ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Acute Effects of Consumption of Energy Drinks on Intraocular Pressure and Blood Pressure

Energy drinks contain a wide variety of ingredients including caffeine, for which there have been conflicting reports regarding its effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood pressure. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of an energy drink (Red Bull®) on the IOP and blood pressure of healthy young adults. Methods: Thirty healthy university students of either gender, aged 18–30 (mean 23.20 ± 2.81) years were randomly selected to participate in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control) and were asked to abstain from caffeine for 48 hours prior to and during the study. Baseline IOP and blood pressure were measured. The experimental group (n = 15) consumed one can of the energy drink (containing 85 mg of caffeine in 250 mL) and measurements were repeated at 30, 60, and 90 minutes, while the control group drank 250 mL of water and were tested over the same time period. Results: When compared with baseline, a significant decrease (P , 0.05) in mean IOP at 60 and 90 minutes was observed in the experimental group. There was no corresponding change in systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Our results suggest that energy drinks (ie, Red Bull) produce a significant reduction in IOP but have no effect on blood pressure. These findings may be interpreted as reflecting the effect of the combination of caffeine and taurine in the Red Bull energy drink. This effect may result from the known hypotensive effect of taurine, and warrants further study.

Source: UCC
Acute effects of consumption of energy drinks on intraocular pressure and blood pressure

Background: Energy drinks contain a wide variety of ingredients including caffeine, for which there have been conflicting reports regarding its effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood pressure. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of an energy drink (Red Bull®) on the IOP and blood pressure of healthy young adults. Methods: Thirty healthy university students of either gender, aged 18–30 (mean 23.20 ± 2.81) years were randomly selected to participate in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control) and were asked to abstain from caffeine for 48 hours prior to and during the study. Baseline IOP and blood pressure were measured. The experi- mental group (n = 15) consumed one can of the energy drink (containing 85 mg of caffeine in 250 mL) and measurements were repeated at 30, 60, and 90 minutes, while the control group drank 250 mL of water and were tested over the same time period. Results: When compared with baseline, a significant decrease (P , 0.05) in mean IOP at 60 and 90 minutes was observed in the experimental group. There was no corresponding change in systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Our results suggest that energy drinks (ie, Red Bull) produce a significant reduction in IOP but have no effect on blood pressure. These findings may be interpreted as reflecting the effect of the combination of caffeine and taurine in the Red Bull energy drink. This effect may result from the known hypotensive effect of taurine, and warrants further study.

Source: UCC
Acute effects of energy drink consumption on physiological responses and physical performance variables of university athletes

Current research has shown varied results when comparing the effects of energy drink on anaerobic exercise measures. Athletes in Ghana have been using energy drink over the time but hardly has any research been conducted on the effect this pre exercise consumption has on their physical performance. The purpose of this study was to find out the short term effects of energy drink on some blood pressure, heart rate, agility, lower body strength and upper body strength of athletes of the University of Cape Coast. To ascertain this, participants were taken through agility, overhead medicine ball throw and vertical jump tests in a pre-test and a post-test. The intervention in this study was the consumption of 250ml of Red Bull energy drink. Forty-four trained athletes (Age: 22.32 ± 2.81 years, height: 167.2 ± 9.83 cm, weight: 61.12 ± 8.01 kg). Paired sample t-test results showed no significant effect of energy drink consumption on systolic blood pressure (t = -0.78, p = 0.437), diastolic blood pressure (t = -0.91, p = 0.366), heart rate (t = -030, p = 0.759) and lower body strength (t = 0.11, p = 0.916). However, there were significant changes in agility (t = 5.42, p = 0.001) and upper body strength (t = -2.79, p = 0.008). Independent sample t-test showed no effect difference on agility (t = -1.13, p = 0.264) and upper body strength (t = -1.77, p = 0.085) between male and female participants. In view of this, athletes, trainers, and coaches could consider recommending the use of energy drink as a pre-exercise supplement, especially in events involving agility and upper body strength.

