Search

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to delineate "senior managers" perception of the competencies required by project managers (PMs) in Ghana for mass house building projects (MHBPs) and to discuss the implication of the findings for professional training and development. Design/methodology/approach - Drawing on a well-acclaimed organizational psychology theory of job performance, a structured questionnaire survey was used to elicit data from managing directors (MDs) of homebuilders belonging to the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA). The data were analyzed using multiple regression techniques (stepwise) Findings - Of 64 competencies operationalised, seven are perceived to be important. Originality/value - The findings provide PMs in Ghana an understanding of the competency profile their superiors (i.e. MDs) use in judging their performance. This should therefore help the PMs to align their professional development towards improving their skills on these competencies. Homebuilders can also apply the findings to make an informed and objective judgement in the profiling, recruitment and maintenance of PMs who have the appropriate skills and competencies. The implication of the findings for developing a continuing professional development (CPD) agenda in the Ghanaian mass house building industry is discussed. The discourse provides useful lessons for the construction industry in developing countries such as those in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - It is widely recognised that improving project delivery in construction requires a consideration of the culture within the project organisation that is often associated with fragmentation, antagonism, mistrust, poor communication, finger-pointing, machismo, and sexism. Many have thus called for cultural change on construction projects. However, change can only take place when there is an understanding of the drivers of culture within the construction project organisation (CPO). Given the argument in cultural theory that culture reflects distinct adaptations to the environments in which people operate, this research seeks to look for empirical evidence that the culture of the CPO is associated with particular features of construction projects. Design/methodology/approach - A mixed methodology approach was employed with qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews, and quantitative data on project features and cultural orientations collected through a questionnaire survey of UK contractors. Findings - Factor analysis revealed five principal cultural dimensions: workforce orientation, performance orientation, team orientation, client orientation, and project orientation. It was found that these five dimensions are associated with a number of key project features, in particular project size, complexity, influence of participants like the quantity surveyor, client and main contractor, the level of importance of cost and health and safety (H&S), location, and the number of variations. Significantly, no evidence was found to confirm that the procurement approach adopted influenced culture. Originality/value - The findings provide some insight into the cultural consequences of project features, awareness of which is essential if appropriate strategies are to be developed to mitigate the negative impacts of culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-month double-blind and placebo-controlled, phase IIa clinical trial was conducted in Ghana to investigate the safety, tolerance and aflatoxin-sorption efficacy of dietary NovaSil (NS). Volunteers (507 subjects) were clinically screened to evaluate their general health, pregnancy status and blood AFB1-albumin adduct levels. Of these subjects, 177 were randomly assigned to three groups: high-dose (HD), low-dose (LD) and placebo-control (PL) groups receiving 3.0, 1.5 and 0 g NS day-1 in capsules. Trained study-monitors supervised NS capsule administration to participants and recorded side-effects daily. Physical examinations were performed monthly. Blood and urine samples were collected for laboratory analysis. Approximately 92% of the participants (162 of 177) completed the study and compliance rate was over 97%. Overall, 99.5% of person × time reported no side-effects throughout the study. Mild to moderate health events (∼0.5% of person × time) were recorded in some participants. Symptoms included nausea, diarrhea, heartburn and dizziness. These side-effects were statistically similar among all three groups. No significant differences were shown in hematology, liver and kidney function or electrolytes in the three groups. These findings demonstrate that NS clay is apparently safe and practical for the protection of humans against aflatoxins in populations at high risk for aflatoxicosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) is often a co-contaminant with aflatoxin (AF) in grains and may enhance AF's carcinogenicity by acting as a cancer promoter. Calcium montmorillonite (i.e. NovaSil, NS) is a possible dietary intervention to help decrease chronic aflatoxin exposure where populations are at risk. Previous studies show that an oral dose of NS clay was able to reduce AF exposure in a Ghanaian population. In vitro analyses from our laboratory indicated that FB₁ (like aflatoxin) could also be sorbed onto the surfaces of NS. Hence, our objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of NS clay to reduce urinary FB₁ in a rodent model and then in a human population highly exposed to AF. In the rodent model, male Fisher rats were randomly assigned to either FB₁ control, FB₁ + 2% NS or absolute control group. FB₁ alone or with clay was given as a single dose by gavage. For the human trial, participants received NS (1.5 or 3 g day⁻¹) or placebo (1.5 g day⁻¹) for 3 months. Urines from weeks 8 and 10 were collected from the study participants for analysis. In rats, NS significantly reduced urinary FB₁ biomarker by 20% in 24 h and 50% after 48 h compared to controls. In the humans, 56% of the urine samples analysed (n = 186) had detectable levels of FB₁. Median urinary FB₁ levels were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased by >90% in the high dose NS group (3 g day⁻¹) compared to the placebo. This work indicates that our study participants in Ghana were exposed to FB₁ (in addition to AFs) from the diet. Moreover, earlier studies have shown conclusively that NS reduces the bioavailability of AF and the findings from this study suggest that NS clay also reduces the bioavailability FB₁. This is important since AF is a proven dietary risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in humans and FB₁ is suspected to be a dietary risk factor for HCC and oesophageal cancer in humans.

Patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 and seronegative control subjects were categorized by their haptoglobin phenotypes, which were determined by electrophoresis of hemoglobin-supplemented plasma samples followed by benzidine staining. The CD4 cell counts, determined by flow cytometry from peripheral blood mononuclear cells according to subject categories, were severely diminished in seropositive patients with the Hp2-2 phenotype (P<.025). In contrast, the CD4 cell counts for patients with the Hp0 phenotype remained relatively high (P<.025), compared with those of the controls. In seronegative patients, CD4 cell counts were generally high (P<.005), but they were more elevated in subjects with Hp2-2 and Hp1-1, although the differences were not significant. Thus, the Hp2-2 phenotype is associated with poor outcome in HIV-1 infection, whereas the Hp0 phenotype is associated with a better prognosis once the patient is infected with HIV-1. Haptoglobin polymorphism plays a significant role in HIV-1 infection and transmission.

The haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes were determined by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in plasma samples obtained in 1997 from 113 Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients (aged 1-12 years) with strictly defined cerebral malaria, severe malarial anaemia, or uncomplicated malaria and 42 age-matched healthy controls from the same area (coastal Ghana). Hp1-1 was significantly more prevalent among the patients (43%) than among healthy controls (7.1%), whereas Hp2-1 and Hp2-2 were underrepresented among the patients (11% and 2%, respectively) compared to the control donors (33% and 14%, respectively). No significant difference in frequency of Hp0 was observed between patients and controls. Among the malaria patients, the Hp1-1 phenotype was significantly more prevalent among patients with the complications of cerebral malaria and severe anaemia compared to patients with uncomplicated disease, whereas the reverse was seen with respect to Hp2-1 and Hp2-2. Our data suggest that the Hp1-1 phenotype is associated with susceptibility to P. falciparum malaria in general, and to the development of severe disease in particular.

A study to investigate the association between blood glutathione (GSH) levels and biliary excretory status was conducted in apparently healthy Ghanaian subjects without frank biliary disease and anaemia. The results showed that, in adults (mean age: 38.5 years) and children (mean age: 13.0 years), plasma conjugated bilirubin is inversely correlated with blood GS (respective site r = -0.524, p < 0.011 and -0.395, p < 0.005). Persons with elevated plasma conjugated bilirubin compared to controls (mean: 6.0 versus 2.5 umol/L, p < 0.001) also exhibited low blood GSH values (3.5 versus 4.2 umol/gHb, p < 0.029). Malaria parasites with counts up to 2,453 parasites/ul blood had no effect on the obtained data. The results suggest that low blood GSH levels may be relevant to delays in biliary excretion of conjugated toxins from the liver, as exemplified by the rise in conjugated bilirubin levels in the plasma, and predispose liver cells to increased oxidant state and damage.

Human exposure to lead in non industrial urban areas is commonly ascribed to vehicular combustion of leaded gasoline. This belief is based on results of studies in societies with high vehicular density which show emission of lead fumes into the air by automobiles that use gasoline with high lead content. To assess this view, blood lead levels were evaluated in 11 to 15-year old school children in urban and rural communities of the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Blood lead levels was significantly higher in all the urban children studied (mean +/-SD: 8.3+/- 12.7g/dl) than in their rural counterparts (4.0+/-7.2g/dl) (P<0.002). The trend was the same when only those who tested positive for blood lead were considered (24.1+/- 9.2g/dl, urban compared with 14.6+/- 5.8g/dl, rural). The prevalence of lead exposure was, however, not significantly different between the two groups (34.3. percent, urban and 27.1 per cent, rural). The presence of anaemia and/or increased urine total protein levels was unrelated to the blood lead levels in the children form both communities. Although a set goal to achieve lead free gasoline is desirable, the closeness of the prevalence rate of lead exposure obtained in the study indicate that factors other than leaded gasoline may be important determinant in exposure to lead in the Ghanaian community.

