ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic and Attainment Testing: English

This investigation set out to measure attainment in English. The importance of English as a basic subject cannot be overemphasised. It is generally agreed that poor English in the middle school is a large cause of backwardness in most other subjects of the curriculum in the secondary school. English has become the lingua franca for a large proportion of the inhabitants of the world. In Africa, and particularly West Africa, it is necessary for those who work with Europeans. The ability then to read and interpret accurately those notices, advertisements, technical information, etc, makes a knowledge of English indispensable.

Source: UG
Diagnostic capacity, and predictive values of rapid diagnostic tests for accurate diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum in febrile children in Asante-Akim, Ghana

Background This study seeks to compare the performance of HRP2 (First Response) and pLDH/HRP2 (Combo) RDTs for falciparum malaria against microscopy and PCR in acutely ill febrile children at presentation and follow-up. Methods This is an interventional study that recruited children < 5 years who reported to health facilities with a history of fever within the past 72 h or a documented axillary temperature of 37.5 °C. Using a longitudinal approach, recruitment and follow-up of participants was done between January and May 2012. Based on results of HRP2-RDT screening, the children were grouped into one of the following three categories: (1) tested positive for malaria using RDT and received anti-malarial treatment (group 1, n = 85); (2) tested negative for malaria using RDT and were given anti-malarial treatment by the admitting physician (group 2, n = 74); or, (3) tested negative for malaria using RDT and did not receive any anti-malarial treatment (group 3, n = 101). Independent microscopy, PCR and Combo-RDT tests were done for each sample on day 0 and all follow-up days. Results Mean age of the study participants was 22 months and females accounted for nearly 50%. At the time of diagnosis, the mean body temperature was 37.9 °C (range 35–40.1 °C). Microscopic parasite density ranged between 300 and 99,500 parasites/µL. With microscopy as gold standard, the sensitivity of HRP2 and Combo-RDTs were 95.1 and 96.3%, respectively. The sensitivities, specificities and predictive values for RDTs were relatively higher in microscopy-defined malaria cases than in PCR positive-defined cases. On day 0, participants who initially tested negative for HRP2 were positive by microscopy (n = 2), Combo (n = 1) and PCR (n = 17). On days 1 and 2, five of the children in this group (initially HRP2-negative) tested positive by PCR alone. On day 28, four patients who were originally HRP2-negative tested positive for microscopy (n = 2), Combo (n = 2) and PCR (n = 4). Conclusion The HRP2/pLDH RDTs showed comparable diagnostic accuracy in children presenting with an acute febrile illness to health facilities in a hard-to-reach rural area in Ghana. Nevertheless, discordant results recorded on day 0 and follow-up visits using the recommended RDTs means improved malaria diagnostic capability in malaria-endemic regions is necessary.

Source: UG
Diagnostic performance of an ultrasensitive HRP2‑based malaria rapid diagnostic test kit used in surveys of afebrile people living in Southern Ghana

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
Diagnostic Performance Of Typhidot RDT In Diagnosis Of Typhoid Fever And Antibiotic Resistance Characterisation In A Cross-Sectional Study In Southern Ghana.

Background: Typhoid fever remains a significant public health problem contributing to significant misapplication of antibiotics in Ghana. However, there is little data on the accuracy of the commonly used serology-based rapid diagnostic Typhidot test kit (Typhidot RDT) for confirming typhoid fever. Methods: We conducted a study to assess the diagnostic accuracy of Typhidot RDT in seven clinical facilities across five regions in Southern Ghana. A total of 258 participants, clinically diagnosed with typhoid fever, were enrolled in this study. Blood and stool samples were obtained for culture, Typhidot and PCR assays. Disc diffusion antibiotic sensitivity was performed to determine the resistance pattern of Salmonella enterica isolates from positive blood and stool cultures. Results: Recovery of S. enterica isolates was higher from stool samples (14.7%) in comparison to blood samples (1.6%). The sensitivity and specificity of Typhidot compared to blood and stool cultures was 35% (19.94%—52.65%) and 45% (38.67%—51.45%), respectively. Compared to PCR, the Typhidot had a sensitivity and a specificity of 61% and 53%, respectively. Resistance phenotyping of isolates showed broad sensitivity to the front-line antibiotics used. Resistance to ampicillin (10%), cotrimoxazole (7%), azithromycin and ciprofoxacin (<5%) was found in some isolates. Conclusions: These findings suggest sub-optimal performance of the Typhidot RDT for diagnosis of typhoid in Ghana with a higher chance for misdiagnosis and misapplication of antibiotics. The high proportion of isolates recovered from stool culture is consistent with the pathophysiology of bacterial shedding during the acute phase of infection, which provides a window of opportunity to control typhoid transmission.

