ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Tensile properties, water absorption and enzymatic degradation studies of polyethylene/starch filled hydroxyapatite blend for orthopaedic applications

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/starch blends filled with hydroxyapatite have been synthesized by injection moulding. The aim was to control the rate of biodegradation of LLDPE/starch blends for bone screw fixation using hydroxyapatite (HA). Hydroxyapatite contents were varied from 1.0% to 3.0% in intervals of 0.5% by parts and the blend phases were characterised using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biodegradation was studied by performing water absorption and enzymatic tests. Water uptakes by the samples were carried out according to ASTM D570 and enzymatic test was carried out on samples in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing α-amylase. Tensile properties of the samples before and after enzymatic degradation were determined using Titan and Testometric’s universal testing machine while the surface changes were determined with Meiji Techno optical microscope. Seven different samples were formed for the study, two of the samples; one composed of LLDPE only and the other of 60% LLDPE, 40% starch and 0% hydroxyapatite, were used as controls. The results obtained show that the incorporation of starch granules into the LLDPE reduces the tensile strength but almost doubles the tensile modulus and this was attributed to starch granules expanding the amorphous tie chain of LLDPE. Addition of hydroxyapatite into the blend gave an increase in the tensile strength. The increase in strength with increasing HA content was statistically significant at a p-value of 0.0008 and the improvement slowed the rate at which the blend degraded. Hydroxyapatite is suspected to have affected the intermediate phase of the LLDPE by the hydroxyl group through hydrogen bonding. The water absorption by the blends showed that as hydroxyapatite content increased, the moisture uptake of the blends increased and enzymatic degradation rate increased, giving rise to high percentage loss in tensile strength and modulus. Conversely there was a high gain in percentage elongation. Optical micrographs of the surfaces of the degraded samples showed surface erosion and agglomerates. The samples that showed higher erosion and more agglomerates had the highest water uptake and highest percentage loss in tensile strength and those with less erosion and fewer agglomerates had less water uptake and less percentage loss in tensile strength.

Source: KNUST
Tema Railway Station (Inter-modal transport system)

Novelty characterized the Victorian period. It is the period best known for inventions, for remarkable technological advances and engineering technology. The speed of change throughout the period was phenomenal, a movement best encapsulated by the arrival of the steam engine-the locomotive by Richard Trevithick (a British engineer and inventor-1804 in England). Suddenly it was possible to travel great distances at speeds hitherto unimaginable. Within decades of the first train, a recognizable railway network sprang up. An iron spider's web, it quickly spread out, connecting up most of the country, dissolving distances. People and goods could now move easily around, and with them ideas. As travelling is now relatively cheaper, most can afford to experience the new railways and their destinations. The population's sense of places is now transformed. No longer tied to a locality, people can move as they wished, changing jobs, towns, religious denomination and status. And this excitement and flux is reflected in the magnificent railway architecture dating from the 1830s onwards. The design thesis focuses on the reinstating of the country's railway through a proposal for the redesign of a new station at Tema Municipality to cater for the numerous transportation problems associated with the city. This proposal was made after a detailed study of the population dynamics, commercial activities as well as futuristic programmes stipulated for the Tema community. There was therefore the need to make a bold decision, hence the design of a magnificent structure to serve as node to attract attention and urban development within the Tema municipality. The decision to relocate the station to a new site was crucial, thus, owing to the old site's state and size as against the anticipated volume of traffic in the foreseeable future. The design evolves out of a purely futuristic architecture with inorganic forms to express movement, dynamism and aggression (a peculiar characteristic of Futurism style of architecture). However, the peripheral warehouses and container terminal informed the decision of wide spanning and roofing making it an icon of Tema township.

Source: KNUST
Temporal modelling of fire outbreaks case study: Ashanti region of Ghana

