Search results

The study aimed to focus on the effect of the processing parameters on the physicochemical properties of oil from roselle seed.

Fine and coarse samples of the ground roselle seeds were conditioned to the moisture contents of 4.4‐10.4 per cent and 5.14‐11.14 per cent. Oil was expressed at applied pressures of 15‐37.5 MPa with 7.5 MPa interval using hydraulic oil extractor for between 10‐40 min. at increment of 10 min. and at the heating temperatures of 80, 90, 100 and 110°C over a period of 15‐30 min. at an increment of 5 min. All the physicochemical properties were determined using AOAC and AOCS methods [AOAC, 1984; AOCS, 1994].

The free fatty acid, peroxide values and the colour intensity of the oil were affected by the processing parameters; while saponification value, viscosity, specific gravity, refractive index and the iodine value of the oil were not affected by the expression parameters.

Processing parameters were found to affect the quality attributes of free fatty acid, peroxide values and the colour intensity of the oil.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the physicochemical properties of oil produced from Roselle seeds.

The oil was produced from the seeds by mechanical expression and the physicochemical properties of the oil determined using the AOAC methods.

The values of the physicochemical properties of oil from Roselle seed are saponification value 126.2, iodine value 111.2, viscosity 22.5 cp, refractive index 1.4472 and specific gravity 0.9558. The peroxide value varied between 6.0‐9.3 and 5.9‐9.0; and free fatty acid, 0.435‐2.300 and 0.510‐3.311 for fine and coarse samples, respectively. These values compared favourably with standard values, indicating that the oil extracted is edible.

The properties are useful in determining the suitability of the oil from the Roselle seeds as edible oil or for other industrial purposes.

The purpose of this paper is to predict academic outcome in math and math-related subjects using learning approaches and demographic factors.

ASSIST was used as the instrumentation to measure learning approaches. The study was conducted in the International University of Vietnam with 616 participants. An exploratory factor analysis, reliability, and correlation tests were performed before multiple regression analyses were carried out using SPSS 20.0. t-Tests to further discover relationships between learning approaches and demographic factors were also conducted.

Females are more inclined to strategic approach, but not deep or surface by comparison with males. There is no relationship between parental education and learning approaches. Students with math preference in high school have tendency to use deep and strategic approach, but stay away from surface in higher education. Surface approach and admission mark have relationships with academic outcome; but gender, parental education, and math preference in high school do not have.

This model can explain only 15.5 percent of the variation of academic outcome. In addition, it may not be applicable to predict academic outcomes of subjects which are not math related.

Surface approach has negative impact on academic outcome in math or math-related subjects, but the opposite is true for admission mark. Additionally, deep and strategic approach have no relationship with academic outcome.

This study was designed to assess the risk factors associated with hypertension (HTN) and diabetes among artisans in Ogun State, Nigeria. Evidences suggest increasing prevalence, incidences and morbidity of diabetes and HTN in Nigeria. However, the purpose of this study is to plan and prioritize effective intervention programs, there is need to provide data on the prevalence and risk factors for HTN and diabetes among local groups.

In total 300 apparently healthy artisans who have never been diagnosed of diabetes or HTN were randomly selected from five communities. A structured questionnaire was used in obtaining information on the personal characteristics of the respondents. An adapted dietary habit and lifestyle questionnaire were used to assess the dietary habits and lifestyle of the respondents. The WHO global activity questionnaire was adapted and used to gather information on the physical activity level of the respondents. Random blood glucose, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were assessed using standard instruments. Chi-square (χ²), correlations and multinomial logistic regression analysis were performed to identify significant determinants of diabetes and HTN.

Mean age was 34.8 ± 9.9 and prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes were 1 and 4.7 per cent, respectively, while HTN and pre-HTN were 48.0 and 30.3 per cent, respectively. About half (55.7 per cent) of the respondents skip at least a meal daily and 31 per cent snack daily. Most (61.4 per cent) consume alcohol and 65.7 per cent engage in high physical activity. Abdominal obesity was significantly higher among women (p = 0.004). Using the chi-square analysis, age, abdominal obesity and educational status were factors found to be significantly associated with diabetes (p = 0.002; p = 0.007; p = 0.004) while age, gender, abdominal obesity and alcohol consumption had significant association with HTN. Although not statistically significant, respondents were 0.8, 1.0 and 1.1 times more likely to be diabetic with increasing body mass index, waist circumference (WC) and age (odd ratio (OR) = 0.78; confidence intervals (CI): 0.51-1.18; OR = 1.04; CI: 0.89-1.21; OR = 1.06; CI: 0.96-1.18, respectively). Abdominal obesity was significantly associated with HTN (OR = 1.08; CI: 1.03-1.13; p = 0.001). Also, older respondents were 1.1 times more likely of becoming hypertensive (OR = 1.07; CI: 1.02-1.11; p = 0.003). Increased risk of diabetes and HTN was found among respondents with increasing age and WC.

This study was cross-sectional in design; it cannot be used to establish a cause-effect relationship between diabetes, HTN and the observed variables (anthropometric characteristics, dietary habits and lifestyle risk factors). Because of the few numbers (1 per cent) of respondents identified to be diabetic several important risk factors could not be included in the model.

An understanding of the risk factors associated with diabetes and HTN among sub-groups in the population will help to plan effective interventions targeted at specific groups.

The findings of this study show the associated risk factors for diabetes and HTN among artisans in Ogun State.