ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of 16s Deoxyribonucleic acid, Procalcitonin, High sensitive C-reactive Protein and Presepsin as early diagnostic markers for Paediatric Sepsis

Sepsis is one of the commonest diseases of the paediatric population with significant morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. Its diagnosis however, remains a challenge despite the advances in medicine. This study evaluated the individual and combined diagnostic accuracy of 16S deoxyribonucleic acid (16S DNA), procalcitonin (PCT), presepsin (sCD14-ST) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in septic Ghanaian paediatrics. A total of 90 paediatrics consisting of 60 cases and 30 controls from the Paediatric Emergency Unit and the Mother and Baby Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital were recruited for the study after ethical approval for the study was obtained. Diagnosis of sepsis was done using blood cultures, 16S DNA, PCT, sCD14-ST and hs-CRP. Evaluation of the biomarkers was done on individual and combinational basis using receiver operating characteristics curve and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to select independent predictors. Bacterial sepsis was diagnosed in 14 patients (23.3%) using blood cultures (BC). Significant elevations in PCT, sCD14-ST and hs-CRP levels were observed among cases in comparison to controls (p<0.0001). PCT showed a better accuracy (AUC=78.7%) followed by hs-CRP (AUC=78.4%) and sCD14-ST (AUC=74.8%) respectively for the individual performances. PCT+hs-CRP had the highest accuracy (AUC =80.1%) followed by hs-CRP+ sCD14-ST (AUC =77.2%), PCT+sCD14-ST+hs-CRP (AUC=77.0%) and PCT+sCD14-ST (AUC=75.9%) when bioscore for the combination of the biomarkers were fitted into logistic regression model. The best significant odd ratios (OR) for the combination was PCT+sCD14-ST+hs-CRP at 15.8 followed by hs-CRP+sCD14-ST at 13.5, hs-CRP+PCT at 13.3 and PCT+sCD14-ST at 11.7. Using BC as a gold standard, the 16S DNA had a high level of sensitivity (85.7%) but was poorly specific (32.6%) in the diagnosis of sepsis. PCT and hs-CRP were significantly higher in 16S DNA diagnosed septic patients than those who tested negative for 16S DNA (p<0.005). Though no statistically significant, we observed increased levels of sCD14-ST in 16S DNA proven sepsis 26.76 (19.14-93.59) than those that were negative for 16S DNA 22.43 (18.74-27.08). Using PCR to diagnose sepsis among paediatrics may not be specific enough to replace microbiologically proven sepsis (blood cultures) but can be performed as an additional test especially for detection of resistant as well as culture unfriendly bacteria strains. This study showed that combined diagnostic performance of hs-CRP+PCT poses a better diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of paediatric sepsis. Bioscores combination of the biomarkers were significantly associated with increasing odds of bacterial sepsis. The incorporation of the combination of these three biomarkers into routine diagnostic tests for paediatric sepsis will aid in the prompt diagnosis of paediatric sepsis and will be of immense help in Ghana since all the biomarkers were independent predictors of bacterial sepsis.

Source: KNUST
An evaluation of agricultural programme in the cocoa industry: a comparative study of the Ashanti and Suhum cocoa projects

Cocoa is an important crop to the Ghanaian economy and it has been the country’s main foreign exchange earner for several decades. The annual output has traced a downward trend since the 1970s. There have been attempts by successive governments to reverse this situation. One such attempt was the establishment of two pilot projects in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions to serve as vehicles for increasing cocoa output in the industry. o far, the economic and financial ‘viabiii1 and effectiveness of these projects has not been evaluated to assess their impact on the cocoa industry and the economy as a whole. The objective of this study is to evaluate the suhum and Ashanti Cocoa Projects and to assess their impact on the production of cocoa, employment and farmers’ income. Data for the study were collected from field surveys and secondary sources. A sample of 140 farmers was interviewed and of this 100 were project participants and 40 non-project participants. Quantitative and qualitative tools and techniques were used for the analysis of data collected. Quantitative tools like time series and gini-coefficient ratio were used for projecting the cocoa output of the two projects to know their future output trend for comparative purposes; and to measure inequalities in the distribution of wealth and income respectively. The social cost—benefit technique was also used to assess the financial impact and the economic ability of the two projects. The analyses indicated that the projects’ impact on cocoa production has been limited. Even though the rehabilitation component increased, average yield per acre by 31kg over and above the yields in non-project areas, the replanting components would have achieved higher yields if it had the same age of planting as that of the cocoa trees in the non-project areas. The projects increased the income of project participants, and the distribution of income as indicated by the gini-coefficient was less pronounced in the project areas. In terms of employment, the two projects employed between 2000 and 4000 people each and induced farmers’ to increase their acreages cultivated. The financial and economic analysis indicated the viability of the projects. The Net Present Values (NPV’s) were greater than zero at the opportunity cost of capital of 8 percent. The Internal Rate of Returns (IRR’s) were also greater than 45 percent. The implications of these high discounted measures are that the two projects are and would be expected to contribute significantly to the national income. The study revealed that lack of active farmer participation in the projects constituted a major setback to the achievement of the stated measures. In the light of the foregoing, it was recommended that farmers be included in the design of such projects, and that cocoa sector plans should be coordinated as veil as plans of the various sectors of the economy. In addition to these the producer price incentive would appear to be extremely crucial and would go a long way to rectify the situation.

