ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Investigating the co-occurrence of marijuana use and prescription opioid misuse with multiple suicide attempts among adolescents with a history of suicidal ideation

This study investigated the co-occurrent association of marijuana use and prescription opioid misuse with multiple suicide attempts among adolescents with a history of suicidal ideation. Data came from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The sample was comprised of adolescents ages 14–18 who reported suicidal ideation during the past year (n = 2,562). Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the co-occurring asso ciation of marijuana use and prescription opioid misuse with multiple suicide attempts. Of the 2,562 adolescents who experienced suicidal ideation, 19.2 % also attempted suicide multiple times during the past year and 19.0 % reported ever using marijuana and misusing prescription opioids, 8.8 % misused prescription opioids only, and 33.3 % used marijuana only. In the multivariate model, for adolescents who used marijuana and misused pre scription opioid, the risk of attempting suicide once was 1.77 times higher (RRR = 1.77, 95 % CI = 1.22–2.59) and the risk of multiple suicide attempts was 3.23 times higher (RRR = 3.23, 95 % CI = 1.95–5.33) when compared to adolescents who had never used marijuana nor misused prescription opioid. The risk of multiple suicide attempts was greater for bisexual and racial/ethnic minority adolescents and adolescents who felt sad or hopeless. Interventions that prevent prescription opioid misuse among adolescents may be effective in mitigating suicide attempts.

Source: UG
Investigating the Conformation of S100β Protein Under Physiological Parameters Using Computational Modeling: A Clue for Rational Drug Design

Background: Physiochemical factors such as temperature, pH and cofactors are well known parameters that confer conformational changes in a protein structure. With S100β protein being a metal binding brain-specific receptor for both extracellular and intracellular functions, a change in conformation due to the above-mentioned factors, can compromise their cellular functions and therefore result in several pathological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Ischemic stroke, as well as Myocardial Infarction. Objective: The studies conducted sought to elucidate the effect of these physiological factors on the conformational dynamics of S100β protein using computational modeling approaches. Method: Temperature-dependent and protein-cofactor complexes molecular dynamics simulations were conducted by varying the temperature from 100 to 400K using GROMACS 5.0.3. Additionally, the conformational dynamics of the protein was studied by varying the pH at 5.0, 7.4 and 9.0 using Ambertools17. This was done by preparing the protein molecule, solvating and minimizing its energy level as well as heating it to the required temperature, equilibrating and simulating under desired conditions (NVT and NPT ensembles). Results: The results show that the protein misfolds as a function of increasing temperature with alpha helical content at 100K and 400K being 57.8% and 43.3%, respectively. However, the binding sites of the protein was not appreciably affected by temperature variations. The protein displayed high conformational instability in acidic medium (pH ~5.0). The binding sites of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ were identified and each exhibited different groupings of the secondary structural elements (binding motifs). The secondary structure analysis revealed different conformational changes with the characteristic appearance of two beta hairpins in the presence of Zn2+and Mg2+. Conclusion: High temperatures, different cofactors and acidic pH confer conformational changes to the S100β structure and these results may inform the design of novel drugs against the protein.

Source: UG
Investigating the Effect of Curing Activators on the Cure Kinetics of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene Rubber Filled with Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxides Nanocomposites

For the first time, acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR)–graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were prepared without cure activators: zinc oxide/stearic acid (ZnO/SA) and studied. The vulcanization characteristics of the compounds were systematically studied at 160–190° C, with the aid of rheometer and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. NBR revealed rapid curing time (t90) with greater cure rate index compared with NBR–GO/rGO composites for the rheometer measurement. This results were in correspondence with the activation energies Ea (kJ/mol) calculated by Ozawa and Kissinger models of vulcanization kinetics. NBR–rGO obtained reduced t90 and Ea (kJ/mol) than NBR–GO, perhaps due to lower oxygenated groups: epoxide (–C–O–C–), carboxyl (–O–C=O), and hydroxyl (–OH) present. Although, the composites delayed in curing, they significantly recorded high tensile properties with high reinforcing factors than NBR. The order of increasing mechanical properties: NBR < NBR–rGO < NBR–GO followed the same order of increasing crosslinking density. In terms of tensile strength, NBR–GO-1 obtained 62.5% and 18.2% increment than NBR and NBR–rGO-1, respectively. The findings from this study indicate that the absence of ZnO/SA in rubber compounds may slow down curing of rubber–GO/rGO composites and lower networks compared with those containing activators ZnO/SA. However, optimization of ZnO/SA and with desired functional groups on graphene and derivative graphene sheets (GDS) including other proposed factors may enhance the curing speed of rubber–GDS based systems, without compromising their mechanical integrity for advanced applications.

