ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Chemical Derivatization and Characterization of Novel Antitrypanosomals for African Trypanosomiasis

The search for novel antitrypanosomals and the investigation into their mode of action remain crucial due to the toxicity and resistance of commercially available antitrypanosomal drugs. In this study, two novel antitrypanosomals, tortodofuordioxamide (compound 2) and tortodofuorpyramide (compound 3), were chemically derived from the natural N-alkylamide tortozanthoxylamide (compound 1) through structural modification. The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed through spectrometric and spectroscopic analysis, and their in vitro efficacy and possible mechanisms of action were, subsequently, investigated in Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), one of the causative species of African trypanosomiasis (AT). The novel compounds 2 and 3 displayed significant antitrypanosomal potencies in terms of half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) and selectivity indices (SI) (compound 1, EC50 = 7.3 M, SI = 29.5; compound 2, EC50 = 3.2 M, SI = 91.3; compound 3, EC50 = 4.5 M, SI = 69.9). Microscopic analysis indicated that at the EC50 values, the compounds resulted in the coiling and clumping of parasite subpopulations without significantly affecting the normal ratio of nuclei to kinetoplasts. In contrast to the animal antitrypanosomal drug diminazene, compounds 1, 2 and 3 exhibited antioxidant absorbance properties comparable to the standard antioxidant Trolox (Trolox, 0.11 A; diminazene, 0.50 A; compound 1, 0.10 A; compound 2, 0.09 A; compound 3, 0.11 A). The analysis of growth kinetics suggested that the compounds exhibited a relatively gradual but consistent growth inhibition of T. brucei at different concentrations. The results suggest that further pharmacological optimization of compounds 2 and 3 may facilitate their development into novel AT chemotherapy

Source: UG
Chemical Heating for Minimally Instrumented Point-of-Care (POC) Molecular Diagnostics.

The minimal instrumentation of portable medical diagnostic devices for point-of-care applications is facilitated by using chemical heating in place of temperature-regulated electrical heaters. The main applications are for isothermal nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and other enzymatic assays that require elevated, controlled temperatures. In the most common implementation, heat is generated by the exothermic reaction of a metal (e.g., magnesium, calcium, or lithium) with water or air, buffered by a phase-change material that maintains a near-constant temperature to heat the assay reactions. The ability to incubate NAATs electricity-free and to further to detect amplification with minimal instrumentation opens the door for fully disposable, inexpensive molecular diagnostic devices that can be used for pathogen detection as needed in resource-limited areas and during natural disasters, wars, and civil disturbances when access to electricity may be interrupted. Several design approaches are reviewed, including more elaborate schemes for multiple stages of incubation at different temperatures.

Source: UG
Chemical quality of groundwater drawn from boreholes in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

In the Ashanti Region of Ghana, the physicochemical quality of groundwater sampled from 38 wells in 24 communities in Ejisu-Juaben and Bosomtwi-Atwima- Kwanwoma districts was surveyed between November 2004 and June 2005. Water samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), SO 4 2-, CI, PO 4 3-, NO 2 -, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Na, K and Pb. The results revealed wide variations in analysed parameters: pH (4.0-8.0); EC (44-1110 μs-cm -1), turbidity (0.1-45 NTU), colour (&lt;5-60 HU), hardness (3-400 mg CaCO 3·L -1), alkalinity (10-365 mg CaCO 3·L -1), CI -1 (5-92 mg·L -1), SO 4 2- (0.5-17 mg-·L -1), PO 4 3- (&lt;0.01 to 2.4 mg·L -1) and NO 2'(&lt;0.01 to 0.08 mg·L -1). Elemental concentrations were Fe (0.06-3.4 mg·L -1), Mn (&lt;0.01-1.6 mg·L -1), Cu (0.01-1.3 mg·L -1), Zn (&lt;0.01-3.3 mg·L -1), Cd (&lt;0.001-0.006 mg·L -1), Pb (&lt;0.001-0.038 mg·L -1), Na (4-87 mg·L -1) and K (0.2-80 mg·L -1). With the exception of isolated cases of trace metal contamination and turbidity, water from the boreholes in the two districts had acceptable quality for domestic use. Copyright © 2009 IAHS Press.

