ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Expressing causation in Kwa: Forms and Structures

This paper presents the morphology and syntax of causative expressions in Kwa languages. Data for the study come from fieldwork and other secondary sources. In the languages surveyed, causative expressions show varying degrees of morphosyntactic complexity. The study identified lexical causatives which involve the expression of causing and caused events in a single predicate. In this type of causative, Kwa languages display several verbal alternations such as causative/inchoative alternating verbs, suppletive pairs, eg. wu/ku(m) ‘to die/to kill’ (Akan), srɔ/fia ‘to know/to teach’ (Ewe); equipollent pairs. Data from Kwa languages challenge the traditional assumption that causative/inchoative alternation corresponds to the transitive and intransitive use of the same verb (Haspelmath 1993; Levin and Rappaport Hovav 1995). For example, in Nzema, some predicates which alternate between causative/inchoative meanings are transitive in their inchoative use. Thus, it is argued that the assumption that causative/inchoative verbs lack “agent-oriented meaning” (Haspelmath 1993) or “undergo a process of detransitivization” (Levin and Rappaport Hovav 1995) is not a prerequisite for expressing causative meaning (see Kittilä 2009). Kwa is morphologically impoverished and does not seem to display any productive morphological causativization unlike its ancestral Bantu relatives. In all the data, only Nzema and Avatime show some form of morphological causativization (Ford 1970; Chinebuah 1972). It is suggested, however, that these causative suffixes should not be analyzed as morphological causatives as such but that together with their verb stems they form a lexical causative (see Simango 2010 for similar arguments on ciChewa; Rude 1983). In all the Kwa languages sampled, there is an analytic/syntactic causative construction which involves a functional causative predicate which takes a clause as a complement. In most cases, the causative predicate is related to the lexical verb ‘give’ or ‘do’. In its causative function, give is neutral with regards to the type of instigation involved in the causing event but expresses the abstract notion of causation. Although the analytic causative in Kwa languages are underlyingly biclausal, the preferred construction in most of the languages is to have the construction without an overt complementizer, even though biclausal sentences in Kwa normally require an overt complementizer (Saah 1994). It is suggested that one reason for the general optionality of the complementizer is due to the type of complementation involved. The hypothesis is that the complementizer in the analytic causative construction may be semantically vacuous and is not needed to link the causing and caused events semantically. The general optionality of the complementizer in the analytic causative construction, however, has consequences for the grammatical relations and syntactic properties of the causative sentence in general.

Source: UG
Expressing Property Concepts in Leteh

Languages have diverse strategies for expressing property concepts. This paper discussesvarious ways by which property concepts are communicated in Leteh (Kwa: Niger-Congo). In Leteh, property concepts are indicated by the use of a small class of adjectives, made up of thirteen monomorphemic members. The thirteen members represent semantic classes of dimension, age, color and value. In addition to the small class of adjectives, some nouns and verbs in various formsare also used to describe property concepts which denote physical and human attributes. Nouns which are used to designate property concepts may be put under three groups: nominal adjectives, noun modifiers, and noun reduplicatives. There is a special class of intransitive verbs which may be used to describe property concepts. It has been observed that these intransitive verbs are synonymous to some members of the adjective class. Furthermore, there is a set of verbs which make use of the ‘have’ verb: bo`followed by an abstract noun to signify human propensity. Finally, relative clauses are employed as modifiers where the relativizerné introduces the property concept. Data for the study is from a Leteh corpus built by the author. The study contributes to the ongoing debate on the typology of adjective classes.

Source: UG
Expression and molecular characterization of spherical particles derived from the genome of the hyperthermophilic euryarchaeote Pyrococcus furiosus

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
Expression of estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β in fine needle aspirates of breast carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in fine needle aspirates (FNAs) and correlate the findings with its expression in tissue sections. Study Design: In 38 cases of breast carcinoma, expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ERβ in aspirates and tissue sections was correlated with the cytologic and histologic grade of the tumor. Results: ERα and ERβ were expressed as nuclear staining in 80% and 90% of the cases in tissue sections and 47% and 45% of the cases in aspirates, respectively. Tissue expression of ERα (grade 1, 81%; grade 2, 100%) and ERβ (grade 1, 94%; grade 2, 100%) was greater than in grade 3 tumors (ERα, 50%; ERβ, 70%). In FNAs they were equally distributed in the different cytologic grades. In aspirates 30% of ERα negative tumors were positive for ERβ, while in tissues 75% of ERα-negative tumors were positive for ERβ (p=0.007). Conclusion: Demonstration of ERβ on FNA smears is feasible. It helps identify the specific subcohort of ERβ-positive tumors in ERα-negative breast cancers; that may have therapeutic importance.

