ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A novel aphid resistance locus in cowpea identified by combining SSR and SNP markers

The utility of combining simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker genotyping was determined for genetically mapping a novel aphid (Aphis craccivora) resistance locus in cowpea breeding line SARC 1‐57‐2 and for introgressing the resistance into elite cultivars by marker‐assisted backcrossing (MABC). The locus was tagged with codominant SSR marker CP 171F/172R with a recombination fraction of 5.91% in an F2 population from ‘Apagbaala’ x SARC 1‐57‐2. A SNP‐genotyped biparental recombinant inbred line population was genotyped for CP 171F/172R, which was mapped to position 11.5 cM on linkage group (LG) 10 (physical position 30.514 Mb on chromosome Vu10). Using CP 171F/172R for foreground selection and a KASP‐SNP‐based marker panel for background selection in MABC, the resistance from SARC 1‐57‐2 was introduced into elite susceptible cultivar ‘Zaayura’. Five BC4F3 lines of improved ‘Zaayura’ that were isogenic except for the resistance locus region had phenotypes similar to SARC 1‐57‐2. This study identified a novel aphid resistance locus and demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating SSR and SNP markers for trait mapping and marker‐assisted breeding.

Source: UG
A novel approach for reduction of total acidity in kerosene based on alkaline rich materials readily available in tropical and sub-tropical countries

The inability of refineries in some nations globally to produce kerosene locally as an aviation fuel is due to its acidity. In this study the viability of selected alkaline rich ash materials (e.g. cocoa husk, cassava peels, etc.) readily obtainable in tropical nations were examined for their ability to remove the acids. Fresh acidic kerosene samples were equilibrated with different ashes in predetermined ratios, filtered and characterized alongside with non-treated reference samples. Results revealed that the physicochemical properties of non-treated and treated kerosene remained the same except for conductivity, total acidity and micro-separation. The total acidity was reduced to a lowest limit than 0.015 mg KOH/g required. Treatment studies with specific masses of ashes and kerosene reduced acidity to approximately 0.00 mg KOH/g. Overall these alkaline source materials should be seen as a promising and alternative option in the systematic reduction of acidity in kerosene for aviation use. © 2015

Source: UG
A novel approach in regional tuna fisheries management using low resolution satellite data: A case study for the Gulf of Guinea

The tuna fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea provides huge economic benefits through fish trade and food security. The region, an important spawning site and migratory path for three dominant tuna species i.e. Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and Bigeye (Thunnus obesus), has high incidence of illegal fishing practices, in addition to poor surveillance and monitoring of fisheries resources. Adopting conservation methods for effective management of the tuna fisheries requires an understanding of their thermal preference, foraging behaviour and migratory patterns. Using tuna catch data from 2004 to 2006 in the eastern equatorial Atlantic we have described the spatial distribution of tuna catch and thermal range associated with these distribution from low resolution remotely sensed sea surface temperature data. Tuna in the equatorial Atlantic are concentrated at the major upwelling centers off the coast of Ghana and equatorial Atlantic at surface temperatures of 23 to 28°C. © 2012 IEEE.

Source: UG
A Novel Approach to Dining Bowl Reconstruction for Image-Based Food Volume Estimation

Knowing the amounts of energy and nutrients in an individual’s diet is important for maintaining health and preventing chronic diseases. As electronic and AI technologies advance rapidly, dietary assessment can now be performed using food images obtained from a smartphone or a wearable device. One of the challenges in this approach is to computationally measure the volume of food in a bowl from an image. This problem has not been studied systematically despite the bowl being the most utilized food container in many parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. In this paper, we present a new method to measure the size and shape of a bowl by adhering a paper ruler centrally across the bottom and sides of the bowl and then taking an image. When observed from the image, the distortions in the width of the paper ruler and the spacings between ruler markers completely encode the size and shape of the bowl. A computational algorithm is developed to reconstruct the three-dimensional bowl interior using the observed distortions. Our experiments using nine bowls, colored liquids, and amorphous foods demonstrate high accuracy of our method for food volume estimation involving round bowls as containers. A total of 228 images of amorphous foods were also used in a comparative experiment between our algorithm and an independent human estimator. The results showed that our algorithm overperformed the human estimator who utilized different types of reference information and two estimation methods, including direct volume estimation and indirect estimation through the fullness of the bowl.

