Selecting Suitable Sites for Wind Energy Development in Ghana

Recent energy crisis in Ghana has led to an intense search for an alternate energy solution. Currently the country is relying on fossil fuel for electricity generation. About 43% of energy generated in the country is from fossil fuel thermal energy. In the event of shortages in petroleum products, these power plants will have to shut down or run on a low capacity resulting in load shedding routines. In order to explore an alternate energy source, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducted a study to assess Ghana’s wind energy potential. Some areas across the country were found to have enough wind resource for power generation. However, sites for wind farms are not wind speed dependent only; other underlying factors also play an important role in the site selection process. The objectives of this research work are to identify these factors and integrate them in the site selection process within a GIS environment. The site selection was based on two major kinds of criteria setting; the constraints and factor criteria. Layers of these criteria setting were combined using the overlay function in a GIS environment. Weights were also assigned to the factor criteria layers using pairwise comparisons. Suitable sites were selected in five regions after incorporating the various criteria. A total of 142 isolated sites were selected after incorporating a number of factors and constraints. The optimal arrangement of the turbines for the Oforikrom site was also designed. This research recommends that the existing land use and ownership of the selected sites should be ascertained. Wind speed measuring masts should also be erected at the various sites to determine the economic viability of setting up a commercial wind farm. Keywords: Wind Energy, Wind Farm, GIS, Criteri

Effect of FINSSP ON Stock Price Volatility In Ghana; Firm Level Analysis

This study investigates the effect of trading volume on the conditional volatility persistence of 13 individual stocks listed on the GSE using Lamoureux and Lastrapes (1990) model. All the stocks show a high degree of volatility persistence. FINSSP succeeded in making volatility of various stocks on GSE decay faster. It also turn out that FINSSP is significant in increasing the leverage effect of stocks on GSE. It was observed that volume traded has significant effect on conditional variance that volume traded may be a good proxy for stock-level analysis, but not for market-level analysis. The effect of expected trading volume on conditional variance in most stocks turnout to be stronger than unexpected trading volume. Keywords: GSE, Expected and Unexpected Trading Volume, Volatility, FINSSP and GARCH

Fasting plasma glucose and lipid profiles of diabetic patients improve with aerobic exercise training

Objective: This study presents the effects of aerobic exercise training on fasting plasma glucose and lipid profiles (FPG/LP) of diabetic patients in Kumasi.Design: A randomised experimental with control design.Setting: The study was conducted at the diabetic unit of KATH in Kumasi, Ghana.Participants: Twelve diabetic patients [grouped into intervention (IG) and control (CG)] attending the diabetic unit of KATH with diabetes diagnosis durations less than fifty years, ambulant status/age of 20-68years, sedentary and free from complications.Interventions: Eight weeks aerobic exercise training between August 2015 and March 2016 Main outcome measures: Body weight (BW), Body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (T) and total cholesterol(TC).Results: Body weight (4.85kg, 7.0%), body mass index (4.08kg/m2, 7.3%), FPG (5.28mmol/L, 43.5%), LDL-C (.33mmol/l, 11.9%), TC (.47 mmol/l, 5.3%) and T (.48mmol/l, 29.4%) profiles of the patients in IG declined while HDL-C (.11mmol/l, 7.1%) increased. IG patients improved significantly in FPG [6.27 ± 0.91 < 8.00 ± 0.96; t=- 52.00, P = 0.000], BW [58.60 ± 15.34 < 75.35 ± 22.00; t= 3.29, P = 0.040] and BMI [23.45 ±5.03<27.04 ±4.78, t=4.24, P = .050] compared to CG.Conclusion: Patients in IG, in addition to conventional care, experienced non-significant decline in LDL-C, TC, T, increase in HDL-C and significant reduction in FPG, BW, and BMI over those receiving conventional care only. Exercise Scientists are recommended to handle exercise sessions for healthcare prevention and management routines of diabetic patients.Funding: Not declaredKeywords: Diabetic patients, Aerobic exercise training, Fasting plasma glucose, Lipoprotein, Triglycerides, Total cholestero

Strategic Leadership and Why is it is Critical for Businesses/Organizations in Ghana

