Poverty and happiness: An examination of the factors influencing happiness among the extreme poor in rural Ghana

Every person desires some level of inner fulfilment at different stages of life and this could come from a combination of several factors including material and resource acquisition and social prestige. The challenge, however, is whether happiness levels across the different social strata are the same, especially among the poor and the neglected. Using data from the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty survey in Ghana, we analyse the factors that influence happiness among the extreme poor. The positive and negative factors are discussed in the paper

Cheating the locals: invasive mussels steal and benefit from the cooling effect of indigenous mussels

The indigenous South African mussel Perna perna gapes during periods of aerial exposure to maintain aerobic respiration. This behaviour has no effect on the body temperatures of isolated individuals, but when surrounded by conspecifics, beneficial cooling effects of gaping emerge. It is uncertain, however, whether the presence of the invasive mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis limits the ability of P. perna for collective thermoregulation. We investigated whether varying densities of P. perna and M. galloprovincialis influences the thermal properties of both natural and artificial mussel beds during periods of emersion. Using infrared thermography, body temperatures of P. perna within mixed artificial beds were shown to increase faster and reach higher temperatures than individuals in conspecific beds, indicating that the presence of M. galloprovincialis limits the group cooling effects of gaping. In contrast, body temperatures of M. galloprovincialis within mixed artificial mussel beds increased slower and exhibited lower temperatures than for individuals in beds comprised entirely of M. galloprovincialis. Interestingly, differences in bed temperatures and heating rates were largely dependent on the size of mussels, with beds comprised of larger individuals experiencing less thermal stress irrespective of species composition. The small-scale patterns of thermal stress detected within manipulated beds were not observed within naturally occurring mixed mussel beds. We propose that small-scale differences in topography, size-structure, mussel bed size and the presence of organisms encrusting the mussel shells mask the effects of gaping behaviour within natural mussel beds. Nevertheless, the results from our manipulative experiment indicate that the invasive species M. galloprovincialis steals thermal properties as well as resources from the indigenous mussel P. perna. This may have significant implications for predicting how the co-existence of these two species may change as global temperatures continue to rise

Fertility Ideals of Women and Men Across the Life Course

This paper explores the stability of women’s and men’s fertility preferences across the life course. The data come from the first six waves of the German Family Panel (pairfam), which span the period from 2008/2009 until 2013/2014. In our analysis, fertility preferences are measured using the following question: “Under ideal circumstances, how many children would you like to have?” The average number cited by both women and men is 2.2. With rising age, this number declines modestly. Relying on fixed-effects modelling, we find that neither partnership status nor economic circumstances have any causal effect on fertility preferences. However, as the number of children a respondent has increases, his or her ideal number of children is also likely to grow. Thus, fertility ideals appear to undergo changes over time, and are adjusted in line with the size of the respondent’s own family

Heavy metal and proximate composition associated with the composting of cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels used in the cultivation of mushrooms in Ghana

Changes in the heavy metal content and proximate composition during the 28 day composting of cassava peels used in the cultivation of the oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus strain EM-1 was studied. Significant dry weight variations of cellulose, hemicellulose and fat contents were observed from day 0 to 12. Decreases from day 12 to 28 had the values of 15.4, 57.6 and 56.12%, respectively, while lignin, protein and crude fibre values showed a gradual increase from day 0 to 28, with maximum values of 23.73, 49 and 73%, respectively. Cyanide content however showed a reduction from the initial 3.89 to 2.01 mg/L by day 12 and a marginal increase of 16 by day 28. This was however not detected in the mushroom harvested. The levels of heavy metal content in composted cassava peels in decreasing order was iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) while that for uncomposted cassava was Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn and Cu. Levels of Cu, Mn, Pd and Zn in mushroom samples analysed were in agreement with reported values in literature. Of all the heavy metals examined, iron accumulated excessively, indicating that P. ostreatus strain EM-1 is a good bio-accumulator of Fe.Keywords: Cassava, composting, heavy metals, productionAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(22) 2208-221

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and Invasion into Human Epithelial Cells

