ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Comparison of preoperative trans‑thoracic echocardiography with intraoperative findings in patients with congenital heart disease undergoing surgery

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy and safety of trans-thoracic echocardiography alone for indicating surgery by correlating preoperative trans-thoracic echocardiography with intra-operative findings in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) in a low resource, low volume center. Methodology: The pre-operative trans-thoracic echocardiography and intra-operative findings of two hundred and fifty patients with CHD, undergoing surgery at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, from 2012 to 2017 were prospectively compared. Included in this prospective study, were all patients with CHD who had trans-thoracic echocardiography alone at the NCTC. Excluded were patients who were operated at the NCTC based on echocardiography done elsewhere, those who had echocardiography at the NCTC but were operated elsewhere, as well as those whose operative decision were based on cardiac catheterization or CT angiography and patients with acquired heart defects. The analysis included profiling of patients on different demographic and clinical parameters. SPSS software was used for analysis. Results: Of the 250 patients ages ranged from 2 months to 60 years. The mean was 4 years 95 days, median 1 year 180 days. The female sex accounted for 152 (60.6%). The preoperative trans-thoracic echocardiography correlated with intra-operative findings completely in 228 (91.2%) of patients, affirming the accuracy of this imaging modality. There were however, 19 (7.6%) false negatives and 3 (1.2%) false positive. Neither the false positive nor false negative errors resulted in complications or adversely affected the surgical outcome. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, preoperative transthoracic echocardiography done by cardiologists at the National Cardiothoracic Center, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Accra, demonstrated a high correlation with intraoperative findings. Echocardiography also proved to be sensitive, accurate and safe for indicating surgery in patients with congenital heart disease. Keywords: Trans-thoracic echocardiography, Congenital heart disease, Intra-operative findings

Source: UG
Comparison of real-time pcr and kato smear microscopy for the detection of hookworm infections in three consecutive faecal samples from schoolchildren in ghana

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
Comparison of rheological models for determining dark chocolate viscosity

Parameters in chocolate rheology, namely shear viscosity and yield stress, are important in manufacture and directly influenced by product particle size distribution (PSD) and composition. The Casson model was the standard confectionery industry strategy to quantify rheological properties of molten chocolate until in 2000, the International Confectionery Association recommended the use of interpolation data to describe viscosity. The two strategies are compared and correlated in defining rheological properties of molten dark chocolates prepared using different PSD, fat and lecithin content. Rheological parameters were determined using a shear rate-controlled rheometer and data examined using correlation, regression and principal component analyses to establish their inter-relationships. Correlation and regression analyses showed high correlation (r = 0.89–1.00) and regression coefficients (R2 = 0.84–1.00). The newer International Confectionery Association technique gave higher correlation and regression coefficients than the Casson model, but multivariate principal component analysis showed that the two models were highly related and either could effectively quantify dark chocolate viscosity parameters.

Source: UG
A Comparison of Satellite-Based Estimates of Urban Agglomeration Size for the Accra Area

Data on the extension of urban areas are important for analyzing growth dynamics and to support the planning of transport and service provision. Satellite-based remote sensing has proven extremely useful, especially in cities that experience fast spatial growth. Di erent approaches to satellite-based mapping may, however, produce di erent results concerning urban categorization and delineation, often making direct comparison misleading. This study analyses four di erent satellite-based studies of urban land cover in Accra, Ghana and presents a new land cover map based on visual interpretation of segmented Sentinel-2 imagery. The methods and results, as well as the underlying definition of “urban”, are compared and discussed. One method identifies exclusively areas with man-made, impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, as proxies for urban extent. Other methods aim to identify a broader set of land cover types, including green spaces, which are treated as part of the mixed urban fabric. Further di erences are found in the way urban fringe areas under development are classified depending on their degree of urbanization, and in the distance threshold values used for defining the urban agglomeration. For the most recent maps we identify a di erence in the measured size of the Accra agglomeration of almost 100%.

Source: UG
A comparison of some physical, chemical and sensory attributes of three pineapple (Ananas comosus) varieties grown in Ghana

The role of fruits and fruit juices in nutrition and health cannot be overemphasized. And as consumers look for better quality of fruits with regard to certain characteristics, new varieties are coming up to meet demand. It is against this background that this present study was carried out to assess the quality of MD2 pineapple variety with respect to the other varieties on the Ghanaian market. This study examined the physical, chemical and sensory quality of the MD2 pineapple variety compared to those of the sugarloaf and the smooth cayenne varieties on the Ghanaian market. Sugarloaf had the highest juice volume of 205.72ml/kg fruit, followed by MD2 (134-191) with smooth cayenne having the smallest volume. These differences were statistically significant, p<0.05. There were no significant flavor differences (p> 0.05); although there were significant differences (p< 0.05) in the overall preference for fruit juices which indicated that MD2 was most preferred pineapple fruit. MD2 compares very well with pineapple varieties already on the Ghanaian market. Its cultivation in Ghana has potential both for the local and international market and should be encouraged.

