ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
“Quantitative Determination of Oestrogen Receptors in Human Breast Cancer Tissue; as a Guide to Surgeons in the Selection of Therapy for Breast Cancer”

This work is the first to establish estrogen receptor status in human breast cancers in Ghana. In this study the average age at diagnosis for the breast cancer was 46.29 years (standard deviation of + or – 11.498 years; confidence interval of (+ or – 22.54 years) as compare to 60 years/women in Caucasians and 56 years in Africa – American black women. The youngest patient was 26 years, and the oldest was 80 years. During data collection it was observed that more than three – quarters of the patients presented tumours with dimensions 12.5cm x 2.5 x 2.5 or more. The late presentation of cases for treatment was due largely to low level of breast cancer awareness, poverty and downplaying the seriousness of the disease by patients during earlier stage of the disease when pain and deformity were virtually absent. Histopathological diagnosis revealed that 23(71.875%) of patients had infiltrating/invasive ductal carcinoma 3(9.375%) had infiltrating lobular carcinoma whiles 6(18.750%) had other types namely: micoid carcinoma, infiltrating mucinous carcinoma, mammary carcinoma, metaplstic carcinoma and medullary carcinoma. These figures conform and what has been observe in the studies on the incidence of histological types of breast cancer. Infiltrating lobular carcinoma and tubular type are however less common in geographical areas of low incidence of breast cancer. Estogen receptor analysis was perform on any surgical specimen where there was sufficient tissue for both pathological and receptor studies. The estrogen (and progesterone) receptor status (ER-status) assume major importance in the planning of patient management for several reason. In Ghana (KATH, KTH) it is common for breast cancer patients to be given chemotherapy after two to four weeks trail with Tamoxifen irrespective of their ER – status (which had never been done for any patient prior to this study). Estrogen binding studies performed on 32 human breast cancers ( 1 male and 31 female patients) indentified 6 estrogen – dependent tumour representing 18.75% and 26 estrogen independent tumours representing 81.25%. The only male patient’s tumour was estrogen independent. In all, 45.16% of patients were postmenopausal. 9.68% were perimenopausal symtoms of menopause at the time of diagnosis, and 45.61% were premenopausal. The estrogen – dependent tumours identified with estrogen receptor content ranging from 12.70 to 101.13 femtomoles/mg of cytosol protein are most likely to respond to hormonal therapy; the higher the estrogen receptor content(> or =10.00 femtomoles/mg of cytosol protein) the more likely the response to hormonal and anti – estrogen therapy.

Source: KNUST
Quantitative Evaluation of Umbilical Cord and Placental Indices and Pregnancy Outcome

Normal morphology of the placenta and umbilical cord is essential for foetal survival and postnatal outcome, therefore this study was designed to evaluate placental and umbilical cord indices and pregnancy outcome. A total of 207 placentae with attached umbilical cords were obtained from Victory Maternity Home and Clinic between November, 2009 and October, 2010 for this study. The results showed a significant difference (P = 0.018) in the umbilical cord vein diameter between neonates of normotensive (3.36 ± 0.88 mm) and hypertensive mothers (3.82 ± 0.50 mm). Body and umbilical cord lengths of the term males and females showed significant differences (P < 0.05). The umbilical cord length and placental weight had both individual and combined effects on birth weight and body length (β = 0.071 – 9.351, P < 0.05). Wharton’s jelly measurements linearly related with birth weight (β = 9.165, P = 0.013), body length (β = 1.071, P = 0.005), and abdominal circumference (β = 1.602, P = 0.001). It is possible that an increase in Wharton’s jelly volume improves its protective capacity and this impact favourably on foetal nutrition by enhancing foetoplacental circulation.

Source: KNUST
Quantitative estimation of the levels of some metal residues in fried rice sold in Adum and KNUST campus in Kumasi using instrumental neutron activation analysis.

