ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Augmenting Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Soil from a Florida CitrusOrchard: Non-Target Effects of a Trophic Cascade

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study non-target effects of augmenting entomopathogenic nematode (EPN)communities in soil. When raw soil from a citrus orchard was augmented with either 2,000 Steinernema riobrave or S. diaprepesi, fewer EPN (P ≤ 0.05) survived if the soil had also been treated with 2,000 S. riobrave 7 d earlier (i.e., two augmentation events rather than one). EPN survival was unaffected by treatment (P ≤ 0.05) in soil that was air-dried to disrupt antagonist activity prior to the experiment. When S. diaprepesi, S. riobrave, Heterorhabditis zealandica or no EPN were added to raw soil and S. diaprepesi was added 5 d later, the survival of both S. diaprepesi and of total EPN was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in soil that received no pretreatment than in soilpre treated with S. riobrave. Pretreatment of soil with H. zealandica or S. diaprepesi had less or no affect on survival of S. diaprepesi or total EPN. When nematodes were recovered from soil and placed on water agar, the number of S. diaprepesi that were killed by endoparasitic and trapping nematophagous fungi was greater (P ≤ 0.05) if soil was pretreated with steinernematid species than if the soil was not pretreated or was pretreated with H. zealandica. The adverse effects of pretreating soil on EPN survival were density dependent within a range of pretreatment dosages (20–100 IJ/cm2 soil surface), and the treatment effects required more time to become evident at lower than at higher dosages. These experiments suggest that non-target effects of augmenting the EPN community in soil vary among EPN species and have the potential to temporarily reduce EPN numbers below the natural equilibrium density.

Source: UG
Ausländer!: Pentecostalism as Social Capital Network for Ghanaians in Vienna.

Is not religion perhaps a coping mechanism in the land of the Ausländer (‘foreigner’; the typical appellation for immigrants in Austria)? In fortress Europe’s increasing rebuff of immigrants, particularly Africans seeking ‘refuge’ on the continent, those already resident in these countries experience much rejection and dejection in an environment that confers a new social identity on them, that of the parasitic ‘outsider’ (Ausländer) intruding into a land not his/her own. This social reality partly accounts for an increasing number of trans-national Pentecostal churches emanating from African entrepreneurship being exported to Africa’s diaspora-self in Europe. This paper seeks to illustrate how Ghanaians in Vienna find in such transnational movements a public space for negotiating identity, self-worth and the indispensable networking for survival while foraging in foreign land. Pentecostal communities offer many Ghanaians in the diaspora context a home and support network unequalled by the mainline churches. Much as Pentecostalism offers an associational life congenial to Africans in the diaspora (Vienna), it, however, detracts from fully inserting adherents onto the diasporic map. In other words, Pentecostal enclaves as subcultures belie members’ complete benefit of integrating into their new country of residence.

Source: UG
An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce, wrecked on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Month of August, 1815.

The following Narrative of my misfortune and sufferings, and my consequent travels and observations in Africa. The very deep and indelible impression made on my mind by extraordinary circumstances attending my late shipwreck, and the miserable captivity of myself and my surviving shipmates, and believing that knowledge of many of these incidents might prove useful and interesting to the world.

Source: UG
Authenticity, past and present in Ghanaian children’s literature

In this paper we examine the portrayal of the “authentic” past in children’s literature in Ghana, as well as the problems it poses for the achievement of the broader goal of moulding children to fit into tomorrow’s society. We look at two main in aspects: the social and moral order portrayed in selected books. We conclude that tradition, more broadly defined, can be effectively sued in children’s book.

Source: UG
Author Correction: Effects of biochar, waste water irrigation and fertilization on soil properties in West African urban agriculture (Scientific Reports (2017) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10718-y)

This Article contains errors in Figures 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9, where the keys were omitted. The correct Figures 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 appear below as Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. (Figure Presented). © 2018 The Author(s).

Source: UG
Author Correction: The temporal dynamics and infectiousness of subpatent Plasmodium falciparum infections in relation to parasite density

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
Authorization of midwives to perform basic emergency obstetric and newborn care signal functions in Argentina, Ghana, and India: A multi-country validation study of a key global maternal and newborn health indicator

