Approaches to Studying among Students with Disabilities at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana

There is a dearth of empirical studies on the learning approaches of students with disabilities in the University of Education, Winnba. So this paper explored the learning approaches of students with disabilities (i.e. Visually Impaired, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Physically Disabled) in the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). This quantitative study surveyed 78 participants randomly from a population of 125. The study adopted the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST, 1998) from Fobi (2015). Descriptive statistics using means, standard deviations, percentages, tables, and ANOVA were used to analyze data collected.  These results suggested that the respondents most preferred approach to learning was the strategic approach followed by the deep and surface approaches respectively at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). The results indicated that there was a significant difference in the strategic approach to learning among the students with disabilities at the p<.05 level for the three cohort of students with disabilities [F (2, 75) = 4.17, p = 0.019]. The study recommended that lecturers at the tertiary level have in mind the preferred learning approach of students with disabilities so that teaching and learning activities can be channeled to meet the needs of their students with disabilities. Keywords: Learning, learning approaches, disability, Deaf and hard of hearing, Visual Impairment, Physical disability, Tertiar

Morphological Characterization and Genetic Variability among Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranean L.Verdc.) Accessions of Ghana

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L. Verdc.) is an indigenous African crop cultivated for the subterranean pod that is rich in protein. Yield of Bambara groundnut in Ghana is variable and unpredictable. The current study was undertaken to morphologically characterize and estimate the extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance among 25 Bambara groundnut accessions collected from major growing areas in Ghana. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The accessions differed significantly (p<0.01) in number of days to emergence, 100 seeds weight, biological yield, harvest index, number of pods with two seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, economic yield and yield per plot. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) values were near to phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values for economic yield, harvest index, shelling percentage, number of pods with two seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, economic yield, percentage germination, number of days to emerge, and yield per plot, that indicates high contribution of genotypic effect for phenotypic expression of these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of the mean was obtained for economic yield, harvest index, number of pods with two seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, percentage germination, number of days to emergence, and yield per plot; reflecting the presence of additive gene action for the expression of these traits. The presence of genetic variability among accessions, heritability of the traits and the additive gene action for their expression shows the possibility to improve Bambara groundnut through selection

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on deaf adults, children and their families in Ghana

This paper investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on deaf adults, children, and their families in Ghana, focusing on issues of inclusion. We ask what it takes to ‘make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’ (United Nations Strategic Development Goal 11) for deaf people in the context of the global pandemic in a low-resource context. The exceptional challenge to inclusion posed by COVID-19 is examined in terms of issues for deaf children and their families, and from the point of view of deaf adults in advocacy and support organisations. The pivotal language and communication issues are shown through a bioecological analysis that illuminates the interdependent dynamics of development and context, and their influence on access to, and understanding of, crucial information. It is argued that the global crisis of COVID-19 exposes and deepens issues of societal exclusion for deaf adults, children, and their families, and provokes wider questions about what inclusion means, and how it can be realised, in different cultural contexts

A Higher Purpose: Measuring Electricity Access Using High-Resolution Daytime Satellite Imagery

Governments and international organizations the world over are investing towards the goal of achieving universal energy access for improving socio-economic development. However, in developing settings, monitoring electrification efforts is typically inaccurate, infrequent, and expensive. In this work, we develop and present techniques for high-resolution monitoring of electrification progress at scale. Specifically, our 3 unique contributions are: (i) identifying areas with(out) electricity access, (ii) quantifying the extent of electrification in electrified areas (percentage/number of electrified structures), and (iii) differentiating between customer types in electrified regions (estimating the percentage/number of residential/non-residential electrified structures). We combine high-resolution 50 cm daytime satellite images with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to train a series of classification and regression models. We evaluate our models using unique ground truth datasets on building locations, building types (residential/non-residential), and building electrification status. Our classification models show a 92% accuracy in identifying electrified regions, 85% accuracy in estimating percent of (low/high) electrified buildings within the region, and 69% accuracy in differentiating between (low/high) percentage of electrified residential buildings. Our regressions show $R^2$ scores of 78% and 80% in estimating the number of electrified buildings and number of residential electrified building in images respectively. We also demonstrate the generalizability of our models in never-before-seen regions to assess their potential for consistent and high-resolution measurements of electrification in emerging economies, and conclude by highlighting opportunities for improvement

Viscous Effects of Wetting and Non-Wetting Fluids on Capillary Trapping Mechanism: A Climate Change Mitigation Strategy.

