A Comparison of Measured and Predicted Haemoglobin Genotype in a Nigerian Population in Bonny, Rivers State, Nigeria

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis technique has been used to estimate haemoglobin genotype and the predicted values from the estimate in accordance with the population genetics studies (Fleming and Lehman1982) were evaluated in 850 subjects (386 males and 464 females) selected randomly from Bonny, in Rivers State, Nigeria of ages between 3 and 77 years. There was significant differences (P < 0.001) between the measured and the predicted haemoglobin genotype values suggesting that the predicted cannot be substituted for the measured. Two further haemoglobinopatheis, HbSC and HbCC were predicted to be the expected haemoglobin genotype of newborn into the population in the next decade suggesting that the incidence of abnormal haemoglobin in the population may arise from the complex interaction between the genetic constitution of the individual and some unidentified environmental factors

Recombinant Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase C2β C2 Domain Molecules

Recombinant DNA domain remains a dependant of effective use of recombinant proteins in many applications but its production remains an area of concern due to DNA vector and production path. This work is aimed at studying the generation and replication of the recombinant DNA molecule using PI3K C2β C2 domain and glutathione s-transferase (GST) which expressed in pGEX-2T vector. The molecular cloning technique was employed to generate a recombinant DNA molecule. PI3K C2β C2 domain of  isoform PI3K C2β belonging to class PI3K C2 of Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase (PI3K) family was used and the effective digestion of pGEX-2T vector was studied using restricted enzymes (RE) of EcoR I and Sma I with binding partners location. The ligated product of recombinant DNA was obtained after successful doubled digestion of pGEX-2T vector. The best transformation of competent bacterial cells was obtained at molar ratio of 5:1 for RE digested vector insert DNA and vector DNA. The recombinant DNA can be employed may be used in treatment of non – communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Keywords: Recombinant DNA molecule, Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase (PI3K), PI3K C2β C2 domain, Restriction enzyme, Ligatio

Drying Characteristics and Kinetics of Bitter leave (Vernonia amygdalina) and Scent leave (Ocimum gratissimum)

The effect of temperature on drying of bitter leave and scent leave was studied, using laboratory moisture content analyzer, at temperatures of 50oC, 60oC, 70oC and 80oC. The falling rate phenomenon was observed for both bitter leave and scent leave. The thin layer drying models were fitted to the experimental moisture ratio data. Among the mathematical models investigated, the Page model described better the drying behavior of bitter leaves and scent leaves with highest R2 and lower x2 values. The determined effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) values showed the temperature dependency both materials. Effective moisture diffusivity ranged from 8.437 x 10-15 to 2.96 x 10-13 m2/s for bitter leave and 8.65 x 10-14 to 4.51 x 10-13 m2/s for scent leave with increase in temperature. Hence, the Arrhenius equation was employed to ascertain activation energy for the different samples dried. Activation energies of 53.55kJ/mol and 110kJ/mol for bitter leave and scent leave were obtained respectively. Keywords: drying, kinetics, bitter leave, scent leave, effective moisture diffusivity

Effects of processing treatments on the nutritive composition and consumer acceptance of some Nigerian edible leafy vegetables

