ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Capturing Dioclea Reflexa Seed Bioactives on Halloysite Nanotubes and pH Dependent Release of Cargo against Breast (MCF-7) Cancers In Vitro

In this work, optimization parameters were developed to capture plant metabolites from Dioclea Reflexa (DR) seed ex-tracts onto halloysites nanotubes (HNTs). A one-step pool of the crude extracts at neutral pH from the HNT lumen failed to elicit a reduction in breast cancer, Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cell viability. However, the pH-dependent elution of metabolites revealed that the acidic pH samples exhibited profound antiproliferative effects on the cancer cells compared to the basic pH metabolites using both trypan blue dye exclusion assay and 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability test. pH~5.2 samples demonstrated by half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.8 mg and a cyclic voltammetry oxidation peak potential and current of 234 mV and 0.45 µA, respectively. This indicates that the cancer cells death could be attributed to membrane polarization/depolarization effects of the sample. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) studies confirmed that the plant metabolites affected breast cancer apoptotic signaling pathways of cell death. The studies proved that plant metabolites could be captured using simplified screening procedures for rapid drug discovery purposes. Such procedures, however, would require the integration of affordable analytical tools to test and isolate individual metabolites. Our approach could be an important strategy to create a library and database of bioactive plant metabolites based on pH values.

Source: UG
Capturing the moment: a snapshot review of contemporary food environment research featuring participatory photography methods

This snapshot review captures recent advances in the use of participatory photography methods within food environment research, featuring 28 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2022. Records were retrieved from a systematic search of the databases PubMed and Scopus. Studies featured high income (64%) and low- and middle-income countries (36%). Local and school food environments were common focal sites, with studies typically investigating how food environments influence food acquisition and consumption practices among adult and adolescent consumers. Photovoice was the dominant methodological framing (71%), although we found substantial variation in study designs, camera devices and degree of participation. Going forward, we encourage researchers and practitioners to revisit the roots of participatory photography as a participatory action research strategy, to engage participants as agents of change in their food environment in support of the sustainable transformation of food systems and improved diets, nutrition and health.

Source: UG
Carbohydrate and electrolyte content of some home-available fluids used for oral rehydration in Ghana

The overall goal of the department is to conduct research and provide solutions to nutritional problems in Ghana. In pursuance of this goal, the Nutrition Department since its inception has focused its research in the areas of maternal, infant and young child nutrition, food consumption and food security and micronutrient deficiency and interventions. These are priority food and nutrition problems in Ghana.

Source: UG
Carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth, industrial structure, and technical efficiency: Empirical evidence from Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco on the causal dynamics

This paper investigated the short-run causal relationships and the long-run equilibrium relationships among carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth, technical efficiency, and industrial structure for three African countries. Using Bounds cointegration approach the result showed evidence of multiple long-run equilibrium relationships for Ghana and Senegal but a one-way long-run equilibrium relationship for Morocco. The result from the Toda and Yomamoto granger causality test showed a mix of bidirectional, unidirectional, and neutral relationships for all countries. Whilst in Senegal carbon dioxide emission was not found to be a limiting factor to economic growth; it was found to act as a limiting factor to economic growth in Morocco and Ghana. Lastly, the result from the variance decomposition analysis revealed that economic growth contributes largely to changes in future carbon dioxide emissions in Senegal and Morocco whilst in Ghana technical efficiency contributes largely to changes in future variations in carbon dioxide emissions. These results have important policy implications for these countries' energy efficiency systems. © 2012.

Source: UG
Carbon Emissions And Firm Value: Does Firms’ Commitment To Sustainable Development Goals Matter?.

Purpose – This study aims to clarify the value of sustainable development goals (SDGs) commitment by examining the moderating role of firms’ commitment to SDGs on firms’ carbon emissions (CE) and firm value (FV) nexus. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses ordinary least squares and other robust estimations on data from 89 listed firms on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) from 2013 to 2021. Findings – Firms with high CE are associated with lower FV. However, firms’ commitment to SDGs moderates the relationship by averting the value-destroying tendencies of high carbon-emitting firms. Practical implications – Firms should integrate SDGs into their core business strategy and governance frameworks to enhance their environmental performance and FV. As market participants on the JSE, they should also focus on the allocation of resources for SDGs and the management of CE. Social implications – The findings provide a basis for governments and policymakers to promote firm-level commitment to SDGs to help reduce the harmful effects of CE on society and help achieve SDG targets. Originality/value – The study adds a new dimension to the existing environmental performance and financial outcomes literature by clarifying the moderating value of firms’ commitment to SDGs in the CE and FV discourse.

