Physico-chemical Assessment of Mosquito Breeding Sites from Selected Mining Communities at the Obuasi Municipality in Ghana.

A survey was conducted in the Obuasi Municipality in Ghana to assess the impact of some physic-chemicals in waters of mosquito breeding sites from 15 randomly selected communities. The water samples, collected fortnightly for eight months, were analyzed using spectrophotometry and other standard laboratory protocols at the AngloGold Ashanti Environmental Quality Assurance Laboratory for temperature, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and pH. The physico-chemical parameters which ranged from 17.03 ± 0.18?C - 24.06 ± 0.18?C (temperature), 17.03 ± 4.04mg/L - 96.67 ± 4.04mg/L (TSS), 1.09±3.23mg/L - 35.67±3.23mg/L (TDS), 3.97 ± 0.13mg/L - 7.43 ± 0.13mg/L (DO), 17.00 ± 1.30µScm-3 - 83.00 ± 1.30 µScm-3 (EC) and 7.77 ± 0.0 - 10.70 ± 0.01 (pH) were much lower relative to the EPA Maximum Permissible Limits. It is apparent that under rising temperature conditions of climate change, the mosquito’s habitat may be highly favoured for adaptation and prolific breeding in the tropics and this further creates the opportunity for research partners to get actively involved in finding integrated control measures to counteract the life cycle of the pest. Keywords: Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Municipality, Physio-chemical Analysis, Mosquito Breeding Water

Traced Metals and Nutrients in Mosquito Breeding Sites at the Obuasi Municipality of Ashanti Region in Ghana

A survey was conducted in the Obuasi Municipality to assess the impact of some trace metals and nutrients on mosquito breeding sites from 15 randomly selected communities. The water samples, collected fortnightly for eight months, were analyzed using spectrophotometry and other standard laboratory protocols at the AngloGold Ashanti Environmental Quality Assurance Laboratory. The results on trace metals, and nutrients did not reveal any significant pattern of attendant pollution that would influence the breeding patterns of mosquitoes. However, the trace metals ranged from 0.12±0.01mg/L - 13.42±0.01mg/L and 0.01±0.01mg/L - 0.30±0.01mg/L for Fe and Pb respectively in the waters whilst As and Zn were not detected. For the nutrients - nitrate values which were > 1 ranged from 2mg/L – > 40mg/L. Sulphate levels varied between < 20mg/L and > 200mg/L and were above the EPA Maximun Permissible Limit of 1.5 mg/L  for polluted  natural water bodies. There was no definite pattern in the concentrations of phosphates which varied between 0.1mg/L and 1.5mg/L in the waters. It is apparent that under rising temperature conditions of climate change, the mosquito’s habitat may be highly favoured for adaptation and prolific breeding in the tropics and this further creates the opportunity for research partners to get actively involved in finding integrated control measures to counteract the life cycle of the pest. Keywords: Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Municipality, Traced Metal Analysis, Mosquito Breeding Water

The Grasscutter: An Untapped Resource of Africa’s Grasslands

The grasscutter (or Greater cane rat – Thryonomys swinderianus) is a common rodent in Africa, south of the Sahara. Its distribution ranges from The Gambia to southern Sudan, across the continent down to south Namibia and South Africa (Fritzinger 1995). The grasscutter grows to \u3e 0.5 m in length and weighs ~8 kg. It has characteristic rounded ears, a short nose, coarse bristly hair, and forefeet smaller than its hind feet. Grasscutters are herbivores and their natural diet is mainly grasses and cane, but they also eat bark, fallen fruits, nuts and many different kinds of cultivated crops. Grasscutters get their name from the way they cut the grasses and other foods with their incisors, producing a chattering sound that is relatively loud and very distinguishable (Mills 1997). The meat is highly preferred by a wide range of West Africans and is gaining some acceptance in Central and Southern Africa (Van Zyl et. al. 1999a, Adu et. al 2005). The meat commands a premium price compared to other meat sources, with its sale being a major industry in both urban and rural centres (Adu et al. 2005). Grasscutter farming is therefore being promoted in most countries in West Africa as a model for poverty reduction (Baptist and Mensah 1986). Though various aspects of captive grasscutter production have been studied, it has a low uptake rate as a new farming venture (Anang et. al. 211). This paper therefore attempts to create a broader and clearer picture of the potential of grasscutter farming in parts of Africa where the animal occurs

