ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Feminist and identity construction on blogs, a study of selected top blogs in Africa

The study examines the blog posts and blogger profiles of selected top African bloggers. The study is premised on the grounds that; first, the blogosphere is one of the most suitable online spaces for the construction and exploration of identity; second, that women can use the blogosphere to explore their creativity and true identity through their writing; and third, that the identity of the woman has been veiled from time immemorial since women as writers as well as their works have always been evaluated under the influence of male patriarchal and literary tradition and, therefore, could never have an original, innovative and independent art. Through qualitative content analysis of ten top African female blogs and further anchored on the feminist gynocriticism theory and the identity theory, the study argues that while its findings support earlier research that women writers construct their identity as inspirational bloggers and relationship builders, the findings disagree with popular assertion by some researchers that women shy away from issues related to governance, technology, education and business. The findings also support earlier but limited number of research that women use blogs to challenge gender stereotypes. The study concludes that when it comes to women’s identities, stereotypical roles bestowed on them by society are being confronted, challenged and wriggled off.

Source: UEW
Feok war dance festival addressing security concerns in Upper East Region, Ghana

The dissertation was an investigation of the Feok War Dance festival celebrated by the Builsa people in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study sought to establish the provenance of the Buluk state and the position of the Feok war dance festival in Builsa in contemporary Ghana, identify security concerns raised by the festival and utilize creative elements rationalized from the magical endowments as a resource to develop a scientific security training method that guarantee public safety. The field study was conducted using observations, interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaire as instruments for data collection. Data was reinforced with electronic coverage of both visual and audio. The heterogeneous population was principally war dancers, spectators, traditional leaders, workers and the Police. Findings of the study indicates that, the war dance is a form of communication; gesture language for peace making, unity, salutation and protection. The manoeuvres constitute a package of security tips in the form of illustrations which will help in interpreting a photographic evidence of crime pertaining to the area. Findings showed that some of war dance accoutrements pose health hazard to the public; an indication of a serious security threats coming from the abuse of traditional paraphernalia. The investigation revealed that, the use of deadly firearms at festival functions often account for the incidences of mass injuries and death. The objectives of the study were achieved and recommendations made for the adoption of the artistic concepts that were developed based on the findings as part of learning resources for Security Agencies and School; the adoption of the Bakankule dance for peace education and theatre, therapeutic sporting activity for schools and keep fit clubs. It further recommended for the integration of Builsa combat skills in Police training for the area and finally asked for the substitution of the use of deadly paraphernalia with miniature forms all to address the security deficit in the Region.

Source: UEW
Fibroblast growth factor 21 attenuates the progression of hyperuricemic nephropathy through inhibiting inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress

Elevated levels of circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) have been reported in patients with hyperuricemia. However, the effect of FGF21 in hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN) remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the effect and mechanism of action of FGF21 on HN. HN model was induced with adenine and potassium oxysalt in wild-type C57BL/6 mice and FGF21?/? mice. For in vitro studies, human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were exposed to uric acid with/without FGF21 or ?-Klotho-siRNA. Here, we reported aggravated renal dysfunction and structural damage in the FGF21?/? mice compared to the wild-type mice. These were evident in the upsurge of inflammatory factors IL-1?, TNF-?, IL-6, and IL-18; fibrotic markers Collagen I and ?-SMA; and oxidation products ROS and MDA. However, exogenous administration of FGF21 to wild-type HN mice significantly reversed these negative effects. In terms of mechanism, FGF21 significantly inhibited NF-?B/NLRP3 and TGF-?1/Smad3 pathways and promoted nuclear translocation of Nrf2 both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the silencing of ?-Klotho was marked by the attenuation of the improved effect of FGF21 on cell damage. In conclusion, our studies revealed that exogenous FGF21 treatment significantly improved HN, which was achieved by the inhibition of inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress. � 2022 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Source: UEW
Fibroblast growth factor 21: a novel long-acting hypoglycemic drug for canine diabetes

