ASSESSING THE ROLE OF ROTATING SAVINGS AS A MEANS OF FUNDS MOBILIZATION AND CREDIT SOURCING- CASE STUDY OF OTUASENKAN RURAL BANK LTD.

oai:ojs2.freeprojectwork.com:article/1The primary aim of this study was to assess the role of rotating savings as a means of funds mobilization and credit sourcing with a special focus on Otuasekan Rural Bank (ORB). The study used a sample of 365 respondents who were susu customers and credit officers of ORB. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were employed in selecting the sample. The study employed survey methodology in which primary data was gathered with the use of structured questionnaire and unstructured interviews. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of research analysis and mainly used primary data in addition to secondary data. Data was processed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in frequency tables and charts. The study reports that the operation of the rotating savings scheme has benefited the customers in terms of access to loans, education and seminars and safe keeping of savings while the bank gained from the scheme in areas of interest income from lending and investment activities, improvement in deposits and liquidity position as well as a source of low cost of funds. Further, it is reported that embezzlement of customers’ funds by bank officials, high labour turnover of personnel in-charge of rotating savings operations and inadequate personal data of customers are some challenges facing the bank in operating the scheme. The study recommends that a repackage of the scheme could be done so that clients who have been with the institution for long could be given a reduced interest rate which can go a long way to attract new contributors

Turbulence on the Global Economy influenced by Artificial Intelligence and Foreign Policy Inefficiencies

It is said that Data and Information are the new oil. One, who handles the data, handles the emerging future of the global economy. Complex algorithms and intelligence-based filter programs are utilized to manage, store, handle and maneuver vast amounts of data for the fulfillment of specific purposes. This paper seeks to find the bridge between artificial intelligence and its impact on the international policy implementation in the light of geopolitical influence, global economy and the future of labor markets. We hypothesize that the distortion in the labor markets caused by artificial intelligence can be mitigated by a collaborative international foreign policy on the deployment of AI in the industrial circles. We, in this paper, then proceed to propose a disposition for the essentials of AI-based foreign policy and implementation, while asking questions such as 'could AI become the real Invisible Hand discussed by economists?'.Comment: This is the pre-print versio

OPTIMIZATION OF THE MICROELECTROMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEMS THROUGH MICROCHANNEL TECHNOLOGY

  Abstract: Performance of microchannel heat exchangers is highly dependent on their geometry and shape. Hence, the structural design is as equally important as the material components. This paper expounds the development and applications of microchannel technology thereby proposing an optimal applicability on the microelectromechanical properties of heat exchange systems

Statin Treatment and Clinical Outcomes of Heart Failure Among Africans: An Inverse Probability Treatment Weighted Analysis

Daniel Reidpath - ORCID: 0000-0002-8796-0420 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0420Background Randomized control trials of statins have not demonstrated significant benefits in outcomes of heart failure (HF). However, randomized control trials may not always be generalizable. The aim was to determine whether statin and statin type–lipophilic or –hydrophilic improve long‐term outcomes in Africans with HF. Methods and Results This was a retrospective longitudinal study of HF patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized at a tertiary healthcare center between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 in Ghana. Patients were eligible if they were discharged from first admission for HF (index admission) and followed up to time of all‐cause, cardiovascular, and HF mortality or end of study. Multivariable time‐dependent Cox model and inverse‐probability‐of‐treatment weighting of marginal structural model were used to estimate associations between statin treatment and outcomes. Adjusted hazard ratios were also estimated for lipophilic and hydrophilic statin compared with no statin use. The study included 1488 patients (mean age 60.3±14.2 years) with 9306 person‐years of observation. Using the time‐dependent Cox model, the 5‐year adjusted hazard ratios with 95% CI for statin treatment on all‐cause, cardiovascular, and HF mortality were 0.68 (0.55–0.83), 0.67 (0.54–0.82), and 0.63 (0.51–0.79), respectively. Use of inverse‐probability‐of‐treatment weighting resulted in estimates of 0.79 (0.65–0.96), 0.77 (0.63–0.96), and 0.77 (0.61–0.95) for statin treatment on all‐cause, cardiovascular, and HF mortality, respectively, compared with no statin use. Conclusions Among Africans with HF, statin treatment was associated with significant reduction in mortality.https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.116.0047066pubpub

AN EVALUATION OF THE BENEFITS AND DIFFICULTIES FACING GHANAIAN SMES IN IMPLEMENTING CLOUD COMPUTING

ABSTRACT The advantages and challenges of cloud computing services adoption by Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in the Kumasi Metropolis are examined in this paper. SMEs in Ghana lack adequate information technology skills for record keeping and information management, marketing and processing. It will be beneficial for SMEs in Ghana to use cloud conjugating for enable productivity, dependability, cost savings, and corporate cooperation. Although, the benefits of cloud computing are enormous, due to a number of obstacles, the widespread implementation of cloud computing among SMEs is slow and discouraging. The impact of the use of cloud computing on the performance of the organization has also been thoroughly explored in this study. Using a combination of methods. the study gathered quantitative data using questionnaires. whereas interview guides were used to gather qualitative data. In assessing the effects of the use of cloud computing on the firm\u27s performance, a simple linear regression was used to ascertain the correlation between them. The findings establish that cloud computing has a major influence on business performance. Data were gathered in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area

Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium africanum in Ghana

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium africanum comprises two phylogenetic lineages within the M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and is an important cause of human tuberculosis (TB) in West Africa. The reasons for this geographic restriction of M. africanum remain unclear. Here, we performed a prospective study to explore associations between the characteristics of TB patients and the MTBC lineages circulating in Ghana. METHOD: We genotyped 1,211 MTBC isolates recovered from pulmonary TB patients recruited between 2012 and 2014 using single nucleotide polymorphism typing and spoligotyping. Associations between patient and pathogen variables were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 1,211 MTBC isolates analysed, 71.9 % (871) belonged to Lineage 4; 12.6 % (152) to Lineage 5 (also known as M. africanum West-Africa 1), 9.2 % (112) to Lineage 6 (also known as M. africanum West-Africa 2) and 0.6 % (7) to Mycobacterium bovis. Univariate analysis revealed that Lineage 6 strains were less likely to be isoniazid resistant compared to other strains (odds ratio = 0.25, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.05-0.77, P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that Lineage 5 was significantly more common in patients from the Ewe ethnic group (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR): 2.79; 95 % CI: 1.47-5.29, P < 0.001) and Lineage 6 more likely to be found among HIV-co-infected TB patients (adjOR = 2.2; 95 % confidence interval (CI: 1.32-3.7, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the importance of M. africanum in Ghana and highlight the need to differentiate between Lineage 5 and Lineage 6, as these lineages differ in associated patient variables

WEIGHTED ACCURACY ALGORITHMIC APPROACH IN COUNTERACTING FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION

Subject and purpose of work: Fake news and disinformation are polluting information environment. Hence, this paper proposes a methodology for fake news detection through the combined weighted accuracies of seven machine learning algorithms. Materials and methods: This paper uses natural language processing to analyze the text content of a list of news samples and then predicts whether they are FAKE or REAL. Results: Weighted accuracy algorithmic approach has been shown to reduce overfitting. It was revealed that the individual performance of the different algorithms improved after the data was extracted from the news outlet websites and 'quality' data was filtered by the constraint mechanism developed in the experiment. Conclusions: This model is different from the existing mechanisms in the sense that it automates the algorithm selection process and at the same time takes into account the performance of all the algorithms used, including the less performing ones, thereby increasing the mean accuracy of all the algorithm accuracies

Weighted accuracy algorithmic approach in counteracting fake news and disinformation / Algorytmiczne podejście do dokładności ważonej w przeciwdziałaniu fałszywym informacjom i dezinformacji

Subject and purpose of work: Fake news and disinformation are polluting information environment. Hence, this paper proposes a methodology for fake news detection through the combined weighted accuracies of seven machine learning algorithms. Materials and methods: This paper uses natural language processing to analyze the text content of a list of news samples and then predicts whether they are FAKE or REAL. Results: Weighted accuracy algorithmic approach has been shown to reduce overfitting. It was revealed that the individual performance of the different algorithms improved after the data was extracted from the news outlet websites and 'quality' data was filtered by the constraint mechanism developed in the experiment. Conclusions: This model is different from the existing mechanisms in the sense that it automates the algorithm selection process and at the same time takes into account the performance of all the algorithms used, including the less performing ones, thereby increasing the mean accuracy of all the algorithm accuracies.Przedmiot i cel pracy: Fałszywe wiadomości i dezinformacja prowadzą do skażenia środowiska informacyjnego. Dlatego w niniejszym artykule zaproponowano metodologię wykrywania fałszywych wiadomości za pomocą połączonych dokładności ważonych siedmiu algorytmów uczenia maszynowego. Materiały i metody: Artykuł ten wykorzystuje przetwarzanie języka naturalnego do analizy zawartości tekstowej listy próbek wiadomości, a następnie przewiduje, czy są one FAŁSZYWE, czy PRAWDZIWE. Wyniki: Wykazano, że algorytmiczne podejście do dokładności ważonej zmniejsza nadmierne dopasowanie. Wykazano, że indywidualne działanie różnych algorytmów poprawiło się po wyodrębnieniu danych z serwisów informacyjnych i filtrowaniu danych „jakościowych” przez mechanizm ograniczeń opracowany w eksperymencie. Wnioski: Model ten różni się od istniejących mechanizmów w tym sensie, że automatyzuje proces doboru algorytmów i jednocześnie bierze pod uwagę działania wszystkich zastosowanych algorytmów, w tym tych mniej wydajnych, zwiększając tym samym średnią dokładność wszystkich dokładności algorytmów

An Economic Analysis of Consumer Right Protection in E-Commerce: Testing Efficiency Using the Principles of Contract Law

The internet is hailed as the virtual abode of men characterized by the ability for subjects to rule and be ruled simultaneously, with each individual being the custodian of this kingdom of wires and diodes. Recent technological advancement has enormously affected the internet and increased the number of users tremendously. While the ‘milk and honey’ provided by the convenience of the internet is enjoyable, it has also brought about certain discomfort to some people. E-commerce being one of the most beneficial aspects of the use of internet has, just like any other phenomenal sector of commerce, got its own setbacks. Previous literature has discussed different ways of dealing with consumer right protection which has been a major issue of discussion in this digital era. This paper attempts to review the various approaches proposed by existing literature and then suggest alternative remedy for consumer-merchant issues in E-commerce using an economic analysis in the context of contract law liability theory. It also devices a quantitative Risk-Benefit Analytic tool to be used by e-commerce platforms, regulators and courts in analyzing the risk involved in certain online transactions in the case where non-performance leads to the loss economic opportunity of a user