ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A novel procedure for separating small peptides on polyacrylamide gels

A simple and fast procedure that allows the separation of small (1–3 kDa) peptides on glycine-SDS gels is described. Peptides were separated by glycine-SDS/PAGE as a result of in situ complexation of peptide/SDS during electrophoretic migration and visualized by Coomassie blue staining. The data presented here shows the separation of small peptides of different isoelectric points, sizes, and hydrophobicity on polyacrylamide mini gels. Ten different peptides have been tested with this method. The data suggest the dependence of SDS/peptide complex formation and migration due to the number of basic amino acid residues, length of peptide and the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity ratio

Source: UCC
A novel way to visualise tumour related angiogenesis and detect breast tumours in women: A combined clinical and optical method for breast cancer screening of well-women in Ghana

Background: Late stage neoplastic breast lesions abound in Ghana, especially, late-stage early-age breast cancer and therefore low survival rates after treatment of breast cancer is prevalent. The median age at diagnosis for breast cancer is 39 years hence screening mammography (“the gold standard”) is not suitable and also not readily available in Ghana. Preliminary data suggests transillumination offers a new mode of early detection for neoplastic breast lesions and is not limited by age. Methods: In all, over 10,000 women who were manually screened for breast lesions during mobile breast screening clinics with the view to enhance early detection were offered transillumination with the breast-light/breast-i (optical torch devices used to detect angiogenesis) as well. These optical devices, (the breas-tlight/breast-i) developed by David J. Watmough were used to visually observe angiogenesis around breast tumours and lesions. The breastlight/breast-i operates on the principles of light travelling through tissues and the specific wavelength of light absorption by Heamoglobin in blood Results: Here we report on a total of 9,962 “well women", initially using Breastlight but since 2014 using a new improved instrument Breast-i. The significance of a dark shadow arises because light is multiply scattered within the breast tissues and excess absorption of red light occurs at a wavelength of around 620nm when a cancer is present, caused by angiogenesis. A sensitivity of 94.4% was obtained for detecting breast cancer. Conclusions: The advantage of Breast-i is that there is no radiation exposure, no tissue compression and it is quick and easy to carry out the examination. This is probaly the largest study of its kind in the world.

Source: UCC
A novel way to visualise tumour related angiogenesis and detect breast tumours in women: A combined clinical and optical method for breast cancer screening of well-women in Ghana

Background: Late stage neoplastic breast lesions abound in Ghana, especially, late-stage early-age breast cancer and therefore low survival rates after treatment of breast cancer is prevalent. The median age at diagnosis for breast cancer is 39 years hence screening mammography (“the gold standard”) is not suitable and also not readily available in Ghana. Preliminary data suggests transillumination offers a new mode of early detection for neoplastic breast lesions and is not limited by age.

Source: UCC
A novel way to visualise tumour related angiogenesis and detect breast tumours in women: A combined clinical and optical method for breast cancer screening of well-women in Ghana

Late stage neoplastic breast lesions abound in Ghana, especially, late-stage early-age breast cancer and therefore low survival rates after treatment of breast cancer is prevalent. The median age at diagnosis for breast cancer is 39 years hence screening mammography (“the gold standard”) is not suitable and also not readily available in Ghana. Preliminary data suggests transillumination offers a new mode of early detection for neoplastic breast lesions and is not limited by age.

Source: UCC
Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing Detects HIV Transmission Risk in Serologically- Tested Blood Donor Units

ntroduction: Blood transfusion is an essential life-saving intervention in the healthcare delivery. Mandatory screening of donor units helps prevent transfusion-transmissible infections, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Aim: The purpose of this study was to use Nucleic Acid- Amplification Testing (NAAT) to screen for the presence of HIV-1 in blood-banked samples labelled as “safe for transfusion” per serological testing algorithm. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional diagnostic study was conducted in May 2016 on serologically tested donor blood units in the Koforidua Regional Hospital blood bank. One hundred (100) donor samples were analysed using the COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan® HIV-1 Qual Test for the detection of HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA. Results: Of the 100 donor samples that tested sero-negative for HIV-1 and 2 using the antibody screening kit, four (4) samples (4%) were reactive by NAAT. Blood donors who came for donation were only males and majority (90%) were between the ages of 17-27 years. Additionally, all the NAAT HIV-1 positive samples were from participants in the 17-27 year group. Conclusion: NAAT demonstrated that a significant number of HIV-infected individuals are misdiagnosed at Ghanaian points- of-care. This finding has necessitated the need for inclusion of NAAT in donor blood screening in areas prevalent for HIV-1 in Ghana, considering the risk involved in using the licensed antibody test provided by the health authorities. In cases where NAAT screening may not be feasible, newer tests that have greater sensitivity compared to the FDA-licensed 3rd generation EIA which only detects HIV antibodies can be adopted.

