ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Central blockade of NLRP3 reduces blood pressure via regulating inflammation microenvironment and neurohormonal excitation in salt-induced prehypertensive rats

Background: Inflammation has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease. We determined whether nod-like receptor with pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) involved in the process of prehypertension, central blockade of NLRP3 decreased inflammation reaction, regulated neurohormonal excitation, and delayed the progression of prehypertension. Methods: Prehypertensive rats were induced by 8% salt diet. The rats on high-salt diet for 1 month were administered a specific NLRP3 blocker in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) for 4 weeks. ELISA, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry were used to measure NLRP3 cascade proteins, pro-inflammation cytokines (PICs), chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), C-X-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CXCR3), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), neurotransmitters, and leukocytes count detection, respectively. Results: NLRP3 expression in PVN was increased significantly in prehypertensive rats, accompanied by increased number of microglia, CD4+, CD8+ T cell, and CD8+ microglia. Expressions of PICs, CCL2, CXCR3, and VCAM-1 significantly increased. The balance between 67-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was damaged. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) in prehypertensive rats was increased and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was reduced. NLRP3 blockade significantly decreased blood pressure, reduced PICs, CCL2, VCAM-1 expression in PVN, and restored neurotransmitters. Blood pressure and inflammatory markers were upregulated after termination of central blockage NLRP3. Conclusions: Salt-induced prehypertension is partly due to the role of NLRP3 in PVN. Blockade of brain NLRP3 attenuates prehypertensive response, possibly via downregulating the cascade reaction triggered by inflammation and restoring the balance of neurotransmitters.

Source: UCC
Central Role of Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Evidence from a Review of the Molecular Mechanisms and Animal Models

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of visual impairment in the elderly. There are very limited therapeutic options for AMD with the predominant therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the retina of patients afflicted with wet AMD. Hence, it is important to remind readers, especially those interested in AMD, about current studies that may help to develop novel therapies for other stages of AMD. This study, therefore, provides a comprehensive review of studies on human specimens as well as rodent models of the disease, to identify and analyze the molecular mechanisms behind AMD development and progression. The evaluation of this information highlights the central role that oxidative damage in the retina plays in contributing to major pathways, including inflammation and angiogenesis, found in the AMD phenotype. Following on the debate of oxidative stress as the earliest injury in the AMD pathogenesis, we demonstrated how the targeting of oxidative stress-associated pathways, such as autophagy and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling, might be the futuristic direction to explore in the search of an effective treatment for AMD, as the dysregulation of these mechanisms is crucial to oxidative injury in the retina. In addition, animal models of AMD have been discussed in great detail, with their strengths and pitfalls included, to assist inform in the selection of suitable models for investigating any of the molecular mechanisms.

Source: UCC
The Central/Western Zone Colleges of Education in Ghana and Their Demonstration Schools’ Partnership

This study aimed to investigate the collaboration between colleges of education and demonstration schools in the Central/Western Zone of Ghana. A mixed method was used for this study. In all, a sample size of 360 (students 277, tutors 53, demonstration school teachers 20 and principals and head teachers 10) was used for the study. The study employed stratified, simple random and purposive sampling techniques to select participants for the study. School Partnership Questionnaire (SPQ) and focus group discussion were used to elicit information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data obtained from the structured questionnaire whiles focus group discussion was analyzed using thematic analysis. It emerged that Colleges of Education and demonstration schools in the Western/Central zone collaborated in terms of field experience, sharing of expertise and organization of training programmes for demonstration school teachers. It also emerged that such collaboration led to reflective teaching activities, observation and teaching practice in the schools, periodic in-service training for the Demonstration School teachers and collaborated in conducting research. The study further revealed that college-school partnership created opportunities for colleges and schools to share their resources and encourage learning through participation. The study unfolded that the challenges embedded in college-school partnership include inadequate time for carrying out activities among others. It is recommended that Demonstration schools and Colleges of Education leadership within the Central/Western zone seek support from NGOs and individual philanthropists as well as work hard to generate more funds internally to help provide funds and instructional materials for collaborative activities and not rely on only the government.

