ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection Among Adults in Nursing and Care Homes: A Systematic Review.

Background: Older adults in nursing and care homes (NCHs) are vulnerable to severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in fection, hospitalization, and death. This study aimed to gather data on RSV disease among older adults in NCHs and identify reported risk factors for RSV hospitalization and case fatality. Methods: The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022371908). We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Global Health databases to identify articles published between 2000 and 2023. Observational and experimental studies conducted among older adults in NCHs requiring assistive care and reporting RSV illness were included and relevant data were extracted. Results: Of 18,690 studies screened, 32 were selected for full-text review, and 20 were included. Overall, the number of NCH residents ranged from 42 to 1459 with a mean age between 67.6 and 85 years. Attack rates ranged from 6.7% to 47.6% and annual incidence ranged from 0.5% to 14%. Case fatality rates ranged from 7.7% to 23.1%. We found similar annual incidence rates of RSV-positive acute respiratory infection (ARI) of 4582 (95% CI: 3259–6264) and 4785 (95% CI: 2258–10,141) per 100,000 reported in two studies. Annual incidence rate of RSV-positive lower respiratory tract infection was 3040 (95% CI: 1986–4454) cases per 100,000 adults. Annual RSV-ARI hospital admission rates were between 600 (95% CI: 190–10,000) and 1104 (95% CI: 350–1930) per 100,000 person-years. Among all RSV disease cases, commonly reported chronic medical conditions included chronic ob structive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, kid ney dysfunction, cerebrovascular accident, malignancies, dementia, and those with a Charlson comorbidity score>6.5.

Source: UG
The burden of stroke in Africa: A glance at the present and a glimpse into the future

Objective: Information on the current burden of stroke in Africa is limited. The aim of this review was to comprehensively examine the current and projected burden of stroke in Africa. Methods: We systematically reviewed the available literature (PubMed and AJOL) from January 1960 and June 2014 on stroke in Africa. Percentage change in age-adjusted stroke incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for African countries between 1990 and 2010 were calculated from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) model-derived figures. Results: Community-based studies revealed an age-standardised annual stroke incidence rate of up to 316 per 100 000 population, and age-standardised prevalence rates of up to 981 per 100 000. Model-based estimates showed significant mean increases in age-standardised stroke incidence. The peculiar factors responsible for the substantial disparities in incidence velocity, ischaemic stroke proportion, mean age and case fatality compared to high-income countries remain unknown. Conclusions: While the available study data and evidence are limited, the burden of stroke in Africa appears to be increasing.

Source: UG
Burkitt's lymphoma in Ghana: Clinical features and response to chemotherapy.

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Burkitt's lymphoma in Ghana: Urban-rural distribution, time-space clustering and seasonality.

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Burkitt's lymphoma. A clinical study of 110 patients.

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
The Burma Campaign from an African Perspective: The 1944 World War II Travelogue of Sgt. F. S. Arkhurst of the Royal West African Frontier Forces

This article analyses issues regarding identity and ideology in an African authored travelogue, “Jeep Road to Victory: African Engineers Carve a Way into Burma”, by Sgt. F. S. Arkhurst, which was published in The West African Review magazine in 1945. Sgt. Arkhurst was an officer in the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Forces in World War II. The focal points of this travelogue are the representations of the efforts of African soldiers in navigating the treacherous terrains of the South East Asia World War II battle grounds ranging from India/Bangladesh to the Kaladan Valley of Burma during the 1944 Burma Campaign. The article asks how African authored travel writing might bring new perspectives on how African soldiers contributed to the success of the war fighting on the side of allied forces.

Source: UG
Buruli ulcer in southern Côte D’ivoire: dynamic schemes of perception and interpretation of modes of transmission