Currently, insulin is commonly used in the clinical management of canine diabetes. However, it must be injected preprandially causing much inconvenience to the owners. Therefore, the development of long-acting hypoglycemic agents has attracted much attention in the scientific community. This study aimed to investigate the long-acting hypoglycemic effect of canine fibroblast growth factor 21 (cFGF-21) in diabetic dogs. Diabetic dogs were administered with cFGF-21, polyethylene glycol-modified cFGF-21 (PEG-cFGF-21), or insulin once a day, once every 2, 3, or 4 days subcutaneously. The results showed that cFGF-21 and PEG-cFGF-21 maintained blood glucose comparable to normal levels for 2 and 3 days respectively while insulin maintained the blood glucose for only 2 h after a single injection. After treatment with cFGF-21, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was significantly improved with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) close to the normal levels. In addition, cFGF-21 significantly repaired islet ? cells, increased insulin content, and protected the pancreas from streptozotocin-induced injury. Furthermore, cFGF-21 exhibited both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the pancreas. We conclude, therefore, that cFGF-21 and PEG-cFGF-21 can maintain blood glucose comparable to normal levels for 2 and 3 days respectively after a single dose. The long-acting efficacy of cFGF-21 can be attributed to improvement in oxidative stress and the reduction of inflammation in the pancreas. � 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Source: UEW
Field survey of smart metering implementation using a simple random method: A case study of New Juaben Municipality in Ghana

The paper reported a field survey that sought to examine the technical implications in the adoption of a Global System for Mobile communication GSM-based metering system in the New Juaben Municipality. Both simple random sampling and interview guide methods were used. The issues considered under the study were; understanding of a GSM-based metre reading, mobile phone penetration among consumers, reliability of mobile network services, and security of the central monitoring system over hacking including whether compound housing system of consumers may pose a challenge to the adoption of GSM-based metre system in the Municipality. The respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed that compound housing system may pose a challenge to the adoption of GSM-based metres. Thus, the respondents perceived that the mode of managing electromechanical metres in compound houses would be used to manage GSM-based metres. � 2017 IEEE.

Source: UEW
Film and development a study of the documentary when the last fish is caught part 1 and 2

The idea of development has been heavily contested by various scholars and schools of thought; but equally problematic is how development issues have been communicated. Film (documentaries) has been identified as one of the effective ways of communicating development. The study assessed the effectiveness of using documentaries to convey critical messages about development. It investigated the power of documentaries in creating and raising awareness, fostering community engagement, and influencing policy changes, among others in the development process through multi-dimensional analysis. The study was qualitative and employed the qualitative content analysis design to analyse the documentary When the Last Fish is Caught – Part 1 and 2. Herzberg’s two-way motivational theory and Rosteck and Frentz’s model for interpreting documentaries were used as the theoretical frameworks of the study. It also probed into how the documentary was used as a communication tool to bring remedy to an existing problem (illegal fishing). Findings showed that the dominant issues raised in the documentary included illegal fishing, stakeholder interventions, negative effects on livelihoods, and access to fishing logistics. And these issues also border on development concepts such as those relating to interventionism, communal ownership, and advocacy, among others. The study further showed that motivation can stem from an individual perspective to a group interest, and this notion reinforces Herzberg’s two-way motivational theory. The study concludes that films (documentaries) are powerful avenues for creating awareness about development initiatives, influencing and reinforcing ideas about development issues. Also, owing to that, films, in any form have the power to inform or reinforce and change people’s perception about a phenomenon.

Source: UEW
Final year teacher-trainees’ ideas and sense of efficacy in implementing the basic school social studies curriculum in Ghana

Social Studies, as a subject in the Junior High School (JHS) curriculum in Ghana, is taught mostly by diploma teachers from the country’s 38 public Colleges of Education and graduates from other tertiary institutions. An out-and-out analysis of the Colleges of Education Social Studies curriculum vis-à-vis the JHS syllabus reveal differences in how the subject is structured and organised to prepare teachers to go and teach it at the JHS level. Thus, the aim of the study was to find out the conceptions of final year teacher-trainees and their sense of efficacy in implementing the Basic School Social Studies Curriculum in Ghana. A sequential mixed methods design was used. Data from questionnaire was triangulated with interviews, focus group discussion and classroom observation. Non-probability sampling methods (purposive and convenience sampling techniques) were used to select the districts, colleges and respondents for the study. The study revealed, among other things, that: (a) final year teacher-trainees’ current knowledge base about Social Studies as a problem solving was inadequate. Mentees lack teaching skills to impart Social Studies as an issue-oriented subject; (b) discrepancies exist between the ideal classroom activities mentees said they would exhibit and what they actually demonstrated in their teaching. It is recommended that there must be a national curriculum policy on Social Studies that all pathways to teaching of the subject should undergo review according to specified national standards to meet the needs of society.

