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1 – 10 of 55Esther Gyedu-Akoto, Eric Kumi Asare, Stephen Yaw Opoku, Abu Mustapha Dadzie and Emmanuel Ofosu-Agyei
Roasted coffee provides a complex blend of different flavours which produce a range of sensory qualities. With the development of protocols for the production of fresh juices…
Abstract
Purpose
Roasted coffee provides a complex blend of different flavours which produce a range of sensory qualities. With the development of protocols for the production of fresh juices, jams and marmalades from cocoa and cashew pulp juices at Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, this paper aims to study the effects of roasted coffee powder on fermented cocoa and cashew juices to diversify the uses of these two juices.
Design/methodology/approach
Cocoa and cashew juices were fermented with the incorporation of 2% roasted coffee powder using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast starter. The fermenting juices were monitored by measuring pH, temperature, specific gravity and titratable acidity. At the end of the fermentation, the juices were poured into clean, sterilized containers to mature. They were then analysed for their physicochemical, microbiological and sensory qualities. These were repeated with cocoa and cashew juices without coffee powder to determine the effects of the roasted coffee on the fermented juices.
Findings
The addition of roasted coffee powder to cocoa and cashew juices did not have any significant effect on the fermentation performance of the juices. Three out of the four juices took a total of 13 days to complete fermentation with an average final specific gravity of 0.99. The quality of the fermented juices was not compromised by microbial activities. However, the addition of roasted coffee powder reduced the alcohol content of fermented cocoa juice from 9.0 to 5.0% and that of cashew from 11.0% to 7.5%. Sensory analysis using untrained panellists, who were ordinary consumers, showed significant differences among the four fermented juices in terms of appearance, taste and aroma. Their mean scores for coffee aroma ranged from 0.3 to 2.0 with coffee incorporated fermented juices having higher rankings.
Originality/value
These findings have shown the possibility of processing cocoa and cashew juices, which under normal circumstances would have been discarded along their value chains, into coffee-flavoured wines. They are also important to cocoa, cashew and coffee farmers, processors, as well as wine enthusiasts.
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Esther Gyedu-Akoto, Stephen Yaw Opoku and Emmanuel Ofosu-Agyei
Refined wheat flour is a key ingredient for preparing biscuits because of its gluten content. However, biscuits prepared from refined flour are characterised with low proteins…
Abstract
Purpose
Refined wheat flour is a key ingredient for preparing biscuits because of its gluten content. However, biscuits prepared from refined flour are characterised with low proteins, fat and mineral content. This study aims to improve the nutritive and sensory values of biscuits using roasted coffee and dry kola powders.
Design/methodology
The powders were incorporated into biscuits at different levels of 5, 10, 15 and 20 per cent. Proximate and sensory analyses were conducted on the products obtained to determine the effects of the powders on the products.
Findings
The coffee biscuits had carbohydrate, protein, fat and energy contents of 57.0-69.5 per cent, 3.3-5.5 per cent, 20.4-31.8 per cent and 389-404 kcal/g, respectively, while those of the kola biscuits were 67.0-70.5 per cent, 1.5-3.5 per cent, 20.4-23.8 per cent and 384-395 kcal/g, respectively. Sensory evaluation of both products showed that coffee significantly improved sensory attributes such as flavour (p = 0.03) and colour (p = 0.00). Thus coffee powder can be used to enhance both the nutritional and sensory qualities of biscuits.
Originality/value
This study was to promote the use of coffee and kola in locally produced baked products and meet consumer demand for healthy and natural foods.
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Nayara Louise Carvalho, Juliana Veiga Mendes, Erica Kushihara Akim, Ricardo Coser Mergulhão and José Geraldo Vidal Vieira
This article examines the extent of collaboration experienced by 191 Brazilian shippers, logistics service providers (LSPs) and carriers in their logistics operations in urban…
Abstract
Purpose
This article examines the extent of collaboration experienced by 191 Brazilian shippers, logistics service providers (LSPs) and carriers in their logistics operations in urban freight transport. This study investigates relationships over time, the type of service and the nuances associated with the frequency of meetings, frequency of technical visits and frequency of training.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors carried out a component analysis and, based on factor loadings, calculated indexes for use in non-linear canonical correlations to evaluate company-level differences in perceptions of the degree of collaboration and strength of relationship over time.
