ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A low cost early adoption strategy for implementing secured smart energy metering systems in African developing countries

Electricity continues to be a great power behind the world’s industrial revolution and an indispensable asset in everyday living. Its significance has necessitated the extensive rollout of electrification projects. Despite these rollouts, the continent of Africa is yet to enjoy reliable supply of electric power and its associated benefits. Due to Africa’s high population growth and economic development, it is ever so plagued with extensive seasons of power shortages – energy crises. The effect of these crises can be clearly seen in Africa’s vicious cycle of poverty. This thesis links the nemesis of these crises to the inability of Africa’s utilities to conduct effective demand analyses on day-to-day consumption of electricity. These analyses are a prerequisite in avoiding unprecedented demand. To mitigate these crises, it suggests the migration from standalone metering systems to smart metering systems. Bearing in mind that this migration has often come at a high expense to developed countries, it proposes a low cost early adoption strategy for implementing secured smart metering systems in African developing countries. A key aspect of this proposition is a secured low cost smart retrofit which furnishes existing standalone meters with smart metering capabilities. It also proposes a security protocol and a datagram format for secured information exchange in the proposed smart metering system. Finally, the proposed system is applied in providing a Smart Quota Policy, which is an effective power rationing alternative to rotational load shedding (blackouts). Keywords: Smart Metering System; Power Crises; African developing countries; Smart Retrofit; Smart Quota System.

Source: KNUST
Low risk of SARS-CoV-2 in blood transfusion

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to remain a global challenge. There is emerging evidence of SARS-CoV-2 virus found in the blood of patients from China and some developed countries. However, there is inadequate data reported in Ghana and other parts of Africa, where blood transfusion service heavily relies on voluntary and replacement blood donors. This study aimed to investigate whether plasma of infected individuals could pose significant transfusion transmitted risk of COVID-19 in Ghanaian populations. Methods This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted at the Kumasi Centre for Collabora tive Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR), KNUST, Ghana. Study subjects comprised contacts of COVID-19 individuals, those with classical symptoms of COVID-19 and individu als who had recovered based on the new Ghana discharge criteria. Whole blood, sputum or deep coughed saliva samples were collected and transported to KCCR for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Viral nucleic acid was extracted from sputum/ nasopharyngeal samples using Da An Gene column based kit and from plasma using LBP nucleic acid extraction kit. Real-Time PCR was performed specifically targeting the ORF1ab and Nucleocapsid (N) genomic regions of the virus. Results A total of 97 individuals were recruited into the study, with more than half being males (58; 59.7%). The mean age of all subjects was 33 years (SD = 7.7) with minimum being 22 yearS

Source: KNUST
Low seroprevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in patients with advanced HIV infection enrolling in an antiretroviral programme in Ghana

objectives To determine the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in a clinic population with advanced HIV infection, with a view to giving antifungal therapy to those testing positive. methods Serum samples from adults with CD4 count <100 cells ⁄mm3 presenting to a large HIV clinic in Kumasi, Ghana, were tested retrospectively for cryptococcal antigenaemia using a latex agglutination assay, and clinical and demographic data extracted from case notes. results Of 92 samples tested, two were positive thus giving a prevalence of 2% (95% CI, 0–5.2%). conclusions The prevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in patients with advanced HIV infection enrolling in an antiretroviral programme appears to be low in Kumasi, suggesting that the value of routine testing of outpatients diagnosed with advanced HIV infection may be limited in this population.

Source: KNUST
Lower prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infections in HIV positive compared to HIV negative adults in Ghana

Background Sub-Saharan Africa is endemic for intestinal parasites and distinguished for the largest burden of HIV cases. Blastocystis sp. is one of the most common protists infecting humans but its role in human disease is still controversial. Aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in HIV positive and negative adults in Ghana and its association with immune status and other risk factors. Methods 122 HIV positive outpatients and 70 HIV negative blood donors from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, were included in the present study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and HIV positive patients distinguished for CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/μl (n = 54) and >200 cells/μl (n = 68). A Blastocystis’s phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine sample subtype (ST). Results The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in adult HIV positive individuals was lower than in HIV negative persons (6.6% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.008) and Blastocystis sp. ST1 was the most prevalent strain. Within HIV positive participants, the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was lower in those individuals with CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/μl than in patients with higher CD4+ T cell count (1.9% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.076). Multiple regression analysis revealed that Blastocystis sp. was inversely associated with an obese Body Mass Index (BMI) in HIV negative persons (p = 0.040). Presence of Blastocystis sp. was correlated with higher CD4+ T cell count in HIV positive participants (p = 0.049). Conclusion It is largely reported that people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Africa are affected from parasite infections and that co-infections may adversely impact on their immune status, accelerating progress to AIDS and worsening gastrointestinal manifestations. Differently, in this study Blastocystis sp. was associated with a better immune status jointly with a healthy body weight while it seems to be reduced with the progression of HIV infection. This data agree with recent suggestions that Blastocystis sp. can represent a component of the healthy gut microbiota.