Конкуренція у світовій економіці ХХІ століття буде складною, зі значними викликами і насиченою конкурентними можливостями та загрозами. Організаційні лідери зустрічаються із цілком новим набором управлінських завдань, пов'язаних з концепцією глобалізації, швидким розвитком інформаційних технологій та комунікацій, а останнім часом корпоративної соціальної відповідальності та корпоративного управління. Важливим постає питання чи є ефективною практика стратегічного лідерства і як вона може допомогти організаціям підвищити продуктивність в умовах бурхливого та непередбачуваного соціокультурного бізнес-середовища. Кожна організація хоче вижити і розвиватися в умовах постійно змінюваного та конкурентного середовища. Для цього організація має реагувати та пристосовуватися до соціальних, економічних та політичних змін в навколишньому середовищі. В статті розкривається термінологічний базис "стратегічного лідерства" і пояснюється чому це критично для організації? Крім того, дана робота проводить відмінність між керівництвом та стратегічним лідером на основі емпіричних доказів. Авторами обговорюється шість найважливіших компонент модуля стратегічного лідерства, розроблених Хіттелем, а саме: а) визначення стратегічного напрямку; б) експлуатація та підтримка основних компетенцій; в) розвиток людського капіталу; г) підтримка ефективної корпоративної культури; д) етична практика; е) встановлення стратегічного контролю, щоб пояснити, чому стратегічне лідерство важливе для організації. У статті підкреслюється, що стратегічний контроль може використовуватися для сприяння розподілу як матеріальних, так і нематеріальних ресурсів між незалежними підприємствами в корпоративному портфоліо. Крім того, стратегічний контроль забезпечує гнучкість та інновації, необхідні для використання конкретних ринкових можливостей. У статті зазначено, що стратегічні лідери ініціюють довгострокове бачення, яке гарантує, що їх організації використовують свої основні компетенції, щоб отримати конкурентну перевагу.Конкуренция в мировой экономике XXI века будет сложной, со значительными вызовами, насыщенной конкурентными возможностями и угрозами. Организационные лидеры встречаются с совершенно новым набором управленческих задач, связанных с концепцией глобализации, быстрым развитием информационных технологий и коммуникаций, а в последнее время корпоративной социальной ответственностью и корпоративным управлением. Важным возникает вопрос является ли эффективной практика стратегического лидерства и как она может помочь организациям повысить производительность в условиях бурной и непредсказуемой социокультурной бизнес-среды. Каждая организация хочет выжить и развиваться в условиях постоянно меняющейся конкурентной среды. Для этого организация должна реагировать и приспосабливаться к социальным, экономическим и политическим изменениям в окружающей среде. В статье раскрывается терминологический базис "стратегического лидерства" и объясняется почему это критично для организации? Кроме того, данная работа проводит различие между руководством и стратегическим лидером на основе эмпирических доказательств. Авторами обсуждается шесть важнейших компонент модуля стратегического лидерства, разработанных Хиттелем, а именно: а) определение стратегического направления; б) эксплуатация и поддержка основных компетенций; в) развитие человеческого капитала; г) поддержка эффективной корпоративной культуры; д) этическая практика; е) установление стратегического контроля, чтобы объяснить, почему стратегическое лидерство важно для организации. В статье подчеркивается, что стратегический контроль может использоваться для содействия распределения как материальных, так и нематериальных ресурсов между независимыми предприятиями в корпоративном портфолио. Кроме того, стратегический контроль обеспечивает гибкость и инновации, необходимые для использования конкретных рыночных возможностей. В статье указано, что стратегические лидеры инициируют долгосрочное видение, которое гарантирует, что их организации используют свои основные компетенции, чтобы получить конкурентное преимущество.Competition in the 21st century’s global economy will be complex, challenging and filled with competitive opportunity and threats. Organizational leaders face a whole new set of management challenges due to the concept of globalization, the rapid development of information technology and communication and recently corporate social responsibilities and corporate governance. Is an effective strategic leadership practice that can help organizations enhance performance while computing in turbulent and unpredictable socio-cultural business environment. Every organization wants to survive and grow in a constantly changing and competitive environment. To do so, it must respond and adjust to the social, economic and political environmental changes that occur. The purpose of this article is to explain the term “strategic leadership” and why is it critical for the organization? Moreover, this essay will draw a distinction between leadership and strategic leadership with examples. The author will discuss six critical component of strategic leadership module developed by Hitt: a) determining strategic direction; b) exploiting and maintaining core competencies; c) developing human capital; d) sustain effective corporate culture; e) emphasizing ethical practice; and establishing strategic control to explain why strategic l leadership is important for organization, summary and conclusion. The paper underlines that strategic control can be used to promote the sharing of both tangible and intangible resources among independent businesses within a corporate portfolio. In additions, the strategic control allows the flexibility and innovation necessary to take advantage of specific market opportunities. It is stated that strategic leaders initiate long-term vision, which ensures that their organizations exploit its core competencies to gain a competitive advantage

