Smoked marine fish from Western Region, Ghana: a value chain assessment

The value chain analysis of ths report focused on smoked marine fish- overwhelmingly the most important fish product originating in Western Region, Ghana. Smoked fish from Western Region is mainly destined for the domestic market where demand is very strong. Small quantities of smoked fish are destined for markets in Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The underlying objective of the fisheries value chain analysis is to identify opportunities for growth in the fisheries value chain, with an emphasis on those opportunities that have the potential to generate significant additional livelihoods, particularly at the level of the fishing communities and for low-income groups. The results from the value chain analysis will be used to identify pilot interventions to promote those livelihood outcomes. The main focus for the study is smoked fish (major species/product forms) destined for domestic markets. However, work will also be undertaken on the fresh fish trade and frozen fish to find out more about the significance of these value chains

Some aspects of high energy scattering theory

Imperial Users onl

Smoked marine fish from Western Region, Ghana: a value chain assessment

The value chain analysis of ths report focused on smoked marine fish- overwhelmingly the most important fish product originating in Western Region, Ghana. Smoked fish from Western Region is mainly destined for the domestic market where demand is very strong. Small quantities of smoked fish are destined for markets in Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The underlying objective of the fisheries value chain analysis is to identify opportunities for growth in the fisheries value chain, with an emphasis on those opportunities that have the potential to generate significant additional livelihoods, particularly at the level of the fishing communities and for low-income groups. The results from the value chain analysis will be used to identify pilot interventions to promote those livelihood outcomes. The main focus for the study is smoked fish (major species/product forms) destined for domestic markets. However, work will also be undertaken on the fresh fish trade and frozen fish to find out more about the significance of these value chains.Cured products, Food fish, Marketing, Processing fishery products, Ghana,

Microfinance: an alternative means of healthcare financing for the poor

No Abstrac

Potential groundwater pollution from improper oil and metal waste disposal in Suame, Ghana

Suame is an industrialized hub in Kumasi, Ghana, that is noted for vehicle repairs and servicing, sale of automobile spare parts, and metal fabrication. Some of these activities generate huge volumes of waste oil and metals that are often disposed off indiscriminately into the environment. These could pose a threat to the quality of groundwater in the area, especially if they continuously accumulate in the environment. This study, therefore, investigated the potential impact of the waste disposal on groundwater quality in the area. The methods employed involved mapping all the potential waste oil spillage sources and sampling the soils in such areas (at 0 – 30 and 30 – 60 cm depths) and groundwater supply points for laboratory analyses to determine the presence of the waste. In all, 36 samples (comprising 12 soil and 24 groundwater) were analysedfor the presence of heavy metals including Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr, which were used as traceelements for the presence of the waste in the samples. Computedgeo-accumulation indices from the results show the soils are moderately to heavily polluted with Cd and Pb whilst the groundwater, when compared to the WHO drinking water guidelines, is polluted with Pb and Ni. Althoughthe source of the high Pb content observed could be attributed to its transport directly from the activities in the area, the presence of high Ni makes it inconclusive since the Ni in the soil was within the concentration expected of the parent rock geochemistry. This notwithstanding, the study has indicated that groundwater in the area is not safe for human consumption unless the lead and nickel concentrations are reduced to acceptable standard for drinking.Keywords: Groundwater quality, pollution, waste disposal, Suame, Ghan

Examining the Concept of Smart Home Technologies (IoT Systems)

With the huge advancement in wireless sensor networks and other computer technologies, Home automation plays an important role in human life by making Lives at home easier and faster. Over the years, several smart home systems have been developed using network wireless systems such as Controller Area Network(CAN), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency, Cognitive radio, and several others. With this technology, the user easily controls their homes through their computer and assigns actions dependent on time or sensor readings if any from the device in the network of the home automation irrespective of the location of the user. This technology isn’t only limited to controlling appliances around us remotely but also helps in terms of security by warning the user during unusual and critical situations. Home automation is flexibly used in different places with high precision which saves time and money, and also provides comfort, security, and convenience to its user. Home automation can also help the aged and incapacitated people and provide quality of life to people without the need for caregivers or any care from institutions. People's desire for an intelligent home has increased dramatically in recent years as mobile connectivity devices are much more convenient and simple. This paper focuses on several smart home systems that have been developed in the twentieth century. Networks are enhanced by IoT to collect and analyze data proficiently from sensors and actuators. IoT creating a new era in the world of information and technologies in the areas of security has become vital as intrusion, theft, fire, and leakage of flammable gas that are threats to human lives never fails to continuously be a threat to humanity. IoT is the existing network of the internet where the computer systems will connect to real-world objects or things such as vehicles, devices, home appliances, and many others. This technology saves human energy and it is also a user-friendly safe system that makes the life of its user easier. Keywords: Smart Home, IoT, sensors, home automation ,Controller Area Network. DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/11-1-06 Publication date: February 29th 202

