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Purpose: This study aims to examine students' experiences of sexual harassment (SH) in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ghana as well as their coping strategies. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted the cross-sectional descriptive survey research design and used the convenience sampling technique to sample 926 students from four public Universities in Ghana. The data collected were analyzed using an independent-sample t-test with the aid of IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0. Findings: The study found no significant difference in male and female students' experience of gender harassment and unwanted SH. Additionally, female students were sexually coerced considerably more than males. In the case of coping strategies, the study found no significant differences among male and female students use of passive coping strategies. Finally, the study found significant differences among male and female students use of active, self-blame and benign coping strategies. Practical implications: This implies that specific attention is required when students experience SH since they may be exposed to more aggressive sexual behavior. Originality/value: The originality of this present study rest on its unique contribution by exploring the prevalent SH and coping strategies among tertiary students in HEIs in Ghana.

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a public health concern in resource limited settings like Ghana. Over the past decades, it is noted that the natural course of HBV in persons infected are taking a worse turn leading to liver cirrhosis and cancer. The outcome of HBV infection is influenced by viral and host factors including genetics. Cytokine variations affect virus survival and progression and may even influence associated complications. Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18), interferon gamma (IFN)-γ, and tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-β) have key roles in HBV infection and modulation. In this study, polymorphisms occurring in five cytokines were analysed to understand how they can influence prognosis of HBV infection. Methods The study is a single centre cross-sectional study involving 227 participants made up of HBV infected participants and HBV-negative controls. Recruitment was from March 2021 to April 2022. Blood samples were taken for full blood count, HBV antigen profile, liver function tests, HBV DNA quantification and cytokine genotyping. FIB score was calculated using available tools. Statistical analysis was undertaken with p

Abstract This paper examines the self-reported leadership challenges experienced by humanitarian aid workers who participated in the National NGO Program on Humanitarian Leadership (NNPHL) Program. Data were drawn from NNPHL program participants describing leadership challenges they faced in their humanitarian work. Responses were analyzed qualitatively revealing 10 broad themes of leadership challenges: (1) organizational capacity and resource constraints, (2) managerial decision-making styles, (3) bureaucracy and external influence, (4) purpose, motivation, and influence, (5) coordination and cooperation, (6) trust and cohesion within teams, (7) staff well-being and burnout, (8) identity and diversity, (9) self-efficacy and confidence, (10) security. These findings were then situated in the broader literature on challenges identified in humanitarian aid contexts. Humanitarian aid workers offer valuable first-hand insights into the leadership challenges they face in their work. Understanding leadership challenges from the perspective of aid workers provides valuable insight that can be used to inform decision-making and policy development within humanitarian organizations. The findings can also help inform and shape the development of humanitarian training programs by tailoring humanitarian education curricula to address the challenges encountered by aid workers themselves.

Abstract Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and malaria are two major diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Co-infection can significantly impact the clinical outcomes of both conditions. We assessed the proportion of HIV-infected children at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and Princess Marie Louise Hospital (PML) with malaria parasites. The association between asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia and virological non-suppression was also determined in these children. Methods This cross-sectional study of 277 asymptomatic malaria in children receiving care at paediatric HIV clinics at KBTH and PML was conducted from September to November 2022. Patients who had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least six months were eligible to participate. Structured questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic information, malaria prevention behaviors, and ART-related data using in-person interviews. Microscopy and PCR were used to screen for malaria, and GeneXpert was used to determine viral load. To examine the determinants of malaria PCR positivity and virological non-suppression, chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed. Results The median age of the participants was 9 years (range: 6–12 years). Males comprised 158 (57%) of the study population. We detected 10 (3.6%) and 21 (7.6%) malaria cases by microscopy and PCR, respectively. Virological non-suppression (VL > 1000 copies/ml) was observed in 82 (29.6%) of the 277 participants. Among the suppressed individuals, 62 (22.4%) exhibited low-level viraemia (VL level 40-1000 copies/ml) and 133 (48%) had undetectable viral load levels. No factors were associated with the presence of malaria PCR positivity carriage. Poor adherence to ART was associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of viral load non-suppression (AOR = 4.89 [CI = 2.00-11.98], p = 0.001). Conclusion The proportion of children living with HIV with asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia was low. Approximately one-third of the study population had virological non-suppression. The interaction between malaria parasitemia and viral replication may not be the main cause for virological non-suppression in this low transmission area.

