ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Expert Opinion: Patient Selection for Premixed Insulin Formulations in Diabetes Care

Premixed insulins are an important tool for glycemic control in persons with diabetes. Equally important in diabetes care is the selection of the most appropriate insulin regimen for a particular individual at a specific time. Currently, the choice of insulin regimens for initiation or intensification of therapy is a subjective decision. In this article, we share insights, which will help in rational and objective selection of premixed formulations for initiation and intensification of insulin therapy. The glycemic status and its variations in a person help to identify the most appropriate insulin regimen and formulation for him or her. The evolution of objective glucometric indices has enabled better glycemic monitoring of individuals with diabetes. Management of diabetes has evolved from a 'glucocentric' approach to a 'patient-centered' approach; patient characteristics, needs, and preferences should be evaluated when considering premixed insulin for treatment of diabetes.Funding: Novo Nordisk, India.

Source: UG
Explainable machine learning for predicting the band gaps of ABX3 perovskites

In this study, we trained and compared explainable machine learning algorithms for predicting the band gaps of perovskite materials that have the formula ABX3 containing both zero and non-zero band gaps. Six supervised learning models: 5 ensemble learning methods and 1 neural network (CompoundNet) were employed to study the non-linear relationship that exists between the band gap and the characteristics of its constituent elements such as electronegativity, covalent radius, first ionization energy, and row in the periodic table. The machine learning (ML) models were trained on datasets obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results show that CatBoost and XGBoost models yielded the least predictive errors and the highest coefficient of determination of R2 ≥ 88% than other approaches in the testing phase. Furthermore, the Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) was used for explaining the model based on the elemental composition of each perovskite compound from the physics standpoint, and a novel holistic feature ranking of the explained models was proposed. One key insight gained from the SHAP analysis is that the Pauling electronegativity of the B site cation in the cubic perovskites which characteristically plays an important role in the electronic properties of this class of materials is the feature that contributes most to the prediction of the band gaps. These results reveal the potential of ML to predict materials properties quickly and accurately with datasets useful in the engineering of efficient solar cell devices.

Source: UG
Explaining banking spread

Purpose The paper aims to explain bank interest spread from 2000 to 2014. Design/methodology/approach The study used the ordinary least square panel corrected standard errors (OLS-PCSE) estimation. Generalised least squares results (unreported but available on request) are consistent with the OLS-PCSE results. This is done for 110 developing countries, 50 Europe & Central Asia countries, 33 Latin American countries, 21 Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, 46 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) counties and 8 South Asia countries. The developing countries are further grouped into small, medium and large-size banking markets. Findings The study finds consistent results which indicate that the bigger a bank the less margin charged. The results further show an ambiguous relationship between concentration and net interest margin. The authors find strong evidence to show that less competition leads to inefficient banking market. The study finds lower operational efficiency can lead to higher or lower margin depending on the region or market size. General growth in the economy can lead to a more efficient banking market. The results allude to the fact that inflationary shocks do pass on to deposit and loan rates at different extent and speed. Little evidence show that higher presence of foreign banks leads to higher margins. Practical implications The study recommends Central banks to encourage banks to grow/expand either through mergers or acquisitions. This could be done by increasing minimum capital requirements. When this is done, it is most likely that economies of scale among the merged banking entities will be materialised, potentially causing a sizable reduction in overhead costs that could eventually also increase the intermediation efficiency. While at this, further efficiency should be ensured through stirring up competition. Originality/value This study is the first to give new evidence of banking spread using country level data for developing countries and across different continents.

Source: UG
Explaining Connections in Akan Discourse

The present paper focuses on the communicative roles of three discourse markers, na, (n)so and nanso, in Akan, a Niger Congo (Kwa branch) language. (N)so is an additive focus marker. Its use gives the addressee and indication that the (n)so-utterance ought to be processed within a parallel context provided by the immediately preceding utterance. It highlights the fact that the kind of parallel context that licenses the use of (n)so is much more lenient than is the case for the use of its English equivalent also/too. Significantly, an explanatory relation is among the inferential relations that may arise as a result of the use of the clausal coordinating connective na, a situation which is not permissible in the case of its English counterpart and. The contrastive marker nanso, much like its English counterpart but, signals that the proposition expressed in a following utterance is contrary to what is to be expected. It is suggested that specific language-internal facts ought to be recognized and accounted for within the pursuit of a general cognitive theory of utterance interpretation.

