PROBIOTIC CARRIER POTENTIAL, SENSORY PROPERTIES AND MICROBIAL QUALITY OF UGBA (PENTACLETHRA MACROPHYLLA) AND OGIRI (RICINUS COMMUNIS)

Ugba’ and ‘Ogiri’, fermented products of African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla) and Castor oil seed (Ricinus communis), were screened for microbiological profile and ability to serve as carrier medium for probiotic, the sensory acceptability of products over twenty one days storage was also analyzed. Assay of unpasteurized products from different food vendors gave mean heterotrophic bacterial count for Ugba ranging from 6.20 x1010-2.96x1011 cfu/g, bacteria count in Ogiri samples range from 5.10x1010-1.21x1011 cfu/g. Mean fungal count in Ugba samples range from 8.0x108-2.01x1010 cfu/g while count of fungi in Ogiri range from 2.1x109-1.21x1010 cfu/g. The bacteria isolated in-clude species of Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Serratia, Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus and Lactobacillus. The fungi species implicated include Rhizopus, Geotrichum, Saccharomyces, Mucor, Penicillium, Fusarium and Aspergillus. Microbial load of inoculated LAB (LASO and LAWB) multiplied in all the products throughout the storage period, there was also increase in number of recov-ered LAB from the stool samples through the period of study. Unpasteurized products of both Ugba and Ogiri declined in sensory attributes after day 5-9 while Ogiri and Ugba samples with LASO and LASO+LAWB combinations had better sensory properties at day 21. Ogiri and Ugba could serve as good carrier medium for probiotic with good organoleptic properties, however texture stability of these products during storage need further investigation. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point assessment, Good Manufacturing Practice and packaging are nec-essary to curtail microbial contaminations in these products

Cyclical Changes in Prolactin Levels among Infertile Women Attending University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Study was carried out to determine the effect of cyclical changes of prolactin concentrations on infertility in 3 groups of infertile subjects attending university of Port Harcourt teaching hospital for infertility treatments. Prolactin samples of the subjects were determined at follicular (day3), Midcycle (day14) and luteal phase (day21) using enzyme immune assay method (EIA). Prolactin was significantly increased in infertile subjects compared with the controls (Apparently fertile) suggesting an increase in prolactin concentration in infertile subjects. There was also cyclical changes observed in prolactin secretion with midcycle (day14) being the peak. Cyclical changes were also observed in prolactin concentration in both fertile and infertile subjects which peaked at midcycle (day14) suggesting that cycle of subjects should be taken into consideration in estimation, interpretation and investigation of infertility while the elevation of prolactin in the 3 study groups might be responsible for the infertility observed. @JASEMKeyword: Prolactin, immuno assay, follicular phase, midcycle, luteal phasesJ. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. Sept, 2011, Vol. 15 (3) 425 - 43

Determination of susceptibility of causal agents of bacterial conjunctivitis to antibiotics: Federal Medical Center, Imo State, Nigeria as Case Study

The prevalence and sensitivity pattern of common bacterial isolates from conjunctival specimen were investigated. Standard methods were adopted in the collection of samples from neonates, men and women and screening of the isolates. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus aegyptus were the predominant pathogens cultured, representing 28.12%, 23.08% and 19.23% respectively. Escherichia coli, Neisseria and Corynebacterium species were also isolated in different proportions. Some of the isolates are resistant to the antibiotics tested. Staphylococcus aureus for instance recorded 100% resistance to nitrofurantoin, ceporex, ampicillin, nilidixic acid, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. Streptococcus pneumoniae, one of the most frequent isolates was 100 % resistance to, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. All the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol. Dust in the environment, infection from the birth canals of mothers, use of eye protective devices such as eye patches, contaminated hands and body surfaces as well as inadequate surgical procedures had been reported as potential sources of causative agents of conjunctivitis. The prevalence of multiple drug resistant conjunctival bacteria had been documented. Multiple antibiotic resistances are increasingly common in Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria gonorrhea, which are major cause of nosocomial infection in hospital environment. Genetics of causal agents of conjunctivitis has been proved to be of great importance as a clone of non-typeable Streptococcus pneumoniae had been implicated in sporadic cases of conjunctivitis. Use of basofloxacin and related antibiotics in combination had proved effective, but the technology and administration of this potent remedy is not available to the rural dwellers were the disease is still prevalent. Therefore, suggestions are made to provide medical facilities to all and sundry and also to enforce rational drug use and laboratory investigation before any prescription and administration

