ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Relative abundance of insect species in oil palm - cocoa intercrop at Kusi in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Insect species of sole oil palm, sole cocoa and oil palm cocoa intercrop was studied at the CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute; on plot K4 while cocoa monocrop at a farm on the boundary of the Institute’s plantation at Kusi, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The objective was to identify the occurrence and relative abundance of these insect species in oil palm-cocoa intercrop to compare these insects with existed ones in oil palm and cocoa monocrops over a period of six months (September 2008 to February 2009). Chemical knockdown application method by fumigation was employed to collect insect. An area 0.5 ha plot each was demarcated for the treatments; i.e oil palm monocrop, cocoa monocrop and oil palm-cocoa intercrop. The oil palm and cocoa plantations were 29 years and 21 years respectively. Vinyl sheets measuring 2.8 X 8 m each were placed beneath the selected trees for the insect collection, and the trees were hot-fogged early in the morning between 5:00–7:30am with Plan D EC25 insecticide (Deltamethrin 25g active ingredient/L) at a rate of 20ml insecticide/ 4.5 l of diesel using a Puls FOG machine (K-10SP). Results showed that relatively more insects occurred in the oil palm-cocoa intercrop compared to the oil palm and cocoa monocrops. Insect species belonging to six orders were collected as follows; Hymenoptera (12), Coleoptera (30), Diptera (10), Hemiptera (6), Thysanoptera (1) and Orthoptera (1). Oecophylla longinoda Latr. was the dominant insect species in studied plots. There were more beneficial insect species (predators and parasitoids) in the intercrop when compare to the monocrops. There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the number of insect species between cocoa monocrop and oil palm monocrop, similarly oil palm monocrop and oil palm-cocoa intercrop. However there was no significant difference (p > 0.001) species between cocoa monocrop and oil palm-cocoa intercrop. The study revealed that the two crops do not have common insect pests and in association will not compound insect pests problem of either crop.

Source: UG
Relative Clauses in Akan. In Enoch O. Aboh &amp; James Essegbey (eds.) Topics In Kwa Syntax (Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory 78). Dordrecht, Heidelberg

This paper examines the nature, formation and function of relative clauses in Akan. It discusses the following: i) noun phrase (NP) positions which are accessible to relativization, ii) the morpheme or particle that introduces the clause, and iii) the type(s) of NPs that may serve as the heads of relative clauses. It also examines the issue of restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses and shows that in Akan, this distinction is not syntactically and semantically relevant.

Source: UG
Relative contribution of digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography in interpreting serum prostate-specific antigen values for screening prostate cancer in Arab men

Background: This study was conducted to determine the utility of digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in men in Arabia, an are of the world with a relatively low incidence of this disease. Patients and methods: 329 patients suspected of having prostate cancer on account of raised serum PSA level (> 4 ng/ml), DRE or TRUS findings, underwent TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. Raised PSA individually as well as combined, or a lesion suspicious of carcinoma on DRE or TRUS was recorded as PSA (+), DRE (+) or TRUS (+), respectively. The contribution of DRE, TRUS and serum PSA to the diagnosis of prostate cancer was analysed. Results: Of the 329 patients who had prostate biopsies 109 cases (33.1%) had PCa. Of these 109 patients 56 (51 %) had DRE (+), 77 (42%) had TRUS (+) and 49 (66%) had both DRE (+) and TRUS (+). Statistical analysis revealed that DRE (+) tripled the probability for cancer. PSA over a range of 10-50 ng/mL demonstrated an increasing cancer probability ranging from 2 to 3 fold. TRUS (+) was only significantly associated with cancer risk if PSA was elevated. The presence of all three factors increased the cancer probability by 6 to 7 fold. Conclusion: TRUS findings are dependent on PSA for interpretation while DRE (+) with elevated PSA makes PCa more likely.

