bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adherence to drug therapy among hypertensive patients attending two district hospitals in Ghana
Authors: Sarkodie Emmanuel , Kwame Afriyie Daniel , Hutton-Nyameaye Araba , Kwabena Amponsah Seth 
Published: October 2020

Background: A major drawback to the management of hypertension among patients is poor adherence to pharmacother- apy. Factors that influence non-adherence to antihypertensive drugs could vary, depending on the prevailing condition of patient and setting. Knowledge of adherence patterns and behavior of hypertensive patients to pharmacotherapy could improve health-directed policies towards hypertension management.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine factors that influence adherence to oral antihypertensive drugs among patients attending two district hospitals in the Volta Region of Ghana.
Methods: The study was cross-sectional. Respondents were hypertensive patients attending Krachi West District (n=187) and Hohoe Municipal (n=183) hospitals between March 2016 to May 2016. Data was collected using a structured question- naire and Morisky 8 Item Measurement of adherence scale.
Results: Adherence to oral antihypertensive drugs was 89.2%. However, more than half of these respondents appeared to have uncontrolled blood pressure; and this may be due to self-response bias, blood pressure being measured only on the day of the interview or use of fake drugs (which was not assessed in this study). The strongest predictors of adherence were; knowledge on hypertension, perception of severity of condition and the amount of alcohol consumed in a day by respondents.
Conclusion: Good adherence to oral antihypertensive drugs was observed in this population despite uncontrolled hyper- tension in a number of the respondents. The three independent predictors of adherence to antihypertensive medications in this study were respondent’s knowledge about hypertension, perception of severity of their condition and the amount of alcohol consumed in a day. Regular patient education and counseling by medical practitioners should be encouraged in these settings to improve patient adherence.
Keywords: Adherence; antihypertensive drug; hypertension; Ghana.
Association of apoE gene polymorphisms with lipid metabolism in renal diseases
Authors: Zhou Tianbiao , Li Hongyan , Zhong Hongzhen , Zhong Zhiqing , Lin Shujun 
Published: October 2020

Background and Objectives: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a central role in the metabolism and homeostasis of lipids. ApoE gene encodes three major isoforms: ε2, ε3 and ε4 forming six phenotypes: Ε2Ε2, Ε2Ε3, Ε2Ε4, Ε3Ε3, Ε3Ε3 and Ε4Ε4 . Disorders of the lipid metabolism and the homeostasis are frequently coexist in renal diseases. The association be- tween gene polymorphisms of apoE and lipid metabolism were not consistent. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between gene polymorphisms of apoE and lipid metabolism in renal diseases.
Methods: A pre-defined literatures search and selection of eligible relevant investigations were performed to extract and collect data from electronic databases.
Results: Sixteen articles were enrolled for the analysis of association between apoE gene polymorphisms and lipid metab- olism. Subjects with E3E4 had a higher total cholesterol (TC) than those with E3E3, and subjects with E2E3 had a lower TC than those with E3E3. Subjects with ε2, ε3 had a lower TC than those with ε2, ε3 or ε4 , and subjects with ε4 had a higher TC than those with ε2, ε3 . Subjects with E2E2, E2E3 or E4E4 had a higher triglyceride (TG) than those with E3E3. Subjects with ε4 had a higher TG than those with ε2, ε3 . Subjects with ε2, ε3 had a higher level of TG than those with non-ε2, ε3 . Subjects with E3E4 had a slightly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than those with E3E3. E3E4 appeared to be associated with lower levels of HDL. Subjects with E2E2, E2E3 had a notably lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) than those with E3E3. Subjects with ε2, ε3 had a lower LDL than those with ε2, ε3 or ε4 ApoE gene polymorphisms were not associated with very low-density lipoprotein, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)]. Subjects with E2E3 or E2E4 had higher apoE levels than those with E3E3, and subjects with E4E4 had lower apoE levels than those with E3E3.
Conclusion: ApoE gene polymorphisms are associated with the expression of TC, TG HDL, LDL, Lp(a) or apoE.
Keywords: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ; gene polymorphism; total cholesterol (TC) ;triglyceride (TG), high-density lipopro- tein (HDL); low-density lipoprotein (LDL); very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL); lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] • Meta-analysis
Effective school-based preventive interventions for alcohol use in Africa: a systematic review
Authors: Tomokawa Sachi , Miyake Kimihiro , Akiyama Takeshi , Makino Yuka , Nishio Akihiro , Kobayashi Jun , Jimba Masamine , Ayi Irene , M Njenga Sammy , Asakura Takashi 
Published: October 2020

