Articles
Page 7 of 1126, showing 50 records out of 56251 total, starting on record 301, ending on 350
May 2018
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genetic diversity in a set of Burkina Faso cowpea germplasm
The potential of cowpea to address food security in Burkina Faso in particular is well established as it is a nutritious, cash and cover crop. However, there is limited information on existing germplasm diversity in Burkina Faso. This study was designed to gather some information on the genetic diversity in a set of cowpea lines introduced from different breeding programs. The diversity was therefore assessed using 181...
May 2018
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Productivity of Irish potato varieties under increasing nitrogen fertilizer application rates in Eastern Rwanda
Irish potatoes are an important crop only promoted in cool and high moist conditions of Rwanda. This study explored the productivity of Irish potatoes varieties under increasing nitrogen fertilizer applications in drier agro-climatic conditions of the eastern Rwanda. Potato seeds mass-selected from locally-grown varieties in the region surrounding Kibungo town (-2.160897°, 30.543591°) were planted under rain-fed...
May 2018
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Nutritional quality of tomatoes as a function of nitrogen sources and doses
Vegetable consumers are increasingly demanding high quality products. Among factors that can influence the nutritional quality of tomato fruits, mineral nutrition stands out. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen sources and doses on the nutritional quality of tomato fruits. The experiment was carried out in pots in an experimental area at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa -...
May 2018
African Journal of Biotechnology
Effects of ethanolic extract of Waltheria indica aerial parts on some liver and kidney function indices in albino rats
This study evaluated the toxicological effects of chronic treatment with ethanolic extract of Waltheria indica aerial portion on body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters in albino rats using standard methods. Rats treated with 400 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day of the extract showed no behavioural changes. However, there was general reduction of activity in rats given 800 and 1,600 mg/kg bw/day of the extract....
May 2018
African Journal of Biotechnology
Presence of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene in cereals and cereal-based products in local markets and supermarkets of Yaoundé, Cameroon
The use and importation of genetically modified (GM) crops and products derived from these crops are regulated by national and international policies, which unfortunately are often not properly implemented in some countries. Given the ongoing globalization of trade and increasing availability of GM plant products, countries like Cameroon with a weak system to regulate the importation of these products face the threat of...
May 2018
African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Febuxostat in patients with hyperuricemia and severe chronic kidney disease
Febuxostat is a non-purine, selective inhibitor of both isoforms of xanthine oxido-reductase (XOR). Its pharmacokinetics is not dependent on renal clearance, and it may be advantageous in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although febuxostat is effective in patients with mild-to-moderate CKD, its efficacy and safety in patients with severe CKD remain unclear. This retrospective study included patients with an...
May 2018
African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Gamma oryzanol loaded microspheres with improved bioavailability
Gamma oryzanol is a phytosterol that is extracted from rice bran oil. It is an antioxidant that possesses a curative effect for many diseases. Gamma oryzanol is a water insoluble compound supporting the idea that it has a low bioavailability due to low intestinal absorption. In this study, γ-oryzanol was loaded in biodegradable microspheres. Intestinal absorption of γ-oryzanol from microspheres was compared...
May 2018
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
Antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Croton lechleri (Euphorbiaceae)
Croton lechleri is a native species from the Amazon and used with relative frequency in folk medicine in Brazil and other countries. Diversity and antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi associated with this plant were studied here. Samples of leaves and stems were used and 575 endophytic fungi were isolated (307 from leaves and 268 from stems), comprising 284 morphotypes distributed in 13 genera and unknown. The...
May 2018
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
Antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi from the medicinal plant Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC
This study was designed to determine the diversity and antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Uncaria tomentosa. Leaf and stem were disinfected superficially and inoculated in PDA and SDA medium, with and without plant extract and incubated at 18 and 28°C for isolation of endophytic fungi. Endophytic fungi were inoculated in BD medium and the metabolites extracted with ethyl acetate. Endophytic...
May 2018
African Journal of Microbiology Research
Drug resistance in African animal trypanosomes:
A review
Animal African trypanosmiasis (AAT) is the most important factor contributing to the sub potential performance of livestock. AAT is caused by Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei. Chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis are the major means of combating the disease. An estimated 17 million cattle are treated with trypanocides annually. The emergence of drug-resistant trypanosome strains is...
