Effect of drying methods on the physico-chemical properties of soyflour

This study investigated the relationship between the drying methods and the physicochemical properties of soybean during drying prior to converting it into flour. Three samples were prepared for each of Tax 1485 and mixed varieties. A sample for each variety was subjected to a drying method. The three drying methods used are roasting, oven and sun drying. The dried samples were converted to flour in attrition mill. Supplemented breads (5% soy + 95% wheat) were prepared from the flour for organoleptic evaluation; proximate analysis was also carried on the flour samples. The analyses were replicated thrice. The result of this study showed that oven drying method has highest acceptability levels when compared to the other two methods in both Tax 1485 and mixed variety; showing 58 and 64%, respectively. It was also established that oven drying method retained highest protein content of 40.54 and 33.7% for Tax 1485 and mixed variety, respectively, though there was no significant difference in the protein values. The results show that drying for a long period (as observed in sun drying) and with high temperature (as observed in roasting), to achieve safe moisture content, will defeat the purpose of using soy flour as supplement due to a significant reduction in the protein content and acceptability. Moderately high temperature of 60°C in oven as being investigated is therefore recommended.Key words: Roasting, boiling, oven drying, sun drying, quality

DNA methylation subgroups and the CpG island methylator phenotype in gastric cancer: A comprehensive profiling approach

10.1186/1471-230X-14-55BMC Gastroenterology141-BGMA

Mupirocin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Mupirocin is widely used for nasal decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus to prevent subsequent staphylococcal infection in patients and healthcare personnel. However, the prolonged and unrestricted use has led to the emergence of mupirocin-resistant (mupR) S. aureus. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prevalence, phenotypic and molecular characteristics, and geographic spread of mupR S. aureus in Africa. Methods We examined five electronic databases (EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Scopus) for relevant English articles on screening for mupR S. aureus from various samples in Africa. In addition, we performed random effects meta-analysis of proportions to determine the pooled prevalence of mupR S. aureus in Africa. The search was conducted until 3 August 2016. Results We identified 43 eligible studies of which 11 (26%) were obtained only through Google Scholar. Most of the eligible studies (28/43; 65%) were conducted in Nigeria (10/43; 23%), Egypt (7/43; 16%), South Africa (6/43; 14%) and Tunisia (5/43; 12%). Overall, screening for mupR S. aureus was described in only 12 of 54 (22%) African countries. The disk diffusion method was the widely used technique (67%; 29/43) for the detection of mupR S. aureus in Africa. The mupA-positive S. aureus isolates were identified in five studies conducted in Egypt (n = 2), South Africa (n = 2), and Nigeria (n = 1). Low-level resistance (LmupR) and high-level resistance (HmupR) were both reported in six human studies from South Africa (n = 3), Egypt (n = 2) and Libya (n = 1). Data on mupR-MRSA was available in 11 studies from five countries, including Egypt, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria and South Africa. The pooled prevalence (based on 11 human studies) of mupR S. aureus in Africa was 14% (95% CI =6.8 to 23.2%). The proportion of mupA-positive S. aureus in Africa ranged between 0.5 and 8%. Furthermore, the frequency of S. aureus isolates that exhibited LmupR, HmupR and mupR-MRSA in Africa were 4 and 47%, 0.5 and 38%, 5 and 50%, respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of mupR S. aureus in Africa (14%) is worrisome and there is a need for data on administration and use of mupirocin. The disk diffusion method which is widely utilized in Africa could be an important method for the screening and identification of mupR S. aureus. Moreover, we advocate for surveillance studies with appropriate guidelines for screening mupR S. aureus in Africa

An Approach to Determine The Critical Time-Step in Discrete Element Modelling

The possibility of numerical modelling of the dynamic behaviour of particulate assemblies offered by the rapid increase in computer power has led to the development of relevant codes in Discrete Element (DE) Modelling. The inappropriate use and selection of time step for iteration cycles using trialand error methods in DE modelling has been leading to excessive  computation time and data output as well as instability in computation in most cases. This study proposed, developed and ran trial tests on a new method which involved pre-determination of time step based on the well established behaviour of an elastic material. The method was found to be a useful tool and provided a better alternative to the commonly used methods.Keywords: Time step, Discrete element, Numerical modelling, Particulate,Computatio

Physicochemical characteristics of osmotically dehydrated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) under different common drying methods

This study investigated the effect of different common drying methods on the chemical composition of osmotically dehydrated tomato. The quality of dehydrated tomato is often poor as a result of: collapse of structure, discoloration, tough texture and loss of nutritional values. In this study, osmotic dehydration was combined with other drying methods with a view to investigating the method that will produce high quality product. Combination of sucrose and salt solution was used to soak tomato at 400 Brix for 4hours. The osmotically dehydrated samples were subjected to open air (sun), solar cabinet, hot air cabinet and oven drying methods. The proximate composition, colour and vitamin C of the dried samples were determined. The proximate composition showed that the raw tomato contained fat 1.75%, Ash 27.97%, crude fiber 0.18%, Protein 28.95% and Carbohydrate 41.15% while the Sun dried sample contained fat 1.25%, Ash 42.71%, Crude fiber 0.19%, protein 15.74% and carbohydrate 40.11%. Solar cabinet dried sample contained fat 1.29%, Ash 42.88%, crude fiber 0.26%, protein 15.78% and carbohydrate 35.79%. Hot air cabinet dried sample contained fat 1.17%, Ash 33.95%, crude fiber 0.25%, protein 14.48% and carbohydrate 1.17%. Oven dried sample contained, fat 1.15%, Ash 49.34%, crude fiber 0.26%, protein 13.22% and carbohydrate 36.03%. The vitamin C and colour measurement for raw, sun dried, solar cabinet dried, hot air cabinet dried and oven dried are 156.7 mg/100 g and 600 nm, 79.2 mg/100 g and 610 nm, 67.4 mg/100 g and 610 nm, 66.6 mg/100 g and 615 nm and 50 mg/100 g and 620 nm respectively which indicate the level of red pigmentation. Osmotically dehydrated tomato subjected to solar cabinet drying and sun drying yielded the best quality product based ontheir proximate and vitamin C compositions

Carcass Characteristics of Growing Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Acacia albida Pods

In an 84-day feeding trial, the effect of feeding varying dietary levels of Acacia albida pods (AAP) on the carcass parameters of growing rabbits was studied. AAP was included at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% levels in diets, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The diets and clean drinking water were provided ad libitum. At the end of the study, five rabbits (3 males and 2 females) were slaughtered to obtain carcass data. The slaughter weights (1532.9, 1484.0 and 1478.0 g), dressed weight (757.24, 771.48 and 759.08 g), hot carcass weight (757.24, 771.48 and 759.08 g) and cold carcass weight (751.13, 765.28 and 748.86 g) of rabbits on diets 1, 2, and 3 respectively were superior (