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Valorisation of selected Ghanaian seaweeds for biogas production
(KNUST, 2018-04) Opoku, Gertrude
ABSTRACT Seaweed biomass has been considered as a promising feedstock for biogas production because it contains high concentrations of biodegradable organic solids. The research aimed at producing biogas from seaweeds. In order to optimize the biogas yields of seaweeds, batch fermentation test was conducted to examine the effects of total solids load and inoculum type on methane content from brown seaweed Sargassum vulgare and green seaweed Ulva fasciata before biogas production of seaweeds were conducted. From the results obtained, the highest methane concentration for brown seaweed and green seaweed were 55.45% v/v and 60.6% v/v using rumen and large intestine contents from cattle respectively. 8% TS (Total solids) of green seaweed inoculated with large intestine contents yielded the highest methane gas (60.6%) whiles 10% TS of brown seaweed inoculated with rumen contents recorded the highest methane gas (55.45%) over a digestion period of 55 days. The 8% TS of green seaweed also gave the highest biogas and methane yields of 608.7 ± 37.84 ml/g VS and 218.22 ± 15.38 ml CH4/g VS respectively whiles 10% TS of brown seaweed gave lower biogas and methane yields of 308.48 ± 4.09 ml/g VS and 106 ± 2.4 ml CH4/g VS respectively compared to green seaweed. However, the biogas and methane yields of green seaweed were both inhibited at 10% TS whiles those of brown seaweed were both inhibited at 12% TS. From the results obtained in this study, both seaweed species have high potential as substrates for biogas production in Ghana.
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Production of wine from synsepalum dulcificum (miracle berry).
(KNUST, 2015-08) Aduboffour, Stephen Kwaku
Red wine was produced from Synsepalumdulcificum (Miracle Berry) extract. The effects of varying pH and Inoculum levels during fermentation on wine parameters like change in soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, acid taste index, antioxidant activity and polyphenol concentrations were investigated. During fermentation, changes in brix and pH were monitored. There was a decrease in brix, pH, phenolic content and antioxidant activity for all samples fermented at varying pH after fermentation. There was, however, an increase in titratable acidity and acid taste index after fermentation. Wine sample fermented at pH 3.8 using 1% inoculum (Wine A), wine sample fermented at pH 4.6 using 1% inoculum (Wine B) and wine sample fermented at pH 5.8 using 1% inoculum (Wine C) produced 13%, 10% and 10% (v/v) alcohol, respectively. With respect to varying Inoculum, there was a decrease in brix, pH, phenolic content and antioxidant activity for wine sample fermented at pH 4.6 using 1% inoculum (Wine E) and wine sample fermented at pH 4.6 using 2% inoculum (Wine F). Wine E and F also recorded an increase in titratable acidity and acid taste index after fermentation. At the end of the fermentation process, wine sample E and Fhad alcohol content of 10% and 12% (v/v) respectively. The study revealed that it is possible to produce red wine from miracle berry and its qualities can be manipulated by controlling the pH and inoculum levels.
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Implementation of adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system for malaria diagnosis. (A case study at Kwesimintsim Polyclinic).
(KNUST, 2015-09) Appiah, Richard
Health issues have become one of the problems bedeviling most developing and underdeveloped countries in our world today. Ghana is of no exception from this menace especially in Africa. One of the prevalent diseases battling with Ghanaians and Africa as a whole is the malaria disease. In 1994, the WHO reported that malaria and measles were the most common causes of premature death. in children under five(5) years. Diagnosis of malaria in many cases has not been accurate by most doctors or physicians due to external human factors such as fatigue and hastiness among others, thereby leading to patients being subjected to treatment again which also come with cost. Hence the need for this research work entitled, “Implementation Of Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System For Malaria Diagnosis. (A Case Study At Kwesimintsim Polyclinic) This paper employs the use of Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) to provide a better option for malaria diagnosis than the traditional diagnosis method which is characterized by erotic guess work and observation of patients by doctors. ANFIS, which is derived from the term Adaptive Network Fuzzy Inference System, was first proposed by Jyh-Shing and Jang and later changed to Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System. This system is designed to allow IF THEN rules and membership functions (fuzzy logic) to be constructed based on the historical data and also includes the adaptive nature for automatic tuning of the membership functions. Related works done by various authours in the area of study were reviewed. One hundred(100) datasets of patients from the clinic were used in this research work. Sixty(60) of the datasets were used as training datasets for training the ANFIS and forty(40) datasets were used checking datasets. The results tested after training showed that ANFIS has the ability to diagnose malaria efficiently than the traditional method with very minimal error.
