Fuzzy Logic Classification of Handwritten Signature Based Computer Access and File Encryption

Often times computer access and file encryption is successful based on how complex a password will be, how often users could change their complex password, the length of the complex password and how creative users are in creating a complex passsword to stand against unauthorized access to computer resources or files. This research proposes a new way of computer access and file encryption based on the fuzzy logic classification of handwritten signatures. Feature extraction of the handwritten signatures, the Fourier transformation algorithm and the k-Nearest Algorithm could be implemented to determine how close the signature is to the signature on file to grant or deny users access to computer resources and encrypted files. lternatively implementing fuzzy logic algorithms and fuzzy k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm to the captured signature could determine how close a signature is to the one on file to grant or deny access to computer resources and files. This research paper accomplishes the feature recognition firstly by extracting the features as users sign their signatures for storage, and secondly by determining the shortest distance between the signatures. On the other hand this research work accomplish the fuzzy logic recognition firstly by classifying the signature into a membership groups based on their degree of membership and secondly by determining what level of closeness the signatures are from each other. The signatures were collected from three selected input devices- the mouse, I-Pen and the IOGear. This research demonstrates which input device users found efficient and flexible to sign their respective names. The research work also demonstrates the security levels of implementing the fuzzy logic, fuzzy k-Nearest Neighbor, Fourier Transform.Master'sCollege of Arts and Sciences: Computer ScienceUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117719/1/Kwarteng.pd

Assessing sanitation conditions and its impacts on the health status of urban dwellers in Abuakwa, Ghana. A Cross sectional survey

In recent times, issues on sanitation and urban health have attracted numerous attentions worldwide because of the effect it imposes on human health. The situation is worsened mostly in West African countries especially Ghana where sanitation problems have become a serious problem especially in urban areas. As such, this paper explored the effects of sanitations on health of urban residents of Abuakwa in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana.  A sample of 120 was selected randomly from the total population of the community. Questionnaires as data collection instrument were employed for the data collection to collect primary data. Sanitation conditions in Abuakwa, as urban community was found to be poor.  Findings from the study revealed that improper disposal of wastes and inadequate toilet facilities were responsible for poor sanitations and sanitation related diseases- cholera, malaria, diarrhoea in Abuakwa. Public toilet facilities which most Abuakwa residents use were found to be poorly managed and inadequate causing people to engage in poor sanitation practices such as open defecation. The study also found that lack of comfortability and privacy, expensiveness of using public toilet facilities, poor management, dirtiness and smelliness of the toilet facilities were the reasons for people’s refusal to pay for accessing public toilet facilities. The study recommends that the people in urban communities should be educated on good sanitation practices and individuals should make an attempt to build toilet facilities in their homes to reduce pressure and congestion on the existing public toilet facilities. Key words: Health, Diseases, Sanitation, Open defecation, Ghan

Odonata community structure and patterns of land use in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Eastern Region (Ghana)

The authors are grateful to Worldwide Dragonfly Association (WDA) for providing fund for this study. Special thanks to Tropical Biology Association (www.tropical-biology.org) for their advice and mentoring. My heartfelt appreciation to Viola Clausnitzer and Klaas-Douwe B. Dijkstra for providing us with the identification hand books and for their immense contribution, mentoring, advice and guidance for the species identifications and towards the successful completion of the study. We are greatly indebted to Robb Fitt for his assistance throughout the data analysis at University of Aberdeen. Finally, to Daniel Acquah-Lamptey, George Ashiagbor, Paul Tehoda, Sulemana Bawa and Emmanuel Amoah, for their role in field data gathering.Peer reviewedPostprin

Interspecific variation in leaf traits, photosynthetic light response, and whole-plant productivity in amaranths (Amaranthus spp. L.)

Photosynthetic light response curve parameters help us understand the interspecific variation in photosynthetic traits, leaf acclimation status, carbon uptake, and plant productivity in specific environments. These parameters are also influenced by leaf traits which rely on species and growth environment. In accessions of four amaranth species (Amaranthus. hybridus, A. dubius, A. hypochondriacus, and A. cruentus), we determined variations in the net photosynthetic light response curves and leaf traits, and analysed the relationships between maximum gross photosynthetic rate, leaf traits, and whole-plant productivity. Non-rectangular hyperbolae were used for the net photosynthesis light response curves. Maximum gross photosynthetic rate (Pgmax) was the only variant parameter among the species, ranging from 22.29 to 34.21 μmol m–2 s–1. Interspecific variation existed for all the leaf traits except leaf mass per area and leaf inclination angle. Stomatal conductance, nitrogen, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents, as well as leaf area correlated with Pgmax. Stomatal conductance and leaf nitrogen explained much of the variation in Pgmax at the leaf level. At the plant level, the slope between absolute growth rate and leaf area showed a strong linear relationship with Pgmax. Overall, A. hybridus and A. cruentus exhibited higher Pgmax at the leaf level and light use efficiency at the whole-plant level than A. dubius, and A. hypochondriacus. Thus, A. hybridus and A. cruentus tended to be more efficient with respect to carbon assimilation. These findings highlight the correlation between leaf photosynthetic characteristics, other leaf traits, and whole plant productivity in amaranths. Future studies may explore more species and accessions of Amaranthus at different locations or light environments