Source: UCC
Nugbidodo (Reconciliation) Rite And Its Efficacy Among The Anlo People Of Ghana

This thesis sought to examine the connection between traditional religio-cultural beliefs, customs and practices, and conflict resolution and reconciliation using conflict issues in Anlo traditional area to analyse its efficacy. The basic aim is to assess the methods and the extent of conflict in Anlo and to, explore the relevance of combining indigenous and modern methods to address contemporary conflict in Anlo traditional area. The methodology is sited within the framework for conducting empirical studies in Religious Studies. The qualitative method of collecting and analysing data are utilized, coupled with a historical foundation of conflict situation on a global scale. The Anlo, as guided by their religious perception, demonstrate a key pattern in their indigenous customs and practices. Nugbidodo rite currently impact knowledge in the wake of moderruty and the influence of Westernization. It is argued strongly that the Anlo indigenous ways of addressing conflict issues are still relevant, and the methods adopted for doing so, have not been lost completely in the communities. Even though it appears that indigenous religious beliefs. customs and practices seem to be disappearing due to the influence of westernization and conversion to Islam and Christianity, my key argument is that indigenous religious beliefs, customs, and practices remain very strong and active in their ways oflife and in their thought patterns. Further, I raised an argument that it is not enough to adopt modern (scientific) or traditional methods of addressing contemporary issues of conflict separately, and so the indigenous and the western approaches could live side by side in order to fully address conflict issues. Finally, my argument is also that, certain challenges needed to be addressed before the two approaches can co-exist.

Source: UCC
The number and distribution of muscle spindles in human intrinsic postvertebral muscles

Analyses of human patterns of movement have shown that a large number of daily activities require movement of the head and trunk as a basic component. The control of postvertebral muscles is obviously of importance in these movements as well as in the maintenance of posture, particularly that of the head. Electromyographic evidence in subjects studied by Zuk (1962), Hoogmartens & Basmajian (1973), Monticelli, Ascani, Salsano & Salsano (1975) and Hoogmartens & Stuyck (1977) shows that asymmetry of stretch reflexes in spinal muscles may play a part in the causation and progression of many cases of idiopathic scoliosis. Spencer & Eccles (1976), Spencer & Zorab (1976) and Spencer (1977) have produced morphological and histochemical evidence to show that there are relatively more tonic (Type I) fibres on the convex side of the scoliotic curve than on the concave side, although it is not clear from their report whether this asymmetry in the distribution of muscle fibre types is a predisposing factor or a result of idiopathic scoliosis. Nevertheless, earlier work by Cooper (1960, 1966) showed that long, complex spindles were particularly numerous in tonic muscles.

Source: UCC
The number and distribution of muscle spindles in human intrinsic postvertebral muscles

Because of the possible involvement of the postvertebral muscles in these intricate functions of the body, their patterns of innervation and control need to be clarified. Detailed information of motor supply is scanty, and attempts to determine segmental distributions have not been encouraging. The literature on the incidence of sensory receptors, including muscle spindles, is incomplete. Gregor (1904) reported on a quantitative study of muscle spindles in some intrinsic postvertebral muscles of a 26 cm human fetus, but his specimen was incomplete. Detailed quantitative studies of human muscle spindles have also been made by Voss (1956) in anterior muscles of the neck, trapezius and latissimus dorsi; by Voss (1958, 1959) in suboccipital and ventral abdominal muscles, and by Cooper & Daniel (1963) in suboccipital muscles. Cooper (1960, 1966) summarised an extensive series of reports by Voss and his co-workers on the distribution of spindles in human limb, trunk and cranial muscles. There appears to be no information on the segmental distribution of muscle spindles in the posterior muscles of the trunk. The present study is mainly concerned with the number and distribution of muscle spindles.

Source: UCC
Numerical studies of temperature changes in adult and paediatric patients in brain magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain has seen a rising clinical request during diagnosis. The ohmic heating of tissue results in rising human temperature during MRI. This may be as a result of the unintentional heating which seems to be an under-appreciated risk especially of high-field-strength MRI. This study modelled Penne‘s bio-heat equation and used Matlab programming language to predict in-vivo power deposition in brain tissues during brain MRI of Radiofrequency (RF) above 100 kHz. Experimental thermal dosimetry was carried out on 114 patients. These patients were referred for (head) brain MRI at field strength of 0.3 tesla and 1.5 tesla at the same scanning protocols of specific absorption rate (SAR) of 3.2 W/kg. The experimental results showed that the highest change in temperature of 0.3 tesla is 1.2 °C and 1.5 tesla is 1.9 °C. The average change confirmed that the temperature distributions during MRI do not correlate well with SAR limit but rather showed a positive correlation with patients‘ body mass index, scan duration and the field strength. The lowest temperature during MRI from the simulated results was 37.5 °C and the highest temperature was 42.5 °C during brain scan of duration less than sixty minutes; this revealed that brain temperature increased as scan duration increased. The highest estimated brain temperature during brain MRI of the study was 43 °C and this depicted brain hyperthermia since the temperature value was above 41 °C. This might contribute to the causes of profuse localize sweating of some patients during MRI in the acceptable ambient MRI environment. It is, therefore, recommended that continuous temperature monitoring during MRI scan should be the most paramount, particularly if the scan durations are prolonged.

