ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Seed dispersal, germination and seedling recruitment of antiaris toxicarla leschenault (moraceae): the role of primates in Bia biosphere reserve

Antiaris toxicaria is one of Ghana’s most valuable lesser-used timber species being promoted to ensure a more balanced usage of the timber species in the forest. This study was conducted to quantify the proportion of Antiaris seeds dispersed by primates relative to other potential seed dispersers, and to examine if seed dispersal by primates conferred any advantages on Antiaris seed survival. Trap nets covering 8.14 ± 0.7% crown area under selected trees (N=6) were used to estimate flower and fruit-fall numbers. To assess advantages of predation and dispersal by primates on Antiaris seed survival. 1800 seeds were exposed to different treatments: (a) rinsed and dried seed from ripened fruits that have fallen beneath the parent trees (“control”) (b) seed with fruit pulp attached, and (c) seeds that were spat out or dropped by monkeys after eaten the fruits (“rejecta”), at seed stations located at 10, 15, 30, 40, and 60m from fruiting parent trees. Seedling regeneration rates was assessed by laying three lOOm transects with 30 degree sector radiating from focal trees (N=7). Frugivore visitation and feeding behavior during 1200 hours of diurnal and nocturnal observation of focal trees were recorded. Temporal germination rates were further investigated by using 10 seeds per treatments in 10 replicates on filter paper and soil. A. toxicaria trees with a mean DBH (± SE) of I 3m ± 0.26 produced 27,843 ± 11,808 flowers and 21,159 ± 9912 fruits. A potential flower predator was not observed. Seventeen mammals and 9 birds’ species ate the fruits. Monkeys (Cercopithecus campbelli and Cercopithecus Petaurista) are the main seed dispersers for Antiaris and are able to carry seeds away from Parent tree without affecting the germination capacity of the seed. Birds (such as hornbills, tauraco, plantain-eater, and fruit bat) may also be essential for Antiaris seed survival. Germination rates did not differ (LSD, P> 0.05) between control seeds (70 & 73%) and rejecta seeds (51 & 59%) on filter paper and soil respectively. However, both control and rejccta seeds had higher germination rates than seeds with fruits attached (5 & 15%). Seed predation analysis using one-way and two-way ANOVA indicated that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between distances and treatments All seeds of various treatments suffered heavy predation within 32 days. There was a weak correlation between DBFI and mean seedling number (R0. 1443). Seedling numbers increased from the parent tree until a peak occurs around l0m (under tree canopy) after which declining seedling numbers occurred. Linear regressions had low ability to predict seedling numbers as a function of distance from parent plants. The recruitment pattern of Antiaris toxicaria is greatly influenced by the potential seed dispersers as identified in this study, therefore any future disappearance of the dispersers may raise concerns about the reproductive ecology of A. toxicaria.

Source: KNUST
Seemingly unrelated time series model for forecasting the peak and short-term electricity demand: Evidence from the Kalman filtered Monte Carlo method

In this extant paper, a multivariate time series model using the seemingly unrelated times series equation (SUTSE) framework is proposed to forecast the peak and short-term electricity demand using time series data from February 2, 2014, to August 2, 2018. Further the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, Gibbs Sampler, together with the Kalman Filter were applied to the SUTSE model to simulate the variances to predict the next day’s peak and electricity demand. Relying on the study results, the running ergodic mean showed the convergence of the MCMC process. Before forecasting the peak and short-term electricity demand, a week’s prediction from the 28th to the 2nd of August of 2018 was analyzed and it found that there is a possible decrease in the daily energy over time. Further, the forecast for the next day (August 3, 2018) was about 2187 MW and 44090 MWh for the peak and electricity demands respectively. Finally, the robustness of the SUTSE model was assessed in comparison to the SUTSE model without MCMC. Evidently, SUTSE with the MCMC method had recorded an accuracy of about 96% and 95.8% for Peak demand and daily energy respectively