Source: UG
A Novel Autosomal Dominant GREB1L Variant Associated with Non‑Syndromic Hearing Impairment in Ghana

Background: Childhood hearing impairment (HI) is genetically heterogeneous with many implicated genes, however, only a few of these genes are reported in African populations. Methods: This study used exome and Sanger sequencing to resolve the possible genetic cause of non-syndromic HI in a Ghanaian family. Results: We identified a novel variant c.3041G > A: p.(Gly1014Glu) in GREB1L (DFNA80) in the index case. The GREB1L: p.(Gly1014Glu) variant had a CADD score of 26.5 and was absent from human genomic databases such as TopMed and gnomAD. In silico homology protein modeling approaches displayed major structural differences between the wildtype and mutant proteins. Additionally, the variant was predicted to probably affect the secondary protein structure that may impact its function. Publicly available expression data shows a higher expression of Greb1L in the inner ear of mice during development and a reduced expression in adulthood, underscoring its importance in the development of the inner ear structures. Conclusion: This report on an African individual supports the association of GREB1L variant with non-syndromic HI and extended the evidence of the implication of GREB1L variants in HI in diverse populations.

Source: UG
A novel community-based water recreation area for schistosomiasis control in rural Ghana

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
A novel D:A-friedooleanane triterpenoid and other constituents of the stem bark of Dichapetalum barteri Engl.

A novel pentacyclic triterpenoid, 2β-hydroxy-3-oxo-D:A-friedoolenanan- 29-oic acid has been isolated from the methanol extract of the stem bark of Dichapetalum barteri, and characterised by spectroscopic methods. Also reported for the first time from the plant are two lupane-type triterpenoids betulinic acid and betulonic acid, the friedelane triterpenoids syn:canophyllal, syn:canophyllol, friedelan-3-one and friedelan-3α-ol (epifriedelinol), the more common triterpenoids β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, as well as seven long chain esters of ferulic acid. ©ARKAT USA, Inc.

Source: UG
Novel Degree-Based Topological Descriptors of Carbon Nanotubes

The most significant tool of mathematical chemistry is the numerical descriptor called topological index. Topological indices are extensively used in modelling of chemical compounds to analyse the studies on quantitative structure activity/property/toxicity relationships and combinatorial library virtual screening. In this work, an attempt is made in defining three novel descriptors, namely, neighborhood geometric-harmonic, harmonic-geometric, and neighborhood harmonic-geometric indices. Also, the aforementioned three indices along with the geometric-harmonic index are tested for physicochemical properties of octane isomers using linear regression models and computed for some carbon nanotubes.

Source: UG
A novel Gymnema sylvestre extract stimulates insulin secretion from human islets in vivo and in vitro

Many plant-based products have been suggested as potential antidiabetic agents, but few have been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in human studies, and little is known of their mechanisms of action. Extracts of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) have been used for the treatment of T2DM in India for centuries. The effects of a novel high molecular weight GS extract, Om Santal Adivasi, (OSA(R)) on plasma insulin, C-peptide and glucose in a small cohort of patients with T2DM are reported here. Oral administration of OSA(R) (1 g/day, 60 days) induced significant increases in circulating insulin and C-peptide, which were associated with significant reductions in fasting and post-prandial blood glucose. In vitro measurements using isolated human islets of Langerhans demonstrated direct stimulatory effects of OSA(R) on insulin secretion from human ß-cells, consistent with an in vivo mode of action through enhancing insulin secretion. These in vivo and in vitro observations suggest that OSA(R) may provide a potential alternative therapy for the hyperglycemia associated with T2DM.

Source: UG
Novel hemin-derived Fe/N–C magnetic catalyst for enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation and diclofenac degradation

In this study, Fe involved N-doped carbon catalysts labelled as PA@Hemx (x = pyrolysis temperature) was synthesized through a one-step pyrolysis of hemin (Hem) and polyacrylate (PA). The reported method enables high dispersion and exposure of both Fe and N active sites on PA derived carbon. The PA@Hemx samples were then used for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activated diclofenac (DCF) degradation. Results from the character ization studies verified the successful incorporation of hemin in the composite. Approximately 99.2 % DCF degradation at pH = 6.01 was achieved in 60 min using 0.1 g L− 1 PA@Hem700 and 1.0 mM PMS. The pseudo second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model were used to described the uptake and equilibrium process in DCF/PA@Hem700 system. Scavenging and electron-spin-resonance studies showed a non-radical singlet oxygen species ( 1 O2) dominates over • OH and SO4 •− radicals in the system. The role of electron transfer was also verified via chronoamperometry and electrochemical-impedance spectroscopy techniques. Furthermore, the PA@Hem700/PMS remained highly active towards DCF degradation even in the presence of common anions, humic acid, and various water matrices. The developed catalyst exhibited a TOC removal of 65.8 %. The study also established the potential of PA@Hem700/PMS to degrade other organic pollutants (e.g., tetracycline (TC),

Source: UG
Novel Hemin-Derived Fe/N–C Magnetic Catalyst For Enhanced Peroxymonosulfate Activation And Diclofenac Degradation.

