Ghana coastal fisheries governance dialogue: developing options for a legal framework for fisheries co-management in Ghana

The Third National Fisheries Governance Dialogue was a direct follow up on the Second National Fisheries Governance Dialogue held in Elmina in April 2012. It was agreed at the Second dialogue that co-management was the way forward for sustaining Ghana’s fisheries and that its success would depend on a supportive legal framework. The two day dialogue meeting consisted of four key presentations focusing on: the current status of fisheries in Ghana; co-management as a fresh approach to fisheries; outcomes from the regional stakeholder consultations on co-management structure; and outcomes from the research on the legal framework. The presentations were followed by four breakout groups that generated ideas for co-management structures for different species namely pelagic fish or Sardinella, near shore demersal, Volta lake, and lagoons and estuaries. Key elements for co-management structures and elements of a co-management legal framework were later identified during plenary discussions

Sulfonate Adsorption and Wetting Behavior at Solid-Water Interfaces

The electrophoretic mobilities of silver iodide sol particles have been measured as a function of pAg in the presence of var,ious concentrations of C5, C8, C10, C12 and C14 sodium alkyl sulfonates at constant ionic strength and temperature. Contact angles in the solid-air-solution system both in the absence and in the presence of the C14 sulfonate have also been determined. These results have been compared with previously reported work on the effect of alkyl sulfonates on the electrokinetic and wetting behavior of alumina. Application of the Stern-Grahame model of the electrical double layer allows delineation of the various mechanisms contributing to the adsorption phenomena. In the case of the aluminasulfonate system the adsorption process is purely physical, viz. electrostatic and hydrocarbon chain-chain interactions, while for the AgI-sulfonate system both physical and chemical processes are involved, viz. electrostatic, hydrocarbon chain-solid, chain-chain, and solid-polar head interactions

Sulfonate Adsorption and Wetting Behavior at Solid-Water Interfaces

The electrophoretic mobilities of silver iodide sol particles have been measured as a function of pAg in the presence of var,ious concentrations of C5, C8, C10, C12 and C14 sodium alkyl sulfonates at constant ionic strength and temperature. Contact angles in the solid-air-solution system both in the absence and in the presence of the C14 sulfonate have also been determined. These results have been compared with previously reported work on the effect of alkyl sulfonates on the electrokinetic and wetting behavior of alumina. Application of the Stern-Grahame model of the electrical double layer allows delineation of the various mechanisms contributing to the adsorption phenomena. In the case of the aluminasulfonate system the adsorption process is purely physical, viz. electrostatic and hydrocarbon chain-chain interactions, while for the AgI-sulfonate system both physical and chemical processes are involved, viz. electrostatic, hydrocarbon chain-solid, chain-chain, and solid-polar head interactions

Effect of sources of sweetpotato planting material for quality vine and root yield

Commercialization of sweetpotato vines is persistent if multipliers show evidence of superiority of their vines. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of net tunnel source and of pathogen tested planting material compared to “apparently” healthy vines on yield and health status at three defined environments in Northern Ghana during the rainy season of 2015. Sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) and weevils were considered. Four varieties were investigated, the pathogen-tested vines of Dadanyuie, Bohye and Ligri, and “apparently” healthy vines of Apomuden from the negative selection technique. All planting materials taken from the net tunnel and open field were from the same location. Eight treatment combinations were arranged in a RCBD with 3 replicates. Planting distance was 0.30 m x 1 m. Weeding was done and fertilizer was applied as necessary. General and three-way analysis of variance were computed using Genstat. Highly significant differences were found among varieties and trial sites for plant establishment, foliage yield, root yield, weevil, and SPVD. The two sources were not significantly different. For varieties across sites, net tunnel source was better than open field. The apparently healthy vines might be effective as pathogen-tested vines. Net tunnels may have a distinct advantage for multiplication and maintenance

Semiconductor electrochemistry of coal pyrite. Technical progress report, October--December 1992

