ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Wuchereria Bancrofti Antigenaemia Among School Children: A Case Study of Four Communities in the Kassena-Nankana East District of the Upper East Region of Ghana

INTRODUCTION: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic disease of public health concern in Northern Ghana. Since mass drug administration of ivermectin and albendazole began in 2000 with Kassena-Nankana district as one of the implementing units, no studies has been conducted among pre-school and school-age children on the prevalence of W. bancrofti antigenaemia in spite of 3.5% prevalence reported among adults in 2008. This study was therefore carried out in four communities in the Kassena-Nankana district between December 2010 and May 2012 where mass drug administration has been administrated and continued to be administrated to investigate the prevalence of W. bancrofti antigenaemia among school children to aid advocacy for more comprehensive treatment coverage for children. The study was a cross sectional analytical survey, restricted to school children between the ages of 2-10 years. Four hundred (400) school children aged 2-10 years were randomly selected from a list of compounds in the communities. About 3-5 mls of blood was collected into heparinised test tube and tested using immunochromatographic test to detect W. bancrofti antigen ( ICT-Filariasis card test). Of the 200 children tested before MDA, 25(12.5%) children tested positive for filarial antigen and of the 200 school children tested after MDA, 13(6.5%) children tested positive for circulating filarial W. bancrofti antigen. The microfilaria antigen prevalence among the communities after MDA ranged from 0% in Bui to 4.0% in Manyoro and 22% in Gumongo. This study has demonstrated that community variations in the prevalence of filarial antigen exists in Kassen-Nankana district. There is the need for regular surveillance that will inform treatment coverage and effectiveness.

Source: KNUST
Yam Tuber rot: identification and Control of Pathogens in Storage

This work was done to improve farmers’ indigenous white yam storage practices. Farmers from four yam-producing communities were interviewed by the use of questionnaires to ascertain farmers’ knowledge on field and post-harvest diseases of yam. The interviewed farmers ranked pests and diseases next to credit facilities which were regarded as number one constraint. Sixty five percent (65%) of farmers interviewed considered yam tuber rot disease as a major disease in the communities. Hundred percent (100%) of the interviewed farmers who stored their yams indicated that they experienced rots during post-harvest storage of tubers. Estimated losses given by the farmers ranged between 60% and 100%. Rotten white yam tuber samples were collected from farms in three communities. Nine fungal organisms were isolated by direct tissue plating on PDA medium. These were: Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., Botryodiplodia theobromae, Trichoderma viride, Rhizopus spp., Pestalotia guepini and Alternaria solani. Each of these isolates caused rot lesions when inoculated into healthy test yam tubers. Koch’s postulate was completed with each isolate through re-isolation. B. theobromae, A.. niger, Rhizopus spp. and A. solani were the most frequently isolated fungi species from the rotten yam tuber samples, with frequency of isolations in the order of 30.07%, 16.08%, 16.08% and 12.59%, respectively. Extracts (60% Concentration, w/v) of Ginger rhizome, Black pepper seed and Cassia alata leaves were tested against the growth of B. theobromae and F. oxysporum. Percent inhibition of radial growth of fungal organisms due to the botanical extract was used to represent activity of the product. The ginger extracts inhibited the growth of B. theobromae and F. oxysporium 72 hours in incubation by 64.64% and 86.36%, respectively. For black pepper extract, the growth inhibitions for the two fungi were 81.23% and 100%, whilst those of Cassia leaf extract were 66.85% and 56.82%. The extracts of ginger and seed extract of black pepper were active in inhibiting growth of the two test fungi. Cassia alata leaf extract was least effective. Efficacy of two chemical fungicides, Shavit F71.5 WP and Metalaxyl Mancozeb WP, in controlling yam tuber rot was also investigated. Two white yam cultivars, ‘dente’ and ‘pona’, were used in the experiments. Shavit F71.5 WP reduced the occurrence of yam tuber rot disease by 71% and 70% during storage of ‘dente’ and ‘pona’, respectively. Metalaxyl Mancozeb reduced rot of yam tubers by 46% and 60% in ‘dente’ and ‘pona’, respectively. The two chemical fungicides were effective in controlling rot diseases of yam during storage. However, Shavit WP was relatively better than Metalaxyl Mancozeb.

