The economic impact of sanctions on the Russian economy

This paper assesses the impact of the EU and NATO sanctions on the Russian economy. An examination of the data revealed that the sanctions have directly impacted on various sectors of the Russian economy. Notable among them were the financial sector which includes the banks, major publicly owned companies in the fuel/energy sector as well as the military and technological equipment. These sanctions severely constrained these sectors as they struggled with lack of funding and investment. The economy also witnessed huge capital flight or outflow at an estimated value of $7.8bn, which was further compounded by gross negative capital inflow in the form of FDI’s (foreign direct investments). In addition to that, the embargo on food imports as well as trade sanctions led to a rise in inflation which further resulted to a rise in commodity prices and by extension loss of confidence in the falling Ruble. The sanctions also led to erratic trade flows and loss of market share. On the contrary, despite the sanctions the Russian economy moved to 45th place in the global competitiveness report. Besides the Russian government continuously offer support to its financial institutions in the form of low interest loans which led to their buoyancy

Culture Maps: A Tool for Building Competent Global and Multicultural Education Curriculum

A recurring problem in global and multicultural education in United States of America is the issue of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. To resolve the problem is to lessen cultural conflicts in American schools. Thus, it is important to understand different cultures and their mores. It is a common knowledge that the first contact with different cultures always has the potential of causing conflicts and culture shock. Therefore, it is important to prepare students to understand the peculiarities of cultural differences in other societies and countries to avoid such difficulties. This paper intends to utilize cultural mapping to forge a new way of effective cross-cultural communication through tolerance, understanding and acceptance. Data was collected from students in selected non-American cultural backgrounds living in and outside United States and American students. The conclusions from diverse students’ own stories have led to appropriate strategy that would control prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination in our schools

An investigation of the protective effect of alpha+-thalassaemia against severe Plasmodium falciparum amongst children in Kumasi, Ghana

Background: The alpha+-thalassaemias are the most common monogenic disorders of humans, characterised by microcytic and hypochromic anaemia. Their high frequency reflects selective advantage against death from Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The most common type of alpha+- thalassaemia amongst people of African descent is the -α3.7 deletional type and affects 26-33% of Ghanaians. Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a major cause of mortality amongst children in sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike HbAS, HbAC and G6PD deficiency there remains debate about whether alpha+- thalassaemia protects against malaria and the mechanism for the protection. Methods: 1672 children of ≤10 years were recruited and individuals with G6PD deficiency, HbAC and Hb AS reported to protect against malaria were excluded. 732 children with Plasmodium falciparum were tested for Hb, RBC, MCV, MCH and parasite density. The subjects were then categorised into normocytic and microcytic using a cut off MCV value of 76fL and normochromic and hypochromic using a cut off MCH value of 25 pg. Microcytic hypochromic individuals were genotyped by Polymerase Chain Reaction for the -α3.7 deletional thalassaemia mutation. Results: The frequency of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the studied population was 54.1%. There was a frequency of 21.0% for the heterozygous (-α/αα) and 8.3% for the homozygous (-α/-α) alpha+-thalassaemia, resulting in a carriage rate (α/αα & -α/-α) of 29.3%. Among the microcytic patients, geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) values were lower in the presence of an alpha+- thalassaemia genotype (-α/αα GMPD 9015, n=126 and -α/-α GMPD 6852, n=49) compared to normal genotype (αα/αα GMPD 51794, n=358) (p<0.001). Severe malaria (GMPD ≥100000/μL) was less prevalent in microcytic patients with an alpha+-thalassaemia genotype (-α/αα 11.9% and -α/-α 16.3%) than either normocytic patients or microcytic patients with a normal genotype (32.9% and 53.6% respectively) (p<0.03). GMPD values were lower in hypochromic alpha+-thalassaemia genotypes (-α/αα GMPD 1728, n=44 and -α/-α GMPD 7160, n=23) compared to normal genotype (αα/αα GMPD 48997, n=141) (p 5 g/dL had lower GMPD compared to the severely anaemic (Hb ≤ 5 g/dL) (p<0.001). The differences in severe Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia as well as the GMPD between children ≤ 60 and > 60 months for both the homozygous and heterozygous alpha+-thalassaemia were not significant at p=0.399 and p=0.207 respectively. Conclusion: The severity of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia measured, as either GMPD or prevalence of severe parasitaemia was significantly lower in both the -α/αα and -α/-α- groups compared to microcytic individuals with normal genotype. Even though GMPD differed significantly amongst all alpha+-thalassemia genotypes, it was not driven by hypochromasia. Among the homozygous and heterozygous alpha+-thalassaemias, children with severe anaemia had a significantly high GMPD than their counterparts who were not severely anaemic making them more susceptible to severe malaria anaemia. No loss of protection was seen in children younger or older than 60 months and therefore the protective effect from severe malaria might not wane with age. The mechanism of protection from severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria is not clear, however the influence of microcytosis and hypochromasia on parasite density requires more research

Community Participation and Sustainable Development of Ecotourism: The Case of the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary Project in the Wa West District

In the past few decades, “ecotourism” has emerged as a much talked about topic that is frequently linked with “sustainable development”. This was identified as a strategy for enhancing the local people’s involvement in the management of such projects for their own benefits. This paper explores the link between community participation and sustainable use of the naturebased tourism resources of Wechiau. Critically, the study examines the environmental impacts of community participation in the sanctuary, ecotourism related conservation and development and the link between sustainable development, education and the distribution of benefits. To do effective analysis of the variables, qualitative and quantitative data was collected from the destination communities and stakeholder institutions by using Chi-Square and regression. The survey revealed that community participation has a positive correlation with biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecotourism but exhibit a negative relationship between sustainable ecotourism and benefit distribution. It was consequently concluded that sustainable development of the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary will be a reality through the adoption of “eco-development” approach and practices. These approach and practices enhance and promotes sustainable ecotourism, business tourism and modification of incentive structures of the Wechiau Hippo tourism industry.Keywords: Community Participation, Ecotourism, Community-Based Ecotourism, Conservation, Sustainable Developmen

