Maternity protection in formal and informal economy workplaces: the case of Ghana

Maternity protection (MP) in the workplace is a vital element of ensuring women’s and children’s wellbeing. It aims to minimize the difficulties that working women face because of giving birth and to protect the health of mothers and their babies. Most research on MP around the world is carried out in larger organizations in developed countries. This cannot be applied uncritically to developing countries, where work in small firms and the informal economy tends to dominate and enterprises are more influenced by their local communities and environment. This paper explores different forms of MP found in various forms and sizes of enterprise in Ghana. Specifically, it examines 1) how workplaces in the formal and informal economy manage MP and 2) how reciprocity shapes workers’ access to the different forms of MP support. The paper draws on 63 qualitative interviews with employers and women employees across three geographic regions of Ghana. The findings show that there are a range of measures related to pregnancy, maternity leave, family-friendly flexible working conditions, breastfeeding and childcare. While large formal economy organizations mostly offer MP measures corresponding to regulatory entitlements, women working in small informal economy businesses often only benefit from informal MP support. However, neither statutory nor informal supports alone provide adequately for women’s needs. The paper highlights the important roles of reciprocity and relationships built on trust as conditions for family-friendly MP provisions, particularly in the informal economy workplaces. It concludes by identifying lessons that can be learnt by both formal and informal economy businesses

Draft genome sequence of Agrobacterium deltaense strain CNPSo 3391, isolated from a soybean nodule in Mozambique

Open Access Article; Published online: 7 March 2019Agrobacterium deltaense strain CNPSo 3391 was isolated from a soybean nodule in Mozambique. Its genome size was estimated at 4,926,588 bp. This isolate carries several coding sequences for stress tolerance, but no identifiable nodulation or virulence genes. Possible ecological roles of bacteria isolated from legume nodules and closely related to Agrobacterium are discussed

THE ROLE OF MTORC2 IN MESOMESENCHYMAL TRANSITIONING IN HUMAN PLEURAL MESOTHELIAL CELLS

Pleural fibrosis can occur after empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion as a result of tissue remodeling and excessive expression and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Pleural mesothelial cells transition into mesenchymal cells and acquire a profibrotic phenotype. This pathologic transition occurs through a process termed MesoMT and directly contributes to pleural fibrosis. MesoMT is regulated by diverse signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, which lie upstream of mTOR. However, the role of mTOR signaling in MesoMT is unknown. Using several mTOR inhibitors, we showed that inhibition of mTORC1/2 with INK128 and AZD8055 blocked and reversed TGF-β induced MesoMT. Targeted knockdown studies showed that mTORC2/Rictor pathway is indispensable for the Induction of MesoMT. Conversely, mTORC1/Raptor knockdown had no appreciable effect on MesoMT. Our in vivo analyses showed that INK128 treatment could attenuate pleural thickening injury and subsequent pleural fibrosis. Biomarkers of MesoMT, α-SMA and collagen were likewise reduced in INK128 treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. These studies suggest that mTORC2 may be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of PF

Intracerebroventricular Infusion of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Rescues the Luteinizing Hormone Surge in Middle-Aged Female Rats

Reproductive aging is characterized by delayed and attenuated luteinizing hormone (LH) surges apparent in middle-aged rats. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) contains the circadian clock that is responsible for the timing of diverse neuroendocrine rhythms. Electrophysiological studies suggest vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) originating from the SCN excites gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and affects daily patterns of GnRH–LH release. Age-related LH surge dysfunction correlates with reduced VIP mRNA expression in the SCN and fewer GnRH neurons with VIP contacts expressing c-fos, a marker of neuronal activation, on the day of the LH surge. To determine if age-related LH surge dysfunction reflects reduced VIP availability or altered VIP responsiveness under estradiol positive feedback conditions, we assessed the effect of intracerebroventricular (icv) VIP infusion on c-fos expression in GnRH neurons and on LH release in ovariohysterectomized, hormone-primed young and middle-aged rats. Icv infusion of VIP between 1300 and 1600 h significantly advanced the time of peak LH release, increased total and peak LH release, and increased the number of GnRH neurons expressing c-fos on the day of the LH surge in middle-aged rats. Surprisingly, icv infusion of VIP in young females significantly reduced the number of GnRH neurons expressing c-fos and delayed and reduced the LH surge. These observations suggest that a critical balance of VIP signaling is required to activate GnRH neurons for an appropriately timed and robust LH surge in young and middle-aged females. Age-related LH surge changes may, in part, result from decreased availability and reduced VIP-mediated neurotransmission under estradiol positive feedback conditions

