ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Formulation of weaning food using composite of maize groundnut and soybean and assessing its nutritional effect using animal model.

In this study two composite weaning diets (Diet 1 and 2) made up of groundnut, soybean and maize were formulated. The diets were each in proportion of groundnut (1): soybean (8): maize (16). A control (Diet 3) made entirely of maize was also studied. Meanwhile, the difference between diet 1 and 2 were varietal. Diet 1 contained Anidaso variety while Diet 2 contained Salintuya 1 variety of soybeans. Material balance method was used to predetermine the nutrient to meet standards in the final product. The protein content of Diet 1 was 20.58%, with 10.65% fat and 64.39% carbohydrate. Diet 2 had 21.02% of protein, 10.71% fat and 64.06% carbohydrate. Diet 3 gave 9.54% protein, 3.92% fat and 80.36% carbohydrate. Iron and magnesium contents suited for infants between the ages of 0-5 months for diet 1, 2 and 3. Meanwhile calcium and phosphorus content for diet 1 and 2 were suitable both for children between ages of 0-5 and 5-12 months as compared to recommended dietary allowance for infants and children. Though the moisture increased marginally compared to changes in weeks, the microbial load count (Cfu/g) did not change significantly. Meanwhile, the level fell below allowable recommended range of 25- 250 Cfu/g. Sensory evaluation showed that sample C (Fermented Maize flour, Groundnut cake and blanch soybean(Anidaso) and cinnamon was the most preferred by both untrained and weaning babies with the help of their mothers. The animal study indicated growth and development in rat fed with diet 1 and 2, with no adverse biochemical and haematological effect with the exception of rats fed on Diet 3 which showed low growth and development with adverse biochemical and haematological disorders (P<0.05). A high and positive correlation existed (r-value) between anthropometric measurements (weight and length) and biochemical and haematological indices for rats fed on diet 1 and 2 with the exception of rats fed on diet 3 which showed weak correlation between anthropometric measurements and total protein, serum albumen and a negative correlation with haemoglobin. Though there was a high correlation between anthropometric measurement and WBC it was rather due to a disease condition as a result of the absence of soybean in diet 3. The formulation with soybean can therefore be used as a weaning food to improve upon the nutritional status of Ghanaian children and also help solve problems associated with protein energy malnutrition.

Source: KNUST
Fractal-Fractional Caputo Maize Streak Virus Disease Model

Maize is one of the most extensively produced cereals in the world. The maize streak virus primarily infects maize but can also infect over 80 other grass species. Leafhoppers are the primary vectors of the maize streak virus. When feeding on plants, susceptible vectors can acquire the virus from infected plants, and infected vectors can transmit the virus to susceptible plants. However, because maize is normally patchy and leafhoppers are mobile, leafhoppers will always be foraging for food. Therefore, we want to look at how leafhoppers interact on maize farms using Holling’s Type III functional response in a Caputo fractal-fractional derivative sense. We show that the proposed model has unique positive solutions within a feasible region. We employed the Newton polynomial scheme to numerically simulate the proposed model to illustrate the qualitative results obtained. We also studied the relationship between the state variables and some epidemiological factors captured as model parameters. We observed that the integer-order versions of the model exaggerate the impact of the disease. We also observe that the increase in the leafhopper infestation on maize fields has a devastating effect on the health of maize plants and the subsequent yield. Furthermore, we noticed that varying the conversion rate of the infected leafhopper leads to a crossover effect in the number of healthy maize after 82 days. We also show the dynamics of varying the maize streak virus transmission rates. It indicates that when preventive measures are taken to reduce the transmission rates, It will reduce the low-yielding effect of maize due to the maize streak virus disease.

Source: KNUST
Fractal-Fractional SIRS Epidemic Model with Temporary Immunity Using Atangana-Baleanu Derivative

The basic SIRS deterministic model is one of the powerful and important compartmental modeling frameworks that serve as the foundation for a variety of epidemiological models and investigations. In this study, a nonlinear Atangana-Baleanu fractal-fractional SIRS epidemiological model is proposed and analysed. The model’s equilibrium points (disease-free and endemic) are studied for local asymptotic stability. The existence of the model’s solution and its uniqueness, as well as the Hyers-Ulam stability analysis, are established. Numerical solutions and phase portraits for the fractal-fractional model are generated using a recently constructed and effective Newton polynomial-based iterative scheme for nonlinear dynamical fractal-fractional model problems. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that fractal-fractional dynamic modeling is a very useful and appropriate mathematical modeling tool for developing and studying epidemiological models.

