ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Development of a methodology for estimation of leaf area using the beta mass absorption coefficient of the leaf

Leaf area measurement can bea time consuming process and may require sophisticated electronic instruments. The objective of this research was to develop a simple, and less time consuming method for leafarea (LA) estimation of some leaves of cassava varieties. A method based on the betamass absorption coefficient of the leaf has been developed and used for the estimation of leaf area of three varieties of cassava and the accuracy and precision of this method has been compared with that of a standard leaf area disk method. Leaf area estimates from both methods were highly correlated. In both methods, leaf area increased with stage of growth of the cassava plants. Comparisons of leaf area disk results for Bankye botan variety, Cape vars bankye and Adehye bankye varieties, showed that leaf area for these varieties could be measuredwith the same accuracy using the beta mass absorption coefficient method. This relatively simple method of estimating leaf area has advantages in certain experimental situations where many samples could be measured at the same time. The work permits the conclusion that using beta mass absorption coefficient of a leaf and the mass of the leaf estimation of the leaf area could be made fairly accurately thus allowing for example the estimation of yield of the cassava plantation.

Source: UCC
Development and characterization of functionalized glyco thiolate capped gold nanoparticles for biological applications

Glyco-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in aqueous dispersions were prepared by two approaches, namely direct reduction and ligand substitution methods. In the direct method, potassium salts of glyco thiols, with the general formula (C6H11O6)NHĲCH2)nCH2SK (where L1,n = 1;L2,n = 2;L3,n = 3,L4,n = 4;L5,n = 5), were used as reducing and capping agents to give the glyco thiolate capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs G1–G5); meanwhile in the ligand exchange experiments,L1–L5 and their acetylated forms (L6–L8) replaced citrateions in citrate-capped gold nanoparticles to give additional AuNPs G6–G11. UV-visible spectroscopy, surface charge (ζ-potential,) measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for physical and chemical characterization of all the resultant AuNPs. The ζ-potential studies of AuNPs prepared through the direct method revealed that the surface charge is dependent on the length of the alkyl unit of (C6H11O6)NHĲCH2)nCH2S − ligands. TEM images of the acetylated and non-acetylated glyco thiolate capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs G6–G11) prepared via the ligand exchange method indicate that the size and shape of the gold nanoparticles remained the same as those of the citrate-capped gold nanoparticles used to prepare them. Selected AuNPs were tested on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the A549 cancer cell line to investigate their respective toxicity and cytotoxicity profiles. All AuNPs showed in discriminate activity against both PBMCs and A4549 cells, although the gold nanoparticles having an acetylated glyco moiety with an amino propyl thiol linker as the ligand (G10) prepared via the citrate exchange method had better selectivity (PBMCs >59 mg mL−1 and for A549 ∼7 μg mL−1

Source: UCC
Development and Consumer Acceptability of Locust Beans and Groundnut (Loground) Spread

Spread of various ingredients have dominated the Ghanaian market creating jobs for other outside Ghana. The purpose of the study was to develop spread from underutilized legumes and beans in Ghana for bread, etc. The study came out of three research objectives and two hypotheses of the possibility to use groundnut and locust beans indigenous in the Northern Ghana for spread formulation. Relevant literature was reviewed to guide and support findings from the study. The study adopted true experimental research design and the hedonic scale for sensory evaluation. The products developed from groundnuts and locust beans were sensorily evaluated by selected 100 panellists. Appropriate statistical tools were used from the IBM-SPSS version 25 for Windows to aid the data analysis. The results showed that groundnuts and locust beans could be used to develop spread formulation i.e., Groundnut and Locust spread (GALS, 50:50), Groundnut with Locust spread (GWLS, 75:25) and Locust with Groundnut Spread (LWGS, 75:25). The proximate composition i.e., dry matter, moisture, ash, protein, oil/fat, fibre and carbohydrate were determined. The proximate values for each formulation differed and in most cases in the control formulation (groundnut paste). The sensory evaluation showed that the control formulation coded (GS, 100% groundnut) was the most accepted formulation (LWGS<GALS<GWLS<GS). There was a statistically significant difference in the nutritional composition in the three formulations (p<0.05) and the second hypothesis showed that, there was statistically significant difference in the consumer acceptability of the three spreads (p<0.005). The study revealed that, overall acceptability decreased with increased proportion of locust beans in the spread.

