The reaction of p-nitrophenyl acetate with lysine hydrochloride and poly-1-lysine hydrobromide

The reactions of p-nitrophenylacetate with L-lysine hydrochloride and poly-L-lysine hydrobromide as a function of pH were investigated. The results indicate that both compounds react with the substrate in the pH range 7.0-10.0 with an apparent optimum pH in the region near 9.65. Poly-L-lysine reacts more rapidly over the entire pH range investigated than does L-lysine

Health Management System

Applied project submitted to the Department of Computer Science, Ashesi University, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, April 2019Hospitals in Ghana still operate with the file-based system approach due to the absence of a health management system. While this approach works, it is an ineffective way to store and manage health records. Hospitals consume large amounts of paper in preparing medical records, lab reports, and prescriptions. With information scattered all over the place, it becomes difficult to manage and keep track of. In this paper, a solution proposed is a health management system whereby various hospital personnel log in and digitally perform their duties. The aim is to enhance medical treatment quality, facilitate with distance communication, data sharing, and improve internal communication. A key functionality comes in the form of report generation, which seeks to automate the process of creating reports which follow the format of reports submitted to higher authorities such as the district health ministry.Ashesi Universit

The Value of Social Capital: Exploring How Public Senior High Schools in the Central Region of Ghana Respond to Challenges and Opportunities in the Secondary Education Sector

Although low-to middle income countries have been encouraged to attain the international benchmark of 15-20% public budget allocation to education, Ghanas education budget to GDP has hovered between 4% and 10% over the last decade. As a result, all public secondary schools are constantly compelled to negotiate for their fair share of governmental support to secure infrastructure and teaching and learning materials. However, in this context of constrained resources certain schools seem to be thriving better than most of their counterparts. Drawing on primary research findings, this study problematizes the structural inequalities and competition as a direct consequence of not only the fiscally constrained public sector, but also as the result of deep-seated historical events and political decisions that form part of colonial legacies in Ghana. It draws on the concept of social capital to highlight the crucial role of private networks and relationships (social capital) in mitigating these challenges

A community programme to reduce salt intake and blood pressure in Ghana

Background In Africa hypertension is common and stroke is increasing. Detection, treatment and control of high blood pressure (BP) is limited. BP can be lowered by reducing salt intake. In Africa salt is added to the food by the consumer, as processed food is rare. A population-wide approach with programmes based on health education and promotion is thus possible. Methods We carried out a community-based cluster randomised trial of health promotion in 1,013 participants from 12 villages (628 women, 481 rural dwellers); mean age 55 years to reduce salt intake and BP. Average BP was 125/74 mmHg and urinary sodium (UNa) 101 mmol/day. A health promotion intervention was provided over 6 months to all villages. Assessments were made at 3 and 6 months. Primary end-points were urinary sodium excretion and BP levels. Results There was a significant positive relationship between salt intake and both systolic (2.17 mmHg [95% CI 0.44 to 3.91] per 50 mmol of UNa per day, p < 0.001) and diastolic BP (1.10 mmHg [0.08 to 1.94], p < 0.001) at baseline. At six months the intervention group showed a reduction in systolic (2.54 mmHg [-1.45 to 6.54]) and diastolic (3.95 mmHg [0.78 to 7.11], p = 0.015) BP when compared to control. There was no significant change in UNa. Smaller villages showed greater reductions in UNa than larger villages (p = 0.042). Irrespective of randomisation, there was a consistent and significant relationship between change in UNa and change in systolic BP, when adjusted for confounders. A difference in 24-hour UNa of 50 mmol was associated with a lower systolic BP of 2.12 mmHg (1.03 to 3.21) at 3 months and 1.34 mmHg (0.08 to 2.60) at 6 months (both p < 0.001). Conclusion In West Africa the lower the salt intake, the lower the BP. It would appear that a reduction in the average salt intake in the whole community may lead to a small but significant reduction in population systolic BP

Cultural Assets and Racial Discrimination: A Person-Based Exploration of Culturally Relevant Coping with African American Male Adolescents

