Performance of hydrocarbon refrigerants in a refrigerator with liquid line magnet and CNT nano-lubricant.

The issues of flammability associated with A3-class hydrocarbon-based refrigerants are controllable by limiting their mass charges. However, these reductions in their mass charge below certain limits deteriorate their performance efficiency. In this experimental study, we analyzed the effects of a liquid line magnetic field (Mag), multi-wall carbon nanotube (CNT) nano-lubricant, and the combination of both (Mag-Nano) on the performance of a very low mass charge (i.

Performance of a domestic refrigerator in varying ambient temperatures, concentrations of TiO nanolubricants and R600a refrigerant charges.

This study investigates the effect of varying test conditions including ambient temperature (19, 22, and 25 °C), mass charges of R600a refrigerant (40, 50, 60, and 70 g), and concentrations of TiO nanolubricant (0, 0.2 and 0.4 g/L) on the performance of a slightly modified 100g R134a domestic refrigeration system.

Biodiesel production from palm olein: A sustainable bioresource for Nigeria.

Dangerous environmental consequences and market unpredictability of fossil fuels have necessitated the need for sustainable large-scale production of biofuel in Nigeria. Unrefined palm oil (UPO) is a significant product of commercially available oil palm plants in the country. This study experimentally investigates the production of biodiesel from refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palm olein extracted from UPO obtained from batch reactors.

Dietary habits and metabolic risk factors for non-communicable diseases in a university undergraduate population.

Background: Unhealthy dietary patterns are associated with metabolic changes and increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), but these associations have not been investigated in representative populations of university undergraduates in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs).

Methods: This study was conducted in the three universities in Lagos State, Nigeria to assess the dietary pattern and metabolic risk factors of NCDs among university undergraduate population. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 506 undergraduates from the universities.

Vitamin A status of pregnant Nigerian women: relationship to dietary habits and morbidity.

Vitamin A status of pregnant Nigerian women has been determined by measurement of retinol concentration in plasma samples obtained from pregnant subjects, using a spectrophotometric method. The relationship between vitamin A status, dietary habits and morbidity pattern was also examined. Two hundred (200) consecutive pregnant women registered for antenatal clinic at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex within a period of eight (8) weeks were recruited as subjects.

Use of biomarkers of sub-clinical infection, nutrition and neonatal maturity to interpret plasma retinol in Nigerian neonates.

Using the World Health Organization criterion, the prevalence of sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency can be assessed using plasma retinol concentrations <0.7 micromol/l. However, plasma retinol can be depressed by infection; thus, the use of this criterion alone may overestimate deficiency.

Lack of influence of red palm oil on severity of malaria infection in pre-school Nigerian children.

Vitamin A supplements are reported to reduce febrile episodes of malaria and parasite counts, especially in children aged 12-36 months. Red palm oil (RPO) is a good source of vitamin A, is rich in alpha- and beta-carotene and is as effective as high-dose retinyl palmitate supplements in improving vitamin A status. In western Nigeria, where malaria is endemic, RPO is widely used and consumption can be measured using plasma alpha-carotene as a proxy biomarker since there are few other prominent sources of this carotene in the diet.

Serum zinc and copper concentrations in Nigerian women with normal pregnancy.

The impact of normal pregnancy on serum zinc and copper concentrations and on copper/zinc ratio has been determined in a cross-sectional study of eighty-four healthy pregnant Nigerian women. Fifty-seven healthy non-pregnant women served as controls. Serum zinc and copper levels were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Anaemia in Nigerian mothers and their children: relative importance of infections and iron deficiency.

The study assessed the relative contribution of infections and iron deficiency to anaemia in Nigerian mothers and their children. Sixty-one mother-child pairs were recruited. The mean ages of mothers and children were 31.

Dietary and lifestyle patterns in the aetiology of cataracts in Nigerian patients.

The objective of the study was to assess the dietary and lifestyle habits of patients with cataracts. A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect information on the consumption of a wide variety of food items especially fruits, vegetables and animal and dairy products. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on smoking and alcohol consumption habits.

Glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) and superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) activities in riboflavin-deficient rats infected with Plasmodium berghei malaria.

Riboflavin deficiency interferes with the growth and multiplication of malaria parasites as well as the host response to malaria. The objective of the present work was to determine the effects of riboflavin deficiency on erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.

Comparative effects of malaria and malnutrition on plasma concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients in children.

The comparative effects of malaria and malnutrition on plasma antioxidant vitamins were studied in 65 children aged 8-96 months. Forty-six (71%) of them had malaria; nineteen (29%) served as controls. Patients and controls were further subdivided into two groups depending on whether they were malnourished or well nourished, as defined by weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) +/- -2.

Interrelationship in nutrient intake of Nigerian mothers and their children: nutritional and health implications.

This study examined the interrelationships in the nutrient intake of mothers and their children. One hundred and eight mother-child pairs participated in the study. The children were aged 36-59 months (mean age 44 months) while the mean age of the mother was 31.

Prevalence of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency in Nigerian preschool children subsisting on high intakes of carotenes.

The prevalence of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency was determined in 204 preschool children of both sexes aged 3-57 months. The children were recruited from 2 rural communities of Atakumosa Local Government Area of Osun State in South West Nigeria. Dietary vitamin A intake was estimated from frequency of consumption of locally available vitamin A containing food items.

Plasma ferritin concentration in relation to vitamin A and E status of children with severe oedematous malnutrition.

The association between plasma ferritin concentration and vitamin A and E status was studied in 17 children aged 15-72 months with severe oedematous malnutrition. The controls were 10 children of similar age who were apparently well and with no obvious signs of clinical malnutrition. Plasma ferritin concentration in the patients was significantly higher than that in the control children.

Plasma ferritin concentrations in anemic children: relative importance of malaria, riboflavin deficiency, and other infections.

Anemia (hemoglobin less than 110 g/L) was documented in 36 children of both sexes aged 1-12 y who were divided into two groups: malaria and other infections. The control subjects were 10 children of similar age with no anemia and without any apparent infections. Plasma ferritin concentrations (median, range) were higher in the anemic patients (203 micrograms/L, 21-5000 micrograms/L) than in control children (52 micrograms/L, 25-239 micrograms/L) although ferritin concentrations in those with malaria were still within the normal range (99 micrograms/L, 21-205 micrograms/L).

Reduced antioxidant capacity in paediatric patients with homozygous sickle cell disease.

The sickled erythrocyte has been shown to be susceptible to lipid peroxidation and a role has been suggested for antioxidants in this process. The present study was undertaken in 22 children, aged 5-18 years with homozygous sickle cell disease (SS) and 9 HbAA controls (AA) of similar age. All the SS patients were in steady state ie, not in crisis or any acute illness at the time of the study.

Dependence of pyridoxine metabolism on riboflavin status in sickle cell patients.

The relationship between riboflavin and pyridoxine status was studied in 40 patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and 12 normal children by measuring activation coefficients of erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGRAC) and aspartate transaminase (ASTAC). Prevalence of riboflavin deficiency was significantly lower in SCD (42.5%) than in control subjects (83%) and there was less pyridoxine deficiency in SCD (10.

Effects of combined riboflavin and iron deficiency on the hematological status and tissue iron concentrations of the rat.

Interactions of riboflavin and iron deficiencies on utilization and storage of iron in the rat were investigated. Rats were fed diets deficient in iron (ID), riboflavin (RD) or iron and riboflavin (DD) for a period of 7 wk, at which time they were either killed and measurements of hematological indices and tissue iron concentration done or a further group of DD rats was supplemented with either iron, riboflavin or both nutrients for 2 wk. Growth was impaired in all deficient groups but the impairment was greatest in the DD rats.

The influence of riboflavin deficiency on absorption and liver storage of iron in the growing rat.

1. Iron absorption was measured in weanling riboflavin-deficient (RD) rats or weight-matched (WM) controls fed on appropriate diets for 7 weeks. Concentrations of radio-Fe (59Fe) in plasma were monitored every 30 min for 4 h following intragastric administration.