In this study, Fe involved N-doped carbon catalysts labelled as PA@Hemx (x = pyrolysis temperature) was synthesized through a one-step pyrolysis of hemin (Hem) and polyacrylate (PA). The reported method enables high dispersion and exposure of both Fe and N active sites on PA derived carbon. The PA@Hemx samples were then used for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activated diclofenac (DCF) degradation. Results from the character ization studies verified the successful incorporation of hemin in the composite. Approximately 99.2 % DCF degradation at pH = 6.01 was achieved in 60 min using 0.1 g L− 1 PA@Hem700 and 1.0 mM PMS. The pseudo second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model were used to described the uptake and equilibrium process in DCF/PA@Hem700 system. Scavenging and electron-spin-resonance studies showed a non-radical singlet oxygen species ( 1 O2) dominates over • OH and SO4 •− radicals in the system. The role of electron transfer was also verified via chronoamperometry and electrochemical-impedance spectroscopy techniques. Furthermore, the PA@Hem700/PMS remained highly active towards DCF degradation even in the presence of common anions, humic acid, and various water matrices. The developed catalyst exhibited a TOC removal of 65.8 %. The study also established the potential of PA@Hem700/PMS to degrade other organic pollutants (e.g., tetracycline (TC), simazine (SIM), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)). The results from this study are expected to advance research on synthesizing other novel polymer-based Fe/N–C catalysts for degrading organic pollutants.

Source: UG
A novel HIV T helper epitope-based vaccine elicits cytokine-secreting HIV-specific CD4+ T cells in a Phase I clinical trial in HIV-uninfected adults

A Phase I human vaccine trial of a novel polypeptide vaccine of HIV T helper epitopes (EP-1043) and a DNA vaccine of HIV CTL epitopes was conducted in 84 healthy adult volunteers. The vaccine immunogenicity was assessed by an intracellular cytokine staining assay for IL-2, IL-4, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Sixty eight percent (32/47) of subjects had a positive CD4+ T response after receiving two vaccinations of the polypeptide vaccine. The responding CD4+ T cells made various combinations of IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha. The study demonstrated that the EP-1043 vaccine is safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic.

Source: UG
Novel human rotavirus genotype G5P[7] from child with diarrhea, Cameroon

The main research focus of the Electron Microscopy and Histopathology Department in the past 20 years has been in the areas of enteric diarrhoeas with special emphasis on rotavirus. Through its diarrhoea surveillance studies, the Department has helped to firmly establish rotaviruses as a major cause of diarrhoea in children, and document the circulation of unusual rotavirus genotypes in Ghana. The Department has also recently expanded its diagnostic repertoire to include the identification and characterization of noroviruses, astroviruses, and other enteric viruses.

Source: UG
A novel I247T missense mutation in the haptoglobin 2 β-chain decreases the expression of the protein and is associated with ahaptoglobinemia

We have identified a novel base substitution at codon 247 in the β-chain of the haptoglobin 2 (Hp 2 ) allele in a Ghanaian with the Hp0 (ahaptoglobinemic) phenotype. The heterozygous T→C substitution caused reduced expression of the protein when the mutant was transfected into COS7 cells. The base substitution resulted in a missense change of the non-polar amino acid isoleucine to the polar amino acid threonine at a position in the β-chain that is highly conserved among several species. We had previously identified a mutation in the Hp gene promoter region for the same individual, which gives her genotype as –61CHp 2 /–61CHp 2 (I247T). Since the –61C mutation also leads to low Hp expression, the genotype represents the first and most definitive ahaptoglobinemic case reported in Africa.

