The health of women and girls determines the health and well-being of our modern world: A White Paper From the International Council on Women's Health Issues

The International Council on Women's Health Issues (ICOWHI) is an international nonprofit association dedicated to the goal of promoting health, health care, and well-being of women and girls throughout the world through participation, empowerment, advocacy, education, and research. We are a multidisciplinary network of women's health providers, planners, and advocates from all over the globe. We constitute an international professional and lay network of those committed to improving women and girl's health and quality of life. This document provides a description of our organization mission, vision, and commitment to improving the health and well-being of women and girls globally

Mobile phones and social structures: an exploration of a closed user group in rural Ghana

Background: In the Millennium Villages Project site of Bonsaaso, Ghana, the Health Team is using a mobile phone closed user group to place calls amongst one another at no cost. Methods: In order to determine the utilization and acceptability of the closed user group amongst users, social network analysis and qualitative methods were used. Key informants were identified and interviewed. The key informants also kept prospective call journals. Billing statements and de-identified call data from the closed user group were used to generate data for analyzing the social structure revealed by the network traffic. Results: The majority of communication within the closed user group was personal and not for professional purposes. The members of the CUG felt that the group improved their efficiency at work. Conclusions: The methods used present an interesting way to investigate the social structure surrounding communication via mobile phones. In addition, the benefits identified from the exploration of this closed user group make a case for supporting mobile phone closed user groups amongst professional groups

Using genetic variants to evaluate the causal effect of cholesterol lowering on head and neck cancer risk:a Mendelian randomization study

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which includes cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx, is a cause of substantial global morbidity and mortality. Strategies to reduce disease burden include discovery of novel therapies and repurposing of existing drugs. Statins are commonly prescribed for lowering circulating cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR). Results from some observational studies suggest that statin use may reduce HNSCC risk. We appraised the relationship of genetically-proxied cholesterol-lowering drug targets and other circulating lipid traits with oral (OC) and oropharyngeal (OPC) cancer risk using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). For the primary analysis, germline genetic variants in HMGCR, NPC1L1, CETP, PCSK9 and LDLR were used to proxy the effect of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering therapies. In secondary analyses, variants were used to proxy circulating levels of other lipid traits in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of 188,578 individuals. Both primary and secondary analyses aimed to estimate the downstream causal effect of cholesterol lowering therapies on OC and OPC risk. The second sample for MR was taken from a GWAS of 6,034 OC and OPC cases and 6,585 controls (GAME-ON). Analyses were replicated in UK Biobank, using 839 OC and OPC cases and 372,016 controls and the results of the GAME-ON and UK Biobank analyses combined in a fixed-effects meta-analysis. We found limited evidence of a causal effect of genetically-proxied LDL-C lowering using HMGCR, NPC1L1, CETP or other circulating lipid traits on either OC or OPC risk. Genetically-proxied PCSK9 inhibition equivalent to a 1 mmol/L (38.7 mg/dL) reduction in LDL-C was associated with an increased risk of OC and OPC combined (OR 1.8 95%CI 1.2, 2.8, p = 9.31 x10-05), with good concordance between GAME-ON and UK Biobank (I2 = 22%). Effects for PCSK9 appeared stronger in relation to OPC (OR 2.6 95%CI 1.4, 4.9) than OC (OR 1.4 95%CI 0.8, 2.4). LDLR variants, resulting in genetically-proxied reduction in LDL-C equivalent to a 1 mmol/L (38.7 mg/dL), reduced the risk of OC and OPC combined (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.5, 1.0, p = 0.006). A series of pleiotropy-robust and outlier detection methods showed that pleiotropy did not bias our findings. We found limited evidence for a role of cholesterol-lowering in OC and OPC risk, suggesting previous observational results may have been confounded. There was some evidence that genetically-proxied inhibition of PCSK9 increased risk, while lipid-lowering variants in LDLR, reduced risk of combined OC and OPC. This result suggests that the mechanisms of action of PCSK9 on OC and OPC risk may be independent of its cholesterol lowering effects; however, this was not supported uniformly across all sensitivity analyses and further replication of this finding is required

Producción de maíz en el Territorio Indígena de Matambú

Se presentan las variedades nativas de maíz producidas en el Territorio Indígena de Matambú, Costa Rica.Universidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaConsejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano/[]/CSUCA/Costa RicaUniversidad Estatal a Distancia/[]/UNED/Costa RicaComunidad indígena de Matambú/[]//Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno (EEAFBM)UCR::Sedes Regionales::Sede del Atlántico::Recinto de Paraíso::Finca Experimental Interdisciplinaria de Modelos Agroecológicos (FEIMA

Effective modeling for integrated water resource management: a guide to contextual practices by phases and steps and future opportunities

The effectiveness of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) modeling hinges on the quality of practices employed through the process, starting from early problem definition all the way through to using the model in a way that serves its intended purpose. The adoption and implementation of effective modeling practices need to be guided by a practical understanding of the variety of decisions that modelers make, and the information considered in making these choices. There is still limited documented knowledge on the modeling workflow, and the role of contextual factors in determining this workflow and which practices to employ. This paper attempts to contribute to this knowledge gap by providing systematic guidance of the modeling practices through the phases (Planning, Development, Application, and Perpetuation) and steps that comprise the modeling process, positing questions that should be addressed. Practice-focused guidance helps explain the detailed process of conducting IWRM modeling, including the role of contextual factors in shaping practices. We draw on findings from literature and the authors’ collective experience to articulate what and how contextual factors play out in employing those practices. In order to accelerate our learning about how to improve IWRM modeling, the paper concludes with five key areas for future practice-related research: knowledge sharing, overcoming data limitations, informed stakeholder involvement, social equity and uncertainty management. © 2019 Elsevier Lt

