ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Analysis Of Network Performances Of Ethernet, Token Ring And Fddi Protocols In Distributed Systems

Internet connectivity is growing with most enterprises shifting to the use of web-based services to satisfy the demands of clients in their organisations. The choice of suitable LAN protocols in network design is of great concern to individuals and organisations. Failure to make the right choice can lead to poor network performances that lower the speed to access information. How can organizations' LAN performances be improved? How fast is data or information transmitted to and from business organization? This research work was carried out to investigate a comparative analysis of network performances of Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI protocols in terms of throughput and delay in a distributed system. In the study, three LAN protocols; Ethernet, FDDI and Token Ring were modelled and devices within the network were configured using Cisco Packet Tracer Version 7.1 to evaluate their network performances. Varied packet sizes were sent from one station to another workstation on each of the scenarios created. The simulation exercise was conducted after which the time it takes for a machine to receive a packet and sending machine to receive an acknowledgement is recorded and evaluated. The difference between the times a packet was sent from machine to another and the time to take acknowledgement of receipt of the packet was computed as delay. Several scenarios were evaluated through simulations using Cisco Packet Tracer Version 7.1 to show network performances of the three networks. The simulation was done 10 times each for the different scenarios using FTP and SMTP application of a constant packet sizes with varied time and vice versa. The time was recorded as well as averages computed. The general conclusion is that based on the perfomance metrics; delay and throughput used in the study, FDDI recorded the least values of throughput and delay in most of the scenarios according to the tables and figures. FDDI therefore have better network performance than Token Ring and Ethernet.

Source: KNUST
A comparative analysis of the effect of employees’ commitment on organisational performance (a case study of some selected private and public banks in Kumasi).

The world is in a dilemma as to the disparities in commitment among the private and the public sector. It is premised upon this backdrop that the study was conducted to undertake a comparative analysis of what determines employees commitment to work and its effect on organizational performance among the private and the public sector. The objectives of the study were to identify any difference in employees’ commitment between public and private sector employees and to assess the effect of employees’ commitment on organizational performance. The literature review looked at the types of commitment, commitment and work behaviour, organisational actions that encourage commitment and drivers of employee commitment as well as job satisfaction. A simple random sampling method was used to select a sample size of 100 in the administration of questionnaires. Primary Data was gathered through the administration of questionnaires from employees. Data collected was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found that there exists a statistically significant difference between the commitment of employees in public and private institutions. The study further revealed that there exist a positive but statistically significant elationship between employee commitment and organisational performance. Further, the study found that there exists a strong, positive and statistically significant relationship between employee satisfaction, employee commitment and organisational performance as well as job satisfaction. It was recommended performance based reward system be put in place to replace the current salary structure to encourage commitment among employees. Also, targets should be set for employees so that commitment can be channeled towards meeting targets. Lastly, intrinsic motivational factors should be implemented to boost employee self-motivation.

Source: KNUST
A comparative study of ideational grammatical metaphor in the inaugural speech and state of the nation address of a Ghanaian president.

This study explores the employment of Ideational Grammatical Metaphor in the Inaugural Speech (IS) and State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President John Dramani Mahama of the republic of Ghana. Using the purposive sampling method, the maiden IS and SONA of the President were used, that is, the IS of 2013 and SONA of 2013 were selected for a qualitative content analysis. The study reveals that President Mahama employed all the types of IGM in his SONA but type 4 not employed in the IS. The analysis confirms Halliday’s claim that nominalization is “the single most powerful resource for creating grammatical metaphor”. The syntactic versatility feature of nominalization enabled the President to utilize this resource to organize his messages in diverse ways to foreground and background aspects of his messages. The study reveals that IGMs lead to abstraction of processes through which actions and situations are objectified as if they were entities. The President used this resource efficiently in highlighting what has been done, what is being done and what will be done especially in the SONA. The findings also demonstrate the use of IGMs to achieve lexical economy, information density and impersonality. The pervasiveness of IGM type 12, whose realization makes the metaphorical expression longer than the congruent reveals that word economy is not always the main concern for the choice of IGMs.

Source: KNUST
A comparative study of post- acquisition performance of Ecobank and Access Bank Ghana Limited.

