Provision of Teaching and Learning Materials that Enhance Participation of Students with Special Educational Needs in Inclusive Schools at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region

The study focused on investigating teaching and learning materials teachers provide to enhance participation of students with special educational needs in teaching and learning at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study employed the descriptive survey design. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample size of 112 respondents. Descriptive statistical method was used to analyse questionnaire data for the study. Results from the study revealed that, teachers provide teaching and learning materials of all kinds during teaching and learning. However, some of these materials do not cater for the unique needs of all learners especially those with special educational needs. Instructional materials such as tape recorders and text in braille were not provided, computers were not adapted to enhance easy access for pupils with special educational needs. The study recommended that teachers provide materials to include tape recorders, text in Braille, materials that are bold with good colour contrast and adapted computers for easy access especially to those with special educational needs. Purpose of the study The study sought to investigate teaching and learning materials teachers provide to enhance learning among pupils especially those with special educational needs in inclusive classrooms. Keywords: provisions, special educational needs, teaching and learning materials, assistive technology. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-4-01 Publication date: February 29th 202

Assessing the ownership, usage and knowledge of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNS) in malaria prevention in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana

Introduction: Malaria remains one of the top five killer diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its burden is skewed towards pregnant women and children under five. Insecticide Treated Bed-Net (ITN) usage is considered one of the most cost-effective, preventive interventions against malaria. This study sought to assess ownership, usage, effectiveness, knowledge, access and availability of ITNs among mothers with children under five in the Hohoe municipality.Methods: in August 2010 a cross-sectional survey was carried out in 30  communities, selected using the WHO 30 cluster sampling technique. In the  selected communities, mothers/caregivers with children under five years were selected using the snowball method. Data were collected through questionnaires and direct observation of ITN. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the datacollected. Results: A total of 450 mothers/caregivers were interviewed and their mean age was 30 ± 7 years. ITN ownership was 81.3%, and usage was 66.4%. The majority (97.8%) of the mothers/caregivers said ITNs were effective for malaria prevention. Awareness about ITNs was high (98.7%) and the majority (52.9%) had heard about ITNs from Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Clinic and antenatal care ANC clinic (33.6%). Over 60% of the ITNs were acquired through free distribution at RCH clinics, clinic and home distribution during mass immunization sessions. The majority of the mothers/caregivers (78.6%) knew the signs and symptoms of malaria, what causes malaria (82.2%) and who is most at risk (90%).Conclusion: Behaviour change communication strategies on ITN use may need to be further targeted to ensure full use of available ITNs

Dangers of the chronic stress response in the context of the microbiota-gut-immune-brain axis and mental health: a narrative review

More than 20% of American adults live with a mental disorder, many of whom are treatment resistant or continue to experience symptoms. Other approaches are needed to improve mental health care, including prevention. The role of the microbiome has emerged as a central tenet in mental and physical health and their interconnectedness (well-being). Under normal conditions, a healthy microbiome promotes homeostasis within the host by maintaining intestinal and brain barrier integrity, thereby facilitating host well-being. Owing to the multidirectional crosstalk between the microbiome and neuro-endocrine-immune systems, dysbiosis within the microbiome is a main driver of immune-mediated systemic and neural inflammation that can promote disease progression and is detrimental to well-being broadly and mental health in particular. In predisposed individuals, immune dysregulation can shift to autoimmunity, especially in the presence of physical or psychological triggers. The chronic stress response involves the immune system, which is intimately involved with the gut microbiome, particularly in the process of immune education. This interconnection forms the microbiota-gut-immune-brain axis and promotes mental health or disorders. In this brief review, we aim to highlight the relationships between stress, mental health, and the gut microbiome, along with the ways in which dysbiosis and a dysregulated immune system can shift to an autoimmune response with concomitant neuropsychological consequences in the context of the microbiota-gut-immune-brain axis. Finally, we aim to review evidenced-based prevention strategies and potential therapeutic targets

The microbiota-gut-brain-immune interface in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory diseases: a narrative review of the emerging literature