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Modeling lapse rates with economic variables: The vector autoregressive model approach
(KNUST, 2016-04) Aryeh ,Isaac
Abstract Life insurance contracts are accompanied by risks. This study focuses on the risk involving termination of life policies by the policyholders. This study seeks to identify the main determinants of lapse rates in the Ghanaian life insurance industry. The data available span from 2006 to 2014 and were recorded on monthly basis. Literature research on predictive modeling of lapse rates in the insurance industry led to the choice for predicting with a VAR Model. A total of ve (5) variables were analyzed on their relationship with the average lapse rate. Of these variables in ation, stock market return and interest rate proved valuable for modeling. The vector auto-regression (VAR) model was used to capture the evolution and the interdependencies between the variables. All the variables in the VAR were treated symmetrically by including for each variable an equation explaining its evolution based on its own lags and the lags of all the other variables in the model. The main limitation of this research was the small amount of data and their level of detail. Since the results of this research are promising it is recommended to extend the research to other parts of the country. To increase the statistical strength and accuracy of the inferences that can be made it is also recommended to examine the lapse rates at a policyholder level.
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An enhanced ECC for securing data, comparative study.
(KNUST, 2017-12) Boahen, Edward Kwadwo
ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to enhance a cryptographic system called the Elliptic Curve Cryptographic System. Elliptic Curve cryptosystem is a technique of public-key encryption which is rooted on the arithmetical construction of elliptic curves over finite fields. Elliptic Curve Cryptographic System necessitates smaller keys compared to non-ECC cryptography to offer equal security. Elliptic curves are valid for digital signatures, key agreement, generators, pseudo-random and other related tasks. The first phase of the project involves understanding the key exchanges of Diffie-Hellman and also applying the properties of the Elliptic Curves, and it is terminated with key facts that the Elliptic Curve Cryptography has a shorter key length, saves bandwidth which facilitates key generation during the encryption/decryption of data, also the assurance of faster encryption and decryption, and notwithstanding its efficiency and efficacy in small devices.
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Effects of small scale gold mining on water quality: a case study of new Abirem mining area in Ghana.
(KNUST, 2018-11) Dotse, Edward Kudjo
ABSTRACT This study looked at the effects of small scale mining on the quality of water within the New Abirim mining area in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Surface water and ground water samples were collected monthly from October 2013 to March 2014 at five different sampling sites within the study area. Levels of selected metals namely Mercury (Hg), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As) were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Concentrations of sulphates chlorides and phosphates in addition to other physico-chemical properties were determined using World Health Organization (WHO) standard methods. Results obtained showed variations in the parameters investigated in the surface and groundwater samples. Surface water samples recorded high concentrations of parameters investigated than the ground water samples. Moreover, Iron (Fe) concentrations were noted to be high hence above WHO permissible limit for drinking water in both surface and ground water samples. Mercury levels in surface water exceeded the WHO permissible limit for drinking water quality guidelines. Lead (Pb) with a value of 0.005 mg/l and Arsenic (As) 0.02 μg/l were within the WHO permissible limit of 0.01 mg/l and 10 μg/l for drinking water quality guidelines. The results of the research indicated that, small scale gold mining activities negatively affected water quality and its resources especially on surface waters.
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Reproductive health needs among physically challenged persons in the Sunyani West District
(KNUST, 2019-03) Dujin, Elizabeth
ABSTRACT Introduction: The World Health Organization and World Bank refer to disability as the challenges faced in any or all the three aspects of functioning which are impairment, activity limitation and participation restriction. Impairment concerns difficulties in body function or variations in body structure such as paralysis or blindness while activity limitation is about problems in performing activities like walking, dressing or eating. The third aspect which is participation restriction talks about challenges with participation in any part of life such as discrimination in transportation, education, health service or work. This study is to determine the reproductive health needs among physically challenged persons in the Sunyani west district, Brong Ahafo Region. Methodology: The research adopted qualitative methods of inquiry to answer the research questions. An interview guide was designed to collect the following information on participants, Demographic data, Participants‟ knowledge on their reproductive health needs, Participant‟s major reproductive health needs, Factors contributing to participants‟ reproductive health needs and strategies to help meet physically challenged person‟s reproductive health needs. In-depth interviews were conducted among fifteen respondents whose responses were translated into English language and transcribed for analysis. Results: The research results revealed that, most of the participants did not have enough knowledge on reproductive health needs. It was disclosed that, the physically challenged persons lacked information on some reproductive health needs and services. Also, the research disclosed that, majority of the physically challenged persons had not accessed reproductive health services in or outside health facilities. The participants of the research indicated accessibility, delivery rooms, the nature of the delivery beds and lack of information on reproductive health were their major reproductive health needs facing physically challenged persons in general. They indicated that for those of them who visited the health facility, there was no difficulty in accessing information and services on reproductive health needs in the facilities. Furthermore, the findings showed that the participants believed their reproductive health needs will be improved if the following will be done: if they are given enough health education, elimination of discrimination and rejection, provision of financial support for physically challenged persons, making all health facilities disable friendly and train providers as how to handle persons with disability. Conclusion: Most of the participants have limited understanding of reproductive health needs and that of their own. Lack of enough public education on reproductive health services may have accounted for the physically challenged persons‟ little knowledge on it. The participants suffered some challenges like discrimination by health staff and the general public continues to be a problem for the physically challenged persons. It was agreed by majority of the participants that their association is not doing much to help members have their reproductive health needs met. Keywords: disability, discrimination, reproductive, needs, health, transcribe, knowledge.