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Including local citizens in decision-making about the use of local resources is crucial to improving the generation of locally raised funds. This study illustrates the positive effects of composite budgeting – a participatory process – in meeting local people’s development interest and needs, and in promoting expenditure autonomy. Using a case study approach and drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data, the study found that Ghana’s system of district assemblies – which are largely made up of elected members – appears to be relatively successful in delivering the capacity and independence required to make funding decisions that benefit local people and the development of their area. The paper suggests a link between citizens’ confidence in the working of their assembly and their willingness to contribute to locally generated funds.

AbstractMicrofinance institutions must understand what influences their clients’ choice of credit source in order to design and provide adequate and appropriate credit facilities to their clients. This paper explores the determinants of the choice of credit source among beneficiaries of microfinance systems in the Upper West Region of Ghana. An interview guide and a questionnaire were used to collect data. The study employed the multinomial probit model to analyse the data. The study revealed that gender, arable crop farming, household size, dependency ratio, access to microfinance information, repayment period, group size, interest rate, distance, loan amount, borrowing experience, household assets, and household members employed were the main determinants of the choice of credit source among beneficiaries. The study recommends that the Bank of Ghana, through the Apex Bank, standardise repayment periods and procedures such that banks compete on innovative methods of sourcing borrowers, which could result in efficiency in the lending industry.

This paper examines inequalities in drinking water access among regions and between urban and rural areas in Ghana with a focus on access to safely managed water service, access to safe water, access to water on premises, access to sufficient quantities of water, and access to improved water. Microdata of the 2017/18 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey was used and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Gini index. Nationally, access to safely managed water service was low (6.8%) with moderate inequality among regions (Gini index = 0.27) and high inequality between rural and urban areas (Gini index = 0.42). Among the 10 administrative regions, moderate inequality was recorded for access to water on premises (Gini index = 0.20), and low inequality for access to safe water (Gini index = 0.117), access to improved water (0.06), and access to sufficient quantities of drinking water (0.02). The results of the study reinforce the call by the United Nations for disaggregation of national data of the Sustainable Development Goals by relevant socio-economic and spatial variables at a subnational level to help in the design and implementation of inclusive and equitable policies. HIGHLIGHTS The study investigated spatial inequalities in drinking water access in Ghana.; Gini index was applied to measure spatial inequalities in water access.; Safely managed water coverage was 6.8% with moderate regional inequalities (Gini index = 0.27).; Access to safely managed water in urban areas is five times higher than in rural areas.;

