Improving the Dependability of Destination Recommendations using Information on Social Aspects

Prior knowledge of the social aspects of prospective destinations can be very influential in making travel destination decisions, especially in instances where social concerns do exist about specific destinations. In this paper, we describe the implementation of an ontology-enabled Hybrid Destination Recommender System (HDRS) that leverages an ontological description of five specific social attributes of major Nigerian cities, and hybrid architecture of content-based and case-based filtering techniques to generate personalised top-n destination recommendations. An empirical usability test was conducted on the system, which revealed that the dependability of recommendations from Destination Recommender Systems (DRS) could be improved if the semantic representation of social attributes information of destinations is made a factor in the destination recommendation process.Content-based filtering; Recommender Systems; Ontology; Social Attributes, Destination recommendation

Effects of rigor state and muscle type on physicochemical properties, processing and storage stability of two different pig skeletal muscles

Twelve (12) growing male Large White x Landrace crossbred pigs, aged 12 weeks and weighing between 25 and 30 kg were used to assess the impact of rigor state on pork quality characteristics with respect to muscle position. Animals were fed on grower’s ration (crude protein = 18.06 %) for 10 weeks. Six pigs per treatment (pre- and post-rigor) were slaughtered at the age of 6 months to evaluate pH, shear force tenderness, water-holding capacity (WHC), cooking and storage losses. Data were subjected to General Linear Model in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. pH was higher (p<0.05) at pre-rigor state than at post-rigor; while those of the back and thigh muscles did not differ significantly. Rigor state did not influence WHC. Higher shear force (p=0.014) of 2.08 kg were observed at pre-rigor state while a lower value (0.16 kg) was obtained post-rigor. Cooking losses were influenced (p=0.000) by rigor state. Thigh muscle had higher refrigeration and freezing thaw losses. It was concluded that pig meat in post-rigor state could yield better quality product in terms of pH value, shear force, tenderness while minimal cooking and storage losses could be achieved at pre-rigor state. Key words: pig meat; rigor state; muscle position; shear force; cooking loss; storage stability

Synthesis and performance evaluation of peS/chitosan membranes coated with polyamide for acid mine drainage treatment

Abstract

CHANGES IN SPERMIOGRAMS, BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICES FOLLOWING SUCCESSIVE ELECTROEJACULATION DURING DIFFERENT PERIODS OF THE DAY IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS

This study was conducted to investigate the changes that might occur in spermiograms, blood andphysiological indices following successive electroejaculation (EE) during different periods of the day.Twenty (20) West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks were grouped into four consisting of five bucks eachand ejaculated at 0900, 1200, 0300 and 0600Hrs for 3 successive days in a completely randomizeddesign. The results showed that progressive sperm motility, sperm concentration and mass activityfollowed similar trend and the values deteriorated with respect to elevated temperatures during semencollection periods (p<0.05). Also, primary abnormality increased with respect to elevated temperaturesduring semen collection periods (p<0.05). The results also showed that Testosterone, Na+,K+,GlucoseAlanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Aspartate Aminotransferase(AST) were similar irrespective of the periods of semen collection except cortisol that increased withrespect to the semen collection periods (p<0.05). The rectal temperature and pulse rate were not affected,irrespective of the period of the day bucks were ejaculated. The findings of this study indicatethat reduced ejaculate quality probably reflects stress stimuli arising from increased ambient temperature.Physiological traits in WAD goat is probably the adaptive mechanism evolved to cope with stressarising from elevated temperature

Nitrogen and weed management in transplanted tomato in the Nigerian forest-savanna transition zone

Weed infestation and inherent low soil fertility are among primary reasons for low yields of tomato in Nigeria. Field trials were carried out during the wet season of 2015 and 2016 to evaluate yield response of tomato to nitrogen (N) application and weed control methods in the forest-savanna transition zone of Abeokuta, Nigeria. Positive relationship exists between growth of weed species and increase in N application. Across the years of study, increase in N up to 90 kg/ha increased weed density by 11–25%, however, the increased N gave the transplanted tomato competitive advantage and thus enhanced weed smothering. Pre-transplant application of butachlor (50% w/v) or probaben® (metolachlor 20% w/v+prometryn 20% w/v) each at 2.0 kg a.i/ha followed by supplementary hoe weeding at 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT) significantly reduced weed density by at least 15% and increased fruit yield of tomato by at least 32%, compared to use of the pre-transplant herbicides alone, across both years of study. The greatest tomato fruit yield of 12.2 t/ha was obtained with pre-transplant application of butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i/ha followed by supplementary hoe weeding at 6 WAT, averaged for both years. In general, this study suggests that increased application of N up to 90 kg/ha, and complementary weed control by pre-transplant herbicide and hoe weeding at 6 WAT would improve yield of tomato in the forestsavanna transition zone of Nigeria

