ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Isolation and identification of some plant growth promoting substances in compost and co-compost

In this study, plant growth hormones in compost or co-compost prepared from human excreta and/or municipal solid waste were extracted and identified. Water (deionized) or 80% methanol (chilled) extracts were prepared from the composts for the isolation and identification of plant growth substances. The methanolic extracts of plant growth hormones fraction was further partitioned into cytokinin (fraction) using ethyl acetate and n-butanol; auxins (fraction) using diethyl ether and gibberellins (fraction) using sodium hydrogen carbonate and n-butanol. Five different concentrations of standard plant growth hormones; Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP), Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) were prepared and used in a bioassay test to compare the effects and concentration of the extracted plant growth hormones from the compost and co-compost. The presence of some plant growth hormones in the extracted samples from compost or co-compost was confirmed using the relative fluidity, (Rf) values of the co-chromatography using a standard hormone and the extracted plant growth hormones. The results indicated the presence of plant growth substances such as IAA, GA3 and cytokinins. In co-compost, the concentration of hormone were found to be 68.3 to 345.1 mg kg-1, 61.9 to 185.8 mg kg-1 and 250.4 to 312.7 mg kg-1 for auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, respectively. Whereas in compost 42.0 to 248.8 mg kg-1, 33.1 to 198.3 mg kg-1 and 10.1 to 200.2 mg kg-1 of auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, respectively were found. © 2008 Academic Journals Inc.

Source: UG
Isolation and identification of some plant growth promoting substances in compost and co-compost.

In this study, plant growth hormones in compost or co-compost prepared from human excreta and/or municipal solid waste were extracted and identified. Water (deionized) or 80% methanol (chilled) extracts were prepared from the composts for the isolation and identification of plant growth substances. The methanolic extracts of plant growth hormones fraction was further partitioned into cytokinin (fraction) using ethyl acetate and n-butanol; auxins (fraction) using diethyl ether and gibberellins (fraction) using sodium hydrogen carbonate and n-butanol. Five different concentrations of standard plant growth hormones; Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP), Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) were prepared and used in a bioassay test to compare the effects and concentration of the extracted plant growth hormones from the compost and co-compost. The presence of some plant growth hormones in the extracted samples from compost or co-compost was confirmed using the relative fluidity, (Rf) values of the co-chromatography using a standard hormone and the extracted plant growth hormones. The results indicated the presence of plant growth substances such as IAA, GA3 and cytokinins. In co-compost, the concentration of hormone were found to be 68.3 to 345.1 mg kg-1, 61.9 to 185.8 mg kg-1 and 250.4 to 312.7 mg kg-1 for auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, respectively. Whereas in compost 42.0 to 248.8 mg kg-1, 33.1 to 198.3 mg kg-1 and 10.1 to 200.2 mg kg-1 of auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, respectively were found.

Source: UG
Isolation of a library of aromadendranes from Landolphia dulcis and its characterization using the volsurf approach

A library of nine aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenes (1-9), including eight new natural products (1-5 and 7-9), was isolated from Landolphia dulcis var. barteri along with a previously described cadinane derivative (10) and a new muurolane derivative (11). The structures of all compounds were established by means of NMR methods including COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC experiments, supported by HRMS and optical rotation data. Virtual characterization of the aromadendrane library (1-9) was performed using chemoinformatics tools. 3D molecular fields were calculated with the GRID program using low-energy structures obtained with the MMFF force field. VolSurf descriptors were calculated from the GRID maps and subsequently analyzed by multivariate statistics. The analysis disclosed the presence of a common motif for possible interactions of the aromadendranes with a putative target receptor. At the same time, a considerable chemical diversity within the library was disclosed, despite a close biosynthetic relationship of its members. The results can be interpreted in terms of evolutionary optimization of structures of secondary metabolites for interaction with macromolecular targets and are of interest in terms of assessment of potential "drug-likeness" of natural products.

Source: UG
Isolation of mycobacterium ulcerans from swab and fine-needle-aspiration specimens

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
Isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria from the environment of ghanian communities where buruli ulcer is endemic

