Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation of Mass Transfer during Deep-Fat Frying of Plantain (\u3ci\u3eMusa paradisiacal\u3c/i\u3e AAB) Chips (\u3ci\u3eipekere\u3c/i\u3e)

This study developed a mathematical model following the fundamental principles of mass transfer for the simulation of the oil and moisture content change during the Deep-Fat Frying of plantain (ipekere) chip. The explicit Finite Difference Technique (FDT) was used to conduct a numerical solution to the consequential governing equation (partial differential equation) that was used to describe the mass transfer rate during the process. Computer codes that were computed in MATLAB were used for the implementation of FDT at diverse frying conditions. Samples of the plantain were cut into portions of 2 mm thickness, and these sliced portions were fried at separate frying oil temperatures (170, 180 and 190°C) between 0.5 and 4 minutes. The experimental data and the predicted outcomes were compared for the validation of the model, and the juxtaposition revealed a plausible agreement. The predicted values and the experimental values of oil and moisture transfer models produced correlation coefficients that range from 0.96 to 0.99 and 0.94 to 0.99, respectively. The predicted outcomes could be utilized for the control and design of the DFF

Inhibitory Effect of Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis Leaves on Ferrous Sulphate and Sodium Nitroprusside Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat’s Testes in Vitro

Oxidative stress has been identified as one of the factors that affects fertility status. Therefore, this study sought to in-vestigate the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis leaves on FeSO4 and So-dium Nitroprusside (SNP) induced lipid peroxidation in rat testes in vitro. Incubation of the testes tissue homogenate in the presence of FeSO4 and SNP caused a significant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of the testes. The aqueous extract from both Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis leaves caused a significant decrease in the MDA contents of the testes in a dose-dependent manner. However, aqueous extract from Moringa oleifera leaf (EC50 = 0.29 mg/ml) had a significant (P < 0.05) higher inhibitory effect on Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation in the rat testes homoge-nate than that of Newbuoldia laevis leaf extract (EC50 = 0.58 mg/ml); while there was no significant (P < 0.05) differ-ence between the plant extracts on SNP induced lipid peroxidation in the rat testes homogenates. Therefore, part of the mechanisms through which the water extractable phytochemicals in the leaves protect the testes from oxidative stress may be through their antioxidant activity; DPPH scavenging ability, Fe2+ chelating and reducing power. Therefore, these plants have potential to prevent oxidative stress in testes and improve fertility outcomes

Characterization of Thiosulphate: Cyanide sulphur transferase from the gut and body segments of Earthworm Hyperiodrilus africanus

Cyanide compounds that are by products of industrial activities are known to pose serious environmental pollution. The use of these cyanide compounds by the mining industry, along with limitations in the analysis and monitoring of these compounds, raises serious concerns regarding environmental protection and public safety. Hyperiodrilus africanus (earthworm) is directly employed within bioremediation strategies to promote biodegradation of organic contaminants and thus could be employed to rejuvenate cyanide contaminated soils. Cyanides detoxification could also prevent the risk of cyanide poisoning in poultry animals by converting cyanides in forages to a less toxic compound. This work is designed to extract and characterize rhodanese (thiosulphate: cyanide sulphur transferase, (EC 2.8.1.1) from the gut and body segments of H. africanus collected from the swampy area along Uren bank river in Ikenne community of Ogun State, Nigeria. Our results show total rhodanese activities of 1434.50 RU and 2274.28 RU and specific activities of 108.01 RUmg-1 and 83.1901 RUmg-1 in the gut and body segments of H. africanus respectively. The optimum temperature of 25 \u2daC and optimum pH of 10.5 were obtained for both the gut and body segments enzymes. The enzyme obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the kinetic constants, Km and Vmax in the gut segment were 33.33 mM and 62.50 RU/ml for KCN substrate and 22.22 mM and 41.67 RU/ml for Na2S2O3 substrates. In the body segment, the Km and Vmax were 33.33 mM and 83.33 RU/ml; 15.38 mM and 4.00 RU/ml for the KCN and Na2S2O3 substrates respectively. Hence, we conclude that the enzyme is more specific for Na2S2O3 than KCN as substrates, though maximum activity was observed in the body segment for KCN substrate. Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, K+, Na+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ metal ion salts activated the body segment rhodanese at 1 mM and 5 mM concentrations while they have no effect on the gut segment rhodanese from earthworm. On the basis of these findings we conclude that earthworm could detoxify cyanide-containing wastes/forages and therefore promote biodegradation

A Four Year Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Adolescent Health Characteristics and Behavioral Risk Indicators (Attitudes)

266 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1986.The main purpose of the current study (84/85) was to identify the precursors and determinants of the development and maintenance of behaviors in adolescents conducive to cardiovascular health. The study also focused on monitoring and tracking the previously classified (1981/82) &quot;at-risk&quot; students.A sample of 935 high school students in Central Illinois, with baseline ages 14-16 was followed-up for four years (1981-85). Selected biomedical measures of blood pressure--(systolic and diastolic), triceps skinfold thickness, Body Mass Index (BMI), Percent ideal Body Weight (PIBW), anthropometric, socio-demographic, and self-reported behavior and attitudinal variables were assessed. Subjects were initially and currently identified as &quot;potentially at-risk&quot; if their biomedical measures equaled or exceeded the 75th percentile ranking for their age, sex and racial group. Analysis of data included the McNemar's statistical test of symmetry, chi-square, ANOVA, t-test, Pearson Moment Correlation, principal factor analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis.Results indicated that a high proportion of the &quot;at-risk&quot; potential group had negative health behavioral characteristics--(smoking, exercise, diet and alcohol intake); although there was no statistically significant associations between the potentially health compromising behavior and &quot;at-risk&quot; characteristics of the adolescents. About 18% of the matched cases tracked in two or more risk indicators over the four years. Among the sex-race groups, white males and non-white females showed a higher tracking tendency in the &quot;at-risk&quot; category. About 15% of the sample were obese (i.e. both overweight and overfat) according to the criteria adopted for this study. Major predictors of blood pressure in this adolescent sample as determined by stepwise multiple regression analysis included BMI, pulse, PIBW, triceps skinfold, smoking, alcohol consumption, stress level, race, mother's and father's education and type of work done by both mother and father of the respondents.The study identified &quot;potential high risk group&quot; of adolescents for future chronic diseases. Therefore, efforts should be directed to the adolescent years to prevent or retard the developmental stages of chronic disease most especially cardiovascular diseases. Programs that could modify lifestyle behavioral changes need to be developed for this age group.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation of Mass Transfer During Deep-Fat Frying of Plantain (Musa paradisiacal AAB) Chips (ipekere)

This study developed a mathematical model following the fundamental principles of mass transfer for the simulation of the oil and moisture content change during the Deep-Fat Frying of plantain (ipekere) chip. The explicit Finite Difference Technique (FDT) was used to conduct a numerical solution to the consequential governing equation (partial differential equation) that was used to describe the mass transfer rate during the process. Computer codes that were computed in MATLAB were used for the implementation of FDT at diverse frying conditions. Samples of the plantain were cut into portions of 2 mm thickness, and these sliced portions were fried at separate frying oil temperatures (170, 180 and 190°C) between 0.5 and 4 minutes. The experimental data and the predicted outcomes were compared for the validation of the model, and the juxtaposition revealed a plausible agreement. The predicted values and the experimental values of oil and moisture transfer models produced correlation coefficients that range from 0.96 to 0.99 and 0.94 to 0.99, respectively. The predicted outcomes could be utilized for the control and design of the DFF