ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect Of Green Supply Chain On Firm Performance

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of green supply chain management on the performance of firms in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry. The study specifically focused on: examining the effect of government policies on green supply chain management in FMCG companies, the effect of technology on green supply chain management in FMCG companies and the effect of green supply chain management on performance of FMCG companies. The study adopted the descriptive research design to collect primary data from 60 FMCG companies within the Accra Metropolis using structured questionnaire with close-ended questions. The raw data was subjected to analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for the purposes of making meaning out of the responses. The findings of the study showed that a significant positive association exist between government policies and green supply chain. It was also found that a significant positive association exists between technology and green supply chain. Finally, the results showed that a significant positive association exists between green supply chain and firm performance among FMCG companies in Ghana. The study recommends that great strides be made by government to motivate all FMCG companies to have the incentives in encouraging and employing strategies of green supply chain. Secondly the study recommends that managers of FMCG companies should organize seminars as well as round table discussions and make the structure of green supply chain practices very transparent to customers and employees. Lastly, it is important that the managers organize continuous research to investigate green supply chain management and FMCG firm performance and how these two concepts can help achieve organizational goals.

Source: KNUST
The effect of harvesting time, seed treatment and storage containers on the quality (viability) of seeds of Soyabean (Glycine Max L. Merril)

Four experiments were set up investigate two cultivars of s6yälean, TGX 536-02D and TGX813-6D at the Department of Horticulture, U.S.T., Kumasi. Seeds of the two cultivars were harvested for storage at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days after bysio1ogical maturity was reached. This was equivalent to 95, 100,- 105, 110, 115 and 120 Days Alter Emergence (DAE) respectively. All seeds were dried to 11% moisture content and stored in either polythene, cloth or per bags in the laboratory at room temperature. Seed viability (germination), weight, protein and oil contents were determined at periodic intervals. Results indicated that for both cultivars, seed viability was highest when harvested5 days after physiological maturity. Seeds harvested at this period recorded a germination of 83% after six (6) months in storage in sealed polythene bags in the laboratory at room temperature At I 0. 15, 20, 25 and 30 days after physiological maturity germination figures recorded for TGX 536- 02D were 66%, 44%, 18%, 11% and 5% respectively when stored for six months in sealed polythene bags. Similar figures were recorded for TQX 813-6D (viz 69%, 41%, 20%, 11% and 5% respectively For TGX 536-02D, seeds harvested 25 and 30 days after physiological maturity were found to have lost 36% and 43% viability respectively even before storage. However CV TGX 813-6D recorded a viability lost of 27% and 36% respectively. Generally, percentage germination decreased with delay in harvesting. The various stages of harvesting (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days after physiological maturity) had no effect on the oil and protein content of seeds. Again these harvesting stages had no significant effect on seed weight and ultimately on seed yield. Among the three container types used (viz polythene, cloth and paper) polythene vas found to give the best protection to seeds. Polythene bags kept seeds harvested 5 days after physiological maturity alive for up to eight (8) months at room temperature ($1 % germination for TGX 536-02D and TGX 81 3-6D respectively). Seeds of the same lot kept in either cloth or paper bags lost their viability within live (5) months in storage under the same conditions (i.e. 42% and 4g% germination respectively for CV TGX 536-02D and 49% and 5% respectively for CV TGX 813-6D). With the chemical treatments, Neem seed oil and Neem leaf powder proved as effective as the imported Actellic (pirimiphos methyl). Neem seed oil just as the pirimiphos methyl gave 100% protection for up to six (6) months. Whereas Neem leaf power gave up to 85% protection groundnut oil was found to be ineffective against Ephestia cautella. For both cultivars, pH of seed exudate of the various stages of harvesting kept decreasing with storage. When kept in storage for periods ranging from two (2) to eight (8) weeks, pH values recorded for CVs TGX 536-02D and TGX g13-6D were 6.80 - 6.60 and 6.87 - 6.59 respectively.

Source: KNUST
The Effect of Height and frequency of Defoliation on the growth, chemical composition and nutritive value Guatemala grass (tripsacum laxum, nash).

