ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Nematodes and weeds control effects of pueraria phaseoloides and flemingia macrophylla fallows on establishment, survival and yield of plantain

The yield of plantain (Musa spp., AAB Simmonds) declines sharply after 1-2 years of cropping in West and Central Africa, due mainly to weeds and nematodes. A trial was carried out from January 2002 to October 2005 under two land-use systems (LUS) comprising 4-5 year-old bush fallow, dominated by Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King &amp; H. Rob, and a 20 year-old secondary forest, in three villages in southern Cameroon, to assess the effectiveness of Pueraria phaseoloides and Flemingia macrophylla as planted fallows for weed suppression and reduction in nematode damage of the plantain root system, and determine the yield response of different plantain sucker types to the weed suppression and reduced nematode damage. In each LUS, the treatments were a factorial combination of three levels of fallow system and four levels of plantain sucker type arranged in a randomised complete block design. Total above-ground biomass production of P. phaseoloides was 7.45 Mg ha-1, 4.2 times higher than F. macrophylla (1.78 Mg ha-1; P &lt; 0.05). The high biomass of P. phaseoloides resulted in a significantly greater reduction in total weed biomass compared to F. macrophylla in both wet and dry seasons. Comparing the planted fallows, a sustained reduction in soil nematodes population was only under P. phaseoloides. Plantain establishment and survival rates were of decreasing order: PIF (nursery)-derived "Essong" &gt; Boiling water-treated "Essong" &gt; Untreated "Essong". P. phaseoloides produced significantly (P &lt; 0.05) the highest plantain yield. There were no differences between the natural regrowth and F. macrophylla for all the plantain yield parameters. Sanitizing suckers (boiling and nursery-derived) increased actual yield and quantity of edible bunches by 35% and 26%, respectively, compared to the untreated. It was concluded that P. phaseoloides had the greatest positive effect on the growth and yield of plantain.

Source: UG
Neonatal bloodstream infections in a Ghanaian Tertiary Hospital: Are the current antibiotic recommendations adequate?

Background: Diagnosis of bloodstream infections (BSI) in neonates is usually difficult due to minimal symptoms at presentation; thus early empirical therapy guided by local antibiotic susceptibility profile is necessary to improve therapeutic outcomes. Methods: A review of neonatal blood cultures submitted to the microbiology department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital was conducted from January 2010 through December 2013. We assessed the prevalence of bacteria and fungi involved in BSI and the susceptibility coverage of recommended empiric antibiotics by Ghana Standard Treatment guidelines and the WHO recommendations for managing neonatal sepsis. The national and WHO treatment guidelines recommend either ampicillin plus gentamicin or ampicillin plus cefotaxime for empiric treatment of neonatal BSI. The WHO recommendations also include cloxacillin plus gentamicin. We described the resistance profile over a 28-day neonatal period using multivariable logistic regression analysis with linear or restricted cubic splines. Results: A total of 8,025 neonatal blood culture reports were reviewed over the four-year period. Total blood culture positivity was 21.9 %. Gram positive organisms accounted for most positive cultures, with coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) being the most frequently isolated pathogen in early onset infections (EOS) (59.1 %) and late onset infections (LOS) (52.8 %). Susceptibility coverage of early onset bacterial isolates were 20.7 % to ampicillin plus cefotaxime, 32.2 % to the combination of ampicillin and gentamicin, and 71.7 % to cloxacillin plus gentamicin. For LOS, coverage was 24.6 % to ampicillin plus cefotaxime, 36.2 % to the combination ampicillin and gentamicin and 63.6 % to cloxacillin plus gentamicin. Cloxacillin plus gentamicin remained the most active regimen for EOS and LOS after exclusion of BSI caused by CoNS. For this regimen, the adjusted odds of resistance decreased between 12-34 % per day from birth to day 3 followed by the slowest rate of resistance increase, compared to the other antibiotic regimen, thereafter until day 28. The trend in resistance remained generally unchanged after excluding data from CoNS. Multidrug resistant isolates were significantly (p-value <0.001) higher in LOS (62.4 %, n = 555/886) than in EOS (37.3 %, n = 331/886). Conclusions: There is low antibiotic susceptibility coverage for organisms causing neonatal bloodstream infections in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital when the current national and WHO recommended empiric antibiotics were assessed. A continuous surveillance of neonatal BSI is required to guide hospital and national antibiotic treatment guidelines for neonatal sepsis.