Source: KNUST
Seed-Borne Fungi of farmer-saved rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds from inland valleys of three Districts in Ashanti Region of Ghana and their management

A field survey was conducted in 2011/2012 cropping season in three selected rice growing districts comprising 13 communities to assess the quality of farmer-saved rice seeds and farmers’ perception of seed-borne diseases of rice. Majority of smallholder rice farmers in Ashanti Region of Ghana (71 %) saved their own seeds for planting. Few farmers (12%) followed proper storage practices for the seeds which were stored under ambient conditions in nylon fertilizer bags, jute sacks and black polyethylene bags, which were not treated against insect pests. The study also revealed that none of the seed samples was free from seed-borne pathogens and saprophytic fungi. Twenty fungal species comprising 16 pathogens and four saprophytes were identified on seed samples from the three districts. The most prevalent seed-borne pathogenic fungi identified were Bipolaris oryzae, Fusarium verticillioides, F.oxysporum, Curvularia lunata and Cercospora sp. while Aspergillus flavus, A.niger, Rhizopus sp. and Penicillium sp. were the most prevalent saprophytes. Efficacy of aqueous extracts of ginger (Zingiber officinale), hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) prepared at a concentration of 1g/ml for the management of seed-borne pathogens was studied. The aqueous extracts of ginger, pepper and lemongrass were found to be significantly effective in reducing infection levels of seeds. Ginger extract was the most effective.

Source: KNUST
Selected Printing Processes

More often, many art teachers find themselves wanting and ineffective in the classroom during lessons in printmaking. Field research conducted reveals that, this handicap is not the result of lack of teaching skills. Rather, the problem lies with lack of basic requisite materials, tools and equipment as well as knowledge of the printmaking principles and methodologies. These are in the form of major techniques of printmaking processes, varieties of printmaking requisite material, tools and equipment for printing processes, printing inks, paints or colour, natural dyestuff for printing, and basic pattern arrangements for printmaking processes. The cost of these materials, tools and equipment for printmaking is high and the meagre school funds for Art budget cannot purchase them. Against these issues, it is clear that art teachers should start exploring their local environment for material resources for adaptation to printing activities in the schools an. colleges. It is this concern that has necessitated this enquiry into the “Selected Printing Processes.’ Further, this research has been undertaken to assess the validity and the suitability of using some local resources for teaching printmaking in both Basic and Second Cycle Institutions in Ghana. It has been specifically designed to expose and provide Art Instructors and students to suggestions on the use of printmaking principles, materials, tools, processes and methodologies in printmaking. It has been designed as a guideline for art teachers. It is to assist the teacher and his students in identifying materials, tools and equipment from their own local, resources for lessons in printmaking. It is also to equip them with simple -processes for the available conventional printmaking processes using both processed and unprocessed materials and tools. The empirical experiments performed to test the suitability and validity of the materials, tools and methods are good to follow. The results though not the best, are indications of the ‘effectiveness of these materials and tools. The scope of these experiments is designed to meet school requirements. These exercises have been made possible through tested printing principles, literary materials, personal experimentation, observation and interviews with resource personnel. Besides, possible alternatives to provide their validity and suitability for printmaking experiences have seen provided. By taking up this printmaking processes and methods, the readership would include not only students and teachers, but also those who work in other areas of printmaking and printing process.

Source: KNUST
A SEIR Model to Control Varicella Transmission in Ghana

In this thesis, a SEIR epidemiological model is formulated to help control the transmission of varicella, using clinical varicella data from Ghana Health Service. The thesis is based on the assumption that the population is constant with birth rate equals death rate. First it is shown that there exists a domain where the model is epidemiologically and mathematically well-posed as desired in any pop- ulation dynamics. Qualitative results show that the model has the disease-free equilibrium point which is locally asymptotically stable for R0 < 1 and unstable for R0 > 1. The Routh-Hurwitz criterion is used to show that the model has an endemic equilibrium point which is locally asymptotically stable when R0 > 1. The basic reproduction number for Ghana is found to be R0 = 1:2869, whiles the herd immunity threshold is found to be HI = 22:3%. Numerical simulation of the model, using MATLAB and a fouth order Runge-Kuta method suggests that one practical measure, to bring the transmission of the disease under control is early detection of the infectious, for isolated supervised treatment. It is concluded that vaccination is the most important factor to control the spread of varicella in case of an outbreak and that 22:3% of the susceptible population needs to be vaccinated in order to bring the disease under control.

