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Energy Drink Consumption: Pattern and Effect on Commercial Drivers in Kumasi
(KNUST, 2019-11) Pobee, Elizabeth Lomokei
For decades, the consumption of caffeinated beverages intended to “energize” has increased significantly. In Ghana, commercial drivers in major cities are rather at risk of daytime fatigue because of the many trips these drivers make to earn more money due to lack of regulation on the number of trips one makes in a day. Field observation shows that many commercial drivers rely heavily on energy drinks, however not much on this has been investigated. To address this, a cross sectional study was conducted on 210 commercial drivers across five taxi/bus stations in the Kumasi Metropolis. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and other information on the drivers’ pattern of energy drinks consumption. Five brands of energy drinks were sampled and analysed for presence of psychoactive agents such as benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, tetrahydrocanobinoids and tramadol using the dip 6 test kit. HPLC was used to detect and quantify caffeine in the energy drinks and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for detection of heavy metal contamination. The study showed the absence of the psychoactive agents’ benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, tetrahydrocanobinoids and tramadol in the energy drinks. However, varying amounts of caffeine were detected in the energy drinks. The study also showed significant association between the number of trips and the number of bottles of energy drinks consumed (r = 0.631. p-value < 0.05). Hence, an increase in the number of bottles will cause an increase in the number of trips taken. The R square value 0.398 (~0.4) shows a 40% probability that consumption of energy drinks makes drivers make more trips. This result is desirable enough to lead drivers on to consume more energy drinks, thereby making them only go on long hours of drive while reducing their efficiency (by causing restlessness, insomnmia and confusion) as drivers on the road due to the cognitive changes of the psychoactive substance. Heavy metal iron was detected in all of the energy drinks tested, and copper in one of them, all below the allowed concentrations. In conclusion, this study showed a high consumption of energy drinks among the drivers with no regard to safety on our roads.
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Effects of dopants on the conductivity of polyaniline Synthesized by chemical oxidation and electrochemical methods
(KNUST, 2019-08-25) AWUAH, Joseph Asare
Polyaniline salts (PANI-ES) were synthesized by chemical and electrochemical oxidation using primary dopants such as HCL, HNO3, H2SO4 and CH3COOH and the aniline as the monomer. All the synthesized PANI have resulted in emeraldine salts form as indicated by dark green colour of the salts. Various characterization techniques employed were UV-Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR and Cyclic voltammetery studies. All these techniques confirm the various properties of PANI. The characteristic bands in UV-Visible spectra of the samples indicate that effective doping has occurred in the synthesized polymer. Quinoid and benzenoid peaks at 1553-1596 cm- 1 and 1437 – 1496 cm-1 respectively were observed in all the samples. The band gaps for all the samples, both bulk and thin film, were obtained using the absorption spectra and Stern relation. PANI-H2SO4 had the least band gap for both bulk and thin film samples whereas PANI CH3COOH had the highest band gap. The voltammogram showed the various oxidation states during the electrochemical deposition at potential of 0.8 V. Four probe method was used to study the conductivity of both thin and bulk samples. The conductivity values for PANI-H2SO4 were found to be highest i.e. 1.183 S.cm−1 and 3.424 S.cm−1 for bulk and thin film respectively
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Energy Drink Consumption: Pattern and Effect on Commercial Drivers in Kumasi
(KNUST, 2019-11) Pobee, Elizabeth Lomokei
For decades, the consumption of caffeinated beverages intended to “energize” has increased significantly. In Ghana, commercial drivers in major cities are rather at risk of daytime fatigue because of the many trips these drivers make to earn more money due to lack of regulation on the number of trips one makes in a day. Field observation shows that many commercial drivers rely heavily on energy drinks, however not much on this has been investigated. To address this, a cross sectional study was conducted on 210 commercial drivers across five taxi/bus stations in the Kumasi Metropolis. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and other information on the drivers’ pattern of energy drinks consumption. Five brands of energy drinks were sampled and analysed for presence of psychoactive agents such as benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, tetrahydrocanobinoids and tramadol using the dip 6 test kit. HPLC was used to detect and quantify caffeine in the energy drinks and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for detection of heavy metal contamination. The study showed the absence of the psychoactive agents’ benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, tetrahydrocanobinoids and tramadol in the energy drinks. However, varying amounts of caffeine were detected in the energy drinks. The study also showed significant association between the number of trips and the number of bottles of energy drinks consumed (r = 0.631. p-value < 0.05). Hence, an increase in the number of bottles will cause an increase in the number of trips taken. The R square value 0.398 (~0.4) shows a 40% probability that consumption of energy drinks makes drivers make more trips. This result is desirable enough to lead drivers on to consume more energy drinks, thereby making them only go on long hours of drive while reducing their efficiency (by causing restlessness, insomnmia and confusion) as drivers on the road due to the cognitive changes of the psychoactive substance. Heavy metal iron was detected in all of the energy drinks tested, and copper in one of them, all below the allowed concentrations. In conclusion, this study showed a high consumption of energy drinks among the drivers with no regard to safety on our roads.
