Numerical estimation of moisture content in spray dried juice powder

The moisture contents of powders is an important parameter that affects the quality and commercial value of spray dried products. The utility of predicted moisture content values from two droplet drying models were compared with experimental data for spray dried pineapple juice, using the Ranz-Marshal and its modified variants for the heat and mass transfer correlations. The droplet Diffusion model, using the Zhifu correlation, gave estimates with errors of about 8 at 165 °C, 9 at 171 °C, 26 at 179 °C and 2 at 185 °C. The Ranz-Marshal correlation also gave comparable results with this model while results using the Downing and modified Ranz-Marshall correlations widely diverged. The Energy balance model predicted completely dried juice particles, and short drying times, in contrast to the experimental data. The small error sizes of the Diffusion model improves on the wide error sizes of an earlier process model, making is useful as a first approximation choice, for spray drier design and simulation, especially for juices under comparable operating conditions

Response of Broiler Birds to Choline Chloride in Semi Arid Sokoto, Nigeria

A study was carried out to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler birds fed with varying level of choline inclusion in their diets; T1 (control), T2 (10g/10kg) and T3 (20g/10kg). A total of 225 marshall broiler chicks were randomly divided into three (3) treatment group of 75 birds each. Each group was divided into five (5) replicates of fifteen (15) birds each laid in a completely randomized design. Feed and water was supplied ad-libitum and the experiment lasted for 49 days. The total feed intake (1316.75-14442.18) (24437.13-31999.76) for starter and finisher respectively, body weight gain (6227.30-8241.20) (10956.64-14182.96) for starter and finisher respectively, feed conversion ratio (1.73-2.26) (2.21-2.48) for starter and finisher respectively. Many (thigh, wings, back) of the carcass parameters measured were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the treatments but significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in drum stick, breast and neck.  However, significant difference (p<0.05) was also observed in gizzard, liver and bile, heart, lungs, legs and head. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in primal cuts per live weight, primal cuts per dressed weight, organs per live weight and organs per dressed weight. In view of the results obtained, it can be concluded that treatment two (10g/10kg) performed better in terms of total body weight (TBW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Also in the carcass characteristics, treatment two performed better in terms of breast yield, drumstick, percentage of primal cuts from live weight (P/LW) and percentage of primal cuts from dressed weight

Synthesis, characterization, in-vitro anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial screening of metal(II) mixed diclofenac and acetaminophen complexes

Mixed ligand complexes derived from diclofenac potassium salt (Kdc) and acetaminophen (ace) has been synthesized and proposed to have a general formula [MB] where M = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+and B = (ace)(dc)(H2O)2 except for Mn2+ complex which exists as [Mn(ace)(dc)OH2]. The complexes were characterized by solubility, melting point, conductivity, elemental analyses, UV-Vis, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) study and magnetic susceptibility measurement. Electronic absorption spectra data are characteristic of octahedral structures for [MB]. The IR spectra revealed a bidentate coordination mode. In acetaminophen, the nitrogen and carbonyl-O atoms of the amide group were involved while the carboxylate oxygen atoms of potassium diclofenac were used; typical of a carboxylic acid derivative. The compounds were screened for in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of albumin denaturation assay and antimicrobial activity against bacteria strains: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthrax, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and a fungus Aspergillus niger. Some of the tested compounds showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity when compared to the standard drug diclofenac potassium salt. The in-vitro antimicrobial screening revealed an increased activity of the complexes against the bacteria isolates compared to the free ligands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KEY WORDS: Metal(II) ion, NSAIDs, Anti-inflammatory activity, Diclofenac potassium salt, XRPD, Antimicrobial activity &nbsp; Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(1), 77-86. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i1.

Process simulation of pineapple juice spray drying

Pineapple juice is one of the known natural sources of bromelain, a bioactive compound beneficial to health. The dried powder has potential commercial value and is a convenient source of the juice drink. The quality of spray dried pineapple juice is dependent on the powder moisture content. Spray dried pineapple powders with low moisture contents were produced in a lab-scale spray dryer in this study. Powder production of 25% of total solids were obtained by use of DE6 maltodextrin to solids ratio of 0.41:0.59. A heat and mass transfer model of the spray drying process was implemented in Matlab and solved to determine its predictive utility. The simulation results showed agreement with experimental data at high inlet air temperatures but widely diverged at other air temperatures. The error size in predicted product moisture varied from 73% at 165 oC to almost zero at 185 oC while that for the predicted exit air temperatures varied from about 38% to zero over the same temperature range. Accuracy can be improved if transient heat effects, and sub models for the feed drying are included in the model

Estimation of Human Health Risk Due to Heavy Metals around Schools and Auto-Mobile Workshops near Frequented Roads in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Heavy metals are widely known for their potential to cause carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. In this work, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with heavy metals in the vicinity of schools and auto mechanic workshops close to busy roads in Kaduna state was assessed using NEX CG EDXRF MODEL with brand name RIGAKU situated at a UTM Laboratory, Malaysia. The obtained heavy metals concentrations were used to estimate the health effects that might result from exposure to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic chemicals for both the population ages using US EPA methodology. Findings indicated that in some locations the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards associated with exposure for residents was greater than the US EPA acceptable thresholds of 10-4 and 1 respectively. This indicated that the heavy metals may result to unacceptable carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, which is an issue of concern in public health especially looking at the way school children play around these areas. The present study therefore provides scientific basis for strategies required to protect human and environmental health in schools and automobile workshops

