ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Source specific quantification and characterisation of solid waste along a sandy beach in Cape Coast,Ghana

Ghana is dealing with extensive urban periphery settlements due to the massive migration of rural inhabitants to the cities, especially to the political and economic capital, Accra and other regional capitals including Cape Coast. This phenomenon has culminated in indiscriminate solid waste disposal. With no effective municipal solid waste collection system in place, heaps of refuse have become ubiquitous in Cape Coast especially along the beaches. The quantity and composition of solid waste at two locations along a sandy beach in the Cape Coast municipality was investigated in this study. Using five permanent 20 x 4 quadrats over seven weeks in each of the two locations, the amount and composition of solid waste were assessed. The results indicated that paper, bottle, wood, leather, textile, metal, plastics, organic matter and styrofoam were the main categories of solid waste found at the sandy beach. The results also indicated that the quantity of solid waste generated at Duakor and West Gate was 514 kgha-1 and 374 kgha-1 respectively. This study suggests that source specific waste quantification and characterization of solid waste at different scales should be a vital part of planning in municipal solid waste management systems

Source: UCC
Sources and Effects of Stress on Work Performance, and Coping Strategies among Nurses at University of Cape Coast Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana

Stress is part of our everyday life and affects all aspects of our activities. In professions, where encountering hundreds of people is a routine could be very stressful. This is the nature of the nursing profession, with its attendant effects on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the nurse. This study set out to find the sources and effects of stress on work performance among nurses at the University of Cape Coast Hospital, and the coping strategies they adopt. Questionnaire was used to solicit data from the respondents. Using the multi-stage sampling technique, fifty nine nurses were sampled for the study. Three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated, and answered and tested respectively. Independent t-tests, Analysis of Variance, and means were used in analyzing the data collected. No statistically significant differences were found between the ages of nurses and the type of stress experienced, by gender with respect to how they coping strategies toward stress, and among the various ranks of nurses and the effect of stress on their performance. It was concluded that, nurses in the University of Cape Coast Hospital were aware of the sources of stress among nurses, aware of the effects of stress on their performance, and had devised their strategies for coping with stress.It was therefore recommended that management of the Directorate of University Health Services (UCC) organizes seminars, workshops, forum, among others on incidence of stress and stress management strategies for the nurses. This would help the nurses to be abreast with stress coping strategies thereby alleviating stress on them. It was also recommended that counsellors were brought on to put in techniques that would assist nurses who are going through stressful conditions, which are likely to affect their performance on the work

Source: UCC
Sources of stress and its management strategies among ministers of the gospel in Cape Coast Metropolis

Stress can be destructive if not well managed. In addition to its effect on the health of the individual, it also has a direct bearing on the individual’s performance at work and productivity. The study was therefore aimed at finding the sources of stress and management strategies among ministers of the gospel in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. A descriptive research design was used for this study. The population for this study was 500 pastors serving in the Orthodox, Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. A total of 217 ministers of the gospel were sampled for the study. Both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA) were used to analyze the data. The study found that the most predominant source of stress among ministers of the gospel was “Inadequate financial support from the congregation”. The study also revealed that the leading way ministers of the gospel managed stress was “delegating duties to others”. It was recommended that the general working conditions of ministers of the gospel should be improved by church governing councils. More seminars, conferences, workshops and symposia should be organized by church governing councils, to expose ministers of the gospel to the sources of their stress and also to sharpen their skills for stress management.