Source: UEW
Financial inclusion and economic growth the moderating role of financial stability in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study departs from empirical literature by considering the moderating role of financial stability in the nexus of financial inclusion and economic growth in Sub- Saharan Africa. An explanatory research design was employed to achieve this, and data was collected from twenty (20) Sub-Saharan African countries from 2012 to 2022. This is a quantitative study that utilizes the Generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique to analyse the collected data. The study's findings revealed that financial inclusion positively and significantly influenced economic growth. Additionally, it was observed that financial stability also played a significant role in predicting the growth trajectory of Sub-Saharan African countries. Furthermore, the study discovered that financial stability positively and significantly moderated the relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth. Based on these findings, the study recommends policymakers in developing countries to prioritise implementing financial inclusion policies. It also suggests implementing complementary policies to enhance financial development, institutional quality, and trade openness. Moreover, the study proposes that future research should focus on exploring the impact of financial inclusion on other dimensions of development, such as poverty reduction and income inequality.

Source: UEW
Financial liberalization and demand for money nexus in Ghana

This study examines the relationship between financial liberalization and demand for money in Ghana using time series data from 1984 to 2020. The study used the autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) model to estimate the short- and long-run relationship between money demand and financial liberalization, as well as other determinants of money demand. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips- Perron (PP) tests showed stationarity of all variables after first-differencing, whereas inflation was stationary at levels. The cointegration test revealed a long-run cointegrating relationship and hence an estimation of the unrestricted error correction model (UECM). The results revealed that the estimates were significant and yielded the expected signs consistent with theory, except for inflation but it was nonetheless statistically insignificant. Financial liberalization was found to have a significant positive relationship with money demand in both short and long run periods. The error correction term was found to be significant and it yielded the expected negative sign showing that 12 percent of the disequilibrium from previous annual periods converges back to long-run equilibrium in the current period. The Granger Causality test established no causal relationship between the demand for money and financial liberalization. In the end, the CUSUM, CUSUMSQ, and MOSUM plots diagnosed a stable demand for money function in Ghana. The threshold model estimated in the study revealed that financial liberalization had a positive effect on the demand for money in the initial stages until it reaches a threshold level of 29.34% where further liberalization of the financial sector affects the money demand function in Ghana negatively, and so the study recommends that the Bank of Ghana should be cautious about the degree of financial liberalization they pursue to achieve optimal money demand. If the degree of financial liberalization is below the threshold level, increasing it could stimulate money demand, but conversely, if it above the threshold level, reducing it could stabilize money demand. Since exchange rate had a significant negative relationship with money demand, the study recommends that the Bank of Ghana uses exchange rate as an intermediate target to achieve price stability in periods of inflation and recession. Again, the study recommends that since financial liberalization has a significant positive relationship with money demand, the Bank of Ghana adopts policies that ensure rigorous financial discipline to prevent future bank crises.

Source: UEW
Financial literacy and personal financial decisions of local government staff at Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal assembly in the western region.

The contemporary developments in financial markets has increasingly become essential for individuals to be more aware and competent in managing their finances. This calls for financial literacy study to examine how people respond to this financial market complexity and sophistication. This study was conducted to assess the level of financial literacy and personal financial decisions among Local Government Staff of the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal in the Western Region. A sample of 277 staff using a stratified sampling technique was used. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data, and the analysis was done using the Chi-Square Test of Independence. The results indicated that low understanding of the economic and financial variables used as the correct scores were below averages in the areas of percentages, compound interest, inflation and time value of money. The study thus, concluded that financial literacy among the respondents sampled was low. The study found no relationship between financial literacy and gender or sex as none of the variables were significant. However, there was an association between financial literacy and level of education. Again, while most employees plan on their retirement and expect adequate amounts for their retirement, their gratuities cannot be realized. It is recommended that the Office of the Head of Local Government Service organize financial literacy education for staff in savings and investments. Staff should also take their retirement planning seriously. This would advance financial literacy, increase staff involvement in the financial markets, and enhance their wellbeing and work productivity.

