ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of Parasitoids’ Exit and Predators’ Ingress Holes on Silk Yield of the African Wild Silkmoth, Gonometa postica Walker (Lepidoptera:Lasiocampidae)

Wild silkmoths can be utilised sustainably in the production of silk as an income for resource-poor rural communities. However, attack by parasitoids and predators affect the quality of cocoons and quantity of raw silk produced. A laboratory experiment was undertaken to quantify the effect of parasitoids’ (dipteran and hymenopteran) and predators’ (ants) exit and ingress holes, respectively, on silk production. The mean number of shells required to produce fifty grams of raw silk was highest with cocoons parasitised by a dipteran and lowest with unattacked cocoons (but with moths already emerged). Degumming loss was highest in parasitized and lowest in unttacked cocoons, but both were not different from cocoons predated by ants. Shell weight was highest in unattacked cocoons, followed by hymenopteran-parasitised and predated cocoons, with the dipteran parasitized ones being the least. Single cocoon weight was greater in hymenopteran-parasitised and predated cocoons than the dipteran-parasitised and unattacked cocoons. Shell ratio or raw silk, floss and yarn weights were higher in unattacked than parasitized and predated cocoons. The total loss in raw silk attributable to attack by parasitoids and predators ranged between 17.4~31.2%. The results offer baseline information for assessment of economic losses in wild silk farming due to parasitoids and predators in the field.

Source: UG
Effect of performance appraisal system on staff performance in Ghanaian academic libraries

Performance appraisal is the systematic review of an individual employee’s performance on the job which is used to evaluate the effectiveness of his or her work. The present research seeks to evaluate the performance appraisal system at the University of Cape Coast library. The authors in this study adopted the survey approach to gather data from library staff located in the University of Cape Coast Library. Using the descriptive statistics, it was found out that library staff (76.8%) affirmed the existence of a performance appraisal system in the library. From the participants view, performance appraisal system was necessary to assist in determining the input of staff, bring motivation to workers and ensure effective work by the staff. The majority of the library staff (70.2%) stressed that their immediate boss was responsible for appraising their work output in the UCC library. Based on the major findings of the study, the authors recommended to the management the following: clarity of the rating criteria or qualities, training of appraisers, appraisal interview or discussion and counselling, frequency of appraisals, responsibility for appraising staff, staff motivation, use of computer software and periodic review the appraisal system.

Source: UG
Effect of performance appraisal system on staff performance inGhanaian academic libraries

Performance appraisal is the systematic review of an individual employee’s performance on the job which issued to evaluate the effectiveness of his or her work. The present research seeks to evaluate the performance appraisal system at the University of Cape Coast library. The authors in this study adopted the survey approach to gather data from library staff located in the University of Cape Coast Library. Using the descriptive statistics, it was found out that library staff (76.8%) affirmed the existence of a performance appraisal system in the library. From the participants view, performance appraisalsystem was necessary to assist in determining the input of staff, bring motivation to workers and ensure effective work by the staff. The majority of the library staff (70.2%) stressed that their immediate boss was responsible for appraising their work output in the UCC library. Based on the major findings of the study, the authors recommended to the management the following: clarity of the rating criteria or qualities, training of appraisers, appraisal interview or discussion and counselling, frequency of appraisals, responsibility for appraising staff, staff motivation, use of computer software and periodic review the appraisal system

Source: UG
The effect of personality traits and tax morale on tax evasion intention

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the relationship among personality traits, tax morale and tax evasion intention of students. Using the five-factor model of personality ratings, this study hypothesizes that agreeableness, openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion and neuroticism are good predictors of both tax morale and tax evasion intentions of individuals. Further, this paper argues that tax morale correlates negatively with tax evasion intention. Design/methodology/approach – A survey method was adopted and questionnaires were developed to elicit responses for the study. The study hypotheses were tested structurally using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique. Findings: The results of the study demonstrate the existence of a positive and statistically significant relationship between three dimensions of the personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience) and tax morale. Consistent with expectations, the study also finds tax morale to be significant and negatively associated with tax evasion intention. Research limitations and implications: This study concludes from the findings that improving the tax morale of individuals could be an important way by which tax authorities can improve voluntary tax compliance and reduce the incidence of tax evasion by individuals. Originality/value: The study uses all the dimensions of the five-factor model to examine tax evasion intention of individuals. It also contributes to the theoretical literature by highlighting the mediating role of tax morale in the relationship between personality traits and tax evasion intention from an African perspective.