Background: Despite recognition of the risks of alcohol use and importance of prevention from an early age, the effectiveness of school-based interventions in Africa has not been clarified.
Objective: We aimed to identify effective school-based alcohol use prevention interventions in Africa.
Methods: We searched eight databases for peer-reviewed articles published until February 3, 2019 that reported on randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, pre-post quasi-experimental stud- ies, cohort studies, and case-control studies. The full-texts of relevant studies were searched.
Results: Four of 2797 papers met our eligibility criteria. All reported interventions targeted secondary school students in South Africa and were incorporated in the school curriculum. The interventions comprised multi-component activities with participatory and peer educational methods, and applied modified programs originally developed in the US. However, inter- vention effects were inconsistent among studies, although the interventions tended to have a positive effect on non-drinkers at baseline, with stronger effects in girls.
Conclusion: Interventions had positive effects on students that were non-drinkers at baseline, especially girls. Although we could not find robust evidence that school-based interventions changed attitudes, frequency/quantity of drinking, and intentions to use alcohol, one intervention showed an increase in students’ alcohol refusal self-efficacy.
Keywords: School-based preventive interventions; alcohol use; Africa; systematic review.
Physical activity participation is associated with higher quality of life scores in men with alcohol use disorders: a study from Uganda
Authors: Vancampfort Davy , Hallgren Mats , Brian Mutamba Byamah , Van Damme Tine , Probst Michel , Van Winkel Ruud , Myin-Germeys Inez , De Hert Marc , Mugisha James 
Published: October 2020

Background: There is a growing recognition of the importance of encouraging people with alcohol use disorders (AUD) to become more active as an achievable strategy to reduce the disability-associated burden.
Objective: We investigated whether physical activity and sedentary behaviour in men with AUD contribute to their quality of life (QoL).
Methods: Fifty male Ugandan inpatients with AUD (33.0±10.7 years) completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment brief version, Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test while waist circumference, body mass index and blood pressure were assessed. Linear multiple regression analysis explored the total variance in QoL explained by all predictor variables.
Results: SIMPAQ walking and SIMPAQ exercise explained 46% of the variability in physical QoL, 45% of the variability in psychological QoL, and 40% of the variability in environmental QoL. The SIMPAQ walking score predicted 37% of the variability in social QoL.
Conclusion: The current findings suggest that higher levels of walking and exercising are associated with a better QoL. Our study therefore provides a platform for future research to investigate the role of physical activity on QoL levels in people with AUD, also in low resourced settings in low-income countries such as Uganda.
Keywords: Physical activity; exercise; alcohol; quality of life.
Contributions of malaria, helminths, HIV and iron deficiency to anaemia in pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics in SouthWest Nigeria
Authors: R Rabiu Olawunmi , Dada-Adegbola Hannah , M Kosoko Ayokulehin , O Falade Catherine , G Arinola Olatunbosun , B Odaibo Alexander , G Ademowo Olusegun 
Published: October 2020

Background: Iron deficiency is a dominant source of anaemia in many settings. To evaluate the key cause of anaemia in the study area, the prevalence of anaemia due to major public health diseases was compared with anaemia due to iron deficiency.
Methods: Pregnant women were recruited from ante-natal (n=490) and HIV clinics (n=217) with their personal data docu- mented using a questionnaire. Microscopy of Giemsa-stained thick smears was used for detection of malaria parasites while helminths in stools were detected using direct smear method. Haematocrit values were determined by capillary method. Se- rum ferritin levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22.0.
Results: The mean age of the recruited women was 28.6±5.4 years old. There were 68.1% cases of anaemia of which 35.5% was due to infections only predominantly HIV and malaria, 14.9% from unknown sources while anaemia due to iron deficiency only was 7.1%.
Conclusion: It can safely be inferred that malaria and HIV predispose to anaemia than iron deficiency in the study area. Although pregnant women are dewormed and given IPTp for helminths and malaria treatment respectively, there should be complementary routine malaria screening at ANC visits for those with HCT values <33% and those infected with HIV.
Keywords: Iron deficiency anaemia; antenatal care; Plasmodium; helminth; pregnant women; HIV.
Título en español.
Authors: Alex G. Alexander  
Published: October 2020