Green candidate selection for organizational environmental management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a new typological environmentally sustainable human resources management evaluation framework to aid green candidate selection process for environmental management in developing economy local government agencies. Design/methodology/approach Presenting the narrative of developing economies local government context, this paper conducts an extensive review of relevant literature on green human resources management (GHRM) and green recruitment and selection. Findings Drawing on Siyambalapitiya et al. (2018) and the resource-based theory (RBT), the paper proposes and discusses an evaluation framework for guiding organizations’ green candidate selection process. The framework comprises of seven stages which begins with “training recruiters on green candidate assessment” to “making selection decision and inducting selected candidate” on organization’s environmental management policies and practices, and its green values. Research limitations/implications Application of the proposed framework has implications for enhancing organizations’ efficiency, reducing cost, eliminating environment waste, as well as fostering green culture among employees. This paper also extends the strand of RBT by explaining how organizations could assess and select job applicants with significant intangible capability such as environmental management skills, knowledge and values to foster its competitive urge and sustainability. Originality/value This paper makes two main contribution to the GHRM literature. First, the paper proposes a new typological environmentally sustainable human resources management evaluation framework. Secondly, the paper focuses the framework on developing economies and local government organizations context, something that is currently non-existent

a cross-sectional study on the association between urbanicity and the acquisition of immunity

Background Malaria incidence has declined considerably over the last decade. This is partly due to a scale-up of control measures but is also attributed to increasing urbanization. This study aimed to analyse the association between malaria and urbanization and the effect of urbanicity on the acquisition of semi-immunity. Methods In 2012, children with fever presenting to St Michael’s Hospital Pramso/Ghana were recruited. The malaria-positive-fraction (MPF) of fever cases was calculated on community-level to approximate the malaria risk. The mean age of malaria cases was calculated for each community to estimate the acquisition of semi-immunity. The level of urbanicity for the communities was calculated and associations between MPF, urbanicity and immunity were modelled using linear regression. Results Twenty-six villages were included into the study with a mean MPF of 35 %. A linear decrease of 5 % (95 % CI: 4–6 %) in MPF with every ten-point increase in urbanicity was identified. The mean age of malaria patients increased by 2.9 months (95 % CI: 1.0–4.8) with every ten-point increase in urbanicity. Discussion The results confirm an association between an increase in urbanicity and declining malaria risk and demonstrate that the acquisition of semi-immunity is heterogeneous on a micro- epidemiological scale and is associated with urbanicity

Perception of Track and Field Athletes on the Use of Cryotherapy in Injury Management in Ashanti Region of Ghana

The use of cryotherapy in injury management (IM) has been widely studied but report on track and field athletes’ (TFAs) perception in Ghana remains scarce. TFAs in Ashanti region of Ghana habitually sustained acute injuries due to competition stressors that typically affect peak performance like in other contact games. Despite been observed that sustained injuries accomplished cryotherapy treatment, TFAs’ visit to non-clinical therapy nonetheless remain prominent. This cross-sectional study therefore documents the perceptions of TFAs on the use cryotherapy in IM. Ninety five [mean age = 22.26±1.10years, 59 (62.1%) males, 36(37.9%) females] TFAs camped at the Babayara Sports stadium Kumasi in preparation for 11th African Games were purposively sampled. Self-structured and validated instrument on the use of cryotherapy in IM was administered to elicit TFAs perceptions. TFAs perceived the use of cryotherapy in IM as significant [F = 788.884, X2 = 404.192, df = 94, p = .000].Gender influence on TFAs perception of use of cryotherapy in IM was not significantly different. Mainstream significantly professed at least a good feeling (79.0%, X2 = 37.000, p = 000) after receiving cryotherapy treatment. As such, attachement of Physical Therapists to the TFAs training sessions in Ashanti region, provision of enabling environment and equipment to enhance effective IM processes through cryotherapy are strategic approaches advocated.

