Entrepreneurship and bank credit rationing in Ghana

Previous researchers have empirically investigated the existence or otherwise of credit rationing of small businesses in both developed and developing economies. Particularly lacking are the study on the evidence of credit rationing on the individual entrepreneurs as founders and/or owner-managers of these small businesses. To fill this gap, this study examines two sets of data from the entrepreneurs of small businesses and the credit managers of commercial banks in Ghana. This study aimed at investigating the extent to which the entrepreneurs of small businesses were able to access bank credit they required for working capital and long-term investment projects. The performance and success of the entrepreneur is largely dependent on the entrepreneur’s level of human and social capital. Entrepreneurs with a higher level of education, prior work experience and social networking are considered to possess a higher competitive advantage over inexperience entrepreneurs in terms of information search, opportunity identification, exploitation and pursuance of resources including finance. This thesis contributes significantly to the development of this accession. The overall results lend support to the argument that the habitual entrepreneur is more likely to have access to external finance at the start of a new venture compared to the novice entrepreneur. Secondly, the habitual (experienced) entrepreneurs for reasons of higher levels of human and social capital are less likely to be credit rationed compared to the novice (inexperienced) entrepreneurs. Thirdly, experienced entrepreneurs located further away from their banks are less likely to be credit rationed compared to novice entrepreneur. This study has several implications for commercial bank managers (practitioners) and policy makers in Ghana in particular and in general for all developing countries

The Three Fishers

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/6275/thumbnail.jp

Performance evaluation of a spring tine cultivator in a sandy loam soil

Selection and matching of appropriate tillage implements for a given farming operation are dependent on the data available on draft parameters for the particular tillage implement. Spring tine cultivator is one of the primary tillage implements commonly used by farmers in the study location. Performance information of spring tine cultivator is vital to enable the cost of tillage operation to be reduced. Field experiments were performed using spring tine cultivator and tractor at three tillage depths (10, 20 and 30 cm) and five tractor speeds (3.6, 5.4, 7.2, 9.0 and 10.8 km/hr) to determine the implement travel speed. The effects of tillage depth and implement travel speed on draft force, unit draft, vertical specific draft, horizontal specific draft and coefficient of pull were accessed. The results showed that increasing the tillage depth or implement travel speed increased the draft force, unit draft and vertical specific draft. The relationship between them is also linear. Increasing the tillage depth equally increase the horizontal specific draft and the coefficient of pull but increasing the implement speed reduce the horizontal specific draft and the coefficient of pull. Approximately 27.5 % of the draft force was focused towards cutting the soil and 72.5 % was spent in pulverization of the soil particles. The values of the vertical specific draft were much more than those of the horizontal specific draft for all the tillage depths and the implement travel speeds. The tillage depth had more influence on the draft, unit draft, specific draft and the coefficient of pull than the implement travel speed

Multidisciplinary design and optimisation of liquid containers for sloshing and impact

The purpose of this study is to perform an investigation of the numerical methods that may contribute to the design and analysis of liquid containers. The study examines several of these methods individually, namely Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of sloshing and Finite Element Methods (FEM) analysis of impact, to evaluate their contribution to the design cycle. Techniques that enhance the use of the various methods are presented and examined to demonstrate effectiveness. In the case of sloshing analysis, experimental tests performed add to the understanding of the phenomena at hand and qualifies the validity of the numerical method used (CFD). As a final contribution, the study presents a method of utilising impact analysis tools, FEM, and CFD in a Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO) environment. This is an introductory attempt at demonstrating a single coupled multidisciplinary method of designing liquid containers. The results of the study demonstrate a number of valuable numerical techniques that may be used in the design of liquid containers. The presented Total Deviation Value (TDV) proves to be an effective single quantification of sloshing performance and the CFD tools used to determine the value demonstrate sufficient ability to reproduce the sloshing event itself. More advanced experimental facilities would provide a more in-depth understanding of the limitations of the CFD analysis. The use of numerical optimisation adds a valuable dimension to the use of numerical simulations. Significant design improvements are possible for several design variables without performing exhaustive studies and provide interesting information about design trends. Finally, the use of multiple disciplines, FEM and CFD, in conjunction with the available numerical optimisation routines offers a powerful multidisciplinary design tool that can be adapted to any base geometry and is capable of finding optimal trade offs between the two disciplines according to the designer’s needs. This study provides a platform for further investigations in the use and coupling of sloshing and impact analysis in the design of industrial liquid container applications.Dissertation (MEng (Mechanical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineeringunrestricte

