ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Dagbani focus particles, a descriptive study

This paper describes focus marking in Dagbani, a Gur language of Ghana, with emphasis on the particles that are used to mark focus. It presents evidence that contrary to previous analyses of Dagbani (e.g. Olawsky 1999, Issah 2008) the particles ka, n, la, and mi all mark contrastive focus in Dagbani. These particle mark a range of focus types including subject focus, non-subject focus, predicate focus and clausal focus. Part of the discussion is devoted to the need to distinguish between these particles and homophones that are a subject of confusion in the literature. The particles are also subjected to several tests of exhaustivity used in the literature to determine contrastive focus. The approach adopted here is mainly descriptive. The goal is to present the bare descriptive generalisations on these particles with little recourse to the detailed assumptions of any specific syntactic or semantic theoretical approach.

Source: UG
Daily characteristics of West African summer monsoon precipitation in CORDEX simulations

We analyze and intercompare the performance of a set of ten regional climate models (RCMs) along with the ensemble mean of their statistics in simulating daily precipitation characteristics during the West African monsoon (WAM) period (June–July–August–September). The experiments are conducted within the framework of the COordinated Regional Downscaling Experiments for the African domain. We find that the RCMs exhibit substantial differences that are associated with a wide range of estimates of higher-order statistics, such as intensity, frequency, and daily extremes mostly driven by the convective scheme employed. For instance, a number of the RCMs simulate a similar number of wet days compared to observations but greater rainfall intensity, especially in oceanic regions adjacent to the Guinea Highlands because of a larger number of heavy precipitation events. Other models exhibit a higher wet-day frequency but much lower rainfall intensity over West Africa due to the occurrence of less frequent heavy rainfall events. This indicates the existence of large uncertainties related to the simulation of daily rainfall characteristics by the RCMs. The ensemble mean of the indices substantially improves the RCMs’ simulated frequency and intensity of precipitation events, moderately outperforms that of the 95th percentile, and provides mixed benefits for the dry and wet spells. Although the ensemble mean improved results cannot be generalized, such an approach produces encouraging results and can help, to some extent, to improve the robustness of the response of the WAM daily precipitation to the anthropogenic greenhouse gas warming. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Wien.

Source: UG
The daily water, sodium and potassium excretion in urine of Ghanaian children aged 5 to 12 years.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the daily losses of water, sodium and potassium in the urine of Ghanaian children who presented to the paediatric surgery unit of the Korle-Bu teaching hospital. METHODS: The urine of 74 Ghanaian children (51 male, 23 female) who presented to the Paediatric surgery unit of the Korle-Bu teaching hospital between June 1997 and January 1999 was collected over a 24 hour period and analysed to determine the volume, sodium and potassium content. RESULT: 74 children between the ages of 5 and 12 years with a mean age of 9 years were involved in the study. The mean daily urinary volume was 1136.8ml (95% confidence interval 1097.7 to 1176.0) with a range of 400 to 2400ml. The sodium excreted was 108.6mmol per day (confidence interval 105.3 to 111.9) with a range of 39.8 to 231.9mmol per day while the potassium excreted was 24.7mmol (confidence interval 23.7 to 25.7mmol) and a range of 6.25 to 69.9mmol per day. CONCLUSION: This study showed that children between 5 and 12 years in a ward lose a mean of 1136.8ml of water per day, 4.6mmol per kilogram of sodium per day, and 1mmol per kg per day of potassium in their urine.

Source: UG
Dance research and the issue of representation

Dance research involves investigating analysing and interpreting a phenomenon. During the process of dance investigation, researchers apply their various techniques to gather information they intend to share with the rest of the world. Significantly, whatever image of the phenomenon researchers carry is unquestionably a representation. This paper employs multidisciplinary approach to apply Stuart Hall’s concept of representation to dance research within an African context. The paper draws on both primary and secondary sources to re-open debate on complexities involved in applying Western concept to African Arts.

