ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The differential and delay differential approach in the analysis of stable state equilibrium prices using characteristic equation techniques

The study compares the stability states of price adjustment differential models with and without delay parameter using roots of characteristic equations. The states of stability of both models were simulated using their particular solutions with inputs from same source. It was found that irrespective of initial prices set for the commodity, the current price for the differential models will always have the propensity to move monotonically to the equilibrium price defined for the system. On the other hand, the current price for the delay- differential models tends to oscillate and move away from the initial prices due to the delay associated with the supply, then with time decreases and turns towards to the defined system equilibrium prices. It was deduced that whilst the current prices in the delay-differential models are not predictable at the initial stages due to the time delay parameters associated with them, its counterpart without the delay are predictable, since differential models converge monotonically to the equilibrium price points defined for the system. Since most economic and natural phenomena are associated with delays, it is recommended that such systems are modeled using delay-differential equations to reflect realities of the phenomena

Source: UCC
Differential impact of oil price shocks on external balance, stock market, inflation and output in Ghana.

Crude oil is an essential commodity for the growth and development of Ghana’s economy. Studies that examine the effect of oil price fluctuations on Ghana’s economy have mainly focused on analysing the effect of changes in the price on output and inflation. Oil prices are however driven by supply and demand factors. This implies that impact of oil price fluctuations on an economy may be different depending on its source (demand or supply). This study examines the differential impact of origin of oil price shocks on external balance, stock market activity, inflation and output in Ghana. Using an SVAR model, oil price shocks is decomposed into oil supply shocks, aggregate demand shocks and oil market specific demand shocks. Their impacts on external balance, stock market activity, inflation and output were analysed using a combination of ARDL, Markov Switching models, impulse response and variance decomposition analysis. The results of the study revealed oil price shocks tend to have differential impact on external balance, stock market activity, inflation and output in Ghana. Specifically, oil demand shock was found to have positive effect on external balance whilst the effect of oil market specific shock was found to have negative effect on external balance. The effect of oil supply shock on external balance was mixed. In terms of stock market activity, oil demand shock was found to positively affect stock market activity whilst the effect of oil market specific demand shock was mixed. The effects of oil demand shock on output were positive whilst its effect on inflation was mixed. On the other hand, the effect of oil market specific demand shocks was inflationary and output depressing. The study iii therefore recommends that policy initiatives to minimize the effect of oil price hikes should take into account the source of the price shock.

Source: UCC
Differential item functioning of West African Senior School Certificate Examination in core subjects in Southern Ghana

The research aimed at examining whether the 2012-2016 May/June West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in core subjects exhibited gender and location differential item functioning (DIF) in Ghana using the cross-sectional design. Six research hypotheses and one research question were formulated for the study. A sample of 36,035 candidates consisting of 8,994(English Language), 8,935(Mathematics), 9,089(Integrated Science) and 9,017 (Social Studies) candidates was selected from a population of 273,289 candidates each who sat for the examination from 2012-2016. The instrument for the study was the 50 multiple- choice test items each for Science, Mathematics and Social Studies and 78 (2015), 80 (2016) and 100 (2012, 2013 and 2014) English Language. MH, LR and IRT DIF detection methods were used to identify items that exhibited DIF. The findings showed that there was a significant gender differential item functioning. There was also a significant location differential item functioning as all three methods detected items that function differentially among the five regions under study. There was a high degree of agreement between the Logistic regression, Mantel Haenszel and 3PL Item Response Theory in identifying items with DIF. It was concluded that some items in exams used by WAEC exhibited significant DIF and it was recommended that DIF studies should be conducted by test developers on their test so that the items exhibiting Differential Item Functioning (DIF) could be revised or eliminated to enhance fairness.

