Inadequate Capacity to Diagnose Cutaneous Infections in Ghana: Extensive Skin Ulceration in a 28-Year-Old Man in the Northern Region

Author(s):  
Abass Abdul-Karim ◽  
Lee F Schroeder
Politeia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abiba Yayah

The agency of women in most African countries is often affected by the socio-economic and political policies that are almost always disadvantageous to women, especially women who have little to no knowledge of their rights. Using the shea industry in Ghana as a case study, I chronicle the challenges as recounted by rural women involved in this home-based work in the Northern Region of Ghana and critically analyse these challenges and their implications. Focusing mainly on the results of my recent field work, I present some of the accounts relating to the lack and exclusion of recognition of and respect for the experiences of rural women who are in fact the linchpin of the shea industry in Ghana. Initiatives and strategies of non-governmental organisations and some governmental policies have attempted to address these challenges that have implications for the livelihoods of rural women. Research and policies have only offered “band-aid solutions” to the economic disempowerment of rural women in the shea industry in Ghana as they have not dealt with the causes. This article seeks to refute the claim that equity exists by indicating the lack of equity and justice in the policies in the shea industry. In an attempt to provide an understanding of the economic disempowerment of women in this industry, I consider my field work as a good source as it exposes the experiences and everyday practices as narrated by rural women in the industry. This article seeks to analyse the existing discourses especially those pertaining to the contributions and experiences of rural women in the shea industry.


Author(s):  
V.V. Lapenko ◽  
L.N. Bikbulatova ◽  
E.M. Ternikova

Water is very important for humans, as it is a solvent for metabolic products. Moreover, it is necessary for metabolism, biochemical and transport processes. The elemental status in persons depends on the geochemical environment and consumption of bioelements with food and water. The aim of the paper is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of chemical composition of drinking tap water in Khanty-Mansiysk and Salekhard. Materials and Methods. The chemical composition of 100 samples of drinking tap water was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry, spectrophotometry and capillary electrophoresis. All in all, there were 50 samples from Khanty-Mansiysk and 50 samples from Salekhard. The results were compared with Sanitary Rules and Norms 2.1.4.1074-01. Results. Drinking tap water in Salekhard contains a significantly higher concentration of iron, which is much above the maximum allowable concentration, if compared to water samples in Khanty-Mansiysk (p=0.03). In the cities under consideration, the water undergoes high-quality reagent-free treatment. However, the deterioration of the water supply networks in Salekhard is 3 times as high as in Khanty-Mansiysk. Calcium and magnesium concentration in water samples from Khanty-Mansiysk is 5.6 and 3.9 times lower than the MAC; in water samples from Salekhard calcium concentration is 6.3 (p=0.008) and magnesium concentration 4.6 (p<0.001) times lower than the MAC. Conclusion. The consumption of ultra-fresh drinking water leads to low intake of bioelements, which are a part of enzymes contributing to the human antioxidant defense and can result in manifestation of cardiovascular diseases. This is especially true for Salekhard with very soft drinking water and high iron concentration, which excess can exhibit prooxidant properties. Keywords: tap water, bioelements, northern region, antioxidants. Вода является важнейшим соединением для человека: необходима в качестве растворителя продуктов метаболизма и протекания обменных, биохимических и транспортных процессов. Элементный статус организма человека зависит от геохимического окружения и поступления биоэлементов с пищей и водой. Цель. Провести комплексную оценку химического состава водопроводной воды городов Ханты-Мансийск и Салехард. Материалы и методы. Методами атомно-абсорбционной спектрометрии, спектрофотометрии и капиллярного электрофореза проанализирован химический состав 100 проб водопроводной воды: по 50 из Ханты-Мансийска и Салехарда. Результаты сравнивали с СанПиН 2.1.4.1074-01. Результаты. В водопроводной воде Салехарда установлена превышающая ПДК и достоверно более высокая концентрация железа сравнительно с водой Ханты-Мансийска (р=0,03). При условии качественной безреагентной водоподготовки в изучаемых городах это обусловлено изношенностью водопроводных сетей в Салехарде, более чем в 3 раза превышающей этот показатель в Ханты-Мансийске. Концентрация кальция и магния в воде Ханты-Мансийска в 5,6 и 3,9 раза ниже ПДК; в воде Салехарда – в 6,3 (р=0,008) и 4,6 (р<0,001) раза ниже ПДК соответственно. Заключение. Употребление ультрапресной питьевой воды на фоне очень малого поступления с водой биоэлементов, входящих в состав ферментов антиоксидантной защиты организма человека, может привести к манифестации кардиоваскулярных заболеваний. Это особенно актуально для г. Салехарда с очень мягкой питьевой водой с повышенным содержанием железа, избыток которого может проявлять прооксидантные свойства. Ключевые слова: водопроводная вода, биоэлементы, северный регион, антиоксиданты.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 39-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Gavrilyeva ◽  
E. A. Kolomak ◽  
A. I. Zakharov ◽  
K. V. Khorunova

