http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1080 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:54:04 GMT 2026-03-12T07:54:04Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/12120 Evaluation of the Growth Performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) in Two Feed Regimes and Rice Output in an Integrated Rice-Fish Farming System in Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia Kerkulah, Sampson Denia This study was conducted to assess the yield of two rice cultivars (Suakoko 8 and Nerica L19) and the growth of mono-sex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in an integrated rice-fish farming system. The profitability of the fish-rice integrated system, percent survival and condition factor of the fish was also assessed. The study was conducted using a randomized block design with five treatments and three replicates. The culture pond was fertilized by application of cow manure at a rate of 4.5 kg / plot across the entire five (5) treatment blocks containing 15 experimental plots. Each plot measured 3 m x 3 m; and fish were stocked at a rate of four fish per square meter. Rice seedlings were planted at 0.2 m × 0.2 m spacing. Sixty-four (64) rice plants were initially planted in each plot. A twenty-one (21)-day-old seedling (rice) was used as planting material. The area containing the fish measured 1 m x 3 m and was 0.6 m deep, which served as a refuge pond for the fish. Fish were stocked at an average body weight of 5 g. Data on plant height, fish growth and yields, and water quality parameters were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and significant differences between treatments were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to test for differences in S8R, N19L, S8L, N19R, and S8 and the post hoc analysis were displayed using the Tukey HSD. S8 means Suakoko 8 and N19 means, New Rice for Africa variety 19 (N19). ―R‖ denotes that fish in those plots were fed Raanan feed and ―L‖ denotes that fish in those plots were fed the Local feed. The results show that treatments N19L and N19R had the best rice yield whilst treatment S8R had the best performance for fish growth. However, there were no significance difference in the weight gained of fish feed with Ranaan and those fed with the local feed (p>0.05). Overall, S8R obtained the profit margin of ($ 5,075), N19L ($ 5,949.82), S8L ($ 2,113.79), N19R ($ 9,205.83) and S8 ($ -3,938.15) per (ha) of cultivation – making N19R the most profitable rice-fish integrated aquaculture system. xi 97p:, ill Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/12120 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/12073 The Interplay Between Microbial Air Quality and Vernix Caseosa on the Health of Neonates During the First Seven Days After Birth Fosuah, Mary Healthcare-Associated Infections are gradually becoming a new public health challenge in healthcare settings, particularly in maternity wards. To explore the interplay of microbial air quality and vernix caseosa on the health of neonates during the first seven days after birth, a cross-sectional study was conducted using 845 samples obtained from the maternity ward of the University of Cape Coast hospital in Cape Coast from October to December 2023. These included air samples, swabbing of 17 items, nurses' palms and 59 neonates who were born in the maternity block within a five week- period of the study. Indoor air was sampled at the various rooms with agar plates placed at different height, 1.5 m above the ground level for the delivery room, and at 84 cm above the ground level in the lying-in rooms. Categorical analysis of samples from the palms of nurses, mothers and the bodies of the neonates indicated 22.0%, 67.8% and 79.7% bacterial growth respectively. Staphylococcus epidermis had the highest infection rate among the organisms isolated from the neonates, nurses, and mothers, with 29 neonates, 6 nurses, and 14 mothers affected. A multivariate analysis was conducted on the categorical data from swabs taken from the neonates, nurses' palms, and mothers' palms to assess the likelihood that the neonates were infected by organisms originating from either the nurses' palms, the air, or the mothers. It was found that the organisms from the palm of nurses were significantly associated with the infection of the neonates (p-values of 0.040). Three to seven days after discharge, the number of neonates that were susceptible were 11 (18.6%) of those infected and out of this, Staphylococcus epidermis still recorded the highest number out of the organisms isolated (54.5%). A cross-tabulation and Pearson’s chi- square analysis was performed to study the relationship between the categorical variable of organisms isolated right after birth and those isolated three to seven days after birth. it was found that, all the babies that had no infection right after birth still had no infection after 3 to 7 days of infection. The relationship showed a p-value of 0.063. This study highlights that despite the