Preferences of the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum, for Nutritionally Different Dog Foods

Triboliumcastaneum, known as the red flour beetle (RFB)is a common pest of stored grain and milled grain products.Thisresearch studied how RFBs orient to and lay eggs in their standard flour diet and in two kinds of dog food.We tested whether RFBs have a preference toward two different dog foods, one with low protein, the “Light” food, and the other with high protein, the “Dark” food. We predicted the beetles would prefer the Light kibble with the lower protein.When given the choice between the two foods, 60% of beetlespreferredthe Light product, which had only 20% of the protein as the dark food, which was chosen by 40% of beetles. When the beetles were given the choice between either Light or Dark kibble, vs. their regular flour-based lab diet, flour was the preferred food. However, the two-choice test showed a higher proportion of beetles were in the Light compared to Dark food. These results are important because they will help the pet food industry further understand what the RFBs prefer, and thus help us take appropriate measures to prevent infestation

Preferences of Indian Meal Moth Larvae for Different Dog Foods

Indian meal moths (IMM), Plodiainterpuntella, are persistent pests to our foods (Fasulo et al.1998; Plunkett’s Pest Control 2018). When IMMs infest a a food product the resulting value loss is the result of contamination by larvae that leave droppings and silken webs in grain and grain products (Jacob and Calvin 2001). The IMM is an important pest of high-value dog foods and the grain components of these food may influence their infestation. Experiments were conducted with eggs of the IMM to determine if moth larvae would choose and infest the grain-based dog food in comparison to dog foods with a higher meat content. IMM laboratory rearing diet was included for comparison. No-choice and choice tests confirmed the IMM diet to be the most preferred and best for larval development. Forced infestation of 50 IMM eggs on the four different dog foods found difference among them. In two-choice test that require newly hatched larvae to walk to and infest either lab diet or a dog food, the highest proportion of larvae selecting any of the dog foods was on product C, which was a medium quality, grain-free food. These results suggest that IMM infestations in warehouses or consumer’s homes could be prevalent on some dog foods more than others

Oviposition and Larval Development of the Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella, on Different Breakfast Cereals

Plodiainterpunctella, the Indian meal moth (IMM), is a common pest of grain products. Adult IMMs lay eggs on a food source and once hatched, the larvae consume the product while leaving behind large amounts of frass and silk [1, 2]. The purpose of this experiment was to identify which kind of grain products are at the highest risk of P. interpunctellainfestation by using the lab-rearing diet as a comparison to two different breakfast cereals of the same brand: a frosted cereal and a regular non-frosted cereal. Two-choice tests determined if moths prefer to lay eggs on and which of the choices would b for the larva to develop. At the end of the experiment, it was observed that adult P. interpunctella preferred to lay their eggs on the frosted cereal diet. The frosted cereal diet also proved to be the better of the two for larval survival and growth. This research suggests that frosted cereals may be preferred by this pest, and that such products need special protection during storage

Double-pen houses of Noblesville, Indiana

The two double-pen houses documented in this project are rare surviving examples of both folk/tradition-informed construction, (vernacular architecture) and antebellum housing. As there are only thirty or so antebellum structures extant in Noblesville, Indiana, and only three houses of the double-pen plan, the importance of documenting these structures becomes clear. Neither structure stands alone in a void; each must be placed within the context of its time (1840s-1860s), and place (Noblesville, an urban environment) to be fully understood. Transportation, the construction trade, and industry as it existed in Noblesville during the period 1840-1860 all had a direct effect on who built the houses, and on the materials used in the houses. The concentration of skilled labor, the presence of industrial capacity in the form of sawmills, and the availability of such things as hardware are all a result of an urban environment. A study of primary source documents describing these factors is thus highly relevant in understanding the physical fabric of the houses.Department of ArchitectureThe survey project -- Conditions in Noblesville relevant to domestic construction -- 736 South 9th Street -- 154/164 South 6th Street.Thesis (M.S.H.P.