The integration of natural fibre thermoplastic composites, particularly those combining flax fibres with polypropylene, offers a promising alternative to traditional synthetic composites, emphasising sustainability in composite materials. This study investigates the mechanical properties of flax/polypropylene composites manufactured using flashlamp automated tape placement and press consolidation, individually and in combination. Tensile, compression, three-point bending, and double cantilever beam tests are utilised for comparing these manufacturing processes and the mechanical performance of the resulting composites. The microstructure of the tapes is investigated using cross-sectional microscopy, and the thermophysical behaviour is analysed utilising thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The temperature during placement is monitored using an infrared camera, and the pressure is mapped with pressure-sensitive films. The natural fibre tapes show a good aptitude for being manufactured with automated tape placement. The tensile performance of tapes manufactured with automated tape placement is close to that of press consolidated samples. Compression, flexural properties, and the mode I fracture toughness critical energy release rate all benefit from a second consolidation step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of bio-based materials for the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites is gaining importance under the sustainability paradigm. The identification of suitable process parameters and limited process reproducibility remain among the major challenges to enhance the industrial application potential of bio-based composites. This is especially relevant, as the manufacturing process influences composite quality, economic performance and environmental impacts. This study compares Resin Transfer Molding and Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion for two sets of process parameters in order to manufacture a composite plate consisting of a flax-fiber textile impregnated with a partially bio-based epoxy matrix. Process quality is described through statistical analysis of processing and composite properties, and performance in terms of process replicability and reliability using performance estimates. Processing parameters were selected to depict a range of manufacturing scenarios that were suitable for the selected bio-based material system from curing for 180 min at 60 °C to curing for 30 min at 100 °C. For an identical set of process conditions, Resin Transfer Molding outperforms Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion in terms of tensile and flexural characteristics. Conversely, the latter shows the strongest fiber-matrix adhesion and the most homogeneous impregnation. Whereas manufacturing at lower temperature leads to positive effects on composite quality, higher processing temperature with shorter curing cycles achieve highest process performance in terms of Pp and Ppk indices. An additional annealing at 120 °C neither increases composite quality nor reduces manufacturing-induced variability. Results depend on processing differences and indicators to determine process performance, as well as methodological choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-assisted automated tape placement systems are currently the state of the art regarding thermoplastic tape placement. Flashlamp heating systems are rather new in this field of application and offer high energy density with low safety requirements and moderate costs compared to laser-assisted automated tape placement systems. In this study, the effect of processing parameters on interlaminar bonding of carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 tapes is investigated using a flashlamp heating system. The temperature during placement is monitored using an infrared camera, and the bonding strength is characterized by a wedge peel test. The bonding quality of the tapes placed between 210 °C and 330 °C at a lay-up speed of 50 mm/s is investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and micrographs are used to investigate the material properties and effects of the processing conditions on the thermophysical properties and geometric properties of the tape. No significant changes in the thermophysical or geometric properties were found. Moisture within the tapes and staining of the quartz guides of the flashlamp system have significant influence on the bonding strength. The highest wedge peel strength of dried tapes was found at around 330 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Africa, antibiotic residue investigations in animal food have primarily been focused on meat, neglecting farmed fish. This cross-sectional study conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aimed to assess sulphonamide and tetracycline residues in farmed fish, comparing levels with Codex Alimentarius Commission's acceptable daily intake (ADI) and maximum residue limits (MRLs). A total of 84 farmed fish were sampled and analysed in the presence of tetracycline and sulphonamide residues. All samples were positive for sulphonamide residues (100%; n = 84), and 2.4% (n = 2) were positive for tetracycline and consequently also positive for both compounds. Tetracycline levels were below ADI and MRL, 28.5% (n = 24) surpassed the ADI, and 6% (n = 5) of the samples exceeded the MRL for sulphonamide. Regular monitoring of antibiotic residues in aquaculture products is crucial to mitigate health risks and expanding assessments to include other commonly used compounds is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes a model-based methodology to improve the bonding quality between the metal and composite constituents of one-shot-hybrid resin transfer moulding (OSH-RTM) parts. In order to reduce void induced defects in the interface an ideal flow front velocity needs to be achieved. This ideal flow front velocity is characterised by capillary rise experiments at the used carbon fibre textile. The flow front velocity during mould filling is controlled by the use of pressure sensors and Darcy’s law. Therefore, viscosity characterisation of the resin system and permeability measurements of the preform were carried out. The interface of the produced OSH-RTM roof bar for a car is tested on a component test rig imitating the load of a side impact at a car. A t-test was carried out to prove that the flow-speed-controlled injection strategy is advantageous compared to a constant mass flow injection by means of a higher maximum load transferable by the interface of the hybrid part.

Metal halide perovskites are the first solution processed semiconductors that can compete in their functionality with conventional semiconductors, such as silicon. Over the past several years, perovskite semiconductors have reported breakthroughs in various optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells, photodetectors, light emitting and memory devices, and so on. Until now, perovskite semiconductors face challenges regarding their stability, reproducibility, and toxicity. In this Roadmap, we combine the expertise of chemistry, physics, and device engineering from leading experts in the perovskite research community to focus on the fundamental material properties, the fabrication methods, characterization and photophysical properties, perovskite devices, and current challenges in this field. We develop a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art and offer readers an informed perspective of where this field is heading and what challenges we have to overcome to get to successful commercialization.