Source: UG
Investigating the experiences of head of basic schools I'm fulfilling their supervisory role

At best, conservation decisions can only be made using the data available at the time. For plants and especially in the tropics, natural history collections remain the best available baseline information upon which to base conservation assessments, in spite of well-documented limitations in their taxonomic, geographic, and temporal coverage. We explore the extent to which changes to the plant biological record over 20 years have changed our conception of the conservation importance of 931 plant taxa, and 114 vegetation samples, recorded in forest reserves of the southwest Ghana biodiversity hotspot. 36% of species-level assessments changed as a result of new distribution data. 12% of species accepted in 2016 had no assessment in 1996: of those, 20% are new species publications, 60% are new records for SW Ghana, and 20% are taxonomic resolutions. Apparent species ranges have increased over time as new records are made, but new species publications are overwhelmingly of globally rare species, keeping the balance of perceived rarity in the flora constant over 20 years. Thus, in spite of considerable flux at the species record level, range size rarity scores calculated for 114 vegetation samples of the reserves in 1996 and 2016 are highly correlated with each other: r(112) = 0.84, p< .0005, and showed no difference in mean score over 20 years: paired t(113) = −0.482, p = .631. This consistency in results at the area level allows for worthwhile conservation priority setting over time, and we argue is the better course of action than taking no action at all.

Source: UG
Investigating the Influence of Temperature on the Kaolinite-Base Synthesis of Zeolite and Urease Immobilization for the Potential Fabrication of Electrochemical Urea

Temperature-dependent zeolite synthesis has revealed a unique surface morphology, surface area and pore size which influence the immobilization of urease on gold electrode supports for biosensor fabrication. XRD characterization has identified zeolite X (Na) at all crystallization temperatures tested. However, N2 adsorption and desorption results showed a pore size and pore volume of zeolite X (Na) 60 °C, zeolite X (Na) 70 °C and zeolite X (Na) 90 °C to range from 1.92 nm to 2.45 nm and 0.012 cm3/g to 0.061 cm3/g, respectively, with no significant differences. The specific surface area of zeolite X (Na) at 60, 70 and 90 °C was 64 m2/g, 67 m2/g and 113 m2/g, respectively. The pore size, specific surface area and pore volumes of zeolite X (Na) 80 °C and zeolite X (Na) 100 °C were dramatically increased to 4.21 nm, 295 m2/g, 0.762 cm3/g and 4.92 nm, 389 m2/g, 0.837 cm3/g, in that order. The analytical performance of adsorbed urease on zeolite X (Na) surface was also investigated using cyclic voltammetry measurements, and the results showed distinct cathodic and anodic peaks by zeolite X (Na) 80 °C and zeolite X (Na) 100 °C. These zeolites’ molar conductance was measured as a function of urea concentration and gave an average polynomial regression fit of 0.948. The findings in this study suggest that certain physicochemical properties, such as crystallization temperature and pH, are critical parameters for improving the morphological properties of zeolites synthesized from natural sources for various biomedical applications.

Source: UG
Investigating the intention to use technology among medical students: An application of an extended model of the theory of planned behavior

Though the integration of technology into the health sector has been touted as one of the conduits for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in health and service delivery, research reports of not only a slow pace of adoption but also medical practitioners's negative tendency regarding technology adoption. Considering that medical students are likely to constitute the future work force to use technology to enhance accuracy in medical decisions; their intention to use technology constitutes a crucial factor for guiding the implementation of technology-based initiatives in healthcare settings. By integrating descriptive norm, the study seeks to extend the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate correlates of prospective users' behavioral characteristics relative to technology adoption. A field survey is conducted with 322 medical students from different medical schools undertaking mandatory clinicals in health facilities in Ghana. The structural equation modeling analysis of collected data revealed that attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and descriptive norm, all have significant positive relationship with student's technology adoption intention. The results of data analysis further revealed that the core TPB constructs contributed 26% of the variance in technology adoption intention, while the extended variable contributed to increasing the explanation of variance in students's adoption intention to 33%. Hence, the inclusion of descriptive norm increased the explained variance by 7% (ΔR2 = 7%, p < .001). The results confirm the predictive potential and appropriateness of the TPB model. Arising from the empirical results, study implications are discussed.

Source: UG
Investigating the non-gendered recruitment characteristics of mining firms in Ghana: The role of sociocultural, psychosocial and organizational design factors.

