ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Use of VNTR locus D1S80 variability in assessing genetic relationships of individuals from selected families in the Kumasi Metropolis

Several challenges bordering on paternity has been of much interest in our society today due to increased infidelity in marriages, rape cases, inheritance of estates of deceased parents and immigration issues. There is, therefore, the need for a more reliable technique for establishing the paternity of children in such families. The aim of this study was to assess genetic relationship involving the use of Variable Number of Tandem Repeats D1S80 DNA fingerprinting marker among individuals from 13 selected families of Anwomaso Township in the Kumasi Metropolis. Whole blood samples were collected from the study subjects. A part of the samples was used for ABO blood typing and the remaining used to extract genomic DNA. The DNA samples served as template in the subsequent polymerase chain reaction involving primers for the VNTR DIS80 marker. The PCR product representing the amplified VNTR regions were resolved on 2.5% agarose gel. The allelic bands scored were analyzed with NTSYSpc version 2.1 for similarity among members of the families. The ABO blood typing results for all the families involved in the study agreed 100% with the measured ABO phenotypes of the children although definitive paternity could not be established. The DNA finger print confirmed paternity of 24 children (82.7%) while five failed the paternity test. Two children in two different families, F2 and F6, were neither related to the supposed father nor mother and thus suggesting adoption of the children by the families. In one of the thirteen families, none of the two children had genetic relationship with the supposed father. It is concluded from this study that the use of VNTR DIS80 locus for DNA fingerprinting is more robust and definitive in refining paternity determination among families compared to the ABO system.

Source: KNUST
Use of VNTR Locus D1S80 variability in assessing genetic relationships of individuals from selected families in the Kumasi Metropolis

Several challenges bordering on paternity has been of much interest in our society today due to increased infidelity in marriages, rape cases, inheritance of estates of deceased parents and immigration issues. There is, therefore, the need for a more reliable technique for establishing the paternity of children in such families. The aim of this study was to assess genetic relationship involving the use of Variable Number of Tandem Repeats D1S80 DNA fingerprinting marker among individuals from 13 selected families of Anwomaso Township in the Kumasi Metropolis. Whole blood samples were collected from the study subjects. A part of the samples was used for ABO blood typing and the remaining used to extract genomic DNA. The DNA samples served as template in the subsequent polymerase chain reaction involving primers for the VNTR DIS80 marker. The PCR product representing the amplified VNTR regions were resolved on 2.5% agarose gel. The allelic bands scored were analyzed with NTSYSpc version 2.1 for similarity among members of the families. The ABO blood typing results for all the families involved in the study agreed 100% with the measured ABO phenotypes of the children although definitive paternity could not be established.The DNA finger print confirmed paternity of 24 children (82.7%) while five failed the paternity test. Two children in two different families, F2 and F6, were neither related to the supposed father nor mother and thus suggesting adoption of the children by the families. In one of the thirteen families, none of the two children had genetic relationship with the supposed father. It is concluded from this study that the use of VNTR DIS80 locus for DNA fingerprinting is more robust and definitive in refining paternity determination among families compared to the ABO system.

Source: KNUST
The use of VLF-EM technique to determine the dip of the Anyankyerim Gold Deposit

The very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) technique has been used to determine the dip, the strike and the depth to the top of the zone of mineralization and the strike of the Anyankyerim gold deposit. In addition, a regional soil sampling assay results have been analysed and threshold values of 0.l3ppm and 85.l9ppm for both gold and arsenic were achieved. These threshold values were used to select trenching sites and to delineate the area for the geophysical survey. VL-EM survey was carried out along twenty seven traverses across the trend of mineralization. The traverses were 60 metres apart with station interval of 10 metres. The VLF-EM real component values were Fraser filtered and the positive filtered values were contoured. Quantitative interpretation involving the use of Baker and Myer’s graph model techniques have been applied to the VLF-EM data to determine the dip and the depth of the mineralization zone. An average dip of 80° in the northwest direction was achieved for the mineralized zone, which were mainly mineralized granites and meta-sediments. The average depth to the top of the mineralized zone was also found to be 1, 2 metres.

