ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Genetic Medicine: Rapid and Cost-E ective Molecular Diagnosis for a GJB2 Founder Mutation for Hearing Impairment in Ghana

In Ghana, gap-junction protein 2 (GJB2) variants account for about 25.9% of familial hearing impairment (HI) cases. The GJB2-p.Arg143Trp (NM_004004.6:c.427C>T/OMIM: 121011.0009/rs80338948) variant remains the most frequent variant associated with congenital HI in Ghana, but has not yet been investigated in clinical practice. We therefore sought to design a rapid and cost-e ective test to detect this variant. We sampled 20 hearing-impaired and 10 normal hearing family members from 8 families segregating autosomal recessive non syndromic HI. In addition, a total of 111 unrelated isolated individuals with HI were selected, as well as 50 normal hearing control participants. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) test was designed, using the restriction enzyme NciI optimized and validated with Sanger sequencing, for rapid genotyping of the common GJB2-p.Arg143Trp variant. All hearing-impaired participants from 7/8 families were homozygous positive for the GJB2-p.Arg143Trp mutation using the NciI-RFLP test, which was confirmed with Sanger sequencing. The investigation of 111 individuals with isolated non-syndromic HI that were previously Sanger sequenced found that the sensitivity of the GJB2-p.Arg143Trp NciI-RFLP testing was 100%. All the 50 control subjects with normal hearing were found to be negative for the variant. Although the test is extremely valuable, it is not 100% specific because it cannot di erentiate between other mutations at the recognition site of the restriction enzyme. The GJB2-p.Arg143Trp NciI-RFLP-based diagnostic test had a high sensitivity for genotyping the most common GJB2 pathogenic and founder variant (p.Arg143Trp) within the Ghanaian populations. We recommend the adoption and implementation of this test for hearing impairment genetic clinical investigations to complement the newborn hearing screening program in Ghana. The present study is a practical case scenario of enhancing genetic medicine in Africa.

Source: UG
Enhancing Graduate Attributes and Employability through Standards Aligned Curriculum Delivery

Adult Learning (andragogy) is a theory that describes a set of assumptions about how adults learn. Andragogy emphasizes the value of the process of learning. It uses approaches to learning that are problem-based and collaborative rather than didactic, and also emphasizes more equality between the teacher and learner. This study evaluated adult learning in a summer school organized by the Wisconsin International University College in Accra, Ghana. In all, two hundred and fifty students participated in the summer school. To investigate adult learning in a summer school, a paper based survey consisting of one hundred and fifty (150), five-point Likert type scale was administered to 150 adult student participants in the summer school in November 2011. Ninety-four (94) out of the 150 questionnaires (evaluation sheets), were received back, thus making the sample size of 94. The survey instrument asked each participant’s opinion on the content, teaching and organization of the summer school. Results showed that the organization of the summer school was perceived positively, in terms of content, teaching and organization.

Source: UG
Enhancing healthy ecosystems in northern Ghana through eco‑friendly farm‑based practices: insights from irrigation scheme‑types

Background: Farming practices vary from farmer to farmer and from place to place depending on a number of factors including the agroclimatic condition, infrastructure (e.g. irrigation facilities) and management mechanisms (private versus state management). These together affect the functioning and sustainability of the ecosystems. For the sustainability of ecosystems, farmers need to employ ecosystem-based farm practices. This paper examines the ecosystem-based farm management practices (EBFMPs) in private and state-managed irrigation schemes. It also analyses the drivers of farmers’ willingness to pay for EBFMPs sustainability. The study employed mixed methods design, using both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection through key informant interviews, focus group discussions and semi-structured questionnaires administered to 300 households. The various EBFMPs adopted by farmers were examined and descriptively presented. The Chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) and multiple linear regression were used to assess the predictors of farmers’ willingness to pay for EBFMPs to enhance the health of agroecosystems. Compost application, conservative tilling, conservation of vegetation, mulching, crop rotation, intercropping with legumes, efficient drainage systems and bunding were the EBFMPs captured in this paper. Results: Farmers in privately-managed irrigation schemes (PIS) more often apply EBFMPs compared with those in state-managed irrigation schemes (SIS). The paper also found that farmers’ willingness to pay to sustain EBFMPs for healthy ecosystems is significantly determined by the type of irrigation scheme they cultivate in (that is, PIS or SIS), their level of education, marital status and perception of soil fertility. Conclusions: Policy makers, implementers, and other stakeholders need to consider the capacity building of irrigation farmers, especially those in SIS in northern Ghana by educating them on agricultural production and ecosystem nexus to enhance the level of usage and willingness to pay for EBFMPs sustainability.