The experiment was conducted on the Arable Crops Farms of the University of Science and technology (U.S.T.), Kumasi, Ghana, to find out the effects of height and frequency of cutting on growth chemical composition and the nutritive value of Guatemala grass (tripsacum laxum nash). The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial design consisting of 3 heights (10, 25 and 40cm) and 3 frequencies (4, 8 and 12 weeks) of cutting. The height and frequency of the treatments were assigned to the plots randomly. Thus there were 9 treatments in each block and these treatments were replicated 3 times. Lax and moderate defoliation gave higher DMY, old tillers (OT), leaf stem ratio (LSR), Crude Fibre (CF) and higher yields of Nitrogen (N), Crude Ash (CA), Digestible Dry Matter (DDM) than severe defoliation. Severe defoliation, however, resulted in higher N, DDM and water Soluble Carbohydrate (WSCHO or Sol CHO) contents of the grass. Height of defoliation had no effect on the weight per tiller, number of new tillers (NT), number of dead tillers (DT), leaf and stem dry matter. Infrequent defoliation gave higher DMY, number of dead tillers, number of new tillers, weight per tiller, increased the leaf and stem dry matter contents and also resulted in higher CF, WSCHO, %DM, number of old tillers and higher yields of nutrients. Frequent defoliation on the other hand, gave higher content of N, CA, DDM, higher LSR and number of old tillers than infrequent defoliation. DMY, weight per tiller, CF, and number of new tillers were higher in the wet season than in the dry season. The DDM and WSCHO were higher in the dry season than in the wet season. CA, N, number of old and dead tillers remained similar in both seasons. Height of defoliation showed significant differences in yield, chemical composition and nutritive value only at the 4-week cutting internal and not at 8 or 12-week cutting interval. Since yield was higher in the wet season than in the dry season, excess fodder in the wet season could be conserved as hay or silage for dry feeding. Severe frequent defoliation resulted in the best quality forage but at the same time led to lower yields and death, especially, towards the latter part of the dry season. It would seem that in order to obtain high yields and good quality fodder, Guatemala grass may be defoliated at a height of about 25cm at 8 week cutting interval.

Source: KNUST
Effect Of High Quality Cassava Flour Supplementation On The Glycaemic Index And Load Of Bread

The combination of wheat flour with non-wheat flour in bread making has the potential of lowering glycaemic response. Bread with up to 20% High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) substitution levels has been developed with good consumer acceptance. However, some consumers perceive cassava as a high glycaemic food. This study sought to determine the effect of HQCF supplementation on the glycaemic index and glycaemic load of bread. A previously developed standardized recipe was used in making tea bread and sugar bread by substituting wheat flour with HQCF at 10 and 20% levels with 0% HQCF as control. Resistant starch and in-vitro enzymatic hydrolysis of starch of the breads were determined. 24 volunteers (10 females and 14 males) were recruited for a crossover trial. Each volunteer was served with the 6 test breads and D-Glucose as reference sample during which the postprandial glucose response was measured over 2 h. Sugar bread samples recorded lower resistant starch values (8.79 to 10.02 g/100 g) than the tea bread samples (8.87 to 10.85 g/100 g). Cassava flour had the least estimated glycaemic index (76.49) among the samples compared to wheat flour (94.61). Under both in-vivo and in-vitro study conditions, increasing the level of HQCF substitution corresponded with a decrease in GI in both composite flour and bread samples. Tea bread samples had lower GI values compared to sugar bread samples at all levels of substitution. The glycaemic load of tea bread samples ranged from 25 to 30 whiles that of sugar bread samples ranged from 28 to 32. There was a weak positive correlation (r= 0.6379; R2 = 0.4069) between the in-vitro GI and in-vivo GI analyses for the test breads. Increasing the level of HQCF substitution in bread samples increased resistant starch content and reduced glycaemic index and load values. Thus, exploring composite wheat-cassava bread formulation with reduced glycaemic response would be of great importance to the bakery industry.

