ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of iron fortification on igg responses Against malaria vaccine candidate antigens among Ghanaian children

Malaria continues to pose a substantial worldwide health concern, with emphasis on its prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO recommended adding iron supplements to children's diets in highly prevalent malaria regions. However, the effect of iron fortification on the immune response of P. falciparum remains debated. While some studies suggest that iron supplements protect against malaria, others indicate that it may worsen infant malaria infection. This study aimed to investigate the effect of iron fortification on IgG responses against malaria vaccine candidate antigens among Ghanaian children. The study employed 400 randomly selected archival samples of children aged 6 to 36 months collected between April and May 2010 in Wenchi and Tain Municipalities from a double-blinded cluster-randomized control trial. Participants with haemoglobin <7g/dL, on food supplements before the commencement of the study, and exhibited a severe form of anaemia were excluded. The measurement of immunoglobulin G levels to GLURP R0, GLURP R2, and MSP-3 recombinant antigens was conducted using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results showed no significant differences in IgG responses between patients with and without malaria infection in the iron group. However, the results showed significantly higher levels of IgG responses among malaria-positive individuals than malaria-negative individuals in the non-iron group. Also, the study recorded significantly higher IgG responses against GLURP R2 and MSP-3 antigens in the non-iron group compared to the iron group with malaria-positive status. Results also showed no significant differences in parasitaemia's impact on IgG antibodies. The findings of this investigation indicate that iron fortification substantially downregulates IgG responses against GLURP R2 and MSP-3 malaria vaccine candidate antigens among individuals with malaria, thus increasing malaria severity. Further research with a larger sample size is required to understand the intricate relationships between iron fortification, malaria, and immune responses.

Source: UCC
Effect of knowledge sources on firm level innovation in Ghana

This study analysed the effect of knowledge sources on firm level innovation in Ghana. To achieve this objective, the study applied a logit model on the 2013 Ghana Enterprise Survey and the 2014 Ghana Innovation Follow-up Survey with a total of 549 firms in all. It was found that the effects of knowledge sources are higher for process innovation than for product innovation. Specifically, internal R&D and training of workers were found to have a positive effect on both product and process innovations when internal sources of knowledge are considered in isolation. Purchase of equipment was also found to have a positive effect on both product and process innovation when considering the separate effect of external sources of knowledge. However, in the presence of both internal and external sources of knowledge, training of workers and purchase of equipment were found to have a positive and significant effect on product innovation whiles internal R&D, training of workers and purchase of equipment had a significant effect on process innovation. It was interesting to find an insignificant joint effect of internal R&D and purchase of equipment on product and process innovations. In the spirit of enhancing innovation in Ghana, this study recommends that the Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation formulate a policy that will ensure that firms devote a portion of their income for conducting internal R&D and also undertake in-house training. In addition, the Ministry of Finance should also offer tax incentives or subsidies for firms to acquire productive equipment and machinery in or outside the country.

Source: UCC
Effect of laser on thermopower of chiral carbon nanotube

An investigation of laser stimulated thermopower in chiral CNT is presented. The thermopower of a chiral CNT is calculated using a tractable analytical approach. This is done by solving the Boltzman kinetic equation with energy dispersion relation obtained in the tight binding approximation to determine the electrical and thermal properties of chiral carbon nanotubes. The differential thermoelectric power along the circumferential αcz and axial αzz are obtained. The results obtained are numerically analyzed and αis found to oscillate in the presence of laser radiations. We have also noted that Laser source above 4.6 x 107 V/m lowered the thermopower otherwise there is no change. Varying ∆s and ∆z the thermopower changes from positive to negative

Source: UCC
The effect of leachate from solid waste disposal sites on the Cape Coast municipal environment

