ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A Cross Disciplinary Study of Circumstantial Elements in the Discussion Section of Research Articles

Though circumstantial meanings have been explored in some sections of the research article (RA), they have received scanty attention in the discussion section of the RA. This study explores the structural and semantic categories of circumstantial elements in the discussion sections of RAs in six subjects namely English, History, Geography, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry across three broad disciplinary areas. Sixty (60) discussion sections of RAs in six (6) subjects were electronically retrieved and studied, using Halliday and Matthiessen’s (2014) SFL as the theoretical framework. Findings showed that disciplines used prepositional phrases and adverbs as constituents of circumstantial elements, with prepositional phrases being predominant. Considering the 22 semantic categories identified in SFL, Location-Place, Matter, Time, Quality and Comitative were the most frequently used circumstances. However, there were variations in how the disciplines used them. Circumstantials were matched with Nwogu’s (1997) moves in RAs to affirm that circumstantials are essential in arguing for the acceptance of research findings. Place circumstances were extensively used in promoting further research with slight variations noticed. The disciplines used Concession, Comitative and Additive circumstantials to contrast present and previous research. Reason and concession clauses were also frequently found in the move of interpreting specific research outcomes. From the study, it is evident that generic and disciplinary norms influence RA writers’ deployment of circumstantial elements. It implies further research is needed if these generic and disciplinary preferences are to be clearly delineated for the purposes of socializing apprentice writers.

Source: UCC
A Cross Sectional Study of Authentic Assessment Uses among Public School Physical Education Teachers in Ghana

This study investigated the extent of authentic assessment use in public school physical education and its impact on students. A cross section of public school physical education teachers (N = 178) from all ten regions in Ghana participated in this study. The teachers responded to the Mintah Physical Education Authentic Assessment Inventory (MPEAAI). Findings indicated that authentic assessment is used extensively by all public school physical education teachers in Ghana. Teacher observation, demonstration, peer observation, and checklist were the commonly used authentic assessment techniques; anecdotal record and parental report were the least used techniques. The physical education teachers perceived that authentic assessment use has positively enhanced students’ motivation, self-concept, and skill achievement. Physical education teachers with bachelor degree perceived authentic assessment use has motivated students more that teachers with diploma certificate.

Source: UCC
Cross-Cultural Recruitment and Organisational Productivity: The Case of Krane Limited

This research paper delves into the multifaceted realm of cross-cultural recruitment and its profound implications for organisational productivity and employee performance, with a specific focus on Krane limited in Ghana. The primary objective of this research is to unravel the relationship between cross-cultural recruitment strategies and their consequential impact on the performance of Krane limited. The study employs a case study approach of 40 employees and managers within Krane limited. Through a qualitative methodology, data is collected via semi-structured interviews and processed using the SPSS (version 27.0). The study highlights the importance of cross-cultural recruitment on employee engagement, organizational culture and innovation. Yet, it also identifies challenges like communication barriers and the need for specific training programs. Drawing on these findings, the study concludes that cross-cultural recruitment holds immense potential for organisational growth when implemented thoughtfully. The paper provides a set of recommendations tailored to Krane limited, encompassing strategies for optimizing cross-cultural recruitment efforts, addressing challenges, and nurturing a culturally inclusive work environment. These recommendations extend their applicability to organisations navigating the complexities of cultural diversity and striving for excellence in today's globalized business landscape. In essence, this research paper serves as a compass for organisations like Krane limited, guiding them towards harnessing the benefits of cross-cultural recruitment while mitigating potential pitfalls, ultimately leading to heightened organisational productivity in a culturally diverse world.

