Mineral Content of Some Plant Foods Grown in Nigeria: A Review

Minerals are natural inorganic substances that possess definite chemical composition and atomic structure. Nearly five percent of the body is composed of inorganic materials, the minerals. Minerals do not serve as a source of energy for the body but have specific chemical functions. For this purpose, mineral content of some plant foods found in Nigeria were critically reviewed. The plant foods were classified into legumes (Vigna unguiculata, Cucurbitaceae, vigna subterranean, Arachis hypogeal, Glycine max, Phaseolus coccineus, Cajanus cajan, Kerstingiella geocarpa, Phaseolus vulgaris L., Phaseolus lunatus and Prosopis Africana); cereals (Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, Pennisetum typhoides and Oryza sativa); roots and tubers (Dioscorea spp, Manihot esculanta, Xanthosoma sagititolium and Ipomoea batatas L.); fruits/vegetables/nuts (Musa spp, Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, Citrus sinensis, Ananus comosus, Malaudo mistica, Anarcardium occidentale, Veronia amygdalina L. and Dacryodes edulis). Atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) method is used for the minerals determination except sodium and potassium which are usually determined using flame photometry while phosphorus is by using colorimetry. The mineral contents were found to be at the range of concentrations as Ca: 0.003 – 700.00, Mg: 0.0546 – 1420.10, Na: 0.0065 – 220.00, K: 0.010 – 817.40, P: 0.0130 – 5500.00 and Fe: 0.0067 – 36.00 mg/100g for legumes; Ca: 0.13 – 8490.00, Mg: 0.006 – 4571.00, Na: 0.019 – 375.69, K: 0.63 – 39856.00, P: 3.54 – 695.50 and Fe: 0.0005 – 1304.00 mg/100g for  fruits/vegetables/nuts; Ca: 1.05 – 290.00, Mg: 0.49 – 415.07, Na: 0.18 – 1365.05, K: 0.50 – 4276.04, P: 0.28 – 120.00 and Fe: 0.53 – 81.85 mg/100g for roots and tubers and Ca: 0.005 – 532.00, Mg: 1.54 – 348.30, Na: 0.006 – 520.00, K: 0.011 – 618.00, P: 73.00 – 46.30 mg/100g for cereals. Microelement concentrations of the foods varied appreciably. Zinc content was highest in Vigna unguiculata, Psidium guajava, Manihot esculanta and Zea mays with values of 162.00, 2209.00, 340.00 and 16.70 mg/100g, respectively. Legumes and fruits/vegetables/nuts are seen to be better sources of mineral than foods in the category of roots, tubers and cereals. Keywords: Legumes, cereals, fruits, vegetables, snuts, roots, tubers, minerals

Proximate Composition and Amino Acid Profile of Raw and Cooked Black Variety of Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) Grown in Northeast Nigeria

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is an underutilized tuber of family Cyperaceae which produces rhizomes from the base of the tuber that is somewhat spherical. The three varieties of yellow, brown and black tiger nut are grown in Nigeria. Proximate and amino acid compositions of raw and cooked black variety of Cyperus esculentus were investigated using standard analytical techniques. The respective proximate composition values (%) for the raw and cooked samples were: Moisture (3.73 and 4.66), ash (2.57 and 3.38), crude fat (8.94 and 9.92), crude protein (12.09 and 9.25), crude fibre (7.02 and 4.52), and carbohydrate (65.66 and 69.29). The calculated fatty acids and metabolizable energy for the raw and cooked samples were 7.15 and 7.94%; 1652.53 and 1702.22 kJ/100g, respectively. The values of metabolizable energy in this study showed that both samples have energy concentrations more favourable than cereals. The amino acid profile revealed that raw and cooked samples of Cyperus esculentus contained nutritionally useful quantities of most of the essential amino acids with total essential amino acid (TEAA) (with His) were 45.69 and 48.25%, respectively. The value of predicted protein efficiency ratio (P–PER) for the raw tuber was 2.77, the value is higher than the reported P–PER values of some legumes in the literature. However, essential amino acid supplementation may be required in Ile, Leu, TSAA and Val when comparing the EAA in this report with the recommended FAO/WHO provisional pattern. The limiting EAAs in the raw and cooked Cyperus esculentus tuber were Leu and TSAA, respectively. Keywords: Proximate, amino acids, tigernu

Effect of Domestic Processing on the Levels of Some Functional Parameters in Black Turtle Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L)