Source: UCC
Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Patients with Malaria: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study in the Shai-Osudoku District of Ghana

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a highly fatal complication of malaria. We used the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) and Pediatric Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Kidney Disease (pRIFLE) guidelines to assess AKI among children. One hundred children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria were recruited from the St. Andrew’s Catholic Hospital. Admission and 48-h serum creatinine were estimated. Weight and height of the participants were measured, and AKI status determined with the KDIGO and pRIFLE guidelines. A questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic and clinical data of participants. Two percent and 5% of the participants had AKI according to the KDIGO and pRIFLE criteria, respectively. Per the KDIGO guidelines, 1% of the participants had Stage 2 and 1% also had Stage 3 AKI. Four percent had Stage 1 (risk) and 1% had Stage 2 (injury) AKI per the pRIFLE criteria. Participants with AKI were dehydrated, and neither had sepsis or on antibiotics when the KDIGO guideline was used. Participants who had AKI were dehydrated, with 80% having sepsis and 40% on antibiotics when the pRIFLE criteria were used. There was no association between the KDIGO and pRIFLE criteria with respect to AKI status of participants (k = −0.029, P = 0.743). Two percent and 5% of the study participants had AKI when the KDIGO and pRIFLE guidelines were used respectively. One percent of the participants had Stage 2 and 1% also had Stage 3 AKI per KDIGO; 4% had Stage 1 (risk) and 1% had Stage 2 (injury) AKI per the pRIFLE.

Source: UCC
Acute Myeloid Leukemic Cells Express NKG2D or Shed off NKG2D Ligand to Escape Immune-Surveillance

The core function of the immune system is to maintain a balanced healthy condition that enables cells, tissues, organs, organ systems and the organism as a whole to function properly. The immune system does this by recognizing and destroying foreign molecules (non-self) or transformed cells (transformed self) that pose danger to the health and survival of the organism.

Source: UCC
Acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia in high altitude of southwestern region of Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives: Mesenteric ischemia which can be acute or chronic depending on the rapidity of compromised blood flow produces bowel ischemia, infarction, bacterial transmigration, endotoxemia, multisystem organ failure and death. High altitude can precipitate thrombosis because of hypobaric hypoxia and its effect on coagulation system. The objectives of this study are to determine the risk factors, clinical presentation, type and pattern of acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia in high-altitude of southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of all the patients with acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia admitted to the Armed Forces Hospital, southern region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period of 2005 to 2010, and compiled data including demographics, clinical presentation, risk factors, preoperative investigations, management, histopathological examination, and complications. The cases of mesenteric ischemia resulting from conditions such as volvulus and strangulated hernias were excluded. Results: Our study included 21 patients, 10 (48%) men and 11 (52%) women with a mean age of 56 years (SD 14). Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptoms. CT angiography depicted occlusive arterial disease in 8 patients (38%) and venous thrombosis in 13 patients (62%). Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent risk factor for arterial mesenteric ischemia. Chronic liver disease particularly liver cirrhosis was the most prominent risk factor for venous mesenteric thrombosis. Intestinal ischemia was confirmed by histopathological examination. Conclusion: Acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia can mimic other more common intra-abdominal diseases clinically; therefore a high index of suspicion is required particularly for patients with relevant risk factors to prompt early diagnosis and intervention. Venous mesenteric thrombosis was more common than arterial mesenteric ischemia in our region.

Source: UCC
Acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia in high altitude of southwestern region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background and Objectives: Mesenteric ischemia which can be acute or chronic depending on the rapidity of compromised blood flow produces bowel ischemia, infarction, bacterial transmigration, endotoxemia, multisystem organ failure and death. High altitude can precipitate thrombosis because of hypobaric hypoxia and its effect on coagulation system. The objectives of this study are to determine the risk factors, clinical presentation, type and pattern of acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia in high-altitude of southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of all the patients with acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia admitted to the Armed Forces Hospital, southern region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period of 2005 to 2010, and compiled data including demographics, clinical presentation, risk factors, preoperative investigations, management, histopathological examination, and complications. The cases of mesenteric ischemia resulting from conditions such as volvulus and strangulated hernias were excluded. Results: Our study included 21 patients, 10 (48%) men and 11 (52%) women with a mean age of 56 years (SD 14). Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptoms. CT angiography depicted occlusive arterial disease in 8 patients (38%) and venous thrombosis in 13 patients (62%). Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent risk factor for arterial mesenteric ischemia. Chronic liver disease particularly liver cirrhosis was the most prominent risk factor for venous mesenteric thrombosis. Intestinal ischemia was confirmed by histopathological examination. Conclusion: Acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia can mimic other more common intra-abdominal diseases clinically; therefore a high index of suspicion is required particularly for patients with relevant risk factors to prompt early diagnosis and intervention. Venous mesenteric thrombosis was more common than arterial mesenteric ischemia in our region.

