Browsing by Author "Yeboah, S."
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Item Application of real-time PCR in Ghana, a Buruli ulcer-endemic country, concerns the presence of Mycobacterium ulcerans in the environment(FEMS Microbiological Letter, 2010) Vandelannoote, K.; Durnez, L.; Amissah, D.; Gryseels, S.; Dodoo, A.; Yeboah, S.; Addo, P.; Eddyani, M.; Leirs, H.; Ablordey, A.; Portaels, F.This study reports the first successful application of real-time PCR for the detection of mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU), in Ghana, a BU-endemic country. Environmental samples and organs of small mammals were analyzed. The real-time PCR assays confirmed the presence of M. ulcerans in a water sample collected in a BU-endemic village in the Ashanti Region.Item Evaluation of the efficacy of a commercial formulation of beauveria bassiana for the control of the invasive fruit fly bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae)(Koul Research Foundation, 2016) Marri, D.; Gomez, D.A.M.A.; Wilson, D.D.; Billah, M.; Yeboah, S.; Osae, M.Evaluation of the efficacy of a commercial formulation of Beauveria bassiana (Botanigard® ES) for the control of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) was carried out on three developmental stages. Botanigard® ES containing 11.3% Beauveria bassiana GHA strain was applied to larvae, pupae and adults at concentrations of 106, 53.0, 26.5, 13.3 and 6.65 (× 106 spores/mL). The effect of B. bassiana on B. dorsalis was dose dependent, increasing with fungal spore concentration. The results showed that an optimum dose of 26.5 × 106 spores/mL killed 50% of adult flies within 4-5 days and 99% within 8-9 days. The same dose reduced adult emergence from infected pupae from 97% in the control to 46% in the treated groups. Fungal treatment at 26.5 × 106 spores/mL also killed almost all adults emerging from pupae and adults treated directly. Comparing methods of fungal application in the field, the result indicated that applying the fungus in fruit fly traps in mango canopies is a better method for fruit fly control in the field as compared to soil surface spray method. However, both methods could be used simultaneously for better results. © 2016 (KRF).Item Numerical modeling of radionuclide migration through a borehole disposal site(2014-03-21) Yeboah, S.; Akiti, T.T.; Fletcher, J.J.Abstract The migration of radionuclides from a borehole repository located about 20 km from the Akwapim fault line which lies in an area of high seismicity was analyzed for some selected radionuclides. In the event of a seismic activity, fractures and faults could be rejuvenated or initiated resulting in container failure leading to the release of radionuclides. A numerical model was solved using a two-dimensional finite element code (Comsol Multiphysics) by taking into account the effect of heterogeneities. Results showed that, the fractured medium created preferential pathways indicating that, fault zones generated potential paths for released radionuclides from a radioactive waste repository. The results obtained showed that variations in hydraulic conductivity as a result of the heterogeneity considered within the domain significantly affected the direction of flow.Item Numerical modeling of radionuclide migration through a borehole disposal site(SpringerPlus, 2014-03) Yeboah, S.; Akiti, T.T.; Fletcher, J.J.The migration of radionuclides from a borehole repository located about 20 km from the Akwapim fault line which lies in an area of high seismicity was analyzed for some selected radionuclides. In the event of a seismic activity, fractures and faults could be rejuvenated or initiated resulting in container failure leading to the release of radionuclides. A numerical model was solved using a two-dimensional finite element code (Comsol Multiphysics) by taking into account the effect of heterogeneities. Results showed that, the fractured medium created preferential pathways indicating that, fault zones generated potential paths for released radionuclides from a radioactive waste repository. The results obtained showed that variations in hydraulic conductivity as a result of the heterogeneity considered within the domain significantly affected the direction of flow. © 2014 Yeboah et al.Item A Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of a Pectin-Based Oral Multiparticulate Matrix Carrier of Carbamazepine(Hindawi, 2021) Amponsah, S.K.; Yeboah, S.; Kukuia, K.K.E.; N’guessan, B.B.; Adi-Dako, O.Background. Carbamazepine is a drug used in the treatment of neurological disorders such as epilepsy. However, due to its erratic absorption, oral bioavailability is often poor. There is, therefore, the need to develop alternative formulations for carbamazepine with better