Background Midwives’ authorization to deliver the seven basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC) functions is a core policy indicator in global monitoring frameworks, yet little evidence supports whether such data are captured accurately, or whether authorization demonstrates convergence with midwives’ skills and actual provision of services. In this study, we aimed to validate the data reported in global monitoring frameworks (criterion validity) and to determine whether a measure of authorization is a valid indicator for BEmONC availability (construct validity). Methods We conducted a validation study in Argentina, Ghana, and India. To assess accuracy of the reported data on midwives’ authorization to provide BEmONC services, we reviewed national regulatory documents and compared with reported country-specific data in Countdown to 2030 and the World Health Organization Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Policy Survey. To assess whether authorization demonstrates convergent validity with midwives’ skills, training, and performance of BEmONC signal functions, we surveyed 1257 midwives/midwifery professionals and assessed variance Results We detected discrepancies between data reported in the global monitoring frameworks and the national regulatory framework in all three countries. We found wide variations between midwives’ authorization to perform signal functions and their self-reported skills and actual performance within the past 90 days. The percentage of midwives who reported performing all signal functions for which they were authorized per country-specific regulations was 17% in Argentina, 23% in Ghana, and 31% in India. Additionally, midwives in all three countries reported performing some signal functions that the national regulations did not authorize. Conclusion Our findings suggest limitations in criterion and construct validity for this indicator in Argen tina, Ghana, and India. Some signal functions such as assisted vaginal delivery may be obsolete based on current practice patterns. Findings suggest the need to re-examine the emergency interventions that should be included as BEmONC signal functions.

Source: UG
Authors’ reply to Del Giudice: the global prevalence and correlates of skin bleaching

Our study responds to the inclusion criteria of their study. From 1992 to 1993, we conducted an epidemiologic and clinical study in Dakar, Senegal. Women were questioned about the use of skin-lightening creams and examined for potential adverse skin reactions; 685 Senegalese women participated in the study; 26% were using skin-lightening creams, and 36% had used them at some times

Source: UG
Authors’ reply to Del Giudice: the global prevalence and correlates of skin bleaching

I read the meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of skin bleaching by Sagoe et al with great interest.1 The authors included 68 studies, resulting in publications ranging from 1972 to 2017. I am surprised because we conducted one of the first epidemiological studies on this problem which was published in this review in 2002,2 and this article is lacking in the meta-analysis. Our study responds to the inclusion criteria of their study. From 1992 to 1993, we conducted an epidemiologic and clinical study in Dakar, Senegal. Women were questioned about the use of skin-lightening creams and examined for potential adverse skin reactions; 685 Senegalese women participated in the study; 26% were using skin-lightening creams, and 36% had used them at some times

Source: UG
Authorship trends in Ghana Journal of Agriculture Science: bibliometric study

The paper examined authorship patterns of feature articles, research and development notes, subject review articles, provisional communications and documentation in the Ghana Journal of Agricultural Sciences (GJA). Content analysis was undertaken to collect feature articles, provisional communications and documentation in the GJAS from 36 volumes published over a 35-yearperiod (1968-2003). Authors’ institutional and geographic affiliations were examined. Descriptive statistics was used in analyzing the data. A total of 663 articles authored by 1202 authors were analysed. Results indicated that 352 articles were single-authored while 331 were co-authored. The preparation of single-authored paper had papers had decreased from90% in 1968 to 6.25% in 2003. During the period there was in increase in average number of authors per paper from 1.10 in 1968 to 2.87 in 2003. Degree of collaboration also increased from 0.10 to 0.94. The research should sensitize Ghanaian authors to collaboration more with experts from outside Ghana especially from the development world.

Source: UG
Auto-Referential Affective Construction: An Aspect of the Syntax of Inalienable Possessions in Swahili

Most previous treatments of the ‘Syntax of Inalienable Possessions’ in the Swahili language have concentrated on two construction types; to a greater extend one in which the possessor and the inalienable possession feature as two separate noun phrases instead of one (i.e respectively the direct and oblique objects) and to a lesser extent one which the possessor and the inalienable possession feature as subject and object respectively. However, a third construction type which we refer to as ‘auto-referential’ which also exhibits a privileged treatment of the inalienable possession is virtually left out. This paper seeks to describe and examine the ‘Auto-Referential Affective Construction’ in Swahili.

Source: UG
Autobiographie De Kwame Nkrumah

En 1934, lorsque I’ adressai au Doyen de l’ Universite’ de Lincoln ma demande d’ admission, je citai ces deux vers du poe’me In memoriam de Tennyson: So many worlds, so much to do. So little done, such things to be (1) Ces vers m’etaient alors, comme ils le sont encore aujourd’hui, une inspiration et un ai guillon.Ils firent naitre en moi la volonte’ de me pre’pare au service de mon pays.

