Risk Factors Associated with the Contraction of Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a highly transmittable disease with high mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors associated with the contraction of EVD in Liberia. A retrospective cross-sectional design was used to analyze secondary data collected on 1,658 patients admitted to Ebola treatment units in Liberia, using the social ecological model as a theoretical framework. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test for association and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The findings of this study revealed that funeral attendance, exposure to body fluids, and contact with a living sick person were associated with the contraction of EVD (p \u3c 0.05). The likelihood of contracting EVD is 14.32 times greater among patients exposed to body fluids. The likelihood of contracting EVD is 15.34 times greater among patients exposed to a living sick person. The results failed to identify other factors such as gender, age, and community of residence as factors associated with the contraction of EVD. The findings of this study may foster social change through comprehensive EVD prevention and control programs by focusing on improving the quality of life of underprivileged communities, investing in social, educational, and community-based development programs such as roads, schools, sanitation, and health care facilities. Educational and community-based initiatives can encourage health and wellness by educating communities about the dangers EVD poses to their lives and well-being

Enseignements tirés des épidémies de virus Ébola en matière de sciences sociales

This report is the second instalment of the ‘Social Science in Epidemics’ series, commissioned by the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. In this series past outbreaks are reviewed in order to identify social science ‘entry points’ for emergency interventions and preparedness activities. The aim is to determine tangible ways to address the social, political and economic dynamics of epidemics; and to ensure that interventions build on the social and cultural resources of the communities they aim to support. This report explores lessons about the social dimensions of past and recent Ebola epidemics.PLEASE NOTE: The accompanying evidence summary is also available here to download.Dans cette série « Les sciences sociales dans le contexte des épidémies », plusieurs aspects de précédentes flambées épidémiques sont passées en revue afin d’identifier les « points d’entrée » inhérents aux sciences sociales pour les interventions d’urgence et les activités de préparation. Ces éléments de preuve seront réunis afin de déterminer des moyens tangibles de mieux aborder la dynamique sociale, politique et économique des épidémies ; et pour veiller à ce que les interventions s’appuient sur les ressources sociales et culturelles des communautés qu’elles visent à soutenir. Cette synthèse des enseignements tirés élaborée par la SSHAP examine les enseignements inhérents aux dimensions sociales d’épidémies de virus Ébola passées et récentes, en mettant en évidence des recommandations destinées.UNICE

Animal Welfare - Environment - Sustainable Development Nexus: Scoping Study

A detailed report on the links between animal welfare, environmental health and global sustainability. Issues discussed include climate change, biodiversity, pollution and waste management, one health, sustainable development and just transitions

Improving infection control at Atoifi Adventist Hospital, Solomon Islands: a participatory action research approach

Vanessa explored how perceptions of disease causation and transmission influence infection control practice at Atoifi Adventist Hospital. She found germ theory was only one component. Social, cultural and spiritual beliefs also guided practice. Local beliefs must be incorporated into infection control programs to reduce hospital acquired infections in the Pacific

Risk Exposure to Particles – including Legionella pneumophila – emitted during Showering with Water-Saving Showers

