Showing papers by "Rivers State University of Science and Technology published in 1997"
TL;DR: The results show that a combination of two or more simple processing methods could be used to improve the food value of bambara groundnut.
Abstract: Cotyledons of two Nigerian varieties of bambara groundnut were analysed for trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) and polyphenols after whole beans had, in each case, been cold-soaked, hot-soaked, cold-soaked/germinated and dehulled. Another portion of beans was fermented after they had been cold-soaked, dehulled and boiled for 10 min (pretreatment), simulating the ‘dawadawa’ process. Germination made dehulling of the beans very easy, as the hulls broke open during the process, but was not very effective in reducing the polyphenol levels (9%, average loss) and TIA (17%, average loss). The combined pretreatment/fermentation process reduced the polyphenol level and TIA by 24% and 40%, respectively (average losses). Hot-soaking considerably improved the dehulling properties of the beans over cold-soaking and was more effective in reducing the TIA level in the cotyledons (31%, average loss) than cold-soaking (12%, average loss). Polyphenol losses by the two conditioning methods were similar (9%, average). Generally, losses in polyphenols and TIA could be attributed to leaching and inactivation respectively during the processes involved. The results show that a combination of two or more simple processing methods could be used to improve the food value of bambara groundnut. © 1997 SCI.
40 citations
TL;DR: Processing of unprocessed and locally processed seeds of Brachystegia eurycoma, Detarium microcarpum and Mucuna sloanei improved in vitro protein digestibility, water and fat absorption capacity and decreased the bulk density, nitrogen solubility and the phytic acid and polyphenol contents of the samples.
Abstract: Chemical and functional properties of unprocessed (raw) and locally processed seeds ofBrachystegia eurycoma, Detarium microcarpum andMucuna sloanei that affect their utilization as sources of human food were investigated. The seeds, which are underutilized food sources in Nigeria, were subjected to local processing methods which included roasting, boiling, dehulling/shelling, soaking and the changes in composition and functional properties were estimated. Chemical analyses showed that the crude protein contents of the raw seeds ranged from 12.2 to 23.2%; fat varied from 4.9 to 12.0%. The level of phytic acid in the raw seeds (192.4–215 mg/100 g) was observed to be lower than the levels found in some commonly consumed pulses in Nigeria. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between crude protein contents and the least gelation concentrations of the raw and processed samples, but processing (roasting, boiling, dehulling and soaking) significantly (p=0.011) improved in vitro protein digestibility, water and fat absorption capacity and decreased the bulk density, nitrogen solubility and the phytic acid and polyphenol contents of the samples. Processed samples had high water (3.4–3.8 g/g) and fat (1.8–2.1 g/g) absorption capacities and hence may be useful as functional agents in fabricated foods such as bakery products and ground meat formulations.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the failure of channel banks with overhangs involves one of four mechanisms, namely; rotation, beam, shear, and tension failure, and a mathematical basis for the discrimination of these failure mechanisms is described.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the degradation of river banks and their eventual collapse and erosion is prevalent at peak flood periods in the Niger delta area of Nigeria, where current locities close to 2.00 m/s at the upper reaches of its major rivers exert intensive hydrodynamic influences on the banks and levees of communities, which lead to erosion and extensive flooding episodes.
Abstract: Degradation of river banks and their eventual collapse and erosion is prevalent at peak flood periods in the Niger delta area of Nigeria. Current ve locities close to 2.00 m/s at the upper reaches of its major rivers exert intensive hydrodynamic influences on the banks and levees of communities, which lead to erosion and extensive flooding episodes.
15 citations
TL;DR: Reduction of N2 fixation in pruned plants could imply that they would compete for N with interplanted food crops, causing lower N use efficiency by the latter.
