ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Direct and Indirect Infection Effects of Four Potent Fungal Isolates on the Survival and Performance of Fall Armyworm Larval Parasitoid Cotesia icipe

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, has recently invaded Africa, where it is seriously threatening food security. Current management methods rely heavily on synthetic insecticides which are harmful to humans, the environment, and non-target beneficial insects. Cotesia icipe was recently identified as a major FAW-associated indigenous parasitoid causing a high parasitism rate on the pest in Kenya. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 7, ICIPE 41, ICIPE 78, and Beauveria bassiana ICIPE 621 against FAW. However, limited information is available on the interactions between these potent isolates and C. icipe. This study, therefore, assessed direct and indirect infection effects of these fungal isolates on C. icipe, induced 2nd instar FAW mortality, and parasitism rates of the infected C. icipe. Results showed that when C. icipe were directly exposed to dry conidia of the fungal isolates, ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 41 caused the highest (100%) C. icipe adult mortality seven days post-exposure. Both isolates also induced the highest FAW larval mortality of 55% and 53%, respectively. ICIPE 78 recorded the highest parasitism rates after direct infection. In the indirect exposure (fungal-infected FAW larvae exposed to the parasitoid), 1 × 109 conidia mL−1 recorded high C. icipe adult and FAW 2nd instar mortalities for all fungal isolates. This study provides: an important baseline for effective fungal-based biopesticide development that could also be used in augmentative biological control. However, further studies are warranted to assess the performance of C. icipe in combination with these potent biopesticides in the field.

Source: UG
Direct cytogenetic studies by needle aspiration of Burkitt's lymphoma in Ghana, West Africa.

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
Direct Election of District Chief Executives Mayors: A Tool for Effective Decentralization and Political Stability

Several arguments have been advanced either in support for or against the current mode of appointment of District Chief Executives (DCEs) and mayors in Ghana by the president. While some have argued that the current mode of appointment ensures control over affairs at the grassroots by the central government, others have strongly kicked against it on the grounds that it does not comply with the tenets of democratic decentralization and therefore fails to give the masses the chance to adequately participate in the affairs of their locality. Political parties themselves in Ghana remain divided on the debate. While some have supported the call for direct election of DCEs and mayors by the people at the grassroots, others strongly feel the status quo must be maintained. This paper examines both arguments and provides various recommendations for the direct election of DCEs and mayors that address concerns from different quarters in a manner that ensures effective decentralization and political stability

Source: UG
Direct observation of outpatient management of malaria in a rural ghanaian district

Introduction: in Ghana, malaria continues to top outpatient morbidities; accounting for about 40% of all attendances. Effective case-management is key to its control. We evaluated case-management practices of uncomplicated malaria in Kwahu South District (KSD) health facilities to determine their conformity to guidelines.Methods: we conducted a cross sectional survey at all public health facilities in three randomly selected sub-districts in KSD. A non-participatory observation of suspected malaria consultations was conducted. Suspected malaria was defined as any person with fever (by history or measured axillary temperature > or equal 37.5 oC) presenting at the selected health facilities between 19th and 29th April 2013. Findings were expressed as frequencies, relative frequencies, mean (± standard deviation) and median.Results: of 70 clinical observations involving 10 prescribers in six health facilities, 40 (57.1%) were females and 16 (22.9%) were below five years. Median age was 18 years (interquartile range: 5-33). Overall, 63 (90.0%) suspected case-patients had diagnostic tests. Two (3.6%) were treated presumptively. All 31 confirmed and 10 (33.3%) of the test negative case-patients received Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs). However, only 12 (27.9%) of the 43 case-patients treated with ACT received Artesunate-Amodiaquine (AA). Only three (18.8%) of the under-fives were examined for non-malarial causes of fever. Mean number of drugs per patient was 3.7 drugs (± 1.1). Only 45 (64.3%) patients received at least one counseling message.Conclusion: conformity of malaria case-management practices to guidelines in KSD was suboptimal. Apart from high rate of diagnostic testing and ACT use, prescription of AA, physical examination and counseling needed improvement. © Donne Kofi Ameme et al.

