ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
NGOs, rights-based approaches and the potential for progressive development in local contexts: constraints and challenges in northern Ghana

This article assesses the potential of rights-based approaches as a progressive development strategy by exploring the extent to which rights can be made real for people living in conditions of material deprivation and social oppression. It does so through a case study of Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA), a small rights-promoting non-governmental organization (NGO) that operates among poor communities in north-east Ghana. It examines the successes of BEWDA, albeit partial and incomplete, in securing human rights, as well as the constraints and challenges faced. Findings highlight elements of a progressive development strategy, notably the focus on the agency and activism of poor and oppressed groups and their articulation of legitimate claims for rights, while also identifying the obstacles posed by the context of dual governance structures – decentralized local government and traditional authority. The research demonstrates a tension between focusing on localized struggles for human rights while the bigger picture of structural constraints and dominant power relations remains largely unchallenged.

Source: UG
Nigerian Migration to Ghana: History, Motivations and Associational Forms

Nigerian migration to Ghana dates back to the caravan period. In the first half of the 20th century, Nigerians were attracted to Ghana by the mines, cocoa plantations, and railway work. Later in the 1960s, they dominated the Ghanaian market place as traders of all manner of goods until they were expelled in 1969. For close to two decades, between 1992 and 2010, there has been a growing desire by Ghanaians towards democratic governance. Consequently, Ghana has experienced widespread immigration, mostly from the West African sub-region, and Nigeria in particular. This book explores Nigerian presence in Ghana and focuses on the history, motivations and associational forms that have emerged in the 21st century to take care of the needs of these migrants in Ghana.

Source: UG
Nitric oxide and pre-eclampsia: A comparative study in Ghana

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is one of the commonest aetiologies of foetal and maternal mortality and morbidity. Though common, the aetiology of preeclampsia has remained unknown with several inconclusive theories surrounding the disease. Recent studies have implicated vascular endothelial dysfunction and possibly nitric oxide in preeclampsia. AIM: To compare plasma nitric oxide levels in pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant women in a large tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: This was a case-control study conducted among pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant women in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital over a four-month period. Thirty (30) pre-eclamptic and 30 healthy pregnant women aged 18-35 years with over 30 weeks’ gestation were consecutively recruited into the study after obtaining informed consent. Plasma nitric oxide levels were determined using the Griess Reagent system. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 and results were compared using the independent t-test. A P-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The parity and body mass index (BMI) of the participants were similar. There was a significant difference in the blood pressure of the pre-eclamptic compared to healthy pregnant women. There was no statistically significant difference (P-value = 0.160) in the plasma levels of nitric oxide in pre-eclamptic (Mean = 1178.78; SD = 89.70 nM) compared to healthy pregnant women (Mean = 1365.43; SD = 95.46 nM). CONCLUSION: Plasma nitric oxide levels may not play a significant role in the aetiology of pre-eclampsia. © 2018 Ebenezer Owusu Darkwa, Robert Djagbletey, Raymond Essuman, Daniel Sottie, Gifty Boatemaa Dankwah, George Aryee.

Source: UG
Nitric oxide dysregulation in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia among Ghanaian women

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is still a disease of theories as the exact cause remains uncertain. Widespread vascular endothelial cell dysfunction is thought to mediate the generalized vasospasm and hypertension characteristic of PE. Altered nitric oxide (NO) production has been associated with the endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of PE but conflicting results have emerged from previous studies. Objectives: To determine maternal serum levels of NO, a biomarker of endothelial function, in nonpregnant, normal pregnant, and preeclamptic women. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional case–control study of 277 women comprising 75 nonpregnant, 102 normal pregnant, and 100 preeclamptic women conducted at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital between April and June 2011. About 5 mL of venous blood was obtained from the participants for the various investigations after meeting the inclusion criteria and signing to a written consent. Serum levels of NO were determined by Griess reaction. The data obtained were analyzed with SPSS version 20. Results: The study showed significantly elevated serum levels of NO in preeclamptic women (82.45±50.31 μM) compared with normal pregnant (33.12±17.81 μM) and nonpregnant (16.92±11.41 μM) women with P,0.001. The alteration in maternal serum NO levels was significantly more profound in early-onset (severe) PE (119.63±45.860 μM) compared to that of late-onset (mild) disease (62.44±40.44 μM) with P0.001, indicating a more severe vascular endothelial cell dysfunction in the early-onset disease. Conclusion: This study has determined a profound NO upregulation in PE evidenced by significant elevation of NO metabolite levels compared to normal pregnancy. This might be due to deranged endothelial function with dysregulated production of NO to restore the persistent hypertension characteristic of PE.

