ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Natural cocoa as diet-mediated antimalarial prophylaxis.

Background: The Maya of Central America are credited with the first consumption of cocoa and maintaining its ancient Olmec name kakawa translated in English as " God Food" , in recognition of its multiple health benefits. The legend of cocoa is receiving renewed attention in recent years, on account of epidemiological and scientific studies that support its cardiovascular health benefits. Increasing numbers of scientific reports corroborating cocoa's antiquated reputation as health food persuaded this author to promote regular consumption of cocoa in Ghana since 2004. Cocoa is readily available in Ghana; the country is the second largest producer accounting for 14% of the world's output. Numerous anecdotal reports of reduced episodic malaria in people who daily drink natural unsweetened cocoa beverage prompted a search for scientific mechanisms that possibly account for cocoa's antimalarial effects. This paper presents the outcome as a hypothesis. Methods: Internet search for literature on effects of cocoa's ingredients on malaria parasites and illness using a variety of search tools. Results: Evidential literature suggests five mechanisms that possibly underpin cocoa's anecdotal antimalarial effects. (i) Increased availability of antioxidants in plasma, (ii) membrane effects in general and erythrocyte membrane in particular, (iii) increased plasma levels of nitric oxide, (iv) antimalarial activity of cocoa flavanoids and their derivatives, and (v) boosted immune system mediated by components of cocoa including cocoa butter, polyphenols, magnesium, and zinc. Conclusion: A hypothesis is formulated that cocoa offers a diet-mediated antimalarial prophylaxis; and an additional novel tool in the fight against the legendary scourge.

Source: UG
Natural cocoa inhibits maternal hypercholesterolaemia-induced atherogenesis in rabbit pups.

Atherosclerosis begins during foetal development and is enhanced by maternal hypercholesterolaemia during pregnancy. This study assessed the effect of natural cocoa on atherosclerosis in offspring conceived in maternal hypercholesterolaemia. Female rabbits were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet for two weeks and hypercholesterolaemia was confirmed, after which they were crossed with normocholesterolaemic males. One group of hypercholesterolaemic mothers (HCC) received natural cocoa powder (NCP) in their drinking water, whereas the other group (HC) received only water. Histological analysis of three segments of the aorta (arch, thoracic and abdominal) from offspring of both groups was compared with a control group (NC). Intima-media thickness of the aortic arch in offspring born to hypercholesterolaemic rabbits (HC: 146 µm) was higher compared to HCC (99 µm) and control rabbits (58.5 µm). All the sections from the aortic arch of the HC group had atherosclerotic lesions while none of the sections of the aortic arch from the NC and HCC groups had lesions present. Inferentially, regular and voluntary consumption of NCP during pregnancy may inhibit aortic atherogenesis in offspring of hypercholesterolaemic mothers.

Source: UG
The natural control agents of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda in Togo: moderating insecticide applications for natural control of the pest?

Although there has been intensive use of insecticides for the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) management, their effects on population reduction and natural enemies’ performance have not been adequately studied. Therefore, this study investigated the diversity and activity of natural enemies under insecticide and insecticide-free applications. Natural enemies were collected annually from 2016 to 2022 from 348 maize farms throughout the West African nation of Togo. The collections included an entomopathogenic nematode, unidentified bacteria from Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus, unidentified viruses from Ascoviruses and Baculoviruses, and several fungal species. Parasitoids collected included hymenopteran and dipteran species that attacked eggs and larvae. The collected predators included species in the following families: Anthocoridae, Carabidae, Chrysopidae, Coccinellidae, Forficulidae, Formicidae, Mantidae, and Reduviidae. The parasitism rates were from 14.72% in 2018 to 45.38% in 2022 for egg masses and from 1.32% in 2016 to 41.85% in 2021 for larvae. The parasitism rates were three to four times higher in unsprayed farms than sprayed farms.

Source: UG
Natural products and antimalarial drugs: Will Africa provide the next major breakthrough?