Source: UG
Neonatal mortality in the central districts of Ghana: analysis of community and composition factors

Background: Communities and their composition have an impact on neonatal mortality. However, considering the smallest health administrative units as communities and investigating the impact of these communities and their composition on neonatal mortality in Ghana have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of community-, household- and individual-level factors on the risk of neonatal mortality in two districts in Ghana. Methods: This was a longitudinal study that used the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System as a platform to select 30,132 neonatal singletons with 634 deaths. Multilevel cox frailty model was used to examine the effect of community-, household- and individual-level factors on the risk of neonatal mortality. Results: Regarding individual-level factors, neonates born to mothers with previous adverse pregnancy (aHR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05–1.83), neonates whose mothers did not receive tetanus toxoid vaccine (aHR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08–1.60) and neonates of mothers with Middle, Junior High School or Junior Secondary School education (aHR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02–1.65) compared to mothers without formal education, had a higher risk of neonatal mortality. However, female neonates (aHR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.51–0.73) and neonates whose mother had secondary education or higher (aHR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18–0.75) compared to those with no formal education had a lower risk of mortality. Neonates with longer gestation period (aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.94–0.97) and those who were delivered at home (aHR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.45–0.70), private maternity home (aHR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.30–0.68) or health centre/clinic (aHR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.26–0.60) compared to hospital delivery had lower risk of mortality. Regarding the household-level, neonates belonging to third quintile of the household wealth (aHR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52–0.94) and neonates belonging to households with crowded sleeping rooms (aHR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85–0.97) had lower risk of mortality. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest the risk of neonatal mortality at the individual- and household-levels in the Kintampo Districts. Interventions and strategies should be tailored towards the high-risk groups identified in the study.

Source: UG
Neoproterozoic Passive Margin Formation And Evolution During The Rodinia–Gondwana Supercontinent Cycle At The Eastern Margin Of The West African Craton.

Petrographical and geochemical data from the Togo structural unit (TSU), also referred to as the Atacora structural unit, are presented together with the existing dataset; geochemical and age data from the sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks from the passive margin sequences of the Dahomeyide belt in Ghana to infer their provenance and depositional setting and expand the discussion on the Rodina–Gondwana supercontinent assembly during the Pan-African orogeny. The metasedimentary rocks of the TSU are quartzites and phyllites. The framework grains of the quartzites consisting dominantly of quartz and small amounts of feldspar grains and relict lithic fragments classify them as quartz arenite, subarkose and sublitharenite. Generally, the studied rocks show similar rare-earth element and multi-element patterns, which imply derivation from similar sources. Elemental ratios, including (La/Lu)N, Th/Sc and La/Sc, suggest sediments sourced from intermediate to felsic rocks. Provenance and depositional setting indicators of the TSU suggest deposition in a passive margin setting, with the West African and Amazonian cratons’ granitoids and granitic gneisses as possible provenance, akin to siliciclastic rocks of the Buem structural unit and the Voltaian Supergroup of the Volta Basin. The deformational history of the TSU is similar to those of the Buem structural unit and the eastern margin of the Voltaian Supergroup, indicating the effect of the Pan-African orogeny on the passive margin of the Dahomeyide belt. We, therefore, propose the formation and evolution of a Neoproterozoic passive margin unit, which was tectonically deformed during the Rodinia– Gondwana supercontinent cycle.

Source: UG
The Net Benefit of Migration: The Case of Migrant Nurses from Ghana to the United Kingdom

Skilled worker migration from Ghana to Europe and the USA has been on the increase in recent years. These out-migrations bring enormous benefits as well as costs but the net effect is yet to be ascertained. Using survey data from 100 nurses practicing in Ghana and a similar number practising in the UK, this paper investigates their reasons for migrating and attempts to capture the net benefit of migration. The paper concludes that migration of nurses bring positive net private benefit but this excludes social cost such as the rise in mortality rates due to shortage of nurses, and other social costs which do not easily lend themselves to valuation in monetary terms.

Source: UG
Net WAGP economic benefit requires Ghana development

In order to take advantage of the potential of the 470-MMcfd WAGP (West African Gas Pipeline), Ghana will require various developments, including the completion of its domestic pipeline infrastructure. In addition, there is a need to finalize commercial arrangements between industrial users and the supply company and both the West Africa Pipeline Co. and natural gas producers in Nigeria. There will naturally be an effect on natural gas' large-scale introduction to the Ghanian energy market both in preparation for and upon WAGP's entering service. For one, the natural gas' entrance into the economy will not necessarily displace all fuel-oil demand. In terms of electricity for the industry, since power in Ghana has no constant demand, such a fluctuation in load may cause problems for the natural gas distribution company. In terms of filing stations, for instance in Accra, placing new filing stations will need an expansion of the gas pipeline network as well.