Source: UG
The expression of perinatal depression in rural Ghana

In low- and middle-income countries, perinatal depression (PND) has been associated with poor infant health outcomes, including frequency of infant diarrheal episodes, preterm delivery and low birth weight, and discontinuation or problems breastfeeding. Yet little is known about the awareness or expression of PND depression in Ghana. A total of 12 in-depth key-informant interviews were conducted with women who had experienced PND within the previous two-and-a-half years. Three focus-group discussions were conducted with new mothers (n = 11), grandmothers (n = 8), and fathers (n = 9) for contextual and supporting information. ‘Thinking too much’ was the term most commonly used to describe PND. The women saw their distress as caused largely by poverty, lack of social support, and domestic problems. Women sought help through family and religious organizations, rather than through medical services. Problems producing breast milk or breastfeeding were nearly universal complaints and suggest significant effects on infant health in the study area. These results present evidence to support the increasing consensus that depression presents in similar and disabling ways across cultures and contexts. This formative qualitative data is required to tailor depression prevention or treatment interventions to this particular socio-cultural context. © 2015 Taylor & Francis.

Source: UG
Expression of variant surface antigens by Plasmodium falciparum parasites in the peripheral blood of clinically immune pregnant women indicates ongoing placental infection

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
Expression, purification and analysis of the activity of enzymes from the pentose phosphate pathway

RNAs, more than ever before, are increasingly viewed as biomolecules of the future, in the versatility of their functions and intricate three-dimensional folding. To effectively study them by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, structural biologists need to tackle two critical challenges of spectral overcrowding and fast signal decay for large RNAs. Stable-isotope nucleotide labeling is one attractive solution to the overlap problem. Hence, developing effective methods for nucleotide labeling is highly desirable. In this work, we have developed a facile and streamlined source of recombinant enzymes from the pentose phosphate pathway for making such labeled nucleotides. The Escherichia coli (E. coli) genes encoding ribokinase (RK), adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT), xanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (XGPRT), and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) were sub-cloned into pET15b vectors. All four constructs together with cytidine triphosphate synthetase (CTPS) and human phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase isoform 1 (PRPPS) were transformed into the E. coli BL21(AI) strain for protein overexpression. The enzyme preparations were purified to >90% homogeneity by a one-step Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, without the need of a further size-exclusion chromatography step. We obtained yields of 1530, 22, 482, 3120, 2120 and 2280 units of activity per liter of culture for RK, PRPPS, APRT, XGPRT, UPRT and CTPS, respectively; the specific activities were found to be 70, 22, 21, 128, 144 and 113 U/mg, respectively. These specific activities of these enzyme constructs are comparable to or higher than those previously reported. In addition, both the growth conditions and purification protocols have been streamlined so that all the recombinant proteins can be expressed, purified and characterized in at most 2 days. The availability and reliability of these constructs should make production of fully and site-specific labeled nucleotides for making labeled RNA accessible and straightforward, to facilitate high-resolution NMR spectroscopic and other biophysical studies.

Source: UG
Expressions of Masculinity and Femininity in Husbands’ Care of Wives with Cancer in Accra

This article explores the care that husbands in Accra, Ghana, provide for wives who have been diagnosed with cancer. Making use of an inductive, qualitative approach, the study analyzes observations of and in-depth ethnographic interviews conducted with five married female cancer patients and their husbands over a ten-month period. The results suggest a strong association among husbands’ care, wives’ responses to husbands’ care, and cultural ideals of femininity and masculinity. The findings suggest that husbands’ selective and often limited gender-based investments in unpaid care work make their sick wives exceedingly vulnerable in a context in which care for the terminally ill takes place predominately in familial settings.