Source: KNUST
Yam Tuber Dormancy and Sprouting: The Role of Concentration Dynamics of Endogenous Gibberellic Acid

The role of endogenous gibberellic acid (GA3 ) in the regulation of yam (Dioscorea spp.) tuber dormancy was investigated by determining the changes in the endogenous GA3 levels during natural dormancy progression. Two Dioscorea rotundata cultivars ('Pona' and 'Labreko') and one Dioscorea alata cultivar ('CRI-Ahoɔdenfoɔ') used in these studies have varying dormancy duration. Endogenous GA3 levels determined for the yam tubers ranged from 1.53 – 3.05 mg/g dw and 1.23 – 1.58 mg/g dw for 'Pona'; 1.53 – 3.40 mg/g dw and 1.25–1.57 mg/g dw for 'Labreko'; 1.48 – 3.62 mg/g dw and 1.28 – 1.60 mg/g dw for 'CRI-Ahoɔdenfoɔ', respectively, for the outer and inner portions. 'Pona' and 'Labreko' had dormancy break at 60 days after harvest (DAH), but at 90 DAH for 'CRI-Ahoɔdenfoɔ'. Generally, GA3 levels increased from harvest to the maximum at 30 DAH, then declined to the minimum at 60 DAH before finally increasing again at 90 DAH for the outer portions of the yam tuber. For the inner portions of the tuber, GA3 levels rather declined significantly to the minimum at 30 DAH, increased at 60 DAH and then decreased again at 90 DAH. GA3 levels in the outer portions of the tubers increased by 84-122%, 65-77% and 61- 65%, respectively, in 'CRI-Ahoɔdenfoɔ', 'Labreko' and 'Pona', but decreased in the inner portions by 19-23%, 24-26% and 26-28%. Essentially, higher amounts of endogenous gibberellins in yam tubers induced longer dormancy duration whereas lower amounts were indicative of dormancy termination and subsequent initiation of sprouting.

Source: KNUST
Yield and functional properties of acid and salt extracted proteins from cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata, Ayiyi)

Acid proteinate (AP) and calcium proteinate (CP) extracted from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, Ayiyi) flour at different pH and temperature levels were evaluated using response surface methodology. The yield (g/100g of flour) of AP (Maximum 30.37%, T50°C, pH=10) and CP (Max. 26.25% T45°C, pH=8.5) were significantly affected by different extraction combinations of pH, temperature and coagulating agents. Nitrogen content of the proteinates were not significantly affected by coagulation treatments. Foaming capacity (FC) for both proteinates decreased significantly with increased pH and temperature of extraction, CP (Max 72%, T=45°C, pH 8.5), and AP (Max. 52%, T=45°C, pH=8.5). The trend of foam stability (FS) as a function of pH and temperature was the same as for FC for both proteinates, and was characterised by a decrease as temperature and pH were increased. The maximum water and oil absorption capacity of AP were 8.0 g/g and 5.70 g/g and occurred at temperature 45°C and pH 8.5 while that of CP were 8.5 gig and 5.25 g/g, respectively, for the same pH and temperature of protein extraction. Emulsion capacity decreased significantly (P>0.05) with increasing pH and temperature of extraction. Maximum emulsion capacity for AP and CP were 83.33% (T=45°C, pH 8.5) and 100% (T=45°C, pH 8.5), respectively. CP produced more stable emulsions than AP. Least gelation concentrations increased with increasing levels of temperature and pH. It varied from 2 - 4% for CP and 7 - 10% for AP.

