ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Building librarians’ skill in research data and output management: Case study of librarians at Sam Jonah library (University of Cape Coast) and Osagyefo library (Winneba campus)

The purpose of this paper is to determine ways of building the capacity of librarians in two academic libraries in Ghana, to meet their extended role of managing research data and output. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodology with the use of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. It was supported by documentary analysis of data collected from 11senior members, and 13 Principal library assistants with post graduates degree in information related courses from the Sam Jonah Library and 16 professionals with post graduate degree in information studies from University of Education, Winneba library. Thus a total of 40 staff as a sample size. Some of the major findings are as follows: Though most librarians have an idea as to what constitute research data and its management processes, this knowledge cannot be said to have fully solved the challenges of managing research data in these academic institutions. There is also a revelation that most librarians classify research output as research data; respondents specified that even the research output repository managed by the libraries have few management challenges. Ghana can confidently boast of about twenty academic and research libraries, the study was however limited to two academic libraries, excluding the research libraries. The following are the implications of the study: firstly effective data management can help build up data reserve libraries and institutions can use strategically to help other researchers in the institution. Secondly data management roles of Librarians are associated with required knowledge and skills that cannot be overlooked. The study revealed that, currently most academic libraries have policies and systems that manage the institutional research outputs; however libraries can do more to help manage the data that produces these outputs as well, to actively support research lifecycle in our academic institution.

Source: UCC
Bullying of the Male-Child in Selected Senior High Schools in Ghana

The main objective of the study was to examine the bullying of the male-child in selected senior high schools in Ghana. The descriptive and exploratory research designs were used for the study. A multi-stage sampling procedure, comprising purposive, stratified, simple random and snowball sampling technique, was used in the selection of the sample. A total of 354 respondents were drawn from six schools in Kumasi, Cape Coast and Tamale. Three interview schedules were generated for the bullies, victims and bystanders respectively. The Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) (Version 16.0) software was used to analyse the data. Frequency tables, percentages and t-test statistics were used to present the data. The study revealed that physical and verbal bullying were rampant in the various schools in the country. Bullies and victims also had specific characteristics which led to bullying in the schools. Also, bullying went on as a tradition and initiation that all new students had to go through. In respect of the effect of bullying on students, it was revealed that some became dropouts, others developed low self-esteem, whereas still others put up characters which could affect them in their future lives. There was no significant difference in bullying among co-educational schools and boys-only schools. The study recommends the need for the schools to set up a system which will stop bullying in schools. Vigorous counselling should go on among the students, especially the bullies and the victims, to overcome these difficulties. Students should be made to understand the long- term effects of bullying on the individual and society.

Source: UCC
The Burden and Trend of Blood-Borne Pathogens among Asymptomatic Adult Population in Akwatia: A Retrospective Study at the St. Dominic Hospital, Ghana

Background. This study was aimed at evaluating the seroprevalence and trend of blood-borne pathogens (HIV, HCV, HBV, and Syphilis) among asymptomatic adults at Akwatia during a four-year period (2013–2016). Materials and Methods. The study was a retrospective analysis of secondary data of blood donors who visited the hospital from January 2013 to December 2016. Archival data from 11,436 prospective donors was extracted. Data included age, sex, and place of residence as well as results of infectious markers (HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis). Results. The prevalence of blood-borne pathogens in the donor population was 4.06%, 7.23%, 5.81%, and 10.42% for HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis infections, respectively. A significant decline in HBV and HCV infections was observed in the general donor population and across genders. HIV infection rate remained steady while Syphilis infections recorded a significantly increasing trend, peaking in the year 2015 (14.20%). Age stratification in HBV infection was significant, peaking among age group 40–49 years (8.82%). Conclusion. Asymptomatic blood-borne pathogen burden was high among the adult population in Akwatia. Gender variations in HBV, HCV, and Syphilis infections in the cumulative four-year burden were observed. Awareness needs to be created, especially in the older generation.