The global world has become a competitive market. The ultimate aim of most businesses is to grow the business. In such a competitive environment, businesses struggle to keep up with the ever changing trends and as such must adapt a strategic growth tool. Mergers and acquisitions have become one of the most commonly used growth strategies in firms in recent times with mergers and acquisitions. This study assessed the performance of Ecobank and Access Bank after their acquisitions of The Trust Bank and Intercontinental Bank Ghana respectively. A financial analysis of these banks before and after the merger was undertaken. In this study to ascertain whether the merger had affected their performance using some growth indicators in the banking industry such as the return on assets and return on equity as dependent variables, secondary data from published annual reports and PWC Banking Surveys were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for the data analysis and t-test statistics for testing the hypothesis. At the end of the study, the findings were that the returns on assets and equity were not positively influenced by mergers and acquisitions, and the banks‟ expected outcome of achieving synergy were also not immediately realised with respect to their shares of industry deposits and gross loans. As a recommendation, the researcher suggested that firms should concentrate on reducing their operation costs and focus on increasing their return on sales. Again, banks may have to come up with more innovative products and services, especially towards the niche market, to deviate from the normal services being offered by almost all the banks, and overcome the threat that new market entrants may pose to the existing ones.

Source: KNUST
A Comparative Study of Project Management Practices in Local and Foreign Construction Companies in Ghana

ABSTRACT The effective practice of project management leads to a successful project closure. The management processes involves initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling of the project. However, most organizations undertake projects without necessarily adhering to these standard project management practices leading to the failure of most projects. The local construction companies face many challenges than the foreign construction companies in teams of project failure in Ghana. The purpose of this study is to investigate the level at which project management practices are adopter in the implementation of projects in Kumasi Municipality, Ashanti Region. It is also to investigate the success rate of projects undertaken by the local and foreign construction companies and find out the causes of project failure. The method used to carry out this research is solicitation of information from the Engineers and Managers who supervise construction projects. Data gathered was analyzed using descriptive approach including; mean and standard deviation by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and was ranked according to it level of importance. The major findings of this research indicate that Project Management process group were adopted in implementation of construction projects however, the local construction companies lack project management department but have a personal in charge as a Project Manager who oversee all aspect in managing a project and this affect implementation of project management practices. On the other hand, foreign construction companies have project management department with various section that help in implementing project management practices. It was highly recommended that local construction companies should have project management department and this would ensure good standard practices are follow to the letter for a high success rate of projects.

Source: KNUST
A Comparative Study of the Epidemiology of Treponemal Infection in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana: A Five-Year Multisite Parallel Population-Based Analysis vis-à-vis the Sentinel Survey

Treponemal infections can be blood-borne with great public health consequences. This study is aimed at comparatively describing the five-year (2013-2017) regional epidemiology of treponemal infection using pregnant women in the sentinel survey and apparently healthy blood donors as a proxy for the general population at four sentinel sites in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana. We analyzed retrospective data from 17,744 prospective blood donors aged 18 to 58 years and 7,817 pregnant women in a sentinel survey with ages from 15 to 49 years at Hohoe, Ho, Tongu, and Krachi West sentinel sites in the Volta and Oti Regions. Laboratory data extracted include variables such as age, gender, date of blood donation, and Treponema pallidum chromatographic immunoassay results from the blood banks of the four study sites. The five-year treponemal infection rate among the pregnant women in the sentinel survey and prospective blood donors was 0.79% and 2.38%, respectively. Site-specific infection rate for population-based/sentinel survey was 4.6%/1.1%, 2.0%/0.5%, 1.3%/1.1, and 1.2%/0.3% for Hohoe, Ho, Krachi West, and Tongu, respectively. Significant gender disparity in Treponemal infection rate exists with a male preponderance. The regional infection rate in the sentinel survey is lower compared to the general population. Therefore, the use of pregnant women as a proxy for population estimates could underestimate the burden in the study jurisdiction.

Source: KNUST
A comparative study of the working capital policies of Goil and total company limited, Ghana.

The study mainly aimed at investigating the trend of inventory conversion period, receivables conversion period, payables deferral period, cash conversion cycle as a measure of working capital management and the working capital management strategy being followed by GOIL and Total Petroleum Ghana. The study mainly used secondary source of data studying the financial statements for a five year period from 2011-2015. The study revealed that GOIL had an average inventory conversion period of 5.76 days with receivables conversion period of 40.78 days. The payables deferral period was 53.87 days. Total Petroleum Ghana also had 4.36 days, 42.78 days and 53.15 days respectively for inventory, receivables and payables conversion periods. A negative cash conversion cycle was recorded both GOIL and Total Petroleum Ghana. The main types of products offered by GOIL are fuels and special products. Total Petroleum Ghana offers these same products apart from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The main customers of the companies were identified as dealers, consumers and resellers while the main suppliers are TOR, chase petroleum and Cyrus. The average current asset to total assets ratio for GOIL was 0.65 while that of Total Petroleum Ghana was 0.68.The current liability to total assets ratio was averagely 0.70 for GOIL whilst that of Total Petroleum Ghana was 0.68. Total Petroleum Ghana pursued a conservative and aggressive (mixed) working capital management policy (investment and financing respectively) due to its percentage of commitment of current assets and current liabilities to total assets. Similarly, GOIL pursue same strategies in terms of financing and investment policies but slightly ahead of Total. There are significant differences in the cash conversion cycles of two companies. However, there are no significant differences in the working capital management strategy or policy pursued by the two oil marketing companies listed on the stock exchange. The study recommended that the companies reduce the payables deferral periods in order to enjoy some trade discounts. Again, future research should look at more than one company for a longer period of time so that a regression analysis conducted to determine the effect of working capital management on profitability of firms.