Blood and urine lead levels in relation to blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity and also blood and renal status were evaluated in lead smelters, automobile mechanics and gasoline retailers in the city of Accra, Ghana. Relationship between high blood lead levels (mean: 108 ug/dl) and low ALAD activity (mean: 74.3 units) indicating lead over exposure was found in the lead smelters. Non-toxic lead exposure was, however, noted in the automobile mechanics and the gasoline retailers. Their respective mean blood lead levels were 27.8 ug/dl (mean blood ALAD activity 212.5 units) and 8.6 ug/dl (ALAD: 239.9 units). Personal habits at the work place appear to play a major role in facilitating exposure to lead among all the three groups of workers in addition to lack of control measures at the work place of the lead smelters to protect them against lead exposure. Anaemia was found in 48% of the lead smelters, 12.5% of the gasoline retailers but in none of the automobile mechanics. When compared with lead free subjects (mean blood ALAD activity: 270.9 units), urine microalbumin was significantly (p < 0.01) raised in all the lead smelters suggesting that they may be prone to renal glomerular damage. Plasma creatinine, BUN and uric acid were raised in only one of the lead smelters. The data supports the establishment of blood ALAD activity level at 100 units or less as indication of excessive body lead.

Glyoxalase-I activity plays an important role in glucose metabolism and has been reported to be depressed in mice fed low levels of aflatoxin B1. In the present study examination of glyoxalase-I activity, glucose tolerance and pancreatic beta cell sensitivity was made in mice fed 0.045 ng aflatoxin B1 + 0.450 ng aflatoxin G1/g feed prenatally and for 6 mo after birth. After glucose challenge the ratios between 0-h and 2-h serum glucose levels were significantly higher than controls, indicating an increase in tolerance of glucose in the aflatoxin-fed mice with lower glyoxalase-I activity. Pancreatic beta cell sensitivity to stimulation by tolbutamide was similar in both groups. However, liver malonic dialdehyde was significantly higher in the aflatoxin-fed mice, suggesting that the altered tolerance for glucose in the aflatoxin-fed mice might be a consequence of aflatoxin mediated peroxidative actions in the liver.

The effect of dietary aflatoxins B1 and G1 and Plasmodium berghei infection on glutathione (GSH) levels and liver status in mice was investigated. Three days after intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 x 10(6) parasitized red blood cells into the mice, there was a significant fall in blood glutathione levels accompanied by a significant increase in serum cholinesterase and liver malonic dialdehyde levels in the mice fed aflatoxin compared with those in the control group. The results suggested that malaria parasites can enhance depletion of host glutathione and oxidative damage of the liver in mice fed low levels of aflatoxins.

To find out if the presumed intake of dietary aflatoxins (AFB1 and AFG1) has adverse effect on the liver of Ghanaians, the toxins were measured in serum, urine and faecal specimens obtained from a group of apparently healthy Ghanaian adults. Liver status of the subjects was monitored with serum alphafeto protein (AFP), alpha-l-antitrypsin (AAT) and direct: total bilirubin ratio. Aflatoxin G1, AFB1 and AFQ1, AFM1 (both metabolites of AFB1) were detected in one or more of the body specimens in 35% of the subjects (AFB1+ group). Sixty-five percent (26 out of 40) of the subjects had only AFG1 in their body specimens (AFB1- group). Serum levels of AFP (greater than 20.0 ng/ml, AAT (greater than 170.0 mg/dl) and direct: total bilirubin ratio (greater than 0.5) which indicate absence of predisposition to liver cancer in all the subjects but suggestive of liver inflammation were noted in both the AFB1+ and AFB1- subjects. The pattern of distribution of the aflatoxins in the subjects suggests that the suspected liver inflammation may involve other factors and may not only be due to the present intake levels of aflatoxins.

Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAGp): pre albumin ratio, sensitive markers for liver damage were evaluated in 32 apparently healthy Ghanaian subjects. Eighteen of the subjects (Group 1) had Serum AAT values (mean +/- SD) of 151.9 +/- 18.6 mg/dl while 14 (Group 2) had 209.3 +/- 13.6 mg/dl. AAGp: pre albumin ratio were respectively 1.03 +/- 0.79 and 2.76 +/- 1.00. The difference between the two groups with respect to the AAT and AAGp: pre-albumin ratio is highly significant (p < 0.01). No correlation was seen between these proteins and serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. The GGT and ALT levels were normal in the Group 1 subjects but elevated in some of those in Group 2. It is suggested that the obtained higher AAT values and AAGp: pre albumin ratio might be abnormal for Ghanaian subjects and that these proteins should be monitored to facilitate early detection of liver injury. This might be important for population groups living in geographic areas where environmental agents that cause liver damage are common.

ddy mice were exposed to aflatoxins B1 and G1 via their feed (4.8 ng AFG1, 0.8 ng AFB1 or both/kg body wt./day) while in utero. At six months of age, hepatorenal studies were carried out. The AFG1 caused significant accumulation of only neutral fat in the liver, a slight rise in serum triglyceride and intensified hepatorenal inflammation, necrosis and bile duct proliferation. The AFB1, caused the accumulation of both neutral fat and fatty acids in the liver, and was cytotoxic to the liver and kidney. Iron storage of the liver, hematological indices, serum total protein and albumin levels were not affected by the aflatoxins.