Source: UCC
The burden of memory: Oral and material evidence of human kidnapping for enslavement and resistance strategies among the Bulsa and Kasena of Ghana

European narratives about the slave trade in Africa has often attempted to underestimate, overlook or sometimes forget completely the role of African indigenous resistance to human kidnapping for enslavement. This paper examines ways in which the Bulsa and Kasena in northern Ghana were under the constant threats of enslavement and how they adapted and resisted the threats of violence and enslavement by exploiting their unique landscape and topography, local architecture and flight as strategies against captivity from slave raiders.Drawing from field work through recording of songs and oral accounts, the paper contributes to the broader discussion of the transatlantic European designed slave trade within the historiography on how communities who were devastated by the threats of violence and human kidnapping for enslavement continue to relive events of the past. The paper reveals that individual and communal flight from slave raiders as well as exploitation of the landscape and their building patterns reveal a compelling story about a people who do not always want to be perceived as victims, but as agents in reconstructing a narrative of endurance, skill, ingenuity and toughness. That is, although human raiding and threats of enslavement threatened their central communality and tampered with group cohesion, these communities still managed to adapt to their plight by devising strategies that sought to keep them safe, secure and helped to ensure their survival.

Source: UCC
BURNS IN NIGERIA: A REVIEW

Burn injuries continue to be a major source of mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries of the world, of which Nigeria is a part. Overview data on burn care in Nigeria are sparse but the available literature on burns and burn care in Nigeria was retrieved through Internet-based search engines, collated, and reviewed. Peculiarities of epidemiology, types of burn, pattern of injuries, complications, and outcome of burn care were reviewed. There were no broad-based overview statistical data on burns in Nigeria in all the articles reviewed. There was no documentation on the regionalization of care and there were no national databases. All reports on epidemiology were hospital-based. Flame is emerging as the predominant cause of burns, and burn injury is occurring increasingly away from the domestic setting. The severity of the injuries is also increasing. Deliberate burn injury remains a practice and a wide range of complications occur as burns sequelae in Nigeria. Several challenges militate against optimal care for burn victims. Burn injuries continue to contribute significantly to the burden of disease in Nigeria. There is a need for broad-based data collection systems. Avoidable complications are common and mortality remains high. Pooling of resources by regionalization of care could increase focus on burn prevention and improve the care of burn victims. Nongovernmental and governmental support to reduce the burden of burns is advocated.

Source: UCC
Bus passenger movement in Ghana: a case of intercity state transport corporation (istc) coaches ltd

The Intercity State Transport Company is one of the two state funded transport companies in Ghana competing with a range of other service providers mainly from the private sector in the industry. Once well respected and described as the pride of intercity travels in Ghana, it is currently a mere shadow of its former glory with rapid decline in passenger movements over the past years. This study sought to analyse passenger movements over the past five years and also explored challenges that have led to the steady decline of ISTC over the years. Secondary data was provided by the company and this was complemented with in-depth interviews with management. Findings of the study revealed that the service suffered a 60% decline in passenger movement between 2007 and 2011; however there was a high utilization of its services in January 2010 and December 2011. Finally, there was no statistically significant difference in the volume of passengers between 2010 and 2011

Source: UCC
Business Communication And Organisational Performance At Compassion International Ghana

The ―purpose of this study was to investigate business communication and organisational performance at Compassion International Ghana. In order to accomplish the objective of the research project, the study devised a set of three objectives. These were; to investigate the relationship between horizonal communication and organisational performance at Compassion International, Ghana; to investigate the relationship between downward communication and organisational performance at Compassion International, Ghana; and to investigate the relationship between upward communication and organistaional performance at Compassion International, Ghana. The study employed the explanatory design. The data gathering tools were questionnaire. The quantitative research methodology was used in the investigation. The study’s sample size was 262 which was selected by using the simple random sampling approach. In order to conduct an analysis of the aims of the research, a structural equation model was used. Analysis was done on both the internal consistency and the divergent consistency of the conceptions. With respect of the first objective, there was a positive and significant relationship between downward and upward communication and organisational performance at Compassion International Ghana. The study also found that there was a negative and significant relationship between horizontal communication and organisational performance among employees of Compassion International Ghana. The study recommends that the firm must encourage a culture where open and transparent communication is valued and promoted.