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 is a predatory bacterium that attacks many Gram-negative human pathogens. A serious drawback of this strain, however, is its ineffectiveness against Gram-positive strains, such as the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Here we demonstrate that the extracellular proteases produced by a host-independent B. bacteriovorus (HIB) effectively degrade/inhibit the formation of S. aureus biofilms and reduce its virulence. A 10% addition of HIB supernatant caused a 75% or greater reduction in S. aureus biofilm formation as well as 75% dispersal of pre-formed biofilms. LC-MS-MS analyses identified various B. bacteriovorus proteases within the supernatant, including the serine proteases Bd2269 and Bd2321. Tests with AEBSF confirmed that serine proteases were active in the supernatant and that they impacted S. aureus biofilm formation. The supernatant also possessed a slight DNAse activity. Furthermore, treatment of planktonic S. aureus with the supernatant diminished its ability to invade MCF-10a epithelial cells by 5-fold but did not affect the MCF-10a viability. In conclusion, this study illustrates the hitherto unknown ability of B. bacteriovorus to disperse Gram-positive pathogenic biofilms and mitigate their virulence.open6

D 5.3.2.1. Initial report on sensory and African consumer acceptance for Group 1. Project AFTER “African Food Tradition rEvisited by Research”

The sensory profiles and acceptability of Akpan, Gowe, Akpan and Kishk Sa'eedi were tested using a focus group discussion, a quantitative descriptive panel and consumer panels comprising African and/or European consumers as indicated in the table below. It should be noted that consumer testing of Kishk Sa'eedi was delayed because of the current social unrest in Egypt. The number of consumers interviewed by product and country is summarised in the table below. Consumer Class (and number): Country Benin Product Akpan African: 103Non-African74 Country Ghana Product Kenkey African: 110 Non-African90 Country Benin Product Gowe African: 141Non-African- Country Egypt Product Kishk Sa' eedi : African- Non-African- Sensory testing indicated that for each product, the sensory profiles widely differed. This was influenced by the raw material (Kenkey, Gowe, Akpan, KS), process (Kenkey, Akpan and KS) and addition of sugar/milk (Akpan and Gowe). The products also differed according to acceptance. Akpan - African and non-African consumers behaved differently with respect to acceptability. Europeans generally had a lower acceptability of Akpan products compared to Africans. This was probably due to the fact that most Europeans were not familiar with the product since when Europeans did report consuming Akpan, there were no differences in acceptability. Consumers' acceptance was significantly associated with fermented odour and milky taste. African consumers were more sensitive to the thick/concentrated texture and cereal taste whilst Europeans were more positively influenced by sweet taste but negatively by acidic taste. Kenkey – African and non-African consumers differed in acceptance of Kenkey. Non- African consumers mostly preferred the white kenkey and to a lesser extent banku. Ghanaian consumers generally liked all of the samples or preferred banku. Sensory attributes important for the white likers were whitish colour, fruity odour, smooth and non-sticky texture, a less sour product without a pronounced fermented odour, and a bland taste. Salty taste correlated significantly with acceptance for the banku likers, Gowe - The commonly consumed gowe were sensorially distinct products with differences between the sorghum and maize samples of gowe, but no significant difference was noted with sugar was added. Regarding consumer testing, three distinct patterns of consumer acceptability were observed, which were grouped as 'Sugary Gowe likers' or “Natural sorghum Gowe dislikers” (63.1%) followed by 'Sugary sorghum Gowe likers' (20.6%) and 'Indifferent Gowe likers' (16.3%). Saccharified malted and no-malted sorghum Gowe without sugar were the least preferred. Kishk Sa'eedi (KS) has distinct sensory attributes and variation. Consumer acceptance has still to be completed. The conclusions for reengineering are as follows: Akpan – there are two options being products suited to a) Akpan from Maize Ogi containing Sugar and Milk (OMsm) or b) Akpan from Ogi Sorghum containing Sugar and Milk (OSsm). However, since they are representative of classes of akpan type, any of these two classes could be suited for the reengineering. That is the case of OMs or OSs membership of OMsm and OSsm respectively. Kenkey - Two products should be considered, one adapted to both the European and the Ghanaian consumer 'white likers' and the second adapted to only the Ghanaian consumer 'all likers and 'banku likers'. Important sensory attributes which should guide re-engineering of the first product are whitish colour, fruity odour, smooth and nonsticky texture, a mildly sour product, and a bland taste. This may be achieved by a combination of processing factors including dehulling of maize kernels, use of mixed lactic acid bacteria/yeast starter culture containing high concentration of yeasts cells (for fruity odour), reduced fermentation period (to reduce sourness and fermented odour) and elimination of the aflata step (to reduce sticky texture). The second product should be a refinement of Ga/Fanti Kenkey and should also focus on improved packaging. Gowe - Gowe made from saccharified malted sorghum with sugar (SSaSFs) was the most accepted and appears to be the most promising for reengineering. KS – the consumer testing will take place later in 2012 These findings should be considered in combination with other AFTER deliverables relating to market and regulatory issues and technical feasibility. (Résumé d'auteur

