bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic method-based underestimation of leptospirosis in clinical and research settings; an experience from a large prospective study in a high endemic setting
Authors: Warnasekara Janith , Srimantha Shalka , Kappagoda Chamila , Jayasundara Dinesha , Senevirathna Indika , Matthias Michael , Agampodi Suneth , Vinetz Joseph M.
Published: April 2022

Background

Leptospirosis has globally significant human mortality and morbidity, yet estimating the clinical and public health burden of leptospirosis is challenging because timely diagnosis remains limited. The goal of the present study was to evaluate leptospirosis undercounting by current standard methods in both clinical and epidemiological study settings.

Methodology/Principal findings

A prospective hospital-based study was conducted in multiple hospitals in Sri Lanka from 2016 to 2019. Culture, whole blood, and urine samples were collected from clinically suspected leptospirosis cases and patients with undifferentiated fever. Analysis of biological samples from 1,734 subjects confirmed 591 (34.1%) cases as leptospirosis and 297 (17.1%) were classified as “probable” leptospirosis cases. Whole blood quantitative PCR (qPCR) did identify the most cases (322/540(60%)) but missed 40%. Cases missed by each method include; urine qPCR, 70% (153/220); acute sample microscopic agglutination test (MAT), 80% (409/510); paired serum sample MAT, 58% (98/170); and surveillance clinical case definition, 53% (265/496). qPCR of negative culture samples after six months of observation was of diagnostic value retrospectively with but missed 58% of positives (109/353).

Conclusion

Leptospirosis disease burden estimates should consider the limitations of standard diagnostic tests. qPCR of multiple sample types should be used as a leading standard test for diagnosing acute leptospirosis.
Cardiovascular correlates of sleep apnea phenotypes: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)
Authors: Wu Benson , Tarraf Wassim , Wallace Douglas M. , Stickel Ariana M. , Schneiderman Neil , Redline Susan , Patel Sanjay R. , Gallo Linda C. , Mossavar-Rahmani Yasmin , Daviglus Martha L. , Zee Phyllis C. , Talavera Gregory A. , Sotres-Alvarez Daniela , González Hector M. , Ramos Alberto
Published: April 2022

Background

Identifying Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) phenotypes among middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos can facilitate personalized care, better inform treatment decisions, and could lead to improved clinical outcomes.

Methods

We focused on middle-aged and older adults (ages ≥45–74 years at baseline) with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 from the HCHS/SOL (2008–2011) (unweighted n = 3,545). We used latent class analyses (LCA) to identify empirical and clinically meaningful OSA phenotypes. Sleep variables included AHI, percent sleep time SpO2<90%, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Women’s Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS) score, self-reported average sleep duration, restless legs symptoms, napping frequency, and self-reported sleep quality. We used survey logistic and Poisson regression to test the associations between our OSA phenotypes and prevalent and incident cardiovascular measures (cardiovascular disease, heart failure, Stroke/TIA, hypertension, diabetes, and the Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Score).

Results

Average AHI, ESS, WHIIRS, and sleep duration were 18.1±19.5, 6.3±6.1, 7.4±6.6, and 7.8±1.7 hours, respectively, and 2.9% had zero percent time SpO2 <90%. We identified a three-class solution that clustered individuals into (1)insomnia OSA(44.3%), (2)asymptomatic mild OSA, (36.2%) and (3)symptomatic OSA(19.5%). Elevated WHIIRS and AHI scores primarily drove classification into groups one and three, respectively. In covariate adjusted models, OSA phenotypes were differentially associated with prevalence (baseline and seven years later) and incidence of cardiovascular measures.

