Determinants of Fisher’s Choice of Fishing Activity along the Volta Lake in Yeji, Ghana

The study examined factors that influence people’s decision to engage in the fishery-related activities in Yeji, a major inland fishing town in Ghana. A total of 304 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis was done using the Ordered Probit Model and descriptive statistics. The study revealed that fishers in Yeji depend on the small-scale fisheries as their source of livelihood. The Ordered Probit regression analysis showed that the likelihood to engage in the fishery-related activities was significantly influenced by factors such as fishers’ level of education, average daily catch, gear ownership (boat), credit access, fishing experience, income and household size. The study revealed that lack of credit access as affirmed by majority (82%) of the respondents as the major challenge faced in the study areas. It is concluded that the fisheries sub-sector has the potential to boost economic growth, reduce poverty and ensure household food security in Yeji. It is therefore recommended that Ghana government through the Fisheries Commission should put in place sustainable measures and strategies that would ensure availability of fishing nets and boats for rural poor fishers.Key words: Volta Lake, Determinants, Fishing Experience, Likelihood, Ordered Probit Mode

Relationship between physicochemical parameters and zooplanktons in Karidna reservoir, Kaduna state

The study was conducted for a period of one year between October 2013 and September 2014 with the aim to establish the relationship between physicochemical parameters and zooplanktons in Karidna Reservoir. Five sampling stations were chosen; the physicochemical and biological parameters were determined using standard methods, procedures and instruments. The results obtained for the physico-chemical parameters indicated thatpH (6.19-8.63),Temperature (25.94-31.54oC), Electrical Conductivity (38.20-64.20µS/cm), Total Dissolved Solids (19.20-37.20 mg/l), Transparency (19.40-40.10 cm) Dissolved Oxygen (2.40-6.81mg/L), Hardness ( 3.48-174.4mg/L) Calcium (2.14-3.86mg/L),Biological Oxygen Demand (2.91-40.85mg/L), Chloride (2.28-3.58mg/L) Phosphate-phosphorus (0.04-0.24mg/L), Nitrate- Nitrogen (0.14-0.30mg/L), Sulphate (0.06-0.21mg/L) Alkalinity (2.51-5.04mg/l). Po4-, NO3-,SO4-,EC,TDS,Transparency,D.O and B.O.D were highly significant at (P<0.01) between the seasons while non-significant differences were observed in Cl, Hardness, Alkalinity, Temperature and pH. It was only Calcium that was significant at (P>0.01).Zooplankton samples were collected with silk plankton net of 25cm diameter of 70µm meshes attached with a bottle of 50ml capacity at the base and collection of samples of zooplanktons through vertical hauling.Five different groups of zooplankton were identified in this study where Rotifera group represented as the most dominant group securing seven genus .Almost all groups of zooplankton were found at a higher number in the wet season whereas dry season represented the lowest number of them. Zooplanktons of all groups were positively correlated with calcium and pH. Effective monitoring of the parameters of the reservoir and regulation of domestic activities in and around the reservoir are recommended in order to slow down the aging process and conserve its biodiversity for a longer period. Keywords: Zooplanktons, Karidna Reservoir, Physicochemical Parameters, Plankton net, Hanan Instrumen

An External Quality Assessment Of Haematology Laboratories-A Ghanaian Experience

Developed countries have guaranteed the quality of clinical laboratories through quality assurance programmes. However, these programmes have not received the needed attention in Ghanaian haematology laboratories, as is the case in many developing countries where visual counting of blood cells are the usual procedures. To assess the level of analytical quality of haematology laboratories in the Ashanti region of Ghana, form of an external quality assessment scheme was undertaken. The survey covered twelve haematology laboratories in both the public and the private sectors. Control blood samples were sent to the laboratories to be analyzed. The study, which lasted for five months, covered such routine haematological parameters as Hb, PCV, Total WBC and platelets. The results from these laboratories were compared to that of an automated cell counter using the Cell-Dyn 3700 (Abbot Diagnostic Division, USA). About 80% of the laboratories studied which were using the manual counting, achieved the medically accepted analytical performance for all the parameters except platelets, where the percentage of the laboratories dropped to about 70%. The study has established the need for a continuous internal and external quality assessment in haematology. Such practice together with continuous education of laboratory personnel and the provision of automated instruments will help to achieve optimum laboratory quality needed for proper health care delivery in the country. Keywords: External quality assessment, haematology laboratories, Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 28 (1) 2008 pp. 17-2

