This study investigated the essential nutritional minerals and physiochemical properties of infant milk formulas available in commercial markets in Kuwait. The aim was to assess the extent to which Kuwaiti infants are receiving daily nutritional requirements to meet the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and Adequate Intakes (AI). Twenty-one infant formulas in four age groups – 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-3 years, and 3-6 years – were obtained from local sources for the study. Measured values of essential elements and certain physiochemical properties were compared with data certified by manufacturers of the products. Data obtained showed no significant differences in moisture content between labeled and measured values for all tested infant formula samples. Measured protein levels were found to be within internationally recommended values. The daily intake of essential elements in the formula brands for 0-6 month olds was above or near RDA and AI values, whereas intake values for formula brands for the age groups 1-3 years and 3-6 years were all less than RDA and AI values. This study found that for the most part, milk formulas sold in commercial markets in Kuwait meet the nutritional requirements for children during their first year of growth. However, adequate measures must be put into place to ensure compliance, particularly beyond the first year of life.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major public health concern worldwide which can lead to a series of disabling complications and diseases. ß-glucans are non-starch polysaccharides that are being used as food additives for their numerous health benefits including the ability to lower the postprandial glucose response. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of substituting ß-glucans on the glycemic response and thermal properties of four commonly consumed starches. Oat ß-glucans were added at concentration levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% (w/w) to each of the four starch types. Composite starches incubated with a-amylase followed by further incubation with amyloglucosidase. Glucose released was measured using the 3, 5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) method. Incremental Area under the Curve (iAUC) was used to represent the estimated glycemic response of the ß-glucan/starch composites. Thermal analysis of the starch composite starches was conducted using a differential scanning calorimeter. An overall reduction in the amount of glucose released after the addition of ß-glucans was observed (p = 0.05). Substituting starches with 20% and 30% ß-glucans resulted in a significant reduction in the glucose release rate and thus improved the estimated glucose response of all starches. A marked increase in the enthalpy of gelatinization, ?H, of all starches was observed. Substitution at 10% ß-glucans caused a significant increase in ?H of blank tapioca starch (p = 0.05). The 20% and 30% ß-glucan samples also had significantly higher ?H than the blank and the 10% ß-glucan samples. The data from this study suggest the potential use of ß-glucan as a suitable food ingredient in diabetic food products.

The purpose of this study was to identify resource management skills in sorghum growing enterprise for training youths for employment in Kwara and Kogi State. The study adopted survey research design. Two research questions .The hypotheses were formulated and tested at the probability of 0.05.The study was carried out in Kwara and Kogi States. The population for the study was 499 made up of 199 teachers of agricultural science, 239 agricultural extension agents and 61 lecturers of agricultural education. The sample for the study was 257 made up of 100 teachers, 96 extension agents and 61 Lecturers. 40% proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to select sample of teachers and extension agents while the entire population of the lecturers was involved in the study. The instrument used for data collection was a 36 resource management skills structured questionnaire which was face-validated by three experts 2 in the Department of Agricultural Education and 1 in the Department of Crop Production University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Cronbach alpha method was used to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire items and a reliability coefficient of 0.87 was obtained. Two hundred and fifty seven copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents with the help of four research assistants. All the copies of the questionnaire were retrieved and analyzed using weighted mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while the hypotheses were tested using t-test statistics at the probability of 0.05.it was found out that all the 36 resource management skills identified in sorghum growing enterprise were required by youths. It was also found out that from the hypothesis tested that there is no significant difference in the responses of the three groups of the respondents on the 36 resource management skills in orghum growing enterprise. The study Therefore, recommended that thirty six (36) identified resource management skills be packaged into a programme and sent to the skill acquisition centres for training youths and other interested individual for employment in Kwara and Kogi States,

The study was conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of honey from Bale natural forest Southeastern of Ethiopia in 2014/15. For analysis thirty (30) honey samples each of 0.5 to 1 kg were obtained from three locations considering the different agro-ecologies of Bale and compared against to the national and international standards. The physico-chemical characters evaluated were: Color, Moisture Content, Ash, Free Acidity, pH, Hydroxy methyl furfural, Reducing Sugar, Sucrose Content and Electric Conductivity. Though there were some significant variation (P<0.05) between the different agro-ecologies, all samples collected were found in the range of the national and international standard limits. The means value of honey sample collected were Color 92.43 (Amber), Moisture Content (18.80), Ash (0.21), Free Acidity (32.43), pH (3.75), Hydroxy methyl furfural (36.35), Apparent Reducing Sugar (66.41), Sucrose Content (4.48) and Electric Conductivity (0.69). Results obtained in this study, indicate that honeys produced in Bale show excellent quality properties according to the national and international standards.

Tropical warehouse moth Cadra cautella Walker, 1863 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a major pest of stored food products worldwide. It is originated from the tropics and subtropics but it disperses through imported food cargoes. The biological performance, fecundity, eclosion (emergence of larvae from egg or adult from pupae) and lifespan of adult Tropical warehouse moth at different sex ratio (female: male) was studied under constant conditions. Fecundity and eclosion larvae investigated by fi ve treatments: sex ratio (1F:1M, 2M, and 3M), (1M: 2F, 3F) and one more treatment of separated male and female as a control for lifespan. Eclosion adult measured by collecting 350 pupae in different aged 200 male and 150 female. 1M: 3F treatment have the highest number of eggs and the least percentage of hatching to larvae and 2M: 1F and 3M: 1F treatments non-signifi cantly behaved between them having the least number of total eggs and the maximum number at total eggs per female, in both have a larger percentage of hatching to larvae respectively. Lifespan of male was signifi cant with all treatments except 1M: 3F and lifespan of female was non-signifi cant with all treatments. Eclosion of adults calculated as three levels of normal, abnormal and not emerged; for female 42% normal, 5% abnormal, 53% not emerged out of 150 pupae and for male 20% normal, 10% abnormal 70% not emerged out of 200 pupae.

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and palatability of certain commonly found weeds (Amaranthus retroflexus, Sorghum halepense, Cichorium intybus, Convolvulus arvensis and Lamium purpureum) in fodder crop areas. As a comparative characteristic of weeds was used alfalfa. Palatability is one of the indicators of fodder quality and it is related to the feed consumption and nutritional value. It was determined through so-called method “cafeteria of manger”. The results showed that C. arvensis and A. retroflexus had higher protein content and lower fi ber content of the hay compared to the other weeds with the highest palatability among weeds was C. arvensis (33.89%). This value was close to the palatability of alfalfa hay (38.89%). The second place was occupied by A. retroflexus (16.52%). The remaining weeds (S. halepense, C. intybus, L. purpureum) had considerably lower palatability. The method “cafeteria of manger” is easy to be performed and provides another opportunity to compare different forages.

While livestock rearing and dairy production on a subsistence level has been a traditional occupation in rural India, changes in policy and governance and production, both at a national and international level have had a profound effect on livestock rearing practices, production and farming systems, and the indigenous biodiversity of the country.