Post-doctoral research fellowship as a health policy and systems research capacity development intervention: a case of the CHESAI initiative

BACKGROUND: Building capacity in health policy and systems research (HPSR), especially in low- and middle-income countries, remains a challenge. Various approaches have been suggested and implemented by scholars and institutions using various forms of capacity building to address challenges regarding HPSR development. The Collaboration for Health Systems Analysis and Innovation (CHESAI) – a collaborative effort between the Universities of Cape Town and the Western Cape Schools of Public Health – has employed a non-research based post-doctoral research fellowship (PDRF) as a way of building African capacity in the field of HPSR by recruiting four post-docs. In this paper, we (the four post-docs) explore whether a PDRF is a useful approach for capacity building for the field of HPSR using our CHESAI PDRF experiences. METHODS: We used personal reflections of our written narratives providing detailed information regarding our engagement with CHESAI. The narratives were based on a question guide around our experiences through various activities and their impacts on our professional development. The data analysis process was highly iterative in nature, involving repeated meetings among the four post-docs to reflect, discuss and create themes that evolved from the discussions. RESULTS: The CHESAI PDRF provided multiple spaces for our engagement and capacity development in the field of HPSR. These spaces provided us with a wide range of learning experiences, including teaching and research, policy networking, skills for academic writing, engaging practitioners, co-production and community dialogue. Our reflections suggest that institutions providing PDRF such as this are valuable if they provide environments endowed with adequate resources, good leadership and spaces for innovation. Further, the PDRFs need to be grounded in a community of HPSR practice, and provide opportunities for the post-docs to gain an in-depth understanding of the broader theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the field. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that PDRF is a useful approach to capacity building in HPSR, but it needs be embedded in a community of practice for fellows to benefit. More academic institutions in Africa need to adopt innovative and flexible support for emerging leaders, researchers and practitioners to strengthen our health systemsIS

Individual differences in self-face recognition

As we see our faces only indirectly, self-face recognition (SFR) requires efficient multisensory integration. Little is known about the mental representation of one’s face, even though SFR is a hallmark of reflexive self-consciousness. A new paradigm was used to explore SFR and investigate how well we know our own facial features: participants (N=35; 25 females) chose which of two selfface images was their veridical one (veridical image vs. image with eye, mouth and nose size digitally manipulated) and then which of those two images they liked most. The study provides evidence that recognition was better when veridical self-faces were paired with self-face ‘clones’ with larger rather than smaller facial features. Accuracy improved further when the features were enlarged concurrently as opposed to separately. Smaller noses and larger eyes were preferred and participants manipulate their self-images accordingly. Large individual differences and an asymmetrical self-face representation were common. The results indicated a certain tolerance for error in self-face recognition, which might be required to maintain a consistent facial identity during one’s life span. Surprisingly, the preference for neotenous self-facial features points to the internalisation of notions of attractiveness often desired in possible partners

Long-range interactions in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the New-World monkey, Callithrix jacchus

Visual stimulation of zones extending beyond the classical receptive field can modulate the contrast gain of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of cats, but little is known about the effect of extra-classical visual stimulation on the LGN of primates. Hence, we compare the effect of long-range interactions in parvocellular and magnocellular LGN layers of the maromset monkey Callithrix jacchus using optimal, incremental spots flashed on the classical receptive field either alone or simultaneously with the shift of a grating (988 contrast; 0.1 cycles/deg) confined to a peripheral annulus (radii: 5-15 dee). The contrast required to drive the response halfway to saturation (C-50) Of most LGN neurons was raised by remote pattern shifts. The c(50) ratio [(shift+ spot)/spot] in OFF-center magnocellular neurons was significantly higher than in OFF-center parvocellular neurons. OFF-center magnocellular neurons closer to the fovea (< 10 deg eccentricity) tended to have a higher C50 ratio than in more peripheral neurons. A significant drop in visual sensitivity to 25% contrast spots was observed during remote motion: d ' fell from 1.8 to 1.4 in parvocellular neurons and from 2.2 to 1.7 in magnocellular neurons. Such long-range interactions produce a reduction in visual sensitivity by changing the gain of the geniculate relay and point to an inhibitory, motion-sensitive extra-classical receptive field in both parvocellular and magnocellular pathways, which may be involved in saccadic suppression and attentional mechanisms in early vision

Self-face recognition: asymmetries and individual differences

The ability to recognize our own face contributes to self-awareness, as it helps the construction and retrieval of a mental representation of ourselves that is different from others. Yet surprisingly little is known about self-face processing. In this study the mental representation of our own faces was investigated with a new paradigm. The area size of facial features (eyes, nose, mouth and chin) was manipulated individually or simultaneously to compare featural vs configural processing. Participants were asked to indicate which of two images showed their face as remembered (unaltered face vs size morphs) or to indicate which of the two images they liked most. Self-faces were easier to discriminate when presented to the left visual, pointing to a right hemisphere bias, and when facial distortions were configural rather than featural. About 40% of the thirty-five Caucasian participants preferred their faces with smaller noses, but preferred their unaltered eyes and mouths. Large individual differences in levels of self-face recognition were observed, pointing to a mental representation of self-faces relatively tolerant to error for featural changes. Such tolerance could allow the averaging of self-images from different viewpoints and periods of life, for example, to maintain a consistent facial identity

Influence of copper-phthalocyanine on the photodegradation of polycarbonate

Dyes and pigments are extensively used in polymer materials to confer colour-changing properties. However, these additives can significantly affect polymer stability against degradation. While the mechanism of stabilization of polymers by some pigments, such as carbon black, has been studied and is well known, the action of chromatic colorants, mainly in the sensitization of the degradation process, remains unclear. Cu-phthalocyanine dye can stabilize polymers against degradation as well as accelerate degradation in other situations. Cu-phthalocyanine incorporated into polycarbonate resulted in an acceleration of the degradation when the material was submitted to photochemical aging. The possible mechanism to explain the photodegradative behavior of PC containing Cu-phthalocyanine is based on the hypothesis that specific interactions among excited states of PC and Cu-phthalocyanine take place and enhance the formation of reactive species in polycarbonate. Excited states of Cu-phthalocyanine may abstract hydrogen atoms from methyl groups in polycarbonate, increasing the formation of free radicals P-., which are the starting points for the sequential photo-oxidation reactions that lead to the degradation of the polycarbonate. Electron transfer sensitization is also a possible mechanism: the excited state of Cu-Ph abstracts an electron from PC to form the Cu-Ph radical anion and the PC radical cation. These reactive species in the presence of oxygen can cause oxidation of the aromatic ring. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.91123301331