Adsorption of crystal violet on rice husk activated carbon

The need to develop effective technology for the treatment of liquid effluent of dye-intensive industries such as textile, rubber, paint, and printing is synonymous with the need to save the life-threatening risks posed by these carcinogenic and mutagenic pollutants on human and aquatic lives. Isotherms of adsorption of crystal violet (CV) on activated carbon (AC) synthesized from rice husk are presented herewith to elucidate the mechanism of the adsorption process of crystal violet dye contaminated water on rice husk activated carbon. AC was synthesized from rice husk via a phosphoric acid activating agent at low temperatures. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) isotherm studies were employed. The mean square values for Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and D-R models were 0.98, 0.91, 0.94, and 0.63, respectively. Analysis of the isotherms of the adsorption of crystal violet sorbate on the synthesized rice husk sorbent suggested that the adsorption process proceeded via a homogeneous monolayer mechanism. Langmuir isotherm gave the best fit of the adsorption process. Langmuir isotherm constant was –1.40 l/mg, and the equilibrium adsorption capacity was 13.53 mg/g

Proximate and mineral composition of Jatropha curcas leaves

The proximate and mineral composition of jatropha curcas leaves were evaluated in dry sample to determine the Ash, carbohydrate, crude lipid, crude fiber, crude protein and mineral contents using standard method and atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The result showed that jatropha curcas leaves contained (12.0±1.00%) Ash, (61.94±5.56%) carbohydrate, (7.00±0.43%) Fat, (16.5±0.1%) fibre, (2.56±0.23%) protein, (4.33±0.28%) moisture in dry sample respectively. The result also revealed that the concentration of potassium is (18.60±1.19mg/100g) sodium (11.50±0.39mg/ 100g), magnesium (58.17 ± 2.04mg/100g), cupper (4.23±0.12mg/ 100g), iron (2.85±0.04mg/100g) and calcium (93.42±0.48mg/100g) respectively which are the major minerals present in the sample. This indicated that Jatropha curcas leaves could serve as an alternative source of food for animal and human after quality processing.Keywords: Carbohydrate, Crude Protein, Jatropha curcas leaves, Mineral, Moisture Analysi

Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Soil Samples Obtained From Rimi Local Government in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract: The concentration of lead, chromium, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and sodium in soil samples obtained from Rimi local government in Katsina state was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Technique. The Highest Mean concentration of   the metals for each sample were as follows:  Lead (8.3 ± 0.000 mg/g), Chromium (3.125±4.4.42 mg/g), Iron (14.2±0.000 mg/g), Zinc (4.2 ± 0.000 mg/g), Potassium (218.7 ± 44.19 mg/g), Magnesium (68.75 ± 8.84 mg/g)  and Sodium (1446.45 ± 25.24 mg/g), The results were discussed in terms of effects of the concentration of these metals on the agricultural soil understudy and the concentration obtained was below the ECDG (2004), WHO (2008), Kabata-Pendias (1995), SEPA (2000) and  DPR (1991) Permissible limits of heavy metals in Agricultural land. Although it was concluded that the soil is suitable for agricultural purposes, Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils is necessary to reduce the associated risks, make the land resource available for agricultural production, enhance food security and scale down land tenure problems arising from changes in the land use pattern. Keyword: Agricultural Soil Pollution, Trace and Heavy Metals, Environmental Pollution