Abstract: A microplot study was conducted with Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium to determine the effect of pruning the trees and applying the prunings to the soil (as either surface mulch or soil-incorporated green manure) on N2 fixation by the trees. N2 fixation was estimated by the 15N dilution method, and the non-N2-fixing species Senna siamea was used as a reference species. Number and dry weight of nodules were reduced with applications of prunings in Leucaena, and increased in Gliricidia. For both species, the lowest rate of N2 fixation (47%) occurred under green manure incorporation after pruning, and the highest (66%) with mulching and no-pruning. Incorporation of green manure into soil significantly depressed N2 fixation by 19.1% in Gliricidia and 20.6% in Leucaena compared to no-pruning treatment. The deleterious effect of incorporation of prunings into soil also affected the amount of N2 fixed. During the nine months following pruning, green manure incorporation steadily decreased the percentage of N2 fixed, whereas with no-pruning, pruning only and pruning with mulching, N2 fixation increased with time. Reduction of N2 fixation in pruned plants could imply that they would compete for N with interplanted food crops, causing lower N use efficiency by the latter. Despite lower dry-matter and N yields of Leucaena as compared with Gliricidia, its biological N2 fixation amounted to 73% of its N requirement as opposed to the corresponding figures of 50% for Gliricidia.
13 citations
TL;DR: Young-plant response to black sigatoka in Musa germplasm was shown to be a reliable indicator of mature- plant response and a quick means of disease reaction assessment, which could accelerate progress made by breeding programs when producing new black Sigatoka-resistant germplasms.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, local engineering practices of erosion control in the coastal areas of the Niger Delta, influenced by tidal activities, and analyses the physical conditions and criteria for the application of control measures.
Abstract: The paper reviews local engineering practices of erosion control in the coastal areas of the Niger Delta, influenced by tidal activities, and analyses the physical conditions and criteria for the application of control measures. The control methods utilized include the use of sand-cement and sand-gravel bags, used rubber tire networks, wooden groins, concrete retaining walls, sheet pile walls, and rock gabions. The effectiveness of typical cases of these measures are evaluated and suggestions made on improvements in design to ensure enhanced performance.
11 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented criteria for recognizing and interpreting bank recessions due to mass movement and/or erosion, using back analysis technique, slope development processes are reconstructed as a sequence of bank failure episodes and erosional events.
Abstract: The recession of alluvial channel banks occurs as a sequence of mass movements or by gradual dissolution of bank materials. Criteria for recognizing and interpreting bank recessions due to mass movement and/or erosion are presented. Using back analysis technique, slope development processes are reconstructed as a sequence of bank failure episodes and erosional events. Various mechanisms of mass bank failure and recession as well as causative agents have been identified and analyzed. A deterministic sensitivity technique based on partial differentiation can be used for evaluating the contribution of factors to bank recession and as a basis for selecting bank erosion remedial measures.
11 citations
TL;DR: The results show that Ugu – Telfairia occidentalo; millet-Panicum miliaceum; bitter leaf – Vernonia amygdalina; mushroom – Boletus spp; and Okro – Hibiscus esculentus contain diethylamine, dimethylamine , morpholine and ethylaniline.
Abstract: Dietary secondary amines of some Nigerian foodstuffs were analyzed by Soxhlet extraction, using petroleum ether (b.p. 60–80 °C); followed by thin layer chromatography developed in a solvent system; n-butanol: 95% ethanol: water (4:2:1) for the qualitative test. Each UV fluorescent band in the test chromatogram was scraped and eluted with distilled water, filtered and assayed for secondary amine content for the quantitative test. Quantitative estimations were by the colorimetric methods. The results show that Ugu – Telfairia occidentalo; millet-Panicum miliaceum; bitter leaf – Vernonia amygdalina; mushroom – Boletus spp; and Okro – Hibiscus esculentus contain diethylamine, dimethylamine, morpholine and ethylaniline. Garri – Manihot utilissima flour contains diethylamine and dimethylamine only; while fish (frozen) Tilapia malanopleura contains diethylamine, dimethylamine and piperidine and the smoked fish – Tilapia nilotica contains diethylamine, dimethylamine, ethylaniline, morpholine, piperidine and n-propylamine. Cocoyam – Xanthosoma sagittifolium contains diethylamine, dimethylamine, morpholine, ethylaniline and proline. The results also show that the secondary amine content of the various foodstuffs ranged between 0.80–0.91 µg N/kg. The public health implications of these findings are discussed.
11 citations
TL;DR: Cumulative assessment of pruning effect showed higher biomass, N yield and N2-fixing capacity of the woody species than at last harvest, and appeared to have more practical relevance.
