Relationship Between Extrusion Conditions and System Parameters of Extrusion Cooking of Cassava and Soybean Blends: Application of Response Surface Analysis

Blends of cassava flour and partially defatted soybean four were processed in a single-screw extruder. Experimental design with feed moisture (FM)(16, 20, 24 gwater/100g flour), amount of soybean (10–30 gsoybean/100g flour) and barrel temperature (120, 145, 170 oC) as independent variables produced 17 different combinations that were studied using Box-Behnken Design of response surface methodology to investigate the effect of these variables on extruder system parameters, namely, product temperature (PT), residence time (RT), machine throughput (MT) and specific mechanical energy (SME). The recorded values for all responses varied from 121 to 175 oC, 42.34 to 65.11 seconds, 3.65 to 4.56 and 159.01 to 213.63kJ/kg, respectively.  Second-order polynomials were used to model the extruder responses as a function of process variables. All three variables affected responses significantly especially their linear terms (P<0.05) and all the fitted models were all significant (P<0.05) and correlated with experimental data (R2 ³ 0.934). Keywords: Cassava flour, Soybean flour, Product temperature, Residence time, Machine throughput, Specific mechanical energy

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A TUNEL DRYER FOR FOOD CROPS DRYING

Conventional sun drying of tropical crops often result in low quality product due to unpredictable nature of weather. Utilizing mechanical dryer such as tunnel dryer can improve the quality of the products as well as increasing the acceptability of such crop in global market. In this study, a tunnel dryer in two modes of operation (co-current and counter-current) with a capacity of 35kg of chips per batch was designed, fabricated and tested. The dryer had a chamber volume of 0.408m3; the number of trucks in the tunnel was 6, each truck contained 6 trays. The operating temperature of the pilot dryer ranged from 50 to 150 oC and air velocity ranged from 2 to 8 m/s, respectively.  Cassava chips was used to test the dryer and the results showed that the dryer reduced the moisture content from 75  to 14% in 8 hours with drying constant of 2.42/h. &nbsp

Development of an improved steamer for optimum retention of carotenoids in Attieke produced from biofortified cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots

Open Access ArticleAttiéké, made from biofortified (yellow) cassava genotypes, requires a new cooking method to minimize carotenoid degradation during processing. Thus, this research is aimed at designing and building a more efficient steamer to produce high-quality attiéké from biofortified cassava roots. Using three improved biofortified cassava genotypes (IBA141092, IBA070593, and IBA011368) obtained from IITA research farms, attiéké samples were produced using traditional and developed steamers. The results show that the developed steamer outperformed the traditional steamer; it was 1.5 times faster, used less fuel (2.6 times less), and had higher true carotenoid retention. The developed steamer genotype IBA070593 had the highest true retention of 90.4 percent, while the traditional steamer genotype IBA0141092 had the lowest carotenoid retention of 61.9 percent and the highest in the developed steamer (62.4 percent). When compared to the traditional steamer, the developed steamer had better cooking performance and a more extraordinary ability to retain carotenoids. Thus, the developed steamer is recommended for attiéké processors due to its improved cooking performance, and using this steamer to produce attiéké from biofortified cassava will help to alleviate vitamin A deficiency among attiéké consumers

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS ON ADOPTION OF AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGY AMONG FISH FARMERS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

The study investigated the effect of socio-economic factors on the adoption behaviour of aquaculture operators. A combination of purposive and multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 12 blocks, 20 circles ahd 40 cells from the 4 ADP zones in the state for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire through interview schedule from 144 randomly selected respondents and analysed with descriptive and ihferential statistical tools. The result showed that aquaculture is dominated by homestead (74.8%) small-scale operators within the ageing workforce of 41-55 years with low youth and women participation. Sampled respondents have a total of 306 fish ponds measuring 21,226.8m2 capable of producing more than 21 thousand tonnes of fish. Despite 67.6% aggregate adoption of technologies, low experience (51.1%>) and weak economic motive (28.4%) affected investment and fish productivity. Technologies that recorded high adoption are culture system (94.4%), use of oxygen bag (91.7%), feeding time (91.0%), pond system (84.7%) and water quality management (83.4%). Variables such as sex, marital status, education and membership of association were not significantly associated with adoption of technology except type of association (p=0.00). Analysis of PPMC (p>0.051) reaffirmed that aquaculture production is not significantly associated with poverty reduction (0.323) among operators. By implication, social assets are weak to support economic growth and development of aquaculture among fish farmers. Therefore, economic motive and access to production resources in terms of appropriate technology application, sensitization, training, effective extension delivery and credit facilities are required to increase strength and opportunities for economic benefi