Source: UCC
Adaptation strategies to motherhood challenges: a study of teenage mothers in the Adaklu district of Ghana

Teenage mothers face many challenges including those of physical, emotional and psychological nature. Despite the difficulties teenage mothers encounter, some of them are able to succeed in life when the appropriate support systems and adaptive measures are made available to them. This study assessed adaptation strategies of teenage mothers to cope with challenges associated with teenage motherhood. Qualitative data methods including narrative, focus group discussion, photo voice and in-depth interviews were used. The study sampled 30 teenage mothers and 17 stakeholders purposively. Vulnerability to Resiliency framework guided the study. The results reveal that transactional sex, cultural factors and sleeping arrangements are the major causes of teenage motherhood in the study area. Teenage mothers adapted to the challenges of motherhood by depending on support from family members, the Ghana Education Service, NGO’s, Social Welfare Department, and churches in the District. Also, teenage mothers depended on both internal and external assets to adapt to challenges when the need arose. Teenage mothers engaged in agricultural and non-agricultural activities as their source of livelihoods. It is concluded that although teenage mothers’ strife to adjust to their circumstances, they struggle with the challenge of creating sustainability of their livelihoods. Among others, it is recommended that, the District Assembly and NGOs in the District equip the teenage mothers with other employable skills to diversify their livelihoods and ensure sustainability

Source: UCC
Adapting a sexual violence primary prevention program to Ghana utilizing the ADAPT-ITT Framework

Prevention of sexual violence among young people has become a priority area in Ghana, although few initiatives have focused on this topic. The ADAPT-ITT (Assessment, Decisions, Administration, Production, Topical experts, Integration, Training staff, and Testing) framework was used to systematically adapt an evidence-based sexual violence prevention program developed in the United States to a university in Ghana. Results from cognitive interviews, focus groups, beta testing, and topical experts indicate the adapted primary prevention program is promising for use in Ghanaian universities. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has used the ADAPT-ITT framework for a sexual violence program

Source: UCC
Addiction to Microcredit: An Obstacle to Social and Financial Mobility

Contrary to the confidence in the ability of microfinance to uplift the poor on the social structure so that upon reaching a higher echelon, the poor (clients) will be able to save and borrow from formal financial institutions (FFIs), most of the poor and socially vulnerable have now become addicted to micro-credit due to demand and supply-side factors. What could be the possible causes of this micro-credit addiction? The objective of this paper was to unravel the causes of what we call “microcredit addiction” and provide recommendations that will enable the addicted clients to break away from this craving. The paper reviews literature on social and financial impact of microfinance and finds that failure of microfinance in the delivery of its core mandate of poverty reduction results in clients’ addiction to micro-credit and, eventually, inhibits their social and financial mobility. The upscaling intentions of MFIs, compulsory savings, high interest rates and transactions costs, multiple borrowing, client’s inability to save for the future and, surprisingly, clients’ satisfaction with MFIs’ products and services are among the factors that make clients get addicted to micro-credit.

Source: UCC
Adding or subtracting fractions: Relative effectiveness of the LCM and the equivalent fractions methods

The purpose of the study was to compare the efficiency of the Equivalent Fractions (EF) method and the Least Common Multiple (LCM) method of doing the addition and subtracting of fractions on measures of accuracy and retention. All the 230 Form One students of Kaneshie '3' JSS and Kaneshie '1' JSS in the Okaikwei Sub - Metropolitan Area of the Greater Accra Region were involved in the study. Kaneshie' 3' JSS had two streams with an enrolment of 110 students, whilst the Kaneshie ' l' JSS with two streams had 120 students. The existing assembled classes of these Form One students were used in the study intact. The pretest - posttest nonequivalent - groups design was used. The data- collecting instrument developed by the investigator comprised three achievement tests designated pretest, posttest and retention test with co-efficicients of reliability of 0.87, 0.79 and 0.86 (Cronbach Alpha Formula) respectively. A day after the administration of the pretest, the two sets of different groups was taught their respective treatment methods by their respective regular mathematics teachers. A day after the last day of teaching the posttest was administered. After a two _ week period with no instructions in the two methods a retention test was administered. The first six out of the ten hypotheses were analysized by the analysis of covariance, whilst the dependent t-test was used to test the remaining four. The major findings of this study were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of JSS Form One students who used the EF method and the LCM method on tasks involving the addition and subtraction of fractions on the posttest. 2. There was no significant difference bet\veen the mean scores of .ISS Form One students who used the EF method and the LCM method on the addition of fractions on the posttest. .3. There was no significant difference between the mean scores ofJSS Form One students who used the EF method and the LCM method on subtraction of fraction tasks on the posttest. 4. There was significant difference between the mean scores of the pretest and the posttest for students who used the EF method on the addition and subtraction of fractions. 5. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of the pretest and the posttest for students who used the LCM method on the addition and subtraction of fractions. 6. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of the posttest and retention test for the EF Group. Based on these findings it was recommended that curriculum developers improve upon the content of both EF and the LCM methods in the JSS and the primary school syllabuses, textbooks, teacher's handbooks and handouts. It was recommended that in-service training courses on the two methods be organised for classroom teachers; and teacher-training institutions include the exploration of theses methods in their programmes in order to expose student teachers to them.