Source: UCC
Cross-Language Negative Priming Remains Intact, while Positive Priming Disappears: Evidence for Two Sources of Selective Inhibition

In the current experiments, within- and between-language primed lexical decision tasks with Twi-English bilinguals were used. The aim was to explore the priming effects produced by attended and ignored words, in an effort to draw theoretical and empirical parallels and differences between the mechanisms of excitation and inhibition and to isolate the different circumstances in which these mechanisms operate in bilingual language processing. In the within-language (Twi) experiment, facilitatory (positive) priming resulted when a prime word and subsequent probe target word were identical, whereas delayed decisions to probe targets (negative priming) ensued when the ignored prime word was conceptually identical to the subsequent probe target word. In contrast, while the between-language (Twi-English) experiments replicated the ignored repetition negative priming effect, no evidence of positive priming was observed. These between-language findings undermine episodic retrieval models of selective attention that discount inhibitory processes in negative priming paradigms. Instead, our findings substantiate inhibition-based accounts by showing that there are two sources of inhibition operating at the local word and global language levels of abstraction. The findings also support bilingual language representations in which the words of the two languages are integrated.

Source: UCC
A Cross-Sectional Survey of Optometrists and Optometric Practices in Ghana

The study was conducted to profile optometrists and optometric practices in Ghana. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 146 optometrists, who were registered with the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA). It included questions on their demographics, equipment, ophthalmic procedures routinely conducted and the barriers to providing a full scope of optometric services. Results: Ninety registered optometrists (62 per cent) responded, their mean age being 28.97 ± 3.36 years. There were more males (68.9 per cent) than females and most had the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree, the profession’s highest degree in Ghana. There were more practitioners in urban centres (71.1 per cent) and most practices had basic optometric instruments, such as direct ophthalmoscopes, slitlamp biomicroscopes and retinoscopes.Many optometrists routinely conducted direct ophthalmoscopy (100 per cent), slitlamp biomicroscopy (87.5 per cent) and contact tonometry (55.7 per cent); however, few provided contact lens (10.2 per cent) and low vision (9.1 per cent) assessments, with 76 per cent stating that it was due to the unavailability of low vision devices, poor sources of contact lenses (27 per cent) and perceived insufficient training (11.2 per cent). Many practitioners (97 per cent) reported the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (96.6 per cent). Most practitioners (52.9 per cent) preferred conferences for the delivery of continuous professional development over publications (26.4 per cent) and internet resources (12.6 per cent). Conclusion: The data elicited in this study provide a basis for addressing the country’s unmet eye-care needs and can be used to determine training and support guidelines for the profession.

Source: UCC
A cross-sectional survey of optometrists and optometric practices in Ghana

Purpose: The study was conducted to proﬁle optometrists and optometric practices in Ghana. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 146 optometrists, who were registered with the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA). It included questions on their demographics, equipment, ophthalmic procedures routinely conducted and the barriers to providing a full scope of optometric services. Results: Ninety registered optometrists (62 per cent) responded, their mean age being 28.97 ± 3.36 years. There were more males (68.9 per cent) than females and most had the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree, the profession’s highest degree in Ghana. There were more practitioners in urban centres (71.1 per cent) and most practices had basic optometric instruments, such as direct ophthalmoscopes, slitlamp biomicroscopes and retinoscopes. Many optometrists routinely conducted direct ophthalmoscopy (100 per cent), slitlamp biomicros- copy (87.5 per cent) and contact tonometry (55.7 per cent); however, few provided contact lens (10.2 per cent) and low vision (9.1 per cent) assessments, with 76 per cent stating that it was due to the unavailability of low vision devices, poor sources of contact lenses (27 per cent) and perceived insufﬁcient training (11.2 per cent). Many practitioners (97 per cent) reported the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (96.6 per cent). Most practitioners (52.9 per cent) preferred conferences for the delivery of continuous professional development over publications (26.4 per cent) and internet resources (12.6 per cent). Conclusion: The data elicited in this study provide a basis for addressing the country’s unmet eye-care needs and can be used to determine training and support guidelines for the profession.

