ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Analysis of the Social and Demographic Factors in Ghanaian Political Party Affiliations

Since 1992, political power in Ghana alternates between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Yet beyond extrapolations from previous election results not much is known about the socio-demographic characteristics of the core membership of these two political parties. Using data from the Ghana Opinion Poll study conducted by the Centre for Policy Research and the Fredrich Ebert Stiftung, Ghana in April 2018, this study employed a multinomial logistic regression model to understand the social and demographic features around which support for the political parties in Ghana coalesced. We found that age of the respondent, education, employment, region of residence, ethnicity and religion are significant predictors of partisan affiliation. Notwithstanding the NDC’s electoral success over the years, we observe a process of political realignment that favours the NPP across most of the demographic variables analysed. The study has implications for the mobilisation and recruitment strategies of both political parties.

Source: UG
Comparative analysis of various thresholding techniques on TerraSAR-X images in the presence of speckle noise

This paper compares several methods of thresholding applied to TerraSAR-X radar images in the presence of speckle noise and a method based on the use of the local extremas of the histogram. The methods used are Otsu's, Valley-emphasis, maximum entropy, fuzzy sets, Yagar's measure of fuzziness and histogram clustering. The local minimum of the histogram provides a good threshold candidate for global thresholding in ship detection in the case of moderate signal noise but fails for high signal noise and variable illumination. The methods are tested on sample images to evaluate their performance in object detection in real TerraSAR-X datasets. © 2013 University of Trieste and University of Zagreb.

Source: UG
A comparative appraisal of environmental conditions in two urban low-income communities in Accra, Ghana

This paper examines (i) the state of environmental conditions in two low-income urban communities in Accra, Ghana, using a Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) method, and (ii) changes in the environmental conditions in the two low-income communities over the years using the PRA method. The PRA was augmented with qualitative interviews with selected heads of household and other stakeholders from the study communities. The results showed that environmental conditions in the two study communities were poor as indicated by the computed average scores for the environmental problem areas. However, conditions were poorer in Chorkor compared to La. The paper recommends that local governments units in Ghana must prioritise sustained, improved, and reliable funding for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to ensure undisruptive implementation of environmental health programs and policies. This must be accompanied with improved community education and sensitization on proper sanitary practices, which have the potential to mitigate the effects of disease epidemics such as cholera in the two communities. The study also provides important perspectives on differentials in environmental conditions in low-income communities in urban Ghana.

Source: UG
Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Sources in Two Small-Scale Mining Communities in Northern Ghana.

The study assessed levels of heavy metals in drinking water sources in two small-scale mining communities (Nangodi and Tinga) in northern Ghana. Seventy-two (72) water samples were collected from boreholes, hand dug wells, dug-out, and a stream in the two mining communities. The levels of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Mean levels (mg/l) of heavy metals in water samples from Nangodi and Tinga communities were 0.038 and 0.064 (Hg), 0.031 and 0.002 (As), 0.250 and 0.031 (Pb), 0.034 and 0.002 (Zn), and 0.534 and 0.023 (Cd), respectively, for each community. Generally, levels of Hg, As, Pb, Zn, and Cd in water from Nangodi exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) stipulated limits of 0.010 for Hg, As, and Pb, 3.0 for Zn and 0.003 for Cd for drinking water, and levels of Hg, Pb, and Cd recorded in Tinga, exceeded the stipulated WHO limits. Ingestion of water, containing elevated levels of Hg, As, and Cd by residents in these mining communities may pose significant health risks. Continuous monitoring of the quality of drinking water sources in these two communities is recommended

Source: UG
Comparative assessment of vulnerability of smallholder livestock farmers to climate change in North-West Ghana

This study examined the vulnerability of smallholder livestock farmers in North-West Ghana to climate change using data obtained from 200 livestock farmers obtained through the administration of a semi structured questionnaire. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) approach was used to examine the levels of vulnerability. The study compared the vulnerability between the Nandom district and the Lawra district. The empirical results revealed that livestock farmers are more vulnerable to climatic extremes in the Nandom district than the Lawra district. The study highlights the critical role of the government regarding education and construction of water resources, among others.

