ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An Application of Optimal Control to the Sustainable Harvesting Strategies of Ghana’s Sardinella Fishery

The main objective of this study was to apply optimal control techniques to determine the optimal harvesting strategies that would ensure the sustainability of the Sardinella aurita for future generations. In this vein, the Gordon-Schaefer bioeconomic model was employed to aid in the analyses. The model was initially analysed using three different rates of harvest: constant, proportional and periodic. Also reviewed were the Craven model, the Goh model, the optimal yield model and the model with effective utilisation factor. The models were subjected to bifurcation analyses to determine the stability properties; and the static reference points, maximum sustainable yield (MSY), maximum economic yield (MEY) and open access yield (OAY), computed. Also determined was the dynamic reference point, optimum sustainable yield (OSY). An original model incorporating the total allowable catch (TAC) showed that, for the binding constraints, the resource should be harvested if and only if the marginal net revenue of harvest as a result of applying the maximum effort exceeds the difference of the shadow price of fish stock and the shadow price of the TAC. The model developed to simulate the effects of illegal fishing practices on fish stocks revealed that the increased catchability induced by the illegal methods severely depletes the stocks, to as low less than half of the carrying capacity in finite time. Employing a dynamic effort, predator-prey model with reserve area and critical biomass level, the optimal fishing strategy indicates that the critical biomass level must be set at the MSY level in order to attain sustainability of the resource. In general, all the models indicate that the optimal fishing effort must be set at the OSY level: estimated at 351;328 trips annually at a discount rate of 15%, provided the initial fish stock size is at least 554;654 tonnes. Recommendations are offered to the Fisheries Commission.

Source: UCC
Application of polymath chemical equilibrium simulation model for struvite precipitation in soils

A new speciation model developed and implemented in Polymath was found to be successful in predicting struvite precipitation in soils. Struvite (NH4MgPO4) has been identified as a mineral for the recovery of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Predicting struvite precipitation potential in soil is important for optimal quantification of nutrient species. Polymath and Visual Minteq models were used for prediction of several solid phases in the soil. One approach to immobilize P for solid-phase formation is by co-blending. Immobilization was achieved through the blending of an Al-based water treatment residual (Al-WTR) and with Ca–Mg-based materials [slag and magnesium oxide (MgO)]. The results suggest that Polymath model revealed solid Phases of dicalcium phosphate pentahydrate (DCPP), magnesium hydroxide (MHO), magnesium orthophosphate (v) docosahydrate (MP22), magnesium orthophosphate (v) octahydrate (MP8), and struvite, which were lacking in the modeling from Visual Minteq. Residual leachate from the co-blended amendments; Soil+WTR+Slag, Soil+WTR+MgO, Soil+MgO, Soil+Slag, Soil+WTR, and the control (without amendment) had struvite of 353, 199, 119, 90, 37, and 12 mg l-1, respectively. This implies that struvite, a phosphate mineral can be precipitated in the soil and could be released as nutrients for plant uptake. Struvite precipitation in soil and for reuse may reduce cost and may be a safe practice for sustainable environmental nutrient management

Source: UCC
Application of pseudocyclic Inaa to determine Se, Sc, And Dy in Ghanaian fishes using Gharr-1

. & & & & . Pseudocyclic Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, INAA, was applied in the determination of Se, Sc, and Dy in Selene Dorsalis, Pomadasys peroteti, Brachydenterus aurita, Selar crumenophthalmus, Sargocentron hastatus, Dactylopterus volitans, Hemiramphus balao, Auxis thazard, Pagellus belloti, Citharicthys stampflii, Neorossia caroli, Scomber japonicus, Calappa pelii, and Decapterus rhonchus. All these marine fishes were selected from Biriwa, Cape Coast and Elmina in the Central region of Ghana. In this technique, thermal neutrons were employed. 94.7% accuracy was achieved by analyzing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reference Materials (RM). The Relative standardization method was used in the quantification of all the elements. Dy, Se and Sc were significantly registered in Pomadasys peroteti, Dactylopterus volitans, Hemiramphus balao and Scomber japonicus. The daily intake of Se for seven out of the fourteen fishes, which represent 50%; Selar crumenophthalmus, Hemiramphus balao, Pagallus belloti, Citharicthys stampflii, Decapterus rhonchus, Scomber japonicas, and Dactylopterus volitans were found to be in agreement with the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for both males and females. Sc and Dy, which are not vital trace elements and also do not have RDAs, were also present in varying quantities in all the fourteen fishes. Calappa pelii registered the highest daily intake of Dy 997µg/d, whilst Selene dorsalis registered the least daily intake of Dy 39µg/d. The intake of Sc for Pagellus belloti (2.59µg/d) was the highest as even Auxis thazard registered the least daily intake of Dy with 0.06µg/d

