Examining New Directions In Media And Channel Seleclion In The Adopllon Process

Purpose: To expand the diffusion-adoption model to include the educational aspects of adoption and to refine thinking in terms of the channels used by adopters who seek information

Volatile compounds of maari, a fermented product from baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) seeds

The volatile compounds associated with baobab seeds fermentation for Maari production were extracted and analysed by Likens-Nickerson simultaneous steam distillation-extraction method and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. Furthermore, the titratable acidity, tannin content and proximate composition were evaluated. A total of 96 compounds were identified with esters, acids, alcohols and ketones being quantitatively the major groups. Fermentation led to an increase in the concentration of total volatile compounds from 121.6 in unfermented cooked seeds to 809.1 mg kg-1 in the fermented product. Drying resulted in a significant loss of up to 80.7% of the total volatiles.Key words: Volatile compounds, maari, baobab, fermentation

Impact of Germplasm Research Spillovers: The Case of Sorghum Variety S 35 in Cameroon and Chad

An important objective of international agricultural research inst i tut ions is to determine the extent to which research under taken in one location may impact on other regions of interest. Thi s is because research activities are most often planned to target mandate crops and agroecological areas found in many parts of the world. ICRI S A T has, as a pol icy, disributed a wide range of parental materials to breeding programs in the NARS and private seed industries throughout the semi-arid tropics. This has cont r ibuted to faster and cost-effective development of useful final products by the receiving parties. Thi s study evaluates the impacts and research spillover effects of adopt ion of sorghum variety S 35, a pure line developed f rom the ICRI S A T breeding program in India. It was later advanced in Niger ia and promoted and released in Cameroon in 1986 and Chad in 1989. Today, S 35 occupies about 33% of the total rainfed sorghum area in Cameroon and 2 7 % in Chad. Compared to farmers' best t radi t ional varieties across all study sites in Cameroon and Chad, S 35 yields 2 7 % more output (grain) and reduces uni t product ion cost by 20%.These farm-level impacts are larger in Chad where yield gain is 5 1 % higher and cost reduct ion is 3 3% higher. Th e net present value of benefits f rom S 35 research spillover in the Af r ican region was estimated to be US$15 mi l l ion in Chad and US$ 4.6 mi l l ion in Cameroon, representing internal rates of return of 9 5% in Chad and 7 5% in Cameroon. These impacts were evaluated f rom the perspective of nat ional research systems. A conscious decision, therefore, was made to include only those costs associated wi t h nat ional research and extension inst i tut ions. Al l other S 35-related research and development expenditures incur red in India and Niger ia were treated as 'sunk costs', that is, costs which woul d have occur red anyway wi thout spillover. Ha d each count ry had to develop S 35 and associated management practices on its own, the t ime lag between research and release of the technology woul d have been longer and consequently impacts, if any, woul d have been smaller. For greater effectiveness in sorghum technology development and transfer in the region, future research and pol icy actions should take greater advantage of research spillovers through more col laborat ion, communicat ion, and networking between nat ional , regional , and internat ional research inst i tut ions

Exploring the linkages between project managers’ mindset behaviour and project leadership style in the Ghanaian construction industry

Purpose: Leadership encapsulates a process of influencing others to understand what needs to be done and how it can be done. The related area of mindset behaviour which moderates leadership styles adopted in various industries has hitherto received scant academic attention in a construction context. This paper thus explores the linkages between project manager’s mindset behaviour and project leadership style in the construction industry. Design/Methodology/Approach: Literature reviewed provides the basis for a questionnaire data collection instrument developed to gather primary data from construction professionals in the Ghanaian Construction Industry (GCI). A quantitative research strategy is then adopted using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to determine the level of significance of the leadership and mindset archetypes. A Pearson’s correlation test was run to ascertain whether the mindset behaviour of project managers has a significant impact upon the type of leadership style. Findings: The study’s results indicate that democratic, transformational and situational leadership styles were prevalent leadership styles in the GCI. The analysis also revealed that project managers favoured the ‘growth mindset’ and that furthermore, this style had a moderate positive relationship with democratic and transformational leadership styles. Conversely, a fixed mindset had a low positive relationship with autocratic and situational leadership styles but a low negative relationship with transformational leadership style. Practical and theoretical implications: This research provides sufficient data for project managers to identify the type of mindset to nurture (the growth mindset is recommended) and the effective leadership style to be employed. This study engenders wider discussion on mindset behaviour and project leadership style in developing countries. Moreover, the findings present policy makers and practitioners with the leadership styles to promote and develop (democratic, transformational and situational) and mindset behaviour (growth mindset) to ensure project success in Ghana and other developing countries. Originality/value: This research represents the first comprehensive study appraising the linkages between project manager’s mindset behaviour and project leadership style in the construction industry. Empirical data presented bridges the identified knowledge gap that exists on the lack of theoretical understanding of the influence that project managers’ mindset has on leadership styles in the GCI

Barriers to green cities development in developing countries: evidence from Ghana

Purpose: Of late, cities across the globe are taking pragmatic steps towards addressing environmental, social, and economic problems in the debate on sustainable development. Even so, little attention has been paid to studies focused on developing countries. The aim of this study is to examine the barriers to green cities development in developing countries. Design/Methodology/Approach: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the barriers to green cities development. In terms of methodological choice, a quantitative research strategy was used to collect data from professionals who have lines of influence on the greening of our cities and sustainable urban development. Findings: The barriers to green city development identified were: Lack of awareness of the benefits of a green city, Environmental Degradation, Insufficient policy implementation efforts, Excessive generation of solid waste, and Poor wastewater collection and treatment. It was indicative from the study findings that taking the right sustainable steps in urban development and a paradigm shift towards the pillars of sustainability, Ghanaian cities especially Kumasi has a great proclivity of regaining its longstanding status being “Garden City”. Practical and theoretical implications: The outcome of this study provides stakeholders in city development an insight into the barriers that inhibit the development of green cities. In practice, this study contributively proposes that the concept of green cities should be incorporated in the education and training of stakeholders to improve the level of awareness. Originality/value: This paper presents the foremost comprehensive study appraising green city development in Ghana