Source: KNUST
User experiences of a mobile phone-based health information and surveillance system (mHISS): A case of caregivers of children under-five in rural communities in Ghana

The rapid advancement of mobile technology has fueled the use of mobile devices for health interventions and for improving healthcare provision in underserved communities. Despite the potential of mHealth being used as a health information and surveillance tool, its scale up has been challenging and, in most cases, unable to advance beyond the pilot stage of implementation. The purpose of this study was to explore user experiences of a mobile phone-based interactive voice response (IVR) system among caregivers of children under five in rural communities in the Asante Akim North District of Ghana. Methods The study adopted an exploratory design. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 35 participants who had used an IVR system for at least six months for the study. About 11 in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions were conducted among par ticipants using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic content analysis was utilized for the analysis of data in this study. Result The system was found to be acceptable, and the attitude of caregivers towards the system was also positive. The study discovered that the mobile phone-based Health Information and Surveillance System (mHISS) was useful for improving access to healthcare

Source: KNUST
Using Atanackovic and Stankovic Numerical Method to Investigate Fractional Order Cholera Model

In this work, we investigate the dynamical behavior of a fractional order cholera model. Here, we developed interest in the use of the deterministic model proposed by Codeco in 2001. The fractional order cholera model is converted to a system of ordinary differential equations of integer order by using Atanackovic and Stankovic numerical method and is then solved numerically by using the fourth order well-known Runge-Kutta method. All the feasible equilibria for the system are obtained and the conditions for the existence of interior equilibrium are determined. Local stability analysis of the cholera model is studied by using the fractional Routh-Hurwitz stability conditions. The findings reveal that, the disease dies out at the disease free equilibrium state but will persist at the endemic state and that the concentration of toxigenic vibrio cholerae in water largely depends on (i) the rate of exposure to contaminated water (parameter a) and (ii) the contribution of each effected person to the aquatic environment (parameter ).

Source: KNUST
The uses of instructional media as a training tool for adolescent sex education

The purpose of this study is to identify the various instructional media used in adolescents sex education programmes their strengths and weaknesses and how to improve upon them. Data were obtained from facilitators, tutors, health workers, students and peer educators of sample facilities within the Kumasi Metropolis in Ashanti Region. Observations, questionnaires and interviews were carried out as research instruments. Results prove that there were high percentages of adolescents (peer educators) who have access to maximum oral presentation with minimal visual presentation and has lead them to their inability to understand and practice what they have learnt and to teach others. The issues adolescence inability to understand and practice what they have learnt and to teach others was addressed through providing new instructional media and improving upon the existing instructional media in the health sector as far as sex education is concerned. The improvement gave adolescents the necessary support and encouragement to be able to understand and practice what they have been taught.

Source: KNUST
Using Binary Logistic and Quantile Regressions for Determinants of Preterm Birth in Ghana. Case Study; Ahafo Ano South District, Ashanti Region

Using data obtained from the Biostatistics Unit at the Mankranso Government Hospital, this thesis examines the prevalence rate and determinant factors of preterm birth at the Ahafo Ano South District. Retrospective data on relevant variables of delivered mothers and the neonates were extracted from the database of the unit. The extracted data used in this hospital-based study spans from January 2012 to the rst quarter of 2013. The study excluded still-birth or macerated babies from its analysis. The binary quantile and logistic regressions were employed to ascertain the causal factors of preterm birth and the associated causal e ects. Out of the 711 live births, 336, representing 47.3% were born preterm; meaning approximately, every 4 out of 9 babies are born preterm in the district. From the binary logit regression, the study identi ed the baby's weight, the age of the delivered mother, intermittent preventive treatment and number of conceived fetuses, as signi cant determinant factors of pretermbirth. In addition to these variables, the bivarite analysis included gravidity and parity. The Bayesian binary quantile regression at a lower quantile of = 0:05 recorded signi cant varying e ects for maternal age, APGAR score of the newly born at 5 minutes, antenatal, delivery type, parity and complication during the pregnancy cycle. However, at the median and upper-tail quantiles, no signi cant e ects were recorded.

Source: KNUST
Using Bromilow’s Model and Other Regression Model to Predict the Duration of Feeder Road Projects in Ghana

Contract duration is the period from the commencement date to its scheduled expiration date. This duration could be determined using a scientific model when the cost of the project is available. The study sought to develop a model for predicting the duration of feeder road construction projects in Ghana.A case study involving COCOBOD and donor funded completed road projects of Department of Feeder Roads under the Ministry of Roads and Highways in Ashanti and BrongAhafo regions in Ghana was used. The projects used for the study were extracted from the progress reports in the Department Data Base (Secondary Source). Using sample size of similar study (Kaka and Price, 1991), seventy projects extracted. Views of the Quantity Surveyors and the Engineers were also collected through interview survey. The data was analysed using the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) for both the linear and curve estimation regression models. The result showed that Bromilow’s time cost (BTC) model is applicable to the Department of Feeder Road (DFR) projects and is of the form T = 64C0.134. The curve estimation regression models provided a much more useful equation for predicting duration for Department of Feeder Road (DFR) projects. The model,using the logarithm equation was found to be most appropriate and is of the form T = -269.950 + 50.138LnC. This provides an alternative for the BTC model for DFR projects. The developed models identified in this research serve as convenient and useful tools for quantity surveyors, engineers, project managers and contractors with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to predict the reasonable time required for the delivery of a feeder road construction projects in Ghana. The models provide a basis for these professionals to estimate the duration of projects to supplement the current practice based on individual’s experience. The study has shown the models to be useful in predicting duration of feeder road projects. Future work may incorporate other factors and explore the sensitivities of these factors to the duration of projects.