Source: KNUST
Yield and postharvest quality of maize (Zea mays l.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus l. moench) intercrops as influenced by plant density arrangement in the Savannah Agro-Eco zone

The production of more food for the growing populations in the coming decades, while combating poverty and hunger at present, is a significant challenge to the developing nations. This study therefore sought to determine the yield and postharvest quality of maize and okra in an intercropping system and assessing its economic profitability. The study was conducted to assess the yield and quality of maize and okra intercrops as affected by plant density. The field experiment was carried out at the Research fields of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) located at the Ghana Air Force Base fields in Tamale - Northern Ghana during the raining season (July, 2014 to November, 2014). A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with three replications for the field work; the laboratory experiments were laid in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) at the laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, KNUST and CSIR-Soil Research Institute. Maize was intercropped with okra in rows in the following ratio; 1 Maize :1 Okra, 1 Maize : 2 Okra, 2 Maize : 1 Okra, 2 Maize : 2 Okra and sole Maize and Sole Okra. The outcome of the study showed that, intercropping maize and okra resulted in the decrease in the striga population on the maize and an exponential increase in the number of pods of okra. Intercropping did not have any significant effect (p<0.05) on the yield of both component crops. In terms of postharvest qualities of the component crops, all the intercropping arrangements significantly (p<0.01) improved the calcium content of the okra fruits but did not have any significant (p>0.01) effect on crude protein, crude fibre, carbohydrates and fats of maize grain as well as TSS, TTA, pH and sugar-acid ratio of okra pods. Generally, this present study has demonstrated that intercropping maize with okra in various plant arrangements did not affect the postharvest quality of the maize whiles improving the pod quality of the okra. Consequently, the two crops can be intercropped without the loss of any nutritional or chemical quality of either component crop in the system. Economically, intercropping maize and okra is highly profitable, with the level of profitability increasing as the population of okra in the intercrop system is increased. In addition, the cost of producing maize alone is high and erodes the percentage of profit accrued to the production of the crop.

Source: KNUST
Yield Gap Analysis in Maize Production from Stakeholders Perspective in Ejura-Sekyedumase District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Maize is a major cereal crop in Ghana but production at the local level is often below both domestic and industrial demand. Promising ecologies exist in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District located in the transitional zone of Ghana with large stretches of land to favour large scale production of maize. Statistics indicate a low average yield below 1.9 t/ha in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District which is far below the potential yield of 4-5 t/ha. There is a necessity to discover and address yield constraints in order to boost maize production in the area. An investigation was undertaken using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines and other considerations of yield gap (revolving around technical, biophysical and socio-economic issues) to ascertain yield limitations from the perspective of major stakeholders (farmers, researchers, and extensionists). The outcome showed that the current constraints to yield are poor seed source (use of seeds from farmer's own farm) and selection, mid-season drought, pest and disease prevalence, lack of access to credit and inadequate credit facilities, low market price, low profit from farming, high cost of fertilizer, low literacy and educational status of farmers. In addition, water stress, late or early rainfall, lack of irrigation facilities and practice, poor soil fertility monitoring, use of local varieties, low adoption of technologies, poor investment, poverty and low income level, landholding and land tenure were noted. Holistic and collaborative approach such as farmers, researchers and extension effort to the use of recommended varieties, timely credit availability and accessibility to farmers, reducing fertilizer cost, timely distribution of government subsidized fertilizer, intensification of extension activities will arrest the situation to boost maize production to meet both local domestic and industrial demand and for export.

Source: KNUST
Yield maximization of rotary veneer in a mill in Kumasi (a case study)

The study was conducted in the Rotary Veneer milling section of Logs and Lumber Limited in Kumasi to determine the average veneer recovery factor for some tropical hardwoods. The effect of log diameter on veneer recovery for the seven species Hyedua (Guibourtia ehie), Chenchen (Antaris toxicaria), Bombax (Bombax brevicuspe), Onyina (Ceiba pentandra), Edinam (Entandrophragma angolense), Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) and Koto (Pterygota macrocarpa) were also studied. Sixty-three (63) bolts comprising of 9 each of the species was selected randomly for the study. The mean recovery factor determined in this study for the seven species was 65.0 ±2.5% with 95% confidence. Residues in the form of peeler cores, rounding off and wet clipping losses were determined to be 10.3%, 9.7% and 15.0% respectively. An average bolt form of 0.92 was obtained. A weak correlation was observed between bolt diameter and veneer recovery for the following species: Chenchen (R2 = 2.8%), Bombax (R2 6.6%) and Edinam (R2 18.9%), Koto (R2 = 32.5%), Ceiba (R2 = 30.1%) and Hyedua (R2 = 29.8%). Except Mahogany, though R2 = 44.4%, significant (5% level) relationship was established between bolt diameter and veneer recovered. Analysis of variance performed indicated that there were significant (x = 5%) difference in the diameter classes of the species. However, the species indicated no significant difference in relation to veneer recovery. A t-test statistic conducted on the influence of two different thicknesses on recovery for Koto species revealed no significant differences between the mean recovery values.

