The Nutritional Value and Application of Black Rice-A Review

Black rice is the main member of the special rice family, and it is also a rare grain and oil crop resource in China. Black rice has special medicinal components and high nutritional value. In recent years, the research on the nutritional value and application of black rice has become an important direction, and a series of important progress has been made. In this paper, the nutrition and its influencing factors of black rice, the main ways to improve eating quality, the health care and medical functions of black rice were reviewed. Meanwhile, the application prospect of black rice has also been prospected. Therefore, this review will provide an important theoretical basis for genetic improvement and breeding of new varieties of black rice.

Effects of Antibiotics on Haemostatic Parameters during Pregnancy

An estimated 50,000 Nigerian women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, accounting for 10% of global estimates of pregnancy maternal death with about 2% resulting from drug induction. This cross-sectional study sets out to evaluate the Prothrombin time test (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time test (aPTT) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and Platelet count (PC) of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Oredo Health Centre in Benin City, Edo State. A total number of 130 subjects comprising 100 pregnant women and 30 non-pregnant women were recruited for the study. Prothrombin time (PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Platelet count and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) were studied using standard manual methods. The prothrombin time (sec) of the pregnant women 1st trimester (19.12±0.77b), 2nd trimester (19.90±1.02 b) and 3rd trimester (19.66±0.56 b), activated partial thromboplastin time (sec) 1st trimester (44.02±1.17 b), 2nd trimester (47.72±1.47 b) and 3rd trimester (45.88±1.10b), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/hr) 1st trimester (24.37±3.04 a), 2nd trimester (37.83±4.53 a) and 3rd trimester (43.25±5.24 a) and platelet count (X109/L) 1st trimester (248.29±23.18a), 2nd trimester (236.33±13.84 b) and 3rd trimester (239.10±16.07 a) were significantly higher than the prothrombin time (sec) 16.48±0.81 a, activated partial thromboplastin time (sec) 36.53±1.42 a, ESR (mm/hr) 29.83±4.14 a and platelet count (X109/L) 201±9.54 an of the non-pregnant women (p<0.05). The ESR (mm/hr) of the 3rd trimester (43.25±5.24) was observed to be significantly higher than that of the 1st trimester (24.37±3.04) and 2nd trimester (37.83±4.53) (p<0.05). Our investigation showed that antibiotics in pregnancy have a deleterious effect on PT, ESR, APTT and PC studied. We recommend that pregnant women should be given due attention throughout the course and events of pregnancy to prevent or reduce the risk of thrombotic episodes and possible disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with resultant better maternity/child safety and health outcome and educated on the effects of antibiotics to pregnancy.

A Seminar Paper on the Review of Five well-known Medicinal Plants Used in Ethiopia

The indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants appeared when humans started and learned how to use the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. The various literature available shows the significant role of medicinal plants in primary health care delivery in Ethiopia (about 70% of humans and 90% of livestock population) depend on traditional plant medicine. This is similar to many developing countries, particularly with those countries in Sub-saharan Africa. Medicinal plants provide a vital contribution to human and livestock health care. This seminar review was an attempt to present five medicinal plants (citrus lemon, caricapapaya, Moringa stenopetala, Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale).

The Distribution of Mineral Elements and Protein in Soft Rice was Determined and Analyzed by SEM-EDS Technology

Soft rice is a kind of high-quality rice between glutinous rice and sticky rice. It has low amylose content, crystal clear grains, sweet taste, soft glutinous, and is suitable for cooking and porridge. Chalkiness in soft rice is a white opaque part formed by loose endosperm. It is an important character that affects the appearance quality, processing, and cooking quality of rice, and also an important limiting factor that restricts the standard rate of high-quality rice in China. The combination of scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) can be used for in-depth analysis of rice, visualization, and quantitative analysis of element distribution in rice. The results showed that there were many kinds of mineral elements in soft rice seeds, among which C and O were the most abundant, followed by N and P, and Mg, Al, P, S, K, Ca, Mn, and Zn were less. The contents of C, N, P, and S in the non-chalky area were significantly higher than those in the chalky area. Especially N and S were the best indicators of protein, and the contents in the chalky area were higher than those in the non-chalky area. It means that the protein content in the chalky part of soft rice seed is less than that in the non-chalky part, which affects the nutritional quality of soft rice. Therefore, the results of this study laid a solid foundation for the in-depth analysis of the distribution of mineral elements and protein in soft rice and their effects on the quality of soft rice, which also provided important information for the cultivation of new high-quality rice varieties in the future.

Public Health Implications of Some Heavy Metals Contained in Palm Wines of Wilberforce Island Area, Nigeria

This study evaluated the heavy metals hazard of palm wine from Raphia species sold in Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State Nigeria. Triplicate samples were obtained from six locations in Wilberforce Island and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The health risk associated with heavy metal contaminants was calculated following standard protocol. Results of heavy metals in palm wine were in the range of 0.157–0.319mg/L, 0.554–0.983mg/L, 0.000– 0.2289mg/L, and 0.123–0.5299mg/L for zinc, iron, cobalt, and copper respectively. There were significant discrepancies (p < 0.05) in the palm wine samples across various locations for the different parameters. Metals such as cadmium, chromium, nickel, and lead were not detected in palm wine, indicating that toxicity related to them is non-existent. However, zinc, cobalt, and copper were observed at low concentrations, while iron levels exceeded regulatory comparison. This is possibly an indication of iron-rich soils which are prevalent in the area. It may also have resulted from activities releasing this metal within the study area. Average daily intake and hazard quotient and health index (< 1) indicate no adverse acute health effect. To forestall potential health risks associated with heavy metals in palm wine, there is a need to regularly evaluate heavy metal concentrations.