Source: UG
Effect of phosphorus on the concentrations of arsenic, iron and some other elements in barley grown hydroponically

Hydroponic barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. minorimugi) was treated with 10 μM arsenic (As) together with 500, 250, 50 and 0 μM phosphorus (P) for 14 days to observe the response of the seedlings. The plants were also treated with 0 μM As + 0 μM P. Iron (Fe)-plaque was visible in the roots under As-treated and P-depleted conditions. The intensity of reddish coloration in the roots decreased with increasing P in the media. However, reddish coloration was not found in the absence of both As and P. The results show that both As and P played a vital role in the formation of Fe-plaque. Additionally, Fe-plaque formation was dependent on the concentration of P in the media. Iron concentration in the roots of the As treated plants without P was higher than that observed in the roots treated with 0 μM As + 0 μM P which suggests that As may have been adsorbed with Fe on the surface of roots, forming Fe-plaque. Arsenic concentration in the shoots and the roots was low under 500 and 250 μM P conditions while high under 50 and 0 μM P conditions. It was found that a higher concentration of P (50 μM; 5 times of As level) was required in the medium to reduce As concentration in the plant tissues.

Source: UG
The effect of plant protein-based diets on apparent nutrient digestibility, growth response, egesta quantity, postprandial ammonia excretion rate and serum quality of Nile tilapia

The study assessed the effect of oilseed meal mixtures on the biological value, faecal matter output, ammonia excretion rates and serum biochemistry of Nile tilapia over 63 days. The experimental diets (PPB 1, PPB 2 and PPB 3) were formulated using four selected oilseed meals that were mixed in different protein proportions to contribute 80% of total dietary crude protein. In each diet, either one or two of the oilseed meals were the dominant protein contributor. A commercial tilapia feed was used as the control diet (CTRL). Sex-reversed Nile tilapia fingerlings (35 g) were stocked at 20 fish per tank in a recirculation system and fed at 3% body weight of their respective diets. At the end of the study, ADCs of dry matter, crude lipid and ash were significantly (p < .05) lower in all the plant-based diets compared with the control diet. Fish fed the control diet had significantly higher weight gain and SGR compared with the plant-based diets. Egesta output was 127% higher in the plant-based diets compared with the control diet. All dietary treatments exhibited a similar trend in changes in ammonia nitrogen. Nevertheless, serum metabolites levels indicated no significant differences among treatments. Although the PPBs did not affect ADC of protein and serum profile, fish growth was reduced while faecal output increased.

Source: UG
Effect of poultry manure and/or inorganic fertilizer on the yield of shallot [Allium cepa var. aggregatum (G. Don)]

The study was carried out to determine the optimum levels of poultry manure, inorganic fertilizer and their combined effect on yield of shallots grown on sandy Anloga soils in Ghana. Treatments comprised a 4x3 factorial combination of poultry manure at 0, 10, 20 and 40 tons/ha and three levels of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer at 0, 300 and 600 kg ha-1 in a randomised complete block design with four replications. A combination of 40 tons/ha of poultry manure with 300 kg/ha and 6000 kg/ha of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer increased plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of plantlets per plant. Although application of inorganic fertilizer alone or in combination with poultry manure significantly increased bulb yield, there was a decrease in dry matter content. Sole application of 40 tons/ha gave the highest bulb yield. Our results demonstrate that farmers in the Anloga district of Ghana can rely on organic matter alone applied at 40 tons/ha for shallot production.

Source: UG
Effect of pre-existing faults on the distribution of lower crust exhumation under extension: numerical modelling and implications for NW Ghana

3D thermo-mechanical models have been constructed to explore the influence of pre-existing faults on the temporal-spatial distribution of high-grade amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphic rocks during extension. The different dip amounts of three pre-existing faults (refer to the Bole-Nangodi shear zones, the Jirapa shear zone and the Bulenga shear zone in the study area) are studied in models. The results show the lower crust exhumes occur at a relatively low rate prior to attaining a Stretching Factor = 4.2%. The partially molten lower crustal rocks tend to move (up to 20 km) towards the center of the model and focus exhumation in regions where pre-existing faults intersect. The high-strain corridors in models are used to understand the loci of exhumation in the Bole-Bulenga domain of NW Ghana. Accordingly, in the eastern and western parts of the high-grade rock corridors in NW Ghana, partially molten rocks exhumed from the lower into middle-upper crustal levels are interpreted to have been dominantly facilitated by the km-scale high-strain corridors. In the central part of the Bole-Bulenga domain, the high-grade rocks are interpreted to have been exhumed because of a coupling between two mechanisms: (1) The exhumation of partially molten rocks between the Jirapa and Bole-Nangodi faults increases in spatially due to the reduction in space from north to south. (2) The exhumation of lower partially molten rocks in the central part, as a result of inherited orthogonal (E-W) structures.