Ͻkere is doing something different in adnominal possession

Cross-linguistically, some languages make a morphosyntactic distinction between alienable and inalienable adnominal possession, where alienable possession is more morphologically marked, and inalienable possession shows a tighter structural bond between the possessor and possessee. In this paper, I show that Ɔkere violates these cross-linguistic generalizations differently. I also show that two types of mó occur in the language, one is a possessive marker, and the other is an independent pronoun. Again, I show that the nature of the possessive marker and the independent pronoun leads to a pro-drop in inalienable possession. The data and analysis in this paper favor proposing an overt possessive marker and a covert possessive marker. This paper adds to the literature on the exceptions to the cross-linguistic generalizations on adnominal possession by showing that the exceptions to the cross-linguistic generalizations may manifest differently in some languages.

Community-based Tourism and Rural Development: The Case of the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary in the Wa West District of Ghana

The paper reports an investigation on how community-based tourism can be used as a development strategy for the efficient and sustainable use of tourist resources in seventeen (17) communities within the Hippopotamus (hippo) Sanctuary of the Wa West District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Specifically, it explores three interrelated questions with regard to the promotion of rural development in the Wechiau Traditional Area where the Sanctuary is located. These are: (i) whether the development of the Wa West District, particularly the catchment communities, are being impacted by community-based tourism and how; (ii) whether there is a high level of beneficiary participation in the management of the Hippo Sanctuary and; (iii) whether there have been any challenges at all and what strategies can be adopted for the sustenance of the Sanctuary. The investigation was done using probability and non-probability techniques to select participants for a survey and data collected from both primary and secondary sources. Based on the findings, the study concludes that, though community-based tourism is gaining prominence, the tourism development and promotion area is beset with ownership and participation challenges. Therefore, recommendations have been made for exploring more dialogue between and among the stakeholders of the Sanctuary in order to deepen community participation for the sustainable management of the Sanctuary.KEY DESCRIPTORS: Community-based Tourism, Nature Conservation, Eco-system maintenance, Participatory Planning; Rural Development

Economic Dimensions of Tono and Vea Inland Fisheries of the Upper East Region of Ghana

This research sought to explore and understand the contribution of the fishery subsector of the Tono and Vea irrigation projects within the context of employment, income and revenue generations. The central argument of the study is that the continuous investment and appropriation of the fishery resources is being guided by an access regime in operation. Adopting a case study design, it triangulated both secondary and primary sources of data for effective analysis. Through random and systematic sampling, 192 fishermen and fishmongers were selected for the study. Structured and semi-structured interview techniques were used to solicit views from primary sources and complemented with relevant secondary documents from the organisations investigated (ICOUR and MoFA). Empirical results revealed that the access regime to the fishery was significantly open access and growth in the profit variable of the fishery was more induced by tonnes of fish catch than price. The fishery can play its proper role of improving upon direct and ancillary fishery income and employment when the &lsquo;livelihood approach&rsquo; is used to value the river fisheries and the ecosystem for sustainable rural livelihoods.Keywords: Inland Fishery, Revenue, Employment, Income, Open Acces

Changes in potassium and sodium concentrations in stored blood

Potassium is the principal intracellular cation with sodium being the principal extracellular cation. Maintenance of the distribution of potassium and sodium between the intracellular and the extracellular compartments relies on several homeostatic mechanisms. This study analysed the effect of blood storage on the concentrations of potassium and sodium in stored blood and also determine any variations that may exist in their concentrations. 50mls of blood was sampled each from 28 units of evenly mixed donated blood in citrate phosphate dextrose adenine (CPDA-1)bags immediately after donation into satellite bag and stored at 4oC. Potassium and sodium concentration determinations were done on each ofthe 28 samples on day 0 (before blood was initially stored in the fridge), day 5, day 10, day 15 and day 20 of storage using the Roche 9180 ISEElectrolyte Analyser (Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Switzerland). data analysis showed significant changes in the potassium and sodium concentrationswith a continuous rise in potassium and a continuous fall in sodium. A daily change of 0.59mmol/l and 0.50mmol/l was observed in the potassiumand sodium concentrations respectively. We showed steady but increased daily concentrations of potassium and decrease concentrations ofsodium in blood stored over time at 4oC

Political stability and innovation in Africa

This paper examines the role of institutional factors, primarily, political stability, in shaping the dynamics of innovation activity in today’s modern society. Using panel data consisting of 26 African countries from the period between 1996 and 2016 as well as employing the negative binomial estimate, we model the impact of those factors on the number of applications for patents per resident. GDP per capita, education and also other institutional factors including the rule of law and financial freedom. The results reveal a strong positive effect of the rule of law on patenting activity. © Foundation of International Studies, 2020 © CSR, 2020.Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAADMinistry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, MinobrnaukaMinisterstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego, MNiSWThe authors are thankful to the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, DAAD, The Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland for financial support to carry out this research. Thanks (IOS, Regensburg) for hosting James Okrah for the period of his research internship with them, with special thanks to Dr Alexander Nepp (Supervisor), Dr. Olga Popova (IOS, Regensburg), Prof. Richard Frensch (IOS, Regensburg) and Dr Stefan Huber for their support