ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Symptomatic Vergence Disorders in Junior High School Children in Ghana

Background: Optometrists in Ghana are hampered in performing comprehensive binocular vision assessments, because of the lack of appropriate instruments leading to a paucity of data on vergence disorders and their association with asthenopia among Ghanaian school children. Aim: To establish the prevalence of symptomatic vergence disorders among junior high school (JHS) children in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana, in their habitual (vision) states and investigate if there were any associations between these disorders and specific asthenopic symptoms. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional school-based study using a multistage sample of 627 participants aged 12–17 years from JHSs in Cape Coast Metropolis. Participants completed a reliable asthenopic symptoms questionnaire and 220 participants who expressed two or more severe or very severe symptoms were selected for comprehensive binocular vision assessment in their habitual vision state. Results: The prevalence of symptomatic vergence disorders among JHS children in Cape Coast Metropolis was 14.8%. For specific symptomatic vergence disorders, the prevalence was: 1.4% basic esophoria, 1.4% basic exophoria, 8.6% convergence insufficiency, 1.8% convergence excess, 0.8% fusional vergence dysfunctions and 0.8% divergence excess. No participant had symptomatic divergence insufficiency. The study revealed significant associations between some specific symptomatic vergence disorders and specific asthenopic symptoms even though all of these asthenopic symptoms overlapped in other vergence disorders. Conclusion: Presenting complaints of specific asthenopic symptoms does not differentiate between specific types of vergence disorders. A comprehensive binocular vision assessment is vital in the diagnosis and management of these disorders to relieve asthenopia.

Source: UCC
Synergism between Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes could account for the slow recovery of chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium falciparum strains in Ghana after chloroquine withdrawal

Summary Unlike other countries, the chloroquine resistant marker Pfcrt T76 mutant has remained fairly stable in Ghana several years after official disuse of chloroquine. Certain mutations inPfmdr1may potentiate Pfcrt T76, offering a possible explanation for this observation. To understand the phenomenon, the coexistence of mutations in Pfmdr1 with Pfcrt T76 in Ghanaian Plasmodium falciparum isolates was studied. The reported presence of parasites with reduced sensitivity to amodiaquine and quinine in the country was also studied. Blood samples collected from confirmed malaria patients presenting at health facilities in two distinct ecological zones were analyzed. The prevalence of Pfcrt K76T and the five point mutations in Pfmdr1were determined using nested PCR followed by RFLP analysis. The association between genes was determined by chisquare analysis, and synergism between the two genes was ascertained using the Jonckheere—Terptra (J—T) test followed by Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). Nearly fifty-four percent (53.7%)of the P.falciparum isolates examined had the Pfcrt T76 gene, out of which18.3% had bothK76 and T76 alleles. Mutations at codon86, 184, 1034, 1042 and 1246 of the Pfmdr1 gene were detected in36.0%,87.9%,71.0%,91.6% and 8.4% of the isolates, respectively. The haplotypes of Pfmdr1 present were NFCDD(43.46%),YFCDD(27.57%),NFSDD(7.48%), NYSNY (5.14%)and YFSDD(4.67%). Pfcrt T76 was significantly associated with a double mutation at codon86 and 184 of Pfmdr1 (YF;2 = 8.045, = .006). associations were observed between Pfcrt K76T and Pfmdr1triple mutation at codons 86,184 and 1034 (NFC;2 = 3.770, = .032 and YFC; = 1.489, p= 0011). Te J—T test showed significant synergism between Pfcrt 76 and Pfmdr1polymorphisms (p <0.0001), which was confirmed by MCS at 99% CI.Synergism between Pfcrt and Pfmdr1mutant genes could account for the slow recovery of chloroquine sensitive P.falciparum in Ghana. The same phenomenon could explain resistance to amodiaquine and quinine. The outcomes of this study also indicated a possible emergence of artemether-lumefantrine resistance in Ghana