Abstract ATAD2 (ATPase Family AAA Domain-Containing 2) is highly expressed across varies tumor types, yet its common roles in tumor progression and immune interaction remain unclear. We analyzed the expression and alteration profiles of ATAD2, along with its diagnostic and prognostic role in pan-cancer, utilizing TCGA, GTEx, CPTAC, HPA, and cBioPortal databases. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between ATAD2 and immune infiltration utilizing single-cell sequencing data and TCGA database. Additionally, the expression and oncogenic functions of ATAD2 were verified in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) through MTT, wound-healing, transwell, and flow cytometry assays. Our results revealed significant overexpression of ATAD2 in most cancers, strongly associated with poor prognosis. Amplification was the most frequent alteration type of ATAD2, with its mutation correlating with improved overall survival. ATAD2 was positively correlated with multiple inhibitory immune checkpoints and closely associated with the immunosuppressive microenvironment, particularly in PTC. In vitro experiments demonstrated that ATAD2 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC cells by activating the PI3K-AKT pathway and modulating the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint. Collectively, ATAD2 holds promise as a biomarker for pan-cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as a predictor of immunotherapeutic responsiveness and a therapeutic target to enhance the efficacy of existing anti-tumor immune therapies.

The cocoa tree is prone to diverse diseases such as stem borer, stem canker, swollen shot, and root rot disease which impedes high yield. Early disease detection is a critical component of diverse management processes that are implemented throughout the life cycle of cocoa plants. Consequently, several studies on the application of detection techniques to recognize diseases have been proposed by several researchers. This study proposes the YOLOv5m network for cocoa tree disease detection. The development of cocoa disease detection systems will aid farmers in early identification prompt response, and efficient management of related cocoa tree diseases which will ultimately increase yield and sustainability. To improve the performance of the YOLOv5m network, a Swin Transformer (Swin-T) was added to the backbone network to improve cocoa tree disease detection accuracy. By obtaining global information, the K-means++ algorithm was added to modify the choice of initial clustering locations, and Efficient Intersection over Union Loss (EIoU) was used as a bounding box regression loss function to speed up the bounding box regression rate, resulting in higher precision of the YOLOv5m network. The experimental assessment outcome of this study showed that the proposed method YOLOv5m (Swin-T, K-means++, EIoU) achieved 96% precision, mAP of 92%, and recall of 94%. Compared to the original YOLOv5m, precision improved by 5%, mAP improved by 6%, and recall by 5%. Comparing the proposed method to the conventional YOLOv5m, the latter showed improved performance and better accuracy with a high detection speed and compactness. This improvement offers a useful and effective method for detecting diseases related to cocoa trees.

A distance education Diploma and Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Science programs are faced with low enrollment and graduation rate as well as high attrition of students. The aforementioned challenges are attributed to students' satisfaction and continuance intention. However, students' satisfaction and continuance intention toward distance education programs are as a result of certain antecedents. This modeled the determinants of satisfaction and program continuance intention by the distance education students on the math and science programs. Based on this, a quantitative approach based on a census survey was adopted and data collected from 113 students through a questionnaire and analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach based on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of the study showed that two key antecedents: student-instructor interaction, and study center physical facilities determine program satisfaction of mathematics and science distance students. However, administrative support of the program determined instructional modules; facilitation quality was predicted by both instructional modules and laboratory facilities. Finally, students program continuance intention was predicted by satisfaction of the program. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for policy and practice toward improving students' satisfaction and promote positive intention in pursuant of mathematics and science education program by distance mode.