Buruli ulcer (BU) belongs to the group of neglected tropical diseases and constitutes a public health problem in many rural communities in Côte d’Ivoire. The transmission patterns of this skin infection are poorly defined, hence the current study aimed to contribute to the understanding, perceptions and interpretations of its mode of transmission using a socio-environmental approach. Social and environmental risk factors that may expose people to infection, and the dynamics of local transfer of knowledge and practices related to BU, were assessed in two endemic locations in southern Côte d’Ivoire, i.e. Taabo and Daloa. Data were generated by the administration of a household questionnaire (N= 500) between February and June 2012 to assess how the population perceived transmission of BU, focus group discussions with local communities (N= 8) to analyse ideologies regarding transmission patterns and semi-structured interviews with patients or their parents, former BU patients and traditional healers (N= 30). The interviewees’ empirical knowledge of the disease was found to be close to its biomedical description. Their aetiological perception of the disease was linked to natural (e.g. dirty water, insects) and supernatural (e.g. witchcraft, fate) causes. Some informants attributed the spread of the disease to recently immigrated neighbouring communities whose arrival coincided with an increase in reported BU cases. However, the general consensus seemed to be that the main mode of transmission was contact with infested soil or ulcerated wounds. The participants were aware that BU was a socio-environmental problem in these endemic areas, offering a good starting point for educational campaigns for at-risk communities. Buruli ulcer control programmes should therefore include educational campaigns and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions for those at risk in affected communities.

Source: UG
Buruli Ulcer: a Review of the Current Knowledge

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
The bus rapid transit system in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: Looking back to look forward

The first decade of the 21st century witnessed a proliferation of bus rapid transit systems in many cities worlwide. Successful transit systems, especially in poor cities, have been lauded and presented as models for other cities to emulate. However, little attention has been given to unsuccessful transit systems, even though reasons for their failures could be beneficial to poor cities planning to invest in mass public transport. The author examines the militating factors in the demise of Ghana's first bus rapid transit system and draws useful lessons for the present and future. Qualitative data from interviews, surveys, and in-depth key informant interviews are analysed and presented in thematic narratives. They are complemented with quantitative (travel time) data. The results show that recurring traffic congestion, passengers' inadequate comfort and personal security, resistance from existing public transport operators, lack of legal status for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, and limited advertising led to the collapse of the pilot system in the Greater Accra Metroplitan Area (GAMA). The author concludes that the success of present and future BRT systems is and will be a function of multiple stakeholder consultation and participation, privatization of day-to-day operations, promotion of multimodalism, and planning with the commuter in mind. © 2015 Norwegian Geographical Society.

Source: UG
The bus rapid transit system in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: Looking back to look forward, Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography

The first decade of the 21st century witnessed a proliferation of bus rapid transit systems in many cities worlwide. Successful transit systems, especially in poor cities, have been lauded and presented as models for other cities to emulate. However, little attention has been given to unsuccessful transit systems, even though reasons for their failures could be beneficial to poor cities planning to invest in mass public transport. The author examines the militating factors in the demise of Ghana's first bus rapid transit system and draws useful lessons for the present and future. Qualitative data from interviews, surveys, and in-depth key informant interviews are analysed and presented in thematic narratives. They are complemented with quantitative (travel time) data. The results show that recurring traffic congestion, passengers' inadequate comfort and personal security, resistance from existing public transport operators, lack of legal status for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, and limited advertising led to the collapse of the pilot system in the Greater Accra Metroplitan Area (GAMA). The author concludes that the success of present and future BRT systems is and will be a function of multiple stakeholder consultation and participation, privatization of day-to-day operations, promotion of multimodalism, and planning with the commuter in mind.

Source: UG
Bushfires in the Krachi District: The socio-economic and environmental implications

Bushfires are becoming one of the environmental challenges confronting Ghana and increasingly it has become difficult for the Government to control it because this activity is deeply rooted in the socio-cultural and economic systems of the people. The effects of bushfire on rural livelihoods and on the ecosystem in Ghana are extensive and damaging. Bushfires have accelerated environmental degradation especially in the fragile savannah ecosystem, yet there is very little in the form of public education, published data and information concerning the frequency, intensity, duration and effects of bushfire on the environment and human welfare in Ghana. The study did a change detection of biomass cover using pre and post fire normalized burnt ratio of Landsat TM+ imageries of 2002 and 2003 to determine fire severity on vegetative cover. The socio-economic impact of this disaster was collected using social survey approaches such as interviews and focus group meetings. Some of the consequences of the bushfire include the burning of food stuffs, houses as well as domestic animals. The environmental impacts of these bushfires have been very devastating and these involve the lost of biodiversity (plants and animals) and the depletion of organic matter of the soil thus impoverishing the soils. The research found out that, the continuous prevalence of this activity was due to the laxity in the implementation of bye-laws regulating bushfire burning due to the lack of personnel and logistics to state agencies in the District to combat the problem.