Abstract: The influence of four pruning frequencies on biomass, nodulation and N2 fixation was investigated on Albizia lebbeck, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala grown in the screenhouse for 16 months, using acetylene reduction and 15N dilution methods. Frequent prunings at 4-month intervals had no deleterious effect on symbiotic N2 fixation, which increased in Gliricidia and Leucaena in particular. Nodulation and nitrogenase activity varied inconsistently within species, and were not influenced by pruning frequency. Cumulative assessment of pruning effect showed higher biomass, N yield and N2-fixing capacity of the woody species than at last harvest, and appeared to have more practical relevance. Across species, cumulative total dry matter, N yields, and both percentage and absolute amount of N2 derived from atmosphere increased with pruning frequency, except when trees were pruned 3 times. Of the three species, G. sepium had the lowest biomass production, N2 fixation and N accumulation.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a series of 4-acyl-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazolone-5 complexes of lead(II) bis-chelates with octahedral structures through Pb-N bond linkages were characterized.
Abstract: Synthesis, electronic, infrared and NMR spectral studies were carried out on a series of 4-acyl-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazolone-5 complexes of lead(II). They showed that both Pb-O and Pb-N bonds were present in the complexes. Subsequently, the complexes were characterized as lead(II) bis-chelates with octahedral structures through Pb-N bond linkages. The frequency of the Pb-O vibrations were observed to decrease with increase in length of 4-acyl substituent. Referee I: G. L. Gould Referee II: R. M. Richman
TL;DR: Toasting oil beans in hot sand and holding for a further 30 min at 100°C significantly improved dehulling, and the bitter taste was removed by slicing to I mm, boiling for 30 min and soaking for 2 h as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Toasting oil beans in hot (100°C) sand and holding for a further 30 min at 100°C significantly improved dehulling, and the bitter taste was removed by slicing to I mm, boiling for 30 min and soaking for 2 h. This simple process achieved the same quality of ugba after fermentation as the much more cumbersome, fuel-wasting and time-consuming traditional technique, saving up to 2 days.
TL;DR: Host age was found to be an important factor in development of immature of P. furvus with greater emergence from younger hosts, and C. partellus pupae over 5‐day‐old being rejected by the gravid female parasitoid.
Abstract: The influence of the age of host (Chilo partellus) pupae on parasitoid Pediobius furvus fecundity, developmental period, progeny production, and sex ratio is reported. The extent of parasitism was determined from the proportions of parasitoid emergence to host adults recorded. Host age was found to be an important factor in development of immature of P. furvus with greater emergence from younger hosts, and C. partellus pupae over 5-day-old being rejected by the gravid female parasitoid. The result showed that both acceptability and suitability of C. partellus pupae drop off after 2 days, and to zero after 4 days. However, the host ages that are accepted by the parasitoid appear to be fairly wide.
TL;DR: The seeds of three promising advanced lines of soybeans which were part of a larger collection evaluated in agronomic field trials in Nigeria were selected for characterization of physicochemical properties, chemical composition, water absorption, cooking time and cooked texture as a function of soaking and cooking.
Abstract: The seeds of three promising advanced lines of soybeans (TGx 923-2EN, TGx 1019-2EN and TGx 1497-1D) which were part of a larger collection evaluated in agronomic field trials in Nigeria were selected for characterization of physicochemical properties, chemical composition, water absorption, cooking time and cooked texture as a function of soaking and cooking. Seed density, leached solids, swelling capacity and seed coat percentage were within a range of 1.15 to 1.26 g per ml, 1.00 to 1.26 g per 100 g, 80.25 to 84.35 g per 100 g and 6.6 to 10.1% w/w of dry beans, respectively. The total polyphenol content of the cream colored beans was similar (0.75 to 0.76 mg/g) but higher than the amount (0.60 mg/g) found in the white beans. Cooking times varied between 71 and 96 min without soaking and were reduced by about 32.0% following a presoaking treatment in water for 12 hours at room temperature (28±1°C). Small seeds absorbed higher amounts of water during soaking and required less cooking time than larger seeds. Unsoaked beans required 40 min of cooking to achieve the same degree of cooked texture as the soaked beans cooked for 20 min, suggesting that cooking times and cooked texture for all lines were improved through soaking.