Source: UG
Exsolution Lamellae in Olivine Grains of Dunite Units from Different Types of Mafic-Ultramafic Complexes

Exsolution microstructures in olivine grains from dunite units in a few selected tectonic environments are reported here. They include lamellae of clinopyroxene and clinopyroxene‐magnetite intergrowth in the Gaositai and Yellow Hill Alaskan‐type complexes, clinopyroxene‐magnetite intergrowth in the Kızıldağ ophiolite, and chromite lamellae in the Hongshishan mafic‐ultramafic intrusive complex. These lamellae commonly occur as needle‐ or rod‐like features and are oriented in olivine grains. The host olivine grains have Fo contents of 92.5–92.6 in the Gaositai complex, 86.5–90.1 in the Yellow Hill complex, 93.2–93.4 in the Kızıldağ ophiolite and 86.9–88.3 in the Hongshishan complex. Clinopyroxene in the rod‐like intergrowth exsolved in olivine grains in the Gaositai and Yellow Hill is diopside with similar major element compositions of CaO (23.6–24.3wt%), SiO2 (52.2–54.0wt%), Al2O3 (0.67–2.15wt%), Cr2O3 (0.10–0.42wt%) and Na2O (0.14–0.26wt%). It falls into the compositional field of hydrothermal clinopyroxene and its origin is thus probably related to reaction between dunite and fluids. The enrichment of the fluids in Ca²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺ and Na⁺, resulted in elevated concentrations of these cations in olivine solid solutions via the reaction. With decreasing temperature, the olivine solid solutions altered to an intergrowth of magnetite and clinopyroxene. The Fe³⁺ and Cr³⁺ preferentially partitioned into magnetite, while Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ entered clinopyroxene. Since the studied Alaskan‐type complexes and ophiolite formed in a subduction environment, the fluids were probably released from the subducted slab. In contrast, the exsolved chromite in olivine grains from the Hongshishan complex that formed in post‐orogenic extension setting can be related to olivine equilibrated with Cr‐bearing liquid. Similarly, these lamellae have all been observed in serpentine surrounding olivine grains, indicating genetic relations with serpentinization.

Source: UG
Extended follow-up of children in a phase2b trial of the GMZ2 malaria vaccine

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
The Extent and Determinants of Tax Gap in the Informal Sector: Evidence from Ghana

In this paper, we attempt to estimate the tax gap in the informal sector as well as the contributing factors of the tax losses in SSA countries using Ghana as a case study. Using micro data on non‐farm household enterprises obtained from the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey as well as data on quarterly tax payable by specified small scale enterprises derived from the Small Tax Payer office of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the findings show that the national potential and actual taxes in the informal sector are US$ 81 974 846 and US$ 25 023 273, respectively, reflecting an estimated national tax gap or loss of approximately US$ 56 951 573. Firm level variables such as type of business, urban location and experience of the firm significantly increase the propensity to pay tax and reduce the tax gap. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Source: UG
Extent of Awareness of Birth Control Methods and Their Use by Women in a Peri-Urban Area of Accra, Ghana

The rapid population growth and economic expansion in Ghana over the last decade have made the management of its population increasingly important necessitating detailed confidential studies on use of birth control methods. This paper reports a highly confidential survey-based study undertaken to assess the extent of awareness of and factors influencing the use of birth control methods among 120 women aged between 15 and 49 years, in their reproductive lifespan, at Abokobi, a suburb of Accra, Ghana. The analysis showed that age was the main factor responsible for the general level of awareness of birth control methods. The use of birth control methods was positively related to the level of awareness of birth control methods, being in a current sexual relationship, and the number of children that the woman had. Students were less likely to use birth control methods than non-students suggesting the need for more recognition of abstinence as an alternative birth control method.

Source: UG
Extent of inappropriate prescription of artemisinin and anti‑malarial injections to febrile outpatients, a cross‑sectional analytic survey in the Greater Accra region, Ghana

