ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Drug abuse on students’ academic performance in selected senior high schools in the Greater Accra metropolis

The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of drug abuse on students’ academic performance in selected senior high schools in the Greater Accra Metropolis. Four research questions guided the study. The study employed cross-sectional design. A sample size of 133 teachers and 329 third year students were selected for the study. The questionnaire was first pilot-tested to ensure its validity and reliability. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the research data. The results indicated that both teachers and students understood drug abuse to be the misapplication of drugs. A number of factors were implicated for causing drug abuse. These included negative peer influence, poor parental monitoring and supervision, and poorly communicated rules and expectations. It was also found that the use of drugs affect cognitive development, leads to low school attendance and school dropout. Drugs abuse affects emotional state. It was recommended that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) should encourage peer education among students in order to reduce the influence that negative peer pressure exerts on students. Parents should also be educated to intensify their monitoring and supervisory roles.

Source: UCC
Drug Delivery by Zeolite Nanomaterials in Treatment of Breast Cancer: In Vitro

In this work, synthetic Linde type A (LTA) zeolites were examined to find out how well they could encapsulate and release doxorubicin cancer drug. Synthetic zeolites were used for this study because of their uniform pore distribution and crystal purity. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD data on the control LTA zeolite showed average crystallite size of 40.89 nm, 28.40 nm and 29.76 nm at 60℃, 80 ℃ and 105 ℃ respectively. The percentage crystallinity also revealed values of 65.99, 71.39 and 76.37 at 60℃, 80 ℃ and 105 ℃ respectively. The XRD diffraction pattern on drug loaded LTA zeolite showed average crystallite size of 24.89 nm, 16.44 nm and 26.91 nm at 60℃, 80 ℃ and 105 ℃ respectively. The percentage crystallinity of the loaded drug on LTA zeolite also revealed values of 70.79, 83.78 and 68.82 at 60℃, 80 ℃ and 105 ℃ respectively. The FTIR data also showed the signature peaks characteristics of LTA zeolites at all the three temperatures (60℃, 80 ℃ and 105 ℃). The morphology of the control and loaded LTA zeolites were determined by Helium Ion Microscope (HIM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET) surface area, pore size and pore volume were also determined. The drug release data from 60 ℃ had a correlation (R2) values of 0.9139, 0.8764 and 0.7844 with the first-order, Hixson-Crowell and zero-order models respectively. Drug release data for 80 ℃ and 105 ℃ also had a (R2) values of 0.7345 and 0.5160 respectively for the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The Alamar blue assay cell viability results showed that 105 ℃ was cytotoxic to the cells with an IC50 of 92 μg/ml.

Source: UCC
Drug use and its perceived effects on small scale mine labourers in Asutifi north district of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.

There is wide spread perception of drug use by small scale miners in their activities. The problems of drug use and its impact on an individual have been noted in most drug research works. In Ghana, drug research studies over the years have concentrated on second cycle institutions, certain communities and institutions. This study sought to describe the nature of drug use and the perceived effects of the drugs on small scale mine labourers of Asutifi North District of Brong-Ahafo Region. To achieve this purpose, Snowball sampling technique was selected as the best sampling technique considering the dispersed and difficult nature of small scale mine labourers in their locations. A sample size of 120 small scale mine labourers was selected for participation. The findings revealed that drug use among small scale mine labourers was very frequent with marijuana being the most frequently used drug. The study further revealed that the drugs were obtained from their immediate surrounding mine shops and drug peddlers at the mining sites and the cost of the drugs was relatively low. Additionally, multiple reasons were found to be attributed to the use of the drugs rather than a single reason. Finally, perceptions held by the small scale mine labourers on the effects of drug use on their health, work, family and friends were generally negative. There is the need for drug educators to direct their attention to this sector of the population of which most are the youth and educate them on mainly the long term effects of drug use on an individual.

Source: UCC
Drug use in Ghana: knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes in a small group of elite student sports persons

Study aim: This study assessed the level of knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of tertiary student athletes on doping issues. Emphasis was placed on the knowledge of substances found on the prohibited list of the World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA) as well as the potential effects and side effects of the drugs when consumed. Material and methods: The study was conducted in elite tertiary student sportspersons who had qualified in their various disciplines to represent Ghana at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China. Results: The study found that these sportspersons had significantly higher levels of knowledge of socially abused drugs that also appeared on the WADA prohibited list, such as cocaine (90.9%, p<0.01), heroine (90.9%, p<0.01), cannabis (87.9%, p<0.01) and steroids (72.7%, p<0.05), as compared to drugs that are not socially abused. There was also a large gap in knowledge among respondents with regard to specific knowledge about the possible effects and side effects of banned substance. Of these sportspersons, 30% had received some form of education on doping agents; however, there was no significant statistical difference in knowledge between respondents that had received some form of education and those that had not. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that sporting authorities would have to intensify their efforts to provide tertiary school athletes with credible and up-to-date information on doping issues. These interventions may also need to be extended to the wider sporting populace.

