岡山県に分布する白亜紀前期羽山層砕屑物質の供給源：砕屑粒の鉱物化学組成とモード組成から導かれる制約

Petrographic and phase chemistry studies of detrital grains were carried out on sandstones from the Lower Cretaceous Hayama Formation, Inner Zone of Southwest Japan, to determine their provenance and the tectonic setting during the early Cretaceous. The results of the modal mineralogy suggest that the Hayama Formation has magmatic arc provenance and that deposition of the sediments took place in the back-arc areas with detritus mostly derived from the magmatic arc and rifted continental margins. The chemical compositions of chromian spinel, chlorite and sphene indicate that significant proportions of the detrital grains were derived from mafic and/or ultramafic sources. The source areas are the mafic and ophiolitic rocks in the Sangun-Renge and Akiyoshi terranes and the felsic volcanic rocks probably from either the Akiyoshi terrane or a source not presently exposed in southwest Japan. However, minor amounts of the detritus were derived from the basement rocks; i.e., carbonates and siliciclastic rocks of the Akiyoshi terrane and the metamorphosed mafic rocks of the Chizu terrane

Provenance of Lower Cretaceous sediments in the Nariwa and Hokubo areas, Okayama Prefecture, deduced from detrital modes and geochemistry of sandstones

Petrographic and geochemical study of sandstones from the Kenseki Formation have shown that the sandstones are compositionally immature. The immaturity is reflected geochemically by their low SiO2 contents (52-66 wt%) and petrographically by low modal percents of quartz and K-feldspar, and high modal percents of plagioclase and volcanic lithic fragmants. The Kensaki sandstones are, however, poor in Na2O (up to 2.1 wt%). Both petrography and geochemistry suggest a heterogeneous source lithologies of acidic and basic volcanics, sedimentary, and ultramafic rocks. Petrographic evidence is supplied by quartz and plagioclase of volcanic origin, acidic volcanic fragments, basic volcanic fragments, volcanic glass, serpentinite fragments and detrital spinel grains. Geochemical evidence is provided by high FeO* (total iron as FeO), MgO, TiO2, CaO and K2O contents. Petrographic and geochemical study of the Kenseki sandstones indicate calc-alkaline oceanic island are provenance. The sediments were locally derived, with Alpine-type ultramafic rocks exposed in the north and volcanic materials of the Akiyoshi Belt supplying the bulk of the detritus

Students’ errors in solving linear equation word problems: Case study of a Ghanaian senior high school

The study examined errors students make in solving linear equation word problems with a view to expose the nature of these errors and to make suggestions for classroom teaching. A diagnostic test comprising 10 linear equation word problems, was administered to a sample (n=130) of senior high school first year Home Economics and General Arts students in a senior high school in the Central Region of Ghana. The errors students made were identified based on the modified Newman Error Hierarchical levels (NEAL), which comprise reading, comprehension, transformation, process skills and encoding errors. The results revealed that majority (60%) of the students attempted most of the questions with a few (2%) arriving at the correct answer which implies students have difficulties in tackling linear equation word problems. It revealed that about 75% of the students made comprehension errors; 86% made transformation errors which occurred during the translation of the statement to algebraic form; 84% made process skills errors which occurred during computation process, and finally 86% made encoding errors which occurred at the final stages of the work. The proportion of students reaching the encoding level was very few (< 30%). In conclusion, it can be argued from the results that students’ errors in solving linear equation word problems are due largely to their inability to comprehend and interpret the sentences in other to proceed to the process and encoding skills. Recommendations are made for supporting senior high school mathematics teachers in in-service education programmes to increase their efficacy in teaching linear equation word problems

La vida de los pescadores importa: cuestiones sociales en la migración de la pesca en pequeña escala de Ghana