Source: UCC
Sovereign Green Bonds and Environmental Performance: the Moderating Role of Formal and Informal Institutional Frameworks from a Global Perspective

Works on green bonds and environmental performance have gained significant attention in recent years due to the growing threat of climate change. This study looks at the connections between institutional frameworks, environmental performance, and sovereign green bonds globally. The study uses a mixed-method approach using a First Difference General Method of Moments (GMM) panel estimator to evaluate these associations using data from 71 nations from 2007 to 2022. The findings show that green bond issuance has a major positive impact on environmental performance, implying that greener bond financing might help with climate change mitigation efforts. Furthermore, the study shows that both formal and informal institutional frameworks have important roles in improving environmental performance. Significantly, the study indicates that institutional frameworks moderate the link between environmental performance and green bonds, suggesting that stronger institutions augment the positive environmental effects of green bonds. These findings highlight the need of supporting policies to develop green bond markets and institutional frameworks in order to maximise the efficiency of sustainable finance in resolving global environmental concerns. They also have important implications for investors and policymakers. The study recommends governments actively promote green bonds through supportive policies. It also recommends the need for strong institutional frameworks to ensure green bonds effectively contribute to environmental improvements and combat climate change.

Source: UCC
Space Occupying Lesions (SOL) of the Brain - Clinical Manifestation with Subtle Neurological Symptoms in Emergency Department

A space-occupying lesion of the brain is commonly due to malignancy but could be other underlying pathologies as well [1]. The effects of SOL may be local or due to compression of adjacent brain structures. Patients may also have behavioral disturbances or cognitive dysfunction [2,3]. Aims & Objectives: 1. To identify SOL patients presenting with elusive symptoms in Emergency Department. 2. To avoid diagnostic delay of SOL. 3. To find the underlying cause and to initiate early management. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 150 patients who presented in ED Rashid Hospital with neurological symptoms over a period of 12 months commencing from 01/01/2015 until 31/12/2015. Results: As for presenting symptoms, 81 (54%) presented with Seizures, 31 (21%) with a headache, 17 (11%) had both a headache and vomiting, 8 (5%) with unconsciousness and those by abnormal behavior (3%). Five (3%) were having a motor deficit, and two (1%) had vomiting without a headache and confusion. As for underlying diagnosis, 78 (52%) were diagnosed with infectious causes and 62 (41%) with a brain tumor. Among the infectious causes, 58 (74%) presented with seizures, 11 (14%) with an isolated headache and 4 (5%) with both a headache and vomiting. On the other hand, the headache was the commonest presentation in brain tumor patients, i.e., 18 (29%) followed by seizures in 17 (27%), headache and vomiting in 11 (18%) and neurological deficit in 10 (16%) patients. Conclusion: A headache with or without vomiting, seizure and acute psychological disturbances may be a warning sign of a wide variety of an intracranial space occupying lesion (SOL) including malignancy.

Source: UCC
Space-time isogeometric analysis of parabolic evolution equations

We present and analyze a new stable space-time Isogeometric Analysis (IgA) method for the numerical solution of parabolic evolution equations in fixed and moving spatial computational domains. The discrete bilinear form is elliptic on the IgA space with respect to a discrete energy norm. This property together with a corresponding boundedness property, consistency and approximation results for the IgA spaces yields an a priori discretization error estimate with respect to the discrete norm. The theoretical results are confrmed by several numerical experiments with low- and high-order IgA spaces

Source: UCC
Space-time multi-patch discontinuous galerkin isogeometric analysis for parabolic evolution problems

We present and analyze a stable space-time multi-patch discontinuous Galerkin Isogeometric Analysis (dG-IgA) scheme for the numerical solution of parabolic evolution equations in deforming space-time computational domains. Following [20], we use a time-upwind test function and apply multi-patch discontinuous Galerkin IgA methodology for discretizing the evolution problem both in space and in time. This yields a discrete bilinear form which is elliptic on the IgA space with respect to a space-time dG norm. This property together with a corresponding boundedness property, consistency and approximation results for the IgA spaces yields an a priori discretization error estimate with respect to the space-time dG norm. The theoretical results are confirmed by several numerical experiments with low- and high-order IgA spaces

Source: UCC
Spatial analysis of crime data: The case of Kasoa in the central region of Ghana

