Recomendation systems and crowdsourcing: a good wedding for enabling innovation? Results from technology affordances and costraints theory

Recommendation Systems have come a long way since their first appearance in the e-commerce platforms.Since then, evolved Recommendation Systems have been successfully integrated in social networks. Now its time to test their usability and replicate their success in exciting new areas of web -enabled phenomena. One of these is crowdsourcing. Research in the IS field is investigating the need, benefits and challenges of linking the two phenomena. At the moment, empirical works have only highlighted the need to implement these techniques for tasks assignment in crowdsourcing distributed work platforms and the derived benefits for contributors and firms. We review the variety of the tasks that can be crowdsourced through these platforms and theoretically evaluate the efficiency of using RS to recommend a task in creative crowdsourcing platforms. Adopting a Technology Affordances and Constraints Theory, an emerging perspective in the Information Systems (IS) literature to understand technology use and consequences, we anticipate the tensions that this implementation can generate

Selection of efficient hanging ratios of gillnet on fish catch in Lake Kainji, as means of alleviating poverty among artisanal fishermen in Nigeria

Five experimental gillnet each measuring 50mx 3m nylon multi filament netting of 3" by210/2 mesh size were constructed using 40%, 45%, 50%, 55% and 60% hanging percentages, the report was carried out at Yunawa fishing village on the eastern bank of Lake Kainji. The nets were set over night (6 hours approximately). Between April-July 2004, the fish caught by the five nets were recorded taking into consideration the three mode of capture i.e. enmeshing entanglement and wedging Weight number and percentage mean weight and number based on species at five different hanging ratios were analyzed in general 50% hanging ratio was found to be the best followed by 40% among others. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the mode of capture for both hanging ratios. Most of the fish were caught by entanglement i.e. about 83% of the catch was by entanglement while 505 hanging ratio was the best considered after the report. The occurrence of species of the five hanging ratios has significant difference (P<0.05) in terms of catch by weight and numbe

Methanol oxidation over Au/γ-Al2O3 catalysts

Methanol adsorption and reaction was investigated over Au/γ-Al2O3 catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by deposition precipitation (DP) and incipient wetness impregnation methods. The catalysts were used to catalyze the oxidation of methanol and characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed desorption(TPD), temperature programmed pulse flow reaction, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX). The adsorption of methanol over γ-Al2O3 indicated a monolayer adsorption of methanol, forming methoxy group on the surface. The methoxy is relatively stable until 120oC, at which point dehydration to dimethyl ether occurs by bimolecular surface reaction. As the concentration of methoxy diminishes, so the mechanism reverts to a decomposition pathway, producing methane, CO and hydrogen (~340oC) in TPD. The gold supported on γ-Al2O3 play a role on the performance of the catalyst with respect to methanol oxidation. The oxidation reaction of Au/γ-Al2O3 catalysts prepared by deposition precipitation and incipient wetness impregnation both shows the reaction is complete oxidation to CO2 and H2O. However, it involved dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) at about 150oC followed by decomposition of DME to CH4, CO, and H2. The main product from TPD is DME due to high surface coverage of methoxy species on the catalysts surface. The XPS, SEM, EDAX, indicated high dispersion of gold with complete methanol conversion attained at lower temperature compared to when γ-Al2O3 catalyst was used alone. Key Words: Au catalysis, methanol oxidation, methanol catalytic combustion, TPD, XPS, SEM, and EDA

The consumer in the midst of two distinct terms for the quality of goods in Ghana: Can the law be simplified?

This paper examines the suitability of the concurrent operation of the term of ‘free from defects’ and the term of ‘merchantability quality’ as the basic standard terms for the quality of goods respectively in sale of goods contracts and hire-purchase transactions involving consumers in Ghana. The analysis is explored in comparison with the law in England and Wales. The paper argues that the distinct operation of the two different terminologies defining the requirements for the quality of goods respectively in sale of goods contracts and hire-purchase transactions in Ghana has the susceptibility of predisposing consumers to uncertainties regarding which standard term to expect in a transaction. In considering resolving the likely uncertainties of the different terminologies with a uniform standard term similar as pertains under the law in England and Wales, the paper contends that the term to be adopted should be one which is educative and effectively preserves the aspirations of consumers in Ghana. The paper therefore proffered recommendations discerning from the comparative analysis for legislative consideration in Ghana. Keywords: consumer protection, free from defects, merchantable quality, satisfactory quality and comparative law DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/94-19 Publication date: February 29th 202

Soccer injury surveillance and implementation of an injury prevention programme in Rwanda

