Deforestation in forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana: Boabeng-Fiema monkey sanctuary

Forests provide many resources, ecosystem services and absorb carbon dioxide, which helps in climate regulation. In spite of the enormous benefits of forests, the issue of deforestation is still ongoing. There has been a continuous decline in forests globally and the forest area of Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (BFMS) in Ghana is facing a similar threat. The aim of the study is to determine the different forest cover types and changes in the forest of BFMS. Satellite images for the years 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2016 and 2018 were downloaded. Unsupervised and supervised classification were performed to determine the different forest cover types and remote sensing software was used to detect the changes in the forest cover. The forest cover was classified into six classes; closed forest, open forest, savannah woodland, savannah, farmlands and built-up area. Available data suggests that between 1992 and 2018, closed forest decreased by 242.19ha, open forest increased by 122.85 ha, savannah woodland increased by 7.47ha, savannah increased by 6.48 ha, farmland increased by 39.39ha and built-up area increased by 65.7ha. The changes in closed forest, open forest, farmland and built-up were all significant. Decreasing forest cover of BFMS is a threat to sustainable ecotourism since the forest serves as a habitat and food source to the monkeys. This research serves as guide to other researches aiming at determining forest cover changes in forest-savannah transition zones. In addition, the results have produced an inventory of the forest, which will help forest resource managers sustainably manage the forest

The Effect of Pasteurisation on the Physicochemical and Nutritional Quality of Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Juice

The effect of pasteurisation on the nutritional and physicochemical quality of soursop juice was investigated. Soursop juice was prepared from soursop fruit pulp and pasteurised at different temperatures (63, 71, 78, 83 and 95°C) for different durations. The effect of pasteurisation on ascorbic acid level, total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity of the juice was analysed. Additionally, the changes in pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and colour (L*a*b*) were determined. The pH, total soluble solids and titratable acidity were not significantly affected by pasteurisation. Pasteurisation affected the total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity of the juice. For the same pasteurisation temperature, an increased duration of pasteurisation resulted in a reduction of total antioxidant capacity. Ascorbic acid levels in the juice decreased with increased duration and temperature of pasteurisation. A first-order kinetic model was developed to explain the effect of pasteurisation on the degradation of ascorbic acid in soursop juice. A degradation rate constant of 0.035 min-1 and an activation energy of 83 kJ/mol were obtained

Effect of human capital development and institutional quality on inclusive growth in African countries

The study examines the impact of human capital and governance on inclusive growth in Africa. It further explores how governance dynamics influence the relationship between human capital and inclusive growth. Drawing on macro data spanning 43 African countries from 2005 to 2020 and employing the two-step system generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) estimation technique, the following findings emerge. First, human capital promotes inclusive growth in Africa, while governance has a diminishing effect. Second, the six governance indicators counteracted the positive effect of human capital on inclusive growth. This means that negative governance dynamics completely nullify/dampen the positive effect of human capital on inclusive growth. In conclusion, the anticipated benefits of human capital in fostering inclusive growth may remain elusive unless significant improvements are made to Africa’s weak institutional fabric

Priming with Methylene Blue Enhances the Antioxidant Properties and Germination Power of Cowpea, Millet and Sorghum Seeds

Seed priming is the preparation of plants to overcome stress with the aim of improving the efficiency and rate of germination. The effect of priming cowpea, millet and sorghum seeds with methylene blue (MB) on germination power (GP) was investigated in this work. The seeds were primed by steeping for 6 h in different concentrations of MB solution, germinated over 48 h on wet cotton and the GP determined. Further, soluble protein and total phenolic contents, and the antioxidant properties [scavenging ability for hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and iron chelation ability] of the seeds steeped in MB that gave the highest GP were determined. The highest GP was observed for cowpea and sorghum seeds steeped in 80 µM MB solution and 60 µM MB solution for millet seeds. At these MB concentrations, a faster rate of germination coupled with an increase in soluble protein and total phenolic content was observed. The increase in germination rate was also characterized by enhanced antioxidant properties of the seeds. The results of this study show that priming with MB can be used to improve the germination of these seeds