Kasoa has long been associated with crime issues in Ghana, appearing in both traditional and digital media. There has been a plethora of efforts made by security agencies to nip the crime issue in the bud. However, in recent times, as there has been the use of advanced technology in the fight against crime in other countries, the lack of it in our part of the world seems to put a strain on the efforts of the police service. This research sought to bring to light the application of technology in crime management. The main goal of this study was to analyze spatial patterns and distributions of crime in the Kasoa Police Division. The study concentrated on five police districts, i.e., Kasoa Central, Awutu Bereku, Senya Bereku, Odupong Ofaakor, and Bawjiase. In order to achieve this objective, secondary data on three selected crimes, i.e., robbery, assault, and fraud, for three study years, i.e., 2017–2019, was obtained from the police, and a dataset containing land uses of the study areas was obtained from the Town and Country Planning Department. QGIS was used to identify hotspots for the selected crimes for each study year. The software was also used to identify the location of frequent activity within the study area. As a result, the study discovered Kasoa Central to be a hotspot for the majority of crime incidences during the selected years, as well as a location of frequent activity. The study concludes that there is a positive correlation between locations of frequent activity and incidences of crime if police visibility is not strengthened. It was recommended that the police must setup GIS departments at all police district offices to help with data collection, ensure that other stakeholders are considered when putting in place measures to help curb crimes, and also encourage community policing to ensure reasonable police visibility.

Source: UCC
Spatial analysis of crime in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

In the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, the crime rate has been on the ascendency, and the rate of ascendency of crime has increased since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities. One issue that has been absent from the Police Service in the metropolis and which has contributed to this rise is the lack of use of technology by the Police in fighting crime in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The research therefore employs various technological techniques to investigate the problem. As such the main objective of this research is to analyse the spatial patterns of crime in the metropolis. In order to achieve this objective, various methodologies were employed. A one-way repeated measure ANOVA test was performed to see if there were any statistical significant difference between the differences between the study years. A clustering map was created to show the hotspots of the various crimes in the metropolis over the study period. A routine activity space map was also created through the routine activity space theory. Lastly, a regression analysis was also performed to examine the relationship between the crime data, routine activity map and the hotspot map. The research wanted to examine if there was a relationship between these three variables employed in the study. The study findings were found to be generally consistent with the Routine Activity theory by conclusively demonstrating that place, in this instance, suburbs and their location influence the distribution of crime. The Ghana Police Service should set up GIS departments in all police stations to provide spatial analysis resource in fighting crime in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Spatial Analysis of Soybean Yield Response oo Fertilizer Application in Ghana

Soybean is one of the crops grown in Ghana that generate income and serve as a source of protein, animal feed, and food security. However, yields are low, averaging 1.3 Mt/h compared to a potential yield of 3.0 Mt/h, despite an 8 kg/h increase in fertilizer application. The study aimed to analyse how soybean yields in Ghana respond to fertilizer application through spatial methods. We employed a yield modeling approach utilizing data from agricultural trials. To evaluate the variability in observed yields, we used the Multiple Linear Regression-Akaike Information Criterion (MLR-AIC). Additionally, we applied a Random Forest spatial prediction framework to analyze and map the predicted yields. The final and best MLR model achieved one (R=51%), indicating that the model explains about 51% of the variation in the dependent variable. A detailed regression analysis revealed that calcium (Ca), sodium (Na) and minimum temperature (Tmin) were the variables that had a significant negative (<1000 kg/ha) impact on yield. pH, carbon and potassium were the variables with the greatest positive impact on yield (>1000 kg/ha). The predicted soybean yield based on the trained random forest model ranged from 1.0 to 2.2 t/ha. The forecast remained at 1 to 1.8 t/ha in the northern parts and 2.0 to 2.2 t/ha for the southwest. Policy makers in Ghana need to consider highpotassium fertilizers and maintain sound agronomic practices to increase soybean yields.

