Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

About: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is a education organization based out in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 2786 authors who have published 3066 publications receiving 36850 citations. The organization is also known as: Oyo State University of Technology & LAUTECH.

Drying of chili pepper (capscium frutscens)

Abstract: Drying is one of the common methods of food preservation and is carried out on untreated/unblanched and treated/blanched chili pepper using sun, solar and hot-air drying. The drying curves generated from the three methods showed that drying of treated/blanched pepper was faster than that of untreated/unblanched pepper. The drying rate period observed for all the methods and samples was the falling rate drying regime. This suggests that the blanching pretreatment assisted water loss and thus decreased the resistance to water loss at the surface of the product. The drying time of the dried pepper varied from 27 h for hot-air drying to 144.5 h for sun drying respectively. The values of moisture diffusivity coefficient ranged from 2.163 × 10−9 m2/s for hot-air drying to 1.125 × 10−9 m2/s for sun drying. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS A common method of preserving pepper, a vegetable with versatile use, is drying and this is done by sun, solar and oven-drying methods. Climatic variations of sun and solar drying make it unsuitable for large-scale production. Hot-air drying is thus considered as an alternative drying method because it decreases drying time and improves the hygienic quality of the dried product. Pretreating pepper by blanching increases its rate of drying. The effect of each drying method on the drying rate, equilibrium moisture content and moisture diffusivity coefficient were used to compare the drying methods. Hot-air drying had the lowest drying time whereas pretreated samples also dried faster. The effective moisture diffusivity of oven dried samples as well as pretreated samples were highest. This indicates that oven drying reduces drying time and can be used to dry pepper samples for large-scale production.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian Axis in Thyroid Dysfunction.

Abstract: BACKGROUND It has been established that thyroid dysfunction causes impairment of reproductive function. However, laboratory and human studies that associated this with female reproductive hormones are conflicting and data reporting the effects of thyroid dysfunction on reproductive organs are insufficient. AIM This study investigated the effect of experimental hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and reproductive organs morphometry and histology in female rats. METHODS Laboratory animals were randomized into one of the three groups: control, carbimazole-induced hypothyroidism and levothyroxine-induced hyperthyroidism. RESULTS Organ morphometry and serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were statistically comparable across all groups. Serum progesterone increased in hypothyroid rats but was reduced in hyperthyroid rats when compared with the control (p < 0.05). Body weight gain, serum luteinizing hormone and oestradiol were significantly reduced in both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states when compared to the control. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism also led to alterations in organ cytoarchitecture. CONCLUSION Findings from this study suggest that impairment of reproductive function associated with thyroid dysfunction is attendant with derangement of hormonal milieu and alteration in reproductive organs cytoarchitecture. Luteinizing hormone and oestradiol are implicated.

Rabies and antirabies immunization in South Western Nigeria: knowledge, attitude and practice.

Abstract: Factors responsible for the continued endemicity of rabies in Nigeria were determined by carrying out a knowledge, attitude and practice study among residents of Osun State. Structured questionnaires were administered to 679 individuals comprising students, traders and civil servants. Only 33.4% of the respondents knew rabies could be prevented by vaccination, while 38.7% believed that the infection could be treated with herbs. Of the 387 victims of dog bite, 240 (62%) never sought prophylactic postexposure treatment. Of the 10 people who received postexposure treatment, only one received the appropriate treatment consisting of washing, disinfection of wounds, tetanus toxoid and complete antirabies immunization.