Growth and Phosphorus Uptake Responses of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verde) to Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in two Acid Soils

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza on growth and nutrient uptake by bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) grown in two acid soils (Basachia series, a Haplustox and Udu series, a Gleyic Luvisol) was investigated in a phytotron. The aim was to determine the extent of infection in the roots of V. subterranea plants by indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and its effect on the uptake of phosphorus and dry matter production. The soils were analyzed to determine exchangeable cations, exchangeable aluminium ammonium, and nitrate nitrogen and available phosphorus. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculum was produced from pot cultures of  mycorrhizal fungi indigenous to the soils using highly mycorrhizal onion plants in non-sterile samples of the soils. Bambara groundnut was planted in the soils with and without the application of inoculum. Inoculation of soils with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly enhanced the uptake of phosphorus in both soils. Dry matter production in mycorrhizal plants was significantly greater than non-mycorrhizal plants. The dependency of V. subterranea on the mycorrhizal condition for improved growth evaluated in Basachia series and Udu series soils, were 16.95% and 20% respectively. It is suggested that the arbuscular mycorrhizal association in bambara groundnut could be harnessed to improve the uptake of nutrients such as phosphorus in soils with marginal fertility to increase yields.Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Vigna subterranea, mycorrhizal dependency, phosphorus uptake

Energy efficient lighting in the residences of staff of the University of Education, Winneba

It is estimated that 15% of electric power production is used for lighting consumption in Ghana. This figure is likely to increase as the country develops. There is no doubt therefore, that improving the energy efficiency of lighting in Ghana could have a great impact on Ghana's energy consumption, and subsequently, on the economy. The study is to investigate the level to which energy-efficient lighting systems are being used in some selected bungalows at the University of Education, Winneba, in Ghana. Forty bungalows were selected for the survey. A questionnaire was used to ascertain information on compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) as an energy-efficient lighting system. The results of the study show that even though academics in the university have received information about the use of CFLs as a way of saving energy, very few show interest in their use. It is inferred that lamp prices could be a more important influence on consumer's choice of efficient lamp than the cost of electricity. Market barriers, such as cost of and fundamental problems with the use of CFLs are discussed along with appropriate remedies. African Journal of Educational Studies in Mathematics and Sciences Vol. 2(2) 2004: 31-3

Heterogeneous responses of dorsal root ganglion neurons in neuropathies induced by peripheral nerve trauma and the antiretroviral drug stavudine

© 2014 The Authors. European Journal of Pain published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Pain Federation - EFIC®. Funding sources E.K.B. was funded by a BBSRC PhD studentship. A.N., A.S.C.R. and T.P. were funded by a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (London Pain Consortium; ref. 083259). A.S.C.R. and W.H. were funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking (Europain; grant agreement no. 115007). We thank Pfizer for providing stavudine. Conflicts of interest None declared. Funded by BBSRC PhD studentship Wellcome Trust Strategic Award. Grant Number: 083259 Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking. Grant Number: 115007Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Spatial Analysis of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of Ghana

Abstract In recent times there have been lots of public outcry on the environmental and public health and safety effects of Artisanal and Small-scale gold Mining (ASM) and the need to monitor ASM activities for reclamation purposes. To effectively develop and deploy policy responses to the environmental and human health effects of ASM, knowledge of the locations and distribution of ASM sites is a prerequisite. However, information regarding ASM hotspots and spatial distribution, the scope and types of ASM operations are hard to find. Therefore, this research was designed to use satellite-based data to map out ASM sites, focusing on the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality as the study area. Several image processing techniques were applied on a Landsat 8 satellite image downloaded from the US Geological Survey website. The image processing resulted in the identification of 221 clusters of ASM sites, representing 12.72% of the total size of the study area. To further explore the effects of these ASM sites, Areas of Interest (AOI) including forest reserve, rivers, large-scale mines and urban settlements were defined. By selecting and analysing the location and distribution of the ASM sites in relations to the AOI, the study was effective in identifying environmentally sensitive and critical areas warranting the urgent attention of society to mitigate the health, safety and ecosystem service effects of ASM in the study area. By identifying the environmental sensitive areas being affected by ASM, the findings could support the prioritisation of reclamation efforts.   Keywords: Artisanal Small-Scale Mining, Satellite Image, Environmental Effect, Public Health and Safet