May 2018
African Journal of Microbiology Research
Metagenomic analysis of enteric bacterial pathogens affecting the performance of dairy cows in smallholder productions systems
There is little information about the diversity of bacterial pathogens present in the rumen and feces of healthy cow and the subsequent effects on the performance of the host animal. The objectives of the present study were to genetically characterize the enteric bacterial pathogens found in the rumen fluid and cow feces and to identify the resistant genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance in the detected...
May 2018
African Journal of Microbiology Research
Effectiveness of exopolysaccharides and biofilm forming plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on salinity tolerance of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)
This study aimed to investigate the production of biofilm and exopolysaccharides by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) under different salt concentrations. In this study, the activity of biofilm formation and exopolysaccharides production by 20 strains of PGPR which previously isolated and identified from root samples of different crops were determined under different salt concentrations. Out of 20 strains,...
May 2018
African Journal of Microbiology Research
Isolation, identification and bioactivity of fungal endophytes from selected Kenyan medicinal plants
Infectious diseases remain a global health burden due to development of antibiotic resistance by pathogenic microorganisms. Antibiotic resistance has led to increased number of deaths among children and adults. This study sought to isolate and identify fungal endophytes from selected Kenyan medicinal plants and screen them and their extracts for bioactivity against selected test human pathogens. Fifty-five fungal...
May 2018
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Agro morphological characterization of taro (Colocasia esculenta) and yautia (Xanthosoma mafaffa) in Togo, West Africa
Taro and yautia are two edible aroids grown in the humid tropics of Asia, Africa and Latin America and used as staple food crops by millions of people in developing countries. They are mainly propagated vegetatively. Selection and improvement of these crops require characterization using desirable morphological traits for various end-uses. An agro morphological characterization study was conducted at the experimental...
May 2018
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Evaluation of some Musa accessions in field collection at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
The study was conducted to characterize and evaluate the agronomic potentials of eight Musa accessions in Ebonyi State University Musa field genebank. Qualitative descriptors were used to characterize the genotypes, while eight growth and yield traits were evaluated. Results indicated that the accessions were similar in thirteen characteristics, but differed in nine traits including pseudostem/foliage pigmentation,...
May 2018
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Evaluation of cassava hybrids performance obtained by controlled pollination of elite accessions from Niari landscape in the Republic of Congo
Cassava is the main crop in the Congo but its low yield doesn’t meet the needs of Congolese populations. The low yield is due to the use of less effective sensitive varieties to diseases, non-mastering of techniques and biotic constraint of which the African cassava mosaic. This study aims at selecting resistant genotypes to the African cassava mosaic and assessing their agronomic and production performances. Six...
May 2018
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Productivity of radish fertilized with different doses of bovine manure
The application of organic matter to the soil has considerable benefits for agricultural land, including an improvement in the physical structure and fertility of the soil, which can often be extended from one crop to another. Animal manure is one of the most widely-used types of organic fertilizer, due in part to its availability. The present study investigated the productivity of radish exposed to different doses of...
May 2018
African Journal of Biotechnology
Azospirillum spp. potential for maize growth and yield
The importance of biotechnology involved in the availability of nutrients to plants in different production systems is well known. In the search for agricultural sustainability, biological nitrogen fixation process stands out, especially in tropical regions where soil organic matter can be rapidly mineralized. In this aspect, researches have pointed out the potentialities of the use of diazotrophic bacteria, as well as...
May 2018
African Journal of Biotechnology
Propagation of Pecan (Carya illinoensis): A review
The Pecan (Carya illinoensis) is the most important species that belongs to the Carya genus. It is cultivated mainly for its nut, which is rich in oils and proteins, and for its good quality wood. Pecan is conventionally propagated by budding or grafting onto rootstocks obtained by open pollination. However, these techniques are not very efficient due to low propagation rates, poor survival and difficult establishment....
May 2018
African Journal of Biotechnology
Development of in vitro propagation protocol for some recalcitrant cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) genotypes in Sierra Leone
A study on rapid propagation of cassava through tissue culture was conducted with three elite cassava genotypes: Slicass 6, Slicass 11 and Cocoa from Sierra-Leone. They showed slow growth in Murashige & Skoog (MS) basal medium which was proven to be optimal for a vast number of cassava accessions. Prior to mutation induction, a large population needs to be produced for mutagen susceptibility test and for mutant...
May 2018
African Journal of Biotechnology
Genetic diversity and relatedness of oil palm progenies determined by microsatellite and agronomic markers
Genetic diversity in oil palm has been usually determined using agro-morphological markers (traits) before the advent of DNA-based markers including microsatellite markers, which have the advantage of being environmentally independent. The current study aimed to compare genetic diversity and relationships among 10 Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) dura × tenera oil palm progenies using simple...
