Modelling the Effects of Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Biothermal Stress on Birth Outcomes in Australia and Ghana

High-quality environmental epidemiological methods were employed. We found that ambient fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) and biothermal stress exposures independently and jointly were associated with increased risks of birth outcomes in both high-income (Australia) and low-income (Ghana) countries. The vulnerable subpopulations and critical susceptible exposure periods of early to mid-gestational periods for PM2.5 and mid to late gestational periods for the biothermal stress were identified to inform public health interventions and further investigations

Roundtable: The conservation and sustainable use of Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) in Ghana - Highlights

As part of a development initiative "The potential of agrobiodiversity for improving diets and nutrition in Ghana" to contribute to the transformation of food systems for healthy and sustainable diets and environmental sustainability, a Roundtable on the conservation and sustainable use of NUS in Ghana was organized in Accra on 28 October 2021, with participation of representatives of government institutions, private sector entities, and civil society organization

Longitudinal Study of Type-2-Diabetes: A Profile Analysis at the Ketu-South Municipality

The main purpose of the study is to investigate the change in Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) level over time and the effect of some plausible factors on this change for Type-2-Diabetes (T2D) patients on treatment. Retrospective data from the Ketu-South Municipal Hospital, Diabetes Unit, in Ghana in which patients’ FBS level and demographic data were monitored regularly every three months was used for the study. Profile analysis was used to study the pattern of change in the FBS level. The MANOVA test of parallelism showed at 5% significance level that religion was not parallel because there was significant differential in the pattern of change of the FBS level. The other covariates: gender, marital status, drug and education did not significantly differ at the 5% significance level and hence their profiles were tested for parallelism. The parallelism tests revealed that they were parallel and equal but deviated from flatnes

RESISTANCE TO POST-HARVEST MICROBIAL ROT IN YAM: INTEGRATION OF GENOTYPE AND STORAGE METHODS

Post-harvest microbial rot is an important disease that causes severe losses in yam ( Dioscorea spp.) storage. Rot from microbial infection of healthy yam tubers reduces their table quality and renders them unappealing to consumers. A study was carried out at Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District of Ghana to evaluate possible interactions of yam genotypes and storage methods for controlling internal rot in yam. Four local varieties (Labalkor, Kplondzo, Olordor and Fushiebila) were studied with four storage methods (barn, pit, platform and heap methods) in a 4 x 4 factorially arrangement. There were significant (P< 0.001) differences among genotypes for resistance to internal rot, with Olordor and Kplondzo recording the lowest internal microbial rot, suggesting their potential in resisting the disease. There were also significant differences (P< 0.05) among the storage methods, with barn and platform being most suitable in reducing the incidence of internal rot in yam. The interaction between yam genotypes and storage methods was not significant (P> 0.05).Le pourrissement microbien apr\ue8s la r\ue9colte est une maladie importante qui cause de pertes s\ue9v\ue8res dans le stockage des ignames ( Dioscorea spp.). Le pourrissement d\ufb \ue0 l\u2019infection microbienne des ignames r\ue9duit leur qualit\ue9 et la pr\ue9f\ue9rence des consommateurs. Une \ue9tude \ue9tait men\ue9e \ue0 Bimbilla dans le District de Nanumba Nord au Ghana pour \ue9valuer des interactions possibles des g\ue9notypes d\u2019ignames et des m\ue9thodes de stockage pour le contr\uf4le du pourrissement interne dans l\u2019igname. Quatre vari\ue9t\ue9s locales, (Labalkor, Kplondzo, Olordor et Fushiebila) \ue9taient \ue9tudi\ue9es avec quatre m\ue9thodes de stockages (m\ue9thodes grange \ue0 igname, silo-fosse, plate forme et tassement) dans un arrangement factoriel 4 x 4. Aucune diff\ue9rence significative (P< 0.001) n\u2019\ue9tait observ\ue9e parmi les g\ue9notypes en rapport avec la r\ue9sistance au pourrissement interne, seuls Olordor et Kplondzo ayant pr\ue9sent\ue9 les taux les moins \ue9lev\ue9s de pourrissement microbien interne, sugg\ue9rant ainsi leur potentiel de r\ue9sistance \ue0 la maladie. Il n\u2019y avait pas aussi de diff\ue9rences significatives (P< 0.05) parmi les m\ue9thodes de stockage, avec grange \ue0 igname et plate forme ayant \ue9t\ue9 les mieux indiqu\ue9es dans la r\ue9duction de l\u2019incidence du pourrissement interne des ignames. L\u2019interaction entre les g\ue9notypes et m\ue9thodes de stockage n\u2019\ue9tait pas significatif (P> 0.05)

