Design, development and deployment of a software platform for real-time reporting in the west of Scotland demersal fleet : FIS032

Acknowledgements We thank the co-funders (FIS, SFO, Scottish White Fish Producers Association, Seafish and the University of Aberdeen), the participating POs and the participating fishers for being willing to take a chance on RTR. Critical early support was given by D. Anderson (Aberdeen Fish Producers Organisation) and M. Park (SWFPA). K. Haflinger (Sea State Inc., Seattle, USA) generously shared valuable insights about the use of RTR on the west coast. C. Asare is thanked for his concerted efforts trying to “catch” fishers to be interviewed in 2019. C. Needle (Marine Scotland Science) kick-started interest in mapping unwanted catch of juvenile cod in the North Sea.Publisher PD

The Role of ICT in Teaching and Learning Mathematics at College of Education: A Systematic Review

Integrating ICT in education has become increasingly popular. This systematic literature review explores the role of ICT in teaching and learning mathematics at the College of Education level. A comprehensive search was conducted using various academic databases, resulting in a final sample of 27 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that the use of ICT in mathematics education has positively impacted teaching and learning. The studies reviewed reported improved student engagement, motivation, and achievement in mathematics, as well as increased teacher effectiveness and confidence in their ability to teach mathematics. Regarding specific ICT tools and strategies, the studies reviewed suggest that interactive whiteboards, educational software, and online resources effectively enhance teaching and learning mathematics. However, the effective integration of ICT requires adequate infrastructure, professional development opportunities, and teacher support. This review highlights the potential benefits of integrating ICT into mathematics education at the College of Education level. Further research is to be conducted to investigate the most effective strategies for integrating ICT in mathematics education and to address the challenges associated with ICT implementation in educational settings. Keywords:Information and Communication Technology, Collaborative Learning, Community of Practice, Constructivism, Teaching and Learning. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-12-06 Publication date: April 30th 202

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana

Design: Study design was a retrospective single-center review of hospital data.Setting: The study was conducted at the COVID-19 Treatment Center of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics of the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana.Participants and study tools: A total of fifty patients with laboratory (rRT-PCR) confirmed COVID-19 infection were involved in the study. A chart review of the medical records of the patients was conducted and the data obtained was documented using a data extraction form.Results: The median age was 53 years and most (36% (18/50)) of the patients were at least 60 years of age. Eighty percent (40/50) of the patients were symptomatic, with cough and difficulty in breathing being the commonest presenting symptoms. The mean duration of hospitalization was 12.3 ± 7.3 days. Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus were the commonest co-morbidities occurring in 52% (26/50) and 42% (21/50) of patients respectively. Fifty percent of patients developed COVID-19 pneumonia as a complication. The mortality rate was 12% (6/50).Conclusion: In this study, SARS-CoV2 infection affected older adults with hypertension and diabetes mellitus being the common comorbidities. Patients with these comorbid conditions should be counselled by their clinicians to strictly observe the COVID-19 prevention protocols to reduce their risk of acquiring the infection. There is a need to pay critical and prompt attention to the management of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia particularly among people with diabetes to improve outcomes

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Design, development and deployment of a software platform for real-time reporting in the West of Scotland demersal fleet (FIS032):a study commissioned by Fisheries Innovation Scotland (FIS)

In this report the term real-time reporting (RTR) refers to a semi-automated communication system used by a group of collaborating fishing vessels for the sharing of bycatch observations to identify areas having high probability of bycatch and alert fishers about the location of these areas. RTR has been used on the west coast in fisheries in Alaska and Pacific Northwest for over 20 years to successfully reduce bycatch. FIS011B had previously outlined the use of RTR in US fisheries and evaluated the potential for its application in Scottish fisheries. Following the full implementation of the Landing Obligation in January 2019 the demersal fishery on the west of Scotland (ICES VIa) was incentivised to adopt innovations that would be effective in reducing bycatch of cod and whiting both of which were at risk of being choke species. Buy-in from several west of Scotland fishers and the producer organisations they belonged to satisfied a necessary pre-condition for trialling RTR in Scottish waters. FIS032 was awarded to design, develop and deploy RTR software for the Scottish demersal fleet operating in the west of Scotland with co-funding from the Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation, Scottish White Fish Producers Association, Seafish and the University of Aberdeen. Several key operational features were co-designed by participating fishers to reflect their tolerance for sharing information including a request for spurdog to be included, in addition to cod and whiting

Design, development and deployment of a software platform for real-time reporting in the West of Scotland demersal fleet (FIS032):a study commissioned by Fisheries Innovation Scotland (FIS)

In this report the term real-time reporting (RTR) refers to a semi-automated communication system used by a group of collaborating fishing vessels for the sharing of bycatch observations to identify areas having high probability of bycatch and alert fishers about the location of these areas. RTR has been used on the west coast in fisheries in Alaska and Pacific Northwest for over 20 years to successfully reduce bycatch. FIS011B had previously outlined the use of RTR in US fisheries and evaluated the potential for its application in Scottish fisheries. Following the full implementation of the Landing Obligation in January 2019 the demersal fishery on the west of Scotland (ICES VIa) was incentivised to adopt innovations that would be effective in reducing bycatch of cod and whiting both of which were at risk of being choke species. Buy-in from several west of Scotland fishers and the producer organisations they belonged to satisfied a necessary pre-condition for trialling RTR in Scottish waters. FIS032 was awarded to design, develop and deploy RTR software for the Scottish demersal fleet operating in the west of Scotland with co-funding from the Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation, Scottish White Fish Producers Association, Seafish and the University of Aberdeen. Several key operational features were co-designed by participating fishers to reflect their tolerance for sharing information including a request for spurdog to be included, in addition to cod and whiting