Source: UG
Explaining Fertility Variation in Rural Communities: The Role of Electricity in Ghana

We believe the massive rural electrification, which began in 1992, played a significant role in the varying fertility rates across rural Ghana. Rural households with electricity, tend to have fewer children ever born to a woman than households without electricity. Using control function regressions, we identify the contribution of electrification to the rural-rural variation in fertility by exploiting the exogenous variations in the access rate to electricity at the district-level. Our results indicate that electrification contributes to a fall in fertility among rural women by between one and three children. These results are qualitatively similar to results from our two-stage least squares estimations and counterfactual analysis. Although our results may not reflect what happens in other countries, they suggest that electrification reduces fertility and should be considered when examining the costs and benefits of rural electrification programs in developing countries.

Source: UG
Explaining Interest Rate Spreads in Ghana

The question of the optimal spread between bank lending rates and rates that banks pay on deposits, which is fair to bankers, depositors and borrowers, has dogged economies for some time. In Ghana, there is widespread perception that the spread is too wide. Bankers, on the other hand justify the spread on the basis of economic variables that affect them. This paper contributes to the literature by identifying, in the case of Ghana, the short-run response of the net interest margin of banks to changes in bank-specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic variables within the broad framework of Ho and Saunders (1981). We find that increases in the following factors significantly increase net interest margin — bank market power (or concentration), bank size, staff costs, administrative costs, extent of bank risk aversion and the rate of inflation. On the other hand, increases in the following variables decrease net interest margin significantly — bank excess cash reserves, the central bank lending rate, management efficiency and the passage of time. To help reduce interest rate margins, we recommend that banks should not get too big, the central bank should consider lowering the capital adequacy ratio and banks should be required to pass on to borrowers the full extent of reductions or increases in the central bank lending rate. Continued efforts at keeping inflation at bay will also help.

Source: UG
Explaining Intra-Africa Internationalization

There is a paucity of literature on intra-African trade on the continent despite clear indications that the phenomenon is on the increase on the African continent. This review focuses on some of the key issues and outcomes that have been raised in this recent book. The book provides an eclectic bag of theories to explain the phenomenon, but these theories can have a better explanatory power if situated within an Africapitalism context. Also, strategic, political, and digital considerations in internationalization on the African continent are espoused in Part 2 of the book. The final part of the book presents cases from different sectors in multiple countries to buttress the point that intra-African trade and the emergence of African multinationals is on the rise. The editors have mapped out the nature of intra-African internationalization but clearly note that the attempt is not exhaustive. Consequently, it represents a starting point for scholars to interrogate the issues that have been espoused in this book.

Source: UG
Explaining regional fertility variations in Ghana

Ghana's current population is about 24.2 million, and given the current population growth rate of 2.4%, Ghana's population is expected to double in about 29 years. Although fertility rates in Ghana have declined from 6.4 to 4 children per woman between 1988 and 2008, this transition has not been homogenous across all regions of Ghana. Fertility rates remain higher in the northern regions of the country, compared to the southern regions. This paper examines explanations for the regional fertility variations- particularly the persistently high fertility rates observed in the northern regions-paying particular attention to the contribution of socioeconomic, cultural and religious factors, and fertility attitudes among women in explaining this phenomenon. In order to capture the most recent fertility variations in the country, the paper uses the most recent round (2008) of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, and employs a Poisson multivariate estimation technique. Results indicate that regional differences in fertility are largely explained by socioeconomic factors such as urbanization, child mortality, education and household wealth. Cultural and religious factors also explain some of the observed variation between the Northern region and the southern regions. The inclusion of the duration of post-par tum amenorrhea and other proximate determinants in the model specifications significantly explains residual differences in fertility outcomes, particularly among the three northern regions. Findings therefore indicate a need for more region-specific policy targeting in the effort to reduce high fertility rates and ease the growth in population.

Source: UG
Explaining regional fertility variations in Ghana.

