1,933 research outputs found
Water Quality Status Within The Anchorage Space of Tema Harbour, Ghana
Marine pollution is attributable to anthropogenic introductions of contaminants above their natural background levels and being dispersed by ocean forcing. Assemblages of vessels within offshore platforms and seaport terminals could also be potential sources for marine water contamination. As such, nearshore perimeters of the Tema Port were assessed to review the vessel register and the seawater quality through Automatic Identification System (AIS), in-situ and laboratory analysis. The results of analysed satellite data suggested ~1,600 commercial vessels of over 50 flag states including Ghana were present in the West Africa territorial waters between 2016 and 2020. Bacterial load shows the following order: total heterotrophic bacterial [THB] (364-468 cfu/mL) > total coliform [TC] (26-73 cfu/100 mL) > faecal coliform [FC] (1-13 cfu/100 mL). Phytoplankton species abundances were in order Ceratium spp. (31.8%) >Protoperidinium spp. (30.1%) > Dinophysis spp. (9.3%) > Coscinodiscus sp. (7.3%) > Lingulodinium polyedra (6.9%) = Nitzschia sp. (6.9%). Water temperature ranged between 23.9 and 27.5 oC (surface to 25.4 m depth), salinity 36.03 Ā± 0.51ā°, dissolved oxygen 6.54 Ā± 0.94 mg/L and pH 8.18 Ā± 0. 06. Phosphate, ammonia, Cd, As, and Pb levels were low (0.01 to 0.153 mg/L). Nitrate, silicate and Mg were relatively high (0.7 - 2.18 mg/L). Pearson correlation coefficient displayed 0.05 and 0.01 significant levels between total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity and salinity, and dissolved oxygen and temperature and arsenic levels. Normalization physicochemical data suggested thermal stratification at 15 m depth. Nutrient and biological results indicated normal water quality conditions, however, relatively high levels of phytoplankton including harmful and toxic species suggested excess nutrient contamination in the study area. Further assessment is recommended to ascertain the link between phytoplankton and nutrient load at the anchorage space. 
Coping with adversity: Resilience dynamics of livestock farmers in two agroecological zones of Ghana
Despite the increasing occurrence of adverse events including droughts and conflicts, livestock farmers in Ghana continue to raise animals to support their livelihoods and the national economy. We assessed the resilience of cattle farmers (CF) to adverse events they faced using a cross-sectional survey of 287 CF in two agroecological zones in Ghana. Resilience to adversities was assessed using the Resilience Scale (RS-14). Resilience scores and categories were computed and factors that explained variations in resilience categories assessed. The farmers kept, on average, 31 cattle per household, with a majority (91%) also growing crops. Key adverse events confronting them in both districts were animal disease outbreaks, pasture shortages, and theft, with 85% (240/287) losing, on average, seven cattle (15% of the herd size) over a one-year period. The mean resilience score was 71 (SD = 8) out of 98; 52% were highly resilient. Resilience was higher in the southern district (72 versus 70), albeit not statistically significant (p = 0.06). The resilience significantly improved with age, each unit increase in cattle in the herd, and having experience raising livestock (p < 0.001). The CF have relatively high resilience to adverse events affecting their productivity. The findings provide relevant information for implementing mitigation measures to improve production by reducing animal mortalities through high-quality veterinary services
Differences in both prevalence and titre of specific immunoglobulin E among children with asthma in affluent and poor communities within a large town in Ghana.