Liver enzymes in Nigerians with lichen planus

Lichen planus has been reported in association with liver diseases. Clinical signs such as jaundice may not be reliable indicator of ongoing inflammation or the presence of an ongoing liver disease. Liver function test in spite of its variability may serve as amore reliable indicator of liver disease. The objective of this study is to assess the discriminant power of liver enzymes with lichen planus and control. Sixty Nigerians with lichen planus (LP group) and 30 patients with other dermatoses control group A) and 30 apparently normal individual (control group B) had their liver enzymes assayed using the automated Hitachi 70 auto-analyzer There was no a statistically significant difference in the level of liver enzymes between the LP group and controls Liver enzymes in Nigerian with lichen planus are generally within normal limits and are comparable to individuals without lichen planus. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp.64-6

Phytochemical screening and application of extracts of selected plant foods in preparation of enhanced sensorial and healthier image yoghurt

Extracts of four indigenous plant foods namely: Chrysophyllum albidum (Cal), Curcuma longa (Clo), Tetracapidium conophorum (Tco) and Piper guineese (Pgu) were screened for phytochemical endowment in order to gain insight to their pharmacological potentials with concomitant propensity for pro-lactic acid fermentation. The extracts were used in the formulation of substrate for preparation of modified yoghurt. Physicochemical and sensory properties of the modified yogurt were assessed in comparison to plain (unmodified) yogurt. Assessment revealed the presence of phytochemicals of therapeutic importance with pro-fermentation values principally, flavonoids, saponins, sugars and peptides in Clo and Cal. Alkaloids dominant extract exhibited anti-fermentation effects. Modified yoghurt preparations using Clo and Cal with respect to water (in place of extract) were characterized with improved quality. Titratable acidity (x10-2 g/ml); 140, 50, 45 and relative reducing power (x10-3 g/ml) of 9.53, 9.56, 1.38 were found for Clo – plain yoghurt (YOG) and YOG respectively. Comparatively to YOG, the extracts conferred assorted sensorial (P = 0.05) qualities with Clo - YOG most preferred. The extracts of the indigenous plant foods can be used to enhance the physical and healthier image of yoghurt.Key words: Plant foods extract, phytochemicals, yoghurt, physicochemical properties, healthier image, sensorial characteristics

Vertical Off-line Signature Feature Block for Verification

Handwritten signature image is normally used as a mark of endorsement of written document. Signatures of the same person vary and they can be forged by imposters. Effective feature extraction algorithm is needed in off-line signature verification. Robust features capable of increases interpersonal variation and decreases intra personal variation are required. This work presents robust signature feature that can be used to build effective off-line signature verification system. Signature processing is performed and the preprocessed signature image is vertically divided into sixteen smaller image blocks through the center of gravity. Three features are extracted from these smaller image blocks. Feature vector is formed and are passed to Support Vector Machine (SVM) for training and classification. The proposed signature feature vector increases the accuracy of tested off-line signature verification syste

INFLUENCE OF DIETARY PROCESSED NIGERIAN Balanites aegyptiaca FRUITS ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICES IN SWINE.

Dietary effects of Nigerian processed Balanites aegyptiaca fruits on biochemical, haematological and physiological parameters in swine were investigated. Twenty weaner pigs were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments consisted of conventional diet, 20% Balanites fruits treated by boiling, roasting, boiling and roasting, boiling and fermenting, respectively, in a 4-week feeding trial. Results showed that the treated test feedstuff did not affect serum creatinine, blood glucose, serum protein albumin, respiratory rate and pulse rate, or the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p 0.05) but affected (p <0.05) those of blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, urine urea or urine creatinine, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and acid phosphatase (ACP). The packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and the white blood cells (WBC) differential counts such as neutrophils, monocytes were similar (p>0.05) while the red blood cells (RBC),WBC, mean corpuscular  haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelets and the lymphocytes were significantly influenced by the test feedstuff (p<0.05). It was concluded that Balanites aegyptiaca, roasted or boiled followed by fermentation and included at 20% level could serve a useful alternative feedstuff for monogastric animals considering most of the positive results obtained. Â

INFLUENCE OF DIETARY PROCESSED NIGERIAN Balanites aegyptiaca FRUITS ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICES IN SWINE

Dietary effects of Nigerian processed Balanites aegyptiaca fruits on biochemical, haematological and physiological parameters in swine were investigated. Twenty weaner pigs were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments consisted of conventional diet, 20% Balanites fruits treated by boiling, roasting, boiling and roasting, boiling and fermenting, respectively, in a 4-week feeding trial. Results showed that the treated test feedstuff did not affect serum creatinine, blood glucose, serum protein albumin, respiratory rate and pulse rate, or the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p 0.05) but affected (p <0.05) those of blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, urine urea or urine creatinine, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and acid phosphatase (ACP). The packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and the white blood cells (WBC) differential counts such as neutrophils, monocytes were similar (p>0.05) while the red blood cells (RBC),WBC, mean corpuscular  haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelets and the lymphocytes were significantly influenced by the test feedstuff (p<0.05). It was concluded that Balanites aegyptiaca, roasted or boiled followed by fermentation and included at 20% level could serve a useful alternative feedstuff for monogastric animals considering most of the positive results obtained