Source: UG
A directed topic model applied to call center improvement

We propose subject matter expert rened topic (SMERT) allocation, a generative probabilistic model applicable to clusteringfreestyle text. SMERT models are three-level hierarchical Bayesian models in which each item is modeled as a nite mixture over aset of topics. In addition to discrete data inputs, we introduce binomial inputs. These ‘high-level’ data inputs permit the ‘boosting’or afrming of terms in the topic denitions and the ‘zapping’ of other terms. We also present a collapsed Gibbs sampler for efcientestimation. The methods are illustrated using real world data from a call center. Also, we compare SMERT with three alternativeapproaches and two criteria.

Source: UG
(Dis) continuities in Scale, Scope and Complexities of the Space Economy: The Shopping Mall Experience in Ghana.

Contrary to common assumptions, the (re)emergence of organized shopping malls in Ghana is not a new development. Accounts of their existence date back to the pre-colonial era, when their character, status and operations were as popular as the malls of today. What is missing in current narratives is an analysis of how these malls— consisting of elegant apartment designs integrated with appreciable green spaces and centrally located food courts to entice visitors to lengthen their stay—impact the urban economy and the traditional retail structure. Using participant observation, semistructured interviews and a survey, we examine the role of malls in the local economy and their possible ramifications on the retail structure. The paper interrogates whether the emerging malls can crowd out their seemingly ‘fortified’ informal predecessors. The results demonstrate two key findings. First, that positive outcome is intrinsically tied to the manner in which malls are conceptualized, especially with increasing trade liberalization and its reinvigorating impact on the informal retail structure. Our findings frame the continuity of the informal sector as important to the success of the malls. Second, that malls must respond positively to the rising demands and tastes of postmodern consumers and the middle class by investing in attractive, iconic architecture—or they risk being pushed out of business by the ever-growing activities of the informal retail sector. Our results are congruent with current literature that questions some of the conceptual and policy framings of informality, and we opine that such framing makes evident the sector’s significant contribution to urban poverty alleviation.

Source: UG
Disability inclusiveness in Covid-19 pandemic policies in West Africa: “Are we left behind?”

People with Disabilities (PwDs) suffer and are susceptible to social inequalities, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. In West Africa, these are influenced by how services geared towards PwDs are administered. This study explores the government policies implemented in West Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic and their impact on PwDs in line with the SDGs with disability targets. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyze eighty-one (81) documents, including legislation, reports and official documents that communicated measures taken in response to Covid-19 and SDGs with disability targets. The study found that various governments outlined pragmatic steps to address the needs of PwDs. It was unraveled that the policies and recommendations that the governments have published on disability inclusiveness in response to Covid-19 did not reflected in the lives PwDs. This is evident based on the difficulty PwDs have to go through to access all the available benefits. It takes a while to see such policies and recommendations reflected in the lives of PwDs. Measuring the expected improvements in the lives of PwDs relative to the SGD’s attainment can not happen overnight. This study is the first of its kind in West Africa and urges various governments to pay close attention to their policies to improve their policies toward PwDs. The study recognizes governments’ vital role in ensuring that PwDs are better off, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the government needs to provide adequate education on how PwDs will readily access policies to better their lives.

Source: UG
Disaggregating tropical disease prevalence by climatic and vegetative zones within tropical west Africa

Tropical infectious disease prevalence is dependent on many socio-cultural determinants. However, rainfall and temperature frequently underlie overall prevalence, particularly for vector-borne diseases. As a result these diseases have increased prevalence in tropical as compared to temperate regions. Specific to tropical Africa, the tendency to incorrectly infer that tropical diseases are uniformly prevalent has been partially overcome with solid epidemiologic data. This finer resolution data is important in multiple contexts, including understanding risk, predictive value in disease diagnosis, and population immunity. We hypothesized that within the context of a tropical climate, vector-borne pathogen prevalence would significantly differ according to zonal differences in rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and vegetation condition. We then determined if these environmental data were predictive of pathogen prevalence. First we determined the prevalence of three major pathogens of cattle, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and Theileria spp, in the three vegetation zones where cattle are predominantly raised in Ghana: Guinea savannah, semideciduous forest, and coastal savannah. The prevalence of A. marginale was 63%, 26% for Theileria spp and 2% forB. bigemina. A. marginale and Theileria spp. were significantly more prevalent in the coastal savannah as compared to either the Guinea savanna or the semi-deciduous forest, supporting acceptance of the first hypothesis. To test the predictive power of environmental variables, the data over a three year period were considered in best subsets multiple linear regression models predicting prevalence of each pathogen. Corrected Akaike Information Criteria (AICc) were assigned to the alternative models to compare their utility. Competitive models for each response were averaged using AICc weights. Rainfall was most predictive of pathogen prevalence, and EVI also contributed to A marginale and B. bigemina prevalence. These findings support the utility of environmental data for understanding vector-borne disease epidemiology on a regional level within a tropical environment. This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.