Source: KNUST
Fractal–fractional age-structure study of omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant transmission dynamics

This paper proposes a new fractal–fractional age-structure model for the omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant under the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional order derivative. Caputo–Fabrizio fractal–fractional order is particularly successful in modelling real-world phenomena due to its repeated memory effect and ability to capture the exponentially decreasing impact of disease transmission dynamics. We consider two age groups, the first of which has a population under 50 and the second of a population beyond 50. Our results show that at a population dynamics level, there is a high infection and recovery of omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infection among the population under 50 (Group-1), while a high infection rate and low recovery of omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infection among the population beyond 50 (Group-2) when the fractal–fractional order is varied.

Source: KNUST
Fractal-fractional order dynamics and numerical simulations of a Zika epidemic model with insecticide-treated nets

Fractional order and fractal order are mathematical tools that can be used to model realworld problems. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of these operators, we develop a new fractal-fractional model for the propagation of the Zika virus. This model includes insecticide-treated nets and the generalized fractal-fractional Mittag-Leffler kernel. The existence, uniqueness, and Ulam–Hyres stability conditions for the given system are determined. Using the Newton polynomial, the numerical scheme is described. From the numerical simulations, we notice that a change in the fractal-fractional order directly affects the dynamics of the Zika virus. We also notice that the use of fractal order only converges to faster than the use of fractional order only. Testing the inherent potency of insecticide-treated nets when the fractal-fractional order is 0.99 indicates that increased use of insecticide-treated nets increases the number of healthy humans. The fractalfractional analysis captures the geometric pattern of the Zika virus that is repeated at every scale, which cannot be captured by classical geometry. This backs up the idea that the best way to control the disease is to know enough about how it spread in the past.

Source: KNUST
Fractal–fractional model and numerical scheme based on Newton polynomial for Q fever disease under Atangana–Baleanu derivative

Scientists and researchers are increasingly interested in mathematical modelling of infectious diseases with non-integer order. It is self-evident that a fixed order can only characterize classical models in epidemiology, but models with fractional-order derivatives are not fixed order. When a derivative has a non-fixed order, it becomes more potent in representing real-world problems. Different fresh techniques concerning fractional operators, such as the exponential decay and the Mittag-Leffler kernel, have been proposed in recent years, which transcend the constraints of prior fractional-order derivatives. These novel operators are functional in modelling problems in science and engineering—a more recent operator in fractional calculus, known as the fractal–fractional operator. Fractal–fractional operators have not been frequently utilized to explore complex dynamics of infectious disease spread in an ecosystem. In this paper, a novel fractal–fractional operator is used to study the dynamics of Q fever in livestock and ticks. Fixed point theorem is used to prove the model’s existence and uniqueness under the Atangana–Baleanu (Mittag-Leffler kernel) fractal–fractional operator. A non-linear analysis is used to determine the model’s Hyers–Ulam stability. A numerical scheme for the Q fever disease using the newly constructed numerical scheme based on Newton polynomial is presented. The numerical simulation of the model shows some exciting dynamics of the disease in an ecosystem. The fractal– fractional dynamism shows that a change in the geometric pattern of nature also affects the spread of Q fever. For example, it is noticed that the fractal dimensions and fractional order produces different asymptotic stabilities for symptomatic livestock, Coxiella burnetii in the environment, susceptible and infected ticks. It is of a view that this study will also contribute to the rich dynamics of the fractal and the fractional perspective of disease spread in nature.

Source: KNUST
Fractional Caputo and sensitivity heat map for a gonorrhea transmission model in a sex structured population

Gonorrhea is a disease that is spread by sexual contact, and it can potentially cause infections in the genital region, the rectum, and even the throat. Due to the shared history between infected individuals and their sexual partners, infected individuals will likely continue to have sexual relations with those same partners. As a result, this article aims to investigate how memory affects the transmission of gonorrhea in a structured population using the Caputo fractional derivative and sensitivity analysis. The model is shown to be positively invariant with a unique bound. The existence and uniqueness criteria of the fractional model are established using fixed-point theory. The stable nature of the model is obtained using the Ulam Hyers and Ulam Hyers Rassias ideas. To highlight the stability of the fractional model, the stability of solution trajectories to the disease-free and endemic steady states is graphically illustrated for the gonorrhea basic reproduction number, 𝜚∗0 < 1 and 𝜚∗0 > 1, respectively. We showed the sensitivities linked to the proposed model using the Latin hypercube sampling, singular value analysis, box plots, scatter plots, contour plots, three-dimensional plots, and sensitivity heat maps. We noticed that the transmission rate from females to males, 𝛽𝑓𝑚, is the most influential parameter in the spread of the disease. From the sensitivity heat maps, it is noticed that using the first four principal components analysis, the most sensitive state variables to the parameters in the model are symptomatic females, recovered males, susceptible females, and recovered females. In conjunction with the modified Adams–Bashforth method, the numerical trajectories of the fractional Caputo model are investigated. Finally, we noticed that memory changes impact the number of incubative females and incubative males.

