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Wound healing, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the leaf and stem bark of Entada africana Guill. & Perr.
(KNUST., 2021-01-30) Asante-Kwatia Evelyn
Entada africana (Mimosaceae) is widely used in African traditional medicine as a wound healing agent. This study investigated the wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities of the leaf and stem bark of E. africana in order to scientifically validate its wound healing properties. Methanol extracts of the leaf and stem bark were formulated into creams (5 20%) and tested in the dermal excision wound model in rats. The broth dilution assay was used to determine the antimicrobial activity; DPPH free radical scavenging, ferric reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and total flavonoid content were determined to assess the antioxidant activity. Significant wound healing was demonstrated by topical application of the extract creams. By the 10 th day, a total wound surface closure of 98.8%, 95.8%, 96.3% and 73.9% was observed for the 10% stem bark and leaf creams, standard drug and blank cream treated groups respectively. Histo- pathological examination of the healed tissue sections showed significant collagen production, scanty inflammatory cell infiltrates and re-epithelialization whereas tissues from the blank cream treated group dis- played focal areas of abscess and diffused inflammatory cells. The methanol stem bark extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. pyogenes with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.56 mg/mL. The stem bark and leaf had antioxidant activity and were found to contain a total phenolic con- tent of 47.25 and 133.7 mg/g Gallic acid equivalent respectively and total flavonoid content of 21.06 and 88.21 mg/g quercetin equivalent respectively. The above results indicate that the leaves and stem bark of E. africana have great potential for the treatment of open wounds.
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Water quality of some branded sachet water sold in wa municipality of the Upper West region, Ghana
(KNUST, 2019-02) Deo-Anyi Eledi James
The importance of water cannot be underestimated, similarly its quality. As such the World Health Organization (WHO) has come out with guidelines to monitor water quality. There is complexity and debate that water cannot be set to be pure regardless of its treatment methods unless it is tested for the concentration of contaminants. From that perspective, the study tested the water quality of six (6) branded sachet water in the Wa municipality on, physico-chemical, nutrient, heavy metals and microbial parameters. Samples of the sachet water brands were collected within a three month period, and transported on ice to the laboratory. The samples were analysed at the KNUST Chemical and microbiological laboratories respectively using a potable PC 300 Water proof Hand held meter to measure pH, conductivity and TDS. Standard EDTA titrimetric and Spectrophotometric methods were also used to measure other chemical, nutrient and heavy metal parameters such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, carbonates, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, total iron and lead. The MPN method was used to measure the microbiological parameters such as Total coliform, Faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli while Membrane Filter method was used to measure Salmonella typhi. The results showed that the brands of sachet water tested recorded high concentrations of Total and Faecal coliforms above the WHO recommended guideline of (0.00cfu/100ml) and the correlation co-efficient was very strong (co-efficient = 0.9901) between the microbiological indicators. Physico-chemical parameter results showed low concentrations well below the WHO standard except for potassium and carbonate ions. For heavy metal parameters Iron (Fe) concentration was below the 0.30mg/l standard mark, while Lead (Pb) exceeded the 0.01mg/l guideline mark proposed by WHO. In conclusion, all the sachet water analyzed recorded high microbial concentrations above the WHO recommended level and for that matter the sachet water brands may not be wholesome for domestic consumption.
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Evaluation of occupational health and safety hazards in Cocoa marketing company (Cmc) at Kumasi inland port.