Source: UG
Nitric oxide in kidney transplantation

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with kidney failure. Compared to dialysis therapy, it provides better quality of life and confers significant survival advantage at a relatively lower cost. However, the long-term success of this life-saving intervention is severely hampered by an inexorable clinical problem referred to as ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), and increases the incidence of post-transplant complications including loss of renal graft function and death of transplant recipients. Burgeoning evidence shows that nitric oxide (NO), a poisonous gas at high concentrations, and with a historic negative public image as an environ mental pollutant, has emerged as a potential candidate that holds clinical promise in mitigating IRI and pre venting acute and chronic graft rejection when it is added to kidney preservation solutions at low concentrations or when administered to the kidney donor prior to kidney procurement and to the recipient or to the reperfusion circuit at the start and during reperfusion after renal graft preservation. Interestingly, dysregulated or abnormal endogenous production and metabolism of NO is associated with IRI in kidney transplantation. From experi mental and clinical perspectives, this review presents endogenous enzymatic production of NO as well as its exogenous sources, and then discusses protective effects of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-derived NO against IRI in kidney transplantation via several signaling pathways. The review also highlights a few isolated studies of renal graft protection by NO produced by inducible NOS.

Source: UG
Nitric oxide inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase in fresh-cut apples (Malus domestica Borkh)

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite treatment on alcohol dehydrogenase activity and the shelf life of apple tissue were investigated. Fresh-cut apple slices were stored for 2 days at 6 C in 0.25-1% NO (v/v, balance N2) or 100% N2 atmospheres. Slices were also treated with 1% NO or 2 mM sodium nitrite (NaNO2) for 20 min, stored for 6 weeks in 100% N2 at 6 C, and analyzed for acetaldehyde, ethanol, and ethyl acetate accumulation, firmness, and color. Compared with N2 or deionized water controls, treatment with 1% NO or 2 mM NaNO2 inhibited ethanol accumulation, whereas that of acetaldehyde increased. Ethyl acetate accumulation was inhibited only by NO. Slice firmness was not affected by NO or NaNO2 treatment, but slices were darker than the untreated controls. NO and nitrite may extend the shelf life of fresh-cut produce with low concentrations of phenolic compounds. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Source: UG
Nneora: An African Doll's House: A study of the virtues of womanhood

Transcreation is a term used in post-colonial discourse to denote works which have been translated from one language and culture into another and assume a significantly new quality. In this paper I discuss one such transcreation of Henrik Ibsen’s late 19th century play, A Doll’s House, into a 21st century Nigerian play, Nneora: An African Doll’s House by Tracie Chimo Utoh-Ezeajugh. That Ibsen’s play and his unforgettable Nora have translated so well into a relevant Nigerian play with clearly identifiable perspectives and parallel themes is a mark of Ibsen’s mastery and understanding of human character; which, it may be argued, forms the basis of the possibilities of such transcreations. It is the human element, which is universally recognisable, that makes it possible for a play written centuries earlier to have abiding relevance when translated into another culture in another time.

Source: UG
nNumerical investigation of bubble interaction mechanisms in gas-liquid bubbly flows: Harmonisation of bubble breakup and coalescence effects

Numerical investigation of the dynamics of gas-liquid bubbly flow has been performed by using the population balance approach. Using the homogeneous MUSIG model coupled with the two-fluid model, the evolution of bubble size distribution in vertical pipes has been simulated with appropriate consideration of bubble interaction mechanisms. In particular, the study focuses on harmonising the imbalance often associated with breakup and coalescence rates by performing extensive numerical investigations for the examination and comparison of different model formulations to harmonise the coalescence calibration factor of Prince and Blanch (1990) model. To avoid the fine-tuning procedure of selecting calibration factors to harmonise the breakup and coalescence effects, a breakup calibration factor of 1.0 (default setting in ANSYS CFX) was used and three different expressions area-averaged and included as the coalescence calibration factor for the model of Prince and Blanch (1990) modelled using CFX Expression Language (CEL). The performance of the three different “cases” (modifications) has been investigated, compared with each other and validated against the experimental data reported by Monr´os et al. (2013). In general, the comparison has shown that all the “cases” yielded satisfactory results when the numerical results were compared with five primitive experimental parameters, namely: gas volume fraction, interfacial area concentration, Sauter mean bubble diameter, gas velocity and liquid velocity. The encouraging results obtained clearly show the capability of the “cases” modelled in capturing the evolution of the bubble sizes. The agreement with the gas volume fraction profiles indicates a level of confidence in the interfacial force models used. Similarly, the agreement seen with the interfacial area concentration indicates that the “cases” modelled for the birth and death processes are reasonably adequate to describe the bubble dynamics. Overall, the comparison shows that the model labelled as “case 2” presented the best results in most of the experimental conditions simulated.

