ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Development of starter culture for the production of Degue, a West African traditional fermented milk product

Burkina is a milk/millet product which has suddenly become popular in Ghana in the last few years. The product is thought to have originated from Burkina Faso but Burkina is unknown in that country. Rather Degue, a Fulani fermented milk product containing millet is well known in West African Sahelian countries including Burkina Faso. This work was carried out to compare the burkina and Degue processes, and develop a starter culture for the production of Burkina/ Degue in Ghana. A survey was carried out on Burkina producers and consumers in Accra, and fermenting milk samples collect on separate occasions from two original degue producers in Accra. Burkina was found to be the same as Degue based on the processing procedure except that producers in Ghana used reconstituted powdered milk whilst Degue producers in Sahelian countries use fresh cow milk. The spontaneous fermentation which occurs during Degue production was found to be a lactic acid fermentation and the population of LAB increased by 4 log units to about 8 log 10 CFU/ml during 24 h of fermentation. Percentage titratable acidity increased from 0.14 to 0.72% during fermentation whilst the pH values dropped from about 6.5 to 4.12. Lactic acid bacteria species identified in the spontaneous milk fermentation were Lactobacillus plantarum (43.75%), Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactic (31.25%), Lactobacillus brevis (18.75%), and Lactobacillus buchneri (6.25%). The LAB were identified by their pattern of carbohydrate fermentation and also by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry which is based on the analysis of protein spectrum from bacterial ribosome. Both methods gave the same species of LAB. For the development of starter culture, isolates of the lactic acid bacteria were used to inoculate pasteurized milk either singly or in combinations and the rate of acidification determined. Antimicrobial activity of the isolates against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli 0157; H7, Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes were also determined as well as survival of the pathogens in milk inoculated with the isolates. Production of amylase and exopolysaccharides by the isolates were also determined. In sensory testing, Degue produced using the different isolates were evaluated by a sensory panel. For overall acceptability in the consumer preference test, the panellists ranked Degue fermented with Lb. delbrueckii ssp lactis and also Degue fermented with Lb. brevis first with an average score of 7.35 each which corresponded with the products being liked moderately, followed by Lb. plantarum (6.83), Lb. buchneri (6.45), spontaneously fermented Degue (5.98), and lastly Degue fermented with a combination of Lb. delbrueckii ssp lactis and Lb. plantarum (5.90). However, the frequency with which Lb. delbrueckii- Degue was picked as the best product by panellists was 16 hence Lb. delbrueckii ssp lactis was selected as the starter culture for producing Degue in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Development of Teaching and Learning Material for Chemical Formulae and Chemical Equations

The West African Examinations Council has since the year 1994, alluded consistently to students inability to write correct chemical formulae and chemical equations at the SSSCE/WASSCE chemistry examinations. Studies have also shown that the ability required to write chemical equations is not a simple one and that, students’ persistent difficulties in solving stoichiometric problems are partly associated with their inability to write correct chemical formulae and represent chemical equations correctly. Hence, this study developed a teaching and learning material for chemical formulae and chemical equations of inorganic compounds. Three form 2 and three form 1 science classes selected from the Cape Coast Metropolis for the 2012/2013 academic year were initially sampled randomly for the pre-test and after the pre-test, one form 2 and one form 1 science classes were selected for the development of the teaching and learning material. The two main designs used in this study were cross-sectional survey and one group pre-testpost- test experimental design and the two main instruments used were achievement tests and an open ended questionnaire. One of the key findings was that the concept of valency and the role it plays in the writing of chemical formulae was poorly understood by both form 1 and form 2 science students. Also, the teaching and learning material developed in this study helped improve the conceptions and performance of the students as the mean vales of all the posttests in this study were significantly higher than their pre-test mean values. One recommendation urges chemistry teachers to use charts of the periodic table and oxidation numbers when teaching chemical formulae and chemical equations.

Source: UCC
Development Of Trap-Irradiate-Release/Sterile Insect Technique As A Tool For Integrated Pest Management Of Bac/Rocera Dorsalis Hendel (D1ptera: Tephritidae) In Mango Orchards

