Chemical and sensory attributes of soy-corn milk types

Soy-corn milk white type (SCMW) and creamy yellow type (SCMY) were prepared from the blend of blanched and dehulled soybean seeds variety TGX-923-4 and grains of fresh green field maize DMRSLR-White and DMRSLR-Yellow, respectively. Soyamilk (SM) was prepared from the slurry of blanched and dehulled soybean seeds while maize milk types were prepared from the mixed slurry of maize grains types and dehulled soybean cotyledons. The three milk types were analyzed for their total solid, total acidity, total carotenoids, relative density and protein content. Changes in the apparent colloidal stability, pH and sensory scores were monitored for 72 h under storage at room temperature (30&#1771&#176C), in refrigerator (6&#1772&#176C) and freezer (–4&#1771&#176C). There were significant variations in the attributes monitored in the milk types. The soy-corn milk types were more stable than the soyamilk under the conditions of storage. As expected, all milk types decomposed at room temperature after 24 h of storage. The maize milk types were generally more acceptable organoleptically than soyamilk. While the sensory scores of all milk types decreased with increasing storage duration in the refrigerator; frozen soy-corn milk types were significantly scored higher than frozen soyamilk, throughout the duration of storage. Implications of the results were discussed in terms of the potentials of the beverages to combat both protein energy malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) disease.Key words: Soy-corn milk, apparent colloidal stability, protein energy malnutrition, carotenoids, vitamin A deficiency.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 847-85

Economic Evaluation of Soy-Chocolate Beverage Drink

Abstract Soy-chocolate beverage drink is a nutritional health drink was obtained from soya bean and cocoa powder. The study was conducted to evaluate the economic analyses of soy-chocolate beverage drink production with a view to establishing the profitability of the investment. The method used in this study involved an investment decision model comprising Net present value (NPV), Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). The results indicates an NPV of N480, 535 discounted at 21%, BCR of 2.5 and IRR of 21.33% These positive values are indices to the fact that investment of soya chocolate beverage is a profitable venture and worthwhile

Retinal Muller Glia Initiate Innate Response to Infectious Stimuli via Toll-Like Receptor Signaling

Ocular surgeries and trauma predispose the eye to develop infectious endophthalmitis, which often leads to vision loss. The mechanisms of initiation of innate defense in this disease are not well understood but are presumed to involve retinal glial cells. We hypothesize that retinal Muller glia can recognize and respond to invading pathogens via TLRs, which are key regulators of the innate immune system. Using the mouse retinal sections, human retinal Muller cell line (MIO-M1), and primary mouse retinal Muller cells, we show that they express known human TLR1-10, adaptor molecules MyD88, TRIF, TRAM, and TRAF6, and co-receptors MD2 and CD14. Consistent with the gene expression, protein levels were also detected for the TLRs. Moreover, stimulation of the Muller glia with TLR 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 agonists resulted in an increased TLR expression as assayed by Western blot and flow cytometry. Furthermore, TLR agonists or live pathogen (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, & C. albicans)-challenged Muller glia produced significantly higher levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8), concomitantly with the activation of NF-κB, p38 and Erk signaling. This data suggests that Muller glia directly contributes to retinal innate defense by recognizing microbial patterns under infectious conditions; such as those in endophthalmitis

Molecular evolution of the vertebrate TLR1 gene family - a complex history of gene duplication, gene conversion, positive selection and co-evolution