Source: UG
Chemical Reactivity and Alteration of Pyrite Mineral in the Kubi Gold Concession in Ghana

Pyrite is the most common among the group of sulfide minerals on Earth and abundant in most geological settings. This gangue mineral, in association with garnet, hematite, magnetite, and other sulfide minerals, acts as an indicator mineral in the Kubi concession of the Asante Gold corporation in Ghana. X-ray difraction (XRD), air annealing in a furnace, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were applied to investigate the crystal structure, identify individual elements, permanence, transformation, and chemical/electronic properties of such pyrite. The study aims to identify individual elements and gain an understanding of the surface reaction mechanisms, as well as the properties of precipitated pyrite particles observed during the hydrothermal formation of the ore deposit. XRD shows that pristine and annealed samples contain some hematite and quartz, besides pyrite. Results from air annealing indicate that the relationship between pyrite and hematite-magnetite is controlled by temperature. EDX reveals that the sample has O and C as contaminants, while XPS in addition reveals Ba, Au, P, Al, and N. These elements are attributed to pyrite, that bonds metallically or covalently to neighboring ligands/impurity minerals such as oxides and chalcogenide sulfides, as well as the gangue alteration minerals of magnetite and hematite in the pyrite sample. These findings suggest that during the hydrothermal fow regime, pyrite, pathfinder elements, and impurity minerals and metals were in contact with quartz minerals before undergoing hematite transformation, which thus becomes an indicator mineral in the Kubi gold concession.

Source: UG
Cheminformatics-Based Identification of Potential Novel Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Natural Compounds of African Origin

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has impacted negatively on public health and socioeconomic status, globally. Although, there are currently no specific drugs approved, several existing drugs are being repurposed, but their successful outcomes are not guaranteed. Therefore, the search for novel therapeutics remains a priority. We screened for inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease and the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein from an integrated library of African natural products, compounds generated from machine learning studies and antiviral drugs using AutoDock Vina. The binding mechanisms between the compounds and the proteins were characterized using LigPlot+ and molecular dynamics simulations techniques. The biological activities of the hit compounds were also predicted using a Bayesian-based approach. Six potential bioactive molecules NANPDB2245, NANPDB2403, fusidic acid, ZINC000095486008, ZINC0000556656943 and ZINC001645993538 were identified, all of which had plausible binding mechanisms with both viral receptors. Molecular dynamics simulations, including molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) computations revealed stable protein-ligand complexes with all the compounds having acceptable free binding energies <−15 kJ/mol with each receptor. NANPDB2245, NANPDB2403 and ZINC000095486008 were predicted as antivirals; ZINC000095486008 as a membrane permeability inhibitor; NANPDB2403 as a cell adhesion inhibitor and RNA-directed RNA polymerase inhibitor; and NANPDB2245 as a membrane integrity antagonist. Therefore, they have the potential to inhibit viral entry and replication. These drug-like molecules were predicted to possess attractive pharmacological profiles with negligible toxicity. Novel critical residues identified for both targets could aid in a better understanding of the binding mechanisms and design of fragment-based de novo inhibitors. The compounds are proposed as worthy of further in vitro assaying and as scaffolds for the development of novel SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic molecules.

Source: UG
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Indole-Containing Acyloin Derivatives

Indole-containing acyloins are either key intermediates of many antimicrobial/antiviral natural products or building blocks in the synthesis of biologically active molecules. As such, access to structurally diverse indole-containing acyloins has attracted considerable attention. In this report, we present a pilot study of using biotransformation to provide acyloins that contain various indole substituents. The biotransformation system contains the tryptophan synthase standalone β-subunit variant, PfTrpB6 , generated from directed evolution in the literature; a commercially available L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO); and the thiamine-diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzyme NzsH, encoded in the biosynthetic gene cluster (nzs) of the bacterial carbazole alkaloid natural product named neocarazostatin A. The utilization of the first two enzymes, the PfTrpB variant and LAAO, is designed to provide structurally diverse indole 3-pyruvate derivatives as donor substrates for NzsH-catalysed biotransformation to provide acyloin derivatives. Our results demonstrate that NzsH displays a considerable substrate profile toward donor substrates for production of acyloins with different indole ring systems, suggesting that NzsH could be further explored as a potential biocatalyst via directed evolution to improve the catalytic efficiency in the future.

Source: UG
Chemoreception niche of Bulinus globosus, as an aid to snail control

Schistosomiasis has been a major public health problem especially in developing countries, where access to potable water is generally limited. Its control calls for a search for various interventions that would not only target the causative agent and human behavior, but also the snail intermediate host. This study explored the possibility of using bioactive factors from naturally occurring crude or semi-processed products including some plant parts and vegetables to control the Bulinus globosus intermediate host. In all, five (25%) of the test materials in decreasing order (pawpaw > cabbage > short banana > sugarcane > sweet orange) acted as statistically significant arrestants for the adults, but four (20%) of them in decreasing order (cabbage > unripe pawpaw > sugarcane > ripe tomato) were arrestants for the juveniles at (p< 0.01). Four (20%) of the test materials acted as significant attractants for both adult and juvenile snails in decreasing order below (unripe pawpaw > short banana > sugarcane > cabbage and cabbage > palm > sugarcane > unripe pawpaw). However, mango tree bark, neem tree bark, unripe mango, onion and cassava stem acted as significant repellents to both adult and juvenile snails. The identified attractants and arrestants for Bulinus globosus, pawpaw and cabbage, may be useful in its chemical manipulations especially as molluscicides in controlling the intermediate host snails.