Source: KNUST
An SEIR Mathematical Model for Dog Rabies; Case Study: Bongo District, Ghana.

A SEIR model for rabies between dogs with vaccination effect is formulated. The basic reproduction ratio for this model is derived using the Next Generation Matrix Method. Graphical solutions of the differential equations are produced using MATLAB. Stability analysis is performed and the impact of vaccination is analysed. This thesis was written in LaTeX and MATLAB was used for the programming. Appendix contains the MATLAB code used in simulating the model.

Source: KNUST
Selecting the best transportation model for mineral water producing companies in Ghana- A Case study of Gratis Aqua company (GAC)

Transporting goods from sources to destinations by road is very popular in Ghana and it can be seen in every business entity whose daily activities involve production. The production sites, storage facilities and final destinations are all link by road. It has always being a problem in finding ways to cut down transportation cost and it goes on to affect the decision making process and if proper strategic plans are not put in place can slow down the development of that establishment. In this study data of Gratis Aqua Company was considered and modeled as a transportation problem with unique quality method, minimum demand-supply method and best candidate method. It was observed that these models are capable of reducing the company’s total transportation cost. This transportation model will be useful for making strategic decisions by managers of Gratis Aqua Company in making optimum allocation of the production from the three storage facilities (Juaso, Obogu and Konongo) to the various customers in the three districts of Asante Akim at a minimum transportation cost.

Source: KNUST
Selection and Ranking of Local And Exotic Maize (Zea Mays L.) Genotypes to Drought Stress in Ghana

A green house and field experiments were conducted in July, 2009 and February, 2010 at the Soil Research Institute (SRI), Kwadaso, and the Crops Research Institute (CRI), Fumesua- Kumasi, respectively, to determine the drought tolerance levels of ten maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes and to establish a basis for the development of drought tolerant maize hybrids. In the green house, 10 genotypes (six inbred lines and four varieties) having different genetic backgrounds were used in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. The same genotypes were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications in the field. In the plant house, 40 out of 80 pots received water at four days interval until 21 days after planting (DAP) and the remaining 40 pots were irrigated until end of the experiment (55 DAP). In the field, water was withdrawn at six weeks after planting for the water stressed site and the non stressed site was irrigated until end of grain filling. Data were collected on plant height, leaf relative water content, dry matter yield, root dry mass and leaf rolling in the green house study. Anthesis-silking interval, ear height, ears per plant and grain yield were included as secondary traits in the field. Through pairwise comparison analyses of means (t-test), Entry 24 showed no significant difference between the two water regimes in all five indicators used in the green house followed by Entry 5 which recorded four out of five indicators among the six inbred lines used. Mamaba recorded two out of five indicators of drought tolerance among the four varieties. Under the field conditions, drought intensity and drought index formulated based on grain yield aided the ranking and selection procedure. Again Entries 24 and 5 were identified as apparently tolerant for the inbred lines and also Mamaba among the varieties reappeared as relatively tolerant. The factors chosen for the ranking procedure proved to be effective indicators for the selection of drought tolerant maize.