April 2018
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Mammalwatching: A new source of support for science and conservation
During the 20th century, birding evolved from a little-known hobby into a global phenomenon important for ornithology and bird conservation. More recently a similar change has begun for mammalwatching, which is rapidly gaining popularity and is already providing financial support, observational data, diagnostic information, and a volunteer base for mammalogy and mammalian conservation. The study data suggest that...
April 2018
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Plant diversity analysis for conservation of Afromontane vegetation in socio-ecological mountain landscape of Gurage, South Central Ethiopia
The present study was conducted for the conservation and management of vegetation in a socio-ecological mountain landscape through assessment of floristic composition, community types and structure of woody species in the Wabe River catchment of the Gurage Mountains in Ethiopia. The preferential sampling technique was applied to collect floristic and vegetation structure data, and within each plot, woody species...
April 2018
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Effect of forest management approach on household economy and community participation in conservation: A case of Aberdare Forest Ecosystem, Kenya
Forest ecosystems are important for ecological and socio-economic wellbeing, particularly for diversification of the livelihoods of adjacent communities. The forest management approach applied in an ecosystem influences availability, access and utilisation of forest products, and community participation in conservation. This study examined the effect of forest management approach on households’ economy and...
April 2018
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Species diversity, habitat association and abundance of avifauna and large mammals in Gonde Teklehimanot and Aresema monasteries in North Gondar, Ethiopia
Studies on species composition, distribution and relative abundance of birds and mammals in Gonde Teklehimanot and Aresema Monasteries was carried out from December, 2015 to February, 2016. In these areas, wildlife conservation is directly relevant to the local community, often as a source of livelihood, medicine and spiritual values. To collect data on population status of large mammals, we commenced a line transect...
April 2018
Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology
Assessment of impediments affecting health systems response to neurocysticercosis in two districts (Gulu and Amuru) of Northern Uganda: A cross
sectional study
Northern Uganda is recovering from the effects of prolonged war which devastated most of the health systems in the region. The aim of the study was to identify health sector impediments affecting health systems response to Neurocysticercosis in the districts of Gulu and Amuru. A cross sectional study was conducted on two hospitals and 10 health centers. Two hundred and three (n=203) respondents were...
April 2018
Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology
Compliance to treatment regimen among diabetic patients attending outpatient department of selected hospitals in Benin City, Edo State
Diabetes is a global health issue as it is a metabolic disease that affects individuals of all ages. The success of long term maintenance therapy for diabetes mellitus depends largely upon the patient’s compliance with a therapeutic plan. This study investigated the level of compliance with treatment regimen among clients with diabetes mellitus in selected hospital in Benin City, Edo state. A descriptive cross...
April 2018
Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology
Factors associated with utilization of institutional delivery care and postnatal care services in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan African countries with high maternal mortality rate due to complication of delivery. Institutional delivery care and postnatal care are key health services that can reduce maternal mortality. The main objective of this study was to identify factors affecting utilization of institutional delivery and postnatal care services. The data for this study were obtained from the 2014 EDHS which...
April 2018
Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology
Assessment of community knowledge, attitude and practice on milk borne zoonoses disease in Debre- Birhan town, north Shewa, Ethiopia
A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in Debre-Birhan town, North shoa, Ethiopia, with the objectives of assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of the study participants with respect to milk borne zoonoses; and to determine the effect of demographic character of respondents on knowledge, attitude and practice of zoonotic diseases. Data were collected from the respondents through...
April 2018
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Spatial-temporal distribution, abundance, diversity and mortality of birds on road network in the Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania
Vehicle collisions with wild animals are acknowledged as a non-negligible source of death of wild birds and often affect their spatial-temporal distribution, abundance and diversity. However, data to ascertain the impact of road kills on wild birds are scarce, especially around the Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania. This work aims to investigate the impact of road kills on wild birds and their spatial-temporal...
April 2018
Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics
Trend, pattern and determinants of crop diversification of small holders in West Bengal: A district-wise panel data analysis
Crop diversification is one of the most important risk management and income enhancing strategies for farmers. The study investigates the pattern, trend, and factors influencing crop diversification in different districts of West Bengal, based on secondary data. The Simpson index has been used to estimate diversification. The results show that all the districts of West Bengal and the state as a whole have exhibited a...
