Effect of processing on the quality, composition and antioxidant properties of Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) seed oil

This study was aimed at extracting and purifying T. catappa seed oil with a view to investigating the effect of processing on the composition and antioxidant activity of the oil. Oil was extracted from the dried and roasted T. catappa seed and subjected to degumming and bleaching. The different processed oils were analysed for their fatty acid, phytosterols, and fat soluble vitamins composition. Antioxidant properties of the oils were also determined by measuring the Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and inhibition of heat induced peroxidation. Roasting and processing caused a reduction in acid value, increased peroxide value, but had no effect on the iodine and saponification values of T. catappa oil. Palmitic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid (42.466%) while oleic acid was the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid (23.445%). Roasting significantly reduced fatty acid concentration of the oil, and bleaching of both unroasted and roasted oils increased the concentration of fatty acids except linoleic acid. Gamma-sitosterol and Betasitosterol were present in appreciable amounts only in the crude oils. Roasting increased Vitamins A and D concentrations but drastically reduced that of vitamin E. Degumming had no effect on the fat soluble vitamins of T. catappa oil, but bleaching significantly reduced the concentrations of all the vitamins. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the seed oil was between 26.93 ± 15.42% and 65.47 ± 31.59%. Refining increased the free radical scavenging activity of the unroasted oil, but did not affect the antioxidant activity of roasted oil. The capacity of the oil in preventing heat induced peroxidation was comparable to that of Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Processing of the oil significantly increased its antioxidant activity. Loss of vitamin E did not affect the antioxidant activity of the oil. Thus, suggesting the presence of a heat stable antioxidant in the oil. This study indicated T. catappa seed oil to be potential pharmaceutical oil with good antioxidant characteristics.Key words: Terminalia catappa, composition, antioxidant, processing, oi

Dataset on modelling a synthetic oil rim reservoirs for optimizing oil production during gas cap blow down strategy

Oil rim reservoirs with very large gas caps, strong aquifers, and pay thickness below 30 ft. pose oil production challenges to operators. With best operational practices, very high gas oil ratios are recorded at the initial onset of oil production, thus such reservoirs are subjected to a gas cap blow down leading to an ultimate loss in oil reserves. This loss is at- tributed to a rapid and drastic drop in pressure over the productive life of the reservoir. To maximize oil production, a simulation study is focused on initiating oil wells at dif- ferent time intervals and estimating oil recoveries at these points. It is believed that the gas cap would have been blown down in time to accommodate for substantial oil produc- tion. This study presents the reservoir data (from the Niger- Delta) that can be incorporated in a black oil reservoir simu- lator (Eclipse) coupled with best production and optimization strategies (water and gas injection) for maximum oil pro- duction during gas cap blow down. The data presented will provide a detailed process developing an oil rim synthetic model, support and enhance further studies in optimizing oil production in oil rims subjected to gas cap blow down, create a template for secondary and enhanced oil recovery processes

Effect of coffee consumption on liver enzymes (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase), total and conjugated bilirubin levels among students in Nnewi

Background: Coffee has a number of bioactive compounds that have beneficial effects on human health in general and more importantly is the fact that coffee consumption has positive impact on the liver function. The present study investigated the effect of coffee consumption on liver enzymes: alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) and conjugated bilirubin (CB) levels among student in Nnewi.Methods: A total of twenty-five (25) apparently healthy participants aged between 18 and 30 years which were randomly recruited from College of Health Sciences’ students to serve as both test and control group. Each participant was advised to abstain from coffee and similar beverages for a period of three weeks prior to the commencement of the study. Subsequently, in addition to their normal diet, each of the subjects was given 2 gm of coffee dissolved in 150 ml of hot water in which 50 mg of non-dairy creamer was added before breakfast daily for 28 consecutive days. 6 ml each of baseline and test samples (after an overnight fast) were collected at day 0 and 29 respectively from each participant. Liver enzymes such as ALT, AST, and ALP activity as well as TB and CB levels was determined using standard laboratory methods.Results: This showed significant reductions in the mean serum AST and ALT activity, TB and unconjugated bilirubin (UB) levels with no significant alterations in the mean ALP activity and CB level in participants studied after short-term coffee consumption.Conclusions: This study revealed the hepatoprotective effect of coffee intake at short term basis