Source: KNUST
The effect of highway bypass on socio-economic life of Nkawkaw town,

The Kumasi – Accra Road is a section of the National highway network (route N6) and like most national road networks in Ghana, it passes through towns. The continuous cluster of these towns and communities along the highways and their attendant negative effects on traffic mobility and safety has increased the demand for bypassing them. The construction of highway bypasses has resulted in important economic benefits. Perhaps the most significant benefit is the travel time savings of through motorists who avoid the slower speeds, stops, and congestion associated with driving through towns. Highway bypasses also result in benefits for residents of towns with bypasses. For example, by diverting trucks and other through traffic away from the main town, traffic congestion and noise is reduced. Also traffic safety is enhanced due to reduced pedestrian -vehicle conflicts, and the local population is less exposed to health-threatening vehicle emissions and hazardous materials. In addition, highway bypasses enable local motorists to realize travel time savings when driving from one end of the town to the other. Despite the benefits of highway bypasses, they remain controversial. Some local business owners in the town being bypassed may be concerned that the reduction of traffic passing through the town will adversely affect their sales. This is especially the case for travel related businesses such as hotels, restaurants. Case studies of the economic impacts of highway bypasses on individual towns are needed since the effects of bypasses may vary a great deal from place to place. This research identifies the effect of highway bypasses on the socio-economic life of Nkawkaw town. Also it is important to discover which types of businesses are impacted by MSc Construction Mgt,2014 iv Nkawkaw highway bypasses, and the magnitude of the impact. Accordingly, the objectives of this research are; a) To identify the economic impact of the bypass on businesses trader s b) to identify the environmental and safety impact on the local habitats In achieving the above objective, a case study approach methodology was adopted. The method adopted was mainly qualitative. Questionnaires were administered to the inhabitants of the Nkawkaw town along the old route and in the central business area in an attempt to collect data which comprised the perception of residents, business owners and opinion leaders to access the impact of the bypass. The research concluded that the construction of the bypass has served the purpose of improving traffic flow by reducing congestion on the old route but has also brought a reduction of sales and customers to the previously drive through traffic related businesses. It has also resulted in a environmental and safety benefits. On the whole, the bypass has been perceived to have positively affected the entire life of people in Nkawkaw.

Source: KNUST
The effect of health and safety standards on productivity in Ghana Rubber Estates Limited

This study is about the effect of health and safety standards on productivity. The objective was to identify the health and safety standards in Ghana Rubber Estates Limited, to determine the effect of health and safety standards on employees’ productivity, to determine employees’ level of understanding of health and safety policies, to assess the attitude of management towards the health and safety of employees and to identify challenges of the implementation of health and safety standards in the organization. The study was limited to the management and production staff of Ghana Rubber Estates Limited. Research questionnaire and interview guide were developed and distributed to a sample of 120 workers comprising of both production staff as well as management. Responses received were from the entire sample. The study revealed that employees’ productivity is influence by management safety practices and safety programmes, management attitude towards health and safety, investigation of accidents, supervisors’ safety, and training of employees on safety standards held in the organisation. It also revealed that health and safety standards if managed effectively have a positive impact on productivity. It was therefore recommended that organizations should put in place active health and safety committees which should be given full mandate to implement their recommendations. Moreover, copies of organisational safety and health procedures should be given to employees so that they may be aware of the laid down policies, rules and safety precautions to reduce accidents in the organisation as well as health and safety measures should be in place and employees should be trained on how to use the emergency facilities in case of a problem. There should be a continuous review of occupational health and safety policies, to ensure that firms have up to date safety measures in place.