Source: UCC
Development and Evaluation of a Semi-Automatic Pepper Seedling Transplanter

Vegetable producers in Ghana are mostly small or medium scale farmers who are unable to afford expensive and sophisticated transplanters used in the developed countries. Hence there is the need for a relatively affordable transplanter for local small scale farmers. The aim of this research was to develop and evaluate the performance of a semi-automatic pepper seedling transplanter. A single row power tiller-pulled semi-automatic pepper transplanter was developed for plug seedlings, and evaluated in the field with pepper seedlings. A factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used for the evaluation. Two methods – transplanter machine and manual – were used. The treatments were 4 cm, 6 cm, and 8 cm planting depths for each method. The transplanter and manual method were each carried by two people. Transplanting time, field capacity, survival of transplanted seedlings, and cost of use of the machine were compared with the traditional manual transplanting method. Generally, the transplanter performed better than doing so manually. The maximum performance parameters were obtained under 8 cm depth while that of 4 cm depth recorded the lowest. At the 8 cm depth, the machine’s transplanting success was found to be 84.45 % with 0.04 ha/h field capacity and 72.3 % field efficiency at a speed of 0.9 km/h and inter plant-spacing of 0.6 m. A mean maximum wheel slip of 13.75 % was recorded for machine under field conditions. Compared to the 90.8 man-h/ha of the manual method, the transplanter saved 67 % of the time required by the manual method. There was no significant difference in the percentages of the survived seedlings for both methods. The cost of the machine transplanting (GHȻ1,720.51 per hectare) was found to be cheaper than that of the manual method (GHȻ1,816.20 per hectare). With the transplanter, the operators were seated on the machine instead of walking throughout the transplanting field. There was also no manual handling of trays and no acute bending to manually make holes or plant seedlings during the transplanting process (This work has been submitted for patent).

Source: UCC
Development and Evaluation of Crop Residue Shredder

The study aimed at developing and evaluating a crop residue shredder. The components of the machine include a frame, hopper, shafts, electric motor, blades, sieve, spur gear, and outlet, to convert crop residues into a smaller form. The performance of the developed machine was evaluated using maize, millet and sorghum stalk, as feeding materials, with varying speeds of 55 rpm, 110 rpm and 220 rpm. The machine achieved a maximum shredding efficiency of 82% for maize stalk residues passing through a 20 mm diameter sieve, and the shredding speed was 220 rpm. The maximum throughput capacity attained was 14.6 kg/h of maize stalk at 220 rpm speed, while the minimum throughput was 5.14 kg/h of sorghum stalk at a speed of 55 rpm. The optimization of shredding speeds shows significant energy savings, as demonstrated by reduced power consumption at higher speeds from 0.20 kWh to 0.10 kWh for maize and 0.25 kWh to 0.10 kWh for millet when speeds increase from lower to higher rpm. The particle size distribution of crop residues depends on shredding speed, with lower speeds (55 rpm) producing larger particles, medium speeds (110 rpm) creating balanced distributions ideal for composting, and higher speeds (220 rpm) generating finer particles for rapid decomposition. The machine is user-friendly to small scale farmers and could be useful for carrying around relevant residue size reduction operations in agriculture in Ghana and other Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Keywords: Crop residues, shredder, shredding efficiency, Agricultural machinery.