African-American youth from economically-disadvantaged, urban families and communities are disproportionately exposed to stressful life conditions, including racial discrimination, placing them at increased risk for mental health problems (Gonzales & Kim, 1997; Grant et al., 2000). Though exposure to racial discrimination can span a lifetime, examining youths’ encounters with discrimination during adolescence allows us to better understand how they affect development during a critical period in which they are developing racial/ethnic identity and increasing their use of reasoning. Coping research with African American youth has found evidence for racial discrimination predicting use of culturally-relevant coping strategies (Gaylord-Harden & Cunningham, 2009) and suggests that low-income African American youths may draw upon other unique and culturally-relevant coping strategies that are not captured on existing measures of universal coping strategies. Some of these coping strategies are reflected in a 52-item measure called the Youth Africultural Coping System Inventory (Y-ACSI; Gaylord-Harden & Utsey, 2007) including four afrocentrically-derived factors: Emotional Debriefing, Spiritually-Centered Coping, Maintaining Harmony, and Communalistic/Collectivistic Coping. Given the unique coping patterns of African-American boys, the current study attempted to validate the Y-ACSI in a sample of African American adolescent males using confirmatory factor analysis, determined whether racial discrimination predicts the use of culturally relevant coping strategies beyond that of mainstream coping, identified groups of youth based on their coping patterns and racial discrimination experiences and examined patterns of psychosocial functioning among latent coping groups. The current study was comprised of 660 African American male adolescents between the ages of 14-18 (Mage = 15.39 SD = 1.70, 47.7% 9th graders) recruited from three all-boys, public, charter schools in low-income Chicago neighborhoods as part of a larger, longitudinal study examining determinants of academic and socio-emotional outcomes. A first-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) testing the four-factor structure of the Y-ACSI yielded inadequate fit for the sample; therefore, four second-order CFAs were run for each of the four factors, all achieving adequate fit. Additionally, multiple regression analyses revealed that racial discrimination only predicted levels of emotional debriefing coping (ß = -0.93, p = .026). Latent Class Analysis identified a four-class solution based on culturally-relevant coping strategy use and exposure to racial discrimination, yielding the following groups: mixed coping, low discrimination group (n = 45); moderate coping, high discrimination group (n = 196); high coping, low discrimination group (n = 117); and high coping, high discrimination group (n = 244). Finally, comparisons among the four LCA groups in regard to psychosocial variables revealed the influence of racial discrimination on school belonging and of culturally relevant coping strategy use on social skills. Overall, the study findings demonstrate that African American male adolescents indeed culturally-relevant coping strategies at varying levels and presents much-needed insight into the complex relationship between culturally-relevant coping and racial discrimination within this population

Influence of Drying Temperature and Storage Duration on Fissuring and Milling Quality of Jasmine 85 Rice Variety

Moisture and temperature gradients induce the development of fissures during drying of paddy kernels. This affects the milling quality of the paddy and eventually reduces the head rice yield. To this effect, a study was conducted to investigate the influence of drying temperature and storage duration on the cracking behaviour and head rice yield of a local rice variety - Jasmine 85. Freshly harvested paddy samples were thin layer dried in a tunnel dryer with varying drying temperatures (45&#176;C, 50&#176;C, 55&#176;C) as treatments and direct sun drying as control. The drying experiment was performed under three replications using a completely randomised design. Samples after drying were stored for three months in sealed plastic bags at room temperature (28&#176;C). Percentage fissures and head rice yield at each drying treatment was determined using a grain scope and a Satake grading machine respectively after the storage period. The highest head rice yield (76.3%) and the least fissure rate (10%) were attained at the control temperature. This was followed by the 45&#176;C and 50&#176;C treatments which gave head rice yields of 70.8%, and 69.8%, with fissure rates of 13% and 16% respectively. The least head rice yield (64.7%) and the highest fissure rate of 29% were observed at 55&#176;C. There was a significant difference (p &#8804; 0.05) between head rice yields obtained at 55&#176;C and the control experiment. However, there was no significant difference (p &#8804; 0.05) between head rice yield obtained at 45&#176;C, 50&#176;C and the control temperature. It is evident from this study that, Jasmine 85 can be dried by using a mechanical dryer at higher temperatures of 45&#176;C and 50&#176;C without affecting its milling qualities

Factors Contributing to Low Tuberculosis Case Detection in West Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana: A Community and Health Facility Based Study