Caña de azúcar, sembrada en arena, fue sometida a niveles extremos de nitrato (NO3) para simular condiciones de crecimiento restringido y madurez, crecimiento moderado y crecimiento suculento. El análogo de pirimidina 6-azauracilo fue suministrado concurrentemente en aspersión foliar. Tres fueron los objetivos: 1, Medir la persistencia de los regímenes de crecimiento en presencia de un inhibidor poderoso del crecimiento; 2, evaluar el 6-azauracilo como un retardador del crecimiento en aquellas plantas estimuladas por cantidades elevadas de (N) y como agente de madurez en las cañas cuyo crecimiento era lento bajo condiciones similares de madurez; y 3, investigar la eficacia del 6-azauracilo como inhibidor de enzimas al aumentarse en extremo el N. El 6-azauracilo (0.05 por ciento) logró suprimir el crecimiento independientemente del suministro de NO3. Una aplicación elevada de NO3 (50 meq./litro) atenuó, pero no superó el efecto del inhibidor. Esto sugiere que el abonamiento con N puede prolongarse para aumentar el tonelaje de la caña, con un subsiguiente cese del crecimiento estando esto basado en un agente químico, en vez de la supresión del N. Una aplicación baja de NO3 (0.5 meq./litro) redujo el crecimiento, aumentó el contenido de sacarosa de la hoja y de los tejidos reservantes tiernos y elevó los valores de Brix y polarización en el tejido reservante maduro. El 6-azauracilo también produjo un efecto de madurez al aumentar los valores de Brix y polarización en las plantas con NO3 bajo, pero no cuando se aumentó el suministro de NO3. El nitrato generalmente aumentó la actividad de la invertasa, amilasa, fosfatasa, ATP-asa y las oxidasas. El 6-azauracilo retardó la acción enzimática, pero fue menos efectivo cuando el suministro de NO3 fue alto. La inhabilidad en cuanto a retardar marcadamente la amilasa y la invertasa se cree responda a la baja de los valores de Brix y polarización. A pesar de aplicarse originalmente como una aspersión en las hojas de la caña, tanto los tejidos como las enzimas de la hoja no demostraron haber sido afectados por el inhibidor. Se cree que el agente químico se trasloca al meristemo y a los tejidos reservantes tiernos, mientras que las hojas permanecen relativamente sin daño alguno y con toda posibilidad fotosintéticamente activas.
An Evaluation of the Operations of Micro-credit Schemes in Poverty Alleviation of the Rural People in Northern Ghana - Case Study of Ghanaian-Danish Community Programme (GDCP)
Authors: Mahama Fuseini 
Published: October 2020

The purpose of the study was to examine the sustainability of poverty alleviation activities, utilisation of the funds, the adequacy of credit given to the beneficiaries, level of savings and the degree of attention given to non-income-related issues. The study used questionnaires to capture responses of beneficiaries of the Ghanaian Danish Community Programme (GDCP) Micro-credit scheme as well as secondary data from the annual financial reports and statements of the scheme. The data were analysed with the ratios of the interest income to operational cost, operational cost to loans disbursement to arrive at operational sustainability and cost of money lent respectively. Tables and charts were used to provide the pictorial analysis of the interest income and the operational cost. The study revealed that the schemes were on course to sustainability but were characterized by high operational costs because of the nature of their activities. The study also revealed that the credit services provision had a positive impact on the beneficiaries overall lives, family nutrition and savings and there was evidence of proper utilisation of the funds. These merits were however, impeded by the inadequacy of the credits amount and limited attention given to non-income-related issues. Finally, the researcher made some recommendations and suggested steps for their implementation.
Keywords: Sustainability; Beneficiaries; Poverty alleviation; Savings; Impact; Micro-credit scheme
Brine Shrimp Lethality Bioassay: A Tool for Drug Discovery from Natural Products
Authors: Owusu-Dapaah George , Fiagbe Nicolas I.Y. 
Published: October 2020