Topical Ocular Anesthetics Harbour Clinically Important Microbes

Purpose: The study was to determine clinically important microbial contaminants of topical ocular anesthetic medications used in eye centers in Ghana. Methods: A cross-section of eye clinics was sampled for the topical ocular anesthetic agents. Standard laboratory procedures and protocols were observed in culturing the samples on different Agars. Microscopy and various biochemical tests were performed to identify microbial species. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were also performed to ascertain the clinical importance of the isolated microbes. Results: A total of 27 anesthetic agent were obtained (which consisted 15 Proparacaine and 12 Amethocaine), from which 87 bacteria were isolated which included Bacilli spp. 26(29.89%), Coagulase Negative Staphylococci spp. 17(19.54%), Moraxella spp. 17(19.54%), Staphylococcus aureus 8(9.19%), Streptococcus spp. 3(3.45%), Klebsiella spp. 3(3.45%), Pseudomonas spp. 1(1.15%), Proteus spp. 7(8.05%), Escherichia coli. 2(2.30%), and Shigella spp. 3(3.45%). There were 22 isolated fungal contaminants mainly Penicillium spp. 7(31.82%), Cephalosporium spp. 5(22.73%), Aspergillus spp 4(18.18%), Cercospora spp. 2(9.09%), and Cladosporium spp. 4(18.18%). The anesthetic agent with the most bacterial contamination was Proparacaine 44(50.57%) followed by Amethocaine 43(49.43%). Also, both agents were equally contaminated with fungus 11(50.0%) in each. Gentamicin was the only antibiotics that showed 100% activity against all the bacterial isolates. Fungal contaminants were more susceptible to Ketoconazole as compared to Fluconazole (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Topical ocular anesthetic preparations used in clinical setings in Ghana are contaminated with clinically important microbes as the isolated bacteria were susceptible only to Gentamicin and fungi to Ketoconazole and Fluconazole.Keywords: Anesthetics, Ocular infections, Amethocaine, Proparacain

Exploring the role of traditional authorities in managing the public as stakeholders on PPP projects: a case study

Previous research indicates that involving representatives of the public in stakeholder management increases the likelihood of obtaining successful outcomes when managing the public as stakeholders on PPP projects. Relatively little is however known about the exact roles played by traditional authorities, who are powerful public representatives and significantly influence the public and the stakeholder management process on PPP projects worldwide. A case study of a PPP was conducted to explore this question. Through a thematic analysis of data collected from multiple sources, four main roles of traditional authorities were identified: mediation; project monitoring; community representation; and custody management of community culture and physical resources. These roles and their associated outcomes make traditional authorities a crucial link between project executors and the public during stakeholder management. This study provides a step towards developing strategies for collaborating with traditional authorities for better stakeholder management of the public on PPP projects

Bridging the Gap between Rural Water Supply and Demand using Harvestable Rainwater: A Case Study of Adansi-Fumso

Rainwater harvesting has several benefits including providing a valuable alternative source of water for households, reduction in flood flow to storm drains and settlement erosion as well as health benefits. The research aimed at assessing and confirming the available renewal water sources, determining the cost of developing a rainwater harvesting system and assessing the potential of rainwater as a supplement to water supply at Fumso. Using a systematic random sampling technique and a sample size of 100 respondents, it was discovered that rainwater harvesting in Adansi Fumso has the potential to conserve on-site potable water use, protect water quality and reduce the risk of flooding within the community. Rainwater was preferred by the community due to its easy accessibility, nature (clean, pure, healthier and tastier), cost and quality. An examination of the rainfall records at AngloGold Ashanti weather station at Obuasi revealed an average annual rainfall of 1449.2 mm with the drier months (November, December, January and February) receiving only a quarter of the average monthly rainfall. The relatively high rainfall means that rainwater harvesting system designs need to be taken as a priority in addressing the water shortage situation in the community. Geometrically uniform building shapes and the local hydrology can provide sufficient rainwater to serve buildings in the community. The cost of the proposed rainwater harvesting system is GH ¢ 389.00 ($256.00). Reasons have been given for the need for this project and recommendations made for its implementation at Adansi Fumso as the best alternative source of water to the fewer boreholes in the community

Surgical management of BPH in Ghana: A need to improve access to transurethral resection of the prostate

Background: Open prostatectomy for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is widely practiced in Ghana and Africa. Some of the reasons include lack of expertise and facilities for Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) and digital rectal examination assessment of prostates as greater than 50 grams.Objectives: To assess the prostate volumes of patients for surgical management of BPH by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and to determine, on the basis of prostatic volume, what percentage of those who had open prostatectomy could have been managed by TURP.Design: Prospective cohort study.Setting: The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.Subjects: Patients for elective surgical management of BPH from March to September 2010 were studied.Results: Fifty-eight patients had surgical management of BPH. Forty-six of them (79.3%) had open prostatectomy whilst twelve (20.7%) had TURP with a mean age of 70.4 and 65.2 years respectively. The most common reason for the open prostatectomy was refractory retention of urine (76.0%) while that for TURP was lower urinary tract symptoms (58.3%). The mean prostate volume for the patients who had open prostatectomy was 64.2ml ±28.7mls (range 23.0-121.0ml) while that of the TURP group was 40.1g±16.2mls (range18.5-70.0mls). Of the open prostatectomy group, 67.4% of them had prostate volumes 75mls or less. The blood transfusion and peri-operative complication rates for the open prostatectomy and TURP groups were 13% versus 8.3% and 8.7% versus 8.3% respectively. There was no mortality.Conclusion: Access to TURP in the surgical management of BPH in Ghana is low (20.7%). With improved facilities including routine use of TRUS for assessing prostate size and availability of expertise for TURP, 67.4% of patients offered open prostatectomy presently could benefit from TURP, using prostate volumes 75mls (75g) or less as indication for TURP

Isolation, characterization and selection of indigenous Bradyrhizobium strains with outstanding symbiotic performance to increase soybean yields in Mozambique.

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