This study attempted the processing and inclusion of insects into a local staple food to endear them to the population. Mature desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) and migratory grasshoppers (Acanthacris ruficornis) reared at Egerton University were dried and ground into powder then used to develop composite flours with malted finger millet flour. Proximate analysis and protein digestibility tests of the composite flours were done and their microbial loads (total viable counts, TVC; coliforms; Lactic acid bacteria, LAB; Yeasts and molds) were evaluated. The addition of locust and grasshopper flour increased the protein and fat contents of finger millet flour from 9.20 to between 13.60 and 27.30% and from 1.40 to 3.30–11.40%, respectively. Protein digestibility of the finger millet was improved by malting (from 71.50 to 91.50%) while that of the insect flours was high (approximately 90.00%). The microbial loads in individual products and in composite flours ranged between 106–108 cfu/g for TVC, 105–108 cfu/g for coliforms, 104–107 cfu/g for LAB, and 1.7–2.5 × 107 for yeasts and molds. Our study indicates that locusts and grasshoppers could be incorporated into existing staple foods to generate highly nutritious products that could be recommended to fight malnutrition.

Enugu, Nigeria This study set out to assess the extent of soybean products acceptability and consumption in Orumba South Local Government Area. Random sampling was used to collect data from 180 respondents using descriptive tools, such as mean, frequencies and percentages and likert scaling. Research questions were formulated and utilized. In addition related literatures were reviewed in relation to the knowledge base of the people about the processing and utilization of soybean products. Data collected were analyzed and the result show that soybean products have been accepted and consumed by a great number of people for the fact that its nutritive value have been made known to them. Many people have been educated on the processing and using of soybean products in different ways through interactions with fellow human beings and mass media like television. Available soybean products were found to include soybean powdered milk, soybean liquid milk and soybean flour. Some soybean products such as soybean oil, soybean cake and soybean meal were not available. It was recommended that food specialist extension workers should be sent to rural areas in order to educate the rural people on the methods of processing those soybean products that are not available in the area. Secondly, government should provide the rural people with facilities needed for the processing of these products such as grinding mills and expellers at subsidized rates as well ad and develop markets for soybean products to enable the people take advantage in the commercialization of these processed products to promote rural development.

Female gender is an independent risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (MES) (a cluster of features indicating metabolic disorders), that is associated with oxidative stress, insulin resistance and a significant reduction in nitric oxide (NO), a major metabolite of L-arginine (ARG). This study aimed to ascertain the effect of ARG on selected markers of MES related to glucose metabolism, oxidative stress and nitric oxide synthesis, in female Wistar albino rats. Two groups of rats were given 3 ml/kg body weight (bw) of distilled water, DW and 60 mg/kg bw of ARG, respectively as control and treated groups. Exposing ARG to female rats evoked a significant reduction (p<0.01) in fasting blood glucose (20.13±2.35 mg/ 100 ml), malondialdehyde (MDA) (6.42±0.29 mg/ 100 ml) and uric acid (7.96±0.23 mg/ 100 ml) concentrations but a significant increase (p<0.01) in calcium ion (Ca 2+) (77.04±1.19 mmol/l) concentration in the rats' serum. MDA, uric acid and fasting blood glucose concentrations correlated positively (ρ = 0.01), but negatively (ρ = 0.01) with Ca 2+ concentration, indicating association of enhanced antioxidant activity and glucose metabolism with elevated nitric oxide synthesis. Thus, ARG elicited hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activity in the female rats probably via enhanced nitric oxide synthesis.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2Vegetative Research Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center Giza, Egypt. Two field experiments were conducted on Sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas, L.) cv. Beaure Card at the Horticulture Research Farm of EI-Bramoon, EI-Dakahlia Governorate, during the two successive summer seasons of 2009 and 2010 to evaluate the effects of different rates of phosphorus (15, 30 and 45 kg P 2O5/fed) either single and/or in combination with application methods of humic acid (control, foliar spray, transplant treatment and soil application) on plant growth, yield and its components, as well as chemical constituents and storability of tuber roots. In general, results showed that the increasing of applied phosphorus rate from 15 kg P205 up to 45 kg P205/fed significantly increased main stem length, canopy dry weight plant leaf area, total chlorophyll and carotenoids as well as total and marketable yield, dry matter percentage of tuber root and tuber root weight and diameter, Moreover, Application phosphorus at 45 kg P 2O5/fed significantly increased N, P, K, carbohydrate and total sugars in tuber roots. This P-rate had the most interesting observation was the enhancing of storability and reduced decay percentage. On the other hand, application methods of humic acid had a significant effect on all studied characters in both seasons. Soil application method of humic acid had a significant increases in plant growth characters, photosynthetic pigments, total and marketable yield and tuber root quality. Besides, this application method significantly increased chemical composition of tuber roots and reduced the weight loss and decay percentages. The combined treatments of P- rates and application method of humic acid were generally more effective on the most studied parameters than with single ones. The best results were obtained by application 30 kg P 2O5/fed with soil application method of humic acid. This treatment achieved increases in vegetative growth characters, total and marketable yield, average of tuber root weight and diameter as well as concentrations of N, P, K, carbohydrate and total sugars in tuber roots. In addition, this combine J treatment enhanced the tuberous roots storability and reduced decay% comparing with the other ones. Therefore, this treatment could be recommended for raising sweet potato yield and improving tuberous roots quality as well as reduced the need for chemical P-fertilizer by about 33.3%, thereby reducing costs and environment pollution under similar conditions to this work.

Birnin Kebbi is in the North West geoploitical zone of Nigeria. The major occupation of the people in this region is farming, which depends on rainfall and other factors. This article presents statistical and trend analyses of the rainfall in Birnin Kebbi. Rainfall data in the region for a period of 1915- 2007 were collected from archives. The existence of trend and statistical analyses were conducted on yearly total rainfalls using non-parametric techniques. The study revealed that overall averages of yearly and monthly total rainfall were 787.53±24.03 mm and 112.21 ±25.31 mm respectively. Yearly total rainfall has Mann-Whitney of 112, 40 and 50 between 1915 and 1946; 1947 and 1977 and between 1978 and 2007. These parameters show that there are significant trends in the rainfall in term of yearly total for the period. Sen's estimator revealed that there are significant upward trends for yearly total (1.03mm/year), (10.33 mm/year) and (-9.04 mm/year) within a period of 1915- 1946; 1947 - 1977 and 1978 - 2007. There is a significant downward trend for yearly total of 9.04mm/year within a period of 1978 - 2007. It was concluded that there is a significant downward trend in the yearly total and mean rainfalls at Birnin Kebbi in the last three decades (30years), which can be attributed to climate change.

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