Leafy vegetables are highly perishable food items and require special processing treatments to prevent post harvest losses. Leafy vegetables to be preserved by canning, freezing or dehydration are normally blanched in order to obtain good quality products. In Nigeria, leafy vegetables are preserved by sun-drying and usedlike freshly harvested vegetables in soups. The effects of these treatments on thenutritive composition and sensory qualities of some edible Nigeria leafy vegetablesare reported. Samples (1kg each) of amaranths (Amaranthus hybridus), fluted pumpkin (Talfaria accidentalis), gnectum vegetable (Gnectum africana), vine  spinach (Basella alba), bush okro (Corchorus olitorus), slippery vine (Asystacia gangetica) and cocoyam leaves (Colocasia esculenta) were washed, cut into thin slices and sundried for 5 hrs daily for 2 days. Samples (1kg) of tomatoes  (Lycopersicon esculentum) were similarly dried for 4 days. The fresh vegetables (1kg each) were blanched in hot water at 1000C for 5-6 min and rapidly cooled to 20C in a freezer. Samples (250g each) of fresh (raw), sun-dried or blanched vegetables were cooked separately for 5min in soups. Sun-drying at 30 ± 10C and RH 80 – 85% for 10hr resulted in a mean moisture loss of 35.6% with insignificant (P&gt;0.05) increases of protein, lipid, crude fiber and total ash. Gnectum vegetable, vine spinach, bush okoro, cocoyam leaves and slippery vine had protein contents ranging from 3.0-5.0. K, Fe, Na, Mg and Ca were the predominant mineral elements analysed while contents of Zn and P were low. Blanching and cooking caused significant (P ≤ 0.05) reductions in the K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, and P contents of the vegetables. The implications of these results on the nutritive value of these  vegetables are discussed. Among the treatments, cooking accounted for 64.3 – 67.5% loss of vitamin C while blanching and sundrying accounted for 44.8-47.1% and 36.8 – 39.6% respectively. Panelists rated the soups significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher for colour, taste, texture, flavour/aroma and overall acceptability  characteristics. Fresh fluted pumpkin soup was rated significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher for colour, taste, texture and flavour/aroma characteristics, while fresh gnectum vegetable soup was highly rated for taste, flavour/aroma and overall acceptability characteristics. Compared with other dried vegetable soups, dried gnectum  vegetable soup had the highest score for colour and taste while dried fluted pumpkin soup had the highest score for flavour/aroma and overall acceptability  characteristics. Generally, panelists preferred the fresh to dried vegetable soups.Key words: Blanching, Sun-drying, Cooked, Vitamin C, Sensory attributes.  Des légumes verts à feuilles sont des denrées tres périssable donc, ils demandent des traitements spéciaux pour éviter des pertes aprés moissure. Des legumes verts  à feuille  à conservation: en boîte, congélation ou déshydration sont  normalement blanchis pour avoir des produits de bonne qualities. Au Nigéria des légumes verts à feuilles sont conservés par le séchage solaire et utilisés pour la préparation des potages comme des légumes frais. L’effet des traitements sur les qualités de la composition nutritionelle et sensorielle de certains légumes verts à feuilles comestibles sont prresentés: Les échantillons (1 kilo chacun) de amaranths(Amaranthus hybridus), La citrouille (annelée) (Telfaria occidentalis), Légume gnectum (Gnectum africana), épinard (Basella alba), feuille de vigne (Asystacia gangetica) et des feuilles de taro (Colocasia esculenta) sont lavés, coupés en petits tranches et séchés sous le soleil 5h par jour pour deux jours. Echantillon (1 kilo) de tomates (Lycopersicon esculentum) sont égalements séchés pendant quatre jours. Ces légumes (1 kilo chacun étaient blanchis dans l’eau chaude à 100°C pour 5 à 6 minutes et rapidement surgélés à 2°C dans un congélateur. Les échantillons (250g chacun) de légumes frais (crus) séchés dans le soleil ou blanchis étaient preparés séparément pour 5 minutes dans les potages. Séchant en soleil à 30 + 1°C et RH80 – 85% pour 10hs on a noté une perte moyenne en moisissure de 35. 6% avec une augmentation insignifiante (P&gt;0.05) en protéine lipide, fibre cru et cendre total. G. africana, B. alba, Corchorus olitolus, Asystacia gangetica, C. esculanta out des protéines qui varies entre 3.0 à 5.0. K, Fe, Na, Mg et Ca étaient les éléments miniraux prédominants analisés; alors que la   composition en Zn et P étailent basses. Le blanchiment et le séchage out causé une réduction significative (P≤0.05) en K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe et P dans la composition des légumes traités. Les implications de Ces résultats sur la valeur nutritionelle des légumes sont objets de discussions. Parmi les traitements, la preparation contribue en une perte de 64.3 à 67.5% en vitamines C alors que le blanchiment et le séchage en soleil contribuent une perte de 44.8 à 47.1% et 36.8 à 39.6% respectivement. Les juris out fortement estimé les potages pour la couleur, goût, contexture saveur/arôme et l’acceptabilité dans l’ensemble. Le potage préparé avec la citrouille cannelée  (Telfaria occidentalis) frais a été plus considéré  (P≤0.05) en couleur, goût,  saveur/arôme et. L’acceptabilité dans l’ensemble que les autres potages préparés avec des légumes séchés, le potage préparé avec du  Gnectum africana seché a été estimé le meilleur pour la couleur et le goût alors que le potage préparé avec (Telfaria occidentalis) séché a été estimé le meilleur en saveur/arôome et  l’acceptabilité dans l’ensemble. En général les juris out préférés les potages aux légumes frais aux potages aux légumes séchés.Les mots clés: Blanchiment, séchage au soleil, Préparé ou cuisinié Vitamin C,sensoriel, Attribut.

