Isolation and characterization of bioactive compound from

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CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS ALONG THE COWPEA VALUE CHAIN IN NIGERIA, GHANA AND MALI

The production and trade of cowpea (Vigna Uniculata), called “blackeyed peas” in the US, are a growing business for farmers and merchants serving the rapidly expanding urban areas of West and Central Africa. Cowpea fits the needs of the urban poor. It is an inexpensive source of protein that does not require refrigeration. A better understanding of consumer preferences for cowpea is essential to market development. The main objective of the study was to determine the cowpea grain quality characteristics that command a price premium or provoke a discount in Ghanaian, Malian and Nigerian markets. Specifically, the study looked at the impact of the grain size, texture, color, eye color, and bruchid-damaged grains on cowpea market prices. The data for the study were collected from six markets in Ghana; four markets were in the capital city of Accra and two markets in Kumasi. In Mali, two markets were surveyed, Marché de Sabalibougou and Marché Medine. In Nigeria three markets were surveyed, Iddo in Lagos; Monday, in Maiduguri; and Dawanau in Kano. Hedonic pricing methods provide a statistical estimate of premiums and discounts. The results of the study indicated that cowpea consumers in Ghana, Mali and Nigeria are willing to pay a premium for large cowpea grains. Cowpea consumers discount grains with storage damage from the very first bruchid hole. The impact of price on other cowpea quality characteristics such as skin color and texture, and eye color varies locally. Implications for development of the cowpea value chain include: 1) breeders and cowpea production researchers should identify cost-effective ways to increase cowpea grain size because larger grain size is almost universally preferred, and 2) entomologists and storage experts should develop and transfer improved storage technologies to reduce damage discounts, and 3) serving local markets requires a portfolio of grain skin color, eye color and skin texture combinations.Cowpeas market chains, consumer preference, hedonic price analysis

Fitting the Phenomenological MSSM

We perform a global Bayesian fit of the phenomenological minimal supersymmetric standard model (pMSSM) to current indirect collider and dark matter data. The pMSSM contains the most relevant 25 weak-scale MSSM parameters, which are simultaneously fit using `nested sampling' Monte Carlo techniques in more than 15 years of CPU time. We calculate the Bayesian evidence for the pMSSM and constrain its parameters and observables in the context of two widely different, but reasonable, priors to determine which inferences are robust. We make inferences about sparticle masses, the sign of the $\mu$ parameter, the amount of fine tuning, dark matter properties and the prospects for direct dark matter detection without assuming a restrictive high-scale supersymmetry breaking model. We find the inferred lightest CP-even Higgs boson mass as an example of an approximately prior independent observable. This analysis constitutes the first statistically convergent pMSSM global fit to all current data.Comment: Added references, paragraph on fine-tunin

Analyzing the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

A mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in Kaduna metropolis, is formulated and analysed. For the prevalence of the disease, the model was considered in proportions of susceptible, exposed, infectious and recovered compartments. The disease-free equilibrium (DFE) and Endemic Equilibrium (EE) states of the model in proportions were obtained and DFE state was used to compute the basic reproduction number 0, as important threshold whose values allow to establish whether an infection will spread in a population or not. The stability analysis shows that the disease-free equilibrium is locally and globally asymptotically stable whenever the basic reproduction number is less than unity using Routh – Hurwitz stability criterion and Lyapunov function respectively. It is further proved using Routh-Hurwitz that the endemic equilibrium state is locally asymptotically stable whenever the basic reproduction number is greater than unity. The computed results of the basic reproduction number 0 estimated to be 1.0623, as well as the stability analysis revealed that tuberculosis infection will remain endemic (persist) in Kaduna metropolis. Furthermore, effective control measures such as expanded and regular immunization campaign will decrease the infection burden

The efficacy of peanut oil and palm oil in preserving chicken eggs in a tropical environment