Source: UCC
Nursery and tree management practices for Improved germination, seedling quality and fruit Characteristics of cape st. Paul wilt disease Tolerant coconut varieties

To meet the increasing demand for Cape St. Paul Wilt Disease (CSPWD) tolerant coconut seedlings, this research was carried out to develop interventions for improving seed nut germination and vigour, seedling quality and vigour and Sri Lanka Green Dwarf (SGD) fruit characteristics. Seven (7) different experiments were carried out to assess pre-nursery practices, seedling spacing and fertilizer application, ablation and fruit thinning towards addressing deficiencies in coconut nursery and tree management practices. Fully burying Sri Lanka Green Dwarf crossed Vanuatu Tall (SGD x VTI) coconut hybrid seed nut in decomposed sawdust at pre-nursery stage improved germination rate, speed of germination and germination index respectively by 33%, 30% and 98% relative to the control. A treatment combination of 60-cm triangular spacing and fertilizer application of 47.3:96.6:126.0:28.4 g seedling·1 N:P20S:K20:MgO produced good quality SGD x VTI coconut hybrid seedlings with averagely 34% higher vigour, 12% bigger collar girth, 11 % wider canopy diameter and 5% increase in height relative to the control. Thinning ofSGD coconut variety to 10 fruits per bunch increased crude protein and Vitamin C contents of fresh fruits by 31 % and 42% respectively; and average fresh fruit weight by 32% and its components: husk, shell, kernel and water averagely by 42%, 61 %, 42% and 65% respectively. Findings of prenursery studies are recommended for dissemination to appropriate entities to improve seed nut germination rate and increase supply ofSGD x VTI coconut hybrid seedlings to fanners. Further research is recommended for assessing field perfonnance of SGD x VTI coconut hybrid seedlings as affected by potassium nitrate soaking treatment, planting depth or nut size.

Source: UCC
Nursery growth of banana (Musa spp.) plantlets rooted on auxin-free and auxin-supplemented media

This paper describes the effects of auxin added to the culture medium on main and branch root formation of banana (Musa spp.) shoots and growth characters of the plantlet rooted on the medium with and without auxin. Banana shoots cultured in vitro on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2,uM l-naphthylacetic acid (NAA), rooted earlier and also had more adventitious roots than those cultured on the medium without NAA. However, the adventitious roots formed on the medium without NAA showed more lateral branching. Plant height and number of leaves per plantlet in in vitro culture were not influenced by the addition of NAA but under nursery conditions, plantlets rooted without NAA showed better growth in terms of days to the appearance of new leaf, plant height and number of leaves per plant. This might be due to the presence of abundant lateral roots. Even though auxins are generally known to promote rooting, NAA inhibited the formation of lateral roots in Banana plants

Source: UCC
Nurses View on Drug Administration Error and Patient Safety in Health Facilities in the Central Region of Ghana

Drug administration is a core responsibility of nurses. Medication error occurring during the drug administration process can be attributed to varied effects on patients’ safety, ranging from the errors going undetected to prolonged hospital stays, discomfort and death. It is relevant to identify the extent of drug administration error in the district hospitals in the Central region of Ghana. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses nursing patients admitted to selected district hospital in the Central Region of Ghana. Primary data was gathered from 168 nurses using a pre-tested questionnaire and a review of incident books on the wards. Logistic regression was done to assess possible factors contributing to drug administration error. The majority of the respondents (61.9%) were below 29 years and had worked between one and four years (72.2%). Most common types of error committed include pre-administration error (mean=2.67) and administration technique error (mean=2.67). The majority of these errors occur during the night shift (65%). Lack of understanding of medication jargons (mean = 3.89), “feeling uncomfortable to wake patient up’ (mean = 3.78) and nurses' eagerness to go home (mean = 3.67) were the most predisposing factors to drug administration error. Increasing internal environment constraints corresponds with increasing drug administration error commitment by a factor of 0.228. Lack of emphasis placed on medication error as a measure of quality of care and non-existence of channels for reporting drug administration error were the main barriers to reporting drug administration error.

Source: UCC
Nurses view on drug administration error and patient safety in health facilities in the Central Region of Ghana.