Quality Changes during Storage of Burkina (a Millet and Milk-based) Drink

Burkina, a drink prepared from millet and milk, is gaining economic attention in Ghana due to its perceived nutritious nature and high energy content. The drink which is produced on a small-scale is usually vended without proper control of storage conditions leading to rapid loss of quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of storing burkina at different temperatures (4 and 30°C) on the microbial and physicochemical (pH, titratable acidity, brix and phenolic content) quality of the drink. The pH, titratable acidity, brix and phenolic content of freshly prepared burkina were 3.65, 0.49%, 2.05 and 0.26 mg GAE/100 g, respectively. Although, changes were observed, storage temperature did not have a significant effect on the physicochemical quality of burkina. The initial load of aerobic mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and yeast and moulds in the freshly prepared Burkina were 6.45, 5.49, 2.58 and 4.45 log cfu/mL, respectively. Storage at the higher temperature resulted in an increased microbial load within 48 h, leading to faster spoilage, with only marginal increases observed at the lower storage temperature

The Pharmacologically Active Alkaloid Cryptolepine Activates a Type 1 Interferon Response That Is Independent of MAVS and STING Pathways

Type 1 interferons (IFN-1) are pleiotropic cytokines with well-established anticancer and antiviral properties, particularly in mucosal tissues. Hence, natural IFN-1-inducing treatments are highly sought after in the clinic. Here, we report for the first time that cryptolepine, a pharmacoactive alkaloid in the medicinal plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, is a potent IFN-1 pathway inducer. Cryptolepine increased the transcript levels of JAK1, TYK2, STAT1, STAT2, IRF9, and OAS3, as well as increased the accumulation of STAT1 and OAS3 proteins, similar to recombinant human IFN-α. Cryptolepine effects were observed in multiple cell types including a model of human macrophages. This response was maintained in MAVS and STING-deficient cell lines, suggesting that cryptolepine effects are not mediated by nucleic acids released upon nuclear or organelle damage. In agreement, cryptolepine did not affect cell viability in concentrations that triggered potent IFN-1 activation. In addition, we observed no differences in the presence of a pharmacological inhibitor of TBK1, a pleiotropic kinase that is a converging point for Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nucleic acid sensors. Together, our results demonstrate that cryptolepine is a strong inducer of IFN-1 response and suggest that cryptolepine-based medications such as C. sanguinolenta extract could be potentially tested in resource-limited regions of the world for the management of chronic viral infections as well as cancers

Aryl-alcohol Oxidase Involved in Lignin Degradation: A MECHANISTIC STUDY BASED ON STEADY AND PRE-STEADY STATE KINETICS AND PRIMARY AND SOLVENT ISOTOPE EFFECTS WITH TWO ALCOHOL SUBSTRATES*

Aryl-alcohol oxidase (AAO) is a FAD-containing enzyme in the GMC (glucose-methanol-choline oxidase) family of oxidoreductases. AAO participates in fungal degradation of lignin, a process of high ecological and biotechnological relevance, by providing the hydrogen peroxide required by ligninolytic peroxidases. In the Pleurotus species, this peroxide is generated in the redox cycling of p-anisaldehyde, an extracellular fungal metabolite. In addition to p-anisyl alcohol, the enzyme also oxidizes other polyunsaturated primary alcohols. Its reaction mechanism was investigated here using p-anisyl alcohol and 2,4-hexadien-1-ol as two AAO model substrates. Steady state kinetic parameters and enzyme-monitored turnover were consistent with a sequential mechanism in which O2 reacts with reduced AAO before release of the aldehyde product. Pre-steady state analysis revealed that the AAO reductive half-reaction is essentially irreversible and rate limiting during catalysis. Substrate and solvent kinetic isotope effects under steady and pre-steady state conditions (the latter showing ∼9-fold slower enzyme reduction when α-bideuterated substrates were used, and ∼13-fold slower reduction when both substrate and solvent effects were simultaneously evaluated) revealed a synchronous mechanism in which hydride transfer from substrate α-carbon to FAD and proton abstraction from hydroxyl occur simultaneously. This significantly differs from the general mechanism proposed for other members of the GMC oxidoreductase family that implies hydride transfer from a previously stabilized substrate alkoxide