Source: KNUST
Effect of heating time on yield and quality of soybean meal and oil

The effect of pre-heating time and number of presses of soybean on the percentage yield and quality of soybean oil and cake were investigated in this study. Pre -heat treatment does not only reduce or denature some anti nutritional factors but it also helps in the process of oil extraction. Pre-heat treatment increased the levels of protein and minerals which can be used in diets to prevent some mineral deficiencies. Ro asting is one of the common ways used to pre-heat soybeans before extraction. The soybean oil extraction parameters examined were percentage yield, free fatty acid (FFA), acid value, peroxide, saponification and ester value. Proximate analysis and percent age cake yield of soybean cake were also studied. The cold pressed (control) single pressed soybean cake (SPSC) had the highest cake yield of 87.17% followed by 86.25%, 85.85%, 84.52% and 82.50% which were pre-heated for 20, 35, 45 and 55 minutes respectively. The corresponding double pressed soybean cakes (DPSCs) had lower yields than their single pressed soybean cakes (SPSCs). Single pressed soybean oil obtained after pre-heating for 35 minutes had an oil yield of 11.35%. Acid value, FFA, ester value, peroxide value and saponification values increased as heating time increased. Double pressed soybean oils (DPSOs) had higher parameters than single pressed soybean oils (SPSOs) of the same pre-heated soybean sample.

Source: KNUST
Effect of HIV-2 Co-Infection on HIV 1& 2 dually infected patients’ response Haart

This study was carried out to determine the effect of HIV-2 on HIV-1 & 2 dually infected patients’ response to antiretroviral therapy supposedly designed for HIV-1. HIV-1 and HIV-2 are distinct strains of viruses that cause AIDS. HIV-2 is known to be less pathogenic with a slower rate of CD4 depletion and a longer time of disease progression to AIDS. In contrast, HIV-1 is more pathogenic, depletes CD4 faster with a comparatively shorter time disease progression to AIDS. HIV-1 and HIV-2 differ in their nucleotide sequence and their genetic organization with just about 30% homology between them. Therefore, one would expect that their replicative steps in an infected individual could possibly involve different enzymes and cellular factors. Available antiretroviral drugs target only HIV-1 and act by interfering with the replicative steps of the HIV virus. In line with this, a drug supposedly designed for HIV-1 might not provide enough inhibition for HIV-2. We specifically monitored the response of patients undergoing ART with HIV-2 alone infection and HIV -1 & 2 dual infections and compared their response to patients with HIV-1. In all, 108 patients were enrolled into the study. Out of this, 87% had HIV-1, 7% had HIV-2 while 6% had HIV-1 & 2. The patients were monitored using their CD4 kinetics over a period of two years with a baseline CD4 and four consecutive counts performed at 6 months intervals. The results indicated that patients with HIV-2 infection responded favorably to the therapy just like HIV-1 infected patients. However, it appears that the synergistic effect of HIV-1 & HIV- 2 in HIV-1 & 2 dual infections contributed to a comparatively lower response to therapy. It was also found that, most probably, the modes of action of the drugs are on host factors but not virus specific factors. Not withstanding the difference in viral genome, HIV-2 patients responded well to the supposed HIV-1 specifically designed drugs.

Source: KNUST
Effect of HIV and antiretroviral therapy on semen quality

Background: Semen is the major vehicle for HIV-1 infection. However, the supposed detrimental effect of HIV on semen quality has been a matter of unsettled debate. Antiretroviral therapy can effectively decrease the levels of viral load in peripheral plasma and seminal fluid of infected men and also relieve the symptoms of the disease, but whether or not it improves semen quality remains unknown currently. Methods: Semen characteristics of 129 subjects made up of 100 HIV-infected men, (25 HIV-infected men with slight symptoms of opportunistic infections, 25 asymptomatic HIV-infected men, 25 HIV-infected men who have been on ART for less than 1 year, 25 HIV-infected men who have been on ART for 1 or more years) and 29 HIV-negative healthy control men capable of reproducing were evaluated. Results: Semen quality was negatively affected in the HIV- infected cohorts. Semen parameters that were negatively affected in the HIV-infected groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4), compared with the HIV-negative control (G5) were: reduced semen volume (P ≤ 0.05), reduced percentages of rapid progressive sperm (P ≤ 0.05), increased immotile spermatozoa percentages (P≤ 0.05), reduced sperm concentration (P≤ 0.05), total sperm count (P≤ 0.05), increased immature germ cells ( P ≤ 0.05), increased RBC count (P≤ 0.05), reduced normal morphology of spermatozoa (P≤ 0.05), reduced percentages of sperm vitality (P≤ 0.05) and increased pH (P≤ 0.05). Within the HIV-infected groups, G2, G3 and G4 exhibited significantly better semen parameters such as rapid progressive motile sperm, slow progressive motile sperm, sperm concentration, total sperm count, immature germ cell loss, haemospermia, normal morphological sperm and sperm vitality compared with G1 at P≤ 0.05. However, only total sperm count, sperm concentration of G5 and sperm concentration of G3 showed significant correlations with absolute CD4+ counts (P ≤ 0.05) Conclusions: HIV infection reduced semen quality of infected men compared with HIV-negative men. Within the HIV-infected men, the asymptomatic HIV-infected men showed better semen quality than the symptomatic ART naïve men. Within the HIV-infected men on ART, longer duration of treatment had relative positive effect on semen quality than shorter duration of treatment.