Source: UG
Carbon farming training and welfare: Evidence from Northern Ghana

Carbon farming, particularly soil carbon climate strategies, has emerged as a popular tool in addressing climate change and variability in worldwide agriculture. Yet, there is a paucity of evidence on its application, and even more so, limited evidence exists on the welfare impacts in developing countries, where the negative impacts of climate change and variability remain disproportionately higher. One potential option of increasing adoption of carbon farming practices is training for farm households to produce their own organic inputs from locally available resources. This study evaluates a biochar and compost production training undertaken in three semi arid regions of Northern Ghana using inverse probability weighting regression adjustment (IPWRA) model. Sensitivity analyses are performed by employing least absolute shrinkage and selection operator treatment ef fects (TELASSO) method. The results show that participation in carbon farming training increased the adoption of compost and perception on soil quality. We also find that the intervention had statistically significant positive effects on agricultural productivity (measured as maize yield) and welfare outcomes (such as increase in per capita household expenditure and reduction in poverty status). These positive results show the importance of using soil carbon climate strategies in improving the welfare of farm households in developing countries. The study recommends that carbon farming capacity building initiatives should be scaled up to improve farm pro ductivity and poverty reduction of farm households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Source: UG
Carbon footprint of the large scale gold mining industry of Ghana

Mining has been an important economic activity accounting for a substantial part of foreign exchange and government revenue. The gold mining sector has undergone considerable expansion due to liberalization with more foreign mining companies investing in the sector in particular large-scale open pit gold mining. Resultant expansion in mining has led to heightened environmental concerns and significant challenges due to key activities used in the mining operations hence contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Investigations were conducted to assess the sources and key activities in large scale gold open pit mining operations in Ghana giving rise to greenhouse gas generation. The study adopted the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guideline for estimating greenhouse gas inventory. The operational boundary as against the organizational boundary was considered for the study. The operational boundary was drawn around the physical mining site. Within this boundary, the emissions were quantified and reported under direct emission due to company activities (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from secondary use or activity (Scope 2). The study found that activities due to land use, blasting, fuel use to power mobile equipment and stationary combustion sources, electricity use and waste management were the contributing greenhouse gas emission sources in a large scale gold mining operation with electricity use and fuel used in transportation accounting for 92.46% of the total emissions. Average contribution of the large scale gold mining industry in Ghana to the total national greenhouse gas emission inventory for the country was established to be 11.08%. © 2018, Ecological Laboratory. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Carbon tax adoption and foreign direct investment: Evidence from Africa

The study investigates the effect of carbon tax adoption on foreign direct investment in Africa. We set up the Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model and esti mate it with the different GMM techniques. The data spans from 1995 to 2019 and covers 43 Sub-Saharan African countries. Data is sourced from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators. The findings show that the unmitigated effect of the carbon tax on FDI is repressive. However, if the revenue from the carbon tax is recycled into the economy, the carbon tax will have a significant positive effect on FDI. Hence, the findings corroborate the double dividend theory. The results further suggest that a carbon tax of around US$ 8.5 per tonne is reasonable to enhance inward FDI but a carbon Taxes either above US$ 25 per tonne or below US$ 3 per tonne will be detrimental to the African region. Also, the entrenched negative relationship between FDI and taxes is worsened if the additional carbon tax is levied among high tax regimes countries than their counterparts. This study opens the frontiers to discussions on the policy implications of carbon tax introduction on the free movement of international capital. Being among the few studies to examine the effect of the carbon tax on FDI, the study makes a significant contribution to the sparse literature in the African context. The use of a stepwise approach to estimating data based on reasonable assumptions can form the basis for future research to venture into areas where data is constrained. The policy implications are that (i) carbon tax per tonne below US$ 3 or above US$ 25 is detrimental to FDI, and (ii) the negative effect of the carbon tax on FDI can be overturned by efficiently reinvesting the carbon tax revenue in the economy.