Background Reports from several African countries have noted an increasing prevalence of asthma in areas of extensive urbanization. Objective To investigate the relevance of allergen-specific sensitization and body mass index (BMI) to asthma/wheezing and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) among children from affluent and poorer communities within a large town in Ghana. Methods Children with physician-diagnosed asthma and/or current wheezing aged 9-16 years (n=99; cases) from three schools with differing socio-economic backgrounds [urban affluent (UA), urban poor (UP) or suburban/rural (SR)] were recruited from a cross-sectional study (n=1848) in Kumasi, Ghana, and matched according to age, sex and area of residence with non-asthmatic/non-wheezy controls. We assayed sera for IgE antibodies to mite, cat, dog, cockroach, Ascaris and galactose-Ī±-1,3-galactose. Results Children from the UA school had the lowest total serum IgE. However, cases from the UA school had a higher prevalence and mean titre of sIgE to mite (71.4%, 21.2IU/mL) when compared with controls (14.3%, 0.8IU/mL) or cases from UP (30%, 0.8IU/mL) and SR community (47.8%, 1.6IU/mL). While similar findings were observed with EIB in the whole population, among cases there was no difference in IgE antibody prevalence or titre between children with or without EIB. BMI was higher among UA children with and without asthma; in UP and SR communities, children with EIB (n=14) had a significantly higher BMI compared with children with asthma/wheezing without EIB (n=38) (18.2 vs. 16.4, respectively, P<0.01). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance In the relatively affluent school, asthma/wheezing and EIB were associated with high titre IgE antibodies to mite, decreased total IgE, and increased BMI. This contrasted with children in the urban poor school and suggests that changes relevant to a Western model of childhood asthma can occur within a short geographical distance within a large city in Africa. Ā© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Initial evaluation of some introduced forage plants for herbage productivity at two sites in Ghana
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Optimizing human pulmonary perfusion measurement using an in silico model of arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging.
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging methodology that uses blood as an endogenous contrast agent to quantify flow. One limitation of this method of capillary blood quantification when applied in the lung is the contribution of signals from non-capillary blood. Intensity thresholding is one approach that has been proposed for minimizing the non-capillary blood signal. This method has been tested in previous in silico modeling studies; however, it has only been tested under a restricted set of physiological conditions (supine posture and a cardiac output of 5Ā L/min). This study presents an in silico approach that extends previous intensity thresholding analysis to estimate the optimal "per-slice" intensity threshold value using the individual components of the simulated ASL signal (signal arising independently from capillary blood as well as pulmonary arterial and pulmonary venous blood). The aim of this study was to assess whether the threshold value should vary with slice location, posture, or cardiac output. We applied an in silico modeling approach to predict the blood flow distribution and the corresponding ASL quantification of pulmonary perfusion in multiple sagittal imaging slices. There was a significant increase in ASL signal and heterogeneity (COVĀ =Ā 0.90 to COVĀ =Ā 1.65) of ASL signals when slice location changed from lateral to medial. Heterogeneity of the ASL signal within a slice was significantly lower (PĀ =Ā 0.03) in prone (COVĀ =Ā 1.08) compared to in the supine posture (COVĀ =Ā 1.17). Increasing stroke volume resulted in an increase in ASL signal and conversely an increase in heart rate resulted in a decrease in ASL signal. However, when cardiac output was increased via an increase in both stroke volume and heart rate, ASL signal remained relatively constant. Despite these differences, we conclude that a threshold value of 35% provides optimal removal of large vessel signal independent of slice location, posture, and cardiac output
Determining the Efficiency of the Government of Ghanaās Network of Grain Storage Facilities
Governments in developing countries design networks of grain storage facilities to help farmers store excess agricultural produce to prepare for climate induced crop failures. The efficiency of such networks has serious economic and food security implications on respective countries. Periodic review of the efficiency of such networks is necessary to identify lapses and opportunities for optimization. Past studies on efficiency of networksof facilities, which usually assume scenarios peculiar to the developed world used data that are usually unavailable or unreliable in developing countries. This work therefore developed an integrated approach that relies solely on readily available and reliable governmental and open source data to compute the short and long-term efficiencies of networks of grain storage facilities. This approach was used to analyze the efficiency of the government of Ghanaās network of forty-eight grain storage facilities. A transportation model was used to