(KNUST, 2019-10) Otchi, Elikem Kweku
Introduction: Ghana depends more on cocoa as a basic supporter of its economy. Nonetheless, management of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has been a source of concern to stakeholders in the cocoa industry. The study evaluated Occupational Health and Safety Hazards in Cocoa Marketing Company at Kumasi Inland Port. The study was carried out at Kaase, Kumasi. The current study is descriptive, and explanatory in nature. Methodology: A simple random sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. The study results were collected from 175 respondents using questionnaire. Quantitative approach was used in the analysis of the data. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to present the results. Results: The study found that respondents agreed that cocoa bags falling from height, slips, trips and falls, vehicle related hazards and fire related hazards were common OHSH in CMC. Majority of the employees (mean= 4.63) at CMC were aware that the company had health and safety representative and they follow safety procedures (mean= 4.35) when working. Also, stacking hazards (fall from heights) was the most frequent health and safety hazard with cocoa bags falling from height being the highest ranked hazard (mean= 4.65). Fire related hazard was not common and severe in the CMC. The key health and safety management practices adopted by CMC at Kumasi inland port to control the risks of hazards on site were that the supervisor took health and safety of employees very seriously in the company, and that risk assessment is carried out on a regular basis, employees are encouraged to adhere to the OHSA, safety concerns at CMC of employees are listened to by management, and that there was formal health and safety reporting mechanism at CMC. Conclusion: It was concluded that, workers in the company are aware of the presence of health and safety representatives as well as the roles they play. However, workers do not take the time to report to them during cases of incident despite the fact that, supervisors take the health of their subordinates seriously. Recommendations: CMC should provide more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all employees to help prevent risk and to reduce employees exposure to hazards. There should be regular monitoring on safety and health standards at all times to ensure that all employees complied with safety policies in the company.
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Application of Count Data Models for HIV Testing and Counselling Programe
(KNUST, 2019-05-26) Mensah, Godfrey
The study focused on the mean prevalence across gender and to compare identically most appropriate model that best fits selected indicators in the cases of the National HIV Testing and Counseling Units given the gender and time in years. Classical Poisson regression without no doubt a popular method of modeling count data, but its underlying assumption limits its use. That affect many real applications with excess or dispersed data. To deal with a wide range of dispersion levels, poisson regression, Negative Binomial Regression, Hurdle Poisson, hurdle negative Binomial, Zero inflated Poisson and Zero Inflated Negative Binomial were used as alternative regression models. Data were analyzed using these six methods, the results from the models are compared using vuong’s test and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) with the Generalized Poisson Regression having the smallest AIC values determines best model for the data. As indicated in the study, the average number of people who have been tested as HIV+ were approximately twenty (_x = 20; SD = 11). The estimated model to fit the data gathered is; log (_i) = 2:5736 􀀀 0:2341Gender + 0:0316Tuberculois and the estimated beta (_ > 0. Overdispersion is an important concept in the analysis of discrete data that is used to determine the best model to fit a given dataset, with Z 􀀀 value test results of 1,1609 and a large p 􀀀 value of 0,1228, which means that there is no overdispersion problem, so the poison regression model should be used instead of the negative binomial. The Vuong test was used in determination of the best model and the hurdle poisson has the minimum AIC value of 721.081, then the best count data technique that could be used to model the data gathered is Hurdle Poisson technique. Based on the appropriate model selected, the key predictor that is HIV+ that contribute significantly and also have a high effect on the mean of thefemale visiting for Testing and Counselling Program.
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Application Of Count Data Models For HIV Testing And Counselling Programe
(KNUST, 2019-05-26) Godfrey, Mensah
The study focused on the mean prevalence across gender and to compare identically most appropriate model that best fits selected indicators in the cases of the National HIV Testing and Counseling Units given the gender and time in years. Classical Poisson regression without no doubt a popular method of modeling count data, but its underlying assumption limits its use. That affect many real applications with excess or dispersed data. To deal with a wide range of dispersion levels, poisson regression, Negative Binomial Regression, Hurdle Poisson, hurdle negative Binomial, Zero inflated Poisson and Zero Inflated Negative Binomial were used as alternative regression models. Data were analyzed using these six methods, the results from the models are compared using vuong’s test and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) with the Generalized Poisson Regression having the smallest AIC values determines best model for the data. As indicated in the study, the average number of people who have been tested as HIV+ were approximately twenty (_x = 20; SD = 11). The estimated model to fit the data gathered is; log (_i) = 2:5736 􀀀 0:2341Gender + 0:0316Tuberculois and the estimated beta (_ > 0. Overdispersion is an important concept in the analysis of discrete data that is used to determine the best model to fit a given dataset, with Z 􀀀 value test results of 1,1609 and a large p 􀀀 value of 0,1228, which means that there is no overdispersion problem, so the poison regression model should be used instead of the negative binomial. The Vuong test was used in determination of the best model and the hurdle poisson has the minimum AIC value of 721.081, then the best count data technique that could be used to model the data gathered is Hurdle Poisson technique. Based on the appropriate model selected, the key predictor that is HIV+ that contribute significantly and also have a high effect on the mean of the female visiting for Testing and Counselling Program.
