM practices that comprise of talent recruitment practice (TRP), training and development practice (T&DP), compensation practice (CP) have a significant effect on EP. Furthermore, EE partially mediates the relationship between T&DP, CP and EP, while EE does not mediate the relationship between TRP and EP in MPUs. Practical implications: The research suggests that universities management should focus on TM practices as a tool to achieve and maintain EE and positive attitudes (EP) in relation to work. Originality/value: The research makes substantial contributions to the literature by investigating the effect of TM practices on EP through the role of EE as mediation in MPUs. The research is one of the very few studies undertaken in MPUs. Therefore, the results of this research serve as a guide for the universities management to develop their institutional strategies and policies in a manner in which their employees’ success can be achieved and encouraged.International Journal of Business and Society

Early infant diagnosis of HIV infection at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Monrovia, Liberia

Background: Vertical transmission accounts for majority of new HIV infections among children worldwide. Ninety percent of HIV-positive children reside in Sub- Saharan Africa with their infection predominantly acquired via vertical transmission. In 2004, the vertical transmission rate of HIV in Africa was estimated at 25 − 40% but, remarkably, the rate has significantly decreased to less than 5% in most African countries following implementation and expansion of prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) programs. Objective: To determine the rate of and factors associated with vertical transmission of HIV among attendees of early infant diagnosis (EID) program of an academic and community-based tertiary facility in Liberia. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of babies seen at Pediatric Unit of Infectious Disease Clinic of John F Kennedy Medical Center (JFKMC) in Monrovia, Liberia between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020. All subjects were children born to HIV-positive mothers and who had HIV DNA PCR testing performed between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 months. Children who suffered early neonatal death and those who did not undergo PCR testing were excluded. Demographics of mother to child pairs as well as factors known to influence vertical transmission of HIV such as partial (15.8%) or full (84.2%) participation in prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) programs, mode of delivery, breastfeeding and utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis were collected and assessed. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with vertical transmission. Results: During the study timeframe, 284 children had a HIV DNA PCR test with a male:female ratio − 1.3:1. Sixteen tested positive (conducted at a mean of 155 days post birth) giving a vertical transmission rate of 5.6%. For 239 mothers (84.2%) who had full PMTCT, 1.3% of their children tested positive, while for 45 mothers (15.8%) who had partial PMTCT, 28.8% of their children being positive. Two hundred and seventy six children (97%) had exclusive breastfeeding, 13 of whom tested positive while 2 children who were mixed fed tested positive. Children who had Nevirapine vs no prophylaxis (OR = 1.89[95% CI 1.16 − 2.96]), were delivered via caesarian section vs vaginal delivery (OR= 2.26[95% CI 1.92 − 4.12].) and full versus partial participation in PMTCT programs (OR = 4.02[95% CI 2.06 − 4.13] were more likely to have negative HIV test. Conclusion: Vertical transmission rate was found to be high in Liberia and may be driven by suboptimal PMTCT program participation including post-exposure prophylaxis for infants. Therefore, strategies to scale up and improve uptake of PMTCT services are needed to mitigate the burden of HIV among children