Source: UG
Chemoreception niche of Bulinus globosus, as an aid to snail control.

Schistosomiasis has been a major public health problem especially in developing countries, where access to potable water is generally limited. Its control calls for a search for various interventions that would not only target the causative agent and human behavior, but also the snail intermediate host. This study explored the possibility of using bioactive factors from naturally occurring crude or semi-processed products including some plant parts and vegetables to control the Bulinus globosus intermediate host. In all, five (25%) of the test materials in decreasing order (pawpaw > cabbage > short banana > sugarcane > sweet orange) acted as statistically significant arrestants for the adults, but four (20%) of them in decreasing order (cabbage > unripe pawpaw > sugarcane > ripe tomato) were arrestants for the juveniles at (p< 0.01). Four (20%) of the test materials acted as significant attractants for both adult and juvenile snails in decreasing order below (unripe pawpaw > short banana > sugarcane > cabbage and cabbage > palm > sugarcane > unripe pawpaw). However, mango tree bark, neem tree bark, unripe mango, onion and cassava stem acted as significant repellents to both adult and juvenile snails. The identified attractants and arrestants for Bulinus globosus, pawpaw and cabbage, may be useful in its chemical manipulations especially as molluscicides in controlling the intermediate host snails.

Source: UG
Chicken Feather Protein Dispersant for Effective Crude Oil Dispersion in the Marine Environment

Various studies report that aside from the adverse impact of crude oil on the marine environment, there is the likelihood that chemical dispersants used on the surface of water as oil-treating agents themselves possess a degree of toxicity, which have additional effects on the environment. To eliminate the subject of toxicity, there are several materials in nature that have the ability to form good emulsions, and such products include protein molecules. In In this study, chicken feathers, which are known to contain ≥90% protein, were used to formulate a novel dispersant to disperse crude oil in seawater (35 ppt). Protein from chicken feathers was extracted and synthesized into the chicken feather protein (CFP) dispersant using deionized water as a solvent. Emulsions formed from CFP-synthesized dispersants were stable over a considerably long period of time, whereas the droplet sizes of the emulsion formed were on the average very small in diameter, making droplet coalescence very slow. The CFP dispersants exhibited moderate surface and interfacial activity at normal seawater salinity. Using the US EPA’s baffled flask test, at 800 and 1000 mg/ml CFP surfactant-to-oil ratios, dispersion effectiveness values of 56.92 and 68.64 vol % were obtained, respectively, which show that CFP has a great potential in crude oil dispersion. Moreover, the acute toxicity test performed on Nile tilapia showed that CFP was practically nontoxic with an LC50 value of more than 100 mg/L after 96 hours of exposure. The results obtained showed that the CFP dispersant is environmentally friendly.

Source: UG
Chiefs and Electoral Politics in Ghana’s Fourth Republic

The 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana categorically places a ban on chiefs from doing politics. Whereas some chiefs have shown respect to the ban on them from politics, others see the ban on them as discriminatory and against their human rights. They see the injunction on them not to actively participate in electoral politics as so devastating and humiliating that, for the sake of protecting their interest and political self-preservation, they have adopted a number of political responses. One of these responses has been to adopt different ways of influencing the outcome of both national and local elections that have been conducted. To a large extent they have been successful because they are very influential people in their local areas of jurisdiction. The paper therefore recommends that in view of the fact that some chiefs would still want to bring their influence to bear on national politics either publicly or behind the scenes, an independent second chamber must be created and its membership must include chiefs who would be elected by the Regional House of Chiefs on a non-competitive and non-partisan electoral process to bring their influences and rich experiences to bear on policies and bills before forwarding them for presidential assent. In this way, chiefs are given the opportunity to play their role in national politics without subjecting themselves to the taunts and mockery that are characteristic of electoral politics

Source: UG
Chieftaincy and Rural Development in Ghana Since Independence

Chieftaincy is one of the oldest and highly cherished institutions in Ghana. The institution is so close to the hearts of people and useful as an instrument of government that governments since independence have scrupulously avoided any unwarranted interference with it and have either left it alone or provided specifically for its existence. Chiefs play an important role in local traditional governance. They serve as a medium for the expression of social, political, religious and to some extent, economic authority. Chiefs are a force to reckon with in the rural areas where the bulk of Ghanaians reside and have served as uniting forces in mobilizing the people for several communal activities. In spite of the leadership provided by chiefs in the rural areas since independence, it is widely believed that the rural areas still remain under-developed. One can however not relegate to the background the invaluable roles that have been played by chiefs particularly in the rural areas. The paper discussed the extent to which the role played by chiefs has contributed to rural development in terms of poverty reduction, provision of basic social infrastructure and amenities; the various constraints of chiefs since independence and the extent to which such constraints have hindered their efforts at developing their areas of jurisdiction; and the possible roles that chiefs can play in modern times to bring about more development in the rural areas

