http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/105 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:26:48 GMT 2026-10-13T05:26:48Z http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/180 Title: Sorghum Malting Authors: Mugode, Luke Abstract: Malting is defined as the germination of grain in moist air under controlled conditions. Malting occurs in three stages: steeping (soaking), germination, and drying or kilning, then milling can take place. Malting changes the chemistry of the grain. Description: This presentation can also be accessed through https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/intsormilpresent/26/ Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/180 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/175 Title: Carotenoid retention in biofortified maize using different post-harvest storage and packaging methods Authors: Taleon, Víctor; Mugode, Luke; Cabrera-Soto, Luisa; Palacios-Rojas, Natalia Abstract: Orange maize is being promoted as a source of provitamin A carotenoids (pVAC) in Zambia. Carotenoid retention in orange maize grains stored in metal silos, multilayer polyethylene and common woven bags, and maize meal packaged in single and multilayer polyethylene bags was evaluated. Significant differences in total pVAC retention were found between grain storage methods (48.1–57.2%) after 6 months of storage. Total pVAC retention in hammer meal (73.1–73.5%) was higher than in breakfast meal (64.3–69.3%) after 4 months of storage; however, no differences in pVAC retention were found between meal types when stored in single and multilayer polyethylene bags. In general, β-cryptoxanthin (βCX) had higher retention than β-carotene (βC). Potential contribution of stored orange maize to the estimated average requirement of children and women was 26.5% and 24.3%, respectively. Orange maize meal can provide significant amounts of provitamin A to diets of Zambians even after 4 months of storage. Description: This article can also be accessed through https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.03.158 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/175 2017-03-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/162 Title: Investigating physiological and quality response of pomegranate fruit to controlled atmosphere storage Authors: Mugode, Luke Abstract: Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a highly valued crop with a huge economic potential. It is very nutritious with numerous bioactive compounds with the potential to prevent a certain type of cancers and other health conditions. The fruit can also be processed into various industrial products. In South Africa, the pomegranate industry is growing rapidly due to the rising demand from local and international markets. However, owing to its high perishability, the shelf life is limited to less than eight weeks under cold storage conditions. In light of this, a study of ‘CA’ storage as a supplementary postharvest treatment was investigated. The ‘CA’ storage is a system that involves altering and maintaining an atmospheric gas composition different from that of room air (79% N2, 20% O2, and 0.03% CO2) to levels generally, with O2 below 8% and CO2 above 1% supplemented with low temperature and relative humidity above 90%. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the physiological and quality response of pomegranate (weight loss, shrivel, decay, colour, texture, incidences of disorders and decay) to different ‘CA’ treatments and storage temperatures. In addition, to assess the overall quality (total soluble solids, pH, acidity, antioxidant properties, aroma volatility compounds and sensory analysis) including respiration and development of a model for predicting the transpiration rate with the view to optimise the ‘CA’ storage requirements for ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Bhagwa’ pomegranates. The results showed that the selected pomegranate cultivars responded differently to ‘CA’ storage conditions. More importantly, it was observed that by increasing CO2 and/or decreasing O2 concentrations under ‘CA’ resulted in opposite effects on quality attributes. Despite the variation in response, the shelf life of the whole pomegranate fruit was extended by five months more after harvest with a minimal loss of physiological properties (weight loss, physiological disorders, colour, and texture) and quality. Furthermore, the notable fluctuation of quality attributes (TSS, aroma volatility compounds and antioxidants) under ‘CA’ conditions depended highly on cultivar, storage temperature, gas composition and storage duration. In addition, a mathematical model developed based on respiratory heat energy reliably predicted the transpiration rate, with an accuracy of R2 = 0.97. In conclusion, the study proposes a goal-oriented optimisation strategy focussing on the marketdriven quality expectation with a negligible compromise on some attributes. The concept was validated using a general linear model (statistical tool) which showed that atmosphere under CAs minimised the weight loss with minimal physiological and quality loss of attributes in addition to extending the shelf life for than two-fold compared to room air. These findings highlight both importance and challenges in finding optimal ‘CA’ for the storage of fresh horticultural produce. Description: This thesis can be accessed through http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/101395 Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/162 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/161 Title: Comparative studyof serum selenium levels in essential hypertensive and normotensive and normatensive adults at the University Teaching Hosipital , Lusaka, Zambia Authors: Chisulo, Chiti Angela Abstract: In Zambia, essential hypertension is one of the commonest and prevalent non-communicable diseases. In the current medical literature it is not clear on the serum selenium levels among essential hypertensive adults in Zambia despite evidence in literature of its role in development of essential hypertension. The present study investigated serum selenium levels in essential hypertensive adults attending clinic 5 at the University Teaching Hospital Lusaka Zambia. We hypothesized that serum selenium levels were significantly lower in this population and was a risk factor for developing essential hypertension. An analytical crosssectional design was applied to a total of 245 participants. These were composed of 126 essential hypertensive patients and 119 healthy normotensive adults of both sexes. Only participants who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to take part in the study by signing consent forms were enrolled. Blood was collected for serum levels of Selenium, glucose, urea, creatinine and electrolytes. Student t-test was used to compare the mean serum selenium levels between hypertensive and normotensive participants as data was normally distributed. Lower levels of serum Selenium were observed in essential hypertensive adults (0.093 ± 0.048 mg/L) than in healthy normotensive adults (0.109± 0.047) and this was statistically significant (p-0.0001). Linear regression results showed no significant relationship off Selenium levels with age (p-0.255), BMI (p-0.232), systolic blood pressure (p-0.195) and diastolic blood pressure (p-176).The present study found that the mean serum selenium levels in hypertensive participants were significantly lower compared to normotensive participants. However, serum selenium levels were not significantly related to blood pressure hence serum selenium levels may not be a risk factor for development of essential hypertension in this population. Nevertheless, more studies in the same geographical area are needed to confirm this. Description: This thesis can be accessed through http://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/6153 Wed, 01 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.lamu.edu.zm:8080/handle/123456789/161 2020-07-01T00:00:00Z