HIV related isolated tuberculosis of the spleen: A case report

A patient with left upper quadrant pain, intermittent fever, and weight loss but no radiographic evidence suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis is presented. Abdominal sonography showed multiple hypo echoic nodular splenic lesions reported as foci of infection/abscess. Histopathology study of splenectomy specimen revealed caseous tuberculous lesions of near normal size organ

Evaluation of a seed storage facility in relation to preserving seed moisture, vigour and germination

The performance of a solar energy-assisted seed storage room was evaluated through an ordinary 22-m3 room that was retrofitted with a solar  collector, inlets and chimney. The structure was made of a solar collector to heat the ambient air before entering the chimney. The chimney  circulated the air inside the structure and inlets. To compare the performance of the modified storage room, a room with a similar capacity and  without the retrofitted components (control storage room) was used. Twelve 8 kg bags of maize were stored in each storage room for a period of  three months. Samples were taken every two weeks to determine germination rate, moisture content and seed vigour. The temperature and relative  humidity (RH) was measured during storage. The RH in the control storage was significantly higher (P≤0.05) (60.6 ± 5.87%) than in the  modified storage (40.1 ± 3.21%) during the day. However, at night, the RH in the control storage room was significantly lower (P≤0.05) (58.5 ± 7.32%)  than in the modified storage (63.7 ± 6.28%). The RH in the modified storage room increased from 40.1% during the day to 63.7% at night. The RH in  the control storage room decreased slightly from 60.6% to 58.5% during the day and night. The seed moisture content in the modified storage  facility was significantly lower (P≤0.05) (12.6 ± 0.21%) than in the control storage room (13.3 ± 0.52%). The moisture content in the modified storage  room decreased from 12.6% to 12.4%, whereas in the control room, moisture content increased from 12.6% to 13.8% in three months. The seed  germination rate obtained after three months of storage in the modified storage room was significantly higher (P≤0.05) (98.5 ± 0.85%) than in the  control storage room (96.8 ± 1.49%).The seed igour obtained in the modified storage room was significantly higher (93.6 ± 0.35%) than in the control  room (91.7 ± 2.08%) (P≤0.05). Seed stored in the control storage lost vigour at a faster rate, compared to the seeds stored in the modified storage room. Therefore, the modified naturally-ventilated seed storage room maintained seed quality better than the control storage room

A review on the integrated agro-technology of papaya fruit

The aim of this review was first to explore the effect of different pre-harvest factors affecting the quality of papaya including genetic factors, climatic conditions, cultural practices on post-harvest quality of the papaya fruit. Post-harvest physiology of papaya in terms of its respiration, ethylene production and sensitivity and transpiration was reviewed. Post-harvest handling and factors affecting quality of papaya were also examined. Post-harvest biochemistry of papaya including enzyme activity, carbohydrates, organic acids, pigments and volatiles in papaya fruit were assessed. A review on post-harvest handling of papaya fruit including packaging and storage environments (temperature and relative humidity) were presented. On the other hand, the post-harvest microbiology of papaya was reviewed. Papaya supply chain is much limited to local destinations with quite few exceptions mainly due to lack of integrated post-harvest handling technologies. Pre- and post-harvest treatments were found to have a significant effect on post-harvest quality of papaya and the fruit storage stability under dry and hot climatic conditions of Africa. An integrated agro-technology research and development approach aimed at improved yield and quality at harvest as well as the maintenance of qualities of papaya fruit in order to encourage farmers to produce and for marketing of the papaya fruit under African local supply chain conditions and for export market is recommended.Key words: Papaya fruit, post-harvest, agro-technology, pre-harvest

Effect of varieties on physicochemical and pasting characteristics of water yam flours and starches

Water yam (Dioscorea alata) flour and starch of ten varieties were processed using standard wet-milling procedure prior to the determination of their physico-chemical and pasting properties. The swelling power of the samples was characterized in the category of high restricted-swelling starch (9.21 to 11.03% for flours; 9.49 to 13.80% for starches). This characteristic is desirable for the manufacture of value-added products such as noodles and composite blends with cereals. The pasting temperature (78.05 to 86.13°C, for flours; 80.38 to 86.15°C for starches) and time (4.44 to 5.17 min for flours; 4.53 to 5.17 min for starches) of test varieties indicate higher gelatinization temperature and longer cooking time. Results of analyses of physico-chemical and pasting properties indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) among the varieties. All the varieties studied gave the potentials for the manufacture of these value-added products and non-food applications of starch such as in paper and textile industries. Moreover, the results obtained in this study also show that potential exists for selecting nutritionally superior varieties of D. alata (TDa 297 and TDa 00/00194 for flour, TDa 297 and TDa 98/01183 for starch) and these varieties could be good sources of diets to its consumers and serve as food security in developing countries.Key words: Water yam, physico-chemical, pasting, flour, starch

Developing low-cost household water supply options: the potential of self supply in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has launched a Universal Access Plan (UAP) to achieve safe water supply and sanitation for the country’s 77 million people by 2012. This would mean providing safe water service to 50.9 million new users in just 7 years. The government recently reviewed the progress of UAP and concluded that it would be challenging to achieve its targets with the existing implementation approach. The review strongly recommended that lowcost options need to be pursued to accelerate progress. Self Supply is proposed to be one such approach, providing safe water supply to households without external subsidy. This paper briefly discusses the practice and potential of Self Supply approach; and proposes key next steps needed to help achieve the UAP target for safe water supply in Ethiopia