One major important fruit Ily causing widespread damage to fruits and vegetables in Ghana is the oriental fruit fly, Bacfrocera dorsalis Hendel. Current management strategies such as male annihilation technique, bait application technique and insecticide applications are unable to eliminate the challenges posed by B. dorsalis. This study therefore sought to determine a new strategy in which B. dorsalis might be managed in a more integrated fashion . Over a period of one year, the fruit fly population in the south-eastern mango enclave of Ghana was monitored using baited traps to ascertain their diversity and population dynamics. This was followed by another study to determine the most efticient trap types and time of day to mass trap B. dorsalis for irradiation studies. In another study, the optimum dose of gamma irradiations to cause sterility in adult male B. dorsalis Jor trap-iITadiate-release/sterile insect technique was investigated. Furthermore, the behavioural response of adult males of B. dorsalis that have been pre-exposed or un-exposed to methyl eugenol (ME) to ME-baited traps was investigated. Ten fruit fly species were identified in the study area with B. dorsalis being the most dominant. Through this study, Dacus langi and Dacus longislylus were detected and recorded for the first time in Ghana. Ecoman traps were most efficient for trapping large numbers of adult B. dorsalis and evening-captured flies survived better. Moreover, trapping of flies that were un-exposed to ME yielded a higher recovery rate compared with nies that were pre-exposed to ME. This study has demonstrated that. a large population of adult male B. dorsalis exist in the south-eastern mango enclave of Ghana that could be trapped in the evenings with Eeoman traps for irradiation and TIR technique of insect pest management. Furthermore, TIR has a great potential to be successful since the males trapped with ME-baited traps and irradiated are less likely to be re-trapped in ME-baited traps.

Source: UCC
Deviance information criterion for comparing stochastic volatility models

Bayesian methods have been ef cient in estimating parameters of stochastic volatility models for analyzing nancial time series. Recent advances made it possible to t stochastic volatility models of increasing complexity, including covariates, leverage effects, jump components, and heavy-tailed distributions. However, a formal model comparison via Bayes factors remains dif cult. The main objective of this article is to demonstrate that model selection is more easily performed using the deviance information criterion (DIC). It combines a Bayesian measure of t with a measure of model complexity. We illustrate the performance of DIC in discriminating between various different stochastic volatility models using simulated data and daily returns data on the Standard & Poors (S&P) 100 index

Source: UCC
Diabetes Burnout: the Influence of Distress and Spirituality

Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a lifelong, chronic metabolic disorder that affects people physically, emotionally and psychologically. For many, the burden of self-management of diabetes can be overwhelming especially when trying to juggle that with a career, family and social life. This strain can precipitate many psychogenic conditions in T2DM patients of all ages and sex. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional study design and purposively sampled 105 adults with T2DM. The study adapted the English version of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory to measure diabetes burnout, Diabetes Distress Scale to measure diabetes distress, and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy scale to measure the spirituality of the participants. Participants were recruited from the diabetic clinic of the University of Cape Coast Hospital in Ghana. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequency counts and percentages), Pearson‘s moment correlation coefficient and mediation analysis using the Hayes process. The study found moderate levels of diabetes burnout and spirituality and low levels of diabetes distress. The study also found spirituality to significantly mediate the relationship between diabetes distress and diabetes burnout. It is recommended that caregivers and policy address the psychogenic areas of diabetes. It is also recommended that T2DM patients‘ spirituality be addressed in caregiving.

Source: UCC
Diabetes in the Cape Coast metropolis of Ghana: an assessment of risk factors, nutritional practices and lifestyle changes

Background: Despite the signiﬁcant increase in the incidence of diabetes in Ghana, research in this area has been lagging. The purpose of the study was to assess the risk factors associated with diabetes in the Cape Coast metropolis of Ghana, and to describe nutritional practices and efforts toward lifestyle change. Methods: A convenient sample of 482 adults from the Cape Coast metropolis was surveyed using a self- reported questionnaire. The survey collected information on the demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, health status and routine nutritional practices of respondents. The aims of the study were addressed using multivariable regression analyses. Results: A total of 8% of respondents reported that they had been diagnosed with diabetes. Older age and body weight were found to be independently associated with diabetes. Individuals living with diabetes were no more likely than those without diabetes to have taken active steps at reducing their weight. Conclusion: The percentage of self-reported diabetes in this population was consistent with what has been reported in previous studies in Ghana. The ﬁndings from this study highlight the need for more patient educa- tion on physical activity and weight management.

Source: UCC
Diabetogenic risk of malaria in recovered covid-19 Respondents compared to uninfected covid-19 Respondents in the tamale metropolis

