ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Influence of morbidity on serum retinol of children in a community-based study in northern Ghana

Serum retinol concentrations decrease during illness and thus may not accurately reflect the vitamin A status of populations with a high prevalence of illness. To quantify the contribution of illness to low serum retinol in a field study of children aged 6-59 mo in northern Ghana, serum retinol values were compared with two indicators of recent illness: symptoms reported by parents and acute-phase protein concentrations in serum. Serum retinol was not associated with symptoms of illness but showed a significant negative correlation with both α 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and serum amyloid A (SAA). Elevated AGP was associated with a 24% decrease in mean serum retinol. A large proportion of asymptomatic children had elevated AGP or SAA concentrations, suggesting that subclinical infections may have had important effects on serum retinol. A significant negative correlation between malaria parasite density and serum retinol indicated that malaria may have been one of the subclinical infections responsible. Measurement of AGP may improve interpretation of serum retinol data from populations with a high prevalence of morbidity.

Source: UG
The influence of motivation on the job satisfaction of Junior High School Teachers in Ghana

The study investigates the influence of motivation on the job satisfaction of teachers. The population of the study was Junior High School teachers in the Accra metropolis. The sample was drawn on two hundred Junior High school teachers in Accra with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the teachers. The ages of the teachers range between twenty and sixty years and more than half of the teachers who participated in the study are trained teachers. As expected, the findings from the study indicate a positive correlation between teachers’ motivation and their job satisfaction. However, the study shows no significant difference in the level of satisfaction of teachers who are intrinsically motivated and those who are extrinsically motivated. Finally, the hypothesis that females will be more extrinsically motivated than males was not supported. The implications of the study are discussed

Source: UG
Influence of Mowing and Trampling on the Allelopathy and Weed Suppression Potential of Digitaria ciliaris and Cyperus microiria

Abstract: A long-term, sustainable solution to weed infestation is extremely desirable because weeds have the potential to reduce crop productivity and the aesthetic appeal of the environment. In this study, the impacts of mowing and varying degrees of trampling pressure on the suppression of weeds, alongside wound-induced changes in the allelopathic potential, of the rhizosphere soil and the root exudates of southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) and Asian flatsedge (Cyperus microiria) were evaluated under both field and greenhouse conditions. The field study results showed that all trampling treatments induced the relative suppression of weed growth. Grass weeds showed higher resistance to trampling than broad-leaved weeds. However, laboratory bioassays showed that light trampling caused a significant increase in the growth-inhibitory effects of southern crabgrass rhizosphere soil on lettuce. Moreover, mowing (9.11% of control) and trampling (16.4% of control) resulted in a marginal increase in the growth-inhibitory effects of root exudates released from southern crabgrass. Furthermore, the growth-inhibitory activities of the Asian flatsedge rhizosphere soil were significantly reduced after heavy trampling pressure. Moreover, mowing and trampling resulted in marginal reductions in the growth-inhibitory activities of root exudates released from Asian flatsedge against lettuce (i.e., 18.7% and 28.5%, respectively). In general, mowing and varying degrees of trampling induced contrasting and integrated impacts on weed suppression as well as the allelopathic potential of both southern crabgrass and Asian flatsedge.

Source: UG
Influence of occupational stress on the mental health of Ghanaian professional women

Managerial women experience a number of work-related stressors which produce strain symptoms that function as predictors of their ill-health in organizations. This finding is made from a study that examined the existing relationships among job characteristics symptoms of stress, and the development of health outcomes (depression, anxiety and physical symptoms) among women in lower and middle management positions in some organizations in Ghana. The stratified and simple random sampling procedure was used to select the study participants which numbered 170 female managers. Data was collected using both questionnaires and interviews, and analyzed using the Occupational Stress Indicator, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and the Beck's Anxiety Inventory. It is concluded that since work-related stressors are predictors of women managers' ill-health in the work environment, organizations should be aware of the stressors in order to be able to guard against the deterioration of job performances of their women managers. Relevance to Industry: This study highlights the high prices organizations pay for the work-related stresses their women managers experience at the workplace, which impact negatively on their mental health, and by implication their productivity. Recommendations made can be used to enhance the managerial capacity and productivity of female managers at the workplace.

Source: UG
Influence of organisational factors on the quality of manufactured products in Ghana.