Source: UG
Effect of pre-existing Schistosoma haematobium infection on Plasmodium berghei multiplications in imprinting control region mice

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Effect of Pre-Exposure to Chlorine Dioxide on the Susceptibility of Fecal Coliforms to Antibiotics

Adaptive exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of sanitizers was previously reported to offer cross-protection to bacteria against antibiotics. This study was undertaken to determine whether the pre-exposure of fecal coliforms to suboptimal concentrations of a chemical sanitizer, chlorine dioxide (ClO2), alters their susceptibility to certain antibiotics. Fecal coliforms isolated from fresh fruit packing facilities (n = 12) were adapted in 1/2 or 1/4 of the manufacturer-recommended concentration of ClO2. The susceptibility of the adapted and non-adapted cells to 13 different antibiotics was determined by observing the changes in their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The results showed that preadaptation to the suboptimal concentrations of ClO2, in general, either decreased or did not change the MICs of the antibiotics against selected fecal coliform isolates, with only two exceptions; preadaptation increased the MICs of kanamycin against two of the fecal coliform isolates, and of nalidixic acid against one of the fecal coliform isolates. The results suggest that the use of ClO2 has a relatively low risk of inducing the resistance of fecal coliforms to antibiotics.

Source: UG
Effect of previous cultivation on regeneration of Julbernadia globiflora and Brachystegia spiciformis in grazing areas of Mupfurudzi resettlement scheme, Zimbabwe

We investigated the effects of previous cultivation on regeneration potential under miombo woodlands in a resettlement area, a spatial product of Zimbabwe’s land reforms. We predicted that cultivation would affect population structure, regeneration, recruitment and potential grazing capacity of rangelands. Plant attributes for Julbernadia globiflora and Brachystegia spiciformis were measured in previously cultivated and uncultivated sites making up rangelands of the scheme. Their population structure showed a high regeneration potential with different recruitment mechanisms, either coppicing or seedling emergence. Brachystegia spiciformis populations had more adult trees, and its saplings were more abundant in uncultivated sites while regeneration on cultivated sites was mainly from coppices. Julbernadia globiflora had fewer adult trees but high seedling and sapling densities, especially on cultivated sites, while coppicing was low and more common on uncultivated sites. This suggests that cultivation would favour vigorous recruitment of J. globiflora, while B. spiciformis would become more abundant in the absence of cultivation. This varying recruitment of the two woody species is likely to modify and influence state-and-transition dynamics in a miombo woodland, thus affecting the resultant tree population structure and grass biomass yield and quality.

Source: UG
Effect of processing (sprouting and/or fermentation) on sorghum and maize. I: Proximate composition, minerals and fatty acids

Sorghum and maize porridge are used as infant weaning foods in many African countries. Porridges prepared from the cereals have high viscosity; to reduce viscosity, the cereals are initially sprouted and made into flour or fermented before use. This paper compares the effects of these preparatory methods on the proximate composition, mineral and fatty acid characteristics of the sprouted and/or fermented sorghum and maize. The preparatory methods had no effect on the proximate composition. The cereals are poor in calcium, iron and zinc. They are low in ω3 fatty acids but rich in the ω6 fatty acids. Germination increased the gross energy of the cereals. Porridges prepared from these cereals need to be supplemented by other foods.

Source: UG
Effect of processing (sprouting and/or fermentation) on sorghum and maize: II. Vitamins and amino acid composition. Biological utilization of maize protein

The use of sprouted and or fermented maize and sorghum in improving weaning food nutrient quality was investigated. The cereals were studied for their thiamin, niacin, pyridoxine and amino acid composition and for their protein quality by nitrogen retention in young rats and by protein synthesis in vitro. Germination (sprouting) improved the vitamin content whereas fermentation had no substantial effect. The amino acids were slightly improved, but not enough to meet the nutritional needs of infants. Germination and/or fermentation neither improved nor had any detrimental effect on the overall protein quality. In-vitro protein synthesis was not affected by the processing methods.