Source: UG
Enhancing innovation in livestock value chains through networks: Lessons from fodder innovation case studies in developing countries

Fodder scarcity is a perennial problem for many smallholder farmers in developing countries. This paper discusses how fodder technologies and knowledge have been introduced and integrated in diverse livestock production systems in Ethiopia, Syria and Vietnam. A synthesis of lessons learnt shows that fodder innovation is triggered and diffused by actors interacting and learning in networks, and on farms. Fodder innovation, being only one element of livestock value chains, is sustainably enhanced when linked to other innovations and market-oriented activities that optimize productivity gains. Yet innovating smallholder farmers face systemic constraints to access markets, and need to organize in groups to exploit opportunities. The paper concludes that rather than treating innovation systems and value chain approaches to agricultural development as separate tools, the integration of their complementary features enhances smallholders' innovation and market success. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press.

Source: UG
Enhancing onchocerciasis elimination program management: A biological approach to deciding when to begin Stop Mass Drug Administration activities

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
Enhancing Perceived Health Competence: The Impact of Persuasive Social Support Features in Health and Fitness Apps

This study investigates how users’ perception of persuasive social support features influences per ceptions of their health competence in health and fitness apps. Within the support of existing the ories/frameworks on social support, the study develops a research model and hypotheses. Quantitative data was collected from 469 health and fitness app users and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results demonstrates that providing users with a means to share their experiences out of the desire to boost their ego and gain social recognition as well as a means to learn new behaviors by observing and imitating other’s behaviors within the app increases their confidence in their capabilities to perform and maintain positive health and fitness behaviors and outcomes using the app. The findings suggest that users’ perception of their health competence can be significantly improved when social support features are incorpo rated into health and fitness apps

Source: UG
Enhancing Public Sector Productivity in Ghana: A Qualitative Study

In recent times, there have been calls on public sector workers to increase productivity in the public sector of Ghana. This comes against the backdrop that productivity in Ghana’s public sector appears to be consistently declining. While this seems to be the situation, it appears there is paucity of literature on the actual causes of productivity and how it can be improved in Ghana. Using secondary data and content analysis, this paper examines the phenomenon of low productivity in the public sector and recommends measures for improvement. Findings of the study revealed that poor remuneration systems in the public sector, political interference, and bureaucratic inertia are among the causes of low productivity in the public sector. The study recommended that public sector productivity could be enhanced through the establishment of a flexible bureaucracy, improvement in remuneration, regular monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the public sector and appointment of personnel based on merit. Political will as effective leadership are considered useful instruments to propel productivity in the public sector.

Source: UG
Enhancing research capacity of African institutions through social networking

Traditionally, participation of African researchers in top Biomedical Informatics (BMI) scientific journals and conferences has been scarce. Looking beyond these numbers, an educational goal should be to improve overall research and, therefore, to increase the number of scientists/authors able to produce and publish high quality research. In such scenario, we are carrying out various efforts to expand the capacities of various institutions located at four African countries-Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon and Mali-in the framework of a European Commission-funded project, AFRICA BUILD. This project is currently carrying out activities such as e-learning, collaborative development of informatics tools, mobility of researchers, various pilot projects, and others. Our main objective is to create a self-sustained South-South network of BMI developers. © 2013 IMIA and IOS Press.

Source: UG
Enhancing resilience to climate and ecosystem changes in semi-arid Africa

Coping with global climate and ecosystem changes requires developing countries with fragile socio-economic and resource management infrastructures to devise adaptation strategies. This project aims at developing an integrated strategy to build a community based management system which is resilient to climate and ecosystem changes as well as capable of maintaining optimum socio-economic standards and resource levels. By integrating research approaches based on extreme weather and climate, ecosystems and governance in underdeveloped semi-arid northern Ghana, the project recommends that effective strategies should involve a rural development agenda as well as flood and drought associated risk management in communities along the Volta River. The strategies should also lead to alleviating the economic disparity between northern Ghana and the rapidly growing south. Disseminating the integrated resilience strategy to other semi-arid areas of Africa Based on community field survey of major crops as well as investigation of climate and ecosystems, the project assesses impacts of climate change on agriculture and rural development, and develops infrastructure and local capacity to cope with frequent flood and drought events along the Volta River. The research process leads to integrated strategies that enhance resilience of farming communities in northern Ghana to cope with climate and ecosystem changes and other disasters. These strategies are made available as "the Ghana Model", which can be applied to similar situations in semi-arid regions of Africa.