Source: UCC
Application of pseudocyclic inaa to determine se, sc, and dyn Ghanaian fishes using gharr-1

Pseudocyclic Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, INAA, was applied in the determination of Se, Sc, and Dy in Selene Dorsalis, Pomadasys peroteti, Brachydenterus aurita, Selar crumenophthalmus, Sargocentron hastatus, Dactylopterus volitans, Hemiramphus balao, Auxis thazard, Pagellus belloti, Citharicthys stampflii, Neorossia caroli, Scomber japonicus, Calappa pelii, and Decapterus rhonchus. All these marine fishes were selected from Biriwa, Cape Coast and Elmina in the Central region of Ghana. In this technique, thermal neutrons were employed. 94.7% accuracy was achieved by analyzing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reference Materials (RM). The Relative standardization method was used in the quantification of all the elements. Dy, Se and Sc were significantly registered in Pomadasys peroteti, Dactylopterus volitans, Hemiramphus balao and Scomber japonicus. The daily intake of Se for seven out of the fourteen fishes, which represent 50%; Selar crumenophthalmus, Hemiramphus balao, Pagallus belloti, Citharicthys stampflii, Decapterus rhonchus, Scomber japonicas, and Dactylopterus volitans were found to be in agreement with the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for both males and females. Sc and Dy, which are not vital trace elements and also do not have RDAs, were also present in varying quantities in all the fourteen fishes. Calappa pelii registered the highest daily intake of Dy 997µg/d, whilst Selene dorsalis registered the least daily intake of Dy 39µg/d. The intake of Sc for Pagellus belloti (2.59µg/d) was the highest as even Auxis thazard registered the least daily intake of Dy with 0.06µg/d

Source: UCC
Application of queuing theory to vehicular traffic at signalized intersection in Kumasi-Ashanti Region, Ghana

Traffic congestion is a growing problem in many metropolitan areas as it increases travel time, air pollution, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel use because cars cannot run efficiently. This paper seeks to model the vehicular traffic flow and explore how vehicular traffic could be minimized using queuing theory in order to reduce the delays on roads in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. The Oforikrom traffic intersection in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana is currently operating with one service channel each from the various routes to the intersection. The results showed that traffic intensity, ρ<1 for all sessions, a condition that suggests a perfect traffic system. Consequently, smooth flow of traffic was shown since the server at each channel was able to serve more than the cars in waiting queue when servers resume work. Again, it was found that heavy traffic occurs in the evening. Stakeholders can task Motor Traffic Transport Unit (MTTU) to check that drivers desist from such practices so that there will be free flow of traffic in the evening and also promote the use of bikes, which apart from serving as a form of exercise also helps to reduce fuel consumption thereby saving money for the Government to tackle problem of other sectors of the economy. Finally, the government of Ghana could introduce a public transport system so that people do not travel with private cars to their places of work to reduce congestion on the roads, which in turn boosts productivity

Source: UCC
Application of Servqual in campus shuttle service

The study is to apply SERVQUAL scale in assessing campus shuttle bus service. The methodology was opinion survey of simple randomly selected 300 respondents at the two designated stations for the shuttle service. The cronbach’salpha of the attributes ranges from 0.903-0.907. Frequencies, percentage, mean andpaired sample t-testwas used for the data analysis. The results of the study indicates that 55% of the respondents are male; 70.2% are aged between 20-24years; 67.3% use the shuttle every other day; 50.5% use the campus shuttle because of the lower transport fares; 83.7% use the campus shuttle for educational reasons; all the five dimensions have negative gap scores and 17 attributes are statistically significant with p-value<0.005. The study makes recommendations for better service delivery

Source: UCC
Application of shore-based video and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones): complementary tools for beach studies

Video camera systems have een used over nearly three decades to monitor coastal dynamics. They facilitate a high-frequency analysis of spatiotemporal shoreline mobility. Video camera usage to measure each intertidal profile evolution has not een standardized globally and the capacity to obtain accurate results requires authentication using various techniques. Applications are mostly site specific due to differences in installation. The present study examines the accuracy of intertidal topographic data derived from a video camera system compared to data acquired with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, or drone) surveys of a reflective each. Using one year of 15-min video data and one year of monthly UAV observations, the intertidal profile shows a good agreement. Underestimations of intertidal profile elevations y the camera-based method are possibly linked to the camera view angle, rectification and gaps in data. The resolution of the video-derived intertidal topographic profiles confirmed, however, the suitability of the method in providing each mobility surveys matching those required for a quantitative analysis of nearshore changes. Beach slopes were found to vary etween 0.1 and 0.7, with a steep slope in May to uly 2018 and a gentle slope in December 2018. Large ut short-scale each variations occurred etween August 2018 and October 2018 and corresponded to relatively high wave events. In one year, this dynamic each lost 7 m. At this rate, and as also observed at other eaches nearby, important coastal facilities and infrastructure will be prone to erosion. The data suggest that a low-cost shore-based camera, particularly when used in a network along the coast, can produce profile data for effective coastal management in West Africa and elsewhere.