Mental Health-Related Stigma and Discrimination in Ghana: Experience of Patients and Their Caregivers

Background: Mental health is now attracting increased public health attention from health professionals, policy makers and the general population. However, stigma and discrimination usually have enormous negative impact on the patients and their families. This study reports on stigma and discrimination faced by mental health patients and their caregivers in a suburban area of Ghana and the coping strategies used.Method: This is a cross-sectional exploratory study which used both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Two hundred and seventy seven mental health patients were purposively interviewed. Focus group discussions were held with caregivers and in-depth interviews were held with mental health professionals. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel® whilst the qualitative data were coded and manually analyzed thematically.Results: Mental disorder cuts across all age, sex, education, ethnicity, employment, and marital status. More females were stigmatized than males at the work/employment and educational levels. Various forms of stigma were observed at the economic, psychological and social levels, whilst for discrimination it was only observed at the economic and social levels. Caregivers were also stigmatized and discriminated. The coping strategies adopted by the mental patients and their caregivers were also economic, psychological and social in nature.Conclusion: Mental health patients and their families suffer from stigma and discrimination from the individual, family, work, employment, education to the health level. Thus, community level policy on mental health care needs to be developed and implemented. Furthermore mental health education needs to be intensified at the community level.Keywords: stigma, discrimination, mental health,caregivers, coping strategies, Ghan

Sexual Harassment in Public Medical Schools in Ghana

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence and incidence of Traditional (where a person in a position of power harasses a subordinate) and contra power sexual harassment, (where a subordinate is the harasser of authority figure) in medical schools in Ghana. amongDesign: Cross-sectional studyMethod: Four hundred and nine medical students from four medical schools in Ghana were interviewed. We also considered if academic and financial dependence would predict either traditional or contra power sexual harassment. We further investigated, whether women were more bothered by sexual harassment than men and the correlation between sexual harassment and health.Results: Women were 61% more likely to be sexually harassed than men 39%. Sexual harassment negatively affects the victims’ health outcome. We found that the traditional form of sexual harassment was prevalent in medical schools in Ghana and that academic dependence predicted attacks. In the first and second years, women at these institutions are more likely to be sexually harassed than men.Conclusion: Sexual harassment policies of medical school need to be widely circulated. The various medical schools should provide reporting procedures and counseling for victims. This paper would inform policy and research.Keywords: Sexual Harassment, Health, Medical Schools, Ghan

Malaria treatment in Northern Ghana: What is the treatment cost per case to households?

Although malaria is a major problem in Sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana, there has been little research on its economic impact, particularly the treatment cost at the household level. This study uses data collected from a random sample of 423 households in Kassena-Nankana district (KND) of northern Ghana. Malaria was ascertained through self-reporting of symptoms using a one-month recall period. The paper presents treatment cost analysis of seeking malaria care to households. Direct and indirect costs to households are estimated and examined in terms of location, severity, and wealth. The study shows that indirect cost accounts for 71 percent of total cost of a malaria episode. While cost of malaria care is estimated at 1 percent of the income of the rich, it is 34 percent of the poor households\' income, suggesting that the burden of malaria is higher for poorer households. In order to reduce the cost of malaria to households, we recommend that the training of malaria volunteers to assist households in the communities to take more responsibility of the disease and also to intensify public education to promote the use of insecticide treated nets, as they have been found to be cost-effective in the prevention of malaria. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 14 (1-2) 2007: pp. 70-7

Pathways Utilized for Antenatal Health Seeking Among Women in the Ga East District, Ghana

Background: Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio has been declining over the last two decades but at a rather slow pace. Poor access to effective maternity care is identified as one of the key challenges of maternity care. The current study mapped out the pathways to pregnancy care seeking among urban-dwelling adult women in a peri-urban district located in the Greater Accra region of Ghana.Methods: A total of 300 women who had a live birth in the last 12 months participated in a communitybased survey. They answered questions on care seeking behavior related to their last pregnancy. A multivariate Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with multiple care seeking behavior.Results: Almost all women in the survey (98%) reported accessing skilled antenatal care (ANC) from a biomedical provider, although 35% begun ANC later than the first trimester. About 45% of women simultaneously utilized both ANC and alternative care providers (ACP) including traditional birth attendants, herbalists, and spiritualists. A complex pathway to antenatal care seeking behavior involving shuttling between providers was observed. Controlling for household wealth, household size, and age, seeking care from multiple providers concurrently was associated with residence in Kwabenya sub-district OR=2.13 (95% CI: 1.28, 3.55) and previous abortion OR=2.08 (95% CI: 1.11, 3.91)Conclusions: Urban-dwelling women in Ga East District seek antenatal care concurrently from multiple sources. Health system interventions must seek ways to integrate alternative care providers into the existing biomedical health care system.Keywords: multiple care seeking, pregnancy, pathway, alternative care, antenata