Source: UCC
A syntactic analysis of be (that) in e#e

Be, the unit under study, is realised as /bέ/, /bé/ or /bəʹ/ across the E3eme, T4`u and A`l4 dialects of the E3e language respectively. It has as an equivalent, “that” in the English language, s1 in Akan and ake in Ga. S1 and that have been studied widely as complementizers but be, according to Clements (1975), is a prepositional verb synonymous with the verb gbl4 (to say) in E3e. This study therefore sought to ascertain what kind of unit be actually is on the premise of Tagmemic Grammar. It was observed from analysing data collected from GES primary text books on E3e and 6 books from the E3e Bible that be is a pro-verb since it can replace some verbs in the language. It is also a complementizer like its English and Akan equivalents as it introduces lower clauses in complementation. As a unit whose grammatical class cannot be determined easily in some contexts, be is classified as a particle as well. It was also observed that be collocates mainly with verbs of request, advice, belief and motion as well as reporting verbs, factives, emotives and resultatives. Between the verb and be, there could be noun phrases functioning as objects and adposition phrases functioning as adverbials.

Source: UCC
The Syntax and Semantics of Phrasal Verbs in Ga

This study investigated the syntax and semantics of Ga phrasal verbs. It examined the basic elements that constitute the Ga phrasal verb and focused on the various manifestations of the phrasal verb in respect of its transitivity. The study also discussed the meanings of the phrasal verbs through the lens of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), as well as their idiomaticity and polysemy. Data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources, and the entire study was rooted in the Conceptual Metaphor Theory. A purely descriptive and qualitative research, the study revealed three main findings: first, the Ga phrasal verb – as a single semantic unit that expresses idiomatic meaning – comprises two main parts: the verbal element and the post-verbal element. Second, Ga phrasal verbs can be categorized into three syntactic types, namely intransitive, mono transitive and di-transitive. A few of the phrasal verbs, however, can be considered ambi-transitive or transitive-intransitive. Third, Ga phrasal verbs express both basic/literal and metaphorical/figurative meanings, and are usually not polysemous owing to their high idiomaticity. These findings hold significant implications for the Conceptual Metaphor Theory, pedagogy, language documentation and further syntax and semantics research on Ga phrasal verbs.

Source: UCC
The Syntax and Semantics of Phrasal Verbs in Ga

This study investigated the syntax and semantics of Ga phrasal verbs. It examined the basic elements that constitute the Ga phrasal verb and focused on the various manifestations of the phrasal verb in respect of its transitivity. The study also discussed the meanings of the phrasal verbs through the lens of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), as well as their idiomaticity and polysemy. Data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources, and the entire study was rooted in the Conceptual Metaphor Theory. A purely descriptive and qualitative research, the study revealed three main findings: first, the Ga phrasal verb – as a single semantic unit that expresses idiomatic meaning – comprises two main parts: the verbal element and the post-verbal element. Second, Ga phrasal verbs can be categorized into three syntactic types, namely intransitive, mono transitive and di-transitive. A few of the phrasal verbs, however, can be considered ambi-transitive or transitive-intransitive. Third, Ga phrasal verbs express both basic/literal and metaphorical/figurative meanings, and are usually not polysemous owing to their high idiomaticity. These findings hold significant implications for the Conceptual Metaphor Theory, pedagogy, language documentation and further syntax and semantics research on Ga phrasal verbs

Source: UCC
Synthesis and evaluation of quindoline and its analogue as potential anticancer agents

Several derivatives of quindoline, 10H-(indolo[3,2-b]quinoline), alkaloids were prepared by the modification of the Pfitzinger quinoline reaction. The conversion of quindoline was 71% while that of another compound, 2,10-bis(dimethylaminoethyl)-indolo[3,2-b]quinoline, was 64%. In the evaluation of the cytotoxicities of the two compounds using five human ovarian cancer cell lines, namely SKOV-3, A2780, A2780R, CHI, and CHIR, quindoline gave minimum inhibitory concentration (IC50) results of 66, 21.5, 24.5, 15.5, and 30 M, respectively whiles the more potent compound, 2,10-bis(dimethylaminoethyl)-indolo[3,2-b]quinoline, gave 6.3, 12.5, 10.5, 8.4, and 12.5 M, respectively. A third compound, 2-(3-hydroxypropan-1-yl)-10H-indolo[3,2- b]quinoline, was prepared by the Heck reaction in a yield of 70%