Source: UCC
Development and examination of sweet potato flour fortified with indigenous underutilized seasonal vegetables

Developing nutrient-rich vegetable flour using locally under-utilized food crops in Africa would improve rural house-hold nutrition. This study seeks to develop nutrient-dense vegetable flour from different proportions of Sweet potato (Sp) 40–100%, Avocado pear (Avo) 10–40%, and Turkey berry (Tor) 10–40%, using completely randomized design (CRD) with 14 treatment combinations and three replications. The proximate composition, mineral composition, and functional properties were investigated on the composite flour. The results showed significant differences in all the parameters analysed for the various composite flours. As the amount of Avo and Tor was added to the Sp, the proximate composition was enhanced except for the percentage carbohydrate, which decreased from 83.92 to 54.59 g/100 g. The mineral composition was also improved by the incorporation of Avo and Tor. Favourable functional properties were also obtained. The optimal composite flour was made up of 40% Sp, 35% Avo, and 25% Tor. The functional properties of the composite flours were better than the control (Sweet potato flour). Fortifying Sp flour with Avo and Tor is feasible and could be an easy and affordable means to improve rural nutrition, as it requires simple logistics for the ordinary rural household to produce the composite of the desired choice

Source: UCC
Development and examination of sweet potato flour fortified with indigenous underutilized seasonal vegetables

Developing nutrient-rich vegetable four using locally under-utilized food crops in Africa would improve rural house-hold nutrition. This study seeks to develop nutrient-dense vegetable four from different proportions of Sweet potato (Sp) 40–100%, Avocado pear (Avo) 10–40%, and Turkey berry (Tor) 10–40%, using completely randomized design (CRD) with 14 treatment combinations and three replications. The proximate composition, mineral composition, and functional properties were investigated on the composite four. The results showed significant differences in all the parameters analyzed for the various composite fours. As the amount of Avo and Tor was added to the Sp, the proximate composition was enhanced except for the percentage carbohydrate, which decreased from 83.92 to 54.59 g/100 g. The mineral composition was also improved y the incorporation of Avo and Tor. Favourable functional properties were also obtained. The optimal composite four was made up of 40% Sp, 35% Avo, and 25% Tor. The functional properties of the composite fours were etter than the control (Sweet potato four). Fortifying Sp four with Avo and Tor is feasible and could be an easy and affordable means to improve rural nutrition, as it requires simple logistics for the ordinary rural household to produce the composite of the desired choice

Source: UCC
Development and Implementation of a Psychoeducational Group for Ghanaian Adolescents Experiencing Parental Divorce

This article presents development and informal assessment of a 10-week psychoeducational program designed for 8 adolescent group members experiencing parental divorce in a rural community in Ghana. Group design, cultural considerations, program implementation, and impacts are described. The literature review pertaining to group work as an instrument for addressing parental divorce of adolescents is presented; group format and content within group sessions are discussed. The outcomes of this experience, as evidenced by a brief assessment questionnaire given before and after the group experience, indicate that completion of the group led to an increase in participants’ knowledge of self-esteem, time management, anger management, peer relationships, educational goals, and psychological healing through spirituality. Implications for culturally informed group facilitation are discussed.

Source: UCC
Development and performance evaluation of an abrasive wear testing equipment for tillage tools

The wear of tillage tools is a major source of economic constraints to local farmers. Estimating wear in the field is time consuming and expensive. Abrasive wear testing machines developed in advanced countries are not available in Ghana. This makes the study of wear related problems at laboratory levels difficult in the country and most third world research laboratories. The main objective of this study was to develop and evaluate equipment for testing the abrasive wear of tillage tools in the laboratory. The equipment consists of a circular soil bin, support frame, power transmission system and arm-subassemblies. The equipment was evaluated using a cast steel ploughshare in soils from KNUST (Anwomaso Research Farm, 69% sand), Wenchi (67% sand), Ho (73% sand), Mampong (68% sand) and Akatsi (83% sand), all in Ghana. The wear experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with the soils from the five sites as the treatment. Each treatment was replicated five times. The wear rate of soils from Akatsi and Ho showed increasing trend with increasing moisture content while that of Wenchi and Mampong showed a reverse trend up to 13% and 15% moisture content, respectively. The soil from Akatsi produced the highest wear of 4.11g. The wear in the soils from Ho, Mampong, Wenchi and KNUST were 3.16g, 2.90g, 2.88g and 1.36g, respectively with the least wear from the KNUST soil. This confirms the long-held belief that the wear rate of tillage tools is directly related to the sand content of the soil. The abrasive wear characteristics of the soils showed strong correlation between mass loss and dimensional loss of the ploughshare