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of antimalarial activity of four (4) cryptolepis sanguinolenta based herbal preparations on plasmodium berghei in mice

The antimalarial activity of four Cryptolepis sanguinolenta based herbal preparations namely NBOl, NB02, Cryptoquine and Nibima, were studied using Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) in ICR mice. The herbal preparations were evaluated for chemosupressive activity during an early infection with P. berghei in mice and also for possible repository activity to ascertain whether they could be useful as prophylaxis. Each mouse used in the study was infected with a standard inoculum of 1 x 106 parasitised RBCs intraperitoneally. P. berghei infected mice which were treated with Cryptolepis sanguinolenta based herbal preparations showed chemosuppression in all four herbal preparations for the 4-day suppressive test. Also, the results of the repository activity of the herbal preparations showed that all four herbal preparations have promising repository activity judging by theis ability to reduce parasitemia in mice. Generally, the results of the mean survival time of mice treated with all four herbal preparations under the 4-day tests compares werrwith those treated with chloroquine. The results of the study have shown that all four Cryptolepis sanguinolenta based herbal preparations appear to have both schizontocidal and repository activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice. This implies that all four herbal preparations may be useful in the prevention and treatment of malaria.

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of attitude and behavioural intention towards auditing services among small and medium enterprises in Ghana

This study explores the attitude and behavioural intention of smes towards auditing services in Ghana. Specifically, the study examines the influence of perceived benefits and perceived financial cost on the attitude and intention towards using auditing services as well as the influence of attitude towards using auditing services on the intention to use auditing services. Geographically, the research covered 238 smes within Ho Municipality in Volta Region. Primary data was collected using self-reported questionnaire. The hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM procedure. It was found that the smes have high positive attitude towards auditing services. Aside, the results indicate a high positive behavioural intention of the smes towards auditing service. Further, the findings have proven perceived benefits positively influence SME’s attitude and behavioural intentions towards the use of auditing services. Attitude also significantly predicts the intention to use auditing services positively. Similarly, it has been proven that the perceived financial cost negatively predicts the attitude and intention to use auditing services. It is therefore concluded that the smes in the Ho Municipality have favourable attitude and intentions towards the use of auditing services which are significantly influenced by perceived benefits and financial costs. Consequently, it was recommended that auditing experts including auditing service providers should comprehensively educate SME owners and managers on auditing services. Furthermore, auditing service providers should as a matter of urgency consider and regulate their consultancy fee for easy access to auditing services.

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of Antiwolbachial Treatment in Pathogenesis of Lymphedema Development

Globally, filarial LE affects more than 16 million individuals. Registered antifilarial drugs do little to mitigate the pathology. Currently, there is no definite drug for treating subjects who develop the pathology because the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) relies only on hygiene management practices as the only source of relieve for this group. Antiwolbachial therapy is therefore believed to be the most promising approach for treating lymphedema. To elucidate the efficacy of anti-wolbachial treatment with antibiotics in lymphedema, 180 individuals were recruited from 25 endemic communities of the Nzema East and Ahanta West Districts of the Western Region of Ghana for a double blind placebo-controlled trial. In all, 119 patients were stratified according to circulating filarial antigen (CFA) status, randomized to receive 200mg/d of doxycycline (n=46), 1000mg/d of amoxicillin (n=36) and placebo (n=38) for 42days in a daily observed treatment. Although minimal significant improvements were seen for almost all parameters measured in the CFA-positive treated with doxycycline, there were remarkable improvement in the CFA-negative doxycycline-treated patients particularly in the area of decreased mossy lesions, healed sores, reduced knobs, regressed leg stage, decreased ultrasound measurements (p=0.0001), reduced filarial acute attacks, halt of disease progression, significant reduction in antigenaemia levels (p=<0.00). In the majority of the patients who received 6 weeks doxycycline treatment, there was a highly significant improvement (43.9%) in the leg stage at the end of the study. Although there was halt of disease progression (61.9%) as well as decreased filarial attacks in the amoxicillin treated group, there was no significant improvement in the amoxicillin as well as the placebotreated patients regarding all other parameters assessed. The study suggests that doxycycline as the first therapy for treating lymphedema and recommends its use as individual drug administration.