Source: UCC
Synthesis of an enantiomerically pure building block for the synthesis of hydroporphyrins

The enantiomerically pure pyrrolidine diester 4 is a useful building block for the synthesis of chiral hydroporphyrin compounds. Treatment of optically active aromatic amines with bislactone 5 gave pairs of N-alkylated lactam-lactone diastereomers 6 and 8. These diastereomers were separated by MPL chromatography and in the case of 8 they could be debenzylated to yield the enantiomerically pure lactam-lactone 7 and its enantiomer. The (–)-lactam-lactone enantiomer 7 was further transformed into building block 4

Source: UCC
Synthesis of new polyfunctional cage oligosilsesquioxanes and cyclic siloxanes by thiol-ene addition

A novel octakis-2{[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]thio}ethyl-octasilsesqioxane (POSS-M24) was synthesized by radical thiol-ene addition of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, (MPTMS) to octavinyloctasilsesquioxane, (POSS-V8) in the presence of 2,20 azobisisobutyronitryl under mild conditions (60 C, toluene solution). Nano-building POSS units bearing both types of groups, 2-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylthio]-ethyl and vinyl, pendant to the POSS-cage were obtained by partial addition of MPTMS to the vinyl functions. Finally the thiol-ene addition of MPTMS to 2,4,6-trivinyl-2,4,6-trimethylcyclotrisiloxane (V3) and 2,4,6,8-tetravinyl-2,4,6,8-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (V4) were explored. The structures of the thiol-ene addition products were confirmed by 29 and mass Spectroscopy

Source: UCC
Synthesis of zeolites from bauxite and kaolin: Effect of synthesis parameters on competing phases

Bauxite and kaolin from Ghana Bauxite Company mine site were used to synthesize zeolites. Bauxite served as the alumina source and kaolin the silica source. Synthesis variations include variation of aging time at constant crystallization time and variation of crystallization times at constant aging time. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed in the characterization of the raw samples as well as the synthesized samples. The results obtained showed that the transformations that occurred and the phase of the resulting products were coordinated by the aging time, crystallization time, alkaline concentration and Si/Al ratio of the system. Zeolites A, X, Y, analcime, Sodalite and ZK-14 were some of the phases achieved. Zeolite LTA was achieved with short crystallization times of 3, 5, 18 and 24 hours and a maximum aging of 24 hours. Zeolite LSX was synthesized with 24 hr aging followed with 24 hr hydrothermal treatment whilst zeolite Y crystallized after 48 hr of aging and 24 hr crystallization. Prolonged crystallization time produced a mixed phased product. Prolonged aging times on the other hand did not yield any zeolite as the sample was amorphous. Increasing the alkaline content of the reaction mixture above 5M introduced sodalite phase in the final product. The properties of the final products were comparable to zeolites synthesized from pure chemical reagents

Source: UCC
Synthesis, characterization and anticancer evaluation of phosphinogold (I) thiocarbohydrate complexes

Several novel thiocarbohydrate phosphinogold(I) complexes were prepared via the reaction of n-gluconamidoalkyl thiol (L1–L7) {where L1–L4 = n-gluconamidoalkyl thiol (n = 1–4),L5– L7 = acetylated n-gluconamidoalkyl thiol (n = 1–3)} with the gold precursors [AuCl(PPh3)], [Au2Cl2(dppe)], [Au2Cl2(dppp)] and [Au2Cl2(dppb)], leading to the new gold(I) complexes [Au(L1) (PPh3)] (1–4), [Au(L5)(PPh3)] (5–7), [Au2(L1)2(dppe)] (8–11), [Au2(L5)2(dppx)] (12–14), [(Au2(L6)2) (dppx)] (15–17), [Au2(L7)2(dppx)] (18–20), {where dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (x = e), dppp = 1,3 is(diphenylphosphino)propane (x = p) and dppb = 1,4-bis-(diphenylphosphino)butane (x = b)}. These gold complexes were characterized by a combination of NMR and infrared spectroscopy, microanalysis and mass spectrometry. Complexes 8,12,14–16 (IC50 values between 0.003 and 1.8 lM) are all active against MCF7, HCT116 and PC3 cells. Complex 8 recorded the highest IC50 value of 0.003 lM against PC3. Complex 14 was found to be selective towards both MCF7 and PC3 cells with a TS value of 142.1, while compounds 15 and 16 were highly selective toward PC3 cells with TS value of 970.0 and 937.5, respectively