Source: UG
Relative efficacy of organic manures in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production

The effect of organic sources of nutrients on the growth of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was studied in a pot experiment in a heated glasshouse at the University of Wales, Aberyswyth from November 2006 to March 2007. Spring barley seeds were sown in 120 pots containing a mixture of peat and 180g dry weight of poultry manure, cowdung, chicken manure pellet, sheep manure and horse manure. Chicken manure pellet was applied at 3.0 g pot-1 as top dressing. Mineralization pattern of the organic manures was monitored in a parallel experiment with 24 pots containing only the growth media. In this study, organic manures significantly increased plant height and chlorophyll content of leaves over the control plants. The application of inorganic fertilizer increased plant height over chicken manure and compost. In addition chlorophyll content was higher with inorganic fertilizer than cowdung at six weeks after germination. N mineralization significantly varied among organic manure sources with compost having the highest mineralized N and sheep manure the least. Plant tissue analysis revealed significant differences in plant tissue nutrient composition under organic manure treatment. Growing plants in organic manure resulted in 1.2 tol.6-folds, 1.1 to 4-fold and 1.1 to 4.1-fold increases in total N content of plant tissue at four weeks, eight weeks and twelve weeks after germination, respectively. Dry matter production by plants was also significantly increased under organic manure treatments. Organic manure application had the potential of increasing spring barley yield by 1.5 to 4-fold. Cowdung appeared to be the best source of organic manure for spring barley production. © 2009 Southern Cross Journals.

Source: UG
The relative efficiency of time-to-progression and continuous measures of cognition in presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction: Clinical trials on preclinical Alzheimer’s disease are challenging because of the slow rate of disease progression.We use a simulation study to demonstrate that models of repeated cognitive assessments detect treatment effects more efficiently than models of time to progression. Methods: Multivariate continuous data are simulated from a Bayesian joint mixed-effects model fit to data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Simulated progression events are algorithmically derived from the continuous assessments using a random forest model fit to the same data. Results: We find that power is approximately doubled with models of repeated continuous outcomes compared with the time-to-progression analysis. The simulations also demonstrate that a plausible informative missing data pattern can induce a bias that inflates treatment effects, yet 5% type I error is maintained. Discussion: Given the relative inefficiency of time to progression, it should be avoided as a primary analysis approach in clinical trials of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.

Source: UG
The relative susceptibilities of juvenile and adult Bulinus globosus and Bulinus truncatus to the molluscicidal activities in the fruit of Ghanaian Blighia sapida, Blighia unijugata and Balanites aegyptiaca

The relative susceptibilities of juvenile (2- to 3-week-old) and adult (5- to 7-week-old) Bulinus globosus and Bu. truncatus to the molluscicidal activities of aqueous preparations of the powdered, dried fruits of Blighia sapida, Bl. unijugata and Balanites aegyptiaca were investigated under laboratory conditions. For the extract prepared from the freeze-dried, semi-ripe fruits of Bl. sapida, the concentrations killing 95% of the snails after an exposure for 24 h (LC95) were, respectively, 232.7 and 161.2 ppm for the juveniles and adults of Bu. globosus and 187.6 and 140.2 ppm for the juveniles and adults of Bu. truncatus. The corresponding values for Bl. unijugata were 136.9 and 98.7 ppm for Bu. globosus and 132.2 and 98.5 ppm for Bu. truncatus, respectively. Extracts of the freeze-dried, ripe fruit of Bu. aegyptiaca were much more active, however, giving LC95 of just 16.9 and 19.7 ppm for the juveniles and adults of Bu. globosus, and 14.2 and 12.0 ppm for the juveniles and adults of Bu. truncatus, respectively. In general, similar results were obtained when the fruit were oven-dried rather than freeze-dried but the potency of Balanites extracts produced from oven-dried fruit was relatively low. That the juvenile snails appeared less susceptible than the adults to the molluscicidal activity in each Blighia extract is interesting. This observation may have implications for snail control, in terms of the optimal frequency, timing and concentration of molluscicides applied in a particular habitat. © 2005 The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Source: UG
Relative susceptibility of 13 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties and some cereal grains to attack by sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Thirteen cowpea varieties and two cereal grains were evaluated in the laboratory for their susceptibility to Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Parameters used in this evaluation were damage and losses caused to grains that were attacked, and the suitability of the grains for insect breeding. Results showed that S. oryzae caused varying degrees of damage and weight loss to eight varieties of cowpeas, just as it did to sorghum and maize. Five varieties of cowpea (IT86D-719, IT86D-721, IT89KD-288, IT90K-277-2 and IT93K-452-1) were significantly (P < 0.01) resistant to S. oryzae than other varieties of cowpeas. SARC-L02 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher susceptibility index while IT90K-277-2 had the lowest susceptibility index of zero. In the absence of its preferred host crop, sorghum or rice, S. oryzae will most probably switch host to cowpea instead of maize, because it developed faster on most cowpeas, just like it does on sorghum than on maize. This unusual observation calls for urgent integrated action on grain handling and storage, as many are often stored together in markets or stores by grain dealers and farmers and this would increase the risk of easy spread of the weevil in such stores.