Source: UG
Business environment and productivity in Africa: macro evidence

Purpose – Africa’s business environment (BE) is characteristically unfriendly and poses severe development challenges. This study evaluates the impact of business climate on productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Design/methodology/approach – Macroeconomic data for 51 sub-Saharan African economies from 1990 to 2018 are employed for the analysis. The seemingly unrelated regression model is used to address inter-sectorial linkages. Findings – The study uncovers several findings. First, a high start-up cost substantially leads to productivity losses by limiting the funds available for investment in productivity-enhancing labour and technology and limiting the number of businesses that see the light of day. The productivity impacts of start-up costs are most enormous for industry, followed by services and agriculture. Second, economies with favourable financing environments tend to be more productive economy wide and sector wise. Third, high taxes and tax inefficiency lower productivity by reducing the resource envelope of firms, thus lowering investment amounts. Fourth, poor business infrastructure inflicts the most damage on productivity. Lastly, business administration and macroeconomic environments impact sectoral and economy-wide productivity. Practical implications – SSA economies must strive to lower the cost of starting a business as high start-up costs injure productivity. One way of reducing start-up costs is to create a one-stop shop for registering and formalising a business. Another way is to automate business registration and administrative processes to reduce red tape and corruption. Originality/value – The authors extend the body of knowledge by analysing sectoral and economy-wide productivity effects of various business climate indicators while accounting for inter-sectoral linkages, cross sectional dependence and endogeneity.

Source: UG
Business’ Corporate Social Responsibility: Theory, Opinion and Evidence from Ghana,’ in Kuada, J. (editor), Internationalisation and Economic Growth Strategies in Ghana: A Business Perspective

This article reports the findings of a study which sought to document the extent of recognition, nature and content of socially responsible actions by firms located in Ghana. The justification for the study is derived from the increasing concern expressed by policy makers about corporate social responsibility CSR and the pressure exerted on firms to demonstrate high ethical standards locally and abroad in order to be competitive. The study compared CSR perceptions of companies listed in the Ghana Club 100 database, which is an annual ranking of the top performing locally and internationally connected firms in Ghana. The key findings of the study were that, internationally connected firms subscribe more to the contemporary notion of CSR; are more strategic, more moral and ethical in their approach to CSR than the local companies.

Source: UG
Butremycin, the 3-Hydroxyl Derivative of Ikarugamycin and a Protonated Aromatic Tautomer of 5′-Methylthioinosine from a Ghanaian Micromonospora sp. K310

A new actinomycete strain Micromonospora sp. K310 was isolated from Ghanaian mangrove river sediment. Spectroscopy-guided fractionation led to the isolation of two new compounds from the fermentation culture. One of the compounds is butremycin (2) which is the (3-hydroxyl) derivative of the known Streptomyces metabolite ikarugamycin (1) and the other compound is a protonated aromatic tautomer of 5′-methylthioinosine (MTI) (3). Both new compounds were characterized by 1D, 2D NMR and MS data. Butremycin (2) displayed weak antibacterial activity against Gram-positive S. aureus ATCC 25923, the Gram-negative E. coli ATCC 25922 and a panel of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains while 3 did not show any antibacterial activity against these microbes.

Source: UG
Butremycin, the 3-hydroxyl derivative of ikarugamycin and a protonated aromatic tautomer of 5′-methylthioinosine from a Ghanaian Micromonospora sp. K310

A new actinomycete strain Micromonospora sp. K310 was isolated from Ghanaian mangrove river sediment. Spectroscopy-guided fractionation led to the isolation of two new compounds from the fermentation culture. One of the compounds is butremycin ( 2) which is the (3-hydroxyl) derivative of the known Streptomyces metabolite ikarugamycin (1) and the other compound is a protonated aromatic tautomer of 5′-methylthioinosine (MTI) (3). Both new compounds were characterized by 1D, 2D NMR and MS data. Butremycin (2) displayed weak antibacterial activity against Gram-positive S. aureus ATCC 25923, the Gram-negative E. coli ATCC 25922 and a panel of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains while 3 did not show any antibacterial activity against these microbes. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI.

Source: UG
Butrepyrazinone, a New Pyrazinone with an Unusual Methylation Pattern from a Ghanaian Verrucosispora sp. K51G

We report the structural characterization of a new pyrazinone analogue; butrepyrazinone, which was isolated from a new actinomycete strain Verrucosispora sp. K51G recovered from Ghanaian mangrove river sediment. Spectroscopy-guided fractionation led to the isolation of a compound from the fermentation culture and a combination of NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry and computer-aided calculations revealed that butrepyrazinone (10) possesses an unusual methylation pattern on the pyrazinone ring. Butrepyrazinone (10), however, displayed no antibacterial activity against Gram-positive S. aureus ATCC 25923, the Gram-negative E. coli ATCC 25922 and a panel of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, suggesting that 10 may act as a signal molecule for this strain. Although the same molecule has been synthesized previously, this is the first report to disclose the discovery of butrepyrazinone (10) from nature.