Source: UG
Dialogic communication on universities in Ghana libraries' websites

Purpose - This study aims to ascertain the contents of universities in Ghana libraries' websites and find the dialogic potential of the websites. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative content analysis technique was used. The sample includes the libraries' websites of universities in Ghana that have received presidential charter. A checklist was developed to assess the content of the websites. In assessing the dialogic potential of the websites, Kent and Taylors' framework was used. Findings - Findings from the study show that Ghanaian universities libraries' websites are providing only static information about libraries and their services. The libraries' websites are deficient in providing vital information on newspapers, print journals, frequently asked questions and date of post. Again, findings of the study indicate that universities in Ghana libraries' websites have poor dialogic features. Originality/value - There is no study investigating the dialogic potential of universities in Ghana libraries' websites. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
A Dialogic communications interrogation of the online brand dispositions of banks operating in Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the dialogic communications potential of bank web sites in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – The authors undertook a qualitative content analysis of bank web sites in Ghana, drawing upon Kent and Taylor's dialogic communications framework. Findings – Banks in Ghana have been fairly successful in creating web sites with high dialogic value, with over half the banks sampled scoring on more than half of all the dialogic principles (dialogic loop, ease of use, usefulness and conservation of visitors). Most banks, however, scored rather poorly on the principle of return visit. Practical implications – The revelation that the communication content of banks’ web sites in Ghana does not encourage visitors to return poses a serious challenge for banks in their bid to leverage favourable brand dispositions associated with strong customer relationships. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the scarce literature on dialogic communications potential of bank web sites in an emerging market context.

Source: UG
Dialogic features of brand South Africa’s website and tourists’ intentions to visit

Purpose – Despite the recognisable importance of nation brand websites, they have seemingly not been the focus of dialogic communication interrogations of marketing and communications scholars. This paper is one of the initial attempts to address such research lacuna. The paper aims to examine the dialogic potential of the Brand South Africa website and its effect on the country’s image, as well as the impact of this image on consumers’ (tourists) visiting intentions. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from the dialogic communication and impression management theories, the authors applied partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse data solicited from 672 participants via an electronic survey. Findings – This paper demonstrates that the dialogic communication principles of the Brand South Africa website have positive influences on the image impression of South Africa. Country image impression was also found to have a significant effect on intentions to visit. Practical implications – This study is of potential benefit to researchers, government agencies and those responsible for nation branding. Originality/value – This study contributes to marketing and tourism literatures, by drawing on theories of dialogic communication principles and impression management, to fill the gap regarding the effect of nation brand websites on country image impression and visiting intention of consumers (tourists).

Source: UG
Dialogic Theology Of Missions As A Response To The Global Refugee Phenomenon.

The legacies of colonialism on both the colonised and coloniser is one thing that our world cannot escape in contemporary times. In most of the places, colonialism came with its own form of Christianity. This colonial Christianity was based on the idea of exclusion, homogenisation and conquering the other. Thus, the combination of the ideals of colonialism and Christianity brought about a type of nationalism, which was monologic. This monologic nationalism as an ideology not only creates refugees but also generates a monological ‘unity’ among the people in the country of arrival against these refugees. This poses a danger to humanity as a whole. Thus, it is important for scholars of religion and theology to deconstruct ideas on the line of monologic nationalism and embrace a form of nationalism that is dialogical in nature. In this regard, this article using Mikhail Bakhtin’s idea of dialogism as its framework attempts to construct a dialogic theology of missions as a response to the global refugee phenomenon. The article argues that there must be a shift from colonial missions, which are monologic in nature to a dialogic theology of missions grounded in World Christianity. Contribution: This article attempts to point out a key legacy of colonialism and colonial Christianity: the creation of refugees, which often has not been looked at by many scholars. The problem lies not with ‘Christianity’ as a religion, but the type of Christianity being practised. Addressing this practice demands a shift from colonial Christianity to World Christianity, which is embedded within its solutions to the global refugee crisis that the world is currently facing.

Source: UG
Dialogue and subject positioning in pedagogical practice: the academic literacies classroom in a Ghanaian University

The importance of academic literacy acquisition through enculturation in higher education is self-evident. Important within the processes of enculturation is how interactants are positioned. This study examines how interactants within the writing classroom of a higher education institution in Ghana are positioned through dialogue. Data for this study are recordings of lectures of a mandatory undergraduate programme. The study indicates that though there are attempts to position the student as an active and equal participant within the writing classroom, the instructor still emerges as dominant participant. It also establishes that the pedagogical practices of the classroom adopt strategies such as peer deliberations, and epistemic discovery to help foster personal agency development in the student. It concludes that the academic literacies model has not informed what goes on in the literacies classroom of the institution. The study recommends that the enculturation processes will have to adopt a more critical approach.