There are useful constituents that are present in legume seeds but their utilization has been ignored because it has been established that there are compounds or substances which act to reduce nutrient intake, digestion and absorption. It was on these premises that effect of domestic processing methods (boiling, cooking, roasting, sprouting and fermenting) were investigated on some functional parameters for black turtle bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) flour. The functional parameters (oil absorption, oil emulsion, water and foaming capacities: OAC, OEC, WAC, FC; foaming and oil emulsion stabilities: FS, OES; bulk density: BD; least gelation capacity: LGC; protein solubility: PS) of raw and processed black turtle bean flour were all determined using standard analytical techniques. The results showed that WAC, OAC, FC, LGC and BD were all enhanced by different processing methods while FS was reduced by the same methods. Emulsion capacity and stability were either enhanced or reduced by these methods. Processing significantly (p?0.05) affected the content of some functional parameters in black turtle bean flour. The protein solubility studies of the raw and processed samples were found to have minimum solubility at pH 4.0 which corresponds to the isoelectric point where protein isolates might be recovered from the samples. The food properties of WAC, OAC, FC, FS, EC, ES, LGC and BD in the raw and processed black turtle bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are much better than most literature samples thereby making black turtle bean potentially useful in some food formulations. Keywords: Food properties, processing methods, black turtle bea

Hatchability and survival of H. longifilis fertilized at varying latencies

In determining the optimum latency period of H. longifilis, of which the hatchability and higher Survival percentage were used as a determining factors to determine the optimum latency period of H. longifilis. The result from these varying latencies period shows that the best latency periods at the ambient temperature of 26degreesC, that support mass production and higher survival of H longifilis ranges between 15-19 hours. There was low or zero hatchability from the egg stripped early and the one stripped late

Understanding the queuing theory for improved service delivery: an entrepreneurial-mindset approach

Queuing theory plays a huge role in solving and preventing operational bottlenecks and service failures in the organization. But, observations show that Queuing analysis may become extremely complex and cumbersome. Therefore, most entrepreneurs, having realized its usefulness in managing their much earned successes achieved in relation to customer’s patronage and service delivery now desire its simplified applications in normal day to day running of operations. The methodology adopted in this paper, therefore is to describe queuing theory and its associated terminologies in relation to service delivery. In view of this, the paper presented a simplified exposition of queuing theory and management of waiting lines as it affects entrepreneurial drive for more business growth and opportunities with its attendant implications to customers’ service delivery and satisfaction. The paper concluded that if appropriately delivered and applied, queuing theory goes a long way in achieving and maintaining customer satisfaction. It recommended that entrepreneurs should seek the opportunity of gaining better understanding and application of queuing theory to practically reduce or eliminate boredom, irritation, breakdown and frustration to customers without much ado.Keywords: queues, customer, waiting line, entrepreneurs, servic

Physicochemical Characteristics of the Oils Extracted from Some Nigerian Plant Foods – A Review

Fats and oils are non-volatile substances insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvent. They constitute along with protein and carbohydrates, the major food stuffs and are widely distributed in nature. Oil serves as a good source of protein, lipid and fatty acids for human nutrition including the repair of worn-out tissues, new cells formation as well as a useful source of energy. Oilseeds are those seeds that contain considerably large amounts of oil. Oil can be extracted from oilseed by using traditional methods of extraction (on a very small scale), mechanical expression (hydraulic and screw presses) which can be manual, semi-automated or automated, and solvent extraction (e.g. hexane, fluid carbon dioxide) or a combination of two of these methods. Physicochemical parameters of the oils extracted from some Nigerian plant foods using standard analytical techniques were reviewed. The physicochemical properties of the plant oils reviewed  were found to be at the range concentrations as follows: Saponification value (SV): 5.58 - 249.90 mgKOH/g, peroxide value (PV): 0.45 - 290.00 mEq O2/kg of sample, acid value (AV): 0.34 - 68.88 mg KOH/g, iodine value (IV): 2.65 - 153.00 g I2/100g sample, density (Ds): 0.9031 - 0.9208 g/cm3, viscosity (Vs): 0.43 to 302.39 mm2/sec, specific gravity (SG): 0.830 – 1.710, refractive index (RI): 0.147 – 1.792, free fatty acid (FFA): 0.14 – 34.65 % as oleic acid, ester value (EV): 0.54 – 241.04 mgKOH/g and heat of combustion (HC): 8904.25 – 11303.35 gcal/g. The result of the reviewed work confirms the Nigerian seed oils to be of good quality and can find application either in food industry as food additives or industrial purposes such as cosmetics, soaps, paint and even energy generation. Keywords: Physicochemical parameters, seed oils, Nigeria

