Prevalence of the related treponematoses syphilis and yaws and co-occurrence of pathogens causing similar skin lesions in Ghana

Yaws affects children in tropical regions while syphilis affects sexually active adults worldwide. Despite various campaigns towards eradication of yaws and elimination of syphilis, these two diseases are still present in Ghana. The agents causing these diseases, two Treponema pallidum subspecies, are genetically similar, but they have always been studied independently. In this context, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of these treponematoses and determine the co-occurrence of pathogens causing similar skin lesions in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A point-of-care test was used to determine their seroprevalence. Multiplex PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to identify other microorganisms in these lesions. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to compare the microbiota of yaws-like lesions with that of syphilis-like lesions. The results indicated that the seroprevalence of T. pallidum in individuals with yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions were 17.2% and 10.8%, respectively. Multiplex PCR results showed 9.1%, 1.8% and 0.9% of yaws-like lesions were positive for H. ducreyi, HSV-1 and T. pallidum respectively, and 28.26% of syphilis-like lesions were positive for HSV-2. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that 6.3% of yaws-like lesions were Heamophilus-positive, two yaws-like and one syphilis-like lesions were positive for Treponema and 3.6% yaws-like lesions were positive for Mycobacterium spp. Other microorganisms, including Pseudomonas spp, Klebsiella spp, Escherichia spp, Staphylococcus spp and Proteous spp, were identified as part of the microbiota of both yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions. The alpha diversity measures indicated that syphilis-like lesions were more diverse than yaws-like lesions, but the beta diversity measures suggested no significant dissimilarity between the microbiota of these lesions. Both yaws and syphilis are prevalent in the same geographical location, Ashanti region of Ghana. The presence of other medically important organisms as part of the microbiota of these lesions may prevent their complete resolution and impede the associated elimination and eradication campaigns

Adaption of structured analysis design techniques methodology for construction project planning

The construction industry has been heavily criticised by researchers and governmental organisations for its performance especially excessive delay. Ballard and Howell (2003) indicated that only about 50% of the tasks on weekly work plans are completed by the end of the plan week. This is a result of a lack of either effective project planning or effective production control. It therefore seems the traditional approach of planning is insufficient to meet the current demand and complexity of construction projects. This paper proposes to critically evaluate the adaptation of Structured Analysis Design Techniques (SADT) methodology as a tool for project planning. SADT which was further developed into IDEF (Integrated Definition) techniques claims to be a complete methodology to provide the means of understanding complex production systems and aid the implementation of change. The use of this methodology has led to process improvement. The research uses a literature review followed by interviews with academics and practitioners to investigate their knowledge and understanding of SADT (IDEFO). The results of the interviews indicated that SADT (IDEFO) methodology is seldom known and used in the construction industry. However, this study indicates that SADT methodology appears to be an effective project planning tool. This study contributes to the limited project planning techniques in construction industry by exploring the possible adaption of SADT

Motor symptoms of parkinson’s disease -a review literature

Parkinson disease is very common in the world, ranking second to Alzheimers disease in terms of degenerative neurological disorders. The disease since 1817 has had so many researchers looking into it, bringing out symptoms, possible treatment options, causes of the disorder to mention but a few. There are a number of studies that have looked into the symptoms of the disorder, especially the non-motor symptoms of the disorder. This study looks into the motor symptoms associated with the disease. It brought out the causes, which the study from the literature review conducted asserted that there is no known cause for it, however, about 60 to 80 percent of persons with PD, have a degenerating number of dopamine, as such, this can be postulated to be the cause. The study also affirmed that there is no known treatment for the symptoms, doctors and medical practitioners would therefore have to try different forms of treatment till the right one for the patient is arrived at

The Experiences of Students with Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study of Postsecondary Students in Ghana

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of students with disabilities at Golden Technical Institute (a pseudonym) in the eastern belt of Ghana. The theories guiding this study were Hosking’s critical disability theory and Tinto’s student persistence theory. This study sought to understand postsecondary students with disabilities’ social and academic experiences and institutional and personal factors that impact persistence. Transcendental phenomenological research approach was employed to understand how students with disabilities experience the phenomenon under the study. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select participants. Twelve participants took part in this research. Data were collected through personal interviews, focus group discussion, and prompt letter. I made sense of the text collected from interviews, focus group discussion, and prompt letter. I built detailed descriptions, applied codes, and developed themes. The five themes that emerged from this study include learning, relationship and interaction, social influence, institutional factors, and determination and perseverance. This research revealed both positive and negative interactions among participants, instructors, and peers