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Toll-like receptors represent a large superfamily of type I transmembrane glycoproteins, some common to a wide range of species and others are more restricted in their distribution. Most members of the Toll-like receptor superfamily have few paralogues; the exception is the TLR1 gene family with four closely related genes in mammals TLR1, TLR2, TLR6 and TLR10, and four in birds TLR1A, TLR1B, TLR2A and TLR2B. These genes were previously thought to have arisen by a series of independent gene duplications. To understand the evolutionary pattern of the TLR1 gene family in vertebrates further, we cloned the sequences of TLR1A, TLR1B, TLR2A and TLR2B in duck and turkey, constructed phylogenetic trees, predicted codons under positive selection and identified co-evolutionary amino acid pairs within the TLR1 gene family using sequences from 4 birds, 28 mammals, an amphibian and a fish.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This detailed phylogenetic analysis not only clarifies the gene gains and losses within the TLR1 gene family of birds and mammals, but also defines orthologues between these vertebrates. In mammals, we predict amino acid sites under positive selection in TLR1, TLR2 and TLR6 but not TLR10. We detect co-evolution between amino acid residues in TLR2 and the other members of this gene family predicted to maintain their ability to form functional heterodimers. In birds, we predict positive selection in the TLR2A and TLR2B genes at functionally significant amino acid residues. We demonstrate that the TLR1 gene family has mostly been subject to purifying selection but has also responded to directional selection at a few sites, possibly in response to pathogen challenge.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our phylogenetic and structural analyses of the vertebrate TLR1 family have clarified their evolutionary origins and predict amino acid residues likely to be important in the host's defense against invading pathogens.</p

Full-Exon Resequencing Reveals Toll-Like Receptor Variants Contribute to Human Susceptibility to Tuberculosis Disease

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death worldwide due to an infectious agent. Data have accumulated over decades suggesting that variability in human susceptibility to TB disease has a genetic component. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in initiating the innate immune response to many pathogens in mouse models, but little is known about their role in human infections. Human TLRs have been reported to recognize mycobacterial antigens and initiate an immune response. We tested the hypothesis that amino acid-altering polymorphisms in five TLRs were associated with susceptibility to TB disease using a population-based case-control study with 1,312 adult TB patients and controls. Full-coding region sequencing of the five TLR genes in all 1,312 subjects yielded a data set in excess of 16 Mb. Rare nonsynonymous polymorphisms in TLR6-TLR1-TLR10 were significantly overrepresented among African-American TB cases compared with ethnically-matched control subjects. Common nonsynonymous polymorphisms in TLR6-TLR1-TLR10 also were significantly associated with TB disease in certain ethnic groups. Among African Americans, homozygotes for the common-variant haplotype TLR1-248S, TLR1-602I, and TLR6-249S had a significantly increased TB disease risk. A transmission/disequilibrium test on an independent sample found that the TLR1-248S variant was preferentially transmitted to diseased children, thereby confirming disease association. These results are consistent with recent reports implicating TLR1 variants, including TLR1-602, in significantly altered innate immune responses. Also consistent with disease association, rare TLR6 variants were defective in their ability to mediate NF-κB signal transduction in transfected human cells. Taken together, the data suggest that variant TLRs contribute to human susceptibility to TB disease. Extensive full-exon resequencing was critical for revealing new information about the role of TLRs in human-pathogen interactions and the genetic basis of innate immune function

Growth of Gliricidia and Leucaena as affected by Rhizobium inoculation and N and P fertilizar application in Nigeria

Six field trials to determine the effects of rhizobium inoculation, and N and P fertilizer applications on the early growth of Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala were conducted in farmers' fields at three sites: Alabata and Ajaawa located in the derived savanna of southwestern Nigeria and Zakibiam located in the southern Guinea zone of ease central Nigeria. At Alabara and Ajaawa the soils are Entisols and mean annual rainfall was 1300 mm; at Zakibiam, the soils belonged to the Alfisol group with a mean annual rainfall of 1070 mm. By 15 MAP Gliricidia responded significantly to inoculation in four fields and to fertilization in two fields. Leucaena responded significantly to inoculation in three fields and to fertilizer application in one field. The performance of the two species was better at Alabata and Ajaawa than at Zakibiam. The better performance may be related to soil fertility and rainfall. Gliricidia showed better early growth than Leucaena. The faster growing Gliricidia responded better to inoculation and fertilization. The mean response to rhizobium inoculation was higher in the control than in plots fertilized with N. The N response was more pronounced than P response in spite of the low available P level of the fields. Inoculation, and N and P fertilization increased the N and P uptake of the two species. To ensure the early establishment of both species, inoculation with rhizobium and starter applications of N and P fertilizers is highly recommended