Milestone of World Pandemics: A Review on Remedy for COVID-19 Diseases to Revitalize Human Race from Deadly Corona Virus

Viruses are microscopic organisms that can only grow within living host cells. Various types of animals such as Rats, Bat, Cows, snakes, and related wild animals can serve as vehicles of transmission of this group of organisms. Novel SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the Coronaviridae family that was reported to have emanated from Wuhan, China in December 2019. It alerts world response against strange viral respiratory disease. As the world reflects on pandemics historically. Epidemics like the London plague of 1665 and the Plague that emanates from Marseille, France of 1720 claimed millions of lives. Among the most dreadful world pandemics are the “Antonine Plague” which occurred in 165AD and claimed 5 million lives in Egypt, Asia, Italy, and Greece. “Plague of Justinian” was reported to have occurred between the years 541 and 542. In addition to this, “The Flu Pandemic” is also referred to as Spanish flu ravaged the world during the year 1918 to 1920, which is about a century ago.”3rd Plague of 1855” originated from China and was responsible for the death of 10 million Indians within one year.” The Black Death” which is a 7 years long pandemic devastated the world between the years 1346 to 1353. It leads to the death of half of the global population and was by far the worst pandemic. HIV-AIDS has peak record deaths between 2005-2012. In the year 2019/2020 COVID-19 broke out severely than MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV which occurred in recent years. One possible best approach for the control of COVID-19 diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 is to improve the hosts’ immune system. Evidence shows that inflammatory conditions militate against the immune systems of COVID-19 patients. Some other control strategies will include the use of face masks, physical distancing, hand washing, or use of alcohol-based sanitizers and related personal hygiene are important to contain the diseases.

Infleuence of Vermicompost, Amirthakaraisal and Abda Gold on the Growth of Capsicum annum

Organic farming has emerged as a crucial priority area globally in view of the growing demand for safe and healthy food and future sustainability and concerns on environmental pollution associated with indiscriminate use of agrochemicals. The effect of vermicompost, amirthakaraisal, and AbdAgold separately and in combination on the growth of Capsicum annum was determined by studying the parameters germination percentage, root length, shoot length, wet weight, dry weight, chlorophyll A, B and total chlorophyll content, and protein content. Application of vermicompost, and amirthakaraisal, in the field, enhance the growth parameters in Capsicum annum.

Influencing Factors of Grain Nutritional Quality and its Genetic Improvement Strategy in Rice

Rice is one of the most important food crops in the world, and about half of the world’s population uses it as the main food source. China’s annual rice output accounts for about 34% of the world’s annual rice output, ranking first in the world, thus China is known as the "Rice Kingdom". Rice has high nutritional value, providing the human body with 35% of the total energy intake and about 28% of the required protein. Therefore, the nutritional value of rice is directly related to human nutrition and health. In this paper, the three aspects of rice nutrition and human health, factors affecting rice nutritional quality and genetic improvement of nutritional quality of rice are reviewed. The new challenges of rice nutrition quality were analyzed, and the prospect of improving rice nutritional quality was prospected. The results provide theoretical basis for genetic improvement of rice nutrition quality and cultivation of new high-quality rice varieties in the future.

Sire Effect on Reproductive and Growth Performance of Local and Exotic Sows In Rivers State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine sire effect on reproductive and growth performance of local and exotic sows in Rivers State, Nigeria. The experiment involved three breeds of pigs (Local pigs (LP), Landrace (Lr) and Large White (Lw)). Eighteen breeding pigs consisting three local sires and fifteen gilts (local and exotic) were used to generate seventy two progenies for the experiment. Reproductive performance such as Gestation length (GL), Litter size at birth (LSAB), Litter weight at birth (LWAB), Litter size at weaning (LSAW) and Litter Weight at Weaning (LWAW) were taken from the three different crosses for comparison. Data on quantitative traits such as Body weight (BW), Body length (BL), Heart Girth (HG), Height at wither (HT) and Rear Girth (RG) were taken on seventy two progenies resulting from the three crosses. The results showed significant (P<0.05) difference of sire on GL, LSAB, LWAB, LSAW and LWAW. LP x Lw performed better than LP x Lr in all the reproductive performances considered while, LP x LP recorded the least. The result also revealed that there was significant (P<0.05) effect of sire on the growth performance (i.e body weight and linear body measurements) of the progenies produced from the different three crosses used for the study, where, progenies from LP x Lr recorded highest BW and linear body measurements than progenies from LP x Lw, while, progenies from LP x LP recorded the least at week 0 (birth), 6 (weaning) and 12. The improvement in crossbred could be attributed to dominant genes from the exotic sow.

Impact of Weather Factors on Coelaenomenodera elaiedis MLK (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Nigeria

The leaf miner (Coelaenomenodera elaeidis) is a major pest of the oil palm. It breaks out in epidemic proportions periodically, resulting in severe leaf defoliation and consequently low fresh fruit bunch (FFA) yield. This study analyses temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and leaf miner abundance records sampled in oil palm fields between 1976 and 1980 in the main station of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR). Data for temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity were obtained from NIFOR meteorological station. Mathematical relationships between the insect stages (larva, pupa, and adult) and weather factors (rainfall and temperature) were developed indicating that pest predictions can be made for different leaf miner stages using their corresponding model equations giving specific values for rainfall and temperature. Variations in the seasonal patterns of temperature and rainfall are of major significance as a cue to timing leaf miner abundance and would help in making better decisions regarding where farmer action can target pest control interventions, thereby contributing to ensure food security. The need for continuous monitoring has great potential for detection and control of insect pests in oil palm growing areas.