Background: There is growing participation in soccer at all levels of sport. Soccer increases the physical and psychological demands on players, which subsequently increase the risk of injuries. There are limited prospective epidemiological studies in Africa, and studies that have been conducted to date often fail to incorporate standardised injury definitions or reporting methods. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct epidemiological studies within the context of low to middle-income countries, where resources may be limited, and taking into consideration exposure times to design appropriate preventive measures. Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore the nature and incidence of soccer-related injuries in first division players in Rwanda, and to establish intrinsic risk factors for injuries. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted for two seasons. Eleven teams (326 players) and 13 teams (391 players) were followed for the seasons 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. Anthropometric and musculoskeletal screening composed of flexibility tests, strength and endurance, balance and proprioception tests, and lower limb function tests were conducted as well as training and match exposure were recorded. Team medical personnel recorded the location, type, duration and mechanism of time-loss injuries following the suggestion of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA). The primary outcome was the incidence of overall, training and match injury as well as body part, type, patterns and severity of injuries. Multivariate model using the Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) was used to assess intrinsic predictors of injury. Significance was accepted as p<0.05. Results: There were 455 injuries and approximately 46% of the players were injured in each of the two seasons. The team weighted mean incidence of match injuries was significantly lower during season one (14.2 injuries/ 1000 hours) compared to season two (21.9 injuries/ 1000 hours) (t(22)= -2.092, p=0.048). No difference was observed in the team-weighted incidence for overall and training injuries between the two seasons. There was increased injury incidence with increased acute: chronic training and match workload ratios. Lower extremities were the most frequently affected over the two seasons (80% of all injuries), with the knee joint most commonly injured (28% off all injuries) followed by the ankle joint (25% of all injuries). Ligament strains were the most common form of injury followed by muscle strains and contusions. The most common mechanisms of injury were collisions between players and receiving a tackle. About three quarters of the reported injuries were mild or moderate in severity and injuries to the Achilles tendon lead to the longest median lay-off time. The greatest incidence of injuries was sustained between the 46thand 60thminute of match play. A score of 11cm or less on the Sit and Reach test, more than one year in the current club and a timed hop of more than 2.5 seconds were all associated with injury. Conclusions: The rate of injuries found in this study is lower compared to the studies that reported injuries in adult male at either professional or amateur level. The patterns of training and match injuries, location, type and severity of injuries are similar to previous studies. Flexibility and balance, and coordination emerged as being significant predictors of increased risk of injury. More studies with emphasis on intrinsic and extrinsic factors are needed to attain wider knowledge concerning injuries among soccer players in Africa. Prevention intervention is necessary to minimise the of lower limb injuries

Ethanol oxidation over Au/TiO2 catalysis

The adsorption and reaction of ethanol over Au/TiO2 catalysts was investigated using pulse flow reactor, DRIFTS, and TPD. The adsorption of ethanol over TiO2 (P25) indicated a full monolayer adsorption of ethanol, with much of it in a dissociative state, forming ethoxy group on the cationic sites and hydroxyl group at anions. The ethoxy is relatively stable until 300oC, at which point dehydration to ethene occurs by a bimolecular surface reaction. As the concentration of ethoxy on the surface disappears, so the mechanism reverts to a decomposition pathway, producing methane, CO and hydrogen (~320oC) in TPD. However, the presence of gold on the catalysts prepared by deposition precipitation method indicates that the reaction is complete oxidation to CO2 and water similar to Titania. The effect of the presence of low level of gold is marked with complete conversion of ethanol at low temperature (220oC) lower than Titania (240oC).Simultaneously, ethanol oxidation on Au/TiO2 catalyst was followed by dehydration to ethene at 300oC (characteristic of TiO2) and dehydrogenation to ethanal at high temperature. The pathway which gives ethene as seen on TiO2 remains, but a new feature of the reaction is the evolution of CO2 and H2 (a peak is seen in TPD above 350oC) and appears to be due to the production of formate species on the surface of the catalysts. This formate species is mainly involved in the complete oxidation reaction of ethanol on the catalysts. Keywords: Au catalysis, ethanol oxidation, ethanol catalytic combustion, TPD, DRIFT

Open government data publication and use in a developing country: a case of Ghana

Implementing Open Government Data (OGD) increases a government's ability to share data on its activities with citizens in machine-readable formats. OGD improves citizen participation, transparency, accountability and creates impact. By permitting more transparency, OGD helps citizens monitor government activities, which contributes to minimizing corruption. For example, while Also, OGD enables governments to track the impact of their actions; it gives citizens the ability to monitor government activities and critique where necessary. In addition, institutionalizing OGD by governments encourages economic growth and creates employment for citizens. The aim of this study is to examine OGD as a phenomenon in Ghana by focusing on how social factors either constrained or enabled the publication and use of OGD in Ghana. The investigation also examined how these social factors were created and sustained over time, influencing OGD institutionalization. The Structuration Theory was used as the primary theoretical lens to aid in understanding these social factors. In addition, the Structuration Theory was supplemented with concepts from Network Power, Ownership, and the Public Value Frameworks to provide additional theoretical categorization for the empirical findings. This study adopted a qualitative interpretive approach. Data sources for the research included semi-structured interviews, observations, and secondary data. The primary sources of data included Data Users, Data Publishers, Data “controllers,” and beneficiaries. The main findings from the study indicated that despite Ghana's long-standing democracy and being one of the early implementers of OGD, the phenomenon was yet to be institutionalized in the country. Data ownership, data quality, regulatory mandate, data sharing culture, control, and resources were the core social factors that influenced OGD publication. The meanings that actors ascribed to data ownership resulted in establishing and maintaining bureaucratic structures that allowed institutions and individuals to control available data. The actual use of OGD was influenced by social factors such as alliances/network creation, resources, power in networks, informal networks, and data quality assessment. Conversely, factors like alliances/network creation and technological resources acted as enablers that helped data users access the data. Data Users relied on technology and constantly drew upon their knowledge and understanding of technology and social connections to enable them to access and use data. They also relied on their ability to use technology to scrutinize data to ensure that it was of good quality and its use could create an impact or public value. Specific recommendations of this study include the need to use change management strategies targeted at all actors and institutions in the OGD ecosystem; educating and sensitizing actors on the relevance of making data technically available on a single approved web portal; and the creation of a context specific data quality indicators