Source: UG
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in HIV-infected patients: A hospital based study

Background : The prevalence of anemia in HIV/ AIDS patients is high, with a multitude of possible etiologies; autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in HIV/AIDS patients has been associated with a poor prognosis when treated with red cell transfusion. Our aim was to demonstrate the frequency of AIHA in a cohort of adult Nigerian HIV/AIDS patients and to see if the presence or not of AIHA is related to the severity of the disease with regards to the CD4 counts and the presence or absence of opportunistic infections. Method : Ninety- eight adult patients with HIV infection were screened for the presence of AIHA using the packed cell volume (PCV), direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and reticulocyte count (RC). Results : The frequency of AIHA was 3.06%, 36.74% of our study population were anemic; 11.22% had a positive DAT. Mean RC was 2.22 +/- 0.90 for all the patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the PCV of patients that had positive and negative DAT. There was no correlation between the presence of AIHA, use of ART, presence of opportunistic infections or CD4 counts. Conclusion : We conclude that in spite of the low frequency of AIHA in HIV/AIDS patients, the fact that most patients will respond to standard treatment makes it imperative to screen HIV/AIDS patients with anemia for the presence of AIHA. Again since HIV/AIDS patients with AIHA may have a fatal reaction to red cell transfusion, we suggest that anemic patients with HIV/AIDS in non-emergency situations be screened for the presence of AIHA before receiving red cell transfusions when indicated.

Source: UG
Automated mapping of regolith units with support vector machine and artificial neural network using data from Landsat-8 OLI, ALOS PALSAR DEM, and Sentinel-1A radar images: the case of the Sissingué Gold Project, Northern Côte d’Ivoire

The Sissingué Gold Project is in Northern Côte d’Ivoire and part of the southern extension, a large peneplain of the landscape in South Mali. The area has experienced extensive weathering and erosion over a long time, resulting in a widespread and complex regolith cover. This diverse and vast regolith cover poses con siderable difficulties for exploration. To overcome this problem, we adopted mapping of regolith units using machine learning (ML) with support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms. The main objectives were to (1) make the predictive regolith map of the study region using these algorithms with data obtained from Landsat-8 operational land imager, Advanced Land Observing Satellite Phased Array Type L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar digital elevation model and Sentinel-1A; (2) show the method of pre-processing and processing the required data and (3) develop the regolith land form unit (RLU) map from the predictive regolith map and col lected data based on the Relict – Erosional – Depositional model. Tests using the SVM and ANN algorithms showed that both ML tools could accurately map regolith landforms. An innovative method of optimizing data using parameters is presented. The results showed that ANN outperformed SVM with an overall accuracy of 87.01% and a kappa coefficient of 0.84, whereas the corresponding values for SVM were 86.69% and 0.84, respec tively. However, the validation data obtained from SVM-based prediction exhibited a better score than that of validation data obtained from ANN-based prediction. The Sentinel-1A radar band combined with Landsat-8 data reduced the vegetation-masking effect and improved the classification results. The RLUs of this area are composed primarily of relicts at 24.91%, including lateri tic residuum and soil, depositional material at 36.39% with exotic sediments and ferrierite and the remaining 38.7% of erosional material made of saprolite, colluvial fragments, and mottled zones on flanks.

Source: UG
Automated Medical Record Tracking for the Ridge Hospital, Ghana

The astronomical increase in patients' attendance at health institutions has led to the creation of large volumes of records, thereby confronting medical records managers with the challenges of managing these records. The problem is compounded when patients' medical records are maintained with manual records retrieval systems. At the Ridge Hospital, the manual medical records tracking system contributes immensely to the problem of missing patients' medical records and delays and long queues patients endure before receiving medical treatment. This paper employs (lie systems analysis and design approach (also known as systems development lifecycle,) to design and develop an automated medical records tracking system. This proposed system is a case study at the Ridge Hospital, Ghana. The system is limited to the tracking and management of in patients' records. Based on the adopted methodology, preliminary investigations and analysis of the manual system were conducted to determine the scope of the problem. Following systems analysis, the Microsoft Access database system was used to develop a logical design to automate the manual tracking system. The design was developed into an operational automated medical records tracking system using Microsoft usual Basic 6 codes. The developed system does not only track records faster and more efficiently than the manual system but can also perform other records management functions such as the generation of reports on patients' admissions and discharge.