As a developing country, Ghana is faced with the problem of management of her solid waste. Disposal of solid waste in open dumps and swampy areas in a bid to reclaim the land is the most common method used. This research was carried out at the Cape Coast Municipality to investigate the effect of disposed solid waste on the environment. The methodologies are purposive sampling for the solid waste evaluation, titrimetric and spectrophotometric for the analysis of the leachate from the solid waste. The refuse evaluation showed that about 1420 tonnes/month of solid waste is generated in the Cape Coast Municipality and out of this, about 976.25 tonnes/month is effectively being collected. The composition evaluation of the waste also gave screening < 20mm 26%, vegetable putrescible - 59"10, paper - 3%, wood - 4%, plastics - 2%, metal - 1%, glass and others - 3%. Then also, the leachate analysis gave pH - (6.8 - 10.5), temperature ( 19.9 - 29)OC, conductivity - (10,000 - 199,900)J..Lslcm, total iron - (1.2 - 720) ppm, sulphate - (13 - 21,600) ppm, phosphate - (2 - 1,423) ppm, dissolved organic matter ( 65.0 - 3,655) ppm, nitrite - (0.7 - 97.3) ppm, nitrate - (20 - 736) ppm, ammonium _ (13 - 1,140) ppm, chloride - (6.0 - 1,520) ppm and the bacterial count was uncountable. The analysis showed that about 72.0% of the total refuse generated in the Municipality is effectively being collected and the remaining 28% find their way into gutters, ravines and water bodies. Then also, apart from chloride and pH, all the other parameters determined for the leachate analysis had concentration levels higher than internationally accepted levels fur solid waste disposal. With this, there is therefore the need for effective solid waste management in the Municipality to avert any epidemic.

Source: UCC
Effect of leadership style and leader’s gender on employee performance: evidence from Takoradi Technical University

The study sets out to analyse leadership styles and leader’s gender and their influence on employee’ performance at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) as an organisation. The three specific objectives were to assess the most common leadership style at TTU, to test the difference between male and female leadership behaviours at TTU, and to assess the effect of leadership styles and leader’s gender on employee performance at TTU. The study employed a quantitative research approach and descriptive survey and inferential statistics as the study design. The study was on the views of 154 employees out of 318 from the study area with a self-administered questionnaire as the main research instrument. The results were analysed with the help of the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS 22.0 version) software. The major findings were that transformational leadership style is more perceived to be adopted by leaders as compared to the other styles. It was also found with respect to the transformational, autocratic and laissez-faire leadership style, it was evident that female leaders have the higher leadership behaviour as compared to male leaders. However, regarding transactional leadership style, the result indicated that male leaders have the higher leadership behaviour as compared to female leaders. Finally, the results indicated that employee with female leaders report an average performance higher than their staffs with male leaders. Considering this, it was recommended that leaders should adopt more of leadership characteristics which are transformational in nature than other leadership characteristics.

Source: UCC
Effect of leadership style on job performance in public institutions: a case of the academic affairs directorate of the University of Ghana

The study sought to examine the existence of the various leadership styles and its impact on the job performance at the various units of the Academic Affairs Directorate of the University of Ghana. Close ended questionnaires were used for the collection of the data. The close ended questionnaires were administered to sixty-one (61) staff members who were selected using the stratified sampling technique from the various Units. Nine (9) of the Unit Heads of the Directorate were also given questionnaires to respond to. Chi square and Spearman rank correlation coefficient tests were used to analyse the effect of leadership styles on job performances at a significant level of 0.05. It was observed that the charismatic, transformational, strategic, and transactional styles of leadership are the main leadership styles that do exist at the Directorate. Though all these leadership styles do exist, the charismatic and transactional styles seemed to be more predominant. The charismatic style of leadership was observed to have much positive impact on job performance in terms of accuracy of work output, and customer service delivery. The transactional style of leadership was also found to help build good teams for easy flow of information, ideas and services thus creating an atmosphere for higher productivity. In view of these findings, it is recommended that both charismatic and transactional styles of leadership should be encouraged and strengthened at the Directorate to enhance job performance.

Source: UCC
Effect of leadership styles on employee performance: The case of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital

The poor attitudes of Hospital staff in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital has sought to question the leadership abilities and styles of the hospital management. Leadership abilities to influence their followers are often linked to the type of style they adopt. This study aimed at assessing the effect of leadership styles on employee performance in Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital. The study was both qualitative and quantitative and adopted the survey and cross-sectional designs. The study used 83 respondents and these respondents were randomly selected using the lottery method. Questionnaires were used to collect data descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages as well as correlation and regression statistical tools were used to analyse the data. It emerged from the study that the democratic, autocratic as well as laissez-faire leadership styles were practiced in the CCMH. It was revealed that democratic leadership style statistically and empirically affects employee performance. Again, it was found that autocratic leadership style positively affects employee performance in the hospital. Also, the study revealed that there was employee performance is influenced and affected by laissez-faire leadership style. The study, therefore, concluded that leadership styles practiced at the CCMH affect employees’ performance. It is recommended that supervisors apply the democratic, autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles depending on the prevailing situations since different situations demand different leadership approaches.