Source: UCC
Drug use in Ghana: knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes in a small group of elite student sportspersons

This study assessed the level of knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of tertiary student athletes on doping issues. Emphasis was placed on the knowledge of substances found on the prohibited list of the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) as well as the potential effects and side effects of the drugs when consumed. Material and methods: The study was conducted in elite tertiary student sportspersons who had qualified in their various disciplines to represent Ghana at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China. Results: The study found that these sportspersons had significantly higher levels of knowledge of socially abused drugs that also appeared on the WADA prohibited list, such as cocaine (90.9%, p<0.01), heroine (90.9%, p<0.01), cannabis (87.9%, p<0.01) and steroids (72.7%, p<0.05), as compared to drugs that are not socially abused. There was also a large gap in knowledge among respondents with regard to specific knowledge about the possible effects and side effects of banned substance. Of these sportspersons, 30% had received some form of education on doping agents; however, there was no significant statistical difference in knowledge between respondents that had received some form of education and those that had not. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that sporting authorities would have to intensify their efforts to provide tertiary school athletes with credible and up-to-date information on doping issues. These interventions may also need to be extended to the wider sporting populace.

Source: UCC
Drying kinetics and quality of dried moringa leaves using different drying methods

The drying kinetics and effect quality of dried moringa leaves using different drying methods. The methods were microwave (MW) alone, solar, sun, shade, hot air alone and blanch-assisted and MW-assisted hot air drying methods. The drying experiments were performed in the temperature range of 50 to 70 °C, MW-power of 270 to 720 W, blanching time of 1 to 3 min and sample thickness 3 to 20 mm. MW-pretreatment time, blanching time, sample thickness, microwave power and hot air temperature had significant effects on the drying time but they generally affected negatively the quality attributes (AA, TP, AOA, BI and FL) of the dried samples. Four thin layer drying models were fitted to the experimental data and the Midilli et al model most appropriately described the drying behavior of moringa leaves. Rehydration studies were carried out at the temperature of 60 oC and the hot air drying method best fitted Weibull equation, first order kinetic and exponential association equations. The optimal drying conditions of moringa leaves were found to be 50 oC at the thickness of 4.79 mm for hot air, and that for MWalone was 501.1 W at 3 mm thickness. For blanch-assisted hot air drying, optimal conditions were 70 oC and blanching time of 2.58 min while for MWassisted hot air drying, they were 70 °C at MW-power of 270 W and MW-time of 3 min. The results demonstrated that all the drying methods differentially affected the drying rates and the desirable and deleterious quality characteristics. The implications for the choice of drying method are discussed.

Source: UCC
Drying Kinetics of Cassava and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato and the Physico-Nutritional Characterization of their Composite ‘Fufu’ Flours

In an effort to address illnesses caused by a lack of vitamin A, the orange- fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is being pushed for eating as a public health tool in Ghana. As a staple diet in many households, ‘fufu’ can be suitably fortified with OFSP for the delivery of its essential micronutrients for health improvement. In this study, the drying characteristics of cassava pulp and orange-fleshed (OFSP) sweet potato chips for processing into ‘fufu’ flours and the moisture sorption behaviour of the composite flour blends were investigated. Also, the nutritional and functional characteristics of composite cassava/OFSP flour blends were examined. The composite flour blends were then cooked into ‘fufu’ and subjected to sensory evaluation using the nine- point hedonic scale. The pulverized cassava pulp was dried at 70 oC while the OFSP chips were dried at 60 oC. The initial average moisture content of the pulverized cassava pulp was 0.07 kg water/kg dry matter and was dried to 8.9 x 10-5 kg water/kg dry matter in 6 h while the OFSP chips was also dried from 0.6 kg water/kg dry matter to 9.0 x 10-5 kg water/kg dry matter in 9 h. The drying curves showed a single falling rate period for both samples. The effective moisture diffusivity for cassava was 2.36 x 10-8 m2/s and that for OFSP was 4.60 x 10-8 m2/s, both being within the range for drying agricultural food commodities. The Page model best described the drying characteristics of both cassava and OFSP samples. The moisture sorption isotherm curves for the various composite flour blends showed a sigmoidal plot that was typical of type II isotherms for starchy foods. The GAB model also best described the moisture sorption behaviour of the various composite blends. OFSP significantly (p ˂ 0.05) enriched the nutritional and functional properties as its substitution levels for cassava increased. However, the elastic texture and pasting properties degraded. Beyond 5% substitution of cassava with OFSP, sensory panelists disliked the organoleptic properties of the ‘fufu’ due to the high soluble sugar and fat in OFSP which affected the ‘fufu’ texture (elasticity). The low level of microbial count with no detection of aflatoxin strains in the flours signified how the fortified ‘fufu’ flour was safe for consumption. Shelf-life analysis after six months also showed that beta- carotene content in the most preferred flour sample packaged in the polyethylene-laminated paper bag was high to serve its nutritional purpose. Overall, this study showed a high potential of OFSP substitution for cassava in the production of ‘fufu’ to improve its nutritional value. The adoption of this OFSP-based food product will help diversify the uses of OFSP and also provide an alternative healthy and nutritious food for addressing vitamin A deficiency diseases in Ghana and Africa at large.

