CONTINUING PAIN IN A COLLEGIATE FEMALE ACROBATICS AND TUMBLING ATHLETE POST SURGICAL REPAIR ON ANTERIOR TEAR OF SHOULDER LABRUM

Background A 22-year old collegiate acrobatics and tumbling female athlete underwent a SLAP repair surgery on her right shoulder and received physical therapy for ten months before reproduction of similar symptoms developed. Differential Diagnosis Rotator cuff tear, bicipital tendonitis, shoulder impingement syndrome, multidirectional instability. Treatment The patient underwent two separate surgeries that were 10 months apart. First surgery was a repair of the anterior labrum and clean-up of the rotator cuff and bicep tendon due to fraying. Patient then was completing surgery when pain and sensations arose. A non-surgical approach was taken with three injections in the bicep tendon, shoulder capsule, and interior of the glenohumeral joint. Following that pain had not diminished at all, so surgery two took place where inflammation and additional fraying of the rotator cuff and biceps tendon was discovered again, cleaned up and returned to rehab. Uniqueness Injuries in the shoulder on extensive overhead athletes is common however anterior tears of the labrum are not as common as posterior tears. Additionally, with multiple surgeries on various anatomical features of the shoulder and no diagnosis as to the cause of continuous pain and sensations experienced by the athlete. Conclusions With little knowledge of the source of pain and symptoms. The goal of treatment and rehabilitation would now be to help the athlete now attain quality of life pain free, and with full range of motion

A Study of Factors Affecting Adolescent Perceptions of Psychosocial Adjustment After Parental Divorce in Ghana

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Vermicompost as a fertilizer for urban and peri-urban farms: Perceptions of farmers in Accra, Ghana

Vermicompost is considered a valuable organic fertilizer in many tropical regions, but has rarely been used in sub-Saharan Africa. A study in Accra, Ghana, assessed urban and peri-urban (UP) farmers’ fertilizer and pesticide use, knowledge of earthworms, fertilizer performance criteria, and attitudes toward vermicompost as a fertilizer. Twenty-six farmers involved in irrigated vegetable farming and three subsistence farmers were interviewed. Farmers were aware that earthworm activity was associated with soil fertility, and some associated insecticide applications to reduced earthworm populations. Farmers used the greenness of leaves, crop emergence, stand and yield as indicators of fertilizer performance. Farmers resisted making statements about vermicompost before testing it, and advised that its fertilizer value be tested during the dry season. Farmers involved in irrigated vegetable farming had insufficient space and time for on-farm vermicomposting, while subsistence farmers lacked a reliable access to water necessary for on-farm vermicomposting; but both types of farmers were interested in adopting vermicompost if it improved crop performance. Such lack of farm resources suggest that a commercial facility would be best suited to produce vermicompost from organic waste, which would then be sold to farmers

Prospecting for Groundwater Using the Continuous Vertical Electrical Sounding Method

2-D CVES surveys using the Wenner configuration was carried out in 22 communities in the Tain District, Ghana. This was done with the objectives of assessing the subsurface geology, identify high groundwater potential zones for drilling high-yielding boreholes that could yield sustainable amount of groundwater. The collected resistivity data were converted from the apparent resistivity to 2-D modelsection using the least-square inversion algorithm with the help of Res2DInv software. The 2-D resistivity model-sections produced a high quality structural resolution leading to the demarcation of the layering of various lithological units, weathered layers and identification of important structures such as joints, fractures and faults. Quantitatively, it can be observed that all the drilled wet wells have aquifer zones between 30 m and 60 m within sandstone, siltstone and phyllite granitic environments. The result of the borehole drill logs revealed that the aquifers were within weathered and fractured zones and is in agreement with the models. The results showed that the boreholes yield within the study area varied between a minimum of 15 litres/min to a maximum 800 litres/min and the mean depth for intercepting aquifer was at about 30 m and below. The study revealed that the potential aquifer zones in the study area are mostly as a result of weathering of the overburden and fracturing of the underlying bedrock. The results suggest that the hydrogeology of the study area is highly complex since the development of groundwater is generally due to secondary porosities

Multivariate and spatial assessment of water quality of the Lower Pra basin, Ghana

In this paper, multivariate statistical approaches based on principal component analysis (PCA) coupled with spatial assessment were employed to assess physicochemical parameters (turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, nitrates, nitrite, phosphate, ammonium, total hardness, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, Na, Cl, Ca, HCO3, SO4 and F) and heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, Hg and Zn) of more than fifty five (55) water samples from 20 mining and non-communities within the lower Pra basin. The correlation matrix, however, shows significant inter-metal relationships (p<0.05 and p<0.01). The Fe–Mn correlation is recognized as the weakest with a correlation coefficient r=0.422. Also, significant strong correlations (r>0.5) were found between Zn – Cd, Pb–Zn, Pb – Cd, Pb – Cu, Cu – Zn, Cu – Cd, Hg – Zn, Hg – Cd, Hg - Cu and two more toxic metals, Hg and Pb. From the results of the principal component analysis on surface water in the study, component model 1 is interpreted to be contaminated water with mercury. This is because Hg has the highest correlation value (0.985). Within the study area, illegal artisanal small scale miners (popularly referred to as galamsey) use mercury extensively in their activities. The mercury is a steady source of contamination of the surface water in the Lower Pra Basin area. The use of mercury in gold mining by the Artisanal Small Scale Miners constitutes a point source of contamination. Keywords: Multivariate statistical techniques, Principal component analysis, Lower Pra Basin, Heavy Metal