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Agroforestry as an old approach to a new challenge of combating climate change: a critical analysis of the cocoa sector
(KNUST, 2024-11-14) Kaba, James S.
Climate change is the greatest challenge to developing countries, especially where rain-fed agriculture is the main source of livelihood and revenue. Agroforestry provides an opportunity for farmers to adapt and reduce the carbon footprint. We conducted an exploratory review on the role of cocoa agroforestry for climate change mitigation and adaptation of smallholders by applying combinations of keywords that include climate change, agroforestry, stakeholders, Paris agreement, INDCs/NDCs, mitigation and adaptation. The paper combined data sources covering reports on past and on-going cocoa sustainability projects and policy interventions in Ghana as well as the output of exploratory review that utilized relevant key words to identify appropriate literature for investigation and analysis. We established that, there is low adoption of pro-environmental interventions introduced by both Government and NGOs in the cocoa sector. In addition, there is a shift in cocoa farming from expansion into forest areas to adoption of intensive cocoa monoculture. Despite the importance of shaded trees in cocoa production such as the benefits gained from agroforestry system, cocoa farmers have low appreciation of their environmental, soil, nutrients and other ecological benefits. We recommend that cocoa farmers should be involved in the formulation and implementation of pro-environmental interventions that affect their cocoa production practices. This will make farmers take ownership of the innovation instead of it being introduced to them. In addition, since our review of the literature established that the surge in yield is the impetus for cocoa mono-culture adoption, there is the need to introduce cocoa varieties with higher yields under agroforestry system. Finally, there should be monetary valuation of shade trees used in cocoa agroforestry systems for payment to farmers to help improve agroforestry adoption. We argue that cocoa agroforestry though considered an old practice, remains one of the most appropriate land-use systems that is climate-smart with great potential to contribute to sustainable cocoa production.
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Exploring vulnerabilities in open source content management systems (cms: A case of Joomla
(KNUST, 2018-12-08) Yakubu, Mustapha Awinsongya
Websites are major sources of information today and internet is the dominating platform for deployment of various applications built for worldwide audience. Using open-source content management systems can be developed and managed more easily and quickly to provide information to stakeholders or any target audience. However, provision of information or needed platform for commonly used applications must not be at the expense of security. One of best ways to unearthing security flaws in CMS is by conducting Vulnerability Assessment. The aim of this study is to uncover vulnerabilities associated with Joomla content management systems and proposing solutions to mitigate issues discovered. The study adopted automated tools in the assessment of the vulnerabilities as this approach provide a deeper means of the scanning in unearthing and exposing flaws. This study began with configurations of tools before the actual assessment commenced. First, Zenmap was used to gather information on the host servers both local and online. Then OpenVAS was deployed to ascertain whether the host environment itself was secured enough in the first place. 17 vulnerabilities were identified on the server. Joomscan was used to conduct the assessment on the Joomla! CMS. Five issues were discovered in the assessment of the CMS which were Multiple XSS/CSRF, JSession SSL Session Disclosure, Frontend XSS, HTTP_REFERER not properly filtered and PHP_SELF not properly filtered. A 3-step solution was proposed to solved the issues that was identified from the assessment of the CMS. These were an Input Control Mechanism, Intermediary Script Handler and a Secure Web Server Hosting Architecture. The study will be beneficial to users of Content Management Systems most especially Joomla!