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Analyse des procédés de traduction utilisés dans La traduction Anglaise d'une vie de boy (houseboy)
(KNUST, 2021-04-01) Ajongbah, Thomas
This study entitled Analyse des procédés de traduction utilisés dans la traduction anglaise d'Une vie de boy (Houseboy) is about an analysis of the translation procedures used by the translator of Ferdinand Oyono's novel, Une vie de boy from French into English.The novel Une vie de boy (Houseboy) has been of much research especially in literature. There has not been enough research on the translation of this book into English. This is the gap that our work seeks to help fill. Our particular interest is in the seven translation procedures of Vinay et Darbelnet and the two methods of translation of Peter Newmark. The seven procedures of Vinay and Darbelnet are divided into two groups, namely direct and oblique translation. Newmark identified eight technics but concludes that it is semantic and communicative translations that meet the two objectives of translation: exactitude and economy. The methodology we used is that, we studied the seven translation procedures of Vinay and Darbelnet and the two methods of Newmark. We then examined how the translator used these procedures and methods to do his translation. In the course of our analysis, we discovered that Reed maintainned words borrowed from Spanish, Latin and Ewondo (a Cameroonian local language) in the original text. In addition, he translated certain African proverbs literally. Also, we realized that he did some faulty translations. Finally, we observed that human languages have some linguistic units in common despite the linguistic {fferences. These common linguistic units facilitate translating from one language into another.
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Urban Governance 3 (2023) 278–291 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Urban Governance journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ugj Policy and practice: Stakeholders’ satisfaction with conventional and participatory land use planning in Ghana
(KNUST., 2023-06-28) Doe Benjamin,; Abdallah Faisal Kaamah,; Michael Osei Asibey.; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8840-9673
Land use planning remains an integral tool for guiding the growth and development of human settlements due to competing interests and claims of individuals over land. Two major land use planning approaches are adopted - conventional and participatory - with inconclusive findings on the best approach to employ towards promoting orderly development and growth. This study thus contributes to this debate by exploring how conventional and participatory land use planning approaches affect the preparation and outcome of land use plans in Ghana, using Abuakwa Newtown in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality and Krapa No.1 of in the Ejisu Municipality as case study areas. Through a comparative case research design, quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed to gather and analyse data from 397 property owners and other relevant stakeholders. The aim was to explore the similarities and differences between the two approaches and stakeholders’ perception and satisfaction with both processes. The findings largely revealed differences in the land use plan preparation process – plan initiation, preparation and approval - in the two communities. It was revealed that only plan implementation activities had similar outcomes in both communities. The ordered logistic regression model deemed significant at p ≤ 0.05, re- vealed a negative relationship of satisfaction between tenure security, plan initiation and preparation in Abuakwa Newtown, but a positive relationship in Krapa No.1. The research recommends that planning authorities adopt participatory land use planning and improve upon communication in the processes for active participation and involvement, 2023.
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A Framework for the Implementation of Green Certification of Buildings in Ghana
(KNUST, 2018-06) Ampratwum, Godslove
Buildings are responsible for more than 40% of global energy use and one third of global greenhouse gas emissions both in developed and developing countries. A number of buildings are constructed every year but only a small number of them can be identified as “green buildings.” Despite the well-known benefits of green certification of buildings, it still remains in the state of infancy in Ghana, and adequate diffusion and implementation strategies should be put in place to ensure that they become more established. This study therefore sought to propose a framework which has guidelines which are practical steps that can aid the certifying body in making decisions in relation to implementing the green certification of buildings. Roger’s diffusion of innovation theory and Hartman’s theory were adopted to aid in proposing a framework. The study adopted a qualitative method of enquiry with semi-structured interviews to gather data from professional bodies in the built environment. Findings from the study revealed that some of the professional bodies have used their influences to sensitize their members on green certification of buildings while others are yet to do the same. The key barriers to the adoption of green certification of buildings were identified to include lack of legal backing, cost and financing, inadequate awareness of the benefits of green certification of buildings, inadequate human resources, lack of active government participation, and the conservative nature of Ghanaians. Furthermore, the main drivers for the adoption of green certification of buildings were also identified to include lack of observability of the benefits of green certified buildings, commitment of government, incorporating it into the code of practice for professional bodies, public acknowledgement, policies and regulations, effective communication and source of information. To ensure that green certification of building is implemented in Ghana, it is recommended that the guidelines in the iiiiv proposed framework must be adopted by the certifying body which would help increase the awareness and adoption of green certification of buildings in Ghana