Trace Metal Levels in Raw and Heat Processed Nigerian Staple Foods from Oil- Producing Areas of Rivers and Bayelsa States

The levels of some trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd) were quantitatively determined in raw and heat processed staple food cultivars (yam, cassava, cocoyam and maize) from oil producing areas of part of the Niger Delta and compared with a non-oil producing area of Ebonyi State as control. The survey was conducted to evaluate the role of foods as exogenous source of these metals among the inhabitants. The data showed that metal levels in allthe raw staple foods from oil producing areas were significantly higher at (

Participation of Senior Academics in Human Resource Development Activities in South-East Universities, Nigeria

The study was designed to assess the level of participation of senior academics in human resource development activities in the South-East Universities in Nigeria A stratified simple random sampling technique was used to compose a sample size of 430 This represented 30 7 of the senior academic staff population of 1400 of the universities in 2008 2009 as obtained from the list of the universities in the five states of the South-East Geopolitical zone of Nigeria A self constructed questionnaire was validated tested and with reliability co-efficient of 0 82 used for the study One research question and two hypotheses guided the study The analysis was done using descriptive statistics z-test and analysis of variance It was found that senior lecturers participated more in human resource development activities than readers and professors The result also indicated that male and female academic staff differed significantly in their participation in human resource development activitie

Comparative Effects Of Processing On The Cyanide Content Of Manihot Esculenta , Glycine Max And Zea Mays

The effects of varying processing treatments on the cyanide content of Manihot Esculenta, Zea Mays and Glycine Max were determined using picrate kit method and the following mean concentrations in ppm were obtained: 0.10, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.01, 0.00, 0.02,0.00, and 0.00 for Cassava, Garri, Fufu, Tapioka, Soybean, Vitamilk, Raw maize, Roasted maize, and Boiled maize respectively. There were statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among all raw samples analysed for the observed phytotoxin (Cyanide) levels. The results obtained from the processed and unprocessed food products generally showed a marked difference (P ≤ 0.05) in cyanide levels between raw and processed food products and this implies that food processing has a marked effect on the cyanide content of different food types indicating success in degradation of cyanide by heat. Heat treatments therefore reduced the cyanide content (approximately 100%) in tested food crops thereby making them suitable and safer for consumption outside creating variety

Influence of heat processing methods on the nutrient composition and lipid characterization of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) seed pastes.

The effects of heat processing methods on the proximate composition, caloric value, mineral concentrations, vitamins A and C levels and lipid characterization of seed pastes of Arachis hypogaea were investigated. Moisture content was highest (25.2 ± 0.36%) in boiled seeds (BS) followed by raw seeds (RS) (4.58± 0.24%) and was lowest (1.21 ±0.20%) in fried seeds (FS) while ash ranged from 1.31 ± 0.01% in BS to 2.15 ± 0.07% in FS. Protein was highest in FS (28.45+0.21%) followed by RS (26.40 ± 0.18%) and lowest in BS (18.64±0.22%). RS had the highest crude fat of 51.1 ± 0.16% while BS had the lowest value of 25.23 ± 0.38%. Total carbohydrate was lowest in RS followed by FS and the highest value of 29.62 + 0.30% in BS. The energy content in kcal/100g sample was in the order RS > FS > BS. The seeds were found to be good sources of copper, iron, zinc, sulphate and chloride. Boiling and frying had no significant effect (P>0.05) on copper but significantly (P< 0.05) decreased iron and zinc. Boiling significantly (P<0.05) decreased sulphate and chloride which were significantly increased by frying. Boiling decreased the concentrations of vitamins A and C which were further decreased by frying. The % free fatty acid, peroxide value, acid value and iodine value were highest in RS and the lowest values were obtained in FS, BS, FS and FS respectively. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was obtained in the saponification number of the three samples analyzed and values ranged from 161.3 ±2.92 in RS to 163.0 ± 2.60 in FS. Heat processing (boiling and frying) generally decreased significantly (p<0.05) the crude protein, crude fat, caloric value, Fe, Zn, vitamins A and C as well as % free fatty acid and peroxide value but had no significant effect on Cu, acid value, iodine value and saponification number. However, frying increased significantly (P<0.05) the dry matter, ash, S04 2-, Cl- and unsaponifiable matter. These findings may offer scientific basis for the use of the processed seeds as food for humans and oil extracts for the manufacture of industrial products.Key words: Heat processing methods, Arachis hypogaea seeds, nutrient composition, lipid characterization