Adoption of improved cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) technologies in Ghana

The Ghana Grains Development Project has developed and disseminated improved cowpea production technologies to farmers in Ghana since 1985. These technologies were improved varieties, row planting, and the use of pre- and post-flowering insecticides. To assess the extent of adoption of these technologies by farmers, eight cowpea production districts were surveyed across four agro-ecological zones in 1995 in Ghana. A random sample of 313 cowpea farmers participated in the survey. Results indicated that 70 per cent used recommended pre-flowering insecticides, and 26 per cent adopted post-flowering insecticides across the ecological zones. The highest adoption rate for improved varieties was observed in the Forest Zone (97 %). The adoption of row planting was highest in the Forest Zone (100 %), followed by the Guinea Savanna Zone (92 %), and lowest in the Coastal Savanna Zone (58 %). Most farmers agreed that by adopting improved production technologies, their yields and overall production increased, and they made more profit from cowpea cultivation.The whole family participates in various activities associated with cowpea production. However, men do strenuous work like land preparation, weeding and spraying of insecticides, while women and children participate in less strenuous work such as planting, harvesting and threshing. Le Project de Développement des Grains du Ghana a developpé et disséminé les technologies de la production de dolique amélioré aux cultivateurs au Ghana depuis 1985. Ces technologies étaient les variétés améliorées, la culture en lignes et usage d'insecticides avant et après la floraison. Pour évaluer le degré d'adoption de ces technologies par les cultivateurs, un sondage a été entrepris en 1995 en 8 districts de production de dolique à travers quatre zones agro-écologique au Ghana. Un échantillon pris au hasard de 313 cultivateurs de dolique participaient au sondage. Les résultats indiquaient que 70% utilisaient les insecticides d'avant floraison recommandés et 26% adoptaient les insecticides d'après floraison à travers les zones écologiques. La proportion d'adoption la plus élevée pour les variétés améliorées était observée dans la zone forestière (97 %). L'adoption de la culture en lignes est la plus élevée dans la zone forestière (100 %) et suivi par la zone savane-guinéenne (92 %) et la plus faible dans la zone savane-littorale (58 %). La plupart de cultivateurs étaient du même avis que par l'adoption des technologies de production améliorée, leur rendements et la production globale augmentaient, et ils avaient tiré plus de bénéfice de la production de dolique. Toute la famille participent aux activités différentes liées à la production de dolique. Cependant le travail ardu tel que la préparation de terre, le désherbage et la pulvérisation d'insecticide sont faites par les hommes alors que les femmes et les enfants participent aux travaux moins ardus tels que la plantation, la moisson et la battage. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (1) 2006: pp. 25-3