Source: UCC
Spatial And Temporal Assessment Of Organic Micropollutants In The Pra River Basin

The extensive occurrence and potential harmful impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have garnered considerable attention. The presence of these organic micropollutants pose threat to river bodies and their sustainability. This study aims to determine the levels and distribution of PFAS and PCBs, in the Pra River basin. A total of 20 sampling points were selected to collect water and sediment samples, covering both upstream and downstream locations along the river. Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) was employed for pre-concentration and pre-cleaning of samples prior to analysis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques were employed to analyze water and sediment samples for targeted PFAS and PCBs. The results revealed extensive presence of PFAS and PCBs in the Pra River basin. Multiple PFAS compounds, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) were detected at varying levels across all the sampling points with a range between 14.5-112.4 ng/L for water samples and 55.9-186.5 ng/g for sediments. Similarly, total PCB level ranged between 0.53 and 5.87 ng/L for water samples and 2.60-139.79 ng/g for the sediment samples. PCBs 138, 149, and 153, were identified as most dominant in the river basin. The human health risks associated with exposure to PFAS and PCBs through surface water and sediment were negligible. Decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by water radiolysis led to defluorination efficiency of 98% with solvated electrons and carbon dioxide radical anions being primary reactive species. These findings indicate that the Pra River basin is contaminated with PFAS and PCBs.

Source: UCC
Spatial And Temporal Assessment Of Water And Sediment Quality From Coastal Lagoons In The Central And Western Regions Of Ghana

Coastal lagoons provide many benefits or services; however, some of these lagoons are under increasing threat of pollution from expanding population and over-exploitation. This study assessed the quality of five coastal lagoons in the Western and Central Regions of Ghana. Sediments and water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations from Muni, Narkwa, Amisa, Fosu and Hwini lagoons from August 2020 to February 2021 . Sediments and water quality were assessed following analytical procedures outlined in the standard methods using water, wastewater and various pollution index indicators. The mean range values for water samples for all the lagoons investigated are; pH, 7.87 - 9.34; DO 2.08- 5.59 mg/L; TDS 23.34 - 32.58 gi L; Cond 36.47 - 50.91 mS/cm; Temp 28.29- 29.67 °C; Sal 36.69 - 58.09 PSU; Nitrate 6.77 - 14.81 mg/L; Phosphate, 3.62- 13.37 mg/L; Turbidity, 5.66 - 45.43 NTU; Fe, 0.81 - 3.1 0 mglL; Pb, 0.64 - 1.09 mg/L; Mn, 0.05 - 0.29 mglL; Cr, 0.05 - 0.39 mg/L; Cd, 0.05 - 0.31 mg/L; Ni, 0.08 - 0.25 mg/L; Zn, 0.18 - 0.40 mglL. The concentration ranges found for the metals in the sediments were Fe 126.20 - 141.10 mg/kg; Pb 12.70 - 27.20 mg/kg; Mn 22.10-37.50 mg/kg; Cr 8.40-21.50 mg/kg; Ni 6.30- 19.80 mg/kg, Zn 9.70 - 23.40 mg/kg. Cadmium (Cd) was below detection limit in all the sediment samples. Significant spatial variations were observed within and between the lagoons. The Nemerow's Pollution Index for all lagoon water were greater than I . The quality of lagoon water for Hwini was fair and marginal for Muni, Fosu, Narkwa and Amisa lagoons. The lagoon sediments were extremely contaminated with regards to all sediment pollution indicators used. These observations suggested anthropogenic pollution of the lagoon water and sediments. There is the need for continuous monitoring of the lagoon ecology by local authorities and institutions mandated to manage these water resources to stop or minimize the deterioration of these lagoons in order to preserve them to sustain the ecosystem.