L’ETHIQUE EN MATIERE DE SANTE ENTRE ANTINOMIES, LIBERTE DE CHOIX ET DIFFICULTE DU QUOTIDIEN

The progressive increase of biotechnology, of more and more sophisticated and customized drugs, springs from a real requirement of citizens or instead from an offer coming from different corporations? Ethics in health care is everyday more contradictory, permeated by antinomies, freedom of choice, inequalities and problems connected to everyday life

Hepatoprotective Effect of Camel Milk on Poloxamer 407 Induced Hyperlipidaemic Wistar Rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of oral administration of camel milk on liver enzymes, total proteins and histology of poloxamer 407 induced hyperlipidaemic wistar rats.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty male wistar rats weighing between 150-200 g were randomly assigned into six groups of five each; group I: administered distilled water, group II: induced with P407, group III: induced with P407 and treated with atorvastatin (20 mg/kg) and groups IV, V and VI: induced with P407 and treated with camel milk 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg respectively. After three weeks, blood samples and liver tissues were collected for the determination of alkaline phospatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio and histological studies respectively.RESULTS: All camel milk treated groups showed significant (p &lt; 0.05) decrease in ALT and AST. Camel milk treated groups; 250 mg/kg and 1000mg/kg showed significant (p &lt; 0.05) decrease in total protein, globulin with all camel milk treated groups having significant (p &lt; 0.05) increase in A/G ratio. Histological examination of liver tissues showed that camel milk at a dose of 250 mg/kg had slight adipocytes infiltration.CONCLUSION: The results of our findings highlight the hepatoprotective effect of camel milk in poloxamer 407 induced hyperlipidaemic wistar rats

Deaths during tuberculosis treatment among paediatric patients in a large tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Despite availability of effective cure, tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death in children. In many high-burden countries, childhood TB is underdiagnosed and underreported, and care is often accessed too late, resulting in adverse treatment outcomes. In this study, we examined the time to death and its associated factors among a cohort of children that commenced TB treatment in a large treatment centre in northern Nigeria. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of children that started TB treatment between 2010 and 2014. We determined mortality rates per 100 person-months of treatment, as well as across treatment and calendar periods. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to determine adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: Among 299 children with a median age 4 years and HIV prevalence of 33.4%; 85 (28.4%) died after 1,383 months of follow-up. Overall mortality rate was 6.1 per 100 person-months. Deaths occurred early during treatment and declined from 42.4 per 100 person-months in the 1st week of treatment to 2.2 per 100 person-months after at the 3rd month of treatment. Mortality was highest between October to December period (9.1 per 100 pm) and lowest between July and September (2.8 per 100 pm). Risk factors for mortality included previous TB treatment (aHR 2.04:95%CI;1.09-3.84); HIV infection (aHR 1.66:95%CI;1.02-2.71), having either extra-pulmonary disease (aHR 2.21:95%CI;1.26-3.89) or both pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease (aHR 3.03:95%CI;1.70-5.40). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality was high and occurred early during treatment in this cohort, likely indicative of poor access to prompt TB diagnosis and treatment. A redoubling of efforts at improving universal health coverage are required to achieve the End TB Strategy target of zero deaths from TB

Capacity Building for Primary Stroke Prevention Teams in Children Living With Sickle Cell Anemia in Africa

Background: Nigeria has the highest proportion of children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) globally; an estimated 150,000 infants with SCA are born annually. Primary stroke prevention in children with SCA must include Nigeria. We describe capacity-building strategies in conjunction with two National Institutes of Health–funded primary stroke prevention trials (a feasibility trial and phase III randomized controlled trial) with initial hydroxyurea treatment for children with SCA and abnormal transcranial Doppler (TCD) velocities in Nigeria. We anticipated challenges to conducting clinical trials in a low-resource setting with a local team that had not previously been involved in clinical research and sought a sustainable strategy for primary stroke prevention. Methods: This is a descriptive, prospective study of challenges, solutions, and research teams in two trials that enrolled a total of 679 children with SCA. Results: As part of the capacity-building component of the trials, over eight years, 23 research personnel (physicians, nurses, research coordinators, a statistician, and a pharmacist) completed a one-month research governance and ethics training program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA. A lead research coordinator for each site completed the Society of Clinical Research Professionals certification. TCD machines were donated; radiologists and nonradiologists were trained and certified to perform TCD. A scalable E-prescription was implemented to track hydroxyurea treatment. We worked with regional government officials to support ongoing TCD-based screening and funding for hydroxyurea for children with SCA at a high risk of stroke. Conclusions: Our trials and capacity building demonstrate a sustainable strategy to initiate and maintain pediatric SCA primary stroke prevention programs in Africa

Modelling ultrasound waves bubble formation in ethanol/ethyl acetate azeotrope mixture

The separation of an azeotropic mixture such as ethanol/ethyl acetate in distillation process can be enhanced by ultrasound wave. The application of ultrasound wave creates bubble cavitation in the mixture and shifts the vapour-liquid equilibrium favouring the separation of the azeotropic mixture. This study investigates the formation of bubbles in the mixture through modelling and simulation. The results obtained show that bubble formation at low ultrasound frequency is favoured by the increase in intensity, which has a direct relation to sonic pressure. The optimal sonic pressure for bubble formation at equilibrium is 5 atm and conforms to the model for small bubble formation with radius of 0.14 /<m. Furthermore, the maximum possible number of bubbles at equilibrium in the ethanol/ethyl acetate azeotropic mixture of 1 L is 91 × 1015. The developed model can be used to determine the optimal sonic pressure, sound intensity, size of bubble, and possible number of bubbles formed at equilibrium