Source: UG
A relay-based technique to reduce uplink transmit power in multi-operator mobile communication systems

Coverage, capacity, and total power consumption are key issues in mobile communication systems. With the explosion of multimedia services, energy consumption of Mobile Stations (MS) becomes a special limiting factor in achieving high capacity in uplink transmission as well as in guaranteeing applications' required Quality of Service (QoS). Under a certain number of reasonable assumptions, this paper proposes a relay technique in which a Base Station (BS) of a foreign network provider (FBS) serves as a relay node between an MS and the base station of its registered home network (HBS). A proposed algorithm compares the power required for uplink transmission over the relay link (MS-FBS-HBS) and that required over the direct link (MS-HBS), under the various channel conditions, and then chooses the less-power-consuming link. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm significantly reduces power comsumption. Furthermore, no core network equipment is actively involved, confirming the possiblibily of radio access network sharing among operators, as total capacity and coverage are boosted. © 2012 IEEE.

Source: UG
The Release of Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes in Burkina Faso: Bioeconomy of Science, Public Engagement and Trust in Medicine

The Release of Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes in Burkina Faso: Bioeconomy of Science, Public Engagement and Trust in Medicine - Volume 62 Issue 3 - Uli Beisel, John Kuumuori Ganle

Source: UG
The Relevance and Challenges of the Theory of Hegemonic Stability in the Post-Cold War Systemic Order

A close relationship exists between the attainment of public goods and the perpetuation of hegemony in the international system. The Theory of Hegemonic Stability asserts that the private interests of the hegemon happen to be the same as the public goods of states in the international system. In this View, the hegemon possesses the will, in addition to the superior power to organise states in the international system, to produce public goods. The hegemon plays a Vital role in the creation and, arguably, the function of international regimes for the purposes of interstate cooperation leading to the production of public goods. The international system, on one hand, suffers when power is more equally distributed amongst states; on the other hand, it achieves stability when hegemony exists. The study confirmed this assertion. A close look at the post-Cold war international system revealed several weightier factors that challenge the theory of Hegemonic Stability than those that support its continued relevance. Multiplicity of global issues in the period under consideration begs for the benefits of hegemony, but the peculiarities of the international system hardly permit single-State leadership. In fact, the challenges of the theory overturn its relevance in the post-cold War international system. The study draws the conclusion that, American hegemony is giving way to a multi-polar international system. The study, therefore, predicts the emergence of "group-hegemony" in the post-Cold War international international system.

Source: UG
Relevance of genomic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Africa

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
The Relevance of Genomic Epidemiology for Control of Tuberculosis in West Africa

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
The Relevance of Ghanaian Akan Proverbs to Explanations of Contemporary Human Resource Principles and Corporate Values

In the Ghanaian Akan tradition, many proverbial sayings and phraseologies are knotty statements which are viewed as vehicle for communicating belief systems, values, prescribed and proscribed attitudes and behaviours of people at personal, groups or societal levels. Proverbs are mostly crafted from human experiences and insights and have been viewed over the years as a repository of social norms and values as well as an embodiment of culture and tradition which are potentially applicable in various settings in society. In the extant literature, however, not much, is known about the extent to which these proverbial sayings are applicable to corporate settings, although these proverbs appear to offer explanations for contemporary corporate human resource concepts, principles and practices. To address this gap, this paper: identifies some Ghanaian Akan proverbs and categorizes them into major themes; draws-out explanations from these proverbs and demonstrate their explanatory power for some key human resource (HR) principles and corporate values such as team work, training and development, retirement planning, organizational ethics and safety. The paper concludes with ardent appeal for the advancement of knowledge especially in Africa through “Academic Domestication”.