The emergence of COVID-19 has heightened interest in how the illness interacts with common comorbidities including malaria and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). COVID-19 infection has been associated with new-onset hyperglycaemia and T2DM, as well as a worsening of glycaemic control in non-diabetics without a history of diabetes and diabetics due to direct pancreatic damage and the cytokine onslaught in response to the infection. This cross-sectional study evaluated COVID- 19 recovered persons with or without malaria for their likelihood of developing T2DM. Two hundred and ninety non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 confirmed participants with or without malaria were recruited from the public health reference laboratory database in the Northern region of Ghana. Respondents were assessed for fasting blood glucose (FBG), beta cell function, C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin resistance (IR), malondialdehyde (MDA), and malaria parasitaemia. Beta cell function and IR were calculated using the Homeostatic models for assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA-B) formulae. COVID-19 recovered respondents exhibited significantly higher mean levels for HOMA-IR (7.1 ± 8.1 vs 3.7 ± 2.9 mIU/L; P<0.001), FBG (4.95 ± 1.13 vs 4.26 ± 0.58 mmol/l; P<0.001), and CRP (1.35 ±1.41 vs 0.99 ± 0.88 mg/dl; P=0.0098) compared to the control respondents. The total prevalence of HOMA-IR in cases was 38.3% compared to 32.4% in the control respondents. A binary logistic regression analysis of beta cell activity, insulin, CRP, MDA, and malaria found that study participants with malaria had a greater risk of developing hyperinsulinemia than participants without malaria in both groups. Mean values of the other indices were comparable between the groups. The findings of the study demonstrate that COVID-19, through insulin resistance, can contribute to the risk of T2DM development in recovered COVID-19 respondents.

Source: UCC
Diagnoses of emerging but neglected diseases (end’s) in Africa: challenges and prospects

Emerging but neglected diseases (ENDs) are a significant burden on global economies and public health. ENDs impact over 1 billion of the world‘s poorest populations and require special attention. However, within the ENDs recognized by the World Health Organization, some are also dually categorized as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The diagnosis of the ENDs presents a great challenge to African economies. It has a potential impact on efforts and strategies aimed at attaining the health targets of the Millennium Development Goals. This paper reviewed literature on ENDs, presenting a new angle on Emerging but neglected diseases (ENDs) with emphasis on diagnosis. Multi-sectorial efforts and targeted public- private partnerships is needed to develop capacity not only for effective and accessible ENDs treatments but also in the general health system strengthening efforts. This is essential for enhancing knowledge to address public health aspects of these ENDs, which are now spreading rapidly to non-endemic regions. During diagnose of emerging and neglected diseases in Africa, certain challenges are confronted by laboratory technicians. These challenges arise due to inadequate resources, inadequacy of specialized medical practitioners, noncompliance of citizens due to superstitious beliefs, etc. thus making diagnosis procedures less accurate and the tendency of misdiagnosis. It is therefore expected that The WHO and allied health organizations should focus international funds into developing new technologically advanced diagnostic tools and make them broadly available for use in poor countries

Source: UCC
Diagnosing and treating rare lesions in a low resource setting: lessons from a hybrid epithelioid trophoblastic tumor and choriocarcinoma

Objective: To raise awareness of the existence of a rare type of malignant trophoblastic tumor and discuss the diagnostic challenges and management of this lesion in a low resource setting. Case report and intervention: A 35 -year -old G6P3 woman was referred to our facility on account of persistent vaginal bleeding due to a suspected incomplete miscarriage with a cervical mass. Her serum β-HCG was elevated (36,900 mIU/ml) and examination showed a bleeding cervical mass. An initial histopathological diagnosis of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was reviewed to epithelioid trophoblastic tumor resulting in an extra-fascial hysterectomy. A final histopathological diagnosis of hybrid Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor and Choriocarcinoma (ETT/CC) was made after external review and immunohistochemistry. She received subsequent chemotherapy. Conclusion: Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor and its hybrids are difficult to diagnose. They may be diagnosed as moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma especially in low resource settings where cervical squamous cell carcinoma is relatively more common. A high index of suspicion, a serum β HCG test and close collaboration between clinicians and pathologists can help make the diagnosis.

Source: UCC
Diagnosing and treating rare lesions in a low resource setting: lessons from a hybrid epithelioid trophoblastic tumor and choriocarcinomaesions in a low resource setting: lessons from a hybrid epithelioid trophoblastic tumor and choriocarcinoma

Objective: To raise awareness of the existence of a rare type of malignant trophoblastic tumor and discuss the diagnostic challenges and management of this lesion in a low resource setting. Case report and intervention: A 35 -year -old G6P3 woman was referred to our facility on account of persistent vaginal bleeding due to a suspected incomplete miscarriage with a cervical mass. Her serum β-HCG was elevated (36,900 mIU/ml) and examination showed a bleeding cervical mass. An initial histopathological diagnosis of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was reviewed to epithelioid trophoblastic tumor resulting in an extra-fascial hysterectomy. A final histopathological diagnosis of hybrid Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor and Choriocarcinoma (ETT/CC) was made after external review and immunohistochemistry. She received subsequent chemotherapy. Conclusion: Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor and its hybrids are difficult to diagnose. They may be diagnosed as moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma especially in low resource settings where cervical squamous cell carcinoma is relatively more common. A high index of suspicion, a serum β HCG test and close collaboration between clinicians and pathologists can help make the diagnosis.