Source: UCC
Crossbreeding of four populations of black-chinned tilapia (Sarotherodon Melanotheron) from Ghana to enhance aquaculture production

The current study evaluated growth performance, survival rate, feed conversion ratio, heterosis, heritability, responses to selection and breeding values of four populations of Sarotherodon melanotheron from Fosu Lagoon, Brimsu, Baifikrom and Weija reservoirs in 4 × 4 diallel crosses aimed at producing a hybrid with high growth, reproductive and survival traits to enhance aquaculture production. Triplicates of a single-pair mating design for the diallel crosses yielded 3,840 fingerlings. These were tagged and stocked communally in both freshwater (cages) and brackish water (tanks) for 120 days using a randomized complete block design. Different doses (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg) of 17α-methyltestosterone were fed to black-chinned tilapia fry for 28 days to determine the effective dose for all-male sex reversal. The results indicated that five hybrids (Baifikrom × Fosu (RF), Fosu × Weija (FW), Brimsu × Weija (BW), Baifikrom × Brimsu (RB) and Brimsu × Baifikrom (BR)) were significantly (P ˂ 0.05) heavier in harvest body weight compared to their parental stocks and other hybrids. Overall mean heterosis estimates indicated that seven (7) out of the twelve hybrids exhibited positive heterosis ranging from 0.17 ± 1.95 to 22.17 ± 5.52 %. Moderate to high heritability ranging from 0.29 ± 0.05 to 0.63 ± 0.21 were observed for the hybrids. The pooled genetic performance of the hybrids suggested the need to develop two separate lines for fresh and brackish water culture. However, the hybrid of Weija × Brimsu (WB) was most suitable for culture in both fresh and brackish water. The 17α-methyltestosterone test indicated that S. melanotheron fry fed 90 mg/kg feed for 28 days, had the highest sex ratio of 84.13 % males. For effective sex reversal in S. melanotheron, the hormone dosage should not exceed 90 mg/kg.

Source: UCC
Crossing, Sex reversal and reproductive capacity of two populations of Sarotherodon Melanotheron (Cichlidae) from the Central Region of Ghana

The study investigated whether progeny of Sarotherodon melanotheron from two different populations would have higher reproductive capacity and also exhibit desirable aquaculture traits. Broodstock of S. melanotheron were collected from Kakum Estuary and Benya lagoon and bred to the second filial generation stage. Reproduction was higher in the parents from the Estuary than those from the lagoon. Water quality parameters were within the acceptable range for fish culture. Three different concentrations; 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg feed of 17 α-methyltestosterone and the control were administered for 30 days. Fry fed 120 mgMT/kg feed produced the highest proportion (92.70 %) of males which differsignificantly (F = 266.22, p < 0.05) from 30 mg MT/kg feed and the control but was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from 60 mg MT/kg feed. A positive linear correlation was found between fecundity and total length, body weight, and ovary weight of S. melanotheron from Fosu lagoon with ‘r’ values as 0.58, 0.61 and 0.52 respectively. Relationship between brood size and fish length as well as body weight was also linear with ‘r’ as 0.85 and 0.86 respectively. The overall results indicated that none of the male hormone concentrations produced 100 % males and that the anabolic effect of the hormone was not significant in the growth of S. melanotheron fry in all the treatments.

Source: UCC
Crowdfunding Adoption By Entrepreneurs In Jasikan District, Ghana: A Study Of Management Committee Members Of Co-Operatives

To address the financial challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), new funding options like crowdfunding have emerged. Understanding how entrepreneurs perceive and are prepared to use crowdfunding is essential. Thus, this study aimed to explore entrepreneurs' intentions and the factors influencing their inclination to adopt crowdfunding in the Jasikan District of Ghana, drawing on the pecking order theory and the theory of planned behavior. Employing a quantitative approach and cross-sectional survey design, the study surveyed a random sample of 196 entrepreneurs, achieving a 92 percent response rate. The target group comprised management committee members of cooperatives in the district. Analyzing the data involved both descriptive statistics using SPSS version 25 and structural equation modeling to assess the objectives. The findings revealed a low level of crowdfunding adoption among entrepreneurs, with a generally modest intention to adopt crowdfunding. Attitude towards crowdfunding and subjective norms significantly predicted a marginal increase in intention to adopt crowdfunding, whereas perceived behavioral control did not exert a statistically significant positive influence. A primary obstacle to crowdfunding adoption was identified as the lack of information and education. Despite crowdfunding not being entirely novel, its application for business funding, particularly leveraging the internet, presents a relatively new concept necessitating stakeholder education through research and pilot initiatives. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to foster platforms within their cooperatives for discussions and education on innovative approaches beneficial to business growth.

