ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Forest Cover Change, Key Drivers and Community Perception in Wujig Mahgo Waren Forest of Northern Ethiopia

This study assessed forest cover change from 1985 to 2016, analyzed community perception on forest cover change and its drivers, and suggested possible solutions in northern Ethiopia. Landsat images of 1985, 2000 and 2016, household interviews and focus group discussions were used. While dense forests and open forests increased by 8.2% and 32.3% respectively between 1985 and 2000, they decreased by 10.4% and 9.8% respectively from 2000 to 2016. Grasslands and cultivated land decreased in the first period by 37.3% and 5.5% but increased in the second period by 89.5% and 28.5% respectively. Fuel wood collection, cultivated land expansion, population growth; free grazing, logging for income generation and drought were the major drivers of the change reported by local communities. Soil erosion, reduction in honey bee production, flooding and drought were the most perceived impacts of the changes. Most of the farmers have a holistic understanding of forest cover change. Strengthening of forest protection, improving soil and water conservation, enrichment planting, awareness creation, payment for ecosystem services and zero grazing campaigns were mentioned as possible solutions to the current state of deforestation. In addition, concerted efforts of conservation will ensure that the forests' ecosystems contribute to increased ecosystem services.

Source: UG
Forest river plants and water quality in Ghana

River plants and water chemistry in wet and dry seasons were sampled in a wide range of rivers with variable catchments in the forest zone of Ghana, in order to examine the relationships between the floristic composition within the river and river water and catchment environmental variables. Plant species occurring in the river or on its seasonally flooded banks along 500 m sample stretches were listed in 26 sites. Sample species richness was low (1-17 species per sample, mean 5.9). Only nine species were recorded that are confined to rivers. Cluster analysis defined five floristic groups which differed in catchment area, geology, turbidity and dissolved minerals. Analysis of water chemistry variables by principal components analysis revealed a strong principal gradient (42% of total variance) related to annual rainfall with low ionic concentrations under high rainfall. The second component described seasonal differences in water chemistry. Nitrate and chloride were more concentrated in the dry season, but sulphate and calcium were more concentrated in the wet season. Catchments with higher forest cover yielded more oligotrophic and less turbid water. Catchment geology influenced water chemistry so that sandstone areas yielded clear water, and ancient peneplain areas with bauxitic soil were characterised by exceptionally low silicon concentrations. The association of macrophyte composition with river chemistry and catchment conditions was somewhat tenuous, due to the low number of species, but the low turbidity, oligotrophic rivers under high rainfall and with a high percentage of species-rich forest cover were the more species rich. Prediction of river water quality at the scale of this study are more readily made from a knowledge of catchment rainfall and forest cover than from assessments of river plant composition. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Forgiveness among Ghanaian children and early adolescents in the context of peer-to-peer dyads

How children experience forgiveness within peer relationships is unknown among children in West Africa. In this study, we sought to understand the contributing factors and influences of forgiveness among children in Ghana for peer-to-peer offenses. We conducted a qualitative study on 25 participants (between the ages of 12 and 15 years) in Accra, Ghana. Thematic analysis was utilized to identify themes from semi-structured interview transcripts. Unique themes centered around the perception that forgiveness ensures relationship continuation and that a major source of learning about forgiveness is via a religious institution. Despite the common theme that an offense undermines trust in a relationship, most participants perceived that forgiveness was the preferred option for handling the offense. Results suggest that early adolescents can benefit by learning the skill of forgiveness.

Source: UG
Forgiveness in Children Placed in Children's Homes: Understanding, Process and Motivation for Forgiveness

Children placed in children’s homes encounter negative experiences in the form of abuse from caregivers, interpersonal conflicts with peers and victimizations from community members. How these children negotiate forgiveness of these negative experiences is unknown due to limited studies on the subject. The present study explored the nature of negative experiences reported by children in residential care, their understanding of forgiveness, as well as the process and motivations for extending forgiveness. Participants were 10 children in residential care, aged between 9 and 18 years, resident in two Children’s Homes in Accra. Results from these interviews show that while participants have cordial relationships with their peers and caregivers, they experience daily relational problems in the form of insults, bullying, being lied about, teasing and denial of gift items. Their knowledge of the meaning of forgiveness is largely different from all the three existing conceptualizations of the concept, and is influenced by religious, contextual factors in their relationships and the perceived benefits of forgiveness. Forgiveness process involved deferral to God, educating or confronting the offender on the impact of their behavior and reporting the offender to an authority. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Source: UG
Formal enforcement mechanisms and informal transactions

Operators of informal transactions developed certain interest in the relaxed nature of the business as compared to formal transaction because of its controversial laid down procedures and probably, the cost involved. However, due to the relaxed nature of informal transactions, it could be envisaged that, the environment would develop faster since its not strictly regulated. This paper critically examines the legal process of enforcing financial transactions in Ghana and, in particular, how appropriate and applicable such enforcement mechanisms are to informal financial transactions. It also explores the interplay between formal and informal financial transactions. The main aim of this paper is to outline the legal implications of formal and informal enforcement mechanisms regarding exchanges within and between informal financial entities.

