Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease of coconut in Ghana: surveillance and management of disease spread

The Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease (CSPWD), a lethal-yellowing type disease of coconut has been in Ghana since 1932. Aerial and/or ground surveys were undertaken to assess the current status of the disease spread. The survey showed that the spread of the disease for the past 5 years has mainly been the expansion of existing foci. However, new outbreaks were identified at Glidzi in the Volta, Bawjiase and Efutu Breman in Central regions. After the resurgence in the Volta region in 1995, the Woe-Tegbi-Dzelukope corridor has remained endemic, but less aggressive. Pockets of healthy groves remain along all the coastline and inland of known disease zones. Eradication of diseased palms at Ampain focus lying just about 60 km to the Ivorian border, and disease situations on new replanting with MYD × VTT hybrid are discussed. (Résumé d'auteur

Identification of potential insect vectors of the Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease of coconut in Ghana by PCR

The vector of the phytoplasma responsible for the coconut lethal yellowing disease in West Africa is unknown to date. However, it is known that phytoplasmas are transmitted by leafhoppers and planthoppers, which are supposed to be the only ones able to inject the phytoplasma in the phloem. Whereas the presence of phytoplasma in the insect does not prove its capacity to transmit the disease. We have tested a large number of insects for the presence of phytoplamas by PCR (direct PCR and Nested PCR) using both primer pairs specific for all phytoplasmas and those specific for the coconut lethal yellowing disease phytoplasma. In effect the evidence of one or several species carrying the phytoplasma would direct us on the insects to focus on in our transmission cages trials. (Résumé d'auteur

Health Risk Perception on Excreta Reuse for Peri-urban Agriculture in Southern Ghana

Access to proper sanitation and disposal sites for faecal sludge is problematic in Ghana, particularly in peri-urban communities. Using a cross-sectional household-level survey data, this study investigates farmers’ perceptions on the health risks of excreta reuse for peri-urban agriculture in Shai-Osudoku district in Ghana. It was found that a majority of the farmers ‘disagree’ that excreta are a waste and are willing to use excreta as fertilizer, albeit a majority ‘agreeing’ perception that excreta reuse can pose health risks. Empirical results from an ordered probit model show that the decision to use excreta as fertilizer is more related to perceptions on excreta as a resource rather than personal and farm characteristics. However, there is some relationship between personal and farm characteristics and perceptions on the health risks of excreta reuse for agricultural purpose. There is also a strong relationship between the perception that excreta are a waste and perceptions on the health risks of excreta reuse. Programmes aimed at promoting improved sanitation should consider the reuse potential of excreta in agriculture, as attested by the farmers as a resource for crop production. There is the need to educate farmers on how excreta could properly be handled and used in agriculture. Other policy options toward risk reducing strategies that involve relevant government institutions and the local media should also be considered to avoid any health hazards associated with excreta reuse in agriculture. Keywords: Sanitation, Excreta reuse, Health risk perception, Peri-urban agriculture, Ghana 1. Introductio

The acculturation effect and eyewitness memory reports among migrants

Purpose: When people migrate to new cultures, they adapt to their new culture while at the same time retaining the norms of their original culture. The phenomenon whereby migrants adapt to the cultural norms of a host culture has been referred to as acculturation. Using a mock witness paradigm, we examined the acculturation effect in the eyewitness memory reports of sub-Saharan African migrants in Western Europe. Methods: We sampled sub-Saharan African migrants in Western Europe, as well as sub-Saharan Africans living in Africa as a control group (total N = 107). The mock witnesses were shown stimuli scenes of crimes in African and Western European settings and provided free and cued recall reports about what they had seen. Results: Central details were reported more than contextual details by both groups of sub-Saharan Africans. Relative to the control group of sub-Saharan Africans living in Africa, sub-Saharan African migrants in Western Europe provided more correct central details in free recall. The longer migrants had resided in Western Europe, the less collectivistic they become. Migrants also provided more elaborate reports the longer their duration of residence in Western Europe. Conclusion: The findings of the current research suggest the new cultural environment of migrants impact their cultural norms, which may have implications for their eyewitness memory reports

The Influence of Apparent Temperature on Mortality in the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance Area in the Middle Belt of Ghana: A Retrospective Time-Series Analysis.

Globally, studies have shown that diurnal changes in weather conditions and extreme weather events have a profound effect on mortality. Here, we assessed the effect of apparent temperature on all-cause mortality and the modifying effect of sex on the apparent temperature-mortality relationship using mortality and weather data archived over an eleven-year period. An overdispersed Poisson regression and distributed lag nonlinear models were used for this analysis. With these models, we analysed the relative risk of mortality at different temperature values over a 10-day lag period. By and large, we observed a nonlinear association between mean daily apparent temperature and all-cause mortality. An assessment of different temperature values over a 10-day lag period showed an increased risk of death at the lowest apparent temperature (18°C) from lag 2 to 4 with the highest relative risk of mortality (RR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.15, p value = 0.001) occurring three days after exposure. The relative risk of death also varied between males (RR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.94) and females (RR = 4.88, 95% CI: 1.40, 16.99) by apparent temperature and lag. On the whole, males are sensitive to both temperature extremes whilst females are more vulnerable to low temperature-related mortality. Accordingly, our findings could inform efforts at reducing temperature-related mortality in this context and other settings with similar environmental and demographic characteristics

Households’ Latrine Preference and Financing Mechanisms in Peri-urban Ghana

Using household-level survey data, this study investigates households’ latrine preference and financing mechanisms for improved latrines in the Ningo-Prampram district in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Descriptive and inferential analyses are employed for data analysis and reporting. The results of the study show that a majority of the sampled households practice open defecation due to lack of funds and space for an improved latrine. Most of the households prefer the flush/pour-flush to the piped sewer system latrine or the ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine. About half of the households prefer to use own funds via savings or ‘susu’ to build their latrines, and very few prefer funds from the financial institutions (FIs), albeit the FIs are interested in providing loans for household latrines. Empirical results from a binary logistic model show that there is some relationship between households’ latrine financing decisions and their socioeconomic and community characteristics, such as gender, education, household composition, income, tenancy, type of defecating practiced and type of community. The study recommends the need to educate households to consider ‘cheaper’ and more feasible latrine technologies, and also adopt joint-resource mobilization strategies for their latrines. There is also the need to educate the households on the possibility and conditions for alternative sources of funds for improved latrines. Policy efforts by the government and other stakeholders toward a sustainable uptake of improved sanitation should also consider the household and community factors that may influence a household’s latrine preference and financing decision. Keywords: Household latrine, financing mechanism, peri-urban Ghana, SUS

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)