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Okyere Boadu</title> <meta name="description" content="Search results for: Kwame Adu Okyere Boadu"> <meta name="keywords" content="Kwame Adu Okyere Boadu"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, minimum-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <link href="https://cdn.waset.org/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" rel="shortcut icon"> <link href="https://cdn.waset.org/static/plugins/bootstrap-4.2.1/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://cdn.waset.org/static/plugins/fontawesome/css/all.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://cdn.waset.org/static/css/site.css?v=150220211555" rel="stylesheet"> </head> <body> <header> <div class="container"> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light"> <a class="navbar-brand" href="https://waset.org"> <img src="https://cdn.waset.org/static/images/wasetc.png" alt="Open Science Research Excellence" title="Open Science Research Excellence" /> </a> <button class="d-block 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action="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search"> <div id="custom-search-input"> <div class="input-group"> <i class="fas fa-search"></i> <input type="text" class="search-query" name="q" placeholder="Author, Title, Abstract, Keywords" value="Kwame Adu Okyere Boadu"> <input type="submit" class="btn_search" value="Search"> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="row mt-3"> <div class="col-sm-3"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-body"><strong>Commenced</strong> in January 2007</div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-3"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-body"><strong>Frequency:</strong> Monthly</div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-3"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-body"><strong>Edition:</strong> International</div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-3"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-body"><strong>Paper Count:</strong> 30</div> </div> </div> </div> <h1 class="mt-3 mb-3 text-center" style="font-size:1.6rem;">Search results for: Kwame Adu Okyere Boadu</h1> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">30</span> Assessment of Routine Health Information System (RHIS) Quality Assurance Practices in Tarkwa Sub-Municipal Health Directorate, Ghana</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Richard%20Okyere%20Boadu">Richard Okyere Boadu</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Judith%20Obiri-Yeboah"> Judith Obiri-Yeboah</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Adu%20Okyere%20Boadu"> Kwame Adu Okyere Boadu</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Nathan%20Kumasenu%20Mensah"> Nathan Kumasenu Mensah</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Grace%20Amoh-Agyei"> Grace Amoh-Agyei</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Routine health information system (RHIS) quality assurance has become an important issue, not only because of its significance in promoting a high standard of patient care but also because of its impact on government budgets for the maintenance of health services. A routine health information system comprises healthcare data collection, compilation, storage, analysis, report generation, and dissemination on a routine basis in various healthcare settings. The data from RHIS give a representation of health status, health services, and health resources. The sources of RHIS data are normally individual health records, records of services delivered, and records of health resources. Using reliable information from routine health information systems is fundamental in the healthcare delivery system. Quality assurance practices are measures that are put in place to ensure the health data that are collected meet required quality standards. Routine health information system quality assurance practices ensure that data that are generated from the system are fit for use. This study considered quality assurance practices in the RHIS processes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in eight health facilities in Tarkwa Sub-Municipal Health Service in the western region of Ghana. The study involved routine quality assurance practices among the 90 health staff and management selected from facilities in Tarkwa Sub-Municipal who collected or used data routinely from 24th December 2019 to 20th January 2020. Results: Generally, Tarkwa Sub-Municipal health service appears to practice quality assurance during data collection, compilation, storage, analysis and dissemination. The results show some achievement in quality control performance in report dissemination (77.6%), data analysis (68.0%), data compilation (67.4%), report compilation (66.3%), data storage (66.3%) and collection (61.1%). Conclusions: Even though the Tarkwa Sub-Municipal Health Directorate engages in some control measures to ensure data quality, there is a need to strengthen the process to achieve the targeted percentage of performance (90.0%). There was a significant shortfall in quality assurance practices performance, especially during data collection, with respect to the expected performance. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=quality%20assurance%20practices" title="quality assurance practices">quality assurance practices</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=assessment%20of%20routine%20health%20information%20system%20quality" title=" assessment of routine health information system quality"> assessment of routine health information system quality</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=routine%20health%20information%20system" title=" routine health information system"> routine health information system</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=data%20quality" title=" data quality"> data quality</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/177685/assessment-of-routine-health-information-system-rhis-quality-assurance-practices-in-tarkwa-sub-municipal-health-directorate-ghana" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/177685.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">79</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">29</span> Healthcare Providers’ Perception Towards Utilization of Health Information Applications and Its Associated Factors in Healthcare Delivery in Health Facilities in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Richard%20Okyere%20Boadu">Richard Okyere Boadu</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Godwin%20Adzakpah"> Godwin Adzakpah</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Nathan%20Kumasenu%20Mensah"> Nathan Kumasenu Mensah</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Adu%20Okyere%20Boadu"> Kwame Adu Okyere Boadu</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Jonathan%20Kissi"> Jonathan Kissi</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Christiana%20Dziyaba"> Christiana Dziyaba</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Rosemary%20Bermaa%20Abrefa"> Rosemary Bermaa Abrefa</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Information and communication technology (ICT) has significantly advanced global healthcare, with electronic health (e-Health) applications improving health records and delivery. These innovations, including electronic health records, strengthen healthcare systems. The study investigates healthcare professionals' perceptions of health information applications and their associated factors in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana's health facilities. Methods: We used a descriptive cross-sectional study design to collect data from 632 healthcare professionals (HCPs), in the three purposively selected health facilities in the Cape Coast municipality of Ghana in July 2022. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of dependent variables. Descriptive statistics were used to report means with corresponding standard deviations for continuous variables. Proportions were also reported for categorical variables. Bivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors influencing the Benefits of Information Technology (BoIT); Barriers to Information Technology Use (BITU); and Motives of Information Technology Use (MoITU) in healthcare delivery. Stata SE version 15 was used for the analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 served as the basis for considering a statistically significant accepting hypothesis. Results: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) generally perceived moderate benefits (Mean score (M)=5.67) from information technology (IT) in healthcare. However, they slightly agreed that barriers like insufficient computers (M=5.11), frequent system downtime (M=5.09), low system performance (M=5.04), and inadequate staff training (M=4.88) hindered IT utilization. Respondents slightly agreed that training (M=5.56), technical support (M=5.46), and changes in work procedures (M=5.10) motivated their IT use. Bivariate regression analysis revealed significant influences of education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training on attitudes towards IT utilization in healthcare delivery (BoIT, BITU, and MoITU). Additionally, the age of healthcare providers, education, and working experience significantly influenced BITU. Ultimately, age, education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training significantly influenced MoITU in healthcare delivery. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals acknowledge moderate benefits of IT in healthcare but encounter barriers like inadequate resources and training. Motives for IT use include staff training and support. Bivariate regression analysis shows education, working experience, profession, and IT training significantly influence attitudes toward IT adoption. Targeted interventions and policies can enhance IT utilization in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=health%20information%20application" title="health information application">health information application</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=utilization%20of%20information%20application" title=" utilization of information application"> utilization of information application</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=information%20technology%20use" title=" information technology use"> information technology use</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=healthcare" title=" healthcare"> healthcare</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/177682/healthcare-providers-perception-towards-utilization-of-health-information-applications-and-its-associated-factors-in-healthcare-delivery-in-health-facilities-in-cape-coast-metropolis-ghana" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/177682.