Source: UG
Novel magnetic heating probe for multimodal cancer treatment

Purpose: Multifunctional materials consisting of polymers and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are highly sought after in the field of biomedical engineering. These materials offer new opportunities for the development of novel cancer treatment modalities that can increase the efficacy of cancer therapy. In this paper, a novel probe for multimodal cancer treatment is proposed and analyzed. The probe is essentially a cannula with two main parts: a distal heat generating tip made of a magnetic nanocomposite and a proximal insulated shaft. Methods: A description of the concept and functional operations of the probe is presented. In an effort to assess its feasibility, the authors evaluated the ability of probe tip (made of PMMA-Fe3O4 nanocomposite) to generate heat in biological tissue using alternating magnetic field (AMF) parameters (field strength and frequency) that are acceptable for human use. Heat generation by MNPs was determined using the linear response theory. The effects of Fe3O4 volume fraction on heat generation as well as treatment time on the thermal dose were studied. The finite element method model was tested for its validity using an analytical model. Results: Lesions were revealed to have an ellipsoidal shape and their sizes were affected by treatment time. However, their shapes remained unchanged. The comparison with the analytical model showed reasonably a good agreement to within 2%. Furthermore, the authors numerical predictions also showed reasonable agreement with the experimental results previously reported in the literature. Conclusions: The authors predictions demonstrate the feasibility of their novel probe to achieve reasonable lesion sizes, during hyperthermic or ablative heating using AMF parameters (field strength and frequency) that are acceptable for human use. © 2015 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Source: UG
Novel plasmodium falciparum clones and rising clone multiplicities are associated with the increase in malaria morbidity in Ghanaian children during the transition into the high transmission season.

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
Novel rhizobia exhibit superior nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation even under high nitrate concentrations

Legume–rhizobium symbiosis leads to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. However, externally applied chemical nitrogen fertilizers (nitrate and ammonia) strongly inhibit nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. Here, we isolated several rhizobial strains exhibiting a superior nodulation and nitrogen fixation with soybean at high nitrate concentrations. The nodulation of soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 was significantly inhibited at 12.5 mM nitrate; however, three isolates (NKS4, NKM2 and NKTG2) were capable of forming nitrogen-fixing nodules, even at 20 mM nitrate. These isolates exhibited higher nodulation competitiveness and induced larger nodules with higher nitrogen-fixation activity than USDA110 at 5 mM nitrate. Furthermore, these isolates induced more nodules than USDA110 even in nitrate-free conditions. These isolates had a distant lineage within the Bradyrhizobium genus; though they were relatively phylogenetically close to Bradyrhizobium japonicum, their morphological and growth characteristics were significantly different. Notably, in the presence of nitrate, expression of the soybean symbiosis-related genes (GmENOD40 and GmNIN) was significantly higher and expression of GmNIC1 that is involved in nitrate-dependent nodulation inhibition was lower in the roots inoculated with these isolates in contrast with inoculation of USDA110. These novel rhizobia serve as promising inoculants for soybeans cultivated in diverse agroecosystems, particularly on nitrate-applied soils.

Source: UG
Novel Strategies for Malaria Vaccine Design

The quest for a licensed effective vaccine against malaria remains a global priority. Even though classical vaccine design strategies have been successful for some viral and bacterial pathogens, little success has been achieved for Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the deadliest form of malaria due to its diversity and ability to evade host immune responses. Nevertheless, recent advances in vaccinology through high throughput discovery of immune correlates of protection, lymphocyte repertoire sequencing and structural design of immunogens, provide a comprehensive approach to identifying and designing a highly efficacious vaccine for malaria. In this review, we discuss novel vaccine approaches that can be employed in malaria vaccine design.

Source: UG
De novo mutation rates at the single-mutation resolution in a human HBB gene region associated with adaptation and genetic disease

Although it is known that the mutation rate varies across the genome, previous estimates were based on averaging across various numbers of positions. Here, we describe a method to measure the origination rates of target mutations at target base positions and apply it to a 6-bp region in the human hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) gene and to the identical, paralogous hemoglobin subunit delta (HBD) region in sperm cells from both African and European donors. The HBB region of interest (ROI) includes the site of the hemoglobin S (HbS) mutation, which protects against malaria, is common in Africa, and has served as a classic example of adaptation by random mutation and natural selection. We found a significant correspondence between de novo mutation rates and past observations of alleles in carriers, showing that mutation rates vary substantially in a mutation-specific manner that contributes to the site frequency spectrum. We also found that the overall point mutation rate is significantly higher in Africans than in Europeans in the HBB region studied. Finally, the rate of the 20A→T mutation, called the “HbS mutation” when it appears in HBB, is significantly higher than expected from the genome-wide average for this mutation type. Nine instances were observed in the African HBB ROI, where it is of adaptive significance, representing at least three independent originations; no instances were observed elsewhere. Further studies will be needed to examine mutation rates at the single-mutation resolution across these and other loci and organisms and to uncover the molecular mechanisms responsible.

Source: UG