Determination of the Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Cocoa Beans from Selected Cocoa- Growing Areas in Western and Ashanti Regions of Ghana

In this study, six heavy metals in cocoa beans from some cocoa-growing towns in the Western and Ashanti regions were determined after acid digestion using analytical grades of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated hydrochloric acid. Cadmium, lead, copper, Manganese, Iron and zinc in the samples were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The metal levels in cocoa beans from the Western region, expressed in mg/ kg varied from 0.045 to 0.066 with mean value of 0.054 for cadmium, from 0.013 to 0.03 with mean value of 0.02 for lead, from 46.47 to 55.17 with mean value of 51.98 for copper, from 48.36 to 64.65 with mean value of 55.18 for manganese, from 43.80 to 53.11 with the mean value of 47.51 iron, from 43.04 to 52.06 with the mean value of 48.29 for zinc. That of Ashanti region ranged from 0.05 to 0.065 with the mean value of 0.056 for cadmium, from 0.014 to 0.02 with the mean value of 0.017 for lead, from 47.43 to 54.17nwith the mean values of 49.10 for copper, from 47.15 to 57.34 with the mean value of 54.62 for manganese, from 50.23 to 63.87 with the mean value of 54.63 for iron and from 53.02 to 58.71 with the mean value of 56.49 for zinc. For overall conclusion, heavy metals were present in all samples but the levels of zinc, copper, iron and manganese which are considered as essential elements were high as compared to the toxic cadmium and lead. Levels according to codex set up by FAO/WHO therefore makes cocoa beans from the Western and Ashanti regions of Ghana analyzed in this study  safe for consumption

Analyse der Stadterweiterung und ihrer Auswirkungen auf die Temperatur mit Hilfe von Fernerkundung und GIS-Techniken in der Metropole Accra in Ghana (1986-2022)

The Accra Metropolis of Ghana has experienced rapid urban expansion over the past decades. Agricultural and forest-lands have been transformed into urban/built-up areas. This study analysed urban expansion and its relationship with the temperature of Accra from 1986 to 2022. Multi-source datasets such as remote sensing (RS) and other ancillary data were utilised. Land use land cover (LULC) maps were produced employing the random forests classifier. Land surface temperature (LST) and selected d(RS) Indices were extracted. Regression techniques assessed the interplay between LST and remote sensing indices. The LULC maps revealed increasing trends in the urban/built-up areas at the expense of the other LULC types. The analysis from the LST and the RS indices revealed a direct relationship between temperature and urban/built-up areas and an inverse relationship between temperature and vegetation. Thus, spatial urban expansion has modified the urban temperature of Accra. The integrated utilisation of RS and GIS demonstrated to be an efficient approach for analysing and monitoring urban expansion and its relationship with temperature.Die Metropole Accra in Ghana hat in den letzten Jahrzehnten eine rasante Ausdehnung des Stadtgebietes erlebt. Landwirtschaftliche Flächen und Waldgebiete wurden in städtische/bebaute Gebiete umgewandelt. Diese Studie untersuchte die städtische Expansion und ihre Beziehung zur Temperatur in Accra von 1986 bis 2022. Es wurden Daten aus mehreren Quellen wie Fernerkundung (Remote Sensing, RS) und andere Zusatzdaten verwendet. Landnutzungs- und Landbedeckungskarten (Land Use Land Cover, LULC) wurden mit Hilfe des Random-Forest-Klassifikators erstellt. Landoberflächentemperatur (Land Surface Temperature, LST) und ausgewählte d(RS)-Indizes wurden extrahiert. Mit Regressionstechniken wurde das Zusammenspiel zwischen LST und Fernerkundungsindizes untersucht. Die LULC-Karten zeigten zunehmende Trends in den städtischen/bebauten Gebieten auf Kosten der anderen LULC-Typen. Die Analyse der LST- und RS-Indizes ergab eine direkte Beziehung zwischen Temperatur und städtischen/bebauten Gebieten und eine umgekehrte Beziehung zwischen Temperatur und Vegetation. Somit hat die räumliche Ausdehnung der Städte die städtische Temperatur in Accra verändert. Die integrierte Nutzung von RS und GIS erwies sich als effizienter Ansatz für die Analyse und Überwachung der städtischen Expansion und ihrer Beziehung zur Temperatur

Predictors of Anxiety-Induced Sleep Disturbance among in-School Adolescents in Ghana: Evidence from the 2012 Global School-Based Health Survey

Ahinkorah BO, Aboagye RG, Arthur-Holmes F, et al. Predictors of Anxiety-Induced Sleep Disturbance among in-School Adolescents in Ghana: Evidence from the 2012 Global School-Based Health Survey. Behavioral Sciences. 2021;11(2):1-10.(1) Background: Psychological problems of adolescents have become a global health and safety concern. Empirical evidence has shown that adolescents experience diverse mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, and emotional disorders). However, research on anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents has received less attention, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study’s central focus was to examine factors associated with t anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents in Ghana. (2) Methods: Analysis was performed using the 2012 Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS). A sample of 1342 in-school adolescents was included in the analysis. The outcome variable was anxiety-induced sleep disturbance reported during the past 12 months. Frequencies, percentages, chi-square, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results from the multivariable logistic regression analysis were presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and with a statistical significance declared at p < 0.05. (3) Results: Adolescents who went hungry were more likely to report anxiety-induced sleep disturbance compared to their counterparts who did not report hunger (aOR = 1.68, CI = 1.10, 2.57). The odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance were higher among adolescents who felt lonely compared to those that never felt lonely (aOR = 2.82, CI = 1.98, 4.01). Adolescents who had sustained injury were more likely to have anxiety-induced sleep disturbance (aOR = 1.49, CI = 1.03, 2.14) compared to those who had no injury. Compared to adolescents who never had suicidal ideations, those who reported experiencing suicidal ideations had higher odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance (aOR = 1.68, CI = 1.05, 2.71). (4) Conclusions: Anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents were significantly influenced by the psychosocial determinants such as hunger, loneliness, injury, and suicidal ideation in this study. The findings can help design appropriate interventions through effective strategies (e.g., early school-based screening, cognitive-behavioral therapy, face-face counseling services) to reduce psychosocial problems among in-school adolescents in Ghana