Source: UG
Disambiguating the Information Structure Model of the Lexical Functional Framework

This study aims at disambiguating the Information-Structure (I-structure) model in the analysis of focus constructions within the Lexical Functional Grammar Framework. It is observed that there are mismatches between the C-structure and the I-structure projections of focus constructions. This leads to instances of ambiguities in the interpretations of mostly contrastive focus constructions as opposed to information focus constructions. The I-structure is argued to be inadequately resourced to capture the different subtypes of focus constructions in Kusaal and most other African languages. In addressing this problem, the study provides alternative suggestions by building on the proposals of King (1996), Choi (1996), Butt (2014), and Abubakari (2018). It is suggested that an additional predicate attribute referred to as discourse type (DTYPE), with a value that subcategorizes subtypes of focus and topic notions be introduced in the I-structure. The study will be carried out using empirical data from the Kusaal language.

Source: UG
Disaster and Development: Examining Global Issues and Cases

Women are essential to disaster risk reduction efforts, but their knowledge and opinions are not systematically leveraged as an asset to improving community resiliency. Using focus group data gathered from residents of several highly vulnerable migrant settlements in Ghana, we present the current roles played by women in disaster resiliency efforts, the limits of their enfranchisement in the emergency management process, and the opportunities for the integration of a gender oriented approach to enhancing disaster resiliency among highly vulnerable populations. Lessons learned from the settlement populations in Ghana include the recognition that local residents perceive their community, or “the people,” as the greatest asset in the context of disaster. This recognition allows for personal networks to be leveraged, in locally relevant ways, for the purpose of enhancing communication, disseminating information, and leadership building. Local women, with their superior organization networks, represent an under-utilized resource for enhancing resiliency and community development.

Source: UG
Disaster and Risk Management in an Electronic Environment: A Study of the Planning and Management Information Services Directorate of the University of Ghana, Legon

The study examines the management of disasters and risks in the Planning and Management Information Services Directorate (PMISD) of the University of Ghana. Questionnaire, interviews and observation were used to collect data from twenty-one (21) members of staff of the Directorate. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data that was collected. The study revealed a high level of unpreparedness of the PMISD to contain disasters and risks. In addition, the study found out that there was no disaster recovery plan, no systematic orientation and training schemes for staff in the area risk management, inadequate security for network infrastructure and equipment and for that matter data security and an irregular risk assessment regime. The study made a number of recommendations with a view to strengthening the capacity of PMISD to manage disasters and risks and to be able to resume business promptly, given the electronic environment within which it operates.

Source: UG
Disbudding effects on growth analysis of Celosia (Celosia cristata)

Experiments to investigate the effects of disbudding on growth analysis of two celosia cultivars, 'Carmine' and 'Chief Gold', were carried out on the field in 2009 and 2010 at the Sinna Garden of Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. The treatments consisted of disbudding once, disbudding twice, and no disbudding, as control, and were arranged in a 3×2 split plot in a randomized complete block design with four replications in 2009 (experiment 1) and three in 2010 (experiment 2). The two cultivars were harvested weekly during the growing period and separated into the various plant parts and oven-dried for dry weights, using appropriate formulae to calculate the various growth parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse the data and a correlation coefficient matrix showed relationships among growth parameters. Disbudding resulted in increased leaf area index, leaf area ratio, leaf area duration, relative growth rate, and harvest index, but reduced crop growth rate and net assimilation rate. 'Chief Gold' had a higher harvest index than 'Carmine'. Disbudding plants once gave the best flower head size and weight result. 'Carmine' gave the best flower yield and quality results in experiment 1 and 'Chief Gold' in experiment 2.