Source: UCC
Differential response in lipid levels of type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic controls to falciparum malaria

Objective: To investigate the effects of falciparum malaria on lipid profile and atherogenic indices of type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic adults in the Central Region of Ghana. Methods: Plasma lipid profile comprising total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) were determined in 100 type 2 diabetics and 100 non-diabetic controls before and during falciparum malaria using the BT3000 autoanalyzer in a prospective case control study design. Atherogenic indices were computed. Results: At baseline, diabetics recorded significantly (P < 0.05) lower level of LDL but higher levels of CHOL/LDL and TG/HDL ratios than controls. LDL correlated (P < 0.05) positively but negatively with CHOL and HDL respectively in the two study groups. During malaria, diabetics exhibited higher (P < 0.05) levels of CHOL and TG but lower level of HDL. Non-diabetic controls had malaria-induced elevated level in TG only. The positive correlation between LDL and CHOL was maintained in the two study groups. The TG levels of diabetics correlated (P < 0.05) positively with LDL and HDL during malaria. In the case of controls, a positive (P < 0.05) correlation was found between LDL and HDL during falciparum malaria. Conclusion: Falciparum malaria modified the associations among the various components of lipid profile and elevated TG levels of diabetics and non-diabetic controls.

Source: UCC
Differential Response in Lipid Levels of Type 2 Diabetics and Non-Diabetic Controls to Falciparum Malaria

To investigate the effects of falciparum malaria on lipid profile and atherogenic indices of type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic adults in the Central Region of Ghana. Methods: Plasma lipid profile comprising total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) were determined in 100 type 2 diabetics and 100 non-diabetic controls before and during falciparum malaria using the BT3000 autoanalyzer in a prospective case control study design. Atherogenic indices were computed. Results: At baseline, diabetics recorded significantly (P < 0.05) lower level of LDL but higher levels of CHOL/LDL and TG/HDL ratios than controls. LDL correlated (P < 0.05) positively but negatively with CHOL and HDL respectively in the two study groups. During malaria, diabetics exhibited higher (P < 0.05) levels of CHOL and TG but lower level of HDL. Non-diabetic controls had malaria-induced elevated level in TG only. The positive correlation between LDL and CHOL was maintained in the two study groups. The TG levels of diabetics correlated (P < 0.05) positively with LDL and HDL during malaria. In the case of controls, a positive (P < 0.05) correlation was found between LDL and HDL during falciparum malaria. Conclusion: Falciparum malaria modified the associations among the various components of lipid profile and elevated TG levels of diabetics and non-diabetic controls.

Source: UCC
Differential thermo power of a chiral carbon nanotube

Differential thermo power of a chiral carbon nanotube (CNT) was calculated using a tractable analytical approach. We obtained an expression for the electrical conductivity and the thermo power. The results were numerically analyzed. We noted from the values of that the material can behave as a semimetal, n-type semiconductor and p-type as well, depending on the parameters of the CNT. We proposed the use of CNT as thermo element

Source: UCC
Differential thermopower of a CNT chiral carbon nanotube

The differential thermo power of a chiral carbon nanotube (CNT) was calculated using a tractable analytical approach. We obtained an expression for the electrical conductivity σ and the thermopower α. The results were numerically analyzed. We noted from the values of α that the material can behave as a semimetal, n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor, depending on the parameters of the CNT. We propose the use of the CNT as a thermo element

Source: UCC
Differentiated service delivery: a qualitative study of people living with HIV and accessing care in a tertiary facility in Ghana

Background: In 2014, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set out a treatment target with the objective to help end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This was supported by the UNAIDS ’90-90-90’ target that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) will know their HIV status; 90% of all those diagnosed with HIV will be on sustained antiretroviral therapy; and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. The concept of offering differentiated care services using community-based models is evidence-based and is suggested as a means to bring this target into reality. This study sought to explore the possible predictors and acceptability of Community-based health service provision among PLHIV accessing ART services at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) in Ghana. Methods: A qualitative study, using 5 focus group discussions (FGD) of 8 participants per group, was conducted at the HIV Clinic in CCTH, in the Central Region of Ghana. Facilitators administered open-ended topic-guided questions. Answers were audio recorded, later transcribed and combined with notes taken during the discussions. Themes around Facility-based and Community-based service delivery and sub-themes developed from the codes, were verified and analyzed by the authors, with the group as the unit for analysis. Results: Participants expressed preference for facility–based service provision with the construct that, it ensures comprehensive health checks before provision of necessary medications. PLHIV in this study wished that the facility-based visits be more streamlined so “stable clients” could visit twice in a year to reduce the associated time and financial cost. The main barrier to community-based service delivery was concerns about stigmatization and abandonment in the community upon inadvertent disclosure of status. Conclusions: Although existing evidence suggests that facility-based care was relatively more expensive and time consuming, PLHIV preferred facility-based individualized differentiated model to a community-based model. The fear of stigma and discrimination was very strong and is the main barrier to community-based model among PLHIV in this study and this needs to be explored further and managed.

