ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A bookcraft manual for schools

The teaching of bookcraft in schools and colleges has suffered many setbacks Teachers have blamed the dwindling interest in book- craft on the scantiness of government grants voted for visual arts in schools and colleges. This situation has affected the teaching of bookcraft. But there is sufficient evidence that materials for book- craft can be procured or acquired cheaply within the local environment. Tools and equipment can be adopted from local resources. It is sad to observe that even those few art masters who profess to teach bookcraft have lost touch with the methodology due to long periods of inactivity. The researcher is of the opinion that the best approach in resolving the problem is to design a manual that will deal with the acquisition of materials and their preparation for use. It should also explore the environment for tools and equipment and how to adapt them. Such a manual should also deal with a step-by-step methodology on bookcraft. Much of the success of the teaching of bookcraft rests with the teacher. He must disabuse his mind of the idea that only imported materials and equipment facilitate effective teaching and mastery of skills. The ability to explore the environment and solve problems associated with materials and tools is in itself creative. Various methodologies have been identified and analysed but only those that fall within the capabilities of the Junior and Secondary School student have been included in the scheme of work suggested. It has also taken cognisance of the materials and tools available locally in the design of the manual. It should be able to provide the fundamentals which after the six years of secondary school course can make the student competent to enter into the book binding trade or pursue an advanced course in the craft. The manual shall find readership among teachers, students and all those actively engaged in the book binding trade. Those who want to carry the functionality of bookcraft further to its aesthetic heights shall find the manual an invaluable companion.

Source: KNUST
Boltzmann transformation of radial two‑phase black oil model for tight oil reservoirs

unconventional reservoirs is described by peculiar complexities such as the typical low permeability to viscosity ratio and the dissolution of some gases in the oil phase. Reservoir simulations that consider these complexities negligible stand the potential of poorly characterizing the reservoir flow dynamics. The adoption of similarity transformation effectively reduces the complexities associated with the flow equations through spatial variable (r) and temporal variable (t). The Boltzmann variable =r√t is introduced to facilitate the reformulation of transient two-phase flow phenomenon in a radial geometry. The technique converts the two-phase Black oil model (thus highly nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs)) to ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The resulting ODEs present a reduced form on the flow model which is solved by finite difference approximations (the Implicit-Pressure-Explicit-Saturation (IMPES)) scheme. No loss of vital flow characteristics was observed between the Black oil model and the similarity transform flow model. Furthermore, the similarity approach facilitated the determination of pressure and saturation equations as unique functions of the Boltzmann variable. This derivation is applied to an infinitely acting reservoir where the Boltzmann variable tends to infinity ( → ∞ ). Finally, this case study’s analytical solution formulated critical relations for fluid flow rate and cumulative production, which are useful for single-phase flow analysis.

Source: KNUST
The body: Kaleidoscopics of aging

This thesis is an exploration of the pertinent issues regarding the human body, self and cognition. Through studio work, installation and experiment, I investigate questions of process, materialit y and specifically in terms of their relationship to the exploration and exploitation of the self. However, it discusses and investigates the invincible extension of the mind within cultural context, history and now, as a matrix of different things coming together in one piece. Moreover, how is space conceived of? Where does spatiality reside? While some think space as a void, others think it as a product, still, others think it as a process of inhabiting location. The Body: Kaleidoscopics of Aging is a studio -based research which investigates spatiality of the body. It explored process and entity involving subjective spatiality . The enquiry is made with the assumption that spatiality is embedded in the social construct of the mind. With reference to thinkers such as Merleau-Ponty, Kant, Lefebvre, spatiality is understood here neither as static nor passive but as active where the human subject is interfaced with, penetrates or radicalizes an already named or emplaced location. In this research, the consciousness of the mind and cognition were subjectively discussed. Works of Chintan Upadhyay, David Černý, Marc Quinn, Ron Mueck, among others are examined and discussed in the context of the human body with regards to aging, spatial subjectivity, and how it has been investigated artistically. A look is re-taken at everyday occurrences and situations ; a body of works is raised to articulate this concept of spatial subjectivity. Fibreglass, resins, pigments etc form the materiality base for the studio analysis to the respondent issues at stake

Source: KNUST
Bookkeeping Practices, Owners’ & Employee’s Accounting Skills, and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises: Evidence from Oforikrom Municipal Assembly, Ghana

The study was done to survey the Bookkeeping Practices, Owners’ and employee’s Accounting Skills, and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises. The study was concentrated on the evidence from Oforikrom Municipal Assembly. The study utilized questionnaires as the principal instrument for gathering data. The implementation of Google Forms enabled the creation of digital surveys. The implementation of online surveys facilitates a faster and more cost-efficient method for collecting data from a sufficiently big sample. The study employed a quantitative research methodology. The results presented were based on a sample of 200 valid responses collected via an online survey. The study utilized the Smart Partial Least Squares (Smart-PLS) software inside a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework to examine the associations among owners' accounting skills, bookkeeping procedures, and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (smes). The research conducted revealed that the implementation of bookkeeping procedures has a notable and favorable impact on the overall performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (smes). Bookkeeping is perceived as a crucial aspect of decision-making and company changes by owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (smes).