Source: UG
Comparative bioconversion of gamma irradiated and steam sterilized ‘wawa’ sawdust (Triplochiton scleroxylon L.) by mycelia of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus Jacq. Ex.Fr. Kummer)

Comparative bioconversion of gamma irradiated and steam sterilized 'wawa' sawdust (Triplochiton scleroxylon L.) by mycelia of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus Jacq. Ex.Fr. Kummer) Abstract Pleurotus ostreatus was cultivated on composted 'wawa' (Triplochiton scleroxylon) sawdust subjected to physical pretreatment techniques of moist heat sterilization and gamma irradiation to assess their comparative mycelial growth performance. Substrates were moist heat sterilized at either 95-100 o C for 2.5 hours or gamma irradiated with a Cobalt 60 source at 0 kGy, 5 kGy, 10 kGy, 15 kGy, 20 kGy, 24 kGy and 32 kGy at a dose rate of 1.7 kGy/hour using the ethanol chlorobenzene (ECB) dosimetry. Sorghum grains for spawns were also irradiated at same doses (0 kGy, 5 kGy, 10 kGy, 15 kGy, 20 kGy, 24 kGy and 32 kGy) and steamed similarly and their interactive mycelia growth effects on pretreated sawdust measured. Final linear growth, colonizing time, rate of growth, primordial emergence time, density and percentage contamination were monitored for the four weeks at 28-32 o C. The fastest time taken for full colonization was 22 days by irradiated (I+I) samples of the 15 kGy set up while the fastest rate of growth of 28.3 mm/day was recorded by irradiated sorghum and steamed compost bag (I +S) of the 15 kGy set up. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in final linear growth range of 190.2-248.8 mm recorded for all pretreated samples which also recorded very low (0-20%) contamination. Gamma irradiation was shown to be a good substitute and more efficient for sterilizing composted sawdust for mushroom cultivation and yield in the Ghanaian tropic conditions.

Source: UG
Comparative characterization of the oestrous cycles of the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) and the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) by the hystricomorph vaginal membrane perforation phenomenon

To provide well-defined Laboratory Animals for Research, Teaching and Testing for the improvement of human health, taking cognisance of their humane care and use and the 4Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement & Respect)

Source: UG
Comparative effects of aflatoxins G1 and B1 at levels within human exposure limits on mouse liver and kidney.

ddy mice were exposed to aflatoxins B1 and G1 via their feed (4.8 ng AFG1, 0.8 ng AFB1 or both/kg body wt./day) while in utero. At six months of age, hepatorenal studies were carried out. The AFG1 caused significant accumulation of only neutral fat in the liver, a slight rise in serum triglyceride and intensified hepatorenal inflammation, necrosis and bile duct proliferation. The AFB1, caused the accumulation of both neutral fat and fatty acids in the liver, and was cytotoxic to the liver and kidney. Iron storage of the liver, hematological indices, serum total protein and albumin levels were not affected by the aflatoxins.

Source: UG
Comparative efficacy of antimalarial drugs including ACTs in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria among children under 5 years in Ghana.

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
Comparative efficacy of four rodenticides on the Ghanaian market

Due to the enormous damage that rodents cause to agricultural produce, merchandise and human health all over the world, large sums of money is often spent on rodenticides in order to control rodent populations. A number of rodenticides exist on the Ghanaian market on which there is limited scientific data on their efficacy and use. This study investigated the efficacy of four rodenticides namely Storm (flocoumafen at 0.005% w/w), Baraki (difethialone at 0.0025% w/w), Chinaman (diphacinone at 0.005% w/w) and Zinc Phosphide, found on the Ghanaian market, on white laboratory rats (Rattus novigicus). The results indicated that product acceptability by the rats within 24 hours was significantly higher for Storm (20.6±1.3g) and Baraki (17.8±5.5g) as compared to Chinaman (5.4±0.3g) and Zinc Phosphide (3.2±1.7g) (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Consumption of Storm, Bakaki and Zinc Phophide produced lethal effects with mean time of death ranging from 4.0±1, 3.8±1 to 1.0 days respectively indicating that Baraki and Storm exhibited delayed lethal effects. Although product acceptability for Zinc Phosphide was low, the amount needed to produce lethal effects in white laboratory rats was small and appeared to have been consumed over a single encounter. The study provides baseline data for further investigations and field trials.

