The Evolution of Mentorship Capacity Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Case Studies from Peru, Kenya, India, and Mozambique.

Following the Fogarty International Center-supported "Mentoring the Mentors" workshops in South America, Africa, and Asia, approaches and guidelines for mentorship at institutions within these low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts, appropriate for the respective regional resources and culture, were implemented. Through the presentation of case studies from these three geographic regions, this article illustrates the institutional mentorship infrastructure before the workshop and the identified gaps used to implement strategies to build mentorship capacity at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Peru), Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya), Saint John's Research Institute (India), and Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique). These case studies illustrate three findings: first, that mentorship programs in LMICs have made uneven progress, and institutions with existing programs have exhibited greater advancement to their mentoring capacity than institutions without formal programs before the workshops. Second, mentoring needs assessments help garner the support of institutional leadership and create local ownership. Third, developing a culture of mentorship that includes group mentoring activities at LMIC institutions can help overcome the shortage of trained mentors. Regardless of the stage of mentoring programs, LMIC institutions can work toward developing sustainable, culturally effective mentorship models that further the partnership of early career scientists and global health

Evaluation of Stainless Steel Press Fittings for Use in Transcritical R744 Refrigeration Systems

Successful implementation of R744 (CO2) as a refrigerant on a large scale and its introduction to new applications has motivated the development of new system components tailored specifically for use in high-pressure R744 systems, including reliable, low-cost refrigeration fittings. One option for fittings to be used in R744 systems are quick and reliable press fittings. Previous research has shown that this type of fitting can undergo extended vibration and thermal (pressure and temperature) cycling without compromising the fitting. This paper investigates the durability of stainless steel press fittings designed specifically for R744 systems, with particular focus on the effects of rapid decompression and carbonic acid exposure on the fittings. Rapid decompression is of concern due to the tendency of O-ring material to absorb CO2 molecules at high pressure and temperature, resulting in possible expansion and bursting of the O-rings when pressure drops and the CO2 absorbed by the O-rings attempts to escape very rapidly. Additionally, the presence of moisture in an R744 system can result in the reaction of CO2 and H2O, resulting in the formation of carbonic acid; the exposure of the refrigeration system components to this weak acid over time can compromise parts different of the refrigeration system, possibly including joints. The effects of decompression and acidity on stainless steel press fittings and their O-rings have been tested and are reported in this paper

Accelerated fatigue testing of aluminum refrigeration press fittings for HVAC & R applications

Failed brazed joints causing refrigerant leakage is a multi-billion dollar problem for the global HVAC&R industry. Leaks are frequently caused due to mechanical fatigue from extreme pressure cycling, temperature cycling including exposure to freeze/thaw cycles, or vibrational wear induced from rotating electrical machinery. In this study, a new, cost-effective type of press fitting suitable for a wide variety of refrigerants and applications is investigated experimentally. Three tests to accelerate mechanical fatigue were devised to simulate real world extreme conditions to determine possible failure modes of refrigerant components and joining technologies. The first test is a combined thermal/pressure shock test designed to simulate abrupt temperature and pressure changes due to start/stop cycles and frost/defrost mode changes. Field failures of brazed joints have been detected due to water being trapped in tight spaces and expanding during freezing, causing high stress on brazed joints. The second test is a vibration test, designed to simulate vibrational loads induced from rotating components in the system. The third and final series of testing is a freeze/thaw cycling profile which simulates ice buildup and defrost observed during heat pump operation. The investigated press fittings are made from aluminum and utilize o-ring seals. Test specimen of six different sizes designed to connect to aluminum tubes having outer diameters between 9.5 mm and 28.5 mm were subjected to the accelerated tests described above. Pressure, temperature, strains and acceleration were measured and analyzed. At the end of each test the exposed specimen were carefully investigated for possible damage and leak tightness confirmed. The results were also compared to earlier test results conducted with an all-copper version of same press fitting technology

Mentoring the Mentors: Implementation and Evaluation of Four Fogarty-Sponsored Mentoring Training Workshops in Low-and Middle-Income Countries.

A growing body of evidence highlights the importance of competent mentoring in academic research. We describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of four regional 2-day intensive workshops to train mid- and senior-level investigators conducting public health, clinical, and basic science research across multiple academic institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) on tools and techniques of effective mentoring. Sponsored by the Fogarty International Center, workshops included didactic presentations, interactive discussions, and small-group problem-based learning and were conducted in Lima, Peru; Mombasa, Kenya; Bangalore, India; and Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2013 to 2016. Mid- or senior-level faculty from multiple academic institutions within each region applied and were selected. Thirty faculty from 12 South America-based institutions, 29 faculty from eight East Africa-based institutions, 37 faculty from 14 South Asia-based institutions, and 36 faculty from 13 Africa-based institutions participated, with diverse representation across disciplines, gender, and academic rank. Discussions and evaluations revealed important comparisons and contrasts in the practice of mentoring, and specific barriers and facilitators to mentoring within each cultural and regional context. Specific regional issues related to hierarchy, the post-colonial legacy, and diversity arose as challenges to mentoring in different parts of the world. Common barriers included a lack of a culture of mentoring, time constraints, lack of formal training, and a lack of recognition for mentoring. These workshops provided valuable training, were among the first of their kind, were well-attended, rated highly, and provided concepts and a structure for the development and strengthening of formal mentoring programs across LMIC institutions