Conclusions

OSA subtypes in diverse U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults have different cardiovascular complications. More targeted research, that takes these variations into account, could help ameliorate Hispanic/Latino sleep and cardiovascular health disparities.
Introducing the EMPIRE Index: A novel, value-based metric framework to measure the impact of medical publications
Authors: Pal Avishek , Rees Tomas James
Published: April 2022

Article-level measures of publication impact (alternative metrics or altmetrics) can help authors and other stakeholders assess engagement with their research and the success of their communication efforts. The wide variety of altmetrics can make interpretation and comparative assessment difficult; available summary tools are either narrowly focused or do not reflect the differing values of metrics from a stakeholder perspective. We created the EMPIRE (EMpirical Publication Impact and Reach Evaluation) Index, a value-based, multi-component metric framework for medical publications. Metric weighting and grouping were informed by a statistical analysis of 2891 Phase III clinical trial publications and by a panel of stakeholders who provided value assessments. The EMPIRE Index comprises three component scores (social, scholarly, and societal impact), each incorporating related altmetrics indicating a different aspect of engagement with the publication. These are averaged to provide a total impact score and benchmarked so that a score of 100 equals the mean scores of Phase III clinical trial publications in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in 2016. Predictor metrics are defined to estimate likely long-term impact. The social impact component correlated strongly with the Altmetric Attention Score and the scholarly impact component correlated modestly with CiteScore, with the societal impact component providing unique insights. Analysis of fresh metrics collected 1 year after the initial dataset, including an independent sample, showed that scholarly and societal impact scores continued to increase, whereas social impact scores did not. Analysis of NEJM ‘notable articles’ showed that observational studies had the highest total impact and component scores, except for societal impact, for which surgical studies had the highest score. The EMPIRE Index provides a richer assessment of publication value than standalone traditional and alternative metrics and may enable medical researchers to assess the impact of publications easily and to understand what characterizes impactful research.
Olfactory identification disorders due to Alzheimer’s disease: A new test from France to Quebec
Authors: Payne Magali , Manera Valeria , Robert Philippe , Vandersteen Clair , Beauchet Olivier , Galery Kevin , Sacco Guillaume , Fabre Roxane , Gros Auriane
Published: April 2022

Olfactory identification disorder is regarded as an early marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and of similar diagnostic significance of biological or cognitive markers. Premature damage of the entorhinal olfactory cortex, the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex characterize AD and suggest a specific impairment of olfactory identification. The use of psychophysical olfactory identification tests in clinical diagnostic practice is therefore strongly recommended, but not required. As these widespread tests are rarely used, an innovative test, adapted to this target group has been developed. It has been used and validated in a routine care protocol at different Memory Centers in France and in Quebec, Canada. A total of 157 participants were recruited: including 63 Alzheimer’s patients and 94 healthy controls. The test was composed of 14 odorants diluted into 4 different concentrations. A computer interface generated randomization of 6 odors per participant and the automatic calculation of identification scores, of perceptual thresholds and of composite scores. All participants underwent a Mini Mental Scale Examination within the previous three months or on the same day of the olfactory test. The Alzheimer’s patients had a score between 20 and 30 and healthy controls participants had a score above 28 without any loss of points on recalled items. The results show that our olfactory identification test is able to significantly differentiate Alzheimer’s patients from healthy controls (p < 0.001), and to distinguish the French population tested from the Quebec population (p < 0.001). This study highlights an olfactory identification disorder as a target for early diagnosis of AD. Its cultural qualities make it a potential candidate for differentiated calibration between France and Quebec.
CXCR2 signaling might have a tumor-suppressive role in patients with cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Yamamoto Yurie , Sugimoto Atsushi , Maruo Koji , Tsujio Gen , Sera Tomohiro , Kushiyama Shuhei , Nishimura Sadaaki , Kuroda Kenji , Togano Shingo , Eguchi Shinpei , Tanaka Ryota , Kimura Kenjiro , Amano Ryosuke , Ohira Masaichi , Yashiro Masakazu
Published: April 2022

Background

We reported that chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 2 (CXCR2) signaling appears to play an important role in the pathogenic signaling of gastric cancer (GC), and although CXCR2 may have a role in other solid cancers, the significance of CXCR2 in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has not been evaluated. Herein, we determined the clinicopathologic significance of CXCL1-CXCR2 signaling in CCA.

Materials and methods

Two human CCA cell lines, OCUG-1 and HuCCT1, were used. CXCR2 expression was examined by western blotting. We investigated the effects of CXCL1 on the proliferation (by MTT assay) and migration activity (by a wound-healing assay) of each cell line. Our immunohistochemical study of the cases of 178 CCA patients examined the expression levels of CXCR2 and CXCL1, and we analyzed the relationship between these expression levels and the patients’ clinicopathologic features.