Protein levels in urine of pregnant women in Rivers State, Nigeria

The levels of protein in urine of pregnant Women in Rivers State, Nigeria, were investigated. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) Sample were analyzed, out of which ninety (90) were obtained from pregnant Women and thirty (30) from non-pregnant Women used as control. The protein concentration (mg/100ml) in pregnant Women (56.3 + 8. 8. 7) was significantly (P≤ 0.o5) higher than values in non-pregnant woman (35.3± 8.3). At different gestation periods values decreased from 53. 6± 5.51 mg /100ml in the first trimester to 28.3± 4.20 mg/ 100ml in the third trimester. Protein levels decreased after 25 years of age and then increased after 35 years of age of pregnant women. The concentration of protein in relation to the number of pregnancies showed a range of 40.9± 11.4 mg/ 100ml gravida 2 pra to 75.8± 17.7 mg/100ml at primer. The value at the primer did not differ significantly (p≤ 0.05) from that at fourth pregnancy which was 73.7± 13.7 mg/100ml. It can be concluded that proteinuria occurred during pregnancy especially at the first trimester, and the age and number of pregnancies influenced the level of protein in urine. These findings may offer scientific basis for the monitoring and treatment of pregnant Women for healthy living and safe delivery of their babies. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 10(3) 2006: 171-17

Effect of heat processing on the proximate composition and energy values of selected Nigerian staple foods from oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta

Proximate composition and energy values of four raw and heat processed staple foods (yams, cassava, cocoyam andmaize) from oil-producing (Eleme, Ogoni, Okrika, and Nembe) areas of Rivers and Bayelsa States and Abakaliki (a non-oil producing area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria) as control were investigated. In raw yam tubers, moisture was high in all the locations and ranged from 61.96 ± 0.02% in Abakaliki to 63.77±0.25% in Ogoni. Crude protein rangedfrom 1.39±0.13% in Okrika to 1.71±0.06% in Abakaliki while ash was highest (2.57±0.12%) in Okrika followed by 2.33±0.01% in Eleme and was lowest (0.97±0.06%) in Abakaliki. Crude fat was low in all the locations and ranged from 0.10±0.00% in Okrika to 0.17±0.01% in Nembe while total carbohydrate was high in all the locations rangingfrom 33.32±0.42% in Ogoni to 35.21±0.13% in Abakaliki. The calorific value (kcal/100 g sample) in all the locations was low. It was highest (149.08) in yams from Abakaliki followed by Eleme (142.55) and lowest in Ogoni (140.09). Similar trends in values of the constituents were obtained in raw cassava, cocoyam and maize fromdifferent oil-producing and control locations investigated. In each of these locations, heat processing generally increased moisture content of all the samples (yam, cassava products, cocoyam and maize), but decreased dry matter, crude protein, ash, crude fat, total carbohydrate and calorific value. With the exception of moisture and ash,other nutrients were significantly (

Performance and risk assessment of Bambara beans grown on petroleum contaminated soil and the biostimulation implications

