ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Improving services in law libraries: the case of the Faculty of Law Library, University of Ghana, Legon

The paper discusses the important role of law in the progress, development and the construction of a country and the special function of the University Law Library in the study and practice of law. The paper goes on to discusses the history of the establishment of the Faculty of Law Library and its important function as a place of reference and research for students and faculty as well as others having a need for legal information in Ghana. Finally the paper goes on to discuss some challenges that faced the Faculty of Law Library in its efforts to improve services, efforts in introduce technology, and future plans to improve services in the Faculty of Law Library.

Source: UG
Improving stroke care in Ghana: a roundtable discussion with communities, healthcare providers, policymakers and civil society organisations

Even though there have been advances in medical research and technology for acute stroke care treatment and man agement globally, stroke mortality has remained high, with a higher burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Ghana. In Ghana, stroke mortality and disability rates are high, and research on post-stroke sur vival care is scarce. The available evidence suggests that Ghanaian stroke survivors and their caregivers seek treat ment from pluralistic health care providers. However, no previous attempt has been made to bring them together to discuss issues around stroke care and rehabilitation. To address this challenge, researchers from the Institute of Ad vanced Studies, University College London, in collaboration with researchers from the African Centre of Excellence for Non-communicable diseases (ACE-NCDs), University of Ghana, organised a one-day roundtable to discuss is sues around stroke care. The purpose of the roundtable was fourfold. First, to initiate discussion/collaborations among biomedical, ethnomedical and faith-based healthcare providers and stroke patients and their caregivers around stroke care. Second, to facilitate discussion on experiences with stroke care. Third, to understand the healthcare providers’, health systems’, and stroke survivors’ needs to enhance stroke care in Ghana. Finally, to de fine practical ways to improve stroke care in Ghana.

Source: UG
Improving teaching and learning in higher Education institutions: is discussion method The answer?

This paper explores the role of discussion method in teaching for improving learning in higher education institutions. Teaching and learning are inseparable. However, teaching becomes effective only when it leads to meaningful learning. The lecture method for teaching dominates the classrooms in higher education institutions and is receiving negative comments from all stakeholders. Discussion method is considered superior by experts as it is more democratic by nature. It is inclusive, participatory and holds the key for empowering learners to be critical thinkers. A descriptive narrative design was employed for conducting the study. Qualitative techniques were employed at several stages throughout the study. Purposive and accidental sampling procedures were used. Semi-structured interviews guide were used for collecting data and ideas from the participants. It emerged that discussion method for teaching in classrooms possesses the power to stimulate quiet and shy-looking learners open up, think, participate and follow the instructions offered during discussions in the classrooms. It is recommended that the discussion method for teaching be employed because it creates an equal playing field for students to think critically and contribute to lessons.

Source: UG
Improving the Accuracy of Vulnerability Report Classification Using Term Frequency-Inverse Gravity Moment

Software vulnerability analysis is one of the critical issues in the software industry, and vulnerability classification plays a major role in this analysis. A typical vulnerability classification model usually involves a stage of term selection, in which the relevant terms are identified via feature selection. It also involves a stage of term weighting, in which document weights for the selected terms are computed, and a stage for classifier learning. Generally, the term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) is the most widely used term-weighting method. However, empirical evidence shows that the TF-IDF is plagued with issues pertaining to its effectiveness. This paper introduces a new approach for vulnerability classification, which is based on term frequency and inverse gravity moment (TF-IGM). The proposed method is validated by empirical experiments using three machine learning algorithms on ten publicly available vulnerability datasets. The result shows that TF-IGM outperforms the benchmark method across the applications studied.

Source: UG
Improving the establishment and yield of soybean through planting depth and land preparation methods in Northern Ghana

