Book Review: Economics of the 1%: How mainstream economics serves the rich, obscures reality and distorts policy

John Weeks. Anthem Press, London and New York, 2014, 227 pp. ISBN: 978 0 85728 108

Jovian protons and electrons: Pioneer 11

A preliminary account of the Pioneer 11 passage through the Jovian magnetosphere as viewed by particle detector systems is presented. Emphasis is placed on the region well within the Jovian magnetosphere using data from the LET-II telescope, which measured the proton flux from 0.2 to 21.2 MeV in seven energy intervals and electrons from 0.1 to 2 MeV in four energy intervals. The relative trajectories of Pioneer 10 and 11 are discussed and indicate that Pioneer 11 was exposed to a much lower total radiation dose than Pioneer 10, largely as a result of the retrograde trajectory which approached and exited the inner region of the magnetosphere at high latitudes. Angular distributions, calculations from Pioneer 11 magnetic field data, and the low-energy nucleon component are included in the discussion

Simpósio Nacional de Culturas Agro-industriais Potencialidades e perspectivas

Simpósio Nacional de Culturas Agro-industriais Potencialidades e perspectiva

Identifying factors for job motivation of rural health workers in North Viet Nam

BACKGROUND: In Viet Nam, most of the public health staff (84%) currently works in rural areas, where 80% of the people live. To provide good quality health care services, it is important to develop strategies influencing staff motivation for better performance. METHOD: An exploratory qualitative research was carried out among health workers in two provinces in North Viet Nam so as to identify entry points for developing strategies that improve staff performance in rural areas. The study aimed to determine the major motivating factors and it is the first in Viet Nam that looks at health workers' job perception and motivation. Apart from health workers, managers at national and at provincial level were interviewed as well as some community representatives. RESULTS: The study showed that motivation is influenced by both financial and non-financial incentives. The main motivating factors for health workers were appreciation by managers, colleagues and the community, a stable job and income and training. The main discouraging factors were related to low salaries and difficult working conditions. CONCLUSION: Activities associated with appreciation such as performance management are currently not optimally implemented, as health workers perceive supervision as control, selection for training as unclear and unequal, and performance appraisal as not useful. The kind of non-financial incentives identified should be taken into consideration when developing HRM strategies. Areas for further studies are identified

Information literacy for higher education institutions in Nigeria and Tanzania: efforts and prospects for educational reform in teaching and learning.

This article reviews efforts made by higher education institutions in Nigeria and Tanzania in transforming student learning through information literacy (IL). It examines the need for higher education institutions in the two countries to create the necessary foundations for strengthening information literacy programmes as a strategy for ensuring viable transformation in teaching and learning. The paper is based on a review of related literature and observations drawn from working experiences in higher education institutions in both countries. It examines some of the meaningful educational transformations taking place in higher education institutions in Nigeria and Tanzania and makes recommendations for better standards to be developed in terms of curriculum structure and design, teaching methods, outcome assessment and a review of institutional policies and goals in order to encourage active teaching and learning

Protecção integrada em tomate de indústria: estimativa do risco de lagarta do tomate Helicoverpa armigera

In Portugal, the processing tomato is of great economical importance. The objective of the work carried out in the Ribatejo is to develop an IPM program, particularly to establish risk assessment methodologies and decision rules for the main enemies of the tomato crop. Of these main enemies the fruitworm (Helicoverpa armigera (Hbn)) is the key-pest. The method that is in validation is based on the techniques used in California and México. These methods allowed to reduce sprays and change to alternative control methods, in particular biological ones - Bt and Trichogramma pretiosum releases. This study presents the research fields, main targets and results during 2000 crop season. Risk assessment methodologies are described and presented the adopted decision rules. A study related with egg and parasitized egg’s spatial distribution on the plant and on the field. Eggs were preferentially on superior level, inferior foliar page, terminal leaflet and field quadrants near the passes. Parasitized eggs do not follow this pattern. It is also presented natural parasitism level and discussed the value of adults monitoring curve as a quantitative risk assessment method