Source: UG
Relevance of meeting general outpatients’ information needs to their perceptions of healthcare quality in a hospital in Ghana: a Healthcare Quality Survey using modified SERVQUAL analysis

Background Patients determine quality of healthcare by their perception of the gap between the healthcare they experience/receive and that which they expect. This can be influenced by the ability of healthcare staff to adequately communicate information about the healthcare provided. This study assessed the level of relevance of meeting patients’ information needs with respect to their assessment of healthcare quality in a private hospital’s general outpatient department in Ghana. Design Study design was cross-sectional using exit self-administered questionnaires among 390 outpatients. Healthcare quality was measured using a modified form of the Service Quality model gap analysis (gap between experience and expectations). A negative gap signifies unmet patient expectations. Microsoft Excel and Stata V.15.0 were used for analysis using t-test and multiple linear regression. A p value ≤0.05 denotes statistical significance. Findings The mean percentage of patients’ expectations of quality of healthcare was 87.6% (SE 0.031), while patient experience was 86.0% (SE 0.029), with a significant negative gap of −0.08 (p<0.002). Their highest expectation of the quality of healthcare was for their information needs to be met, with a mean score of 4.44 (SE 0.03). Two of the four items under the information needs dimension that showed no statistically significant gaps were ‘saying all their problems’ (gap=0.00; p<0.9) and ‘explanation of treatment/medications’ (gap=0.01; p<0.6). Those with statistically significant negative gaps were ‘explanation of investigations and procedures’ (gap=−0.18; p<0.0001) and ‘explanation of the diagnoses’ (gap=−0.11; p<0.02), signifying unmet expectations. Conclusions The outpatient’s greatest need for quality healthcare in this study was for their information needs to be met. Providing information on patient diagnoses and investigations are the areas least likely to be adequately communicated to patients.

Source: UG
Relevance of the Senior High School Curriculum in Relation to Contextual Reality of the World of Work

Issues relating to relevance of a curriculum have been of interest to educationists due to public yelps without resorting to empirical evidence. The senior high school is a terminating point for most of the graduating students making most of them unemployed. This mass unemployment of the youth after senior high school has mostly been attributed to the irrelevance of the curriculum. However, the skills in the curriculum have not been subjected to critical analysis to empirically prove their relevance or otherwise. The purpose of the study was therefore to identify the skills embedded in the curriculum, those skills the learners have acquired and those that employers usually demand of employees by relating them to empirical findings of the skills employers in general demand of employees. A conceptual analysis through content analysis approach was used to quantitatively determine the skills embedded in the curriculum. A qualitative analysis was then used to examine the richness of the skills. This ultimately led to purposive sampling procedure in which twenty-one students and fourteen key informants were selected for an interview. The data from the interview were sorted out into themes and coded through the use of NVivo 8 to help in the counting of frequencies of each skill. It was found out that the senior high school curriculum, though was generally rated as relevant, the skills with the highest frequencies in the curriculum focused on attitudes and values while those required by employers focused on the application of knowledge. The skills with the highest frequencies were those of the affective domain but the highest percentage values suggested in the curriculum constituted those of the cognitive domain. On the basis of these findings, it can be concluded that the curriculum is relevant in instilling values into the students but it is not relevant in the application of knowledge that employers usually demand of employees at the work environment. It is, therefore, recommended that the curriculum be reviewed, if similar findings of this type of research in different contexts are found, to get rid of those mismatches, in order to make it more relevant to the needs of contemporary society.

Source: UG
Relevant issues in the provision of digital information in Africa

Purpose – To share with a global readership the progress made and the infrastructure in the making to create digital resources and utilize digital resources in libraries in Africa. Design/methodology/approach – Comparisons of how digital libraries evolved or transitioned in more developed parts of the world with Africa. Issues of intellectual property are key interests that need to be reinforced in Africa as the digital library movement matures. Findings – Africa is ready to pursue developing digital libraries in a more earnest way but lacks some basic resources. Information technology is expanding throughout Africa but at a slower pace, yet with intense efforts directed towards training and implementing more automation. Research limitations/implications – A more serious infrastructure needs to be established to see the launch of more digital library components in African libraries. The understanding is there but the resources remain undependable and costly to implement on any serious scale. Practical implications – Serious infrastructure issues need to be resolved in addition to working out the economic and commercial limitations, the legal situation and creating a digital rights roadmap for seeing the digital library provision in place. Originality/value – The need to catch up with trends in libraries worldwide is sincere and efforts are well underway to create more electronic resources and make digital libraries more of a reality in already information deprived regions of the world.

Source: UG