Pachydermoperiostosis in a patient with chronic hepatitis B virus infection referred as acromegaly: a case report

Abstract Background Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy also known as pachydermoperiostosis is a rare genetic disorder that has often been confused with acromegaly because of similar clinical features. Vascular endothelial growth factors which have been implicated in the clinical features of pachydermoperiostosis, have also been shown to be present in chronic hepatitis and implicated in the malignant transformation of hepatitis B infection to hepatocellular carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge there is one reported case of pachydermoperiostosis with chronic hepatitis B infection. We do not imply a causal relationship between pachydermoperiostosis and hepatitis B infection because pachydermoperiostosis is a genetic disorder; however, the question is raised whether hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is one of the many extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis B infection. Case presentation A 21-year-old African (Ghanaian) man with chronic hepatitis B infection was referred to our Endocrine unit as having acromegaly with changing facial features, enlarging hands and feet, and large knee joint effusions which affected activities of daily living. He was finally diagnosed as having pachydermoperiostosis when acromegaly, rheumatological disorders, as well as cardiopulmonary disorders were ruled out. He improved with arthrocentesis, a tapering regime of steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and proton pump inhibitors. Conclusions The possible role of hepatitis B in hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, that is, secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, needs to be explored; however, with digital clubbing in his father our patient is likely to have pachydermoperiostosis

Morbidity and complications of diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents in Ghana: study design and rationale

Background:Diabetes is associated with premature morbidity and mortality from its many complications. There is limited data on the chronic complications of diabetes in children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective:The study aims to: i) determine the burden and related factors of chronic diabetes complications, and non-diabetes ocular conditions in children and adolescents and ii) the quality of life (QoL) of the participants compared to healthy controls. Methods:After ethics approval from all the participating institutions, and written informed consent or assent, a cohort of children and adolescents (4 – 19 years) with diabetes was recruited from health facilities from two cities in Ghana, Accra (Korle Bu Teaching Hospital) and Cape Coast (Cape-Coast Teaching Hospital). Demographic, medical history, anthropometric measurements and laboratory characteristics were collected, and the participants screened for microvascular and macrovascular complications as well as non-diabetic ocular disease. QoL questionnaires were administered to participants, their care givers and controls. Participants were followed up annually to determine the natural history and trends in the above conditions. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS Version 25.0) will be used for data analysis. Continuous and categorical data will be presented as mean and standard deviation (SD) and as percentages (%), respectively. T-test and ANOVA will be used to compare means and Chi-square for categorical data. Correlation, regression and logistic regression will be employed to establish linear associations and causal associations as appropriate. Relative risk and Odds ratios will be used to estimate risk. Quality of life (QoL) outcomes in Ghanaian children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus compared with caregivers and healthy controls will be assessed using the PedsQL™ inventory. Significance will be set at α=0.05. Results:The study was approved by the Ethical and Protocol Review Committee of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana (protocol identification number: MS-Et/M.12-P4.5/2013-2014) and received funding support from University of Ghana Research Fund (large multi-disciplinary grant). Data collection started from August 2017 to September 2019. Currently, patient recruitment, clinical examinations, and some laboratory analysis have been completed. A total of 59 children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus have been recruited. Blood samples are stored at -80 degrees Celsius for analysis. Data has been captured to date and analysis is currently underway. Investigators are planning to submit results for publication by October, 2020. Conclusions:The prevalence, natural history, trends in diabetic complications and non-diabetic ocular disease, and quality of life will be provided. Our data may inform policies and interventions to improve care given to children and adolescents with diabetes

A Cross-Sectional Study of Ocular Changes in Children and Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus in Selected Health Facilities in Ghana

Background: The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), other diabetes-related ocular changes (e.g., cataracts, corneal ulceration), and non-diabetic ocular disease in Ghanaian children and adolescents. The second objective was to evaluate the relationship between these conditions and age at diagnosis, current age, diabetes mellitus (DM) duration, and participant’s sex. Methods: A cross-sectional study, undertaken by a multidisciplinary team, included a cohort of children and adolescents (4–19 years) with DM recruited from selected health facilities in Ghana, from March 2016 to September 2019, after written informed consent or assent. The cohort will be followed up for 3 years to determine the natural course of the ocular changes, reported later. Participants were examined for all microvascular and macrovascular complications, non-diabetic ocular disease, anthropometric measurements, laboratory characteristics and quality of life issues. Full ocular examination was also undertaken. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 25.0) was used for the data analysis. Continuous and categorical variables were presented as mean and standard deviation (SD), median (interquartile range) and as percentages (%), respectively. T-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used in establishing associations. Results: A total of 58 participants were recruited. DR was detected in only 1 out of 58 (1.7%) participants at baseline. Cataracts were the most common ocular finding, detected in 42 (72%) at baseline. Other anterior segment changes observed included blepharitis 46 (79.3%) and tear film instability 38 (65.5%). There was a significant positive association between duration of the DM and the risk of cataract (p = 0.027). Participants’ age at diagnosis was significantly associated with the presence of prominent corneal nerves (p = 0.004). Conclusions: DR was uncommon in this cohort of young persons with DM in Ghana. Cataracts, blepharitis and refractive errors were ocular changes commonly observed. All young persons with diabetes should undergo regular eye examination in all clinics where follow-up care is provided