Source: UCC
Cereal crops: rice, maize, millet, sorghum, wheat

Africa with its vast land area covering 3 billion ha has 1.3 billion ha of agricultural land out of which only 252 million ha (19.36 %) is arable (2011, FAO). Africa is the center of origin and also a major producer of several cereals like sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, teff and African rice. Another major cereal, maize, has overtaken these traditional cereals while wheat is widely cultivated in North Africa and in Sudan and Ethiopia. Agriculture is the ‘engine for growth’ in Africa. With subsistence agriculture practiced by majority small holder farmers, yield gaps are high and poor soils, amongst other constraints add to the difficulties for sustainable farming and incomes. Cereals like Sorghum, Millets, Wheat, Maize and Rice are major staple foods of the most population. These cereals are grown over an area of 98.6 m ha producing 162 m tons (Table1)

Source: UCC
Cervical cancer knowledge, perceptions and screening behaviour among female University students in Ghana

Cervical cancer is becoming a leading cause of death among women in developing countries. Nevertheless, little is known regarding knowledge and perception of cervical cancer and screening behaviour particularly among female tertiary students in Ghana. This study sought to examine the knowledge, perceptions of cervical cancer and screening behaviour among female students in the University of Cape Coast and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. Systematic and stratified random sampling techniques were used to select 410 participants for the study, and a questionnaire was used to collect data from participants. The study found that the participants lacked knowledge on specific risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer. Also, even though the participants had a fair perception of cervical cancer, they had a poor cervical cancer screening behaviour. Awareness of cervical cancer was significantly influenced by religious affiliation whilst cervical cancer screening was significantly determined by the working status of the participants. Specific knowledge on cervical cancer and its risk factors as well as regular screening behaviour is paramount to the prevention of cervical cancer. Consequently, the University Health Services should focus on promoting regular cervical cancer awareness campaigns among the students particularly the females

Source: UCC
Cervical plexus block for thyroidectomy

Objective: Thyroidectomy is traditionally performed under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. However, cervical plexus block has also been found useful for this operation in some parts of the world. This particular anaesthetic option has never been reported in our environment. The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility, safety, effectiveness and patients= acceptability of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block for thyroidectomy in our hospital. Design: This is a prospective study of all consenting adult patients who presented with goiter and had thyroidectomy done in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital, between May 1998 and September 1999. Setting: The study was carried out at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, which is a tertiary health institution. Subjects: The study included seventeen (17) Patients above the age of 18 years who presented with goiter and had elective thyroidectomy done within the study period. Outcome Measures/Results: The 17 patients represented 65% of all those who underwent thyroidectomy in our hospital within the study period. There were 15 females and 2 males, giving a female to male ratio of 7.5:1. The median age of the patients was 44 (range 20-80) years. Types of goiter included 13 simple multinodular or nodular goiters, 3 diffuse toxic goiters and 1 malignant goiter. Sixteen (16) patients had subtotal thyroidectomy, while one had total thyroidectomy. Varying degrees of pressure symptoms during mobilization of the gland, and postural aches were some of the intra-operative problems encountered. These problems were described by the patients as tolerable. Fifteen (88%) of the patients found the anaesthesia satisfactory and would not mind recommending or having the same anaesthetic technique for similar procedure. Two (12%) of the patients expressed dissatisfaction with the anaesthesia and would not want it for similar procedure. In one of the two, the surgery was completed under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation when the block was found to be ineffective. The second patient became extremely apprehensive during surgery, although she denied experiencing any significant pain and refused conversion to general anaesthesia. Conclusion: Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block is a useful anaesthetic option for thyroidectomy in temperamentally suited patients. Although the number was small, we can conclude that the block is feasible, safe, effective and easy to perform. It was acceptable to our patients.

Source: UCC
CERVICAL PLEXUS BLOCK FOR THYROIDECTOMY: EXPERIENCE WITH A GIANT GOITRE: CASE REPORT.

