bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of adverse childhood experiences on pregnancy-related anxiety and acceptance of motherhood role
Authors: Özşahin Zeliha 
Published: October 2020

Background: Adverse childhood experiences are a factor that may cause physical illness and deterioration of lifelong well-being in addition to many mental and psychiatric problems in the future. It is important to question and treat them.
Objective: This study examined the effects of adverse childhood experiences on pregnancy-related anxiety and acceptance of motherhood role.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 536 pregnant women. The data were collected using the “Personal Information Form”, the “Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire (ACEQ)”, the “Acceptance of Motherhood Role (AoMR)” subscale of the “Prenatal Self Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ)” and the “Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Question- naire–Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2)”.
Results: It was found that those with high levels of negative childhood experience had higher levels of anxiety in pregnancy and lower acceptance of maternal role than the other groups (p<0.05). Additionally, a one-unit change in the AoMR score led to a 0.23-unit decrease in the ACEQ score, whereas a one-unit change in the PRAQ-R2 score led to a 0.57-unit increase in the ACEQ score (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Adverse childhood events increase pregnancy-related anxiety and negatively affect acceptance of motherhood role.
Keywords: Adverse childhood events; anxiety; motherhood role; pregnancy.
Socio-demographic and modifiable risk factors of diabetes and hypertension among resource constrained patients from rural areas in Mdantsane Township in South Africa
Authors: Xhakaza Lettilia , Abrahams-October Zainonesa , Mohammedseid Mohammednur Mohammedmekin , Pearce Brendon , Vincent Adeniyi Oladele , Johnson Rabia , Benjeddou Mongi 
Published: October 2020

Background: Recently, developing countries have shown a dramatic increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The burden of NCDs in South Africa has increased over the past years resulting in an estimated 37% of all- cause mortality and 16% of disability-adjusted life years. Currently, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) are the two most prevalent NCDs associated with the rapid increase in mortality.
Objective: To demonstrate the socio-demographic and modifiable risk factors of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) among South African adults.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital serving the residents of Mdantsane. Relevant socio-demographic data, anthropometric measurements, triplicate blood pressure, fasting blood glu- cose and lipogram analysis were obtained from 265 outpatients.
Results: Multivariate anlysis shows that; salt intake, smoking, elevated triglycerides and decreased high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly associated with DM with adjusted odds ratio of 0.18 (p=0.002), 0.26 (p=0.048), 2.19 (p=0.006) and 0.38 (p=0.001), respectively. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with hypertension with odds ratio of 0.03 (p=0.01) and 0.06 (p=0.006), respectively.
Conclusion: The burden of DM and HTN on society can be drastically reduced with simple lifestyle changes, development of preventative strategies, large-scale screening and better disease management in South Africa.
Keywords: Diabetes; hypertension; rural areas; Mdantsane Township; South Africa.
Test-retest reliability and correlates of the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire in Ugandan out-patients with psychosis
Authors: Vancampfort Davy , Basangwa David , Rosenbaum Simon , B Ward Philip , Mugisha James 
Published: October 2020

Background: In order to facilitate people with psychosis to increase their physical activity (PA) levels, a reliable measure- ment of these levels is of relevance.
Objectives: The primary aim of current study was to explore the test-retest of the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ) in Ugandan outpatients with psychosis. A second aim was to explore correlates of the SIMPAQ, including de- mographic variables and antipsychotic medication dose.
Methods: Thirty-four women (33.9±8.0 years) and 21 men completed the SIMPAQ twice in a day. The test-retest reliability was assessed using Spearman Rho correlations coefficients. Differences in subgroups were analysed with Mann Whitney U tests.
Results: The SIMPAQ showed a good test-retest reliability with correlates ranging from 0.78 (P<0.001) for structured exer- cise to 0.96 (P<0.001) for walking. Women, non-smokers and those without HIV/AIDS showed higher incidental PA than men, smokers and those with HIV/AIDS.
Conclusion: The SIMPAQ is a reliable tool to assess PA and sedentary levels in Ugandan outpatients with psychosis. Men, smokers and those with HIV/AIDS appear to be at risk for lower incidental PA.
Keywords: Physical activity; sedentary lifestyle; psychosis.
Factors associated with discrepancies between poor dyspnea perception and abnormal lung function in 65 asthmatic patients
Authors: Jniene Asmaa , Achachi Leila , El Bakkali Mustapha , Herrak Laila , Rhanim Aziza , Aboudrar Souad , Dakka Taoufiq , El Ftouh Mustapha 
Published: October 2020