Ghana's current population is about 24.2 million, and given the current population growth rate of 2.4 %, Ghana's population is expected to double in about 29 years. Although fertility rates in Ghana have declined from 6.4 to 4 children per woman between 1988 and 2008, this transition has not been homogenous across all regions of Ghana. Fertility rates remain higher in the northern regions of the country, compared to the southern regions. This paper examines explanations for the regional fertility variations-particularly the persistently high fertility rates observed in the northern regions-paying particular attention to the contribution of socioeconomic, cultural and religious factors, and fertility attitudes among women in explaining this phenomenon. In order to capture the most recent fertility variations in the country, the paper uses the most recent round (2008) of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, and employs a Poisson multivariate estimation technique. Results indicate that regional differences in fertility are largely explained by socioeconomic factors such as urbanization, child mortality, education and household wealth. Cultural and religious factors also explain some of the observed variation between the northern region and the southern regions. The inclusion of the duration of post-partum amenorrhea and other proximate determinants in the model specifications significantly explains residual differences in fertility outcomes, particularly among the three northern regions. Findings therefore indicate a need for more region-specific policy targeting in the effort to reduce high fertility rates and ease the growth in population.

Source: UG
Explaining Technology Adoption with Financial Motivation

Several theories and their variant extensions have been posited to explain or to suggest factors that influence technology adoption. However, these theories seem inadequate in certain scenarios. For instance, none of such technology adoption theories identify or account for the possible influence of external non-personal and non-technology incentives or rewards or compensation on persons faced with the choice to accept or use a technology. However, existing psychology research posits a positive correlation between the offer of financial motivation and the performance of tasks. Therefore, this paper purposes to explain the relationship between financial motivation and individuals’ technology adoption.

Source: UG
Explaining the market power of Ghanaian banks

A competitive banking system helps lower transaction costs and risks. It also helps make financial markets more efficient. In Ghana however, observers believe that the banking industry is not competitive and point to the huge spread between bank lending and borrowing rates as evidence. The Ghanaian banking industry is analysed for evidence of market power by computing the Lerner Index of banks using quarterly data from 2001 to 2006. The evidence is that Ghanaian banks possess market power. Factors that significantly explain the market power of Ghanaian banks are: bank size, efficiency of banks with respect to staff costs, the macroeconomic environment and time. © Journal compilation © 2008 The Economic Society of South Africa.

Source: UG
Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa.[version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Official COVID-19 case counts and mortality rates across Africa are lower than had been anticipated. Research reports, however, indicate far higher exposure rates than the official counts in some countries. Particularly in Western and Central Africa, where mortality rates are disproportionately lower than the rest of the continent, this occurrence may be due to immune response adaptations resulting from (1) frequent exposure to certain pro-inflammatory pathogens, and (2) a prevalence of low-grade inflammation coupled with peculiar modifications to the immune response based on one’s immunobiography. We suggest that the two factors lead to a situation where post infection, there is a rapid ramp-up of innate immune responses, enough to induce effective defense and protection against plethora pathogens. Alongside current efforts at procuring and distributing vaccines, we draw attention to the need for work towards appreciating the impact of the apparently widespread, asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections on Africa’s populations vis a vis systemic inflammation status and long-term consequences for public health.

Source: UG
Explaining underpricing of IPOs in frontier markets: Evidence from the Nigeria Stock Exchange

The paper provides empirical analyses of IPO underpricing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, from the period 1990 to 2006. The results indicate an average abnormal initial day returns of 43.1%. There is evidence of long-run underperformance of 0.6%. Results from our regression model explaining initial abnormal returns for the IPOs of Nigeria show that size of firm and audit quality are important variables affecting underpricing. The results also show the presence of a non-linear relationship between the offer price and underpricing. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

Source: UG
Explanatory models of diabetes in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana

Objectives. The objective of the study was to examine explanatory models of diabetes and diabetes complications among urban poor Ghanaians living with diabetes and implications for developing secondary prevention strategies.Design. Twenty adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited from three poor communities in Accra. Qualitative data were obtained using interviews that run between 40 and 90 minutes. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed thematically, informed by the explanatory model of disease concept.Results. Respondents associated diabetes and its complications with diet, family history, lifestyle factors (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and physical inactivity), psychological stress and supernatural factors (witchcraft and sorcery). These associations were informed by biomedical and cultural models of diabetes and disease. Subjective experience, through a process of body-listening, constituted a third model on which respondents drew to theorise diabetes complications. Poverty was an important mediator of poor self-care practices, including treatment non-adherence.Conclusions. The biomedical model of diabetes was a major source of legitimate information for self-care practices. However, this was understood and applied through a complex framework of cultural theories of chronic disease, the biopsychological impact of everyday illness experience and the disempowering effects of poverty. An integrated biopsychosocial approach is proposed for diabetes intervention in this research community. © 2014 Taylor and Francis.