The influence of physicians’ specialty on prescribing patterns at a general medi-cine out-patients clinic

Background: Several factors have been identified that influence physicians’ prescribing habits. The influence of physician’s specialty has not been studied. This study is to determine if there are differences in the prescribing patterns amongst these various specialities that run a general medicine clinic at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.Methods: Data collected from the out-patients clinic attendance records were analysed using WHO Rational Use of Medicines indicators. Analysis of Variance Test was carried out to establish if there was any variance in the prescribing indicators amongst 4 units of Physicians.Results: 678 patient encounters were utilised for this study. The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 4.4, drugs prescribed by generic name was 86.9%, patient encounters in which antibiotics prescribed were 6.5% (n= 44) and injections were prescribed in 3.2% (n=22) of patient encounters. 64.0% of all drugs prescribed were fromthe Ghanaian EML. The unit of the physician did not have a significant effect on the average number of medicines prescribed per patient encounter (F (3, 674) = 2.19, p = 0.088), and the percentage of medicines that were prescribed from the Essential Medicines List (F (3, 674) = 1.52, p = 0.207). The unit the physician belonged to however did have a significant effect at p < 0.05 on the prescription of generic medications (F (3, 674) = 4.79, p = 0.003).Conclusion: The physician units did not differ in their prescribing patterns at the general medicine clinic except for prescription of drugs by their generic names.Keywords: Rational Use of Medicines, Ghana, Prescribing Patterns, Physicians’ SpecialtyFunding: None declare

Effects of extended period of storage and strain of layer on quality of chicken eggs

Poultry farmers in Ghana use different strains of layers for egg production with eggs produced being stored for some time before use. This has necessitated a study to determine the effect of strain of layers and extended storage length on internal and external qualities of chicken eggs. A total of three-hundred (300) eggs from 46-week old layer strains were analysed for egg quality in a 3 X 5 factorial experiment involving three layer strains (Lohmann brown, Lohmann white and Black Bovan) and 5 storage periods of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days. On each day of the analysis, sixty (60) eggs; 20 each from the three strains were randomly sampled and analysed for the internal and external egg characteristics. Results obtained showed a significant difference (P<0.05) among the three layer strains regarding the major egg quality traits like egg weight, albumen weight, haugh unit and yolk weight with the Black Bovan layer strains being superior to the Lohmann strains. It was also observed that the major egg quality traits like egg weight, albumen weight and haugh unit were significantly (P<0.05) affected with increasing storage length. There was also a significant (P<0.05) interaction effects between strain of layer and length of storage of egg on some important egg quality determinants like egg weight, albumen height and haugh unit. This shows that in order not to compromise the quality of eggs, one must consider the strain of layer to use and how long eggs could be stored before use. Irrespective of the strain of layers and storage period, it was realized that egg weight was more closely associated (P<0.05) with albumen height and weight than the other traits.Keywords:Keywords: Albumen height, egg quality, egg weight, haugh unit, storage length, strai

The pharmacologic basis of high dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem cell support for solid tumours

The theoretical basis of high dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem cell support (HDT) for solid tumours is the presumption of a linear, steep dose-response relationship for chemotherapy conditioning agents. We review preclinical pharmacologic studies evaluating steep dose-response relationships for different chemotherapeutic agents, identified through a MED-LINE and CANCER-LIT search of the English medical literature from January 1966 to December 1999. Only BCNU, melphalan, nitrogen mustard, and the combination of thiotepa and cyclophosphamide demonstrated steep dose-response relationships over a wide dose-range. The pharmacologic evidence for the use of other antineoplastic agents for HDT in solid tumours is non-existent. More preclinical studies are needed for a rational development of this therapeutic approach for solid tumours. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co