Comparative Evaluation of the Functional and Sensory Characteristics of Three Traditional Fermented Cassava Products

This study provides scientific evidence to test the hypothesis that the flours and cooked forms of fufu, lafun and pupuru can suitably serve as substitutes for each other in the food markets and eateries, respectively. Sixteen functional properties of flours were compared statistically. Similarly, discrimination and preference tests were also conducted on the cooked dough.  About 88% of the functional properties of the products were significantly different (p<0.05). Cooked dough samples were significantly different in terms of the appearance, odour and texture. Pupuru had the highest preference scores for all the sensory attributes. Dough appearance was the most important factor determining the overall acceptability of the products. Conclusively, the flours and cooked dough from traditionally processed fufu, lafun and pupuru cannot suitably substitute for each other in food markets and consumers end. &nbsp

Effect of vitamin C on glucose metabolism in partial and total paradoxical sleep-deprived male wistar rats

Background: Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with increases in oxidative stress and impaired glucose homeostasis. The effect of vitamin C on glucose metabolism and oxidative stress in sleep deprived animals was investigated in this study.Method: Thirty male Wistar rats (150-200 g) divided into six groups as control; control + vitamin C (CC); partial sleep deprived (PSD); partial sleep deprived + vitamin C (PSDC); total sleep deprived (TSD); and total sleep deprived + vitamin C (TSDC) were used. Paradoxical sleep deprivation was by the modified multiple platform for 20 hours daily in PSD and PSDC or for 24 hours daily in TSD and TSDC for 7 days. Vitamin C (300mg/kg, daily) was administered to animals in CC, PSDC and TSDC groups. After the 7 days SD and/or vitamin C treatment, blood samples were obtained for fasting blood glucose, lactate, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Muscle and liver samples were obtained for glycogen determination while hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities were determined in the liver sample.Results: Body weight decreased significantly in TSD rats; the percentage weight loss was however reduced in TSDC. Serum MDA increased in PSD and TSD compared with control; but lower in PSDC and TSDC compared with PSD and TSD, respectively. Catalase activity was decreased in TSD and TSDC. Fasting blood glucose level, plasma lactate and muscle glycogen were reduced in TSD and TSDC. Hepatic glycogen increased in TSD but decreased in TSDC. Glucose 6-phosphatase activity decreased in PSD but increased in TSD; also, the activity decreased in TSDC with no difference in PSDC compared with control. Hexokinase activity was decreased in TSD but increased in TSDC.Conclusion: Partial sleep deprivation had no effect on glucose metabolism but total sleep deprivation caused derailment in glucose metabolism which was not reversed by vitamin C despite reductions in oxidative stress.Keywords: Sleep deprivation, Glucose metabolism, Vitamin C, Oxidative stress, Rat

Evaluation of Cell Phone Business in Nigeria: A Paradox of Gains and Losses

Communication of information has been enhanced with the advent of Information and Communication Technology, mobile phone technology inclusive, which contribute to economic growth and development. This study assessed the profitability and hidden disincentives of cell phone business in Nigeria. 200 respondents were sampled in five randomly selected States. Data analysis included descriptive and gross margin techniques. In terms of gains, margin-cost ratio (MCR) of mobile phone business was 1.72 while in terms of losses, about 54% reduction in margin was experienced in using generator to provide power. It was suggested that improvement in public power supply must be relentlessly pursued

Role of oxidative stress in therapeutic administration of artesunate on sperm quality and testosterone level in male albino rats

The effects of antioxidants, vitamins C and E, on sperm quality, testosterone levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were studied in artesunate treated rats. 25 male rats (160 to 250 g) divided into five groups were used for the study. Group 1 animals received normal saline and served as control while groups 2 to 5 received artesunate in therapeutic doses of 2.9 mg/Kg body weight on day 1 and 1.45 mg/Kg body weight on days 2 to 5 orally. Following artesunate pretreatment, groups 3, 4 and 5 rats received vitamin C (100 mg/kg), vitamin E (100 mg/kg) and a combination of both respectively orally for the 5 days. There was no significant difference in sperm viability and motility in all groups while count significantly (p<0.05) increased in group 3 animals treated with vitamin C. Serum testosterone level was significantly increased (p< 0.05) in groups 4 and 5. The MDA concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.05) while SOD activity concurrently decreased significantly (p<0.05) in groups 2, 3, and 5 indicating an oxidative-counter oxidative relationship. It was thus concluded that artesunate at therapeutic doses and duration had no significant effect on sperm quality and serum testosterone level in male rats while vitamin C, and combination of vitamins C and E tend to promote reproductive functions in artesunate-treated male rats.Key words: Artesunate, vitamin C, vitamin E, sperm quality, superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde concentration

Rifampicin-monoresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among the patients visiting chest clinic, state specialist hospital, Akure, Nigeria

Background:Tuberculosis (TB), one of the most important contagious diseases, is a leading cause of death due to a single pathogen worldwide. Co-infection of people living with HIV with M. tuberculosis has been shown to increase the mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods:This present study was carried out to establish the rifampicin resistant profiles among the patients attending chest clinic, state specialist hospital, Akure. We enrolled clinical samples submitted between January 2013 and December 2013 for this study. The sputum samples were analyzed using GeneXpert.Results:Of the 135 sputum processed by GeneXpert, 48 (35.6%) contained Mycobacteria tuberculosis (MTB) and 9 (18.8%) were rifampicin resistant Mycobacteria tuberculosis. Patients within the age group of 24-32 years showed the highest resistant to RIF 6 (12.5%).Conclusion:This study has helped to establish that there is presence of rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria and most of them were observed among patients who default treatment. This is considered as a threat to TB control programme in Akure, Nigeria and it is recommended that strategies should be put in place in order to ensure patients’ compliance and monitoring of patients’ response to TB treatment.