In spite of advances in technology, occurrence of Fire Outbreaks is growing at an increasing rate all over the world but particularly in developing countries like Ghana. It is thus worrying that not much work appears to have been done in Ghana regarding the formulation of statistical and other models for predicting Fire Outbreaks. Due to this, actuarial and insurance practitioners are unable to e ectively help manage the risk of Fire Outbreaks. A Fire Outbreaks is a sudden occurrence of re greater than would otherwise be expected at a particular time and place. Fire is a rare event often classi ed an 'Extremal event' and is characterized by relative rareness, huge impact, and statistical unexpectness. In this study, monthly time series data on Fire Outbreaks was obtained from Ghana's Ashanti Regional Fire Service database and was modelled using both SARIMA model and exponentially distributed survival model for monthly prediction of re occurrences and Fire Premium calculations respectively. The results revealed that ARIMA (4; 1; 1)(1; 1; 1)12 model was the best SARIMA model for the Fire Outbreaks. This model has the least AIC of 151.1116 and BIC of 176.9176. Diagnostic checks of this model with the Ljung- Box test and ARCH-LM test revealed that the model is free from higher-order serial correlation and conditional heteroscedasticity respectively. Moreover, the re premium calculation was based on the equivalence principle of calculating insurance premium approach based more on frequencies than on severity. A more complete risk portfolio model is suggested depending on the availability of data, which would capture both severity and frequency.

Source: KNUST
Tensile properties, water absorption and enzymatic degradation studies of polyethylene/starch filled hydroxyapatite blend for orthopaedic applications

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/starch blends filled with hydroxyapatite have been synthesized by injection moulding. The aim was to control the rate of biodegradation of LLDPE/starch blends for bone screw fixation using hydroxyapatite (HA). Hydroxyapatite contents were varied from 1.0% to 3.0% in intervals of 0.5% by parts and the blend phases were characterised using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biodegradation was studied by performing water absorption and enzymatic tests. Water uptakes by the samples were carried out according to ASTM D570 and enzymatic test was carried out on samples in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing α-amylase. Tensile properties of the samples before and after enzymatic degradation were determined using Titan and Testometric’s universal testing machine while the surface changes were determined with Meiji Techno optical microscope. Seven different samples were formed for the study, two of the samples; one composed of LLDPE only and the other of 60% LLDPE, 40% starch and 0% hydroxyapatite, were used as controls. The results obtained show that the incorporation of starch granules into the LLDPE reduces the tensile strength but almost doubles the tensile modulus and this was attributed to starch granules expanding the amorphous tie chain of LLDPE. Addition of hydroxyapatite into the blend gave an increase in the tensile strength. The increase in strength with increasing HA content was statistically significant at a p-value of 0.0008 and the improvement slowed the rate at which the blend degraded. Hydroxyapatite is suspected to have affected the intermediate phase of the LLDPE by the hydroxyl group through hydrogen bonding. The water absorption by the blends showed that as hydroxyapatite content increased, the moisture uptake of the blends increased and enzymatic degradation rate increased, giving rise to high percentage loss in tensile strength and v | P a g e modulus. Conversely there was a high gain in percentage elongation. Optical micrographs of the surfaces of the degraded samples showed surface erosion and agglomerates. The samples that showed higher erosion and more agglomerates had the highest water uptake and highest percentage loss in tensile strength and those with less erosion and fewer agglomerates had less water uptake and less percentage loss in tensile strengt

Source: KNUST
Terminal evaluation of the Volta Region community water sanitation programme - phase 2

The Phase II of the Volta Region Community Water and Sanitation Programme ended on l9 of December, 2003. Terminal evaluation of the project is necessary to provide inputs that could be used to improve future delivery. The Kadjebi District was studied. The objectives of the evaluation was to determine the extent to which the Volta Region Community Water and Sanitation Programme - Phase 2 has achieved its objectives, the effective use of the water and sanitation facilities and the sustainability of the water and sanitation facilities. The method of Participatory evaluation technique was used due to the Participatory Approach the Volta Region Community Water and Sanitation Programme Phase II adopted. The evaluation of the project has shown that the Volta Region Community Water and Sanitation Programme Phase II (VRCWSP Phase II) has achieved its targets in water supply and sanitation. It has supplied portable water to 25,018 people instead of the planned 23,000.00 people. Six hundred and eleven (611) household latrines were constructed for individual households instead of the planned six hundred (600). Thirty-eight (38) institutional latrines were constructed for educational institutions instead of the 20 planned. Furthermore, the water supply and sanitation facilities are being used effectively and the facilities are sustainable. The success factors are: institutional capacity building, formation of the monitoring operation and maintenance unit and the participatory approach the VRCWSP has adopted. However there is a threat to sustainability, i.e. WATSAN committees are not being rewarded by their communities. It is recommended that Capacity Building of the WATSAN committees and the beneficiary communities should continue as there is the need for a sustained operation and maintenance in all the Programme communities, Furthermore, the WATSAN committees have to be rewarded by their communities Since the water supply and sanitation coverage are not up to 100%, there is a need to continue the VRCWSP.