Local or regional anaesthesia has long been recognised as a useful anaesthetic option for thyroidectomy. A few authors have reported the successful use of local infiltration anaesthesia for thyroidectomy in our environment. The technique is said to be particularly suitable for simple giant goitres. Cervical plexus block has also been found useful for this operation in other parts of the world. However, we are unaware of any report on the use of cervical plexus block for thyroidectomy in our environment. We used bilateral superficial cervical plexus block for thyroidectomy in a 20-year old girl with a simple multinodular goitre. Surgery was performed with the patient in the classical thyroidectomy position. Though the patient was lightly sedated during the operation, the anaesthetist maintained communication with her throughout the procedure. Anaesthesia was generally effective, except for minor complaints of pressure symptoms during mobilization of the gland and postural aches. These, the patient described as tolerable. Surgery, which lasted 2 hours 45 minutes, was uneventful. The patient was allowed oral fluid intake within 2 hours postoperatively. Superficial cervical plexus block is simple, safe, effective and cheap for thyroidectomy for Simple Giant Goitre.

Source: UCC
The Challenge of Globalization, Labor Market Restructuring and Union Democracy in Ghana

The resulting labor market transformations imposed by adjustment of national economies prompt changes in the organizational strategies of labor movements. Such strategies impact union governance and undermine union democracy. Strategies adopted by the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and its national affiliates to cope with the fall-out of economic adjustment since the late 1980s included the expansion of union coverage and modifications in internal union structures to improve avenues for female and rank and file interest representation. This paper raises the major features of the challenges posed by globalization and discusses the implications of union extension into the informal economy as a response to these challenges.

Source: UCC
Challenges and coping strategies of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the Tema Metropolis

Small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) are considered as the heartbeat of every economy due to their immeasurable contributions to GDP as well as employment (Aryeetey, 2001; and Abor and Adjasi, 2007). Despite all these, they face myriad of challenges from capital inadequacy to technological deficiency. This study, therefore, sought to identify the source(s) of funding available to SMEs in Tema Metropolis, their performance and prospects as well as the challenges and coping strategies. The study employed the descriptive survey design and administered questionnaire to 120 owners, managers and employees within the metropolis. The business operators were largely satisfied with their performance in terms of employment, customer base, sales, cost/expenditure, profit and physical expansion. The main prospect indicators included customer base, cost or expenditure reduction and increased sales and firm growth. The main challenges facing businesses in the metropolis were as follows: high taxes; Cedi depreciation; low demand/sales; high rent; high interest/lending rates; theft/burglary; payment of high salaries and utility bills and lack of technology. The coping strategies that firms adopted were bulk purchasing, judicious use of input material, bargaining on input prices and employees‟ salary negotiation. Timely intervention by Government and other stakeholders, through: reducing taxes, interest rates, rental cost and utility bills; ensuring stable exchange rate regime; and improvement of research and development, among others, is needed to avert the possible collapse of many of these businesses.

Source: UCC
Challenges and coping strategies of student mothers of UCC college of distance education: the case of the Cape Coast centre

Distance Education has been institutionalised in the public universities in Ghana and women who enrol in the programmes have to combine their family roles with work and their academic pursuits. This study sought to find out the challenges and coping strategies of student mothers of the College of Distance Education of the University of Cape Coast (CoDE, UCC). The study employed the descriptive survey. A questionnaire in the Likert-type scale was used to collect data from 175 student mothers of CoDE, UCC at the Cape Coast study centre. The data collected was analysed and discussed using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. It was found that the student mothers (a minimum of 71%) performed a lot of laborious nonacademic activities daily in their homes and the combination of these roles with their academics pose negative high effect on their family lives and academics. Unfortunately, the coping strategies they employed were, to a large extent, ineffective and wished for better ones.Among the conclusions was the supposition that student mothers have inevitable academic impediments that emanate from the non-academic activities that they perform, and therefore, the success of their academic pursuit is at the expense of the time they have for their families. It is recommended that CoDE, in collaboration with the Counselling Unit of the University of Cape Coast should, as part of their orientation programme, provide intensive counselling services to all the female students to be aware of the academic challenges that awaits them when they conceive or deliver in the course of reading their programmes.