South America and Asia have given the world the two most successful antimalarial drugs of plant origin. Even though the African floral diversity has numerous plants that are reputed to have various medicinal properties, to date, not a single compound has been discovered in any African plant that has made it to clinical application in malaria chemotherapy. But Africa has the greatest malaria burden in the world. This chapter discusses previous and current efforts at developing some of these plants both as usable phytopharmaceuticals and as a source of potential lead compounds or structural scaffolds for antimalarial drug development. The chapter contends that the African flora has the potential to provide a breakthrough in the search for a new antimalarial drug that will match the success stories of Cinchona and Artemisia and that there is the need for a paradigm shift in our research efforts. While investigating as yet uninvestigated plant species, it would be worthwhile re-examining previous investigations for either malaria or other diseases including the neglected tropical diseases. Six plant genera are critically reviewed; the selected genera are Ancistrocladus, Triphyophyllum, Tabernaemontana, Zanthoxylum, Azadirachta and Cryptolepis. Some compound types from these plant species are discussed. Arguments in favour of revisiting some of the already investigated plants and re-evaluating their potential as sources of antimalarial drugs are advanced. It is argued that the wide gap between conventional phytochemical research and bioactivity assessment has resulted in the isolation and characterisation of a vast number of natural products which have never been tested for any biological activity or gone beyond preliminary laboratory assessments. This serious lag between chemical investigations and attempts to discover natural product lead compounds for further development should be narrowed, and this can only be achieved if researchers work as teams on the same project. This chapter concludes with prospects for the future and suggestions as to potential areas of focus. The advocacy role of the African Network for Drug and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) in promoting such research in Africa is underlined. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. All rights are reserved.

Source: UG
Natural resource and biodiversity conservation in Ghana: The use of livelihoods support activities to achieve conservation objectives

Threats to biodiversity from increasing populations and poverty has resulted in the use of investments in livelihoods support activities as economic incentives for natural resource and biodiversity conservation in Ghana. Examples of such activities include woodlots, beekeeping, snail breeding, and mushroom farming. In order to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of these activities as tools for conservation planning and resource allocation, it is essential to document their use for environmental conservation. This study presents a consolidated documentation of the use of livelihoods support activities for natural resource and biodiversity conservation in Ghana. This documentation includes the specific activities, the number of such interventions since they were first used until 2010, their geographical distribution in the country, and implementation strategies. The methods used in this study include thematic and chronological analysis of conservation project reports, interviews with project managers, collection of primary data on the specific activities, and focus group discussions with participants of livelihoods support activities in rural Ghana. Seventy-one different types of livelihoods support activities belonging to eight categories have been employed for conservation in Ghana since 1993. The majority of these activities were based on non-timber forest products. A chronological trend analysis indicated an increasing tendency to make livelihoods support activities part of conservation projects in Ghana. These activities have become very relevant to Ghanas current collaborative policy because they are used to buy-in local support for natural resource and biodiversity conservation. © 2014 © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Source: UG
Natural resource governance in Ghana: bridging the theory and practice gap

"Yen a ra Asaase Ni ", a popular patriotic song from Ephraim Amu celebrates the great wealth bestowed on the country by nature. Like this song, the national colours of Ghana (specifically the yellow in between the Red and Green) celebrate the mineral wealth of the country. Indeed, the name "Ghana", given after independence, is borrowed from an old empire thought to be rich in gold. Contemporary Ghana is endowed with mineral deposits such as gold, diamond, manganese and bauxite. There are also unexploited economic deposits of iron ore, limestone, kaolin, feldspar and silica sands. Despite the blessing, lack of capacity, legal policies and institutions has impeded Ghana's effort to maximize benefits from these resources. Recognizing the potential of Small Scale Mining (SSM) to national development, the Government of Ghana initiated the regularization of Small Scale Gold Mining in 1989 with the promulgation of the Small Scale Gold Mining Law, PNDCL218. This decision aimed to provide technical support to SSM, capturing all the minerals produced into official channels; generating employment and regulating the industry in such a way that the miners operate in an environmentally friendly manner. However, the existence of these legal frameworks mismatches the ongoing practice, especially the activities of "galamsey" operators. This paper seeks to interrogate the gap between theory and practice and its causes. Using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews of experts, it will argue that until theory matches practice it will be difficult to benefit from our natural resources without heavy losses on the environment and humans.