Food safety is an increasing important public health issue. Fried rice (also called “check-check”), a non indigenous dish which is becoming increasingly popular is perceived by a number of people as generally unsafe. This work sought to ascertain how safe fried rice meals sold in Kumasi is with regards to its metal residues. All samples analyzed were from Kumasi. Ten fried rice meal samples consisting of vegetables, chicken, sauce (shito) and fried rice from Adum, Ministries Area and KNUST campus have been analyzed for Fe, Zn, Al, As, Hg and Cd using instrumental neutron activation analysis (1NAA). The raw rice and cooked plain rice samples were also analyzed using the same technique. The intake values of Hg, Al and Zn (based on consumption of an average dry weight of 1 50g [dry weight equivalent] of a plate of fried rice) were lower than the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB, USA) and World Health Organization (WHO) Provisional Maximum Tolerable Intake (PMTI) values. For the other three elements, some Cd and As intake values were above the recommended limits, while all the intake values for Fe were above the WHO Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Generally, the intake for Hg was very low. The highest Hg intake was only 19.3% of the FNB PMTI value of 42.tg/day. The least Hg intake was 0.359μ/day. The range of Al intake was 2.64-39.44 mg Al/day which is 4.4%-65.7% of the WHO PMTI value of 60 mg/day. The intake values of Zn varied within the range 0.18-11.54 mg/day with 90% of the samples having Zn intake values lying close to the lower end of the range. The highest intake of Zn in the fried rice samples was 76.9% of the WHO RDA values of 15mg/day for an average 70kg male and 96.2% the WHO RDA values of 12mg for female. All the samples analysed had dry weight concentration of Fe in excess of the WHO RDA values of 10 mg/day for males and 15 mg/day for females. The intake values of Fe fell within the range 16.8-72.99 mg/day for 150g (dry mass) of fried rice. Only 40% of the samples had dry weight concentration of Cd below the WHO PMTI value (65 μg/day). The highest and the least intake of Cd for fried rice with average dry weight of 150g were 115.58 μg/day and 37.82 μg/day respectively. Ninety percent (90%) of the samples had dry weight concentration of As below the FNB PMTI value (120 μg/day). The range of As intake from consuming 150g (dry mass) of fried rice was 5.03 μg - 146.73 μg As/day. Generally, the fried rice component contributed significantly to the metallic contaminant of the dish while the contributions from the sauce were the least in most cases.

Source: KNUST
Quantitative microbial risk assessment: an integrated probabilistic modeling of human exposure to norovirusin wastewater

The call for models applying quantitative data of pathogens that are of interest to replace the otherwise commonly applied models usingfecal indicator conversion ratio has gained prominence, challenges of analytical studies on virus enumeration (genome copies or particles) have contributed further to the low availability of data in Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) modelling. In this thesis, a probabilistic stochastic model was developed to respond to the call for virus of interest based models. Quantitative data on genome copies of Norovirusand oocyste of Cryptosporidium spp. were applied in a QMRA model. The model was extended to include an induced immunity for Dose Response Incidence (DRI) of illness reduction in individual and population exposures, five different scenarios were modelled for Norovirusbased on the epidemiological understanding of immunity within an individual and Norovirustransmission dynamics. A third model was developed to measure the uncertainty of compliance and reliability of wastewater effluent with integrated policy standards. The probabilistic QMRA model revealed fecal indicator ratio conversion method underestimated the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) with more than two (2) orders of magnitude and were confirmed using theCryptosporidium spp. data. For immunity extended DRI models, results shows, illness incidence is much reduced when both dose-dependent and immunity are integrated into risk assessment models. Integrationof immunity only into DRI model also performed better than dose-DRI model only. It was also revealed that, irrespective of the epidemiology transmission dynamics within the population, DRI models predictions were similar and dose-immunity DRI model was better predictor. Finally, the analyses of compliance and reliabilityof wastewater effluent measurements revealed that results from wastewater effluents which met the policy standard values, in some cases could not meet the compliance level needed for effluent discharge. A chart was developed for the various wastewater treatment effluent discharge parameters for easy comparison with effluent discharges

Source: KNUST
Quantum chemical studies of the addition of transition metal oxides of the type LMO3(L = O- , Cl-, NPH3, CH3, OCH3, Cp) to ethylene