This study aimed to isolate nontuberculous mycobacterial species from environmental samples obtained from some selected communities in Ghana. To optimize decontamination, spiked environmental samples were used to evaluate four decontamination solutions and supplemented media, after which the best decontamination solution and media were used for the actual analysis. The isolates obtained were identified on the basis of specific genetic sequences, including heat shock protein 65, IS2404, IS2606, rpoB, and the ketoreductase gene, as needed. Among the methods evaluated, decontamination with 1MNaOH followed by 5% oxalic acid gave the highest rate of recovery of mycobacteria (50.0%) and the lowest rate of contamination (15.6%). The cultivation medium that supported the highest rate of recovery of mycobacteria was polymyxin B-amphotericin B-nalidixic acidtrimethoprim- azlocillin-supplemented medium (34.4%), followed by isoniazid-supplemented medium (28.1%). Among the 139 samples cultivated in the main analysis, 58 (41.7%) yielded mycobacterial growth, 70 (50.4%) had no growth, and 11 (7.9%) had all inoculated tubes contaminated. A total of 25 different mycobacterial species were identified. Fifteen species (60%) were slowly growing (e.g., Mycobacterium ulcerans, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium mantenii, and Mycobacterium malmoense), and 10 (40%) were rapidly growing (e.g., Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Mycobacterium abscessus). The occurrence of mycobacterial species in the various environmental samples analyzed was as follows: soil, 16 species (43.2%); vegetation, 14 species (38.0%); water, 3 species (8.0%); moss, 2 species (5.4%); snail, 1 species (2.7%); fungi, 1 species (2.7%). This study is the first to report on the isolation of M. ulcerans and other medically relevant nontuberculous mycobacteria from different environmental sources in Ghana. © 2016, American Society for Microbiology.

Source: UG
The ISoP CommSIG for Improving Medicinal Product Risk Communication: A New Special Interest Group of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
Isotopic compositional characterization of siderite nodules: Implications for the reconstruction of the depositional paleoenvironment of the Takoradi Shale Formation, around Essipon, Ghana

The late Devonian to early Carboniferous Takoradi Shale Formation (TSF) of the Sekondian Group outcrops along the western coast of Ghana is typically composed of hard, compact, black or dark grey fissile shale or sandy shale, rich in organic matter. The upper part of the formation is characterized by inclusions of large discoidal nodules of compact, siderite or clay ironstone. The geological history of this formation, however, has not been robustly established. We carried out petrographic and stable isotopic studies on these siderites in order to constrain and understand the depositional environment of the TSF. The results obtained will add to the reconstruction of the geologic history of the formation. A total of 20 samples of the siderite nodules hosted in the shales of the TSF were analyzed for their carbon and oxygen isotope compositions using the laser spectroscopy technique. The δ18O (VPDB) values of the analyzed samples range from -7.04 to 3.72, whereas δ13C (VPDB) values typically range from -6.07 to -9.4 per mil. The observed δ18O values are typical of carbonates precipitated from 18O depleted marine pore waters, suggesting that precipitation of the siderite took place under reducing conditions. The C and O plots place the nodules in the boundary between marine and continental environments, with a larger percentage being marine. The textural fabric of the siderite is marked by separate episodes of calcite veining which reflect the different stages in the diagenetic history of the nodules and the TSF concurrently. The study therefore suggests that the siderite nodules formed during early stages of diagenesis in a marine to near shore environment followed by encroachment of meteoric water. Thus, marine siderite precipitation ceased and calcite became the more stable phase occurring as late forming veins in the siderite nodules, evidenced in the textural fabrics.

Source: UG
Issues arising from changes in waterbird population estimates in coastal Ghana

Reported in this paper are waterbird census data collected from four coastal wetlands in Ghana over a period of 16 mo, with extrapolations made to indicate possible changes in population trends and bird distribution in the study area. Results indicated that Ramsar sites continue to play invaluable roles in the support of waterbirds on the coast of Ghana despite the presence of waterbird species on a large number of smaller, unmanaged wetlands. On the other hand, results also indicate that waterbird populations and distributions in Ghana, as reported previously, have changed. The need for conservation action for the waterbird species in Ghana increased with respective dependency on unmanaged wetlands, with 56% of species possibly affected.

Source: UG
Issues in mobile learning in Ghana

Ghana, a sub-Saharan country, faces a crisis in trying to keep its population in step with a technologically-changing world. With limited funding, a dispersed population, and a shortage of lecturers, the ability to manage lifelong learning, as required by a rapidly-changing technological world, for its populace is difficult. In this research-in-progress paper, we propose distance education, notably mobile learning, as a solution to the need of lifelong learning and to the constraints of the existing educational institutions. We also examine some of the issues surrounding distance education. A survey of Ghanaians as to their preferences for curriculum and training in this area is briefly presented. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.