Source: UG
A Net-Map Analysis of Stakeholder Connections and Influence in Agriculture-For-Nutrition Policymaking in Ghana

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture approaches can improve farming household incomes, food security, and diet quality. Adopting nutrition-sensitive agriculture approaches means placing a nutrition lens on the policies, strategies, and investments in the food and agriculture sector without detracting from the sector's traditional goals of food supply. To understand the processes involved in developing agriculture-for-nutrition policies in Ghana, this paper examined the influence of stakeholders' interconnections using a visual participatory mapping technique, Virtual Net-Map. Three convening platforms were identified for stakeholder engagement: the Agriculture Sector Working Group, the National Agricultural Technical Committee, and the Public-Private Partnership Dialogue Platform. Sixty stakeholders with 188 connections were recognised for their involvement in agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking in Ghana. Fourteen stakeholders, twelve from government organizations and two from donor and development partner organizations, were identified as the most influential. International stakeholders (donors and development partners) were critical in funding agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking activities. While all stakeholders had a joint mandate to ensure policies were developed, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture led the policy development process in Ghana's food and agriculture sector. Moreover, government stakeholders notably received more support from other stakeholders for funding, advocacy, dissemination, and technical assistance than the support they offered. Generally, stakeholders were more engaged in technical assistance activities and least involved in disseminating agriculture nutrition information in the agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking process. The information on stakeholders' interconnections and influence showed areas that had the most and least stakeholder engagements, which will enable potential stakeholders to identify niche(s) to support the nutrition agenda in Ghana's food and agriculture sector and help Ghana meet the Global Nutrition Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2025 and 2030, respectively. In addition, the evidence presented on Ghana's agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking network can lead to better ways of centralizing nutrition in agricultural policies and designing initiatives that encompass most, if not all, relevant stakeholders.

Source: UG
Network Performance Metrics for Energy Efficient Scheduling in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)

In Wireless Sensor Networks, sensor nodes are deployed to ensure continuous monitoring of the environment which requires high energy utilization during the data transmission. To address the challenge of high energy consumption through frequent independent data transmission, the IEEE 802.11b provides a backoff window that reduces collisions and energy losses. In the case of Internet of Things (IoTs), billions of devices communicate with each other simultaneously. Therefore, adapting the contention/ backoff window size to data traffic to reduce congestion has been one such approach in WSN. In recent years, the IEEE 802.11b MAC protocol is used in most ubiquitous technology adopted for devices communicating in the IoT environment. In this paper, we perform a thorough evaluation of the IEEE 802.11b standard taking into consideration the channel characteristics for IoT devices. Our evaluation is aimed at determining the optimum parameters suitable for network optimization in IoT systems utilizing the IEEE 802.11b protocol. Performance analysis is made on the sensitivity of the IEEE 802.11b protocol with respect to the packet size, packet delivery ratio (PDR), end-to-end delay, and energy consumption. Our studies have shown that for optimal performance, IoT devices using IEEE 802.11b channel require data packet of size 64 bytes, a data rate of 11Mbps, and an interpacket generation interval of 4 seconds. The sensitivity analysis of the optimal parameters was simulated using NS3. We observed PDR values ranging between 27% and 31%, an average end-to-end delay ranging within 10-15 ms while the energy remaining was between 5.59 and 5.63Joules. The results clearly indicate that scheduling the rate of packet generation and transmission will improve the network performance for IoT devices while maintaining data reliability.

Source: UG
Network‑driven analysis of human– Plasmodium falciparum interactome: processes for malaria drug discovery and extracting in silico targets

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
Networks, trust and capital mobilization: challenges of embedded local entrepreneurial activities in Ghana's oil and gas industry.

In December  Ghana pumped its first oil and a local content law was passed in  to promote local participation in the oil and gas industry. This paper examines Ghanaian entrepreneurial activities and the dynamics of local participation in the emerging oil and gas sector. We explore Ghanaian entrepreneurs’ strategies of mobilising networks to acquire information, build trust, raise financial capital and reduce risk with the aim to gain entry, win contracts and participate in the oil and gas industry. We argue that the resources and strategies activated by entrepreneurs embedded in the context of the Ghanaian business environment are inadequate and problematic when deployed in the context of the international oil and gas industry. The international oil companies’ cost-intensive standard requirements and state officials’ informal interventions further limit local firms’ prospects for participation in the oil and gas industry.

Source: UG
Neurological manifestations of Burkitt's lymphoma in Ghana.

