Physicochemical and sensory qualities of spiced soy-corn milk

Soy-corn milk type was produced from a blend of soybean milk and corn milk extract at a ratio of 3:1. The soy-corn milk type was spiced with ginger and garlic extract respectively to improve the taste. Total dissolved solid (TDS), total titrable acidity (TTA) specific gravity (SG), apparent colloidal stability, pH and sensory evaluation of the spiced soy-corn milk type were determined. The results show that the specific gravity of all milk types was not significantly (P>0.05) different from each other. The spiced milk types were relatively stable under refrigerated condition for 72 h while corn milk, soy-corn milk was not stable even under refrigeration. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in the pH of the milk type at preparation and the value ranged between 6.8 and 6.5. The spiced milk types became more acidic after 24 h. Spicing improved the colloidal stability of the soy-corn milk type and its acceptability to the consumer, but has no significant difference (P>0.05) on the other physicochemical properties investigated.Keywords: Corn milk, soybean milk, soy-corn milk, colloidal stabilityAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(17), pp. 2262-226

Effect of hemodialysis on total antioxidant status of chronic renal failure patients in government hospitals in Lagos Nigeria

Background: Renal failure is accompanied by oxidative stress, which is caused by enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and impaired antioxidant defense.Aim: To assess the effect of hemodialysis (by cellulose membrane dialyzer) on plasma total antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation of patients in chronic renal failure before and after dialysis.Objective: The finding would serve as guide to administration or otherwise of supplementary therapeutic antioxidant before or after hemodialysis. Also, it will assist in the choice of antioxidant impregnated over the conventional nonimpregnated dialyzer membrane.Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients (14 men and 11 women, aged 24-75 years; median 61) with end-stage renal failure who were undergoing hemodialysis for the first time were recruited. Plasma level of potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total antioxidant status (TAS), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were measured, before and after hemodialysis.Results: The mean ± SD of plasma level of TAS (1.10 ± 0.3 mmol/L trolox Eq) for males and (1.09 ± 0.2 mmol/L trolox Eq) for females postdialysis were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in comparison with (1.72 ± 0.4 mmol/L trolox Eq) for males and (1.83 ± 0.7 mmol/L trolox Eq) for females predialysis, respectively. However, the mean ± SD plasma level of MDA (6.03 ± 0.4 nmol/ml) for males and (6.71 ± 0.7 nmol/ml) for females were significantly increased postdialysis (P < 0.01) compared to predialysis (3.98 ± 0.8 nmol/ml) for males and (4.05 ± 0.9 nmol/ml) for females, respectively.Conclusions: Based on the outcome of this study, it is suggested that antioxidant-impregnated dialysis membranes and/or exogenous supplementary antioxidant would be beneficial to patients with chronic renal failure. Removal of reactive oxygen species could improve the health and general quality of life of uremic patients

Physiological quality of hybrid maize seeds during containerized-dry storage with silica gel

Seed storage operations in the tropics would benefit from low input techniques that can maintain seed physiological quality for considerably long periods without investments in cooling. A study wasconducted to evaluate seed vigour and estimate seed longevity in maize during dry storage with commercial desiccant (silica gel) at various levels of gel/seed ratios in air-tight containers under ambient tropical temperature. Seed moisture content (MC) was lowest indicating effective drying at 1:1 gel/seed (100 g of seed stored over 100 g of gel) and 1:2.5 gel/seed ratio (100 g of seed stored over 80 gof gel) during 2 trials set up in 2005 and 2006. After 4 months of storage, laboratory seed germination capacity and vigour variables were consistently higher (

Optimization of CO2 production rate for firefighting robot applications using response surface methodology

A carbon dioxide gas-powered pneumatic actuation has been proposed as a suitable power source for an autonomous firefighting robot (CAFFR), which is designed to operate in an indoor fire environment in our earlier study. Considering the consumption rate of the pneumatic motor, the gas-powered actuation that is based on the theory of phase change material requires optimal determination of not only the sublimation rate of carbon dioxide but also the sizing of dry ice granules. Previous studies that have used the same theory are limited to generating a high volume of carbon dioxide without reference to neither the production rate of the gas nor the size of the granules of the dry ice. However, such consideration remains a design requirement for efficient driving of a carbon dioxide-powered firefighting robot. This paper investigates the effects of influencing design parameters on the sublimation rate of dry ice for powering a pneumatic motor. The optimal settings of these parameters that maximize the sublimation rate at the minimal time and dry ice mass are presented. In the experimental design and analysis, we employed full-factorial design and response surface methodology to fit an acceptable model for the relationship between the design factors and the response variables. Predictive models of the sublimation rate were examined via ANOVA, and the suitability of the linear model is confirmed. Further, an optimal sublimation rate value of 0.1025 g/s is obtained at a temperature of 80°C, the mass of 16.1683 g, and sublimation time of 159.375 s

Prevalence and characteristics of prostate cancer among participants of a communitybased screening in Nigeria using serum prostate specific antigen and digital rectal examination