This study demonstrates the importance of the Brine Shrimp Bioassay in drug discovery. It uses two medicinal plants, Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides and Tiliacora funifera. Extracts of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides were prepared using water, ethanol, chloroform and diethylether, and each subjected to Brine Shrimp Bioassay. The bioactivities of the extracts were found to be in the order diethylether (LD50=0.958 mg/ml), followed by ethanol (LD50=1.874 mg/ml), water(LD50=2.322 mg/ml), and chloroform (3.518 mg/ml). From Tiliacora funifera is isolated the compound funiferine, which is derivatized to obtain o-methylfuniferine and o-isopropylfuniferine. These were subjected to the brine shrimp bioassay, and the structure –activity relationship (SAR) was determined. The results showed that o-isopropylfuniferine is the most bioactive (LD50 = 9.07 mg/ml), followed by o-methylfuniferine (LD50 =38 mg/ml) with funiferine showing the least activity (LD50 =50.25 mg/ml). The SAR of the compounds indicates that the activity of the compounds increases as the size of the group on the phenolic OH is increased, (i.e. isopropyl (C 3 H7 )> methyl (CH3 ) > hydrogen (H)), which suggests that bulkier groups may give more potent compounds. These two results show that the brine shrimp bioassay can be used as a tool in the search for more bioactive compounds from natural products.
Keywords: Brine Shrimp Bioassay, Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides, Funiferine; o-methylfuniferine,o-isopropylfuniferine.
SME Growth and Performance: Examining performance dimensions, drivers and Barriers
Authors: Lomatey Isaac Toku , Takyi Frank , Dzisi Smile , Ofori-Amanfo Joshua 
Published: October 2020

This study examined SME performance dimensions, including the drivers and barriers to the growth of SMEs. Data for the study was collected from 175 respondents comprising CEOs, MDs and other staffs from SMEs in the Eastern region using the survey method. Data was analyzed using SmartPLS software. The study established that shared responsibility between management and staff, strong leadership and economic opportunities are key factors influencing growth. Entrepreneurial knowledge, experience and educational background are highly predicted when it comes to performance dimension of growth and financial sustainability. However, turbulent marketing conditions; lack of focus and strategic direction resulting from the owner’s absence; lack of financing, managerial and technical skills; poor political and economic environment together with the influx of foreign goods on the domestic market were established to adversely affect firm growth. SMEs’ growth would, undoubtedly, contribute significantly to improvement in Ghana’s GDP, with the potential for job creation for the increasing youth population, hence, appropriate political leadership is required to drive the agenda of SME growth. It is therefore recommended that responsible state agencies such as Ministry of Trade and Industry, NBSSI, in collaboration with financial institutions design and advance soft financial loans and/or assistance to identified distressed SMEs through their registered associations. Besides, government should rope SMEs in the implementation of its One District One Factory policy to attract the necessary state support.
Citation: Lomatey Isaac Toku, Frank Takyi, Smile Dzisi, and Joshua Ofori-Amanfo. SMEs growth and performance: performance dimensions, drivers and Barriers, 2020; 5(2): 36-47.
Received: March 8, 2019 Accepted: March 31, 2020
Imaginarios sociales del “conflicto” armado colombiano que reproducen un discurso simbólico de violencia
Authors: López Orozco Alexander 
Published: October 2020

Este artículo de reflexión pone de manifiesto que aunque una gran parte de las investigaciones presenta el "conflicto" armado colombiano como estadística de los sucesos que han acontecido en el marco de la violencia fáctica, especialmente desde el surgimiento de los movimientos insurgentes guerrilleros, no es solamente esta perspectiva desde donde se puede llegar a pensar y analizar la historia de la violencia en nuestro país, en aras de comprender el presente y planear el futuro en el postconflicto. También se puede pensar y analizar el "conflicto" armado como un discurso estructurado simbólicamente y entramado socialmente entre sí, edificado con el lenguaje y por ende puesto de manifiesto en las prácticas sociales que se reproducen habitualmente.
Pemanfaatan Hasil Akreditasi Manajemen Madrasah Berprestasi, Mandiri, Islami dan Berdaya Saing Global (Studi di MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong)
Authors: Harahap Emmi Kholilah 
Published: October 2020

