The Disabled and Art: Selected Artifacts of Ghanaian Physically Disabled Artists as a Resource For Teaching And Learning

Some disabled artists in Ghana exhibit a lot of rich knowledge and practical skills which are potential materials for teaching and learning. These should be documented otherwise the rich concepts and philosophies inherent in them which, among others, are perceived to depict societal problems may be lost after their death. It is the aim of this paper to identify and document the unique artistic qualities in some of the art works of selected physically disabled artists. It was the pursuit of the writers to contribute to the documentation of these works to serve as resource material for Art Education and Special Education. Through qualitative research, an enquiry was made into the artifacts of six (6) selected disabled artists in Ashanti Region. Description of ten (10) works comprising textiles, sculpture, painting, three dimensional (3-D) design, and basketry was done. These physically disabled artists were interviewed using the face-to-face method as data collection instrument. The results of the research largely confirm  that the selected artifacts depict problems of the society. Also, a few of the works portray their emotions, personal nature, ideas and philosophy. It is recommended that more physically disabled persons should find life in art since art provides varying types of employment for disabled persons.Keywords: Artifacts, art education, philosophy, disability art

Assessing a Practical Classroom of Takoradi Technical University – An End-User Perspective

This study evaluated the newly refurbished building used as a kitchen for practical lessons at the Hospitality Management Department of Takoradi Technical University, Ghana. It aimed at identifying the challenges faced by users and assessing their satisfsction with the facility. A questionnaire survey approach and covert observations were adopted to gather data. Questionnaires were self-administered to 150 randomly sampled Higher National Diploma students of the department. Data were analysed and presented in tables as frequencies, percentages and mean scores. The study identified lack of changing rooms, lack of storage facilities, congestion and inadequate natural ventilation as some of the challenges faced by users of the kitchen. The overall mean satisfaction score was 2.46 which is an indication that users are dissatisfied with the facility. This study would help inform design decisions to improve upon the performance of future students’ practical rooms to be constructed in the institution. Key words: Challenges, Kitchen, Practical’s, Post Occupancy Evaluation, User Satisfaction

Changing Agricultural Practices and Indigenous Food Crops in the Upper Afram Basin of Ghana

The Forest Savanna Transition zone within which the Upper Afram basin lies, account for a wide variety of food crops and plant species. This study examined the effects of changing ag­ricultural practices on cultivation and availability of indigenous food crops within the basin. Qualitative data obtained from 240 farmers through individual interviews and Focus group dis­cussions were analyzed thematically. The study revealed that even though the farmers employed the traditional mixed cropping system, the widespread use of agro-chemicals in the study area was limiting the practice of intercropping. This accounts for the current dominance of mono cropping system in the study area. These changes have affected the cultivation of a wide variety of indigenous foods within the basin. The uncontrolled use of agro-chemicals constituted one of the major agronomic constraints affecting the cultivation of these crops. Adequate technical support services to effectively control agrochemical abuse among the local farmers will, there­fore, be required. Increased sensitization on the need for local farmers to refocus and maintain some of the traditional agricultural practices that ensured the cultivation of a wide variety of indigenous food crop varieties (NUCS) in their farms is also suggested

Unfolding through the web of recovery

Despite considerable research into depression and recovery from a treatment perspective, limited empirical attention has been given to exploring specific meanings and experiences from the perspective of those with the lived experience of recovery from depression. In relation to the current literature regarding recovery in the context of mental health, it can be argued that studies disproportionately focus on individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or other diagnoses including, however not limited to, a diagnosis of depression. Therefore, it seems necessary to develop a deeper understanding of recovery in relation to experiences of depression as this could further enhance existing research and practice. Aim: To explore and gain an in-depth understanding about the experience of recovery from depression and the meanings attributed to recovery from the perspective of those who self-identify as recovered. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven adults. The interviews were analysed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings: Four themes emerged from the analysis: Difficulty moving forward; Plunging in for change alongside struggle; Reconnecting mind and body; and The blemished trophy. Overall, the findings conveyed a complex experience of voyage, change and insights. Recovery appeared to be a paradoxical experience of freeing oneself from the grips of depression, yet not escaping completely unscathed. Discussion: The findings provide an insight into salient and personal understandings about the complexities of the participants’ experiences and meanings of recovery in relation to depression. The current study highlights how we need to take recovery at the pace of the individual and provide support to help them reconnect and develop a new understanding of themselves

Fighting HIV/AIDS: Reconfiguring the State?

The author wishes to thank the anonymous reviewers of the article and the ESRC for funding part of this research

Analysis of drug resistance among difficult-to-treat tuberculosis patients in Ghana identifies several pre-XDR TB cases