The study was undertaken to compare the effect of different  storage methods on external and internal quality of Isa Brown eggs obtained from Rufai Poultry Farms Bakura, Zamfara State. Ninety (90) eggs were collected from the Rufai farms sales office at Talata Mafara, Zamfara State. The eggs were divided into three groups (A, B and C) of 30 eggs each. The mean weight of the eggs in each of the groups was determined. Group A was left uncoated in a crate, while groups B and C were coated with peanut oil and palm oil respectively, and stored for four (4) weeks at room temperature. The egg shell, mean egg weight, egg yolk, egg white (albumen) and volume of each individual eggs were evaluated. The average percentage whole egg weight loss for all the groups showed significant difference (p<0.05) after preservation, with group A having the highest average percentage egg weight loss of 64.16±5.00%, although, group B had heavier weight compared to group A before preservation. Eggs coated with palm oil had better internal quality compared to peanut oil coated eggs and non-oil coated eggs, as it was seen to have intact internal content. A significant difference (P< 0.05) was also seen in the volume of group B and C with group C having the highest volume of 67.67±10.79ml. In conclusion this study showed that all palm oil coated eggs had good external and internal quality and longer shelf-life than non-oil coated and peanut coated eggs. It was therefore recommended that eggs should be preserved by coating with palm oil, so as to extend their shell-life.Keywords: Chicken egg, Egg Albumen, Egg Yolk, Palm oil, Peanut oil, Preservatio

Fibonacci Random Number Generator using Lehmer’s Algorithm

The uniqueness of Fibonacci sequence is been discussed with particular emphasis on its application to random number generation. The Lehmer’s algorithm was employed using fibonacci prime. For multiplier , initial seed, modulus and multiplier, initial seed, modulus , we generate random numbers with full period . This suggest that higher values of Fibonacci primes with appropriate choice of a full multiplier , modulus (fibonacci prime) and a starting seed  will produce a full period with finite countable many random numbers. A run test also indicates that the random numbers generated using modulus m as fibonacci prime are truly random Keywords: Fibonacci sequence, Fibonacci prime, Random numbers generator, Lehmer’s Algorithm, run tes

Modeling the Grade Point Average (GPA) System in Nigerian Universities

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students’ academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for students to understand the functionalities of the impact of the credit system on his overall academic progress. Keywords: Mathematical Model, Course credit system, Semester system, Grade Point Average (GPA) system, Student Academic Progres

Level of heavy metals in soil and some vegetables irrigated with industrial waste water around Sharada Industrial Area, Kano, Nigeria

The level of some heavy metals in soil and plant samples from Sharada Industrial Area was analyzed. Plants absorb contaminants through root systems and store them in the root biomass and/or transport them to the stem and/or leaves. The waste water generated by industries was used to irrigate plants; onion (Alium cepa), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), okra (Hibiscus esculentus), Drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and carrot (Daucus carota) which are consumed locally. The level of heavy metals in these plants differs with plant species. Level of lead (Pb) ranged from 10.21±0.20-17.14±0.10μg/g in okra and onion respectively, and the level in soil was found to be 28.00±2.00μg/g. The level of heavy metal was higher in soil than in plants studied. Accumulation of heavy metals varied from plant to plant. The soil levels of copper (Cu) was found to be 9.00±2.00 μg/g with onion having the highest value (8.00±0.10 μg/g) compared to other plants. The uptake of cobalt (Co) by plants varies with plant species. Moringa oleifera had highest concentration of cobalt (14.00±8.00μg/g) and onion had the least concentration of Co (5.00±2.00μg/g). The high values of these metals might be attributed to the use of untreated effluents from industries by farmers for the irrigation of these plants. Thus, the high values of these metals in the plant samples could put the consumers of these vegetables at health risk, since the levels of these metals in plants and soil samples are all above WHO permissible limits.Keywords: Accumulation, Heavy metals, Irrigation, Industrial effluents, Vegetable