ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of silver nanoparticle stabilised with pennisetum purpureum leave extract and determination of its antimicrobial activities

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted great attention due to their outstanding electrical, optical, magnetic, catalytic, and antimicrobial properties. However, there is a need for alternative production methods that use fewer toxic precursors and reduce their undesirable by-products. Plant extracts from the leaves of Pennisetum Purpureum plants can be used as reducing agents as well as enhance AgNPs antimicrobial activity. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous leaf extracts of Pennisetum Purpureum. The obtained AgNPs were studied for their optical, structural, surface morphological and antimicrobial properties. The prepared AgNPs were characterized by using UVVisible spectra, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD). The synthesized nanoparticles were quasi spherically shaped and well-dispersed with average sizes ranging from 29.70 ± 9.71nm from SEM image. The AgNPs derived from Pennisetum Purpureum exhibited antibacterial activity against seven bacterial (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 12493), E. coli (NCTC 12241), S. mutants (ATCC 700610), P. aeruginosa (ATCC 4853), S. typhi (ATCC 14028), K. pneumonia (NCTC13440) and, B. subtilis (ATCC 10004)) and one fungal (Candida albicans (ATCC 90028)) pathogens of the human compared to the crude extracts. This indicates that the biomolecules covering the nanoparticles may enhance the biological activity of metal nanoparticles. Hence, our results support that synthesis of AgNPs using Pennisetum Purpureum leaf extract constitutes a potential area of interest for the therapeutic management of microbial diseases. These observation on nanoparticle production using plant-mediated synthesis and performance offers insights into the potential for scaling up this production process for economic commercial implementation.

Source: UEW
Systematic review of web-based learning environments in high school mathematics education: Attitude, achievement, challenges, and possible solutions [Sustavan pregled mre�nih okru�enja u?enja u nastavi matematike na sekundarnoj razini obrazovanja: Stavovi, postignu?a, izazovi i mogu?a rje�enja]

Web-based learning environments (WBLE) are widely adopted in the context of higher education. Comparatively, little is known about how they are used in high school mathematics curricula. Therefore, this systematic review investigates how WBLEs are applied in high school education and which outcomes this instructional approach has resulted in up to now. 14 related journal publications on high school WBLE are identified and analysed in terms of their WBLE activities, student achievement, attitude, and challenges encountered. The findings suggest that several activities are used in WBLE. WBLE application in high school mathematics education produced a neutral or positive effect on student achievement when compared to traditional classroom-based learning. Students� attitudes toward WBLE approach are varied. WBLE implementation challenges are classified as student-associated, faculty-associated, and operational. We proposed seven possible solutions to address these challenges based on previous studies. Also, recommendations for future research are discussed. � 2019, FACTEACHEREDUCATION. All rights reserved.

Source: UEW
Systemic functional analysis of newspaper headlines in Ghana

A great deal of studies have been conducted using Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) particularly the Ideational Metafunction. Nevertheless, few of them have adopted Systemic Functional Grammar to investigate the syntax of newspaper headlines (Ansary, 2005; Ong„onda, 2016; Abdulameer, Noor and Nasser, 2019)). The Ideational Metafunction of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) by Halliday (1994) is employed to examine 60 Ghanaian Newspaper Headlines from 5 newspaper agencies. The purposive sampling technique was used to sample the data from the year 2018 to 2019. The analysis is situated within the general research paradigm of qualitative research approach which is applied to identify the structural types of Newspaper Headlines which are sentential (30 declarative, 4 imperative, 2 interrogative, 5 ellipted and 6 passivized) and 13 phrasal newspaper headlines. Based on a type of the six-transitivity processes whether Material, Mental, Verbal, Relational, Existential or Behavioural, the clausal elements and their functions were identified in the sentential newspaper headlines; the structure of the phrasal newspaper headlines together with the words that make up the structure and functions have been analyzed. Though the Declarative Newspaper Headlines reported education, finance, international news among others, they dominated political news items. The Imperative Newspaper Headlines were adopted by religious and political leaders to admonish and motivate the citizenry and congregants. To help create suspense and arouse the interest in sporting events, the Interrogative Newspaper Headlines were employed. The Phrasal Newspaper Headlines dominated political news. As part of Block Language, the Elliptical Newspaper Headlines omitted elements such as auxiliary verbs, articles, the dummy there with the verb be, noun group with relational auxiliary or relational processes in clause complex and part of the embedded clause (adjectival clause). The Passivized Newspaper Headlines, the Agentless Passive as against the Agentive Passive reported criminal cases which were undergoing investigations and arbitration of which the newspaper agencies could not pronounce judgment ahead of the police and judicial systems since such cases are generally based on allegations.