This paper studies the association between caregiver--child interactions and early childhood development in literacy and numeracy in West and Central Africa. Data comes from Multiple Cluster Indicator Surveys (MICS) conducted in Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Togo between 2017 and 2020. A multilevel logistic regression is used to estimate the likelihood of being developmentally on track for 35,752 children aged 3-4 years. The results indicate that cognitively stimulating interactions with caregivers such as reading and telling stories are correlated with a higher likelihood of being developmentally on track. Interactions with mothers are associated with significantly higher odds of being developmentally on track but not interactions with fathers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of the reflective practice of business students on how it helps to develop their employability skills through various university strategies. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a simple random sample to select undergraduate level 400 students from the Universities under study (the University of Ghana, University of Professional Studies Ghana, Lancaster University Ghana and Webster University Ghana). Only final-year students with an informed judgement on the reflective practice and various institutional practices to acquire graduate employability skills were participated. The independent variables of the study are institutional strategies (curriculum design, extra curriculum, work-integrated learning, career development centre, university collaboration with the industry, student engagement, internship job placement), the moderator is the reflective practice and the dependent variable of the study is graduate employability. Findings: The study found that the moderation role of reflective practice had a significant effect on institutional strategies (extracurriculum, career development centre, university collaboration with the industry, student engagement and internship job placement) and graduate employability. Research limitations/implications: The study was limited to only undergraduate business students from four universities ignoring other disciplines and postgraduate students. Practical implications: The practical implication is that reflective practice must be an integral tool for various universities if they want students to use their strategies to sharpen their employability skills. Social implications: The social implications of the study emphasise the reflective practice of graduate students in universities. This implies that firms and other institutions must consider reflective practice for the maximum output of their employees. Originality/value: The concept of employability is a bit complex as it concerns many stakeholders of the educational process; the students, academic staff, employers, policymakers and higher education; the private sector; and the government. Although examining students' employability development skills is of great importance, students' reflective practice tends to be overlooked in most studies. Therefore, the focus of this study examines how the reflective practice of graduate students promotes employability through the various university strategies, which had not been considered.

Abstract Background Data quality is a major challenge for most health institutions and organizations across the globe. The Ghana Health Service, supported by other non-governmental organizations, has instituted various strategies to address and improve data quality issues in regional and district health facilities in Ghana. This study sought to assess routine data quality of Expanded Programme on Immunization, specifically for Penta 1 and Penta 3 vaccines. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for the study. A simple random sampling method was used to select thirty-four health facilities across seven sub-municipalities. Records from the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Tally Books and Monthly Vaccination Summary Report were reviewed and compared with data entered into the District Health Information Management System 2 (DHIMS2) software for the period of January to December 2020. The World Health Organization Data quality self-assessment (DQS) tool was used to compare data recorded in the EPI tally books with monthly data from summary reports and DHIMS2. Data accuracy ratio was determined by the data quality assessment tools and STATA version 14.2 was used to run additional analysis. A data discrepancy is when two corresponding data sets don’t match. Results The results showed discrepancies between recounted tallies in EPI tally books and summary reports submitted as well as DHIMS2. Verification factor of 97.4% and 99.3% and a discrepancy rate of 2.6 and 0.7 for Penta 1 and Penta 3 respectively were recorded for tallied data and summary reports. A verification factor of 100.5% and 99.9% and a discrepancy of -0.5 and 0.1 respectively for the same antigens were obtained for the summary reports and DHIMS2. Data timeliness was 90.7% and completeness was 100% for both antigens. Conclusion The accuracy of Penta 1 and Penta 3 data on EPI in the Upper East Region of Ghana was high. The data availability, timeliness and completeness were also high.