This project seeks to advance the fundamental understanding of the physics-chemical processes occurring at the pyrite/aqueous interface, in the context of coal cleaning, coal desulfurization, and acid minedrainage. A novel approach to the study of pyrite aqueous electrochemistry is proposed, based on the use of both synthetic and natural ( i.e. coal-derived) pyrite specimens, the utilization of.pyrite both in the form of micro (i.e. colloidal and subcolloidal) and macro (i.e. rotating ring disk) electrodes, and the application of in-situ direct electroanalytical and spectroelectrochemical characterization techniques. The kinetic study of the reaction between sulfide and ferrous ions in solution suggested that the black species formed initially is FeHS{sup +} intermediate. To farther confirm this mechanism, the experiments aimed at establishing the stoichiometry for the intermediate were carried out thermodynamically with a stopped-flow spectrophotometric technique. The results showed that the mole ratio of H{sup {minus}}/Fe{sup 2+} is 1 to 1 for the intermediate product, which is in good agreement with the kinetic results previously obtained. Furthermore, the equilibrium constant for the reaction Fe{sup 2+} + H{sup {minus}} = FeHS{sup +} was determined as K = 10{sup 4.34}. The forward rate constant is 10{sup 3.81}(mol/l){sup {minus}1}sec{sup {minus}1} and the backward rate constant is 10{sup {minus}0.53} (mol/l){sup {minus}1} sec{sup {minus}1}

Semiconductor electrochemistry of coal pyrite. Technical progress report, April--June 1992

Pyrite synthesis is of interest in many diverse fields, such as geology, fuel processing technology, chemistry, metallurgy, materials science, and so on. Based on fundamental studies of this process, the formation mechanisms of this important sulfide on the earth can be better understood. The studies can also help us to better understand the surface chemistry and electrochemistry of pyrite, thereby assisting in the development of more efficient processes for removal of the sulfide from coal. The work performed during this quarter focuses on the study of the reaction between aqueous sulfide ions and dissolved Fe(II) salts by using a stopped-flow spectrophotometric technique. At a wavelength of 500 mn, no absorption was observed with either aqueous sulfide or dissolved Fe(II) salt alone. However, when the two solutions were mixed, a strong absorbance appeared at the same wavelength. The absorbance-time curve showed that a black material formed at the first few seconds of the reaction, then this material decayed and changed gradually to a lighter dark material within the following several minutes. These processes were pH-dependent. It was more likely to form the black intermediate at the pH range from 7 to 8. This indicates that the reaction between Fe{sup 2+} and HS{sup {minus}} results in the formation of the black intermediate because in this pH range, both Fe{sup 2+} and HS{sup {minus}} are the predominant species. The absorbance varied linearly with the concentration of the reactant for the first step of the reaction. The absorptivity of the black intermediate was determined as 4800 l/mol/cm. By means of this spectrophotometric technique, the stoichiometry, the equilibrium constant and the rate constant of the reaction will be determined

Semiconductor electrochemistry of coal pyrite

This project seeks to advance the fundamental understanding of the physics-chemical processes occurring at the pyrite/aqueous interface, in the context of coal cleaning, coal desulfurization, and acid minedrainage. A novel approach to the study of pyrite aqueous electrochemistry is proposed, based on the use of both synthetic and natural ( i.e. coal-derived) pyrite specimens, the utilization of.pyrite both in the form of micro (i.e. colloidal and subcolloidal) and macro (i.e. rotating ring disk) electrodes, and the application of in-situ direct electroanalytical and spectroelectrochemical characterization techniques. The kinetic study of the reaction between sulfide and ferrous ions in solution suggested that the black species formed initially is FeHS[sup +] intermediate. To farther confirm this mechanism, the experiments aimed at establishing the stoichiometry for the intermediate were carried out thermodynamically with a stopped-flow spectrophotometric technique. The results showed that the mole ratio of H[sup [minus]]/Fe[sup 2+] is 1 to 1 for the intermediate product, which is in good agreement with the kinetic results previously obtained. Furthermore, the equilibrium constant for the reaction Fe[sup 2+] + H[sup [minus]] = FeHS[sup +] was determined as K = 10[sup 4.34]. The forward rate constant is 10[sup 3.81](mol/l)[sup [minus]1]sec[sup [minus]1] and the backward rate constant is 10[sup [minus]0.53] (mol/l)[sup [minus]1] sec[sup [minus]1]

Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Ghanaian Women at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Several risk factors have been identified as contributing to the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).  Knowing and ranking these risk factors for GDM will provide useful information for health care providers in educating women on the need to reduce the risk of developing GDM. This study aimed at establishing and ranking the maternal risk factors for GDM in the Ghanaian community. The study strongly linked women with history of still birth (OR=10.42, p=0.0004), relatives having diabetes (OR=8.08, p=0.004), history of more than two miscarriages (OR=3.15, p=0.0001), previous caesarean operations (OR=3.06, p=0.0004) and more than two parities (OR=3.03, p=0.0027) to the development of GDM. There was however no significant difference between the body mass index (BMI) of the GDMs and the controls (p>0.05). Key words: Gestational diabetes, caesarian section, maternal risk factors, parit

Identification of optimal investments

Biofortification is regarded as a complement to supplementation, industrial fortification and dietary diversification in the fight against micronutrient deficiencies. It is important therefore to first identify areas where biofortification may have high impact and prioritize these areas for more in-depth analysis. HarvestPlus has developed the Biofortification Prioritization Index (BPI), which ranks countries globally according to their suitability for investment in biofortification interventions. HarvestPlus is also conducting ex ante micronutrient intervention portfolio analyses, designed to simulate the implementation and impact of a biofortification program in countries which have been identified as suitable candidates for investment. Micronutrient intervention portfolio studies offer the ability to distinguish production, consumption and inadequate micronutrient intake at a more disaggregated level and offer a complementary design and planning tool to simulate the implementation of biofortification and examine its potential impact and cost-effectiveness among different approaches. In addition, these studies are designed to examine multiple interventions within a country, to better understand biofortification’s role in reducing micronutrient deficiency when considered among a suite of interventions. This case study of Zambia demonstrates how these tools can be used to assess the potential impact of biofortification, quantify its cost-effectiveness and examine how it interacts with and complements other interventions. Given the long-term nature of biofortification as an intervention investment, future analyses should continue to incorporate various scenarios including continued investment in sustainable development and the effects of climate change which are likely to condition the impact of biofortification and other interventions.Keywords: Biofortification, Biofortification Priority Index (BPI), Cost-effectiveness, Household Consumption and Expenditure Surveys (HCES

Physicochemical and biological properties of different Cocoa Pod Husk-based composts

The objective was to evaluate the properties of cocoa pod husk-based composts for potential application as soil amendments for crop production. The physicochemical and biological properties of the compost types were analysed. Four compost types were prepared by mixing cocoa pod husk, poultry manure and Panicum maximum in different proportions. A phytotoxicity test was carried out using maize (Zea mays L.) to test whether the compost types contain substances that inhibit seed germination or growth of the radicle. Bulk densities of the compost types were higher than 0.160 Mg m-3, an indication that the compost types as soil amendment will restrict root growth thereby inhibiting plant growth. The average pH of the compost types falls within the optimum range of 6.5 to 8.5 and thus, the composts are stabilized. The compost types had high nitrogen content, so when utilized as a soil amendment would improve the nitrogen content of soils. Copper concentrations in the compost types were far below the WHO/FAO permissible limit of 100 mg kg-1, therefore can be applied at high rates without any problem of copper accumulation in soil. Phytophthora palmivora and Phytophthora megakarya were not detected from the compost types, therefore the compost types could be used without Phytophthora disease infection. Germination percentage and germination index showed that the analyzed compost types achieved high percentages of the germinating capacity of maize seeds and had no phytotoxic substances. The cocoa pod husk-based composts showed substantially varied physicochemical and biological properties suitable to support plant growth. The results clearly showed that, CPHcomp3 made from CPH residues, poultry manure and Panicum maximum at the ratio 6: 1: 2 mixture is recommended for use as a soil amendment for crop production