Four organisational factors, which includes goals, commitment, structure and networking believed to influence quality of manufactured products have been examined in the context of Ghanaian firms and ranked in ascending order. A survey approach using a questionnaire was adopted and a non-parametric quantitative method was chosen for the data analysis. A total of 50 manufacturing companies located in the Accra-Tema metropolis and others listed in the Ghana Club 100 were chosen for the study. The results indicated that the four organisational factors do influence quality levels of manufactured products in Ghana. Of the four factors, Management Goals/Priorities were ranked highest, followed by Employee Commitment to Organisation’s Goals. However, the Least Significant Difference (LSD) analysis indicated that the observed difference between Organisational Structure and Organisational Networking was not significant suggesting that relative ranking was not critical. The results could be extrapolated to cover the entire manufacturing companies in Ghana.

Source: UG
Influence of P Sources and Rhizobium Inoculation on Growth and Yield of Soybean Genotypes on Ferric Lixisols of Northern Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana

Soybean is becoming an important cash crop in northern Ghana. Yet the yields are low due to use of low yielding varieties and limited use of inputs. Greenhouse and field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of two phosphorus (P) sources and Rhizobium inoculation on growth, nodulation, P uptake, and yield of three soybean genotypes on Ferric Lixisols of the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana. The P sources were triple superphosphate (TSP) and Morocco phosphate rock (MPR), while the genotypes were TGx 1448-2E, TGx 1904-6F, and TGx 1955-4F. The greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Ghana, Legon in a completely randomized design. The field experiment which was carried out in the Upper East region of Ghana was laid out in a split-split plot design with four replicates. In both the greenhouse and field experiments, application of TSP at 30 kg P ha−1 resulted in significantly higher growth and P uptake in shoot compared with MPR and control. Soybean genotypes showed significant differences in growth, nutrient uptake, and grain yield in both the greenhouse and the field experiments. Rhizobium inoculation increased nodule number and dry weight but did not increase grain yield. The genotype TGx 1955-4F appears to show greater potential for increasing productivity of soybean in low P soils in northern Ghana.

Source: UG
Influence of Parasitic Worm Infections on Allergy Diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa

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
The influence of peer and parent relationships on adolescents’ self-esteem

The study was conducted to find out how parental relationship with their adolecent children and adolescent-peer relationship affect the self-esteem of adolescents. The study was drawn on a sample of 100 adolescent students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The results did indicate contrary to expectation, a negative relationship between adolescent-peer relationship and their self-esteem. Surprisingly, no link was found between parent-adolescent relationship and the self-esteem of the adolescents. The implications of the study are discussed.

Source: UG
The Influence Of Personality Types On Academic Procrastination Among Undergraduate Students

Procrastination on academic tasks is a common problem affecting learning and achievement. university students globally. In Western and developed countries, personality types have been implicated in academic procrastination, but such evidence has not been adduced within the Ghanaian context. This study was therefore conducted to explore the possible role of personality types on academic procrastination among undergraduate students. Two hundred (200) students (Mean age = 20.78 years; SD = 2.27) conveniently sampled completed the Academic Procrastination Scale and the Big Five Personality Inventory. Correlational analysis showed that academic procrastination was negatively associated with openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness but positively related to neuroticism. Further standard multiple regression analysis showed only two dimensions of the personality traits—neuroticism and openness—made significant predictions of academic procrastination. Neuroticism made the strongest unique predictor of academic procrastination (β = 0.23; t = 2.74; p <.01), followed by openness (β = - 0.20; t = −2.18; p < .05). The current study provides important information needed for the development of intervention programs that will help reduce academic procrastination among students, with specific emphasis on implicated personality traits.

Source: UG
The Influence of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Orientation and Volume Fraction on Methyl Methacrylate-Based Polymer Matrix for Prosthetic Socket Application

This work reports on the use of low-cost pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) as an alternative reinforcing material to the established, commonly used material for prosthetic socket fabrication which is carbon-fiber-reinforced composite (CFRC) due to the high strength and stiffness of carbon fiber. However, the low range of loads exerted on a typical prosthetic socket (PS) in practice suggests that the use of CFRC may not be appropriate because of the high material stiffness which can be detrimental to socket-limb load transfer. Additionally, the high cost of carbon fiber avails opportunities to look for an alternative material as a reinforcement for composite PS development. PALF/Methyl Methacrylate-based (MMA) composites with 0 , 45 and 90 fiber orientations were made with 5–50 v/v fiber volume fractions. The PALF/MMA composites were subjected to a three-point flexural test to determine the effect of fiber volume fraction and fiber orientation on the flexural properties of the composite. The results showed that 40% v/v PALF/MMA composite with 0 fiber orientation recorded the highest flexural strength (50 MPa) and stiffness (1692 MPa). Considering the average load range exerted on PS, the flexural performance of the novel composite characterized in this work could be suitable for socket-limb load transfer for PS fabrication.