Source: UCC
The application of Signalling Theory to health-related trust problems: The example of herbal clinics in Ghana and Tanzania

In contexts where healthcare regulation is weak and levels of uncertainty high, how do patients decide whom and what to trust? In this paper, we explore the potential for using Signalling Theory (ST, a form of Behavioural Game Theory) to investigate health-related trust problems under conditions of uncertainty, using the empirical example of ‘herbal clinics’ in Ghana and Tanzania. Qualitative, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted over an eight-month period (2015e2016) in eight herbal clinics in Ghana and ten in Tanzania, including semi-structured interviews with herbalists (N ¼ 18) and patients (N ¼ 68), plus detailed ethnographic observations and twenty additional key informant interviews. The data were used to explore four ST-derived predictions, relating to herbalists' strategic communication (‘signalling’) of their trustworthiness to patients, and patients' interpretation of those signals. Signalling Theory is shown to provide a useful analytical framework, allowing us to go beyond the primary trust problem addressed by other researchers e cataloguing observable indicators of trustworthiness e and providing tools for tackling the trickier secondary trust problem, where the trustworthiness of those indicators must be ascertained. Signalling Theory also enables a basis for comparative work between different empirical contexts that share the underlying condition of uncertainty.

Source: UCC
Application of silver nanoparticles toward Co(II) and Pb(II) ions contaminant removal in groundwater

Applications of nanomaterials has recently been of keen interest to researchers. This fascinating drive ensued due to their unique properties such as optical, magnetic, ease of synthesis, large surface area, and tunable surface chemistry and functionalization that are remarkably different from that of the bulk material. In this work, silver nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The UV–Vis spectra obtained showed absorption peak at 406 nm wavelength and scanning electron microscope reveals an image of size, 20 nm. The efficiency of our nanomaterial was first tested using standard solutions of cobalt and lead. A bathochromic shift in the absorption wavelength from 406 to 445 nm and from 406 to 458 nm for Cobalt(II) and Lead(II), respectively, indicates an adsorption has taken place. Adsorption characteristics of the nanoparticles evaluated at various incubation periods indicates a percent reduction in cobalt(II) from 33.13 to 53.34% and 79.9–92.92% for lead(II) from day 1–14. This indicates high removal efficiency for lead(II) than cobalt(II) in the proof of concept experiment. The results obtained further reveal that metal ion removal from complexes using silver nanoparticles is time-dependent. The effectiveness of our nanomaterial toward metal ion removal from groundwater was tested using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results obtained reveal removal efficiencies of 24% for cobalt and 77% for lead. It is important to note that metal ion concentrations reduced as the incubation periods increased. This is in line with the proof of concept experiment using complex solutions of cobalt and lead. Notably, the percent removal of cobalt was quite low compared to proof of concept experiment. These observations suggest a further research into understanding the adsorption characteristics of metal ions to the surface of nanomaterials in aqueous media

Source: UCC
APPLICATION OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY FOR POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Social psychology principles have been important strategies for helping students gain a better life in school because it promotes supportive, safe and empowering learning environment that enhance learners’ outcomes. Relevant evidence-based interventions using social psychology principles have proven improvements in school climate and also increased educational opportunities for students. Drawing on theoretical and empirical literature, the authors reviewed studies on the role of social psychology in promoting academic success in schools. In particular, the authors first defined social psychology, its importance to teachers and then examined four social psychological domains relevant to classroom management. Two themes which are prevalent in this paper: the importance of social psychology to teachers, and how teachers can incorporate social psychology theories into teaching and learning activities to promote a healthier school climate. In conclusion, the writers argued that classroom teachers need to employ social psychology principles in their teaching activities to help the school achieve its broader educational objectives.

Source: UCC
Application of the accident theory on career choice to workers in the Cape Coast municipality

Every counsellor requires theoretical backing in carrying out counselling interventions. Thus, the study is initiated to apply the Accident Theory of career choice to workers in the Cape Coast Municipality. Four hundred and fifty respondents were sampled for the study, using the stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire was employed to collect data. The Cronbach alpha method was used to establish a reliability coefficient of 0.76 for the questionnaire. Frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that the accident theory as applied to workers in the Cape Coast Municipality was not extensively applicable and that, factors such as socioeconomic status, place of residence, disability and misfortunes that act as accident or chance factors in determining the career choice of an individual were also not to a large extent applicable. It is only the educational attainment factor that affected the career choice by chance. The findings therefore led to the following recommendations. The theory should not be directly applied. Employment institutions and agencies should provide counselling services for their employees in order for them to plan and improve upon their career aspirations. Individual workers ready for the job market should seek information from career counsellors to gain insight into the many factors responsible for choosing a particular type of career. Finally, employers should open up opportunities to workers with low educational qualification to upgrade themselves.

