Quality characteristics of bread produced from composite flours of wheat, plantain and soybeans

The use of soy flour (SF) and plantain flour (PF) substitution in wheat flour (WF), from 0 to 15% each, for the production of bread was investigated. The proximate analysis, sensory evaluation and aerobic plate count (APC) of the bread samples were determined. The crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and ash contents of the soy supplemented breads (SSBs) increased with progressive increase in the proportion of soy flour, with the 15% SSB having highest values of 8.39, 0.14, 2.46 and 1.17%, respectively, while lowest values were recorded for the whole wheat bread (WWB). The carbohydrate content was observed to decrease with corresponding increase in the percentage of soy flour in SSBs. The sensory evaluation shows that no significant differences were observed between the WWB and the 5% SSB in the sensory attributes of aroma, internal texture, taste and general acceptability (

Analyses of moisture deficit grain yield loss in drought tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm accessions and its relationship with field performance

Development of drought tolerant maize cultivars is prerequisite to achieving stable grain yield in drought–prone ecologies of Nigeria’s Guinea savanna. However, success has been limited mainly dueto lack of maize genotypes that show clear differences in response to well defined moisture deficit condition. Two sets of drought tolerant (DT) maize germplasm were evaluated under screenhouse andfield conditions between 1999 and 2002. In the screenhouse study, performances of the genotypes were compared under well-watered condition and moisture deficit imposed at different growth stages.Under field conditions, the first set comprising 11 accessions along with a check were evaluated for 4 growing seasons while the second set which comprised 3 DT varieties were evaluated along with 2check varieties using monthly plantings between April and August of 2001 and 2002, respectively. In the first set, post anthesis moisture deficit significantly reduced grain yield by 25 to 73.5% in the openpollinated varieties (OPVs) and by 20 to 64% in the hybrids. Grain yield under field conditions ranged from 2.48 to 3.49, 2.82 to 3.73 and 3.58 to 4.76 tons/ha-1 for 1999, 2000 and 2001 full growing seasons,respectively, and 2.03 to 2.50 tons/ha-1 for 2000 late growing season. In the second set, pre and post anthesis moisture deficits reduced grain yield by 77.6 and 95.8%, respectively, of well watered condition while in the field, grain yields in the genotypes were highest for plantings made in April and July (1.90 - 2.5 t/ha), lowest for August (0.7 -1.8 t/ha) when moisture deficit coincided with reproductive phase. Yield stability exhibited under moisture deficit and on the field by 8522-2, Oba super 2 and AK9943-DMRSR in the first set as well as DT-SR-Y C0 and DT-SR-W C0 in the second set, indicates their suitability either as cultivars per se or as potential source of DT alleles fordevelopment of DT maize varieties for Nigeria’s savanna ecologies

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of yoruba version of the short-form 36 health survey

Background and objective: The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a valid quality of life tool often employed to determine the impact of medical intervention and the outcome of health care services. However, the SF-36 is culturally sensitive which necessitates its adaptation and translation into different languages. This study was conducted to cross-culturally adapt the SF-36 into Yoruba language and determine its reliability and validity. Methods: Based on the International Quality of Life Assessment project guidelines, a sequence of translation, test of item-scale correlation, and validation was implemented for the translation of the Yoruba version of the SF-36. Following pilot testing, the English and the Yoruba versions of the SF-36 were administered to a random sample of 1087 apparently healthy individuals to test validity and 249 respondents completed the Yoruba SF-36 again after two weeks to test reliability. Data was analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation analysis, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, multi trait scaling analysis and Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) at p < 0.05. Results: The concurrent validity scores for scales and domains ranges between 0.749 and 0.902 with the highest and lowest scores in the General Health (0.902) and Bodily Pain (0.749) scale. Scale-level descriptive result showed that all scale and domain scores had negative skewness ranging from -2.08 to -0.98. The mean scores for each scales ranges between 83.2 and 88.8. The domain scores for Physical Health Component and Mental Health Component were 85.6 ± 13.7 and 85.9 ± 15.4 respectively. The convergent validity was satisfactory, ranging from 0.421 to 0.907. Discriminant validity was also satisfactory except for item '1'. The ICC for the test-retest reliability of the Yoruba SF-36 ranges between 0.636 and 0.843 for scales; and 0.783 and 0.851 for domains. Conclusion: The data quality, concurrent and discriminant validity, reliability and internal consistency of the Yoruba version of the SF-36 are adequate and it is recommended for measuring health-related quality of life among Yoruba population

Economic analysis of fish processing and marketing in Ogun Waterside Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria

This study examined the economic analysis of fish processing and marketing in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria using structured, validated and pre-tested interview schedules to collect primary data from one hundred and thirteen respondents. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics, access to productive resources and constraints faced by fish processors while budgetary analysis was used to determine profitability. The result reveals that 99.0% of the respondents were females, 57.4% were within their active economic age group (41 – 50 years), about 50.0% were educated and 82.3% were married. The scale of operation was on small scale level. The result of the budgetary analysis show that average total cost of N53,530.08 was incurred, average total revenue of N58,340.71 was realized and a returning gross margin of N37,088.44. The profitability ratio gave a benefit-cost ratio of 1.089 and expense structure ratio of 0.0603. This is an indication that fish processing business is profitable and viable in the study area. Despite the high profitability of the business, fish processors identified lack of collateral security for bank loan (96.5%), erratic power supply (92.0%) and lack of modern fish processing facilities (43.4%) as their most prevailing problems. With this high level of profitability and viability in fish processing and marketing, it is recommended that Government, cooperative societies, private bodies and non-governmental organizations should provide basic amenities such as storage facilities, electricity, transportation facilities and modern fish processing facilities in other to boost fish production in Nigeria as well as single digit Bank loan with civil servants as guarantors as means of collateral security.Keywords: Fish processing, fish marketing, socio economics, constraints, profitabilit