Source: KNUST
Terminal evaluation of Plan Ghana Water and Sanitation Project

Terminal Evaluation (also called project completion report or final evaluation) is the assessment of the development of a project just at the end of implementation. Here, lessons are drawn to the improved subsequent programme implementations. Very few of the NGOs operating in Ghana involved in the provision safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities for beneficiary communities undertake such evaluations and Plan Ghana (a subsidiary of Plan International-a child-centered inter-national humanitarian organization) is amongst these few. Programme implementation in the water and sanitation sector by any organisation in Ghana must conform to the National Policy on Rural Water and Sanitation Strategy. Minimum Evaluation Procedure (IVIEP) for data collection and SPSS software for data analysis were used to evaluate a just-ended European Union (EU) sponsored Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) Programme by Plan Ghana in the Asesewa Programme Area in the Eastern Region of Ghana. With significant outputs achieved, (example: 39 of out of 56 BHs projected, 119 VIP latrines constructed, capacity of (WATSAN) committee members and beneficiaries built etc.), the programme has been quite efficient with over 70% of the projected output achieved. Relevant measures and institutions to ensure sustainability had been established. Significant knowledge of management and personal hygiene were observed. Notwithstanding these achievements, coverage for sanitation was low (max. 13%) due to zero replicability. Inadequate accessibility to water points (BHs) and lack of spare parts shop poses remained potential threats to sustainability. In this research, recommendations have been made to sensitize beneficiary communities on the concept of pay-as-you-fetch approach in raising funds for O&M, redefine the term “a community” in the study area and establish effective monitoring and evaluation system for the POs involved in the provision of technical support to the communities in the programme area.

Source: KNUST
Tensiles strength, micro hardness and corrosion studie of Aluminiun and galvanized roofing sheets used in Ghana

The resaerch objective was to study the tensile strengh and micro hardness of aluminium and galvanized roofing sheets used in Ghana and the effect of corrosion on them. The roofing sheets were one star galvanized Japan(G1*Jap), Galvanized coated (GC). Aluzinc three star galvanized (A1Zn3*),One star Galvanized Indi (G1*Ind) and Aluminiun(AI).The roofing sheets were then cut into dimensions of................................

Source: KNUST
Terrorism in West Africa: the case of Ghana.

Terrorism has become the greatest security challenge to the International Community especially in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States of America. There has indeed been rapid spread of terrorist activities in most parts of the globe, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel territories, where groups such AQIM and JNIM have carried out sophisticated and well-coordinated attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire. Although Ghana has not experienced any terrorist attack over the past three decades, credible intelligence from the National Security indicates that the country is under threat. Drawing on literature and primary data obtained from security experts and analysts, the study investigated the factors that account for the country’s possible vulnerability to terrorism. The results revealed that poverty, corruption, youth unemployment, porous borders, political vigilantism and the proliferation of violent extremism in the neighboring states are the reason why the country is at risk. At the same time, the study also discovered that democratic governance, relative food security, freedom of religion as well as media freedom are factors that have prevented the outbreak of terrorism in the country so far. The study suggested measures to: minimize the endemic corruption especially among the police and immigration services; deal with the massive youth unemployment; enhance the management of the country’s borders; and deepen the country’s democratic culture, so as to reduce the threats and prevent the outbreak of terrorism in the country.

Source: KNUST
Test of Performance for a Storage System of Raw Cocoa Beans

ISO standard 8402 defines validation as "confirmation by examination and provision of objective evidence that particular requirements for a specific intended use are fulfilled". In this non-experimental, observational and cross sectional study, the performance of a known conventional storage system was tested and evaluated for fitness for its intended purpose. The system has a scope extended for the storage of dry cocoa beans. System sensitivity, reproducibility and uncertainties are not known in details. This research discussed the system performance in the context of existing literature on factors that influence the quality of agrocommodity during storage. Controlled conditions were defined precisely for the system as much as possible to enable generalization to be formulated given specific established procedures. Minitab® 17 and R statistical software (R-3.3.1) were used for the statistical Analyses. The approach to the storage system testing was to observe and compare through laboratory test methods the quality of the storage samples before and after storage. The samples were kept in Kilner jars and the temperature of the storage environment controlled and monitored over a period of Four hundred and eight (408) days. Standard test methods use in international trade of cocoa such as the cut test analysis (ISO 1114:1977), moisture determination with Aqua boy KAM III model and bean count determination were used for quality assessment. The data analysis assumed the entire population as a sample in order to attribute generality to the data collected. The study concluded a statistically significant mean value at 95% CI for the performance data analysed before and after storage for all variables observed. Correlational graphs showed a strong positive correlation for all variables investigated with the exception of All Other Defect (AOD). The weak relationship between the before and after data for AOD had an explained variability of 51.8% with the unexplained variability attributable to the uncontrolled condition of hidden infestation before storage. The research concluded with a high-performance criterion for the storage system after testing due to its ability to maintain the initial quality after storage within industry accepted standard.