Source: UCC
Effect of Liquidity Management on the Financial Performance of Banks Listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange

Effective liquidity management is instrumental in enhancing the very survival of the banking industry and instilling public confidence. The study examined the effect of liquidity management on the financial performance of listed banks in Ghana by employing data on nine listed banks from 2014 to 2018. The specific objective of the study was in respect of analysing the effect of liquidity and liability management on financial performance of listed banks. Financial performance was mainly measured by using returns on assets, returns on equity, profit margin and net interest margin. The study was based on the liquidity preference theory, and the explanatory design and the quantitative approach was also employed. The objectives of the study were analysed using least square regression model. The study found that the excessive increase in banks’ liquidity and the conservative approach to managing liquidity by holding more of banks deposits and assets in liquid form negatively affects financial performance. The study further found that liability management of banks by way of accumulating more debts and deposits and investing them in long term assets or holding them in liquid form negatively affect short term profits. The study among other things recommended that management of listed banks should maintain liquidity ratios up to the estimated liquidity requirements of their firms and avoid the excessive pile up of liquidity and liquidity which reduce the economic value of their assets, returns and profitability.

Source: UCC
Effect of Liquidity Management on the Profitability of Zabzugu Rural Bank in the Northern Region

The successful management of liquidity is essential to ensure the survival of the banking industry and to inspire public confidence. In this study, the impact of liquidity management on the financial performance of Zabzugu Rural Bank in the Northern Region was investigated, using data from 2017 to 2021. Specifically, the study analyzed the effects of liquidity and liability management on the bank's financial performance, measured through returns on assets, returns on equity, profit margin, and net interest margin. The study utilized the liquidity preference theory and employed an explanatory design and quantitative approach, analyzing the objectives of the study with a least square regression model. The study discovered that the liability of the bank did not directly affect the bank's financial performance. However, during the sample period, the bank employed reasonable liquidity management, investing more assets and a portion of deposits in risky investments. As a result, the decreasing levels of the bank's liquidity were found to positively affect the returns on assets, returns on equity, and profit margin of Zabzugu Rural Bank in the Northern Region. The study recommended that the bank's management align its liabilities with short-term assets such as short-term loans to creditworthy customers. This will enable the bank to generate sufficient revenue to match its liabilities and mitigate the risk of a mismatch in the timing of the creation of assets and revenue. Additionally, bank is encouraged to adopts a realistic strategy for increasing the amount of liquid cash in its assets through reinvestment. However, the potential impact of this technique on the bank's financial performance should be carefully monitored and managed.

Source: UCC
The Effect of Locally Prepared Soaps with Different Oils on the Colour and Dimensional Stability of an African Print Fabric

Ghanaians that patronize the locally produced soap “Azumah blow” have raised concerns about the quality and its effect on fabrics. Meanwhile, palm oil is the oil used in its production. The aim of this study was to vary the oils for the production of the soap to determine if a change in oil used can reduce or eliminate the soap’s effect on a textile fabric. The objective of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of locally prepared soaps from three different types of oils on the colour fastness and shrinkage of an African print fabric from TexStyles Ghana Limited (GTP). Palm oil, Palm kennel oil and Coconut oil were used in the preparation of the soaps. Test specimens were subjected to washing with the 3 different types of soaps at 600C for 30 minutes using the standard Launder-Ometer (Gyrowash 315). Each washed specimen was dried at room temperature. Dimensional stability was measured with the aid of a tape measure. Colour fastness and staining were measured by means of grey scales. The results indicated that soap samples employed for the study generally showed less change to the dimensional stability of the fabric used for the study. They were gentle on the colour staining properties; however, the coconut oil soap had the best performance compared to the soaps with palm oil and palm kennel oil. It is recommended that other performance attributes of cotton fabrics are explored with these types of soaps to give an overall picture of their total performance.