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">65</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">28</span> Cycling Usage and Determinants on University Campus in Ghana: The Case of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Nicholas%20Anarfi%20Bofah">Nicholas Anarfi Bofah</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=James%20Damsere-%20Derry"> James Damsere- Derry</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> There is increasing interest among institutions, governments, and international organisations to combat congestion, reduce contribution to green gases and provide sustainable urban transportation. College campuses are a preeminent setting for promoting active commuting to ameliorate a community's healthy lifestyle. Cycling is an important physical activity and has a long-term effect on health, and it is considered one of the top five interventions to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. The main objectives of the research were: (i) to identify students’ attitudes and behavior toward cycling usage, (ii) to identify barriers and opportunities for cycling on a university campus, and (iii) to construct tangible policy recommendations for promoting cycling in the vicinity of the university. The data used in this study were obtained from a survey conducted among students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi between May 2022 and September 2022. A convenient sampling method was used to recruit and interview 398 participants. Two survey assistants who are former students of the university were engaged to administer the questionnaires randomly to students at the selected locations. Descriptive statistics were employed in the analysis of the data. Out of the 398 questionnaires, bicycle ridership and ownership among university students were 57% and 39%, respectively. Generally, the desire to use a bicycle as a mode of transport on campus was 36%. The desire to use a bicycle on campus was more prevalent among males 41% compared to females 30%. There is a high potential for increasing bicycle use among students. Recommendations include the provision of bicycle lanes, public education on the use of bicycles, and a campus bicycle-sharing program. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=sustainable%20development" title="sustainable development">sustainable development</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=cycling" title=" cycling"> cycling</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=university%20campus" title=" university campus"> university campus</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=bicycle" title=" bicycle"> bicycle</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/169809/cycling-usage-and-determinants-on-university-campus-in-ghana-the-case-of-kwame-nkrumah-university-of-science-and-technology" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/169809.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">88</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">27</span> Students’ Post COVID-19 Experiences with E-Learning Platforms among Undergraduate Students of Public Universities in the Ashanti Region, Ghana</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Michael%20Oppong">Michael Oppong</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Stephanie%20Owusu%20Ansah"> Stephanie Owusu Ansah</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Daniel%20Ofori"> Daniel Ofori</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> The study investigated students’ post-covid-19 experiences with e-learning platforms among undergraduate students of public universities in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The study respectively drew 289 respondents from two public universities, i.e., Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Business School and the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) Business School in Ghana. Given that the population from the two public universities was fairly high, sampling had to be done. The overall population of the study was 480 students randomly sampled from the two public universities using the sampling ratio given by Alreck and Settle (2004). The population constituted 360 students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Business School and 120 from the Kumasi Technical University Business School (KsTU). The study employed questionnaires as a data collection tool. The data gathered were 289 responses out of 480 questionnaires administered, representing 60.2%. The data was analyzed using pie charts, bar charts, percentages, and line graphs. Findings revealed that the e-learning platforms were still useful. However, the students used it on a weekly basis post-COVID-19, unlike in the COVID-19 era, where it was used daily. All other academic activities, with the exception of examinations, are still undertaken on the e-learning platforms; however, it is underutilized in the post-COVID-19 experience. The study recommends that universities should invest in infrastructure development to enable all academic activities, most especially examinations, to be undertaken using the e-learning platforms to curtail future challenges. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=e-learning%20platform" title="e-learning platform">e-learning platform</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=undergraduate%20students" title=" undergraduate students"> undergraduate students</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=post-COVID-19%20experience" title=" post-COVID-19 experience"> post-COVID-19 experience</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=public%20universities" title=" public universities"> public universities</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/155561/students-post-covid-19-experiences-with-e-learning-platforms-among-undergraduate-students-of-public-universities-in-the-ashanti-region-ghana" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/155561.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">99</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">26</span> Bayesian Hidden Markov Modelling of Blood Type Distribution for COVID-19 Cases Using Poisson Distribution</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Johnson%20Joseph%20Kwabina%20Arhinful">Johnson Joseph Kwabina Arhinful</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Owusu-Ansah%20Emmanuel%20Degraft%20Johnson"> Owusu-Ansah Emmanuel Degraft Johnson</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Okyere%20Gabrial%20Asare"> Okyere Gabrial Asare</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Adebanji%20Atinuke%20Olusola"> Adebanji Atinuke Olusola</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> This paper proposes a model to describe the blood types distribution of new Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases using the Bayesian Poisson - Hidden Markov Model (BP-HMM). With the help of the Gibbs sampler algorithm, using OpenBugs, the study first identifies the number of hidden states fitting European (EU) and African (AF) data sets of COVID-19 cases by blood type frequency. The study then compares the state-dependent mean of infection within and across the two geographical areas. The study findings show that the number of hidden states and infection rates within and across the two geographical areas differ according to blood type. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=BP-HMM" title="BP-HMM">BP-HMM</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=COVID-19" title=" COVID-19"> COVID-19</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=blood%20types" title=" blood types"> blood types</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=GIBBS%20sampler" title=" GIBBS sampler"> GIBBS sampler</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/156185/bayesian-hidden-markov-modelling-of-blood-type-distribution-for-covid-19-cases-using-poisson-distribution" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/156185.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">129</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">25</span> Kinetic Parameter Estimation from Thermogravimetry and Microscale Combustion Calorimetry</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Rhoda%20Afriyie%20Mensah">Rhoda Afriyie Mensah</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Lin%20Jiang"> Lin Jiang</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Solomon%20Asante-Okyere"> Solomon Asante-Okyere</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Xu%20Qiang"> Xu Qiang</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Cong%20Jin"> Cong Jin</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Flammability analysis of extruded polystyrene (XPS) has become crucial due to its utilization as insulation material for energy efficient buildings. Using the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa methods, the degradation kinetics of two pure XPS from the local market, red and grey ones, were obtained from the results of thermogravity analysis (TG) and microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) experiments performed under the same heating rates. From the experiments, it was discovered that red XPS released more heat than grey XPS and both materials showed two mass loss stages. Consequently, the kinetic parameters for red XPS were higher than grey XPS. A comparative evaluation of activation energies from MCC and TG showed an insignificant degree of deviation signifying an equivalent apparent activation energy from both methods. However, different activation energy profiles as a result of the different chemical pathways were presented when the dependencies of the activation energies on extent of conversion for TG and MCC were compared. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=flammability" title="flammability">flammability</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=microscale%20combustion%20calorimetry" title=" microscale combustion calorimetry"> microscale combustion calorimetry</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=thermogravity%20analysis" title=" thermogravity analysis"> thermogravity analysis</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=thermal%20degradation" title=" thermal degradation"> thermal degradation</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=kinetic%20analysis" title=" kinetic analysis"> kinetic analysis</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/113510/kinetic-parameter-estimation-from-thermogravimetry-and-microscale-combustion-calorimetry" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/113510.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">177</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">24</span> Investigating the Interaction of Individuals' Knowledge Sharing Constructs</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Eugene%20Okyere-Kwakye">Eugene Okyere-Kwakye</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Knowledge sharing is a practice where individuals commonly exchange both tacit and explicit knowledge to jointly create a new knowledge. Knowledge management literature vividly express that knowledge sharing is the keystone and perhaps it is the most important aspect of knowledge management. To enhance the understanding of knowledge sharing domain, this study is aimed to investigate some factors that could influence employee’s attitude and behaviour to share their knowledge. The researchers employed the social exchange theory as a theoretical foundation for this study. Three essential factors namely: Trust, mutual reciprocity and perceived enjoyment that could influence knowledge sharing behaviour has been incorporated into a research model. To empirically validate this model, data was collected from one hundred and twenty respondents. The multiple regression analysis was employed to analyse the data. The results indicate that perceived enjoyment and trust have a significant influence on knowledge sharing. Surprisingly, mutual reciprocity did not influence knowledge sharing. The paper concludes by highlight the practical implications of the findings and areas for future research to consider. