Mosquito-associated viruses and their related mosquitoes in West Africa

Mosquito-associated viruses (MAVs), including mosquito-specific viruses (MSVs) and mosquito-borne (arbo)viruses (MBVs), are an increasing public, veterinary, and global health concern, and West Africa is projected to be the next front for arboviral diseases. As in-depth knowledge of the ecologies of both western African MAVs and related mosquitoes is still limited, we review available and comprehensive data on their diversity, abundance, and distribution. Data on MAVs' occurrence and related mosquitoes were extracted from peer-reviewed publications. Data on MSVs, and mosquito and vertebrate host ranges are sparse. However, more data are available on MBVs (i.e., dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, and Rift Valley fever viruses), detected in wild and domestic animals, and humans, with infections more concentrated in urban areas and areas affected by strong anthropogenic changes. Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes albopictus are incriminated as key arbovirus vectors. These findings outline MAV, related mosquitoes, key knowledge gaps, and future research areas. Additionally, these data highlight the need to increase our understanding of MAVs and their impact on host mosquito ecology, to improve our knowledge of arbovirus transmission, and to develop specific strategies and capacities for arboviral disease surveillance, diagnostic, prevention, control, and outbreak responses in West Africa

Asymptomatic Intestinal Parasitic Infestations among Children Under Five Years in Selected Communities in the Ho Municipality, Ghana

BACKGROUND፡ The study investigated intestinal parasitic infestations (IPIs) and possible risk factors associated with asymptomatic children under five (5) years in five (5) selected communities in the Ho Municipality.METHODS: The study design was cross- sectional, with a simple random sampling technique involving 150 asymptomatic children under 5 years from 5 selected communities (Klave, Hoe, Freetown, Dave and Godokpe) in the Ho Municipality. A questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographics and other relevant parameters. Direct wet preparation, formol-ether concentration and Modified ZN staining techniques were used for the identification of intestinal parasites from participants’ stool samples. The Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to determine the difference in IPIs proportions and assess the risk factors associated with IPIs respectively.RESULTS: The overall IPIs cases was 14% (21/150). Cryptosporidium spp was most predominant [5.3% (8/150)], followed by Entamoeba spp [3.3% (5/150)], Cyclospora cayetenensis [2.7% (4/150)], Ascaris lumbricoides [1.3% (2/150)], Giardia lamblia [0.7% (1/150)] and Strongyloides stercoralis [0.7% (1/150)]. Children in rural communities (23.4%) recorded significantly higher case rate compared to those in urban communities (9.8%0), (p=0.04). Lower educational attainment of mother [OR=0.55, 95% CI (0.37 – 0.83), p-value = 0.015] andresidence in rural communities [OR = 0.53, 95% CI (0.33 –0.88)], p-value = 0.025] were significantly associated with IPIs.CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic IPIs are quite prevalent among children under 5 years in the Ho Municipality. The study thus recommends active sensitization programs for parents/guardians on preventive measures and school health programs should be instituted in rural communities

Changing attitudes towards female genital mutilation. From conflict of loyalty to reconciliation with self and the community: the role of emotion regulation

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a social norm embedded in the patriarchal system and is resistant to change due to its roots in the tradition of the practising communities. Despite this difficulty in change, some women succeed in changing their attitudes towards the practice. In trying to understand what makes these women change their attitudes, we identified in a previous study, the critical life events at which change occurs (turning point). These turning points were described with emotions and conflicting feelings based on which we hypothesised that emotion regulation and the resolution of conflicts of loyalty might be possible mechanisms that explain the change of attitudes by the women. In this article, we sought to investigate how the mechanisms interact and how they were at play to explain the change. We, therefore, triangulated our previous data, fifteen women interviewed twice, with the published life stories and public testimonies of 10 women with FGM, and interviews of six experts chosen for their complementary fields of expertise to discuss the emerging concepts and theory, generated by our study. The data were analysed using framework analysis and an element of the grounded theory approach (constant comparison). As a result of our theorisation process, we propose a model of change in five stages (Emotion suppression, The awakening, The clash, Re-appropriation of self, and Reconciliation). This describes the process of a woman’s journey from compliance with FGM and community norms to non-compliance. Our study reveals how the women whose stories were analysed, moved from being full members of their community at the cost of suppressing their emotions and denying their selves, to becoming their whole selves while symbolically remaining members of their communities through the forgiveness of their mothers

Changing attitudes towards female genital mutilation. From conflict of loyalty to reconciliation with self and the community: the role of emotion regulatio