Quality Aspects of African Salad

The proximate and microbiological quality of African salad a special salad recipe native to Nigeria was investigated in order to provide scientific, research based information on the nutritional and micro floral composition of this exotic delicacy. Samples of salad were purchased from six food vending sites which serve as the major business and residential area in Owerri. The predominant bacterial isolates from African salad belong to Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Enterococci and Serracia. The fungal spp isolated include Saccharomyces, Mucor, Rhizopus, Penicillium and Aspergillus. The mean total aerobic plate count range from 7.7x1011 to 4.8x1012, coliform count range from 8.5x1010 to 3.5x1011 and fungal count range from 6.6x109 to 4.7x1010. Based on the specifications by International Commission for Microbiological Specification for Foods (ICMSF), the level of contaminations was unacceptable and could pose health challenge. The chemical composition of the African salad samples consist of carbohydrate (21.07%), protein (4.38%), fat (7.80%), fiber (3.29%), and moisture (62.72%). Energy value of 169.30 kcal and minerals were recorded. African salad as seen from this report is a nutritious food, fit for all age groups. Special care however, has to be taken in its preparation as contaminants could be introduced through the ingredients. Education of food handlers and the general public on food safety measures, effective Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) application and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) implementation is imperativ

An Improvement of Load Flow Solution for Power System Networks using Evolutionary-Swarm Intelligence Optimizers

Load flow report which reveals the existing state of the power system network under steady operating conditions, subject to certain constraints is being bedeviled by issues of accuracy and convergence. In this research, five AI-based load flow solutions classified under evolutionary-swarm intelligence optimizers are deployed for power flow studies in the 330kV, 34-bus, 38-branch section of the Nigerian transmission grid. The evolutionary-swarm optimizers used in this research consist of one evolutionary algorithm and four swarm intelligence algorithms namely; biogeography-based optimization (BBO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), spider monkey optimization (SMO), artificial bee colony optimization (ABCO) and ant colony optimization (ACO). BBO as a sole evolutionary algorithm is being configured alongside four swarm intelligence optimizers for an optimal power flow solution with the aim of performance evaluation through physical and statistical means. Assessment report upon application of these standalone algorithms on the 330kV Nigerian grid under two (accuracy and convergence) metrics produced PSO and ACO as the best-performed algorithms. Three test cases (scenarios) were adopted based on the number of iterations (100, 500, and 1000) for proper assessment of the algorithms and the results produced were validated using mean average percentage error (MAPE) with values of voltage profile created by each solution algorithm in line with the IEEE voltage regulatory standards. All algorithms proved to be good load flow solvers with distinct levels of precision and speed. While PSO and SMO produced the best and worst results for accuracy with MAPE values of 3.11% and 36.62%, ACO and PSO produced the best and worst results for convergence (computational speed) after 65 and 530 average number of iterations. Since accuracy supersedes speed from scientific considerations, PSO is the overall winner and should be cascaded with ACO for an automated hybrid swarm intelligence load flow model in future studies. Future research should consider hybridizing ACO and PSO for a more computationally efficient solution model

Effect of Cassava based diet on hepatic proteins in albino rats fed with crude oil contaminated diet

The study was carried out to ascertain the glucose effect of a cassava based diet (garri) on crude oil hepatotoxicity in albino rats by feeding diet contaminated with various concentrations of crude oil mixed with 20% gari to determine the protective effect of gari. The hepatic enzymes aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALK PHOS) activities with albumin, Total protein and liver /body weight were monitored in the animals. Gari feeding at 20% caused dose dependent reduction in enzymes activities (ALT, AST, GGT and ALKPHOS) with dose dependent increases in albumin and Protein in gari fed albino rats compared with Petroleum fed albino rats (P<0.05) suggesting that gari reversed the hepatotoxic effect of crude oil. Dose dependent increase in enzymes activities and dose dependent decrease in proteins was observed in petroleum fed rats compared with their controls (P<0.05). The study showed that ingestion of petroleum contaminated diet caused increase activities of liver enzymes namely ALKPHOS, AST, ALT and GGT and decreased Protein concentrations, an indicator of possible liver damage but supplementation of the diet with 20%Gari lowered the increased activities of ALKPHOS, AST, ALT and GGT observed in the Petroleum contaminated diet while increasing the Protein concentration. This study showed that feeding on gari diet reversed the liver damage caused by crude petroleum as evidenced by reduced release of liver enzymes through glucose effect

Effect of Cassava based diet on lipids concentration in albino rats fed with crude oil contaminated diet