BACKGROUND: Resistance to tuberculosis (TB) drugs has become a major threat to global control efforts. Early case detection and drug susceptibility profiling of the infecting bacteria are essential for appropriate case management. The objective of this study was to determine the drug susceptibility profiles of difficult-to-treat (DTT) TB patients in Ghana. METHODS: Sputum samples obtained from DTT-TB cases from health facilities across Ghana were processed for rapid diagnosis and detection of drug resistance using the Genotype MTBDRplus and Genotype MTBDRsl.v2 from Hain Life science. RESULTS: A total of 298 (90%) out of 331 sputum samples processed gave interpretable bands out of which 175 (58.7%) were resistant to at least one drug (ANY(r)); 16.8% (50/298) were isoniazid-mono-resistant (INH(r)), 16.8% (50/298) were rifampicin-mono-resistant (RIF(r)), and 25.2% (75/298) were MDR. 24 (13.7%) of the ANY(r) were additionally resistant to at least one second line drug: 7.4% (2 RIF(r), 1 INH(r), and 10 MDR samples) resistant to only FQs and 2.3% (2 RIF(r), 1 INH(r), and 1 MDR samples) resistant to AMG drugs kanamycin (KAN), amikacin (AMK), capreomycin (CAP), and viomycin (VIO). Additionally, there were 4.0% (5 RIF(r) and 2 MDR samples) resistant to both FQs and AMGs. 81 (65.6%) out of 125 INH-resistant samples including INH(r) and MDR had katG-mutations (MT) whereas 15 (12%) had inhApro-MT. The remaining 28 (22.4%) had both katG and inhA MT. All the 19 FQ-resistant samples were gyrA mutants whereas the 10 AMGs were rrs (3), eis (3) as well as rrs, and eis co-mutants (4). Except for the seven pre-XDR samples, no sample had eis MT. CONCLUSION: The detection of several pre-XDR TB cases in Ghana calls for intensified drug resistance surveillance and monitoring of TB patients to, respectively, ensure early diagnosis and treatment compliance

Fischer-Tropsch diesel and biofuels exergy and energy analysis for low emissions vehicles

This research investigates the effects of a synthetic diesel-like fuel (Fischer-Tropsch diesel) and biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) fuel blends on the energy-exergy efficiencies and gaseous exhaust emissions characteristics of a compression ignition engine. Two blends of alternative fuels denoted as E15B35FTD50 (15% ethanol, 35% biodiesel, and 50% Fischer-Tropsch diesel) and E15B35D50 (15% ethanol, 35% biodiesel, and 50% diesel) were experimentally studied on a single-cylinder diesel engine and compared to diesel fuel. The results show that the energetic and the exergetic efficiencies of the alternative fuels are comparable to those of the engine fueled with diesel fuel. The unburnt HC, NO, N2O, and NH3 emissions were reduced for the two alternative fuel blends compared to diesel, while CO emissions increased. The light HC species were found to slightly increase for the alternative fuel blends in comparison with diesel fuel. However, the total HC was considerably reduced by the combustion of E15B35FTD50 not only when compared to the diesel fuel combustion, but also when compared to E15B35D50. Overall, these results may contribute to identifying advantages and limitations in terms of energetic-exergetic analysis and emissions for the new generation of conventional diesel and hybrid electric vehicles that aim to achieve future emissions regulations.The Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil (CAPES)-Finance Code 001 is also acknowledged for the scholarship (No. 88887.199341/2018-00) to pursue F.A.T. postgraduate studies under the International Cooperation Program with the University of Birmingham and CAPES (Ref. 40/2014)

A comparative study of biofuels and Fischer–Tropsch diesel blends on the engine combustion Performance for reducing exhaust gaseous and particulate emissions

The worldwide consumption of fossil hydrocarbons in the road transport sector in 2020 corresponded to roughly half of the overall consumption. However, biofuels have been discreetly contributing to mitigate gaseous emissions and participating in sustainable development, and thus leading to the extending of the commercial utilization of internal combustion engines. In this scenario, the present work aims at exploring the effects of alternative fuels containing a blend of 15% ethanol and 35% biodiesel with a 50% fossil diesel (E15D50B35) or 50% Fischer–Tropsch (F-T) diesel (E15FTD50B35) on the engine combustion, exhaust emissions (CO, HC, and NOx), particulate emissions characteristics as well as the performance of an aftertreatment system of a common rail diesel engine. It was found that one of the blends (E15FTD50B35) showed more than 30% reduction in PM concentration number, more than 25% reduction in mean particle size, and more than 85% reduction in total PM mass with respect to conventional diesel fuel. Additionally, it was found that the E15FTD50B35 blend reduces gaseous emissions of total hydrocarbons (THC) by more than 25% and NO by 3.8%. The oxidation catalyst was effective in carbonaceous emissions reduction, despite the catalyst light-off being slightly delayed in comparison to diesel fuel blends.This research received no external fundin

Patterns and seasonality of malaria transmission in the forest-savannah transitional zones of Ghana

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the local pattern of malaria transmission and the effect of season on transmission is essential for the planning and evaluation of malaria interventions. Therefore, entomological surveys were carried out in the forest-savannah transitional belt of Ghana (Kintampo) from November 2003 to November 2005 in preparation for drug and vaccine trials. RESULTS: A total of 23,406 mosquitoes were caught from 919 traps over the two-year period (November 2003 to November 2005): 54.3% were Culicines, 36.2% Anopheles funestus, and 9.4% Anopheles gambiae. Infection rates with Plasmodium falciparum were 4.7% and 1.5% for Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus, respectively. Entomological inoculation rates (EIRs) were 269 infective bites per person per year in the first year (November 2003-October 2004) and 231 the following year (November 2004-November 2005). Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis detected only Anopheles gambiae s.s. Nineteen mosquitoes were tested by PCR in the wet season; 16 were S-molecular form, 2 M-molecular form and 1 hybrid (S/M). In the dry season, sixteen mosquitoes were tested; 11 S-molecular form, 2 M-molecular form and 3 S/M hybrids. The frequency of knock down resistance (kdr) genotypes F(R) was 0.60. CONCLUSION: The dynamics and seasonal abundance of malaria vectors in the Kintampo area was influenced by micro-ecology, rainfall and temperature patterns. Transmission patterns did not differ significantly between the two years (2004 and 2005) and both Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus were identified as effective vectors. EIR estimates in 2004/2005 were between 231 and 269 infective bites per person per year. The information provided by the study will help in planning intensified malaria control activities as well as evaluating the impact of malaria interventions in the middle belt of Ghana