Source: UG
Discerning the role of renewable energy and energy efficiency in finding the path to cleaner consumption and production patterns: New insights from developing economies

A B S T R A C T This study provides empirical evidence on the relationship between energy efficiency and production- andconsumption based carbon emissions by assessing the impact of population size, income, and clean energy on the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions function. Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimators are applied to observe long-term associations between the variables, and Dumitrescu-Hurlin (DH) Ganger causality test is used to identify the direction of causality. Findings reveal that, across all specifications, energy intensity and population size have positive (increasing) impact on both estimates of CO2 emissions while renewable energy use has a negatively significant impact and stronger on consumptionbased estimates. The presence of an inverted U-shaped curve in the relationship between per capita income and CO2 emissions, as predicted by the Environment Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, only exists when CO2 emissions are calculated based on production pattern. Further empirical analysis based on DH causality tests show a bidirectional causality between energy intensity and production-based CO2 emissions, population size and consumption-based CO2 emissions, per capita income and consumption-based CO2 emissions, and energy intensity and renewable energy use. In addition, a unidirectional causality runs from per capita income to production-based CO2 emissions, and from energy intensity and renewable energy use to consumption-based CO2 emissions. This analysis outlines a paradigm for the formulation of a green development strategy in developing economies via energy and environmental resources.

Source: UG
Discharge Preparation Practices among Nurses: A Study at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital, Winneba.

Discharge preparation (DP) is essential to nursing profession since nurses are in close proximity to patients in terms of their care. The study sought to explore the discharge preparation practices of nurses. The qualitative exploratory descriptive design was employed and purposive sampling technique was used to recruit thirteen (13) professional nurses from Trauma and Specialist Hospital, Winneba. Semi structured interview guide was used to collect data from the participants. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. The study was guided by Conceptual Model for Hospital Discharge Preparation (Weiss et al., 2015). Five main themes that guided this study were knowledge about discharge preparation, discharge planning practices, discharge coordination practices, discharge teaching practices, and challenges associated with discharge preparation. Additional theme that emerged from the data gathered was strategies used to enhance discharge preparation. It was recommended that discharge preparation should be a collective responsibility for all stake holders involved in the care of patients. Appropriate measures should therefore, be developed to ensure effective preparation of patients towards discharge.

Source: UG
Disclosure and health‑related outcomes among children living with HIV and their caregivers

Background: The prevalence of disclosure of status to children living with the Human Immunodefciency Virus (HIV) is low in most sub-Saharan African countries, leading to poor compliance and adverse psychological outcomes in these children. This study examined the infuence of disclosure on health outcomes in children living with HIV and their caregivers. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 155 HIV-positive children between age 6–15 years and their caregivers were administered standardized questionnaires measuring adherence to medication, children’s psychological well being, caregiver burden, and caregivers’ psychological health. Results: Results indicated that only 33.5% of the children sampled knew their status. Disclosure of HIV status was signifcantly related to medication adherence, psychological wellbeing, the burden of caregiving, and the length of the disclosure. A child’s age and level of education were the only demographic variables that signifcantly predicted disclosure of HIV status. In a hierarchical analysis, after controlling for all demographic variables medication adherence, psychological well-being and burden of caregiving were found to be signifcant predictors of disclosure of status in children living with HIV. Conclusions: Findings suggest the need for disclosure of status among children living with HIV for a positive impact on their medication adherence and psychological health. These fndings underscore the need for the development of context-specifc interventions that will guide and encourage disclosure of status by caregivers to children living with HIV

Source: UG
Discontinuation of long‐acting reversible contraception versus short‐term hormonal methods in urban Ghana: A pilot longitudinal study

Rates of contraceptive discontinuation are high worldwide,1 including in Ghana.2 Although long‐acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods are widely available and safe for most women,3 few Ghanaian women use them.4 We aimed to prospectively assess whether discontinuation rates differed among women who adopted a LARC method versus those who adopted a short‐term hormonal method. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Discourses of women’s empowerment in Ghana

Successive post-independence governments have embraced women’s empowerment in one form or another, either because of their own ideological positioning, or because of demands by their ‘donor friends/ partners’ and /or organized domestic groups and NGO’s. What has emerged is a varied landscape on women’s rights and empowerment work comprising the state bureaucracy, multilateral and bilateral organizations with their accompanying discourses. In the Ghanaian context, Nana Akua Anyidoho and Takyiwaa Manuh look at what the discourses of empowerment highlight, ignore or occlude, the convergences and divergences among them, and how they speak to or accord with the lived realities of the majority of Ghanaian women. Given that the policy landscape in Ghana is highly influenced by donors, they ask which discourses dominate, and how are they used for improving women’s lives in ways that are meaningful to them.

Source: UG