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a social norm embedded in the patriarchal system and is resistant to change due to its roots in the tradition of the practising communities. Despite this difficulty in change, some women succeed in changing their attitudes towards the practice. In trying to understand what makes these women change their attitudes, we identified in a previous study, the critical life events at which change occurs (turning point). These turning points were described with emotions and conflicting feelings based on which we hypothesised that emotion regulation and the resolution of conflicts of loyalty might be possible mechanisms that explain the change of attitudes by the women. In this article, we sought to investigate how the mechanisms interact and how they were at play to explain the change. We, therefore, triangulated our previous data, fifteen women interviewed twice, with the published life stories and public testimonies of 10 women with FGM, and interviews of six experts chosen for their complementary fields of expertise to discuss the emerging concepts and theory, generated by our study. The data were analysed using framework analysis and an element of the grounded theory approach (constant comparison). As a result of our theorisation process, we propose a model of change in five stages (Emotion suppression, The awakening, The clash, Re-appropriation of self, and Reconciliation). This describes the process of a woman’s journey from compliance with FGM and community norms to non-compliance. Our study reveals how the women whose stories were analysed, moved from being full members of their community at the cost of suppressing their emotions and denying their selves, to becoming their whole selves while symbolically remaining members of their communities through the forgiveness of their mothers

Retransplantation Outcomes at a Large Lung Transplantation Program

With the increase of primary lung transplantation across major centers worldwide, over the last several years the need of lung retransplant (ReTX) is likely to increase. Therefore, characterization of ReTX patients is prudent and necessary. Our study aimed to investigate and characterize the covariates and outcomes associated with lung ReTX survival in a single large U.S. transplant center. Demographic, clinical diagnoses, and comorbidities were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier statistics were used to calculate and predict survival for 30 days and up to 3 years. Cox proportional modeling was used to determine the variables associated with mortality. Of included 684 lung transplants performed at the Houston Methodist Hospital between January 2009 and December 2015, 49 were lung ReTX. Median age of primary lung transplant (non-ReTX) and ReTx recipients was 62 and 49 years, respectively. Chronic graft rejection in the form of restrictive chronic lung allograft dysfunction and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was the main indications for ReTX. Compared with non-ReTX patients, ReTX patients had higher median lung allocation score (46.2 vs 37.0, respectively) and higher mortality after 6 months posttransplant. ReTX, older age, female sex, hospitalization 15 days or longer, estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60, 6-minute walk distance less than 400 ft, and donor/recipient height ratio less than 1 were significantly associated with decreased 1-year patient and graft survival. Chronic graft rejection was still the major cause of death in the long-term follow-up recipients. Our findings suggested that lung ReTX recipients have poor long-term survival outcomes. Lung ReTX should only be offered to carefully selected patients

Terrorism and Global Business Performance

This paper contributes to the literature on business performance by investigating the relationship between terrorism and global business performance at country level. A measure of a country's distance from the frontier score of the World Bank's Doing Business index is used to proxy for business performance. The results of the fixed-effects estimations based on 173 countries over 7 years (2009–2017) show that terrorism has no significant relationship with global business performance. We then partition our sample into developed, developing and fragile countries. The results still show that there is no robust significant relationship between terrorism and business performance for the sub-samples of developed and developing countries. However, the results based on the fragile countries' sub-sample suggest a significant negative relationship between terrorism and business performance. The results are consistent with an alternative measure of business performance and estimation technique that controls for endogeneity.</p

Colombia and the International Business Environment

Este trabajo busca elaborar, de manera concluyente, un modelo analítico y descriptivo del entorno de negocios colombiano y su relación con el orden internacional, así como las singularidades inherentes a su posición en América Latina. La investigación abarca una revisión documental de los factores que determinan la competitividad y una revisión de la situación económica, política y social del país como elementos que configuran el actual escenario comercial en Colombia. Como fuente, esta revisión utilizará documentos científicos recientes, así como análisis y estudios elaborados por organizaciones internacionales, que brindarán una perspectiva completa del entorno comercial.The study seeks to construct a descriptive and analytical framework on the Colombian context for business and its relation to the international order, particularly regarding its position in Latin America. The research consists of a documentary review on the factors that determine competitiveness and a review of the economic, political, and social situation of the country as reflexes of the current business landscape in Colombia. This review draws upon recent scientific papers, analyses and studies by international organizations, sources which together provide a comprehensive perspective of the business environment