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of CTX-M-type Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Accra, Ghana

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are plasmid-mediated beta lactamases that are capable of hydrolysing beta-lactams except carbapenems and cephamycins. The most common ESBL types include CTX-M, TEM and SHV. This genetic diversity in the various ESBL-producing organisms may reflect characteristic differences in relation to pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance expression, response to therapy, transmission and infection control. This work sought to determine the characteristic antibiotic minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) and antimicrobial sensitivity profile of CTX-M-type ESBLs in Accra. Hundred (100) DNA templates were extracted from ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates. The specific ESBL types were determined by polymerase chain reaction with specific primers and reaction conditions. The MICs of the antibiotics were determined using Vitek 2 Compact System (bioMérieux, Marcy I’Etoile, France). The results showed that CTX-M-type ESBL have cefotaxime MIC in the resistant range of >64 µg/ml. The CTX-M-type ß-lactamases showed co-resistances to gentamicin (88.6%), tetracycline (71.4%), trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (98.6%).The resistance of CTX-M-type ESBL producing organisms to fluoroquinolones have been well established in this work with resistances in ciprofloxacin (71.4%) and norfloxacin (71.4%) with MIC90 being >4 µg/ml and >16 µg/ml respectively. The beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combination of piperacillin-tazobactam was more susceptible to CTX-M-type ESBL than amoxicillin-clavulanate. Imipenem and amikacin has been established as the in vitro drug of choice for the management of organisms producing CTX-M-type ESBL in this present work. Efforts should be made to control the increasing prevalence of CTX-M-type producing organisms in the communities and hospital settings in Accra with their adverse multiple-drug resistance. Keywords: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase, CTX-M-type ESBL, Resistance, Antibiotics

Indigenous Knowledge in Esan Proverbs of Edo State Nigeria

The Esan people are an ethnicity in the Edo state of Nigeria. Their language and culture are a subset of the larger Edo ethnic group in Nigeria. A close study of the Esan indigenous knowledge and culture reveals that the appeal of the Esan folk proverbs is in their eclectic nature because of their portrayal of diverse issues in the Esan cosmology and belief system, ranging from folk art to traditional health care beliefs and practices. This finding suggests that the subject of Esan proverbs deserves some scholarly attention. This article, therefore, examines the nature of Esan proverbs even as they perform their didactic and pedagogical functions in contemporary Esan parlance. By its nature, this study adopted a combination of research approaches, which included content analysis, library searches, and ethnographic methods such as interviews and observations. In the ethnographic study of a specific Nigerian with a focus on its proverbs, this paper’s research light shall beam over the five local government areas (LGAs) populated by the Esan people in the Edo State of Nigeria. Apart from its potential for insightful scholarship, the significance of this study on Esan proverbs also lies in the fact that inquiries into the indigenous knowledge system (IKS) portray folk proverbs as veritable windows into the culture and essence of a people. Indigenous knowledge has much more impact on contemporary society than people know

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Non-Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Accra, Ghana