delivery ward being regarded as a critical area where high levels of cleanliness and sterility are essential, it is still prone to microbial contamination. Significant microorganism was detected in the air, signifying that the maternity ward environment can be a potential reservoir for bacteria and other microorganisms. This highlights the need for stringent infection control measures, including the regular maintenance of ventilation systems, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, and adherence to aseptic techniques. xii 117p:, ill Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/12073 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11957 In Vitro Inhibitory Effect and Molecular Interaction Studies of the Bioactive Compounds In Ethanolic Extracts of Garlic, Turmeric, and Cinnamon on Ampicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli Achirofi, Albert Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microbes stop responding to antibiotics used to treat their infections. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of ethanolic extracts of garlic, cinnamon, turmeric and the combination of each plant extract with ampicillin to help overcome antimicrobial resistance. It also conducted molecular docking analysis of the bioactive compounds in garlic, cinnamon and turmeric to help in drug design to curb antimicrobial resistance. The inhibitory effect was carried out using the agar disc diffusion method whilst Gold software and BIOVIA Discovery Studio was used for the molecular docking studies. The Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to the turmeric extracts, a combination of turmeric and ampicillin but moderately sensitive to the ampicillin. The molecular docking studies of curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin, zingiberene, curcumenol, and curcumol with Sortase A protein predicted the binding efficiency which are evidenced by a fitness score of 65.72%, 63.46%, 62.37%, 61.80%, 49.19%, 41.26%, and 37.47% respectively. The Escherichia coli was moderately sensitive to the cinnamon extract and ampicillin but sensitive to the combination of the cinnamon extract and ampicillin, the garlic extract, and a combination of the garlic and ampicillin. Molecular docking studies of eugenol, cinnamyl acetate, linalool, beta-caryophyllene, and cinnamaldehyde with beta-lactamase predicted the binding efficiency which are evidenced by a fitness score of 40.64%, 39.62%, 38.03%, 36.86%, and 35.25% respectively. Thus, the various extract were good inhibitors of the bacteria and molecular docking studies predicted the binding mode and binding efficiency of the ligands. xiii, 106p:,ill Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11957 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11904 Assessment Of Market Waste As Feedstock For Biogas Digester In Cape Coast – Ghana Asiamah, Rhoda Donkor With an expanding growth in the world’s population, there is an urgency to continually find alternative strategies to foster resourceful and sustainable waste treatment options. The availability and variety of potential feedstocks for biogas generation require reliable knowledge of the waste characteristics and evaluation of specific feedstock types. Even so, not all waste products are suitable for biotransformation. Also, an extensive range of market organic waste is underutilized, resulting in resource waste and other detrimental environmental issues. Consequently, there is an increasing focus on better feedstock utilization and reliability for improved biogas. This research seeks to assess market waste as a potential feedstock for biogas digesters. Using the purposive sampling technique, suitable organic wastes (eleven samples from each market) were weighed from three selected markets (based on proximity and the abundance of food and vegetable vendors) in Cape Coast to determine their abundance and reliability. The findings revealed the average total waste generation per week for each market to be 436.29 kg (Abura), 362.46 kg (Kotokuraba), and 140.64 kg (UCC Science) indicating the abundance of waste for bioconversion in Cape Coast. The waste characteristics showed considerable moisture content ranging from 57.44 % to 91.27 %. The TS with VS concentrations in the waste ranged from 8.73 % - 42.56 % and 0.17 % - 35.06 % respectively. The pH ranged from 3.19 - 6.13 Even though the waste had significant NPK Variation, it was ascertained that the organic fraction of municipal solid waste is typically poor in nutrients. The Cu and Zn determined in the study were 0.98 μg/g to 57.13 μg/g and 25.56 μg/g to 245.07 μg/g respectively. The waste had higher levels of BOD₅ (155.73 mg O₂/L to 731.89 mg O₂/L) and COD (2680 mg O₂/L to 28128) indicating high levels of pollutants in waste. It also had high pathogen contamination in waste samples highlighting a potential environmental and public health risk. xiv, 132p; , ill. Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11904 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z