Source: UG
Effect of processing equipment and duration of storage of palm fruits on palm oil yield and quality in the Kwaebibrem District, Ghana

We carried out a study in the Kwaebibrim District in the Eastern Region of Ghana to investigate the type of processing equipment and processing practices being used among small scale palm oil processors and their effects on yield and quality of crude palm oil produced. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and participant observations were used to collect data on the processing equipment and practices being used by the small-scale processors. The major processing practice identified to have a major effect on quality of processed palm oil was duration of storage of palm fruits before processing. Three categories of processing equipment were identified; digester screw press, digester with separate screw press and digester with separate hydraulic press. These three equipment were used to process palm fruits stored for 6 and 15 days after harvest to determine their effect on oil extraction rate and oil quality. The digester screw press had the highest extraction rate and oil yield of 13.5 and 25.5% respectively while the digester with separate screw press had the lowest extraction rate and oil yield of 11.7 and 22.1% respectively. The two durations of storage of palm fruits before processing however did not have any significant effect on the extraction rate. However, both the processing equipment and storage durations had significant (P<0.05) effect on the resultant quality of crude palm oil processed. The study suggests the need to avoid storing palm fruits before processing in order to produce high quality crude palm oil.

Source: UG
The effect of processing method of cassava chips on the development of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Susceptibility of processed cassava chips to infestation by the Larger Grain Borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) was investigated in the laboratory (25 - 34°C, 61 - 92% r. h and 12 h: 12 h light: dark regime). Chips of two varieties were variously processed by fermentation, parboiling and sun-drying and stored for different periods. About 150, 200 and 300 g of processed cassava chips in Kilner jars were artificially infested with 15 pairs of P. truncatus adults and stored for 49, 59 and 69 days respectively. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the mean numbers of adults recorded on the processed chips after 49 days of storage. Across varieties, fermented chips recorded the highest number of adults (407.0 ± 53.9), followed by 395.9 ± 34.5 and 351.0 ± 42.1 adults found on plain and sundried chips, respectively. Parboiled chips however supported the lowest number of adults (89.0 ± 16.4). The number of P. truncatus adults increased with increasing storage period on all chips. The overall mean weight loss recorded on plain, sun-dried and fermented chips were 71.5 ± 7.7%, 71.2, 6.7% and 71.7± 8.8% respectively after 69 days of storage by which time most of the chips had disintegrated completely. The lowest amount of loss, 20.9 ± 5.0%, was recorded on parboiled chips. The study showed that the practice of parboiling confers greater protection to cassava chips against infestation and losses due to P. truncatus than the other traditional fermentation and sun-drying methods.

Source: UG
Effect of processing procedures on the colorimetry and viscoelastic properties of cassava starch, flour and cassava-plantain fufu flour

Cassava starch, cassava flour and cassava-plantain fufu flour colour were evaluated in terms of L, a, and b values and the total colour difference. The cassava-plantain fufu flours were formulated using two particle sizes with cassava starch and plantain flour and others with cassava starch, cassava flour and plantain flour. The local cassava variety, (Bosom nsia) starch gave the highest L-value, while 065 cassava starches yielded the lowest L value. The high yielding variety, (Yebeshie) flour recorded the highest L-value of 95.80. The 065 cassava starch recorded the largest colour differences (3.96) while Bosom nsia starch gave the least value (1.10). Bosom nsia starch was whiter. The least colour difference was obtained by the 061 flour and 094 flour recorded the highest value. The variables of colour for the cassava-plantain fufu flour increased with the increase in percentage of starch added. The differences in colour of the cassava starch and flour may be due to the different processing procedures. The viscoelastic properties for both starch and flour from Yebeshie cassava stood out greatly compared to the local variety (bosom nsia) and the experimental accessions. Yebeshie starch recorded a peak viscosity of 1057 BU and a viscosity at 50°C of 522 BU. The peak viscosity, viscosity at 95º for the <180 and 250 micron cassava-plantain fufu flour increased as the starch percentage increased for all the combinations of starch, plantain flour and cassava flour. The viscosity at 50˚C values increased as the starch added increased for <180 and 250-180 micron cassava- plantain fufu flour formulated using starch, plantain flour and Yebeshie cassava flours. Starches from the high percentage starch cassava- plantain fufu flour had larger granules which swelled at lower temperature. The fufu flours which were formulated with low percentage starch might have had smaller granules. The cassava- plantain fufu flour formulated with the BT7D54.1 Yebeshie cassava flour and 40% starch recorded the highest cold paste value of 245 ± 28BU. This increase may be attributed to the processing parameter used for the Yebeshie cassava flours compared to the drying temperature of 60˚C for the BT10D60 and BT15D60. The setback values for the <180 micron cassava –plantain fufu flour were higher than those of the 250-180 micron fufu.

Source: UG