Effect of Groundnut Pod Condition on the Microbial Content and Aflatoxin Contamination in the Groundnut Seeds

The present study was investigated the effect of groundnut pod condition on the microbial content and aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut seeds in Sudan, which collected from irrigated area (Gezira) and rain-fed area (Al-fao and Kordofan). The samples were investigated for their fungal growth using potato dextrose agar (PDA) media and for their aflatoxin contamination using thin layer chromatography (TLC) technique. High percentage of the groundnut seeds were found unshelled sound intact (53.33-63.00%), while the low percentage was unshelled shrink/damaged (10.33-19.34%). The infection by A. flavus and aflatoxins contamination were found to be high in the split samples either shelled or unshelled which collected from Gezira area (56.67%), whereas, the low percentage was (10.00%) in the unshelled shrink/damaged samples which collected from Kordofan area. Microbial content showed that the sound intact seeds either shelled or unshelled were free from A. flavus and aflatoxins, while the split and shrink/damaged samples either shelled or unshelled were infected by A. flavus and contaminated by aflatoxins. Moreover, High percentage of fungs infection other than A. flavus were obtained (40.00-43.33%) in split and shrink/damaged shelled samples, however, low percentage were obtained (10.00%) in intact samples either shelled or unshelled which collected from Gezira are

Effect of Alkali Refining on Removal of Aflatoxins in Groundnut Oil and Quality Evaluation

The present study was investigated the effect of alkali refining on the removal of aflatoxins (AFs) in groundnut oil. Groundnut oil samples were collected from different expellers in Medani and Khartoum cities in Sudan. The samples were investigated for their fungal growth using potato dextrose agar (PDA) media and quantitation of the toxins was accomplished by the thin layer chromatography (TLC) technique. The results show that most of the oil samples were affected by A. flavus and other fungi as well as contaminated with AFs. The findings show that the alkali refining processes of the groundnut oil slightly effect on the removal of AFs in groundnut oil. In addition, there was significant difference in the physicochemical properties of the groundnut oil after treatment via alkali refining, these include the moisture content, peroxide value, acid value as well as the free fatty acids. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in the refractive index before and after alkali refining

Survey questionnaire.

The questionnaire items used for collecting qualitative data for the study. (XLSX)</p

Questionnaire data.

The excel file contain all data that was collected using the survey questionnaire. (DOCX)</p

Demographic details of survey participants.

IntroductionGlobal interest has increased in improving the quality and increasing the number of graduates from surgical training programmes in countries with limited resources. Needs assessment of stakeholders in the training programmes represent the backbone of such process. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical training in Sudan from trainees’ perspective in order to inform training delivery.MethodsWe adopted mixed methods design using focus group discussion for qualitative data collection and questionnaire survey for quantitative data. NVivo 20 Pro was used to organize qualitative data and SPSS 24.0 was used for quantitative data analysis.ResultsThematic analysis of qualitative data identified three themes. Trainees were overall satisfied that they will make good surgeons after completion of the programme. They identified case volume and collaborations with colleagues as the main strengths of the programme and lacking clear objectives for each year of training and academic activities as the main weaknesses. They suggested motivation of trainers and utilization of online resources and meeting platforms as solutions to improve supervision and academic activities during training.ConclusionThe gaps in training and their suggested solutions highlighted by trainees in this study should form the base for reforming the surgical training in Sudan and countries with similar circumstances.</div

Areas that need to be improved in the surgical training programme.

Areas that need to be improved in the surgical training programme.</p

Fig 2 -

Availability of (A) training facilities and (B) training activities for trainees in Sudan.</p

Questionnaire items Likert score means.

IntroductionGlobal interest has increased in improving the quality and increasing the number of graduates from surgical training programmes in countries with limited resources. Needs assessment of stakeholders in the training programmes represent the backbone of such process. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical training in Sudan from trainees’ perspective in order to inform training delivery.MethodsWe adopted mixed methods design using focus group discussion for qualitative data collection and questionnaire survey for quantitative data. NVivo 20 Pro was used to organize qualitative data and SPSS 24.0 was used for quantitative data analysis.ResultsThematic analysis of qualitative data identified three themes. Trainees were overall satisfied that they will make good surgeons after completion of the programme. They identified case volume and collaborations with colleagues as the main strengths of the programme and lacking clear objectives for each year of training and academic activities as the main weaknesses. They suggested motivation of trainers and utilization of online resources and meeting platforms as solutions to improve supervision and academic activities during training.ConclusionThe gaps in training and their suggested solutions highlighted by trainees in this study should form the base for reforming the surgical training in Sudan and countries with similar circumstances.</div

Quotations from focus group discussion rounds.

IntroductionGlobal interest has increased in improving the quality and increasing the number of graduates from surgical training programmes in countries with limited resources. Needs assessment of stakeholders in the training programmes represent the backbone of such process. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical training in Sudan from trainees’ perspective in order to inform training delivery.MethodsWe adopted mixed methods design using focus group discussion for qualitative data collection and questionnaire survey for quantitative data. NVivo 20 Pro was used to organize qualitative data and SPSS 24.0 was used for quantitative data analysis.ResultsThematic analysis of qualitative data identified three themes. Trainees were overall satisfied that they will make good surgeons after completion of the programme. They identified case volume and collaborations with colleagues as the main strengths of the programme and lacking clear objectives for each year of training and academic activities as the main weaknesses. They suggested motivation of trainers and utilization of online resources and meeting platforms as solutions to improve supervision and academic activities during training.ConclusionThe gaps in training and their suggested solutions highlighted by trainees in this study should form the base for reforming the surgical training in Sudan and countries with similar circumstances.</div

Learning environment questionnaire items.

IntroductionGlobal interest has increased in improving the quality and increasing the number of graduates from surgical training programmes in countries with limited resources. Needs assessment of stakeholders in the training programmes represent the backbone of such process. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical training in Sudan from trainees’ perspective in order to inform training delivery.MethodsWe adopted mixed methods design using focus group discussion for qualitative data collection and questionnaire survey for quantitative data. NVivo 20 Pro was used to organize qualitative data and SPSS 24.0 was used for quantitative data analysis.ResultsThematic analysis of qualitative data identified three themes. Trainees were overall satisfied that they will make good surgeons after completion of the programme. They identified case volume and collaborations with colleagues as the main strengths of the programme and lacking clear objectives for each year of training and academic activities as the main weaknesses. They suggested motivation of trainers and utilization of online resources and meeting platforms as solutions to improve supervision and academic activities during training.ConclusionThe gaps in training and their suggested solutions highlighted by trainees in this study should form the base for reforming the surgical training in Sudan and countries with similar circumstances.</div