Source: UCC
Business Environment, Innovation and firm Performance in Africa

This thesis examined the effect of different aspects of business environment and innovation on firm performance in Africa. It employed micro-level data set (World Enterprise Survey, 2013) from a sample of 9,019 firms and used eight econometric regression techniques in the empirical estimations: Stochastic Metafrontier, OLS, standard IV, Lewbel 2SLS, ESR, probit, PSM and dominance analysis. Using the stochastic meta-frontier efficiency estimation approach, evidence is adduced to show that firms in Sub-Saharan Africa on the average are more efficient than their counterparts in the Maghreb Africa area and also operate closer to the best technological frontier than the Maghreb firms though the efficiency levels in all the sub regions are found to be very low. However, firms in all the two regions operate under increasing returns to scale suggesting that they are functioning within the first stage of production and not utilizing the most optimal combinations of inputs available to them. There is, therefore, room for firms in the two regions to improve their efficiency by reducing their long-run average costs. The empirical estimation of the relationship between the business environment and innovation on firm efficiency conditioned on firm characteristics showed that business environment and innovation independently and positively enhance firm efficiency but their combined effect is greatest. Empirical results also suggest that efficiency significantly influence capacity utilization, sales, and exports, though in varying degrees. From a policy standpoint, governments in Africa are encouraged to strive to create the facilitating business environmental conditions which motivate firms to innovate, and also adopt more modern production technologies to be able to scale up their efficiencies. Firms must also be encouraged to employ appropriate innovation strategies to achieve specific performance objectives.

Source: UCC
Business Management Teachers ‘Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Students’ Academic Performance in Business Management

The purpose of this study was to examine Business Management (BM) teachers‟ PCK influence on students‟ academic performance in Business Management. The descriptive correlational research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 177 students and 17 teachers was selected from all senior high schools in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Questionnaires were the sole data collection instrument employed in the conduct of the study. The data collected was analysed using means and standard deviations and linear multiple regression. The study revealed that BM teachers demonstrated high level of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge. Again, the study revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between Content Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) and the academic performance of students. However, the relationship between pedagogical knowledge and academic performance was not statistically significant. It is concluded that content knowledge significantly predicted academic performance more than pedagogical content knowledge while pedagogical knowledge did not predict academic performance. It is recommended that school authorities in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service organise continuous professional development programmes for teachers on how they can improve and apply their content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge in their teaching.

Source: UCC
Business Students’ Preference for Cooperative Learning

The thrust of this survey was to investigate university business students’ preference for cooperative learning using their attitudes as a proxy. In all, 400 third year business students were involved in the study. Data was collected using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. The study found that business students had positive attitudes towards cooperative learning. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female business students’ attitudes towards cooperative learning. Again, there was no statistically significant difference between the attitudes of Accounting major students and Management major students. Entrenchment of cooperative learning strategy into the teaching of university courses was recommended to the academic departments within the University. The use of such cooperative learning strategies should not be gender sensitive. The same strategy can be used in both accounting and management business programmes.

Source: UCC
Cadmium, Lead And Copper Levels In Ten Common Spices Sold In Cape Coast

Spices are used as diet ingredients often to enhance aroma, colour, palatability and acceptability of food. Thus, the contamination of spices by heavy metals may result in the accumulation of these metals in the body organs through consumption of these spices. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of Pb, Cu and Cd in common spices available on Cape Coast markets. A total of 60 samples of 10 different spices from Abura and Kotokoraba markets in the Cape Coast Metropolis were analyzed for Pb, Cu and Cd concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer after acid digestion. However, the spices were selected based on a preliminary study of the market that sought the opinions of both buyers and sellers of natural spices on the kinds of spices which are frequently purchased by consumers using an interview guide. Hence, the study adopted the exploratory sequential mixed method design. Results from the study indicated total mean concentrations of Pb (77.33mg/kg), followed by Cu (31.18mg/kg), though Cd was not detected in any of the samples. Mean concentrations for Pb ranged between 4.50mg/kg to 208.04mg/kg in bay leaf and chilli pepper from Abura market, whereas Cu recorded 12.44mg/kg to 139.92mg/kg in rosemary and ginger from Kotokoraba market. However, total mean concentration for Pb and Cu in all samples ranged between 20.07mg/kg in negro pepper to 119.54mg/kg in chilli pepper and 12.85mg/kg in negro pepper to 87.70mg/kg in ginger. It was further revealed that 80% and 5% of all samples exceeded WHO (2007) permissible limits of 10mg/kg and 50mg/kg for Pb and Cu respectively. Attention should be paid to the study of spices and harmful substances they may probably contain by the FDA due to their frequent use in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Caffeine Intake is Associated with Pupil Dilation and Enhanced Accommodation

