ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Diversity is demonstrated in class I HLA-A and HLA-B alleles in cameroon, africa: Description of HLA-A*03012, *2612, *3006 and HLA-B*1403, *4016, *4703

To examine the genetic diversity in west Africa, class I HLA-A and HLA-B alleles of 92 unrelated individuals from two areas in the Cameroon, the capital Yaounde and the village of Etoa, were identified by direct automated DNA sequencing of exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-B locus alleles and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (SSOP) and/or sequencing of the HLA-A locus alleles. HLA-A*2301 (18.7%), A*2902 (10.4%), B*5301 (10.9%), and B*5802 (10.9%) were the most frequently detected alleles, present in at least 10% of the population. A total of 30 HLA-A locus and 33 HLA-B locus alleles, including six novel alleles, were detected. The novel alleles were HLA-A*03012, A*2612, A*3006 and HLA-B*1403, B*4016, and B*4703. HLA-B*4703 contains a novel amino acid sequence that is a combination of the first 5 amino acids of the Bw6 epitope and the last 2 residues of the Bw4 epitope. The addition of 6 alleles to the ever-expanding number of known class I HLA alleles supports our hypothesis that extensive genetic diversity, including previously undescribed alleles, would be observed in this African population. In the Yaounde population, the allele frequency distribution at the HLA-A locus is consistent with distributions indicative of balancing selection. Extensive HLA-A-B haplotypes were observed in this population suggesting that only a fraction of the Cameroon HLA-A-B haplotype diversity has been observed.

Source: UG
Diversity of bacteria in sewage treatment plant used as fish culture pond in southern Ghana

Bacterial populations from different stages of sewage treatment ponds in Ghana have been found to consist essentially of the same bacterial species, but the predominant species varied with each system. Subtyping of the bacterial strains recovered from the different ponds, and comparing the species present was a valuable tool in determining correlations between the flora of the different environments. The results indicated that the diversity among the bacteria populations from the sewage treatment ponds was generally high, with mean diversity above 0.95 in each pond. Twenty-five species of bacteria were identified as associated with the fish culture systems in this study. The identified bacteria included one genus of spiral and curved bacteria, Campylobacter sp., one genus of Gram-negative aerobic rod, Pseudomonas sp., 16 genera of Gram-negative facultative anaerobic rods, Actinobacillus sp., Aeromonas sp., Citrobacter sp., Edwardsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., Escherichia sp., Flavobacterium sp., Hafnia sp., Klebsiella sp., Pasteurella sp., Proteus sp., Salmonella sp., Serratia sp., Shigella sp., Vibrio sp. and Yersinia sp., one Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, Bacteroides sp., three Gram-positive cocci, Micrococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp., two endospore-forming rods, Bacillus sp. and Clostridium sp., and one Actinomycete, Corynebacterium sp.

Source: UG
Diversity of fruit flies and mealybugs in the Upper-West Region of Ghana

Mango (Mangifera indica L.), a member of the family Anarcardiaceae, is one of the most common fruits in Ghana and could easily be cultivated in the northern part of the country. Mango production, however, has been threatened by insect and disease problems since commercial-scale production started in the Upper West Region. Asian fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera are destructive pests of fruits and vegetables worldwide, but little information has been obtained on their prevalence and diversity in the region since the first formal detection of Bactrocera invadens in 2005. Systematic trapping and host-fruit surveys conducted in 2007 confirmed the presence B. invadens in the region. We examined the diversity of fruit flies and mealybugs that have been observed to be major threats to mango and other crops in the Upper West Region. Nine fruit fly species (B. invadens, Ceratitis ditissima, Ceratitis anonae, Ceratitis bremii, Ceratitis cosyra, Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis rosa, Dacus bivittatus and Dacus vertebratus and four mealybug species (Pseudococcus longispinus, Paracoccus marginatus, Rastrococcus invadens and Icerya sp.) were identified during the survey. While mango was dominated by R. invadens, the ornamental plants were mostly affected by Icerya sp., papaw by P. marginatus, and Jatropha species infested by P. longispinus. The mealybug species were fairly common in the region. In certain cases, other pest species such as aphids and whiteflies were found in close association (in complex mixtures) with the mealybugs.