Background: Dyspnea is a subjective symptom of asthma whose perception is characterized by an interindividual varia- bility. Poor dyspnea perception is usually associated with increased risk of exacerbation and may lead to inappropriate asth- ma management and under-treatment. We sought to identify factors associated with discrepancies between poor dyspnea perception and abnormal lung function in patients with moderate persistent asthma.
Methodology: 65 patients, who attended their scheduled follow-up pulmonology consultation at Ibn Sina Hospital (Rabat - Morocco), underwent interrogation including modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale for dyspnea, physical examination and spirometry. Two groups, those with mMRC < 2 (poor dyspnea perceivers) and those with mMRC scale ≥ 2 were compared.
Results: Poor dyspnea perception was found in 21 patients (32.3%). Associated factors were male sex (p : 0.03), low so- cio-economic income (p : 0.01), an onset of symptoms greater than 10 years (p : 0.01), BMI ≥ 25 Kg/m2 (p : 0.04) and depression (p : 0.04).
Conclusion: The results revealed factors significantly associated with poor dyspnea perception despite an obstructive venti- latory disorder. These factors could usefully be considered to successfully manage asthma as well as the regular prescription of an objective test like spirometry.
Keywords: Asthma; dyspnea perception; spirometry.
Título en español.
Authors: L. Rivera Brenes  , J. A. Arroyo  , A. Acosta Matienzo  
Published: October 2020

Se llevó a cabo una prueba con las yerbas Buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris) y Guinea híbrida (Pannicum maximum) en la cual se usó la yerba Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) como testigo, para comparar hasta qué grado el ganado prefería las yerbas anteriormente mencionadas. El diseño experi mental se ajustó al cuadrado latino 3X3. El experimento comprendió, más o menos, las estaciones reconocidas en la Isla para el mejor crecimiento de las yerbas, las cuales se cortaron de los 49 a los 55 días; de los 63 a los 69; de los 77 a los 83; de los 83 a los 89; de los 97 a los 103 y de los 111 a los 117 de sembradas. El consumo total de yerba verde picada y de materia seca ingerida por vaca y por día, por cada 100 libras de peso en vivo, se usó como criterio para hacer la comparación. Las tres yerbas fueron igualmente preferidas por las vacas, a base de la materia seca ingerida, por cada 100 libras de peso en vivo. Las siguientes son otras observaciones importantes que se hicieron con yerbas de la misma edad o grado de madurez: 1. Las vacas consumieron mayor cantidad de yerba fresca de la que contenía menos materia seca, dando así una impresión errónea de que la preferían. 2. La ingerencia de materia seca por cada 100 libras de peso en vivo aumentó significativamente, según aumentó el porcentaje de materia seca en las yerbas hasta cerca de los 89 días de aumentó. De los resultados de este experimento se desprende el hecho de que aparentemente las vacas consumen menos yerba fresca cuando ésta contiene más materia seca, a base de porcentaje. Se necesita más información para llegar a conclusiones definitivas sobre este particular.
Leaf Composition as an Index of the Availability of Nutrients in the Soil
Authors: Capó B. G. 
Published: October 2020

1. Data are presented on the influence of various levels levels of application of ammonium sulfate, calcium superphosphate, potassium chloride calcium carbonate and magnesium sulfate on the sugarcane and corn leaf contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at each of two stages of growth. 2. The relation between the quantity of a nutrient available in the soil and the leaf content of the nutrient is expressible by a smooth curve that approaches a value asymptotically. Mitscherlich's equation may be used satisfactorily for this purpose. 3. The capacity of a soil to provide a crop with a given nutrient may be estimated by using the following equation:M = log (A – Y) – log A, log Cwhere M = available quantity of a nutrient per unit of area expressed in units of the corresponding fertilizer material; Y = percentage dry-matter content of the respective nutrient by the plant leaves; and A and C are values of parameters previously estimated from the results of a calibrating field experiment. 4. The precision of the equation to be used for this estimation is higher when the calibrating experiment is performed in soils lower in available content of the nutrient than otherwise, and when the leaves are sampled at an early, rather than at a late stage of growth.
Inheritance of Some Quantitative Characters in Pigeonpeas (Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp.)
Authors: Morales Muñoz Abad , Abrams Raúl 
Published: October 2020

Three varieties and an irradiation-derived line of pigeonpeas were used as parents in five crosses as follows: P.I. 5690 X Kaki, P.I. 5690 X Saragateado, P.I. 5690 X 526, Kald X 526, and Saragateado X 526. The F2, F3 and parents of each cross were planted in the field at the Isabela Substation during 1966-67 in a randomized block design with three replicates. Genotypic variability was studied and genotypic and phenotypic correlations were calculated for all the crosses in the F2 and F3 generations. Genetic coefficients of variation and heritability estimates were computed for four traits in five crosses and for six traits in one particular cross. Frequency distributions are shown for date of flowering, plant height, and seed weight. There was much greater variation for all crosses, in general, in seed weight, plant height, and flowering date than in number of seeds per pod. With the exception of number of pods per plant the correlations between seed yield and other traits were not great enough to provide reliable indications for yield. The phenotypic and genotypic correlations between seed yield and number of pods per plant were high, above 0.90. However, their low heritability, 45.3 and 52.1 percent in F2 and F3 generations, tends to indicate that not too much progress could be expected for seed yield improvement by selecting for large number of pods per plant. Good progress by selection could be made by breeders in traits such as flowering date, plant height, and seed weight which showed high heritability values.
Characteristics of Foreign Direct Investment into Agriculture in Ghana
Authors: G. Djokoto Justice 
Published: October 2020