April 2018
Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development
Do fertilizers and cropland influence the agricultural production value in the same way? Evidence using the autoregressive distributed lags approach of cointegration
Cropland and fertilizers are two prominent and non-spared factors of agricultural sustainable production. This study mainly aimed to examine the response of crop production value to cropland used and chemical fertilizers supplied by using the Autoregressive Distributed Lags approach of cointegration over the period 1980 to 2016. The bound test and the error correction term showed that the amount of nitrogen (N),...
April 2018
Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics
Econometric analysis of socioeconomic and demographic determinants of rural households’ saving behavior: The case of Sinana district, Ethiopia
This paper examines the major socioeconomic and demographic determinants of rural households’ saving behavior in Sinana district, Ethiopia. A random sample of 267 rural households was selected from four rural kebeles of the district. The study used both descriptive statistics and econometric model for the analysis of primary data. The result of descriptive statistics demonstrates that 47.2% of the sampled...
April 2018
Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development
Challenges and opportunities of honey production in north- east dry land areas of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia
The study aims to evaluate major challenges, opportunities and future prospects of bee keeping and honey production in three districts of Waghimra Zone (Abergell, Sekota and Gazgibala). To collect data, 332 respondents were selected using systematic random sampling from the three districts. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire, observation, keyinformant interveiw and focus group discussion. Data were...
April 2018
Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics
On farm partial budget analysis of pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to the application of NP fertilizer and farmyard manure in Raya Azebo District,
Northern Ethiopia
This research was conducted to assess the economic feasibility of inorganic fertilizer application and farmyard manure on Marako Fana pepper variety in Raya Azebo district, Northern Ethiopia. The combination of 25, 50, 75 and 100% of nationally recommended inorganic fertilizers and 10 t ha-1 farmyard manure as well as four control treatments (unfertilized, 100% farmyard manure, 100% and blended fertilizer/NPS)...
April 2018
Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics
Sustaining the economic growth for agriculture sector in Benin#: How do agricultural technologies influence the growth rate?
This paper examined the influence of agricultural technologies on the growth of agricultural value-added based on time series data (1990-2016) and Cobb-Douglas production function. The results indicated that there are significant and certain benefits to draw economically from the utilization of a system of technological innovations including mechanization, renewed capital stocks, as well as temporary annual cropping and...
April 2018
African Journal of Plant Science
Current outlook and future promise of ethnobotany in Nigeria: A review and personal observation
This paper reviews the current state and future prospects of ethnobotany in Nigeria. A brief historical background is presented. Books and journals indexed by Scopus and Science Direct were reviewed. Direct search was also made on the official websites of journals specializing in ethnobotany and allied disciplines. The field of ethnobotany manifests in all facets of human activities and relates to cultural and...
April 2018
African Journal of Plant Science
Comparative study on the effect of bio-slurry and inorganic N-fertilizer on growth and yield of kale (Brassica oleracea L.)
Kale is one of the nutritious leafy vegetables with a high nitrogen fertilizer requirement. However, soil fertility is declining progressively due to the imbalanced use of inorganic fertilizer. Discharging bio-slurry as waste will lead to environmental pollution and disposing will also lead to costs because of its large volume. Consequently, replacing chemical fertilizers with bio-slurry can not only achieve efficient...
April 2018
African Journal of Plant Science
Morphological characteristics of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) in Ghana
Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is an important economic tree crop grown in home gardens and farms all over Ghana. Although there are some studies on diverse aspects of the crop in several parts of the world, not much has been documented about its morphology in Ghana. This study was therefore conducted to describe the morphology of avocado in the Ashanti and Central Regions of Ghana. Using the avocado descriptor as a...
April 2018
African Journal of Food Science
Mango doughnuts technology process for innovative prevention of post-harvest loss of mango fruits in Burkina Faso
The present study involved the processing and testing of two formulations of mango doughnuts. The mango pulp formulations were combined either with maize or rice flour. The dough from both formulations was fried in immersion oil using a gas-fueled fritter and a crepe maker in controlled conditions. Levels of moisture, titrable acidity, total ash, fat, proteins, total sugars and beta-carotene were determined for the...
April 2018
African Journal of Food Science
Nutritional and sensory evaluation of African breadfruit-corn yoghurt
Single extracts of African breadfruit (Treculia africana var africana) and sweet corn (Golden cob F1) were blended on 60:40 proportions to produce breadfruit-corn milk. The breadfruit-corn milk was fermented to obtain a yoghurt-like product (breadfruit-corn yoghurt), using inoculums drawn from activation batch of dried starter and previously made breadfruit-corn milk. The breadfruit-corn yoghurt was subjected to...