Source: UCC
Synthesis, Characterization And Application Of Novel Metal-Organic Frameworks For Photo-Transformation Of Organic Pollutants In Water

The release of coloured organic pollutants from the production and application industries into water bodies is extremely worrying. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted exceptional attention as heterogeneous catalysts in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants through photocatalysis. As a result of this emerging technique, research to synthesize MOFs with photocatalytic functionalities to efficiently transform coloured organic pollutants found in water was studied. Six MOFs namely Zr-BTC, Zr- 5abdc, Ce-BTC, Ce-5abdc, Cu-BTC and Cu-5abdc were synthesized using the solvothermal synthetic technique. The synthesized MOFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to investigate the bond formation between metals and organic ligands, by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to assess their crystallinity, by Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) to investigate their morphology, by Single crystallography to evaluate their topology and by Thermogravimetric analysis to assess their thermal stability. The photocatalytic activity of MOFs to transform Lissamine green SF (LGSF), Tetraethylrhodamine (TeRh), and Remezol Brilliant Violet 5R (RBV5R) into less toxic compounds was investigated. The photoactivity was subjected to three parameters which included the pH, dye concentration and catalyst loading. Various intermediates were detected from the breakdown of LGSF, TeRh, and RBV5R during their transformation using the GC/MS. The kinetics and isotherms of LGSF, TeRh, and RBV5R adsorption by the MOFs were studied. The removal activity, kinetics and isotherm study of mixed textile dye by Zr-BTC MOFs was also investigated. Conclusively, the MOFs were proven to be effective catalysts in transforming the pollutants into less toxic compounds.

Source: UCC
Synthetic approach to glycopolymer base nanoparticle gold(i) conjugate: a new generation of therapeutic agents

Advances in nanotechnology have led to the fabrication of nano-constructs of organic or inorganic origins with well-defined structures, surface properties, and can be made to respond to physical or chemical stimuli. These nano-constructs can provide a shift in the way diagnostic and therapeutic drugs are delivered to achieve target specificity and increased retention of therapeutic doses for considerable improvement in the overall treatment of the tumors. In this case we describe here a synthetic approach to glycopolymer base nanoparticle gold(I) conjugate for cancer therapy

Source: UCC
A systematic review and synthesis of the strengths and limitations of measuring malaria mortality through verbal autopsy

Background: Lack of valid and reliable data on malaria deaths continues to be a problem that plagues the global health community. To address this gap, the verbal autopsy (VA) method was developed to ascertain cause of death at the population level. Despite the adoption and wide use of VA, there are many recognized limitations of VA tools and methods, especially for measuring malaria mortality. This study synthesizes the strengths and limitations of existing VA tools and methods for measuring malaria mortality (MM) in low- and middle-income countries through a systematic literature review. Methods: The authors searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Popline, WHOLIS, Google Scholar, and INDEPTH Network Health and Demographic Surveillance System sites’ websites from 1 January 1990 to 15 January 2016 for articles and reports on MM measurement through VA. Inclusion criteria: article presented results from a VA study where malaria was a cause of death; article discussed limitations/challenges related to measurement of MM through VA. Two authors independently searched the databases and websites and conducted a synthesis of articles using a standard matrix. Results: The authors identifed 828 publications; 88 were included in the fnal review. Most publications were VA studies; others were systematic reviews discussing VA tools or methods; editorials or commentaries; and studies using VA data to develop MM estimates. The main limitation were low sensitivity and specifcity of VA tools for measuring MM. Other limitations included lack of standardized VA tools and methods, lack of a ‘true’ gold standard to assess accuracy of VA malaria mortality. Conclusions: Existing VA tools and methods for measuring MM have limitations. Given the need for data to measure progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 goals, the malaria community should defne strategies for improving MM estimates, including exploring whether VA tools and methods could be further improved. Longer term strategies should focus on improving countries’ vital registration systems formore robust and timely cause of death data