Source: KNUST
Boosting of Cellular Immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Modulation of Skin Cytokine Responses in Healthy Human Volunteers by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Substrain Moreau Rio de Janeiro Oral Vaccine

Oral immunization of healthy adults with 107 CFU BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro was well tolerated and significantly boosted gamma interferon responses to purified protein derivative, Ag85, and MPB70 from previous childhood intradermal BCG immunization. Oral BCG offers the possibility of a needle-free tuberculosis vaccine and of boosting the protective immunity from intradermal tuberculosis vaccines.

Source: KNUST
Borehole yield estimation from electrical resistivity measurements – a case study of Garu Tempane and Bawku West Districts, Upper East Region, Ghana

Electrical resistivity survey has proven to be an effective tool for groundwater exploration and has been widely embraced to help reduce the drilling of unsuccessful wells. Currently, information from electrical resistivity survey is often used in locating points for drilling, but it does not give indication of the yield of the borehole. The lack of this information therefore sometimes results in the drilling of dry and marginal wells. This study therefore looks at the possibility of using resistivity data, which is readily available from electrical resistivity surveys for groundwater exploration, for estimating the yield of yet to be drilled borehole. The study was limited to the Garu Tempane and Bawku West districts. Secondary data on vertical electrical sounding (VES) and drill logs for 49 boreholes in the selected districts were used. The thicknesses, apparent resistivities, longitudinal conductance and transverse resistance of the various subsurface layers of the boreholes were determined from drill logs and VES data. Correlations between borehole yields and the third layer apparent resistivity, longitudinal conductance and transverse resistance were then investigated to develop regression models for estimation of the borehole yields. The results showed that the third layer is fractured and contributes significantly to borehole yields in the area; hence the fractured subsurface layer is of primary interest to be considered in groundwater exploration and estimating potential borehole yield from VES data. The results obtained further indicated that apparent resistivity, longitudinal conductance and transverse resistance had good exponential and positive linear relationships with borehole yield.

Source: KNUST
Borassus aethiopum Fruit Pulp Extract has Antimicrobial Activity on Selected Clinical Microbial Strains

Background: Antimicrobials of plant origin have a huge therapeutic prospective and can efficiently be used to treat infectious diseases with reduced or no side effects as related to using synthetic antimicrobials. A potential plant-based antimicrobial is that obtained from Borassus aethiopum. The anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, antipyretic and anti-venom properties of extracts of B. aethiopum plant have been reported in literature these past few years.Objective: The antimicrobial property and phytoconstituents of aqueous ripe fruit extract of B. aethiopum were investigated. Methods: The ripe fruit extract of B. aethiopum was prepared by macerating the mesocarps of the fruits and then screened for the presence of phytochemicals using standard methods. The extract’s antimicrobial activity was studied by agar well diffusion method against Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 33495, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus saprophyticus ATCC 15305 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Chloramphenicol mixed with tetracycline was used as a standard antibacterial agent (Positive control). Sterile distilled water was used as diluent for reconstituting the aqueous extract. Results: The aqueous extract revealed the presence of tannins, terpenoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The antibacterial activity revealed that at 30%, 40% and 50% w/v (0.3g/ml, 0.4g/ml and 0.5g/ml) of the extract, all the test bacterial strains were susceptible to the aqueous ripe fruit extracts of B. aethiopum. Conclusion: Ripe fruit extracts of B. aethiopum was rich in phytochemicals and exhibited potential antibacterial activity against all seven bacterial strains used

Source: KNUST
Boreholes provision as a key factor in facilitating poverty reduction in rural communities - a study of the Atebubu and Afram Plains Districts of Ghana