Evaluation of tigernut accessions in Ghana for proximate and mineral composition

Tigernut ( Cyperus esculentus L.) is a nutritious, yet underutilised crop in Ghana. The objective of this study was to characterise Ghanaian tigernut accessions for proximate and mineral composition, as a guide for breeders for varietal development. Field and laboratory studies were conducted on 24 tigernut accessions from major growing areas of Ghana. The accessions were cultivated during the minor the growing season (September - November), at the Multipurpose Nursery of the University of Education, Winneba, Asante Mampong in Ghana. The nuts were analysed for proximate (carbohydrate, energy, moisture, ether extract, crude fiber, crude protein and ash) and mineral (potassium, phosphorus and calcium) composition. There were significant (P<0.05) differences among accessions for all traits studied. Accessions were clustered in a dendrogram by colour and geographical origin and PC1 and PC2 explained more than 80% of the total variations among the accessions, with carbohydrate and energy being the major contributors to the total variation. Accessions DY, BKB, KAB, TPY, CCY, WY2 and WY1, which recorded high levels of proximate and mineral compositions, may be considered for breeding programmes to provide high nutrient varieties of tigernut in Ghana.Le Tigernut ( Cyperus esculentus L.) est une culture nutritive mais sous-utilis\ue9e au Ghana. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de caract\ue9riser les accessions de souchet Ghan\ue9en pour leur composition imm\ue9diate et min\ue9rale, comme un guide pour les s\ue9lectionneurs pour le d\ue9veloppement vari\ue9tal. Des \ue9tudes sur le terrain et en laboratoire ont \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9es sur 24 accessions de souchet provenant des principales zones de culture du Ghana. Les accessions ont \ue9t\ue9 cultiv\ue9es pendant la petite saison de croissance (Septembre - Novembre), \ue0 la p\ue9pini\ue8re polyvalente de l\u2019Universit\ue9 de l\u2019\ue9ducation, Winneba, Asante Mampong au Ghana. Les noix ont \ue9t\ue9 analys\ue9es pour leur composition proche (glucides, \ue9nergie, humidit\ue9, extrait d\u2019\ue9ther, fibres brutes, prot\ue9ines brutes et cendres) et composition min\ue9rale (potassium, phosphore et calcium). Il y avait des diff\ue9rences significatives (P <0,05) entre les accessions pour tous les caract\ue8res \ue9tudi\ue9s. Les accessions ont \ue9t\ue9 regroup\ue9es dans un dendrogramme par couleur et origine g\ue9ographique et PC1 et PC2 expliquaient plus de 80% des variations totales entre les accessions, les glucides et l\u2019\ue9nergie \ue9tant les principaux contributeurs \ue0 la variation totale. Les accessions DY, BKB, KAB, TPY, CCY, WY2 et WY1, qui ont enregistr\ue9 des niveaux \ue9lev\ue9s de composition proximale et min\ue9rale, peuvent \ueatre envisag\ue9es pour des programmes de s\ue9lection afin de fournir des vari\ue9t\ue9s riches en nutriments de tigernut au Ghana

Spatial Analysis of Public Health Data in Ghana: a case study of exploratory spatial analysis of Diarrhoea

