Economic Analysis and Organised Religion

This chapter analyses some phenomena in organized religion from the point of view of economics. It is argued that religious activity derives from the individual's quest for sense and justification that molds institutional and other features of religious activity, as brought about by competitive forces. The underlying concern regards the interrelation of economic and cultural processes

The economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a chronic incapacitating illness that affects between 400,000 and 800,000 Americans. Despite the disabling nature of this illness, scant research has addressed the economic impact of CFS either on those affected or on the national economy. METHODS: We used microsimulation methods to analyze data from a surveillance study of CFS in Wichita, Kansas, and derive estimates of productivity losses due to CFS. RESULTS: We estimated a 37% decline in household productivity and a 54% reduction in labor force productivity among people with CFS. The annual total value of lost productivity in the United States was $9.1 billion, which represents about$20,000 per person with CFS or approximately one-half of the household and labor force productivity of the average person with this syndrome. CONCLUSION: Lost productivity due to CFS was substantial both on an individual basis and relative to national estimates for other major illnesses. CFS resulted in a national productivity loss comparable to such losses from diseases of the digestive, immune and nervous systems, and from skin disorders. The extent of the burden indicates that continued research to determine the cause and potential therapies for CFS could provide substantial benefit both for individual patients and for the nation

Decaying Raphia farinifera Palm Trees Provide a Source of Sodium for Wild Chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest, Uganda

For some years, chimpanzees have been observed eating the pith of decaying palm trees of Raphia farinifera in the Budongo Forest, Uganda. The reasons for doing this have until now been unknown. An analysis of the pith for mineral content showed high levels of sodium to be present in the samples. By contrast, lower levels were found in bark of other tree species, and also in leaf and fruit samples eaten by chimpanzees. The differences between the Raphia samples and the non-Raphia samples were highly significant (p<0.001). It is concluded that Raphia provides a rich and possibly essential source of sodium for the Budongo chimpanzees. Comparison of a chewed sample (wadge) of Raphia pith with a sample from the tree showed a clear reduction in sodium content in the chewed sample. Black and white colobus monkeys in Budongo Forest also feed on the pith of Raphia. At present, the survival of Raphia palms in Budongo Forest is threatened by the use of this tree by local tobacco farmers

Mineral Acquisition from Clay by Budongo Forest Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees of the Sonso community, Budongo Forest, Uganda were observed eating clay and drinking clay-water from waterholes. We show that clay, clay-rich water, and clay obtained with leaf sponges, provide a range of minerals in different concentrations. The presence of aluminium in the clay consumed indicates that it takes the form of kaolinite. We discuss the contribution of clay geophagy to the mineral intake of the Sonso chimpanzees and show that clay eaten using leaf sponges is particularly rich in minerals. We show that termite mound soil, also regularly consumed, is rich in minerals. We discuss the frequency of clay and termite soil geophagy in the context of the disappearance from Budongo Forest of a formerly rich source of minerals, the decaying pith of Raphia farinifera palms

La estructura factorial de las habilidades cognitivas en la infância

Recent studies have shown contradictory evidence regarding cognitive abilities differentiation and organization in childhood. Cattell’s investment theory postulated that duringthe early stages of life, the individual begins with a single and general ability (fluid intelligence), in which the relevance tends to decrease during adolescence, due to the appearance of differentiated abilities developed through the process of socialization and associated with the motivations, interests and experiences. This study analyses whether the factorial structure of the results in a battery of tests supports the existence of a general factor or, instead, a structure formed by different specific factors. A sample of 472 Portuguese children, aged between 4 and 10 years old, completed the Cognitive Competencies Scale for Children (ECCOs 4/10),and four subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Revised (WPPSI-R). The adjustment of some models that reflect different psychometric theories of intelligence was tested by several confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). The implications of the tested models in the organization of cognitive abilities for cognitive development and school learning in childhood are also discussed.Estudios recientes señalan evidencias contradictorias con respecto a la diferenciación y organización de las habilidades cognitivas en la infancia. La teoría de la inversión de Cattell sostiene que durante las primeras etapas de la vida, el individuo comienza con una habilidad general (inteligencia fluida), cuya relevancia tiende a disminuir debido a la aparición durante la adolescencia de habilidades diferenciadas desarrolladas a través del proceso de socialización y que están asociadas a las motivaciones, intereses y experiencias. Con este estudio se pretende investigar si la estructura factorial de los resultados en una batería de pruebas apoya la existencia de un factor general o, en cambio, una estructura formada por diferentes factores específicos. Una muestra de 472 escolares portugueses, con edades entre los 4 y 10 años, llevó a cabo la Escala de Competências Cognitivas para Crianças (ECCOs 4/10) y cuatro sub-pruebas del Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Third Edition (WISC-III) y Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Revised (WPPSI-R). El ajuste de algunos modelos que reflejan diferentes teorías psicométricas de la inteligencia se puso a prueba mediante varios análisis factoriales confirmatorios (AFC). Se analizaron además las implicaciones de los modelos probados en la organización de las habilidades cognitivas para el desarrollo cognitivo y para el aprendizaje escolar en la infancia.This work is funded by the Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, IP (FCT) and the POPH/FSE under the SFRH/BD/84153/2012 project

Selective deforestation and exposure of African wildlife to bat-borne viruses

Proposed mechanisms of zoonotic virus spillover often posit that wildlife transmission and amplification precede human outbreaks. Between 2006 and 2012, the palm Raphia farinifera, a rich source of dietary minerals for wildlife, was nearly extirpated from Budongo Forest, Uganda. Since then, chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus, and red duiker were observed feeding on bat guano, a behavior not previously observed. Here we show that guano consumption may be a response to dietary mineral scarcity and may expose wildlife to bat-borne viruses. Videos from 2017–2019 recorded 839 instances of guano consumption by the aforementioned species. Nutritional analysis of the guano revealed high concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Metagenomic analyses of the guano identified 27 eukaryotic viruses, including a novel betacoronavirus. Our findings illustrate how “upstream” drivers such as socioeconomics and resource extraction can initiate elaborate chains of causation, ultimately increasing virus spillover risk.Peer reviewe