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.

Novel optimal temperature profile for acidification process of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus in yoghurt fermentation using artificial neural network and genetic algorithm

Abstract: The acidification behavior of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus for yoghurt production was investigated along temperature profiles within the optimal window of 38–44 °C. For the optimal acidification temperature profile search, an optimization engine module built on a modular artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) was used. Fourteen batches of yoghurt fermentations were evaluated using different temperature profiles in order to train and validate the ANN sub-module. The ANN captured the nonlinear relationship between temperature profiles and acidification patterns on training data after 150 epochs. This served as an evaluation function for the GA. The acidification slope of the temperature profile was the performance index. The GA sub-module iteratively evolved better temperature profiles across generations using GA operations. The stopping criterion was met after 11 generations. The optimal profile showed an acidification slope of 0.06117 compared to an initial value of 0.0127 and at a set point sequence of 43, 38, 44, 43, and 39 °C. Laboratory evaluation of three replicates of the GA suggested optimum profile of 43, 38, 44, 43, and 39 °C gave an average slope of 0.04132. The optimization engine used (to be published elsewhere) could effectively search for optimal profiles of different physico-chemical parameters of fermentation processes.

Akara Ogbomoso: microbiological examination and identification of hazards and critical control points.

Abstract: Akara Ogbomoso was examined toward the establishment of hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP). The akara was produced in residential buildings with the attendant consequence of contamination. There was ample growth of aerobes, coliforms, staphylococci, Shigella and yeast/mold from the samples, water and cowpea pastes. Microbial contaminations occur through the processing, which can be corrected through education by adopting good hygienic and manufacturing practices. The critical control points were identified as frying, storage and refrying. It may be heated in the microwave for 10 s before consumption. Akara, prepared in the laboratory through the implementation of HACCP was not contaminated. Several bacterial isolates, namely; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia marcescens, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus sp. and Shigella sp., showed multiple resistance to antibiotics ranging from two to nine. Seven strains were not resistant to the antibiotics, while five were resistant to one type of antibiotic.

Effect of cassava fluid on corrosion performance of mild steel

Abstract: Purpose – The cheapest and most rapidly available metal for agro‐processing equipment fabrication in Nigeria is plain carbon steel. However, there are some aggressive ions present in raw agricultural and food products, which may attack the steel components of these processing machinery, resulting in their untimely failure in service. The present study investigates the effect of fluid squeezed from cassava tuber on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel.Design/methodology/approach – The investigation involved periodic weight loss measurements of 0.8 per cent carbon and 0.36 per cent carbon steel rods as they were exposed to cassava fluid. The relationships between loss in weight of the exposed samples and exposure period were determined. Models were developed to relate corrosion rate in each environment with total surface area and exposure period.Findings – The results show that 0.36 per cent carbon steel was less affected by corrosion than 0.18 per cent carbon steel, with corrosion intensity in both cases,...

Central depressant and nootropic effects of daytime melatonin in mice.

Abstract: Background Effects of orally administered daytime melatonin on novelty induced behaviors and spatial working memory in mice were evaluated using the open field, the Y maze and the radial arm maze. Purpose To ascertain the possible nootropic and/or central excitatory or inhibitory effects of daytime oral melatonin in mice. Methods Adult male mice from our colony, assigned to three and four groups for open field tests and memory tests respectively were given vehicle (normal saline), a standard drug Scopolamine at 0.5 mg/kg i.p, single dose, 30 minutes before behavioral study) or one of two doses of melatonin (5 and 10 mg/kg daily for a period of 30 days). All administrations were done between 8.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. daily. Behavioral tests were carried out on day 30 after administration. Results were analysed using a one-way ANOVA followed by a posthoc test (Student-Newman-Keul's) and expressed as mean ± S.E.M. Results Open field tests revealed a significant reduction in rearing and grooming behaviors at both doses tested while no significant changes in horizontal locomotion were seen. Y maze studies showed an improvement in spatial memory in mice that received 5 mg/kg of melatonin when compared to scopolamine control. At 10 mg/kg, no significant improvement was seen. A significant increase in the radial arm maze spatial working memory following melatonin administration was seen at 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg compared to scopolamine control. Radial arm maze exploration was also significantly reduced. Conclusion The study demonstrates the ability of exogenously administered melatonin, to affect both central excitation and spatial working memory in mice even when given orally.