Caring for Individuals with Dementia on a Continuum: An Interdisciplinary Approach Between Music Therapy and Nursing

Background: Music has long been used to ease symptoms of dementia. Several studies have shown the therapeutic benefits of music therapy to decrease symptoms of agitation in people with dementia (PWD). Other research has demonstrated that the use of music during caregiving can ease agitated behaviors. However, few studies have shown the clinical benefits of using translational research in practice between music therapists and certified nursing assistants

Computational study of the inhibitory potential of Gongronema latifolium (benth) leave on farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, a target enzyme in the treatment of osteoporosis. A molecular modelling approach

Background & Aim: Osteoporosis is an increasing medical threat which is referred to as a systemic skeletal disorder that is characterized mainly by low bone mass and microarchitectural wear of bone tissue and strength, which eventually results in an increase in the fragility of bone and makes bone to be susceptible to fracture. Osteoporosis is known globally as a severe health problem affecting approximately 200 million people worldwide. Therefore, a pharmacological solution is urgently needed. Studies have shown that farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is a crucial enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that causes bone resorption, thus serving as a key pharmacological target. Experimental: Gongronema latifolium’s (Benth) phytoconstituents were screened against the mevalonate pathway enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase computationally using molecular docking, pharmacokinetics screening and Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area approach to identify compounds with the better inhibitorypotentials against this target in this study. Results: The study resulted that five compounds; hyperoside, rutin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, kaempferol-3-arabinoside, and isoquercetin show a better inhibitory potential by binding to the active site of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase compared with a co-crystalized ligand. These hit compounds were further subjected to pharmacokinetics studies to predict their drug-likeness and toxicity characteristics which show that all hit compounds except Rutin are drug-like leaving Kaempferol-3-Arabinoside as the most drug-like hit compound compared to the co-crystallized ligand. Recommended applications/industries: This study suggests that G. latifolium leaf could be a good plant source for a drug-like compound that may treat osteoporosis by inhibiting the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, in the mevalonate pathway, thereby stopping bone resorption

Energy Input and Output Analysis of Sweet Orange Production in Nigeria

The study was undertaken to investigate the energy input and output of a group of citrus research farms in Nigeria. Data used in this study were collected in-situ on yearly basis; therefore the analysed and discussed energy values were averages of data collected over the years. The research results indicated that total energy inputs were 46.64 GJha-1. About 35% was generated by human labour, 38% from diesel oil and machinery, while other inputs contributed 29% of the total energy input.  About 87% of the total energy inputs used in sweet orange production was from direct sources (seeds, fertilizers, manure, chemicals, machinery) and 13% was from indirect sources (human labor, diesel). Mean orange yield was about 41000 kg ha-1.  The net energy and energy productivity value was estimated to be 31.3 GJha-1 and 0.88 kg MJ-1, respectively. The ratio of energy outputs to inputs was found to be 1.67. This indicated an intensive use of inputs in sweet orange production not accompanied by increase in the final product. Cost analysis revealed that total cost of production of sweet orange production was $5590/ha. Benefit–cost ratio was calculated as 2.2. A methodological shift from the use of energy from non-renewable sources to renewable ones could bring about an improvement in the energy use pattern of the research citrus farms in Nigeri

Selected Fuel Properties of Biodiesel Produced from Shea Butter and Palm Kernel Oil

Tranesterification reaction was carried out on raw Shea Butter Oil (SBO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) to separate the ester from glycerol using ethanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide as catalyst. The properties of biodiesel (ethyl ester) obtained from varying proportions of diesel were experimentally determined and compared with that of conventional diesel. The fatty acid profile of the oil samples were determined using standard methods. Four blends (10, 20, 25 and 30%) of SBO and PKO by volume with diesel oil were produced and fuel properties determined include viscosity, relative density, specific gravity, flash, cloud and pour points. Mean values of the six fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic) obtained for shea butter and palm kernel oil samples were 5.3, 1.5, 13.5, 15.6 and 8.4, 2.5, 15.3, 2.3% respectively. The viscosity ranged between 1.52 – 16.6 at 40 and 100oC; relative density ranged between 826-856 kg/m3, specific gravity ranged between 0.861–0.901; flash point ranged between 55 – 2600C, cloud and pour point values ranged from 4.85-60C and -25 to – 120C. The transesterification of the oil samples decreased cloud and pour point of the shea butter and palm kernel oil samples. Based on the findings of this study, blend with 10, 20 and 25% of PKO and SBO content were found to have acceptable fuel properties for use in internal combustion engine. The adoption of the biodiesel will help to meet the increasing demand for energy in West African countries due to the quality of the oi

PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF TANNIA (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) FLOUR AS INFLUENCED BY PRETREATMENT AND DRYING TEMPERATURE

Drying is an important operation in processing fresh tannia cormel into flour with better storability. Product characteristics and drying variables could affect the final product's quality and consumers’ acceptability. This study was therefore designed to investigate the effects of blanching time (5, 10, and 15 minutes) and drying temperature (60, 70 and 80°C) on selected proximate composition of oven-dried tannia flour. Response Surface Method (RSM) of 2 factors, 3 levels Historical Data Design (HDD) second-order polynomial model was adopted for the experimental design. Flour was produced from fresh and pretreated tannia cormels and proximate analysis of the flour samples was carried out using standard methods. Data obtained were statistically analyzed at 5% level of significance. Moisture content (wet basis), carbohydrate, protein, ash, crude fibre and fat content of the flour samples were within the ranges 4.43-12.74, 77.34-84.71, 2.22-4.22, 2.47-4.69, 0.34-2.50 and 0.63-3.72%, respectively. Samples dried at 60oC and blanched for 12.74 minutes had the best quality attributes with the optimum response values of 83.19% carbohydrate, 3.56% protein, 3.80% ash, 0.98% crude fibre and 1.96% fat with 7.01% moisture content. Extended blanching period is recommended to obtain high-quality flour with improved storage stability. Proper combination of drying temperature and blanching period that will result in desired proximate composition of tannia flour can be achieved based on the findings of this study