Source: UCC
Application of the grade-recovery curve in the batch flotation of Polish copper ore

Ores and raw materials are subjected to mineral processing operations to increase the content of their useful components. Upgrading of these materials can proceed with different selectivity and therefore, there is a need to know and monitor the separation results of the process. The separation results can be evaluated using upgrading tables and curves. The shape of lines of the upgrading curves is usually complex and depends on the graph type and process parameters. The grade-recovery curves are frequently used because are practical and indicate several characteristic features of separation results. Separations by means of batch flotation of several different shale, dolomite and sandstone Polish copper ores were performed along with determination of their mineral composition, copper content, liberation degree, and maximum theoretical copper content in the first concentrate. These data, plotted as the grade-recovery curves, allowed finding other characteristic points such as practical maximum copper content in the first concentrate, maximum curvature which, to a great extent coexists with the liberation egree, maximum recovery of ore valuable components, and the slope of the grade-recovery curve at high recoveries as a measure of liberation of middlings. Correlations between theoretical and practical maximum copper contents in the first concentrate, which depend on the ore type, were also presented. It was confirmed that the ore type significantly influences the shape of the grade-recovery curve and its characteristic points

Source: UCC
An application of the von cramon-taubadel and loy error correction models in analyzing asymmetric adjustment between retail and wholesale maize prices in Ghana

Previous studies analyzing asymmetric price transmission have been based on an econometric specification that is shown to be inconsistent with cointegration. This study draws on the concept of cointegration to implement the von Cramon-Taubadel and Loy error correction approach in analyzing retail-wholesale maize price transmission in Ghana. Asymmetries are modeled to affect the direct impact of price increases and decreases as well as adjustments to the equilibrium level. The analysis demonstrates that transmission between retail and wholesale maize prices in Ghanaian maize market is asymmetric. In accordance with common belief, retailers react more quickly to increasing wholesale prices than decreasing wholesale prices

Source: UCC
Application of Total Quality Management in the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital

ABSTRACT The general purpose of the study sought to examine the application of total quality management in the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital. Specifically, the study sought to examine the following:(1) assess the role of leadership to total quality management, (2) examine the role of quality culture to total quality management and (3) examine the role of continuous improvement to total quality management Bolgatanga Regional Hospital. Quantitative approach and descriptive research design were adopted. A sample size of 170 out of the population of 300 was selected using simple random sampling technique. The data collection instrument for the study was semi-structured questionnaire. The researcher used descriptive statistics to analyse the collected data. The study found that leaders by contributing to total quality management, consider their moral and ethical implications of their decisions as well as recognize the significance of having a strong team spirit to achieve quality Also, the institution has its own set of beliefs and that members have values in common. It was also found that both short- and long-term quality improvement goals are created, implemented, and maintained by the hospital. The study concluded that key leadership factors contributing to total quality management included moral and ethics, beliefs, ideals and communication of vision and strategy. It was concluded that total quality management is the organization’s philosophy, a way of thinking about the organization’s objectives, organization, processes and people. The study recommended that management should established a quality improvement team or committee so they report to management on quality issue

Source: UCC
Application of zirconia modified with KOH as heterogeneous solid base new non-edible oil for biodiesel

This study seeks to investigate zirconia modified with KOH as heterogeneous solid base catalyst for transesterification of new non-edible, Silybum marianum (oil content 46%, FFA 0.68% and linoleic acid 65.68%) oil using methanol to biodiesel. Having screened the catalytic performance of ZrO2 loaded with different K-compounds, 32% KOH loaded on ZrO2 was chosen. The catalyst was prepared using incipient wetness impregnation method. Following drying (after impregnation) and calcination at 530 C for 5 h, the catalyst was characterized by means of Hammett indicators, XRD, FTIR, SEM, TGA and N2 adsorption desorption measurements. It was found that the yield of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was related to the catalyst base strength. The catalyst had granular and porous structures with high basicity and superior catalytic performance for the transesterification reaction. Maximum yield (90.8%) was obtained at 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 6% catalyst amount, 60 C reaction temperature in 2 h. The catalyst maintained sustained activity after five times of usage. The oxidative stability and iodine value were the only unsuitable properties of the biodiesel (out of range) but can easily be improved. The cetane number, flash point and the cold flow properties among others were however, comparable to international standards. The study indicated that KOH(32%)/ZrO2-5 is an economically, suitable catalyst for producing biodiesel from S. marianum oil which is a potential new non-edible feedstock that can contribute positively to biodiesel industry as its biodiesel can be rated as promising alternate fuel

Source: UCC