Source: UG
No associations of human pulmonary tuberculosis with Sp110 variants

Background: After a recent report on the role of the Ipr1 gene in mediating innate immunity in a mouse model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the human Ipr1 homologue, Sp110, was considered a promising candidate for an association study in human tuberculosis. Methods: In a sample of .1000 sputum positive, HIV negative West African patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and .1000 exposed, apparently healthy controls, we have genotyped 21 Sp110 gene variants that were either available from public databases, including HapMap data, or identified by DNA re-sequencing. Results: No significant differences in the frequencies of any of the 21 variants were observed between patients and controls. This applied also for HapMap tagging variants and the corresponding haplotypes, when including sliding window analyses with three adjacent variants, and when stratifying controls for positivity and negativity according to the results of intradermal tuberculin (purified protein derivative, PPD) skin tests. DNA re-sequencing revealed 13 novel Sp110 variants in the 59-UTR, exons, and adjacent intronic regions. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained in this case control study, the hypothesis that Sp110 variants and haplotypes might be associated with distinct phenotypes of human M tuberculosis infection is doubtful.

Source: UG
No Evidence for Lymphatic Filariasis Transmission in Big Cities Affected by Conflict Related Rural-Urban Migration in Sierra Leone and Liberia

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
No Ownership, No Commitment - The Bane of Environmental Regulations in Ghana

Until recently, most governments in developing countries had equated environmental protection to the conservation of natural resources. For African countries in particular, whose citizens were barely surviving against all odds, embarking on any rigorous environmental protection appeared to be a non-issue and a distant dream. Indeed, even occasional calls for proper management of industrial waste, for example, were treated as an attempt to slow down the pace of industrialization. This apparent lack of enthusiasm in environmental protection, coupled with the inordinate desire to break away from the shackles of poverty and deprivation, meant that a compelling catalyst was needed to bring both governments and the populace their responsibilities. Even after this recognition, the subsequent approaches of most governments remain lethargic, ad-hoc and uncoordinated, making the achievements of the objectives of such policies a mirage. Using mainly qualitative data, this study looks at the development of environmental protection in Ghana and examines the challenges facing authorities in enforcing environmental policies. It calls for political will, commitment and an integrated managerial approach to such policies if their objectives are to be achieved

Source: UG
“No visible signs of pregnancy, no sickness, no antenatal care”: Initiation of antenatal care in a rural district in Northern Ghana

Background Attending antenatal care (ANC) early contribute to better birth outcomes. Studies have shown that many pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa do not initiate ANC early (i.e. in the first trimester). This study determined the gestational age of pregnancy at first ANC attendance. It also explored factors that influence initiation of ANC. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted in Ghana, used mixed methods to collect data from women aged 15–45 years who delivered 6 months prior to the study. Crosstabs, chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyse quantitative data. Also, 33 participants were engaged in focus group discussions (FGDs). Thematic content analysis was used to develop themes from the data. Results Of the 431 participants, 8.9, 8, 25.4, 45.3 and 10.7% started ANC in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth months of pregnancy respectively. Formal education, employment and number of living children were predictors of initiating ANC early; by 12 weeks of gestation. Women who attained primary, junior high, secondary education and above had 5.6, 57.5 and 163.2 higher odds respectively of initiating ANC in the first trimester compared to women with no education (p ≤ 0.05). Women with two, three and four to nine living children were 4.1, 3 and 3.5 times respectively more likely to access ANC early compared to primigravidae women. However, women with five or more children and primigravidae women are more likely to initiate ANC late; after 12 weeks gestation. The FGD data also show that most of the participants initiated ANC late. Two themes: visible signs of pregnancy and or sickness influence ANC attendance in the first trimester. The themes that explain late initiation of ANC are: healthy, do not value the benefits of early ANC attendance, desire to avoid embarrassment associated with the pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, indirect cost of accessing ANC and traditional rites and practices.

Source: UG
The 'no-reflow' phenomenon in cerebral circulation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our research was to study the pattern of post-ischemic cerebral hemodynamic changes and observe the impact of enalapril on the course of these changes in cats. MATERIAL/ METHODS: The experiments were carried out on anesthetized cats using the autohemoperfusion method in cerebral and peripheral vessels with a stable volume of blood. Transitional peripheral (lower limb) and brain ischemia was simulated by stopping the autohemoperfusion pump for 15 minutes, tying various anastomoses in the neck region, and reducing arterial blood pressure (ABP) to 40-30 mm Hg, followed by reinfusion of the shed blood. RESULTS: Intravenous administration of enalapril solution in a dosage of 0.25 mg kg-1 in the early phase of reperfusion (10 minutes into the postischaemic period) prevented the development of long-term "no-reflow"of cerebral blood flow, as observed in the controls. There was a 40.8+/-3.2% reduction of cerebrovascular tone, 39.3+/-3.1% in peripheral vessels, and 44.7+/-1.5% lower arterial blood pressure at the end of 120 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Enalapril caused a reduction of cerebrovascular tone, completely eliminating the "no-reflow" syndrome after brain ischemia and somewhat potentiated the hyperperfusion phase. At the same time, the drug did not aggravate the general hypotension observed after ischemia in the controls.

