Showing papers by "Rivers State University of Science and Technology published in 1991"
TL;DR: Out of 880 samples of commonly consumed meat, fish and vegetable ready-to-eat foods from eastern Nigeria examined, 552 yielded coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, with 269 (48%) of the strains being enterotoxigenic.
32 citations
TL;DR: Dietary supplementation of ascorbic acid of at least 250 mg kg−1 is desirable to maintain semen quality during the hot months under humid tropical conditions to improve sperm volume, motile sperm per ejaculate and sperm number per ejaculated.
20 citations
TL;DR: Various aspects of the infestation problem encountered with insect pests of stored cereals have been examined to illustrate the current status of the pest.
Abstract: The small scale farming communities own and store much of the cereals they produce. Various aspects of the infestation problem encountered with insect pests of stored cereals have been examined to illustrate the current status of the pest. Reduction of food losses could be effected during producer, consumer and export storage. However, effective management of pest species requires thorough knowledge of the biology and the ecosystem they inhabit. The current management strategies directed against these pests have been examined.
18 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of water blanching, steam, microwave and calcium chloride pretreatment on the physical and sensory properties and ascorbic acid content of frozen plantain (Musa paradisiaca L) pulp was studied.
Abstract: The effects of water blanching, steam blanching, microwave blanching and calcium chloride pretreatment on the physical and sensory properties and ascorbic acid content of frozen plantain (Musa paradisiaca L) pulp was studied. After freezing and reheating, the microwave treatment produced a similar texture to that obtained with calcium chloride treatment, and both were significantly (P<0.01) better than conventional water or steam blanching. Microwave treatment improved retention of ascorbic acid.
16 citations
TL;DR: Oil treatment did not significantly affect the germination of grains and protected the grains from the two pests for only 3 months and thehighest population of R. dominica after 2 months of reinfestation was 67 and the highest mean population of D. distinctus was 1.4.
Abstract: Vegetable oil and palm oil were tested for their ability to suppress the populations of Rhyzopertha dominica Fabr. and Dinoderus distinctus Lesne on maize, sorghum and wheat grains using three dosages of 1 ml/kg, 5 ml/kg and 10 ml/kg. A dosage of 5 ml/kg of each oil, completely protected the three grains from D. distinctus and R. dominica on maize grain. Vegetable oil at 10 ml/kg dosage controlled R. dominica on sorghum and wheat. Palm oil had a similar effect, but did not control R. dominica on wheat even at 10 ml/kg dosage. The populations of R. dominica when treated with 1 ml/kg dosage were not significantly lower at 5% level than the control, with the exception of maize. Percentage weight losses of all grains at 5 ml/kg and 10 ml/kg dosage were significantly lower at 5% level than the control. Oil treatment did not significantly affect the germination of grains and protected the grains from the two pests for only 3 months. The highest population of R. dominica after 2 months of reinfestation was 67 and the highest mean population of D. distinctus was 1.4. The use of vegetable oils in the management of insect pests in storage is discussed.
16 citations
TL;DR: A study was conducted to develop a process for producing sweet potato chips that resulted in about 26 to 76% decrease in the ascorbic acid content of the chips and significant changes also occurred in the total and reducing sugars of the chip following partial dehydration.
Abstract: A study was conducted to develop a process for producing sweet potato chips. Sweet potato tubers sliced to 0.5 by 0.5 cm size were dehydrated at 70 degrees C for various times (0, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165 min). Determination of the moisture content of the dehydrated chips and sensory evaluation of the dehydrated and fried chips were carried out to establish optimum dehydration time and moisture which corresponded to optimum quality. Blanching the slices in water and 1% sodium metabisulfite solution respectively prior to the dehydration significantly (P greater than 0.05) improved the color and general acceptability of the chips over those immersed in water. The process development resulted in about 26 to 76% decrease in the ascorbic acid content of the chips. Significant changes also occurred in the total and reducing sugars of the chip following partial dehydration.
15 citations
TL;DR: Several hundred limestone samples representing eight different deposits within Nigeria have been evaluated and results indicate that some of the deposi highway pavement construction materials are suitable for use in Nigeria as mentioned in this paper, and base recommendations are made for the use of selected limestones as pavement materials in Nigeria.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of four rates of lime applications to maize grown in 12 strongly acidic soils of southern Nigeria belonging to Ultisol and Inceptisol orders were studied under greenhouse conditions.