Source: UCC
A dsge model on climate change, interest rate, and welfare in ghana

Given the scientific consensus that climate change is largely anthropogenic, it is essential to understand how human-induced activities are driving the externality of the century. To this effect, using a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model, this study sought to investigate the impact of economic activities and policies on climate change in Ghana. Despite its low emission levels, Ghana faces substantial climate change impacts, including flooding, earth trembling, and rising sea levels, necessitating immediate investment in sea defenses. The study‘s objectives were to examine the effects of monetary policy on climate change, find the link between environmental policy and climate change, understand the effects of a change in productivity on climate change, and to analyze the welfare implications of interest rate and environmental policy shocks on the average Ghanaian consumer. The findings reveal that changes in interest rates affect climate change through various transmission mechanisms, with lower interest rates leading to increased emissions. Positive environmental policies were found to effectively reduce climate change and improve mitigation efforts by incentivizing green technologies and sustainable industries. However, increased productivity, while economically beneficial, exacerbates climate change due to increased energy use. The study concludes that while positive environmental policy shocks improve consumer welfare, positive monetary policy shocks have the opposite effect, resulting in a 3 percent extra welfare loss compared to the gains from environmental shocks. These findings underscore the need for a balanced approach to economic growth and environmental sustainability in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Du Discours Ironique Comme Vecteur Du Féminisme Modéré Chez Ken Bugul Et Ama Ata Aidoo

This thesis which is both comparative, stylistic and thematic examines irony as a tool of moderate feminism in selected works of two African women writers, a Francophone and an Anglophone. These are Riwan ou le chemin de sable and De l'autre côté du regard of the Senegalese-Beninese novelist Ken Bugul, and Anowa and Changes: a love story of the Ghanaian writer Ama Ata Aidoo. The investigation is based on the premise that both writers use irony as a discursive technique in their contributions to issues of women's oppression. The use of this style requires the reader to use his or her critical thinking skills in order to interpret accurately the vision that these authors project on feminist doctrines in Africa. The study then sets itself the task of exploring and explaining the ironic representation of feminist discourse in the selected texts of the authors. It then analyses and interprets irony as an expression of moderate feminism through the selected texts. The data, mainly collected from the four books, were subjected to a hermeneutic study in the light of Firestone (1972)’s theory of radical feminism and a combination of the various tendencies of African feminism. The study concludes that the feminism projected by Bugul and Aidoo is a fusion of Western feminist theories based on the demand for women's rights and freedom through revolt and the spirit of velvetiness and solidarity characteristic of Afrocentric feminism.

Source: UCC
Dual faced HMGB1 plays multiple roles in cardiomyocyte senescence and cardiac infammatory injury

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is constitutively expressed by many cells. In cells, HMGB1 is a transcription factor or transcription enhancer that is involved in nucleosome sliding, DNA repair, V(D)J recombination, telomere homeostasis, autophagy and viral sensing. HMGB1 can also be secreted or released by stressed cells and serves as an alarmin, cytokine or growth factor to activate the immune response. This protein facilitates CD4+T cell differentiation and tissue repair through binding with its receptors, including toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). Recent works have established that HMGB1 plays many vital functions in cardiac inflammatory injury, cardiac regeneration and remodelling. The present review addresses the novel role of HMGB1 in secretion and cardiomyocyte senescence and in the dual faced roles of HMGB1 in cardiac inflammatory injury, inflammatory resolution and cardiac regeneration and remodeling following cardiac injury

