ABSTRACT Functional diversity, an important component of biodiversity, has in recent years engaged global attention. This is in great part due to the mechanistic understanding achieved from functional diversity studies in the face of accelerated global biodiversity changes ascribed primarily to anthropogenic drivers. The exigency of the situation has stimulated biodiversity-ecosystem functions (B-EF) studies to elucidate ecosystem processes and services that are at threat notably in the marin...
ABSTRACT In the present study, the stem of Dichapetalum crassifolium was investigated for its phytochemical constituents and their biological properties. The petroleum ether extract yielded friedelan-3-one, friedelan-3β-ol and a mixture of friedelan-3-one and friedelan-3β-ol. The ethyl acetate extract yielded pomolic acid, dichapetalin M and maslinic acid as well as the friedelins and a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. No solid was isolated from the methanol extract. These compoun...
ABSTRACT Globalization and the spread of export processing zones (EPZs) have resulted in the global drift of women into paid employment in this sector with marked implications for their empowerment across the world. Although Ghana has joined the tidal wave of establishing EPZs, the conditions under which women work in this sector and its implications on their empowerment are not well understood. This study was therefore conducted to assess the working conditions in Ghana’s EPZ and its influ...
ABSTRACT The Akwapim Fault zone is one of the two major fault zones in the southeastern part of Ghana. Its junction with the Coastal Boundary Fault happens to be epicenter for most of the earthquakes that occur in Ghana. The earliest work done in this region was by the Gold Coast Geological Survey on a regional scale in mapping the area to determine the geological structures. With most of geological deformational features being inferred, it is prudent to carry out more research to identify mo...
ABSTRACT The current commercial production of biodiesel is via transesterification reaction, catalysed by homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts. The most commonly used catalyst in biodiesel production is the homogeneous alkaline catalysts such as NaOH, KOH, CH3ONa and CH3OK. The choice of these catalysts is based on their higher kinetic reaction rates. However because of high cost of refined feedstocks and difficulties associated with the use of homogeneous alkaline catalysts to transesterif...
ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to measure the entrance surface dose for selected diagnostic Xray examinations using calibrated thermoluminescent dosimeters on an anthropomorphic phantom. Dose measurement obtained with PCXMC software calculations were used to estimate the stochastic radiation risks and age-dependent mortality rates for subsequent assessment of lifetime cancer risk. Entrance surface dose per examination was estimated from X-ray tube output parameters in two digital X-ray uni...
ABSTRACT Ordinarily, the growth of the road transport industry and its relationship with development should not be antithetical to development, if such growth is in tandem with the adequate transportation infrastructure services, which are perceived as part of the daily rhythm of the development process. A reliable transport network is essential to public safety, economic vitality and the overall quality of life. Unfortunately, the Accra–Kumasi–Tamale highway, the busiest trans-national c...
ABSTRACT Background: The face of HIV/AIDS disease is constantly evolving, spreading among populations, and the virus mutating to become resistant to available antiretroviral drugs. Nevirapine, a NNRTI is widely used as the first-line treatment of HIV-1 infection in developing countries. Although it is generally well tolerated and effective, some individuals experience severe cutaneous and/or hepatic adverse events during the initial weeks of therapy. The risk factors associated with the devel...
ABSTRACT Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) has been a significant public health problem in the developing world. Fortification has been identified as one o f the most cost-effective and sustainable approaches for controlling IDA. Addition of various bionutritional substances creates several technical challenges for the Food Technologists and therefore it is necessary to maintain the overall quality o f the product in terms o f the bioavailability o f the fortifying agent. The main objective...
ABSTRACT Cowpeas are a relatively inexpensive source of proteins and vitamin B. Unfortunately, the problem of insect infestation is one of the main constraints to the efficient and widespread utilisation of cowpeas. The hydrothermal treatment which involves the exposure of cowpeas to steam followed by drying has been used effectively in protecting cowpeas against the insect infestations. This study set out to assess the functional, chemical and textural changes associated with the hydro...
ABSTRACT Utilization of cassava, which contributes 22% of the gross agricultural product in Ghana, is limited by its high perisability, low protein content and toxicity due to the presence of the cyanogenic glucoside, linamarin and lotaustralin. Akyeke, a fermented and granulated, steamed-cooked cassava meal consumed extensively along the southwestern parts of Ghana is one of several products prepared from cassava in order to reduce postharvest loss of the crop. Fermenting grated cassava...
ABSTRACT Guaranteed solutions to the current transaction security challenges facing banking industries may not be possible on a large scale, if the solutions are not developed to prevent third party transaction in the used software. Thus, this research lends its voice in support of the move to develop a biometric platform for preventing third party transaction in the banking system. It is meant to use both human face and fingerprint in securing payment platform in the banking software. Hence,...
Abstract. We briefly present the motivation, architecture and usage experience as well as proof statistics for a new Rodin Platform proof back-end based on the Why3 umbrella prover. Why3 offers a simple and versatile notation as a common interface to a large number of automated provers including all the leading SMT-LIB and TPTP compliant tools. The plug-in can function either in a local mode when all the provers are installed locally, or remotely as a cloud service. We discuss the experience ...
ABSTRACT Kombucha tea is a slightly sweet, slightly acidic refreshing beverage consumed worldwide. Kombucha is a symbiosis of the Genera Acetobacter and Gluconobacter, with Acetobacter xylinum as a characteristic species, and various yeasts such as genera of Brettanomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces and Pichia depending on the source. The tea fungus broth is composed of two portions, a floating cellulosic pellicle layer and a sour liquid broth. Black and green tea are known to be t...
Abstract The emergence of educational video games have changed the perspective of many on video games as only an entertainment tool. Video games have been beneficial in improving language skills, reading skills and cognitive abilities of children. The traditional method of teaching and learning history in the classroom has made history boring and unlikeable for students. Although, methods like films and museums attempt to engage the student, they do not fully immerse them. To create an immers...