Source: UCC
A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Data in support of Its Medicinal Relevance

Costus afer (C. afer) is a plant commonly known as ginger lily, spiral ginger, or bush cane. It is reportedly used in traditional medicine practice (TMP) to treat and manage many ailments including diabetes mellitus, stomach ache, arthritis, inﬂammation, and gout. These purported ethnomedicinal uses have triggered many research studies on the plant to amass scientiﬁc evidence. However, these research reports are scattered, and thus, this systematic review seeks to provide a comprehensive update on it covering its traditional uses, phytochemical and nutritional constituents, pharmacological activities, and toxicological eﬀects. An online search was done using search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect from the period 1970 to 2019. The online search included the use of keywords, “Costus afer Ker-Gawl” or “Costus afer.” The search revealed that the stem and leaves of the plant contain substantial amounts of micronutrients and macronutrients. The leaves, stem, rhizomes, and roots of C. afer contain several steroidal sapogenins, aferosides, dioscin, and paryphyllin C and ﬂavonoid glycoside kaempferol-3-O-α-L- rhamnopyranoside. Experimental studies on various parts of the plant showed bioactivities such as antihyperglycemic, hepa- tocellular protection, cardioprotection, nephroprotection, testicular protection, CNS depressant, analgesic, antiarthritis, anti- bacterial, and antioxidant. Based on these evident data, it is concluded that the plant could be used as an alternative and complementary therapy for many oxidative stress-related diseases, provided further scientiﬁc studies on the toxicological and pharmacological aspects are carried out.

Source: UCC
A systematic review of heavy metals of anthropogenic origin in environmental media and biota in the context of gold mining in Ghana

Heavy metal accumulation in the food chain is an issue of global concern because it eventually leads to toxic effects on humans through the water we drink, contaminated soils, crops, and animals. Reports of toxic ant levels in environmental media (air, water, and soil) and biotin Ghana were sought in SCOPUS, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Of 1004 bibliographic records identified, 54 studies were included in evidence synthesis. A disproportionately large number of papers (about80%) focused exclusively on environmental media. Papers focusing on bio monitoring and human health were relatively few. Studies reported a high degree of spatial variability for the concentrations of 8 metals in groundwater. Generally, heavy metal concentrations in soil reported by the studies reviewed were higher than metal concentrations in river in sediments. Urine and hair were the most common biological markers of heavy metal exposure used by the studies reviewed unlike nails, which were sparingly used. By and large, published results on the levels of heavy metals in goldmine and non-mine workers yielded contradictory results. Mostly, concentrations of heavy metals reported by the studies reviewed for nails were higher than for hair. A high degree of variability in the heavy metal concentrations in human subjects in the studies reviewed is likely due to heterogeneity in physiological states, excretion profiles, and body burdens of individuals. These, in turn, may be a product of genetic polymorphisms influencing detoxification efficiency

Source: UCC
A systematic review of resource habitat taboos and human health outcomes in the context of global environmental change

The dependence of humans on the ecosystem services that natural resources provide is absolute. The need for social taboos as frameworks for governing natural resource abstraction is gaining widespread recognition especially within the context of climate change. However, the complex relationship between resource and habitat taboos (RHTs) and human health is not entirely understood. We conducted a systematic review of existing studies of the association between RHTs and human health outcomes, focusing on the best evidence available. We searched JSTOR, SocINDEX, Greenﬁle and Academic Search Complete databases from 1970 to July 2015; and also searched the reference lists of reviews and relevant articles. About 779 studies and data from 26 studies were eligible for the analysis. Only 9 out of 26 studies clearly linked RHTs to human health. Overall, nine taboos, spatial, temporal, gear, method, effort, catch, species-speciﬁc, life history and segment, were covered by the empirical studies. This systematic review provides new evidence of relationships between RHTs and human health outcomes. Several methodological limitations were identiﬁed in the empirical material. The ﬁndings suggest the need for context-speciﬁc conservation policies to reduce erosion of RHTs in order to sustain human health in the face of climate change

Source: UCC