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of aqueous neem (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss) kernel extract and thiophanate-methyl for the control of early and late leaf spots of groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.)

Three different concentrations of aqueous neem kernel extract (15%, 20% and 25%; w:v) and thiophanate methyl ( Topsin _MR 70 WP at 700g/ha) were evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling early and late leaf spot diseases (caused by Cercospora arachidicola and Phaeoisariopsis personata, respectively ) of groundnut at Fumesua and Kwadaso both in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Plants were sprayed twice i.e. 30 and 45 days after planting. The statistical analysis of the data on leaf spot incidence showed no significant differences among treatments. However, there were significant differences among the treatments with respect to disease severity. Topsin-MR was comparable to 25% neem kernel extract treatment in terms of disease suppression in the majority of the variables, viz, percentage defoliation, dry groundnut pod yield, kernel weight at Fumesua and percentage defoliation and dry groundnut haulm yield at Kwadaso. Although, these two treatments had equal efficacy, higher yields were observed from Topsin-MR treatment. These two treatments with the lowest mean disease severity were significantly different from the rest of the treatments. The lowest pod and haulm yields and greatest defoliation were observed in the treatments with the highest mean disease severity of early and late leaf spots. There was little difference between the 1 5%, 20% neem kernel extracts and the untreated but not significantly. Higher yields were obtained at Kwadaso than Fumesua regardless of higher disease severity levels.

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of art therapy practices in Psychiatric Institutions in Ghana

Art therapy can be defined as the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living and by people who seek personal development. Art therapy rests on the position of art making in accessing and expressing meaningful self and social constructs. Because it is a creative activity, art therapy also contains the potential to generate new options, meanings and strategies. The core of art therapy is the creative process expressed through art making within a therapeutic relationship. Art therapy can be used with children, adolescents and adults in a wide variety of settings and applications. As an integrative therapy, it offers a necessary option for clients who may need an experiential, less verbally driven approach. This thesis appraises art therapy practice in psychiatric institution in Ghana. This was done by identifying the various psychiatric institutions using art therapy and the kind of art forms being used. The effectiveness of existing art related practices and occupational therapy in psychiatric institutions was also assessed. The scope of art therapy practice and its contribution to the rehabilitation process was evaluated and recommendations for its improvement have been made. Prior to this, the researcher visited selected psychiatric institutions in eight out of the ten regions of Ghana. During these trips observation of art sessions were made in some of the institutions Primary data for the study was also gathered during this period.

Source: KNUST
An evaluation of audit report and recommendations of Wenchi Municipal Assembly

This study examines the pattern of Audit Reports Issues of WMA for the period 2009-2013. The descriptive method of research was employed for the study. A qualitative approach that includes examination or review of management letters, interviews and observations were used to collect data. A non probability sampling technique was used to select respondents. A sample size of ten (10) Key management staff of both the WMA and the Wenchi District Audit office were interviewed. The study revealed that the IGF report out of nineteen (19) issues, fifteen (15) issues repeated itself for two or more times(years) and from the DACF report out of twenty six(26) issues eleven(11) issues also recurred two or more times(years) over the five (5) year period 2009-2013. The findings also revealed Audit Reports Implementations Committee is faced with a lot of challenges ranging from inadequate funding, problematic composition, inadequate technical persons in the committee, and lack of external representative. The research concluded that Audit recommendations are not taken serious by WMA that’s why they do recur all the time. Audit report and recommendation do not really have any serious effect on WMA because the officers involved are not punished severely. The study also recommended that Political head and affiliate in WMA should work with due diligence and desist from making expenditures outside the Budget of WMA

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of banking performance in Ghana, a Comparative analysis of some selected banks. (a case study of GCB Bank Limited, CAL Bank Limited and Standard Chartered Bank).