A Framework for Enhancing Contractor-Subcontractor Relationships in Construction Projects in Nigeria

The delivery capability of main contractors depends largely on the quality of their subcontractors and the harmonious relationships that exist between them. Research work was therefore conducted to identify the mechanisms to facilitate the understanding between these pairs and also develop a model that puts emphasis on the factors. To achieve this aim, one hundred questionnaires each were administered randomly to main contractors and labor-only subcontractors in the study area. Seventy-five and eighty-eight questionnaires were respectively filled and returned in this regard. The application of total weight value and rating index techniques shows that type of contract, scope of contract, payment terms, cooperative attitudes, third-party involvement are the main factors that influence this relationship and this was further validated by a model. The paper concludes that this methodology could culminate into a useful decision making tool for both main contractors and subcontractors during the development and execution stages of construction projects in the study area

Attributable Indicators For Measuring The Level Of Greenness Of Cities In Developing Countries: Lessons From Ghana

Purpose: The advances in green city growth is widely discussed in extant literature. The benefits of green cities to urban development in recent discussions of sustainability and sustainable development is well-documented and cannot be overemphasized. Although a growing study on green building development in developing countries has been advanced in literature, a paucity of studies explores green cities in developing countries. Moreover, evidence of studies focused on green cities development in Ghana is lacking. From the identified knowledge gap, the aim of this study is to establish the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries. Design/Methodology/Approach: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries. This study adopted the pragmatism as its undergirding research philosophy and the deductive research approach. In terms of methodological choice, quantitative research strategy was used to collect data from experts in sustainable urban development. The primary data retrieved from the study were analysed using Descriptive Statistics, Relative Importance Index, and One-sample t-test. The reliability and validity of the study were measured with the Cronbach’s Alpha test. Findings: The study established 8 indicators for measuring green city development: air quality, water, sanitation, land use, health and safety, transportation, energy as well as building and construction. It was discovered that the development of green cities should enhance air quality, improve water production and supply, improve management in sanitation, promote mixed and integrative land use, maintain the health and safety of city dwellers, reduce the demand for transportation and formalise public transport, adopt renewable and efficient energy technologies and promote sustainable construction and green buildings. These indicators are key to policy making and implementation of green cities development. Research Limitations/Implications: The study was focused in Ghana but not from other developing countries, however, the findings of this study do not limit the generalisability since the findings of the study can be used as a lesson to other developing countries. Practical and theoretical implications: Theoretically, this study adopted quantitative indicators that is reproducible in another geographical context. This study contributively adds to the discourse on sustainability especially in Ghana and as a source of reference to motivate others to conduct further research in related areas. The outcomes of this study will help the local government, policy makers, city stakeholders and industry expertise gain insights in the overall indicators that underpin green city development. Originality/value: This paper attempts to posit in literature the foremost appraisal of green city indicators adaptive in Ghana which could motivate other developing countries to develop their own green cities

Partners in Impact Assessment Summary Proceedings of the ICRISAT/NARS Workshop on Methods and Joint Impact Targets in Western and Central Africa 3-5 May 1995

Regional workshops were held at Sadore, Niger and Samanko, Mali, to evaluate the joint impact of ICRISAT and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in Western and Central Africa. Twentyone scientists from ICRISAT and the national program in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger participated in the workshop at Sadore. The Samako workshop was at tended by 18 scientists from ICRISAT, NARS collaborators in Burkina Faso and Mali, INSAH and the West and Central African Sorghum Research Network (WCASRN) . National program representatives identified specific jointly-developed technologies that should be targeted for impact assessment. Methodological approaches for measuring welfare benefits to consumers and producers were discussed and illustrated wi th case studies. Minimum dataset requirements were outlined and protocols for case studies on technologies targeted by NARS partners were develope

Multi-centre point-prevalence survey of hospital-acquired infections in Ghana

Background: There is a paucity of data describing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in Africa. Objective: To describe the prevalence and distribution of HAIs in acute care hospitals in Ghana. Methods: Between September and December 2016, point-prevalence surveys were conducted in participating hospitals using protocols of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Medical records of eligible inpatients at or before 8am on the survey date were reviewed to identify HAIs present at the time of the survey. Findings: Ten hospitals were surveyed, representing 32.9% of all acute care beds in government hospitals. Of 2107 inpatients surveyed, 184 HAIs were identified among 172 patients, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 8.2%. The prevalence values in hospitals ranged from 3.5% to 14.4%, with higher proportions of infections in secondary and tertiary care facilities. The most common HAIs were surgical site infections (32.6%), bloodstream infections (19.5%), urinary tract infections (18.5%) and respiratory tract infections (16.3%). Device-associated infections accounted for 7.1% of HAIs. For 12.5% of HAIs, a micro-organism was reported; the most commonly isolated micro-organism was Escherichia coli. Approximately 61% of all patients surveyed were on antibiotics; 89.5% of patients with an HAI received at least one antimicrobial agent on the survey date. The strongest independent predictors for HAI were the presence of an invasive device before onset of infection and duration of hospital stay. Conclusion: A low HAI burden was found compared with findings from other low- and middle-income countries