Source: KNUST
“The effect of hormonal contraceptives on some blood parameters of Ghanaian women "

The blood profile as well as the blood pressure and weight of hundred and nine healthy women whose age ranged between 21 and 49 years were determined. These values were used as control. The blood profile1 blood pressures and weight of fifty three women aged between 25 and 49 years who have been receiving Depoprovera injections for varying lengths of time ranging between 3 months and 17 years were determined. Significant increases in the mean concentrations of serum Glucose, Alkaline Phosphatase, Aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, Albumen, Systolic and Diastolic blood pressures and weight were obtained. The blood profile, blood pressure and weight of seven women aged between 23 and 50 years who have been receiving Neogynon for varying periods of time ranging from one month to 13 years 5 months were determined. Comparison of these values with the controls showed significant increases in the mean concentration of Plasma Glucose, Total Bilirubin, and blood pressure. The blood profile, blood pressure and weight of 13 women aged between 24 and 39 years who have been receiving Eugynon for varying periods of time ranging from one month to 6 years 3 months were determined. This low dose combined contraceptive did not cause significant changes in any of the parameters determined. The blood profile and blood pressure of 5 women aged between 24 and 40 years who have been receiving Nordette low dose combined contraceptive for varying lengths of time ranging from one month to 1 year 7 months were determined. This preparation caused significant increases in the activity of Aspartate aminotransferase and mean concentration of Albumin. These changes could not be correlated with the dose of ethinyl oestradiol and levonorgestrel in this preparation. Generally the contraceptive acceptors were relatively old and multiparous women of mean age and parity 30.65 years and 4.4 live births respectively.

Source: KNUST
The effect of HIV/AIDS on the treatment outcome of severe acute malnutrition in children under 5 years at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Few studies have reported on nutritional recovery, survival and growth among severely malnourished children with HIV combining both inpatient and community-based nutrition rehabilitations. This study explores treatment outcome in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children at the paediatric ward of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. This is a retrospective case-control study done on the paediatric ward at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The main outcome measures were nutritional recovery/death, duration of nutritional recovery and mortality, and anthropometrics. In the sample of 141 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), 36% (n = 51) of children were HIV-infected; 64% (90) of children were not HIV-infected. 92.1% (47/51) of HIV-infected children recovered compared with 90.9% (80/88) in HIV-uninfected children (p=1). Thus children with HIV recovered as frequent as those without HIV (1% point difference, 95% CI, 0.6 to 1.3). Among the HIV-infected children, 8% (4/51) died, compared with 9% (8/88) in HIV-uninfected children (P=1). Children with HIV infection spent an average of 24 ± 7.5 days before discharge from the hospital compared with 20 ± 6.1days in HIV-uninfected children (P<0.005). Children with HIV infection therefore stayed longer before discharge from the hospital than children without HIV infection. HIV-infected children however, had similar weight gain to HIV-uninfected children (5.5 ± 2 vs. 4.8 ± 1.6 respectively, not statistically significant). The conclusion is that HIV infected children with SAM have similar mortality rates compared to HIV-uninfected children with SAM. Among those who survive, however, nutritional recovery is similar in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children. It is necessary to integrate HIV services into programmes for nutritional rehabilitation.

Source: KNUST