Source: UEW
Financial management practices of pharmaceutical companies in Ghana, the case of three selected pharmaceutical companies in Kumasi metropolis

The main aim of this study was to examine the challenges of financial management practices of pharmaceutical companies in Ghana using three selected pharmaceutical companies in Kumasi Metropolis. This was as a result of the fact that pharmaceutical firms mainly focus on bank loans and equity as their main source of funds in financing their operations giving less attention to efficient working capital as a feasible option. A set of questionnaires was administered on 25 persons from large and small pharmaceutical firms in Kumasi. Survey monkey and Microsoft excel were used to collect and process the data. The research revealed that pharmaceutical firms face low profitability, liquidity challenges, inability to unlock capital to finance growth and an increased funds tied up in working capital. It is recommended that pharmaceutical firms need to re-analyse the factors that determine their working capital in order to come up with best practices and to lessen the challenges in the financial management. Again the pharmaceutical firms need to change their working capital management policy from informal to formal to improve their management practices.

Source: UEW
Financial sector transparency and borrowings a focus on government borrowings in Africa.

For the past decade, developing countries' governments have witnessed an astronomical surge in their debt profile despite several attempts by international financial institutions to help reduce their increasingly soaring debts. In this study, however, the use of financial sector transparency as a debt management tool to lower soaring government debts is explored for the first time in Africa. Employing a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM)panel data of 23 African economies between 2004 and 2020, the study reports the following findings. First, a positive effect of private and public sector-led financial transparency is reported on government borrowings. Second, the study reports that private and public sector-led financial transparency are substitutes given that the interactive term of private and public sector-led financial transparency was negative. Third, the study reports an inverted U-shape effect of private and public sector-led financial transparencies on government borrowing implying that these transparencies would yield desirable reducing effects on government borrowings only beyond some threshold of transparency. Guided by the findings obtained from the study, governments in the continent who are also the regulators of the financial sectors, are informed that financial sector transparency can serve as a tool to help reduce their debts and policymakers should also make a conscious effort to strengthen the use of the financial sector transparencies (FST) to reduce governments debts in the future.

Source: UEW
Financing preference of micro, small and medium enterprises in Bolgatanga municipality of the upper east region of Ghana

The study investigated the financing preference of MSMEs in the Bolgatanga Municipality, the determinants of this financing behavior of MSMEs. The main objectives set out for the study were to: examine the financing preferences of micro, small and medium enterprises in the Bolgatanga municipality and also, analyze the factors that influence the financing preferences of micro, small and medium enterprises in the Bolgatanga municipality. A sample of 200 respondents was sampled through the simple random sampling technique. A cross-sectional data which was obtained through a structured questionnaire was used. The study used cross-sectional design involving descriptive research. The quantitative method using descriptive, logistics and ordered logistics regressions were used to analyze the data. The analyses showed that firms prefer internal finance over external finance and when external finance is required, firms choose informal finance first before semi-formal and formal finance respectively. It also revealed that gender, location, institutional supports, secondary education, firm’s age (established and matured), firm’s size (medium) and management training influence the firms’ financing preference behavior. The major recommendation was that the government through the NBSSI and GTA should support MSMEs with management training programs to help them operate more formally

Source: UEW
Fine-grained affect detection in learners� generated content using machine learning

Learners� adaptation to academic trajectory is shaped by several influencing factors that ought to be considered while attempting to design an intervention towards improving academic performance. Emotion is one factor that influences students� academic orientation and performance. Tracking emotions in text by psychologists have long been a subject of concern to researchers. This is due to the challenges associated with determining the level of accuracy and consistency of decisions made from analysing such text by psychologists. Lately, Artificial Intelligence has complemented human efforts in tracking emotions in text. This paper provides an overview of machine learning application for detecting emotions in text through a Support vector machine learning system. In addition, we compared the performance of the system�s classifier to WEKA�s Multinomial Na�ve-Bayes and J48 decision tree classifiers. Real time data from using the system in counselling delivery and collected students� life stories were used for evaluating the performance of the classifiers. The evaluation results show that the Support vector machine, implemented in our system, is superior over WEKA�s Multinomial Na�ve-Bayes and J48 decision tree classifiers. Nevertheless, the various classifiers performed beyond the acceptable threshold. The implication for the findings goes to indicate that machine learning algorithms can be implemented to track emotions in text, especially from students generated content. � 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Source: UEW