Source: KNUST
Selection of contractor insurance option in the Ghanaian Construction Industry

Insurance in the Building Industry is the process of swapping a conditional claim for a set amount to safeguard the benefits of stakeholders undertaking a construction venture. Insurance in construction is a primary technique of handling risks in the construction sector. It has been established that persons involved in the construction sector are repeatedly faced with various instances of situations that have many unknowns, are often detrimental and mostly unpredictable. This research had the aim of assessing the selection of feasible contractor insurance option in the Ghanaian construction industry. Literature review was undertaken and it tackled the underlying risk factors associated with contractor insurance provision and selection of contractor insurance option. Quantitative research method was adopted and structured questionnaires were used to gather data from contractors, consultants and insurance officers. Fifty-nine questionnaires were retrieved from seventy distributed representing an eighty-four percent response rate. Descriptive statistics and Relative Importance Index (RII) were the analytical tools used for the analysis. The findings showed that: exchange rate fluctuation, unrealistic contract duration, inaccurate estimating, interference from client, mistakes in design documents, inadequate contractor experience and materials damage were the most significant risk factors. Furthermore, the contractor insurance options that were selected the most were: Employers’ liability, Professional indemnity, Workers’ compensation, Contractors all risk, Performance bond, Third party insurance and Bid bond. The study recommended that series of educational as well as training programs ought to be organized for contractors to advise them on the different insurance options available for the different types of construction risk.

Source: KNUST
Selenium and Mercury Concentrations in Canned Fish Products Commonly Available on the Ghanaian Market and Estimation of their Selenium Health Benefit Values

Canned fish products are widely and highly consumed in Ghana, due to their hygienic, delicious, and easy to consume nature. There have been numerous reports on mercury accumulation in fish, accordingly, the levels of mercury in fish and the dietary exposure to mercury through the consumption of fish have become the subject of discussion worldwide by environmental activist groups. Though the interactions between Se and Hg and their molar ratios in fish are essential factors in evaluating risks associated with dietary mercury exposure, the discussions by the environmental groups have been limited to the levels of Hg in fish alone. The study assessed the health risk [selenium health benefit value, (SeHBV)] posed by the consumption of thirteen (13) canned fish products available on the Ghanaian market. This was achieved through the determination of the concentration of Se and Hg in the fifty-two (52) blended lyophilized homogenates of fish products using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) and cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). Prior to HG-AAS determination, the lyophilized fish samples were wet ashed by microwave digestion using a combination of HNO3, HCl and H2O2. The digestate obtained was defatted with diethyl ether in a rotary evaporator at a water bath temperature of 45ᵒC. Based on the concentrations of Se and Hg determined, the molar concentrations of Se and Hg ; the Se-Hg molar ratio ( Se : Hg) ; the Hg-Se molar ratio ( Hg : Se) ; the free Se content and hence the SeHBV were evaluated.

Source: KNUST
Selective High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Artesunate and Amodiaquine Hydrochloride in a Combined Tablet Formulation

In the search for antimalarials to replace older antimalarials that have become resistant to the malaria parasite, artemisinin and its derivatives have been proposed as the current first-line drugs in the treatment of drug-resistant malaria either as mono-therapy or combination- therapy. In this thesis an accurate and selective High Performance Liquid Chromatographic method with ultraviolet absorbance detection (HPLC-UV) was developed for the quantification of amodiaquine hydrochloride (AQ) and artesunate (AS) in a combined tablet formulation. It was not possible to quantitatively analyse both drugs simultaneously. This was due to the fact that artesunate lacks extensive chromophores for UV absorption whilst amodiaquine absorbs highly. The method developed involves an isocratic mode of elution of artesunate and amodiaquine hydrochloride from a reversed-phase 150mm, 4.6mm, 5µm Hypersil base-deactivated (BDS) C8 column. Artesunate was quantitatively analysed using an HPLC-UV method comprising methanol/phosphate buffer pH 2.80 (55/45 v/v) and a methanol/phosphate buffer pH 6.60 (62/38 v/v) using chloroquine phosphate as an internal standard for amodiaquine hydrochloride. Sodium perchlorate solution was used to adjust the pH values and its inclusion in the mobile phase significantly enhanced the artesunate and amodiaquine peak shapes to become symmetrical and non-tailing. Separation for quantitative determination of both drugs was achieved within 10 minutes at a flow rate of 1.5mL/min for artesunate and 1.25mL/min for AQ. The absorbance of the drugs was monitored at 242nm and 254nm for AS and AQ respectively, at a detector sensitivity of 0.200. The standard calibration curves were linear with correlation coefficients of 0.9987 for AS and 0.9984 for AQ. The limit of quantification was 0.37868mg/mL for AS and 0.29080µg/mL for AQ. The tablets were in five different dosage categories: A125- (76.5mgAQ/25mgAS), A250-(153mgAQ/50mgAS), A500-(306mgAQ/100mgAS), A750- (459mgAQ/150mgAS), A1000-(612mgAQ/200mgAS). The percentage recovery of the stated content of the dosage categories were 93.6%, 94.0%, 96.1%, 98.7%, and 103.3% respectively for amodiaquine and 103.7%, 101.2%, 97.4%, 92.5% and 102.4% respectively for Artesunate. The within and between run relative standard deviations at Sflg/mL for amodiaquine and 0.625mg/mL for artesunate was less than 10%