Migration is a common feature of most small-scale fisheries (SSF) across the globe. To enhance fisheries resources sustainability and management, we examined the social issues in the SSF from the perspective of fishers, Chief Fishermen, and Fisheries Technical Officers who are actively involved in SSF migration and fisheries management along the coast of Ghana. We conducted in-depth interviews in six important migrant fishers’ communities and analysed documents on the socio-economic conditions of migrant fishers, conflicts among migrant fishers, rights of migrant fishers and the role of government in managing fishers’ migration. Findings showed that the successful integration of migrant fishers in the host communities resulted in minimal conflictual incidents that are resolved through dialogue. Furthermore, both the Fisheries Technical Officers and Chief Fishermen are involved in conflict resolution depending on the nature of the dispute. Also, most migrant fishers (over 50%) have the same rights as the local fishers, though they are marginalized during the distribution of premix fuel. Migrant fishers with prominent status played key role during decision-making process in the host communities. Overall, the study showed that migrant fishers have aided in the progress of fishing technology, food security, and small-scale business in the host fishing communities. To avert any form of marginalization during the distribution of premix fuel, it is prudent for authorities to develop relevant policies that will ensure that migrant fishers receive enough fuel for their fishing activities in the host communities.La migración es una característica común de la mayoría de las pesquerías de pequeña escala (PPE) en todo el mundo. Para mejorar la sostenibilidad y la gestión de los recursos pesqueros, se examinaron los problemas sociales en las PPE desde la perspectiva de los pescadores, los Jefes de Pescadores y los Oficiales Técnicos de Pesca que participan activamente en la migración y la gestión pesquera de las PPE a lo largo de la costa de Ghana. Se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad en seis importantes comunidades de pescadores migrantes y analizamos documentos sobre las condiciones socioeconómicas de los pescadores migrantes, los conflictos entre los pescadores migrantes, los derechos de los pescadores migrantes y el papel del gobierno en la gestión de la migración de los pescadores. Los hallazgos mostraron que la integración exitosa de los pescadores migrantes en las comunidades de acogida resultó en incidentes conflictivos mínimos que se resuelven a través del diálogo. Además, tanto los Oficiales Técnicos de Pesca como los Jefes de Pescadores están involucrados en la resolución de conflictos, dependiendo de la naturaleza de la disputa. Además, la mayoría de los pescadores migrantes (más de 50%) tienen los mismos derechos que los pescadores locales, aunque son marginados durante la distribución de la premezcla de combustible. Los pescadores migrantes con un estatus destacado desempeñaron un papel clave durante el proceso de toma de decisiones en las comunidades de acogida. En general, el estudio mostró que los pescadores migrantes han ayudado en el progreso de la tecnología pesquera, la seguridad alimentaria y los negocios a pequeña escala en las comunidades pesqueras anfitrionas. Para evitar cualquier forma de marginación durante la distribución de combustible de premezcla, es prudente que las autoridades desarrollen políticas inteligentes que aseguren que los pescadores migrantes reciban suficiente combustible para sus actividades pesqueras en las comunidades de acogida

Primary school mathematics teachers’ ideas, beliefs, and practices of constructivist instructional strategies

The study explored Ghanaian primary school mathematics teachers’ ideas, beliefs and practices of constructivist instructional strategies (CIS). The design for the study was a sequential exploratory design, comprising two hundred and fifty-two (252) mathematics teachers (126 lower primary teachers and 126 upper primary teachers), who were purposively selected from school districts in the Upper East region. The qualitative data consisted of interview responses and lesson observations. The quantitative data consisting mainly of teachers’ responses to 3-point Likert scale questionnaire items, helped to investigate relationship in two quantitative variables. The results indicated that through CIS pupils were able to construct their own understanding, and were willing to follow a learner-centred method of instruction. Additionally, teachers became aware of social interaction and authentic learning tasks, two aspects of CIS. It was also determined that as teachers’ perceptions of CIS increased, their frequency of use of selected CIS correspondingly increased. The implications of this study are that mathematics teachers should be provided with resources that would enable them to teach using CIS. To forestall this, in-service and professional development programmes should continually be organized for teachers to keep them abreast of CIS

Response of hydro-physical properties of a Chromic Luvisol in Ghana to different methods of application of Mucuna pruriens as a soil amendments

The study assessed the response of hydro-physical properties of Chromic Luvisol to different methods of application of Mucuna pruriens as a soil amendments in two separate experiments. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used with the following treatments: 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as green manure (GM), 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as live mulch (LM), 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch (IM) and a control plot which had no Mucuna pruriens as soil amendment. Data were collected on gravimetric (θ_g) and volumetric moisture content ( θ_v), residual moisture storage(R), sorptivity(s), cumulative infiltration (I), bulk density (ρ_b), total porosity (f), aeration porosity (ξ_a), aggregate stability (ASt) and soil temperature, for assessment of hydro-physical properties of the soil. The results from the experiments indicated that Mucuna pruriens as live mulch used as amendment significantly reduce bulk density (ρ_b), increased total porosity (f) and aeration porosity (ξ_a) thus it gave significant improvement on those soil physical properties measured while Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch improved aggregate stability (ASt) and gave optimal soil temperature. In the assessment of soil volumetric moisture content ( θ_v), residual moisture storage(R), sorptivity(s), cumulative infiltration(I), the study shows that Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch recorded the optimal values and was closely followed by Mucuna pruriens as live mulch