The unaccompanied foreign minors of Melilla. Analysis of their situation and proposal of socio-educational training

Introducción: El objetivo fundamental de este trabajo es conocer la realidad que viven los menores extranjeros no acompañados en Melilla con la doble finalidad de elaborar una propuesta de formación para ellos y de concienciar a la ciudadanía en general, y particularmente a la melillense, sobre su situación. Metodología: Hemos analizado el marco legal correspondiente y, para el estudio de campo, los hemos entrevistado siguiendo un guión semiestructurado. Para completar el conocimiento de la realidad, hemos entrevistado a varios ciudadanos de Melilla con la finalidad de conocer su percepción y valoración sobre estos menores que viven en la ciudad. También hemos utilizado una entrevista semiestructurada. Para ambos colectivos hemos utilizado una selección intencionada de los participantes, buscando su disponibilidad para la colaboración y su compromiso de sinceridad, criterios que han condicionado significativamente su selección, especialmente en el caso de los menores. Resultados: Hemos constatado las carencias y dificultades que viven los menores extranjeros no acompañados en Melilla, que en muchos casos no se solucionan por parte de las instituciones encargadas de su tutela al amparo de la legislación específica. Igualmente, se aprecia una gran diferencia entre las opiniones de los propios menores y la de los ciudadanos melillenses sobre su situación, lo que refuerza los casos de exclusión y marginación. Conclusiones: El estudio de la situación de estos menores, contrastando las versiones que ellos nos han dado con las que ofrecen los ciudadanos melillenses, analizándolas a la luz del marco legal y de los principios educativos que rigen su atención escolar y social, nos ha permitido elaborar una propuesta formativa para los menores y reclamar la necesidad de hacer otra para los ciudadanos melillenses.Introduction: The main objective of this work is to know the reality that unaccompanied foreign minors live in Melilla with the dual purpose of developing a training proposal for them, and of raising awareness about their situation among citizens in general, but specifically among those of Melilla. Methodology: We analyzed the corresponding legal framework and, for the field study, we interviewed them following a semi-structured script. To complete the knowledge of the reality, we interviewed several citizens of Melilla with the purpose of knowing their perception and appraisal on these children who live in the city. We also used a semi-structured interview. For both groups we used an intentional selection of the participants, seeking their availability for collaboration and their commitment to sincerity, criteria that significantly determined their selection, especially in the case of the minors. Results: We have verified the shortcomings and difficulties experienced by unaccompanied foreign minors in Melilla, which in many cases are not solved by the institutions responsible for their protection under the specific legislation. Likewise, there is a great difference between the opinions of the minors themselves and that of the citizens of Melilla about their situation, which reinforces the cases of exclusion and marginalization. Conclusions: The study of the situation of these children, contrasting the versions offered by the minors and by Melilla citizens, and analyzing them in the light of the legal framework and of the educational principles that govern their school and social attention, allowed us to design a training proposal for these minors, and to demand the necessity of designing another for the citizens of Melilla

LOS MENORES EXTRANJEROS NO ACOMPAÑADOS DE MELILLA. ANÁLISIS DE SU SITUACIÓN Y PROPUESTA DE FORMACIÓN SOCIOEDUCATIVA

Introduction: The main objective of this work is to know the reality that unaccompanied foreign minors live in Melilla with the dual purpose of developing a training proposal for them, and of raising awareness about their situation among citizens in general, but specifically among those of Melilla.Methodology: We analyzed the corresponding legal framework and, for the field study, we interviewed them following a semi-structured script.To complete the knowledge of the reality, we interviewed several citizens of Melilla with the purpose of knowing their perception and appraisal on these children who live in the city. We also used a semi-structured interview.For both groups we used an intentional selection of the participants, seeking their availability for collaboration and their commitment to sincerity, criteria that significantly determined their selection, especially in the case of the minors.Results: We have verified the shortcomings and difficulties experienced by unaccompanied foreign minors in Melilla, which in many cases are not solved by the institutions responsible for their protection under the specific legislation. Likewise, there is a great difference between the opinions of the minors themselves and that of the citizens of Melilla about their situation, which reinforces the cases of exclusion and marginalization.Conclusions: The study of the situation of these children, contrasting the versions offered by the minors and by Melilla citizens, and analyzing them in the light of the legal framework and of the educational principles that govern their school and social attention, allowed us to design a training proposal for these minors, and to demand the necessity of designing another for the citizens of Melilla.Introducción: El objetivo fundamental de este trabajo es conocer la realidad que viven los menores extranjeros no acompañados en Melilla con la doble finalidad de elaborar una propuesta de formación para ellos y de concienciar a la ciudadanía en general, y particularmente a la melillense, sobre su situación. Metodología: Hemos analizado el marco legal correspondiente y, para el estudio de campo, los hemos entrevistado siguiendo un guión semiestructurado.  Resultados: Hemos constatado las carencias y dificultades que viven los menores extranjeros no acompañados en Melilla, que en muchos casos no se solucionan por parte de las instituciones encargadas de su tutela al amparo de la legislación específica. Igualmente, se aprecia una gran diferencia entre las opiniones de los propios menores y la de los ciudadanos melillenses sobre su situación, lo que refuerza los casos de exclusión y marginación. Conclusiones: El estudio de la situación de estos menores, contrastando las versiones que ellos nos han dado con las que ofrecen los ciudadanos melillenses, analizándolas a la luz del marco legal y de los principios educativos que rigen su atención escolar y social, nos ha permitido elaborar una propuesta formativa para los menores y reclamar la necesidad de hacer otra para los ciudadanos melillenses

