Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Effects of pretreatments on the texture and ascorbic acid content of frozen plantain pulp (Musa paradisiaca)

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.

Chemical composition and nutritional attributes of selected newly developed lines of soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr)

Abstract: The chemical composition and nutritional properties of raw, autoclaved and boiled samples of three promising advanced breeding lines of soybean (TGx 923 − 2EN, TGx 1019 − 2EN and TGx 1497 − 1D), part of a larger collection evaluated in agronomic field trials in Nigeria, were investigated. Protein quality was evaluated using weanling albino rats fed diets which were formulated to supply 10% protein using soybean samples, with casein as a control. Raw seeds contained 35.6–42.4% crude protein, 8.9–9.8 mg iron per 100 g, 8.62–18.21 mg trypsin inhibitor g−1 and 2.25–6.15 mg phytic acid g−1 seed flour. TGx 923 − 2EN possessed higher crude protein contents and lower amounts of trypsin inhibitor, polyphenol and phytic acid compared with TGx 1019 − 2EN or TGx 1497 − 1D. Boiling proved more effective than autoclaving for reducing the levels of antinutrients and improving the protein quality of the beans, as shown by the higher values for weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein ratio (NPR) and true digestibility (TD) of boiled samples. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between the values obtained for PER, NPR and TD of diets containing boiled samples of TGx 923 − 2EN and casein, indicating the nutritional superiority of this soybean line compared with TGx 1019 − 2EN and TGx 1497 − 1D. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry

Reproductive performance of rabbits fed maize-milling waste based diets

Abstract: The influence of maize-milling waste on the reproductive performance of rabbits was assessed. The treatments comprised of autoclaved and unautoclaved maize-milling waste, groundnut cake/maize meal diets formulated with 0 (I), 25 (II), 50 (III), 75 (IV) and 100% (V) replacement of maize with maize-milling waste. Each of the diets contains 18% crude protein and was unpelleted. There were two parity periods and the duration was 15 weeks. In the first parity period, the conception rates were 33.33, 100, 75, 66.66 and 75% for treatments I, II, III, IV and V, respectively, while the second parity conceptions rates were 50, 75 and 50% for treatments II, III and IV, respectively. No conceptions were observed for treatments I and V. The first breeding trials had abortion rates of 50 and 25% for treatments II and V, respectively. Autoclaved maize-milling waste was used for the second breeding trials. Autoclaving maize milling waste was observed to improve the nutritional value of the diets and neither abortion nor still births were seen for the second parity period. Therefore, simple diet comprising maize-milling waste and groundnut cake can support normal growth and reproduction of rabbits for meat production. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (5), pp. 437-443, 2005

The saponins content of some Nigerian oil seeds

Abstract: Three oil bearing seeds grown in Nigeria were found to contain saponins. The oil seeds, African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla) rubber seed (Havea brasilienses), andMucuna uriens were defatted and saponin fractions extracted with 20% aqueous ethanol. Saponins obtained after extraction were 2.1% for African oil bean seed, 1.8% for rubber seed, and 2.1% forMucuna. These figures were similar to that of defatted soyabean with 2.4%. Results are discussed in relation to the possible beneficial or detrimental effects of saponins to man or animals that may consume these oil seeds.

Reproductive Strategies and Life-history Traits of the Savi's Pine Vole, Microtus savii

Abstract: Reproductive strategies, growth rates, survival, and their correlates with life-history traits are studied in the Savi's pine vole (Microtus savii) under both natural and laboratory conditions. 119 reproductive events were monitored, 50 out of which came from wild-born females and 69 came from captive-born females. Fertility rates were nearly identical in both males and females. Mean age at first parturition of females averaged 72.6±12.1 days, and the mean time elapsed between the constitution of a given pair and the first partum was 31.5±11.5 days. The litter size of captive-bred females (2.49± 0.7; range: 1 to 4) was nearly identical to that of the free-ranging females (2.5±1.1). The newborn sex ratio did not significantly deviate from equality. Litter size was independent on season and on number of times that a given pair reproduced. Nevertheless, litter size tended to be inversely correlated with the length of the interpartum time, and was positively correlated with parental age. The size of ...