Source: UG
Buying into formalization? State institutions and interlocked markets in African small-scale gold mining

During recent decades, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Africa has increased tremendously. An unknown but significant part is constituted by activities that are not based on legally registered mining licenses. The division of formal and informal ASM is, however, dissolved in the marketing chain where trading channels are intertwined: traders buy from miners with and without a license. So far state institutions and civil society organizations have endeavoured to 'formalize' the informal sector by focusing on relatively isolated entry points in the ASM chain from production to consumption. This paper argues that future research and design of policy mechanisms needs to focus on the inter-linkages of actors and material flows within the complex intertwinement of the formal and informal ASM sectors. Our point of departure is the findings on interlocked markets within the literature on rural dependency relations, barriers for poverty eradication and agricultural development. The paper outlines the previous debate on formalization and maps out the territorial and organizational configuration of the present ASM gold chain in Tanzania and Ghana. On this basis we maintain that state action is inevitable and suggest possible institutional mechanisms to set up incentives for possible formalization pathways for African ASM gold chains. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Source: UG
Bypassing Primary Antiretroviral Therapy Centres In Sub-Saharan Africa: An Integrative Review Of The Theoretical And Empirical Literature.

The uptake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical to meeting the global HIV treatment goal of 95-95-95 by 2025. Although a few Sub-Saharan African countries have already achieved this target, the prevalence of bypassing primary ART centres in many countries in the subregion has negative implications for ART uptake and use. This study used the access to health services framework to analyse the evidence and factors contributing to bypassing primary ART centres by individuals in the sub-region seeking HIV care and support. We found compelling evidence of the prevalence of ART clients bypassing their primary ART centres in search of speci alised care in higher-tiered health facilities. Others use bypassing to conceal their HIV-positive status to avoid social stigma. We argue that introducing specialised and differentiated ART at the primary level of care can address this phenomenon. While we anticipate that this measure will satisfy clients’ desire for specialised care, we recommend enhancing public awareness about the effectiveness of ART to reduce stigma towards ART clients. Legislation and strict enforcement of anti-HIV stigma laws, which outlaw and criminalise stigmatising people living with HIV (PLHIV), could potentially be an effective stigma-deterring measure. To complement this effort, PLHIV should be empowered to understand legislative instruments and steps to take when confidentiality and discriminatory issues arise. We recommend further research in Sub-Saharan Africa to investigate the relationship between bypassing primary ART centres and client adherence. The findings will help design appropriate stra tegies to increase ART uptake at primary ART centres.

Source: UG
C-reactive protein (CRP) promoter polymorphisms influence circulating CRP levels in a genome-wide association study of African Americans

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant protein produced primarily by the liver. Circulating CRP levels are influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors, including infection and obesity. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide an unbiased approach towards identifying loci influencing CRP levels. None of the six GWAS for CRP levels has been conducted in an African ancestry population. The present study aims to: (i) identify genetic variants that influence serum CRP in African Americans (AA) using a genome-wide association approach and replicate these findings in West Africans (WA), (ii) assess transferability of major signals for CRP reported in European ancestry populations (EA) to AA and (iii) use the weak linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure characteristic of African ancestry populations to fine-map the previously reported CRP locus. The discovery cohort comprised 837 unrelated AA, with the replication of significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) assessed in 486 WA. The association analysis was conducted with 2 366 856 genotyped and imputed SNPs under an additive genetic model with adjustment for appropriate covariates. Genome-wide and replication significances were set at P < 5 × 10-8 and P < 0.05, respectively. Ten SNPs in (CRP pseudogene-1) CRPP1 and CRP genes were associated with serum CRP (P = 2.4 × 10-09 to 4.3 × 10-11). All but one of the top-scoring SNPs associated with CRP in AA were successfully replicated in WA. CRP signals previously identified in EA samples were transferable to AAs, and we were able to fine-map this signal, reducing the region of interest from the 25 kb of LD around the locus in the HapMap CEU sample to only 8 kb in our AA sample.

Source: UG