Source: UG
Issues in SME Development in Ghana and South Africa

This paper discusses the characteristics of SMEs to economic development, and the constraints to SME development in developing countries with particular reference to Ghana and South Africa. SMEs in Ghana have been noted to provide about 85% of manufacturing employment of Ghana. They are also believed to contribute about 70% to Ghana’s GDP and account for about 92% of businesses in Ghana. In the Republic of South Africa, it is estimated that 91% of the formal business entities are SMEs. They also contribute 52-57% to GDP and provide about 61% to employment .Notwithstanding the recognition of the important roles SMEs play in these countries, their development is largely constrained by the number of factors such as lack of access to appropriate technology; limited access to international markets, the existence of laws, regulations and rules that impede the development of the sector; weak institutional capacity, lack of management skills and training, and most importantly finance. This paper provides some relevant recommendations to policy makers, development agencies, entrepreneurs, and SME mangers to ascertain the appropriate strategy to improve the SME sector in these countries.

Source: UG
Issues of Women’s Political Participation and Decision-Making in Local Governance: Perspectives from the Central Region of Ghana

This article suggests that although women participate in voting during district assembly elections and are very active in voluntary associations where the majority of them exhibit their leadership skill, they are marginalized in local governance politics. Their leadership qualities have not been translated into leadership opportunities in local governance because of factors such as patriarchy, poverty, lack of access to financial resources, and illiteracy. The study recommends that more attention should be paid to more training at the grassroots level using women’s voluntary associations to improve women’s agency in contesting for, and participating in, local governance elections.

Source: UG
Issues of Women’s Political Participation and Decision-Making in Local Governance: Perspectives from the Central Region of Ghana

This article suggests that although women participate in voting during district assembly elections and are very active in voluntary associations where the majority of them exhibit their leadership skill, they are marginalized in local governance politics. Their leadership qualities have not been translated into leadership opportunities in local governance because of factors such as patriarchy, poverty, lack of access to financial resources, and illiteracy. The study recommends that more attention should be paid to more training at the grassroots level using women’s voluntary associations to improve women’s agency in contesting for, and participating in, local governance elections. © , Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Source: UG
IT for the informal sector in developing countries: A broader perspective

Although the informal sector's presence in the developed world is by no means meagre, the themes and issues related to information technology (IT) for this sector in the developing country contexts seem stark and deeply contrasted with those relating to the informal sector in developed countries. Solutions which attempt to exploit the potential of IT for the informal sector have thus far been either knee‐jerk, ad‐hoc, or have mimicked those targeted at the formal sector. However, technology tools available today can accelerate, catalyze, and go beyond the conventional straight‐jacketed technology, economic, and policy solutions for the informal sector. The papers in this special issue reflect this theme and attempt to present a glimpse of the possibilities for achieving and the challenges in effecting such solutions.

Source: UG
&quot;It Is Getting Too Hot Lately&quot;: Urban Households’ Knowledge, Experiences And Governance Of Extreme Heat Events In Accra, Ghana.

As climate change accelerates, extreme heat events have become one of the most pervasive and dangerous threats to urban populations worldwide, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. This study investigates household awareness, experiences, and governance re sponses to extreme heat in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana. A mixed-methods approach, involving household surveys (n = 413) and focus group discussions (n = 3), was used to assess three neighbourhoods: Dansoman, Osu, and Ashaley Botwe. The findings show high levels of awareness of extreme heat across all neighbourhoods, but Ashaley Botwe reported the greatest disruption to daily life, driven by rapid urbanisation and economic vulnerability. Health concerns, discomfort, and sleep disruptions emerged as the most common impacts. Further analyses revealed that age, generation group, and income significantly influenced household awareness and adaptive responses to extreme heat. Older residents and higher-income households were more likely to invest in cooling systems, while education positively correlated with increased awareness of extreme heat risks. Despite the clear recognition of extreme heat as a major issue, government-led strategies and local engagement in heat governance were found to be largely absent, highlighting a governance gap. This study highlights the necessity for targeted, community-specific climate resilience strategies that consider demographic and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The findings advocate for the integration of localized climate adaptation measures into urban planning frameworks to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme heat in fast-growing cities like Accra.

Source: UG
It is Just Annoying and Time-Wasting”: Understanding Jaywalkers’ Disdain for Footbridge Use in Urban Ghana