Source: UCC
Challenges and coping strategies of student-workers without study leave with pay in the university of cape coast

This study focused on the challenges and coping strategies of student workers without study leave with pay in the University of Cape Coast. A set of questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. In all, 84 studentworkers were sampled through the use of the snowball sampling method to serve as respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data on the demographic profile and all the research questions formulated for the study. Frequencies, mean scores and standard deviation were used to analyse the data. Independent samples t- test was used to analyse the research hypothesis. It was found out that student-workers face a number of problems comprising academic, non-academic, socio- economic and personal ones. The student-workers also adopt a number of strategies both official and non-official ones to cope with the various challenges they face. There is a significant difference in the coping strategies adopted by male and female student-workers on the university campus. The study among other things recommended that the Government and Non-Governmental Organisations should help by providing scholarships and bursaries for student- workers. The university should organise seminar, workshops and symposia to sharpen the skills of students on how to combine many task at the same time.

Source: UCC
Challenges and opportunities for quantifying roots and rhizosphere interactions through imaging and image analysis

The morphology of roots and root systems influences the efficiency by which plants acquire nutrients and water, anchor themselves and provide stability to the surrounding soil. Plant genotype and the biotic and abiotic environment significantly influence root morphology, growth and ultimately crop yield. The challenge for researchers interested in phenotyping root systems is, therefore, not just to measure roots and link their phenotype to the plant genotype, but also to understand how the growth of roots is influenced by their environment. This review discusses progress in quantifying root system parameters (e.g. in terms of size, shape and dynamics) using imaging and image analysis technologies and also discusses their potential for providing a better understanding of root:soil interactions. Significant progress has been made in image acquisition techniques, however trade-offs exist between sample throughput, sample size, image resolution and information gained. All of these factors impact on downstream image analysis processes. While there have been significant advances in computation power, limitations still exist in statistical processes involved in image analysis. Utilizing and combining different imaging systems, integrating measurements and image analysis where possible, and amalgamating data will allow researchers to gain a better understanding of root:soil interactions

Source: UCC
Challenges and prospects facing students of distance education in Ghanaian public universities: The case of University of Cape Coast. study centre

The study was conducted to find the challenges and prospects facing students of distance education in Ghanaian public universities: the case of University of Cape Coast study centre. The sample for the study were twenty teachers and two hundred students making a total of two hundred and twenty respondents. The respondents were selected from` Cape Coast distance education study centre at Oyoko Methodist senior high school in the Koforidua municipality. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the responses. The result of the study has shown that a majority of the respondents; 70% of students and 75% of tutors were not satisfied with the feedback situation at the UCC distance education programme. Also, majority of the respondents; 65% of students and 85% of tutors faced the challenge of inadequate modules in the UCC distance education programme. Furthermore, most of the respondents; 77% of students and 90% of tutors complained about inadequate support systems for distance students and staff. In addition, there was the issue of inadequate motivation of tutors of the UCC distance education programme. Most of the respondents; 70% of students and 100% of tutors accepted the fact that tutors are not adequately motivated. In light of these findings recommendations were made to enhance the programme. It was recommended that authorities of UCC distance education programme need to address these factors to improve teaching and learning.

Source: UCC
Challenges and prospects of group lending in Microfinance service delivery:

Globally, microcredit has risen to prominence at a rapid speed after its large-scale success in the 1970s in Bangladesh with Grameen Bank. Its central idea is that traditional banks find the poor too costly to serve due to their lack of steady income and collateral. To address the issue of a lack of collateral to secure loans, some rural banks and microfinance companies have taken to group guarantees as a form of social collateral to provide loans. This study delves into the group lending model of the Bonzali Rural bank in Tamale. It aimed at obtaining data on the forms of social collateral, borrower benefits, challenges and the prospects of the group lending approach in microfinance services delivery. A sample of 201 women was used for the study. Structured Survey questionnaires were the main data collection instrument used. Tables were used in the presentation of data. SPSS has been used in producing the charts and Tables and to carry out a paired sample analysis. Group guarantee was the singular collateral security base upon which women were granted loans. The benefits of group lending to the borrower were found to include; improvements in personal finance, easy access to credit, and so on. The paired sample results indicated a statistically significant impact of loans to the beneficiary women through profit increment. Borrower challenges were found to include; peer pressure, conflict among members, etc. Majority of the women were positive about their future relationship with the bank. Based on the findings of this study, it recommends among others that, the Bank of Ghana should adopt a discriminatory policy rate in order to lessen the cost of borrowing to MFIs that support women groups and entrepreneurs

Source: UCC