The oxo complexes of group VII (Mn, Tc, and Re) are of great interest for their potential toward epoxidation and dihydroxylation. In this work, the mechanisms of oxidation of ethylene by the group VII transition metal-oxo complexes of the type LMO3 (M= Mn, Tc, Re and L= O-, Cl, CH3, OCH3, Cp) are explored at the B3LYP/LACVP* level of theory. The activation and reaction energies for the stepwise and concerted addition pathways along spin states other than the singlet which could ultimately lead to exploration of the extent of the two state reactivity was also investigated. In the reaction of LMnO3 (L= Cp, CH3), LTcO3 (L= O- , Cl, Cp, OCH3) and LReO3 (L= Cp, O-) with ethylene, it was found that the direct [3+2] addition pathway on the doublet potential energy surfaces leading to the formation of the dioxylate intermediate is favored kinetically and thermodynamically over the two-step process via the metallaoxetane intermediate to form the dioxylate. However, in the CH3TcO3 system, the formation of the doublet epoxide precursor is kinetically the most favorable pathway. The [2+2] addition pathway leading to the formation of the four membered metallacycle was found to be the kinetically and thermodynamically most viable reaction path for the NPH3TcO3. The formation of the four membered metallacycle intermediate is kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable than the direct [3+2] addition pathway for LReO3 (L= CH3, OCH3, Cl, NPH3) on the doublet surface. However, in the ReO3(OCH3) system, the reaction occurs on the doublet potential energy surface. The activation energy for the formation of the dioxylate via the metallaoxetane intermediate and the direct [3+2] addition of the ethylene to the oxo-complex were found to be comparable along the doublet potential energy surface. The formation of the epoxide precursor will not result from the reaction of LMO3 (M= Mn, Tc, Re, L= O- , Cp) with ethylene on all the surfaces studied.

Source: KNUST
A quantum chemical study of the mechanisms of olefin addition to group 9 transition metal dioxo compounds

The mechanistic aspects of ethylene addition to MO2(CH2)(CH3) (M=Co, Rh, Ir) have been investigated with a Hartree–Fock/DFT hybrid functional at the MO6/LACVP* and B3LYP/LACVP* levels of theory to elucidate the reaction pathways on the singlet, doublet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES). In the reaction of the IrO2CH2CH3 complex with ethylene, [3+2]C,O addition is the most plausible pathway on the singlet PES, the [3+2]O,O addition is the most favoured pathway on the doublet surface whiles the stepwise [1+1] addition involving the oxygen atom of the com-plex in the first step and the carbon atom of the complex in the second step is the most plausible pathway on the triplet PES. For the reaction of the RhO2(CH2)(CH3) complex, the [2+2]Rh,O addition pathway is the most favoured on the singlet surface, the [2+2]Rh,C is the most plausible pathway on the triplet PES and [3+2]C,O is the most plausible on the doublet surface. For the reactions of the CoO2(CH2)(CH3) complex, the [1+2]O addition is the most plausible on the singlet PES, [3+2]C=Co=O cycloaddition to form the five–membered intermediate is the most preferred path-way on the doublet PES, whiles on the triplet PES the preferred pathway is the [3+2] addition across the O=Co=O bond of the metal complex. The reactions of olefins with the Co dioxo complex have lower activation barriers for the preferred [3+2] and [2+2] addition pathways as well as fewer side reactions than those of the rhodium and iridium systems. This could imply that the cobalt dioxo complexes can efficiently and selectively catalyze specific reactions in oxidation of olefins than Rh and Ir oxo complexes will do and therefore Co oxo complexes may be better catalysts for specific oxidation reactions of olefins than Rh and Ir complexes are. The activation barriers for the formation of the four—or five-membered metallacycle intermediates through [2+2] or [3+2] cyclo-addition are lower on the triplet PES than on the singlet PES for the formation of similar analogues. There are fewer competitive reaction pathways on the triplet surface than on the singlet PES. Also, cycloadditions that seem impossible on the singlet PES seem possible on the doublet and or triplet PESs, this is the case typically for the Rh and Co complexes, illustrating the importance of multiple spin states in organometallic reactions.