Urbanicity and Paediatric Bacteraemia in Ghana-A Case-Control Study within a Rural-Urban Transition Zone.

BACKGROUND: Systemic bacterial infections are a major cause of paediatric febrile illness in sub-Saharan Africa. Aim of this study was to assess the effects of social and geographical determinants on the risk of bacteraemia in a rural-urban transition zone in Ghana. METHODS: Children below 15 years of age with fever were recruited at an outpatient department in the suburban belt of Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city. Blood was taken for bacterial culture and malaria diagnostics. The socio-economic status of participants was calculated using Principle Component Analysis. A scale, based on key urban characteristics, was established to quantify urbanicity for all communities in the hospital catchment area. A case-control analysis was conducted, where children with and without bacteraemia were cases and controls, respectively. RESULTS: Bacteraemia was detected in 72 (3.1%) of 2,306 hospital visits. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS; n = 24; 33.3%) and Salmonella typhi (n = 18; 25.0%) were the most common isolates. Logistic regression analysis showed that bacteraemia was negatively associated with urbanicity (odds ratio [OR] = 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7-1.0) and socio-economic status (OR = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6-0.9). Both associations were stronger if only NTS infections were used as cases (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.8 and OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-1.0, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight the importance of individual as well as community factors as independent risk factors for invasive bacterial infection (IBI) and especially NTS. Epidemiological data support physicians, public health experts and policy makers to identify disease prevention and treatment needs in order to secure public health in the transitional societies of developing countries

Canvass: a crowd-sourced, natural-product screening library for exploring biological space