The increase in legionellosis incidence in the general population in recent years calls for a better characterization of the sources of infection, such as showering. Water-efficient shower systems that use water atomization technology may emit slightly more inhalable bacteria-sized particles than traditional systems, which may increase the risk of users inhaling contaminants associated with these water droplets. To evaluate the risk, the number and mass of inhalable water droplets emitted by twelve showerheads—eight using water-atomization technology and four using continuous-flow technology— were monitored in a shower stall. The water-atomizing showers tested not only had lower flow rates, but also larger spray angles, less nozzles, and larger nozzle diameters than those of the continuous-flow showerheads. A difference in the behavior of inhalable water droplets between the two technologies was observed, both unobstructed or in the presence of a mannequin. The evaporation of inhalable water droplets emitted by the water-atomization showers favored a homogenous distribution in the shower stall. In the presence of the mannequin, the number and mass of inhalable droplets increased for the continuous-flow showerheads and decreased for the water-atomization showerheads. The water-atomization showerheads emitted less inhalable water mass than the continuous-flow showerheads did per unit of time; however, they generally emitted a slightly higher number of inhalable droplets—only one model performed as well as the continuous-flow showerheads in this regard. To specifically assess the aerosolisation rate of bacteria, in particular of the opportunistic water pathogen Legionella pneumophila, during showering controlled experiments were run with one atomization showerhead and one continuous-flow, first inside a glove box, second inside a shower stall. The bioaerosols were sampled with a Coriolis® air sampler and the total number of viable (cultivable and noncultivable) bacteria was determined by flow cytometry and culture. We found that the rate of viable and cultivable Legionella aerosolized from the water jet was similar between the two showerheads: the viable fraction represents 0.02% of the overall bacteria present in water, while the cultivable fraction corresponds to only 0.0005%. The two showerhead models emitted a similar ratio of airborne Legionella viable and cultivable per volume of water used. Similar results were obtained with naturally contaminated hoses tested in shower stall. Therefore, the risk of exposure to Legionella is not expected to increase significantly with the new generation of water-efficient showerheads

Global Bioethics

Two new factor have been added to the ideological change in the second half of the past century: the “ecological impact” of humankind on the environment due to the population increase; and the “ innovative impact of science, first with atomic physics, which introduced the scission of the fundamental unit of matter, the atom, and then witch molecular biology, which led to the decoding of genetic information and intervention of biological engineering that annihilate our concepts of individual and species as fundamental units in biology. This stage of fundamental rethinking is however overshadowed by the threat of ecological disaster and catastrophic population increase, which not only impose limits to development, but undermine the very survival of Humankind. The future survival our species in fact depends on the interaction between its reproductive characteristics and the productivity of the territory, which, even if increased by the intellectual capability of the human brain, has intrinsically limits. The adaptive choices (which are also biotechnological and biomedical) of the interaction between human population and the natural ambience is the conceptual basis of the new discipline “Global Bioethics”

Translating poetic metaphor: explorations of the processes of translating

This thesis aims to explore the processes of translating by focusing on the translating of poetic metaphor. The methodology used is the application of George Lakoff's theory of conceptual metaphor to two case studies, in which problems of translating will be identified, and a theoretical conclusion will be formulated. The Introduction sets out the author's basic assumptions on the process of translating, the cognitive approach to metaphor, and the adoption of Lakoff's cognitive models of metaphor in the following case studies. Part I deals with the translating of metaphors of sickness in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Chapter one attempts to construct cognitive models of sickness as seen in contemporary English against which concepts of sickness in the Elizabethan age are compared. Chapter two undertakes a detailed examination of selected Chinese translations of metaphors of sickness in Hamlet organized in accordance with the cognitive models identified earlier. Chapter three draws preliminary conclusions on the translatability of basic metaphors common to English and Chinese and the difficulties encountered in others, which can be traced to cosmological differences between the two cultures. Part II studies metaphors of love in Sylvia Plath's poetry. Chapter four presents Plath's model of love on the basis of Zoltán Kövecses' model, and discusses its conflicts with traditional Chinese concepts of love. Chapter five analyses problems involved in Chinese translations, mainly of the 'perverted' model of love in Plath's poetry. A preliminary conclusion reached in chapter six points to cultural incoherence as the main obstacle in the translating of her innovative metaphors. After reviewing current opinions on the translation of metaphor, the author proposes a model of the translating of poetic metaphor in the hope that the findings from the case studies may contribute towards a general theory

Technologies for climate change adaptation: agricultural sector

This Guidebook presents a selection of technologies for climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector. A set of twenty two adaptation technologies are showcased that are primarily based on the principals of agroecology, but also include scientific technologies of climate and biological sciences complemented with important sociological and institutional capacity building processes that are required to make adaptation function. The technologies cover monitoring and forecasting the climate, sustainable water use and management, soil management, sustainable crop management, seed conservation, sustainable forest management and sustainable livestock management. Technologies that tend to homogenize the natural environment and agricultural production have low possibilities of success in conditions of environmental stress that are likely to result from climate change. On the other hand, technologies that allow for, and indeed promote, diversity are more likely to provide a strategy which strengthens agricultural production in the face of uncertain future climate change scenarios. In this sense, the twenty two technologies showcased in this Guidebook have been selected because they facilitate the conservation and restoration of diversity while at the same time providing opportunities for increasing agricultural productivity. Many of these technologies are not new to agricultural production practices, but they are implemented based on assessment of current and possible future impacts of climate change in a particular location. Agro-ecology is an approach that encompasses concepts of sustainable production and biodiversity promotion and therefore provides a useful framework for identifying and selecting appropriate adaptation technologies for the agricultural sector. The Guidebook provides a systematic analysis of the most relevant information available on climate change adaptation technologies in the agriculture sector. It has been compiled based on a literature review of key publications, journal articles, and e-platforms, and by drawing on documented experiences sourced from a range of organizations working on projects and programmes concerned with climate change adaptation technologies in the agricultural sector. Its geographic scope is focused on developing countries where high levels of poverty, agricultural production, climate variability and biological diversity currently intersect. Key concepts around climate change adaptation are not universally agreed. It is therefore important to understand local contexts – especially social and cultural norms - when working with national and sub-national stakeholders to make informed decisions about appropriate technology options. Thus, decision-making processes should be participative, facilitated, and consensus-building oriented and should be based on the following key guiding principles: increasing awareness and knowledge, strengthening institutions, protecting natural resources, providing financial assistance and developing context-specific strategies. For decision-making the Community–Based Adaptation framework is proposed for creating inclusive governance that engages a range of stakeholders directly with local or district government and national coordinating bodies, and facilitates participatory planning, monitoring and implementation of adaptation activities. Seven criteria are suggested for the prioritization of adaptation technologies: (i) The extent to which the technology maintains or strengthens biological diversity and is environmentally sustainable; (ii) The extent to which the technology facilitates access to information systems and awareness of climate change information; (iii) Whether the technology support water, carbon and nutrient cycles and enables stable and/or increased productivity; (iv) Income-generating potential, cost-benefit analysis and contribution to improved equity; (v) Respect for cultural diversity and facilitation of inter-cultural exchange; (vi) Potential for integration into regional and national policies and can be scaled-up; (vii) The extent to which the technology builds formal and information institutions and social networks. Finally, recommendations are set out for practitioners and policy makers: • There is an urgent need for improved climate modelling and forecasting which can provide a basis for informed decision-making and the implementation of adaptation strategies. This should include traditional knowledge. • Information is also required to better understand the behaviour of plants, animals, pests and diseases as they react to climate change. • Potential changes in economic and social systems in the future under different climate scenarios should also be investigated so that the implications of adaptation strategy and planning choices are better understood. • It is important to secure effective flows of information through appropriate dissemination channels. This is vital for building adaptive capacity and decision-making processes. • Improved analysis of adaptation technologies is required to show how they can contribute to building adaptive capacity and resilience in the agricultural sector. This information needs to be compiled and disseminated for a range of stakeholders from local to national level. • Relationships between policy makers, researchers and communities should be built so that technologies and planning processes are developed in partnership, responding to producers’ needs and integrating their knowledge

Accessing the Issues: Current Research in Disability Studies

The chapters in this book are extended abstracts of some of the presentations given during the April 1995 annual meeting of the Chronic Disease and Disability Section of the Western Social Sciences Association and the June 1995 annual meeting of the Society for Disability Studies, both of which were held in Oakland, California.https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/facbooks/1251/thumbnail.jp