Source: UG
Comparative efficacy of low-dose versus standard-dose azithromycin for patients with yaws: a randomised non-inferiority trial in Ghana and Papua New Guinea

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
Comparative genomics of Mycobacterium africanum Lineage 5 and Lineage 6 from Ghana suggests distinct ecological niches

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
Comparative in vitro activity of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin against isolated uropathogens in Ghana: a pilot study

Introduction: studies on urinary tract infections (UTIs) in West Africa from 1990 to 2012 have showed moderate to high antimicrobial resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. Fluoroquinolones have been the main stay in the management of UTIs, but recent reports show emergence of resistance. Levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin still remain the commonest fluoroquinolones prescribed for UTIs in many settings. objective: this study sought to compare activity of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin against clinical isolates obtained from patients with suspected UTI at the Ghana Police Hospital. Methods: midstream urine samples from 153 suspected UTI patients who visited the Ghana Police Hospital from July 2016 to March 2017 were examined. Urine samples were cultured and isolates identified by standard biochemical and serological methods. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine susceptibility of isolates to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Results: UTI prevalence was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among female patients (74.5%) than male patients (25.5%). Clinical uropathogens isolated from urine samples were Escherichia coli (28.1%), Coliform spp (43.2%), Klebsiella spp (26.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (2.6%). Overall sensitivity of the uropathogens to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were 77.1% and 62.8%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus showed greater resistance to levofloxacin (75%) compared to ciprofloxacin (25%). All Gram-negative isolates showed a higher sensitivity to ciprofloxacin compared to levofloxacin: Escherichia coli; 69.8% vrs 62.8%, Coliform spp; 80.3% vrs 65.2%, and Klebsiella spp; 80% vrs 62.5%. Conclusion: this study revealed emergence of resistance of uropathogens to quinolones. The isolates showed higher sensitivity to ciprofloxacin compared to levofloxacin. Rational prescribing and use of these fluoroquinolones following local susceptibility data is thus recommended.

Source: UG
Comparative in vitro effects of AZT and extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, Ficus polita, Clausena anisata, Alchornea cordifolia, and Elaeophorbia drupifera against HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Comparative joint position error in patients with non-specific neck disorders and asymptomatic age-matched individuals

Background: Neck pain is a common complaint worldwide and ranked seventh in 2010 as the cause of ‘years lived with disability’ in Ghana. Proprioceptive dysfunction, measured by joint position error (JPE) tests, indicates an association with neck pain frequency, dizziness and balance problems in patients. Objectives: To examine proprioceptive deficits of the neck using a laser pointer attached to the head. Methods: Twenty patients within the age group 21–60 years, with at least five points on the neck disability index (NDI), and 20 age- and sex-matched controls with less than five points on the NDI were recruited for this study. The JPE was determined wearing a headlight laser pointer directed towards a Cartesian coordinate system adjusted to x/y = 0/0, placed on a wall after returning from left and right rotation, flexion and extension. From starting in an upright sitting position, facing the Cartesian coordinate system, each participant performed five repetitions for each movement direction. The mean of five repetitions for each movement direction was calculated as absolute error (AE), constant error (CE) and variable error (VE). Results: Control participants showed larger JPE values for nearly all AE, CE and VE. After repositioning from flexion controls showed an approximately 0.6 ° larger median JPE, and the opposite for extension, with median differences between 1 ° and 2 °. Conclusion: The results of this study do not reveal any meaningful differences between patients with mild disabled neck movement compared with controls. Clinical implications: Joint position error testing does not seem useful for patients with mild neck disability.

Source: UG
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Charcoal, Biogas, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas as Cooking Fuels in Ghana

Standard life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology has been used to determine and compare the environmental impacts of three different cooking fuels used in Ghana, namely, charcoal, biogas, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). A national policy on the use of cooking fuels would have to look at the environmental, social, and cost implications associated with the fuel types. This study looked at the environmental aspect of using these fuels. The results showed that global warming and human toxicity were the most significant overall environmental impacts associated with them, and charcoal and LPG, respectively, made the largest contribution to these impact categories. LPG, however, gave relatively higher impacts in three other categories of lesser significance-that is, eutrophication, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, and terrestrial ecotoxicity potentials. Direct comparison of the results showed that biogas had the lowest impact in five out of the seven categories investigated. Charcoal and LPG had only one lowest score each. From the global warming point of view, however, LPG had a slight overall advantage over the others, and it was also the most favorable at the cooking stage, in terms of its effect on humans. © 2011 by Yale University.