Source: UCC
Development and testing of a control package for Striga hermonthica on small‐scale holdings in the Gambia

Studies were carried out on farms to evaluate potential control practices which could be constituted into a package of recommendations for the control of Striga hermonthica in the Gambia. ICSV 1002, a variety of sorghum, was identified as being relatively more tolerant to Striga and to the common insect pests of sorghum. Spot treatment of emerged Striga shoots with 2% solution of product paraquat using a pistol-grip hand sprayer was found to control Striga without stimulating regrowth, improved yields and was more acceptable and cost-effective than handpulling of the shoots in early millet and sorghum. Where there might be objections to the use of paraquat because of its toxicity hazards, a mixture of 2,4-D (1 % soln.) plus glyphosate (1% soln.) or 2,4-D (2% soln.) was a useful substitute. A tentative control package consisting of ICSV 1002, spot spraying of Striga shoots with paraquat, and side dressing of urea fertilizer at 30 kg N/ha at 4 w.a.p. was tested at two sites against farmers' practice on pilot scale. Infestation of Striga was reduced and yields were increased by 119% and 37% by the package at the two sites

Source: UCC
Development and Validation of Performance-Based Assessment Instrument in Mathematics for Senior High Schools

The purpose of the study was to develop and validate a performance-based assessment instrument in mathematics for Senior High Schools. The study sought to find out if a newly developed performance-based assessment items in mathematics would be a good assessment instrument for Senior High School examination. The study employed quantitative instrumentation research design with a four-phase instrument development and validation process: planning, construction, qualitative evaluations, and quantitative validation. Stratified, census, simple random sampling and purposive sampling procedures were employed to select 240 mathematics examiners, 150 mathematics teachers and 750 SHS Three students in the Western Region for the validation phase of the self-developed instrument. Questionnaire and performance-based assessment test were used as the main data collection instruments. The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.843. Data were analysed using means and standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient, modified Kappa statistics, Principal Component Analysis and four-way ANOVA. It was found that the performance-based assessment instrument (designed by the author) is feasible and credible, has educational and catalytic effects. It was also found that the developed performance-based assessment has a high inter-rater reliability (0.879-0.988), good content validity ratio (0.834-1.00) and good construct validity. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the performancebased assessment should be an integral part of the methods of assessment lessons in mathematics at the Senior High Schools

Source: UCC
Development and Validation of the Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test (MNRead) Acuity Chart for the Asante Twi Language

To design and validate a MNREAD Asante Twi version reading chart, to aid in the assessment of near visual acuity of natives Ghanaians. Methods: Cross-sectional and experimental designs were employed in phases I and II respectively of this study. The chart was developed using 20 transited pupils in class four in the Kumasi metropolis in phase I and validated in a clinical setting at the Manhyia District Hospital, Kumasi, using students in phase II. Results: A total of 100 participants (mean age; 22.19 ± 1.61 years) were involved in the second phase of this study. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationship between MNREAD Asante Twi charts logMAR scores in both eyes. The MNREAD-Asante Twi acuity charts had very strong correlations (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) for MNREAD set 1A (black on white background) scores and MNREAD set 2A (black on white background) for acuity scores. Correlation between MNREAD set 1B (white on black background) scores and MNREAD set 2B (white on black background) scores was r = 0.95, p < 0.001. Conclusion: MNREAD Asante Twi reading chart will enhance the measurement of near visual function in native Ghanaians.