Source: UEW
S{nea }kyer{wfo de akanfo amammer{ dii dwuma w} nhoma “forosie” mu ne nsakrae a aba mu nn{

Nhwehwԑm yi botae ne s[ [rehwehw[ kwan a akyer[wfo nam akyer[w kasadwin so da Akanfo amammer[ ne amanne adi w] Efa (1944) ay[s[m mu de atoto nn[ mmere yi ho ahw[ nsakrae a aba mu. Megyinaa me nhwehw[mu yi so w] Efa (1944) nhoma a wato no din ‘Forosie’. Megyinaa ‘Cultural Evolutionary’ ti]ri so hw[[ nsakrae a aba s[nea Akanfo y[ w]n amammer[ mu. Nk]mm]twetwe, nsrahw[, ano ns[mmisa ne akyer[wkyer[w y[ akwan ahorow a mefaa so y[[ nhwehw[mu no. Mehw[[ nhoma no mu gyinaa me ns[mmisa no so yiyii amammer[ ahorow a ]kyer[wfo no de dii dwuma. Nhwehw[mu no meb]] apor]w k]] Awukugua, Abiriw ne Adukrom Akuapem ne ahemfo baasa, akyeamefo baasa, abusua panyin biako ne ]hemmea biako a w]n mfe fi aduos]n as]n kosi aduokron k] twetwee nk]mm] faa me dwumadi no ho p[[ mmuae fii w]n h]. Afei, mesan k]] awaregye, ayiy[ ne abadinto ase ne nnipa du a baasia y[ mmea na baanan y[ mmarima twetwee me dwumadi no ho nk]mm]. Dwumadi no mu no, amammer[ bi te s[ ]kasa, nkyia, abatetew, ayiy[, bragoru, awaregye, awareggae ne abadinto daa adi Efa (1944) nhoma no mu. Afei, [daa adi dwumadi no mu s[, nn[ yi nnipa binom mfa nsu ne nsa nka w]n mma ano na mmom w]de ngosra ngo na [ka w]n ano. Dwumadie yi b[boa asukuufo, akyer[kyer[fo, akenkanfo ne nhwehw[mufo w] w]n dwumadi biara a w]p[ s[ w]y[ no w] atwer[ kasadwini bi mu [fa amammer[ ho. }FA BIAKO NNIANIM 1.0 Nnianim

Source: UEW
Sԑnea adeiso de kasa di dwuma ne nea ahyԑ wϽn nkuran ma wϽn asua nkran kasa no.