Abstract Real-time genomics through nanopore sequencing holds the promise of fast antibiotic resistance prediction directly in the clinical setting. However, concerns about the accuracy of genomics-based resistance predictions persist, particularly when compared to traditional, clinically established diagnostic methods. Here, we leverage the case of a multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection to demonstrate how real-time genomics can enhance the accuracy of antibiotic resistance profiling in complex infection scenarios. Our results show that unlike established diagnostics, nanopore sequencing data analysis can accurately detect low-abundance plasmid-mediated resistance, which often remains undetected by conventional methods. This capability has direct implications for clinical practice, where such “hidden” resistance profiles can critically influence treatment decisions. Consequently, the rapid, in situ application of real-time genomics holds significant promise for improving clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Abstract The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of training in multiple functions, communication of strategy, and feedback on performance on competitive advantage while assessing the mediating role of corporate image. A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. Three hundred and one permanent employees working in different organizations in the Ghanaian telecommunication service sector were sampled for this study. The respondents' responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (structural equation modeling partial least squares) with the aid of IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 26.0) and Smart PLS (Version 4.0). The results revealed that training in multiple functions, communication of strategies, and feedback on performance does not significantly relate to competitive advantage. Further, the results established that corporate image mediated the relationship between both communication of strategy and training in multiple functions and competitive advantage. However, corporate image did not mediate the link between feedback on performance and competitive advantage. These results imply that human resource managers should devise strategies to rapidly respond to situations in this current, competitive and ever-changing business environment. To the best of our knowledge, studies that have explored the mediating role of corporate image in the relationship between training in multiple functions, communication of strategy, and feedback on performance and competitive advantage in the telecommunication service sector are rare.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the exposure levels to Dengue and Chikungunya viruses among individuals presenting with febrile illnesses in Ghana between January 2016 to June 2018. Methods: The study was conducted in health facilities in seven selected regions in Ghana; namely, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper West, Volta, and Western regions. Patients who met the case definition were enrolled in the study. A total of 1105 blood samples were collected from patients from 2016 to 2018 and serological analysis of Dengue and Chikungunya viruses were performed with ELISA IgM and IgG commercial kits (Abcam, Cambridge, UK). Results: Analysed results indicated that Dengue and Chikungunya viruses showed seropositivity of 62.0 % and 40.0 % respectively. All processed samples tested negative for Dengue and Chikungunya using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay. Greater Accra and Ashanti regions recorded the highest positivity for Chikungunya and Dengue fever viruses respectively. Conclusion: Though no detection of Dengue and Chikungunya using molecular tools, the seropositivity suggests the need for an established surveillance for arboviruses to monitor transmission of these pathogens for epidemic preparedness and response.

Background: Data on the asymptomatic burden of malaria in endemic areas is essential for Ghana's malaria elimination efforts. Consequently, the situation of asymptomatic malaria in the Fanteakwa South District (FSD) is determined in this study. The FSD is predominantly forested with more rural than peri-urban communities. Additionally, artisanal mining is prevalent in the district. Despite that the forgoing could promote high incidence of malaria, the burden of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors in the district have never been determined. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected communities in the FSD in the Eastern region of Ghana. The participating households were systematically selected, of which one household member was randomly enrolled in the study. With prior consent, 2 mL of whole blood was collected from the participants. Subsequently, the study variables were obtained from the enrolees using a structured questionnaire. The malaria status of the enrolled participants was determined using the CareStart™ malaria rapid diagnostic test kit (mRDT) (USA). The multiple logistic regression model was used to fit the model to predict the groups at risk of P. falciparum infection in the district. Results: In total, 412 study participants were enrolled. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the district was 43.4 % (179/412). The prevalence rate was 36.9 %, 27.7 %, 50 % and 58.8 % (37.5 °C (