Microbial removal efficiency of a natural wastewater treatment system and the impact of its effluent on receiving waters

The discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater into streams is a huge problem indeveloping countries in that it leads to severe environmental degradation, and, also, poses serious public health challenges to communities which live downstream. The study investigated the microbial removal efficiency of individual ponds of a waste stabilization pond system and the overall performance of the treatment systems in the removal of indicator bacteria and organic matter. The impact of the discharged effluent on the receiving waters was evaluated. The final effluent concentration of BOD and TSS were 1.7±1.2 and 10.1±4.3 mg/l, representing overall removal efficiencies of 98.7 and 98.6 percent, respectively. Overall log removal of faecal coliform (FC) and E. coli were 3.8, and 4.7 log units, representing a percentage removal of 98.4 and 99.8 percent, respectively. The mean diversity upstream was 0.11±0.09 while the downstream was 0.14±0.05, and this was not statistically different. The presence of macro-invertebrate families of Elmidae and Libellulidae downstream the point of discharge is an indication of good water quality

Modelling of Malaria Risk Areas in Ghana by using Environmental and Anthropogenic Variables – A Spatial Multi- Criteria Approach

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana, accounting for over three million cases and thousands of deaths annually. The risks of morbidity and mortality associated with malaria are characterized by spatial and temporal variation across the country. This research sought to use GIS and multi-criteria decision analysis to produce a predictive model of malaria using eight risk factors ranging from environmental to anthropogenic. Each of the risk factors was classified into three classes of malaria risk according to how it impacts malaria prevalence. The classified risk factors were finally overlaid through the use of weighted overlay after weights were determined from them using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Results indicate that high risk areas are concentrated at the central as well as the west-southern parts of the country consisting mainly of the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Central and the Western Regions. No area was classified as low risk while 53.51% and 46.49% were classified as medium and high risk respectively. The risk map created can serve not only as a predictive tool, but can be used to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of malariatransmission.Keywords: Malaria, GIS, Analytical Hierarchy Process, Weighted Overla

Gender and Water Management Practices in Ghana

This article discusses gender and water management practices in the Asante Akim South District in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, eight communities from four out of six towns operating under the Phase III of the Rural Water Supply Project (RWSP) were selected. The study reveals a difference in the level of participation of men and women in decision-making and planning in RWSP. Fear, criticisms from other women, domestic and economic activities were major challenges to women’s participation in RWSP. The study concludes that, though women showed high participation in the management of RWSP, their participation in decision-making and planning was low. The study demonstrates that since gender plays a vital role in water management, it is crucial that men and women be educated on the importance of women’s active role in decision-making and planning in RWSP, to enhance its effective management. Key words: gender, rural, water supply, water management, participation, communit

Variations in the level of resistance to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) infestation among ten cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes

The cultivation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) cultivars that are tolerant to root-knot nematode attack is among the environmentally safe approach to managing the root-knot nematode menace in cultivated crops. In this study, the tolerance of 10 cowpea genotypes to root-knot nematodes infestation was evaluated in a pot experiment conducted in a Screenhouse, at the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. The number of second stage juveniles (J2) per 250 cm3 of soil sample were counted while the severity of root-knot nematode damage (root galls) was assessed. The reproduction index (RI) was used to classify the varieties as resistant or susceptible. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the number of second stage juveniles of root-knot nematode (RKN), galling index and RI among the genotypes tested. The study revealed that cowpea genotypes SARI 1-4-90, Padi tuya, Songotra, IT99K-1122, Sanzi and Apagbaala were moderately resistant whereas cowpea genotypes IT86D-610, Zaayura, SARI 5-5-5 and IT07K-299-6 were slightly resistant. Thus, the six moderately resistant cowpea genotypes were suggested to be used as a source of resistance to RKN in future breeding works