Challenges and Solutions for Sustainable Groundwater Usage: Pollution Control and Integrated Management

Purpose of Review This paper aims to critically reviewthe current status of groundwater usage fromthe point of viewof pollutant control and integrated management. Recent Findings This paper has shown that sustainable efforts must be encouraged to minimize the arsenic content from all the possible sources before entering the groundwater system. Excessive nitrate and pesticide utilization must be significantly reduced for a sustainable environment. Although various in situ remediation technologies are possible to remove some contaminants in the groundwater, the future concern is how it can be carried out in accordance with environmental sustainable goal such as the implementation of in situ bioremediation and bioelectroremediation which provide a cheaper and greener solution compared to physical and chemical approaches. To develop a successful integrated management for a sustainable groundwater usage in the future, conjunctive water management is recommended as it involves the management of ground and surface water resources to enhance security of water supply and environmental sustainability. Summary This paper critically reviews the current state of knowledge concerning groundwater usage from the point of view of pollutant control and integrated management. Information presented in this paper is highly useful for the management of groundwater not only in the quality point of view but also in the sustainable quantity for future development

Strengthening Mentoring in Low- and Middle-Income Countries to Advance Global Health Research: An Overview.

Mentoring is a proven path to scientific progress, but it is not a common practice in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Existing mentoring approaches and guidelines are geared toward high-income country settings, without considering in detail the differences in resources, culture, and structure of research systems of LMICs. To address this gap, we conducted five Mentoring-the-Mentor workshops in Africa, South America, and Asia, which aimed at strengthening the capacity for evidence-based, LMIC-specific institutional mentoring programs globally. The outcomes of the workshops and two follow-up working meetings are presented in this special edition of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Seven articles offer recommendations on how to tailor mentoring to the context and culture of LMICs, and provide guidance on how to implement mentoring programs. This introductory article provides both a prelude and executive summary to the seven articles, describing the motivation, cultural context and relevant background, and presenting key findings, conclusions, and recommendations

Innovations in nutrition education and global health: the Bangalore Boston nutrition collaborative

Background: India has a wide range of nutrition and health problems which require professionals with appropriate skills, knowledge and trans-disciplinary collaborative abilities to influence policy making at the national and global level. Methods: The Bangalore Boston Nutrition Collaborative (BBNC) was established as collaboration between St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI), Harvard School of Public Health and Tufts University, with a focus on nutrition research and training. The goals of the BBNC were to conduct an interdisciplinary course, develop web-based courses and identify promising Indian students and junior faculty for graduate training in Boston. Results: From 2010, an annual two-week short course in nutrition research methods was conducted on the SJRI campus taught by international faculty from Indian and US universities. More than 100 students applied yearly for approximately 30 positions. The course had didactic lectures in the morning and practical hands-on sessions in the afternoon. Student rating of the course was excellent and consistent across the years. The ratings on the design and conduct of the course significantly improved (p <0.001) from 2010 to 2012. Through open-ended questions, students reported the main strengths of the course to be the excellent faculty and practical “hands-on” sessions. A web based learning system TYRO, was developed, which can be used for distance learning. Four faculty members/graduate students from SJRI have visited Boston for collaborative research efforts. Conclusion: The BBNC has become a well-established capacity building and research training program for young professionals in nutrition and global health. Efforts are ongoing to secure long term funding to sustain and expand this collaboration to deliver high quality nutrition and global health education enabled by information and communication technologies

HGF/c-MET pathway inhibition combined with chemotherapy increases cytotoxic T-cell infiltration and inhibits pancreatic tumour growth and metastasis

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a deadly cancer with a high mortality rate. The unique characteristics of PC, including desmoplasia and immunosuppression, have made it difficult to develop effective treatment strategies. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a crucial role in the progression of the disease by interacting with cancer cells. One of the key mediators of PSC - cancer cell interactions is the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway. Using an immunocompetent in vivo model of PC as well as in vitro experiments, this study has shown that a combined approach using HGF/c-MET inhibitors to target stromal-tumour interactions and chemotherapy (gemcitabine) to target cancer cells effectively decreases tumour volume, EMT, and stemness, and importantly, eliminates metastasis. Notably, HGF/c-MET inhibition decreases TGF-β secretion by cancer cells, resulting in an increase in cytotoxic T-cell infiltration, thus contributing to cancer cell death in tumours. HGF/c-MET inhibition + chemotherapy was also found to normalise the gut microbiome and improve gut microbial diversity. These findings provide a strong platform for assessment of this triple therapy (HGF/c-MET inhibition + chemotherapy) approach in the clinical setting