Mejoramiento de la producción de hortalizas, maíz y frijol en comunidades indígenas (Territorio Indígena de Matambú)

Este proyecto tuvo como finalidad aportar en el mejoramiento de la producción de hortalizas, maíz y frijol en el territorio indígena de Matambú, de tradición cultural indígena chorotega, a partir de la investigación-acción y el estudio comparado, con el propósito último de contribuir en la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional de este pueblo. Se realizó mediante la evaluación del comportamiento productivo de hortalizas en hidroponía y en ambiente protegido, la puesta en valor de las semillas criollas de maíz y frijol existentes en el territorio, y el estudio sobre la tradición culinaria y el uso tradicional agrícola de estos cultivos tradicionales, con la participación activa de escolares, agricultores, docentes y miembros de la comunidad en general.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno (EEAFBM

Hidroponía en Guanacaste: una experiencia en el Territorio Indígena de Matambú

Resumen de conferenciaEl objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el desempeño de la producción de hortalizas en hidroponía en el Territorio Indígena de Matambú, utilizando diferentes sustratos, con el fin de identificar su eficacia como método de producción de alimentos en esta zona. Se construyeron dos módulos de hidroponía en el Territorio Indígena de Matambú, uno en el poblado de Matambú (12 m2) y otro en Matambuguito (14,4 m2). En Matambú se evaluaron cuatro sustratos diferentes, y en Matambuguito, seis. Se procedió a sembrar lechuga y pak choi en los módulos de hidroponía de Matambú, y sólo lechuga en el caso de Matambuguito. Luego de cinco semanas, se evaluó el crecimiento y rendimiento de estos cultivos en los diferentes sustratos, en ambas localidades. Se logró demostrar que en la zona de Matambú es posible producir hortalizas de hoja mediante la técnica de la hidroponía. Se establecieron diferencias en la producción de hortalizas según el tipo de sustrato utilizado en hidroponía. Se comprobó que es factible el uso de piedra caliza como sustrato en hidroponía, sobretodo si se utiliza en mezcla con lombricompost, y con una granulometría adecuada. Los sustratos utilizados demostraron ser capaces de sostener la producción hortícola en forma satisfactoria, aunque hay diferencias importantes entre los tratamientos, siendo los mejores sustratos 100 % piedra de río, piedra caliza mezcla (75 %) + lombricompost (25 %), 100 % lombricompost, y 100 % fibra de coco; el peor tratamiento fue 100 % piedra caliza quintilla.Universidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaInstituto Nacional de Innovación y Transferencia Agropecuaria/[]/INTA/Costa RicaConsejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano/[]/CSUCA/GuatemalaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno (EEAFBM

Aportes interdisciplinarios desde las Ciencias Sociales y Agrícolas a la Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional: una experiencia en el Territorio Indígena de Matambú, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

La investigación busca aportar en el mejoramiento de la producción de hortalizas, maíz y frijol en el territorio indígena de Matambú, a partir de la investigación-acción y el estudio comparado, con el fin de contribuir en la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional de este pueblo, mediante la organización comunitariaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad Estatal a Distancia/[]/UNED/Costa RicaConsejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano/[]/CSUCA/Costa RicaComunidad indígena de Matambú/[]//Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno (EEAFBM)UCR::Sedes Regionales::Sede del Atlántico::Recinto de Paraíso::Finca Experimental Interdisciplinaria de Modelos Agroecológicos (FEIMA

Investigating the effect of sexual behaviour on oropharyngeal cancer risk:a methodological assessment of Mendelian randomization

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus infection is known to influence oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) risk, likely via sexual transmission. However, sexual behaviour has been correlated with other risk factors including smoking and alcohol, meaning independent effects are difficult to establish. We aimed to evaluate the causal effect of sexual behaviour on the risk of OPC using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: Genetic variants robustly associated with age at first sex (AFS) and the number of sexual partners (NSP) were used to perform both univariable and multivariable MR analyses with summary data on 2641 OPC cases and 6585 controls, obtained from the largest available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Given the potential for genetic pleiotropy, we performed a number of sensitivity analyses: (i) MR methods to account for horizontal pleiotropy, (ii) MR of sexual behaviours on positive (cervical cancer and seropositivity for Chlamydia trachomatis) and negative control outcomes (lung and oral cancer), (iii) Causal Analysis Using Summary Effect estimates (CAUSE), to account for correlated and uncorrelated horizontal pleiotropic effects, (iv) multivariable MR analysis to account for the effects of smoking, alcohol, risk tolerance and educational attainment. RESULTS: In univariable MR, we found evidence supportive of an effect of both later AFS (IVW OR = 0.4, 95%CI (0.3, 0.7), per standard deviation (SD), p = < 0.001) and increasing NSP (IVW OR = 2.2, 95%CI (1.3, 3.8) per SD, p = < 0.001) on OPC risk. These effects were largely robust to sensitivity analyses accounting for horizontal pleiotropy. However, negative control analysis suggested potential violation of the core MR assumptions and subsequent CAUSE analysis implicated pleiotropy of the genetic instruments used to proxy sexual behaviours. Finally, there was some attenuation of the univariable MR results in the multivariable models (AFS IVW OR = 0.7, 95%CI (0.4, 1.2), p = 0.21; NSP IVW OR = 0.9, 95%CI (0.5 1.7), p = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Despite using genetic variants strongly related sexual behaviour traits in large-scale GWAS, we found evidence for correlated pleiotropy. This emphasizes a need for multivariable approaches and the triangulation of evidence when performing MR of complex behavioural traits. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-022-02233-3