Source: UCC
Duration correlates of nasal consonants in Akan

The study examines the duration of Akan nasal consonants at different word positions. In all, 70 speakers were recorded, ten from each of the seven Akan communities, made up of five males and five females. The subjects were asked to repeat the words presented in a carrier frame “Ɔse {key word} anaa?” [ɔsɪ…anaa] three times, which were recorded and analyzed using Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Laboratory (CSL) model 4500 software. The study reveals that the bilabial nasal [m]has the longest duration, followed by the alveolar nasal [n], the velar nasal [ɲ] and the palatal nasal [ŋ] respectively. At different word-positions, the duration at word initial is longer than word-medial and word-final, as that of word-medial is also longer than word-final

Source: UCC
Dynamic analysis of the West African Monsoon and its variability over Ghana

In this study, the International Center for Theoretical Physics’ Regiona l Climate Model Version 4 (RegCM4) is used over the period 1998-2010, to study the dynamics of rainfall over West Africa. The study also attempts to understand the West African Monsoon (WAM) circulation and its characteristics. Global Precipitation Climatology Project precipitation (GPCP), Tropical Rainfa ll Measuring Mission (TRMM), global atmospheric reanalysis (ERA-Inter im, ERAINT), RegCM4 winds and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis were used to aid in the understanding of the WAM circulat ion dynamics. The main WAM circulation features and the general pattern of rainfa ll in the model simulation compare well with observations. The model simulates the mean rainfall at the peak of the West African summer rainy season (June-July- August), and it captures well the rainbelt associated with the ITCZ. Examination of the intraseasonal variability of rainfall shows that the model captures the three distinct phases of the West African monsoon circulation: onset, intensification and cessation phases. The simulation, for the monthly variability, well depicts the bimodal and unimodal nature of rainfall over southern and northern Ghana respectively. The association between Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) and rainfall showed a high positive correlation in most part of the Guinean Coast over the June-July-August (JJA) rainfall season. This depict that a rise in temperatures over the ocean is associated with high rainfall over the coast of West Africa including Ghana.

Source: UCC
Dynamic Relationship Between Covid-19-Related News And Stock Market Returns In Africa

The upsurge of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on financial markets as well as social and political repercussions around the world. Investors‘ decisions were impacted by the widespread that media coverage of the pandemic brought on by the disease's spread. Between 1st February 2020 and 28th February 2022 is the specific focus period of this research. The study's goal is to evaluate and analyse how Africa's stock markets responded dynamically to COVID-19-related news utilizing quantilein- quantile regression and quantile regression as its methods of estimate. In relation to the aim of this research, the findings indicated that the panic index has a positive and significant impact on the stock returns in a bearish market and a significant and adverse influence on a bullish market in Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana, and Mauritius. The results also show that a decrease in fake news produces a rise in stock returns in Ghana, Mauritius, Egypt, and South Africa, and vice versa in extreme market conditions. However, Fake news has no impact on the returns of the indices when the market is either bullish or bearish in Morocco and Nigeria. Also, the media coverage index has an adverse and significant impact on both the lower and upper quantiles for Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa, as well as all quantiles for Nigeria and Mauritius. This study suggests that more intensive use of proper communication channels is required to mitigate COVID-19- related financial turbulence. The government may adopt accurate and reliable dissemination of information or news about the COVID-19 outbreak through proper channels of communication.

Source: UCC
Dynamic server configuration for multiple streaming in a home network

In home network, to manage network bandwidth usage, one solution is to control the server outgoing traffic with a token bucket policy. Hull-based token bucket parameter setting allows the guarantee of Quality of Service for variable bitrate video streaming. Hull is an abstraction of the bitrate, following the bandwidth requirement evolution dynamically. In the case of multi-streaming, we investigate a shifting technique to reduce the peaks impact. Postponing the streaming starting time of a video helps decrease the maximum required bandwidth. The technique is then mixed with the hull-based reservation. Simulations show the effectiveness of the combined approaches to optimize bandwidth usage, guaranteeing the best QoS for streaming. Online utilization is also discussed

Source: UCC
Dynamics of equilibrium prices with differential and delay differential equations using characteristic equation techniques

This study compares differential model to delay differential model in terms of their qualitative behaviour with respect to equilibrium price changes using roots of characteristic equation techniques. The equilibrium states of both price adjustment models were simulated using inputs from same source. The study found that irrespective of initial prices set for the system, the current price of the differential model would always move monotonically towards the equilibrium price defined for the system. However, the current price of the delay- differential model will fluctuate and move away from the initial prices due to the delay parameter associated with the supply, then gradually decrease and turn towards the defined system equilibrium price. Results from the study also showed that current prices in the delay-differential model are not predictable at the initial stage due to the time delay parameter in the supply function of price. On the other hand, current prices in their counterpart models without delay are predictable, as they always converge to the equilibrium price points defined in the system. Since most economic and physical systems are time delay inherent, it is recommended that such systems are modeled using delay-differential equations to reflect realities of the phenomena

Source: UCC