Source: KNUST
Fractional order epidemiological model of SARS-CoV-2 dynamism involving Alzheimer’s disease

In this paper, we study a Caputo–Fabrizio fractional order epidemiological model for the transmission dynamism of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic and its relationship with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is incorporated into the model by evaluating its relevance to the quarantine strategy. We use functional techniques to demonstrate the proposed model stability under the Ulam–Hyres condition. The Adams–Bashforth method is used to determine the numerical solution for our proposed model. According to our numerical results, we notice that an increase in the quarantine parameter has minimal effect on the Alzheimer’s disease compartment.

Source: KNUST
Fractional-Order Ebola-Malaria Coinfection Model with a Focus on Detection and Treatment Rate

Coinfection of Ebola virus and malaria is widespread, particularly in impoverished areas where malaria is already ubiquitous. Epidemics of Ebola virus disease arise on a sporadic basis in African nations with a high malaria burden. An observational study discovered that patients in Sierra Leone’s Ebola treatment centers were routinely infected with malaria parasites, increasing the risk of death. In this paper, we study Ebola-malaria coinfections under the generalized Mittag-Leffler kernel fractional derivative. The Banach fixed point theorem and the Krasnoselskii type are used to analyse the model’s existence and uniqueness. We discuss the model stability using the Hyers-Ulam functional analysis. The numerical scheme for the Ebolamalaria coinfections using Lagrange interpolation is presented. The numerical trajectories show that the prevalence of Ebolamalaria coinfections ranged from low to moderate depending on memory. This means that controlling the disease requires adequate knowledge of the past history of the dynamics of both malaria and Ebola. The graphical dynamics of the detection rate indicate that a variation in the detection rate only affects the following compartments: individuals that are latently infected with the Ebola, Ebola virus afflicted people who went unnoticed, individuals who have been infected with the Ebola virus and have been diagnosed with the disease, and persons undergoing Ebola virus therapy.

Source: KNUST
Framework Design To Improve On Utilization Of Hiv Early Infant Diagnosis (Eid) Program In Atua Government Hospital

Early infant diagnosis (EID) of Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a program designed to link HIV-exposed Infants (HEIs) and young children to HIV care and services to close the treatment gaps for HIV infected children. The effort of linking these HIV-exposed Infants (HEIs) to HIV care and services turns to reduce ‘lost-to-follow up’ among infants and hence reducing HIV infant infections and mortality rates in the country. In light of this, it has been an urgent need to assess the present issues militating against the utilization of the Early Infant Diagnosis program and to introduce tactics to enhance identification and tracking of HIV-exposed Infants (HEIs) and ensure access to prompt HIV testing, with linkage to treatment for HIV-infected infants. A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted with 382 HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) with their caregivers who reported at the Atua Government Hospital within a period of 4 years using the quantitative approach. The records of all these 382 HIV-exposed infants together with their postpartum mothers were analysed and evidence of underutilization of the Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) was established. The Magnitude of EID utilization in Atua Government is 22.3%. The HIV testing among HIV-exposed infants within the health care facility was 73.3%. The prevalence of HIV infection among HIV-exposed infants who were tested by HIV-1 DNA PCR method was 8.9%. In multivariate analysis, monthly attendance to HIV EID clinic was independent significant predictor (AOR 2100, 95% CI, 3.3 -1314904 p<0.05) for testing of HIV-exposed infants. Some evident factors Militating against the utilization of EID program was also uncovered. The non-availability of HIV indicators in the child welfare book was a health system factor identified. This research work recommends a logic model which includes a framework design as a strategy to improve on the utilization of the EID program. The conceptual framework which includes a framework design was tested and the merits were proven to be outstanding over the old system at Atua Government Hospital.

