Journal of the Ghana Science Association最新文献

{"title":"Mechanical Properties of Khaya and Albizia Films Intended for Pharmaceutical Coating","authors":"K. Ofori-Kwakye, E. Adom","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18013","url":null,"abstract":"The mechanical properties of khaya and albizia films have been studied to assess their suitability for pharmaceutical coating. The two gums were initially characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties. The mechanical properties evaluated were tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation at break, strain and area under the curve (AUC). Films prepared with khaya gum alone were hard, brittle and lacked flexibility while that of albizia were hard, tough, flexible and elastic. Addition of albizia improved the film forming properties of khaya gum and imparted increasing toughness, flexibility and elasticity to the films. Albizia thus appear to be a better film coating material than khaya gum. The hardness of the films was not significantly affected by increase in albizia concentration. Inclusion of HPMC in khaya/albizia blended gels enhanced the film forming, hardness, elasticity, and toughness of the films. HPMC increased the strain values of the films which is predictive of high mechanical performance of the films during coating processes. Albizia and Khaya/albizia film formulations thus have the potential for use in pharmaceutical coating by possessing\u0000the requisite mechanical properties of hardness, flexibility and toughness. These essential\u0000properties of film coats were greatly enhanced by the inclusion of HPMC in the films. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 43-53","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123766767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insect pests of dried cassava ('kokonte') in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana.","authors":"J. Adu-Mensah, M. Owusu-Akyaw, M. B. Mochiah","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18008","url":null,"abstract":"Insects are among the most important agents of postharvest losses of dried stored produce including cassava. In a study to identify the most important insects and assess the damage, dried cassava samples from marketing centers in 8 districts each in Ashanti (Mampong, Nkawie, Konongo, Tepa, Nkenkasu, Kumasi, Ejura and Bekwai), and Brong Ahafo (Berekum, Dormaa Ahenkro, Techiman, Sene, Acherensua, Sunyani, Kintampo and Bechem) were incubated in the laboratory. For each sample, a questionnaire was administered to collect information on the cassava varieties processed, method of preparation, drying and storage. Ninety-nine percent of ‘kokonte' samples collected from\u0000the Brong Ahafo region were sun dried compared with 59% from Ashanti. Samples from Ashanti had been predominantly stored in open baskets (46%) while in the Brong Ahafo the principal method had been in empty fertilizer sacks (42%). Much of the kokonte ready for the market in both regions were stored for a maximum period of one week. The red skin variety of cassava is preferred to the white skin accounting for 67% and 85% of kokonte from Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, respectively. Eleven insect species, all beetles from six families were identified from the two regions. The coffee bean weevil, Araecerus fasciculatus (Degeer) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), was the most predominant species. Other important species were Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Cryptolestes sp. (Coleoptera: Cucujidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Dinoderus minutus (Fabricius) and Cathartus quadricollis Guerin (Coleoptera:\u0000Silvanidae). They were important because of their numbers and the potential to cause damage. Of significance was the occurrence in small numbers in both regions of the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), in samples. The potential of this insect to cause damage and implications for post harvest storage of dried produce are discussed. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 9-17","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133245588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers to Condom use among the Youth in a Municipal Town in Ghana","authors":"M. Abdul-Kabir, E. Otupiri, D. Opare","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18016","url":null,"abstract":"Condom-use has been identified as one way to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS but the prevalence of consistent condom-use remains low, especially in West Africa. An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Sunyani Municipality in the Brong-Ahafo to identify barriers to condom-use among young people. The association between study variables were tested and quantified. Two hundred and twenty (220) sexually active individuals aged 15-24 years were interviewed using a questionnaire to elicit information on their sexual history and behaviour, condom-use history and the extent to which certain behavoiurs and experiences impede condom-use in their sexual relationships.\u0000Condom-use at last intercourse was reported by only 37.5% of males and 38.9% of females\u0000(p Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 76-84","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129676749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Radiation Processing And Characterization Of Chitin And Chitosan Extracted From Crab Shells","authors":"G. Emi-Reynolds, S. Zaki, G. Banini, S. Dogbe, Ma Ofori-Appiah, I. Ennison, A. Fianko, Jy Faanu, C. Schandorf","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18009","url":null,"abstract":"The extraction and characterization of Chitin and Chitosan from crab shells (Callinectes sp.) obtained locally in Ghana is presented. The shells were finely milled and soaked in 10 % dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) for 48 hr followed by de-proteinization using 2M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution for 24 hr to obtain Chitin. The Chitin was refluxed at 100 oC in 50 % NaOH for 7 hr to yield Chitosan. The Chitin and Chitosan were characterized by determining the de-acetylation, viscosity and average molecular weights. The degree of de-acetylation was determined to be 89.7 %. The viscosity of Chitosan in dilute acetic acid was measured and the average molecular weight estimated. The average molecular weight of dry gamma irradiated (up to 100kGy) Chitosan samples decreased with increasing dose. The results have been discussed in terms of radiation induced degradation of\u0000solids. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 18-24","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"26 4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115695642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crow and Vulture Nest Density and Placement Pattern on Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Campus, Kumasi","authors":"S. Akyeampong, Ak Anning","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18023","url":null,"abstract":"The location and density of nests of the hooded vulture ( Necrosyrtes monacus ) and the pied crow ( Corvus albus ) were systematically investigated on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, from December, 2004 to April, 2005. Trees with crow and vulture nests were identified, and the positions of nests above ground (nest height) determined in three sites on the campus categorized as developed, undeveloped (protected) and undeveloped (unprotected). Canopy cover (above and at nest level) were visually estimated. In all, one hundred and two (102) nests were recorded of which 35 were inhabited by crows and 67 by vultures. Crow and vulture nest densities were found to be 2.73 km-2 and 5.23 km-2, respectively. Mean nest height for crow was 18m (S.D. 5.9) and that for vulture was 17m (S.D. 4.9). Eighty-nine per cent (89%) of all nests were found in the developed areas of the KNUST campus, a situation which can be attributable to availability of food source. The birds clearly demonstrated host tree specificity, nesting on only 13 tree species out of an estimated 200 or more plants on campus. Terminalia catapa was the most preferred host tree, accounting for approximately 29% of all nests encountered. To ensure maximum protection, most of the birds nested on trees with sparse to dense foliage. The results of this study suggest threatening conservation implications for these wild birds, in view of the indiscriminate felling of trees especially around human habitations. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 138-145","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129807120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A survey of indigenous knowledge of stingless bees (Apidae: meliponini) in the central region of Ghana","authors":"A. Karikari, P. Kwapong","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.48073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.48073","url":null,"abstract":"The indigenous knowledge on stingless bees was assessed using questionnaires and semi-directive methods from five farming communities around the Kakum National Park in the Central Region of Ghana. Stingless bees are very good pollinators of both wild and cultivated crops and also produce honey and propolis that are medicinal. Even though these bees are of African origin, unlike South and Central America as well as Australia where the bees have been studied extensively for pollination services and hive products, studies on these bees are almost non existent in Africa. Strangely however, the local people showed great wealth of knowledge about the different species of stingless bees, their nesting behaviour, their forage resources and the uses of their honey especially as medicine. They are aware that the bees collect nectar and pollen and also know that the presence of the bees on their crops improve the quality and quantity of their crop yields. They however do not know the role of stingless bees in the pollination of their crops. Even though the indigenous people recognize stingless bee honey as highly medicinal, no attempt has been made to manage the bees for their benefits. Harvesting of honey has been mainly destructive and this research is opening up an opportunity for meliponiculture in Ghana","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128272187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Standard protocol for screening conventional insecticides at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana for mired control","authors":"J. Ackonor, R. Adu-Acheampong","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V9I2.18020","url":null,"abstract":"Mirids, (Sachlbergella singularis Hagl, and Distantiella theobroma (Dist), are the most important insect pests of cocoa in West Africa and their current control relies primarily on conventional insecticides. Insecticides have, for over six decades, had very beneficial effects on cocoa cultivation in Ghana. The success of mired control operation depends on, among others, the type of insecticide, the equipment used to apply them and timing. Consumers worldwide detest pesticide contaminated food products. The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), therefore, routinely screens all insecticides submitted by manufacturers for mired control with all the aim of identifying environmentally friendlier compounds and to address consumer concerns about pesticide residues. This paper\u0000reports on the five stages that an insecticide passes through before it is recommended for use on cocoa in Ghana. The stages include a laboratory screening, a cage spray test, a small-scale, researches- managed field trial, a large-scale, researcher and farmer-managed field trial, as well as a trial for taint test and residue analysis. We hope the presentation will go a long way to allay the fears of consumers and environmentalists on the safety of chemical control of cocoa mirids in Ghana. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 117-121","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"58 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133663885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of a pwst complex of nesidiocoris tenuis, bemisia sp and tomato leaf curlike virus disease on the growth and yield of tomato","authors":"Y. Asiama, E. Owusu","doi":"10.4314/jgsa.v2i3.17994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/jgsa.v2i3.17994","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"55 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116700810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The use cloned DNA probes for the detection and identification of cocoa swollen shoot virus (CSSV) 1A and CSSV Nsaba","authors":"St Sackey, H. Dzahini-Obiatey, S. Lowor","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V2I3.17999","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V2I3.17999","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"87 6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126295073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The efficacy of low volume application of roundup (glyphostate) on weed suppression in some plantation crops in Ghana","authors":"F. Oppong, K. Osei-Bonsu, Fm Amoah","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V2I3.17991","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V2I3.17991","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"75 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128562319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}