Source: KNUST
A cross‑sectional study on risk factors for infection with Parvovirus B19 and the association with anaemia in a febrile paediatric population inGhana

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) occurs globally and can cause severe anaemia. The role of co-infections with Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) has been controversially discussed. The study aimed to determine prevalence and severity of B19V infection, and the effect of co-infections on the risk for anaemia. Between November 2013 and April 2015 a total of 1186 hospital visits of children with fever admitted to a hospital in Ghana were recorded. Malaria, B19V and additional diagnostics for fever causes were performed. Recent B19V infection was defined as PCR and/or IgM positivity. Risk factors for a B19V infection and for anaemia were analysed. The prevalence of anaemia was compared between children with/without B19V infection, stratified for the presence of malaria. B19V IgM/PCR was positive in 6.4% (n = 76; 40 IgM + , 30 PCR + , 6 IgM + and PCR +). Among the B19V cases 60.5% had a simultaneous P. falciparum infection. B19V IgM positivity but not PCR positivity was associated with moderate-severe anaemia (OR = 2.6; 95%-CI: 1.3–5.3; P < 0.01 vs. OR = 0.9; 95%-CI: 0.4–1.8; P = 0.70). P. falciparum and IgM positive B19V infection were independent risk factors for anaemia with no evidence of effect modification. Our data show a significant association between B19V infection, defined as IgM but not PCR positivity, and moderate-severe anaemia. A multiplicative effect of B19V and P. falciparum infection was not found.

Source: KNUST
A comprehensive cost-effectiveness analysis of control of maize streak virus disease with Holling’s Type II predation form and standard incidence

Maize streak virus disease, caused by the maize streak virus, has been identified as severe vector-borne disease in Africa. In most regions of the continent, the disease is generally uncontrolled, and in epidemic years, it contributes to massive yield losses and famine. We propose a Holling-type predation functional response to explore the disease transmission. We show the sensitivity indices of various embedded parameters in the basic reproduction number. To illustrate the dynamics of the disease of the maize–leafhopper interaction, we perform a numerical simulation, and the results are graphically displayed. Incorporating four control methods (infection control, predation control, removal of infected maize plants, and insecticide application) into the basic model yields an optimal control issue. We used the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio technique to evaluate the most cost-effective combination of the four controls. We notice that the most cost-effective strategy combines the simultaneous adoption of the four controls.

Source: KNUST
A critical review of carbonate reservoir wettability modification during low salinity waterflooding

The nature of carbonate reservoirs promotes the adsorption of oil onto the rock surface hence making oil recovery a challenge even with the interventions of varied chemical EOR methods. Recently, low salinity water flooding has become of great interest since it is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Although low salinity waterflooding has been highly investigated in sandstone reservoirs, it is not the same for carbonate reservoirs due to its complexities. Nonetheless, it has been proposed as a favourable technique to mobilise the trapped oil in carbonate reservoirs. Wettability alteration is regarded as the most accepted mechanism for low salinity flooding but has not been well understood making field scale applications doubtful. In this paper, we present a detailed review of the wettability alteration mechanisms in carbonate reservoirs during low salinity waterflooding. Parameters influencing wettability alteration in carbonates and the interactions that occur at the rock/brine/oil interface are also presented. The different methods utilised for wettability measurements during low salinity waterflooding are also reviewed including their drawbacks and advantages and recommendations. This will provide an improved understanding of the low salinity flooding application in carbonate reservoirs.

Source: KNUST
A fractal–fractional order model for exploring the dynamics of Monkeypox disease

This study explores the biological behaviour of the Monkeypox disease using a fractal–fractional operator. We discuss the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the model using the fixed-point concept. We further show that the Monkeypox fractal–fractional model is stable through the Hyers–Ulam and Hyers–Ulam Rassias stability criteria. The epidemiological threshold of the model is obtained. The numerical simulation for the proposed model is obtained using the Newton polynomial. For instance, the disease dies out at lower fractional values. We investigated the effects of some key parameters on the dynamics of the disease. The variation of the parameters shows that quarantine and isolation are effective approaches to managing, controlling, or eradicating the Monkeypox disease.