Source: KNUST
Framework Development for Integrating Information and Communication Technologies Into The Ghanaian Senior High School Visual Art Curriculum

Within the past decade, efforts at integrating ICT into the school curriculum have become popular in the country's educational institutions. Even before the government of Ghana, on the basis of the Anamuah-Mensah committee on education, recommended ICT infusion into the educational system, there were far-flung ICT integration attempts initiated by Parent/Teacher Associations, Old Students Associations, non-governmental organizations and some ICT related establishments. This indeed is a clear manifestation of how conscious Ghanaians have become about the importance of ICT in institutions of learning. Unfortunately, however, a close observation of the emergence of ICTs in Ghanaian Senior High Schools seems to lack definite goals for teaching and learning. Besides, attempts at ICT integration are happening so independently that the extent to which its infusion or introduction (to phrase itrealistically) is benefiting education of the students is uncertain. It is for this reason that a Curriculum Framework aimed at developing the use of ICTs in the teaching and learning of Visual Arts in Ghanaian senior high schools is considered essential. This study begins with an examination of the opinions and knowledge base of Art teachers and students about ICT and Art Education. It also explores the educational goals of existing ICT progarmmes in Ghanaian Senior High Schools which focus on conventional computing that only enables students to use a narrow range of software that have very little benefit for the Visual Art student in particular. The study further seeks the views of ICT experts, curriculum planners/reviewers, teachers and other stake holders concerning effective integration of ICT into the teaching and learning of visual arts in the senior high schools. Two key dimensions emerged from the views sampled from Visual Art teachers, students, curriculum reviewers and ICT experts: (1) Motivation for ICT integration and usage, based on (2) Curricular and pedagogical innovations. Despite the divergence in opinions, beliefs and attitudes, Visual Art teachers and students seem ready and highly motivated by the promises of new technologies to use ICTs. However, this can be possible only when efforts are formally put in place to ensure innovations in pedagogy through a qualitative change in the existing Visual Art curriculum. The outcome of the investigations formed the rationale for developing a Framework for Integrating ICTs into the Ghanaian Senior High Schools Visual Art Curriculum. The framework aims at exposing students in the Visual Arts to relevant basic skills that are required to develop their computer literacy skills beyond word processing, ultimately developing their creative thinking skills through information and communication technology.

Source: KNUST
A framework for adopting electronic procurement (e-procurement) in Government Hospitals, Kumasi

Public procurement can be described as the process by which large amounts of public funds are utilized by public entities to purchase goods, works and services from the private sector. The incorporation of Information Technologies (IT) and the internet to Government Procurement is called Electronic Public Procurement. E-Procurement is a deriving benefit attained from technological enhancements rather than using traditional paper based method in procurement operations. The main purpose of the study is to develop a framework on e-Procurement solution for the government hospitals in Kumasi to adopt and practice. Qualitative research approach was used to achieve the following specific purposes; the determination of the current procurement practices of the public hospitals, the identification of the structures that may be required to support e-Procurement adoption and the development of framework on e-Procurement to be adopted by Kumasi Government Hospitals. The study involved data from other studies after studying journals and other electronic papers. Data was wholly collected and analyzed for these outcomes; traditional paper- based procurement is the current practice of the government hospitals under study, the computer and internet systems have been known to be the major vehicle that drives e-Procurement and it is usually supported by an integrated suite software which is also known as the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and a framework to guide e-Procurement adoption in government hospitals was finally developed. The study recommended IT training for the procurement practitioners at the government hospitals and suggested that public policy should cover the legal framework on e-Procurement system to ensure safeguard for both the buyer and the supplier. Finally, there should be further studies on public e-Procurement processes for the government hospitals and an online pharmacy.

Source: KNUST
Framework for development of construction cost indices using Unit Rate

The need for the use of fluctuation price contracts to provide adequate relief for changes in prices of input resources during construction has been generally accepted in the Ghanaian construction industry. However, stakeholders are currently not satisfied with the existing methods of evaluating fluctuations for building contracts. The study was carried out to identify problems with usage and develop acceptable cost indices for the building industry. The study identified the major problems as late release of published indices and low recovery of costs. Twenty-eight modal work items were also identified from BQ analysis. Based on these modal items, construction input resource prices were collected and using the resulting unit rates, cost indices were formulated. Statistical tests revealed that the developed indices achieved cost recovery higher than that obtained using the existing methods. The study recommends that seminars be regularly held with stakeholders like the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (ABCECG), the construction industry professional bodies like the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), Ghana Institution of Architects (GhIA), and Ghana Education Trust Fund among others, to solicit their input to enrich the developed indices.

Source: KNUST