Source: KNUST
Lumber recovery from a community – based timber processing mill using the ‘Logosol’ Machine

In-situ chainsaw milling of logs is an important economic activity in Ghana since it produces about 80% of the domestic lumber supply. However, chain-sawn lumber production has been banned in Ghana since 1998 partly due to the large waste or residues associated with this operation. There is the need for an alternative in-situ processing method that improves lumber recovery. A study was conducted on the use of the ‘logosol’ machine which is a chain-saw (Stihl MS660) with attachments to determine its effects on lumber recovery for five Ghanaian timber species: dahoma-Piptadeniastrum africanum, esia - Petersianthus macrocapa, ofram - Terminalia superba, danta - Nesogordonia papaverifera and avodire - Turraenthus africanus. The objectives were to determine the milling recovery rates of these species and the time input for milling logs. The study also examined how common log characteristics (diameter and tapering) affect lumber recovery when using the logosol machine. The research was conducted in Gyaman and Gyapa communities in the Wassa Amenfi East District in the Western Region of Ghana. A total of 93 logs of the five species with volume 108.94m3 were processed into lumber using the logosol machine. The recovery was 51.71 m3 of sawn timber at an average recovery of 48.48 %, a rate substantially higher than the reported recovery (40 %) in chain-saw with free hand. The average lumber processing rate was 8.8 m3 /day of eight hours. This is also an improvement on chain-saw with free hand. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that at 5 % level of significance, diameter and tapering had significant effect on recovery. It was only in dahoma and avodire that 25% and 36% respectively of variation in recovery could be explained by the tapering factor. In the other species tapering factor accounted for less than 8% of the recovery. Also the relationship between diameter and lumber recovery was weak for all the species (R2<25%) presumably due to the high incidence of defects on the logs.

Source: KNUST
Lumber Conversion Efficiency Of Selected Sawmills In Nkawkaw, Eastern Region, Ghana

Efficient conversion of logs into lumber is one way by which Ghana’s forest can be conserved. In view of this, twenty each of four timber species including Celtis mildbraedii, Triplochiton scleroxylon, Pterygota macrocarpa and Piptadeniastrum africanum were measured and sawn with wood mizer in three different sawmills in Nkawkaw in Eastern Region of Ghana to determine the recovery rate of the various timber species selected as well as the conversion efficiency of the sawmills. Effect of log characteristics such as log diameter, length and conicity on lumber recovery were also determined. Conversion efficiency rate was high in the sawmills selected as well as the recovery rate of the various timber species considered. Log diameter did not influence recovery rate significantly contrary to similar studies which concluded that recovery rate of lumber is influenced significantly by the diameter of the logs. Rather, it was the length of logs that influenced recovery rate of lumber significantly. Celtis mildbraedii timber species recorded the highest recovery rate whiles Piptadeniastrum africanum recorded the lowest recovery rate in all sawmills considered. Furthermore, target market, end-use and experience of sawmill workers were found to influence the conversion efficiency rate of lumber

Source: KNUST
Lutembacher syndrome in a middle-aged woman in Ghana with an extremely large atrial septal defect

Lutembacher syndrome (LS) is a rare heart disorder characterized by a congenital or acquired combination of the atrial septal defect (ASD) and mitral stenosis. In LS, patients may be asymptomatic for years, but early detection and treatment result in a better prognosis. In contrast, the prognosis is usually poor, with con servative treatment if the diagnosis is late and the patient develops heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Although rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and con genital heart disease are prevalent in Ghana, cases of LS are not reported. Here, we report the case of a 45-year-old woman with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and an exceptionally large ASD with bidirectional flow who was diagnosed with LS and treated conservatively for heart failure at a cardiology clinic in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Lyapunov stability analysis and optimization measures for a dengue disease transmission model

system of ordinary differential equations using dynamical system theory. Appropriate Lyapunov functions are used to carry out an extensive investigation of the global asymptotic dynamics of the model around the dengue-free and dengue-present equilibria. The model is shown to exhibit a forward bifurcation phenomenon using Center Manifold Theory. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the relative importance of the model parameters to the spread of the disease. Using optimal control theory, the model is further extended to a nonlinear optimal control model to explore the impact of four time-dependent control variables, namely, personal protection, treatment drug therapy for latently infected individuals, treatment control for symptomatic individuals and insecticide control for mosquito reduction, on dengue disease dynamics in a population. Cost-effectiveness analysis is conducted on various strategies with combinations of at least three optimal controls to determine the least costly and most effective strategy that can be implemented to contain the spread of dengue in a population.