Assessing the variability and predictability of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin and their ratios) in non-obese and obese women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives To assess the variability and predictability of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and their ratios in non-obese and obese women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome (aPCOS). Results A total of 52 ovulatory controls (mean age = 31.63 ± 4.88 years, BMI = 25.33 ± 2.68 kg/m2); 54 non-obese (mean age = 32.11 ± 4.25 years, BMI = 25.72 ± 2.95 kg/m2) and 50 obese women with aPCOS (mean age = 33.64 ± 4.14 years, BMI = 39.19 ± 2.99 kg/m2) were recruited. The aPCOS group had lower adiponectin [13.0 (10.49–16.59) vs 18.42 (15.72–19.92) µg/ml, p \u3c 0.0001], adiponectin: leptin ratio (A:L) [0.60 (0.35–0.88) vs 1.19 (0.92–1.37), p \u3c 0.0001], and adiponectin: resistin ratio (A:R) [0.30 (0.21–0.43) vs 0.42 (0.32–0.62), p \u3c 0.0001] but a higher leptin [20.02 (14.54–26.80) vs 16.17 (14.51–18.36) ng/ml, p \u3c 0.0001] and leptin: resistin ratio (L:R) [0.53 (0.37–0.82) vs 0.40 (0.27–0.48), p \u3c 0.0001] compared to the controls. The obese aPCOS group had lower adiponectin [11.04 (5.66–13.25) vs 14.18 (11.04–18.02), p \u3c 0.0001 and 18.42 (15.72–19.92) µg/ml, p \u3c 0.0001], A:L [0.36 (0.27–0.44) vs 0.78 (0.61–1.16), p \u3c 0.0001 and 1.19 (0.92–1.37), p \u3c 0.0001], and A:R [0.24 (0.17–0.38) vs 0.40 (0.23–0.58), p \u3c 0.0001 and 0.42 (0.32–0.62), p \u3c 0.0001] but a higher leptin [26.80 (14.28–32.09) vs 17.95 (14.86–21.26), p \u3c 0.05 and 16.17 (14.51–18.36) ng/ml, p \u3c 0.0001] and L:R [0.63 (0.46–1.03) vs 0.41 (0.30–0.61), p \u3c 0.0001 and 0.40 (0.27–0.48), p \u3c 0.0001] compared to the non-obese aPCOS and control group, respectively. A:L showed the best discriminatory power in predicting aPCOS (AUC = 0.83), followed by adiponectin alone (AUC = 0.79), L:R and leptin alone (both AUC = 0.69). Resistin alone had the poorest discriminatory power (AUC = 0.48)

The effects of fetal growth on maternal body weight and visceral organ mass in the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck

SUMMARY During pregnancy, maternal metabolism changes to support the gravid uterus and the timing of these changes are a function of both gestational length and fetal number. In order to predict the nutrient requirements throughout pregnancy, it is necessary to know the changes which occur in both the reproductive and maternal tissues. Fifty-seven (57) wild grasscutters were used to investigate the increased nutrient requirement of fetal growth on reproductive and maternal tissues in the grasscutter. The animals were categorized into non-pregnant, early pregnancy (d 1 -50), mid pregnancy (d 51 -100), and late pregnancy (> d 100) status. Maternal organ weights were reported as fresh weight (g), scaled to empty body weight (EBW; g/g), and maternal body weight (MBW; g/g). Carcass weight declined with advancing pregnancy (P = 0.029), as were the lungs, small and large intestines whilst the weights of the kidneys, liver and remaining viscera increased. The total internal organ mass, due mainly to the significant increases in the 'remaining viscera' mass, which is made up of mainly adipose tissues, also increased with advancing pregnancy. From mid pregnancy to late pregnancy, uterine weight increased by 675. 3% (52.33±6.525 v. 353.37±26.580). This suggests that pregnancy imposes a huge metabolic demand on the grasscutter, but the animals appear to mobilize maternal nutrient stores, as well as slow down metabolic rate (as indicated by the increases in the fat component of the remaining viscera mass) to meet requirements of the growing fetus and developing mammary glands

Perceptions of workers on the benefits of institutional source sorting: A case of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR), Accra, Ghana

The management of solid wastes at the workplace in Ghana is characterised by mixed wastes pickup delays, dustbin overflows and leakage of plastic bags into the environment. Benefits from the pilot of source sorting as a mitigation measure at the workplace are unavailable in literature. Hence, the study employed descriptive statistical tools to assess the advantages of a piloted source sorting system at the CSIR-IIR. The sampled size was 100 staff with an 80% questionnaire recovery rate. The analysis of data showed that, the implementation of segregation at source transformed the social approach of workers towards waste management. Most workers (97.7%) preferred sorting their wastes at source irrespective of the location of the generation point. A congenial environment was created by the source separation infra­structure, which made staff worked better, (70% responses). The majority of staff (95.2%) confirmed the savings made by the Institute on the cost of landfilling. The sorting at source improved cleanliness of the compound (97.6% responses) and eliminated open-air burning of wastes (95.1% responses). In all, the source segregation was beneficial to the social, economic and environmental well-being of staff and management of the Institution