Abstract: Effects of four rates of lime applications to maize grown in 12 strongly acidic soils of southern Nigeria belonging to Ultisol and Inceptisol orders were studied under greenhouse conditions. Five of these soils (Al saturation, 26%‐33%; Ca saturation, 3%‐16%) showed marked responses to lime with % relative yield (percentage of maximum yield) ranging from 5 to 73, 2 soils (Al saturation, 1% and 5%; Ca saturation, 52% and 59%) showed no response (about 95% relative yield) and the remaining 5 soils (Al saturation, 15%‐28%; Ca saturation, 10%‐31%) showed marginal responses (79% to 90% relative yield). Percent relative yield was highly correlated with initial soil values of % Al saturation (r = 0.923), 0.02M CaCl2 soluble Al (r = 0.906), % Ca saturation (r = 0.806) and exchangeable Ca (r = 0.729) and poorly correlated with soil pH (r = 0.559). Overall, Al saturation, soluble Al, Ca saturation and exchangeable Ca values corresponding to 90% relative yield were 27%, 13 mg/L, 21% and 0.7 cmol(+)/kg, respe...
12 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors deal with the techniques for detection of fractures and siting of boreholes in rocky terrains, which can be conveniently used to detect these fractures or zones where they occur.
10 citations
TL;DR: Population density was always low during dry season, significantly lower in the rain forest zone and higher in the swamp forest, rapidly rising in the second rainy season in all ecological zones and reaching its maximum before the rains finally stopped.
Abstract: Regular field surveys were carried out in 2 week intervals in 1986 and 1987 to determine population density, species composition, migration activity of Cicadulina leafhoppers and their infectivity with maize streak virus (MSV) in different ecological locations of southeastern Nigeria: mangrove swamp forest (IITA and RIART station at Onne), deltaic swamp forest (RSUST, Port Harcourt), seasonal swamp forest (Iriebe) and high forest zone (NCRI, Amakama near Umuahia). Population density was always low during dry season, significantly lower in the rain forest zone and higher in the swamp forest, rapidly rising in the second rainy season in all ecological zones and reaching its maximum before the rains finally stopped. Sharp increase in the population density in Nov. and Dec. may indicate mass migration activity of Cicadulina leafhoppers from already dry areas of adjacent Guinea savanna at that period. Six species of Cicadulina were collected from most of sampled areas. C. ghaurii was the predominant species in 1986 and 1987, averaging 55.9% for all locations and periods. Its portion was higher in the mangrove swamp forest (Onne) than in the high forest zone (Amakama). The predominance of other species declined in the order: C. triangula (18.2%), C. mbila (17.2%), C. arachidis (5.9%), C. similis (2.8%) and C. hartmansi (0.1%). In absolute values, the portion of individuals out of the total number of leafhoppers collected was for C. triangula 53.7%, C. ghaurii 25.5%, C. mbila 17.3%, C. arachidis 2.3%, C. similis 1.1% and C. hartmansi 0.1%. A high population of C. triangula occurred only in the relatively short period in Nov.–Dee., especially in Iriebe and was correlated with the rapid increase of Cicadulina densities in all sampled areas; a high migration activity of C. triangula and C. mbila was confirmed. Incidence of MSV in the surveyed farmers’ field varied between 0–22% in the first rainy season (1987) and 12–25% in the second rainy season (1986). The portion of Cicadulina adults already infected with MSV under field conditions and capable of transmitting MSV to the susceptible maize seedlings varied from 3.3 to 23.3%, with higher values for leafhoppers collected at the end of the second rainy season.
8 citations
TL;DR: The menaquinone composition of some species of the genus Micrococcus was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography and both unsaturated and hydrogenated menaquinones were detected.
Abstract: The menaquinone composition of some species of the genus Micrococcus was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. Both unsaturated and hydrogenated menaquinones were detected. Micrococcus kristinae, M. lylae and M. nishinomiyaensis contained hydrogenated menaquinones while M. sedentarius contained unsaturated menaquinone. The predominant menaquinone isoprenologues of these species are MK-7 (H 2 ), MK-8 (H 2 ), MK-8 (H 2 ) and MK-8, respectively. These observations confirm further the heterogeneity of the genus
TL;DR: The changing role of women in families and their housing needs: a case study of Port Harcourt shows the significance of the contribution made by low-income women in Nigeria to household income and to meeting household expenditures as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The changing role of women in families and their housing needs: a case study of Port Harcourt shows the significance of the contribution made by low-income women in Nigeria to household income and to meeting household expenditures. Nevertheless, women's needs and priorities are ignored by those planning the design and location of houses, neighbourhoods and services.
TL;DR: The clays in general are kaolinitic in composition with minor amounts of illite, and the unconfined compressive strength characteristics of fired pellets of these various clays indicate that the reddish to greyish-brown alluvial clays at Sobe tend to have higher strength values than the dark grey clays of Arimogija as mentioned in this paper.