Source: KNUST
L’apport de l’approche communicative á l’ensiegnement/apprentissage du Français langue étrangére au Ghana: Le cas de KNUST Senior High School, Kumasi et de St. Louis Senior High School, Kumasi.

The French syllabus for Junior High School (JHS)and that of Senior High School (SHS) in Ghana recommend the use of the Communicative Approach in the teaching and learning of French as a foreign language...

Source: KNUST
L’erreur, signe de progression ou d’echec de l’enseignement/apprentissage du fle au Ghana : le cas des apprenants de Quelques Senior High Schools de aa Metropole de Kumasi

The language transfer is one of the major difficulties that confront teachers and learners in the learning of French as a Foreign Language in Ghana. Although, the understanding of the positive role error play tends to be accepted, some teachers continue to reject them in the didactic field. It is a challenge the authorities must deal with in the area of teaching and learning. In this study, our attention is focused on errors analysis and the impact errors have on the learning of French in some SHS in the Metropolis of Kumasi. The study is based on questionnaires, a test and an observation conducted on the final year learners. Our study reveals the learners’ difficulties when they commit errors, the attitude of the teachers in dealing with these errors and their sources. This thesis ends with useful pedagogical suggestions that can help to remedy these situations. Key Terms: Error analysis, method, methodology, interference, errors correction, Interlanguage, teaching and learning, French as a Foreign Language

Source: KNUST
L’enseignement/apprentissage du Français langue étrangère par les apprenants professionnels de la santé au Ghana. Le cas de college of health and well -being, Kintampo (COHK).

The geographical position of Ghana makes the learning of French imperative. As a result, the Ministry of Health has introduced French in the Health Training Institution to enable health workers perform their duties without difficulties. This study is in the area of French for Specific Purposes (Medical French) which seeks to: identify the difficulties that confront students, identify the strategies they employ to overcome the difficulties and to propose pedagogical /andragogical activities to help improve the teaching and learning of French in the College. Out of the four (4) hypotheses stated, three (3) of them have been confirmed except the second one, which states that: “Due to the short duration (one academic year) the learning strategies have not been properly exploited”. In addition to specific recommendations made to the College authorities, the Ministry of Health, the Tutors and Students, three different lesson plans have been proposed to help students develop the four (4) language competences (listening, speaking, reading and writing) as well as vocabulary.

Source: KNUST
L’image de Dieu, de la terre-mere, des dieux et des Ancêtres dans les panegyriques Akan.

This research is therefore a study into the image of God, of the earth goddess, of lesser gods and of ancestors in the Akan eulogy. To achieve this aim we decided to consider how the Akans worship God, the earth goddess, the lesser gods and ancestors. Our research proved that as the Christians praise their God, the muslims praise Allah and the Greeks praise their gods it is also justifiable that the Akans too as a people praise their God, the earth goddess, the gods and the ancestors. They sing praise songs to these deities. Our analysis of the praise songs and appellations given to the deities by the Akans revealed that there is a link between God, the earth goddess, the gods and ancestors because the Supreme God created these deities to assist Him in ruling his creatures. God has given these deities some powers to an extent which makes them efficient in assisting God. We have therefore chosen to analyse some praise songs that are sung to the deities to bring out the image given to them and their effects on the Akans. We discussed the need to return to our source as a people for national development.

Source: KNUST
L’importance De L’enseignement Du Français A Des Fins Professionnelles Au Ghana: Le Cas De Quelques Institutions A Accra Et A Kumasi

The main objective of this work is to try to make the learning of French more attractive to workers in Ghana. French is important to Ghanaians considering the fact that Ghana shares her borders with francophone countries. This makes contacts with francophone businessmen or tourists inevitable. It has been noted that, despite the obvious importance of the French language to Ghanaians, the language policy in Ghana does not favour its learning at all levels of the educational system. Ghanaian professionals, aware of the necessity of the French Language, are making efforts to learn it. Unfortunately, most of the teachers have no special training to meet their specific needs. In the light of the difficulties in the area of French for Specific Purposes, this research work attempts to find solutions to some of the problems identified. It proposes among others, examples of French programmes for teachers of F.O.S.