Source: KNUST
Young Christian Workers Centre - Assenua

The Ghana branch of the International Organisation of the Young Christian Workers (I.Y.C.W.) was established in 1963 and up till now has its main centre housed in a single room at the Parish Centre of the Catholic Church at the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. It is in this same office that meetings, seminars, counseling etc, are held. Equipment and books meant for the library are still in boxes due to the accommodation problem being faced and last but not the least structures to house both participants and facilitators of retreats, seminars, congresses etc. have to be rented. These rented facilities are most of the time not ideal for such serene and pious activities or they are booked up. These have rendered such activities not forthcoming. It is in this vein that the organisation has drawn proposals for the developing of its facilities to a higher standard with a wider range for use by its members, other organisations and the general public in order to satisfy its aims and objectives which have been spelt elsewhere in this report. There is therefore the need to put up a befitting facility to enable the organisation properly carry on its good intentions of finding solutions to the problems of the Ghanaian youth and helping to address the issue of lack of multi-purpose facilities for the youth ii particular and the public as a whole at a more affordable rate.

Source: KNUST
Youth development programmes for employable skills in Ghana: a case study of Kumasi Metropolis

Developments in the labour market as a whole affect the position of young people employed and unemployed alike, which must often compete within the employment market on adult terms. The youth labour market thus occupies a symbiotic position with the adult in the world’s economies (ILO, 2001). Such developments have been triggered by technological changes on production and service industries, increased participation in education and training, as well as the impact of SAPs in most developing countries. Nevertheless, foil employment is not attainable without reorienting the objectives of training to furnish technical and management skills and help develop appropriate attitudes for specific occupations and jobs. In Ghana, there is an overwhelming number of youth training programmes, which count up to 1000, or more with the ultimate goat of imparting to the youth employable skills, as part of strategy to generate employment. The providers of the programmes are both the public and private sectors. But since then these programmes have made little impact in bringing about the changes expected due to poor training system that produced unappreciable skills. This study was conducted to assess the impact of the training on the youth, its relevance to current employment needs in Kumasi Metropolis. Three vocational training institutions, 47 ex-trainees and 20 employers were selected as cases for the study using semi-structured questionnaires. Each institute represented different orientation such as state, commercial and non-profit making. The results confirmed the stated problem in the study namely: poor support services including attachment to facilitate skill acquisition, weak. Inter-linkages out-dated training facilities, and dwindling public confidence in the vocational skills. Finally, the study suggested strategies aimed at alleviating the problems, which require the involvement of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. One major strategy is a call for an establishment of NACVET branch at local level with responsibilities including co-ordination of training activities in the Metropolis.

Source: KNUST
Youth Development Programmes for employable skills in Ghana: a case study of Kumasi Metropolis