Background: Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illicit substance during pregnancy. Yet, little is known about women’s lived experiences of being screened for cannabis use during pregnancy. Objective: To explore perceptions of cannabis use during pregnancy and childbirth, including experiences of being screened for cannabis use during the intrapartum period. Methods: We conducted a phenomenological qualitative study using semi-structured, online interviews with 16 English-speaking women who gave birth at a U.S. hospital within the past three months. After transcription of interview recordings, two coders analyzed data using inductive thematic analysis. We also generated descriptive statistics for sociodemographic characteristics and cannabis use behaviors. Findings: Most participants were 25–34 years of age (75 %, n=12), Black (75.00 %. n=12), and had less than a bachelor’s degree (68.75 %, n=14). Participants reported low-risk perceptions of cannabis use during pregnancy and often used cannabis to alleviate mental health conditions and pain during pregnancy and childbirth. Women reported mixed perceptions of harm, using cannabis as a medicine and because they were addicted, being fearful of disclosing cannabis use due to potential involvement of child welfare and protective services, and perceiving negative provider communication a barrier to disclosing cannabis use. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of patient education about adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes of prenatal cannabis use, regardless of whether disclosure occurs. To facilitate disclosure of use, close attention should be paid to verbal and non-verbal communication when screening and counseling women during pregnancy and childbirth. Additional studies are needed to further examine patient-provider cannabis-related communication, with a focus on identifying discriminatory behaviors and practices resulting in health inequities.

Deep learning (DL) algorithms require massive amounts of data in diverse variations to attain close to human recognition accuracy. This enables them to perform well on unseen in-distribution viewpoints. However, critical areas such as health face a challenge in generating large data. This is mainly attributed to regulatory policies surrounding the collection of such data. Hence, the domain of health is known to have smaller datasets. This limitation, therefore, requires algorithms that can derive maximum benefit from the small-size dataset. An example of such an algorithm is Capsule Network (CapsNet). Though Capsule Networks perform well on smaller datasets, they attain low performance on datasets consisting of complex real-life images. This challenge is attributed to their weak encoders. This paper, therefore, proposes a feature enhancement technique termed patch-and-amplify to improve the feature extraction task and enhance extracted features in the encoder layer. A model-specific squash function is proposed to enhance the coupling of capsules between the higher and lower capsule layers and reduce the impact of polarization. To evaluate the network's robustness and generalizability, the proposed model was evaluated on CIFAR-10, Fashion-MNIST, and Kvasir-V2 datasets achieving recognition accuracies of 85.50 %, 98.40 %, and 93.40 %. Extensive visualizations were explored to assist in understanding the predictions and internal structure of the network. The proposed model performs well compared with the state-of-the-art in the literature and can serve as a helpful tool in assisting medical practitioners in diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases.

While light at night (LAN) and noise levels have been linked to suboptimal sleep outcomes, little is known about the link between these factors and long-term suboptimal sleep trajectories. The current study examined the association of neighborhood LAN and nighttime noise with long-term sleep trajectories in a cohort of Black individuals and White individuals predominantly from low-income communities. We used data from the Southern Community Cohort Study (N = 28,759 Black individuals and 16,276 White individuals). Sleep duration was self-reported at baseline and after an average of five years of follow-up, based on which we constructed nine sleep trajectories: normal–normal (optimal, reference), short–short, long–long, short–long, long–short, normal–short, normal–long, short–normal, and long–normal. LAN and nighttime noise were derived from satellite imagery and model-based estimates, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between LAN and noise exposures and sleep trajectories. Higher exposures to LAN and nighttime noise were associated with multiple suboptimal long-term sleep trajectories. In the total sample, higher LAN was associated with higher odds of long–long (OR Q5 vs. Q1 = 1.23 (CI = 1.02, 1.48)) and long–short (OR = 1.35 (CI = 1.06, 1.72)) trajectories, while higher nighttime noise was associated with short–short (1.19 (1.07, 1.31)), long–short (1.31 (1.05, 1.64)), and normal–song (1.16 (1.01, 1.34)) trajectories. Black and White individual-specific results showed qualitatively similar patterns between Black individuals and White individuals, although we also observed suggestive evidence for Black–White individual differences. In conclusion, elevated LAN and nighttime noise levels were associated with various suboptimal long-term sleep trajectories. However, it is noteworthy that the light and noise measures in our study may not accurately reflect individual-level exposures, and residual confounding from other factors is a concern. Future studies should use more accurate exposure measurements, collect information on and control for a wider range of factors, and examine whether reductions in neighborhood light and noise levels may contribute to improved long-term sleep health.