The paper investigated the characteristics of foreign direct investment( FDI) to Ghana's agriculture by examining the flow of funds, projects, employment and possible pre-independence legacies in FDI inflows from Ghana's former partners in colonial relationships and the slave trade. Using moving averages, percentages, cross tabulations and chi-squares tests, to data from 1994-2010, the following conclusions were drawn; a) FDI flows, measured by estimated cost of projects remained stable and low for most part of 1994-2010. However, huge jumps were witnessed after 2008, coinciding with Ghana's second time of successful and peaceful transfer of political power to another government; b) Clustering of agricultural projects in Greater Accra Region, c) a strong attraction of large FDI firms for the crops subsector; d) 75% of the FDI projects are SMEs; e) Among European countries, Ghana's former slave and colonial masters, Britain, Netherlands and Denmark contribute most FDI projects to Ghana's agriculture. Volta Region has strong attraction for projects from Germany. Strategies need to be designed to attract projects beyond Greater Accra, where poverty reduction may be better felt.
Keywords: FDI;Agriculture;Employment;Distribution;Projects.
Harnessing Knowledge for Institutional Advancement in Tertiary Educational Institutions
Authors: M. Musa Ahmed 
Published: October 2020

The impact of globalization on tertiary educational institutions (TEIs) in Ghana demands that they (TEIs) harness and leverage knowledge from the global knowledge basket to remain competitive. This paper examines the concept of knowledge management (KM) and how it is being managed in Ghana's TEIs for institutional advancement. The key challenges identified include the corporatisation of academic faculties, weak structures for KM, the intrusion of 'managerialism' as a style of leadership, absence of strong teamwork in knowledge creation and dissemination, and the erosion of the spirit of collegiality in academic staff relations. Suggestions made for the enhancement of knowledge management processes in TEIs include making adequate budgetary allocations for KM and integrating KM centres in established structures of TEIs. The paper concludes that knowledge is an indispensable asset for institutional advancement in higher education and therefore, TEIs should invest in the area to remain competitive globally.
Keywords: Knowledge management; Intellectual capital; Managerialism; Institutional governance
Desertification in the Upper West Region of Ghana: Causes, Processes and Impact
Authors: Amankwah Emmanuel 
Published: October 2020

This paper is written to find out the causes, processes and impact of desertification in the Upper West Region and to suggest ways to address the problem. The research was conducted through interviews, field survey, using questionnaires and focus group discussions. It was realized during the research that the people in the region are aware of the environmental degradation but have varied views on the causes and their consequences. They realized the reduction in crop yield in recent years, the changing weather pattern, the drying up of streams and river bodies and many others, which are as a result of the human activities that negatively affect the environment. The research also discovered that felling down of trees for charcoal production, wood fuel and bush burning top the list of environmental degradation in the region. It was concluded by proposing measures such as afforestation, proper land management, introduction of fine or punishment for bush burning and enforcement of forest regulations in curbing the rate of environmental degradation that leads to desertification in the region.
Keywords: Desertification; Environmental degradation; Tree felling; Bush burning and charcoal.
Studies on the Microflora of Ripe Pawpaw (Carica papaya) Fruits in Ghana
Authors: Dukuh Isaac K. , Opoku-Asiamah Yaw 
Published: October 2020

The aim of the study is to identify fungi associated with fruit rot of pawpaw both in the field and in storage. Three experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, fungi growing on ripe pawpaw fruits randomly collected from plants on the UCC campus were identified in the laboratory. The position on the fruit the fungi appeared was recorded. The second experiment involved the storage of fruits in insect proof containers in the laboratory to indentify fungi growing onthe fruits and the position on the fruit the fungi appeared. In the third experiment, fruits were washed with 10% solution of Milton 2 before they were stored in insect proof containers. Fungi which grew on them and the position on the fruit the fungi appeared were identified. The survey revealed that Collectotricum gloesporiodes which cause anthracnose was the most frequently occurring fungi in the field in the study area. The most serious fungi diseases of pawpaw in storage were found to be anthracnose, stem end rot and black rot which were caused by Collectotricum gloesporiodes, Phomopsis caricae-papayae andPhoma caricae-papayae. It was demonstrated that surface sterilization with 10% Milton 2 solution increased the shelf life of the stored fruits for 2-3 days.
Keywords: Carica papaya; Microflora; Milton 2; Surface sterilization; Frequency of occurrence.
Teaching and Learning of Visual Arts in Senior High Schools in Rural and Urban Settings in Ghana
Authors: Okyerewa Abena , Nortey Siaw Samuel , Bodjawah Edwin K. 
Published: October 2020