Source: UG
Diversity of Rotavirus Strains Circulating in West Africa from 1996 to 2000

The main research focus of the Electron Microscopy and Histopathology Department in the past 20 years has been in the areas of enteric diarrhoeas with special emphasis on rotavirus. Through its diarrhoea surveillance studies, the Department has helped to firmly establish rotaviruses as a major cause of diarrhoea in children, and document the circulation of unusual rotavirus genotypes in Ghana. The Department has also recently expanded its diagnostic repertoire to include the identification and characterization of noroviruses, astroviruses, and other enteric viruses.

Source: UG
The Diversity, Multiplicity of Infection and Population Structure of P. falciparum Parasites Circulating in Asymptomatic Carriers Living in High and Low Malaria Transmission Settings of Ghana

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
Divided left atrium (cor triatriatum) in the setting of common atrium

Cor triatriatum is commonly used to describe the congenital malformation in which an anomalous fibromuscular shelf divides the left atrium. We report the successful surgical repair of an extremely rare combination of divided left atrium, virtual absence of the interatrial septum, and anomalous right pulmonary venous connection in a 7 year-old girl. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography could not detect the dividing left atrial shelf. In this report, we point out the limitations of transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis of atypical cases of so-called cor triatriatum and highlight errors in the scientific literature resulting from the variance in terminology ascribed to congenital division of the left atrium.

Source: UG
Dividend Policy and Shareholders’ Value: Evidence from Listed Companies in Ghana

Purpose – This paper seeks to investigate the relationship between capital structure and profitability of listed firms on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) during a five-year period. Design/methodology/approach – Regression analysis is used in the estimation of functions relating the return on equity (ROE) with measures of capital structure. Findings – The results reveal a significantly positive relation between the ratio of short-term debt to total assets and ROE. However, a negative relationship between the ratio of long-term debt to total assets and ROE was found. With regard to the relationship between total debt and return rates, the results show a significantly positive association between the ratio of total debt to total assets and return on equity. Originality/value – The research suggests that profitable firms depend more on debt as their main financing option. In the Ghanaian case, a high proportion (85 percent) of the debt is represented in short-term debt.

Source: UG
Diviners, malams, god, and the contest for paramount chiefship in Mamprugu (Northern Ghana)

This article analyses the contest for paramount chiefship in Mamprugu, one of the traditional states in northern Ghana. It examines the role that spiritualists such as diviners and malams play in the contest. The first part provides an overview of Mamprusi traditional political system and the province of Wungu, from which this case study is taken. This is followed by an analysis of Traditional African Religion and Islam, the two dominant religious practices in the area. Finally, the article examines the contest for paramount chiefship in 2001 and the specific role that spiritualists such as diviners and malams play during the contest.

Source: UG
DNA barcoding of african podostemaceae (river-weeds): A test of proposed barcode regions

DNA barcoding has the possibility for application in many fields, ranging from biological inventory and species discovery to forensics and quality control. Barcoding could have great utility within the aquatic angiosperm family Podostemaceae, as these plants can be extremely difficult to identify on the basis of morphological characters alone, but are important components of tropical rivers and face threats from increased water pollution. Several potential barcodes for land plants have been suggested, including two 3-locus combinations proposed by the Plant Working Group of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life. These loci, matK, rpoB, rpoC1, and trnH -psbA, were tested for their potential utility in African members of the Podostemaceae. Our results show that although the rpoC1 region performs best in terms of universality of amplification and sequencing, the superior resolving power of matK makes it the most promising of the regions for use in barcoding. In the light of these results, we discuss the potential to apply barcoding to Podostemaceae of Africa and make suggestions for the directions of future work to exploit the full potential of this new technology in this group of plants.

Source: UG
DNA Damage Protecting Activity and Antioxidant Potential of Launaea taraxacifolia Leaves Extract

Background The leaf extract of Launaea taraxacifolia commonly known as African Lettuce is used locally to treat dyslipidemia and liver diseases, which are associated with oxidative stress. Methanol extract from L. taraxacifolia leaves was tested for its antioxidant activity and its ability to protect DNA from oxidative damage. Materials and Methods In vitro antioxidant potential of the leaf extract was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), and hydroxyl (OH) radical scavenging assays. Ferric reducing power, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), metal chelating, and anti-lipid peroxidation ability of the extract were also examined using gallic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as standards. Results L. taraxacifolia leaves extract showed antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 16.18 μg/ml (DPPH), 123.3 μg/ml (NO), 128.2 μg/ml (OH radical), 97.94 μg/ml (metal chelating), 80.28 μg/ml (TAC), and 23 μg/ml (anti-lipid peroxidation activity). L. taraxacifolia leaves extract exhibited a strong capability for DNA damage protection at 20 mg/ml concentration. Conclusion These findings suggest that the methanolic leaf extract of L. taraxacifolia could be used as a natural antioxidant and also as a preventive therapy against diseases such as arteriosclerosis associated with DNA damage.