This paper explores the influencing dynamics of psychosocial, cultural and organizational design factors on the non-gendered characteristics of employee recruitment in firms operating in the Ghanaian mining industry that constrains the employability of women. A conceptual framework linking psychosocial, cultural, and organizational design to recruitment processes was developed to guide the study. Quantitative data was collected in four mining firms in Ghana using a questionnaire. The collated data was firstly factor analyzed to establish the predictiveness of the conceptual model components’ indicators. This was followed by an analysis of the conceptual model for “model goodness fit” using the AMOS–based structural equation modeling approach. The results showed that the non-gendered characteristics of employees’ recruitment in mining firms in Ghana, constrains the employability of women, is influenced directly and positively by the firms organizational designs, which is in turn influenced directly by the firms’ psychosocial and sociocultural factors. The study also showed that the non-gendered recruitment characteristic of the firms is influenced indirectly, but positively by the firms’ psychosocial factors, and negatively by other sociocultural factors. By implication, the study provides knowledge that can be used to understand the rationale behind the non-gendered characteristics of employee recruitment in Ghanaian mines and the influencing roles of organizational design factors as well as psychosocial and cultural factors. Mining firms can use this knowledge in developing gendered recruitment policies to enhance future recruitment of all qualified human resource, irrespective of gender.

Source: UG
Investigating the Role of Free-living Amoebae as a Reservoir for Mycobacterium ulcerans

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
Investigating the self-reported professional development activities of school leaders in Ghanaian rural basic schools

In Ghana, research has shown that educational reforms over the years have ignored the importance of school leadership development, and there are currently very few reform initiatives that address the need to develop the leadership proficiencies and skills of school leaders. This study sought to investigate how school leaders, who include headteachers, assistant headteachers, and form masters, in such contexts develop their leadership skills following their appointment into their new roles. A mixed-methods approach was employed in gathering both quantitative and qualitative data concurrently from three groups of leaders in the basic schools of one rural educational district in Ghana. Results from the study showed that the professional development activities (PDAs) that the leaders employed for their development were mostly informal and self-directed learning methods. There were only limited formal leadership development programmes for the leaders working within any of the rural district basic schools represented in the study. The study concludes that to strengthen school leadership in basic schools in the selected district, educational authorities would need to learn from international best practice to initiate sustainable PDAs to strengthen the leadership capacities of leaders to promote effective teaching and learning in schools.

Source: UG
Investigating the site of action of an aqueous extract of heliotropium indicum linn (boraginaceae) on smooth muscles

Heliotropium indicum has various traditional medicinal uses such as treating abdominal pains, dysmenorrhoea, hypertension, convulsion, post-partum inflammatory disorders, wounds and infections and skin rashes. The aim of this study therefore is to find receptors that possibly mediate the activity of H. indicum as a means of finding explanation to some of its reported traditional uses. The effect of various concentrations of agonist drugs and an aqueous extract from the plant as well as the effects of these agonist drugs and the extract in the presence of specific reference antagonist drugs were established on isolated guinea-pig ileum, rabbit jejunum, rat uterus and rat anococcygeus preparations. Data obtained was analyzed using GraphPad Prism Version 5.0 for Windows. The extract caused dose-dependent contractions similar to the acetylcholine, methylcholine, carbamylcholine, nicotine, histamine and oxytocin used on the smooth muscle preparations studied. The contractions were significantly inhibited by atropine and hexamethonium, suggesting muscarinic and nicotinic activity, adrenaline and salbutamol, suggesting adrenoceptor activity and diclofenac sodium, suggesting the inhibition of synthesis and/or effect of products of COX such as prostaglandin. The extract was significantly stable to plasma cholinesterase. The receptor activity of H. indicum explains some of its traditional medicinal uses such as relieving abdominal pain, hypertension and impotence and sexual weakness.

Source: UG
Investigating the virulence genes and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Vibrio cholerae O1 in environmental and clinical isolates in Accra, Ghana

Background Cholera has been endemic in Ghana since its detection in 1970. It has been shown that long-term survival of the bacteria may be attained in aquatic environments. Consequently, cholera outbreaks may be triggered predominantly in densely populated urban areas. We investigated clinical and environmental isolates of Vibrio cholerae O1 in Accra to determine their virulence genes, antibiotic susceptibility patterns and environmental factors maintaining their persistence in the environment. Methods Water samples from various sources were analyzed for the presence of V. cholerae O1 using culture methods. Forty clinical isolates from a previous cholera outbreak were included in the study for comparison. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the bacteria were determined by disc diffusion. Virulence genes were identified by analyzing genes for ctx, tcpA (tcpAEl Tor tcpACl), zot, ompW, rbfO1 and attRS using PCR. Physicochemical characteristics of water were investigated using standard methods. One-way ANOVA and student t - test were employed to analyze the relationship between physicochemical factors and the occurrence of V. cholerae O1. Results Eleven V. cholerae O1 strains were successfully isolated from streams, storage tanks and wells during the study period. All isolates were resistant to one or more of the eight antibiotics used. Multidrug resistance was observed in over 97% of the isolates. All isolates had genes for at least one virulence factor. Vibrio cholerae toxin gene was detected in 82.4% of the isolates. Approximately 81.8% of the isolates were positive for tcpAEl Tor gene, but also harbored the tcpAcl gene. Isolates were grouped into thirteen genotypes based on the genes analyzed. High temperature, salinity, total dissolved solids and conductivity was found to significantly correlate positively with isolation of V. cholerae O1. V. cholerae serotype Ogawa biotype El tor is the main biotype circulating in Ghana with the emergence of a hybrid strain. Conclusions Multidrug resistant V. cholerae O1 with different genotypes and pathogenicity are present in water sources and co-exist with non O1/O139 in the study area.