Cassava Processors’ Awareness Of Occupational And Environmental Hazards Associated With Cassava Processing In South-Western Nigeria

The processing of this popular root tuber into different products (gari, fufu, pupuru) is not without hazards both to the environment, the processors, and even the consumers. This study, therefore, investigated cassava processors’ awareness of occupational and environmental hazards associated with and factors affecting cassava processing in three states - Oyo, Ogun and Ondo in South-western Nigeria. A total of 380 cassava processors were purposively and randomly selected from the three states. Data were collected through the use of structured interview guide using the participatory and focus group approach with the assistance of experienced enumerators. The data were analysed using frequency counts and percentages. Results from the study showed that majority (68.9%) of the respondents involved in cassava processing were females, 65.7% are between the ages of 31-50 years which means that they were still in their active age, 48% have between 4-6 persons as household size, 64.2% had one form of education or another which is a good indicator of their level of understanding especially where a technology involves a little technicality. Another 55.5% of the respondents took cassava processing and marketing as their primary occupation. A larger percentage (74.5%) of the respondents indicated that the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) is their source of information. The result also showed that processor’s awareness of occupational hazards associated with the different stages of cassava processing vary because their involvement in these stages also varies. They were also aware of environmental hazards associated with cassava processing. Majority (97.7%) of the respondents combined conventional and modern methods of cassava processing. Majority of the respondents also complained of lack of water (78.4%), lack of effective channel for cassava effluent (64.5%), lack of labour (80.3%) and unstable price of cassava products (70.3%) as major factors affecting cassava processing in the study area. It is, therefore, recommended that for proper channeling be made for cassava effluent, cassava peels should be sun-dried and used as livestock feed, government and the community should provide a borehole or a deep well as this will improve cleanliness of the environment cassava products. Key stakeholders can also participate in the design of processing site from inception so as to reduce the problems faced by cassava processors during processing

Comparison of component yields and sensory properties of traditional Nigerian foods (Ogi and Eko) derived from eleven maize varieties

Eleven maize varieties were evaluated for their component yields, protein and ash contents and organoleptic properties when processed into two traditional Nigerian foods, ogi and eko. Significant differences were observed among varieties for component yields and total percent recovery. Yields of ogi, bran and total solids from liquor ranged from 42 to 62, 18 to 30 and 3 to 8 percent (db) respectively. Total recovery of these three components ranged between 72 and 87 percent. Protein in maize, ogi and bran ranged from 9.89 to 12.91, from 4.21 to 8.02 and from 11.82 to 17.50 percent respectively. The ash content of ogi ranged from 0.23 to 0.88% while that of the bran ranged from 0.30 to 0.57%. Losses in protein content during ogi manufacture ranged between 18 and 64 percent. A hybrid 8705-4 (F2) and an open-pollinated variety EV 8744-SR gave the highest ogi yields followed closely by DMRL-SR-W, ACR 8363-SR, TZB-SR-SE and TZB-SR-SGY (IITA). All the varieties were rated good in organoleptic properties for eko and ogi. Differences observed among varieties for ogi yield and quality highlight the need to consider end-product suitability in maize breeding programmes

Magnesium Releasinng Potential of soils of Edo State, Nigeria

A green house experiment was conducted to determine the magnesium releasing potential of soil of Edo State. Exhaustive cropping technique was used with maize as test crop. Twenty composite surface soil samples collected from pre-classified sites were used for this study. From the study, exchangeable Mg decreased from an initial mean of 1.39 to a mean of 0.26cmol kg-1 soil after four successive croppings. Exchangeable Mg before cropping and the decrease in exchangeable Mg after four successive croppings were positively and significantly correlated with total update with “r” values of 0.937 *** and 0.992***, respectively. The only 4.30% of the total Mg that was taken up by maize plant during four successive croppings conceivably came from non-exchangeable sources. This was too small to meet its requirement. Incipient deficiency symptoms were associated with Mg content or concentration of less than 0.3% in plant; 0.28cmol kg-1 soil of IN NH4 OAc (PH7) extractable Mg or 5% Mg saturation of ECEC. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 17 2007: pp. 30-3