Financial performance evaluation helps both banks and its stakeholders assess the outcomes of the bank’s policies and operations in monetary terms. The researcher attempts to provide a framework for quantitative evaluation of stability and soundness of commercial banks using financial statement analysis (FSA) and stock performance. The ratios are classified in accordance with their respective attributes under the six categories: profitability, asset utilization, leverage, liquidity, growth and stock performance of banks. This study is carried out to evaluate the performance of GCB Limited (GCB), CAL Bank Limited (CAL) and Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited (SCB) representing public, private and foreign banks respectfully. The study makes use of annual financial data spanning from 2007 to 2013. Descriptive and trend analysis of key financial ratios are presented. Additionally, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to check whether there are differences in each performance among the banks. Technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is performed to rank the relative performance of the banks under study. Results revealed that there is significant difference regarding all the performance indicators among the three banking groups except growth ratios that shows that there is no significant difference between them. TOPSIS ranking confirmed that SCB representing foreign banks had the highest rank followed by GCB being public bank and closely trailed by CAL a private bank. The researcher recommend among others that policy makers, regulators, directors, managers, potential investors and all stakeholders should constantly undertake performance evaluation of banks to ascertain the relative performance of banks so as to make necessary improvements.

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of Business Process Re-Engineering of SSNIT (Benefits Payment)

The Ghanaian social security scheme has been administered by the Social Security & National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) since July 1965. The three minimum contingencies provided for under the SSNIT scheme included Invalidity, Old-age and Survivors' benefit types. Until 1991 when this was converted into a pension scheme, only lump sum benefits were paid. The time for processing and payment of benefits to claimants by the SSNIT was alleged to be too long and this tended to inconvenience customers thus creating claimant dissatisfaction and complaints. Questions were asked regarding competitiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of SSNIT operations. In a bid to address this allegation, there was an attempt at re-engineering the SSNIT benefits processes. The questions asked created some concern for the researcher leading to the study of evaluating the Business Process Re-engineering of SSNIT regarding Benefits Processing with the primary aim of analyzing volume of work / output in time and resources used to reduce customer waiting time. Random sampling from strata was used for data collection and analysis. Findings were shown in bar and pie charts. Major findings pointed to the fact that although the SSNIT held national pension data and funds, processes employed in the administration of the scheme were more manual than automated. As a result, payments of benefits of all the three types were delayed thus SSNIT could not achieve the 23 days limit as stated in the medium term strategic plan document for the current year. Commitment to the re-engineering project did not seem to be strong and this may affect the ultimate goal of paying benefits in 14 days by the year 2010. Technology was found to be available and full process automation was seen to be the panacea that would enhance the operations of the SSNIT so as to bring efficiency, effectiveness and customer satisfaction.

Source: KNUST
Evaluation of bees wax and core materials for traditional lost wax casting

Cast hollow artefacts produced by Krofofrom metalsmiths are characterised by pinholes in the inner walls. This is due to the presence of cow dung in the core composition made up of charcoal and clay. Various materials were investigated and experimented upon to enhance the working properties of core and wax compositions. This is in order to improve the quality of cast hollow objects and also to use the findings of the research for educational purposes. Qualitative research design (descriptive and experimental) was used to gather data from a sample size of 25 professional craftsmen out of an accessible population of 50 metalsmiths operating at Krofofrom. Additional data was gathered from the experiments conducted. It was found that the application of saw dust and P.O.P in core production ensures easy disintegration of the core after casting and provides smooth inner walls for cast hollow objects. It was also found that there is a complete lack of knowledge on the use of P.O.P moulds for cast hollow patterns as well as the use of lacquer and kerosene as surface preservatives for cast objects. It is recommended that in producing cast hollow artefacts, metalsmiths at Krofofrom should adopt the use of saw dust and P.O.P as used in this research in order to avoid pinholes in the inner walls of cast hollow objects. The technique of using molten wax to produce hollow wax patterns in P.O.P moulds should be employed to ensure direct duplication of the original object without creating parting lines in the inner walls of the model. The application of either metal lacquer or kerosene should be adopted in the finishing of cast articles to protect the surface from tarnishing. Also periodic workshops should be organised for metalsmiths to help improve the production processes as well as the quality of the cast objects.

Source: KNUST