NCATS thanks Dingyin Tao for assistance with compound characterization. This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH). R.B.A. acknowledges support from NSF (CHE-1665145) and NIH (GM126221). M.K.B. acknowledges support from NIH (5R01GM110131). N.Z.B. thanks support from NIGMS, NIH (R01GM114061). J.K.C. acknowledges support from NSF (CHE-1665331). J.C. acknowledges support from the Fogarty International Center, NIH (TW009872). P.A.C. acknowledges support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH (R01 CA158275), and the NIH/National Institute of Aging (P01 AG012411). N.K.G. acknowledges support from NSF (CHE-1464898). B.C.G. thanks the support of NSF (RUI: 213569), the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. C.C.H. thanks the start-up funds from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for support. J.N.J. acknowledges support from NIH (GM 063557, GM 084333). A.D.K. thanks the support from NCI, NIH (P01CA125066). D.G.I.K. acknowledges support from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (1 R01 AT008088) and the Fogarty International Center, NIH (U01 TW00313), and gratefully acknowledges courtesies extended by the Government of Madagascar (Ministere des Eaux et Forets). O.K. thanks NIH (R01GM071779) for financial support. T.J.M. acknowledges support from NIH (GM116952). S.M. acknowledges support from NIH (DA045884-01, DA046487-01, AA026949-01), the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (W81XWH-17-1-0256), and NCI, NIH, through a Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748). K.N.M. thanks the California Department of Food and Agriculture Pierce's Disease and Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Board for support. B.T.M. thanks Michael Mullowney for his contribution in the isolation, elucidation, and submission of the compounds in this work. P.N. acknowledges support from NIH (R01 GM111476). L.E.O. acknowledges support from NIH (R01-HL25854, R01-GM30859, R0-1-NS-12389). L.E.B., J.K.S., and J.A.P. thank the NIH (R35 GM-118173, R24 GM-111625) for research support. F.R. thanks the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) for financial support. I.S. thanks the University of Oklahoma Startup funds for support. J.T.S. acknowledges support from ACS PRF (53767-ND1) and NSF (CHE-1414298), and thanks Drs. Kellan N. Lamb and Michael J. Di Maso for their synthetic contribution. B.S. acknowledges support from NIH (CA78747, CA106150, GM114353, GM115575). W.S. acknowledges support from NIGMS, NIH (R15GM116032, P30 GM103450), and thanks the University of Arkansas for startup funds and the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) for seed money. C.R.J.S. acknowledges support from NIH (R01GM121656). D.S.T. thanks the support of NIH (T32 CA062948-Gudas) and PhRMA Foundation to A.L.V., NIH (P41 GM076267) to D.S.T., and CCSG NIH (P30 CA008748) to C.B. Thompson. R.E.T. acknowledges support from NIGMS, NIH (GM129465). R.J.T. thanks the American Cancer Society (RSG-12-253-01-CDD) and NSF (CHE1361173) for support. D.A.V. thanks the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, the National Science Foundation (CHE-0353662, CHE-1005253, and CHE-1725142), the Beckman Foundation, the Sherman Fairchild Foundation, the John Stauffer Charitable Trust, and the Christian Scholars Foundation for support. J.W. acknowledges support from the American Cancer Society through the Research Scholar Grant (RSG-13-011-01-CDD). W.M.W.acknowledges support from NIGMS, NIH (GM119426), and NSF (CHE1755698). A.Z. acknowledges support from NSF (CHE-1463819). (Intramural Research Program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH); CHE-1665145 - NSF; CHE-1665331 - NSF; CHE-1464898 - NSF; RUI: 213569 - NSF; CHE-1414298 - NSF; CHE1361173 - NSF; CHE1755698 - NSF; CHE-1463819 - NSF; GM126221 - NIH; 5R01GM110131 - NIH; GM 063557 - NIH; GM 084333 - NIH; R01GM071779 - NIH; GM116952 - NIH; DA045884-01 - NIH; DA046487-01 - NIH; AA026949-01 - NIH; R01 GM111476 - NIH; R01-HL25854 - NIH; R01-GM30859 - NIH; R0-1-NS-12389 - NIH; R35 GM-118173 - NIH; R24 GM-111625 - NIH; CA78747 - NIH; CA106150 - NIH; GM114353 - NIH; GM115575 - NIH; R01GM121656 - NIH; T32 CA062948-Gudas - NIH; P41 GM076267 - NIH; R01GM114061 - NIGMS, NIH; R15GM116032 - NIGMS, NIH; P30 GM103450 - NIGMS, NIH; GM129465 - NIGMS, NIH; GM119426 - NIGMS, NIH; TW009872 - Fogarty International Center, NIH; U01 TW00313 - Fogarty International Center, NIH; R01 CA158275 - National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH; P01 AG012411 - NIH/National Institute of Aging; Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation; Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; P01CA125066 - NCI, NIH; 1 R01 AT008088 - National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health; W81XWH-17-1-0256 - Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program; P30 CA008748 - NCI, NIH, through a Cancer Center Support Grant; California Department of Food and Agriculture Pierce's Disease and Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Board; American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC); University of Oklahoma Startup funds; 53767-ND1 - ACS PRF; PhRMA Foundation; P30 CA008748 - CCSG NIH; RSG-12-253-01-CDD - American Cancer Society; RSG-13-011-01-CDD - American Cancer Society; CHE-0353662 - National Science Foundation; CHE-1005253 - National Science Foundation; CHE-1725142 - National Science Foundation; Beckman Foundation; Sherman Fairchild Foundation; John Stauffer Charitable Trust; Christian Scholars Foundation)Published versionSupporting documentatio

Spatial heterogeneity of malaria in Ghana: a cross-sectional study on the association between urbanicity and the acquisition of immunity.

BACKGROUND: Malaria incidence has declined considerably over the last decade. This is partly due to a scale-up of control measures but is also attributed to increasing urbanization. This study aimed to analyse the association between malaria and urbanization and the effect of urbanicity on the acquisition of semi-immunity. METHODS: In 2012, children with fever presenting to St Michael's Hospital Pramso/Ghana were recruited. The malaria-positive-fraction (MPF) of fever cases was calculated on community-level to approximate the malaria risk. The mean age of malaria cases was calculated for each community to estimate the acquisition of semi-immunity. The level of urbanicity for the communities was calculated and associations between MPF, urbanicity and immunity were modelled using linear regression. RESULTS: Twenty-six villages were included into the study with a mean MPF of 35 %. A linear decrease of 5 % (95 % CI: 4-6 %) in MPF with every ten-point increase in urbanicity was identified. The mean age of malaria patients increased by 2.9 months (95 % CI: 1.0-4.8) with every ten-point increase in urbanicity. DISCUSSION: The results confirm an association between an increase in urbanicity and declining malaria risk and demonstrate that the acquisition of semi-immunity is heterogeneous on a micro-epidemiological scale and is associated with urbanicity