Source: UG
Comparison of stochastic frontier approaches for estimating national efficiency: An application to sub-Saharan African countries

In this paper, we attempt to estimate pure national (technical) efficiency for 19 SSA countries over the 1960-2010 periods. In doing this, we compare conventional stochastic frontier models for panel data with a number of recently developed models which seek to control for unobserved heterogeneity in the inefficiency component. We find that the ¡®true¡¯ random effects model that treats unobserved heterogeneity in our national dataset generates more reasonable efficiency estimates. Moreover the results confirm that most SSA countries operate far from the efficient frontier.

Source: UG
Comparison of testing of susceptibility to solidification cracking of ferritic stainless steels using two methods

The susceptibility to solidification cracking of unstabilized and stabilized ferritic stainless steels was investigated using self-restrained Houldcroft and Modified Varestraint-Transvarestraint (MVT) tests. Nine steel grades of unstabilized and stabilized ferritic stainless steels were used in this study. Seven steels comprising an unstabilized, two monostabilized (Ti and Nb) respectively, three dual stabilized (Ti + Nb), and a dual stabilized containing Mo were used for the self-restrained Houldcroft method. A monostabilized Nb and dual stabilized (Ti + Nb) grades (experimental alloys) and commercial grades of an unstabilized and a dual stabilized (Ti + Nb) ferritic stainless steels were employed in the MVT test. Autogenous gas tungsten arc welding at a speed of 6 mm/s, 3 mm/s, and 1 mm/s was done for the Houldcroft test and welding at a speed of 6 mm/s and 3 mm/s for MVT test. The results of the tests were evaluated by measuring the crack length, considering the microstructure and using multiple linear regression analysis of the crack length. The MVT method was successful in demonstrating the deleterious effect of Nb on ferritic stainless steels. Cracking of the Houldcroft samples was dependent on Ti, welding parameters, and the weld bead geometry.

Source: UG
A comparison of the different approaches to detecting asymmetry in retail-whole sale price transmission

The purpose of the study is to investigate whether the price transmission between the retail and wholesale maize prices is asymmetric in Ghana. Houck’s static model and the von Cramon-Taubadel and Loy Error Correction Model (ECM) were applied to test for asymmetry whilst the Houck’s static model fails to support this conclusion in the same market with the same data. The F-test associated with the null hypothesis that retail prices respond symmetrically to increases and decreases in wholesale prices is not rejected in the case of Houck’s static model. In contrast, the hypothesis of symmetry is rejected in the ECM approach. These results suggest that different models may lead to different conclusions in asymmetric price transmission modelling.

Source: UG
Comparison of the impact of allelic polymorphisms in PfAMA1 on the induction of T Cell responses in high and low malaria endemic communities in Ghana

Background: Malaria eradication requires a combined efort involving all available control tools, and these eforts would be complemented by an efective vaccine. The antigen targets of immune responses may show polymor phisms that can undermine their recognition by immune efectors and hence render vaccines based on antigens from a single parasite variant inefective against other variants. This study compared the infuence of allelic polymor phisms in Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (PfAMA1) peptide sequences from three strains of P. fal ciparum (3D7, 7G8 and FVO) on their function as immunodominant targets of T cell responses in high and low malaria transmission communities in Ghana. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 10 subjects from a high transmission area (Obom) and 10 subjects from a low transmission area (Legon) were tested against 15 predicted CD8+T cell minimal epitopes within the PfAMA1 antigen of multiple parasite strains using IFN-γ ELISpot assay. The peptides were also tested in simi lar assays against CD8+enriched PBMC fractions from the same subjects in an efort to characterize the responding T cell subsets. Results: In assays using unfractionated PBMCs, two subjects from the high transmission area, Obom, responded pos itively to four (26.7%) of the 15 tested peptides. None of the Legon subject PBMCs yielded positive peptide responses using unfractionated PBMCs. In assays with CD8+enriched PBMCs, three subjects from Obom made positive recall responses to six (40%) of the 15 tested peptides, while only one subject from Legon made a positive recall response to a single peptide. Overall, 5 of the 20 study subjects who had positive peptide-specifc IFN-γ recall responses were from the high transmission area, Obom. Furthermore, while subjects from Obom responded to peptides in PfAMA1 from multiple parasite strains, one subject from Legon responded to a peptide from 3D7 strain only. Conclusions: The current data demonstrate the possibility of a real efect of PfAMA1 polymorphisms on the induc tion of T cell responses in malaria exposed subjects, and this efect may be more pronounced in communities with higher parasite exposure.