ImportanceResearch is beginning to elucidate the sophisticated mechanisms underlying the microbiota-gut-brain-immune interface, moving from primarily animal models to human studies. Findings support the dynamic relationships between the gut microbiota as an ecosystem (microbiome) within an ecosystem (host) and its intersection with the host immune and nervous systems. Adding this to the effects on epigenetic regulation of gene expression further complicates and strengthens the response. At the heart is inflammation, which manifests in a variety of pathologies including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).ObservationsGenerally, the research to date is limited and has focused on bacteria, likely due to the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of 16s rRNA sequencing, despite its lower resolution and inability to determine functional ability/alterations. However, this omits all other microbiota including fungi, viruses, and phages, which are emerging as key members of the human microbiome. Much of the research has been done in pre-clinical models and/or in small human studies in more developed parts of the world. The relationships observed are promising but cannot be considered reliable or generalizable at this time. Specifically, causal relationships cannot be determined currently. More research has been done in Alzheimer’s disease, followed by Parkinson’s disease, and then little in MS. The data for MS is encouraging despite this.Conclusions and relevanceWhile the research is still nascent, the microbiota-gut-brain-immune interface may be a missing link, which has hampered our progress on understanding, let alone preventing, managing, or putting into remission neurodegenerative diseases. Relationships must first be established in humans, as animal models have been shown to poorly translate to complex human physiology and environments, especially when investigating the human gut microbiome and its relationships where animal models are often overly simplistic. Only then can robust research be conducted in humans and using mechanistic model systems

FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENTS’ CHOICE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN GHANA NATIONAL INCLUSIVE BASIC SCHOOL

This study investigates factors that influence the choice of assistive technology of students with visual impairment at Ghana National Inclusive Basic Schools. The study discussed the available assistive technologies in the school, the preference of a particular assistive technology to others and challenges students faced in the use of assistive technology. The study is grounded on the human function model. The case study designed was adopted for the study. The sample size is 10 where participants were selected through the purposive technique. The main instrument used for data collection is interview. Results were analysed and discussed based on the key themes raised in the research questions. The study revealed that students’ choice of assistive technologies hinged on the availability of technology, parents’ ability to buy such technology, knowledge from rehabilitation centres and limited knowledge of students and teachers in operating them. The study recommended the provision of training for teachers and students, supply of assistive technology to schools, rehabilitation homes should expose students to newer technologies which will transcend to their use in classrooms. Assistive technology should match the unique needs of students.  Article visualizations

Akan-English Codeswitching on Ghanaian TV Talk Shows: The Case of ‘THE DELAY SHOW’

Contact between English and Ghanaian languages due to Ghana’s anglophone colonial heritage has resulted in the manifestation of several language contact phenomena. The contact phenomenon of codeswitching (CS) is addressed in this study. Akan bilinguals engage in Akan-English CS in their day-to-day activities. The study investigates and provides insights into the purposes Akan-English CS serves, using data from a popular Ghanaian TV talk show called THE DELAY SHOW. A combination of theories and approaches to the study of CS are employed in this study. The main theoretical bases for data analysis are John Gumperz (1982), Conversational Analysis by Peter Auer (1984) and The Markedness Model by Carol Myers-Scotton (1993). These theories were used to investigate the conversational uses of Akan-English CS among Akan bilinguals; how the sequential order of their conversations influences their CS; and the social motivations for Akan-English codeswitching. The outcomes of the study show that Akan bilinguals use CS for quotations, interjections, reiteration, addressee specification, message qualification, personalisation verses objectivization, numbers, proper nouns, contrast, and to fill lexical gaps. The findings also show that the sequential order of a conversation has an influence on the meaning of a switch. Thus, sequential analysis led to the interpretation of certain instances of CS among Akan bilinguals as signalling changes in topic and signalling the main issue under discussion. Furthermore, the study shows some social motivations for Akan-English CS. Akan bilinguals were found to employ CS to index certain social identities and as a deferential strategy. The study recommends that more research should be undertaken on codeswitching between Ghanaian languages and English, as well as codeswitching between different Ghanaian languages to provide more insights into the topic. This is because the functions and motivations for codeswitching indicate that CS is an effective tool that the Ghanaian bilingual can use to express him/herself fully. However, future researchers should include a larger number of participants and apply attitudinal studies in their methodology to investigate what the code-switchers themselves feel about CS