Source: UG
Investigating Triaxial Electrical Properties of Ceramic Composites for Electroporcelain Insulators

Four porcelain composites comprising kaolin (27-37%), beach sand (20-24%), ball clay (13-18%) and feldspar (25-40%), were formulated and characterized using powder XRD, SEM and particle size distribution analysis in order to determine their potential for use as electroporcelain insulators. Chemical, mechanical and electrical properties were also evaluated. Each of the formed samples were compressed at 200 MPa and sintered at 1250 o C for 1 hour. Bending strength results of the porcelain bodies showed increase in bending strength with reduction in particle sizes. An increase in dielectric strength was found for samples with a higher felspar content. The XRD pattern for all the sintered samples showed the presence of quartz and mullite phases in the body at different intensities. Samples with lower particle sizes showed similar electrical and mechanical properties to commercially available electroporcelains albeit at a cheaper cost of production.

Source: UG
Investigating User Perceptions of Persuasive Design Elements that Influence Perceived Credibility

Given the prevalent use of technology for human activities, the determinants of user perceptions of the credibility of technological systems must be understood. This study investigated how user perceptions of persuasive elements that are incorporated in Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNSs) influence the Perceived Credibility of these sites. Specifically, the effects of Personalization, Reduction, Tailoring, Self-Monitoring, Rehearsal, Simulation and Tunneling on Perceived Credibility are examined. An online survey was adopted to examine the research model. Partial Least Square techniques were used to assess the significance of the determinants on Perceived Credibility. Results indicate that Tailoring positively influences Perceived Credibility whereas Personalization has a negative significant effect. Implications for theoretical insights into Perceived Credibility and its determinants and design implication are discussed.

Source: UG
Investigating Zoom Continuance Use by Ghanaian University Students in Blended Learning Arrangements in the Post-Covid Era

The study sought to determine factors that significantly influence university students’ continuance use of Zoom in blended learning arrangements in the post-Covid era. Zoom Cloud Meetings is a proprietary video teleconferencing software program developed by Zoom Video Communications. Zoom became one of the e-learning platforms that gained attention in the education sector in Ghana after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and has been widely used by educational institutions for online lectures. The research model comprises a set of relationships between constructs from the Infor mation System (IS) success model (system quality, usage intention, and user satisfaction), Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) of IS (perceived usefulness and usage continuance), and two constructs identified from empirical review (instructional quality and com puter self-efficacy). Three hundred and thirty-five (335) students from selected universities in Ghana who partake in Zoom-based lectures completed an online survey via Google forms. Survey data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation mod elling (PLS-SEM). Lecturers and management of universities will find the study useful for the improvement of teaching and learning via Zoom-based lectures.

Source: UG
Investigation and Characterization of Al paste as back surface field (BSF) for High Efficiency Si Solar cell

Photovoltaic solar cells offer many advantages, including needing little maintenance, environmentally benign of any electricity generating source with zero greenhouse gas emission. In the photovoltaic industry both the reduction of the silicon material thickness and the increase of the solar cells efficiency are critical topics for cost reduction. One key factor to reducing the cost and energy consumption of solar cell production process is reducing the thickness of the Si wafer to the order of 200 μm, the current industry wafer thickness ranges of 275 - 350 μm. The back-surface field (BSF), ~50 μm thick is formed during the firing of a screen printed A1 on the rear side. The main issue using thinner wafers with Al BSF is the bow of the wafers after firing. In this study, baseline Si Solar cells with 19.7% light conversion efficiencies was achieved on monocrystalline ptype CZ-Si with two types of Al BSF pastes. High performance SiN:H was grown by PECVD tool. The Al/Ag firing process for the Sun Chemical product (CTX 0435) needs to be optimized as the current process disintegrates to powder substance after Ag firing. The process window for firing the DuPont Ag front-side paste is large and yields low series resistance values without forming gas anneal (FGA anneal).

Source: UG