One of the major challenges facing health professionals is the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Most Gram-negative bacteria produce beta-lactamases which are enzymes that in-activate ?-lactams. Recent publications suggested that extended spectrum beta-lactamase production in E. coli and K. pneumoniae is one of the main causes of antimicrobial resistance in penicillins, cephalosporins and some non-beta-lactam antibiotics in Accra. This present work sought to determine the resistance profile of antimicrobials to non-ESBL-producing isolates in Accra. The 400 K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates were screened for non-ESBL-producing strains using the combined disk method. The minimum inhibition concentration for 17 antibiotics was determined using Vitek 2 Compact System (bioMérieux, Marcy I’Etoile, France).  Among the 400 total bacterial isolates, 198 (49.5%) were non-ESBL producers. Co-resistances to ampicillin (66.7%), piperacillin (59.1%), tetracycline (77.8%) and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (68.2%) have been collaborated in this work. The increasing rise in resistance to the beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination antibiotics such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (13.6%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (18.7%) is problematic since they have become the empirical drug of choice for treating most infections. The steady increase in resistance to gentamicin (17.2%) as well as the floroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin (39.4%) and norfloxacin (34.9%) is alarming. In the absence of ESBLs, cephalosporins generally have been effective in treating infections caused by enterobacteria. Nitrofurantoin remains reliable for managing non-life threatening urinary tract infections. Amikacin and imipenem continue to be effective third-line treatment options for Gram-negative bacteria infections.  As antibiotic resistance increases and the development of new antimicrobials declines, it is imperative that we use antimicrobials that are still effective rationally. Evidence based antibiotic prescriptions and usage as well as regular evaluation of antibiotic resistance will help to control the spread of antibiotic resistance in Accra, Ghana. Keywords: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase, Resistance, Antibioti

Health Implications of Sanitation in a Public Abattoir in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background Meat, a universal staple food item is gotten primarily from farm animals after slaughtering and preparation in abattoirs or slaughter houses. The slaughtering of animals in abattoirs or slaughter  houses ensures the production of supervised, wholesome and healthy meat and meat products. There are  pointers that this may not be the situation in all abattoirs in developing countries like Nigeria.Aim The study was aimed at evaluating sanitary conditions and their attendant health implications at the  Port-Harcourt abattoir. Methodology Following ethical approval, this descriptive cross-sectional study started with a  reconnaissance work through survey to the Port Harcourt abattoir. Thereafter, respondents were selected  by stratified sampling with proportionate representation of all categories of operators in the calculated sample size of 7 4 respondents. Data were collected using structured self (and in some cases, interviewer) administered questionnaires and processed using Microsoft Excel package and presented in  tables.Results The study showed that the operators were mostly (1 00%) in agreement that infrastructure and processes like lairage, waste disposal, water, pest and animal inspection were either non functional or below acceptable standards. The walk through (done with a checklist of the components of sanitation)  further buttressed responses of the participants as the abattoir was lacking in hygiene, space,  infrastructure and services.Conclusion This abattoir is lacking in infrastructure and operation as attested to by the operators and the walk through. There is the need to upgrade facilities at the slaughter house. In addition health  education of the operators on modern, more hygienic and safer abattoir practices is advocated.Keywords: Public Abattoir; Sanitation; Port Harcourt

Effects of phosphatidylserine supplementation on exercising humans.

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of oral soy-derived phosphatidylserine (S-PtdSer) supplementation on the physiological responses to exercise, exercise performance/capacity and recovery following exercise. The results from this research provide evidence that short-term supplementation with 750 mg.d-1 S-PtdSer: 1. does not influence concentrations of cortisol or adrenocorticosteroid hormone in the circulation in young active male subjects. These data suggest that the current supplementation regime does not affect exercise-induced changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. 2. is ineffective in attenuating the deleterious effects of exercise on perceived soreness, muscle damage, inflammation and oxidative stress in young active male subjects following eccentric exercise with a relatively low metabolic demand. 3. improved exercise capacity following intermittent cycling and tended to improve performance during prolonged intermittent running. These findings suggest that S-PtdSer might possess potential ergogenic properties. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for these findings remain to be determined. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)