Privacy-preserving Attribute Matchmaking in Proximity-based Mobile Social Networks

Solomon Sarpong,Chunxiang Xu 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Security and Its Applicat Vol.9 No.5

The major impediments that mostly arise in matchmaking in mobile social networks are ensuring the privacy of users’ attributes, finding the intersection of attributes of the matched-pair without revealing any other information, and ensuring that the matched-pair get to know the intersection mutually. Also, in virtually all the existing protocols, the initiator of the matchmaking does not set a threshold number of common attributes an individual should have with him/her before qualifying as a pair. Hence, we propose a hybrid matchmaking cryptographic protocol that will overcome these impediments. In our proposed protocol, an initiator of matchmaking sets a threshold number of common attributes that an individual should have to qualify as a matching-pair. The protocol also ensures that no information about the intersection set is leaked to persons not in the protocol. To further enhance the security and privacy in the protocol, the attributes of the persons our protocol are authorized. The authorization of the attributes is intended to thwart malicious behavior by the persons in the protocol and hence, prevents semi-honest attacks. Furthermore, in this proposed protocol, persons in the protocol get to know the intersection of their attributes mutually.

Modeling of drying and ameliorative effects of relative humidity (RH) against β-carotene degradation and color of carrot (Daucus carota var.) slices

Frederick Sarpong,Cunshan Zhou,Junwen Bai,Leticia Peace Amenorfe,Moses Kwaku Golly,Haile Ma 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.1

Drying and b-carotenes retention kinetics werepredicted using models in relative humidity (RH) dryingcondition. This was achieved by drying carrot slices usingRH-convective hot-air dryer at 60, 70 and 80 C under RH(10% 20% and 30%) conditions at 2.0 m/s air velocity. Three mathematical models describing thin layer werecompared to their goodness of fit in terms of coefficient ofcorrelation (R2), root mean square error (RMSE) andreduced Chi square (v2). The Wang and Singh model couldsatisfactorily describe RH-convective drying of carrot sliceswith R2, RMSE and v2 in the ranges of 0.996–0.999,5.4 9 10-4–9.4 9 10-4 and 0.0150–0.03353 respectively. The results reveal that a range of 3.61–8.2% retention of bcarotenewas observed for every 10% increase in RH invarious drying air temperature. In summary, higher temperatureswere mainly responsible for b-carotenes degradationhowever this can be mitigated when drying isconducted under higher RH.

NUTRIENT CONTENT CLAIM AND CONSUMER DECISION MAKING

Otto Afiuc,Michael Nkrumah,Frederick Owusu Sarpong,Kofi Osei-Frimpong 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2018 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2018 No.07

Introduction Drawing from Kahneman and Tversky’s, (1979) prospect theory, this conceptual paper attempts to go beyond our knowledge of how consumers understand, perceive, use, and apply nutritional information on nutritional labels especially at the point of purchase (Cowburn & Stockley, 2005; Grunert & Wills, 2007; Miller & Cassady, 2015) to examine whether a health-conscious consumer’s food product choice decision will largely be based on negative or positive nutrients on the nutritional label. This has become necessary because of the criticality of consumers’ decisions regarding nutrition issues to marketers and policymakers (Chen, 2013; Clare & Burghardt, 2015; Ellison et al., 2013) which has resulted in a growing interest in nutritional information issues among researchers. A review of the extant relevant literature also shows that, studies examining how consumers place value on the positive nutrients (those that enhance and improve their health – e.g. Vitamins) and negative nutrients (those that have deteriorating effect on their health – e.g. Fats) and how they affect their purchasing decision are scarce. Conclusion This paper argues that, it is not enough to know how consumers understand, perceive, use and apply the nutritional information especially at the point of purchase etc. shown in the literature. There is the need to go further to examine the influence the nutrient content claim (both positive and negative nutrients) have on consumer nutritional choice decision when purchasing a food product. There is also a need to go beyond the dieting and ill consumers who because of their conditions seek specific nutrients in their foods and consider the larger consumer segment who are health-conscious by taking Burton and Andrews (1996) and Baltas’ (2001) research a step further. The study provides evidence for the use of prospect theory in nutritional label issues and go a long way to reinforce its application in this regard. The study enables marketers to: gain understanding of what nutrient content claim will cause a consumer to decide to purchase a food product when seen on a nutritional label; shape the format of the nutritional information on nutritional labels for easy use by consumers; and know what to emphasize in communicating nutritional information to their consumers.