Source: KNUST
Quantum chemical study of the mechanisms of oxidation of ethyleneby Molybdyl and Tungstyl Chloride

The mechanisms of oxidation of olefins with MoO2Cl2and WO2Cl2are studied with DFT. Theformation of epoxide from these reactions is not very feasible by any of the postulated paths. If the epox-ide precursor will form at all, it will ariseviainitial [3+2]O,Claddition of ethene to MoO2Cl2and WO2Cl2to form an intermediate, followed by re-arrangement to form the precursor, from which the epoxide can begenerated by hydrolysis. The chlorohydrin precursor was also found to originate from [3+2]O,Claddition ofethene to MO2Cl2. The results also indicate that a dichloride is not a likely product in the oxidation of ethyleneby molybdyl chloride. However, in the case of WO2Cl2, the formation of a dichloride may not be precluded.The formation of acetaldehyde and vinyl alcohol from the oxidation of ethylene does not appear energeti-cally feasible with MoO2Cl2, but appears thermodynamically plausible with WO2Cl2. Thus, the oxidation ofethylene with MoO2Cl2will most likely lead to the formation of chlorohydrins predominantly via [3+2]O,Claddition; oxidation with WO2Cl2may also form chlorohydrins, but only extremely slowly. The oxyhalidesMO2Cl2become weaker oxidants in the order CrO2Cl2>>MoO2Cl2>WO2Cl2. Corresponding to this, reac-tions involving reduction of the metal [3+2] and [2+1] show a sharp increase in barrier going from Cr to W;reactions without a change in metal oxidation state ([2+2]) show much smaller variations, which are possiblymainly determined by sterics.

Source: KNUST
Quantum corrections to solitons in the ϕ8 model

We compute the vacuum polarization energy of kink solitons in the ϕ8 model in one space and one time dimensions. There are three possible field potentials that have eight powers of ϕ and that possess kink solitons. For these different field potentials we investigate whether the vacuum polarization destabilizes the solitons. This may particularly be the case for those potentials that have degenerate ground states with different curvatures in field space yielding different thresholds for the quantum fluctuations about the solitons at negative and positive spatial infinity. We find that destabilization occurs in some cases, but this is not purely a matter of the field potential but also depends on the realized soliton solution for that potential. One of the possible field potentials has solitons with different topological charges. In that case the classical mass approximately scales like the topological charge. Even though destabilization precludes robust statements, there are indications that the vacuum polarization energy does not scale as the topological charge

Source: KNUST
Queuing system in Banks : A case study at Ghana Commercial Bank, Harper Road, Kumasi

The study of ―Queuing model as a Technique of Queue solution in Banking Industry‖ was carried out in Ghana Commercial Bank, Harper Road Branch The obvious cost implications of customers waiting range from idle time spent when queue builds up, which results in man-hour loss, to loss of goodwill, which may occur when customers are dissatisfied with a system. However, in a bid to increase service rate, extra hands are required which implies cost to management. The onus is then on the management to strike a balance between the provision of a satisfactory and reasonable quick service and minimizing the cost of such service. Thus, the management should evaluate performance of different queuing structures and strike a middle ground between cost on one hand and benefits of improved service on the other hand, which is the main thrust of this study. Therefore, this study attempts to look at the problem of long queues in banks, why bank managers find it difficult to eliminate queues and the effect of queuing model as a technique of queue solution in Banking Industry. The variables measured include arrival rate (𝜆) and service rate (μ). They were analyzed for simultaneous efficiency in customer satisfaction and cost minimization through the use of a multichannel queuing model, which were compared for a number of queue performances such as; the average number of customers in the queue and in the system, average time each customer spends in the queue and in the system and the probability of the system being idle. It was discovered that, using a three-server system was better than a 2-server or 4-server systems in terms of the performance criteria used and the study inter-alia recommended that, the management should adopt a three-server model to reduce total expected costs and increase customer satisfaction.