A Path Investigation of NEO-PI Factors and Gender on Academic Procrastination of Adolescents in Senior Secondary Schools in Calabar, Nigeria

The study constructed and tested the NEOPI model and gender factor in explaining academic procrastination of 400 selected Senior Secondary School students in Calabar, Cross River state, Nigeria. The participants responded to instruments as measures of the predictors (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreableness, Conscietiousness and gender factor) and criterion measure (academic procrastination). Data generated were subjected to multiple regression and path analytic techniques for the estimation of the standardized path coefficients of the structural equation generated from the paths produced in the model. The results showed that the most meaningful causal model was plausible with ten significant and meaningful pathways. When taken together, the predictor variables accounted for 15.1% of the total effect, out of which 99.98% and 99.96% were direct and indirect respectively. The implications for these findings for the students, parents, teachers, school administrators, school counsellors, curriculum developers and policy makers were discussed. Keywords: Academic procrastination, Gender, NEO-P

THE POTENTIAL OF NEEM SEED OIL (AZADIRACHTA INDICA) AS NATURAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTICIDE

Use of synthetic insecticides has resulted into health hazards, ecological imbalance, resistance by pests and environmental pollution. Neem seed oil is reported to be a natural pesticide that has excellent insecticidal properties whose usage will reduce the risks associated with the use of synthetic insecticides.   In this study, attempts were made to formulate neem seed oil-additive emulsions to be used as insecticide on household pests. Solvent extraction method was used for extracting oil from neem seed while acetone and calcium oxide were used as additives (inert ingredients) to formulate emulsifiable medium which were tested on four common household pests (cockroaches, black ants, soldier ants and millipedes). It was observed that the additive samples to which 5 ml of neem seed oil were added were the most effective and active of all the tested mixture samples. The insects were either killed or their movement retarded within the shortest time compared to other samples with lesser amount of neem seed oil The results of the study showed that extracted oil from neem seed in emulsions with additives can be used as natural household insecticides. Also, acetone and calcium oxide used as additives (inert ingredient) readily improve the insecticidal properties of the neem seed oil with acetone being the most effective

Biosorption Kinetics of vetiveria zizanioides Rhizobacter on Heavy Metals Contaminated Wastewater

The burden of heavy metals pollution in the environment has increased over the last century. Consequently, concerted efforts towards addressing this menace in the environment and subsequently on health has being on the increase. A number of plants and microorganisms are currently being experimented for their potential to uptake heavy metals from both soil and water. However, the kinetics of uptake of heavy metals in wastewater which are necessary for the design of the treatment system have been largely neglected, this paper therefore investigates the kinetics of biosorption of heavy metals in contaminated wastewater using two  microorganism isolated from rhizospheric soil of Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver) plant.The result of bioaccumulation studies showed that Bacillus cereus showsthe maximum bioaccumulation capacity of 96.75% for Lead, 23% for Cadmium and 16.98% for Zinc while Bacillus subtilis accumulated 95.2% of the Lead, 41.3% of Cadmium and 32.2% of Zinc from solution.Also, the result of kinetic studies revealed that the kinetic data agrees with pseudo-second order kinetic model. Keywords: Biosorption, Heavy metals, Rhizospheric, Wastewater, Vetiveria zizanioides

Multiclass Sequential Feature Selection and Classification Method for Genomic Data

This paper presents an efficient multiclass sequential feature selection and classification (mk-SS) method using gene expression signatures. The development of this method employs 10-fold cross-validation to ensure stability. The efficiency of this method is assessed through the misclassification error rate and some other performance measures. The performances of the mk-SS were compared with the classification results of the Support Vector Machines (SVM) over five published multiclass microarray datasets. The results showed that the mk-SS method efficiently selects the informative gene biomarkers for proper classification of the biological groups of the tissue samples. This method competes favourably with SVM in terms of prediction accuracy while it outperforms the SVM in 80% of cases considered. The quality of the features selected by mk-SS algorithm was validated by hybridizing the feature selection scheme of the mk-SS into the standard SVM algorithm which significantly improves the predictive power of the standard SVM method. This work has shown that classification of various cancer type using gene expression profiles is feasible especially when the endpoints are of multi-category. Keywords: k-SS, mk-SS, Support Vector Machines, Microarray, Misclassification error rat