The article assesses the intensity of transformation of settlement pattern in Yakutia, the largest northern region of Russia, based on an analysis of 1939-2010 censuses and contemporary statistics. Scope of the work includes the following: to assess key socio-economic results of rural and urban settlement pattern transformation in the 20th century, to determine the most persistent primary units of settlement pattern, and to identify current trends in the settlement pattern of Yakutia. The research database was built based on digitization of Federal State Statistics Service in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) population censuses archives. The period under review shows a trend toward larger size of settlements due to two parallel processes: urbanization as a result of industrial development, and compression of rural settlement system due to amalgamation of rural settlements. From 1939 to the present time, Yakutia’s settlement system has been evolving from dispersed type to large settlement type. There were two major waves in the structuring of space in Yakutia. During the first one, caused by industrialization and complete collectivization, shrinking of rural settlement system was accompanied by setup of rural and urban settlements; it started in the 1930s and lasted until late 1950s. The second wave, concurrent with controlled compression of rural settlement pattern as part of elimination of unpromising sovkhoz state farms, was associated with a full-scale development of urban settlement pattern under planned Soviet deployment. Starting from 2002, market mechanisms have changed the direction of development of settlement system and spatial structure of economic activity. Despite several constraints, which include high transportation costs, focal development, key role of mining and resource sector, distinctive features of traditional economies and agriculture, agglomeration processes have gained momentum in the region. Spatial concentration of population is taking place at relatively high rates, primarily in the core of the system - Yakutsk agglomeration. Compression capacity of settlement system in the region is far from being exhausted, as evidenced by behavior of Theil and Herfindahl-Hirschman indices, as well as by average population density of settlements.


1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 177-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Sundblad ◽  
Andrzej Tonderski ◽  
Jacek Rulewski

Nitrogen and phosphorus concentration data representing samples collected once a month for nine months at 13 locations along the Vistula River are considered in a preliminary discussion of the sources of the nutrients transported to the Baltic Sea. Concentrations in relation to flow data indicated substantial differences between subbasins. Based on those differences, on the area-specific nutrient loss for a six-month period and on the wastewater discharge in each subbasin, four regions could be recognized in the river basin: i) the southern region with a large impact of point sources, ii) the south central region, where diffuse sources seemed to be of major importance, iii) the north central region with a combined effect of point and diffuse sources, and retention in two reservoirs, iv) the northern region where point sources seemed to be the dominating source, at least for phosphorus. Our results illustrate the importance of differences in phosphorus retention between the basins. Long-term retention along the course of the river, particularly in the two reservoirs, must be estimated to allow proper source apportionment in the Vistula basin. Concentration decreases in the Wloclawek Reservoir varied between 44 and 68% for P, and 11 to 37% for N, in the months with significant retention. In some months, however, concentrations increased, indicating a release of nutrients.


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