Source: UG
Chieftaincy Conflicts in Northern Ghana: A Challenge to National Stability

The chieftaincy institution in Ghana has been rocked by several conflicts due to land litigation, political polarization along gate lines and over succession to the chicfship position. Even though Ghana is characterized more by a condition of stable peace than by conflict (Hughes 2003: 11). chieftaincy conflicts have become a disturbing phenomenon in the political landscape of the country. Ghanaians woke up on January 1,2008 to celebrate the New Year only to hear the beating of war drums at Bawku in the Upper. East Region of Ghana. The government immediately imposed a curfew on the town to curb a violent inter-ethnic dispute between the Kusasi and the Mamprusi ethnic groups. The heavy police detachment to the conflict area did not help matters, neither did the appeals from the Members of Parliament from the area. It took a heavy military detachment to the area coupled with the imposition of stringent curfew hours (from 3pm to 7am) before some calm could be restored to the Bawku township and neighbouring areas. The violence in Bawku is a clear reminder to Ghanaians that chieftaincy conflicts in any part of the country is a threat to national stability. The Bawku conflict is one of many such conflicts that have erupted in the country in the last decade. In Ghana, many communities are bedeviled with chieftaincy conflicts that are on the verge of erupting into violence and are likely to result in the destruction of property, injury and death. Dagbon, Wala, Wenchi, Ga, Anlo, Nanung (Bimbilla). Buipe, Yapei, Babato Kese, among others are just a few of the traditional areas that made, and continue to make headlines in Ghana, reminding us of chieftaincy conflicts that occurred in the past, those currently on-going, and others yet to explode in the near future. These conflicts divert the nation's attention and energies from fighting poverty, low enrolment in schools, hunger, diseases and ignorance that are the real enemies of Northern Ghana, the main area of focus of this paper.

Source: UG
Chieftaincy Conflicts in Northern Ghana: The Case of the Bimbilla Skin Succession Dispute

The ongoing chieftaincy dispute in Bimbilla, in Northern Ghana, is between two princes from the same gate, each claiming to have been enskinned by the appropriate authority, as a Bimbilla Naa, overlord of the Nanumba people. This dispute is unique in two ways; it is an intra-gate dispute, and, reveals an inherent power struggle between two powerful kingmakers in the making of the Bimbilla chief. Between May and November 2007, data was collected in Tamale, and in Bimbilla, and some of its surrounding settlements. Data was gathered from primary documents such as archival material and court documents, and through informal conversations and in-depth with the disputing parties, and some of the kingmakers.

Source: UG
Chieftaincy in Ghana: Challenges and prospects in the 21st century

The paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy institution in Ghana. Historical challenges in the form of colonial attempts to sidestep the institution and the attempts by the immediate post independence governments to subjugate and divest them of their economic strength through drastic laws, never cowed the institution. Currently, the 1992 Fourth Republic Constitution bars chiefs from participating in partisan politics thus infringing on their inalienable right of free association. The responses of chiefs to current challenges include the setting up of education funds, participating in HIV/AIDS education, and sensitizing the people on the dangers of environmental degradation. In sum, the noted resilience of the institution will once more assist in containing the challenges to the institution in the 21st century.

Source: UG
Chikungunya viruses containing the A226V mutation detected retrospectively in Cameroon form a new geographical subclade

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Child Adoption Awareness Among Women With Infertility In The Greater Accra Region

The traditional Ghanaian society is pro-natal, where marriage's ultimate purpose is to reproduce children to continue the family lineage. Infertility is the most common reason for married women not having children. Infertility is one of the most challenging life experiences for women, and finding a solution can be difficult. Child adoption is an alternative coping strategy for couples to deal with infertility. The situation awareness model which was used as an organizing framework investigated child adoption awareness among women with infertility in the Greater Accra Region. A descriptive exploratory design was employed. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to conduct semistructured interviews with 14 women with infertility. Women with infertility in the community who visited St. Moses Hospital provided data. Analyses of the data were conducted using thematic content analysis after audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim. Six significant themes and nineteen subthemes emerged. The findings demonstrated that childless women were aware of child adoption, but they were unknowledgeable about where to go or the procedure involved. Discrimination, cultural beliefs, property inheritance concerns, and procedural bottlenecks are the hurdles to child adoption. These findings have implications for nursing practice, research, and community sensitization. There is the need for education on child adoption as an alternative coping strategy for infertility.

Source: UG