Source: UG
Carbonatite-metasomatism signatures hidden in silicate-metasomatized mantle xenoliths from NE China

Lithium isotopes measured in situ in minerals from typical silicate‐metasomatized mantle xenoliths from NE China show that olivine has higher Li abundances of 1.2–4.0 ppm and higher δ7Li values of −0.12–15.46‰ than those in orthopyroxene (Li = 0.56–3.0 ppm; δ7Li = −11.84–7.31‰) and clinopyroxene (Li = 0.21–2.1 ppm; δ7Li = −9.81–14.75‰). The Li distributions between these coexisting minerals show a prominent signature of carbonatite metasomatism. The correlation of δ7Li with Li abundance in orthopyroxene is in accordance with petrological expectation of preferential reaction of orthopyroxene with carbonatite melt. The carbonatite metasomatic agent inferred from the Li isotope systematics is compatible with petrological and geochemical features such as the presence of apatite, appearance of wehrlite, and presence of high‐Mg# minerals and low Ti/Eu in clinopyroxene. The complicated Li isotope composition of olivine implies that carbonatite metasomatism occurred after silicate metasomatism. These features indicate that the predominant silicate metasomatism is extensively recorded by petrology, mineralogy, and geochemistry, whereas Li isotope systematics is more sensitive to subordinate carbonatite metasomatism. The metasomatic melts are inferred to be relatively enriched in 6Li and thus suggests that they were probably derived from a highly dehydrated slab.

Source: UG
Carceral labour: Offshore work relations, conflicts and local participation in Ghana's oil and gas industry

Local participation is crucial for linking the oil and gas industry to broader economies. Direct employment in the oil and gas industry, albeit often on a limited scale remains critical for the transfer of expertise and know-how in many developing economies. Focusing on the social construction of carcerality – a set of spaces, practices and relationships, the paper examines the carceralities of non-prison places such as offshore oil and gas infrastructures. With emphasis on oil rigs and Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSOs) vessels, the paper highlights the complex labour relations, negotiations and conflicts in offshore working environment and its impacts on local content and participation in Ghana's oil and gas industry. The paper shows that carceral techniques operate to limit the potentiality of career progress. Offshore labour practices and relations show the new kinds of carceral spaces being created through offshore extraction, and sheds light on how these carceral spaces depotentialize the labour force and reinforce global political economic inequalities.

Source: UG
Carcinoma of the pancreas: A review of autopsy material at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for the period 1972-1981.

A retrospective study of autopsies has been carried out and this shows the death rate from pancreatic carcinoma to be 5.8% of all cancer deaths in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Mortuary between the period 1972-1981. This relatively high incidence would lend support to findings of other studies which indicate that the disease is more common in US blacks and some parts of Africa. The high case fatality rate as found in our hospital-based cancer registry coupled with the increasing trend in females in recent years indicate that the disease requires a closer study from the point of view of aetiology and natural history in Ghana. The greater preference to the head of the pancreas would obviously pose problems to effective management

Source: UG
Cardiac and skeletal muscle energy metabolism in heart failure: Beneficial effects of voluntary activity

OBJECTIVE: Mitochondrial function and metabolic profile of slow and fast skeletal muscles and cardiac muscle are altered in chronic heart failure (CHF), suggesting a generalized metabolic myopathy in this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effects of voluntary activity on cardiac and skeletal muscle energetics in heart failure. METHODS: Heart failure was induced in rats by aortic stenosis. Four months after surgery, part of sham and CHF animals were randomly assigned to activity cages equipped with running wheels for 8 weeks or kept sedentary. Mitochondrial capacity and regulation were measured using saponin skinned fibers in left ventricle, slow and fast skeletal muscles, and metabolic and myosin profiles were established. RESULTS: Despite four times lower performances of CHF rats, alterations in metabolic and myosin parameters (oxidative capacity, mitochondrial enzymes, cytosolic and mitochondrial creatine kinase, myosin heavy chains) observed in all muscles of CHF animals were almost fully restored in soleus muscle though unchanged in heart and fast skeletal muscles. CONCLUSIONS: These results show the powerful beneficial effect of physical activity specifically on active slow oxidative skeletal muscle in CHF, without the worsening of cardiac muscle metabolism.

Source: UG
Cardiac expression of HMOX1 and PGF in sickle cell mice and haem-treated wild type mice dominates organ expression profiles via Nrf2 (Nfe2l2)

Haemolysis is a major feature of sickle cell disease (SCD) that contributes to organ damage. It is well established that haem, a product of haemolysis, induces expression of the enzyme that degrades it, haem oxygenase-1 (HMOX1). We have also shown that haem induces expression of placental growth factor (PGF), but the organ specificity of these responses has not been well-defined. As expected, we found high level expression of Hmox1 and Pgf transcripts in the reticuloendothelial system organs of transgenic sickle cell mice, but surprisingly strong expression in the heart (P < 0 0001). This pattern was largely replicated in wild type mice by intravenous injection of exogenous haem. In the heart, haem induced unexpectedly strong mRNA responses for Hmox1 (18-fold), Pgf (4-fold), and the haem transporter Slc48a1 (also termed Hrg1; 2 4-fold). This was comparable to the liver, the principal known haem-detoxifying organ. The NFE2L2 (also termed NRF2) transcription factor mediated much of the haem induction of Hmox1 and Hrg1 in all organs, but less so for Pgf. Our results indicate that the heart expresses haem response pathway genes at surprisingly high basal levels and shares with the liver a similar transcriptional response to circulating haem. The role of the heart in haem response should be investigated further.