Increased detection of invasive enteropathogenic bacteria in pre-incubated blood culture materials by real-time PCR in comparison with automated incubation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Frickmann, Hagen,Dekker, Denise,Boahen, Kennedy,Acquah, Samuel,Sarpong, Nimako,Adu-Sarkodie, Yaw,Schwarz, Norbert G.,May, Jü,rgen,Marks, Florian,Poppert, Sven,Wiemer, Dorothea F.,Hagen, Ralf M. Informa Healthcare 2013 Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases Vol.45 No.8

<P><I>Background:</I> Invasive enteropathogenic bacteria can cause systemic infections. Data from studies with PCR detection suggest, at least for Salmonella enterica, that blood culture may lead to underestimation in the tropics. Corresponding data are lacking for other invasive enteropathogenic bacteria. We compared classical blood culture and molecular methods for the diagnosis of blood infections. <I>Methods:</I> A real-time multiplex PCR for Salmonella spp., Shigella spp./entero- invasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), Yersinia spp., and Campylobacter jejuni was applied to 2321 retained blood culture samples from Ghanaian patients, after enrichment by automated culture. <I>Results:</I> PCR detected Salmonella DNA in 56 out of 58 pre-incubated Ghanaian blood cultures with growth of S. enterica. In 2 samples molecular diagnosis was only possible after 1:10 dilution. Twenty-two samples negative by blood culture and 1 positive with Micrococcus spp. were PCR-positive for Salmonella spp. In addition, 3 Shigella spp./EIEC, 2 Yersinia spp., and 1 C. jejuni were detected by PCR but not by culture growth. <I>Conclusions:</I> Real-time PCR was more sensitive in identifying invasive enteropathogenic bacteria than automated blood culture, which is hampered by a lack of evidence-based standardization of pre-analytic conditions in the tropics. Primary agar culture and Gram-staining prior to automated blood culture is advisable in cases where transportation times are long.</P>

Diversification And Cocoa Farm Profitability Among Cocoa Farmers in Ghana: A Conditional Mixed Process Approach

Nana Okyir Baidoo,Yaw Osei-Asare,Charles Yaw Okyere,김태윤,Daniel Bruce Sarpong 한국국제농업개발학회 2024 韓國國際農業開發學會誌 Vol.36 No.1

The cocoa sub-sector is an important pillar of Ghana’s economic stability and growth prospects; the sub-sector contributes to fiscal stability, infrastructure, and employment. In recent times, diversification has become a common observable feature in the industry. This study uses the conditional mixed process approach to examine the interaction between the diversification status and profitability of cocoa farming simultaneously in a single system. Using data from 401 farmers in the Western and Ashanti regions of Ghana in 2022, the study found that more profitable farmers were more likely to diversify. Conversely, diversified farmers were likely to be more profitable than non-diversified farmers. It also found that the farmer's age, experience, farm area, and location of the farm impacted both the profitability and diversification status of farmers. Thus, it is suggested that policymakers should direct policies and programs to support the creation of alternative farm-based livelihoods for farmers.

The Influence of University of Ilorin Sports Programmes on the University Community and Her Environs

( A. E. Talabi ),( L. O. Dominic ),( O. A. Ibraheem ),( S. T. Bakinde ),( M. O Musa ),( E. O Sarpong ) 한국체육학회 2015 국제스포츠과학 학술대회 Vol.2015 No.1

Purpose: This study aimed at determining the influence of sports programmes organized by the Sports Directorate of the University of Ilorin on staff, students and other members of the community and its environs. Methods: The descriptive research design of survey type was used in this study. A total 753 participants were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Data was analyzed with frequency counts and simple percentages Result: Inter- action and survey showed that many of the participants agreed to improved health (73%), reduced medical expenses (56%), promptness to work and reduced absenteeism (68%), improved social inter-action and integration (83%), reduced environmental tension (76%) and willingness to continue to participate (93%) among other benefits. Conclusion: Firstly, the health and general well-being of staff and students have been improved culminating into a smooth and regular academic sessions for at least the past 10 years. Again, participation in organized sports programmes at the University of Ilorin has brought social integration among members of the University community and her environs. Furthermore, the University of Ilorin has enjoyed increased student enrollment and also adjudged the leading University in Nigeria by the webometric and the National Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) rating (2015).

Examining and comparing the health and performance indices of university undergraduate students according to year of study and gender

Monday Omoniyi Moses,Francis Osei,Eric Juniour Appiah,Agnes Obour,Lady Gwendoline Akwa,Biggie Baffour-Awuah,Benjamin Asamoah,Peter Akwasi Sarpong,Caleb Adams,Rosario D’Onofrio 한국운동재활학회 2017 JER Vol.13 No.4