Utilization of old people's home: Residence elderly's perspectives in selected centres in Lagos

Background of the study: Populations around the world are rapidly ageing with emphasis placed on long term care necessary for the dependent fastgrowing members of the population with geriatric conditions.Objectives: To assess the perception of elderly about old people's homes and determine the factors influencing its utilization in selected centres in Lagos. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, quantitative cross-sectional study. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all the 52 elderly in the two selected homes for the elderly in Lagos. Data was analysed with SPSS version 20 and presented as tables using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: They were mainly females (65.4%) with widowed (65.1%). The mean age was 73 years ± 11.86. Majority of respondents (92.3%) have a positive perception about old people's home. Above half (55.8%) got information about the homes from their children and a good number (34.6%) have spent more than 5 years in the home. Culture, children perspectives and children occupation were the major factors agreed by the elderly influencing their utilization of the old people's homes. There were no statistically significant association between Sociodemographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity) of the respondents and the utilization of the home with 'p' = 0.501.Conclusion and recommendation: Even though the elderly had positive perception about the utilization of the old people's home but their children perspectives had altered their participation in the homes which outrightly affected their health status. The nurses should therefore ensure optimal health of the elderly to improve their participation in the home. Keywords: Utilization, Perception, Old People's Homes, Elderly

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS ON ADOPTION OF AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGY AMONG FISH FARMERS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

The study investigated the effect of socio-economic factors on the adoption behaviour of aquaculture operators. A combination of purposive and multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 12 blocks, 20 circles ahd 40 cells from the 4 ADP zones in the state for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire through interview schedule from 144 randomly selected respondents and analysed with descriptive and ihferential statistical tools. The result showed that aquaculture is dominated by homestead (74.8%) small-scale operators within the ageing workforce of 41-55 years with low youth and women participation. Sampled respondents have a total of 306 fish ponds measuring 21,226.8m2 capable of producing more than 21 thousand tonnes of fish. Despite 67.6% aggregate adoption of technologies, low experience (51.1%>) and weak economic motive (28.4%) affected investment and fish productivity. Technologies that recorded high adoption are culture system (94.4%), use of oxygen bag (91.7%), feeding time (91.0%), pond system (84.7%) and water quality management (83.4%). Variables such as sex, marital status, education and membership of association were not significantly associated with adoption of technology except type of association (p=0.00). Analysis of PPMC (p>0.051) reaffirmed that aquaculture production is not significantly associated with poverty reduction (0.323) among operators. By implication, social assets are weak to support economic growth and development of aquaculture among fish farmers. Therefore, economic motive and access to production resources in terms of appropriate technology application, sensitization, training, effective extension delivery and credit facilities are required to increase strength and opportunities for economic benefi

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging activities of methanolic leaf extract of Psidium guajava

Objectives: Studies have linked the generation of free radicals with the incidence of degenerative diseases. Antioxidants from plant origin have been proved to play a major role in mitigating against free radicals-induced oxidative damage. This study aimed at assessing the in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant capability of Psidium guajava leafMethods: The leaves were collected and extracted with 70% methanol. Total phenolic, and flavonoids contents, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and Hydroxyl radicals scavenging activities, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation potential of the extract were assessed. Furthermore, rats (n=21) randomized into three groups were exposed to 50, 150, and 250 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 30 days. Control animals (n=7) received corn oil, after which blood and liver were excised for antioxidant assay.Results: The extract is rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. It scavenged DPPH and hydroxyl radicals and inhibits lipid peroxidation in-vitro. In-vivo, it increased the activities of hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and plasma paraoxonase, and the concentration of hepatic reduced glutathione and MDA.Conclusion: Psidium guajava leaf extract is a potential source of natural antioxidant compounds, capable of supplementing the body's antioxidant defense system