11 research outputs found
CONTEMPORARY ART SONGS FOR SELECTED GHANAIAN LANGUAGES: COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
No full textOne of the significant musical artefacts that emerged from Ghanaian–European
socio-cultural encounters in the nineteenth century was the art song; a
composition for solo voice and piano typically set to poetry or narrative text. Art
songs provide a platform for individual performers to demonstrate vocal artistry
and interpretive skill. In contemporary Ghana, however, art song composition
and performance have received limited attention, overshadowed by the
proliferation of choral music. Existing scholarship suggests that, apart from the
pioneering works of Ephraim Amu and J.H. Kwabena Nketia, relatively few
Ghanaian composers have created contemporary art songs suited to the
audiences of the twenty-first century. This article presents new art song
compositions in different Ghanaian languages and for varied vocal ranges, with
the aim of fostering accessibility and appreciation within the Ghanaian context.
The study further provides formal analyses of the works to illuminate the
compositional techniques and stylistic approaches employed. Using purposive
sampling and document analysis of the compositions and related texts, the study
highlights creative possibilities in Ghanaian art music. In this regard, it seeks to
encourage solo vocal performance, stimulate compositional exploration, and
expand research into art song as a vital dimension of Ghana’s contemporary art
music practice
Ghanaian Art Music Composers: Sitsofe Kwame Ayi, A Church Music Composer in Perspective
No full textFrom historical roots in the castles, choral art music became entrenched within the fabric of various churches in Ghana, serving as a conduit for early Ghanaian composers to delve into music theory and composition. The significant contributions of these pioneers have inspired subsequent generations of church-based art music composers in Ghana, catalyzing the progressive evolution of the genre. Despite their profound contributions to Ghanaian musical heritage, church music composers like Sitsofe Kwame Ayi often remain overlooked within scholarly discourse and academic research. This underrepresentation diminishes the recognition of their artistic achievements and perpetuates a broader imbalance in the study of Ghanaian music history. In this study, the authors delve into the life and works of composer Sitsofe Kwame Ayi of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Ghana. Through a biographical lens, the study examines four of Ayi's compositions: "Ka Hw?" (Taste and See), "Kyer? Wo D?" (Show Your Love), "Tie Bi" (Listen), and "Suban
Pa" (Good Character). Employing a purposive sampling technique, the research centres on interviews and document analysis as primary
instruments for data collection. Through analysis of Ayi's selected compositions, the study illuminates the composer's adept navigation of
domiciled intercultural influences within his music
The synthesis and characterization of poly(trans-l,4-cyclohexylene-trans-l,4-cy clohex anedic arbox amide-b-1,3-phenyleneisophthalamide), 1982
No full textThe synthesis and characterization of oligomeric homopolyamides and block copolyamide are discussed. The homopolymers, poly(trans-l,4-cyclohexylene-trans-l,4-cyclohexane- dicarboxamide) and poly(l,3-phenyleneisophthaIamide), and the block copoly�amide, poly(trans-l,4-cyclohexylene-trans-l,4-cyclohexanedicarboxamide-b-l,3- phenyleneisophthalamide), were prepared by low-temperature polycondensation techniques. The aliphatic oligomer was prepared from trans-l,4-cyc!ohexanediamine and cyclohexanedicarboxyl chloride using a 10 mole percent excess of diamine. The aromatic oligomer was prepared from m-phenylenediamine and isophthaloyl chloride, using a 10 mole percent excess of acid chloride. The block copolymer was prepared by reacting the above aliphatic and aromatic prepolymers having amino and acid chloride end groups respectively. The characterization of these prepolymers and block copolymer was accomplished using spectroscopic techniques (infrared, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonances), solution viscosity and differential scanning calorimetry
Experimental verification of spatially varying fracture-compliance estimates obtained from AVO inversion coupled with linear slip theory
No full textThe elastic compliance of a fracture can be spatially varying, reflecting the variation of microscale properties of the fracture, e.g., aperture, contact asperities, and fracture infill. Characterizing the spatial heterogeneity of a fracture is crucial in explaining the apparent frequency dependence of fracture compliance and in addressing the spatially varying mechanical and hydraulic properties of the fractured medium. Apparent frequency dependence of the estimated fracture compliance is caused when the used seismic wavelength is very large compared to the scale of heterogeneity. We perform ultrasonic laboratory experiments, and characterize the spatially varying compliance along a fluid-filled fracture. We simulate a horizontal fracture, and introduce heterogeneous fluid distribution along the fracture. We perform AVO inversion of the P-P reflections, where we obtain the theoretical angle-dependent reflection responses by considering the linear-slip model. The estimated compliance distribution clearly separates the dry region from the wet region of the fracture. The effective bulk modulus of the fluid is estimated using the derived values of the compliance. We find that the obtained bulk modulus is well explained by the presence of minute quantity of air bubbles in the water. We find also new evidences of the existence of scattered waves generated at the boundary representing a sharp change in fracture compliance. The estimated boundary between the dry and the wet regions of the fracture, which is detected by AVO inversion, is slightly shifted compared to the actual location. This is possibly due to the interference of the scattered waves that are generated at the boundary. The linear-slip model can represent thin structures in rocks in a wide range of scale. Therefore, the methodology, results and discussion presented in this study will be useful in developing new applications for assessing laterally varying mechanical and hydraulic properties of thin nonwelded discontinuities, e.g., fractures, joints, and faults.Applied Geophysics and Petrophysic