Two field experiments, organized in randomized complete block design, were conducted in 2005 and 2006 farming seasons at Nyankpala in the Northern Region of Ghana to investigate the effects of planting depth (1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm) and land preparation methods (flat field, mounding and ridging) on crop establishment (percentage number of established plants) and grain yield of soybean (Glycine max cv. Anidaso). In the 2005 farming season results indicated that crop establishment increased from planting depth of 1 cm (97.75%), reached a peak at 4 cm (98.82%) and declined through 6-8 cm (94.15%) under flat field condition. Nodule formation was high between planting depth of 2 and 4 cm. Generally, the number of pods and grain yield decreased with increasing plant depth. The grain yield values for 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm depths were 4.25, 4.22, 3.87, 3.26 and 3.12 t/ha, respectively. In the 2006 farming season, at 4 cm planting depth ridging gave the highest crop establishment of 97.77%. The highest number of pods was recorded for mound (197 per plant) followed by ridge (189 per plant) and flat (143 per plant). This pod formation characteristic reflected in the grain yield of 6.14 t/ha, 5.95 t/ha and 4.07 t/ha for mound, ridge and flat, respectively. The study revealed that for good crop establishment and optimum grain yield of soybean in northern Ghana planting could be done on mounds or ridges at planting depth between 1 and 4 cm. Ridging may be preferred because it can easily be prepared mechanically using a tractor to save time and labour.

Source: UG
Improving the Explicitness of Verbal Communications of University Supervisors in Student Teaching

Research in teacher education indicates the need for training university supervisors in specific programs that are compatible with the goals of the teacher education program. There is also evidence which indicates that student teachers often receive feedback from supervisors that is vague and implicit. As a result of the implicitness of the feedback, student teachers are often unable to follow through successfully in subsequent teaching. Some form of training is essential if student teachers are to receive information about their teaching that is explicit. The purpose of this study was to train four university supervisors to communicate information about student performances in an explicit manner and to hold them accountable for their performances during student teaching. As a result of participation in the training program, university supervisors were able to increase the communication of fully explicit tasks and type of accountability statements. In addition, they were able to decrease the communication of implicit tasks and different types of accountability statements during conferences in student teaching.

Source: UG
Improving the laboratory diagnosis of TB in Ghana: the impact of a quality assurance system

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
Improving the Literacy of Medical Students: A Collective Knowledge Management Effort by the University for Development Studies Medical School in Ghana and the Community Surrounding the University

The purpose of the study is to show how a collective knowledge management effort was undertaken in a low-tech environment yields outcomes that benefit all participants of the effort—students and staff of a medical school, the medical profession in the community, paramedics, and the community at large. It also demonstrates that acquainting students with knowledge management skills early and improving their information literacy. If they can effectively manage their knowledge resources in close connection with all members of the society around their school, the benefits will be improving academic efficiency, diagnostic effectiveness, and feedback from medical institutions and patients. The study descends from the Medical Library Association’s definition of health information literacy. It uses a survey at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Ghana, to examine the information and literacy skills of its medical students. Also, it explores the level of awareness of the various databases to which the university library is subscribed, the benefits of information literacy skills, and the challenges that students face in identifying and using information sources. From there, the paper explores avenues for improving the situation of the students of which the optimal is conjoining resources in and outside the medical school. Linking faculty, students, and medical professionals in the university’s local environment in a collective endeavour for enhancing the literacy skills proper can result in a shared inventory of tools that help to discriminate, which information is needed and which is redundant. From this foundation, students would develop abilities to understand knowledge management and know how to apply it in their specific field of professionalization. The sample was selected from doctoral students in a single institution in the field of education. Also, the sample was self-selected and relatively small. There is a caveat, therefore, for generalizing the findings to other doctoral student populations. This study is useful to health administrators and faculty members, because issues concerning the importance of information literacy skills do not only apply to UDS, Tamale, but to other medical institutions in Africa as well. The study provides university libraries with reliable data on the need for and the effectiveness of information literacy instruction and it enables the librarians to strategize how to improve the instructions they provide. The medical profession highly depends on the adequacy of diagnosis and therapy selection, and for this, any medical professional must be capable to access and use state of the art information sources. There are only a few studies around the topic of medical literacy and almost none for developing countries. But the results of the other studies corroborate the findings of this paper to a great extent.

Source: UG
Improving the productivity and income of Ghanaian cocoa farmers while maintaining environmental services: What role for certification?