This work, is dedicated to God Almighty, my saviour and my lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and to God the Holy Spirit, from whom unrestricted grace, insight, much knowledge and understanding was given to enable me be able to undertake and to accomplish this mission, be the eternal praise and glory. To the chief of rural water supply in Ghana – Project Manager of World Vision Ghana Rural Water Project Phase II, and the initiator of the West Africa Water Initiative (WAWI) - Mr. Bismark Nerquaye-Tetteh; and Dr. (Mrs.) Nerquaye-Tetteh, through whom God Almighty gave me the opportunity to enter into His Ministry in World Vision, I dedicate this work as a celebration of professional excellence. This work is further dedicated to the many unsung heroes – committed, indefatigable, hard labouring gallant men and women – the usually forgotten staff of World Vision Ghana Rural Water Project (GRWP) Phases II and III, who tirelessly laboured in the Lord’s vineyard in the Greater Afram Plains from 1990 to 2003, (some of whom have gone ahead and laid down their lives in course of duty), and into whose labour I have entered and gathered this invaluable data, to analyze and tell the story of the great contribution of their labours in freeing the lives of helpless thousands of rural folks from the interminable, cyclical scourge of guinea worm infestation and other waterborne/related diseases: “And herein is that saying true, one soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestoweth no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours” (John 4:37-38). To the uncountable, unknown thousands of rural folks in the Atebubu and Afram Plains Districts, impacted by the World Vision Ghana Rural Water borehole drilling Project, who were the principal subjects of this study and who gave audience for this research – whose lives have now improved and enjoy tremendous freedoms, and who now have hope and better cause to live their lives for the realization of their hopes and life’s aspirations for themselves and their children, whose voice of gratitude may never be heard, to them also, I unreservedly dedicate this work and do pray that their lives will continually and unceasingly improve as they hold on dearly to, and maintain their God-given boreholes. Finally, may this work lift us up to higher horizons, to dedicate and make ourselves available to serve humanity in better ways, as pleases the Lord God Almighty!

Source: KNUST
Boundary – Value Problems with Particular Reference to the African Rectangular Drum

Drums are part of most Africa cultures, and produce different sounds according to their shapes and sizes. The purpose of this study is to explain the mathematics involved in the vibration of a rectangular drum. Hence a rectangular drum was modeled for that purpose. The wave equation in the rectangular Cartesian coordinates was solved with boundary conditions dictated by the fact that the edges of the drum were fixed. The initial condition was that, the velocity was zero for the entire membrane. The double Fourier coefficients were computed and truncated and presented as 3 x 3 matrices. The computed Fourier coefficients enabled the identification of the normal modes. This was done for four cases of solutions for certain polynomials in x and y. The regular symmetry of the drum appears to influence the symmetry of the solutions. The study found that, the sound waves produced from all the four cases, moved crest and trough with cases one, two and four recording nodal points and case three having none.

Source: KNUST
Box and Jenkins Arima Methodology on the Incidence of Malaria in Effiduase, Sekyere-East District

Malaria still remains a public health problem in Ghana despite marked reduction of cases in the last few years. To strengthen the country’s prevention and control measures, this study was carried out to develop forecasting and prediction models of malaria incidence in the endemic district of Ashanti Region using time series and ARIMA. This research is a study model of forecasting Malaria incidence of Effiduase in the Sekyere District. It provides us clues about the behaviour of the time series data and develops a statistical model that will aid in finding the future values of the disease for five-month period ahead. The paper examines stationary and nonstationary time series by differencing and forecasting. Two Box-Jenkins Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models are estimated over the period 2001-2010 for Malaria cases in Effiduase. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean square error (MSE) are used as measures of forecast accuracy. As the best fitting ARIMA model is found to have the lowest MSE, it is used to obtain post-sample forecasts. The Model ARIMA (2, 1, 0) was identified and used to forecast the morbidity due to malaria for the period. The results show that if measures are not put in place to check the incidence of the disease, subsequent years will witness escalating results. Practically, I suggest that the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets in the system should be proportional to the level of the morbidity due to malaria at any time. Secondly, I recommend that efforts must be seriously made by the major players in the health sector to make the net readily available in the communities at low prices to enable the ordinary Ghanaian to purchase it.

Source: KNUST
Branch Networking: a Case Study of Selected Ghana Commercial Bank Limited's Branches

The lifeblood of every bank depends on how much deposit it can mobilize, since they exist E primarily buy and sell money. To this end banks must devise various strategies to buy or mobilize funds from the general public so that it can sell for a profit. Branch networking in banking in Ghana is seen as one of the major strategies of contemporary times by which funds could be easily mobilized for the development of our economy. To this end there has been Substantial investment in information technology, first to modernize their operations in response The bank in 2002, on a pilot programme set up Wide Area Network (WAN) for 2$ of its 133 branches and 10 agencies, by installing powerful software called FLEXCUBE which had the ability to offer new services such as telephone and internet banking. Of the six branches in Kumasi (now seven including Harper Road branch) four were part of the pilot project and they become the focus of our study. The objectives of the study were to identify why funds are still kept outside the financial institutions, examine the extent to which branch networking of GCB has been a tool in attracting a sizeable portion of such funds into its vaults as deposits and to present a report based on findings in a manner as to serve as grounds for recommendations for improvement in network banking as a tool for deposit mobilization to promote socio-economic development.