Source: UG
The Dangme Clausal Connective

The focus of this paper is to analyze the semantics of the general Dangme clausal connective n ‘and’, and the pragmatic relations which pertain between clauses which are linked by this marker. The paper describes the nature of the clausal linkage achieved by means of the marker n, examining the nature of the nexus of n constructions. Like its other natural language counterparts, the semantics of n works in tandem with other crucial features of the linguistic and extra-linguistic context to bring to light specific inter-clausal relations existing between the linked clauses. These inter-clausal relations are pertinent to the derivation of the intended cognitive effects, which render specific n-constructions optimally relevant. The identified pragmatic relations that exist between clauses linked by n are temporal, causal, contrastive, parallel, additive and explanatory. The paper explores the motivation for particularly the explanatory inter-clausal relation, since such a relation has been predicted as unlikely for some other natural language counterparts of n, and it examines the syntactic constraints under which such explanatory relations are possible.

Source: UG
Danquah - An Immortal of Ghana

This SOUVENIR Pamphlet is published to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of Doctor Joseph Boakye Danquah. It contains a short story of his life, some of his poems, extracts from his speeches and writings and, also, notable extracts from what people said about him before and after his death. May Dr. Danquah's selected thoughts, expressed both in verse and prose, especially the verse, some of which are published here for the first time, as well as the tributes contained in this pamphlet, always remind Ghanaians of this distinguished son of the land and serve as a spur to greater deeds in the service of our fatherland. May he rest in peace

Source: UG
The dark side of multi-platform advertising in an emerging economy context

Consumers' complex media consumption habits mean that advertising must, of necessity, be multi-platform to boost reach and engagement levels. Several benefits of multi-platform advertising have been highlighted in the literature. However, it is unclear whether there are any inherent challenges. Particularly in developing African economies such as Ghana where firms face resource constraints, advertisers cannot afford to miss the mark with the advertising spend. As such, practitioners must carefully off-set any dangers of multi-platform advertising. Given the subject's absence in the literature, there is little scholarly guideline with which to do this. This chapter contributes insights into the issue by asking the questions: (1) are there negative consequences to multi-platform advertising and (2) how may practitioners counter such? Then, using Ghana as empirical setting and exploratory interviews as primary method, the chapter engages the experiences of advertisers, advertising practitioners and audiences to gain a holistic view of the challenges of multi-platform advertising.

Source: UG
Dark tourism: Exploring tourist's experience at the Cape Coast Castle, Ghana

This paper investigates tourists’ experience of the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana. Using a phenomenological research design, we explored the experiences of the tourist who visited the Castle. We used data from the Tripadvisor website and analyzed it thematically. The findings show that dark tourism experience is conceptualized from cognitive and emotional perspectives. Furthermore, the results show that tourists’ experiences are shaped and co-constructed with the tourist guards and the artefacts available at the sites. Additionally, our results show tourists who visit dark tourist sites do not experience only anxiety and sorrow but excitement as well. The results also show that tourists who are of African descent see the Cape Coast Castle as a symbol of their identity and these tourists adopt the Castle as part of their personal identity. The implications of the findings are discussed at the end of the paper. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Source: UG
Data Leakage and Loss in Biodiversity Informatics

The field of biodiversity informatics is in a massive, “grow-out” phase of creating and enabling large-scale biodiversity data resources. Because perhaps 90% of existing biodiversity data nonetheless remains unavailable for science and policy applications, the question arises as to how these existing and available data records can be mobilized most efficiently and effectively. This situation led to our analysis of several large-scale biodiversity datasets regarding birds and plants, detecting information gaps and documenting data “leakage” or attrition, in terms of data on taxon, time, and place, in each data record. We documented significant data leakage in each data dimension in each dataset. That is, significant numbers of data records are lacking crucial information in terms of taxon, time, and/or place; information on place was consistently the least complete, such that geographic referencing presently represents the most significant factor in degradation of usability of information from biodiversity information resources. Although the full process of digital capture, quality control, and enrichment is important to developing a complete digital record of existing biodiversity information, payoffs in terms of immediate data usability will be greatest with attention paid to the georeferencing challenge.

Source: UG
Data management during COVID-19 outbreak response in Ghana: a reference labor atory perspective on key issues and measures

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

Source: UG
Data Reliability: Comparison between Census and Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) Outputs for Kassena-Nankana East and West Districts, Ghana

Considering the importance of reliable and accurate demographic data for development planning and the errors often associated with census data in Africa, this paper examines the level of consistency of reporting between the 2010 Ghana Population Census and the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) for Kasena-Nankana East Municipal and Kassena-Nankana West district in the Republic of Ghana. We apply data evaluation techniques to assess data quality and adopt Test of Proportions to examine differences between the two data systems. The results show some level of consistency between the Census and HDSS data relative to age-sex distribution, crude death rate and mortality pattern. However, the HDSS data suggest relatively better reporting than the Census. We conclude that the large differences observed in some indicators need to be interrogated further to identify their sources so as to allow for improvement in quality of subsequent waves of data collection.