Drug administration is a core responsibility of nurses. Medication error occurring during the drug administration process can be attributed to varied effects on patients’ safety, ranging from the errors going undetected to prolonged hospital stays, discomfort and death. It is relevant to identify the extent of drug administration error in the district hospitals in the Central region of Ghana. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses nursing patients admitted to selected district hospital in the Central Region of Ghana. Primary data was gathered from 168 nurses using a pre-tested questionnaire and a review of incident books on the wards. Logistic regression was done to assess possible factors contributing to drug administration error. The majority of the respondents (61.9%) were below 29 years and had worked between one and four years (72.2%). Most common types of error committed include pre-administration error (mean=2.67) and administration technique error (mean=2.67).The majority of these errors occur during the night shift (65%). Lack of understanding of medication jargons (mean = 3.89), “feeling uncomfortable to wake patient up’ (mean = 3.78) and nurses eagerness to go home (mean = 3.67) were the most predisposing factors to drug administration error. Increasing internal environment constraints corresponds with increasing drug administration error commitment by a factor of 0.228. Lack of emphasis placed on medication error as a measure of quality of care and non-existence of channels for reporting drug administration error were the main barriers to reporting drug administration error.

Source: UCC
Nurses/Midwifery Trainees’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Utilisation of HIV Testing/Counselling Service in the Central Region of Ghana

Background and purpose: Despite HIV testing and counselling (HTC) being recognized as important elements of any effective prevention, detection, care, and management programmes across many societies as part of their primary health care package, it is surprising that research evidence on related issues, especially in developing countries like Ghana is sparse. This study examined the extent of knowledge, attitudes and utilisation of HIV testing, and counselling services among trainee nurses of the public nursing and midwifery training colleges in the Central Region of Ghana. Methods and results: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 375 nursing and midwifery students using multistage sampling procedures. Findings showed that students’ HTC knowledge was high (85%) whereas attitudes toward HTC were rated positive (95%). However, HTC utilisation was low (47%). Further results revealed a statistically significant difference between class level and HTC utilisation (χ2 [1, N = 375] = 14.263, p = 0.000). In contrast, no statistically significant differences in student nurses’ class level and HTC knowledge (χ2 [1, N = 375] = 0.624, p = 0.475) as well as class level and attitudes toward HTC services (χ2 [1, N = 375] = 2.334, p = 0.158) were realized. Conclusion: The low HTC utilisation among the student nurses may potentially lead to missing opportunities for early diagnoses, care, treatment, and support services for primary, secondary or tertiary prevention modes. Organisation of programmes by college authorities on the importance of HTC and the need for student nurses to utilise these services is crucial.

Source: UCC
Nurses’ and Medical Officers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Preparedness Toward Potential Bioterrorism Attacks

Terrorist attacks are increasingly becoming more lethal and less discriminate. The threat of bioterrorism is increasing daily. The ease of production and the broad availability of biological agents and technical know-how have led to a further spread of biological weapons and an increased desire among nations as well as terrorists to have them. Health professionals in emergency departments are expected to play crucial roles in the management of victims of bioterrorism when bioterrorism occurs. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and medical officers (MOs) toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. This qualitative study utilized focus group discussions and semistructured interviews to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and MOs toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. Data were subjected to a qualitative content analysis in which three main thematic categories were developed. These thematic categories are as follows: (a) differences in bioterrorism knowledge between emergency department nurses and emergency department MOs, (b) unprepared emergency department nurses and MOs for care during bioterrorism attacks, and (c) positive attitudes of emergency department nurses and MOs toward bioterrorism preparedness. Although emergency MOs had better knowledge of bioterrorism than their nursing counterparts, both groups of health professionals were unprepared to respond to any form of bioterrorism. Both nurses and MOs indicated the need for staff education and infrastructure readiness to be able to respond effectively to a bioterrorist attack. A well-prepared emergency department and health professionals against bioterrorism could prevent high casualty rates in a bioterrorist attack and also serve a dual purpose of dealing with other natural disasters when they occur.

Source: UCC
Nursing students’ experience of stress during their education: A study in the Central Region, Ghana

Nursing students suffer high levels of stress during their education experiences. Nursing research supports the argument that practicum experience of course work yields more stress than class experience. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived level of stress and sources of stress in undergraduate and diploma nursing students. In this study, a sample of 170 students, 104 undergraduate level 400 and 66 level 300 diploma nursing students completed a modified form of the Hassles Assessment Scale to evaluate the students’ sources of stress. Findings revealed that the diploma nursing students had higher stress levels but these stress levels were closer to the mean of the average stress levels of the undergraduate nursing students indicating both research groups experienced high level of stress. Another significant finding was that, females were found to feel more stress than males. The findings of high stress levels in both nursing groups supports the assumption that stress management needs to be addressed. Further examination of this topic could offer more information.

Source: UCC