Source: UG
Cardiocladius oliffi (diptera: Chironomidae) as a potential biological control agent against simulium squamosum (diptera: Simuliidae).

Background The control of onchocerciasis in the African region is currently based mainly on the mass drug administration of ivermectin. Whilst this has been found to limit morbidity, it does not stop transmission. In the absence of a macrofilaricide, there is a need for an integrated approach for disease management, which includes vector control. Vector control using chemical insecticides is expensive to apply, and therefore the use of other measures such as biological control agents is needed. Immature stages of Simulium squamosum, reared in the laboratory from egg masses collected from the field at Boti Falls and Huhunya (River Pawnpawn) in Ghana, were observed to be attacked and fed upon by larvae of the chironomid Cardiocladius oliffi Freeman, 1956 (Diptera: Chironomidae). Methods Cardiocladius oliffi was successfully reared in the rearing system developed for S. damnosum s.l. and evaluated for its importance as a biological control agent in the laboratory. Results Even at a ratio of one C. oliffi to five S. squamosum, they caused a significant decrease in the number of adult S. squamosum emerging from the systems (treatments). Predation was confirmed by the amplification of Simulium DNA from C. oliffi observed to have fed on S. squamosum pupae. The study also established that the chironomid flies could successfully complete their development on a fish food diet only. Conclusion Cardiocladius oliffi has been demonstrated as potential biological control agent against S. squamosum.

Source: UG
Cardiovascular complications of diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa

Background - Cardiovascular disease, the major cause of mortality and morbidity in modern societies, is set to overtake infectious diseases in the developing world as the most common cause of death. The increasing prevalence of major and emerging cardiovascular risk factors accounts for the growing burden of cardiovascular disease in the world. Diabetes in all its forms is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors. Two of 3 diabetic patients will die as a result of cardiovascular complications, and approximately 30% of patients treated in cardiovascular intensive care units have diabetes. Methods and Results - This review on the cardiovascular complications of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa is a bibliographical MEDLINE search of published data over the past 2 decades. Diabetes-related cardiovascular disease complications are considered to be rare in Africa but are on the rise and are regularly associated with classic cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary heart disease may affect 5% to 8% of type 2 diabetic patients and cardiomyopathy, up to 50% of all patients. Close to 15% of patients with stroke have diabetes, and up to 5% of diabetic patients present with cerebrovascular accidents at diagnosis. Peripheral vascular disease prevalence varies across sites from 4% to 28%. Conclusions - It is obvious that diabetes mellitus and related cardiovascular complications are gaining more importance in sub-Saharan Africa. The relative contribution of putative risk factors is not well defined, and further research is therefore needed. © 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Source: UG
Cardiovascular disease prevention in Ghana: Feasibility of a faith-based organizational approach

Objective: To examine the feasibility of using community health workers (CHWs) to implement cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programmes within faith-based organizations in Accra, Ghana. Methods: Faith-based organization capacity, human resources, health programme sustainability/barriers and community members' knowledge were evaluated. Data on these aspects were gathered through a mixed method design consisting of in-depth interviews and focus groups with 25 church leaders and health committee members from five churches, and of a survey of 167 adult congregants from two churches. Findings: The delivery of a CVD prevention programme in faith-based organizations by CHWs is feasible. Many faith-based organizations already provide health programmes for congregants and involve non-health professionals in their health-care activities, and most congregants have a basic knowledge of CVD. Yet despite the feasibility of the proposed approach to CVD prevention through faith-based organizations, sociocultural and health-care barriers such as poverty, limited human and economic resources and limited access to health care could hinder programme implementation. Conclusion: The barriers to implementation identified in this study need to be considered when defining CVD prevention programme policy and planning.

Source: UG
Cardiovascular disease prevention: Community Based Asset Mapping within religious networks in a rural Sub-Saharan African neighbourhood

The overall goal of the department is to conduct research and provide solutions to nutritional problems in Ghana. In pursuance of this goal, the Nutrition Department since its inception has focused its research in the areas of maternal, infant and young child nutrition, food consumption and food security and micronutrient deficiency and interventions. These are priority food and nutrition problems in Ghana.

Source: UG