Source: UG
DNA double-strand break formation and repair as targets for novel antibiotic combination chemotherapy

An unrepaired DNA double-strand break (DSB) is lethal to cells. In bacteria, DSBs are usually repaired either via an error-prone pathway, which ligates the ends of the break or an accurate recombination pathway. Due to this lethality, drugs that induce persistent DSBs have been successful in bacterial infection treatment. However, recurrent usage of these drugs has led to emergence of resistant strains. Several articles have thoroughly reviewed the causes, mechanisms and effects of bacterial drug resistance while others have also discussed approaches for facilitating drug discovery and development. Here, we focus on a hypothetical chemotherapeutic strategy that can be explored for minimizing development of resistance to novel DSB-inducing compounds. We also highlight the possibility of utilizing bacterial DSB repair pathways as targets for the discovery and development of novel antibiotics.

Source: UG
DNA hybridisation sensors for product authentication and tracing: State of the art and challenges

The wide use of biotechnology applications in bioprocesses such as the food and beverages industry, pharmaceuticals, and medical diagnostics has led to not only the invention of innovative products but also resulted in consumer and environmental concerns over the safety of biotechnology-derived products. Controlling and monitoring the quality and reliability of biotechnology-derived products is a challenge. Current tracking and tracing systems such as barcode labels and radio frequency identification systems track the location of products from primary manufactures and/or producers throughout globalised distribution channels. However, when it comes to product authentication and tracing, simply knowing the location of the product in the supply chain is not sufficient. DNA hybridisation sensors allows for a holistic approach into product authentication and tracing in that they enable the attribution of active ingredients in biotechnology-derived products to their source. In this article, the state-of-the-art of DNA hybridisation sensors, with a focus on the application of graphene as the backbone, for product authentication and tracing is reviewed. Candidate DNA biocompatible materials, properties and transduction schemes that enable detection of DNA are covered in the discussion. Limitations and challenges of the use of DNA biosensing technologies in real-life environmental, biomedical and industrial fields as opposed to clean-cut laboratory conditions are also enumerated. By considering experimental research versus reality, this article outlines and highlights research needed to overcome commercialisation barriers faced by DNA biosensing technologies. In addition, the content is thought-provoking to facilitate development of cutting edge research activities in the field.

Source: UG
DNA in situ hybridization on polytene chromosomes of Simulium sanctipauli at loci relevant to insecticide resistance

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Do African manufacturing firms learn from exporting?

We use firm-level panel data for the manufacturing sector in four African countries to investigate whether exporting impacts on efficiency, and whether efficient firms self-select into the export market. Based on simultaneous estimation of a production function and an export regression, our preferred results indicate significant efficiency gains from exporting, which can be interpreted as learning by exporting. We show that modelling unobserved heterogeneity by a flexible approach is important for deriving this conclusion. A policy implication of our results is that Africa would gain from orientating its manufacturing sector towards exporting. © 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd.

Source: UG
Do banking institutions respond to incentives? Banking awards and stability evidence from an emerging economy

This study investigates how banking awards influence stability in the banking sector of Ghana. We employ a robust random effect panel model of 30 banks between 2007 and 2014 and the results show that banking institutions respond to incentives in the form of awards. However, banking stability is weakened when previous year awards are concentrated in fewer individual banks. These imply that awards at the industry and individual bank levels promotes and weakens stability, respectively. From these findings, it is obvious that regulators of banks can rely on industry-level focused awards to reinforce stability but not on individual bank level focused awards. Also, organizers of banking awards in conjunction with regulators should structure and design banking awards to avoid concentration of awards in few banks and to be industry oriented.