Source: UG
Comparative molecular analyses of invasive fall armyworm in Togo reveal strong similarities to populations from the eastern United States and the Greater Antilles

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, J.E. Smith) is a noctuid moth that is a major and ubiquitous agricultural pest in the Western Hemisphere. Infestations have recently been identified in several locations in Africa, indicating its establishment in the Eastern Hemisphere where it poses an immediate and significant economic threat. Genetic methods were used to characterize noctuid specimens infesting multiple cornfields in the African nation of Togo that were tentatively identified as fall armyworm by morphological criteria. Species identification was confirmed by DNA barcoding and the specimens were found to be primarily of the subgroup that preferentially infests corn and sorghum in the Western Hemisphere. The mitochondrial haplotype configuration was most similar to that found in the Caribbean region and the eastern coast of the United States, identifying these populations as the likely originating source of the Togo infestations. A genetic marker linked with resistance to the Cry1Fa toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) expressed in transgenic corn and common in Puerto Rico fall armyworm populations was not found in the Togo collections. These observations demonstrate the usefulness of genetic surveys to characterize fall armyworm populations from Africa. © 2017, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.

Source: UG
Comparative morphology and molecular systematics of African Podostemaceae-Podostemoideae, with emphasis on Dickaeanthus and Ledermanniella from Cameroon

The Podostemaceae (eudicots, Malpighiales) are adapted to rivers that exhibit distinct high-low water seasonality, mainly in the tropics. They attach to submerged rocks with ribbonlike or crustose green roots that cover the substrate like a carpet. Pronounced root dorsiventrality resulted in disklike crusts lacking root caps. African Podostemoideae show a bewildering array of forms not known from other flowering plants, such as (i) foliage leaves having a basis with two sheaths (e.g., Ledermanniella linearifolia), (ii) modular shoot construction with repeated stem cups (Ledermanniella ledermannii), (iii) endogenous origin of flowers along stems (Dicraeanthus africanus), and (iv) epiphyllous flowers (Ledermanniella letouzeyi). Important morphological transformations specific to African podostemoids include a shift from erect to inverted flowers in the spathella and unilocular ovaries arising via septum loss. New matK sequence data and new morphological data for eight African Podostemaceae species of the genera Dicraeanthus, Djinga, and Ledermanniella are combined with previously published sequences representing all major groups to test the placement of the African taxa in the family. All podostemoids studied from continental Africa form a clade that is sister to the Madagascan genera Endocaulos and Thelethylax. The sister of this African-Madagascan lineage is the clade comprising all Asian podostemoids and the American genus Podostemum, whereas all other New World podostemoids and the subfamily Tristichoideae are more basal. © 2007 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Comparative phylogenomics of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from invasive disease and nasopharyngeal carriage from West Africans

Abstract Background We applied comparative phylogenomics (whole genome comparisons of microbes using DNA microarrays combined with Bayesian-based phylogenies) to investigate S. pneumoniae isolates from West Africa, with the aim of providing insights into the pathogenicity and other features related to the biology of the organism. The strains investigated comprised a well defined collection of 58 invasive and carriage isolates that were sequenced typed and included eight different S. pneumoniae serotypes (1, 3, 5, 6A, 11, 14, 19&#8201;F and 23&#8201;F) of varying invasive disease potential. Results The core genome of the isolates was estimated to be 38% and was mainly represented by gene functional categories associated with housekeeping functions. Comparison of the gene content of invasive and carriage isolates identified at least eleven potential genes that may be important in virulence including surface proteins, transport proteins, transcription factors and hypothetical proteins. Thirteen accessory regions (ARs) were also identified and did not show any loci association with the eleven virulence genes. Intraclonal diversity (isolates of the same serotype and MLST but expressing different patterns of ARs) was observed among some clones including ST 1233 (serotype 5), ST 3404 (serotype 5) and ST 3321 (serotype 14). A constructed phylogenetic tree of the isolates showed a high level of heterogeneity consistent with the frequent S. pneumoniae recombination. Despite this, a homogeneous clustering of all the serotype 1 strains was observed. Conclusions Comparative phylogenomics of invasive and carriage S. pneumoniae isolates identified a number of putative virulence determinants that may be important in the progression of S. pneumoniae from the carriage phase to invasive disease. Virulence determinants that contribute to S. pneumoniae pathogenicity are likely to be distributed randomly throughout its genome rather than being clustered in dedicated loci or islands. Compared to other S. pneumoniae serotypes, serotype 1 appears most genetically uniform.

Source: UG