Findings
The results indicate that in the triad, LSPs are the strongest supporters of collaboration over time regardless of whether the logistics service is shared or dedicated; shippers demonstrate the weakest support for collaboration and prioritize relationships of one to three years in length. Carriers seek to develop short-term relationships and participate actively in meetings and technical visits because they strongly support strategic and interpersonal collaboration. Carriers also follow LSPs in terms of strategic and interpersonal collaboration and shared logistics services.
Originality/value
This article contributes to understanding the perceptions of interactions among specific logistics collaboration elements related to strategic, tactical and interpersonal relationships that the Brazilian companies face in their daily urban freight transport.
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Anges Akim Aminou Moussavou, Ayokunle Oluwaseun Ayeleso, Marco Adonis and Atanda Raji
This paper aims to develop a selective energy optimisation of the photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) system performance. The PV cell inside the PV/T system could be periodically…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a selective energy optimisation of the photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) system performance. The PV cell inside the PV/T system could be periodically manipulated to produce domestic hot water without applying an external power supply.
Design/methodology/approach
A numerical simulation model of the proposed PV/T model was developed in MATLAB/Simulink to analyse the selective energy optimisation of the model. The extrinsic cell resistance (Rse) is adjusted to control the ratio of thermal to the electrical energy, generated from the PV cell inside the PV/T system. Therefore, the internal heat of the PV cell inside the PV/T system is periodically used as a thermal element to produce electrical power and hot water.
Findings
The optimisation of PV/T energy shows that the electrical power efficiency can increase by 11.6% when Rse was 0 Ω, and the 200 L water tank temperature increased by 22ºC when Rse was 50 Ω.
Originality/value
This study showed that the use of the PV cell could be extended to domestic hot water and space heating, and not only for electricity.
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This paper discusses why the MARC21‐based authority format has failed in a global setting and details the use of XML and its related technologies to achieve global name access…
Abstract
This paper discusses why the MARC21‐based authority format has failed in a global setting and details the use of XML and its related technologies to achieve global name access control.
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Zaheer Anwer, Ahmed Sabit, M. Kabir Hassan and Andrea Paltrinieri
This study akims to investigate the effectiveness of expansionary monetary policy for Islamic capital markets by studying the impact of decrease in policy rates on seven Islamic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study akims to investigate the effectiveness of expansionary monetary policy for Islamic capital markets by studying the impact of decrease in policy rates on seven Islamic equity indices for the period 1996–2019. The transmission mechanism may be different for sampled indices, as they are exposed to Shariah screening that discards certain business sectors and puts limit on debt in capital structure.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses Markov Switching dynamic regression approach of Hamilton (1988).
Findings
The results show little effectiveness of expansionary monetary policy in both Bear and Bull states, for most of the sample indices.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has made use of dynamic models to assess the association between monetary policy rate and Islamic index prices. Similarly, the authors found no work exploring the effectiveness of expansionary monetary policy actions in different regime for Islamic Indices. This investigation is important in unraveling whether, in the presence of limitations on selection of business activity and choice of capital structure, monetary policy can change the market sentiment, or it will be ineffective. The present study fills this gap.
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Faizal Adams, Camillus Abawiera Wongnaa and Edwin Coleman
The study analyzed the profitability of tomato farmers and determinants of farmers' choice of marketing outlets (wholesaler or retailer) in Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The study analyzed the profitability of tomato farmers and determinants of farmers' choice of marketing outlets (wholesaler or retailer) in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-stage sampling technique was used to collect data from 100 tomato farmers in Ghana. Analytical tools which include descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis (GM), profitability ratios and binary logit model were employed.
Findings
Profitability analysis indicates that farmers who supply to wholesalers have gross margin of Gh¢7.86 (US$1.67) per 25 kg crate, while farmers who supply to retailers recorded a major loss of Gh¢5.36 (US$1.14) per 25 kg crate. The result suggests that farmers selling to wholesalers are better off than farmers supplying to retailers. The binary logit regression analysis reveals a positive relationship between farmers' choice of marketing outlet (wholesaling) and age of respondents, quantity of tomato sold and cost of labor for production. A negative relationship also existed between farmers' choice of marketing outlet and weighted average selling price and household size.