Source: UG
Natural resource governance, accountability and legitimising propensity: insights from Ghana’s oil and gas sector

Purpose – This study explores Ghanaian views about accountability discharge by firms and government in the context of the nation’s newly discovered oil and gas resources. The research focusses on a range of issues relating to stakeholder interaction, communication flows and the impact of decision-making on Ghanaian lives, as perceived by individuals on the ground. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adapts elements of legitimacy theory to interpret the outcome of a series of semi-structured interviews with members of key accountee and accountor groups including citizens and representatives of the state and private firms in the oil and gas industry in Ghana. Findings – The results indicate that rather than attempting to effect substantive accountability discharge, Ghana’s government and oil and gas firms employ a wide range of legitimation strategies despite the apparently complete absence of the accountee power normally seen as driving the need for social contract repair. Research limitations/implications – The findings suggest that accountability discharge in Ghana is cursory at best, with several legitimising strategies in evidence. The representatives from state institutions appear to share some of the concerns, suggesting that the problems are entrenched and will require robust enforcement of a strengthened regulatory approach to effect meaningful change. Originality/value –This paper contributes to the literature on the discharge of institutional accountability by building on earlier conceptualisations of legitimacy theory to explore perceptions around a recent natural resource discovery. The analysis highlights grave concerns regarding the behaviour of state and corporate actors, one that runs counter to sub-Saharan African tradition.

Source: UG
Natural resource revenues and public investment in resource-rich economies in sub-Saharan Africa

The general policy prescription for resource-rich countries is that, for sustainable consumption, a greater percentage of the windfall from resource rents should be channeled into accumulating foreign assets such as a sovereign public fund as done in Norway and other developed but resource-rich countries. This might not be a correct policy prescription for resource-rich sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, where public capital is very low to support the needed economic growth. In such countries, rents from resources serve as an opportunity to scale-up the needed public capital. Using a panel data for the period 1990–2013, we find in line with the scaling-up hypothesis that resource rents significantly increases public investment in SSA and that this tends to depend on the quality of political institutions. Moreover, we also find evidence of a positive effect of public investment on economic growth, which also depends on the level of resource rents.

Source: UG
Natural resources of Okyeman-An overview

Biodiversity in all its forms sustains tremendous socio-economic and cultural interests of millions of people all over the world. Increasing human population has resulted in proportional increase in the demand for natural resources for the sustenance of human development needs. Unsustainable pattern of utilization of biodiversity in most parts of the world has necessitated the need for new thinking in the management of biodiversity. One key approach to managing these resources is through community-based approaches as opposed the classic approach to managing natural resources. The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area (Okyeman) in the Eastern Region of Ghana offers some lessons on community approaches in managing natural resources. Okyeman is one of the ecologically endowed areas in Ghana. The Traditional Area boasts of rich biodiversity including endemic, rare and globally threatened fauna and flora as well as diverse landscape of aesthetic value. Atewa Range Forest Reserve, one of the ecologically unique sites in Ghana is a prominent feature in the traditional area which is a home to many of the fauna and flora resources of the traditional area. However, these have in recent times come under intense pressure from illegal and unsustainable exploitation. This situation has compromised the ecological and biological integrity of Okyeman. Recognizing the need to reverse the situation, the traditional council has in recent times taken the initiative to use the existing traditional structures to enhance natural resource governance in the area. This chapter gives an overview of the current status of natural resource of the traditional area, highlighting on their importance to local people and the need for sustainable exploitation of these resources.

Source: UG
The Natural resources of the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast may be broadly divided into three geological provinces-the west and southwest from which come our exports of gold and manganese; the south-east which lacks minerals of present economic importance; and the centre and east from which bauxite or aluminium ore and limestone may be obtained. Apart from gold , diamonds, and manganese , what else does our geology offer us? Throughout the hill country of the Gold Coast, and many parts of the gently rolling or almost level tracts of the country are many types of igneous and metamorphic rocks such as granite, gneiss, and quartzites which are durable and beautiful building stones. For the manufacture of lime and cement.

Source: UG
Natural resources, financial development and institutional quality in Africa: Is there a resource curse?

We examine the resource curse hypothesis in the relationship between natural resources, financial development (FD) and institutional quality of 38 African countries from 2000 to 2012. We use the Arellano-Bond Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator in our estimations. Our findings reveal that 32% of African countries are dependent on resource rents ranging from a low of 12.5% (in Zambia) to 52.6% (in Angola) share of GDP. We further find that in Africa, the impact of natural resource rents (Rents) on financial development is ambiguous. It largely depends on the FD indicator used. The resource curse is seen when a Z-score is used as FD indicator. Particularly, we find that the resource curse in FD is seen in Sub-Saharan Africa, Low Income Countries and Middle Income countries but not in the North African region. The impact of Rents on credit however is positive in all regions. In these relationships the quality of institutions can reduce the negative impact of Rents on FD. Our findings are robust to the use of different indicators of FD and institutional quality.