Source: UG
Formal support services and (dis) empowerment of domestic violence victims: perspectives from women survivors in Ghana

Background As part of efforts to prevent violence against women, several countries have institutionalized formal support services including legislations to prevent, protect victims, and deter perpetrators of domestic violence (DV). Prior research on formal support service utilization shows that DV survivors do not get the necessary services they deserve. However, much remains to be known about the experiences of women survivors of DV who accessed a range of formal support services and how their experiences (dis)empowered them. Here, we assessed the experiences of Ghanaian women survivors of DV with formal support services vis-à-vis the provisions of the Ghana DV Act and insights of subject experts. Methods From May to August 2018, we recruited a total of 28 participants: 21 women survivors of DV in Weija Gbawe Municipality of Ghana, and 7 experts from the police, human rights, and health professions. We used two sets of in-depth interview guides: one to collect data on survivors’ experiences, and the second for the insights of experts. We performed summary descriptive statistics on survivors’ sociodemographic characteristics and used thematic analysis to assess their experiences of DV; and access to, patronage, and response of formal support services. Results Of 21 DV survivors, 19 (90.1%) were aware of the existence of the DV law, however none was well informed of their entitlements. DV survivors have low formal education and are not economically empowered. Some DV survivors are revictimized in the process of accessing formal services. DV survivors expect the government to provide them with shelter, upkeep, medical, and legal aid. All the 21 survivors had at least one contact with a women’s rights organization and were knowledgeable of their supporting services namely legal services, temporary shelter, and psychosocial support. Conclusions The experiences of DV survivors do not reflect the legal provisions of Ghana’s DV Act. Government under funding of formal services and negative gender norms are disempowering to survivors. NGOs are popular among women survivors of DV in Ghana for the education, legal, and material support they provide. A close collaboration between the government and NGOs could better mitigate DV in Ghana.

Source: UG
Formalising E-waste in Ghana: An emerging landscape of fragmentation and enduring barriers

Since 2016 Ghana has introduced several initiatives to formalise parts of the e-waste economy. This e-waste management system is based on the experiences, expert policy advice and partial funding from the Global North. Employing serial interviewing, we assess the rolling out of this formalisation pathway, the evolving e-waste management landscape and reflect on informal terrain’s reconstitution and remaining barriers, such as inadequate funding, low levels of awareness about informal e-waste management among policymakers and the general populace and inadequate training programmes to equip informal operators with technology. Several formal/informal economy overlaps are now visible in a ‘gray space.’ Some low-skilled e-waste work, ancillary collection services and workplaces are being upgraded and integrated but informal infrastructure remains very deficient. Downgrading of some e-waste work is taking place. Fragmentation of the main hub is occurring as rival informal operations continue in various locations, and new small ventures are emerging in peripheral locations.

Source: UG
Formation age and genesis of the Gongchangling Neoarchean banded iron deposit in eastern Liaoning Province: Constraints from geochemistry and SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating

The Gongchang iron deposit, a typical Algoma-type banded iron formation (BIF) deposit located in the Eastern Block of the North China Craton (NCC), is hosted in Neoarchean metamorphic rocks, including amphibolite, biotite leptynite, garnet biotite schist, plagioclase-hornblende schist, garnet chlorite schist, muscovite quartz schist and actinolite magnetite quartzite. Geochemical data suggest that protoliths of the amphibolites and biotite leptynite should be basalt and dacite, respectively. SHRIMP U-Pb dating of zircons from the plagioclase-hornblende schist shows that the Gongchangling iron deposit was formed at 2554±12Ma. Major elements and REE data of the ores indicate that the Gongchangling BIF precipitated from seawater, and the ultimate iron and silica origins may have been related to nearby volcanic activity. The δ18O values of quartz from the BIFs range between 9.1 and 12.9‰, suggesting that exotic high δ18O fluids were involved during metamorphism. The pyrite have δ34S values of range between -3.5‰ and 14.7‰, suggesting that mineralization were originally from metamorphism. Comparison of the mineralization age of the Gongchangling BIF with those of other local BIFs in North China and other cratons throughout the world indicates that the Gongchangling BIF formed coevally with the global BIF mineralization at ~2.5Ga. Taken together, these data suggest that the Gongchangling iron deposit was formed in a volcanic submarine environment in which hydrothermal fluids associated with volcanic activity supplied both iron and silica for the banded iron formations. © 2014 Elsevier B.V..