Source: UG
Comparison of the impact of allelic polymorphisms in PfAMA1 on the induction of T Cell responses in high and low malaria endemic communities in Ghana

Background: Malaria eradication requires a combined effort involving all available control tools, and these efforts would be complemented by an effective vaccine. The antigen targets of immune responses may show polymorphisms that can undermine their recognition by immune effectors and hence render vaccines based on antigens from a single parasite variant ineffective against other variants. This study compared the influence of allelic polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (PfAMA1) peptide sequences from three strains of P. falciparum (3D7, 7G8 and FVO) on their function as immunodominant targets of T cell responses in high and low malaria transmission communities in Ghana. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 10 subjects from a high transmission area (Obom) and 10 subjects from a low transmission area (Legon) were tested against 15 predicted CD8 + T cell minimal epitopes within the PfAMA1 antigen of multiple parasite strains using IFN-γ ELISpot assay. The peptides were also tested in similar assays against CD8 + enriched PBMC fractions from the same subjects in an effort to characterize the responding T cell subsets. Results: In assays using unfractionated PBMCs, two subjects from the high transmission area, Obom, responded positively to four (26.7%) of the 15 tested peptides. None of the Legon subject PBMCs yielded positive peptide responses using unfractionated PBMCs. In assays with CD8 + enriched PBMCs, three subjects from Obom made positive recall responses to six (40%) of the 15 tested peptides, while only one subject from Legon made a positive recall response to a single peptide. Overall, 5 of the 20 study subjects who had positive peptide-specific IFN-γ recall responses were from the high transmission area, Obom. Furthermore, while subjects from Obom responded to peptides in PfAMA1 from multiple parasite strains, one subject from Legon responded to a peptide from 3D7 strain only. Conclusions: The current data demonstrate the possibility of a real effect of PfAMA1 polymorphisms on the induction of T cell responses in malaria exposed subjects, and this effect may be more pronounced in communities with higher parasite exposure.

Source: UG
Comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of urine cytology, urinary nuclear matrix protein-22 and multitarget fluorescence in situ hybridization assay in the detection of bladder cancer

Objective: This study aimed to compare the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of urine cytology, BladderChek nuclear matrix protein-22 (NMP22) and UroVysion™ fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) tests in patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer, those with recurrent bladder cancer, and those with bladder cancer but in remission during surveillance. Material and methods. Voided urine samples obtained from 178 patients with suspected or known bladder cancer about to undergo diagnostic or surveillance cystoscopy and 25 control subjects without the disease were divided into four and used for urine culture and cytology, NMP22 BladderChek and UroVysion FISH tests. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for each test were calculated. Comparison was made between the ability of each test to detect bladder cancer in the three category of patients listed. Results. Of the 178 patients with bladder cancer, 43 were newly diagnosed, 58 had recurrent disease and 77 were in remission. The sensitivity of each test in newly diagnosed patients was: urine cytology 28%, NMP22 88% and FISH 80%; and in patients with recurrent disease: urine cytology 33%, NMP22 57% and FISH 85%. The mean specificity for urine cytology, NMP22 and FISH was 95%, 67% and 48%, respectively. Conclusion. Of the tests used in the study for detection of bladder cancer, NMP22 appeared to be most cost-effective and rapid, with relatively high sensitivity and specificity in all categories of patients. The NMP22 test may be considered a new gold standard for the assessment of patients with known or suspected bladder cancer.

Source: UG
Comparison of two clinical severity scoring systems in two multi-center, developing country rotavirus vaccine trials in Africa and Asia

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
Comparison of variable (operational) cost structures of broiler production in Accra/Tema and Kumasi areas

The paper examined the composition of the total variable cost of 20 farms and compared the operational cost of producing broiler in the Accra/Tema and Kumasi areas and by scale of operation. On the average, costs of feed and day old chicks form about a half and a quarter, respectively, of total variable cost for broiler production. There is no statistically significant difference between the mean variable cost for producing a broiler in the Accra/Tema area and in the Kumasi area and also by the scale of operation, suggesting that the variable costs of producing a broiler are similar. Also, there is no price incentive in moving broiler products between the two areas for sale. The statistical test also suggests the gross profit per bird produced is significant. However, the poultry farms located in Accra/Tema area and who hold larger broiler size face higher variable cost variability and selling price variability than their Kumasi counterparts. The estimated coefficient of variation for each of the study areas is less than 30 percent. Poultry farmers would need to monitor closely feed items and their cost in order not to overrun the variable cost of their farms. The poultry farmers should develop their local markets to increase sales and gross margin incentive, since there is no incentive to develop markets in other producing areas.