Introduction: Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Nigerian men but CaP screening is not a common practice. The true burden of the disease in Nigeria is not known. The study was aimed at studying the community burden of CaP in Lagos. Methods: During a community-based prostate cancer awareness program in 13 local government areas of Lagos, men aged >40 years had serum total PSA (tPSA) test and digital rectal examination (DRE). Those with abnormal DRE or tPSA >95th percentile of the cohort or both were selected for prostate biopsy (TRPB). Results: 4172 men were screened and complete data was available for 4110 (98.5%). The mean age was 60.8 years. DRE was abnormal in 410 men and was significantly correlated with the age of the patient and tPSA (p<0.001). The tPSA ranged from 0 to 438.3ng/ml with a median, mean and 95th percentile of 1.5, 2.5 and 10.0ng/ml respectively. 341 out of the 438(78%) men selected were subjected to TRBP. Forty-three men had histological diagnosis of CaP, giving an estimated prevalence rate of at least 1.046% or 1046 per 100,000 men of age ≥40. Only 11 (26%) had organ-confined disease while 17 (40%) had locally advanced disease and 15 (35%) men had metastatic disease. The  majority of the men, 32 (74%) were reported to have Gleason's score of ≥7. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of CaP among men aged ≥40 years in Lagos is higher than previously reported in hospital-based study. Majority have advanced and high-grade diseaseKey words: Prostate, cancer, prevalence, screening, Nigeri

Effect of Two Blanching Methods on the Nutritional Values of Tomatoes and Pumpkin Leaves

Various blanching methods were applied to tomatoes and pumpkin leaves (Telfairia occidentalis) to investigate the effect of the different blanching method on some of its nutritional content. The effects of steam and water blanching as a pretreatment on raw tomatoes and pumpkin leaves (control) were investigated in this study using standard methods. For tomatoes, the %nitrogen, potassium, vitamin A, C and E) mg/100g for raw were;0.48, 68.82mg/100g, 0.88mg/100g, 38.82mg/100g, 0.78mg/100g respectively. 0.45, 69.68mg/100g, 0.58mg/100g, 32.43mg/100g and 0.55mg/100g for water blanched respectively and 0.42, 69.14mg/100g, 0.47mg/100g, 29.66mg/100g, 0.42mg/100g respectively for steam blanching. * For pumpkin leaves, the %nitrogen, potassium, vitamin A, C and E) mg/100g for raw were; 0.98, 46.82mg/100g, 4.63mg/100g, 60.41mg/100g, 0.89mg/100g respectively. 0.95, 46.73mg/100g, 2.38mg/100g, 41.08mg/100g and 0.59mg/100g for water blanched respectively and 0.94, 46.10mg/100g, 1.20mg/100g, 32.16mg/100g, 0.52mg/100g respectively for steam blanching. The results indicate that water and steam blanching significantly reduce the nutritional content. The values of the nutrient were higher in water blanching compared to steam blanching

Effect of Genotypes and seed production environments of seed quality of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 37 2006: pp. 143-15

Developing a database for maize variety in Nigeria

Performance data of maize varieties at different locations needs to be accurate and accessible to stimulate the improvement of the Nigerian maize seed system. This paper describes a database model to implement a simple computerized information system for maize varieties and their performance at various locations in Nigeria. Entity-Relationship modelling was used to identify relevant data and their relational structure from subsets of maize germplasm trial data with Microsoft Access™ Relational Database Management System software. The model has the capacity to provide detailed variety performance information in relation to cropping environment with specific search queries when the relevant data are properly documented. Such facility will benefit seed producers who will determine seed materials that meet specific market and production challenges of farmers' with greater precision. Plant breeders can also use the information system for breeding plans and policy makers can use it as a Decision Support System (DSS). Key Words: Database systems; entity-relationship model; performance data set; maize variety Moor J. Agric. Res. Vol.4(1) 2003: 78-8

Variability for seedling vigour in tropical cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp

Variations in seedling vigour and the effectiveness of emergence (E%), emergence index (E1), emergence rate index (ERI), growth rate (GR) and relative growth rate (RGR) as selection criteria among 10 Nigerian cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) genotypes were examined. Genotypes were grown under two locations to maximize environmental diversity. Considerable variation in seedling vigour was observed among the genotypes for E%, ERI, GR and RGR, suggesting that selection for further improvement in cowpea is possible due to large variability present, which may be attributed to diverse genetic backgrounds of the genotypes. Among the genotypes, AGRIBVI and IT97K-1035-17 recorded higher E% across the two environments. ERI was in most cases above 10 days. Only AGRIBVI, IT97K-1035-17 and IFE BROWN had ERI below 10 days, indicating that it would take these genotypes less than 10 days for 100% emergence to occur, when other factors are not limiting. Genotypic and phenotypic variances were generally high for E%. Broadsense heritability estimates and environmental variances indicated that E%, EI, ERI and RGR would be more reliable indices for seedling vigour. The expression of growth rate was influenced more by the environment than the genetic constitution of seedlings. EI and ERI had high positive relationship with ERI and GR respectively. The GR mutually correlated with RGR. Key Words: Emergence index; emergence rate index; genotype; growth rate; relative growth rate Moor J. Agric. Res. Vol.4(1) 2003: 54-5

Plasma Creatinine, Age and Body Surface Area in Nigerian Children and Adolescents

In a bid to establish reference values for plasma creatinine in children and adolescents using age, and body surface area (BSA), 462 apparently healthy Nigerian children/adolescents aged one day to 15 years were studied. They were recruited from well baby clinics, as well as primary and secondary schools. Plasma obtained from venous blood was analyzed for its creatinine in batches, employing the kinetic Jaffe method. There was a positive correlation between age and plasma creatinine (r = 0.27,