Results

CXCR2 was expressed on both CCA cell lines. CXCL1 significantly inhibited both the proliferative activity and migratory activity of both cell lines. CXCL1 and CXCR2 were immunohistochemically expressed in 73% and 18% of the CCA cases, respectively. The CXCL1-positive group was significantly associated with negative lymph node metastasis (p = 0.043). The CXCR2-positive group showed significantly better survival (p = 0.042, Kaplan-Meier). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CXCR2 expression (p = 0.031) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.004) were significantly correlated with the CCA patients’ overall survival.

Conclusion

CXCR2 signaling might exert a tumor-suppressive effect on CCA cells. CXCR2 might be a useful independent prognostic marker for CCA patients after surgical resection.
On the variability of the Bering Sea Cold Pool and implications for the biophysical environment
Authors: Clement Kinney Jaclyn , Maslowski Wieslaw , Osinski Robert , Lee Younjoo J. , Goethel Christina , Frey Karen , Craig Anthony
Published: April 2022

The Bering Sea experiences a seasonal sea ice cover, which is important to the biophysical environment found there. A pool of cold bottom water (<2°C) is formed on the shelf each winter as a result of cooling and vertical mixing due to brine rejection during the predominately local sea ice growth. The extent and distribution of this Cold Pool (CP) is largely controlled by the winter extent of sea ice in the Bering Sea, which can vary considerably and recently has been much lower than average. The cold bottom water of the CP is important for food security because it delineates the boundary between arctic and subarctic demersal fish species. A northward retreat of the CP will likely be associated with migration of subarctic species toward the Chukchi Sea. We use the fully-coupled Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) to examine variability of the extent and distribution of the CP and its relation to change in the sea ice cover in the Bering Sea during the period 1980–2018. RASM results confirm the direct correlation between the extent of sea ice and the CP and show a smaller CP as a consequence of realistically simulated recent declines of the sea ice cover in the Bering Sea. In fact, the area of the CP was found to be only 31% of the long-term mean in July of 2018. In addition, we also find that a low ice year is followed by a later diatom bloom, while a heavy ice year is followed by an early diatom bloom. Finally, the RASM probabilistic intra-annual forecast capability is reviewed, based on 31-member ensembles for 2019–2021, for its potential use for prediction of the winter sea ice cover and the subsequent summer CP area in the Bering Sea.
Honey bee hive covers reduce food consumption and colony mortality during overwintering
Authors: St. Clair Ashley L. , Beach Nathanael J. , Dolezal Adam G.
Published: April 2022

Beekeepers regularly employ management practices to mitigate losses during the winter, often considered the most difficult time during a colony life cycle. Management recommendations involving covering or wrapping hives in insulation during winter have a long history; over 100 years ago, most recommendations for overwintering in cold climates involved heavy insulation wraps or moving hives indoors. These recommendations began to change in the mid-20th century, but hive covers are still considered useful and are described in contemporary beekeeping manuals and cooperative extension materials. However, most of the data supporting their use is published primarily in non-peer reviewed trade journals and was collected >40 years ago. In this time, the beekeeping environment has changed substantially, with new pressures from pathogens, agrochemicals, and land use changes. Here, we provide an update to the historical literature, reporting a randomized experiment testing the effectiveness of a common honey bee hive cover system across eight apiaries in central Illinois, USA, a temperate region dominated by conventional annual agriculture. We found that, when other recommended overwintering preparations are performed, covered colonies consumed less food stores and survived better than uncovered controls (22.5% higher survival). This study highlights the value of hive covers, even in an area not subject to extremely cold winter conditions, and these data can aid the production of evidence-based extension recommendations for beekeepers.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine immunization among people visiting primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhatim Norah , Al-Bashaireh Ahmad M. , Alqudah Ola
Published: April 2022