Background: Diarrhoea is a  public health burden amongst the top five causes of premature death  and disability-adjusted life years in the tropical regions. In Ghana, diarrhoea has been identified as the second most common health problems treated in outpatient visits. Evaluations of diarrhea prevention efforts suggested that the best prevention strategies of diarrhoea may vary by location. For this reason, spatial statistical tools such as Geographical Information System (GIS)  has been applied expansively in health research to improve public health since 1980s. There are, however, extremely few of such studies in Ghana and there had not been any known nationwide study of the spatial distribution of diarrhoea in Ghana. In this study, we aimed to use exploratory spatial analysis techniques of GIS to assess the spatial epidemiological distribution of diarrhoea in Ghana and to locate the hotspot areas that need further focused public health interventions. Method: The outpatient department morbidity data of diarrhoea cases over the periods of 2010 to 2014 was obtained from Ghana Health Service and geo-coded using ArcGIS 10.1 according to the 170 administrative districts of Ghana. Incidence rates were estimated  and spatially smoothen with Empirical Bayesian Smoothing (EBS) technique to avoid unbiased visual interpretation. The EBS rates were mapped and classified using defined interval classification system. Global Moran's I and the Anselin Local Moran's I were computed with ArcGIS to respectively test for the evidence of space-time variation in the incidence of diarrhoea and to identify areas of relatively high and/or low rates. Results: This study described the spatial distribution of  diarrhoeal infection by assessing the global and local occurrence of the incidence rates of diarrhoea at district levels in Ghana. Mapping the smoothed incidence rates of diarrhoea geo-visually pointed spatial patterns and with generally increasing rates over the years 2010 to 2014. Evaluating the observed non-random spatial patterns, the global Moran's I confirmed significant geographical epidemiological patterns with significant spatial clustering (Moran's I > 0, Z > 1.96, p < 0.05). These spatial patterns were decreasing spatio-temporally from 2010 to 2013 but suddenly increased to the highest clustering in 2014. Cluster-outlier analysis with local Moran's Ii spatio-temporally identified a number of areas with statistically significant measures of relatively high and/or low clustering of rates. Conclusion: The results of the exploratory spatial analysis disclosed the grave necessity of spatial analysis to improve  public health, surveillance and disease prevention strategies in Ghana. The rate of diarrhoea still remains very high in Ghana with significant geographical and temporal variations. This suggests possible inequalities in healthcare services and health intervention programmes and relatively more risk factors in some areas. This study also suggests that diarrhea prevention strategies should be location-specific, while considering the neighbouring locations. The few identified hotspot districts with the most likely endemic clusters of diarrhoea cases need extra health intervention programmes and prioritisation. Keywords: Spatial epidemiology, diarrhoea, hotspot, spatial analysis, Geographical Information System (GIS), Moran's I, Ghan

AGROMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISATION OF GBOMA EGGPLANT, AN INDIGENOUS FRUIT AND LEAFY VEGETABLE IN GHANA

Gboma ( Solanum macrocarpon L.) is an important leafy and fruit vegetable in Ghana. Despite its nutritional and medicinal properties, and consumption by many ethnic groups in the country, the crop is underdeveloped. The objective of this study was to characterise diversity among local landraces of Solanum macrocarpon in Ghana using agro-morphological descriptors in order to identify outstanding accessions which could be involved in further breeding programmes. A total of 23 accessions collected from different agro-ecological zones in Ghana were characterised using morphological descriptors. The accessions varied significantly in days to 50% flowering, days to fruiting, stem girth, fruit weight, number of seeds per fruit, weight of leaves per plant and plant height. Principal components analysis based on the morphological traits showed that PC1 for 99% of the total variation was mainly defined by number of leaves, number of branches, plant height, stem girth and number of leaves per plant. The accessions evaluated were grouped under five clusters. The clustering pattern indicated that inter-cluster distance was higher than intra-cluster, indicating wide genetic diversity among the accessions. Correlation analyses between morphological traits revealed positive and negative relationships, indicating predictable success for eventual breeding activities. Accessions CAGRICW3, CAGRICW4, CAGRICN2 and CAGRICA4 had more leaves and fruits, and could be used as potential donors for hybridisation programme to develop variety with higher yield potential.L\u2019aubergine Gboma ( Solanum macrocarpon L.) est un important l\ue9gume feuille et fruit au Ghana. En d\ue9pit de ses propri\ue9t\ue9s nutritionnelle et m\ue9dicinale, et de sa consommation par plusieurs ethnies du pays, cette culture est sous d\ue9velopp\ue9e. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer la diversit\ue9 entre les cultivars traditionnels de Solanum macrocarpon au Ghana en se servant des descripteurs agro morphologiques, dans le but d\u2019identifier des cultivars \ue0 bonne performances agro-morphologiques pouvant \ueatre introduits dans des programmes ult\ue9rieurs d\u2019am\ue9lioration vari\ue9tale. Au total 23 cultivars traditionnels collect\ue9s dans diff\ue9rentes zones agro-\ue9cologiques au Ghana ont \ue9t\ue9 caract\ue9ris\ue9s. Les cultivars ont montr\ue9 une diff\ue9rence significative en ce qui concerne la date de floraison, la date de fructification, la circonf\ue9rence de la tige, le poids du fruit, le nombre de p\ue9pin par fruit, le poids des feuilles par plante et la hauteur des plantes. L\u2019analyse en composantes principales bas\ue9e sur les traits morphologiques montre que le premier axe PC1 comportant 99% de la variation totale \ue9tait essentiellement d\ue9fini par le nombre de feuilles par plante, le nombre de branches, la hauteur des plantes et la circonf\ue9rence de la tige. Les accessions \ue9valu\ue9es ont \ue9t\ue9 group\ue9es en cinq typologies. La r\ue9partition typologique a montr\ue9 que la distance intergroupes \ue9tait plus importante que la distante au sein des groupes, cela sugg\ue8re une grande diversit\ue9 g\ue9n\ue9tique entre les accessions. L\u2019analyse des corr\ue9lations entre traits morphologiques r\ue9v\ue8le des corr\ue9lations positives et n\ue9gatives, ceci indique qu\u2019on peut aboutir \ue0 de bons r\ue9sultats en am\ue9lioration vari\ue9tale. Les cultivars CAGRICW3, CAGRICW4, CAGRICN2 et CAGRICA4 avaient plus de feuilles et de fruits, et de ce fait pourraient \ueatre utilis\ue9s comme potentiel parents dans des programmes d\u2019am\ue9lioration vari\ue9tale pour d\ue9velopper des vari\ue9t\ue9s \ue0 haut rendement