Source: KNUST
Using conceptual art forms as a means of therapy for Junior High School students

Adolescence is regarded as a transitional period because of prevalence of stress and anxiety which are likely to affect the academic performance of students of that age. This research explores possibility of the use of art therapy to manage prevailing circumstances of the adolescent students in J.H S. 1 and 3, by designing variety of art activities that can assist them to express themselves and reduce stress, and assess the effect of these exercises. The questions for the research also seeks the role of art therapy in schools, how conceptual art forms can help J.H.S. students relax and relieve stress as well as the effect of the activities. The descriptive type of research methodology was adopted using a Post-drawing Interrogation (P.D.I.) and House-Tree-Person (H-T-P) model as data gathering and interpretation devices respectively. The sampling procedure that was employed was the purposive type. The variety of projective drawings rendered depict the level of consciousness of the students about their environment and also show some activities that make some students pick up certain behaviours such as bullying and absenteeism. As a matter of policy, Ministries, departments and agencies should empower institutions under them to use the creative arts therapy as a means for relaxation and stress relief.

Source: KNUST
Using drones to transport suspected COVID-19 samples; experiences from the second largest testing centre in Ghana, West Africa

The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11 2020, by the World Health Organi sation prompted the need for a sustained and a rapid international response. In a swift response, the Government of Ghana, in partnership with Zipline company, launched the use of Unmanned Automated Vehicles (UAV) to transport suspected samples from selected dis tricts to two foremost testing centres in the country. Here, we present the experiences of employing this technology and its impact on the transport time to the second largest testing centre, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) inKumasi, Ghana. Methods Swab samples collected from suspected COVID-19 patients were transported to the Zipline office by health workers. Information on the samples were sent to laboratory personnel

Source: KNUST
Using education as a tool for girl-child empowerment (a case of Garu-Tempani District, Ghana)

In many countries, economic growth has been available to finance education expansion, but many millions remain in poverty and are unschooled or illiterate.Africa is lagging behind other regions of the world in female enrolment ratios and female school and this can be attributed to violence perpetuated against girls which results in sexual, physical, or psychological harm. While Ghana has made considerable progress under the FCUBE programme and subsequent reform initiatives to expand free primary education for a rapidly expanding school age population throughout the country, the education system in Ghana continues to struggle with a number of critical challenges in achieving its Education for All targets by 2015, particularly in the areas of girls enrolment, retention and quality improvement in girl child education. The importance of girls’ education cannot be over emphasized as it contributes to improved quality of life and enhances national development through increased economic production rates, improved hygiene and nutritional practices, reduced child and maternal mortality rate. The case study approach was adopted to undertake the research where data was collected from both primary and secondary sources.The purposive sampling method was adopted for data collection process. Also, the simple random sampling technique (lottery method) was employed in the selection of pupils, teachers and head teachers to ensure an unbiased representative of the various units of analysis. The research revealed that there are some cultural practices that cause low educational status of the girl child in the Garu-Tempani District.However, there are other factors besides the cultural factors that affect girl education in the district such as the operation of ‘deck’, agricultural activities, and distance to school.It was also revealed the dropout among boys and girls lead to premature parenthood,drug addiction and premature and unprotected sex which results to the contraction of STDs .. The study made a number of policy recommendations to enhance the education of the girl child such as by-laws to banned the practice of ‘deck’, organizing markets during the day, banned on child betrothal, offenders of traditional practice such as FGM to prosecuted to serve as deterrent.