Influenza infection continues to be a hazard to the Saudi population, resulting in high death rates and illness prevalence; it also places a substantial financial burden on the government. The government takes several strategies and approaches through the Ministry of Health has shown great success in curbing the disease. Vaccination is considered the most appropriate control measure; unfortunately, most Saudi residents, particularly in the city of Riyadh, do not consider vaccination a safe health practice. As a result, many have not participated in the influenza vaccine immunisation programme. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine immunisation among clients visiting primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the study investigated the relationship between participants’ demographics and their KAPs regarding influenza vaccination. A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was conducted among 611 individuals who visited four of Riyadh’s primary healthcare centers: Alsylimania, Alwady, Alyasmin, and Alsahafah. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess the KAPs of participants, with questions regarding seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine immunisation. The scores of participants’ knowledge showed that the majority had good knowledge regarding seasonal flu (64.5%) and the flu vaccine (73.3%). Furthermore, only 52% of participants had a positive attitude score towards the seasonal influenza vaccination. Despite that, significant knowledge gaps and mistaken beliefs regarding certain aspects of influenza were noted in participants, resulting in negative attitudes and perceptions as well as a reduced likelihood of being vaccinated. In this study, 43.7% of participants (267 out of 611) had ever received a flu vaccine. Participants with a history of previous vaccination had a significantly higher level of knowledge and more positive attitudes, which resulted in increased vaccination coverage. Therefore, educational strategies to improve knowledge regarding influenza in Riyadh are recommended.
Risk for hypoglycemic emergency with levofloxacin use, a population-based propensity score matched nested case-control study
Authors: Liao Shu-Hui , Hu Sung-Yuan , How Chorng-Kuang , Hsieh Vivian Chia-Rong , Chan Chia-Ming , Chiu Chien-Shan , Hsieh Ming-Shun
Published: April 2022

Potential association between oral levofloxacin use and hypoglycemic emergency (HE) have been established. However, a large epidemiological study is required to verify this observation. This study aimed to determine if use of oral levofloxacin increased the risk of HE. The nationwide database between 1999 and 2013, including 1.6 million patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), was used to conduct a nested case-control study. Cases and controls comprised of patients with and without HE, respectively. To avoid indication bias the control subjects were chosen through propensity score matching with cases in a 10-fold ratio. T2D severity was classified based on the adjusted diabetic complication severity index score. 26,695 and 266,950 matched patients with T2D, were finally used as cases and controls, respectively, for the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk for HE (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6.08, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 5.79–6.38). When compared with antibiotic non-users, those who used fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides displayed the highest (aOR = 12.05, 95% CI: 10.66–13.61) and second highest (aOR = 7.20, 95% CI: 6.29–8.24) risks of HE, respectively. The associated risk for HE was significantly higher with levofloxacin than that with cephalosporins (aOR = 5.13, 95% CI: 2.28–11.52) and penicillin (aOR = 9.40, 95% CI: 2.25–39.24). In the joint effect analyses, the risk for HE increased with the combination of levofloxacin with insulin (aOR = 8.42, 95% CI: 1.91–37.00) or sulfonylurea (aOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.12–11.33). Use of oral levofloxacin, compared to that of other antibiotics, was found to be significantly associated with HE in T2D patients. Clinicians should exercise caution while prescribing levofloxacin, especially when combined with insulin or sulfonylurea.
Coupled small molecules target RNA interference and JAK/STAT signaling to reduce Zika virus infection in Aedes aegypti
Authors: Trammell Chasity E. , Ramirez Gabriela , Sanchez-Vargas Irma , St Clair Laura A. , Ratnayake Oshani C. , Luckhart Shirley , Perera Rushika , Goodman Alan G.
Published: April 2022

The recent global Zika epidemics have revealed the significant threat that mosquito-borne viruses pose. There are currently no effective vaccines or prophylactics to prevent Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Limiting exposure to infected mosquitoes is the best way to reduce disease incidence. Recent studies have focused on targeting mosquito reproduction and immune responses to reduce transmission. Previous work has evaluated the effect of insulin signaling on antiviral JAK/STAT and RNAi in vector mosquitoes. Specifically, insulin-fed mosquitoes resulted in reduced virus replication in an RNAi-independent, ERK-mediated JAK/STAT-dependent mechanism. In this work, we demonstrate that targeting insulin signaling through the repurposing of small molecule drugs results in the activation of both RNAi and JAK/STAT antiviral pathways. ZIKV-infected Aedes aegypti were fed blood containing demethylasterriquinone B1 (DMAQ-B1), a potent insulin mimetic, in combination with AKT inhibitor VIII. Activation of this coordinated response additively reduced ZIKV levels in Aedes aegypti. This effect included a quantitatively greater reduction in salivary gland ZIKV levels up to 11 d post-bloodmeal ingestion, relative to single pathway activation. Together, our study indicates the potential for field delivery of these small molecules to substantially reduce virus transmission from mosquito to human. As infections like Zika virus are becoming more burdensome and prevalent, understanding how to control this family of viruses in the insect vector is an important issue in public health.
The horrors of technology in the fiction of H. P. Lovecraft
Authors: Ralickas Vivian
Published: April 2022