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=perceived%20enjoyment" title="perceived enjoyment">perceived enjoyment</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=trust" title=" trust"> trust</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=knowledge%20sharing" title=" knowledge sharing"> knowledge sharing</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=knowledge%20management" title=" knowledge management"> knowledge management</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/4311/investigating-the-interaction-of-individuals-knowledge-sharing-constructs" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/4311.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">447</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">23</span> Transformational Leadership and Departmental Performance: The Intervening Role of Internal Communication and Citizen/Customer Participation</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Derrick%20Boakye%20Boadu">Derrick Boakye Boadu</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Zahra%20Fakhri"> Zahra Fakhri</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Transformational leaders are the catalyst of change and focus more importantly on members or followers. Involvement of transformational leadership style in organizational structures can provide interesting nuances to the implementation and enhancement of citizen and customer participation mechanisms in an organization regardless of the time consuming, cost, and delaying process of analyzing the feedback of workers and citizens/customers which stifles good outcome of organization’s department performance. It posits that transformational leadership has a positive direct effect on organization-departmental performance and the intervening role of citizen and customer participation and internal communication. Using the NASP-IV 2007 data, the article finds support for the five hypotheses in a structural equation model, and the findings show that transformational leadership does have a direct impact on organizational-departmental performance a partial mediation effect of the relationship through the role of internal communication and citizen and customer participation. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=transformational%20leaders" title="transformational leaders">transformational leaders</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=departmental%20performance" title=" departmental performance"> departmental performance</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=internal%20communication" title=" internal communication"> internal communication</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=citizen%2Fcustomer%20participation" title=" citizen/customer participation"> citizen/customer participation</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/149941/transformational-leadership-and-departmental-performance-the-intervening-role-of-internal-communication-and-citizencustomer-participation" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/149941.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">117</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">22</span> Early Talent Identification and Its Impact on Children’s Growth and Development: An Examination of “The Social Learning Theory, by Albert Bandura"</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Michael%20Subbey">Michael Subbey</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Takyi%20Danquah"> Kwame Takyi Danquah</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Finding a child's exceptional skills and abilities at a young age and nurturing them is a challenging process. The Social Learning Theory (SLT) of Albert Bandura is used to analyze the effects of early talent identification on children's growth and development. The study examines both the advantages and disadvantages of early talent identification and stresses the significance of a moral strategy that puts the welfare of the child first. The paper emphasizes the value of a balanced approach to early talent identification that takes into account individual differences, cultural considerations, and the child's social environment. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=early%20talent%20development" title="early talent development">early talent development</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=social%20learning%20theory" title=" social learning theory"> social learning theory</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=child%20development" title=" child development"> child development</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=child%20welfare" title=" child welfare"> child welfare</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/168115/early-talent-identification-and-its-impact-on-childrens-growth-and-development-an-examination-of-the-social-learning-theory-by-albert-bandura" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/168115.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">108</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">21</span> An Adjusted Network Information Criterion for Model Selection in Statistical Neural Network Models</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Christopher%20Godwin%20Udomboso">Christopher Godwin Udomboso</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Angela%20Unna%20Chukwu"> Angela Unna Chukwu</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Isaac%20Kwame%20Dontwi"> Isaac Kwame Dontwi</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> In selecting a Statistical Neural Network model, the Network Information Criterion (NIC) has been observed to be sample biased, because it does not account for sample sizes. The selection of a model from a set of fitted candidate models requires objective data-driven criteria. In this paper, we derived and investigated the Adjusted Network Information Criterion (ANIC), based on Kullback’s symmetric divergence, which has been designed to be an asymptotically unbiased estimator of the expected Kullback-Leibler information of a fitted model. The analyses show that on a general note, the ANIC improves model selection in more sample sizes than does the NIC. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=statistical%20neural%20network" title="statistical neural network">statistical neural network</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=network%20information%20criterion" title=" network information criterion"> network information criterion</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=adjusted%20network" title=" adjusted network"> adjusted network</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=information%20criterion" title=" information criterion"> information criterion</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=transfer%20function" title=" transfer function"> transfer function</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/28771/an-adjusted-network-information-criterion-for-model-selection-in-statistical-neural-network-models" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/28771.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">566</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">20</span> The Relationship Between Policy Design and Poverty Reduction: The Case of Ghana</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Joseph%20Kwame%20Sarfo-Adu">Joseph Kwame Sarfo-Adu</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Social protection programs have been rolled out by successive governments in the quest of bridging the inequality gap in Ghana. Despite notable positive impacts of these programs across the country, there still remains worrying experience of the exclusion of the poor and vulnerable especially in rural Ghana Notwithstanding the rhetoric of participation within the discussion of social protection programs, less attention has been given to the design of these programs. In view of this, the study seeks to address how social protection programs are designed to address the needs of the poor. This study focused on five selected social protection programs in Ghana because they are programs with nationwide coverage. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied to analyze our data with the use of the Nvivo 12 version. We found out that there is a strong link between policy design and poverty alleviation. Our findings revealed that a well-designed program can significantly alleviate poverty, a poorly designed program can create more damage. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=social%20protection" title="social protection">social protection</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=poverty%20alleviation" title=" poverty alleviation"> poverty alleviation</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=policy%20design" title=" policy design"> policy design</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=effective%20outcome" title=" effective outcome"> effective outcome</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/118927/the-relationship-between-policy-design-and-poverty-reduction-the-case-of-ghana" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/118927.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">163</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">19</span> Transcending or Going beyond the Concept of Race</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Ovett%20Nwosimiri">Ovett Nwosimiri</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Historically the concept of race has played a significant part in the existence of African philosophy. Race, as part of the historical events, has been used as a reason for colonization. In recent years, there has been a numerous work on the concept of race. Some philosophers have devoted their time to the discourse of race and to understand the ascription of the race. These philosophers have dedicated their time and energy to the concept of race. Philosophers, like Joshua Glasgow, W. E. B. Du Bois, Lucius Outlaw, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Naomi Zack, Emmanuel C. Eze and many others took up the task to explain the concept of race, and also to explain in their view whether the concept of race should be conserved or eliminated. According to the eliminativists, the concept of race should be eliminated. According to the conservationists, the concept of race should be conserved. The aim of this paper is to look at the possibility of transcending the concept of race. In order to do this, the paper will briefly explain Joshua Glasgow’ idea theory of ‘racial reconstructionism’, and it will propose a theory of ‘racial transcendentalism’ as a way of transcending the concept of race. The paper will argue that we should see the concept of race as a concept that has a future beyond the mere meaning and ideas that call for its elimination or conservation. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=conservationists" title="conservationists">conservationists</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=eliminativists" title=" eliminativists"> eliminativists</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=race" title=" race"> race</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=transcending" title=" transcending"> transcending</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/61145/transcending-or-going-beyond-the-concept-of-race" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/61145.