Performance evaluation and characterization of wetted soil parameters of improvised medi-emitters installed in a drip irrigation tomato field

Field study was conducted to evaluate the emission uniformity (EU), global coefficient of variation (CGv), emitter flow variation (Qvar) and distribution uniformity (DU), and determine the wetted radius (rw) on soil surface of improvised medi-emitters installed in a tomato field. Soil water content (SWC) at four layers was determined after different periods of irrigation. Radius of wetted soil surface was determined and predicted. Irrigation frequency had no significant effect on the average discharge rate of the medi-emitters throughout the growing cycle. Average Qvar and CGv were significantly (P=0.05) influenced by the frequency of application while the EU and DU did not significantly (P=0.05) differ among the treatments. There were significant differences in the average values of SWC in different soil layers under the different periods of irrigation. Both the observed and calculated rw on the soil surface were fitted with fourth order polynomial. The model performance parameters of MAE and RMSE between the calculated and observed radii were low, indicating good prediction. Medical infusion set can successfully replace the more expensive conventional emitters for drip irrigation system

Shelf Life Study and Quality Attributes of Cocoyam Chips

The study was carried out to determine changes in the quality indices (levels of peroxides values, acid values, pH and colour) of cocoyam chips and microbiological safety (bacterial, yeast and mould counts) of cocoyam chips as influenced by temperature during storage period of fried cocoyam chips. Cocoyam tubers were processed into chips of 3mm thickness; the slices were then fried at a frying temperature of 170°C in a shallow pot for 7 minutes and was packaged in polyethylene bags and stored under room and refrigerator temperature. The results showed that there was significant difference (p≤0.05) between quality indices, microbiological safety and storage temperature and packaging materials. From week 0-5, peroxide values of samples stored under refrigeration temperature were found to be low, ranged from 3.39 - 11.58 meq kg-1, while the samples stored in the room temperature were found to be higher 3.81 - 12.87 meq kg-1. Acid values were also found to be low in the samples stored in the refrigerator, ranged from 5.79 - 16 3.34mg/g and the samples that were stored in the room temperature ranged from 9.94 - 24.05mg/g. The samples stored under refrigeration temperature had low bacterial counts ranged from 5.0 x 101 - 6.2 x 101 cfu/ml while samples stored in the room temperature had higher bacterial counts, ranged from 9.0 x 101 – 74 x 101 cfu/ml. Yeast and mould counts in samples stored under refrigeration temperature ranged from 4.0 x 101 - 32 x 10 cfu/ml while the samples that were stored in room temperature had higher counts, ranged from 3.0 x 10 – 38 x 10 cfu/ml. pH ranged between 6.88 - 7.02 for both samples during storage period. The results showed that storage temperature and properly sealed packaging material has effect on the above parameters that were determined. There were also colour changes during the storage period

Circulating ketone bodies and mortality in heart failure: a community cohort study

BackgroundThe relationship between ketone bodies (KB) and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) syndrome has not been well established.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to assess the distribution of KB in HF, identify clinical correlates, and examine the associations between plasma KB and all-cause mortality in a population-based HF cohort.MethodsThe plasma KB levels were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine associations between clinical correlates and KB levels. Proportional hazard regression was employed to examine associations between KB (represented as both continuous and categorical variables) and mortality, with adjustment for several clinical covariates.ResultsAmong the 1,382 HF patients with KB measurements, the median (IQR) age was 78 (68, 84) and 52% were men. The median (IQR) KB was found to be 180 (134, 308) μM. Higher KB levels were associated with advanced HF (NYHA class III–IV) and higher NT-proBNP levels (both P < 0.001). The median follow-up was 13.9 years, and the 5-year mortality rate was 51.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 49.1%–54.4%]. The risk of death increased when KB levels were higher (HRhigh vs. low group 1.23; 95% CI: 1.05–1.44), independently of a validated clinical risk score. The association between higher KB and mortality differed by ejection fraction (EF) and was noticeably stronger among patients with preserved EF.ConclusionsMost patients with HF exhibited KB levels that were consistent with those found in healthy adults. Elevated levels of KB were observed in patients with advanced HF. Higher KB levels were found to be associated with an increased risk of death, particularly in patients with preserved EF

FARMERS PERCEPTION OF IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGES ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN OGBOMOSO AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA.