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
Neuroophthalmic and Clinical Characteristics of Brain Tumours in A Tertiary Hospital in Ghana, West Africa

Background: Anecdotally, increasing number of patients are seen at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) with brain tumour. Neuro-ophthalmic symptoms and signs may help in timely diagnosis and intervention. Objective: To evaluate the neuro-ophthalmic and clinical characteristics of brain tumour in patients presenting at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Study design: A prospective case series involving 36 consecutive patients newly diagnosed with brain tumour from November 2010 to October 2011, at the Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery and Endocrine units of KBTH, Ghana. All patients had clinical diagnosis of brain tumour with confirmation by computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirteen patients had histological confirmation of diagnosis. Outcome measures: Presenting Visual acuity, Colour vision, Visual fields and Cranial nerve deficits. Results: Data of 36 patients were analyzed. Ages ranged from 3 to 69years, mean (SD) 42.56(±16.6 years). Twenty-six (72%) were females. Tumours included pituitary adenoma (20,55.5%), meningioma( 10,27.8%), choroid plexus tumour(1,2.8%), medulloblastoma( 1,2.8%),craniopharyngioma(1,2.8%), haemangioblastoma( 1,2.8%), thalamic tumour(1,2.8%) and haemangioma(1,2.8%). Histologically confirmed tumours included pituitary adenoma (9, 69.2%), meningioma (3, 23.1%), craniopharyngioma (1, 7.7%). One patient had both a pituitary adenoma and meningioma. Blurred vision (30, 83.3%), headache (28, 77.8%) and photophobia (13, 36.1%) were predominant symptoms. Commonest neuro-ophthalmic signs were impaired colour vision (62 eyes, 88.6%), optic atrophy (26, 74.3%), unilateral or bitemporal hemianopia (15, 41.5%) and relative afferent pupillary defect (12, 34.3%). Seven (19.4%) patients were visually impaired and nine (25%) blind. Thirty-three of 72(45.8%) eyes had monocular blindness. Conclusions: Common neuro-ophthalmic characteristics were blurred vision, headache, impaired colour vision, optic atrophy, and relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). Significant numbers of patients were blind or visually impaired at presentation.

Source: UG
Neuroscience research in Africa: Current status

There are limited data on the contribution of the African continent to neuroscience research and publications. This review aims to provide a clear view on the state of neuroscience research among African countries, and to compare neuroscience research within the 52 African countries. A literature review search was conducted for all published articles by African authors in both local and international journals using Medline and other primary databases. Neuroscience represents 9.1% of the total medical publications. The highest percentage of neuroscience publications comes from South Africa. There is a positive correlation between the Gross Domestic Product and the total number of neuroscience publications among African countries. There is therefore an urgent need to develop strategies to improve neuroscience research in African countries. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Source: UG
Neurulation

Formation of the neural tube, the rudiment of the central nervous system, occurs through the process of neurulation. Neurulation occurs in two phases, primary and secondary, and each phase involves multiple stages. Failure of neurulation to occur properly results in neural tube defects - severely debilitating and potentially life-threatening birth defects in which neural tissue protrudes through the skin. The tissue/cellular bases of neurulation are well understood, but its molecular basis is just beginning to be revealed. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Neutral vs. non-neutral genetic footprints of Plasmodium falciparum multiclonal infections

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
Neutron flux distribution in the irradiation channels of Am-Be neutron source irradiation facility

Monte Carlo (MCNP-5) simulations of the neutron fluxes were performed to determine the radial and axial neutron fluxes of the two irradiation sites of the 20 Ci 241Am-Be neutron irradiation facility at NNRI. The geometry of the 241Am-Be source as well as the irradiator design, constituted one cylindrical neutron source at the center of a cylindrical barrel with water as moderator. In the far and the near irradiation sites that were 13.1 cm and 4.2 cm, respectively, from the source, the average thermal, epithermal and fast neutron fluxes axially increase exponentially from the bottom and peak at the center of the source 3.0 cm from the bottom of the source and decrease to a very low value at the end of the tube. The percentage of the average thermal flux increases as the distance from the source increases, while the percentages of the epithermal and fast fluxes decrease as the distance from source increases. In the far and near irradiation sites the average radial thermal neutron flux decreases at the rates of 307.02 n cm-2 s-1 and 961.54 n cm-2 s-1 per cm along the diameter, respectively. The average radial, epithermal and fast neutron fluxes were fairly uniform along the diameter in the two irradiation sites. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Neutronic study of burnup, radiotoxicity, decay heat and basic safety parameters of mono-recycling of americium in French pressurised water reactors [Americio perdirbimas prancūziškame suslėgtojo vandens reaktoriuje ir kuro rodiklių (Išdegimo, radioaktyvumo, likutinės šilumos bei saugos) neutroniniai tyrimai]

specialization in Applied Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Earth Science, Nuclear and Radiochemistry and Nuclear and Environmental Protection

Source: UG