USING WET AIR OXIDATION TECHNOLOGY TO DESTROY TETRAPHENYLBORATE

A bench-scale feasibility study on the use of a Wet Air Oxidation (WAO) process to destroy a slurry laden with tetraphenylborate (TPB) compounds has been undertaken. WAO is an aqueous phase process in which soluble and/or insoluble waste constituents are oxidized using oxygen or oxygen in air at elevated temperatures and pressures ranging from 150 C and 1 MPa to 320 C and 22 MPa. The products of the reaction are CO{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O, and low molecular weight oxygenated organics (e.g. acetate, oxalate). Test results indicate WAO is a feasible process for destroying TPB, its primary daughter products [triphenylborane (3PB), diphenylborinic acid (2PB), and phenylboronic acid (1PB)], phenol, and most of the biphenyl byproduct. The required conditions are a temperature of 300 C, a reaction time of 3 hours, 1:1 feed slurry dilution with 2M NaOH solution, the addition of CuSO{sub 4}.5H{sub 2}O solution (500 mg/L Cu) as catalyst, and the addition of 2000 mL/L of antifoam. However, for the destruction of TPB, its daughter compounds (3PB, 2PB, and 1PB), and phenol without consideration for biphenyl destruction, less severe conditions (280 C and 1-hour reaction time with similar remaining above conditions) are adequate

Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: A national multicenter study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prisons are known to be high-risk environments for the spread of bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections. Prison officers are considered to have an intermittent exposure potential to bloodborne infectious diseases on the job, however there has been no studies on the prevalence of these infections in prison officers in Ghana.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A national multicenter cross-sectional study was undertaken on correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections in sample of prison inmates and officers from eight of ten regional central prisons in Ghana. A total of 1366 inmates and 445 officers were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects completed personal risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV and <it>Treponema pallidum</it>; and surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg). These data were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Almost 18% (1336) of 7652 eligible inmates and 21% (445) of 2139 eligible officers in eight study prisons took part. Median ages of inmates and officers were 36.5 years (range 16–84) and 38.1 years (range 25–59), respectively. Among inmates, HIV seroprevalence was 5.9%, syphilis seroprevalence was 16.5%, and 25.5% had HBsAg. Among officers tested, HIV seroprevalence was 4.9%, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7%, syphilis seroprevalence was 7.9%, and 11.7% had HBsAg. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV and syphilis infections among inmates were age between 17–46, being unmarried, being illiterate, female gender, being incarcerated for longer than median time served of 36 months, history of homosexuality, history of intravenous drug use, history of sharing syringes and drug paraphernalia, history of participation in paid sexual activity, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among officers were age between 25–46, fale gender, being unmarried, being employed in prison service for longer than median duration of employment of 10 years, and history of sexually transmitted diseases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The comparably higher prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in prison inmates and officers in Ghana suggests probable occupational related transmission. The implementation of infection control practices and risk reduction programs targeted at prison inmates and officers in Ghana is urgently required to address this substantial exposure risk.</p

Weight management merits attention in women with infertility: A cross-sectional study on the association of anthropometric indices with hormonal imbalance in a Ghanaian population

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the association of anthropometric indices with hormonal imbalance among infertile women in a Ghanaian population. RESULTS: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (18.47 vs. 8.67, p-value = 0.002), and luteinizing hormone (LH) (12.43 vs. 8.01, p-value = 0.044) were higher in women with primary infertility compared with women presenting with secondary infertility. Waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) showed significant negative partial correlation with prolactin in both primary and secondary infertile women. Also a significant negative partial correlation was observed between BMI and prolactin in secondary infertile women only. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) showed a positive association with LH in both primary and secondary infertility. WHR also showed significant positive correlation to LH/FSH ratio in secondary infertility whereas body adiposity index (BAI) showed a negative correlation to LH/FSH ratio. In a correlation analysis of anthropometric measures with hormonal profile and causes of infertility as a fixed factor, the association between anthropometric indices and fertility hormones was largely dependent on the underlying causes of infertility