Source: UG
Enhancing Satellite Oceanography-Driven Research in West Africa: a Case Study of Capacity Development in an Underserved Region

Marine business and resources play a major role in the economics and way of life in coastal West African countries. Such countries see great profitability from their marine resources while also facing challenges that come with a bordering sea. Despite Due to this fact, there has been limited research into the optimal way for West African Coastal States to coexist with and sustainably use their marine resources, a research deficit that is mainly due to a lack of infrastructure for in-situ work, lack of capacity development, and comprehensive datasets to undertake oceanographic research. The Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Ghana (COESSING; www.coessing.org) was developed to help meet some of these challenges. Each summer since 2015, ocean scientists (e.g., biologists, chemists, physicists, hydrologists) from the USA and Europe have collaborated with West African colleagues to lead a week-long intensive summer school in Accra, Ghana, alternating in location between the Regional Maritime University and the University of Ghana. The school receives in excess of 100 participants drawn from universities, government agencies, and private sector organizations, mainly from Ghana and neighboring Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, and Benin, among others. The format of the school includes morning lectures, afternoon field trips, hands-on laboratory exercises and one-on-one coaching of students. Important to the COESSING program is the satellite oceanography component, which introduces participants to the extensive and often free, remotely sensed oceanographic datasets. Participants develop skills that allow them to access, process, and analyze these datasets in order to better understand regional oceanographic phenomena, such as upwelling, pollution, habitat characterization, sea level rise, and coastal erosion. Following school, facilitators keep in touch with program participants, helping them acquire and analyze data for their studies, dissertations, and often graduate school applications, etc. In summary, schools such as COESSING are critical not only for science in the region but for the global ocean community as such training develops eager, bright minds while leading to improved regional observation and modeling strategies in severely under-sampled seas. Here, we describe a unique case in which satellite oceanography has led to such outcomes for countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa

Source: UG
Enhancing service firm performance through customer involvement capability and innovativeness

Purpose Because of the paucity of empirical research on firm-level capabilities of firms for effective customer involvement, the purpose of this study is to evaluate service firms’ capacity to coopt customers to enhance the innovativeness and firm performance relationship. This study conceptualizes involvement capabilities of service firms as a strategic driver that exploits their internal firm assets, which in turn facilitates the positive relationship between innovativeness and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 344 managers of service firms across different sub-sectors in an emerging economy. The study first confirmed the constructs through confirmatory factor analysis before analyzing hypothesized relationships. Regression models were specified with robust standard errors to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings The study found that involvement capability of service firms helps them to exploit their relational assets and create and manage strong customer participation. Additionally, it was found that involvement capabilities enable service firms to capitalize on the competencies of customers, which in turn improves the outcomes of their innovativeness. The results showed that the interaction between involvement capability and innovativeness enhances firm performance significantly. Practical implications Service firms can enhance customer participation in the value creation process by increasing their involvement capabilities. The increase in such capabilities will enhance the innovativeness of service firms, thereby improving their financial and non-financial performance. Originality/value This study offers guidance on how a firm’s innovativeness and customer involvement work together within the service operation to enhance firm performance.

Source: UG
Enhancing societal impact through University–Community Engagement: Opportunities and challenges at the University of Ghana Learning Centres

Universities collaborate with communities to address various societal issues, enhancing societal well-being and development. However, there are issues that prevent both parties from fully achieving this goal. This study thus explores the opportunities and challenges of University–Community Engagement (UCE) at the University of Ghana Learning Centres (UGLCs) using a qualitative research design. Employing purposive sampling, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the head, 8 coordinators, and 3 students/community members across various UGLCs and analyzed using thematic analysis, underpinned by balance theory. The findings revealed significant opportunities for UGLCs, including image promotion, economic development, and professional net working among students. However, challenges such as funding shortages and adminis trative barriers were identified. Students also faced additional challenges, including high internet expenses, computer illiteracy, and limited contact hours with lecturers. To maximize the benefits of UCE at the UGLCs, it is crucial to address these challenges. UGLC policies and practice should focus on securing additional funding through gov ernment grants, private sector partnerships, and philanthropic contributions to address funding shortages, and subsidize internet costs by partnering with telecommunications. This is important for enhancing the effectiveness of UCE and providing significant benefits to both the university and its surrounding communities/students.