Developments in the labour market as a whole affect the position of young people employed and unemployed alike, which must often compete within the employment market on adult terms. The youth labour market thus occupies a symbiotic position with the adult in the world’s economies (ILO, 2001). Such developments have been triggered by technological changes on production and service industries, increased participation in education and training, as well as the impact of SAPs in most developing countries. Nevertheless, full employment is not attainable without reorienting the objectives of training to furnish technical and management skills and help develop appropriate attitudes for specific occupations and jobs. In Ghana, there is an overwhelming number of youth training programmes, which count up to 1000, or more with the ultimate goal of imparting to the youth employable skills, as part of strategy to generate employment. The providers of the programmes are both the public and private sectors. But since then these programmes have made little impact in bringing about the changes expected due to poor training system that produced unappreciable skills. This study was conducted to assess the impact of the training on the youth, its relevance to current employment needs in Kumasi Metropolis. Three vocational training institutions, 47 ex-trainees and 20 employers were selected as cases for the study using semi-structured questionnaires. Each institute represented different orientation such as state, commercial and non-profit making. The results confirmed the stated problem in the study namely: poor support services including attachment to facilitate skill acquisition, weak inter-linkages, out-dated training facilities, and dwindling public confidence in the vocational skills. Finally, the study suggested strategies aimed at alleviating the problems, which require the involvement of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. One major strategy is a call for an establishment of NACVET branch at local level with responsibilities including co-ordination of training activities in the Metropolis.

Source: KNUST
Youth for Population Information and Communication (Y.P.I.C) Centre, Kumasi

Population growth is an important factor that must be addressed in order to achieve sustainable development and quality of life. The rate at which we add numbers to our population ability to meet their needs for survival and healthy development. Rapid population growth strains available caring food, shelter and social services and leaves children more vulnerable to malnutrition, disease, labour exploitation, trafficking, neglect, sexual abuse and drug addiction. In many cases, the resources available are already diminished by economic injustices brought about by the insufficiencies. Efforts to manage population growth becomes therefore paramount towards bringing about equitable distribution of wealth, this is what burdens the concept and achievements of the Youth for Population Information and Communication (Y.P.I.C), so that by focusing on the youth, who by all obvious standards are the most prolific but most ignorant about population issues, a considerable improvement towards reduction can be achieved in the shortest possible time. The approach in this work is therefore to establish the factual of our population problem, related to the youth and its impacts; recent ones which are so glaring on our streets analyse the attempts made by the central government and affiliate organisations towards surmounting the problem, the part Y.P.I.C has played and can offer within the means of the facility in question.

Source: KNUST
Zearalenone-contaminated cereals in African communities, probabilistic Exposures and adverse-health Outcomes: a meta-analysis

Zearalenone, a Fusarium spp. mycotoxin is an exposome with estrogenic properties that adversely impact global public health concerns, including African cereal-growing communities. In this study, we used the keywords; “adverse health”, “cereals”, “zearalenone”, and “Africa” to screen published articles from Google Scholar, CrossRef, PubMed and Scopus databases. The returned queries were filtered to obtain 36 relevant articles covering 53 studies. Data including the year of study, zearalenone concentration, number of total samples and total positive samples were extracted from the included papers. The zearalenone concentrations were meta-analyzed to characterize the following: data heterogeneity, weighted averages, effect sizes, and to visualize Forest plots and regression models. The exposures were determined using zearalenone concentrations, mass of cereals ingested, and WHO-recommended body weight according to the EFSA-recommended guidelines. Based on Palisade @Risk probabilistic approaches, the uncertainties of exposures and risks (hazard quotient) were obtained after simulation at 105 iterations and benchmarked against PMTDI (0.25 µg/kg). The meta-analysis results presented a zearalenone contamination occurrence of 16% and a high heterogeneity (I2 =97.9), which indicated high variability in the included articles. Zearalenone concentrations ranging from 0.90 to 1.03×103 µg/kg presented high occurrence in rice and rice-based products (75%), while the simulated modal exposures (μg/kg(bw)-d) ranged from 5.33×10-3 to 9.70×10-2, the 95th percentile ranged from 1.91 to 31.60. Although the modal exposures among the age-related consumers did not exceed the regulatory threshold (0.25 µg/kg), that for infants (0.10 μg/kg(bw)-d) and toddlers (0.04 μg/kg(bw)-d) were the highest. However, the 95th percentile exposures for all the age-related consumers exceeded the threshold at different intensities, while the infants (31.60 μg/kg(bw)-d) and toddlers (13.11 μg/kg(bw)-d) exposures were significantly (HQ>1) alarming. Control measures are urgently warranted to address this public health concern.

Source: KNUST