Source: KNUST
Quantum chemical studies on the mechanistic aspects of tandemsequential cycloaddition reactions of cyclooctatetraene with ester andnitrones

The mechanisms of the tandem sequential [4þ2]/[3þ2] and [3þ2]/[4þ2] cycloaddition sequencesinvolving an ester, cyclooctatetraene (COTE), and cyclic and acyclic nitrones for the formation of a diverserange of isoxazolidine derivatives and other synthetic precursors are reported. A thorough exploration ofthe PES has characterized several regio-, stereo- and enantio-selective mechanistic channels involved inthese reactions. A perturbation molecular orbital (PMO) analysis been employed to rationalize the re-sults. It has also been found that the initial electrocyclic ring closure of the COTE is the rate-determiningstep in the tandem sequential [4þ2]/[3þ2] addition sequence. The thermolytic breakdown of thetandem adducts to subsequent monocyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic adducts occurs generally with very highactivation barriers making it an inconvenient synthetic approach. The different reactivity of all the threedouble bonds present in the dipolarophile is reported. Finally, the mechanistic possibilities of [3þ2]/[4þ2] addition sequences involving the same reaction components in the case of cyclic and acyclicnitrones are explored extensively. The results suggest a novel and convenient routes for obtainingproducts of high selectivity with less energetic requirements. In some instances, new cycloadductshitherto unreported are obtained.

Source: KNUST
Queuing In Health Care Centres: A Case Study of the Outpatient Department of the North Suntreso Hospital, Kumasi.

Queuing theory is the mathematical study of waiting lines. The theory calculates the average time a customer spends in a system, the average time a customer spends in a line, and the average time a customer spends in service. The Out-Patient (OPD) department in any hospital is considered to be the shop window of the hospital and it is the most important service provided by all hospitals as it is the point of contact between a hospital and the community. The objective of the study was to find out the average number of arrivals entering the Out-Patient Department (OPD) of the North-Suntreso Hospital, the average service time of patients and the probability that a patient has to wait for a doctor. It also found out the average time a patient spends waiting for a doctor and the average number of patients who were present at the department. A stop watch was used to calculate the number of minutes spent by each patient from the record, history and the consulting room sections. Data were collected on Monday to Friday from the hours of 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The number of patients from each section was taken. Queuing model was used to analyze the data gathered on patients’ arrival and service times. It was realized that Wednesday recorded the highest arrival rates of patients. The consulting room recorded the highest number of patients waiting in the queue on Wednesday. On the average, a patient spent the following number of minutes in the department before leaving the hospital; 38.6525 on Monday, 16.2712 minutes on Tuesday, 47.9112 minutes on Wednesday, 18.436 minutes on Thursday and 31.0427 minutes on Friday. The results, thus, shows that patients queued for long in the entire system before receiving treatment, which made them uncomfortable.

Source: KNUST
Queuing theory and the management of waiting-time: a case study of out-patient department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Polyclinic Kumasi

The effect of queuing in relation to the time spent by patients to access medical services is increasingly becoming a major source of concern to health care providers. This is because keeping patients waiting too long could result in in- conveniences or at times deaths. Also, providing too much service capacity to operate a system involves excessive cost. But not providing enough service ca- pacity results in excessive waiting time and cost. In this study, the queuing characteristics at the Komfo Anokye Teach- ing Hospital (KATH) Polyclinic were analysed using a Multi-server single-phase Model. Data for this study was collected at the outpatient department of the polyclinic in the 3rd Week of March, 2015 between the hours of 8 am to 12 noon through observations, interviews and by administering questionnaire. With the help of three research assistants a stop watch was used to calculate the number of minutes spent by each patient from the Record section, Assessment center and the Consulting rooms. The data gathered were analysed using Excel software as well as using calculator. The results showed that Monday recorded the highest number of patients in the waiting line at the Assessment Centre while the least number of patients in line was recorded on the same Monday at the Consulting Room. The study also showed that there were only two record centres, one assessment center and three consulting rooms at the polyclinic serving all the patients that arrived at the facility compelling them to join long queues. Patients had to wait on the average of 7.36 minutes in the queue at the assessment center on Mondays and 9.75 minutes in the system before receiving service. As a result, it is recommended that more doctors should be deployed to the hospital so as to convert the single-channel queuing units in multi-channel queuing units. It is also recommended that more health care centers should be created to take care of all categories of patients in the community.

Source: KNUST