Source: UCC
Effect of Long-Duration Aerobic Exercises and Exercise-Scheduling on Physiological and Anthropometric Health Markers: A Case Study of a Keep-Fit Club Members in Accra, Ghana

Due to perceived lack of time, people have resorted to participation in physical exercise once per week. The purpose of the study was to determine whether long duration aerobic exercise will have any effect on physiological and anthropometric health markers of a keep fit club members in Accra. A total of 64 respondents, 32 in each training group, were used for the analyses. A longitudinal data of 6 weeks intervals were collected on three different occasions to track the changes in the variables overtime and across groups. The MANOVA, correlational analysis and paired sample t-test were used for the inferential analyses. The results showed a relatively strong positive association between percent body fat and BMI; a moderate positive association was found between diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Exercise training was confirmed to be effective at improving participants‘ physiological and anthropometric variables irrespective of the type of exercise schedule. Continuous exercise improved most of the physiological variables more effectively than single exercise, although sex and age significantly moderate such effects. Males mostly responded to continuous exercise more than females, while females responded better to single training than males. Younger participants could improve their physiological variables with either multiple or single training exercises, but older participants benefited more from continuous training. The study recommends that the prescription of a training exercise for participants needs consideration of the client‘s sex and age for a more effective outcome on anthropometric measure improvements. Multiple training sessions are recommended for older participants, while OTT is ideal for female participants.

Source: UCC
The Effect of Marital Status on Psychological Distress among Single and Partnered Mothers in Ghana: The Moderating Role of Employment Status

Literature indicated that generally, one-quarter to one-third of all families are headed by single mothers. In developing countries like Ghana, more than 25% of households are headed by single mothers. This phenomenon could be attributed to increased rate of divorce, desertion, death, and imprisonment. These mothers are confronted with many burdens. The study sought to find out how these burdens affect the level of psychological distress of mothers and whether single and partnered mothers differ on this variable. Some of the factors considered include employment status, family size, and educational level. Data was obtained using questionnaire and structured interview guide from 364 single mothers and 355 partnered mothers using purposive sampling, convenience and the snowball sampling. The design was descriptive survey. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analyses. There were significant differences between single and partnered mothers, as well as amongst those employed in the formal sector, those employed in the informal sector and the unemployed mothers on psychological distress. A significant negative relationship between the age of mothers and psychological distress was observed. These findings were discussed and intervention programmes recommended.

Source: UCC
Effect of measurement scales on results of item response theory models and multivariate statistical techniques

The study investigates the effects of response scales of items on results of item response theory models and multivariate techniques. total of sixty-four datasets have been simulated under various conditions such as item response format, number of dimensions underlying response scales, and sample size using R package mirt command: simdata(a,d, N,itemtype). Two main statistical techniques − Item Response Theory (IRT) models and Factor analysis − are employed. We find that there is a direct relationship between parameters of IRT and those of factor models, particularly item discrimination and factor loadings. The results also show that the overall fitness of the item response model increases with increasing scale points for higher dimensionality and sample size 150 and higher. The fitness deteriorates over increasing scale points for small sample sizes for unidimensional model. Again, the number of influential indicators on factors increases with increasing scale-points which improves the fitness of the model. The study suggests that a five-point response scale gives most reasonable results among various scales examined. IRT analysis is recommended as a preliminary process to ascertain the observed features of items. The study also finds a sample size of 150 as adequate for a most plausible factor solution, under various conditions

Source: UCC
Effect of measurement scales on results of item response theory models and multivariate statistical techniques

The study investigates the effects of response scales of items on results of item response theory (IRT) models and multivariate statistical techniques. A total of sixty-four datasets have been simulated under various conditions such as item response format, number of dimensions underlying response scales, and sample size using R package MIRT command: simdata (a, d, N, itemtype). Two main statistical techniques - IRT models and Factor Analysis - are employed in analysing the simulated datasets using standard R 3.4.3 codes. We find that there is a direct relationship between parameters of IRT and those of factor models, particularly item discrimination and factor loadings. The results also show that the overall fitness of the item response model increases with increasing scale points for higher dimensionality and sample size 150 and higher. The fitness deteriorates over increasing scale points for small sample sizes for unidimensional IRT model. Again, the number of influential indicators on factors increases with increasing scale-points, which improves the fitness of the model. The results indicate that unrealistic factor solution may be obtained if we attempt to extract higher factor solution than the underlying dimensionality on few scale-points with higher sample sizes. The study suggests that a five­ point response scale gives most reasonable results among various scales examined. IRT analysis is recommended as a preliminary process to ascertain the observed features of items. The study also finds a sample size of 150 as adequate for a most plausible factor solution, under various conditions.

Source: UCC