Girl-Child and Women: Education and Empowerment for Sustainable Development

Improper education of the girl-child and women characterized with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, insecurity and national development. The reasons for girl-child and women education as well as empowerment for sustainable health and development was aimed to be investigated. Critical issues in girl-child education such as access to education, drop out from school by a female child and quality of education experience which endangered the girl-child or women have been discussed in this report. Educating and empowering of female children and women coupled with proffered solutions such as building of good mentoring as well as networking groups, sponsorships and proper training would not only apparently contribute towards embracing gender equality, increasing the workforces, particularly, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workforce but improved emotional, economic, mental, physical, political, religion and social experiences. Thus, yield a healthy nation, high quality leadership, reduced rate of dependence and increased nation’s workforce for sustainable development. Keywords: Education, Girl-child, Women Empowerment, Sustainable development

A Comparison of Measured and Predicted Haemoglobin Genotype in a Nigerian Population in Bonny, Rivers State, Nigeria

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis technique has been used to estimate haemoglobin genotype and the predicted values from the estimate in accordance with the population genetics studies (Fleming and Lehman 1982) were evaluated in 850 subjects (386 males and 464 females) selected randomly from Bonny, in Rivers State, Nigeria of ages between 3 and 77 years. There was significant differences (P < 0.001) between the measured and the predicted haemoglobin genotype values suggesting that the predicted cannot be substituted for the measured. Two further haemoglobinopatheis, HbSC and HbCC were predicted to be the expected haemoglobin genotype of newborn into the population in the next decade suggesting that the incidence of abnormal haemoglobin in the population may arise from the complex interaction between the genetic constitution of the individual and some unidentified environmental factors. @ JASE

A Comparison of Measured and Predicted Haemoglobin Genotype in a Nigerian Population in Bonny, Rivers State, Nigeria

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis technique has been used to estimate haemoglobin genotype and the predicted values from the estimate in accordance with the population genetics studies (Fleming and Lehman 1982) were evaluated in 850 subjects (386 males and 464 females) selected randomly from Bonny, in Rivers State, Nigeria of ages between 3 and 77 years. There was significant differences (P < 0.001) between the measured and the predicted haemoglobin genotype values suggesting that the predicted cannot be substituted for the measured. Two further haemoglobinopatheis, HbSC and HbCC were predicted to be the expected haemoglobin genotype of newborn into the population in the next decade suggesting that the incidence of abnormal haemoglobin in the population may arise from the complex interaction between the genetic constitution of the individual and some unidentified environmental factors. @ JASEM The percentage of person with one of two types of haemoglobin genes – normal haemoglobin (HbAA) and abnormal haemoglobin (sickle cell trait, HbAS, sickle cell disease HbSS etc) in a community is an indication of Health awareness of its population. Knowledge and care of whether one is a carrier or a sickler or have normal haemoglobin is therefore the responsibility of the person and the entire community. Available reports indicate important differences in the distribution of haemoglobin genotypes between Causcasians and Africans (Schnelder et al 1976, Graham 1988, Reid and Famodu, 1988, Fleming and Lehman 1982). The most prominent feature is the prevalence of sickle cell trait/sickle cell disease among Africans than Caucasians and this correlates with falciparium malaria parasite transmission theory (Allison, 1964). There is however, a limited number of information of studies which described the distribution of haemoglobin genotypes among Nigerian population, in particularly, for a ethnic group in the swampy environment of the Niger Delta. The present report is, therefore, a study designed to find out the frequency of haemoglobin genotype in the population of Bonny ethnic group in the Niger Delta from which further information about the pattern of distribution of normal and abnormal haemoglobin genotypes for Nigerian may emerge. The Hardy-Weinbery law (Fleming and Lehman, 1982) has been used to predict the expected distribution of haemoglobin genotype of newborn into the population in the next decade