The Contribution of Periodic Markets to Internally Generated Fund (IGF) of Ejisu-Juaben Municipal Assembly
No full textAs part of Ghana's fiscal decentralisation programme, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are mandated to mobilise resources internally to reduce dependence on the external sources of funds. Internally Generated Funds (IGF) of MMDAs in Ghana has been relatively low since 1993. The focus of this paper is to assess the contribution of revenue mobilisation from periodic markets to Internally Generated Fund (IGF). Simple random sampling techniques were used to select 94 market sellers in the municipality and officers of the Assembly using purposive sampling. The four main periodic markets were located in Ejisu, Juaben, Kwaso and Boamadumase. Interview guides and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The study found that the Municipality practice Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with REVSOL Company in local revenue collection. The proceeds from periodic markets contributed 7.5 percent and 7.8 percent in 2010 and 2011 respectively. A number of factors affect revenue collection from periodic markets in the Municipality. These include; lack of accountability and transparency, lack of adequate logistics, weak institutional collaboration, inadequate motivation to revenue collectors, inadequate revenue collectors, lack of skilled personnel, poor development of the market and weak legal and regulatory framework
Public–Private Partnerships for Universal Health Coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol
No full textBackground and Aims: Globally in the health sector, governments use public–private partnerships (PPPs) to make significant contributions to the development and implementation of national health policies and strategies to improve health systems and health outcomes. Following the World Health Organization's resolution on universal health coverage (UHC), healthcare PPPs have emerged as an innovative policy option, especially, for countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to progress towards achieving UHC. Although many studies have reported the use of healthcare PPPs, it appears no review has been conducted to synthesize evidence on how it facilitates or hinders progress toward attaining UHC in the SSA context. This review seeks to fill this research gap by systematically synthesizing the literature on healthcare PPPs used in SSA and examining how various forms of healthcare PPPs affect progress towards attaining UHC in SSA. Methods: Arksey and O'Malley's guidelines for conducting scoping reviews will guide the review process. PubMed, Medline (Ovid), Global Health (Ovid), Web of Science, Scopus, and EconLit will be searched for studies published from January 2013 to December 2023. Thematic analysis of data will be employed for this review. Discussion: Since the WHO endorsed the use of PPPs as a means of achieving UHC, PPPs in the health sector have increasingly become popular for many healthcare projects and services especially in SSA. Yet, limited evidence around how PPP models have taken shape and their impact on achieving UHC creates a significant gap in understanding how PPPs affect progress toward UHC. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this scoping review is the first to identify and examine healthcare PPPs in SSA for UHC. The approaches outlined in this protocol make several important advances in methods for examining PPPs, particularly for UHC in SSA, and can be applied elsewhere. Protocol Registration: This protocol has been registered on Open Science Framework and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/V9874. © 2025 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC
Factors influencing management of dry cell battery waste: a case of Greater Accra Region in Ghana
No full textOpen Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.Indiscriminate disposal of dry cell battery (DCB) waste contributes to environmental and public health issues in developing countries such as Ghana, due to the toxic nature of this specific waste. Accordingly, a study was conducted in Accra, Ghana, to determine the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing handling DCB waste, aiming a sustainable environment. Using a random sampling technique, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted, encompassing 367 respondents from the Accra-Tema Metropolitan areas and Tema West Municipal Assembly in Greater Accra, Ghana. Using descriptive and multivariate statistical methods, the survey data were analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The results of this study show that female gender and residential area are likely to positively influence the use of DCB at home. Education significantly affects the use of DCB and its proper disposal. The results also suggest that 78% of the respondents disposed of DCB waste in waste bins. The mean monthly income of the respondents stands at USD 270, which is average and likely partially to positively influence the disposal of the DCB. The data collected revealed that female gender, age group, family size, and education level influence the indiscriminate disposal of DCB waste and DCB waste recycling. The results highlight that educated females above the age of 55, with a monthly income, are likely to properly segregate DCB waste. This study contributes to the knowledge gap in relation to dry cell battery waste management (DCBWM) in developing countries, aiming to advance global sustainability. This study is expected to contribute to educate and create awareness in managing DCB waste to reduce its indiscriminate disposal which leads to environmental pollution and negatively affects human health and environmental sustainability in Ghana.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Industrial waste management in Ghana: environmental challenges and climate change impacts on human health