Source: KNUST
L’importance des activités ludiques dans l’enseignement/apprentissage du Français langue etrangere: le cas des apprenants D’asanteman Senior High School, Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School et Opoku Ware Senior High School

This work aims at how and to what extent the use of games can help in the understanding of the lesson. We have based this work on the communicative and cognitive approach, Piagetian theory, Theory of Freud and the Monitor theory by Krashen. The analysis is based on data collected through questionnaires distributed to selected students and teachers. We realized through this work that many students face different problems when it comes to the use of games as teaching aids. This discourages the teachers who in turn ignore the games sometimes and this makes the teaching and the learning of the language very difficult for them. We also discovered some games which we grouped under linguistic, role play and sketch games. The games under the various types promote critical thinking, creativity, knowledge acquisition and personal development. We strongly advise the use of games in the teaching of the French language as foreign language. Teachers of French are therefore to be motivated in order to use the games as part of teaching activities in the classroom. Key words: Ludic activites-communicative approach-word play-role play-globale simulation-moyivation-interaction

Source: KNUST
L’influence de la religion sur la societe, d’apres things fall apart de Chinua Achebe et les soleils des_independanuiss D’ahmadou Kourouma.

Notre1 objectif principal est d’établir la corrélation entre la religion et la litérature ainsi que de voir l’influence de celle — là sur les sociétés ibo et malinké. Les religions cibles sont la religion traditionnelle, l’Islam et le Christianisme. Le premier chapitre examine les rapports entre la religion traditionnelle et le Christianisme à travers Le monde s‘effondre. Dans le deuxième chapitre, noire attention est sur la religion traditionnelle et l’lstam par le biais de Les soleils des indépendances. Quant au troisième chapitre, il est dédié a l’etude du style littéraire des deux romanciers Achebe et Kourouma. L’étude a tabli que toutes ces trois religions soul très pertinentes à l’exigence de la vie contemporaine. Cependant, le Christianisme et l’lslam ont connu un grand succès par rapport à la religion traditionnelle. La faiblesse de celle ci s’explique partiellement ci après: D’ahord, elle ne dispose pas de missionnaires pour la propager comme dans le cas du Christianisme et l’lslam. Ensuite, elle manque d’ecriture sainte. Et alors elle ne dispose pas de privilege d’en profiter comme dans le cas des deux religions étrangères. Sur le plan littéraire, nous avons vu qu’il y a beaucoup de rapports entre la religion et la littérature comme par l‘exemple, le symbolism, la rhétoriqtue et l’inspiration. En plus. nous avons établi que la renommé d’Achebe réside dans sa dextérité de rendre bien les proverbes et idiomes ibo en anglais soigné. En revanche, nous nous rappelons Kourouma pour le néologisme et les langues dépritiatives.

Source: KNUST
L’incidence des changements climatiques sur le paludisme dans les régions côtières du Ghana 1 © Moses Melphis Abai

Dans les villes côtières du Ghana, les facteurs climatiques comme les inondations et le réchauffement ont une incidence sur la prévalence du paludisme. • Les conditions environnementales jouent un rôle essentiel dans la transmission de cette maladie, et les moustiques s’adaptent à des lieux non traditionnels pour se reproduire, comme les drains de surface obstrués. • Si l’on souhaite réduire l’incidence du paludisme, les communautés et institutions doivent participer pour éliminer les sites potentiels de reproduction des moustiques dans l’environnement. Il est également essentiel de mettre en œuvre des programmes d’éducation sanitaire et de lutte renforcée contre la maladie. • Entre 2020 et 2080, on estime que la saison de transmission maximale du paludisme (de mai à juillet) se décalera d’un ou deux mois en raison du décalage correspondant des périodes de pluie. • À long terme (2020-2080), la prévalence du paludisme devrait toutefois diminuer en raison d’une réduction des précipitations et de températures dépassant les 35 °C, des conditions peu propices à la reproduction des moustiques qui transmettent cet

Source: KNUST
L’influence De La Modernite Sur La Pratique De Veuvage Dans Les Societes Akan : Le Cas Des Femmes De Kentinkrono, Kumasi

Issues of feminism happen to engage the attention of the public in our contemporary societies. Some writers such as Sembene Ousmane, Oyono Mbia, Seydou Badian, Calyxthe Beyala, Ama Atta Aidoo, Buchi Emecheta, Mariama Bâ, and the like, highlight the issue of gender inequalities in the form of polygamy, dowry, decision making in traditional homes, choice of spouse, female circumcision, widowhood rites etc. This study was undertaken to find out the extent at which modernity has taken a toll on widowhood practices based on the Akan culture and tradition today. A particular reference has thus, been made to the widows of Kentinkrono, a village situated just on the outskirts of Kumasi which exposes it to urban and foreign influences. In this study, an investigation has been conducted into how, among the Akans, the practice was observed in the olden days in relation to how it is observed today and it has been discovered that the practice has undergone a considerable modification in the area of confinement, ritual cleansing, burial and funeral celebrations, food for the widow, shaving, identification of the widow, abuse of the practice, remarriage, resistance and superstition, and right to inheritance. The study has established that the modification in the practice as it stands today in the community under investigation is due to the phenomenon of modernity in the form of education and religion. The study concludes with its recommendations regarding the practice so as to improve upon the condition of widows in the community under research.

Source: KNUST