Source: UG
Formation and failure of an e-marketplace pioneer in a developing country

The purpose of this study is to understand the formation and failure of an e-marketplace pioneer in a developing country. Much of the research on e-marketplaces focuses on the developed world. Within the limited literature on the developing world, the dominant focus has been on user adoption and related constraints. Little research thus exists on how emarketplaces are formed and whether they succeed or fail. This study therefore follows qualitative interpretive case study methodology to investigate the formation and failure of an e-marketplace pioneer in a developing country. The findings show that the e-marketplace was formed without a clear e-business model and without enough attention to the developing country environment. The failure was subsequently caused by inability to generate revenue and failure to renew domain name license. The paper advises potential entrepreneurs to pay attention to their local environment and develop e-business models with appropriate revenue options to guide their e-marketplace initiatives.

Source: UG
Formation of melt pocket in mantle peridotite xenolith from western Qinling, Central China: Partial melting and metasomatism

Two types of melt pockets, closed melt pocket (CMP) and open melt pocket (OMP), are recognized from the peridotite xenoliths entrained in the Cenozoic kamafugites in western Qinling (Chinese Source), Central China. The Haoti (Chinese Source) CMPs have a mineral assemblage of olivine+ clinopyroxene+amphibole+K-feldspar, whereas the Baiguan (Chinese Source) CMPs are composed of olivine+clinopyroxene+ilmenite+carbonate. The components of the OMPs are more complicated. In the Haoti OMPs, there are olivine, clinopyroxene, glass, low modal abundances of amphibole, K-feldspar (Kfs), ilmenite, sulfide, chlorite, perovskite, chromite and phlogopite. The Baiguan OMPs contain olivine, clinopyroxene, glass, chlorite and chromite. Compositionally, olivines in the CMPs and OMPs are both apparently depleted in Ni, and those in the OMPs are also depleted in Fe and Mg, and enriched in Ca compared to the primary ones. Clinopyroxenes display large and systematical compositional variations between the CMPs and OMPs, particularly in Al, Cr, Na, Ca and Ti. Glasses are generally depleted in Si compared to the worldwide glasses in melt pockets, although they still have large variations. Amphiboles and K-feldspars have relatively restricted compositional variations. The petrographical observations and mineral chemistry suggest that the Haoti and Baiguan CMPs were generated by the in-situ decompression melting of orthopyroxenes, olivines and clinopyroxenes, and by the addition of minor external K-rich and Ca-rich melt/fluids. The OMPs formed during the latest metasomatic event in the lithospheric mantle beneath the western Qinling. © 2010 China University of Geosciences and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Source: UG
Forms of Support and Experiencing Maltreatment and Disrespect During Childbirth at a Health Facility: A Self Reported Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana

One method to enhance maternal health outcomes in underdeveloped nations is to help women and encourage them to give birth in medical facilities (skilled delivery). Yet, impediments to facility birth have reportedly included fear of abuse and con tempt during labour and delivery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the self-reported experiences of postnatal women and the types of abuse and disrespect they encountered during delivery. One hundred and thirteen (313) women were chosen at random from three healthcare facilities in the Greater Accra area for a cross-sectional study. STATA 15 was used to analyze the data. According to the study, more than half of the postnatal women (54.3%) were urged to have support people present during labour and delivery. Approximately 75.7% said they had been mistreated in some way, with physical violence accounting for 19.8% and undignified care for 9.3%. About 7.7% (n = 24) of the women were detained or confined against their will. The study’s findings indicate that labour-related abuse and disrespect are common. Without improving the birthing experience for women, expanding medical facilities might not result in the skilled or facility-based deliveries that are intended. The quality of maternal health care should be monitored, and hospitals should train their midwives in providing excellent patient care (cus tomer care)

Source: UG
Formulation and characterization of atropine sulfate in albumin-chitosan microparticles for in vivo ocular drug delivery.

The overall study goal was to produce a microparticle formulation containing atropine sulfate for ocular administration with improved efficacy and lower side effects, compared with that of the standard marketed atropine solution. The objective was to prepare an atropine sulfate-loaded bovine serum albumin-chitosan microparticle that would have longer contact time on the eyes as well as better mydriatic and cycloplegic effect using a rabbit model. The microparticle formulation was prepared by method of spray-drying technique. The percent drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were assessed using a USP (I) dissolution apparatus. The particle sizes and zeta potential were determined using laser scattering technique and the surface morphology of the microparticles was determined using a scanning electron microscope. The product yield was calculated from relative amount of material used. In vitro cytotoxicity and uptake by human corneal epithelial cells were examined using AlamarBlue and confocal microscopy. The effects of the microparticle formulation on mydriasis in comparison with the marketed atropine sulfate solution were evaluated in rabbit eyes. The prepared microparticle formulation had ideal physicochemical characteristics for delivery into the eyes. The in vivo studies showed that the microparticles had superior effects on mydriasis in rabbits than the marketed solutions.