This research has a keen interest into assessing health and community related factors that contribute and influences low TB case detection rate in the West Akim Municipality of the Eastern region of Ghana. Data was collected from a target group of community members and health workers using a well-structured questionnaire. Data from the field was collected using Epi Info 7 and then, exported to Microsoft Excel and finally transferred to SPSS version 24 for the analysis. Some statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics, reliability of scale, t-test of independence, chi-square and analysis of variance was used to obtain results from the data analysis. Community related factors that has been identified as possible contributors to low TB detection rate are as follows, the availability of alternative means of health care (traditional healers, prayer camps, and herbs to manage suspected cases of TB. This turns to keep people away from the health facilities. The long time (2 days) it takes for an individual to get tested and to receive his/her tested results (time of diagnostics). The high levels of experienced stigma associated with psychological distress on suspected people with TB and on friends and relatives living with TB patients. the low knowledge of TB among some reasonable number of community members. The study also identified the possible health related factors influencing low TB case detection rate such as, Low TB trained personals and low TB education during health talks in creating awareness that TB is preventable, curable and treatable and that suspected people with TB (cough for more than two weeks) should seek medical attention. Community health nurses not including TB screening as part of their home visitation program and low level of contact tracing could also contribute to the low case detection rate. The highly inadequate number Gene Xpert machines, DOT centres and laboratories for the diagnostics of TB.  The study also found that, TB stigma even existed among health care providers against suspected patients. This negatively influence the health seeking behavior among suspected patients. This study became necessary to generate information for the Ghana national TB control Programme for appropriate remedial actions to be taken to forestall any catastrophe that may result from undetected and untreated TB cases in the West Akim municipality. Keywords: Gene Xpert machines, DOT Centres, Stigmatization, Psychological Distress, TB screening, Low TB Case Detection. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/72-11 Publication date:March 31st 202

Assessment of GFR by four methods in adults in Ashanti, Ghana: the need for an eGFR equation for lean African populations

Background. Equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) have not been validated in Sub-Saharan African populations, and data on GFR are few. Methods. GFR by creatinine clearance (Ccr) using 24-hour urine collections and estimated GFR (eGFR) using the four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD-4)[creatinine calibrated to isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) standard], Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Cockcroft–Gault equations were obtained in Ghanaians aged 40–75. The population comprised 1013 inhabitants in 12 villages; 944 provided a serum creatinine and two 24-hour urines. The mean weight was 54.4 kg; mean body mass index was 21.1 kg/m2. Results. Mean GFR by Ccr was 84.1 ml/min/1.73m2; 86.8% of participants had a GFR of 60 ml/min/1.73m2. Mean MDRD-4 eGFR was 102.3 ml/min/1.73m2 (difference vs. Ccr, 18.2: 95% CI: 16.8–19.5); when the factor for black race was omitted, the value (mean 84.6 ml/min/1.73m2) was close to Ccr. Mean CKD-EPI eGFR was 103.1 ml/min/1.73m2, and 89.4 ml/min/1.73m2 when the factor for race was omitted. The Cockcroft–Gault equation underestimated GFR compared with Ccr by 9.4 ml/min/1.73m2 (CI: 8.3–10.6); particularly in older age groups. GFR by Ccr, and eGFR by MDRD-4, CKD-EPI and Cockcroft–Gault showed falls with age: MDRD-4 5.5, Ccr 7.7, CKD-EPI 8.8 and Cockcroft–Gault 11.0 ml/min/1.73m2/10 years. The percentage of individuals identified with CKD stages 3–5 depended on the method used: MDRD-4 1.6% (7.2 % without factor for black race; CKD-EPI 1.7% (4.7% without factor for black race), Ccr 13.2% and Cockcroft–Gault 21.0%. Conclusions. Mean eGFR by both MDRD-4 and CKD-EPI was considerably higher than GFR by Ccr and Cockcroft–Gault, a difference that may be attributable to leanness. MDRD-4 appeared to underestimate the fall in GFR with age compared with the three other measurements; the fall with CKD-EPI without the adjustment for race was the closest to that of Ccr. An equation tailored specifically to the needs of the lean populations of Africa is urgently needed. For the present, the CKD-EPI equation without the adjustment for black race appears to be the most useful