Source: UG
Influence of plastic film mulch with biochar application on crop yield, evapotranspiration, and water use efficiency in northern China: A metaanalysis

Background. China is the leading consumer of plastic film worldwide. Plastic film mulched ridge-furrow is one of the most widely adopted agronomic and field man- agement practices in rain-fed agriculture in dry-land areas of China. The efficiency of plastic film mulching as a viable method to decrease evapotranspiration (ET), increase crop yields, and water use efficiency (WUE), has been demonstrated extensively by earlier studies. Methods. A comprehensive evaluation of how co-application of plastic-film mulch and biochar in different agro-environments under varying climatic conditions influence ET, crop yield, WUE, and soil microbial activity were assessed. We performed a meta- analysis using the PRISMA guideline to assess the effect of plastic-film mulched ridge- furrow and biochar on ET, yield, and WUE of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) in northern China. Results. The use of plastic film increased average yields of wheat (75.7%), potato (20.2%), and maize (12.9%) in Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces, respectively due to the reduction in ET by 12.8% in Gansu, 0.5% in Ningxia, and 4.1% in Shanxi, but increased in Shaanxi by 0.5% compared to no-mulching. These changes may be attributed to the effect of plastic film mulch application which simultaneously increased WUE by 68.5% in Gansu, 23.9% in Ningxia, 16.2% in Shaanxi, and 12.8% in Shanxi, respectively. Compared to flat planting without mulching, in three years, the yield of maize increased with the co-application of plastic film and biochar by 22.86% in the Shanxi and Shaanxi regions. Conclusion. Our analysis revealed co-application of plastic film with biochar is integral for improving soil and water conservation in rain-fed agriculture and as an integrated practice to avert drought while simultaneously mitigating runoff and erosion.

Source: UG
The influence of postharvest conditioning and storage protocols on the incidence of rots in White Yams (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) in Ghana

The post-harvest conditioning of root and tuber crops (such as potatoes and cassava) by exposure to elevated temperature and humidity ('curing') has long been used to extend their storage life. The use of this strategy on yams is not, however, well documented and appears not to be practised with any consistent conviction in West Africa. During the period 2000 to 2003, a series of on-farm trials was conducted on White Yams (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) in Ghana to assess whether curing and other related protocols could be exploited. The factors investigated included the impact of yam variety, tuber maturity (immature 'milk' yams and physiologically mature 'ware' yams), different curing environments (plastic bags, clamps or modified storage rooms) and subsequent storage in different structures (pits or barns). Interactions were observed between the conditioning treatments and varieties, and the different storage structures had a significant impact on yam weight loss, sprouting and the incidence and prevalence of rots. Overall 'milk' yams were more prone to deterioration than 'ware' yams and, irrespective of the possible benefits of curing, were much better conserved in traditional pits than in barns. Irrespective of treatment, rots were more often associated with the upper sections of the tubers, suggesting a link with pre-harvest insect damage and harvest cuts at the site of the vine. It was determined that the levels of relative humidity in pits, clamps and modified storage rooms could engender curing, whereas the humidity in plastic bags was excessive and simply brought about rapid rotting. Achieving the correct temperature for curing was problematic. Ambient temperatures (high 20°C) proved sub-optimal whereas temperatures above 37°C were too high. These field trials suggest, however, that the conditions necessary to cure yams can be established in rural communities with limited resources.

Source: UG
&quot; Influence of pre-treatments and storage condition of taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott.) on functional properties of its flours &quot;

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of pretreatment of taro prior to storage on functional properties of its flours. Taro tubers were pretreated in four ways: dipping in 2%w/v sodium chloride solution, 2%w/v sodium hypochlorite solution, 50% v/v ethanol and hot water blanching at 100oC and were either stored in a cold room (4-5oC) or ambient conditions (28±3oC) for three weeks. Flours were processed after treatment for assessment of swelling power, water binding capacity, peak viscosity and setback. These were repeated after the first, second and third weeks of storage. Flour processed from blanched taro showed the least swelling powers and the least peak viscosity and setback while flours from other treatments recorded comparable pasting properties. Taro stored in ambient conditions produced significantly high peak viscosity and setback values. Blanching may not be a substantive option for industrial application in taro post-harvest management because it may not achieve flours with very good dough characteristics.