This study used qualitative and quantitative research methods in tandem to compare teaching and learning processes to illuminate differences in students' academic performance gap in the Visual Arts in urban, peri-urban and rural Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region. With the use of purposive and simple random sampling techniques, a sample of six schools – two in each setting, comprising 120 students and 18 teachers were selected for in-depth study. The study found that urban schools perform better than rural schools because they have prestigious names and character, more qualified teachers, and they attract and admit high performance BECE applicants into the Visual Arts department. The study revealed that the geographical settings of the school and educational opportunities directly influence the academic performance and achievement of students. Environmental factors, lack of studio facilities, and differences in teaching methodologies in the different geographical settings seem to influence students' learning and performance.
Keywords: Teachingandlearning;Visualarts;Ruralandurbaneducation;Academicperformance.
Organizational Culture and its Relationship to Organization Performance in Ghana Education Service Head Office – Accra
Authors: Bekoe Regina 
Published: October 2020

The culture of an organization reflects its performance. Stakeholders who are direct beneficiaries of the Ghana Education Service have often complained of receiving poor service delivery from the organization. Using the Head Office of the organization in Accra, the researcher investigated whether the organization's culture had any relationship with the performance. With both interviews and questionnaires, core areas of the organization such as: Mission, Ethics andAccountability, External Environment, Strategic Planning and Management, Organizational Structure, Leadership and Management, Human Resource Management, Internal and External Communication, Financial Management, Evaluation and Performance Management and Information Technology were assessed. Five divisions of the organization were used for the study. The findings of the study were that the existing culture does not mirror the preferred culture; it was also established that the organization's culture and performance have a mutually reciprocating relationship. The study showed that the current level of performance could be improved if support systems in the area of finance, staff and technology are enhanced. Furthermore the organization should encourage shared leadership and give credit to others when they do the right things. Staff need to be trained in information technology so they can be current in the use of the technology.
Keywords: Organizational culture; Organizational performance; Organization development.
Design, Construction and Evaluation of a Multi-piston Pump
Authors: Nyamekye Clement , Anim Ofosu Samuel , Marcos Aboagye 
Published: October 2020

The multi-piston pump, is a linear type of positive displacement pump, working on the principle of direct lift. The height to which the pump can directly lift the water is primarily controlled by factors that include the capacity of the operator, the clearance between the washers and the riser pipe and the speed of the washers. The materials for the construction of this pump can be obtained locally, even from the dump sites, hence its nickname “the pump from the dump”. It would not only serve as a means of lifting water easily, but will also improve the standard of living of the people. This pump could be an option for pumping water in relatively remote and deprived areas. This study highlights on the design, construction and evaluation of multi-piston pump. The pump went through vigorous design procedures and construction stages. The detailed working drawings of the pump were produced and constructions work carried out. Equations were established in order to know how the whole system behaves. It can be deduced from the study that pump discharge is influenced by piston diameter and the distance between the pistons. This pump can be used for small-irrigation schemes.
Keywords: Pump; Hand-dug wells; Pipes; Discharge; Velocity.
Effects of Number of Apprentices on Financial Performance of Firms in the Furniture and Wood Industry of Ghana
Authors: Abraham Abena Yeboah , Adams Abass 
Published: October 2020

This study examined the relationship between the number of apprentices in a firm and the financial performance of the firm, using the RPED/CSAE Ghana Manufacturing Enterprise Survey (GMES) covering the period of 1991 to 2002. The dynamic panel model estimation technique was employed to investigate the effect of the number of apprentice on gross profit per capital of firms in the furniture and wood processing industry of Ghana. The findings of the study indicate that the financial performances of firms deteriorate during the apprenticeship period, as they take up more apprentices but increase in wages of apprentices had direct significant effect on financial performance. Other dynamics of the apprentice and the master were discovered to be important variables in explaining firm’s financial performance. The average age of an apprentice in the Furniture industry was about 24 years while that of the Wood industry was about 29 years which is clearly very high. It has been suggested that firms may need incentives other than the services of the apprentice to increase their demand for apprenticeship. The incentive may include tax exemption which should be proportional to the number of apprentices engaged and a proper contract must be signed that will allow apprentices to serve the firm for a specified period after training before being released. The youth must also be advised to begin the apprenticeship process early.
Keywords: Apprenticeship, Financial performance, Dynamic panel model, Gross profit, Contract