Source: KNUST
Using Erdas imagine model to determine suitable inland valleys for rice cultivation at selected sites in Brong Ahafo and Western Regions of Ghana

Rice (Oryza sativa) has become one of the major food staples in Ghana. It is estimated that demand for rice in Ghana will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 11.8% from 939,920 - 1,644,221 metric tons from 2010 to 2015. Though there has been some increase in production it does not match the increase in consumption. This study seeks to determine the most suitable areas for inland valley rice cultivation using computer based models for selected sites (15km by 15km) in the Brong Ahafo Region and Western Region of Ghana. A sensitivity analysis was carried out using a stepwise exclusion method, excluding one parameter at a time from the model and the highly suitable area estimated. Parameters that caused least or no change in highly suitable area were completely taken out of the model. Weights of selected parameters were varied to see how changes in weight affect the highly suitable area. Finally, 12 most sensitive input parameters were identified from the initial 22 to include: rainfall, discharge, slope, stream order, length of rice growth, markets, roads, post harvest technology, land tenure, incentive net benefit, soil fertility and credit systems. These were used to model for five suitability classes namely: highly suitable, suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and not suitable. The model results based on parameters having equal weights showed that 0.51% and 11.77% of the total study area were highly suitable and suitable respectively for the Brong Ahafo Region site and 1.42% and 21.41% of the total study area were highly suitable and suitable respectively for the Western Region site. Based on unequal weights, 0.77% and 7.64% were highly suitable and suitable respectively for the Brong Ahafo Region site and 0.86% and 13.57% were highly suitable and suitable respectively for the Western Region site. A 0.6% increase in highly suitable area was recorded whilst 7.84% decrease in area was recorded for suitable area when the results of the original model were compared with those of the modified one.

Source: KNUST
The "using French proverbs in" Education/French foreign language: the case of learners Senior High School, Barekase

This study aims at finding the efficient use of French proverbs in the teaching and learning of French: a case study of Barekese Senior High School It was urgent to work on this topic because we had realised that French teachers especially those in Barekese, use inefficient teaching methods which make teaching and learning of the French language very difficult. However, there is the need to choose different activities starting with the use of French proverbs which makes teaching and learning very simple and interesting. It is to this effect that at the end of the study we proposed some activities using proverbs in teaching French.

Source: KNUST
Using GIS to Determine Waste Transfer Stations in Relation to Location of Landfill Site in the Accra Metropolis

The existing landfill sites in Accra are reaching full capacity and the acquisition of land for the construction of landfill sites has become very difficult due to rapid developmental activities in Accra. However, with the current rate of development which will cause the construction of landfill sites far from the source of generation, there is the urgent need to get an intermediate facility, i.e., waste transfer station where waste would be processed and compacted in long distance trucks to reduce the cost of waste transport and disposal. The objective of the study was to determine suitable places that could be used as waste transfer stations in relation to location of landfill sites using Geographic Information System (GIS). Here, coordinates of all the container sites in Accra were determined with the Geographic Positioning System (GPS). The coordinates were then converted into points using ArcGIS and Microsoft Excel 2007 to help analysed the data collected. From the study four transfer stations were located with the help of the GIS, namely: Ablekuman and Amomola (Transfer station 1) Oblogo and Weija (Transfer station 2) Ashongman and Agbogba (Transfer station 3) Ashaley Botwe and Ogbozdo (Transfer station 4).

Source: KNUST
Using GIS and multi criteria decision making to determine suitable dam sites in the Upper West Region of Ghana

The availability of water for use is alarmingly becoming an issue of concern globally and if measures are not implemented to curb this, then the world over faces an impending water scarcity crisis. Studies conducted by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) indicate that by 2050, over two billion people will live under high water stress situations. This invariably would limit development and affect quality of lives. Water scarcity and water stress situations will also invariably lead to a decrease in Agricultural output. Dams provide an option for harvesting and storing water for various uses. Irrigation could also be a solution to the decline of agricultural output in the country. However, even though dams are designed to collect and store water for use, for them to function at optimum levels, they have to be sited appropriately. In Ghana, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) is the government agency primarily tasked with the construction and management of dams. However selecting suitable sites for these dams is done manually and quiet subjectively. This traditional site selection process is tedious fails to accentuate certain terrain characteristics that are not readily visible and may only be highlighted in a GIS environment This study employs the use of GIS and Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) in siting dams using five factors namely Slope, Rainfall, Soil type, protected zones and Settlements. The results shows a suitability map for dam sites. From the map, 4.3% of the study area is suitable for dam construction, 33% of the area averagely suitable, 53.9% poorly suitable and 8.8% unsuitable for dam construction. The study goes further to propose four specific dam sites, determined the profiles and estimates volumetric capacities of these sites and it was found that the sites had capacities of 219,000m3, 1,312,500m3, 557,666m3 and 375,000m3 respectively for dam sites 1, 2, 3 and 4. In conclusion, it is asserted that GIS is a powerful tool that can be effectively used to help in determining suitable sites for dam construction and provides an improvement on the current traditional site selection process employed by decision makers.

Source: KNUST