The influence of board mechanisms to the perceived performance of listed firms in Nigeria

The formation of the board of directors has led to the ever growing debate in the area of corporate governance in Nigeria. Essentially, there is a growing concern about the effectiveness of the board of director to firm performance, This study attempts to investigate an empirical study on the influence of board mechanisms on the perceived firm performance of listed firm in Nigeria. The underpinning theory of the study is rooted in agency theory, supported by three theories of corporate governance such as stewardship, resource dependence, and stakeholder theory to increase the understanding of the influence of board mechanisms to perceived firm performance. The data were collected through proportionate stratified random sampling techniques. The questionnaires were sent to the respondents. Out of 476 questionnaires sent, 401 returned. The number of valid questionnaires is 362. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Empirical findings showed that board size, independence non-executive director, CEO duality, female gender diversity, board competence, board professional knowledge, and experience were positively associated with perceived firm performance. Also, board ethnicity conflict was found to be negatively and statistically significantly related to perceived firm performance. However, director skills did not show any significant link to perceived firm performance. The findings contribute, theoretically to the knowledge of corporate governance. In the context of corporate governance, this is the first study that focused on the issues of methodological changes by using primary data to investigate the influence of board mechanisms on the perceived firm performance of listed firm in Nigeria. The findings provide policymakers, stakeholders, and government with a better picture of the formation of the board of directors. The study also offers some suggestions for future research

Rethinking land access governance in Global South Cities : understanding the dynamics and contentions of land access processes and governance mechanisms in peri-urban areas of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The governance of land access is recognised as vital for peri-urban growth and development in the Global South Cities because it is important for accommodating urban expansion. Peri-urban areas attract multiple actors with diverging and conflicting interests and needs, contributing to land access dynamics and contentions. However, the dynamic and contentious nature of peri-urban land access processes and governance mechanisms has yet to be understood. This thesis aims to conceptualise the dynamic and contentious nature of land access processes and governance mechanisms in peri-urban areas of Global South cities by providing a theoretical understanding of the phenomenon. Dar es Salaam was used as a case study, and embedded mixed methods were employed. Grounded on the new institutionalisms and social network theories, this research concurs that marketisation and commodification of land, increased population and rapid urbanisation contribute to land access and governance challenges. Findings uncover that actors with varying interests and needs applying different land access processes and governance mechanisms have also contributed to the challenges. It is also revealed that actors engaged in land access and governance encounter multiple challenges, which may emanate from policy, technical or financial aspects. The periurban context accommodates competing and conflicting formal and informal land access processes. Consequently, land access and governance in peri-urban areas is dynamic and contentious. This research proposes a new analytical tool for investigation and theoretical understanding of the dynamic and contentious nature of peri-urban land access processes and governance mechanisms

Propan-1-ol Oxidation Reaction on Au/TiO2 Catalysts

Alcohols such as propanol and n- butanol have been oxidised to aldehydes by resin- supported gold in the liquid phase, and several other primary and secondary alcohols have been oxidised with very high selectivity in vapour phase over a 1wt% Au/SiO2 catalyst between 373- 573K. In this work, the adsorption of propan-1-ol was carried over 1%Au/TiO2 catalysts prepared by deposition precipitation method. This was further investigated using Pulse Flow reactor, TPFRP, TPD, and XRD,. The adsorption of propan-1-ol over TiO2 (P25) indicated a full monolayer with much of it in a dissociated state, forming propoxy group on the cationic site and hydroxyl group at anions. The propoxy is relatively stable until about 250oC, at which dehydration to propene occurs by bimolecular surface reaction. As the concentration of propoxy on the surface disappear, so mechanism reverts to a decomposition pathway, producing CO2 and H2O. However, the presence of gold on the catalyst is marked with complete conversion of propan-1-ol at low temperature (230oC) lower than Titania (300oC). Similarly, propan-1-ol oxidation on Au/TiO2 catalyst was followed by dehydration to propene at 300oC (Characteristic of TiO2) and dehydrogenation to propanal at high temperature. The evolution of CO2 and H2 appear to be due to the production of formate species on the surface of the catalyst. This formate species is mainly involved in the complete oxidation reaction of propan-1-ol on the catalysts.Keywords: Gold Catalysis, Propan-1-ol Oxidation, TPD, TPFRP, XR