In this study, the functional properties of flour produced from wheat flour and blended with unfermented and fermented sweet potato flour in the following ratios (WF:USPF:FSPF:100:0:0,0:100:0,- 0:0:100,90:10:0,90:0:10) were evaluated. The result obtained showed that fermentation improved the foaming capacity, (2.00% to 8.00%), emulsion capacity (23.66% to 25.72%) and least gelation (6.00% to 10.00%).100% USPF with the highest bulk density of 2.50g/cm3 and the highest oil absorption capacity of 220.00% while 90% WF:10% FSPF with the highest water absorption capacity of 200.00% had the highest swelling capacity of 0.80. The results show that blending wheat flour with fermented sweet potato flour improves the functional properties.

The elderly population in recent decades, especially in Africa and other developing countries, appears to be increasing. Physiological changes associated with aging may contribute to the aged having a lower energy intake. Other socio-cultural or economic factors may likely play a role as well. This study set out to assess the specific factors influencing the nutritional status of the aged living in an urban slum in Jos, Plateau state. This cross-sectional, community based, descriptive study was carried out on 220 apparently healthy elderly persons who were sampled using a two-staged sampling technique. Data was collected from them using interviewer administered questionnaires and analysed using Epi info version 3.4.5. Chi-square was used for test of relationships and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Most of the respondents (80.4%) had poor nutritional knowledge and majority of them (64.5%) were not aware of any special nutritional needs of the aged. About 60% of the studied elderly had normal BMI while 25.9% were overweight. The aged females were more likely to be obese than their male counterparts (p=0.0032). There was however no statistically significant relationship between nutritional status of respondents and their age group (p=0.3784), graded nutritional knowledge (0.9968) and employment status (p=0.9883). Most of the elderly in the study area (Tudun Wada) have poor nutritional knowledge and practises, and as many as a quarter of them were overweight/obese. The study recommends that health programmes aimed at improving the diet of the elderly must take a multi-pronged approach.

The advent of ceramic ethnoarchaeology into Zimbabwean ceramic studies dates back as far as the late 20th century. Despite this it has witnessed a gradual appreciation into the mainstream ceramic studies especially towards addressing archaeological problems and developing prehistoric models. Following this, considerable aspects have been put under study even though mostly fragmented. Among these include vessel production, vessel consumption, disposal patterns, symbolism and social boundaries. In light of this, this paper provides an overview of these researches and their contribution towards development of Zimbabwean archaeology. It is also the motivation of this paper to advance the notion that it is high time Iron Age archaeologists should swallow their ‘pride’ and embrace this emic approach towards meaningful ceramic studies that strive to recreate the humanistic side of the story that has lacked in most of their researches (Beach 1980; Pikirayi 2007).

Two field experiments were conducted to observe the effects of Biochar, Mokusakueki and Bokashi application on soil nutrients concentrations, yields and qualities of sweet potato. Results showed that the effect of different fertilizers on soil pH and EC, potassium, magnesium and NO --N concentrations was significant and Biochar gave highest soil pH and EC, potassium, magnesium and NO --N concentrations in FS Center, but this effect of Biochar was not found in Mito farmland. Biochar and Mokusakueki treatments produced higher yields than conventional treatment in Mito farmland. Biochar showed significantly positive effect on higher number of tubercles, and Mokusakueki showed significantly positive effect on higher weight. Biochar and Mokusakueki gave positive effect on higher sugar content of sweet potato, furthermore, Biochar and Mokusakueki had positive effect on good apparent quality and higher marketability of sweet potato. The results of this study revealed that Biochar and Mokusakueki could increase yield, sugar content and appearance quality of sweet potato, which was conducive to bringing more economic profits for farmers, and improving food safety through using organic fertilizers, and finally promoting sustainable crop production.

Microalbuminuria, a subtle increase in the urinary excretion of albumin that cannot be detected by the conventional urinalysis method, is an early marker of cardiovascular complications and increased cardiovascular risk in hypertension. The prevalence of microalbuminuria (MAU) is prone to modification by factors such as age, race, and severity of the disease process and presence of co-morbid factors. In view of this, a range of rates abound from various studies. In addition the methodologies of evaluation of MAU also contribute to the observed differences in prevalence reported in literature. Due to the challenges of 24-hour urine estimation, albumin excretion rate (AER) methods using spot urine has gained wide clinical acceptance. In our environment however, AER methods are not in widespread routine use and patients are still assessed by conventional dipsticks for urinalysis with the consequence outcome of not identifying patients with MAU. In this study, we evaluated sixty-four newly diagnosed hypertensives for MAU using a semi-quantitative urine test strip based on the immunoassay principle (ChemstripMicralTM-Roche). The prevalence of MAU was 47% in our study and these subjects had all been evaluated with the conventional urine dipsticks. Of our study subjects, only a third was on reno-protective medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. These findings indicate the need for the introduction of screening for MAU using these types of strips in lieu of the current conventional urinalysis in the assessment of hypertensives. This can be used for stratification of the patients to allow for subsequent AER evaluation in those detected as having MAU by this screening tool. This is important as it will guide treatment choices for the patients, especially given the challenges of cost in our resource-poor environment.

Nigeria. 2Department of Biology, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The status of artisanal fishery in the waterside of Ondo State, Nigeria was studied between 2009 and 2010. The major objective of the study was to update knowledge on the socio-economic indices, fishing gears and prime catches of the fisher folks in five fishing communities in the area. Data related to socio-economic indices of the fisher-folks were obtained through structured questionnaire and in-depth guided interviews, and were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Photographs of the gears in use were taken by digital camera (Aqua sprite water camera model DC 1131 8Mega pixel) and both the gears and their catches were subsequently identified and classified. The data obtained revealed that fishing was mostly the profession of the young persons and that the educational level of fisher folks was high in the area. Findings also showed that 66% of the fisher folks in the area were professional fisher folks while 34% were classified as hobby group fishers, and that the average annual household income of fisher folk households was higher than the income of most government/public employees holding equivalent qualifications in the neighbouring area. The gears used by the fisher folks across the study locations consisted mostly of cast net (66%), gill net (14%), hooks and line (08%), fyke net (06%), conical/cone traps (04%) and seine net (02%). The gear-catch compositions were cast net (tilapias and bonga), hook and line ( Sardinella eba), gill net (Clarias gariepinus, Heterotis niloticus, Polydactylus quadrifilis and Psuedotolithus typus) and seine net (flat fish and tilapia species). The fishery of the area could support the strides towards employment generation, poverty alleviation and supply of animal protein to the teeming Nigerian population.