Source: UG
Influence of processing conditions on the nutritive value of Ogi-Baba, a Nigerian fermented sorghum gruel

The effect of germination, cowpea fortification and fermentation on the chemical and amino acid composition of ogi-baba, a Nigerian fermented sorghum gruel was investigated. The lowest protein value of 1.4% was obtained in the traditionally prepared sample, while samples prepared from germinated, fortified sorghum had 13%. The ash ranged from 0.9% to above 2%, while the fat was in the range of 1.2% to 2.8%. Generally, fortification, in addition to germination, improved the chemical composition of ogi-baba relative to the control sample. There was improvement in the amino acid profile of all the ogi-baba samples compared to the unprocessed sorghum grains. Lysine, a limiting amino acid in sorghum, increased more than 50% in ogi-baba. However, samples prepared using germinated sorghum without the addition of cowpeas had a lower lysine content.

Source: UG
Influence of religious factors on attitudes toward suicidal behaviour in Ghana

The objective of this qualitative study was to understand how religion influences lay persons’ attitudes towards suicide in Ghana. Twenty-seven adults from both rural and urban settings were interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data. Results showed that the participants are committed to core and normative religious beliefs and practices they perceived as life preserving. Such an understanding influenced their view of suicidal behaviour as unacceptable. Nevertheless, religion facilitated their willingness to help people during suicidal crisis. Religious commitment theory is used to explain some of the findings of this study. Implications for suicide prevention are discussed.

Source: UG
The Influence of Rewards and Job Satisfaction on Employees in the Service Industry

The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between employees’ rewards, and the dimension of their job satisfaction in the service sector. We hypothesized that rewards play a significant role in employee satisfaction, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. Thus the role of job satisfcation and rewards was explored with samples from workers in two large Ghanian private organizations. The implications of job satisfcation on customer satisfaction and loyalty towards organzations were also invetsigated. A questionnaire was constructed, tested and administered to a total 110 subjects at two private organizations. Out of that 104 usable surveys were analyzed with microsoft excel to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings showed that rewards induced positive job satisfaction of employees. Additionally the findings also showed that job satisfaction of employees stimulated their loyalty to the organization. However, a very high level of employee dissatisfaction was recorded for employee pay and the amount work they do. The study result highlights the role of employees’ job satisfaction and the responsibilities of organizations in fostering good quality HRM practices in the service sectors, and offers an alternative pathway in employee satisfaction and performance. These results add to the evidence that HR practises influences business outcomes rather than the other way around.

Source: UG
Influence of Risk Management Practices on Service Quality in Health Care Delivery

The paper examined impact of risk management practices on service quality in healthcare provision in the Accra metropolis and compared analysis between private and public hospitals. Seven items relating to risk management practices for hospital staff were presented with responses based on a five point Likert Scale; ranging from strongly agree , agree, uncertain, disagree and strongly disagree. Questions tapping respondents’ feedback on expectations and experience of service provided were asked to patients in health facilities. Results of the study revealed that, private hospitals implemented more risk management practices and this positively impacted on their service quality from both the staff and patients’ perspectives. Public hospitals did not effectively practice risk management which showed up negatively on service quality performance from patients’ perspectives. The study shows that, management support and commitment is very important to all risk management strategies and managers in public health should commit more organizational resources toward the effective implementation of quality improvement initiatives.

Source: UG
Influence of sea level variability on a micro-tidal beach

Global climate change in response to buildup of human-induced greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has already resulted in several visible consequences such as an increase in ocean heat content and melting of glaciers. The relative effect of sea level and wave variability on shoreline changes along the coastline of James Town, Ghana (Gulf of Guinea), was investigated between 2013 and 2014. Data were gathered at James Town, over an 8-month period (2013–2014) from nearshore video installation, Era-Interim hindcast, and satellite altimetry. Data were evaluated over daily and monthly timescale variations. Though beach changes are not directly driven by sea level variability, its action is key in modulating waves influence. The results show that the shoreline responds in decreasing order to sea level variations (86%), waves (9%), and tidal cycles (5%) on daily bases. Wind-induced setup has limited effect on the shoreline. The observed most important component of sea level anomaly at this tropical “storm free” coast is the influence from inverse barometer. Decadal observations from satellite show that sea level anomaly is continuously rising in the Gulf of Guinea subregion with expected strong consequence for this urbanized low lying sandy coast. © 2018 Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature

Source: UG