Source: UG
Comparison of whole blood and spleen transcriptional signatures over the course of an experimental malaria infection

Although the spleen is broadly accepted as the major lymphoid organ involved in generating immune responses to the erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, human splenic tissue is not readily available in most cases. As a result, most studies of malaria in humans rely on peripheral blood to assess cellular immune responses to malaria. The suitability of peripheral blood as a proxy for splenic immune responses is however unknown. Here, we have simultaneously analysed the transcriptomes of whole blood and spleen over 12 days of erythrocytic stage Plasmodium chabaudi infection in C57BL/6 mice. Using both unsupervised and directed approaches, we compared gene expression between blood and spleen over the course of infection. Taking advantage of publicly available datasets, we used machine learning approaches to infer cell proportions and cell-specific gene expression signatures from our whole tissue transcriptome data. Our findings demonstrate that spleen and blood are quite dissimilar, sharing only a small amount of transcriptional information between them, with transcriptional differences in both cellular composition and transcriptional activity. These results suggest that while blood transcriptome data may be useful in defining surrogate markers of protection and pathology, they should not be used to predict specific immune responses occurring in lymphoid organs.

Source: UG
A comparison of women with induced abortion, spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancy in Ghana.

Background Despite having one of the most liberal abortion laws in sub-Saharan Africa, complications from induced abortion are the second leading cause of maternal mortality in Ghana. Study Design The sample is composed of patients with pregnancy termination complications in Ghana between June and July 2008. The majority of patients report having had a spontaneous abortion (75%; n=439), while 17% (n=100) and 8% (n=46) report having had an induced abortion or an ectopic pregnancy, respectively. Factors associated with women in each of the three groups were explored using multinomial logistic regression. Results When compared to women with spontaneous abortions, women with induced abortions were younger, poorer, more likely to report no religious affiliation, less likely to be married, more likely to report making the household decisions and more likely to fail to disclose this pregnancy to their partners. Within the induced abortion subsample, failure to disclose the most recent pregnancy was associated with already having children and autonomous household decision making. Conclusion Identifying the individual and relationship characteristics of induced abortion patients is the first step toward targeted policies and programs aimed at reducing unsafe abortion in Ghana.

Source: UG
Compensation payment for fisherfolk during closed-season fishing: Lessons from small-scale fisherfolk in Ghana

This study contributes to the literature on marine conservation, fisheries management, and coastal development. The study investigated the distribution mechanism of government -led compensation payment schemes for small-scale coastal fisherfolk in Ghana during the closed season. We also sought to explore the perception of fisherfolk concerning equity and fairness in the distribution of the compensation scheme. The empirical data consisted of 220 household surveys and 20 in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders from the Central Region of Ghana. The findings from our study indicate that significant controversies exist about the selection of beneficiaries for compensation payment. There is a lack of transparency in the compensation schemes targeting criteria. The distribution process was widely perceived to be unfair. The results from the study show that there are high levels of politics and nepotism in compensation distribution. Access to compensation packages is largely influenced by political party affiliation. A more transparent and precisely targeted scheme may go a long way to improving perceptions of fairness and compliance. The paper calls for the introduction of alternative livelihoods for fishing households during the closed season.

Source: UG
Competence in professional psychology practice in Ghana: Qualitative insights from practicing clinical health psychologists

Issues concerning competence of practicing psychologists have not been critically investigated in Ghana. This study used the three-dimensional cube model of core competencies as a framework to explore competencies of professional psychologists in active clinical health practice in Ghana. Sixteen clinical psychologists with 1 to 20 years of practicing experience were interviewed on adequacy of their graduate training for practice as well as maintaining post-training competence. The results suggested that training equipped the practitioners mainly for research and teaching but less so for clinical practice. Reflective practice was underdeveloped leading to critical challenges in emotional and cultural competencies. Structural support for continuous professional development was limited. Implications for professional psychology training, research and practice are discussed. This study is the first to explore competence issues in professional psychology practice in Ghana, and it contributes to the global discourse on continuous competence in psychology.

Source: UG