Abstract Background Despite efforts made to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with malaria, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to be a public health concern that requires innovative efforts to reach the WHO-set zero malaria agenda. Among the innovations is the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) that is effective against Plasmodium falciparum. Generic artemether–lumefantrine (AL) is used to treat uncomplicated malaria after appropriate diagnosis. AL is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 family of enzymes, such as CYP2B6, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, which can be under pharmacogenetic influence. Pharmacogenetics affecting AL metabolism, significantly influence the overall anti-malarial activity leading to variable therapeutic efficacy. This study focused on generic AL drugs used in malarial treatment as prescribed at health facilities and evaluated pharmacogenomic influences on their efficacy. Methods Patients who have been diagnosed with malaria and confirmed through RDT and microscopy were recruited in this study. Blood samples were taken on days 1, 2, 3 and 7 for parasite count and blood levels of lumefantrine, artemisinin, desbutyl-lumefantrine (DBL), and dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the active metabolites of lumefantrine and artemether, respectively, were analysed using established methods. Pharmacogene variation analysis was undertaken using iPLEX microarray and PCR–RFLP. Results A total of 52 patients completed the study. Median parasite density from day 1 to 7 ranged from 0–2666/μL of blood, with days 3 and 7 recording 0 parasite density. Highest median plasma concentration for lumefantrine and desbutyl lumefantrine, which are the long-acting components of artemisinin-based combinations, was 4123.75 ng/mL and 35.87 ng/mL, respectively. Day 7 plasma lumefantrine concentration across all generic ACT brands was ≥ 200 ng/mL which potentially accounted for the parasitaemia profile observed. Monomorphism was observed for CYP3A4 variants, while there were observed variations in CYP2B6 and CYP3A5 alleles. Among the CYP3A5 genotypes, significant differences in genotypes and plasma concentration for DBL were seen on day 3 between 1/*1 versus *1/*6 (p = 0.002), *1/*3 versus *1/*6 (p = 0.006) and *1/*7 versus *1/*6 (p = 0.008). Day 7 plasma DBL concentrations showed a significant difference between *1/*6 and *1/*3 (p = 0.026) expressors. Conclusions The study findings show that CYP2B6 and CYP3A5 pharmacogenetic variations may lead to higher plasma exposure of AL metabolites.

Abstract The absence of biodegradability exhibited by plastics is a matter of significant concern among environmentalists and scientists on a global scale. Therefore, it is essential to figure out potential pathways for the use of recycled plastics. The prospective applications of its utilisation in concrete are noteworthy. The use of recycled plastic into concrete, either as a partial or complete substitution for natural aggregates, addresses the issue of its proper disposal besides contributing to the preservation of natural aggregate resources. Furthermore, the use of agricultural wastes has been regarded as a very promising waste-based substance in the industry of concrete manufacturing, with the aim of fostering the creation of an environmentally sustainable construction material. This paper illustrates the impact of nano sunflower ash (NSFA) and nano walnut shells ash (NWSA) on durability (compressive strength and density after exposure to 800 °C and sulphate attack), mechanical properties (flexural, splitting tensile and compressive strength) and fresh characteristics (slump flow diameter, T50, V-funnel flow time, L-box height ratio, segregation resistance and density) of lightweight self-compacting concrete (LWSCC). The waste walnut shells and local Iraqi sunflower were calcinated at 700 ± 50 °C for 2 h and milled for 3 h using ball milling for producing NSFA and NWSA. The ball milling succeeded in reducing the particle size lower than 75 nm for NSFA and NWSA. The preparation of seven LWSCC concrete mixes was carried out to obtain a control mix, three mixtures were created using 10%, 20% and 30% NWSA, and the other three mixtures included 10%, 20% and 30% NSFA. The normal weight coarse aggregates were substituted by the plastic waste lightweight coarse aggregate with a ratio of 75%. The fresh LWSCC passing capacity, segregation resistance, and filling capability were evaluated. The hardened characteristics of LWSCC were evaluated by determining the flexural and splitting tensile strength at 7, 14 and 28 days and the compressive strength was measured at 7, 14, 28 and 60 days. Dry density and compressive strength were measured after exposing mixes to a temperature of 800 °C for 3 h and immersed in 10% magnesium sulphate attack. The results demonstrated that the LWSCC mechanical characteristics were reduced when the percentages of NWSA and NSFA increased, except for 10% NWSA substitution ratio which had an increase in splitting tensile strength test and similar flexural strength test to the control mixture. A minor change in mechanical characteristics was observed within the results of LWSCC dry density and compressive strength incorporating various NSFA and NWSA` contents after exposing to temperature 800 °C and immersed in 10% magnesium sulphate attack. Furthermore, according to the findings, it is possible to use a combination of materials consisting of 10–20% NSFA and 10–20% NWSA to produce LWSCC.