Insured clients out-of-pocket payments for health care under the national health insurance scheme in Ghana

BACKGROUND: In 2003, Ghana implemented a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) designed to promote universal health coverage and equitable access to health care. The scheme has largely been successful, yet it is confronted with many challenges threatening its sustainability. Out-of-pocket payments (OOP) by insured clients is one of such challenges of the scheme. This study sought to examine the types of services OOP charges are made for by insured clients and how much insured clients pay out-of-pocket. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional health facility survey. A total of 2066 respondents were interviewed using structured questionnaires at the point of health care exit in the Ashanti, Northern and Central regions of Ghana. Health facilities of different levels were selected from 3 districts in each of the three regions. Data were collected between April and June 2018. Using Epidata and STATA Version 13.1 data analyses were done using multiple logistic regression and simple descriptive statistics and the results presented as proportions and means. RESULTS: Of all the survey respondents 49.7% reported paying out-of-pocket for out-patient care while 46.9% of the insured clients paid out-of-pocket. Forty-two percent of the insured poorest quintile also paid out-of-pocket. Insured clients paid for consultation (75%) and drugs (63.2%) while 34.9% purchased drugs outside the health facility they visited. The unavailability of drugs (67.9%) and drugs not covered by the NHIS (20.8%) at the health facility led to out-of-pocket payments. On average, patients paid GHS33.00 (USD6.6) out-of-pocket. Compared to the Ashanti region, patients living in the Northern region were 74% less at odds to pay out-of-pocket for health care. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Insured clients of Ghana's NHIS seeking health care in accredited health facilities make out-of-pocket payments for consultation and drugs that are covered by the scheme. The out-of-pocket payments are largely attributed to unavailability of drugs at the facilities while the consultation fees are charged to meet the administrative costs of services. These charges occur in disadvantaged regions and in all health facilities. The high reliance on out-of-pocket payments can impede Ghana's progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goal 3, seeking to end poverty and reduce inequalities. In order to build trust and confidence in the NHIS there is the need to eliminate out-of-pocket payments for consultation and medicines by insured clients

Economic burden of motorcycle accidents in Northern Ghana

Background: Motorcycles are the most popular means of transportation in northern Ghana, and their accidents are major causes of out-patient attendance and admis-sions in the Bolgatanga Municipality.Objective: This paper estimates the economic burden of motorcycle accidents in the Bolgatanga Municipality in Northern Ghana.Design: Retrospective cross-sectional cost study.Methods: Data were collected from Drivers and Vehi-cle Licensing Authority, the Police, health facilities and motorcycle accident victims. Both  quantitative and qualitative approaches were used for data collection. Cost analysis was based on the standard road accident cost conceptual framework.Results: Ninety-eight percent of vehicles registered in the municipality in 2004 – 2008 were motorcycles. The motorcycles were significantly more than the cars reg-istered. The economic burden of motorcycle accidents was estimated to be about US$1.2 million, of which, 52% were accident-related costs (i.e. property damage and administration) and 48% casualty-related costs (i.e. medical costs, out-of-pocket expenses, lost labour out-puts, intangible costs and funeral expenses). Most mo-torcycle accident victims were in their productive ages and were males. Only a third of the motorcycles were insured. Majority of the riders (71%) did not possess valid driving license and would want to avoid the po-lice. Main motorcycle injuries were head injuries, frac-tures, lacerations and contusions. Majority of the acci-dents were caused by lack of formal motorcycle riding training, abuse of alcohol, unrestrained animals and donkey carts.Conclusion: Motorcycle accidents could be reduced through law enforcement, continuous mass education and helmet use