Saa dwumadi yi fa sԑnea Adeisofo de kasa di dwuma ne nea ahyԑ Adeisofo nkuran ma wↄn asua Nkran kasa a wↄn akasafo no sua wↄ Adeiso kurow no mu no. Dwumadi yi botae ne sԑ ԑbԑhwԑ mmeae ahorow ne kasa a wↄde di dwuma wↄ Adeiso, nea ahyԑ Adeisofo no bi nkuran ma wↄn asua Nkran kasa no ne nsunsuanso a Nkran kasa no anya wↄ Adeisofo kasa so. Ԑde nkↄmmↄtwetwe, nsԑmmisa a egu krataa so ne ahwԑe na ԑboaboaa nsԑm ano bere a ɛgyinaa nyiyimu so paw na mede mepaww nnipa ahanu de wↄn dii dwuma no. Mepaww nnipa ↄha ne du fii mmeae a ԑnyԑ Nkranfo no atenae wↄ Adeiso ne nnipa aduokrↄn nso fii mmeae a ԑyԑ Nkranfo no atenae. Saa nnipa yi bi yԑ Akanfo a wↄn dodow yԑ aduosↄn anum, Ayigbefo nso yԑ aduosia akron, Nkranfo yԑ aduasa ason na wↄn a aka no nso a wↄka kasa foforo no yԑ du akron. Saa nnipa yi bi yԑ adikro, ↄkyeame, ahemfie mpanyimfo, asↄre mu baanodifo, aban adwumayԑfo, aguadifo, nsanodwumayԑfo, akuafo ne asukuufo. Nea ԑdaa adi wↄ dwumadi yi mu ne sԑ Akan kasa no nnyeraa ne dibea sԑ Lingua Franca de, nanso Nkran kasa no abↄ ne ho mmↄden akↄ n’anim. Ԑnnyԑ sԑ wↄde di dwuma wↄ afie mu nko, na mmom akↄ sԑ wↄde di dwuma wↄ mantam, guaso ne nsↄre kakra bi mu. Afei nso Nkran kasa yi aboa ma aguadi atu mpↄn na ԑde nkitahodi mapa abԑto nnipa no ntԑm. Dwumadi yi bԑboa atwe amanfo adwen asi akwan ahorow a kasa a wↄn akasafo sua nam so bԑkora wↄn kasa so.

Source: UEW
Tactile and sign language interpreting experiences of interpreters of University of Education, Winneba

This study examined the tactile and sign language interpreting (TSLI) experiences of interpreters who are with deaf and deafblind (DDB) students at the university of education winneba (UEW). A qualitative research approach and a phenomenological design were used. Semi-structured interview guide was used to gather data from 15 interpreters. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that sign language interpreters could not interpret some courses such as; mathematics, early childhood, basic education, and graphic design because the interpreters were not familiar with the content of these programs. It was revealed that some of the interpreters preferred interpreting at the lecture hall to interpreting at a social gathering because the lecturers provide them with their lecture slides. Also, it was revealed that majority of interpreters preferred interpreting simultaneously because it enabled them to interpret well for the DDB students. The findings of the study revealed that interpreters at UEW were trekking by foot from one geographical area to another (campus to campus) to provide interpreting services for DBB. Furthermore, it was revealed that team interpreting was supporting approach that helped interpreting work. Recommendations made included providing means of transport services to support the interpreters in moving from one campus to another, to deliver their services and providing in-service training for interpreters at least twice a semester to help interpreters improve their signing skills.

Source: UEW
Tailor-made blended cement for sustainable concrete in Ghana

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world compared to other known construction materials including steel, glass, aluminium and timber. The reason for its wide usage is because of its low embodied energy, an indicator of carbon emissions into the environment. However, since the volume of concrete used globally is very huge, the environmental impact is great and hence any little improvement on concrete ingredients will have real impact. A possible improvement of concrete is a good focus on Portland cement since embodied carbon dioxide in concrete is a function of cement content in the mix. In this work two sets of mortars were formulated; one with clay pozzolans and water reducers and the other was the pozzolans containing no water reducers. The performance of the two sets of mortars were evaluated based on their strength properties which were performed in accordance with the ASTM C109 standards. In the work, Portland cement was replaced by the clay pozzolan between 10% and 40% by weight. The clay pozzolan used was from waste crushed bricks obtained. The results of the blended cement mortars were compared with the unblended cement mortars. The results of the study indicated that for the mortars containing pozzolan and the water reducers, the optimum cement replacement was 30 wt.% of the pozzolan. For the mortars containing only the pozzolans, the strength values recorded a progressive reduction with the increasing content of the pozzolan in the cement matrix. The study recommended that 30 wt.% replacement of cement and the addition of water reducers could be used to formulate 42.5 grade cement whereas between 20-30 wt.% of only pozzolan content could be fit for a 32.5 grade of cement. � 2019 International Committee of the SCMT conferences. All rights reserved.