The study assessed farmer’s perception of impact of climate change on food crop production in Ogbomoso Agricultural zone of Oyo State, Nigeria. It highlights the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, farmer’s perception on climate change, impact of climate change on crop production and adaptation strategies adopted to mitigate the effect of climate change. Data were collected by using structured interview schedule administered on 360 farmers randomly selected from the three agricultural extension blocks in the study area. Description and analysis of data were carried out using frequency counts, percentages means and tables, while multiple regression was used to test the hypothesis. About 72.0% of the respondents were male, and 95.8% were between 31 and above 51 years old. While 29.4% had no formal education,70.6% have various levels of formal education. About 90% of the farmers had many years of farming experience ranging from6years to 21years and above. Only 31.1% and 24.7% of the respondents indicated delayed rainfall and higher temperature respectively as their perception of climate change. About 12% indicated unusual heavy rainfall, 9.4% indicated undefined season, while 4.4% and 4.2% respectively indicated flood with serious consequences and later fruiting of tree crops respectively as their perception of climate change. About 80.3% of the respondents mentioned low yield of crops as the impact of climate change on crop production, stunted growth (37.2%), ease spread of pest and diseases attack on crops (31.1%). Even though only 68.3% indicated increased water conservation as adaptation strategies, 74.7% mentioned planting of different crops while 54.4% change row orientation with respect to slope, as the adaptation strategies to mitigate impact of climate changes. A significant relationship at 0.05 significant level with coefficient of (R2 = 0.612) was found between perceived climate change and adaptation strategies. Therefore Arable food crop farmers are more knowledgeable of climate change and even its impacts on their livelihood that should be considered in policy formulation on adaptation of agricultural production systems to climate change

Quality characteristics and acceptability of chin-chin prepared from rice and high quality cassava composite flour

Objective: This study was carried to assess the quality characteristics and acceptability of chin-chin prepared from rice and high-quality cassava composite flour. Methods: Chin-chin samples were made from the blends of rice flour (RF) and high quality cassava composite flour (HQCF) at varying proportions (100:0; 90:10; 80:20; 70:30; 60:40; 50:50; 0:100). The proximate composition, calorific and total energy values, physical quality, crust colour and the sensory properties of various chin-chin samples were analyzed. Results: The results showed that there was an inverse relationship between moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre and the ash of the chin-chin samples as the quantity of the high-quality cassava flour (HQCF) added increased. There was also a decrease in the values of proximate components of the chin-chin from RF. The % moisture, protein, crude fibre and ash ranged from 6.6 to 3.9, 7.9 to 4.6, 0.8 to 0.4 and 1.3 to 0.8 while % fat ranged from 18.4 to 24.7, respectively. The starch, sugar and calorific values of chin-chin samples ranged from 73.6 to 81.3%, 6.8-8.9 mg/100g, 431 to 496 cal/100 g respectively as the quantity of the high-quality cassava flour (HQCF) increased. As the quantity of the high-quality cassava flour increased in the chin-chin samples, the weight and volume ranged from 2.3 to 4.7 g and 1.8 to 0.8 cm3 respectively. The crust colour L*, a* and b* ranged from 68.01 to 78.81, 14.86 to 10.16 and 33.94 to 21.51 respectively. As the proportions of HQCF increased in the chin-chin, lightness of samples increased. The results of sensory evaluation showed that chin-chin samples from rice flour, HQCF and their composite flour had high sensory ratings and were acceptable to the consumers but chin-chin samples from 100% rice flour had highest overall consumer acceptability and were more preferred by the consumers when compared with chin-chin samples from rice and the high-quality cassava composite flour. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was observed that acceptable chin-chin could be prepared from rice and the high-quality cassava composite flour. Acceptable chin-chin samples could be produced opti-mally from rice-high quality cassava composite flour in a ratio of 60 to 40. However, it was also observed that chin-chin samples from 100% rice flour had the highest overall consumer acceptability and were more preferred by the consumers when compared with chin-chin samples from rice and the high-quality cassava composite flour.</p

Proteomics for heart failure risk stratification: a systematic review

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome with persistently high mortality. High-throughput proteomic technologies offer new opportunities to improve HF risk stratification, but their contribution remains to be clearly defined. We aimed to systematically review prognostic studies using high-throughput proteomics to identify protein signatures associated with HF mortality. Methods We searched four databases and two clinical trial registries for articles published from 2012 to 2023. HF proteomics studies measuring high numbers of proteins using aptamer or antibody-based affinity platforms on human plasma or serum with outcomes of all-cause or cardiovascular death were included. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. A third reviewer resolved conflicts. We assessed the risk of bias using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies—of Exposure tool. Results Out of 5131 unique articles identified, nine articles were included in the review. The nine studies were observational; three used the aptamer platform, and six used the antibody platform. We found considerable heterogeneity across studies in measurement panels, HF definitions, ejection fraction categorization, follow-up duration, and outcome definitions, and a lack of risk estimates for most protein associations. Hence, we proceeded with a systematic review rather than a meta-analysis. In two comparable aptamer studies in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, 21 proteins were identified in common for the association with all-cause death. Among these, one protein, WAP four-disulfide core domain protein 2 was also reported in an antibody study on HFrEF and for the association with CV death. We proposed standardized reporting criteria to facilitate the interpretation of future studies. Conclusions In this systematic review of nine studies evaluating the association of proteomics with mortality in HF, we identified a limited number of proteins common across several studies. Heterogeneity across studies compromised drawing broad inferences, underscoring the importance of standardized approaches to reporting