pharmacokinetic characteristics. Aim. .e aim of this study was to formulate an oral modified-release multiparticulate matrix of carbamazepine from cocoa pod husk (CPH) pectin and evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of this formulation using in vitro and in vivo models. Methods. CPH pectin was extracted from cocoa pod husks with hot aqueous and citric acid solutions. Oral multiparticulate carbamazepine matrices were formulated from CPH pectin cross-linked with calcium. .e formulation was evaluated for carbamazepine content and release profile in vitro. For in vivo pharmacokinetic profile estimation, rats were put into 4 groups of 5 animals each to receive carbamazepine multiparticulate matrix formulations A and B, carbamazepine powder, and Tegretol CR®. Animals in each group received 200 mg/kg of each drug via the oral route. Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), elimination rate constant (Ke), and terminal half-life (t1/2) of the formulations were estimated by noncompartmental analysis. Results. .e pectin extraction from fresh cocoa pod husks using hot aqueous and citric acid solutions gave pectin yields of 9.63% and 11.54%, respectively. .e drug content of carbamazepine in CPH pectin formulations A and B was 95% and 96%, respectively. .ere was controlled and sustained release of carbamazepine for both formulations A and B in vitro. AUC0⟶36 (176.20 ± 7.97 µg.h/mL), Cmax (8.45 ± 0.71 μg/mL), Tmax (12 ± 1.28 h), and t1/2 (13.75 ± 3.28 h) of formulation A showed a moderately enhanced and comparable pharmacokinetic profile to Tegretol CR® (AUC0⟶36: 155 ± 7.15 µg.h/mL, Cmax: 8.24 ± 0.45 μg/mL, Tmax: 8.0 ± 2.23 h, and t1/2: 13.51 ± 2.87 h). Conclusion. Findings from the study suggest that formulations of CPH pectin had the potential to control and maintain therapeutic concentrations of carbamazepine in circulation over a period of time in the rat model.Item Physicochemical And Nutritional Profiling Of Fermented Tiger Nut-Cereal-Based Synbiotic Dairy Drink(University of Ghana, 2020-05) Yeboah, S.Tiger nut and millet are indigenous crops in Ghana. These crops have been on the radar recently due to their versatile applications in food processing and their increase in consumption by low-income households. The nut is rich in fermentable carbohydrates and resistant starch, rich in fiber and micronutrients, and it is an ideal candidate for synbiotic foods. The objective of this study was to utilize whole tiger nut in dairy-cereal based beverage, make the product synbiotic, and assess the nutritional, physicochemical profile, microbial quality, and shelf life of the drink. The tiger nut-millet agglomerate was prepared by incorporating cellulase hydrolyzed tiger nut fibrous co-product (TNF), and non-hydrolyzed TNF (10% and 15%) into millet with a varying fermentation time of 12 and 24 hours. The agglomerate functional properties (i.e. Water Absorption Capacity (WAC), Bulk Density (BD), Swell Index) and textural characteristics (hardness, resilience, cohesiveness, adhesiveness gumminess and chewiness) were objectively measured in triplicates. The drink produced from composite tiger nut milk: dairy in a ratio of 40%:60% was inoculated with probiotics (Lactobacillus casei). The drink was analyzed in triplicate for physicochemical, proximate, and microbiological quality. Accelerated shelf-life study with the Arrhenius model was used to predict the shelf life of the drink. The obtained data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in Minitab version 17. Agglomerate prepared from dough fermented at 12 hours had excellent textural and functional characteristics hence was selected for the synbiotic drink production. The moisture content of the product decreased with tiger nut incorporation, while sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin E, protein and total carbohydrate together with crude fibre increased with tiger nut incorporation. The products were microbiologically safe with no count for E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast and moulds after five days of storage with increasing acidity. The shelf life observed for all the products at a University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iii pH limit of 3.5 was five days, four days and three days at a storage temperature of 5℃, 25℃ and 35℃, respectively. Lactobacillus casei counts in the product increased by 1 log cycle each day for both refrigerated and room temperature samples. Incorporation of whole tiger nut and a known probiotic into dairy cereal-based beverage will increase the nutritional content of the product as a functional food. Consuming this product will provide consumers with the health benefits associated with the consumption of the whole tiger nuts based probiotic products