Rising CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere (396 ppmv as of April 2012) increase the effect of global warming and climate change. CO₂ sequestration has become a potential method to mitigate climate change. This study focuses on capillary/residual trapping as a form of geologic CO₂ sequestration. Capillary/residual trapping occurs when supercritical CO₂ is stored in rock pore spaces after injection at high temperatures and pressures. This project aims to isolate the effects of viscosity from that of interfacial tension, which also influences capillary/residual trapping. Understanding how viscosity affects capillary/residual trapping is a key to determine optimal injection temperatures and pressures, which maximize CO₂ trapping. Two viscothickeners, guar gum and glycerol were used to vary the viscosity of KI brine without changing interfacial tension. Subsequently, guar gum and KI brine mixtures were injected into rock cores to determine capillary/residual potential. Results suggest that higher viscosities increase residual trapping potential. This study provides an initial analysis of the role of viscous effects in capillary trapping of CO2

How can onchocerciasis elimination in Africa be accelerated? Modelling the impact of increased ivermectin treatment frequency and complementary vector control

Background: Great strides have been made toward onchocerciasis elimination by mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin. Focusing on MDA-eligible areas, we investigated where the elimination goal can be achieved by 2025 by continuation of current practice (annual MDA with ivermectin) and where intensification or additional vector control is required. We did not consider areas hypoendemic for onchocerciasis with loiasis coendemicity where MDA is contraindicated. Methods: We used 2 previously published mathematical models, ONCHOSIM and EPIONCHO, to simulate future trends in microfilarial prevalence for 80 different settings (defined by precontrol endemicity and past MDA frequency and coverage) under different future treatment scenarios (annual, biannual, or quarterly MDA with different treatment coverage through 2025, with or without vector control strategies), assessing for each strategy whether it eventually leads to elimination. Results: Areas with 40%–50% precontrol microfilarial prevalence and ≥10 years of annual MDA may achieve elimination with a further 7 years of annual MDA, if not achieved already, according to both models. For most areas with 70%–80% precontrol prevalence, ONCHOSIM predicts that either annual or biannual MDA is sufficient to achieve elimination by 2025, whereas EPIONCHO predicts that elimination will not be achieved even with complementary vector control. Conclusions: Whether elimination will be reached by 2025 depends on precontrol endemicity, control history, and strategies chosen from now until 2025. Biannual or quarterly MDA will accelerate progress toward elimination but cannot guarantee it by 2025 in high-endemicity areas. Long-term concomitant MDA and vector control for high-endemicity areas might be useful

The natural and capital infrastructure of potential post-electrification wealth creation in Kenya

Background It is widely accepted that electricity is an important element for improving levels of human development and wealth creation in rural areas. Yet, little research has explored the conditions under which electrification could lead to wealth creation post-electrification. Using Kenya as a case study, this paper uses natural capital (NC) and infrastructural capital (IC) data to compare the enabling environments under which electrification could lead to wealth creation (and persistent demand for electricity) post-electrification. Methods We use multiple spatial data sets to create three different metrics for NC and IC and use them to create a micro-enterprise development index (MED index). NC data is composed of water body data (major rivers and access to irrigation infrastructure), soil data (soil quality and agro-ecological potential), and agricultural data (crop intensity and diversity). IC is composed of spatial data spanning major towns, first and second tier roads, electricity infrastructure (transmission grid, location of government, and entrepreneur run off-grid electrification projects), population density, access to education, trade centers (markets), healthcare, and access to financial services. We perform feature scaling on NC and IC data and use them to create a MED index, which we use to represent the potential for rural micro-enterprises to create wealth, post-electrification. We compare this spatial proxy to a nightlights GDP per capita proxy developed by the World Bank in 2015 and provide a discussion highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of our approach and of using nightlights as a single metric for wealth in rural areas. Results In Kenya, infrastructural capital follows natural capital. Regions with greater natural capital have relatively higher development and penetration of infrastructural capital. We observe a large discrepancy between our MED index and the nightlights income proxy, which could be caused by an underestimate of economic activity by nightlights, and an overestimate by the MED index, being that it is a measure of “potential” wealth (as opposed to current wealth). Conclusions A spatial aggregation of natural and infrastructural capital, and nightlights data, could be an accurate demand-side input for electrification supply-side models including grid-expansion and off-grid strategies