Source: UCC
Addition of crude tiger nut protein extract affects stiffness of enzymatically cross-linked dairy proteins

The influence of crude tiger nut protein extract on the gel properties of enzymatically cross-linked dairy proteins was investigated. Enzymatic cross-linking of dairy proteins in the presence of crude tiger nut proteins caused the formation of larger casein polymers and increased the degree of polymerization. Gel stiffness of acidified products containing whey proteins was higher when cross-linking occurred in the presence of crude tiger nut proteins. The results are relevant for improving the textural characteristics of acidified aqueous tiger nut extract (tiger nut milk) enriched in dairy proteins

Source: UCC
Additive main effects and multiplicative interactions analysis of yield performances in cowpea genotypes under Ugandan environments

Yield in legumes is the result of many plant processes, which are usually expressed in yield and have been shown to be affected by management, genotype and environment. The objectives of this study were to assess the extent of genotype x environment interaction and to select the stable cowpea genotypes in Ugandan environments over seasons. Seventy-two cowpea genotypes were evaluated for yield in three locations and two seasons in Uganda. The yield data were subjected to analysis of variance and additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) analysis. The results showed a highly significant (P<0.001) genotype by location and by year (season) interaction effects for grain yield, with 69.16% of the total variation attributable to environmental effects, 5.36% to genotypic effects and 12.74% to G x E interactions effects. Genotype MU9 had the highest yield (854.68 kgha-1) but was only adapted to specific environments (Arua 2015B and 2016A). Hence, genotypes WC 30, NE 45, NE 31, NE 51 which were equally high yielding, stable and adapted to the tested environments, and should be recommended for genetic improvement of cowpea germplasm in Uganda

Source: UCC
Address forms among university students in Ghana: a case of gendered identities?

In the last two decades, scholars in discourse studies and sociolinguistics have shown considerable interest in how identity is encoded in discourses across various facets of life such as academia, home, politics and workplace. By adopting an ethnographic-style approach, this study shows how students in a Ghanaian university construct their gendered identities through a key verbal behaviour, address form. A three-pronged framework comprising social constructionism, communities of practice and post-structuralism underpins the present study. Two key findings emerge from the analysis of data. First, three major categories of address forms, namely personal names, descriptive phrases and titles constitute the key lexicon of address terms used by Ghanaian students in their interactions. Second, students constantly use these three modes of address to express, negotiate or resist their gendered identities. These findings have implications for research on identity, language and gender as well as intercultural communication

Source: UCC
Address forms and variation among University students in Ghana

Since Brown and Gilman’s (1960) study, sociolinguists have shown an increasing interest in the use of address forms in various social domains such as politics, workplace, religion, and acdemia. This study shows how students in a Ghanaian university address one another in varied linguistic forms. To accomplish this task, a three-pronged conceptual framework derived from interactional sociolinguistics and an ethnographic-style research design are adopted. Three key findings emerged from the study. The first finding concerns personal name, descriptive phase, and title as key naming practices among students. Second, constrained by socio-cultural and other situational factors, students draw on these naming practices to address an interlocutor. The third point relates to the display of innovativeness and playfulness in the variation of address forms used in, especially, spontaneous interactions. These findings have implications for variationist theory, intercultural communication, and future research on address forms

Source: UCC
Address terms among University students in Ghana: A case study

An important feature of the interface between language and society is the use of address terms. Following Brown and Gilman (1960), research studies of address terms have been extended to several cultural settings. This study contributes to this fertile area of sociolinguistic studies by describing the address terms used among undergraduates in an English-medium university in Ghana. Two sets of data collected from participant and nonparticipant observation and interviews constitute the primary source of data, supplemented by intuition. Analysis and discussion of this study point to three key findings. First, Ghanaian students use four major groups of address terms. The second finding relates to the use of the reported modes of address, namely, personal names, titles, descriptive terms and catch phrases to reflect and construct the individual and social identity of students. The final point is the use of modes of address to reflect a warm and vivacious culture. These findings have implication for theory and intercultural communication

Source: UCC