The study was carried out to ascertain the effect of a cassava based diet (gari) on lipid profile in albino rats fed crude oil contaminated diets by feeding diet contaminated with various concentrations of crude oil mixed with 20% gari to albino rats to determine the protective effect of gari. The lipid profile (Cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol) were monitored in the animals. Gari feeding at 20% caused dose dependent reduction in Cholesterol and LDL cholesterol with dose dependent increases in Triglycerides and HDL cholesterol in gari fed albino rats compared with Petroleum fed albino rats (P<0.05) suggesting that gari reversed the effect of crude oil on changes in lipid profile. Dose dependent increase in cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and dose dependent decrease triglycerides and HDL cholesterol was observed in petroleum fed rats compared with their controls (P<0.05). The study showed that ingestion of petroleum contaminated diet caused increase cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and decreased triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, but supplementation of the diet with 20%Gari lowered the increased concentrations of cholesterol and LDL cholesterol observed in the Petroleum contaminated diet while increasing the triglycerides and HDL cholesterol concentrations. This study showed that feeding on gari diet caused reversed to changes in lipid concentration caused by crude petroleum. \ua9 JASE

Cyclical Changes in Prolactin Levels among Infertile Women Attending University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Study was carried out to determine the effect of cyclical changes of prolactin concentrations on infertility in 3 groups of infertile subjects attending university of Port Harcourt teaching hospital for infertility treatments. Prolactin samples of the subjects were determined at follicular (day3), Midcycle (day14) and luteal phase (day21) using enzyme immune assay method (EIA). Prolactin was significantly increased in infertile subjects compared with the controls (Apparently fertile) suggesting an increase in prolactin concentration in infertile subjects. There was also cyclical changes observed in prolactin secretion with midcycle (day14) being the peak. Cyclical changes were also observed in prolactin concentration in both fertile and infertile subjects which peaked at midcycle (day14) suggesting that cycle of subjects should be taken into consideration in estimation, interpretation and investigation of infertility while the elevation of prolactin in the 3 study groups might be responsible for the infertility observed

Comparative Study of the Protective Effect of Granulated Sugar and Garri Meal on Petroleum-induced Changes of Lipid Profiles in Albino Rats (Rattusnorvegicus)

Crude oil contaminated diet has been reported to induced changes in lipid profile of rats. In this study, 60 albino rats in 6 groups were fed with crude oil contaminated sugar-garri diets at varied concentrations to monitor petroleum-induce lipid profile changes using standard methods. The lipid profiles estimated were total cholesterols, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and Low density lipoproteincholesterol.The data showed that, the levels of total cholesterol (Mmol/l) increased from 2.89+0.08 in sugar fed rats compared with 3.05+0.12 in Gari fed rats. The concentration of triglycerides(Mmol/l) reduced from 1.10+0.51 in sugar fed rats to 1.06 + 0.03 in Gari fed rats while the high density lipoprotein cholesterol(Mmol/l) concentration of 2. 01+0.08 was significantly higher than 1.89 + 0.03 in Gari fed rats (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (Mmol/l) concentrations of 0.68+0.11 in sugar fed rats compared with 0.83 + 0.10 in Gari fed rats. The effect of pre-treatment of the diet with sugar reduced petroleum-induce changes in lipid profile than gari during the exposure of the albino rats to the petroleum diet suggesting that sugarcould possibly ameliorate petroleum-induce changes in lipid profile as shown by the significantlowering of the cholesterol and Low density lipoprotein cholesterol than gari in albino rats. Keywords: lipid, Petroleum, Sugar, Gari, Cassava, Change

Investigation and Comparison of Heat Generated by Coloured Metallic Plates in Response to the Emissive and Absobtion Power of the Surfaces of the Coloured Plate

A colour test was carried out to determine the rates of absorption and emission of infrared radiation by coloured hollowed metallic plates which result in increase in temprature of the holllowed plates at maximum radiation of 750 Wm-2 at Abeokuta 7.198305 and Longitude 3.439533 during the month of March 2013. Five hollow metallic plates of different paint colours (black, green, red, blue and white) were exposed to sunlight simultaneously and the temperature generated in each plate was recorded using a data logger. A wooden box that was divided into five cavities was constructed and lagged with wood shavings to provide insulation and the five coloured hollowed metallic plates of dimension d=4h were inserted in it. The choice dimension d=4h is to minimise shading of the inside of the plate (d is the diameter of each of the plates and h is the height) the top of the plates were covered with a 5 mm thick glass. The top cover plates were securely laid tightly to both the wooden box and the tip of the plates to prevent heat loss to the surrounding and also from crossing from one plate to another.  This arraignment is similar to that of a flat plate collector and calorimeter experiment. The centre of each of the plate was connected to five probes of a data logger and the temperature of changes inside the plates are logged and recorded