Source: UG
Explanatory Models of Stroke in Ghana: Perspectives of Stroke Survivors and their Caregivers

Objective: This study examines explanatory models of stroke and its complications among people living with stroke, and their caregivers, in two urban poor communities in Accra (Ga Mashie) and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. Methods: Twenty-two stroke survivors and twenty-nine caregivers were recruited from two urban poor communities in Accra and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Qualitative data were obtained using semi-structured interviews that lasted between 45 minutes and 2 hours. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed thematically, informed by the concept of explanatory models of illness. Results: Participants referred to stroke as a sudden event and they expressed different emotional responses after the stroke onset. Stroke survivors and their caregivers attributed stroke with poor lifestyle practices, high blood pressure, unhealthy diet and dietary practices, supernatural causes, stress, family history, other chronic diseases, and delay in treatment of symptoms. While the stroke survivors associated stroke complications with physical disability and stigmatization, the caregivers associated these with physical disability, behavioural and psychological changes, cognitive disability and death. These associations were mostly influenced by the biomedical model of stroke. Conclusion: The biomedical model of stroke is important for developing interventions that will be accepted by the stroke survivors and the caregivers. Nevertheless, sociocultural explanations of stroke need to be taken into consideration during delivery of medical information to the participants. This study proposes an integrated biopsychosociocultural approach for stroke intervention among the study participants.

Source: UG
Explanatory models of stroke in Ghana: perspectives of stroke survivors and their caregivers

Objective: This study examines explanatory models (EMs) of stroke and its complications among people living with stroke, and their caregivers, in two urban poor communities in Accra (Ga Mashie) and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra. Methods: Twenty-two stroke survivors and 29 caregivers were recruited from 2 urban poor communities in Accra and KBTH. Qualitative data were obtained using semi-structured interviews that lasted between 45 minutes and 2 hours. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed thematically, informed by the concept of EMs of illness. Results: Participants referred to stroke as a sudden event and they expressed different emotional responses after the stroke onset. Stroke survivors and their caregivers attributed stroke with poor lifestyle practices, high blood pressure, unhealthy diet and dietary practices, supernatural causes, stress, family history, other chronic diseases, and delay in treatment of symptoms. While the stroke survivors associated stroke complications with physical disability and stigmatisation, the caregivers associated these with physical disability, behavioural and psychological changes, cognitive disability and death. These associations were mostly influenced by the biomedical model of stroke. Conclusion: The biomedical model of stroke is important for developing interventions that will be accepted by the stroke survivors and the caregivers. Nevertheless, sociocultural explanations of stroke need to be taken into consideration during delivery of medical information to the participants. This study proposes an integrated biopsychosociocultural approach for stroke intervention among the study participants.

Source: UG
Exploitation rates and management implications for the fisheries of Bontanga Reservoir in the Northern Region of Ghana

The exploitation rates of eight major component fishery species,Auchenoglanis occidentalis, Brycinus nurse, Clarias gariepinus, Hemichromis fasciatus, Marcusenius senegalensis, Oreochromis niloticus, Sarotherodon galilacus and Tilapia zilli, of gill net fishery of Bontaga reservoir, were studied from March, 2004 to March , 2006 based on length-based models. The exploitation rates (E) of A occidentalis and H. fasciatus were 0.7 and 0.6 which exceeded the optimization (Eopt) criterion of 0.5 for sustainable exploitation of fisheries, indicating that these species were over exploited. For B. nurse and S. galilaeus, E=0.5, indicating that these species were at their maximum rates of exploitation. For C. gariepinus, M. Senegalensis, O. niloticus and T. Zillii, E<0.5 indicting that these species were to over exploited. Based on the selection factor of the legal minimum gill net mesh size of 5 cm of Ghana Fisheries Act 625, the estimated mesh size for catching the eight species ranged from 9.9-19.3 cm., calling for an upward review of the legal minimum mesh size of gill nets from 5 to 10cm for sustainable exploitation of reservoir fisheries. The adoption of minimum mesh size of gill nets of 10cm, restriction of further entry into the fishery, control rights and community based c-management system are some management options suggested to enhance sustainable exploitation and management of the fisheries.

Source: UG