Screening Diospyros mespiliformis extract for antimalarial potency

Diospyros mespiliformis is used in ethnomedical practice for treating malaria attack. The aqueous extract of the plant’s stem bark was investigated for in vivo antiplasmodial potency in mice. Curative effect against established infection, suppressive activity against early infection and prophylactic effect in residual infection were tested against Plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice. Result shows that the extract (50-200 mg/kg, p.o.) has significant (

Effect of frozen period on the chemical, microbiological and sensory quality of frozen tilapia fish (Sarotherodun galiaenus)

The study was designed to investigate the effect of duration of frozen storage on the chemical, microbiological and sensory profile of Tilapia fish (Sarotherodun galiaenus) collected from a research pond of the Agricultural Development Project, Akure, Nigeria and were subjected to sixty days of frozen storage and analyzed at intervals of ten days. Protein content (%) ranges from 43.70 &#177 1.17-60.65 &#177 2.40. Protein decreases with increasing duration of frozen storage with the fresh samples (not frozen) having the highest protein content (60.65 ± 2.40) while the least (43.70 &#1771.17) was recorded for fish samples that were frozen for sixty days. Similar results were obtained for the fat content (%) where the highest fat content (9.72 &#177 0.25) was recorded for the fresh samples and the least value was recorded for those stored for sixty days. Ash content (%) and moisture content (%) do not show any significant change during storage. Mineral composition (Fe, Ca, Mg, P and Zn in mg/100g) and iodine content (µg/100g) of the samples showed a slight change with respect to duration of storage. pH values ranges between 5.20-6.90 while the total coliform count range was between 3.0 x103-7.5 x 106 with increasing values, as the duration of torage increases. Sensory evaluation of the fish samples on storage revealed that quality of the fish samples with respect to taste decreases with increasing duration of storage with the best quality (texture, odor and color) when freshly prepared; and that better quality during storage is obtainable during the first ten days of storage. These, by implication simply mean that fish should be stored for a short period of time to retain the taste, and provide both the protein and fat at optimal level. Key words: Frozen period, chemical, microbiological, sensory quality, tilapia fish.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 852-85

Extraction of the beam elastic shape from uncertain FBG strain measurement points

Aim of the present paper is the analysis of the strain along the beam that is equipped with Glass Fibers Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) with an embedded set of optical Fiber Bragg Grating sensors (FBG), in the context of a project to equip with these new structural elements an Italian train bridge. Different problems are attacked, and namely: (i)during the production process [1] it is difficult to locate precisely the FBG along the reinforcement bar, therefore the following question appears: How can we associate the strain measurements to the points along the bar? Is it possible to create a signal analysis procedure such that this correspondence is found?(ii)the beam can be inflected and besides the strain at some points, we would like to recover the elastic shape of the deformed beam that is equipped with the reinforcement bars. Which signal processing do we use to determine the shape of the deformed beam in its inflection plane?(iii)if the beam is spatially inflected, in two orthogonal planes, is it possible to recover the beam spatial elastic shape? Object of the paper is to answer to these questions

Studies on Control of Hazardous Noise from Portable 650 VA Power Generator

Experimental studies on the assessment and control of near-field noise levels due to the operation of a portable 650 VA power generator were undertaken at a residential building in Ara village, Moro local government, area of Kwara State. Smart sensor sound level meter AR824 (30-130 dB), meter rule and stop watch were used to measure the noise level produced at every two minutes risen time intervals for seven hundred and twenty minutes at ten different locations of one meter intervals. The background noise level of the environment was first taken and reported to be 47.60. The data obtained were analysed with Matlab R2010a. The results revealed that the 650 VA generating plant is safe for use when it is positioned at least 3 meters away to the building, offices, shops and so on

Review of Classical Methods in Supersaturated Designs (SSD) for factor Screening

Supersaturated designs are fractional factorial designs that have too few runs to allow the estimation of the main effects of all the factors in the experiment. There has been a great deal of interest in the development of these designs for factor screening in recent years. A review of supersaturated design is presented, including criteria for design selection, with reference to the popular E(s2) criterion and classical methods for constructing supersaturated designs. Classical methods have been suggested for the analysis of data from supersaturated designs and these are critically reviewed and illustrated. Keywords: Supersaturated, Classical method, Screening, fractional factorial and E(S2

Effect of temperature on the postembryonic stages and adults of the blowfly, chrysomya chloropyga (diptera: calliphoridae)

Chrysomya chloropyga biology was studied under controlled temperature (15.6, 22.2, 28.8, 32.2, and 36.1 °C) for an incubation period of eight hours. Development and survival of incubated eggs, larval stages I, II and pupae to adult emergence were highest between 22.2 and 28.8 °C and resistant to temperatures below and above that range. Third larva stage showed a difference, with emergence higher at 15.6 than at 22.2 °C. No adult fly emerged at 36.1 °C. The male and female flies of ages 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days were divided into batches (n = 20). Batches of male and female flies was incubated separately for eight hours and further monitored for 72 hours in the laboratory for survival. Adult males and females survived within 15.6 – 28.8 °C than at higher temperatures irrespective of the ages; 36.1 °C had a lethal effect on the flies. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the survival of adult flies at incubation and after 72 hours of exposure. The results suggest that the effect of temperature depends upon the stage of development of Chrysomya chloropyga. Temperature is fundamental in the development of C. chloropyga and should be considered during PMI determination and in the formulation of control strategies