The potential of Vigna subterranean commonly called Bambara beans for phytoextraction of copper in a crude oil contaminated soil was investigated. The contamination levels of crude oil in the soil for this pot experiment were 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% (w/v). Amendments were added to increase the uptake and translocation of metal to aerial biomass. A range of amendments was tested for copper uptake enhancement with V. subterranean commonly called Bambara beans. Safe levels of exposure to contaminants were further investigated using albino Wistar rats for 28 feeding trial days to trace inherent biomagnifications. Bambara beans extracted up to 88.88 and 43.38 mg/kg into its shoot and root respectively at 10% contaminant dose while achieving 63.17% Cu removal unamended. Poultry manure was the most effective amendment for enhancing copper uptake and translocation into the shoots of Bambara beans with shoot tissue copper levels of 118.13 mg/kg compared to 98.25 and 93 mg/kg obtained for NPK and UREA amendments. 79.28, 70.07 and 70.99% Cu removal was achieved with poultry manure, NPK and UREA amendment respectively. An assay was carried out with animals on inherent biomagnifications. The results showed that the performance of rats fed diets formulated from contaminated soil differed significantly (P > 0.05) from those of the controls used. Hazard characterization revealed negative effects of potentially toxic copper on organ weight, optimum digestibility and animal growth rate. Weight of pancreas showed pancreatic hypertrophy in rats adapted to diets, which contain higher levels of contaminants compared to controls

Effect of Ethanol Extract of Leaves of Chrysophyllum albidum on the Reproductive Hormones of Lead-Exposed Female Wistar Albino Rats

This study investigated the ameliorative effect of the ethanol extract of leaves of Chrysophyllum albidum on the ovaries and reproductive hormones of lead-exposed female Wistar albino rats. Lead has no physiological role in the body but exerts many deleterious effects on various organs and systems in humans including the reproductive system; this it achieves mainly by the production of free radicals leading to oxidative stress. A total number of forty-two rats (160-180g) were divided into seven groups; group 1 served as the normal control group, group 2 rats were administered 200mgkg-1 of lead and left untreated (negative control group) while groups 3,4,5,6 and 7 were administered lead (200mgkg-1) and 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250mgkg-1 body weight of the ethanol extract of the studied plant respectively. All groups received feed and water ad libitum for 30days. A significant (p≤0.05) increase was observed in FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone levels in C. albidum treated groups compared to the negative control group. The histology of the negative control group showed the presence of cysts with no ovarian follicle whereas treated groups showed normal histology of the ovaries with oocytes except for groups 6 and 7.This ameliorative ability of C. albidum observed in the present study may be attributed to its high antioxidant properties. Further studies on C. albidum could lead to the development of new and highly affordable drugs for the treatment of female infertility.Keywords: Chrysophyllum albidum; reproductive hormones; follicle stimulating hormone; progesteron

Managing large classes in developing countries

The reasons for large classes in developing countries are not far from the favourable government policies in the provision for free and compulsory basic education. This is in line with the global initiative for universal basic education coupled with the rapid population growth and awareness that a literate population is more productive than an illiterate one. Experience has shown that large classes or overcrowded classrooms affect the quality of education delivered in the school system. Teachers find it difficult to manage and teach effectively in large classes. This article explored the concept of large class size, its characteristics and management. The suggestions on processes of effective teaching and evaluating learning in large classes in developing economies like Nigeria preferred in this article will not only contribute to the existing literature but also assist teachers in their efforts to meet the expectations of the teaching profession.KEYWORDS: Class size, Large Class, Management, Developing Economie

Application of Faulkenberry (2018) Bayes Factor to a Balanced Two Way Analysis of Variance with Random Effects

The Analysis of Variance technique estimates variance components by comparing their mean squares to their expected values. Nevertheless, this method could give variance component estimates that are found outside the parameter space, i.e. negative estimates. In a bid to overcome this deficiency, alternate approaches are essential, and likelihood-based approaches have become common over time. Bayesian techniques have also been proposed and Bayes factors developed for examining various models. We applied the Bayes factor proposed by Faulkenberry (2018) to a Balanced Two Way ANOVA under three (3) cases, namely Case 1: the levels of the two factors are fixed; Case 2: the levels of the two factors are random; and Case 3: the levels of one factor are considered as fixed, while the levels of the other factor are considered as random. We realized that when the levels of the two factors are fixed, the Bayesian conclusion about the variability in the effects is in line with that of a frequentist. But when the same data set was considered to be wholly or partly as sample observations drawn randomly from a given population of interest, the Bayesian conclusion differed slightly from that of the frequentist. Keywords: Bayes Factor; Bayesian; Frequentist, Fixed; Random