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The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023Waste having a significant and relevant material presence in our everyday life was not considered worthy of human attention up until the 1990s. Most probably, this delayed recognition of waste is due to the fact that it has been mistakenly understood as something that is supposed to remain invisible to the human eye in a sense that it is assumed to be occupying those spaces that are not inhabited by human beings. Contemporary times, however, are marked by giving due importance to waste. It is seen as a crucial environmental and health challenge for species’ survival on earth and is therefore placed center stage in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to protect the planet. More recently, SDG 12, ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, has alerted to fast-growing waste management (WM) environmental issues. With the earth being viewed as a limited natural resource and having the inadequate capacity to accommodate wastes leading to adverse environmental and health consequences, caution must be taken to understand the associations between global consumption, total waste, and wasting patterns. Conceptualizing waste as a globally circulating material, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and sulphur oxide (SOx), the governance of waste has become a global concern. This chapter focuses on WM in Ghana, a middle-income economy country in the West of Africa. Due to rapid industrialization, Ghana is witnessing an ever-escalation of the country’s contribution to global environmental waste issues, especially GHG emissions. This study aims to identify and address the challenges associated with managing waste in Ghana. Additionally, it proposes specific measures to mitigate climate change and its effects on the environment and human health resulting from WM. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 101 responses received from WM experts based on the aim. The data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 27. 72% of respondents were male, with most completing first and second degrees and have been working between 11 and 15 years. Although most of the respondents’ report waste being poorly managed, 93% consider that the associated causes of improper WM include inadequate infrastructure, lack of landfills, lack of tools and logistics, and equipment. All respondents believed that the challenges affect climate change through the emission of GHGs and particulate matter, resulting in global warming and impacting human health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio are indicators of kidney disease in sickle cell disease patients with microalbuminuria: a multicentre case-control study in Ghana
No full textAbstract Background Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is present in secondary granules of neutrophils and it is a relatively newly recognized marker of kidney diseases. The fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) is a marker of inflammation but its diagnostic value has not been determined in sickle cell disease patients with kidney diseases. This study investigated the diagnostic roles of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL) and FAR for kidney diseases in steady-state adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Methods This study employed a prospective case-control design and recruited 104 SCD participants and 80 non-SCD patients. Participants’ information was thoroughly documented using a structured questionnaire and patient case records. To evaluate the hematobiochemical parameters, 5 ml of venous blood was drawn from each participant and a clean catch of midstream urine was collected from each participant. The cases and controls were further categorized into microalbuminuria and non-microalbuminuria subjects, following three consecutive urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) measurements. Results The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 32.7% among adult steady-state SCD patients. Significant higher levels of sNGAL and FAR were detected in SCD patients with microalbuminuria than in SCD patients without microalbuminuria and controls (p 5.72 µg/L yielding a high area under the curve (AUC = 0.854, p 0.09 also demonstrated significant predictive value (AUC = 0.630, p = 0.009) for kidney disease in SCD patients, with a moderate sensitivity (67.6%) and specificity (61.3%). Conclusion Based on our findings, sNGAL could serve as an independent early predictor of kidney disease compared with urea and creatinine. Additionally, the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio can be used as inflammatory marker for kidney diseases in SCD patients. Clinical trial number Not applicable
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Serologic and Cytokine Signatures in Children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and Coronavirus Disease 2019
No full textBackground: The serologic and cytokine responses of children hospitalized with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) vs coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are poorly understood. Methods: We performed a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study of hospitalized children who met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition for MIS-C (n = 118), acute COVID-19 (n = 88), or contemporaneous healthy controls (n = 24). We measured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers and cytokine concentrations in patients and performed multivariable analysis to determine cytokine signatures associated with MIS-C. We also measured nucleocapsid IgG and convalescent RBD IgG in subsets of patients. Results: Children with MIS-C had significantly higher SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG than children with acute COVID-19 (median, 2783 vs 146; P <.001), and titers correlated with nucleocapsid IgG. For patients with MIS-C, RBD IgG titers declined in convalescence (median, 2783 vs 1135; P =.010) in contrast to patients with COVID-19 (median, 146 vs 4795; P <.001). MIS-C was characterized by transient acute proinflammatory hypercytokinemia, including elevated levels of interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10, IL-17A, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Elevation of at least 3 of these cytokines was associated with significantly increased prevalence of prolonged hospitalization ≥8 days (prevalence ratio, 3.29 [95% CI, 1.17-9.23]). Conclusions: MIS-C was associated with high titers of SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG antibodies and acute hypercytokinemia with IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and IFN-γ. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