Background and objectives: Unsafe road crossing behaviours result in severe but avoidable 68% of pedestrian fatalities in Ghana. Strategies to promote pedestrian crossing facility usage, especially footbridges, have chalked limited success. This study examines pedestrian crossing behaviours, profiles jaywalkers, and unravels the reasons for jaywalking using the Health Belief Model as an explanatory framework. Methods: Primary data were generated at two pedestrian crossings, including a pedestrian footbridge and an informal crossing in the Adentan Municipality of Accra, Ghana. This involved an eclectic mix of techniques, such as observations (of 674 pedestrians), questionnaire surveys (involving 395 jaywalkers), and short qualitative interviews (involving 15 jaywalkers). The rest include a transect walk using the My Tracks app and desktop reviews of media reports. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Thematic narrative analyses were performed on the qualitative interviews obtained directly from the field research and the media desk reviews. We analysed the transect walk data in Microsoft Excel and annotated it on Google Maps. Results: Observations show that more pedestrians use the informal crossing (59%) than the nearby footbridge (41%). The largest category of jaywalkers are the young and educated female pedestrians who typically undertake work-related trips. Jaywalkers perceive the expected benefits of jaywalking, including proximal siting, timeliness, safety, convenience, and better informal crossing illumination, to be over the anticipated costs of safe behaviour, such as using a footbridge. Conclusions: The study concludes with policy strategies to address unsafe road crossing among pedestrians. These include designing people-oriented road systems that meet the psychological needs of road users and well-tailoring road safety campaigns to target female and young adult pedestrians. In addition, adequate law enforcement and the erection of physical barriers to restrain informal crossing use are highly recommended. Study limitations and potential avenues for future studies are also presented.

Source: UG
“It Is Not Something You Can Easily Forget”: Ghanaian Parents’ Experiences of Child Loss

The loss of a child comes with trauma, which affects parents and the entire family. Yet, there is limited support for parents who lose their child and little empirical research has been devoted to the experiences of parents who lose a child in the Ghanaian context. Based on interviews with 20 participants purposively sampled from the Accra Metropolis, this study explored parents’ psychosocial experiences of child loss using a qualitative approach. The study’s findings indicated that bereaved parents showed signs of complicated grief and experienced spousal neglect, self-blame, and emotional pain. Bereaved parents may become sensitive to child comments years after child loss. The quality of interaction after child loss influences how parents experience the loss. findings underscore the need for a joint effort by government and other stakeholders in the health sector to address issues related to to prevent child loss and provide improved services to those who suffer child loss.

Source: UG
“It is not Working for Them but with Them”: Adult Educators Roles With Community Groups in Transforming Communities

This paper reflects on Freire’s discourse on liberating education and adult educators’ educational roles with community groups in transforming communities. Mineral rich communities in Ghana are in danger of losing water bodies, rich arable lands, and forest vegetation cover through “galamsey,” which refers to the gathering of rich mineral resources illegally for sale. Yet the fourth Industrial Revolution Age positions adult educators strategically in making learning the needed skill among community groups to improve communities. This qualitative study adopted a convenience sampling procedure to select and interview eight graduate students in a higher education institution (HEI) in Ghana. Data were analyzed using thematic and narrative approaches. The results indicate that adult educators’ educational roles are empowering, yet they should employ more dialogical, story telling, and conversational approaches; and must listen to community members’ views on community development programs. The study concludes that adult educators drive community development programs via inclusiveness and networks to make communities sustainable.

Source: UG
It Takes A Village: A Pilot Cross-Randomized Trial To Enhance Pregnancy Care And Support In Northern Ghana.

Background Maternal mortality remains a challenge in Ghana, where 263 women per 100000 live births die during pregnancy or childbirth. Barriers to reaching the recommended antenatal care (ANC) include poor access to quality health care, cultural factors, and lack of support for pregnant women. Methods We piloted two cross-randomized interventions: durbars, or local community meetings that incorporated education about ANC and supporting pregnant women, and an enhanced ANC model that added phone calls and a home visit to standard care. The study took place in 30 villages in the Upper East Region of Ghana between August 2021 and November 2022. Results: We tracked 277 women during pregnancy, with 120 women randomly assigned to the enhanced ANC intervention and 142 women living in villages randomized to the durbar intervention. Women who were randomized to the enhanced ANC intervention were 13.2 percentage points (pp) (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.1, 24.3) more likely to have average or above average knowledge of pregnancy danger signs, 22.1 pp (95% CI=9.1, 36.5) more likely to have a birth plan, 28.2 pp (95% CI=13.0, 42.4) more likely to prepare the plan with their partners, and 16.4 pp (95% CI=0.9, 29.3) more likely to pay for delivery with funds set aside in birth plan. They were also 35 pp (95% CI=16.1, 48.1) more likely to make blood donor arrangements than control women who made birth plans. We found no impact of the durbar intervention on study outcomes. Conclusions: Evidence from this pilot suggests that interventions that increase interactions between health providers and pregnant women outside of the health facility may substantially improve women’s experience during pregnancy and maternal health outcomes. Providing structured ways for men to get engaged in ANC increased their involvement. Although we found no evidence the community meetings improved study outcomes, larger studies with repeated meetings and community-wide surveys are needed to make causal conclusions. Registration American Economic Association RCT Registry: 10360; ISCRNT: ISRCTN95961119

Source: UG