Source: UEW
Tax audit and compliance among corporate entities the role of tax education and fear-appealing messages

The study examined the role of tax education and fear-appealing messages in the linkage between tax audit and tax compliance among corporate entities in Ghana using the Greater Accra Region as the case study. Using the correlational research design and a quantitative research approach the study focused on a clustered population of 766 companies representing the Weija-Gbawe Municipality. Sampling 256 corporate entities, questionnaires were administered with an 80% response rate. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings recorded a significant and positive relationship between tax audit and tax compliance. Again, tax education mediates the existing relationship between tax audit and tax compliance. However, fear-appealing messages negatively but significantly affects tax audit and tax compliance. The study concluded that regular organization of tax audits and thorough selection of the tax audit unit collectively contribute to the effectiveness of the tax audit process resulting in enhanced tax compliance. Therefore, the Ghana Revenue Authority must increase the pace to increasing tax audit frequency which would lead to an improved level of tax compliance among corporate entities in Ghana.

Source: UEW
Tax education and fear-appealing messages: A grease or sand in the wheels of tax compliance?

The phenomenon of tax education, fear-appealing, and the convenience of tax has become vital in contemporary tax revenue discourse as it is believed that non-compliance of tax has adverse implications on the revenue generation capacity, especially in developing countries. This study departs from the traditional studies on tax compliance by examining the relationship between tax education, committed tax compliance, and capitulative tax compliance among the self-employed in the context of a hierarchical regression. The research design was cross-sectional and correlational using a sample of 400 respondents from a population of 28,355. The results show that albeit tax education and the convenience of tax compliance act as grease in the wheels of committed tax compliance, with both establishing a significant positive relationship with committed tax compliance while fear-appealing messages act as sand in the wheels of committed tax compliance. Also, convenience tax compliance positively influences committed tax compliance while general tax knowledge, fear-appealing messages, and convenience compliance have a unique contribution to capitulative tax compliance. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the revenue authorities should make tax laws less complex to reduce the cost of compliance and enhance tax convenience. Also, regulators of the education sector in conjunction with the revenue authorities should introduce basic tax education as a compulsory course into the school curriculum to boost general tax knowledge because it enhances tax compliance. � 2022 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.

Source: UEW
Tax mobilisation in the informal sector in Ghana :A case of the Cape Coast metropolitan assembly

Revenue mobilisation is one of the key activities of every government across the globe. One of the major means through which governments generate and mobilise revenue to undertake developmental activities is through taxation. In third world countries like Ghana, mobilising revenue from the informal sector has become a burdensome adventure. This is as a result of a large informal sector in place which is home to most of the economic players. In Ghana, it is estimated that, only 20% of Ghanaians pay direct income tax which is a very worrying situation. This thesis therefore, uses the mixed method approach to examine tax mobilisation in the informal sector in Ghana with Cape Coast as its area of study. The views of 396 respondents from the informal sector were sought using questionnaire as well as 5 elite interviews were conducted. After analysis of the data, the study revealed that, lack of permanent and visible place of business, poor record keeping practices and poor accounting practices, high illiteracy rate, lack of motivation and incentive as well as inadequate revenue collectors affect revenue mobilisation from the informal sector. Additionally, the study revealed that, individuals would work in the informal sector because of the low tax rate as compared to the formal sector, cumbersome bureaucratic procedure in the formal sector compared to the informal sector, high rate of illiteracy, and inadequate job opportunities in the formal sector. Also, the study revealed that, the use of ICT tools has a positive correlation with tax mobilisation in the informal sector. On the basis of the above, the study therefore recommended motivation for tax collectors to reduce corruption, use of ICT tools to enhance tax collection, broadening of the tax net, and proper accounting procedures amongst others as policy actions to be taken to enable more revenues to be generated from the informal sector.

