The client satisfaction with device: a Rasch validation of the Arabic version in patients with upper and lower limb amputation

BACKGROUND: The Client Satisfaction with Devices (CSD) module of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey is an extensively used questionnaire that measures patients' satisfaction with orthosis and prosthesis. However, the validated version for Arabic speakers (CSD-Ar) is only applicable for orthosis users. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric proprieties of the CSD-Ar for prosthetics users. METHODS: The study used a convenience sample of prosthesis users from Saudi Arabia and Turkey (N\u2009=\u2009183), who completed the CSD-Ar. The collected data were analysed using Rasch analysis to evaluate item fit, reliability indices, item difficulty, local item dependency, and differential item functioning (DIF) using WINSTEPS version 4.6.1. RESULTS: Based on the analysis, the four-response Likert-scale was acceptable, as shown by the category functioning test, All eight items did achieve a fit to the Rasch Model [(infit) and (outfit) mean-square 0.75 to 1.3]. Person separation reliability was 0.76, and item separation reliability was 0.94. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed satisfactory unidimensionality and no local item dependency. The DIF analysis showed no notable dependency among items on participant characteristics in terms of age, gender, duration of use, country, and level of amputation. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the confidence of using CSD-Ar to evaluate users' satisfaction with different prostheses, affirming the need for further refinement of the quality of the outcome measure

Animal reactivity to camera traps and its effects on abundance estimate using distance sampling in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

The use of camera traps (CTs) has become an increasingly popular method of studying wildlife, as CTs are able to detect rare, nocturnal, and elusive species in remote and difficult-to-access areas. It thus makes them suited to estimate animal density and abundance, identify activity patterns and new behaviours of animals. However, animals can react when they see the CTs and this can lead to bias in the animal population estimates. While CTs may provide many advantages, an improved understanding of their impacts on individual’s behaviour is necessary to avoid erroneous density estimates. Yet, the impact of CTs on detected individuals, such as human odour near the device and the environment, or the infrared illumination, has received relatively little attention. To date, there is no clear procedure to remove this potential bias. Here, we use camera trap distance sampling (CTDS) to (1) quantify the bias resulting from the different animal responses to the CTs when determining animal density and abundance, and (2) test if olfactory, visual and auditory signals have an influence on the animals’ reaction to CTs. Between March 2019 and March 2020, we deployed CTs at 267 locations distributed systematically over the entire Taï National Park. We obtained 58,947 videos from which we analysed four medium- to-large-bodied species (Maxwell’s duiker (Philantomba maxwellii), Jentink’s duiker (Cephalophus jentinki), pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) and Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus)) displaying different behaviours towards the CTs. We then established species-specific ethograms describing the behavioural responses to the CTs. Using these species-specific responses, we observed that the Maxwell’s duiker reacted weakly to CTs (about 0.11% of the distance data), contrary to Jentink’s duiker, pygmy hippopotamus and Western chimpanzee which reacted with relatively high frequencies, representing 32.82%, 52.96% and 16.14% of the distance data, respectively. Not taking into account the species-specific responses to the CTs can lead to an artificial doubling or tripling of the populations’ sizes. All species reacted more to the CTs at close distances. Besides, the Jentink’s duiker and the pygmy hippopotamus reacted significantly more to the CTs at night than during the day. Finally, as for olfactory signals, the probability of reaction to the CTs during the first days after CTs installation was weak in Maxwell’s duiker, but concerned 18% of the video captures in Western chimpanzees which decreasing with time, but they remained high in pygmy hippopotamus and Jentink’s duiker (65% and 70% of the video captures respectively). Careful consideration should be given to animal’s response to CTs during the analysis and in the field, by reducing human’s impact around the CTs installation

CORRUPTION SUR LES ROUTES DANS LES PAYS EN DEVELOPPEMENT EN SITUATION DE CONFLIT. LECONS APPRISES EN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

La corruption profite du contexte de conflit qui se manifeste par la prolifération des barrages sur les routes occasionnant ainsi des coûts importants que certaines personnes sont disposer à payer. Mais compte tenu des effets négatifs de l’action des corrupteurs sur l’économie et la société, cette étude, en utilisant le modèle probit et une base de données de 1500 ménages, analyse les déterminants socioéconomiques d’un tel comportement à l’effet de proposer une stratégie de lutte qui prend en compte la croyance en dieu, en l’avenir et la question du genr

Information Asymmetry, Financialisation and Financial Access

This study investigates whether information sharing channels that are meant to reduce information asymmetry have led to an increase in financial access. The study employs a Generalised Method of Moments technique using data from 53 African countries during the period from 2004-2011 to examine this linkage. Information sharing channels are theoretically designed to promote the formal financial sector and discourage the informal financial sector. The study uses two information sharing channels: private credit bureaus and public credit registries. The study found that both information sharing channels have a positive and significant impact on financial access. The study also found that public credit registries complement the formal financial sector to promote financial access. The policy implications are discussed

ICT, Financial Sector Development and Financial Access

This study assesses the role of ICT (internet and mobile phone penetration) in complementing financial sector development (financial formalization and informalization) for financial access. The empirical evidence is based on generalized method of moments with 53 African countries for the period 2004–2011. The following findings are established from linkages between ICT, financial sector development and financial activity. First, the interaction between ICT and financial formalization (informalization) decreases (increases) financial activity. Second, with regard to net effects, the expected signs are established for the most part. In spite of the negative marginal effects from financial informalization, the overall net effects are positive. Third, the potentially appealing interaction between ICT and informalization produces positive thresholds that are within ranges. Policy implications are discussed in three main strands. They include implications for (i) mobile/internet banking, (ii) a quiet life and (iii) ICT in reducing information asymmetry and surplus liquidity

Combined Policy Application Report - MERIFIC

MERiFIC is an EU project linking Cornwall and Finistère through the ERDF INTERREG IVa France (Manche) England programme. The project seeks to advance the adoption of marine energy in Cornwall and Finistère, with particular focus on the island communities of the Parc naturel marin d’Iroise and the Isles of Scilly. Project partners include Cornwall Council, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth and Cornwall Marine Network from the UK, and Conseil général du Finistère, Pôle Mer Bretagne, Technôpole Brest-Iroise, Parc naturel marin d’Iroise, IFREMER and Bretagne Développement Innovation from France.This report is the final report within work package 4 of MERiFIC. It focuses on policy aspects specific to marine renewable energy within far-peripheral and coastal regions. Within this work, marine renewable energy includes wind (both fixed and floating), wave and tidal stream technologies however excludes tidal range, ocean thermal and salinity gradient technologies for which there is little to no research currently being conducted within the regions (With the exception of the La Rance tidal dam which has been in operation since 1966). It builds upon the penultimate report, (Vantoch-Wood, 2013) which itself compared the outputs of stakeholder consultations carried out in the two target regions concerning the appropriateness of applied policy and aiming to identify potential additional policy needs. These focussed upon Cornwall and Finistère however, with acknowledgement that the wider regional and national policy landscape inevitably plays an ever-present role within local policy decisions and application, the study included the wider regional implications for the South West UK and for Brittany, and the implications of national policy in France and the United Kingdom. Further, and where applicable for aspects such as environmental regulations, it considered European and other international policy. The goal of this report therefore is to suggest (based upon the findings of the stakeholder consultations) opportunities for potential collaboration between Cornwall and Finistère and between the wider regions, where this collaboration may help to both reduce the costs of commercialisation within the MRE sector and assist in strengthening the regional argument for a MRE industry and deployment within the area.MERiFIC was selected under the European Cross-Border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IVA France (Channel) – England, co-funded by the ERDF