The Effect of Knowledge Management and Motivation on Organizational Performance: A Case of Techiman Municipal Assembly, Ghana

In the 21st century, managing knowledge globally in organizations has become a big challenge.  In particular, it has become very difficult for researchers to ascertain how knowledge management and motivation generally impact organizational performance. Our study seeks to ascertain the effect of knowledge management and motivation on organizational performance in a localized context, with a study of the Techiman Municipal Assembly of the Brong Ahafo Region of the West African nation of Ghana. While, a descriptive approach is to be employed in the study, the population of the study has been pegged at three hundred and eighty (380) junior and senior staff employees, who were randomly selected for the purpose of our study. Operationally, a sample size of one hundred and ninety-five (195) members has been selected by utilizing the Taro Yamani formula at a significance level of 5%. Stratified random sampling technique has also been utilized to identify the categories of staff for consideration. Questionnaire instruments were designed and subsequently used to collect data for the study. The variables were coded and descriptive statistics, along with regression analysis, were employed in the process. Our  findings have, so far, revealed that the most prominent knowledge management practices at the Techiman Municipal Assembly constitute training through induction and workshop (with Mean score=3.98), and a seminar (with Mean score=3.89), all of which are  identified as knowledge acquisition and knowledge sharing, respectively. The study is also expected to reveal  that the most crucial  challenge in managing knowledge at the Techiman Municipal Assembly is  the lack of processes for conversion of implicit knowledge to explicit Knowledge (with Mean score=4.11). Furthermore, the findings of the study shows a significant positive relationship between knowledge management and organizational performance (r = 0.362ᵃ, sig. value=0.000), as well as motivation and organizational performance (r = 0.333ᵃ, sig. value=0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression has, as well, been conducted, which has indicated that a significant positive relationship between knowledge management and motivation (independent variables) and organizational performance (r = 0.395ᵃ, sig. value=0.000) does exist.  The study, overall, recommends that there is the need for the assembly’s management to develop localized motivational strategy and packages, which will promote job advancements, job rotation, accommodation, recognition, promotion, and cash rewards for the employees, incentives that are expected to motivate employees to the extent of ultimately making them willing to share their maximum knowledge to bring about higher quality as well as sterling performance. Keywords: Assembly, Municipal, Region, Knowledge, Management, Motivation, Organizational Performance, and Public Secto

Development and Validation of the Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test (MNRead) Acuity Chart for the Asante Twi Language

Aim: To design and validate a MNREAD Asante Twi version reading chart, to aid in the assessment of near visual acuity of natives Ghanaians. Methods: Cross-sectional and experimental designs were employed in phases I and II respectively of this study. The chart was developed using 20 transited pupils in class four in the Kumasi metropolis in phase I and validated in a clinical setting at the Manhyia District Hospital, Kumasi, using students in phase II. Results: A total of 100 participants (mean age; 22.19 \ub1 1.61 years) were involved in the second phase of this study. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationship between MNREAD Asante Twi charts logMAR scores in both eyes. The MNREAD-Asante Twi acuity charts had very strong correlations (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) for MNREAD set 1A (black on white background) scores and MNREAD set 2A (black on white background) for acuity scores. Correlation between MNREAD set 1B (white on black background) scores and MNREAD set 2B (white on black background) scores was r = 0.95, p < 0.001. Conclusion: MNREAD Asante Twi reading chart will enhance the measurement of near visual function in native Ghanaians

“Money Doesn’t Like Noise”: Akufo Addo’s Pathos from A Metadiscoursal Perspective

Politicians create a political persona with their audience in mind, and their speeches are crafted to involve receivers in a promising future. They intentionally create a stream of ideas to engage the audience and arouse their emotions to make affective appeals. Using the frameworks of Hyland's Model of Metadiscourse and Aristotle's Rhetorical Persuasion Theory, the present study analysed Akufo Addo's address to the nation on October 30, 2022, when the country was facing economic difficulties. The study found that attitude markers, self-mentions, reader pronouns, and directives of metadiscourse markers are persuasively used in the data. The study concludes that Akufo Addo relied heavily on these metadiscourse markers to draw on pathos appeals, harmonise with the audience, and achieve the purpose of persuasion in the address. The findings of the study have implications for reflections on language and politics

Paenidigyamycin g : 1-acetyl-2,4-dimethyl-3-phenethyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium

Author Contributions: K.K. and H.D. collected mangrove sediments and isolated the strain DE2SH. A.S.C. and M.C. identified the exact taxonomy of the strain after K.K. isolated DNA and whole genome sequenced the strain. M.J. and H.D. provided access to facilities for mass spectrometry and data interpretation. K.K. performed chemical profiling to identify the major metabolites. S.K., G.M.T. and T.M. performed seed culture, large scale culture, isolation and purification of compound. K.K. measured all NMR, IR and UV, analyzed the results and integration of data to give the complete structure of the compound. K.K., S.K. and G.M.T. wrote the initial draft of the article which was edited and finalized by all the authors. Funding: KK wishes to thank the Centre for African Wetlands (CAW), University of Ghana, for providing seed funding to enable the collection of soil samples for microbe isolation and a TWAS Research Grant Award_17-512 RG/CHE/AF/AC_G. K.K. is also very grateful to the Cambridge-Africa Partnership for Research Excellence (CAPREx), which is funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, for a Postdoctoral Fellowship. K.K. also appreciates the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund for support. K.K., H.D. and M.J. are grateful for this research which is jointly funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) under the MRC/DFID African Research Leaders Award (MR/S00520X/1). S.K. wishes to thank the Carnegie BANGA-Africa Project Award for a PhD scholarship and M.T. is grateful for an MPhil full scholarship from TWAS Research Grant Award_17-512 RG/CHE/AF/AC_G. Acknowledgments: All the authors extend their gratitude to the Department of Chemistry, UG for providing NMR facility. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interestsPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Economic costs of fever to households in the middle belt of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is one of the main health problems in the sub-Saharan Africa accounting for approximately 198 million morbidity and close to 600,000 mortality cases. Households incur out-of-pocket expenditure for treatment and lose income as a result of not being able to work or care for family members. The main objective of this survey was to assess the economic cost of treating malaria and/or fever with the new ACT to households in the Kintampo districts of Ghana where a health and demographic surveillance systems (KHDSS) are set up to document population dynamics. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted from October 2009 to July 2011 using community members' accessed using KHDSS population in the Kintampo area. An estimated sample size of 4226 was randomly selected from the active members of the KHDSS. A structured questionnaire was administered to the selected populates who reported of fever within the last 2 weeks prior to the visit. Data was collected on treatment-seeking behaviour, direct and indirect costs of malaria from the patient perspective. RESULTS: Of the 4226 households selected, 947 households with 1222 household members had fever out of which 92 % sought treatment outside home; 55 % of these were females. 31.6 % of these patients sought care from chemical shops. A mean amount of GHS 4.2 (US$2.76) and GHS 18.0 (US$11.84) were incurred by households as direct and indirect cost respectively. On average a household incurred a total cost of GHS 22.2 (US$14.61) per patient per episode. Total economic cost was lowest for those in the highest quintile and highest for those in the middle quintile. CONCLUSION: The total cost of treating fever/malaria episode is relatively high in the study area considering the poverty levels in Ghana. The NHIS has positively influenced health-seeking behaviours and reduced the financial burden of seeking care for those that are insured

Provider compliance to artemisinin-based combination therapy at primary health care facilities in the middle belt of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: In 2004, Ghana implemented the artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) policy. Health worker (HW) adherence to the national malaria guidelines on case-management with ACT for children below 5 years of age and older patients presenting at health facilities (HF) for primary illness consultations was evaluated 5 years post-ACT policy change. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted from 2010 to 2011 at HFs that provide curative care as part of outpatient activities in two districts located in the middle belt of Ghana to coincide with the periods of low and high malaria transmission seasons. A review of patient medical records, HW interviews, HF inventories and finger-pricked blood obtained for independent malaria microscopy were used to assess HW practices on malaria case-management. RESULTS: Data from 130 HW interviews, 769 patient medical records at 20 HFs over 75 survey days were individually linked and evaluated. The majority of consultations were performed at health centres/clinics (68.3 %) by medical assistants (28.6 %) and nurse aids (23.5 %). About 68.4 % of HWs had received ACT-specific training and 51.9 %, supervisory visits in the preceding 6 months. Despite the availability of malaria diagnostic test at most HFs (94 %), only 39.8 % (241) out of 605 (78.7 %) patients who reported fever were investigated for malaria. Treatment with ACT in line with the guidelines was 66.7 %; higher in <5 children compared to patients ≥5 years old. Judged against reference microscopy, only 44.8 % (107/239) of ACT prescriptions that conformed to the guidelines were "truly malaria". Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HW were significantly more likely to comply with the guidelines if treatment were by low cadre of health staff, were for children below 5 years of age, and malaria test was performed. CONCLUSION: Although the majority of patients presenting with malaria received treatment according to the national malaria guidelines, there were widespread inappropriate treatment with ACT. Compliance with the guidelines on ACT use was low, 5 years post-ACT policy change. The Ghana NMCP needs to strengthen HW capacity on malaria case-management through regular training supported by effective laboratory quality control measures