Background: Febrile children seen in malaria hypo-endemic settings, such as the Greater Accra region (GAR) of Ghana are more likely to be suffering from a non-malarial febrile illness compared to those seen in hyper-endemic settings. The need for prescribers to rely on malaria test results to guide treatment practices in the GAR is even greater. This study was designed to investigate the factors associated with inappropriate artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) prescription. Methods: A survey was conducted in six health facilities in the region in 2015. Treatment practices for febrile outpatient department (OPD) patients were obtained from their records. Prescribers were interviewed and availability of malaria commodities were assessed. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients prescribed ACT inappropriately. Independent variables included patient age and access to care, prescriber factors (professional category, work experience, access to guidelines, exposure to training). Data were analysed using Stata at 95% CI (α-value of 0.05). Frequencies and means were used to describe the characteristics of patients and prescribers. To identify the predictors of inappropriate ACT prescription, regression analyses were performed accounting for clustering. Results: Overall, 2519 febrile OPD records were analysed; 45.6% (n = 1149) were younger than 5 years. Only 40.0% of patients were tested. The proportion of patients who were prescribed ACT inappropriately was 76.4% (n = 791 of 1036). Of these 791 patients, 141 (17.8%) were prescribed anti-malarial injections. Patients seen in facilities with rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) in stock were less likely to be prescribed ACT inappropriately, (AOR: 0.04, 95% CI 0.01–0.14, p < 0.001) compared to those seen in facilities with RDT stock-outs. Prescribers who had been trained on malaria case management within the past year were 4 times more likely to prescribe ACT inappropriately compared to those who had not been trained (AOR: 4.1; 95% CI (1.5–11.6); p < 0.01). Patients seen by prescribers who had been supervised were 8 times more likely to be prescribed ACT inappropriately. Conclusion: Inappropriate ACT prescription to OPD febrile cases was high. Training and supervision of health workers appears not to be yielding the desired outcomes. Further research is needed to understand this observation.

Source: UG
Extent of Integration of Priority Interventions into General Health Systems: A Case Study of Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme in the Western Region of Ghana

Background: The global health system has a large arsenal of interventions, medical products and technologies to address current global health challenges. However, identifying the most effective and efficient strategies to deliver these resources to where they are most needed has been a challenge. Targeted and integrated interventions have been the main delivery strategies. However, the health system discourse increasingly favours integrated strategies in the context of functionally merging targeted interventions with multifunctional health care delivery systems with a focus on strengthening country health systems to deliver needed interventions. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) have been identified to promote and perpetuate poverty hence there has been global effort to combat these diseases. The Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme (NTDP) in Ghana has a national programme team and office, however, it depends on the multifunctional health delivery system at the regional and district level to implement interventions. The NTDP seeks further health system integration to accelerate achievement of coverage targets. The study estimated the extent of integration of the NTDP at the national, regional and district levels to provide evidence to guide further integration. Methodology/Principal Findings: The research design was a descriptive case study that interviewed key persons involved in the programme at the three levels of the health system as well as extensive document review. Integration was assessed on two planes—across health system functions–stewardship and governance, financing, planning, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation and demand generation; and across three administrative levels of the health system–national, regional and district. A composite measure of integration designated Cumulative Integration Index (CII) with a range of 0.00–1.00 was used to estimate extent of integration at the three levels of the health system. Service delivery was most integrated while financing and planning were least integrated. Extent of integration was partial at all levels of the health system with a CII of 0.48–0.68; however it was higher at the district compared to the national and regional levels. Conclusions/Significance: To ensure further integration of the NTDP, planning and finance management activities must be decentralized to involve regional and district levels of the health system. The study provides an empirical measure of extent of integration and indicators to guide further integration. © 2016 Mensah et al.

Source: UG
The extent of marketability and consumer preferences for traditional leafy vegetables – a case study at selected markets in Ghana

This paper reports on a survey conducted at two major marketing centres in Ghana; Tamale in the dry savannah zone and Kumasi in the forest zone. One hundred traders were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and focus groups discussions held on traders’ perceptions and consumer preferences, relative importance and indigenous nutritional knowledge of traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs). The survey established that, with the exception of Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves), inter-market distribution of TLVs is limited because of their perishable nature, narrow utilization base and lack of storage techniques. Socio-culturally related factors limiting the distribution of TLVs include regional diversity and ethnic differences in the dietary patterns of the Ghanaian populace, inadequate knowledge about the methods of preparations as well as nutritional and medicinal values of TLVs. The most preferred TLVs as reflected in the consumers’ buying behaviour and traders’ perceptions are Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves), Corchorus spp.(Ayoyo), Amaranthus spp (Alefu) and Hibicus sabdariffa (Bra). The order of preference in the forest zone is Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves) > Corchorus spp.(Ayoyo) > Amaranthus spp (Alefu) > Hibicus sabdariffa (Bra), while the reverse order pertains in the savannah zone. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Source: UG