Ghana, as the second largest global producer of cocoa, is strategically positioned on the world market. Consumer concerns over ethical and environmental issues associated with cocoa production are a potential threat to its position. These concerns have given rise to certification. Certification dictates the way cocoa can be produced and consequently affects producers' incomes and environmental services. The expected profitability, yield, and environmental impact of Rainforest Alliance certified shade-grown cocoa production (RA-Cocoa) is estimated and compared to an extensive shaded production system (Ext-Cocoa) and an intensified full sun production system (High-Tech). Ext-Cocoa represents most cocoa production systems in Ghana, while High-Tech is promoted by the government as a tool for attaining its target output of 1 million tons. Under the baseline assumptions High-Tech was the most profitable; RA-Cocoa generated positive returns, while Ext-cocoa was a break even proposition. Simulation of different policy scenarios did not affect the rank order of the baseline outcome. The Ext-Cocoa yield was 28% of the RA-Cocoa yield, which was 78% of the High-Tech yield. The environmental services maintained at the plot level of RA-Cocoa production system are greater than those of the High-Tech production system. However, the 228,000 ha of additional forest land required to produce 1 million tons with RA-Cocoa questions which system would impact environmental services the least. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Source: UG
Improving the productivity of Vertisols in the Accra plains of Ghana using leguminous cover crops

The productivity of the Vertisols of the Accra plains is low, in spite of its high potential fertility. This could be attributed to physical constraints and low organic matter content. A study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Centre, Kpong, to assess the suitability of Mucuna pruriens, Mimosa invisa and Stylosanthes guianensis, in short fallows, for improving the fertility, physical properties, moisture conservation and weed control in the case of these soils. Mucuna had the highest biomass of 5.3tha -1, as opposed to 4.1tha -1 under natural fallow. The mucuna and stylosanthes biomass had comparatively higher total N values (240.75 and 203.51kgha -1, respectively) than mimosa and natural fallow (152.46 and 162.74kgha -1, respectively). Soil organic carbon, one year after the incorporation of cover crops, was found to be relatively higher under the cover crops (mucuna, stylosanthes and mimosa) than it was under natural fallow. Bulk densities were thus lower under the cover crops than they were under natural fallow. Also, soils under the cover crops had higher total porosity, water infiltration rates and moisture storage than they did under natural fallow. Weed cover, 115 days after planting maize, was significantly lower in plots previously under Mucuna pruriens than it was under natural fallow, Stylosanthes guianensis and Mimosa invisa. There was a negative linear correlation between cover crop biomass and weed density (R 2 1/4 0.593-0.805). Grain and stover yields of maize were higher under Mucuna pruriens than they were under natural fallow (138 and 70 per cent higher, respectively). Burning of the natural fallow resulted in greater weed growth than when the material was worked into the soil (41 and 8 per cent, respectively). Grain yield was significantly greater under mucuna than it was under natural fallow (3.1 and 1.3tha -1, respectively). © 2011 Earthscan, Taylor &amp; Francis Group.

Source: UG
Improving the quality of care for people who had a stroke in a low-/middle-income country: A qualitative analysis of health-care professionals' perspectives

The Clinical Pathology Department conducts research that contributes to intervention strategies and safeguards of public health in Ghana. In view of this the Department carries out research into plant medicine development, drug interactions and regulation, bio-monitoring and prevention of poisoning from environmental toxicants (e.g. mycotoxins specifically aflatoxins and toxic heavy metals). The Department also provides specialized laboratory services in support of public health programmes.

Source: UG
Improving the Quality of Library and Information Science Journals in West Africa: A Stakeholders Conference: Proceedings of the Conference Held at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 7-8 December 2005

This paper discussed the role journals play in the development of emerging LIS scholars. It describes the characterisfic;3<f:le.merging LIS scholars and concludes that editors are not doing enough to encourage emerging scholars in LIS. The paper recommends that there is a need for LIS Professional associations to provide an enabling environment for emerging LIS scholars in Nigeria.

Source: UG
Improving traditional leafy vegetables production through water use efficiency and fertilizer microdosing technology in Benin Republic