Source: KNUST
Self help community development — Otinibi

Otinibi similar to some 40,000 other such small rural communities in Ghana is deficient in basic developmental facilities such as portable water, power and sanitation, This study was prompted by the village development committee of Otinibi after they had. realised the Ghana Government’s handicap and its inability to develop their village for them. The community now wants to undertake its own development under guidance and assistance taking fullest advantage of the innovations which appropriate technology offers today. As it was the community wishes to pull itself up by means of its own bootstrings. In the first part of this study the physical socio-economic and political aspects of this agararian community were documented am? analysed and consequently their problems and need as well as their potentials were established. The second part looked at the possible solution and developnnt option available and here the first section examined the various development institution and agencies concerned with rural development, d studied various relevant development strategies. It also compared various appropriate technology systems in the light of Otinibits limitation. Based on all the background analysis and information acquired, the model settlement development approach was chosen as the most suitable development strategy bearing in mind the positive contributions Otinibi would be making to the overall development of the district. After examining a few cases studies of some development for solving Otinibi’s developmental and environmental problems, the end result was:a development action plan based on the innovation of appropriate technology and detailed action guidelines to improve: (a) the community space (central area) (b) farmateads (c) housing environment (d) production facilities to show especially ho appropriate technology can be applied in a given context.

Source: KNUST
Self-management of diabetes among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending diabetes clinics in selected hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis, Northern Region, Ghana.

Background: The rising number of persons living with diabetes in Ghana has posed a huge economic burden to the patients and their families, healthcare systems and the national economy. This study aimed at assessing self-management among Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending diabetes clinics in public hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis. Methods: The study was conducted at three government hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. A descriptive cross sectional design was used and convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit respondents for a period of four months. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Results: Of the 330 patients whose data was included in the analysis, the majority (73%) had good knowledge and 27% had poor knowledge of diabetes. Educational level, monthly income, occupation, place of residence and duration of diabetes were the factors significantly associated with knowledge of diabetes. The least performed self-management activity was self-monitoring of blood glucose (0.53 ± 1.27 days per week), followed by diet (3.95 ± 1.04 days per week). The highest performed activity was foot care (4.35 ± 1.31 days per week). Educational level and gender were significantly associated with self-management practices. More than half of the patients (57.9%) had poor glycaemic control. Women were less likely to have poor glycaemic control than men [COR=0.36 (95%CI: 0.22-0.58), p<0.001]. Rural residence [COR=1.60 (95%CI: 1.04-2.78), p=0.035] and overweight [AOR=3.05 (95%CI: 1.08-8.58), p=0.034] were associated with higher odds of uncontrolled diabetes. Conclusion: The patients’ adherence to self-management practices and level of glycaemic control were suboptimal. It is recommended that health care professionals providing education and counselling strengthen specific areas of knowledge including knowledge on medication, self-monitoring, and knowledge on complication in their future education sessions.

Source: KNUST