RECENT ADVANCES IN SOLAR DRYING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE IN NIGERIA: NSPRI EXPERIENCE

Agricultural products are dried to enhance storage stability, in order to reduce post harvest losses, minimize packaging requirement and reduce transport weight. Crop drying through the sun is the most common practice in the country due to its no energy cost but often result in poor quality, unhygienic and contaminated products. This has been a major threat to food safety. Energy consumption and quality of dried products are critical parameters in the selection of drying process. An optimum drying system for the preparation of quality dehydrated products is supposed to be cost effective with less drying time and damage to the product. To reduce the energy utilization and operational cost as well to further produce high quality safe products, new trends in solar drying system were developed by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) in order to proffer solutions to the threat in food safety as well as farmers and processors quest for drying with minimal energy cost. The technologies include mobile solar tent dryers, green house solar tent dryers and parabolic solar tent dryers. These entire dryers have great scope for the production of quality dried products and powders. These advancements have taken the advantage of material selection, design calculations to improve on the technology in order to achieve quality output in terms of environmental parameters and product quality. The advancement has also taken care of times of low solar irradiance especially during the rainy season which is highly humid. The temperature range obtained from the mobile, green house and parabolic solar dryers are 20 – 59.5oC, 21.5 - 68oC, and 25-78oC respectively while their respective average relative humidity are 71.64%, 60.21%, 49.77%. The ambient temperature range and relative humidity are 20 – 42.5oC and 74.88%. Experimental studies on the performance of the varied solar tent dryers were conducted using Chilli Pepper, Yam, Meat, Fish, Vegetables and plantain have been carried out the Beef meat, Chilli pepper and Telefeiria occidentalis vegetable were dried in the mobile solar tent dryer, greenhouse solar dryer and parabolic solar dryer. The beef of 71.243% initial moisture content was dried to 12.15%, 12.01% and 10.09% in the aforementioned respective dryers within a period of 5 days. Also the chilli pepper of 89.40% initial moisture content was dried to 12%, 11.3% and 9.3% moisture content respectively in the dryers within a period of 8 days; while the Telefairia occidentalis vegetable of 11.0% initial moisture content was dried within a period of 5 hours to 6.0%, 5.5% and 4.0% moisture content

Evaluation of NSPRI Solar Dryers for Yam Chips Production (Elubo)

This study evaluated the two solar dryers developed at Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) - Parabolic Shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD) and Solar Tent Dryer (STD). The evaluation was conducted using yam chips (Elubo) in Ilorin. The yam chip was soaked in water at three different temperatures: 80, 90 and 100°C, and allowed to cool in the water for 15 hours prior to drying. The yam samples were then spread on trays in each of the PSSD, STD dryers and Ambient. A TEKCOPLUS THTK-6, K- Type 4-channel thermocouple was fitted in each of the dryers to monitor the drying temperature inside the dryers and ambient. The study considered sun drying as the control. The product samples were subjected to proximate composition determination. The moisture content of the samples was also monitored daily. Means of data collected were compared using graphs and 2-way ANOVA using Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPSS version 20. The results showed higher temperatures recorded in the dryers (PSSD= 40.77 ± 1.24°C and STD= 34.62 ± 0.70°C) compared to what was obtained in the ambient (33.59 ± 0.38°C). This resulted in a higher drying rate in PSSD and STD at an average of 0.57 kg/day and 0.52 kg/day respectively compared to the control (0.46 kg/day). Drying in PSSD was completed in 3 days with final moisture content of 7.53%, while it lasted for 4 days in STD and Control with final moisture contents of 8.98% and 9.37% respectively. Similarly, carbohydrate and crude protein were found to be significantly higher in samples dried in PSSD compared to STD and the Controlled samples (P≤0.05). The result of microbial quality evaluation revealed that the bacteria and fungi counts of the dried yam chip samples inside PSSD and STD were within the acceptable standard of ≤ 300 Cfu/ml, lower than that of the control sample where higher value (1.80 x 103 Cfu/ml) was recorded. Therefore, both PSSD and STD are potentially viable for safe production of yam chips of high quality for human consumption

Mediating mechanism of customer satisfaction on customer relationship management implementation and customer loyalty among consolidated banks

The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating mechanism of customer satisfaction (CS) on customer relationship management (CRM) and customer loyalty (CL) among Nigerian consolidated banks. This paper used a survey research design, and the study unit of analysis consists of selected customers among Nigerian consolidated banks. This study used a purposive sampling technique whereby structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 750 customers of the 5 focused banks in Kano State, Nigeria. Partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to evaluate the study hypotheses. The outcome of the study revealed that CRM has a significant effect on CL while CS partially mediates CRM and CL relationship. This paper provides substantial results to practitioners to realize the role of developing a CRM strategy in the Nigerian banking industry. In line with that, the management of the banks should build sound CRM components such as process fit, customer information quality and information system support to deliver sound services in order to operate and compete in the banking ecosystem effectively. This paper has made a substantial contribution to the body of knowledge in the CS, CL, and CRM literature by operationalizing it within the Nigerian banking industry