Source: UCC
Crude Oil Production and Macroeconomic Performance in Ghana

This study investigated the impact of crude oil production on macroeconomic performance in Ghana. The study employed monthly data from January 2011 to December 2018. The structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) model was employed to analyse the impact of crude oil production on macroeconomic performance. The findings of the structural impulse response function revealed that crude oil production had no impact on the agricultural sector, manufacturing sector, services sector, real effective exchange rate and inflation. However, crude oil production had a positive impact on fiscal balance. The findings of the structural forecast error variance decomposition showed that crude oil production accounted for a small amount of variation in all the variables except fiscal balance for which it accounted for the largest portion of the variation. The study concluded that crude oil production had no significant impact on the non-oil sectors, real effective exchange rate and inflation. However, crude oil production had a positive impact on fiscal balance. The study recommended that the government through GNPC and major oil stakeholders such as Tullow Ghana Limited, Kosmos Energy Ghana and Anardako Petroleum Corporation should establish of oil refineries, petroleum industries and fertilizer plants domestically and also the development of the manufacturing and the services sector to provide the backward and forward linkages that needs to be shared between the oil sector and other sectors of the economy.

Source: UCC
Crude oil production, quality institutions, capital accumulation and economic growth in Ghana

The study examined the effect of crude oil production, quality institutions and capital accumulation on economic growth in Ghana spanning from January 2011 to December 2018 using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) approach to cointegration. The empirical findings revealed that the expected positive economic multiplier effects of commercial crude oil production in the form of more local employment with high incomes as well as more substantial local business participation has not yet been actualized and hence the resource curse effect is pronounced valid in Ghana. Also, the required capital accumulation and institutional capacity is at a level insufficient to complement the production of crude oil to cause economic expansion and reverse the resource curse. Based on these findings, it is therefore recommended that the institutions of state that oversee crude oil production and other expediencies related to crude oil production should be resourced to ensure efficient capital accumulation and to allow for sustainable economic growth

Source: UCC
A cryptographic and watermarking encryption technique for securing and authentication of digital images

Identity management is crucial in cyberspace where infringement of one’s privacy, copy right disputes, theft and other malicious activities are very rampant. There exists a need of ownership identification and authentication of digital images. In solving and contributing to this field, we proposed a cryptographic and watermarking encryption technique for securing and authentication of digital images for identity management. In our approach, we encrypt the data to be embedded into the image before embedding it to the image. We make sure we select a random position in the image based on an embedding key. We make sure the message to be embedded was converted into values that falls in between 0- 255. This is to avoid it being detected using forensic or steganalytic software

Source: UCC
A cryptographic, discrete cosine transform and frequency domain watermarking approach for securing digital images

The growth in multimedia messaging, social networks, live streaming and in other applications have increased overtime. The rise in the engagement of Unmanned Ariel vehicles for agricultural, surveillance and deliver services has become a debate in its security and engagement in today’s cyber physical space. Authentication and security between control units and these devices are of paramount importance. And also a fast and energy efficient algorithms are highly needed to ensure uncompromised situation of compunctions with these devices. Due to fictitious activities over communication channels by unauthorized users, security and authentication of such transmissions are needed to provide privacy, authentication and confidentiality. In this paper, we proposed a cryptographic encryption technique and a discrete cosine transform for encryption and compression of the transmitted image. We further engaged a frequency domain watermarking approach for the authentication of the digital images. These approaches were engaged to provide several security layers for transmitted image and at the, results showed to be very effective. The implementation in this work was simulated in MATLAB