Source: UG
Data reporting constraints for the lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration activities in two districts in Ghana: A qualitative study

Objectives: Timely and accurate health data are important for objective decision making and policy formulation. However, little evidence exists to explain why poor quality routine health data persist. This study examined the constraints to data reporting for the lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration programme in two districts in Ghana. This qualitative study focused on timeliness and accuracy of mass drug administration reports submitted by community health volunteers. Methods: The study is nested within a larger study focusing on the feasibility of mobile phone technology for the lymphatic filariasis programme. Using an exploratory study design, data were obtained through in-depth interviews (n = 7) with programme supervisors and focus group discussions (n = 4) with community health volunteers. Results were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Reasons for delays in reporting were attributed to poor numeracy skills among community health volunteers, difficult physical access to communities, high supervisor workload, poor adherence reporting deadlines, difficulty in reaching communities within allocated time and untimely release of programme funds. Poor accuracy of data was mainly attributed to inadequate motivation for community health volunteers and difficulty calculating summaries. Conclusion: This study has shown that there are relevant issues that need to be addressed in order to improve the quality of lymphatic filariasis treatment coverage reports. Some of the factors identified are problems within the health system; others are specific to the community health volunteers and the lymphatic filariasis programme. Steps such as training on data reporting should be intensified for community health volunteers, allowances for community health volunteers should be reevaluated and other non-monetary incentives should be provided for community health volunteers. ï¿½ The Author(s) 2015.

Source: UG
Data Resource Profile: Cardiovascular H3Africa Innovation Resource (CHAIR)

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) constitute the majority of the world’s population and bear more than 80% of the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD).1,2 The recent increases in CVD globally are also reflected in LMIC, where the prevalence of overall deaths from CVD was 28% in 20013 and premature CVD mortality was 37% in 2015.4 The paucity of data regarding the drivers of the CVD epidemic and contextualized solutions is, in part, because less than 10% of the global research resources and facilities for implementation are found in LMIC.5,6 Therefore LMIC are particularly disadvantaged in dealing with the CVD burden with targeted interventions. at the individual and community levels. due to the lack of data availability.

Source: UG
Data resource profile: The world health organization study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE).

Population ageing is rapidly becoming a global issue and will have a major impact on health policies and programmes. The World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) aims to address the gap in reliable data and scientific knowledge on ageing and health in low- and middle-income countries. SAGE is a longitudinal study with nationally representative samples of persons aged 50{thorn} years in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa, with a smaller sample of adults aged 18-49 years in each country for comparisons. Instruments are compatible with other large high-income country longitudinal ageing studies. Wave 1 was conducted during 2007-2010 and included a total of 34 124 respondents aged 50{thorn} and 8340 aged 18-49. In four countries, a subsample consisting of 8160 respondents participated in Wave 1 and the 2002/04 World Health Survey (referred to as SAGE Wave 0). Wave 2 data collection will start in 2012/13, following up all Wave 1 respondents. Wave 3 is planned for 2014/15. SAGE is committed to the public release of study instruments, protocols and meta- and micro-data: access is provided upon completion of a Users Agreement available through WHO's SAGE website (www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/ sage) and WHO's archive using the National Data Archive application (http://apps.who.int/healthinfo/systems/surveydata). © The Author 2012; all rights reserved.

Source: UG
Data Set for the Reporting of Carcinomas of the Cervix: Recommendations from the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR)

A comprehensive pathologic report is essential for optimal patient management, cancer staging and prognostication. In many countries, proforma reports are used but the content of these is variable. The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting is an alliance formed by the Royal Colleges of Pathologists of Australasia and the United Kingdom, the College of American Pathologists, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the European Society of Pathology, for the purpose of developing standardized, evidence-based reporting data sets for each cancer site. This will reduce the global burden of cancer data set development and reduplication of effort by different international institutions that commission, publish and maintain standardized cancer-reporting data sets. The resultant standardization of cancer-reporting benefits not only those countries directly involved in the collaboration but also others not in a position to develop their own data sets. We describe the development of an evidence-based cancer data set by the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting expert panel for the reporting of primary cervical carcinomas and present the "required" and "recommended" elements to be included in the pathology report as well as an explanatory commentary. This data set encompasses the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Union for International Cancer Control staging systems for cervical neoplasms and the updated World Health Organization classification of gynecologic tumors. The data set also addresses controversial issues such as tumor grading and measurement, including measurement of multifocal carcinomas. The widespread implementation of this data set will facilitate consistent and accurate data collection, comparison of epidemiological and pathologic parameters between different populations, facilitate research, and hopefully result in improved patient management.