Evidence of stone tools and cutmarked bones dated to 2.44 and 1.92 millions years ago from Aïn Boucherit (Sétif, Algeria) and their implications on the first human occupation in North Africa

Recueil de notes séléctionnées au Workshop sur la Géologie du Quaternaire de l’Algérie SÉTIF Les 4 et 5 décembre 2019. Publicado en AlgeriaLes sites pléistocènes inférieurs d'Afrique de l'Est et ceux de Gona (Éthiopie) datés de 2,6 millions d'années en particulier, ont livré les plus anciens outils oldowayens et ossements portant des traces de découpe induites par l'utilisation de ces outils taillés par les hominidés indubitablement reconnus à ce jour. Par comparaison, les artefacts lithiques oldowayens datés d'environs 1,8 million d¿années et recueillis à Aïn Hanech (Algérie) ont été pendant longtemps considérés comme les plus anciens restes archéologiques d'Afrique du Nord. Dans cet article, nous rapportons la découverte récente de traces d'activité humaine plus anciennes. Il s'agit d'outils taillés associés directement à des traces de découpe qui ont été recueillis dans deux niveaux archéologiques distincts (inférieur : AB-Lw, et supérieur : AB-Up) du site de Aïn Boucherit, situé dans la zone d'étude de Aïn Hanech. À l'aide d'une approche multi-méthode combinant le paléomagnétisme, la datation par Résonance Paramagnétique Électronique (RPE ou ESR) et la biochronologie des grands mammifères, l'âge des niveaux archéologiques de Aïn Boucherit est estimé à ~2,44 Ma pour AB-Lw et à ~1,92 Ma pour AB-Up. Ces résultats démontrent que Aïn Boucherit préserve les plus anciennes traces archéologiques connues à ce jour en dehors du Rift Est Africain, révélant ainsi que les premiers hominidés habitaient la frange méditerranéenne en Afrique du Nord beaucoup plus tôt qu'on ne le pensait. Ces preuves plaident fortement en faveur d'une dispersion ancienne et rapide de la manufacture et de l'utilisation d'outils lithiques de type oldowayen depuis l'Afrique de l'Est, ou même d'un scénario d'une possible origine de cette technologie lithique en Afrique de l'Est et en Afrique du Nord

Design and implementation of the European-Mediterranean Postgraduate Programme on Organ Donation and Transplantation (EMPODaT) for Middle East/North Africa countries

This prospective study reports the design and results obtained after the EMPODaT project implementation. This project was funded by the Tempus programme of the European Commission with the objective to implement a common postgraduate programme on organ donation and transplantation (ODT) in six selected universities from Middle East/North Africa (MENA) countries (Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco). The consortium, coordinated by the University of Barcelona, included universities from Spain, Germany, Sweden and France. The first phase of the project was to perform an analysis of the current situation in the beneficiary countries, including existing training programmes on ODT, Internet connection, digital facilities and competences, training needs, and ODT activity and accreditation requirements. A total of 90 healthcare postgraduate students participated in the 1-year training programme (30 ECTS academic credits). The methodology was based on e-learning modules and face-to-face courses in English and French. Training activities were evaluated through pre- and post-tests, self-assessment activities and evaluation charts. Quality was assessed through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The project results on a reproducible and innovative international postgraduate programme, improvement of knowledge, satisfaction of the participants and confirms the need on professionalizing the activity as the cornerstone to ensure organ transplantation self-sufficiency in MENA countries

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Surface mass transfer processes using activated date pits as adsorbent

291-294<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" "times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;="" mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">The ability of activated date pits to adsorb various pollutants from aqueous solutions has been studied. The pollutants investigated are phenol, methylene blue, aniline, procion red and humic substances. The adsorption is presented in the form of the equilibrium isotherms. The Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson isotherm equations are fitted to the results and the isotherm constants obtained.</span