Identity and mothering: The second generation of Ghanaian migrants

Despite the vast literature in existence concerning the topic of ‘motherhood’, limited studies have been attempted to explore the mothering experiences of British ethnic minority mothers living in the United Kingdom. This study was undertaken with the aim of exploring, clarifying and describing the phenomenon of ‘identity’ and its influence on the mothering practices of eight minority mothers, giving voice to their experiences. A reflexive heuristic methodology was applied and Van Kaam’s modified method of analysis was utilised. The findings revealed that ‘identity’ is a complex phenomenon. Rather than remaining defined by their racial, intergenerational or cultural group associations, the mothers were altering their mothering techniques to suit their preferences and this process appeared to be one which remained open to modification

Developing a trauma-informed model of suicide risk management

Suicide risk management is a core function of Western mental health services. Traditionally, approaches to suicide risk management have privileged physical over psychological safety. However, some mental health service users and staff have called for alternative approaches, and research points to a changing landscape in the culture of risk management. The current paper sought to gain a broad overview of the positions taken in relation to the clinical practice of suicide risk management. The review adopted a scoping methodology and identified 29 articles that documented approaches to suicide risk management that have been put forward in Western2 mental health settings. In reviewing the literature, four approaches were identified: The technical approach, the technical-collaborative approach, the relational approach, and the self-determining approach. For each approach, the paper explores the underlying theoretical assumptions, clinical practices, and relational processes between service users and staff. In outlining and explaining the wider range approaches, this analysis allows questioning of the taken-for-granted assumptions of mainstream services, that arguably keep services stuck, and hopefully frees up space for different approache

Influence of composted organic waste and urea fertilization on rice yield, N-use efficiency and soil chemical characteristics

Nutrient mining in rice-rice cropping system due to inadequate amount of chemical fertilizer applied is one of the reasons for low rice yield in Ghana. To address this challenge, a field trial was initiated to determine the best nutrient management option to improve yield of rice and soil fertility. The field experiment was conducted at the University of Ghana’s Soil and Irrigation Research Centre - Kpong during 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons to evaluate the influence of composted organic waste and urea fertilization on rice yield, Nitrogen-use efficiency and soil chemical characteristics. The study was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and six treatments as follows; N1: Control (no nitrogen application), N2: 100% N from compost, N3: 50% N from compost + 50% N from urea, N4: 70% N from compost + 30% N from urea, N5: 30% N from compost + 70% N from urea, N6: 100% N from urea. N fertilization through compost or urea increased grain yield, yield components, N uptake, N use efficiency and also improved the chemical properties of the soil than the control. Although grain yield under 100% Urea N, and combination of compost N + Urea N at ratio of 50:50 and 30:70 were at par, the soil chemical property significantly improved through integrated compost- urea application. The study indicated that substituting 30 or 50% of the required urea N with the same amount of N through compost improved both soil chemical property and rice yield

Cybercrime and Risks for Cyber Physical Systems

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) is the integration of computation and physical systems that make a complete system such as the network, software, embedded systems, and physical components. Major industries such as industrial plants, transport, national grid, and communication systems depend heavily on CPS for financial and economic growth. However, these components may have inherent threats and vulnerabilities on them that may run the risk of being attacked, manipulated or exploited by cyber attackers and commit cybercrimes. Cybercriminals in their quest to bring down these systems may cause disruption of services either for fame, data theft, revenge, political motive, economic war, cyber terrorism, and cyberwar. Therefore, identifying the risks has become imperative in mitigating the cybercrimes. This paper seeks to identify cybercrimes and risks that are associated with a smart grid business application system to determine the motives and intents of the cybercriminal. The paper identified four goals to mitigate the risks: as business value, organizational requirements, threat agent and impact vectors. We used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the importance of the goals that contribute to identifying cybercrime and risks in CPS. For the results, a case study is used to identify the threat and vulnerable spots and the prioritized goals are then used to assess the risks using a semi-quantitative approach to determine the net threat level. The results indicate that using the AHP approach to identify cybercrime and risk on CPS provides specific risk mitigation goals

BSE and the US Economy: Input-Output Model Perspective

The potential impact of a BSE outbreak on the US economy is modeled in input-output setting using 2002 US IMPLAN data. An outbreak of BSE would hurt the US beef industry, other agriculturally-related industry, and the rest of the economy as a whole. The worse effects occur in the beef cattle and farming industries. Generally, the economy of every county would be hurt given the fact that cattle are produced in all the 50 states. But it is apparent that the damage would be substantial in those regions and households which already suffer the severest economic damage.Livestock Production/Industries,

Field evaluation of non-synthetic insecticides for the management of insect pests of okra Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench in Ghana