Ralickas identifies the horror of technology in Lovecraft’s fiction as the human subject’s abject fear of machinery, whose alienating nature symbolically underscores the ubiquity of the Second Industrial Revolution’s mass-produced recording and electrical devices including the phonograph, the telegraph, the photographic camera and the typewriter.
Sounding the abject in contemporary horror scoring
Authors: Halfyard Janet K.
Published: April 2022

This article explores the use of noise in the scoring and sound design of recent horror soundtracks. Using case studies on Darling (), Crimson Peak () and the found-footage genre, the article argues that the noise is deliberately employed as a signifier of the abject. Drawing on Metz’s ideas of music, sound and speech as three distinct channels of communication, noise’s ability to move fluidly between these channels and to collapse them into a single sonic channel is identified as a key way in which noise transgresses boundaries and operates as both a symbolic and a concrete manifestation of horror.
Manifestaciones de cabeza y cuello secundarias al uso de cocaína. Revisión bibliográfica
Authors: Corriols-Noval Patricia , Palmero-Sánchez Beatriz , Faelens Gianni , Morales-Angulo Carmelo , López-Simón Eugenia
Published: April 2022

Introducción y objetivo: El consumo de cocaína se ha asociado a patología a múltiples niveles, pero ésta es especialmente relevante a nivel de cabeza y cuello, por ser la vía intranasal una de sus más frecuentes vías de consumo. Este trabajo describe las principales manifestaciones clínicas del consumo de cocaína en el área otorrinolaringológica, y se analizan algunos de los diagnósticos diferenciales que se han de descartar. Método: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica vía, PubMed, Cochrane y Google Schoolar con artículos publicados entre 1999 y 2019 con la palabra cocaine junto con diferentes términos de búsqueda, siguiendo los criterios PRISMA para la selección de artículos. Resultados: La búsqueda inicial redujo los artículos a 641, finalizando la selección en 63 artículos, a los cuales se añadieron otros 66 desde otras fuentes. Finalmente, 129 artículos fueron incluidos en la presente revisión sistemática. Conclusiones: La necrosis de la línea media y la perforación septal son las manifestaciones más frecuentemente descritas asociadas al abuso de cocaína. Sin embargo, esta sustancia puede originar otras muchas lesiones en cabeza y cuello, generalmente de difícil diagnóstico, sobre todo cuando el paciente niega el abuso de sustancias.
Tricofoliculoma del conducto auditivo externo. Un caso excepcional de presentación agresiva
Authors: Viveros-Díez Patricia , Benito-Orejas José Ignacio , Ramírez Salas Jesús Eduardo , Álvarez Quiñones-Sanz María , Duque-Holguera Victoria , Álvarez-Álvarez María
Published: April 2022

Introducción: El tricofoliculoma es una tumoración anexial, infrecuente y benigna, de los folículos pilosos, cuya localización en el conducto auditivo externo (CAE) es excepcional. Objetivo: Describir y actualizar, las características clínicas y evolutivas del tricofoliculoma del CAE a través de un caso clínico. Caso clínico: Mujer de 47 años con una tumoración agresiva del CAE, que destruía la mastoides, cuyo estudio histopatológico, tras la cirugía, ofreció el diagnóstico de tricofoliculoma, asociado a un colesteatoma, Discusión y conclusiones: El tricofoliculoma es un raro tumor de los folículos pilosos, cuya localización en el CAE es excepcional. El comportamiento agresivo del caso presentado quizá fuera debido a su asociación con un colesteatoma, de probable origen secundario.
Hipoacusia en pacientes con y sin COVID-19 antes y después de la recuperación de los casos positivos
Authors: Jiménez-Vargas Nora Adela , Trujillo-Bracamontes Marla Roxana , Rodríguez-Mauricio Alejandro Francisco , Franco-Cendejas Rafael , Martinez-Wbaldo Maria del Consuelo
Published: April 2022

Introducción y objetivo: Aun son pocos los estudios sobre el daño de la COVID-19 en la audición por lo que se recomienda evaluaciones iniciales y su seguimiento, el objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el grado y tipo de hipoacusia en sujetos con y sin COVID-19 al inicio del padecimiento y después de su recuperación de quienes se confirmó su positividad. Método: Estudio prospectivo, comparativo no experimental. Previa firma del consentimiento informado a una muestra voluntaria de 105 sujetos que acudieron a confirmar positividad a COVID-19 se les realizo audiometría tonal y una revaloración posterior a su recuperación de los positivos Resultados: la hipoacusia superficial sensorial fue más frecuente en el grupo de 35 a 50 años, en el grupo negativo a SARS-Cov-2, los resultados antes-después de la recuperación de los positivos fue significativa en el promedio de 7 frecuencias y frecuencias medias. Discusión: Los resultados de este estudio coinciden con lo publicado en relación con el tipo y grado de hipoacusia, la edad y la no percepción de esta, la diversidad de síntomas de COVID-19 sin diferencias entre los grupos con y sin COVID-19. Las diferencias en los promedios de tonos puros en 7 frecuencias y frecuencias medias no reportadas para el contraste. Conclusiones: el tipo y grado de hipoacusia fue el esperado con respecto a la edad, las diferencias en los promedios antes y después fueron mejores en la segunda evaluación probablemente por la resolución del cuadro inflamatorio. Se recomienda aumentar la muestra y agregar evaluación objetiva de oído medio.
The role of social pedagogy in Slovakia during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hanesová Dana , Niklová Miriam
Published: April 2022

This article aims to describe the role of social pedagogy in Slovakia, and in particular to answer the following questions: What are the social challenges that children and their families, schools and social pedagogues are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic? How do social pedagogues in Slovakia perceive the present situation and what can they do to help their students face these challenges? The article first describes the unfolding and the current state of the pandemic as well as the role of social pedagogues in Slovakia. It then analyses the reflections of 31 Slovak social pedagogues on current educational problems and the role of social pedagogy during the pandemic. In doing so, the article answers the question: In what sense does social pedagogy bring hope for various needy communities? The analysis presents some of the challenges social pedagogues are facing amid the chaos of social relations due to social distancing and pandemic lockdowns.
The impact of digital navigation on travel behaviour
Authors: Metz David
Published: April 2022

Digital navigation – the combined use of satellite positioning, digital mapping and route guidance – is in wide use for road travel yet its impact is little understood. Evidence is emerging of significant changes in use of the road network, including diversion of local trips to take advantage of new capacity on strategic roads, and increased use of minor roads. These have problematic implications for investment decisions and for the management of the network. However, the ability of digital navigation to predict estimated time of arrival under expected traffic conditions is a welcome means of mitigating journey time uncertainty, which is one of the undesirable consequences of road traffic congestion. There is very little available information about the impact of digital navigation on travel behaviour, a situation that needs to be remedied to enhance the efficiency of road network operation.
Eventos extremos de precipitación en Colima, México (1981-2018)
Authors: León-Cruz José Francisco , Díaz-Peón Antonio Luna , Rodríguez-García Hugo Ignacio
Published: April 2022