Source: UEW
Tax policies, exchange rate movement, ease of doing business and FDI flows in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the dynamics and the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the ECOWAS subregion within the context of tax policy, exchange rate movements and ease of doing business. Having adopted a quantitative research approach and a causal research design, the study obtained secondary data from 15 ECOWAS member countries using a census sampling technique. By using both random effect and fixed effect panel regression analysis techniques, the study found that tax policy and exchange rate movements registered negative effect on foreign direct investments whereas ease of doing business recorded a positive effect. The study concludes that high taxes and weakening domestic currency are inimical to foreign direct investment whereas creating a conducive business environment characterized by political stability, certainties in the financial ecosystem and minimized regulatory bottlenecks incentivize the establishment and expansion of businesses in the local economy. The study recommends for optimum tax policies, strong currency-targeted monetary policies and business-friendly regulatory regimes that attract foreign investors into the Ghanaian local economy.

Source: UEW
Taxonomic and community composition of epigeal arthropods in monoculture and mixed tree species plantations in a deciduous forest of Ghana

Tropical forests provide several ecosystem services and functions and support approximately two-thirds of the world�s biodiversity but are seriously threatened by deforestation. Approaches to counteract this menace have revolved around afforestation with several or a single tree species. We thus investigated how plantation forests with either a single or several tree species influenced arthropod taxonomic and community composition using pitfall traps to sample selected groups of epigeal arthropods (Araneae, Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera) and with environmental variables assessed simultaneously. Our results revealed 54 taxonomic groups with significantly higher taxonomic richness, activity density, and diversity in the mixed stands than in the monoculture stands. The significant differences in community composition were mainly driven by families including Lycosidae, Formicidae, Staphylinidae, Scotylidae, Hydrophilidae, Gryllidae and Scarabaeidae and were explained by distinct habitat characteristics (canopy openness, litter depth, deadwood volume, and tree height). While the diverse tree communities and heterogeneous vegetation structure offered food and habitat resources for diverse arthropod groups, the allelopathic nature coupled with homogenous stand characteristics of the Tectona grandis stands in the monoculture suppressed the growth of understorey vegetation that could otherwise serve as food and habitat resources for arthropods, which might have led to limited activities and diversity of arthropods in the monoculture plantation stands. The findings thus highlight the need to promote mixed tree plantations in degraded tropical areas, especially when restoring biodiversity is the prime management focus. � 2022, The Author(s).

Source: UEW
Teacher approaches in remediating reading difficulties among struggling readers at Unipra south cluster of schools in Winneba

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the approaches teachers use to remediate reading difficulties among struggling readers at Unipra South Cluster of Schools at Winneba. Five research questions were raised on the five essential components of reading, namely; phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. The bottom-up theory was used to guide the study. A case study design was used for four basic four English teachers who were purposively sampled. A semi-structured interview with an interview guide was used to collect data through focus group. Data were analysed using thematic approach. Results of the study showed that identification of letter names before letter sounds yields greater results in learning to read. Results of the study found onset and rime and consonant-vowel consonant (CVC) methods as effective approaches in improving skills in phonemic awareness for struggling readers. The study further revealed model and unison reading as effective strategies in fluency instruction. Writing keywords and picture description were found to improve vocabulary among struggling readers. Also, the use of mnemonics, and graphic organizers were instructional methods used to improve comprehension skills among struggling readers. Lastly, the study recommended that teachers should embark on professional development programmes to be equipped with current strategies on the five basic components of reading.

Source: UEW