Research limitations/implications
The results call for policy efforts to provide an enabling environment for more extension education and establishment of farmer associations to make marketing information for price development among farmers available.
Originality/value
The choice of marketing outlet greatly influences profitability of tomato production. This study examines the performance of the various tomato marketing outlets in Ghana.
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Martinson Ankrah Twumasi, Yuansheng Jiang, Frank Osei Danquah, Abbas Ali Chandio and Wonder Agbenyo
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of savings mobilization on access to credit among smallholder farmers’ in the Birim central municipality of Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of savings mobilization on access to credit among smallholder farmers’ in the Birim central municipality of Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional primary data set was used to estimate the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ access to credit and size of loan to be borrowed using the IV-Probit and IV-Tobit model.
Findings
The results of the study revealed that savings mobilization has a positive significant impact on access to credit and the total amount of credit one can borrow as well. Other control variables such as transaction cost and farm size depicted a negative significant impact on access to credit. Land ownership, member of an association, household size, years of farming experience and education also showed a positive significant impact on access to credit.
Research limitations/implications
The paper only examined the savings effect on credit accessibility among smallholder farmers in one of the municipality’s in the Eastern region of Ghana. Future research should consider all or many municipality for an informed generalization of findings.
Practical implications
This paper provides evidence that smallholder farmers knowledge on the financial market is poor and it would require the policymakers or NGOs to organize financial management training programs so that the farmers high ignorance of the financial market will significantly reduce.
Originality/value
Although existing studies have examined smallholder farmers’ access to credit, the unique contribution of this paper is the analysis of the impact of saving mobilization on credit accessibility in Ghana, a major access to credit determinant in the financial market. In addition, those researchers who factored in savings as an access to credit determinant did not also consider the casual relationship between these two variables, thus, the present of endogeneity of which this paper does.
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Chong Hueh Zan, Asmah Rahmat, Abdah, Akim, Norjahan Banu Mohd. Alitheen, Fauziah Othman and Gwendoline Ee Cheng Lian
The purpose of this paper is to screen cytotoxic activities of commonly used culinary plants in Malaysia, Pandanus amaryllifolius (daun pandan), Curcuma longa (turmeric leaves…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to screen cytotoxic activities of commonly used culinary plants in Malaysia, Pandanus amaryllifolius (daun pandan), Curcuma longa (turmeric leaves) and Etlingera elatior (kantan flower) against selected cancer cell lines.
Design/methodology/approach
Plant samples were extracted exhaustively with ethanol and concentrated under rotary evaporator. Cytotoxic evaluation was carried out with plant extracts (0‐100 μg/ml) using 72‐h MTT assay.
Findings
Exposure of plant extracts reduced cell viability of HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), HT‐29 (colon carcinoma), MDA‐MB‐231 (non‐hormone‐dependent breast cancer), MCF‐7 (hormone‐dependent breast cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer); 50 percent inhibitory values (IC50) were obtained for MDA‐MB‐231, HepG2, HT‐29. Extracts within the concentrations of 10‐100 μg/ml were found not to be effective against proliferation of MCF‐7 and HeLa.
Originality/value
The paper shows how culinary plants – daun pandan, turmeric leaves and kantan flower displayed selective cytotoxic effects towards liver, colon and breast cancer in vitro.
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John Wilson, David Gardner, Gulmira Kurganbaeva and Elena Sakharchuk
States that public administration reform has been a global phenomenon over the last two decades, but that its justification, impact and effectiveness are strongly contested…
Abstract
States that public administration reform has been a global phenomenon over the last two decades, but that its justification, impact and effectiveness are strongly contested. Reveals that evidence across developed countries varies, but in developing countries conclusions are more difficult to arrive at. Examines the case of the Republic of Kazakhstan taking into account the views of local government. Concludes that, in the case of Kazakhstan there is considerable support for an enhanced, more autonomous role for local government.
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