Residents’ Satisfaction with Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Environment of the Public Sector Employee Housing Schemes in Lagos State, Nigeria

One of the major strategies implemented by both the private and public sectors in the provision of mass housing for their workers in Nigeria is the employee housing scheme. However, not much is known about the occupants’ satisfaction with neighborhood Socio-economic environment of housing provided through this scheme in a large metropolitan area such as Lagos State, where several housing estates have been developed under this scheme. Satisfaction with neighborhood socio-economic environment in nine public-sector employee housing estates in Lagos State, Nigeria was explored. A cross-sectional survey research design involving quantitative research approach was adopted. The survey was carried out between September, 2020 and March, 2021. Using Stratified Sampling, the estates/locations were grouped into Local government areas. Cluster sampling technique was used to select the local governments areas. Also, purposive technique was used to select 688 housing units in the nine purposively selected housing estates. Out of 688 questionnaires administered, about 500 copies of the administered questionnaire were correctly filled and returned by the participants and the information were subjected to descriptive statistics. Statistical package for Social Science(SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The results pointed out that the key respondents were most pleased with the extent of safe keeping of lives and property in the estate, outdoor air quality in the estate, extent of religious activities in the estate and least pleased with extent of collective activities in the estate, extent of noise in the housing estates and price of services and goods within and around the estate. Therefore, to improve neighborhood socio-economic environment satisfaction, residents in public sector employee housing schemes should give priority attention to the key features that ensure residents’ satisfaction in existing and future housing projects

Satisfaction with Maintenance of the Public Sector Employee Housing Schemes in Lagos State, Nigeria

The Public sector employee housing is a kind of housing arrangement, which accentuates the role of the employer (government as well as its agencies) in assisting to deliver housing, mainly for the public sector workers. However, not much is known of the occupants’ satisfaction with the maintenance features of housing provided through this scheme in a large metropolitan area such as Lagos State. This study investigated the Maintenance Satisfaction features in nine public-sector employee housing estates in Lagos state, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey research design involving quantitative research approach was adopted. The survey was carried out between September, 2020 and March, 2021. Using stratified sampling technique, the estates were grouped into the local government area. Cluster sampling was used to select the local government area. Also, purposive sampling technique was used to select 688 housing units in the nine purposively selected housing estates. 500 copies of the administered questionnaire were correctly filled and returned by the participants and the information were subjected to descriptive statistics. Statistical package for Social Science(SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The results pointed out that the respondents were most satisfied with the promptness of response to security issues in the estate, frequency of collection and disposal of refuse, frequency of maintenance of power supply facilities and least satisfied with the frequency of maintenance of roads within the estate, frequency of maintenance of drainage facilities and frequency of fumigation of the estate environment. Therefore, to improve maintenance satisfaction of inhabitants in public sector employee housing schemes, the key stakeholders such as the architects, builders and so on should give priority attention to the key features that ensure residents’ satisfaction

Influence of Process Time on the Physicochemical, Antinutrient and Phytochemical Properties of Ficus capensis Moracae Vegetable Drink