Source: UG
The Diary of John Holt and the Voyage of the &quot;Maria&quot;

John Holt, the eldest son of Thomas Godfrey Holt, was born in the village of Garthorpe, in Lincolnshire, on the 31st October, 1841. He was educated at the local village school which he left at the age of 14 to enter the employ of his grandfather, Thomas Holt, and he went to sea on a schooner owned by his grandfather, which plied between Goole and London and the Northern French ports, carrying coals, cement, and tiles. The name of the schooner was the Thomas Holt. He apparently did not find this employment to his liking, and on the 1st July, [80, his father signed an agreement with William Laird, of Messrs. W. H. Laird, Coal Dealers, Castle Street, Liverpool, to employ him as an apprentice for a period of five years . In the words of the indenture, "John Holt, by his own freewill and with the consent of his father Thomas Holt, of Garthorpe, doth put, place, and bind himself a covenant servant or apprentice ... and doth covenant promise and agree ... that he shall and will faithfully serve his said master, his secrets keep, his lawful commands gladly obey and do; hurt to his said master he shall not do, or suffer to be done by others. .. His Master's goods he shall not waste or embezzle, the same give or lend without leave; day or night absent himself from his said master's service; nor do any other Act, Matter, or Thing whatsoever to the prejudice of hi said Master

Source: UG
Dichapetalin M from Dichapetalum madagascariense

The roots of Dichapetalum madagascariensis have yielded the new dichapetalin M, together with the previously reported dichapetalin A. This brings to nine, the total number of dichapetalins so far isolated from the roots of the plant, and to thirteen, the total number of dichapetalins isolated from the Dichapetalaceae. Dichapetalin M exhibited greater toxicity towards brine shrimp larvae than dichapetalin A, which has demonstrated cell inhibition against various cancer cell lines.

Source: UG
Dichotomy between theory and practice in chest radiography and its impact on students

Introduction: It is important that theory is synchronous with clinical practices that students engage in. Lack of congruence between theory and practice presents serious problems to students. This study was therefore conducted to determine if there was a theory–practice gap in chest radiography during clinical rotations, and any associated causes and effects on radiography students. Method: A descriptive survey design was used to conduct this study from 2 February to 27 July 2014. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of open- and close-ended questions was used to purposively collect data from 26 radiography students in Ghana who had completed theory lessons in chest radiography and had either completed or were undertaking clinical rotations in chest radiography. Results: Twenty-five (96%) respondents indicated the presence of theory–practice gap in chest radiography during clinical rotations, where differences between theory and clinical practice were observed. Lack of working materials 16 (62%), heavy workload 14 (54%), equipment breakdowns 14 (54%) and supervisory factors 11 (43%) were identified as the causes. Many students (81%) experienced diverse adverse effects such as confusion 10 (38%), poor performance during clinical examinations 6 (23%) and entire loss of interest in the professional training 1 (4%) of this dichotomy. Conclusion: Dichotomy between theory and practice found in chest radiography has diverse adverse effects on students. Regular feedback on the quality of clinical practice received by students should be encouraged to determine the existence of any gaps between theory and practice in order to promote effective clinical rotation programmes in radiography. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy and New Zealand Institute of Medical Radiation Technology.

Source: UG
Dichotomy of Historicity and Subjective Perception of Complexity in Individuals’ Activity Goal Formation and Decision Outcomes

This study examined how the historicity of individuals’ organizational activity and subjective perception of task complexity influence individuals’ activity goal formations, strategies and decision outcomes considerations. The findings showed that conscious goal-directed processes of individuals are influenced by the dichotomy of historicity and their subjective perceptions of task complexity. It is concluded that; when “highest goal” is desired for an impending task, the dichotomous relationship of historicity of the individual’s self-regulation activity and his/her subjective perception of task complexity will have direct influence on both his/her Activity Goal Formation and decision outcome processes, while his/her activity strategies consideration will be directly influenced by only the historicity of his/her self-regulation activity. Also, when “best goal is desired, the dichotomous relationship will directly influence only the individual’s consideration of decision outcomes, while both his/her Activity Goal Formation and strategies consideration will be directly influenced by only the historicity of his/her self-regulation activity. © Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019.