TL;DR: In this article, the water requirement of a crop in hot tropical climates is computed as the product of the water consumption of the crop and the water requirements of the irrigation system, which is computed using the water demand of the entire crop.
Abstract: Farmers in hot tropical climates know the importance of irrigation, but for irrigation to be used effectively the water requirement of the crop must be known. This is computed as the product of the...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the behaviour variables of the perception and reaction of the Nigerian worker to modern technology using various statistical tools. And they found that more than half of the workers reacted negatively towards the introduction of modern technology at work.
Abstract: The focus of this study is on the behaviour of the Nigerian worker in relation to modern technology at the workplace. Specifically, it examines the behaviour variables of the perception and reaction of the Nigerian worker to modern technology using various statistical tools. Our findings are consistent with the dominant view in the literature that the industrial worker has a great displeasure and an apparent tendency towards a dislike for modern technology. This view was the basis of our research hypothesis which the study has confirmed. More than half of the workers reacted, to a greater extent, negatively towards the introduction of modern technology at work. The predominant negative reaction is due to an equally predominant negative perception; though not in a perfect linear relationship.
TL;DR: There have been widespread speculations by observers, management practitioners and scholars that there has been a vandalisation of humanitarian rationalism in strategic organisations in Nigeria as mentioned in this paper, by the absolute and wanton disregard and abuse of established rules and regulations by the managers of Strategic Organisations and the control environment.
Abstract: There have been widespread speculations by observers, management practitioners and scholars that there has been a vandalisation of humanitarian rationalism in strategic organisations. By vandalisation of humanitarian rationalism, we mean the absolute and wanton disregard and abuse of established rules and regulations by the managers of Strategic Organisations and the control environment. The control environment (government) after establishing the necessary framework for the management of Strategic Organisations, most of the times, turns around to flout the same rules and regulations it had made to regulate social relations at work. This is done sometimes through irregular employment of staff, and at other times through unnecessary political interference from political office holders. This makes the whole idea of Quota System (QS) as an instrument of employment questionable. Quota System of employment sometimes serve as cynosure for the recruitment of unqualified persons from certain parts of the country. The incompetence of these individuals, to a large extent has led to the inability of Strategic Organisations to accomplish their mission. Strategic Organisations can be described as those organisations established by government to develop the necessary framework for socio‐ economic development in all sectors of the Nigerian economy. Khandwalla's (1986) definition of strategic organisations is that, they are:
TL;DR: In this paper, a strain of Candida sp. was isolated from ripe banana pulp and the efficiency of conversion of readily utilizable carbon sources in fruit wastes used for feed supplement production by the test strain was studied.
Abstract: During the preliminary phase of a process for the production of a protein-enriched feed supplement, a strain of Candida sp. was isolated from ripe banana pulp. Morphological and biochemical tests showed that the strain which was bipolar and elongated was not capable of growth at 37 oC but grew only on dextrose and fructose and was able to supply its amino acid requirements in culture. The efficiency of conversion of readily utilizable carbon sources in fruit wastes used for feed supplement production by the test strain was studied. Results obtained showed that reducing sugars were most readily utilized compared to other soluble carbohydrates. Conversion efficiencies were high and averaged about 75 per cent in unsupplemented substrates. Supplementation with organic and inorganic compounds resulted in greatly increased biomass yields. Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. Vol.30(2) 1997: 95-105
TL;DR: In this article, an integral transform technique is employed to solve for the z-axis related transient flow (U,V,0),(Ho), and temperature Θ (z,t).
Abstract: At time t<0, a steady stationary condition of a fully ionised gas exists in space, such that the velocity components, the induced magnetic field and a uniform temperature are given by (0,0,0),(0, 0,Ho) and Θ, respectively, in the rectangular coordinate (x,y,z). At t =0, a sudden increase of temperature is applied at z = 0. If the Eckert terms are neglected, an integral transform technique is employed to solve for the z–axis related transient flow (U,V,0),(Ho), and temperature Θ (z,t). For large applied magnetic field, Ho the flow is observed to exhibit disturbance modes some of which are oscilatory, and some streaming modes are seen accompanied by the expected decays. For a thermally perturbed plasma the flow is seen to be largely governed by conduction parameters if viscous terms are not neglected under the MHD approximations.