Source: UCC
Diagnosis and Treatment Outcome of Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Retrospective study in Kpando Municipal, Ghana

Background: Smear microscopy remains the primary tool for the detection of tuberculosis in Ghana. Laboratory diagnosis of active tuberculosis cases by sputum smear microscopy is a critical component of Directly Observed Treatment, Shortcourse (DOTS). Effective control of tuberculosis in Ghana at the rural level therefore hinges on the quality of local laboratory to provide accurate and reliable direct acid fast bacilli microscopy testing for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Method: A retrospective trend analysis of laboratory entry records of tuberculosis (TB) cases from the Anfoega Catholic Hospital of the Kpando Municipal District in the Volta region from January 2013 to December 2015 was conducted. Patients were diagnosed according to the National TB programme Control guidelines. Data were computed into statistical software and analyzed for descriptive statistics, odds ratio and chi-square at 95% confidence interval. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 116 cases recorded during the study period, 54 (46.6%) were found to be smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and was highest among 21-40 year group. Annual prevalence generally decreased during the study from 31 (57.4%) to 11 (32.4%) with corresponding increase in treatment success rate. The proportion of new smear positives decreased from 27 (50.0%) in 2013 to 11(20.4%) in 2014 and 2015 respectively while new smear negatives also reduced from 19 (30.6%) in 2013 to 15 (24.2%) in 2014 but rose to 18 (29.1%) in 2015. High smear positivity was observed among males 33 (61.1%) than in females 21 (38.9%). 113(97%) of the 116 patients had their HIV status tested. Of these, 24 (21.2%) were HIV positive. 9 (7.9%) out of the 113 were found to be co-infected with Pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: Treatment outcome was statistically associated with age group but not with sex and was more successful among TB only patients compared to patients with TB/HIV co-infection, and HIV prevalence among smear negatives were higher than smear positives.

Source: UCC
Diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium Infection with a Mobile Phone-Mounted Foldscope and a Reversed-Lens CellScope in Ghana

We evaluated two novel, portable microscopes and locally acquired, single-ply, paper towels as filter paper for the diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium infection. The mobile phone-mounted Foldscope and reversed-lens CellScope had sensitivities of 55.9% and 67.6%, and specificities of 93.3% and 100.0%, respectively, compared with conventional light microscopy for diagnosing S. haematobium infection. With conventional light microscopy, urine filtration using single-ply paper towels as filter paper showed a sensitivity of 67.6% and specificity of 80.0% compared with centrifugation for the diagnosis of S. haematobium infection. With future improvements to diagnostic sensitivity, newer generation handheld and mobile phone microscopes may be valuable tools for global health applications.

Source: UCC
Diagnostic Accuracy of Urine Microalbumin and Serum Uric Acid: A Case-control Study of Patients with Preeclampsia in the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Background: There is increasing prevalence of preeclampsia coupled with the need to identify and institutionalize more sensitive diagnostic tools for preeclampsia. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of urine microalbumin and serum uric acid as early markers of preeclampsia among Ghanaian women attending antenatal care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Methods: A case-control study was conducted among pregnant women at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) department of the KATH, Kumasi-Ghana from October 2011 to May 2012. One hundred and twenty-three (123) participants were recruited for this study after written informed consent was obtained. Socio-demographic characteristics, medical history and previous obstetric history was obtained through medical records of the eligible participants. Blood pressure and anthropometrics were measured according to standard procedure; urine samples were collected for estimation of spot urine protein and microalbuminuria; and venous blood sample was taken for biochemical analysis and platelet count. Results: A significant positive linear correlation was observed between spot urine protein and urine microalbumin (r=0.324, p=0.006). A negative linear correlation was observed between uric acid and spot urine micro albumin (r=0.033, p=0.786). A urinary micro albumin value of 75.45 mg/g was identified as the best threshold to detect a spot urine protein of > +2 with a sensitivity of 92.7% and a specificity of 80.0%, PPV of 81.03% and NPV of 33.3%. Area under the curve = 0.835; asymptomatic p-value of 0.0001 at 95% CI (0.678-0.991). In contrast, serum uric acid level of 263.5 mg/g was identified as the best cut-off point to detect a spot urine protein of > +2 with sensitivity and specificity of 89.1% and 33.3% respectively (PPV of 77.2% and NPV) of 20.8%. Area under the curve = 0.552; asymptotic p-value of 0.538 at 95% CI (0.364-0.740). Conclusion: Urine levels of microalbumin, as a measure of proteinuria are elevated in preeclamptics and can be used in place of spot macro protein estimation to diagnose preeclampsia especially in the early stages.

Source: UCC