Source: UG
Dictating Impact of Systemic (Trans)formations on management re-engineering in R&amp;D firms. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

This paper examines challenges to the implementation and internalization of benchmarked management practices by research organizations in developing economies as transformative tools towards commercialization. The purpose is to understand the contributing influence of internal organizational factors from both situational and historical perspectives towards the practice implementation constraints, and also to provide theoretical understanding on how systemic formations and transformations in the organizations’ activities influenced the level to which their desired needs are attained. The results showed that the variability in the outcomes of the organizations’ transformation processes was indicative of their (in)ability to deal with the impacts of cumulated tensions in the systemic interfaces of their organizational activity systems. It is concluded that the functionalities of the systemic interfaces influence the functionality of the organizational activity system.

Source: UG
A Dictionary of the Asante and Fante Language Called Tshi (Chwee, Twi), with a Grammatical Introduction and Appendices on the Geography of the Gold Coast and other Subjects.

The Dictionary follows “A grammar of the Asante and Fante Language called Tshi (Chwee, Twi), based on the Akuapem Dialect, with reference to the other (Akan and Fante) Dialects, “by the same author, Basel, 1875. The said Grammar has been approved by several philologists in Germany and Frence.*). Tshi we call the language prevalent in the Gold Coast countries between the rivers Asini and Tanno on the W. and the Volta on the E., extending even beyond the Volta, and from the sea- coast to the upper course of the Volta and the Kong mountains on the N – Rem.

Source: UG
Dictionary of the Asante and Fante Language Called Tshi (Twi) - Second Edition

Tshi, or Twi, is the language prevalent in the Gold Coast countries between the rivers Asini and Tanno on the W. and the Volta on the E., and extends even beyond this river; its southern boundary is the sea- coast, while the upper course of the Volta, and the Kong mountains are its northern limits. That is, roughly, the area of the old Asante empire when it had its greatest extension. Formerly, Guang dialects were spoken throughout the Gold Coast, but in the course of time they were, in most places, superseded by Tshi. – The number of people who speak Tshi may be estimated at about 2 million; and the language is steadily gaining ground.

Source: UG
Dictionary of the Asante and Fante Language called Tshi (TWI), Second Edition

Tshi, or Twi, is the language prevalent in the Gold Coast countries between the rivers Asini and Tanno on the W. and the Volta on the E., and extends even beyond this river; its southern boundary is the sea- coast, while the upper course of the Volta, and the Kong mountains are its northern limits.

Source: UG
Did Ghana Do Enough? A Scientometric Analysis of COVID-19 Research Output from Ghana within the African Context

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated worldwide research efforts to provide knowledge about the disease. Yet little is known about how Ghana contributed to this critical knowledge production. This scientometric analysis was conducted to ascertain Ghana’s COVID-19 research output within the African context to gain understanding and identify potential future directions. The study retrieved relevant research, spanning 2019 to 2022, from the Scopus database in December 2022. The retrieved data were assessed using various established indices, including collaboration patterns, productive institutions, citation patterns, and major research sponsors, among others. Ghana came seventh in Africa with a total of 1112 publications. For international collaborations, the United States and the United Kingdom were the major partners, while South Africa was the main African collaborator with Ghana. Out of the top 21 most productive authors, 85.7% were males and 14.3% were females, demonstrating a great gender gap in research output in Ghana. Although Ghana has made some contributions to the global COVID-19 research output, there are few intra-continental research collaborations, which limits Africa’s overall research output. Our study demonstrates a critical need for the Ghanaian government to prioritize research and funding and address barriers to women’s research productivity.

Source: UG
Did Ghana Do Enough? A Scientometric Analysis of COVID-19 Research Output from Ghana within the African Context

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated worldwide research efforts to provide knowledge about the disease. Yet little is known about how Ghana contributed to this critical knowledge production. This scientometric analysis was conducted to ascertain Ghana’s COVID-19 research output within the African context to gain understanding and identify potential future directions. The study retrieved relevant research, spanning 2019 to 2022, from the Scopus database in December 2022. The retrieved data were assessed using various established indices, including collaboration patterns, productive institutions, citation patterns, and major research sponsors, among others. Ghana came seventh in Africa with a total of 1112 publications. For international collaborations, the United States and the United Kingdom were the major partners, while South Africa was the main African collaborator with Ghana. Out of the top 21 most productive authors, 85.7% were males and 14.3% were females, demonstrating a great gender gap in research output in Ghana. Although Ghana has made some contributions to the global COVID-19 research output, there are few intra-continental research collaborations, which limits Africa’s overall research output. Our study demonstrates a critical need for the Ghanaian government to prioritize research and funding and address barriers to women’s research productivity

Source: UG