Characterization of fine particulate sources at Ashaiman in Greater Accra, Ghana

AbstractThe sources of airborne fine particles in PM2.5 range influencing air quality at Ashaiman, a semi–urban town north of Tema in Ghana had been investigated. Nuclepore and quartz fiber filters were used for the air particulate loadings and analyzed for elemental and carbonaceous compound (EC and OC) concentrations in the 8 carbon fractions using X–Ray spectrometry system and IMPROVE/Thermal Optical Reflectance method respectively. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was utilized to identify the following eight sources; industrial emissions (11.4%), fresh sea salt (15.5%), diesel emissions (18.4%), biomass burning (9.5%), two stroke engines (5.1%), gasoline emissions (15.8%), aged sea salt (6.2%), and soil dust (17.7%). Source locations were verified by means of Conditional Probability Function (CPF) plots that utilize wind directions. The source contributions revealed the high influence of fossil fuel and biomass combustion on the air quality in Ashaiman. The presence of the harbor and the industries located at Tema were seen to have substantial impacts on respirable air particulate matter (APM) concentrations in Ashaiman

Customer Use of Online Order for Food Delivery Service: the Application of UTAUT2 Model

Purpose – Online Food Delivery service can be defined as a service offered by a Restaurants or any food services business that allows the customers of such establishments to carry out a variety of Online Food Delivery operations via a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, tablet or personal digital assistant. The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that influence customers to adopt and subsequently use Online Food Delivery services in Ghana using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2). Design/methodology/approach – Using a questionnaire survey, the study sampled 200 users of online Food Delivery service app in Ghana as respondents. The primary data collected were analyzed using SmartPLS software. Findings – Findings of the study indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy and Perceived control were determinants that positively influenced the purchase intention of consumers. On the other hand, we found that ease of use, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, social influence, and price value were not key factors determining the purchase intention of delivery apps. The applicability of the UTAUT2 model was confirmed in the context of the research. Practical implications – online order for food is a new phenomenon in Ghana's hospitality industry, thus it is imperative to understanding customer adoption behaviour. The outcome will aid any food services business to develop strategies that will sustain the interest of consumers to embrace online Food Delivery services. Originality/value – This paper is among the first-ever known attempts to examine online Food Delivery service adoption in Ghana using the UTAUT2 model

Mapping sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in infected humans and in parasite populations in Africa

L.C.O. is funded by a UK Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin fellowship and also acknowledges funding from Medicines for Malaria Venture and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. L.C.O. declares grant funding from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Medicines for Malaria Venture (M.M.V.), and has received consultancy contracts from M.M.V. and WHO

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways