Naveed Akhtar - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Naveed Akhtar

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on nutrient concentrations in plantain (Musa spp.) fruit pulp

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, 2012

The number of fruits per bunch and nutritional quality of the fruits are important horticultural ... more The number of fruits per bunch and nutritional quality of the fruits are important horticultural and breeding selection indices in Musa improvement programs. Three plantain hybrids ('30456-3', 'PITA 14' and '29525') and a landrace genotype, 'Agbagba', were evaluated for response to organic and inorganic fertilizers in a 4 x 3 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in triplicate. Fruit parameters measured were fruit weight, edible proportion and pulp dry matter content; also, the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in fruits were determined. These parameters were measured in two cropping cycles, the plant and ratoon crops, respectively. The hybrid, '29252' had the highest pulp N, K, Ca, Fe and Zn concentrations in the plant crop. In the ratoon crop, N and P were highest in '29525' and '30456-3', while the concentrations of the other nutrients did not differ among the genotypes. The landrace, 'Agbagba', produced the heaviest fruits, accumulated the highest pulp dry matter and fresh edible proportion in both crop cycles. Although in the plant crop, the fertilizer treatment did not affect most of the pulp nutrient concentrations, the P concentration decreased by 14.29 and 118.18%, respectively when inorganic fertilizer and poultry manure was applied. The N, K and Zn concentrations, respectively, increased by 6.45, 14.55 and 62.50% with inorganic fertilizer application, while all the nutrient concentrations were lowest when no fertilizer was applied. The fresh fruit weight, pulp dry matter content and fresh edible proportion were highest when poultry manure was applied.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in skin mechanical properties after long-term application of cream containing green tea extract

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 2011

Background and aims: We studied longterm application of cream containing green tea extract, to ob... more Background and aims: We studied longterm application of cream containing green tea extract, to obtain knowledge of its effects on epidermal mechanics by 2-mm diameter Cutometer probe. Methods: Using this non-invasive device, we assessed the effects of green tea extract cream on skin mechanical properties. Healthy male volunteers (n=10) were included in this study, which lasted 60 days. The biomechanical properties of the skin were examined by a non-invasive suction device (Cutometer) and the cheeks were defined as the test area. Results: Statistically significant (p<0.05) results were notable for the R6 (Uv/Ue) parameter with respect to time (ANOVA); R0, R2 (Ua/Uf) and R7 (Ur/Uf) parameters were found statistically not significant by ANOVA. This study demonstrates that green tea formulation has a certain effect on R6 (Uv/Ue) parameter when applied regularly for a certain period of time. Conclusions: These results indicate that the formulation has no pronounced overall effects on skin elastic or biological properties, but significant R6 (Uv/Ue) values indicate that it does have definite effects on the viscoelastic properties of the skin.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on nutrient concentrations in plantain (Musa spp.) fruit pulp

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, 2012

The number of fruits per bunch and nutritional quality of the fruits are important horticultural ... more The number of fruits per bunch and nutritional quality of the fruits are important horticultural and breeding selection indices in Musa improvement programs. Three plantain hybrids ('30456-3', 'PITA 14' and '29525') and a landrace genotype, 'Agbagba', were evaluated for response to organic and inorganic fertilizers in a 4 x 3 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in triplicate. Fruit parameters measured were fruit weight, edible proportion and pulp dry matter content; also, the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in fruits were determined. These parameters were measured in two cropping cycles, the plant and ratoon crops, respectively. The hybrid, '29252' had the highest pulp N, K, Ca, Fe and Zn concentrations in the plant crop. In the ratoon crop, N and P were highest in '29525' and '30456-3', while the concentrations of the other nutrients did not differ among the genotypes. The landrace, 'Agbagba', produced the heaviest fruits, accumulated the highest pulp dry matter and fresh edible proportion in both crop cycles. Although in the plant crop, the fertilizer treatment did not affect most of the pulp nutrient concentrations, the P concentration decreased by 14.29 and 118.18%, respectively when inorganic fertilizer and poultry manure was applied. The N, K and Zn concentrations, respectively, increased by 6.45, 14.55 and 62.50% with inorganic fertilizer application, while all the nutrient concentrations were lowest when no fertilizer was applied. The fresh fruit weight, pulp dry matter content and fresh edible proportion were highest when poultry manure was applied.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in skin mechanical properties after long-term application of cream containing green tea extract

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 2011

Background and aims: We studied longterm application of cream containing green tea extract, to ob... more Background and aims: We studied longterm application of cream containing green tea extract, to obtain knowledge of its effects on epidermal mechanics by 2-mm diameter Cutometer probe. Methods: Using this non-invasive device, we assessed the effects of green tea extract cream on skin mechanical properties. Healthy male volunteers (n=10) were included in this study, which lasted 60 days. The biomechanical properties of the skin were examined by a non-invasive suction device (Cutometer) and the cheeks were defined as the test area. Results: Statistically significant (p<0.05) results were notable for the R6 (Uv/Ue) parameter with respect to time (ANOVA); R0, R2 (Ua/Uf) and R7 (Ur/Uf) parameters were found statistically not significant by ANOVA. This study demonstrates that green tea formulation has a certain effect on R6 (Uv/Ue) parameter when applied regularly for a certain period of time. Conclusions: These results indicate that the formulation has no pronounced overall effects on skin elastic or biological properties, but significant R6 (Uv/Ue) values indicate that it does have definite effects on the viscoelastic properties of the skin.