In a two-year study, aqueous seed extracts of the neem tree Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) and Bacillus thurigiensis (Bt) were evaluated in the field for the management of pests of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. The aqueous neem seed extracts were applied at the rate of 30, 50, 75 and 100 g/l and B.thurigiensis was applied at the rate 1.0 g/l of water. Actellic 25 EC, a synthetic insecticide, was applied at the rate of 2 ml/l as standard check. Arthropod fauna on okra were sampled using traps, sweep nets, aspirators and handpicking. The nature of damage caused to the stems, leaves, flowers and fruit was assessed by visual observation. The major insect pests of okra collected were Podagrica uniformis Jac, Aphis gossypii Glov, Sylepta derogata (F.), Spodoptera litoralis Boisd, Prodenia litura (F.), Dysdercus superstitiosus (F.), Epilachna similis (F.), Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) and Zonocerus variegatus (F.). These pests were observed attacking mainly the leaves of okra. Some of the minor pests identified were Lagria villosa (F.), L. cuprina Thoms, Mylabris temporalis Wellni, M. trifasciata (Thumb.), Lapidognatha sp and Empoasca devastans (D.). Actellic, neem seed extract and Bt significantly reduced the population and damage caused by the major insect pests of okra recorded at Legon, Ghana compared to the untreated. Actellic and aqueous neem seed extracts were equally effective against the pests of okra and caused a significant reduction in insect damage to the leaves, flowers and fruit of the crop. There were no significant differences among the different dosages of neem seed extract on all the parameters assessed, with the exception of the final fruit yield. Actellic, neem extracts or Bt produced higher yield of marketable fruit of okra than untreated plants. Neem seed extract applied at the rate of 30 g/l of water to okra plants produced lower fruit yield than those treated with 50 g or more. Aqueous neem seed extracts and Bt can be used effectively by farmers as a component of integrated management of pests of okra in Ghana. Key words/phrases: Bacillus thurigiensis (Bt), insect pests, neem seed extract, non-synthetic insecticides, okra SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.26(2) 2003: 145-15

Young adults' experiences of dialysis or kidney transplant decision-making

Young adults with kidney failure experience disruptions in their education, growth development, building relationships and face employment problems during the journey of the disease (Murray et al., 2014). Once their kidneys fail, they need to make a choice about which dialysis treatment to have or whether they prefer the option of kidney transplant. So, they have to work with their health care professionals to make decisions to select their preferred dialysis or kidney transplant choice. This is known as shared decision-making. The three-talk model of shared decision making shown on the screen is used as a guide by health care professionals to encourage discussions of treatment options with patients during the shared decision-making process (Elwyn et al., 2018). A recent report by the renal registry highlighted that over 50% of young adults with kidney failure started haemodialysis as their first treatment option and less of them (14.1%) received a kidney transplant, although kidney transplantation is recommended as the best treatment (NICE, 2014). Evidence suggests that among adults with kidney failure, not all patients receive timely information on kidney failure treatment options to enable them share in the decision-making or make an informed choice, which falls short of the recommended guidelines. It matters because little is known about young adults with kidney failure experiences of dialysis or kidney transplant decision-making and how the decision to select a dialysis or kidney transplant choice may have impacted on their psychosocial and mental well-being. This is where my study plays an important role. Our involvement group who have dialysis and kidney transplant experiences as children and young adults, suggested that the study should focus on the impact of decision-making on the psychosocial and mental well-being of young adults as it was a neglected area and their views incorporated. My study will explore young adults’ experiences of decision-making to select a dialysis or kidney transplant choice. It will examine the impact of dialysis or kidney transplant decision-making on young adults psychosocial and mental well-being. Lastly it will seek to understand how young adults can be better supported during the decision-making process to enhance their coping abilities and participation in the decision-making process

Effect of Irrigation Management Methods on Growth, Grain Yield and Water Productivity of Three Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties

It has been predicted that Ghana will face water shortage by the year 2025 due to increased demand of water resources from all sectors of the economy. Rice production will be negatively affected since rice consumes the highest amount of water in the agricultural sector. To develop a strategy to reduce water use for rice production while maintaining or increasing rice yield, a pot experiment was carried out in the screen house at Soil and Irrigation Research Centre - Kpong during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons to determine the effect of irrigation management methods on growth, yield and water productivity of three rice varieties. A three by five (3 x 5) factorial experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated six (6) times. The levels of the variety were: Agra (VA), Ex Baika (VB) and a hybrid (VH). Irrigation management methods included: continuous submergence (I1), alternate wet and dry soil condition (AWD) from transplanting to panicle initiation (PI) then submergence to harvest (I2), AWD from transplanting to booting then submergence to harvest (I3), AWD from transplanting to lowering then submergence to harvest (I4), and continuous AWD (I5). Results from the experiment revealed that, I3 saved 21.7% and 20.4% of water used when compared with I1 in 2016 and 2017, respectively however, these treatments produced similar growth and yield in both seasons. I3VH recorded 21.2% and 20.8% of water saved in 2016 and 2017, respectively however, it produced similar grain yield with I2VH and I1VH treatments in both seasons