compute the total transportation cost within the existing network. A P-median model was then used to develop and compute the transportation cost of a theoretically optimal network. Outputs from a forecasting model were used with the transportation andP-median models to study the short and long-term efficiencies of the existing and optimal networks. The average short and long term efficiencies of the existing network were 66% and 26% respectively. The study also investigated the efficiencies of a rank network which is created by siting GSFās in only high grain production districts. The short and long-term efficiencies of this network were 87% and 72% respectively. The study showed that Ghanaās GSFs were sub-optimally sited hence farmers would have to travel excessively longer distances than necessary to use it. This offers some explanation for its low patronage. Furthermore, the study shows that a rank network was not as efficient as the optimal network. This study therefore demonstrates the use of this integrated approach coupledwith readily available data to analyze networks of grain storage facilities in developing countries
Influence of Drying Temperature and Storage Duration on Fissuring and Milling Quality of Jasmine 85 Rice Variety
Moisture and temperature gradients induce the development of fissures during drying of paddy kernels. This affects the milling quality of the paddy and eventually reduces the head rice yield. To this effect, a study was conducted to investigate the influence of drying temperature and storage duration on the cracking behaviour and head rice yield of a local rice variety - Jasmine 85. Freshly harvested paddy samples were thin layer dried in a tunnel dryer with varying drying temperatures (45°C, 50°C, 55°C) as treatments and direct sun drying as control. The drying experiment was performed under three replications using a completely randomised design. Samples after drying were stored for three months in sealed plastic bags at room temperature (28°C). Percentage fissures and head rice yield at each drying treatment was determined using a grain scope and a Satake grading machine respectively after the storage period. The highest head rice yield (76.3%) and the least fissure rate (10%) were attained at the control temperature. This was followed by the 45°C and 50°C treatments which gave head rice yields of 70.8%, and 69.8%, with fissure rates of 13% and 16% respectively. The least head rice yield (64.7%) and the highest fissure rate of 29% were observed at 55°C. There was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between head rice yields obtained at 55°C and the control experiment. However, there was no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between head rice yield obtained at 45°C, 50°C and the control temperature. It is evident from this study that, Jasmine 85 can be dried by using a mechanical dryer at higher temperatures of 45°C and 50°C without affecting its milling qualities
Options for types of dental health personnel to Train for Ghana
Objectives - To explore the degree of agreement on issues surrounding the proposals for dental health personnel requirements among key oralhealth personalities who are central to determining policy on oral health personnel requirements for Ghana and to make recommendations to assist in the future development of dental health personnel requirements. Design - A review of the literature, published documents and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Setting ā Dental health service in Ghana Participants - Key oral health personalities who are central to determining policy on oral health personnel requirements for Ghana Results - There was a lack of consensus regarding key aspects of planning personnel requirements including the numbers and the kinds of professionals complementary to dentistry (PCDs) to develop, who should be responsible for their training, and which people to admit as trainees of PCDs. Conclusion - Greater discussion between the various agencies involved should take place to help ensure consensus on the overall policy objectives
Uncertainty of Food Security in Ghana by Biofuel (Jatropha curcas) Production as an Adaptation and Mitigation Capacity to Climate Change
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Positive Portrayal of Women in African Prose: A Cursory Look at SembĆØne Ousmaneās Godās Bits of Wood and Ama Ata Aidooās Changes.
African novelists have long been seen as biased in their portrayal of female characters. This practice is condemned by many feminist writers as perpetuating male dominance and subjugating against women. However, SembĆØne Ousmane and Ama Ata Aidoo gave a different account of women characters in their works by assigning them positive roles. This paper asserts that the action of these two Anglophone and Francophone writers marks a shift from the status quo and is indicative of their stance as committed feminist writers. The paper further establishes that their stance offers the needed pretext to make a case for social and economic advancement of women in the two works. Finally, the paper concludes that characterization of women in these works by the two novelists helps to create an awareness of the power of the female species as an equal force in national development. Key words: Feminism, Marxism, domination, positive portrayal, liberation, progress
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