Source: UCC
Difficultés d’emploi des pronoms personnels COD et COI dans les écrits des étudiants du Département de Français à l’Université de Cape Coast

Le français langue étrangère est enseigné au Département de Français de l’Université de Cape Coast (UCC) au Ghana sur une période minimale de 4 ans pour la licence. Comme tout apprenant d’une langue étrangère, les étudiants du Département de Français de l’UCC font des erreurs de diverses natures tant dans leurs productions orales que dans leurs productions écrites. Cet article a pour objectif d’étudier l’emploi des pronoms personnels Complément d’Objet Direct (COD) et Complément d’Objet Indirect (COI) chez les étudiants du Département de Français à l’UCC. Il part de l’hypothèse que les étudiants ont des difficultés à utiliser les pronoms COD et COI et qu’ils n’arrivent pas à bien maîtriser les règles qui gouvernent l’emploi de ces pronoms à l’oral et à l’écrit. Les données analysées sont issues des questionnaires portant sur les difficultés de pronominalisation administrés aux étudiants de tous les niveaux (de la première année à la quatrième année). Les résultats montrent que la plupart des apprenants ne font pas d’analyse grammaticale pour pronominaliser les COD et les COI. D’autres encore ne savent pas catégoriser les verbes (soit en transitif direct ou indirect) d’où l’incapacité à pronominaliser les COD ou les COI dans leurs écrits. De plus, les étudiants pronominalisent les Compléments d’Objet (CO) au hazard et de manière spontanée sans prendre en compte la nature des verbes et leurs compléments. Cependant, les analyses révèlent que les difficultés régressent en fonction de la progression académique des étudiants sauf dans le cas des étudiants en dernière année

Source: UCC
Difficulties des apprenants en francai secrit au niveau shs dans la metropole de Tamale

This study looks at some difficulties of learners in written French at the SHS level in the Tamale Metropolis. The purpose was to find out the nature of difficulties students have in French essay writing with regard to the use of cohesive elements (anaphors and connectives) and syntactic structures. The data collected as a basis for this study were through three instruments "namely, indepth interview for the teachers, questionnaire and essay writing test for the students. The target group constituted SHS 3 students of five secondary schools (Ghana Secondary School, Presbyterian Secondary School, S1. Charles Secondary School, Tamale Secondary School and Tamale Girls' Secondary School) in the Tamale Metropolis where French is taught as a foreign language. It was discovered from the study that students really have difficulties in the areas previously mentioned. It was noticed in their written essays that they used inappropriate anaphoric expressions and connectives which do not best depict cohesive texts. As regards the syntactic structures, the study also showed inadequate and erroneous use of different syntactic constructions which distort the information structure of sentences. This results in incoherent texts. It was therefore suggested that some elements of textual grammar should be introduced in the teaching of essay writing at the SHS level. The concepts of cohesion and syntax (which lead to thematic progression) should be thoroughly learnt by students.

Source: UCC
Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging of the Brain: Correlation of Ischemic Lesion Patterns with ASCO Stroke Subtypes

Background: There are many etiologies for ischemic cerebral stroke. Previous studies have not shown whether specific ischemic lesion patterns on early brain diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) are associated with specific ischemic stroke causes. Objective: This study was designed to correlate the pattern and distribution of ischemic lesions on (DWI) with ASCO stroke subtypes [atherosclerosis (A), small vessel disease (S), cardiac source (C), and other cause (O)]. Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with ischemic lesions within 72 hours of stroke onset who underwent brain DWI. Ischemic lesions were classified as single, scattered and multiple. The stroke subtypes were classified according to ASCO criteria. Results: A total of 490 patients was studied, (285 Males, 205 females) with a mean age of 69.8± 10.4 years. We found (A) (N=180), (S) (N=70), (C) (N=145) and (O) (N=95). In patients with (A) the scattered anterior circulation lesions were statistically significant (45 patients, P=0.04). With (S) the most common and only pattern was to single subcortical lesion (70 patients, P=0.000). While, with (C), the statistical significance was to single cortical, multiple unilateral anterior circulation, single subcortical, and scattered anterior circulation respectively (65, 45, 15 and 15 patients, P=0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.03). Patients with (O) were highly statistically significantly associated with single subcortical lesions (40 patients, P=0.000). Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between the ASCO stroke subtypes and DWI patterns which assisted in determining the stroke etiology.