Association of a high fat diet, gut microbiota and host interactions with enteric neuropathy and dysmotility in a mouse model of type two diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is associated with gut microbiota alterations and debilitating gastrointestinal illnesses caused by neuropathy of the enteric nervous system and smooth muscle dysfunction. However, the specific triggers of enteric neuropathy and muscle dysfunction, and the role of gut microbiota alterations are not fully understood. We studied the specific roles played by gut microbiota alterations in the development of enteric neuropathy using germ free and conventionally raised high fat mouse models. We then studied gut microbiota, myenteric inhibitory neurons and intestinal dysmotility in these mice using next generation sequencing, tissue culture, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, ex vivo gastrointestinal motility assays and intracellular microelectrode recording in smooth muscle cells. Conventionally raised male mice became obese, and had impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance after 4 weeks of high fat diet (HFD) ingestion. Conventionally raised female mice were however resistant to the weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance induced by HFD ingestion even after 8 weeks. Despite these differences, after 8 weeks, conventionally raised male and female mice fed a HFD had slower intestinal propulsive motility. These mice had microbiota alterations marked by increased gram-positive Firmicutes and lower Gram-negative Bacteroidetes. In addition, they had fewer numbers of neurons per ganglion, lower numbers of myenteric inhibitory neurons, and axonal damage including swelling and loss of cytoskeletal filaments. HFD ingestion also impaired inhibitory neuromuscular transmission in both genders. To determine the role of HFD-microbiota-host interactions in HFD-induced enteric neuropathy and dysmotility, filtrates of luminal contents from the ileum and cecum (hereafter, ileocecal supernatants) of both conventionally raised male and female HFD fed mice were superfused into the lumen of isolated intestinal segments or applied on cultured duodenal or distal colon muscularis preparations. Ileocecal supernatants inhibited intestinal propulsive motility and muscularis contractions. We then used solid phase extraction to separate ileocecal supernatants into water-soluble and methanol (20%, 50% and 100%) soluble fractions and tested them in motility assays. Like the ileocecal supernatants, the water fraction from HFD mice inhibited intestinal propulsive motility and blocked muscularis contractions. HFD Supernatants and water fractions also caused loss of myenteric nitrergic neurons and inflammation. They damaged smooth muscle and impaired neuromuscular transmission in cultured muscularis preparations. Supernatants and water fractions blocked the discharge of spontaneous slow waves and action potentials, the electrical activities underlying contractions of smooth muscle cells. These effects matched the effect of HFD ingestion on the excitability of smooth muscle cells in distal colon. To determine the role of an intact gut microbiota in the development of enteric neuropathy, we used a germ free HFD mouse model. We found that compared to conventionally raised mice, HFD ingestion did not reduce the number of myenteric inhibitory neurons in the duodenum of germ free mice. HFD also induced alterations in the cecum of conventionally raised mice, which led to increased gram-positive bacteria. Subsequent studies revealed that lipoteichoic acid from gram-positive bacteria induced a loss of myenteric nitrergic neurons associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Taken together, these studies provide new evidence to support the hypothesis that diet-microbiota-host interactions play a crucial role in the development of enteric neuropathy and dysmotility in a high fat diet mouse model of type 2 diabetes.doctoral, Ph.D., Biology -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0

FDI and economic activity in Africa: The role of local financial markets

This article examines the role local financial markets play in the link between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic activity. The article uses panel data methods on 32 African countries over the period 1997 to 2008. Our results show that FDI only has a significant effect on economic activity when interacted with financial market variables, namely, private-sector credit and savings. The results of this study imply that FDI is more productive in the presence of well-functioning local financial markets. African governments must therefore pay particular attention to developing further local financial markets to ensure full economic benefits of FDI inflows. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Why Your Gut May be Working Against You: Gut Derived Molecules Cause Dysmotility and Neuropathy in High Fat Fed Mice

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a prevalent disease in the United States, affecting 21.9 million people. Recent studies have shown the development of gastrointestinal dysmotility and neuropathy before the onset of T2D, and ileocecal supernatants from high fat (HF) fed mice caused dysmotility and neuropathy ex vivo. However, the specific cause of dysmotility and neuropathy is still not known. We hypothesized that fractions from HF ileocecal supernatants would cause dysmotility and neuropathy. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to separate supernatants into aqueous (water) and methanolic fractions which were tested on mice intestinal muscularis tissue. Contractions of the tissue samples were counted, and immunohistochemistry and imaging used to determine if these fractions caused neuropathy. Water fractions from HF mice caused a significant decrease in muscularis contractions after 24 hours; water fractions of standard chow fed (SC) mice and methanolic fractions of HF and SC mice did not significantly induce dysmotility. We predict that the HF water fractions will also cause neuropathy. These results suggest a molecule(s) in these fractions is causing dysmotility and possibly neuropathy. Further study can reveal the molecule (s) and lead to potential biomarkers and treatments for dysmotility and neuropathy before T2D symptoms