Source: UG
Naturally acquired antibodies to the glutamate-rich protein are associated with protection against plasmodium falciparum malaria.

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

Source: UG
Naturally acquired antibody response to a Plasmodium falciparum chimeric vaccine candidate GMZ2.6c and its components (MSP-3, GLURP, and Pfs48/45) in individuals living in Brazilian malaria-endemic areas

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

Source: UG
Naturally acquired antibody responses to recombinant Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 transmission blocking vaccine candidates

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

Source: UG
Naturally acquired hemozoin by monocytes promotes suppression of RANTES in children with malarial anemia through an IL-10-dependent mechanism

Regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed, and secreted (RANTES, CCL-5) is an important immunoregulatory mediator that is suppressed in children with malarial anemia (MA). Although pro-inflammatory (e.g., TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IFN-gamma) and anti-inflammatory (e.g., IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) cytokines regulate RANTES production, their effect on RANTES in children with MA has not been determined. Since intraleukocytic malarial pigment, hemozoin (Hz), causes dysregulation in chemokine and cytokine production, the impact of naturally acquired Hz (pfHz) on RANTES and RANTES-regulatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13) was examined. Circulating RANTES levels progressively declined with increasing levels of pigment-containing monocytes (PCM) (P=0.035). Additional experiments in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) showed that monocytic acquisition of pfHz (in vivo) was associated with suppression of RANTES under baseline (P=0.001) and stimulated conditions (P=0.072). Although high PCM levels were associated with decreased circulating IFN-gamma (P=0.003) and IL-10 (P=0.010), multivariate modeling revealed that only PCM (P=0.048, beta=-0.171) and IL-10 (P<0.0001, beta=-0.476) were independently associated with RANTES production. Subsequent in vitro experiments revealed that blockade of endogenous IL-10 significantly increased RANTES production (P=0.028) in PBMC from children with naturally acquired Hz. Results here demonstrate that monocytic acquisition of Hz suppresses RANTES production in children with MA through an IL-10-dependent mechanism.

Source: UG
Nature and Dynamics of Inequalities in Ghana

This article analyzes forms, structure, drivers and implications of inequalities in Ghana; examines its political economy and suggests remedial policy options and challenges. Regarding economic inequalities, it shows that despite a general reduction in the incidence of income poverty, its depth has increased: with a wider income distribution gap between the poorest and richest households; marked disparities between the well-endowed South and the impoverished North; and a gendered bias in the distribution of wealth assets. Overall, the non-diversi fi ed nature of Ghana ’ s recent rapid growth has not boosted employment or reduced inequalities.

Source: UG
The nature and effect of sulphur compounds on co2 and air reactivity of petrol coke

Three different single-source coke types (SSA, SSB and SSC) were studied for their air and CO2 reactivities using the Hydro method and the observed correlation with reactivity determinant parameter such as elemental composition was noted. The reaction temperatures were 525 °C and 960 °C for air and CO2 reactivities, respectively. Coke sample SSA recorded the highest CO2 reactivity value of 166 mg/g h while coke sample SSB recorded the lowest value of 25 mg/g h. The coke CO2 reactivity showed a moderately strong correlation with the combined effect of Na, Fe and Ca concentrations. The inhibitory effect of sulphur as a catalytic poison on Na was observed with significant downward trend in CO2 reactivity of the investigated cokes. Coke air reactivities showed the expected strong correlation with V. Air reactivity was highest in sample SSC (262 mg/g h) at V concentration of 378 ppm and lowest in sample SSB (39.6 mg/g h) at V concentration of 68 ppm. Sample SSA recorded reactivity value of 129.6 mg/g h at V concentration of 147 ppm. The compound 1-butanethiol was identified by 1-D 1H NMR and 13C NMR, and by 2-D COSY, HSQC and HMBC NMR spectroscopic techniques. It is proposed that 1-butanethiol is one of the possible organosulphur compounds responsible for the reaction with Na forming a stable non-mobile complex partially inhibiting the catalytic effect of Na. © 2006-2010 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.

Source: UG