In most developing countries, water and fertilizer management pose serious problems to vegetables production. This study aimed at determining the fresh leaf yields and Water Use Efficiency (WUE) under microdosed fertilizer technology of two main traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) (Amaranthus cruentus L. and Solanum macrocarpon L.) that are consumed in Benin. A field experiment was carried out at Centre de Recherche Agricole d'INA, Northern Benin, under sprinkler irrigation at maximum evapotranspiration (MET) calculated from Cropwat 8.0. The study was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications and two factors: 1) urea (46% N) applied at D0, D20, D40, D60, D80 (kg ha-1) and 2) urea application timing at d1: early application (10 days after transplanting, DAT) and d2: later application (15 DAT). Following the MET (6.6 mm day-1), plants were irrigated twice a day (morning and evening) at 3.3 mm per watering. This irrigation rate was applied by operating the sprinklers with 0.078 mm min-1 of water flow for 44 min. Soil moisture and drainage were measured every week using TDR (time domain reflectometry) probe and micro-lysimeters respectively. The water balance was calculated using the trapezoidal method. WUE was determined using the ratio of dry biomass yields and real crop evapotranspiration (RET). Data were analyzed with R software following analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pairewise t test at 0.05 level of probability. Quadratic regression was used to model TLVs response to fertilizer rates. At D60d1 and D40d2 we recorded the highest RET (35-42.45 mm week-1), highest fresh biomass yields (4.5-4.7 t ha-1 for eggplant and 9.9-10.5 t ha-1 for amaranth) and highest WUE (2.5-4 kg ha-1 mm-1), respectively. Microdosed fertilizer technology may be therefore used to improve TLVs production and WUE because it may contribute to reduce fertilizer use by 2.5-10 times for urea and to 50% irrigation water while increase fresh leaf yield by 30-64%.

Source: UG
Improving treatment outcomes for MDR-TB - Novel host-directed therapies and personalised medicine of the future

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
Improving understanding of disease control implementation research through a mooc with participants from low- and middle income countries: Evaluating participant reactions and learning

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases developed a mas sive open online course (MOOC) on implementation research with a focus on infectious dis eases of poverty (IDPs) to reinforce the explanation of implementation research concepts through real case studies. The target MOOC participant group included public health offi cers, researchers and students. By reshaping institutions and building resilience in commu nities and systems, implementation research will allow progress towards universal health coverage and sustainable development goals. This study evaluates learners’ knowledge in implementation research after completing the MOOC using anonymous exit survey responses. Of the almost 4000 enrolled in the two sessions of the MOOC in 2018, about 30% completed all five modules and the assessments, and were awarded certificates. The majority of the participants were early to mid-career professionals, under the age of 40, and from low- and middle-income countries. They were slightly more likely to be men (56%) with a Bachelor or a Master’s degree. Participants were public health researchers (45%), public health officers (11%) or students (11%). On completion of the course, an exit survey revealed that 80.9% of respondents indicated significant improvement to strong and very strong implementation research knowledge. This evaluation clearly shows the usefulness of the MOOC on implementation research for reaching out to field researchers and public health practitioners who are facing problems in the implementation of control programmes in low- and middle-income countries

Source: UG
“In our Hearts we felt the sentence of Death”’ Ethnic German Recollections of Mass violence in the USSR, 1928-1948”

This article seeks to the mass violence enthused by Joseph Stalin and history against the USSR’s ethnic Germans. It endeavours to comprehend how Soviet policies of repression progressed and intensified to the extreme detriment of this nationality grove. It covers the tumultuous period between 1928 and 1948, when Soviet policies overall coarsened considerable from the implementation of studious first five-year plan to the government decree banishing several Soviet peoples in their victual entirety, including the ethnic Germans to “external” exile east of the Urals. This process sifted from class-based reasons to ethnic ones as the 1930s progressed.

Source: UG
In pursuit of technical need or political compromise: Reforms of public financial management practices in Ghana’s health sector.

Purpose – The major question posed in this paper is whether public finance management (PFM) reforms undertaken by development partners (DPs) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Ghana were to find solutions to the many PFM challenges or it was merely a façade to pursue latent political interest? Methodology – Study information was gathered via a desk review of major PFM policy documents, procedures, manuals, guidelines, and findings of commissioned studies covering the period under review. Information generated from the desk review was triangulated via extensive interviews with a sample of policy makers from MOH and DPs. Findings – The findings suggest that MOH and DPs pursued reforms mostly to address the PFM challenges in the sector. Additionally, the study finds questionable the attitude and posture of the two actors and calls for further investigations to unearth what the said attitude and posture may imply in terms of intentions. Originality/value – The findings raises fundamental question regarding public sector – DPs collaborations in executing reforms. This could open up new frontiers for further research to better understand DPs/public sector collaboration in the implementation of reforms. Limitations – The sample used for this study may constrain generalization to other jurisdiction. This limitation does not in any case invalidate the conclusions arrived at.

Source: UG