Optimization of Transesterification Parameters of Biodiesel Produced from Sword Bean (Cavalia gladiate) Seed Oil

The subject of this study was to optimize the transesterification parameters of biodiesel produced from sword bean (C. gladiate) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Four transesterification parameters (Reaction temperature 55 0C, Catalyst concentration 0.4 wt%, Methanol to oil ratio 4:1 and reaction time 60 min) were optimized. Data obtained revealed that the optimum reaction conditions for the transesterification of C. gladiata seed oil resulted in 92.88% biodiesel yield. Multiple regression analysis produced a quadratic polynomial equation for methylester and a linear relationship was recorded between the observed and predicted value (R2 = 0.9647) with a significant molar ratio and temperature.  The interaction terms of methanol to oil, molar ratio and temperature with reaction time exhibited a positive effect on the methylester yield. The response surface methodology was found to be a suitable technique for optimizing transesterification process and producing biodiesel that meets the ASTM standard

Mineral Profile of \u3ci\u3ePanicum maximum\u3c/i\u3e var. Ntchisi as Influenced by Organic Nitrogen Rate and Age at Harvest

The study was aimed at profiling the mineral contents of Panicum maximum var Ntchisi as influenced by organic (poultry) nitrogen rate and age at harvest. The study was carried out at the organic research farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2016. The experiment was laid in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement in a split plot design with four (4) organic nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 and 300 kgNha-1) as the main plot and three (3) age at harvest (4, 8 and 12 weeks after cutback) as the subplot which amounts to twelve (12) treatment combinations with four replicates. The macro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate. The calcium (Ca) content was up to 4.35 gkg-1DM for the grass at 0 KgNha-1 which was the highest value. The magnesium (5.59 – 8.43 gkg-1DM) content had a linear increment with increased nitrogen rate. The potassium content ranged from 15.58 to 30.80 gkg-1 DM with the grass fertilized at 0 KgNha-1 having the highest K content. The phosphorus was linearly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced with the grass fertilized at 300 KgNha-1 with the highest (1.78 gkg-1DM) content. The micro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate though without a definite pattern. The macro and micro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by age at harvest except for the copper content. The macro mineral contents decreased with advancement in age at harvest. It was concluded that the grass harvested at younger age will make a good feed resource in terms of mineral requirement of ruminants in the tropics

Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene-Cu Composite Via Hydrothermal Method

In this paper, graphene-copper composite was synthesized via hydrothermal method using different compositions from 5 to 25%. The grain size and copper composition are observed to decrease proportionally to increase in band gap. The effect of composition fluctuate the peaks shift. The peak increased linearly with increasing temperature for each composition. The band gap reduces with increasing temperature for each composition. Short calcined duration on samples is observed to cause a little lower band gap value than that of longer duration. The thermal treatment of graphene oxide (GO) has been observed to cause changes in its quality, size and shape. &nbsp

Co-administeration of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Moringa oleifera and Metformin Improves Glucose, Lipid and Protein Profiles of Diabetic Wistar rats

Herbs are often co-administered with orthodox drugs, raising the potential for herb-drug interactions. This study investigated the pharmacological interaction between ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera (MOE) leaves and metformin co administered to diabetic Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by administration of 150 mg alloxan/kg body weight intraperitoneally. A dose response study for MOE at doses of 100-2000 mg/kg body wt. was carried out. A plot of percentage glycaemic reduction at 4h post-treatment versus log dose was used to estimate the median effective dose (ED50). Nine (9) groups of rats were used for the interaction study. Groups I and II served as normoglycaemic and diabetic controls respectively and received 1ml Normal saline. Diabetic Groups III-V received 375, 750 and 1500 mg/kg MOE respectively. Groups VI-VIII also diabetic received the same doses of MOE respectively but co-administered with a fixed dose of metformin (150 mg/kg). Group IX received metformin (150 mg/kg) alone. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) was monitored weekly and blood samples collected on day 28 for protein and lipid profile assay. The MOE/metformin co administered groups showed greater antihyperglycaemic activity (p<0.001) than the MOE and metformin alone groups. Significant increases in serum levels of cholesterol, TG and LDLC with the decrease in HDLC levels in the alloxan induced diabetic rats were reversed in MOE (p<0.01) and MOE/metformin (p<0.001) administered groups. These findings indicate that MOE/Metformin co-administration produced additive anti-hyperglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects compared to either MOE or Metformin alone and may be useful in the therapeutic management of diabetes mellitus that is associated with dyslipidaemia.Keywords: Diabetes, Hyperglycaemia, Pharmacological interaction, Moringa oleifera, Metformi