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">353</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">18</span> Phase Detection Using Infrared Spectroscopy: A Build up to Inline Gas–Liquid Flow Characterization</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Sarkodie">Kwame Sarkodie</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=William%20Cheung"> William Cheung</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Andrew%20R.%20Fergursson"> Andrew R. Fergursson</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> The characterization of multiphase flow has gained enormous attention for most petroleum and chemical industrial processes. In order to fully characterize fluid phases in a stream or containment, there needs to be a profound knowledge of the existing composition of fluids present. This introduces a problem for real-time monitoring of fluid dynamics such as fluid distributions, and phase fractions. This work presents a simple technique of correlating absorbance spectrums of water, oil and air bubble present in containment. These spectra absorption outputs are derived by using an Fourier Infrared spectrometer. During the testing, air bubbles were introduced into static water column and oil containment and with light absorbed in the infrared regions of specific wavelength ranges. Attenuation coefficients are derived for various combinations of water, gas and oil which reveal the presence of each phase in the samples. The results from this work are preliminary and viewed as a build up to the design of a multiphase flow rig which has an infrared sensor pair to be used for multiphase flow characterization. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=attenuation" title="attenuation">attenuation</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=infrared" title=" infrared"> infrared</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=multiphase" title=" multiphase"> multiphase</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=spectroscopy" title=" spectroscopy"> spectroscopy</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/71887/phase-detection-using-infrared-spectroscopy-a-build-up-to-inline-gas-liquid-flow-characterization" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/71887.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">368</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">17</span> Political Leadership: Bane of African Development</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Samaila%20Liman%20Gamba">Samaila Liman Gamba</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> This paper discussed the importance of good governance and its impact on the socio-economic and political development of African countries and, conversely, its underdevelopment and consequent stagnation. The study employed the use of quantitative and descriptive methods of collecting secondary data. The system analysis approach was also adopted as the theoretical framework. It is a global system, but it is also used to analyze the place of regions and single states within it. The study showed that political leadership in Africa based on empirical observation and documented evidence since the hard-won political independence from colonial Europe has become one of Africa’s sources of problems confronting the states and their resources became the primary purpose of political contestation and the establishment of a political culture based on ethnicity and authoritarian pattern of governance. The solution is for African leaders to learn and imbibe the leadership qualities of the late Nelson Mandela, Nyerere and Kwame Nkrumah, who carried their citizens along and were devoid of ethnicity and personal aggrandizement. They sacrificed their lives for their countrymen and fought against imperialism and are counted as patriots. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=political%20leadership" title="political leadership">political leadership</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=African%20development" title=" African development"> African development</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=constitutional%20democracy" title=" constitutional democracy"> constitutional democracy</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=power%20and%20resource%20control" title=" power and resource control"> power and resource control</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/172785/political-leadership-bane-of-african-development" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/172785.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">61</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">16</span> Effect of Machining Induced Microstructure Changes on the Edge Formability of Titanium Alloys at Room Temperature</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=James%20S.%20Kwame">James S. Kwame</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=E.%20Yakushina"> E. Yakushina</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=P.%20Blackwell"> P. Blackwell</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> The challenges in forming titanium alloys at room temperature are well researched and are linked both to the limitations imposed by the basic crystal structure and their ability to form texture during plastic deformation. One major issue of concern for the sheet forming of titanium alloys is their high sensitivity to surface inhomogeneity. Various machining processes are utilised in preparing sheet hole edges for edge flanging applications. However, the response of edge forming tendencies of titanium to different edge surface finishes is not well investigated. The hole expansion test is used in this project to elucidate the impact of abrasive water jet (AWJ) and electro-discharge machining (EDM) cutting techniques on the edge formability of CP-Ti (Grade 2) and Ti-3Al-2.5V alloys at room temperature. The results show that the quality of the edge surface finish has a major effect on the edge formability of the materials. The work also found that the variations in the edge forming performance are mainly the result of the influence of machining induced edge surface defects. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=titanium%20alloys" title="titanium alloys">titanium alloys</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=hole%20expansion%20test" title=" hole expansion test"> hole expansion test</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=edge%20formability" title=" edge formability"> edge formability</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=non-conventional%20machining" title=" non-conventional machining"> non-conventional machining</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/110917/effect-of-machining-induced-microstructure-changes-on-the-edge-formability-of-titanium-alloys-at-room-temperature" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/110917.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">137</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">15</span> The Effect of Relationship Marketing on Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction without Service Providers' Emotional Intelligence: The Case of the Insurance Industry in Ghana</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Frank%20Frimpong%20Opuni">Frank Frimpong Opuni</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Michael%20Mba%20Allan"> Michael Mba Allan</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Adu-Gyamfi"> Kwame Adu-Gyamfi</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Michael%20Sarkodie%20Baffoe"> Michael Sarkodie Baffoe</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> This paper assesses the effect of relationship marketing on service quality and customer satisfaction from the perspective of the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the insurance industry in Ghana. A descriptive quantitative research technique was employed. A random sample of 384 each of customers and service providers in 3 insurance firms in Accra were used as the source of data. According to findings, emotional intelligence makes a strong positive effect on relationship marketing at 5% significance level, r (283) = .817, p = .000. Though relationship marketing makes a strong positive effect on service quality (r = .767, p < .05) and customer satisfaction (r = .647, p < .05), this effect becomes insignificant (p > .05) when the effect of emotional intelligence on relationship marketing is controlled for. It is therefore recommended that insurance firms give priority to equipping their relationship employees with emotional intelligence to maximise service quality and customer satisfaction. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=relationship%20marketing" title="relationship marketing">relationship marketing</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=service%20quality" title=" service quality"> service quality</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=customer%20satisfaction" title=" customer satisfaction"> customer satisfaction</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=emotional%20intelligence" title=" emotional intelligence"> emotional intelligence</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/52190/the-effect-of-relationship-marketing-on-service-quality-and-customer-satisfaction-without-service-providers-emotional-intelligence-the-case-of-the-insurance-industry-in-ghana" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/52190.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">481</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">14</span> Author Self-Archiving in Open Access Institutional Repositories for Awareness Creation in Universities</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Kodua-Ntim">Kwame Kodua-Ntim</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> The study explored the authors self-archiving to create awareness of open-access institutional repositories in universities. The qualitative approach of the study was informed by the interpretive paradigm as well as the case research design. The target population for the study was all twelve (12) open-access institutional repositories managers and administrators purposively selected from the five (5) universities in Ghana. The universities were chosen since they were the only ones listed in the Directory of Open Access Repositories. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that academics had some information about self-archiving in open-access institutional repositories and university libraries with open-access institutional repositories were using DSpace software. Managers and administrators of open-access institutional repositories mediated content uploaded and believed that author self-archiving could improve awareness of open-access institutional repositories. The study recommended that universities should fully implement the author’s self-archiving protocol, and academics should be trained to be able to upload research works onto open-access institutional repositories. Furthermore, the university and university library should provide rigorous policies on author self-archiving and incentives for author self-archiving in the open access institutional repositories. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=author" title="author">author</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=awareness" title=" awareness"> awareness</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=institutional%20repositories" title=" institutional repositories"> institutional repositories</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=open%20access" title=" open access"> open access</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=open%20archive" title=" open archive"> open archive</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=self-archiving" title=" self-archiving"> self-archiving</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/161785/author-self-archiving-in-open-access-institutional-repositories-for-awareness-creation-in-universities" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/161785.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">87</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">13</span> On Enabling Miner Self-Rescue with In-Mine Robots using Real-Time Object Detection with Thermal Images</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Cyrus%20Addy">Cyrus Addy</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Venkata%20Sriram%20Siddhardh%20Nadendla"> Venkata Sriram Siddhardh Nadendla</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Awuah-Offei"> Kwame Awuah-Offei</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Surface robots in modern underground mine rescue operations suffer from several limitations in enabling a prompt self-rescue. Therefore, the possibility of designing and deploying in-mine robots to expedite miner self-rescue can have a transformative impact on miner safety. These in-mine robots for miner self-rescue can be envisioned to carry out diverse tasks such as object detection, autonomous navigation, and payload delivery. Specifically, this paper investigates the challenges in the design of object detection algorithms for in-mine robots using thermal images, especially to detect people in real-time. A total of 125 thermal images were collected in the Missouri S&T Experimental Mine with the help of student volunteers using the FLIR TG 297 infrared camera, which were pre-processed into training and validation datasets with 100 and 25 images, respectively. Three state-of-the-art, pre-trained real-time object detection models, namely YOLOv5, YOLO-FIRI, and YOLOv8, were considered and re-trained using transfer learning techniques on the training dataset. On the validation dataset, the re-trained YOLOv8 outperforms the re-trained versions of both YOLOv5, and YOLO-FIRI. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=miner%20self-rescue" title="miner self-rescue">miner self-rescue</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=object%20detection" title=" object detection"> object detection</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=underground%20mine" title=" underground mine"> underground mine</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=YOLO" title=" YOLO"> YOLO</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/174124/on-enabling-miner-self-rescue-with-in-mine-robots-using-real-time-object-detection-with-thermal-images" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/174124.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">83</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">12</span> Defining a Pathway to Zero Energy Building: A Case Study on Retrofitting an Old Office Building into a Net Zero Energy Building for Hot-Humid Climate</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20B.%20O.%20Amoah">Kwame B. O. Amoah</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> This paper focuses on retrofitting an old existing office building to a net-zero energy building (NZEB). An existing small office building in Melbourne, Florida, was chosen as a case study to integrate state-of-the-art design strategies and energy-efficient building systems to improve building performance and reduce energy consumption. The study aimed to explore possible ways to maximize energy savings and renewable energy generation sources to cover the building's remaining energy needs necessary to achieve net-zero energy goals. A series of retrofit options were reviewed and adopted with some significant additional decision considerations. Detailed processes and considerations leading to zero energy are well documented in this study, with lessons learned adequately outlined. Based on building energy simulations, multiple design considerations were investigated, such as emerging state-of-the-art technologies, material selection, improvements to the building envelope, optimization of the HVAC, lighting systems, and occupancy loads analysis, as well as the application of renewable energy sources. The comparative analysis of simulation results was used to determine how specific techniques led to energy saving and cost reductions. The research results indicate this small office building can meet net-zero energy use after appropriate design manipulations and renewable energy sources. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=energy%20consumption" title="energy consumption">energy consumption</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=building%20energy%20analysis" title=" building energy analysis"> building energy analysis</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=energy%20retrofits" title=" energy retrofits"> energy retrofits</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=energy-efficiency" title=" energy-efficiency"> energy-efficiency</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/156385/defining-a-pathway-to-zero-energy-building-a-case-study-on-retrofitting-an-old-office-building-into-a-net-zero-energy-building-for-hot-humid-climate" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/156385.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">223</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">11</span> The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact on Project Management: A Destructive or Transformative Agent</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Amoah">Kwame Amoah</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Artificial intelligence (AI) has the prospect of transforming project management, significantly improving efficiency and accuracy. By automating specific tasks with defined guidelines, AI can assist project managers in making better decisions and allocating resources efficiently, with possible risk mitigation. This study explores how AI is already impacting project management and likely future AI's impact on the field. The AI's reaction has been a divided opinion; while others picture it as a destroyer of jobs, some welcome it as an innovation advocate. Both sides agree that AI will be disruptive and revolutionize PM's functions. If current research is to go by, AI or some form will replace one-third of all learning graduate PM jobs by as early as 2030. A recent survey indicates AI spending will reach $97.9 billion by the end of 2023. Considering such a profound impact, the project management profession will also see a paradigm shift driven by AI. The study examines what the project management profession will look like in the next 5-10 years after this technological disruption. The research methods incorporate existing literature, develop trend analysis, and conduct structured interviews with project management stakeholders from North America to gauge the trend. PM professionals can harness the power of AI, ensuring a smooth transition and positive outcomes. AI adoption will maximize benefits, minimize adverse consequences, and uphold ethical standards, leading to improved project performance. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=project%20management" title="project management">project management</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=disruptive%20teacnologies" title=" disruptive teacnologies"> disruptive teacnologies</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=project%20management%20function" title=" project management function"> project management function</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=AL%20applications" title=" AL applications"> AL applications</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=artificial%20intelligence" title=" artificial intelligence"> artificial intelligence</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/174502/the-artificial-intelligence-ai-impact-on-project-management-a-destructive-or-transformative-agent" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/174502.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">83</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">10</span> The Psychological Effect of Emotional Demands and Discrimination, and the Role of Job Resources among Asian Immigrant Microbusiness Owners</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Il-Ho%20Kim">Il-Ho Kim</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Samuel%20Noh"> Samuel Noh</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20McKenzie"> Kwame McKenzie</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Cyu-Chul%20Choi"> Cyu-Chul Choi</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Many members of immigrant minorities choose to operate microbusinesses that involve emotionally taxing interactions with customers and discriminatory exposures in the workplace. This study investigated the psychological risks of emotional demands and discrimination as well as the buffering roles of two types of job resources (job autonomy and job security) among immigrant microbusiness owners (MBOs). Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 550 Korean immigrant MBOs, aged 30 to 70, living in Toronto and its surrounding areas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between March and November 2013. Results showed that emotional suppression and discrimination were positively associated with depressive symptoms. However, the direct effect of positive emotional demands was insignificant. For job resources, the beneficial effect of job security on depressive symptom was apparent, but the effect of job autonomy was trivial. Regarding the moderating effect, job security buffered the psychological harm of both emotional suppression and workplace discrimination. Although job autonomy buffered the link between discrimination and depressive symptoms, the buffering effect of job autonomy on the emotional suppression-depression link was insignificant. This study’s finding implies that emotional demands and workplace discrimination seem to be important factors in contributing to occupational psychological problems, but the psychological impact can differ according to the types of emotional demands and job resources among immigrant MBOs. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=immigrant%20microbusiness%20owners" title="immigrant microbusiness owners">immigrant microbusiness owners</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=emotional%20demands" title=" emotional demands"> emotional demands</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=discrimination" title=" discrimination"> discrimination</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=job%20resources" title=" job resources"> job resources</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=depression" title=" depression"> depression</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/79255/the-psychological-effect-of-emotional-demands-and-discrimination-and-the-role-of-job-resources-among-asian-immigrant-microbusiness-owners" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/79255.