Source: KNUST
Testing the pecking order theory of banks listed on the ghana stock exchange

The research examined the pecking order theory practice of banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The link between leverage and firm specific characteristics such as profitability, loan quality, growth, age and size of firms was ascertained. The research used quantitative approaches and employed the descriptive designs. Secondary data from the annual financial statements of banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange from the year 2010 to 2019 were used for the studies. As at the end of the year 2019, eight (8) banks were listed consisting of Ecobank Ghana Ltd, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered Bank, Cal bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Access Bank, Republic Bank, and Ghana Commercial Bank. The data was analyzed using version 25 of Statistical Package for Service Solution. The Augmented Dickey Fuller, Tolerance, Durbin Watson and Variance Inflation Factor tests were used as estimation techniques to ensure accuracy of data. Panel data regression method was used to establish the presence of the pecking order theory. The study found that leverage was negatively related to profitability of listed banks but was statistically insignificant. Leverage was also negatively related to loan quality but statistically insignificant. Leverage showed positive correlation to the size and the age of the firm and was statistically significant, while leverage was positively correlated to growth but insignificant. The study recommends that management of the banks listed put in the necessary measures such as ensuring quality loans and using debt as financing strategies to enhance an increase in the growth levels of firms

Source: KNUST
Testing the understanding of the operatives on sustainable construction in the Agona east district of Ghana: an examination of excavation works

Sustainability is viewed as an essential element of development. The negative impact of construction on the environment has gained much attention in recent times. As a result, several guidelines for construction works have been developed in favour of environmental sustainability. The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) in 2002, emphasized the need for an internationally agreed Agenda on Sustainable Construction (SC). While this move has seen many construction industry players in developing countries making serious attempts to embrace SC practices in their activities, unfortunately, the situation appears to be different in developing countries such as Ghana. This study tests the understanding of operatives on SC on SC practices in the Agona East District (AED). Five newly awarded Construction Projects were purposely selected for the study. A purely qualitative approach to research was used for the study. Primary data were collected from in-depth interviews of twenty (20) key respondents. The findings of this study revealed that most construction practices of these operatives to a very large extent do not conform to SC principles or practices. The traditional construction practices are still very dominant in their construction activities. Low level of awareness of Sustainable Construction (SC) principles practices, Lack of government policy on SC, increased financial cost, absence of a mandated regulatory body and socio-cultural reason were cited as the major reasons for the low level of SC practices among the operatives of the AED. Based on the findings, the need for a clear Government policy and an authorized regulatory body among others have been recommended for this study.

Source: KNUST
The Accuracy Of Effect Size Estimates Under Normal And Contaminated Normals In Meta-Analysis

This thesis evaluates the accuracy of e ect size estimates for some estimation procedures in meta-analysis. The scienti c community is always faced with the problem of which e ect size estimate to use. In line of this, Monte Carlo simulation were used to generate random samples from the normal distribution and contaminated normal distribution for the primary studies. The primary studies were hypothesized to have equal and unequal variance under population e ect size 0.1,0.2,0.5,0.8,1.2 and 2. Meta-analysis was done on the simulated hypothesized primary studies. The e ect size for the simulated design of the primary studies was estimated by Cohen’s d, Hedges’ g, Glass’ 4, Cli ’s delta d and Probability of Superiority PS. Their corresponding Standard error and Con dence interval were computed and a comparison of an e cient estimator was done using statistical bias, Percentage error and Con dence interval width. The Statistical bias, Percentage error and con dence interval width suggest Probability of Superiority as an accurate e ect size estimate under all conditions investigated, particularly under conditions where equal variance assumptions are violated.

Source: KNUST