Source: KNUST
Bradyrhizobium spp. (TGx) isolates nodulating the new soybean cultivars in Africa are diverse and distinct from bradyrhizobia that nodulate North American soybeans

The newly developed cultivars of soybean in Africa, known as Tropical Glycine cross (TGx), are nodulated by bradyrhizobia indigenous to African soils, here designated Bradyrhizobium spp. (TGx). Isolates of Bradyrhizobium spp. (TGx) obtained from nodules of TGx soybeans that were inoculated with soils from 65 locations in six African countries were characterized and grouped into 11 phylogenetic clusters on the basis of RFLP of the 16S rRNA gene. Five restriction enzymes (RsaI, HinfI, MspI, CfoI and HaeIII) established RFLP groups within these Bradyrhizobium spp. (TGx) isolates, which were used to construct a phylogenetic tree showing their genetic relationship with other Bradyrhizobium species. RFLP analysis indicated that Bradyrhizobium spp. (TGx) is a heterogeneous group with some isolates related to Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii strains and some to Bradyrhizobium spp. (misc.) reference strains isolated from a variety of tropical legumes. The heterogeneity within the large phylogenetic clusters was further examined through analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using GC rich PCR primers. The RAPD analysis showed additional heterogeneity in the Bradyrhizobium spp. (TGx) phylogenetic clusters, which was not revealed by separations based on RFLP analysis. The Bradyrhizobium spp. (TGx) isolates were classified into effective and ineffective types based on their symbiotic performance on TGx soybean. The isolates were randomly distributed throughout the phylogenetic clu

Source: KNUST
Breast Developmental Anomalies in Dormaa Municipality of Ghana: Prevalence and Impact on the Life of the Individual

Background. Breast developmental anomalies (BDAs) are abnormalities of breast tissue that arise during breast development. Some of the anomalies can have negative impact on the person’s life. This study seeks to assess the prevalence of BDA in the Dormaa Municipality in Ghana and its impact on the life of the individual. Materials and Methods. A descriptive study involving 500 female respondents aged between 11 and 25 years from selected schools in the Dormaa Municipality using self-administered questionnaires and interviews. Results. From the study, it was found that the prevalence of BDA in the municipality was 12.8%. The commonest BDA was bilateral hypoplasia which accounted for 31.3% of the BDAs found in the study. Nine (14.1%) complained of the BDA affecting their lives with most being teased in school. Twenty-two (34.4%) girls out of the 64 with BDAs had a family member with a BDA. Conclusion. BDA is a worry; therefore, comprehensive educational programs for health workers and the general public are needed to increase awareness. Also, work should be done to include education on BDA when awareness is being raised about breast cancer and on the importance of breast self-Examination (BSE).

Source: KNUST
Breast imaging reporting and data system for sonography: Positive and negative predictive values of sonographic features in Kumasi, Ghana

Background: Breast cancer is the most common female cancer globally. The method of choice for screening and diagnosing breast cancer is mammography, which is not widely available in Ghana as compared to ultraso nography. This study aimed to evaluate the sonographic features of solid breast lesions using the new sono graphic Breast Imaging- Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS-US) lexicon for malignancy with histopathology as the gold standard. Methods: This was a prospective quantitative study that sonographically scanned female patients with breast masses and consecutively selected cases recommended for core biopsy from May 2018 to May 2021. Sixty (60) solid breast masses were described using the sonographic BI-RADS lexicon features. Lesion description and bi opsy results from histopathology were compared and analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test. Odds ratios, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were also calculated. Statistical significance level was set at p ≤0.05. Results: Irregular shape (p < 0.0001), spiculated mass margins (p < 0.0001), and not parallel mass orientation (p = 0.0007) were more commonly associated with malignant masses. The sensitivity of breast ultrasound for malignancy was 93.9 % and the specificity was 55.6 % with an overall accuracy rate of 76.6 %. The negative predictive value was 88.7 % and the positive predictive value was 72.1 %. Descriptors like irregular shape, non parallel orientation, angular and spiculated margins, echogenic halo, and markedly hypoechoic internal content, demonstrated higher odds ratios for malignancy. Conclusions: This study adds valuable insights to the diagnosis of breast cancer using the sonographic BI-RADS lexicon features. The results demonstrate that specific sonographic descriptors can effectively differentiate be tween benign and malignant breast masses.

Source: KNUST