Aims: To determine the best process time and processing duration effects on the composition of the Ficus capensis drink (infusion). Study Design:  Experimental design was based on completely randomized design (CRD). Methodology:  Ficus capensis (Moracae) leafy vegetable drink was processed by immersing the leaves in water (1:10) weight/liquid ratio. Three portions of samples were prepared and boiled separately in a stainless steel pot immersed in a water bath (temperature =100 oC) for 30, 60, and 90 min, respectively, and filtered. The samples were evaluated for proximate composition, minerals, phytochemicals, antinutrients, and physicochemical properties using standard methods.  Results: Protein, carbohydrate, and ash contents and energy value of the drink were affected differently by process times. Alkaloids, ascorbic acid, and calcium contents were lowest in samples processed by 90 min boiling. Drink processed by boiling the leaves for 60 min had the highest pro-vitamin A (12.51 mg/100ml), zinc (3.18 mg/100ml, flavonoid (18.4 g/100ml), and carotenoid (17.2 g/100ml), and 90 min processed drink had the highest vitamin B1 (0.35 mg/100ml) content. The iron contents ranged from 2.8-8.7 mg/100ml, and the values varied among different boiling times. Cyanide, phytate, and tannin contents decreased progressively as the processing times increased. Conclusion: The nutrient contents of Ficus capensis (Moracae) drink were affected by process time, however, boiling the leave for 60 min was established as the best process time for the  Ficus capensis vegetable drink processing

Effect Of Processing On The Quality, Composition And Antioxidant Properties Of Terminalia Catappa (Indian Almond) Seed Oil

This study was aimed at extracting and purifying T. catappa seed oil with a view to investigating the effect of processing on the composition and antioxidant activity of the oil. Oil was extracted from the dried and roasted T. catappa seed and subjected to degumming and bleaching. The different processed oils were analysed for their fatty acid, phytosterols, and fat soluble vitamins composition. Antioxidant properties of the oils were also determined by measuring the Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and inhibition of heat induced peroxidation. Roasting and processing caused a reduction in acid value, increased peroxide value, but had no effect on the iodine and saponification values of T. catappa oil. Palmitic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid (42.466%) while oleic acid was the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid (23.445%). Roasting significantly reduced fatty acid concentration of the oil, and bleaching of both unroasted and roasted oils increased the concentration of fatty acids except linoleic acid. Gamma-sitosterol and Beta-sitosterol were present in appreciable amounts only in the crude oils. Roasting increased Vitamins A and D concentrations but drastically reduced that of vitamin E. Degumming had no effect on the fat soluble vitamins of T. catappa oil, but bleaching significantly reduced the concentrations of all the vitamins. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the seed oil was between 26.93 ± 15.42% and 65.47 ± 31.59%. Refining increased the free radical scavenging activity of the unroasted oil, but did not affect the antioxidant activity of roasted oil. The capacity of the oil in preventing heat induced peroxidation was comparable to that of Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Processing of the oil significantly increased its antioxidant activity. Loss of vitamin E did not affect the antioxidant activity of the oil. Thus, suggesting the presence of a heat stable antioxidant in the oil. This study indicated T. catappa seed oil to be potential pharmaceutical oil with good antioxidant characteristics

The role of herpes simplex virus type 2 and other genital infections in the acquisition of HIV-1 among high-risk women in northern Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: We examined the role of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and other genital infections on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) incidence in a cohort study conducted between 2002 and 2005 among female bar/hotel workers in Moshi, Tanzania. METHODS: At baseline and every 3 months thereafter, participants were interviewed, and blood and genital samples were collected. Predictors of HIV-1 incidence were evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: Of 845 women who were HIV-1 seronegative at baseline, 689 (81.5%) were monitored in the study for a total of 698.6 person-years at risk (PYARs). The overall HIV-1 incidence was 4.6/100 PYARs (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0-6.2/100 PYARs), and condom use was very low. After adjustment for other risk factors, the risk of HIV-1 was increased among women with HSV-2 at baseline (hazard ratio [HR], 4.3 [95% CI, 1.5-12.4]) and in those who acquired HSV-2 during the study period (HR, 5.5 [95% CI, 1.2-25.4]). Other independent predictors of HIV-1 were baseline chlamydial infection (HR, 5.2), bacterial vaginosis (HR, 2.1), and the occurrence of genital ulcers (HR, 2.7). CONCLUSION: HSV-2 and other genital infections were the most important risk factors for HIV-1. Control of these infections could help to reduce HIV-1 incidence in this population