Extraction and Formulation of Perfume from Locally Available Lemon Grass Leaves

The availability of wild plants and their use as economically efficient sources of food for man and animals is obvious. In most parts of Nigeria, plant materials whose edible use is not established are regarded as waste materials. Available materials like lemon grass leaves that contain  essential oils can be utilized in the production of perfumes that can mask body odours. Lemon grass extracts obtained using soxhlet extraction andsolvent extraction (maceration) were utilized in the formulation of perfume using methanol and ethanol as solvent media. An oil yield of 4.5% and 3.8% were obtained for solvent extraction and soxhlet extraction methods respectively. Physicochemical properties of the two formulations revealed that the essential oil has saponification value of 21.04mgKOH/g and the densities of the two formulations in methanol and ethanol were 0.768gcm-3 and 0.82gcm-3 at 60oc while the boiling point for both formulations was 85o. The essential oil can be profitably used for cosmetic grade and perfume formulations.Keywords: Essential oil, Extraction, Perfume, Physicochemical Parameter

The analysis of the system of monitoring and forecasting of banking risks

The article describes the types of risks and describes the main goals and objectives of the bank’s risk management system. Bringing banking risks into the system and analyzing coefficients and indicators of credit risk make it possible to better structure the bank’s work to minimize ris

Constancy of the Half Value Layer of Cobalt-doped borate glasses with Lanthanum Oxide Additive at Extremely High Radiation Energy

Radiation shielding is essential for protecting workers, patients, and the environment from harmful effects of radiation. To achieve effective and non-toxic shielding, scientists are interested in developing lead-free materials with low thickness that can still attenuate radiation. This is where the concept of Half Value Layer (HVL) comes in. The aim of this study is to investigate the nature of the HVL of Cobalt-doped borate glasses with five different concentrations of Lanthanum oxide (La2O3) additive at various energy levels. Phy-X/PSD software was used to simulate radiation exposure and determined the HVL values for energies within the order of 0-10 keV, 10 – 100 keV, 100 keV – 1 MeV, 1 – 10, 10 – 100, 100 – 1,000, 1,000 – 10,000, and 10,000 - 100,000 MeV. The results showed that the HVL values fluctuated depending on the energy range of the incident radiation, but they remained constant within a mean value at extremely high energies. These findings can help manufacturers to determine the appropriate thicknesses and the amounts of (La2O3) additive for different applications of this glass system

Pyrethroid resistance in the Sudan Savannah Region in Nigeria: a study of the resistance profile and resistance mechanism of Anopheles populations from Hadejia Town in Jigawa State

Insecticide-based control measures are key strategies against malaria vectors, and pyrethroid is the only recommended class of insecticide for public health use. The work aimed at determining the pyrethroid resistance in Anopheline mosquitoes and the frequency of the knockdown resistance (kdr) gene determinant. Larval samples were collected from two sites in Hadejia Town, Jigawa State in April 2020 and November/December 2020, and reared to adulthood in Bayero University Kano Biochemistry's insectary. Samples were identified by morphological and molecular techniques. Three to five-day-old adult mosquitoes were exposed to standard concentrations of 0.75% permethrin and 0.05% deltamethrin according to WHO criteria. Kdr mutations were investigated using PCR. Results of morphological identification showed an abundance (100%) of the Anopheles gambiae complex. However, molecular identification showed varying percentages of An. gambiae s.s (15% and 35%), An. coluzzii (80% and 45%), and An. arabiensis (5% and 20%) each for agricultural and industrial sites, respectively. The result also revealed relatively higher KT50 and KT50 in the agricultural site and was relatively higher with permethrin based on the KT50. Higher insecticide resistance of Anopheles mosquitoes observed in the agricultural site suggests that the practice may affect resistance development. The frequency of negative (homozygous) L1014F kdr mutation genotype was 70% in the resistant (alive) mosquito population and 50% in the susceptible (dead) mosquito population. The frequency of kdr mutation for agricultural and industrial sites was 35% and 15%, respectively. This finding suggests that the kdr gene determinant may not be the only mechanism involved in the resistance of the Anopheline mosquito to pyrethroid