Source: UG
Formulation and evaluation of snack crackers made with peanut flour

Baked snack crackers were successfully created with a flour mixture containing peanut, wheat, and rice flours. The following flavors were evaluated in the product: cheddar cheese, garlic, blackened Cajun, and Italian. These varieties, as well as five popular commercial wheat-based crackers, were all compared with an unflavored peanut flour cracker (control) via nutritional analysis and instrumental measurements of color and texture properties. Sensory evaluation of peanut flour cracker varieties was conducted to determine consumer acceptability. Results show that peanut flour crackers were higher in protein and dietary fiber and lower in total carbohydrate content than the commercial crackers. Color values for peanut flour crackers were significantly affected by the addition of flavored powders, but the color of the basic peanut flour cracker was similar to the commercial crackers in the study. Texture evaluation determined that the peanut flour crackers were consistently softer than the commercial crackers. Sensory evaluation determined that the cheddar cheese-flavored peanut flour crackers were liked best by consumers, as indicated by high hedonic ratings. All other varieties were rated favorably except for those with Italian seasoning, which were slightly disliked. Overall, a cracker made with peanut flour is a promising consumer product with enhanced nutrition. © 2009 AACC International, Inc.

Source: UG
Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Oral Capsules and Suspension from the Ethanolic Extract of Cola nitida Seeds for the Treatment of Diarrhea

Management of diarrhea has evolved over the years from relatively inadequate interventions in the early years to more successful physiological approaches. The use of herbal medicinal products and supplements has grown significantly over the past three decades, with more than half of the global population depending on it for some aspect of their primary health care needs. This study is aimed at formulating solid and liquid oral dosage forms of the ethanolic extract of Cola nitida seeds for the treatment of diarrhea. The flow property of the dried ethanolic extract was determined and subsequently formulated into granules for encapsulation. The ethanolic extract was also used in formulating an oral suspension. Pharmacopeia tests such as uniformity of weight, disintegration, drug content, and dissolution were carried out on the formulated capsules. The formulated suspension was also assessed using the following parameters; viscosity, flow rate, drug content, dissolution, sedimentation rate, and sedimentation volume. The dried ethanolic extract and formulated granules exhibited good flow properties. The formulated capsules exhibited optimal in vitro release of extract (>90% after 45 minutes) and passed the uniformity of weight, disintegration, and drug content tests. The formulated suspension also passed the drug content test and had a good sedimentation rate, sedimentation volume, and flow rate. The formulated suspension also exhibited pseudoplastic flow, optimal viscosity, and a good in vitro release profile (>90% after 45 minutes). Capsules and suspension of the ethanolic extract of Colanitida seeds have been successfully formulated and can be used as standard dosage forms for the management of diarrhea.

Source: UG
Formulation and testing of vancomycin loaded albumin microspheres prepared by spray-drying Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02652040600776564

Microparticles are widely employed as carriers of biologically active compounds with many possible applications. For targeted drug delivery and sustained release purposes, biopolymers (i.e. polysaccharides and proteins) have been proposed. In this study, microsphere formulations of vancomycin were prepared by the spray-drying method. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a polymer matrix and was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde after microsphere preparation. The product yield obtained from the spray-drying method was 75%. The mean particle size was 5 ± 1.6 µm, with the majority of particles between 4 and 8 µm. The extent of cross-linking affected the release of vancomycin from microspheres. Moreover, both rate and extent of vancomycin release from microspheres decreased with increasing glutaraldehyde concentration. Encapsulation of vancomycin did not alter the bioactivity of the drug and it was more effective in killing Staphylococcus aureus than the solution form. Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02652040600776564

Source: UG
Formulation of a drinkable peanut-based therapeutic food for malnourished children using plant sources

High ingredient costs continue to hamper local production of therapeutic foods (TFs). Development of formulations without milk, the most expensive ingredient, is one way of reducing cost. This study formulated a ready-to-drink peanut-based TF that matched the nutrient composition of F100 using plant sources. Three least cost formulations namely, A, B and C were designed using computer formulation software with peanuts, beans, sesame, cowpeas and grain amaranth as ingredients. A 100 g portion of the TF provided 101-111 kcal, 5 g protein and 5.3-6.5 g fat. Consumer acceptability hedonic tests showed that the products were liked (extremely and moderately) by 62-65% of mothers. These results suggest that nutrient dense TFs formulated from only plant sources have the potential to be used in the rehabilitation phase of the management of malnourished children after clinical testing. © 2012 Informa UK, Ltd.

Source: UG