Protecção integrada em tomate de indústria: modelo de previsão do míldio

In Portugal, the processing tomato is of great economical importance. The maintenance of the quality of the final product is of growing preoccupation due to the ever increasing consumer demand. IPM has been considered as the best alternative due to the guarantee of some of these demands, in particular the non existence of pesticide residues. The objectives of the work carried out in the Ribatejo were to establish risk assessment methodologies and decision rules for the main enemies of the tomato crop and also to contribute for IPM development in this area. Of these main enemies late blight and the fruitworm are of great importance and determine the treatment schemes. The rationalization of the treatments is based on: the reduction of the fungicide interventions by better timing and the substitution of the insecticides by non chemical alternatives. For the prior we intend to adapt an existing model the “Tom-cast” which is largely used in Mexico. The present study presents the model and describes the first steps that have been taken in validating the model in the conditions of the Ribatejo. The results are an indication of the strong potential of the model. The next two years prospects and orientation are also presented

The match between motivation and performance management of health sector workers in Mali

Human resources for health (HRH) play a central role in improving accessibility to services and quality of care. Their motivation influences this. In Mali, operational research was conducted to identify the match between motivation and the range and use of performance management activities. OBJECTIVES: To describe the factors motivating and demotivating health workers in Mali and match the motivators with the implementation of performance management. METHODS: First an exploratory qualitative study was conducted: 28 interviews and eight group discussions were held. This was followed by a cross-sectional survey, during which 370 health workers were interviewed. The study population consisted of health workers of eight professional groups. The following issues were investigated: • motivating and demotivating factors; • experiences with performance management, including: job descriptions, continuous education, supervision, performance appraisal and career development. FINDINGS: The study showed that the main motivators of health workers were related to responsibility, training and recognition, next to salary. These can be influenced by performance management (job descriptions, supervisions, continuous education and performance appraisal). Performance management is not optimally implemented in Mali, as job descriptions were not present or were inappropriate; only 13% of interviewees received 4× per year supervision, and training needs were not analysed. Some 48% of the interviewees knew their performance had been appraised in the last two years; the appraisals were perceived as subjective. No other methods were in place to show recognition. The results enabled the research team to propose adaptations or improvements upon existing performance management. CONCLUSION: The results showed the importance of adapting or improving upon performance management strategies to influence staff motivation. This can be done by matching performance management activities to motivators identified by operational research

Task Shifting for Scale-up of HIV Care: Evaluation of Nurse-Centered Antiretroviral Treatment at Rural Health Centers in Rwanda

Fabienne Shumbusho and colleagues evaluate a task-shifting model of nurse-centered antiretroviral treatment prescribing in rural primary health centers in Rwanda and find that nurses can effectively and safely prescribe ART when given adequate training, mentoring, and support

The migration of physicians from sub-Saharan Africa to the United States of America: measures of the African brain drain

BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper is to describe the numbers, characteristics, and trends in the migration to the United States of physicians trained in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We used the American Medical Association 2002 Masterfile to identify and describe physicians who received their medical training in sub-Saharan Africa and are currently practicing in the USA. RESULTS: More than 23% of America's 771 491 physicians received their medical training outside the USA, the majority (64%) in low-income or lower middle-income countries. A total of 5334 physicians from sub-Saharan Africa are in that group, a number that represents more than 6% of the physicians practicing in sub-Saharan Africa now. Nearly 86% of these Africans practicing in the USA originate from only three countries: Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana. Furthermore, 79% were trained at only 10 medical schools. CONCLUSIONS: Physician migration from poor countries to rich ones contributes to worldwide health workforce imbalances that may be detrimental to the health systems of source countries. The migration of over 5000 doctors from sub-Saharan Africa to the USA has had a significantly negative effect on the doctor-to-population ratio of Africa. The finding that the bulk of migration occurs from only a few countries and medical schools suggests policy interventions in only a few locations could be effective in stemming the brain drain