Identifying heterotic groups and testers for hybrid development in early maturing yellow maize (Zea mays) for sub-Saharan Africa

Open Access ArticleIdentification of heterotic groups and efficient testers, which are important prerequisites for the development of outstanding hybrids, has been a major challenge to its success, especially for early and extra‐early germplasm. This study was carried out to (a) identify the most efficient heterotic grouping method for classifying a set of inbred lines and (b) determine the efficiency of testers in classifying inbred lines into heterotic groups. A total of 205 hybrids obtained by crossing 41 inbred lines with five standard testers were evaluated together with five hybrid checks under drought, low soil nitrogen (N), Striga‐infested and optimal environments in Nigeria between 2014 and 2016. The heterotic group's specific and general combining ability (HSGCA) method was more effective in classifying the inbred lines into heterotic groups. Testers TZEI 17 and TZEI 23 were the most efficient across environments and could be invaluable for classifying other lines into heterotic groups and assessing combining ability of maize inbreds. In addition, these testers and heterotic groups represent an invaluable resource for development of outstanding hybrids in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA)

Testcross performance and combining ability of early maturing maize inbreds under multiple-stress environments

Open Access Journal; Published online: 24 Sept 2019Availability of multiple-stress tolerant maize is critical for improvement in maize production in West and Central Africa (WCA). A study was carried out to (i) assess a set of inbred lines for combining ability under stressed and optimal conditions, (ii) determine the performance of the testcrosses under different conditions, and (iii) identify outstanding hybrids across the conditions. Two hundred and five testcrosses were planted with five hybrid checks under Striga-infested, low soil nitrogen, drought and optimal conditions between 2015 and 2016 in Nigeria. The grain yield inheritance under optimal condition was largely regulated by additive gene effect whereas non-additive gene effects largely regulated grain yield under the three stresses. Four of the inbreds had significant positive general combining ability effects each under low N and drought, and three under Striga infestation for grain yield. The inbreds could be vital sources of beneficial alleles for development and improvement of tropical yellow maize hybrids and populations. Hybrids TZEI 443 x ENT 13 and TZEI 462 x TZEI 10 were high yielding and stable; they out-performed the three early maturing released hybrids in WCA. The new hybrids should be extensively assessed and released in the sub-region to improve food security