Source: UG
Do banks in sub-Saharan Africa with market power benefits from monetary policy

This paper assesses the competitive environments of SSA banks with the view of analysing whether banks with market power profit from monetary policy. It employs various specifications of Lerner index as a measure of market power for 264 banks across 24 SSA countries. Tightening of monetary policy, high credit risk, risk aversion, and the high labour cost contribute to the high spread of banks in SSA. The results also reveal that a spread among banks with market power is significantly more sensitive to the monetary policy changes. The overall results suggest that banks in Africa gain from monetary policy shocks.

Source: UG
Do bureaucratic organizations lobby? The case of Ghana immigration service

Information from Seventy interviews and secondary evidence was used to investigate the relationship between Ghana Immigration Service’s (GIS) lobbying and the outcomes it produced. The focus of the investigation was in four areas: the strategies and tactics of lobbying employed; intermediate outcomes achieved; final outcome attained; and the effect of GIS’ lobbying on politics-administration relations. The evidence showed that the strategies succeeded in achieving the desired policy reforms. In addition to this final outcome, GIS’ lobbying also succeeded in attaining intermediate outcomes: increased attention; increased knowledge; and persuasion. Among others, the study’s contributions are that: it has explicated the overlooked conditions under which bureaucratic lobbying or influence is likely to occur; it has shown that lobbying impact should include not only final outcomes but also intermediate effects. Moreover, it has shown that politics-administration relations is a dynamic rather than a static category that is not explained by one best practice model but rather a best fit model or combination of models that is contingent on factors producing transient changes in the relationship

Source: UG
Do countries’ geographical locations moderate the tourism-led economic growth nexus in sub-Saharan Africa?

Debates on the intricacies of tourism’s potential contribution to economic growth remain imperative and unsettled in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Employing dynamic models and multiple robust estimation techniques, this article empirically tests the tourism-led growth hypothesis (TLGH) in the case of SSA. Further investigations on countries’ geographical locations influence the TLGH are conducted. With panel data spanning from the year 2000 through 2016, on 40 SSA countries, which were regrouped into coastal, landlocked and islands, the study establishes evidence in support of the TLGH for the full sample. After geographical classifications, tourism’s impact on economic growth is, however, observed to be significantly positive for only landlocked and coastal countries. Surprisingly, the impact of tourism on economic growth is significantly negative for islands within the subregion. The findings hold policy implications for the pursuit of tourism-led growth in the SSA region

Source: UG
Do Educational Attainments Influence Attitudes Toward Gender Equality in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Although there is a plethora of literature on gender equality and women empowerment, studies on whether (and to what extent) educational attainments affect people’s attitudes toward gender equality are lacking. This is particularly true for Africa, a mostly male-dominated continent. In this article, we use data from the Wave 6 of the World Values Survey to empirically examine the relationship between educational attainments and attitudes toward gender equality among people in 5 countries in Africa–Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Our results, based on different measures of gender equality and econometric specifications, consistently reveal that the higher the level of education acquired, the more liberal and favorable the individual’s attitudes are toward gender equality.

Source: UG
Do ethnicity and sex-role ideology influence self-esteem among US and West-African young adults: An exploratory cross-cultural study

We explored ethnicity and sex-role ideology influences on self-esteem among young adults contrasting self-report data by university students from West-Africa (n = 144; females = 58.33%) and the United States (n = 57; females = 73.68%). The students (N = 201) completed measures of sex-role ideology and personal and collective self-esteem. Following regression analysis, we found ethnicity differences in self-esteem. US students scored higher than West-African students did on three self-esteem measures. Sex-role ideology did not predict self-esteem both between and within cultural settings. Findings may be explained by the conflation of ethnicity and sex-role ideology in the study sample.

Source: UG
Do export status and export intensity increase firm performance

This study examines the effects of export status and export intensity on the performance of firms in Ghana. Our measures of performance include productivity and profitability. Using the Regional Project on Enterprise Development (RPED) dataset covering the period 1991-2002, the results of this study indicate that export status and export intensity have positive effects on productivity, confirming the learning-by-exporting hypothesis. Competition on the international market exposes exporting firms to new technologies, and this has the potential of increasing their productivity. Thus, economic policy initiatives should be directed at encouraging firms to enter the export market. Existing exporters should also be motivated to intensify their exporting efforts by exporting more of their output to foreign markets. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Source: UG