Penelitan ini berjudul Manajemen Madrasah Berprestasi, Mandiri, Islami Dan Berdaya Saing Global (studi di MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong). MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong sangat memperhatikan mutu layanan belajar bagi siswa dengan maksimal, mutu mengajar guru, kelancaran layanan belajar, kenyamanan ruang belajar serta sarana prasarana lain, kesempatan dalam menggunakan fasilitas serta layanan madrasah, budaya madrasah dan adanya dukungan dari masyarakat. MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong, dalam mengembangkan dan meningkatkan prestasi madrasah tidak lepas dari berbagai strategi, misalnya melakukan seleksi ketat dalam penerimaan mahasiswa baru yaitu dengan tes psikologi, tes potensial akademik, tes kesehatan dan wawancara, mengembangkan proses pembelajaran yang diarahkan pada penguasaan “basic knowledge of science and technology” dan “leadership life skill” atas dasar “asah, asuh, asih dan ajrih”. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui mengapa manajemen madrasah dapat menjadikan madrasah yang berprestasi, mandiri, islami dan berdaya saing global, untuk mengetahui manajemen madrasah di MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong dan untuk mengetahui bagaimana madrasah yang menjadikan MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong madrasah yang berprestasi, mandiri, islami dan berdaya saing global.
Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif untuk menguraikan, menggambarkan, menggali dan mendiskripsikan secara mendalam bagaimana manajemen madrasah di MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong, sehingga menjadikan madrasah yang berprestasi, Mandiri, islami dan berdaya saing global.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kerja keras yang dilakukan seluruh warga MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong dalam menghantarkan peserta didik menjadi insan berprestasi, Mandiri, islami dan berdaya saing global dapat dilihat dari keefektipan dalam semua perencanaan, pelaksanaan dan evaluasi yang berlangsung di MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong. Keefektipan ini dapat dilihat dari tiga aspek yaitu: (1) MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong dalam mengembangkan mutu pendidikan. (2) MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong dalam Menerapkan manajemen Madrasah. (3) MAN Insan Cendikia Serpong dalam Pengoptimalan Fungsi Organisasi Kelembagaan
Using an International Role-Modeling Pedagogy to Engage First-Year Occupational Therapy Students in Learning Professionalism
Authors: Chien Chi-Wen , Chloe Mo Sung Yu , Chow Joseph 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Importance: Professionalism is a core attribute for competent occupational therapists, but teaching professionalism to students is challenging for educators.
Objective: To investigate whether students can expand their understanding of professionalism by engaging with international role models.
Design: Pretest–posttest.
Setting: One academic institution in Hong Kong.
Participants: First-year students (N = 102) enrolled in an introductory occupational therapy course.
Intervention: An international role-modeling pedagogy was informally embedded into a course curriculum. Students were divided into 16 groups and collaboratively interviewed eight role models (academic theory or practice model developers) to understand their inspiration and ideas about occupational therapy competence.
Outcomes and Measures: In addition to pre- and postclass surveys, students completed individual self-reflection reports as a course assignment. A postsemester focus group was also held.
Results: Sixty-three students completed the surveys, and 5 attended the focus group. The students showed significant improvements in their understanding of professionalism after the course (Wilcoxon signed rank Zs = 5.671–6.766, p &lt; .001). Interviewing the role models enabled the students to become more aware of intrinsic aspects of professionalism. Major themes in the student focus group included gaining a better understanding of professionalism and committing to personal change. Some implementation challenges were also experienced.
Conclusions and Relevance: International experts (theory or practice model developers) can be integrated into occupational therapy curricula as role models to enhance the teaching of professionalism to students.
What This Article Adds: Interviewing international role models who have developed theories or practice models can enhance student learning in the area of professionalism and complement traditional approaches to clinical education.