Binary and Multiple O-Type Stars in the Cas OB6 Association

We present the results of time-resolved spectroscopy of 13 O-type stars in the Cas OB6 stellar association. We conducted a survey for radial velocity variability in search of binary systems, which are expected to be plentiful in young OB associations. Here we report the discovery of two new single-lined binaries, and we present new orbital elements for three double-lined binaries (including one in the multiple star system HD 17505). One of the double-lined systems is the eclipsing binary system DN Cas, and we present a preliminary light curve analysis that yields the system inclination, masses, and radii. We compare the spectra of the single stars and the individual components of the binary stars with model synthetic spectra to estimate the stellar effective temperatures, gravities, and projected rotational velocities. We also make fits of the spectral energy distributions to derive E(B-V), R=A_V/E(B-V), and angular diameter. A distance of 1.9 kpc yields radii that are consistent with evolutionary models. We find that 7 of 14 systems with spectroscopic data are probable binaries, consistent with the high binary frequency found for other massive stars in clusters and associations.Comment: 40 pages, ApJ, in pres

The H-alpha stellar and interstellar emission in the open cluster NGC 6910

We verify the nature of emission-line stars in the field of the open cluster NGC 6910. % Spectroscopy in the H-alpha region was obtained. Raw CCD frames of spectra of all stars fainter than V = 9 mag observed by us are significantly affected by nebular emission originating in the surrounding HII region IC 1318. After careful data reduction and subtraction of the nebular radiation we succeeded in obtaining reliable stellar spectra. We confirm that the star NGC 6910 37 is a Be star, and we have corrected the classification of V1973 Cyg from an Ae star to a normal A type star. Since the diffuse interstellar bands do not appear in the spectrum of this star while being present in the other stars we observed, we confirm that V1973 Cyg is a foreground object with respect to IC 1318 and NGC 6910. We also find that the H-alpha line in HD 194279 has a P Cygni profile and the H-alpha line profile is variable in HD 229196.Comment: accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysic

Changes in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 1 Following Introduction of PCV10 and PCV13: Findings from the PSERENADE Project.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 (ST1) was an important cause of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) globally before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) containing ST1 antigen. The Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement and Distribution Estimation (PSERENADE) project gathered ST1 IPD surveillance data from sites globally and aimed to estimate PCV10/13 impact on ST1 IPD incidence. We estimated ST1 IPD incidence rate ratios (IRRs) comparing the pre-PCV10/13 period to each post-PCV10/13 year by site using a Bayesian multi-level, mixed-effects Poisson regression and all-site IRRs using a linear mixed-effects regression (N = 45 sites). Following PCV10/13 introduction, the incidence rate (IR) of ST1 IPD declined among all ages. After six years of PCV10/13 use, the all-site IRR was 0.05 (95% credibility interval 0.04–0.06) for all ages, 0.05 (0.04–0.05) for <5 years of age, 0.08 (0.06–0.09) for 5–17 years, 0.06 (0.05–0.08) for 18–49 years, 0.06 (0.05–0.07) for 50–64 years, and 0.05 (0.04–0.06) for ≥65 years. PCV10/13 use in infant immunization programs was followed by a 95% reduction in ST1 IPD in all ages after approximately 6 years. Limited data availability from the highest ST1 disease burden countries using a 3+0 schedule constrains generalizability and data from these settings are needed