Abstract Background Despite the widespread prevalence of adolescent smoking in Gambia, a West African country, there is limited research exploring the relationships between exposure to pro-tobacco and anti-tobacco media messages and events and smoking behaviour among young people. This study investigates the interplay of these exposures and smoking behaviour among 11-17-year-old adolescents in Gambia. Methods Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2017 Gambia Global Youth and Tobacco Survey (GYTS), which included a total of 9,127 respondents. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including proportions, Pearson’s chi-squared tests, and multivariable logistic regression models, were employed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The final model revealed significant associations between exposure to anti-tobacco media messages and events and smoking behaviour. Adolescents exposed to anti-tobacco media messages had a 29% increased odds of smoking (aOR 1.29,CI = 1.08,1.53) compared to those unexposed, while exposure to anti-tobacco media events showed a 31% increased odds (aOR 1.31,CI = 1.09,1.59) compared to those unexposed. Exposure to pro-tobacco messages, such as witnessing tobacco use on TV (aOR 1.41, CI = 1.17,1.69) and owning objects with tobacco brand logos (aOR 1.49,CI = 1.19,1.86), was associated with higher odds of smoking. Covariates, including sex, age, and exposure to smoking behaviour by significant others, also demonstrated associations with smoking behaviour. Notably, male respondents showed significantly higher odds of smoking (aOR = 4.01,CI = 3.28,4.89) compared to females. Respondents aged 15 years and older had increased odds of smoking (aOR = 1.47,CI = 1.22,1.76) compared to those below 15 years old. Those whose fathers smoke displayed higher odds of smoking (aOR = 1.35, CI = 1.04,1.76) compared to individuals with non-smoking parents. Additionally, those whose closest friends smoke showed remarkably higher odds of smoking (aOR = 2.87,CI = 2.37, 3.48) compared to those without such influence. Conclusion This study underscores the significant impact of exposure to both anti-tobacco and pro-tobacco media messages and events on smoking behaviour among adolescents in Gambia. However, pro-tobacco messages had a greater influence on smoking prevalence than anti-tobacco messages and events. Understanding these associations is crucial for devising effective public health interventions aimed at reducing tobacco use in this population.

Purpose – The current study aimed to examine the moderating role of perceived supervisor support in the nexus between employee empowerment and organizational commitment in the Ghanaian hospitality industry. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from 274 frontline workers from 4-star and 5-star hotels at two different waves within a 7-month interval. The data received were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V. 23.0) and SmartPLS (V.4.0), respectively. Findings – As hypothesized in the study, employee empowerment was significantly related to organizational commitment. Furthermore, the results revealed that perceived supervisor support moderated the nexus between employee empowerment and affective and continuance commitment but did not moderate the nexus between employee empowerment and normative commitment. Originality/value – Arguably, support from supervisors has been theoretically identified as a key construct in enhancing subordinates' commitment to an organization. However, less is known in the literature about the moderating role of perceived supervisory support in the nexus between employee empowerment and organizational commitment, especially in the Ghanaian hospitality industry.