Source: UCC
Cryptolepine, an indoloquinoline alkaloid, in the management of diabetes mellitus and its associated complications

Background: Effective long-term management is the key to treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. Aim: To ascertain the ability of cryptolepine (CRP) in managing DM and some associated complications. Materials and Methods: Changes in fasting blood sugar (FBS), body weight, response to thermally-induced pain, and semen quality were assessed in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with CRP (10, 30, or 100mg/kg), glibenclamide (10mg/kg), or normal saline (2ml/kg) per os. Hematological profile, liver and kidney function tests, lipid profile, as well as liver, kidney, and pancreas histopathological examinations were also conducted to establish possible effects of CRP treatment. Results: CRP treatment reduced (P ≤ 0.001) FBS and body weight, inhibited (P ≤ 0.05-0.001) the latency to tail flick or withdrawal from pain stimulus. It did not alter (P > 0.05): Hematological parameters, elevated (P ≤ 0.05-0.001) plasma aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase, reduced (P ≤ 0.01) plasma urea, and elevated (P ≤ 0.001) plasma creatinine associated with DM. CRP, however, reversed (P ≤ 0.05-0.001) DM-associated elevation (P ≤ 0.05-0.001) of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins and the reduction in high-density lipoproteins. CRP (10-30mg/kg) showed dose-dependent regeneration of β-islet cells but could not repair degenerated liver and kidney tissue. CRP worsens dose-dependently (P ≤ 0.001) reduced sperm quality associated with DM. Conclusion: CRP abolishes hyperglycemia, weight loss, cold allodynia, neuropathic pain, and hyperlipidemia as well as pancreatic β-islet cell damage associated with DM.It, however, does not improve liver and kidney damage and lowered semen quality

Source: UCC
CSN-5, a Component of the COP9 Signalosome Complex, Regulates the Levels of UNC-96 and UNC-98, Two Components of M-lines in Caenorhabditis elegans Muscle

In Caenorhabditis elegans two M-line proteins, UNC-98 and UNC-96, are involved in myofibril assembly and/or mainte- nance, especially myosin thick filaments. We found that CSN-5, a component of the COP9 signalosome complex, binds to UNC-98 and -96 using the yeast two-hybrid method. These interactions were confirmed by biochemical methods. The CSN-5 protein contains a Mov34 domain. Although one other COP9 signalosome component, CSN-6, also has a Mov34 domain, CSN-6 did not interact with UNC-98 or -96. Anti-CSN-5 antibody colocalized with paramyosin at A-bands in wild type and colocalized with abnormal accumulations of paramyosin found in unc-98, -96, and -15 (encodes paramyosin) mutants. Double knockdown of csn-5 and -6 could slightly suppress the unc-96 mutant phenotype. In the double knockdown of csn-5 and -6, the levels of UNC-98 protein were increased and the levels of UNC-96 protein levels were slightly reduced, suggesting that CSN-5 promotes the degradation of UNC-98 and that CSN-5 stabilizes UNC-96. In unc-15 and unc-96 mutants, CSN-5 protein was reduced, implying the existence of feed back regulation from myofibril proteins to CSN-5 protein levels. Taken together, we found that CSN-5 functions in muscle cells to regulate UNC-98 and -96, two M-line proteins.

Source: UCC
CsrA and TnaB Coregulate Tryptophanase Activity To Promote Exotoxin-Induced Killing of Caenorhabditis elegans by Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) requires the tnaA-encoded enzyme tryptophanase and its sub- strate tryptophan to synthesize diffusible exotoxins that kill the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we demonstrate that the RNA-binding protein CsrA and the tryptophan permease TnaB coregulate tryptophanase activity, through mutually exclusive pathways, to stimulate toxin-mediated paralysis and killing of C. elegans.

Source: UCC