Source: UG
An automated method for developing search strategies for systematic review using Natural Language Processing (NLP)

The design and implementation of systematic reviews and meta-analyses are often hampered by high financial costs, significant time commitment, and biases due to researchers’ familiarity with studies. We proposed and implemented a fast and standardized method for search term selection using Natural Language Processing (NLP) and co-occurrence networks to identify relevant search terms to reduce biases in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. • The method was implemented using Python packaged dubbed Ananse, which is benchmarked on the search terms strategy for naïve search proposed by Grames et al. (2019) written in “R”. Ananse was applied to a case example towards finding search terms to implement a systematic literature review on cumulative effect studies on forest ecosystems. • The software automatically corrected and classified 100% of the duplicate articles identified by manual deduplication. Ananse was applied to the cumulative effects assessment case study, but it can serve as a general-purpose, open-source software system that can support extensive systematic reviews within a relatively short period with reduced biases. • Besides generating keywords, Ananse can act as middleware or a data converter for integrating multiple datasets into a database.

Source: UG
Automatic flotation froth bubble size distribution estimation using mean shift and watershed transforms

Flotation is a process used in the mineral industry to concentrate valuable minerals. The efficiency of the process is influenced by among other the bubble size distribution of the flotation froth. In this investigation, we propose a new method for automatic estimation of the bubble size distribution using the mean shift algorithm and watershed transform. The mean shift algorithm is used to find pixel clusters of particular modes of the probability density function of the image data. Pixel clusters of which the modes are above a given threshold are used as markers for the watershed transform. Experimental results show that the proposed method was fast and robust for determining the size distribution of different classes of flotation froth.

Source: UG
Automatic Satellite Dish Positioning for Line of Sight Communication using Bluetooth Technology

Satellite dishes are used to receive beams of signals from satellites and other broadcasting sources which are then focused onto an antenna. The dish needs to be adjusted to get the desired azimuth and elevation for maximum signal reception. To overcome the difficulty of adjusting it manually, it would be beneficial to have a system that aligns the satellite receiver by mechanical means while allowing the user to interact with the system remotely to achieve a line of sight communication with the satellite source of interest. This paper proposes the design and development of a system which receives user specifications from an Android application via Bluetooth by either specifying the direction of orientation of the dish or selecting a satellite of interest. A control system interacting with the developed user interface achieves this. It employs a microcontroller, a GPS device, a compass and two servo motors to manage the orientation of the dish on its horizontal and vertical axes. The Smartphone utilizes its Bluetooth socket to communicate with the Bluetooth module interfaced to the microcontroller. A database containing information on available satellites is included in the Android application which is transferred to the microcontroller for computation of azimuth and elevation angles when the GPS coordinates and compass headings are obtained from their respective devices. Tests carried out showed positive results for control of the orientation of the satellite dish in various directions over a 50m radius. The automatic adjustment functionality provided precise direction for line of sight communication when users chose their satellite of focus.

Source: UG
An automatic software vulnerability classification framework using term frequency-inverse gravity moment and feature selection

Vulnerability classification is an important activity in software development and software quality main- tenance. A typical vulnerability classification model usually involves a stage of term selection, in which the relevant terms are identified via feature selection. It also involves a stage of term-weighting, in which the document weights for the selected terms are computed, and a stage for classifier learning. Generally, the term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) model is the most widely used term-weighting metric for vulnerability classification. However, several issues hinder the effectiveness of the TF-IDF model for document classification. To address this problem, we propose and evaluate a general framework for vulnerability severity classification using the term frequency-inverse gravity moment (TF-IGM). Specifi- cally, we extensively compare the term frequency-inverse gravity moment, term frequency-inverse doc- ument frequency, and information gain feature selection using five machine learning algorithms on ten vulnerable software applications containing a total number of 27,248 security vulnerabilities . The exper- imental result shows that: (i) the TF-IGM model is a promising term weighting metric for vulnerability classification compared to the classical term-weighting metric, (ii) the effectiveness of feature selection on vulnerability classification varies significantly across the studied datasets and (iii) feature selection improves vulnerability classification.

Source: UG
Autonomous proliferation of HTLV-CD4+ T cell clones derived from human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy 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
Autonomy or Organization? Reforms in the Ghanaian Internal Revenue Service

Autonomous Revenue Authorities (ARAs) have recently become a popular organizational reform to improve revenue collection in developing countries. The success of ARAs is commonly attributed to ‘autonomy’ which reduces political interference, and increases financial independence and managerial freedom. This article examines the case of the Ghanaian ARA – the Internal Revenue Service and argues that its strong performance is the result of not ‘autonomy’, but other more nuts and bolts reforms, specifically: (a) strategies designed to direct the focus of the IRS to different taxpayer segments, particularly the informal sector and (b) significant attempts to bring the tax administration closer to the taxpayer through decentralization and improved taxpayer services. To the extent that autonomy enables ARAs to undertake these other reforms it forms an important piece of the picture, however, they do not require autonomy – they could well be adopted under traditional tax administrations

Source: UG