Source: UCC
Development of a Bait System for the Pharaoh’s Ant, Monomorium Pharaonis L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The infestation of the Pharaoh’s ant, Monomorium pharaonis L. is widespread and, sometimes, very serious in homes, hospitals, restaurants, factories, etc. People are helpless because effective baited traps are not available locally, and little has been done locally to develop effective control strategies for these ants. The study aimed at developing an appropriate bait system from local materials for the control of the Pharaoh’s ant. Nine baits and three insecticides were evaluated in the laboratory and field situations. Groundnut cake, dry fish and granulated sugar were the most attractive baits. Rimon (a Benzoylphenyl urea), an insect growth regulator, was the most promising insecticide for incorporation into the bait system. It is, therefore, recommended that a bait system, containing groundnut cake, sugar and dry fish, mixed with 1% Rimon, be evaluated for Pharaoh’s ant control.

Source: UCC
The Development of a Capacity-Analysis Paradigm for the Senior High School Economics Teacher’s Professional Identity in Ghana

This study developed a set of core professional identity indicators to which professional Economics teachers and Economics teacher educators in Ghana responded in order to determine their validity as components of the Economics teachers’ professional identity in relation to their ideal professional capacity. In specific terms, the study investigated opinions of respondents on the importance attached to the rubrics of teachers’ professional capacity as well as differences in opinion on the importance placed on indicators of teachers’ professional knowledge, values, skills and reflective practice. The study was a descriptive type which employed the survey method. The study sample comprised 751 professional Economics teachers and 125 Economics teacher educators who were selected through the simple random sampling technique. One self- developed instrument, Questionnaire on Senior High School Economics Teachers’ Identity (QSHSETI) was used and a reliability index of 0.96 was obtained. The data were analyzed using mean and the independent sample t-test. There are three paradigmatic levels for considering teachers’ identity. They are the ideal paradigm as shown in Figure 1, the implementable paradigm as obtained by the researcher-developed instrument, and finally the perceived or realistic paradigm based on the consensus of Economics teacher educators and Economics teachers. The findings of this study revealed discrepancies in opinion between the perceived competency and ideal targets of Economics teacher educators and that of Economics teachers. Curriculum development in Economics teacher education should therefore aim at bridging the gap between the ideal competency targets and the perceived or core competency targets. The study concluded that, teacher education policy makers should support continuous capacity-building programs among Economics teachers and Economics teacher educators.

Source: UCC
Development of a New Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method with Fluorescence and Dad Detection for Efficient Separation and Analysis of Antiparasitic (Antibiotics, Pesticides, Antioxidants) Agents in Fish

The use of antiparasitic agents in aquaculture is of a major concern due to its adverse effect on human health. This research developed and validated a new rapid Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) method using fluorescence and Diode Array (DAD) detection for identification and quantification of antiparasitic agents (antibiotics, pesticides antioxidants) in fish samples. This was done in accordance with the European Commission 2000 guidelines. Separation and identification of antiparasitic agents was achieved on a Syvchronis C18 analytical column (100 mm ×2.1 mm I.D., particle size 1.7 μm) with mobile phase acetonitrile/ acetic acid, magnesium nitrate at a flow rate of 0.6 mL min−1 and at 35°C. The detection wavelength of the detector was set at excitation wavelength (λexc) 350nm and emission wavelength (λem) 451nm for sarafloxacin and ethoxyquin, 251nm absorption wavelength (ℷabs) for diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron and finally, absorption wavelength (λabs) 596 nm for crystal violet and malachite green. Under the optimum chromatographic conditions, standard calibration curves were measured with good linearity (r 2 = 0.99991) for all the analytes (n = 10). The method detected lower concentrations of these antiparasitic agents studied in this research with the detection limit of 0.056, 0.0122, 5.080, 1.575, 0.2654, 0.3870 μ/kg for Sarafloxacin, Ethoxyquin, Diflubenzuron, Teflubenzuron, Crystal Violet and Malachite Green respectively. These detection limits were lower than the Maximum Residual Limit set by the European Union. Recoveries obtained for all the various type of antiparasitic agents in fish were between 80%-99.73%.

Source: UCC