Samuel Sonko Sackey

Background: Breast milk contains various micronutrients which nourishes a baby with nutrition, and therefore the endorsement for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months after birth. Such micronutrients, if in excess, can have adverse effects on the baby. Objective: The levels of seven micronutrients in breast milk obtained from 27 lactating mothers in the Cape Coast Metropolitan area have been determined using Epithermal Neutron Activation Analysis (ENAA). This technique was used because it is suitable for performing both qualitative and quantitative multi-nutritional analyses on samples, and offers accuracies and sensitivities superior to those attainable by other methods. Materials and Methods: During the analysis, a- 3 mm thick flexible boron was used to cut-off thermal neutrons so as to assess epithermal neutrons, thereby creating an activation energy which measured the levels of micronutrients in the breast milk. The standard reference materials used were the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-336; IAEA-407, IAEA-350 and National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) USA SRM 1577b. The Relative standardization method was used in the quantification of the micronutrients, with an accuracy of about 94.7 %. The micronutrients are Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu) and Iodine (I). Results: Except for iodine which had levels below the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), the remaining micronutrients had levels above the upper limit of the RDA, with Manganese being the highest. Conclusion: The levels recorded are directly linked to the food intake of the mothers, and therefore the need for pregnant and lactating mothers to be mindful about what they eat. Children could be exposed to metabolic disorders and diseases as a result of such high levels.

This study investigated the pore characterization of polyurethane (PU) foam as a necessary step in water filtration membrane fabrication. Porous material characterization is essential for predicting membrane performance, strength, durability, surface feel, and to understand the transport mechanisms using modeling and simulations. Most existing pore characterization techniques are relatively costly, time-consuming, subjective, and have cumbersome sample preparations. This study focused on using three relatively inexpensive imaging systems: a black box, Canon camera (EOS760D), and LaserJet scanner (M1132 MFP). Two standard, state-of-the-art imaging systems were used for comparison: a stereomicroscope and a scanning electron microscope. Digital images produced by the imaging systems were used with a MATLAB algorithm to determine the surface porosity, pore area, and shape factor of the polyurethane foam in an efficient manner. The results obtained established the compatibility of the image analysis algorithm with the imaging systems. The black box results were found to be more comparable to both the stereomicroscope and SEM systems than those of the Canon camera and scanner imaging systems. Indeed, the current research effort demonstrates the possibility of substrate characterization with inexpensive imaging systems.

Elevated exposure to Ultra-Violet Radiation (UVR) from the sun has led to adverse effects on human skin and foods, and therefore, the need for materials that offer resistance to Ultra-Violet (UV) penetration for protection. Some building window and non-window-materials, car-glasses, Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) rubber and plastic materials have been investigated to determine their transparencies and suitability for use as shields against UVR. These were studied by directly measuring scattered solar radiation through the optical window of a spectrometer and then measuring the scattered light when the window was completely covered with the material to be examined. Wavelengths of light that were not absorbed when sunlight was incident on the samples and the transmitted intensity of sunlight at each wavelength through each sample as compared to the transmitted intensity through air were determined in the UVB and UVA spectral regions. The results showed that the building window-glasses were opaque to UVB but transparent to UVA while the non-window-glasses exhibited transparency in the UVB and UVA spectral regions. The car-glass (laminated), used as windscreen, was opaque to UVB and UVA while the side-glass (non-laminated) was opaque to UVB but transparent to UVA. Perspex, sometimes used as an alternative to windscreen and side-glass in cars, exhibited transparency in UVB and UVA spectral regions. The LLDPE materials used for food storage were transparent to UVB and UVA while the PET plastic materials used for water, fruit juice and beverage storage was opaque to UVB but transparent to UVA.