Source: UG
Nodulation of legumes in inland valley soils of Ghana

Because most African farmers cannot afford the purchase of chemical fertilizers to correct soil nutrient deficiencies, alternatives such as increased use of biological nitrogen fixation are most useful. For best results, sound recommendations are needed on the use of different legumes, their rhizobial requirement and management for optimum nitrogen fixation. In West Africa however, except for the highly popular legumes such as cowpea, soybean and groundnut, few reliable data are available on the abilities of other legumes to nodulate and fix nitrogen with naturally occurring strains of rhizobia in various soils and thus on the need for rhizobial inoculation. A screen-house study was conducted at the University of Ghana, Legon, to assess the potential of 13 commonly grown legumes in Ghana to form nodules with native rhizobia from eight inland valley soils and to identify those for which further research would be needed to enhance their nodulation. Two of the soils had indigenous rhizobia that induced formation of nodules on all the legumes evaluated. Rhizobia in the remaining soils induced the formation of nodules on more than 75% of the legumes studied. However, numbers of nodules plant-1 on most of the legumes were low and were influenced by (i) the type of soil, (ii) legume and (iii) the soil x legume interaction. Population densities of rhizobia capable of forming nodules with legumes in the studied soils estimated by the most probable number method (MPN) ranged from very low (negligible to 1.7 x 101 cells g-1 soil for those that could form nodules with mucuna) to high (up to 1.7 x 105 cells g-1 soil and 3.1 x 105 cells g-1 soil for cowpea and green gram, respectively). Nodule number per plant correlated significantly with some important indices of soil fertility; namely %N, available NO3 - and % organic C, with r values of 0.39*, 0.60* and 0.40*, respectively. Inoculation of mucuna increased nodulation by between 3 to 20-fold and N2 fixation by 18 to 98 percent depending on the soil type. Non-inoculated mucuna absorbed a high proportion of its N (up to 60%) from the soil and may mine the soil of native N if harvested for seed. The low rhizobial populations and poor nodulation are indications for the necessity for inoculating many of these legumes in similar soils in West Africa.

Source: UG
Nodulation, Nitrogen Fixation and Diversity of the African Yam Bean Rhizobia in Four Ghanaian Soils

Nitrogen fertilization had a significant adverse effect on nodulation, nodule dry weight and N derived from N2 fixation, whiles there was an increase in dry matter yield. In contrast, P fertilization had a positive effect on all the parameters mentioned above. The cross–inoculation studies revealed that the African yam bean rhizobia were able to form nodules on cowpea, yardlong bean and Pueraria, but not on bambara, lima bean and crotalaria, even though rhizobia isolated from bambara, lima bean and yardlong bean formed nodules on the African yam bean. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis with RPO4 showed that the 30 isolates examined consisted of two major genetic groups, with a mean similarity of 60%. A similar phylogenetic clustering of these isolates was observed with the RPO1 primer with mean similarity of 54%. However, the RPO1 primer revealed a higher diversity among the African yam bean isolates in Haatso and Adenta series than did the RPO4 primer, based on the Shannon–Weiner diversity index. The amplification of the 16S–23S rDNA (ITS) gene of almost all the isolates gave band of sizes from 350 bp to 850 bp. Combined restriction analysis of digested ITS region with HhaI and HindIII endonucleases, also distinguished the isolates into two major phylogenetic groups at 56% similarity level. Characterization of the test rhizobia isolates based on PCR amplification of the 16S rDNA gene gave almost a single band of 1500 bp. Restriction of the 16S gene with HaeIII and HhaI enzymes also clustered the isolates into two major groups at 53% similarity level. From the results, it can be concluded that, African yam bean rhizobia may be widespread and diverse in Ghanaian soils. Also, the African yam bean appears to be a relatively permissive host. This character however may not guarantee effectiveness in N2 fixation and may sometimes lead to the formation of less effective symbioses with less specific and ineffective strains. It is therefore recommended that the study be conducted in various areas with different soils types to establish the validity of the conclusion, that the African yam bean nodulating rhizobia are common in most if not all Ghanaian soils. Further taxonomic study of indigenous African yam bean Rhizobium isolates in different soils should be carried out by taking as many morphological, biochemical and genetic characters as possible to have a more complete picture of the taxonomy and the evolutionary relationship between the African yam rhizobia that nodulate other commonly given legumes, such as cowpea, lima bean and bambara groundnuts.

Source: UG