Nutritional and antioxidant composition of eggplant accessions in Ghana

Eggplants ( Solanum spp.) are important vegetable crops, well known for nutritional and medicinal values of their fruits and leaves. In order to select more nutritious varieties in Ghana, 33 eggplant accessions were investigated for nutritional, mineral and antioxidant content of their fruits. Proximate and antioxidant analysis were determined by AOAC and DPPH methods. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) among nutritional, mineral and antioxidant traits. Most accessions contained high moisture content (above 70%). Nutrient concentrations ranged from 0.10 fat to 6.10 g 100 g-1 carbohydrate; and 0.107 magnesium to 11.271 mg 100 g-1 iron. Total phenolic content was highest in accession ST004-03 (210 mg GAE g-1 (gallic acid equivalent), and lowest in SA002-02 (171.10 mg GAE g-1). Accessions ST004-02 and ST004-03 displayed the highest DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (0.017 mg ml-1); while San 005-01 (1474 mg ml-1) showed the highest antioxidant content. Principal component analysis indicated that the first 3 components with Eigen value >1.5 contributed 68.68% of total variability. Dry matter, protein, moisture and carbohydrate contents showed maximum contributions to the total variability. Biplot analysis displayed strong and positive associations among ash, protein and moisture with dry matter; moisture and carbohydrate and; protein and ash. Accessions San 005-01, San 005-02, SA 002-07, SA 002-08 and ST004-03 were identified as good sources of nutrients, minerals and antioxidant properties among the others; and could be used as potential donors for hybridisation programme to develop varieties with higher concentration of these traits.Les aubergines ( Solanum spp.) Sont des cultures l\ue9gumi\ue8res importantes, bien connues pour les valeurs nutritionnelles et m\ue9dicinales de leurs fruits et de leurs feuilles. Pour s\ue9lectionner des vari\ue9t\ue9s plus nutritives au Ghana, 33 accessions d\u2019aubergines ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9tudi\ue9es pour d\ue9terminer la teneur nutritionnelle, min\ue9rale et antioxydante de leurs fruits. Les analyses proximale et antioxydante ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9termin\ue9es par les m\ue9thodes AOAC et DPPH. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 des diff\ue9rences significatives (P <0,05) entre les caract\ue9ristiques nutritionnelles, min\ue9rales et antioxydantes. La plupart des accessions avaient une teneur en eau \ue9lev\ue9e (sup\ue9rieure \ue0 70%). Les concentrations de nutriments allaient de 0,10 \ue0 6,10 g de glucides \ue0 100 g-1; et 0,107 magn\ue9sium \ue0 11,271 mg 100 g-1 de fer. La teneur totale en compos\ue9s ph\ue9noliques \ue9tait la plus \ue9lev\ue9e lors de l\u2019accession ST004-03 (210 mg GAE g-1 (\ue9quivalent d\u2019acide gallique) et la plus faible dans le SA002-02 (171,10 mg GAE g-1). Les accessions ST004-02 et ST004-03 ont pr\ue9sent\ue9 l\u2019activit\ue9 de pi\ue9geage de radicaux DPPH (2,2-diph\ue9nyl-1-picrylhydrazyle) la plus \ue9lev\ue9e (0,017 mg ml-1); tandis que San 005-01 (1474 mg ml-1) pr\ue9sentait la plus forte teneur en antioxydants. L\u2019analyse des composantes principales a montr\ue9 que les 3 premi\ue8res composantes avec une valeur propre sup\ue9rieure \ue0 1,5 ont contribu\ue9 \ue0 68,68% de la variabilit\ue9 totale. Les teneurs en mati\ue8re s\ue8che, en prot\ue9ines, en humidit\ue9 et en glucides ont contribu\ue9 au maximum \ue0 la variabilit\ue9 totale. L\u2019analyse bi-parcelle a montr\ue9 des associations fortes et positives entre les cendres, les prot\ue9ines et l\u2019humidit\ue9 avec la mati\ue8re s\ue8che, l\u2019humidit\ue9 et les glucides; prot\ue9ines et cendres. Les accessions San 005-01, San 005-02, SA 002-07, SA 002-08 et ST004-03 ont \ue9t\ue9 identifi\ue9es comme \ue9tant de bonnes sources d\u2019\ue9l\ue9ments nutritifs, de min\ue9raux et de propri\ue9t\ue9s antioxydantes; et pourrait \ueatre utilis\ue9 comme donneur potentiel pour le programme d\u2019hybridation visant \ue0 d\ue9velopper d\ue9velopper des vari\ue9t\ue9s avec une concentration plus \ue9lev\ue9e de ces caract\ue8res