Source: UG
Enhancing soil productivity in the rain-fed upland ecology through rotational cropping of NERICA (new rice for Africa) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

The NERICA 1 rice variety was grown in rotation with indeterminate cowpea (Adidome mottled), in the Hohoe and Kwaebibirem Districts of Ghana, from 2007-2010, in a randomised complete block experiment, with three replications. Soil and cowpea samples were analysed for nitrogen (N) and organic carbon (OC) contents. Socioeconomic surveys were also conducted before and after the agronomic experiments. The treatments included: Cowpea + P2O5 + K2O (T1), Cowpea only (T2), Cowpea plus 50 % recommended inorganic N fertilizer, using sulphate of ammonia + P2O5 + K2O (T3), Recommended N, i.e. 90 kg N ha-1 + P2O5 + K2O (T4), 75 % N + P2O5 + K2O (T5), 50 % N + P2O5 + K2O (T6), 25 % N + P2O5 + K2O (T7) and no fertilization, control (T8). The P2O5 and K2O fertilizers (triple super phosphate and potassium sulphate, respectively) were applied basally, at rates of 45 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 35 kg K2O ha-1. At Likpe Todome, total N of cowpea residue was 46.2 kg ha-1. Soil OC under cowpea residue was higher than the control (2.0 % and 1.7 %, respectively); soil bulk density (BD) was lower under cowpea residue than the control (1.2 and 1.4 kg m-3, respectively). Grain yields of rice in the cowpea residue treatments were not significantly different from that of the recommended inorganic N, but they all had higher yields than the control. Grain yields were 3.0, 2.9 and 2.6 t ha-1, in treatments T3, T4 and the control, respectively. At Kukubi, total N of cowpea residue was 75.0 kg N ha-1. Soil OC in the 0-15 cm horizon of the plots with cowpea residue was 1.2 %, compared with 1.1 % in the control. Grain yields in T3 and T4 did not differ significantly from each other, but were both higher than in the control. Grain yields were 1.8, 1.4 and 0.3 t ha-1 in T3, T4 and the control, respectively. Soil OC, and the tillering, TDW and grain yield of rice were higher at Likpe Todome than at Kukubi. The net benefit (financial) of treatment 2 was the highest, followed by treatment 1; treatment 4 had the lowest net benefit the dams are equipped with appropriately designed fish passages.

Source: UG
Enhancing student outcomes through mentoring, peer counselling and parental involvement

The government of Ghana has designed various initiatives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on education and the Education for All goals. Despite these initiatives, student outcomes continue to be poorer than desired. Although access to education has improved, student dropout remains a problem and student scores on achievement tests remain low, along with their rates of progression to higher grades. The authors propose a program of mentoring, peer counseling, and parent involvement for children from first through ninth grade. They believe this program is essential to sustain the government’s initiatives on education, and has the potential to achieve the educational outcomes that Ghana and many developing countries require to meet the goals of the EFA agenda.

Source: UG
Enhancing the agronomic effectiveness of natural phosphate rock with poultry manure: A way forward to sustainable crop production

Phosphorus inputs are required in highly weathered tropical soils for sustainable crop production. However, high cost and limited access to mineral P fertilizers limit their use by resource-poor farmers in West Africa. Direct application of finely ground phosphate rock (PR) is a promising alternative but low solubility of PR hampers its use. Co-application of PR with manure could be a low cost means of improving the solubility of natural PR and improve their agronomic effectiveness. Our objective was to quantitatively estimate the enhancement effect of poultry manure on P availability from low reactive PR (Togo phosphate rock) applied to highly weathered soils. We utilized two highly weathered soils from Ghana and Brazil for this greenhouse study. Using 32P isotopic tracers, the agronomic effectiveness of poultry-manure-amended Togo rock phosphate (TPR) was compared with partially acidulated Togo rock phosphate (PAPR) and triple superphosphate (TSP). Four rates of poultry manure: 0, low (30 mg P kg-1 soil), high (60 mg P kg-1 soil) and very high (120 mg P kg-1 soil) were, respectively, added to a constant amendment (60 mg P kg-1 soil) of the P sources and applied to each pot of 4 kg soil. A Randomized Complete Block Design was used for the greenhouse experiment and Maize (Zea mays L.) was used as a test crop. The plants were grown for 42 days after which the above ground biomass was harvested for analysis. Without poultry manure addition, the agronomic effectiveness, represented by the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) and proportion of P derived from fertilizer (% Pdff) was in the order TSP &gt; PAPR &gt; TPR = control (P0). In the presence of low rate poultry manure addition, the agronomic effectiveness followed the order TSP &gt; PAPR = PR &gt; P0. However, at the high and very high rates of poultry manure addition, no significant differences in agronomic effectiveness were observed among the P sources, suggesting that at this rate of poultry manure addition, PR was equally as effective as TSP. The study showed that direct application of PR co-applied with poultry manure at a 1:1 P ratio will be a viable option for P replenishment. Thus a combination of PR and poultry manure could be a cost-effective means of ensuring sustainable agricultural production in P-deficient, highly weathered tropical soils. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Source: UG