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">222</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">9</span> Investigation of the Effect of Lecturers' Attributes on Students' Interest in Learning Statistic Ghanaian Tertiary Institutions</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Samuel%20Asiedu-Addo">Samuel Asiedu-Addo</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Jonathan%20Annan"> Jonathan Annan</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Yarhands%20Dissou%20Arthur"> Yarhands Dissou Arthur</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> The study aims to explore the relational effect of lecturers’ personal attribute on student’s interest in statistics. In this study personal attributes of lecturers’ such as lecturer’s dynamism, communication strategies and rapport in the classroom as well as applied knowledge during lecture were examined. Here, exploratory research design was used to establish the effect of lecturer’s personal attributes on student’s interest. Data were analyzed by means of confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) using the SmartPLS 3 program. The study recruited 376 students from the faculty of technical and vocational education of the University of Education Winneba Kumasi campus, and Ghana Technology University College as well as Kwame Nkrumah University of science and Technology. The results revealed that personal attributes of an effective lecturer were lecturer’s dynamism, rapport, communication and applied knowledge contribute (52.9%) in explaining students interest in statistics. Our regression analysis and structural equation modeling confirm that lecturers personal attribute contribute effectively by predicting student’s interest of 52.9% and 53.7% respectively. The paper concludes that the total effect of a lecturer’s attribute on student’s interest is moderate and significant. While a lecturer’s communication and dynamism were found to contribute positively to students’ interest, they were insignificant in predicting students’ interest. We further showed that a lecturer’s personal attributes such as applied knowledge and rapport have positive and significant effect on tertiary student’s interest in statistic, whilst lecturers’ communication and dynamism do not significantly affect student interest in statistics; though positively related. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=student%20interest" title="student interest">student interest</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=effective%20teacher" title=" effective teacher"> effective teacher</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=personal%20attributes" title=" personal attributes"> personal attributes</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=regression%20and%20SEM" title=" regression and SEM"> regression and SEM</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/40431/investigation-of-the-effect-of-lecturers-attributes-on-students-interest-in-learning-statistic-ghanaian-tertiary-institutions" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/40431.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">359</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">8</span> The Determinants of Financial Ratio Disclosures and Quality: Evidence from an Emerging Market</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Ben%20Kwame%20Agyei-Mensah">Ben Kwame Agyei-Mensah</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> This study investigated the influence of firm-specific characteristics which include proportion of Non-Executive Directors, ownership concentration, firm size, profitability, debt equity ratio, liquidity and leverage on the extent and quality of financial ratios disclosed by firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The research was conducted through detailed analysis of the 2012 financial statements of the listed firms. Descriptive analysis was performed to provide the background statistics of the variables examined. This was followed by regression analysis which forms the main data analysis. The results of the extent of financial ratio disclosure level, mean of 62.78%, indicate that most of the firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange did not overwhelmingly disclose such ratios in their annual reports. The results of the low quality of financial ratio disclosure mean of 6.64% indicate that the disclosures failed woefully to meet the International Accounting Standards Board's qualitative characteristics of relevance, reliability, comparability and understandability. The results of the multiple regression analysis show that leverage (gearing ratio) and return on investment (dividend per share) are associated on a statistically significant level as far as the extent of financial ratio disclosure is concerned. Board ownership concentration and proportion of (independent) non-executive directors, on the other hand were found to be statistically associated with the quality of financial ratio disclosed. There is a significant negative relationship between ownership concentration and the quality of financial ratio disclosure. This means that under a higher level of ownership concentration less quality financial ratios are disclosed. The findings also show that there is a significant positive relationship between board composition (proportion of non-executive directors) and the quality of financial ratio disclosure. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=voluntary%20disclosure" title="voluntary disclosure">voluntary disclosure</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=firm-specific%20characteristics" title=" firm-specific characteristics"> firm-specific characteristics</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=financial%20reporting" title=" financial reporting"> financial reporting</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=financial%20ratio%20disclosure" title=" financial ratio disclosure"> financial ratio disclosure</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Ghana%20stock%20exchange" title=" Ghana stock exchange"> Ghana stock exchange</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/18018/the-determinants-of-financial-ratio-disclosures-and-quality-evidence-from-an-emerging-market" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/18018.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">593</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">7</span> Effect of Mannitol on in Vitro Conservation of Local and Exotic Taro-Genotypes (Colocasia Esculenta Var Esculenta)</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Benjamin%20Bonsu%20Bruce">Benjamin Bonsu Bruce</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Marian%20Dorcas%20Quain%20David%20Appiah-Kubi"> Marian Dorcas Quain David Appiah-Kubi</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Gertrude%20Osei-Diko"> Gertrude Osei-Diko</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Harrison%20Kwame%20Dapaah"> Harrison Kwame Dapaah</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] is a major staple food and remains a significant crop to many cultural and agricultural customs worldwide. In Ghana, taro is mostly propagated using vegetative material, which is conserved in field collection and recycled from their farms to establish new fields. However, this practice promotes the accumulation of systemic pathogens. Prior exposure to pests and subsequent expression of disease symptoms can also be a huge constraint to sustainable conservation and utilization of taro genetic resources. In vitro, slow growth is one of the most promising techniques to be utilized for conservation. The objective of this study was to find a medium-term in vitro conservation protocol for local and exotic taro genotypes. The medium-term conservation study was conducted using actively growing shoots obtained from in vitro cultures. Explants were cultured to full strength in complete Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with Mannitol at different concentrations (0g/l, 20g/l, 25g/l, and 30g/l). Another medium that was tested as an additional treatment is the White’s medium. The highest number of shoots (6.33) and leaves (22.67) occurred on medium containing 20 and 25g/l mannitol in genotype SAO 006 as compared to other genotypes, whereas 30g/l mannitol was the best to restrict growth for the entire 6 months period in terms of shoot height (22.50cm). The study reveals that mannitol supplemented culture media could reduce the growth of Colocasia plantlets, especially in stem height. Culture growth following 6 months of conservation, showed that healthy shoot cultures of Taro were obtained after 6 months of storage in a medium containing 20gl⁻¹ and 25gl⁻¹ mannitol. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=complete%20murashige" title="complete murashige">complete murashige</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=skoog%20medium" title=" skoog medium"> skoog medium</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=culture%20conditions" title=" culture conditions"> culture conditions</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=mannitol" title=" mannitol"> mannitol</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=slow%20growth%20conservation" title=" slow growth conservation"> slow growth conservation</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/148840/effect-of-mannitol-on-in-vitro-conservation-of-local-and-exotic-taro-genotypes-colocasia-esculenta-var-esculenta" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/148840.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">169</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">6</span> Autism Management in Ghana: Comparative Analyses of Creative Art forms</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Edwina%20%20Owusu%20%20Panin">Edwina Owusu Panin</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20Baah%20Owusu%20Panin"> Kwame Baah Owusu Panin</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> This abstract intends to demonstrate multiple strategies of autism management in Ghana by exploring the possibilities. The advantages of adopting creative art forms as a therapeutic method. Autism is a developmental disorder that includes social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviours. In Ghana, as in many other countries, there is a rising demand for effective intervention and support for people with autism and their families. Creative arts such as music, dance, drama and visual arts have shown promise in promoting communication, social interaction and inclusion of people with autism. These art forms provide alternative channels for self-expression and can be powerful tools for autistic people to interact with the world, their friends and families around them. Creative art forms interventions have been found to improve social skills, improve emotion regulation, promote creativity and increase self-confidence in people with autism. This study examines existing programs and interventions in Ghana involving creative art forms for people with autism through a comparative analysis. It explores the different approaches, methods and results of these interventions. By comparing and evaluating these programs, the study aims to identify best practices, challenges and areas for development in managing autism through the creative arts in Ghana. Although many schools and rehabilitation centres employ various forms in therapeutic approaches for autism. There is no comparative analysis of which type of autism and which creative art forms is suitable. The results of this study will contribute to the development of evidence-based practices for the management of autism in Ghana. It provides valuable information about the effectiveness of creative arts interventions and helps inform policy makers, educators, therapists and other stakeholders involved in autism support. Ultimately, the goal is to improve the well-being and quality of life of people with autism in Ghana and their families by promoting inclusive and accessible interventions that harness the power of creative art forms. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=autism" title="autism">autism</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=therapeutic" title=" therapeutic"> therapeutic</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=creative%20art" title=" creative art"> creative art</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=art%20form" title=" art form"> art form</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/170201/autism-management-in-ghana-comparative-analyses-of-creative-art-forms" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/170201.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">76</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">5</span> The Family, Tradition and Change in Africa: The Perspective of Postcolonial African Fiction</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Ayobami%20Kehinde">Ayobami Kehinde</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> The literary representations of the family, tradition and change in African literature offer an immense, and as yet little theorised area of literary scholarship. Therefore, this paper explores the nexus among the family, tradition and change in five purposively selected post-colonial African fiction: Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus, Wale Okediran’s Tenants of the House, J. M. Coetzee’s In the Heart of the Country, Tsitsi Dangrembga’s Nervous Condition and Meja Mwangi’s Striving for the Wind. The methodology centres on analysing, questioning, undermining and celebrating the family and its contemporary vicissitudes as depicted in the texts. This is with a view to exploring the postcolonial novel with references to concepts developed by major theorists in the field of postcolonial studies, including Frantz Fanon, Edward Said, Gayatri Spivak, Homi Bhabha, Kwame Appiah and Achille Mbembe. It is revealed that in spite of the fact that the family is a vital institution, the primary social unit in any community, an agent of acculturation and the first focus of development, independence and growth, the texts reflect a diversity of problems confronting the family unit in Africa. These include the multiple problems of disrupted family lives, enforced family separation, political and personal violence with the domestic environment. It is concluded that the post-colonial African novel is a quintessential weapon to analyse the continent, opening up to the reader the specific expressions and experiences of human lives and their wider contexts. Therefore, the post-colonial African novel is a primary socio-cultural indicator representing an immense variety of lived realities in the continent. The study, therefore, suggests a concerted concern with the preservation of traditional family structures and other related aspects, such as cultural values, spirituality, gender roles and mutual trust. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=family" title="family">family</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=African%20fiction" title=" African fiction"> African fiction</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=postcolonialism" title=" postcolonialism"> postcolonialism</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=African%20tradition" title=" African tradition"> African tradition</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=domestic%20dissonance" title=" domestic dissonance"> domestic dissonance</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/69570/the-family-tradition-and-change-in-africa-the-perspective-of-postcolonial-african-fiction" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/69570.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">335</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">4</span> Gender, Occupational Status, Work-to-Family Conflict, and the Roles of Stressors among Korean Immigrants: Rethinking the Concept of the 'Stress of Higher Status'</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Il-Ho%20Kim">Il-Ho Kim</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Samuel%20Noh"> Samuel Noh</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kwame%20McKenzie"> Kwame McKenzie</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Cyu-Chul%20Choi"> Cyu-Chul Choi </a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Introduction: The ‘stress of higher status’ hypothesis suggests that workers with higher-status occupations are more likely to experience work-to-family conflict (WFC) than those with lower-status occupations. Yet, the occupational difference in WFC and its mechanisms have not been explicitly explored within Asian culture. This present study examines (a) the association between occupational status and WFC and (b) the mediating roles of work-related stressors and resources, focused on gender perspectives using a sample of Korean immigrants. Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of foreign born Korean immigrants who were currently working at least two years in the Greater Area of Toronto or surrounding towns. The sample was stratified for equivalent presentations of micro-business owners (N=555) and paid employees in diverse occupational categories (N=733). Results: We found gender differences and similarities in the link between occupational status and WFC and the mediating roles of work-related variables. Compared to skilled/unskilled counterparts, male immigrants in professional, service, and microbusiness jobs reported higher levels of WFC, whereas female immigrants in higher-status occupations were more likely to have WFC with the exception of the highest levels of WFC among microbusiness owners. Regardless of gender, both male and female immigrants who have longer weekly work hours, shift work schedule, and high emotional and psychological demands were significantly associated with high levels of WFC. However, skill development was related to WFC only among male immigrants. Regarding the mediating roles of work-related factors, among female immigrants, the occupational difference in WFC was fully mediated by weekly work hours, shift work schedule, and emotional and psychological demands with the exception of the case of microbusiness workers. Among male immigrants, the occupational differences remained virtually unchanged after controlling for these mediators. Conclusions: Our results partially confirmed the ‘stress of higher status’ hypothesis among female immigrants. Additionally, work-related stressors seem to be critical mediators of the link between occupations and WFC only for female immigrants. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=work-to-family%20conflict" title="work-to-family conflict">work-to-family conflict</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=gender" title=" gender"> gender</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=work%20conditions" title=" work conditions"> work conditions</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=job%20demands" title=" job demands"> job demands</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=job%20resources" title=" job resources"> job resources</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/79254/gender-occupational-status-work-to-family-conflict-and-the-roles-of-stressors-among-korean-immigrants-rethinking-the-concept-of-the-stress-of-higher-status" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/79254.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">186</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">3</span> Network Governance and Renewable Energy Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: Contextual Evidence from Ghana</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Kyere%20Francis">Kyere Francis</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Sun%20Dongying"> Sun Dongying</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Asante%20Dennis"> Asante Dennis</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Nkrumah%20Nana%20Kwame%20Edmund"> Nkrumah Nana Kwame Edmund</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Naana%20Yaa%20Gyamea%20Kumah"> Naana Yaa Gyamea Kumah</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> With a focus on renewable energy to achieve low-carbon transition objectives, there is a greater demand for effective collaborative strategies for planning, strategic decision mechanisms, and long-term policy designs to steer the transitions. Government agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and individual citizens play an important role in sustainable energy production. In Ghana, however, such collaboration is fragile in the fight against climate change. This current study seeks to re-examine the position or potential of network governance in Ghana's renewable energy transition. The study adopted a qualitative approach and employed semi-structured interviews for data gathering. To explore network governance and low carbon transitions in Ghana, we examine key themes such as political environment and impact, actor cooperation and stakeholder interactions, financing and the transition, market design and renewable energy integration, existing regulation and policy gaps for renewable energy transition, clean cooking accessibility, and affordability. The findings reveal the following; Lack of comprehensive consultations with relevant stakeholders leads to lower acceptance of the policy model and sometimes lack of policy awareness. Again, the unavailability and affordability of renewable energy technologies and access to credit facilities is a significant hurdle to long-term renewable transition. Ghana's renewable energy transitions require strong networking and interaction among the public, private, and non-governmental organizations. The study participants believe that the involvement of relevant energy experts and stakeholders devoid of any political biases is instrumental in accelerating renewable energy transitions, as emphasized in the proposed framework. The study recommends that the national renewable energy transition plan be evident to all stakeholders and political administrators. Such policy may encourage renewable energy investment through stable and fixed lending rates by the financial institutions and build a network with international organizations and corporations. These findings could serve as valuable information for the transition-based energy process, primarily aiming to govern sustainability changes through network governance. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=actors" title="actors">actors</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=development" title=" development"> development</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=sustainable%20energy" title=" sustainable energy"> sustainable energy</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=network%20governance" title=" network governance"> network governance</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=renewable%20energy%20transition" title=" renewable energy transition"> renewable energy transition</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/165947/network-governance-and-renewable-energy-transition-in-sub-saharan-africa-contextual-evidence-from-ghana" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/165947.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">89</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">2</span> Subcontractor Development Practices and Processes: A Conceptual Model for LEED Projects</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Andrea%20N.%20Ofori-Boadu">Andrea N. Ofori-Boadu</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> The purpose is to develop a conceptual model of subcontractor development practices and processes that strengthen the integration of subcontractors into construction supply chain systems for improved subcontractor performance on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building projects. The construction management of a LEED project has an important objective of meeting sustainability certification requirements. This is in addition to the typical project management objectives of cost, time, quality, and safety for traditional projects; and, therefore increases the complexity of LEED projects. Considering that construction management organizations rely heavily on subcontractors, poor performance on complex projects such as LEED projects has been largely attributed to the unsatisfactory preparation of subcontractors. Furthermore, the extensive use of unique and non-repetitive short term contracts limits the full integration of subcontractors into construction supply chains and hinders long-term cooperation and benefits that could enhance performance on construction projects. Improved subcontractor development practices are needed to better prepare and manage subcontractors, so that complex objectives can be met or exceeded. While supplier development and supply chain theories and practices for the manufacturing sector have been extensively investigated to address similar challenges, investigations in the construction sector are not that obvious. Consequently, the objective of this research is to investigate effective subcontractor development practices and processes to guide construction management organizations in their development of a strong network of high performing subcontractors. Drawing from foundational supply chain and supplier development theories in the manufacturing sector, a mixed interpretivist and empirical methodology is utilized to assess the body of knowledge within literature for conceptual model development. A self-reporting survey with five-point Likert scale items and open-ended questions is administered to 30 construction professionals to estimate their perceptions of the effectiveness of 37 practices, classified into five subcontractor development categories. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics, weighted means, and t-tests that guide the effectiveness ranking of practices and categories. The results inform the proposed three-phased LEED subcontractor development program model which focuses on preparation, development and implementation, and monitoring. Highly ranked LEED subcontractor pre-qualification, commitment, incentives, evaluation, and feedback practices are perceived as more effective, when compared to practices requiring more direct involvement and linkages between subcontractors and construction management organizations. This is attributed to unfamiliarity, conflicting interests, lack of trust, and resource sharing challenges. With strategic modifications, the recommended practices can be extended to other non-LEED complex projects. Additional research is needed to guide the development of subcontractor development programs that strengthen direct involvement between construction management organizations and their network of high performing subcontractors. Insights from this present research strengthen theoretical foundations to support future research towards more integrated construction supply chains. In the long-term, this would lead to increased performance, profits and client satisfaction. <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=construction%20management" title="construction management">construction management</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=general%20contractor" title=" general contractor"> general contractor</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=supply%20chain" title=" supply chain"> supply chain</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=sustainable%20construction" title=" sustainable construction"> sustainable construction</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/127433/subcontractor-development-practices-and-processes-a-conceptual-model-for-leed-projects" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/127433.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">110</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="card paper-listing mb-3 mt-3"> <h5 class="card-header" style="font-size:.9rem"><span class="badge badge-info">1</span> Variability of Physico-Chemical and Carbonate Chemistry of Seawater in Selected Portions of the Central Atlantic Coastline of Ghana</h5> <div class="card-body"> <p class="card-text"><strong>Authors:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Robert%20Kwame%20Kpaliba">Robert Kwame Kpaliba</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Dennis%20Kpakpor%20Adotey"> Dennis Kpakpor Adotey</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Yaw%20Serfor-Armah"> Yaw Serfor-Armah</a> </p> <p class="card-text"><strong>Abstract:</strong></p> Increase in the oceanic carbon dioxide absorbance from the atmosphere due to climate change has led to appreciable change in the chemistry of the oceans. The change in oceanic pH referred to as ocean acidification poses multiple threats and stresses on marine species, biodiversity, goods and services, and livelihoods. Marine ecosystems are continuously threatened by plethora of natural and anthropogenic stressors including carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions causing a lot of changes which has not been experienced for approximately 60 years. Little has been done in Africa as a whole and Ghana in particular to improve the understanding of the variations of the carbonate chemistry of seawater and the biophysical impacts of ocean acidification on security of seafood, nutrition, climate and environmental change. There is, therefore, the need for regular monitoring of carbonate chemistry of seawater along Ghana’s coastline to generate reliable data to aid marine policy formulation. Samples of seawater were collected thrice every month for a one-year period from five study sites for the various parameters to be analyzed. Analysis of the measured physico-chemical and the carbonate chemistry parameters was done using simple statistics. Correlation test and ANOVA were run on both of the physico-chemical and carbonate chemistry parameters. The carbonate chemistry parameters were measured using computer software programme (CO₂cal v4.0.9) except total alkalinity and pH. The study assessed the variability of seawater carbonate chemistry in selected portions of the Central Atlantic Coastline of Ghana (Tsokomey/Bortianor, Kokrobitey, Gomoa Nyanyanor, Gomoa Fetteh, and Senya Breku landing beaches) over a 1-year period (June 2016–May 2017). For physico-chemical parameters, there was insignificant variation in nitrate (NO₃⁻) (1.62 - 2.3 mg/L), ammonia (NH₃) (1.52 - 2.05 mg/L), and salinity (sal) (34.50 - 34.74 ppt). Carbonate chemistry parameters for all the five study sites showed significant variation: partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂) (414.08-715.5 µmol/kg), carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) (115-157.92 µmol/kg), pH (7.9-8.12), total alkalinity (TA) (1711.8-1986 µmol/kg), total carbon dioxide (TCO₂) (1512.1 - 1792 µmol/kg), dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂aq) (10.97-18.92 µmol/kg), Revelle Factor (RF) (9.62-11.84), aragonite (ΩAr) (0.75-1.48) and calcite (ΩCa) (1.08-2.14). The study revealed that the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and temperature did not have a significant effect on each other (r² = 0.31) (p-value = 0.0717). There was an appreciable effect of pH on dissolved carbon dioxide (r² = 0.921) (p-value = 0.0000). The variation between total alkalinity and dissolved carbon dioxide was appreciable (r² = 0.731) (p-value = 0.0008). There was a significant correlation between total carbon dioxide and dissolved carbon dioxide (r² = 0.852) (p-value = 0.0000). Revelle factor correlated strongly with dissolved carbon dioxide (r² = 0.982) (p-value = 0.0000). Partial pressure of carbon dioxide corresponds strongly with atmospheric carbon dioxide (r² = 0.9999) (p-value = 0.00000). <p class="card-text"><strong>Keywords:</strong> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=carbonate%20chemistry" title="carbonate chemistry">carbonate chemistry</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=seawater" title=" seawater"> seawater</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=central%20atlantic%20coastline" title=" central atlantic coastline"> central atlantic coastline</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=Ghana" title=" Ghana"> Ghana</a>, <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/search?q=ocean%20acidification" title=" ocean acidification"> ocean acidification</a> </p> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/83286/variability-of-physico-chemical-and-carbonate-chemistry-of-seawater-in-selected-portions-of-the-central-atlantic-coastline-of-ghana" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Procedia</a> <a href="https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/83286.pdf" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">PDF</a> <span class="bg-info text-light px-1 py-1 float-right rounded"> Downloads <span class="badge badge-light">558</span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer> <div id="infolinks" class="pt-3 pb-2"> <div class="container"> <div style="background-color:#f5f5f5;" class="p-3"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-2"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> About <li><a href="https://waset.org/page/support">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://waset.org/page/support#legal-information">Legal</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://publications.waset.org/static/files/WASET-16th-foundational-anniversary.pdf">WASET celebrates its 16th foundational anniversary</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> Account <li><a href="https://waset.org/profile">My Account</a></li> </ul> </div> <div 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