A Logistic Regression Analysis of Life Satisfaction amongst African Immigrants in Hamilton, Canada

Many minority immigrants currently face severe human rights violation through discrimination and racism, influencing how they rate their life satisfaction in their host destinations. This paper examines the factors that affect African immigrants’ life satisfaction in a mid-sized Canadian city. Using a combination of descriptive and multivariate methods applied on a sample survey (n=236) conducted in Hamilton, Ontario, this article investigates socio-demographic and health-related factors that predict life satisfaction amongst African immigrants, specifically, Ghanaians and Somalis. Findings suggest that Ghanaian immigrants reported greater life satisfaction than their Somali counterparts. People with residency in Canada over 10 years are more likely to report higher life satisfaction than those with length of residence from zero to ten years. Older individuals (i.e., age 25-54) are more likely to express higher life satisfaction compared to younger individuals (i.e., 18-24). The findings indicate that socio-demographic conditions matter for immigrants’ life satisfactio

The pragmatics of NPP presidential campaign promises in Ghana’s 2008 elections

The paper discusses election campaign promises under Commissives, an aspect of Speech Act Theory, and Political Discourse Analysis (PDA). It considers the importance of context and looks at the social settings that are connected with promises. It examines the semantics, pragmatics and the structure of campaign promises. The paper focuses on the top two of the seventeen aspirants of the then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who ran the race for the presidential slot to contest in the 2008 general elections in Ghana. The paper finds that persuasion, rhetoric and commissives are used to influence voters (party delegates).Keywords: campaign promises, commissives, Political Discourse Analysis (PDA), Media Discourse, persuasion, rhetoric

Teacher-Student Relationships: The Impact on High School Students

Teacher-student relationship is one of the factors that promotes students learning. Positive interaction creates peaceful environment, but negative interaction leads to instability. Teacher’s positive relationship helps to promote student’s academic growth. Teachers who emphasize positive aspect of students rather than negative aspect helps the students to be more forthcoming with positive behavior. An overemphasized negative students’ attitude rather than praise leads to bad relation between instructors and students. Keywords: student and teacher relationship, teacher self-efficacy, discipline strategies DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-14-15 Publication date:May 31st 201

Electrochemical Studies of Reactions in Small Volumes Less Than 1 Femto Litres.

Electrochemical methods have been used to study electron transfer reactions at the interface between an aqueous phase of less than 1 femto liters in volume and a bulk organic phase. The small aqueous phase is formed at the end of a slightly recessed platinum electrode. When a negative potential is applied between the Pt electrode and the aqueous phase, Ru(NH3)63+ in the aqueous phase could be reduced to Ru(NH3)62+. Because the volume of the aqueous phase is very small, the electrochemically formed Ru(NH3)62+ could instantly reach the interface between the aqueous phase and the organic phase which contains 7,7,8,8-Teteracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), and be oxidized to form Ru(NH3)63+ by giving electrons to TCNQ at the interface. Our results showed a positive shift in the E1/2 comparing the reaction undertaken in the recessed cavity and the bulk solution

The Role of Pragmatics in Social Cohesion and Nation Building in Africa

This paper navigates into some areas covered under pragmatics as one of the newest areas in linguistic studies in African universities. We will first have a survey of the theories and practices paying attention to speech acts, pragmatic acts, impoliteness/politeness and face, and socio-pragmatics. The other areas to be covered include lexical pragmatics, discourse markers. The next section will cover the application of the theories and discuss pragmatics and politics, looking at political discourse, pragmatics and the media, pragmatics and pedagogy, and pragmatics and culture with emphasis on ethnopragmatics. The final section will pay attention to pragmatics and literature, intercultural communication, health, agriculture, trade, religion, performing arts, pragmatics, and all forms of speeches and interactional contexts. The method for investigation is purely based on secondary data from works by African pragmaticists. We have suggested some recommendations for the expansion of teaching, research, and publication of pragmatics in Africa

The Ethnopragmatics of Akan Compliments

In this paper I examine compliments in Akan from an ethnopragmatic point of view. I analyse Akan compliments within the framework of politeness. I consider the ethnographic situations within the Akan society where compliments are employed. The areas where my data was collected include Akan adverts, Akan football commentary, classrooms, praise poetry for chiefs, public speeches, folksongs, dance and hunting. I look at types of compliments, namely, (1) appearance, (2) character and comportment, (3) performance and (4) possession. I also examine the structure and language of compliments, response to compliments and functions of compliments