Source: KNUST
A formulation of Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. Ex Benth and Cassia sieberiana DC. alleviates the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis: a single-blind, randomised controlled trial of a traditional Ghanaian remedy

Background: Clinical validation of herbal medicinal products is important for their widespread acceptance and application. In this single-blind, randomised controlled trial, a traditional Ghanaian herbal medicine formulation with Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth and Cassia sieberiana DC. as ingredients was evaluated for its safety and effectiveness in the management of patients with osteoarthritis. The formulation for the purposes of this study was labelled with the code GC-500. Methods: A total of 57 participants were randomly assigned to receive either this herbal remedy, GC-500, or the control treatment of diclofenac. Subjects were then followed up for a period of 8 weeks using a modified Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) for their efficacy assessments. The control treatment comprised 13 subjects and the GC 500 group 44 subjects. Results: Upon completion of the study, 28 (63.63%) subjects in the GC-500 group attained the primary outcome, (GCPS of Grade 0) compared to 5 (38.46%) subjects in the control group. Improvement in disease indicators such as characteristic pain intensity, disability score and disability days was comparable between the GC-500 and diclofenac. Intensity of pain reduced after 8 weeks of treatment; disability score and disability days also declined indicating an improvement in the quality of life of subjects. GC-500 was also shown to be safe for human use. Conclusion: The herbal medicine formulation GC-500, provides a credible treatment option for managing the pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Source: KNUST
A fractional order age-specific smoke epidemic model

This paper presents a nonlinear fractional mathematical model for the smoke epidemic that includes two age groups. To solve the smoke epidemic, the Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo fractional derivative is used. The Banach and Krasnoselskii type fixed point theorem is used to determine existence and uniqueness. We explored model stability using the Hyers-Ulam form of stability. Using Lagrange interpolation, the behaviour of the smoke epidemic of the 2-age group model is generated. The numerical simulation shows that the model has po- tential for both groups, and that age-specific interventions can be used to reduce smoking rates in the general population.

Source: KNUST
A fractionalcontrolmodeltostudyMonkeypox transportnetwork-relatedtransmission

Effective disease control measures to manage the spread of Monkeypox (Mpox) virus are crucial, especially given the serious public health risks posed by the ongoing global epidemic in regions where the virus is both prevalent and not. This study introduces a precise model, based on the Caputo fractional derivative, which takes into account both human and non-human populations as well as public transportation, to delve into the transmission characteristics of Mpox outbreaks. By employing the fixed-point theorem, we have precisely determined the solutions regarding existence and uniqueness. We have analyzed the stability of various equilibrium states within the model to assess Mpox’s transmission capabilities. Additionally, through detailed numerical simulations, we have gauged the impact of critical model parameters that contribute to enhancing Mpox prevention and management strategies. The insights gained from our research significantly enrich epidemiological understanding and lay the foundation for improved disease containment approaches.

Source: KNUST
A gist on an obscure neoplasm in Ghana: gastrointestinal stromal tumours

Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastrointestinal tract accounting for up to 1% of all gastrointestinal tumours. The discovery of Imatinib mesylate, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor has improved the chances even for unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic diseases. Methods This study sought to document the clinical and pathological characteristics of GISTs from two tertiary hos‑ pitals in Ghana that have undergone immunohistochemistry confrmation between 2014 and 2021. Results The median age of the subjects was 50 years with most of them (28.0%) being above 61 years. There were more females than males (64.0% vs. 36.0%). Abdominal mass and abdominal pain made up the majority of the clinical presentations. The majority of the subjects had partial gastrectomy (32.0%) which was followed by wedge resec‑ tion (28.0%). Appendectomy and sleeve gastrectomy were the least performed procedures (8% each). Four of the 25 patients (16.0%) had resections of involved contiguous organs done with splenectomy being the most common procedure. The majority of GISTs were found in the stomach (68.0%) followed by the appendix (12.0%) and small bowel (12.0%). Gastrointestinal bleeding (55.8%) and abdominal pain (38.5%) were the most reported symptoms. Free resection margins were observed in 84.0% of the subjects and only 3/25 (12.0%) experienced tumour recurrence. Conclusion GIST is a potentially curable tumour that once was obscure but currently gaining popularity. Surgical resection ofers the hope of a cure for localized disease while targeted therapies is a viable option for recurrent, meta‑ static, or unresectable tumours.

Source: KNUST