Source: UCC
Digital Device Ownership, Digital Literacy and Information Technology Learning Self-Efficacy of Junior High School Students

The study investigated digital ownership, digital literacy and information technology learning self-efficacy of junior high school students. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Through the use of simple random sampling procedure, 70 JHS 3 pupils in the Ayifua St. Mary’s Anglican Basic School were selected for the study. The questionnaire was used to gather the data for the study. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviations, multiple regression analysis and independent samples t-test. The study found that, the level of information technology learning self-efficacy among students was to a moderately high extent. Also, students did not have/own most of the digital devices. With the exception of flash drives, which was the only digital device most of the students indicated that they had/owned. Again, to a moderately high extent, the students were competent with digital literacy skills and the relationship between digital ownership, digital literacy skills and information technology learning self-efficacy among students was moderate but positive. The study recommended that the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service should make ICT facilities and tools available to the various basic schools so that students can familiarize themselves with their use. Again, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service should provide in-service training and frequent workshops for teachers on how to use modern technology to: upload students’ grades/results; capture statistic images of in-class activities or resources; and record their teacher’s lesson or in-class activities (audio, visual, or both) for students to learn and perform assignments.

Source: UCC
Digital Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Capital and Well-Being of Owner-Managers of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

The relationship between digital entrepreneurship and the well-being of owner-managers remains uncertain, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies like Ghana. The study examined the effect of digital entrepreneurship on the well-being of owner-managers of SMEs. It further examined the mediating role of intellectual capital on this nexus. The research employed a post-positivist perspective, utilising a quantitative research methodology and an explanatory research design. To facilitate the collection of data, a standardised, self-administered questionnaire was employed. The study utilised the simple random sampling technique to select 385 respondents from the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Results revealed that digital entrepreneurship and intellectual capital had a significant positive effect on the well-being of owner-managers. Also, intellectual capital positively mediates the link between digital entrepreneurship and well-being of owner-managers. The study concludes that digital entrepreneurship offers possibilities to improve the well-being of owner-managers. In addition, the effective management of intellectual capital, can improve the well-being of owner-managers of SMEs. The study therefore recommended that SMEs owner-managers should develop their skills and knowledge in the use and integration of current digital technologies in their business processes and effectively manage intellectual capital to benefit from the immense transformation that it brings to business operations and consequently improve their well-being.

Source: UCC
Digital Financial Services and Women Economic Empowerment in Ghana

ABSTRACT This study employed the structural equation model with the maximum likelihood estimation technique to examine the effect of digital financial services on women economic empowerment in Ghana. Secondary data from the Ghana living standard survey round 7 was used for the study with a sample size of 11,308 women. The study found that, digital financial services (ATM, E-zwich, E-banking and mobile money) had significant relationship with socio-economic correlates such as education, autonomy, ICT skills, residence (rural/urban) and region among women in Ghana. The study also revealed that digital financial services had a significant effect on women economic empowerment, implying the enhancing effect digital financial services has on women economic empowerment. Considering the results, the study recommended that, policy makers and financial service providers should institute measures that enhance access to and utilization of digital financial products among women.

Source: UCC
Digital holography for 3D imaging and display in the IR range: challenges and opportunities

In analog holography, the infrared (IR) range received quite some attention, since it could provide interesting information, not achievable otherwise. Since digital sensors in this band became recently available and affordable, also digital holography (DH) expanded its feasibility beyond the visible wavelengths. In fact, the IR range allows shorter recording distances, unparalleled larger field of view and less stringent requirements on system stability, together with some specific characteristics, like e.g.the possibility to test IR glasses or other materials transparent to IR radiation, which cannot be controlled in visible range. In this paper we review the activities which took place in this field and illustrate the results achieved, referring to the opportunities this technique offers, and the challenges it presents. We show efficient reconstructions of holograms of objects of various materials, recorded with different resolution digital thermal cameras, in variousconfigurations, and moreover we demonstrate optical holographic display through a liquid crystal based Spatial Light Modulator which gives the chance to get direct 3D imaging and display of long IR range. Moreover we believe this opens the route toward holography in THz region

Source: UCC