Source: UCC
Spatial and temporal distribution of polychlorinated biphenyl residues in tropical soils

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in tropical soil samples from the Central Region of Ghana, and their variation with the soil characteristics were assessed. The soil characteristics of seventy eight samples were first determined. The PCBs was extracted with (1:1) hexane : acetone mixture, and then the extract treated with concentrated H2SO4, 5% KMnO4 and copper. The extract was finally eluted from a silica gel column with hexane:dichloromethane (97:3v/v), and the PCBs analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with 63Ni electron capture detector (GC-ECD model CP 3800). The composition of PCBs homologous in the soils followed the order:hexa-PCBs (31.89%) > pentaPCBs (23.98%) > tri-PCBs (18.47%) > tetra-PCBs (13.67%) > hepta-PCBs (11.99%).The PCB congener profile in the study area was PCB 28 > PCB 153> PCB 138 > PCB 52 > PCB 101> PCB 180 > PCB 118.The mean concentration of the PCB congeners (dry matter basis) was PCB 28, 2.27± 2.436;PCB 52, 1.84 ± 2.27;PCB 101, 2.17± 2.52 µg/kg;PCB 118, 0.83± 0.89 µg/kg;PCB 138, 0.99 + 0.91µg/kg; PCB 153, 1.18 ± 1.11µg/kg and PCB 180, 1.18 ± 1.19 µg/kg. The mean concentrations of ΣPCBs were 9.15± 0.52 µg/kg for the surface soils (0 -10 cm), 7.55± 0.56 µg/kg and 7.82 ± 0.5 µg/kg for the 10 -20 cm and 20 -30 cm sub-surface soils respectively. Significant but weak correlations were observed between PCBs and the soil pH, moisture, and exchangeable base. The coefficient of determination for all significant correlations was between 6.6% and 18.75%

Source: UCC
Spatial assessment of sugarcane (Saccharurn spp. L.) production to feed the Komenda Sugar Factory, Ghana

Ghana imports about US$ 2 million worth of sugar annually. To address this huge import bill and to take advantage of a growing demand for sugar in the West African sub-region, the Government of Ghana initiated a Sugar Policy. The Government of Ghana, therefore, re-constructed and commissioned the Komenda Sugar Factory in 2016 at a reported cost of US$ 35 million. The Komenda Sugar Factory can process 1,250 tons of sugarcane per day (or 225,000 tons per annum), but was shut down soon after the test run and commissioning. This raised considerable public outcry. Among the numerous reasons that were given, it was widely believed that the factory faced feedstock deficits. This study therefore applied satellite remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems to quantify the potential feedstock supply from current production within the immediate catchment of the factory. Supervised classification was applied to Landsat 8 images, using QGIS, to quantify sugarcane production in the study area and at specified buffer distances from the factory. The results showed that the factory could mobilize only 7% of its feedstock requirement within the industrially recommended radius of 40 miles and 13% within the entire catchment area in the 2016/2017 season. Thus, under current scale of production and production conditions, the Komenda Sugar Factory faces large deficits in feedstock supply. National production data suggests that total national sugarcane production in 2016 would only meet 68% of the factory’s requirement if it were operational. The results suggest an urgent need to establish a plantation for the factory and to commit out-growers to production to support and sustain the factory if it is to become operational soon. There is also a need for high yielding, high-brix, and early maturing varieties, coupled with good agronomic practices, to bridge the quantity and (potentially) quality gaps

Source: UCC
Spatial distribution of electric field strength at a teaching hospital premises due to transmissions between 87.5 mhz and 2.6 ghz

A radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation safety assessment had been carried out at public access points within the compound of a teaching hospital. The frequency band investigated ranged from 87.5 MHz to 2.6 GHz. Eighty-eight measurements were made using a spectrum analyser coupled with a log-periodic antenna. The objective was to determine the level and nature of RF fields within the immediate premise of the facility where patients of health conditions are kept and treated. Results complied with the International Commission of Non-Ionising Radiation (ICNIRP) guidelines. The values of the resolved electric field at four spatial heights ranged from 1.00 ± 0.144 mV/m to 1.174 ± 0.169 V/m. Power densities varied from 2.65 ± 0.38 nWm −2 to 3.66 ± 0.528 mWm −2. There were relatively high contributions from frequencies above 900 MHz compared with contributions from lower frequency bands

Source: UCC