Abstract Background Obesity is a classified risk factor for several of the world’s leading causes of death. In this study, we combined information contained in body mass index (BMI), total percentage body fat (TPBF) and relative fat mass (RFM) to estimate obesity prevalence and examine the risk factors associated with obesity. Methods The study recruited 1027 undergraduate students aged between 16 and 25 years using a cross-sectional study design and two-stage stratified random sampling between January and April 2019 from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Demographic, lifestyle, and family history of chronic disease data, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bioelectrical impedance, along with height, weight, age, and gender, were used to estimate BMI and TPBF. The RFM was calculated using a published equation. The TPBF and RFM ranges were evaluated based on standard BMI thresholds and an informative combined obesity prevalence estimated in a Bayesian framework. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate potential risk factors of overweight/obesity. Results Concordance between BMI, TPBF and RFM for obesity classification was 84% among female and 82.9% among male students. The Bayesian analysis revealed a combined prevalence means of obesity of 9.4% (95%CI: 6.9-12.2%) among female students and 6.7% (95%CI:4.3-9.5%) among male students. The odds of obesity were increased between 1.8 and 2.5 for females depending on the classification index. A significant increasing trend of obesity was observed with university-level. A family history of obesity was associated with a high estimate of general, central, and high TPBF. Conclusion Using multiple adiposity indicators conjointly in a Bayesian framework offers a greater power to examine obesity prevalence. We have applied this and reported high obesity prevalence, especially among female students. University level and family history of obesity were key determinants for obesity among the student population.

Abstract Introduction The fundamental transformation of food systems and retail environments in low-income countries is influencing consumers' food choices and dietary habits in unfavourable directions through the consumption of highly processed, energy-dense foods, predominantly manufactured by multinational food corporations. This study aims to identify the principal factors driving consumers' preference for multinational foods over local foods in the urban Accra region of Ghana. Method This cross-sectional survey involving a random sample of 200 consumers conducted in March/April 2023 using interviewer-administered questionnaires employed a maximum difference scaling approach to investigate the drivers of urban Ghanaian consumer food choices for multinational food corporations' products over local foods. The maximum difference scaling modelling analysis utilized in this study identifies the primary drivers of multinational food corporations' product preferences and the associated trade-offs. Result The study discovered that food quality and safe packaging, perceived healthiness, taste and flavour, and nutritional value were the most significant factors driving consumer preference for multinational food corporations' products over local foods in Ghana. The criterion food quality and safe packaging had the significantly highest utility than all other attributes in terms of consumer preference for products/meals from multinational food corporations over local foods. Conclusion The results of this study provide significant contributions to the existing body of research, as previous studies have not identified these factors as primary drivers of multinational food products. Public health authorities and nutritionists can use the study's findings to implement targeted quality assurance measures in local markets and to address the drivers in health education campaigns.

This study sought to explore the practice and philosophical foundation of Kwaku Asaku-Gyapon (1932 – 2018), an artist educationist of the African modernist stock, from the 1960s to the 1980s that shaped the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) artistic traditions and generally the Ghanaian sculptural representation. The study seeks to contribute to existing literature on African modernism, following up on karî’kachä Seid’ou’s “J. C. Okyere’s Bequest of Concrete Statuary in the KNUST Collection: Special Emphasis on “Lonely Woman” which sheds light on the artist’s ethos and practice in the midst of seeming erasure and wrong attributions. The study looked at the artist’s three-decade practice, in mainly concrete statuary, terra cotta, wood, and metal (rarely), as part of mid-20th century Ghanaian nationalist repositioning. This is part of the African art that evolved by blending foreign materials and techniques with native African concepts in which artists used revolutionary tools and methods, along with indigenous storytelling practices, to tell their stories in various forms. The study adopted archival research and interviews of the artist as well as descriptive-analytic research methods of the qualitative approach. The study revealed that the artist’s concepts and themes emerged from his personal experiences, sociocultural environment, and political events of his era. It also shows the artist’s practice as commission-dependent in which personal explorations of materials (cement, metal, terrazzo, wood, clay) and techniques in life modelling, casting, and carving were prioritized. The Authors conclude that Kwaku Asaku-Gyapon was a prolific but less exposed Ghanaian modernist artist educationist, in the light of how he adopted the indigenous Asante storytelling approaches through the application of traditional and non-traditional materials and techniques.