Source: UG
Data-Driven Cyber-Vulnerability Maintenance Policies.

The frequencies of cyber attacks and known cyber vulnerabilities continue to increase and there is a need for models to focus limited administrator attention and build cases for additional resources. A related challenge is the scarcity of available data partly because of security concerns. In this paper, we propose a method based on Markov decision processes (MDP) for the generation and graphical evaluation of relevant maintenance policies for cases with limited data availability. The proposed method also provides an estimate of the cost benefit of collecting additional data. Both Bayesian and non-Bayesian formulations of the transition probabilities and cost models are considered. We apply the proposed method to a real-world cyber-vulnerability dataset and generate specific guidance and cost predictions. We also illustrate the relevance of the proposed method to general MDP modeling using a numerical example involving three levels of data scarcity.

Source: UG
Data-driven multi-index overlay gold prospectivity mapping using geophysical and remote sensing datasets

The comparative relevance of each geospatial component of mineralization differs from one geological terrane to the other because various sought-after mineral deposit-types synonymously differ in different geological terranes. Hence, the possibility of employing a conceptual model to obtain a relationship or a quantitative function between various geospatial features (evidential layers) with respect to the mineral being sought is laudable, though these features may not necessarily have a generically related effect with the mineral being sought. As a consequence, there is the need to employ a technique that has the capacity to recognize the efficient and inefficient geospatial indicators of the mineral deposit-type being sought. In view of this, this study employed the logistic function, concentration-area fractal model and the prediction-area (P-A) plot to transform and discretize the continuous value of each evidential layer as well as generating intersection points of prediction rate indicators that are essential in obtaining the normalized densities, which were subsequently employed in generating the objective weight for each evidential layer in a data-driven way. The P-A and the normalized density techniques employed were vital in recognizing the indicator and non-indicator criteria. The results obtained acknowledged the potassium concentration layer as a non-indicator of gold mineralization within the study area and subsequently recognized the hydroxyl bearing mineral concentration layer as the most plausible indicator criteria among the six evidential layers (lineament density, iron concentration, hydroxyl concentration, gravity anomaly, magnetic anomaly and potassium concentration) employed in this study. These five indicator criteria were integrated to generate a mineral prospectivity map (MPM) over the study area based on the data-driven multiindex overlay approach adopted. The prediction rate for each of the 6 evidential layers (5 of which were the indicator criteria) as well as the MPM produced indicates that, the generation of objective weights in a datadriven manner via normalized density enhances the predicting ability of the MPM produced in comparison with the individual evidential layers.

Source: UG
Dataset on the comparison of synthesized and commercial zeolites for potential solar adsorption refrigerating system

The purpose of this dataset is to provide a comparison between synthesized and commercial 4A and 13X type zeolites. Metakaolin produced from the calcination of beneficiated kaolin at 750 °C for 4 h was dealuminated using sulphuric acid to get the required silica to alumina ratio for the zeolite synthesis. Zeolite 4A and 13X samples were characterized along-side with the commercial variants using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. These analyses revealed that, the zeolites synthesized are of comparatively acceptable quality. The pore size of 120.859 nm, pore volume of 0.0065 cm3/g and surface area of 22 m2/g were obtained from BET analyses for zeolite 4A synthesized from kaolin, while the commercial zeolite 4A used as control gave pore size of 58.143 nm, pore volume of 0.2462 cm3/g and surface area of 559.13 m2/g. In the same vein, the pore size of 10.5059 nm, pore volume of 0.135847 cm3/g and surface area of 324.584 m2/g were obtained from BET analyses for zeolite 13X synthesized from kaolin, while the commercial zeolite 13X gave pore size of 7.2752 nm, pore volume of 0.135951 cm3/g and surface area of 310.0906 m2/g.

Source: UG