It is purported that caffeine, an autonomic stimulant, affects visual performance. This study sought to assess whether caffeine intake was associated with changes in pupil size and/or amplitude of accommodation. Patients and methods A double-masked, crossover study was conducted in 50 healthy subjects of age range 19 to 25 years. Subjects were randomized to treatments such that subjects consumed either 250 mg caffeine drink or vehicle on separate days. Amplitude of accommodation was measured by the push-up technique, and pupil size using a millimeter ruler fixed to a slit lamp biomicroscope in dim illumination (5 lux). Amplitude of accommodation and pupil size were taken at baseline, and at 30, 60 and 90 min time points post treatment. Repeated measures one-way ANOVA and paired t-test were used in analyzing data. Results Amplitude of accommodation and pupil size after caffeine intake were significantly greater than vehicle (Po0.001) at each time point. Consumption of the caffeine beverage was associated with significant increases in amplitude of accommodation and pupil size with time (Po0.001). Amplitude of accommodation rose from 12.4 (±2.2 D) at baseline to 15.8 (±2.6 D) at 90 min. Similarly, pupil size increased from 3.4 (±0.4 mm) at baseline to 4.5 (±0.72 mm) at 90 min. Consumption of vehicle was not associated with increase in amplitude of accommodation or pupil size with time. Conclusion Pupil size and accommodation are affected after ingestion of caffeine. This study suggests caffeine may have some influence on visual functions.

Source: UCC
The calcium sensor synaptotagmin 1 is expressed and regulated in hippocampal postsynaptic spines

Synaptotagmin 1 is a presynaptic calcium sensor, regulating SNARE-mediated vesicle exocytosis of transmitter. Increasing evidence indicate roles of SNARE proteins in postsynaptic glutamate receptor trafficking. However, a possible postsynaptic expression of synaptotagmin 1 has not been demonstrated previously. Here, we used postembedding immunogold electron microscopy to determine the subsynaptic localization of synaptotagmin 1 in rat hippocampal CA1 Schaffer collateral synapses. We report for the first time that synaptotagmin 1 is present in rat hippocampal postsynaptic spines, both on cytoplasmic vesicles and at the postsynaptic density. We further investigated whether postsynaptic synaptotagmin 1 is regulated during synaptic plasticity. In a rat model of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy, we found that presynaptic and postsynaptic concentrations of the protein are reduced compared to control animals. This downregulation may possibly be an adaptive measure to decrease both presynaptic and postsynaptic calcium sensitivity in excitotoxic conditions.

Source: UCC
Calcium-dependent Protein Kinases in Malaria Parasite Development and Infection

Apicomplexan parasites have challenged researchers for nearly a century. A major challenge to developing efficient treatments and vaccines is the parasite’s ability to change its cellular and molecular makeup to develop intracellular and extracellular niches in its hosts. Ca2þ signaling is an important messenger for the egress of the malaria parasite from the infected erythrocyte, gametogenesis, ookinete motility in the mosquito, and sporozoite invasion of mammalian hepatocytes. Calciumdependent protein kinases (CDPKs) have crucial functions in calcium signaling at various stages of the parasite’s life cycle; this therefore makes them attractive drug targets against malaria. Here, we summarize the functions of the various CDPK isoforms in relation to the malaria life cycle by emphasizing the molecular mechanism of developmental progression within host tissues. We also discuss the current development of anti-malarial drugs, such as how specific bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) for parasite CDPKs have been shown to reduce infection in Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Plasmodium falciparum. Our suggested combinations of BKIs, artemisinin derivatives with peroxide bridge, and inhibitors on the Ca(2þ)-ATPase PfATP6 as a potential target should be inspected further as a treatment against malaria.

Source: UCC
CALENDAR EFFECT AND RETURNS OF LISTED COMPANIES ON THE GHANA STOCK EXCHANGE: A DOLS AND GARCH MODELLING

This study investigated the existence of a day-of-the-week, January, and turn-of-themonth effects on the stock returns from the financial institutions and manufacturing companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Daily stock-price data, sourced from the Ghana Stock Exchange website, and accounting data for shareholder/net tangible asset value, sourced from audited financial statements of listed firms, was collected and analyzed with Fama and French’s three-factor model and dynamic ordinary least square regression. In addition, a time-varying effect was examined with the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model. No evidence was found for day-ofthe-week, January, or turn-of-the-month effects in the manufacturing sector; however, effects from day of the week and January were found to exist in the financial sector. With regard to time-varying, neither sector showed evidence of conditional volatility.

Source: UCC