April 2018
African Journal of Food Science
Impact of electric voltages on the emulsification capabilities of okra seed protein-rich extract
A portion of okra seed protein-rich extract (PRE) prepared with NaCl solution (5 g/L) was hydrolyzed at 110°C for 5 h (1 atm. pressure). The PRE (sample A), hydrolyzed PRE-B, whole okra seed flour-C and gelatin-D were tested for emulsification capacity (EMC) and emulsion stability (ES). The emulsions were prepared and tested in (i) normal environmental condition (o/w and w/o), (ii) current carrying beaker-CB, (iii)...
April 2018
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Distribution and level of arsenic in selected environmental indicators
In this study, total arsenic was determined in soil, common grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), plant leaf (Dogwood; Cornus florida) and an invertebrate (Stag beetle; Rhinotia hemistictus). This was with a view of investigating its distribution and level in the environment. Samples were randomly collected from stratified sections of the study area, processed and analysed using validated acid extraction technique. Detection of...
April 2018
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Microbiological and physico-chemical analyses of hand dug well-water near pit latrine in a rural Area of Western Nigeria
Contamination of water from feacal sources can lead to major outbreaks of water-borne diseases when such water is consumed without proper treatment. The microbiological and physicochemical analyses of well-water sample collected near pit latrines in Oko, Oyo State, Nigeria were carried out during rainy and dry seasons. Microbiological analysis was carried out by using Most Probable Number (MPN) technique while...
April 2018
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Land-use/cover change analysis using Remote Sensing techniques in the landscape of Majang Zone of Gambella Region, Ethiopia
Recently, forest land grant for investment which is often misquoted as bare land is posing a challenge to biodiversity conservation efforts in the Majang Zone of Gambella Region, Ethiopia. On the other hand, Majang zone has always been known for dense forest cover and rich biodiversity; but recently threatened due to plantation investment. In order to tackle such prevailing problems, timely information about past and...
April 2018
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Comparative risk of pit latrine sludge from unplanned settlements and wastewater in Mzuzu City, Malawi
Most developing countries use existing knowledge and infrastructure for wastewater in the treatment, reuse and disposal of faecal sludge. There is need to have a clear picture of the risk faecal sludge poses in relation to wastewater if effective treatment, disposal and reuse systems are to be implemented. Little work has been done to quantify the risk faecal sludge poses in relation to wastewater in a localized...
April 2018
Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development
The bio-efficacy of Calpurnia aurea against Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera; Curculionidae) of stored maize under laboratory condition in Ethiopia
N-hexane (non-polar), chloroform (partial polar), distilled water, methanol, acetone and ethanol (polar) extracts (10 g/100, 20 g/100 and 20 g/100 ml extraction levels) and leaf powder of Calpurnia aurea were tested as protectant against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais on filter paper and in maize grains under laboratory condition. The extracts and powder were applied at rate of 2 and 3 ml on filter paper and at a rate...
April 2018
International Journal of Livestock Production
Review on milk and milk product safety, quality assurance and control
Food safety and quality are critical issues that should be given more attention all over the world mainly from nutritional quality and human health point of view. Food safety is a scientific field of study which deals with handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent food borne illness. Food safety system is often categorized into two, namely traditional and science-based systems. Food can be used as...
April 2018
International Journal of Livestock Production
Digestibility and growth performance of Dorper×Afar F1 sheep fed Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay supplemented with alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Lablab (Lablab purpures), Leucaena leucocephala and concentrate mixture
A study was conducted to determine effect of supplementation with isonitrogenous level of concentrate mixture (CM; 33% noug seed cake (NSC) and 67% wheat bran (WB)), alfalfa, lablab, and Leucaena leucocephala (LL) on feed intake, digestibility, daily body weight gain (ADG) and net return of sheep kept on Rhodes grass hay (RGH) basal diet. Twenty four yearling male Dorper×Afar F1 crossbred sheep were used in...
April 2018
African Journal of Food Science
Quality of porridge from sub-Saharan Africa evaluated using instrumental techniques and descriptive sensory lexicon - Part 1: Thick (stiff) porridge
The sensory attributes of thick porridges made from different composite flours in neutral, citric acid or sodium bicarbonate media was identified using instrumental methods and modified quantitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that composite flours with high cassava concentrations had lower pasting temperatures but higher peak, breakdown, final and setback viscosities than the cereal-rich flours. The onset...
Page 7 of 1126, showing 50 records out of 56251 total, starting on record 301, ending on 350