Survey of Education, Engineering, and Information Technology Students Knowledge of Green Computing in Nigerian University

The use of computer system is growing rapidly and there is growing concern on the environmental hazard associated with its use. Thus, the need for every user\u27s to possess the knowledge of using computer in an environmental friendly manner. This study therefore, investigated the knowledge of green computing possessed by university students in Nigeria. To achieve this, survey method was employed to carry out the study. The study involved students from three schools (Computer Science, Engineering, and Education). Purposive sampling method was used to draw three hundred (300) respondents that volunteer to answer the questionnaire administered for gathering the data of the study. The instrument used was adapted but modify and subjected to pilot testing to ascertain its validity and internal consistency. The reliability of the instrument showed a .75 Cronbach alpha level. The first research question was answer with descriptive statistic (perecentage). T-test and ANOVA was used to answer question two and three. The findings showed that the students do not possess adequate knowledge on conscious use of computing system. Also, the study showed that there is no significant difference in the green computing knowledge possesses among male and female as well as among student from the three schools. Based on these findings, the study suggested among other an aggressive campaign on green computing among university communities

ASSESSMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENTS PROGRAMMES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WETLANDS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

This paper attempted to put into a clearer perspective the different programmes embarked upon by Ogun, Oyo and Lagos states government in the management of wetlands located within their domain. Zeroing on state ministries, agencies or parastatal involved in water management, the study investigated the various existing management plans embarked upon by the three State Governments. Results showed that solid waste management was in place in all the states. However, none of the States has clear legislation, enforcement and prosecution as regards the different use that are injurious to the Wetlands. Habitat creation/restoration, in situ and ex situ action, protected areas options are also not being employed in managing wetlands in southwest, Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that policies geared towards sustainable management of Wetlands should be put in place and actively pursued by the state Governments

ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF THE RELATIVISTIC KLEIN-GORDON WAVE EQUATION

In this study, the solution to Klein-Gordon equations with focus on analytical methods is discussed. The analytical methods used in this research are the Variational Iteration Method (VIM) developed by Ji-Huan He, Adomian Decomposition Method (ADM) by Adomian and New Iterative Method (NIM) developed by Daftardar Gejji and Jafari. The modified Adomian Decomposition method by Wazwaz was used to solve the linear inhomogeneous and nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations to accelerate the convergence of the solution and minimizes the size of calculation while still maintaining high accuracy of the analytical solution. All the problems considered yield the exact solutions with few iterations. The solutions obtained were compared with the exact solution and the solutions obtained by other existing methods. The solutions obtained by the three methods yield the same results and all the problems considered show that the Variational Iteration Method, Adomian Decomposition Method and New Iterative Method are very powerful and potent in solving Klein-Gordon equations and can be used to obtain closed form solutions of linear and nonlinear differential equations (ordinary and partial)

Genome sequence of the biocontrol agent coniothyrium minitans conio (IMI 134523)

Coniothyrium minitans (synonym, Paraphaeosphaeria minitans) is a highly specific mycoparasite of the wide host range crop pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The capability of C. minitans to destroy the sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum has been well recognized and it is available as a widely used biocontrol product Contans WG. We present the draft genome sequence of C. minitans Conio (IMI 134523), which has previously been used in extensive studies that formed part of a registration package of the commercial product. This work provides a distinctive resource for further research into the molecular basis of mycoparasitism to harness the biocontrol potential of C. minitans

Effect of Methanol extract of Musca domestica larva on some Enzymes and Haematological parameters in Trypanosoma brucei brucei - infected rats

This study investigated the effect of methanol extract of Musca domestica (400mg/kg body weight) on some biomarker enzymes and haematological parameters in Trypanosoma brucei  brucei - infected rats. Twenty albino rats were intraperitoneally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and were grouped into five (5) groups of four (4) rats each. Group1 was set up as infected not treated (0.2ml normal saline/kg body weight), group 2 was treated with diaminazene aceturate (standard drug), group 3 as prophylactic treated (treatment for 72 hours before inoculation of parasite), group 4 as early treatment with the extract (treatment commenced after the sight of parasite) and group 5 as the control (uninfected untreated) group. Results shows significant (p<0.05) decrease in liver AST and ALT activities with concomitant increase in serum activities of the infected untreated rats when compared with the early treated, prophylactic treated, standard treated and normal control. Serum ALP activity of the infected not treated group was significantly (p<0.05) higher when compared to the control group and other experimental groups. No significant (p>0.05) difference in the liver ALP activities of the extract treated infected groups with standard drug treated group However, serum and liver GGT activities of the uninfected untreated (control) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than all the other experimental groups. Haematological studies shows significant decrease (p<0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) , haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and red blood cell count (RBC) of infected not treated when compared to infected prophylactic treated and infected early treated. There was likewise significant increase in white blood cell count (WBC) of infected not treated compared to infected prophylactic treated and infected early treated. Findings from this study showed that methanol extract of Musca domestica larva has trypanocidal properties thereby ameliorating the T. brucei induced biochemical changes in rats.Key words: Musca domestica larva, Haematology, Trypanosomiasis, Enzymes, Methanol, Extract