Feasibility of low cost vermicompost production in Accra, Ghana

Vermicomposting, the non-thermophilic decomposition of organic wastes by earthworms, is a popular waste management option in the Americas, Europe and the Indian sub-continent. Although the technology is inexpensive and produces an organic fertilizer as well as earthworm biomass, there are few examples of vermicomposting in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the potential for vermicomposting in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, by conducting 1) an earthworm survey, 2) vermicomposting trials and 3) assessing farmers' perceptions of vermicompost as an organic fertilizer and other related issues. The earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg), was found in the soil-litter layer at seven locations across Accra. In a 20 d period, the E. eugeniae decomposed 99% of pineapple fibers and 87% of pineapple peels supplied, indicating that this earthworm is capable of vermicomposting. The nutrient value of the vermicompost was low, relative to other organic wastes in West Africa, probably due to the low nutrient content of pineapple wastes. Farmers were aware of the benefits to soil fertility from earthworm activity and associated the presence of earthworm castings with healthy soils. However, those involved in irrigated vegetable farming had insufficient space and time for on-farm vermicomposting and would prefer to purchase this fertilizer. Conversely, subsistence farmers lacked a reliable access to water necessary for on-farm vermicomposting. In summary, farmers were interested in the technology and were willing to adopt it, provided the vermicompost improved crop performance and was affordable and available.Le vermicompostage est un procédé effectué par les vers de terre qui décomposent la matière organique sous des conditions non thermophile. Cette technique est populaire dans les Amériques, en Europe et aux Indes. Quoique la technique soit économique et produise un engrais organique ainsi que de la biomasse de vers, elle est rarement utilisée dans les régions au Sud du désert Sahara, en Afrique. L'objectif de cette thèse était d'étudier la possibilité d'effectuer du vermicompostage à Accra, la capitale du Ghana. Par ce projet, on a : 1) effectué un relevé des types de vers de terre retrouvés ; 2) réalisé des essais de vermicompostage, et ; 3) consulté les agriculteurs locaux pour savoir s'ils seraient intéressés à faire du vermicompostage et produire un engrais organique. Le vers de terre Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg), fut le plus commun, retrouvé à sept endroits dans la région d'Accra, dans la partie arable des sols. Lorsqu'offert des résidus fibreux et des pelures d'ananas, le vers E. eugeniae fut capable de les décomposer à 99% et 87%, respectivement, ce qui démontre que le vermicompostage est réalisable en Afrique. La valeur fertilisante du vermicompost était relativement faible comparativement aux autres résidus organiques disponibles en Afrique de l'Ouest, à cause de la faible teneur minéral des fibres et des pelures d'ananas. Les agriculteurs consultés étaient bien au courant des bénéfices qu'apportent les vers de terre et que leur présence signifie un sol fertile. Les agriculteurs qui cultivaient des légumes et pratiquaient l'irrigation, ne possédaient ni l'espace ni le temps nécessaire au vermicompostage ; ils préféraient acheter leurs engrais. Aussi, les agriculteurs de subsistance et les plus pauvres n'avaient pas suffisamment d'eau pour effectuer le vermicompostage sur leur ferme. Par contre, les agriculteurs étaient intéressés à la technologie du vermicompostage et son utilisation, à conditions d'o

Evaluation of Aquifer Characteristics of Voltaian Sedimentary Rocks in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

Groundwater potential of the sedimentary formation in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana has been evaluated using computed transmissivity and specific capacity values. Data on multiple step and constant-discharge tests on twenty (20) boreholes were analyzed. The Cooper-Jacob’s straight line analytical approach was used to determine the aquifer characteristics. Computed transmissiv-ity coefficients of the underlying aquifer ranged widely from 0.82 – 61.27 m2d-1. The specific ca-pacity values obtained varied between 0.59 and 75.20 m3d-1m-1. Total head loses of the boreholes ranged generally between 5.49 and 99.2%. Hydrogeologically, the aquifer systems can be described as fairly heterogeneous in accordance with Krasny’s transmissivity classification model. Ground-water potential of the sedimentary aquifer system could be classified as high to intermediate to yield substantial groundwater resource for domestic and industrial water supply. To secure sub-stantial quantity of water for sustainable water supply in areas underlain by this sedimentary aqui-fer system in Ghana, integrated geophysical approach including 2D-Continuous Vertical Electrical Resistivity (CVES) survey, and other related tools such as Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) should be used to enhance the delineation of deeper aquifer zones of high groundwater potentialKeywords: Ghana, Brong Ahafo, groundwater, sedimentary rocks, transmissivity, aquifer, sustainable, specific capacit