ambient temperature

The effects of storage of Ogbona seed flour (Irivingia gabonensis and Irivingia excelsa), at ambient condition (30±20C, 65-74% RH) for 0-4 months on some physical characteristics were investigated. The samples were subjected to storage in air tight polyethylene bags for up to four months. Samples were removed at intervals of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months for analysis. The chemical: proximate constituents, free-fatty acids and peroxide values; selected functional properties: water/oil absorption capacity, foam capacity and viscosity and sensory attributes of the samples were investigated. The result shows that there was no observable change in the chemical composition, selected functional and sensory properties of the two varieties of Ogbona seed flours when stored up to two months but decreased from third to fourth month during storage at ambient temperature. Therefore, storage at ambient temperature (30±20C, 65-74% RH) could extend the shelf life of the samples for up to two months in air-tight polyethylene bags of 0.7mm thickness without losing its quality characteristics.

The nutritional compositions of sorghum stem sheath-Spondias mombin extract were evaluated. The enriched stem sheath extract were obtained by mixing sorghum stem sheath and Spondias mombin (iyeye) extract in varied proportions at 100:0; 0:100; 95:5; 90:10 and 85:15. The five samples were subjected to analysis: proximate, mineral, vitamin C, antinutrient composition. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed that observable increases were noticed in proximate, vitamin C and mineral composition from 5% inclusion of Spondias mombin extract in sorghum stem sheath drinks. The anti-nutrient compositions: tannin, oxalate and saponin, ranged from (0.144 to 0.442, 0.303 to 0.385, 0.070 to 0.198) mg/100 ml, respectively for sorghum stem sheath- Spondias mombin extract which were within consumable safe limits. The study concluded that nutritious enriched drinks could be produced from sorghum stem sheath and Spondias mombin extract at ambient temperature.

Taphonomic study was first time conducted in Kuala Lumpur, capital city of Malaysia. In this research model, male Oryctolagus cunicullus weighed 1.8-2.6 kg each were killed by Dolethal intravenously at the ear region. In Phase 1 study, eight subjects were wrapped in a sack and cemented within a container to be compared with the other four controls at each location labelled A (ground) and B (manmade freshwater pond). Phase 2 involved duplicating set of 15 cemented samples comparable to 1 control made up to total of 32 subjects which were all put into a compact polytank containing freshwater to simulate a case study. Taphonomic changes were observed and scored using TBS system incorporating of fresh stage, early decomposition stage, advanced decomposition stage and skeletonisation stage. The ambient temperature of surroundings with 28.81C±4.21°C and 29.21°C±4.57°C (mean±S.D.) while relative humidity of air with 74.49 %±14.61% and 79.15%±16.32% (mean±S.D.) were recorded for Phase 1 and Phase 2 study respectively. Time taken for ground control exposed and wrapped carcasses to reach first sign of skeletonised stage were four days and five days respectively. Whilst freshwater controls reached initial skeletonised stage within one week for exposed carcass and two weeks for wrapped carcass. Within the control and cemented sample carcasses, TBS scores increased from initial stages of decomposition and become plateau after advanced decomposition. The cementing factor have superseded the wrapping factor due to its stronger physical barrier effect to slow down the decomposition more than half compared to controls based on Multiple way ANOVA test. Phase 2 study has demonstrated more accurately on the decomposition rate of the cemented samples. It showed that wrapping and cementing factors have delayed the decomposition process of the rabbit carcasses about 4 times to reach the initial stage of skeletonisation compared to the control carcasses. There was absence of insect activity within the cemented samples, hence the microorganism activity would be the only contributor to the decaying process within the cemented samples at slower rate comparing to the exposed or wrapped controls.

The post-harvest health and microbial safety of plant products and foods continue to be a global concern to farmers, consumers, regulatory agencies and food industries. A study was carried out to evaluate the pathogenicity of fungi associated with post-harvest rot of oranges, watermelons and bananas in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Healthy fruits inoculated with fungal spores obtained from rotted fruit tissues were incubated at ambient temperature conditions and observed daily for the appearance and development of tissue rot. Oranges and Watermelons had the highest number of fungal isolates (3) compared to banana (2). Fungi belonging to the genus Curvularia were the most isolated (37.50%), followed by both Aspergillus and Colletotrichum (25.00% respectively) and lastly Alternaria (12.50%). The highest tissue rot diameter of sweet orange (2.40 cm) was induced by Alternaria sp. followed by Curvularia geniculate (1.40 cm) and lastly Colletotrichum sp. (1.28 cm). The highest rot of banana fruit tissues was produced by A. niger (3.90 cm), followed by Curvularia geniculate (3.40 cm). Aspergillus sp. produced the highest tissue rot diameter on watermelon fruits (1.93 cm), followed by Colletotrichum sp. (1.30 cm) and lastly Curvularia geniculate (1.20 cm). Differences in the susceptibilities of different fruits to rot by fungal pathogens were significant (p ≤ 0.05). There is need for improved handling of fruits after harvest to prevent losses due to bacterial and fungal rots in the study area.

This paper presents the results of experiments to investigate the influence of thermal characteristics of the environment on the thermal modes of transparent boxes. To conduct experiments on the non-stationary thermal model of solar greenhouses developed by us, two identical transparent boxes with dimensions of 0.80 x 0.65 x 0.80 m were constructed. The transparent boxes have rectangular shapes. One transparent box has glass walls and the other with polyethylene walls. The influence of the thermal characteristics of the environment and the thermal conditions inside the transparent boxes with film and glass transparent walls are investigated. The experimental results show that at a maximum ambient air temperature of 42 °C on 27.06.2024 at 13:48 hours, the air temperature increases to 10% and 23% in transparent boxes with polyethylene and with glass walls, respectively, and at 05:10 hours, the humidity decreases to 8% and 11%, respectively. Thus, the influence of the thermal characteristics of the environment on the thermal conditions of transparent boxes with glass walls, at the maximum ambient temperature, is greater by 1.2 times than in transparent boxes with polyethylene walls, and humidity decreases by half.