Se presenta una caracterización de los eventos extremos de precipitación en el estado de Colima, México, para el periodo 1981-2018. Con base en el análisis de estaciones climatológicas y la aplicación de una metodología basada en picos sobre el umbral de los días húmedos, se definieron criterios para la identificación de un evento extremo que representara las variaciones locales de las lluvias intensas. Asimismo, y haciendo uso de la base de datos de mejores trayectorias de ciclones tropicales de la NOAA, se determinó la influencia de estos fenómenos en la generación de los eventos extremos. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas en cuanto a la distribución espaciotemporal de estos fenómenos en Colima. Por un lado, los eventos más severos se localizan al sur del estado mientras que su mayor frecuencia se localiza hacia el norte. Los meses de generación de los eventos asociados a ciclones tropicales tienen su máximo en septiembre, mientras que aquellos que no lo están son más frecuentes durante agosto. Existen diferencias significativas respecto a la precipitación acumulada de los eventos asociados y no a ciclones tropicales, donde los primeros pueden duplicar los acumulados de precipitación para algunas regiones del estado. La identificación de los patrones espaciotemporales de los eventos extremos de precipitación y sus variaciones interanuales, son el primer paso para la caracterización del riesgo ante dichos fenómenos en Colima y pueden ser utilizados para la generación de políticas públicas enfocadas en la reducción del riesgo de desastre ante tales amenazas hidrometeorológicas.
Decomposing Remittances from International Migration over Human Capital Development: Lesson from Nigeria Experience
Authors:   University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, Sebastine Asogwa Ikechukwu , Nnamdi Anumudu Charles , Uche Ugwuanyi Charles , Uche Ogbuakanne Maryann ,   University of Nigeria
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study is to ascertain the distribution of international remittance inflow as opposed to the level attained in education before migration. The study uses the Gini coefficient decomposition analysis for the emigrants remittances and the logistic regression model to ascertain the distribution of emigrants remittances as opposed to the level of human capital development in education completed before migration. Evidence from the study shows that the level of education completed before migration contributes to the unequal distribution of remittances across the emigrating groups. The Gini coefficient for primary school or lower, secondary, technical, tertiary and other levels of education are 0.09, 0.08, 0.07 and 0.08 respectively with their corresponding Theil indices being 0.014, 0.011, 0.001 and 0.011 respectively. These statistics suggest that the advancement in human capital development in education before migration would reduce the inequality in remittance inflow. The policy implication of this finding supports the migration policies that encourage education before migration as it reduces the inequality in the remittances.
Introduction
Authors:   University of Ghana, Teye Joseph Kofi
Published: April 2022

In recognition of the benefits of migration and the challenges associated with its management, many governments and development partners have, in recent years, been discussing how to develop effective frameworks for migration governance at the national, regional and international levels (Mangala, 2017). As a result of the increasing realisation that population mobility can contribute to socio-economic transformation of both migrant sending and receiving areas, migration management was, in 2015, included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (OECD/ILO 2018), marking the first time that migration is formally integrated into the global development agenda.
Ambiguity and Symbolism in the Implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol: Evidence from Ghana and Sierra Leone
Authors:   University of Ghana, Teye Joseph Kofi , Awumbila Mariama , Nikoi Ebenezer
Published: April 2022

This paper examines the challenges to the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Free Movement, with particular reference to Ghana and Sierra Leone. The paper is based on a desktop review and in-depth interviews with selected ECOWAS migrants and officials of institutions responsible for managing migration in Ghana and Sierra Leone. The findings suggest that Ghana and Sierra Leone have made modest progress in the implementation of the protocol. Apart from abolishing visa and entry requirements for 90 days, both countries have adopted the standardized ECOWAS Travel Certificate. Despite a few achievements, the following challenges affect the implementation of the free movement protocol in both countries: Policy ambiguities resulting from contradictions between national laws on employment and the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol; harassment of migrants; migrants lack of travel documents; low level of knowledge about the ECOWAS protocol; resource constraints; fears of competition with immigrants, especially in Ghana; securitization of migration and migrants; weak labour market and migration information systems, economic challenges and political instability. This paper concludes that the future implementation outcomes of the ECOWAS protocol largely depend on the commitment of the member states and financial support that they receive from ECOWAS and its development partners.
Cross-Cultural Ties between Ghana and Egypt: The Agency of the Egyptian Community in Accra, Ghana
Authors:   University of Education, Agyeman Edmond Akwasi , Amoako-Gyampah Akwasi Kwarteng
Published: April 2022

Ghana is recognized as an important destination of international migrants. In spite of the socio-economic and political upheavals that the country experienced during the early post-independence era leading to the (forced) return of several of its migrant groups, some have still remained and formed permanent communities and integrated into the Ghanaian society. This paper focuses on the Egyptian diaspora in Ghana. It examines: (1) the type of cross-border and transnational ties that Egyptian migrants in Ghana have established between Ghana and Egypt; (2) how these ties generate cross-cultural relations between Ghana and Egypt; and (3) the extent to which these ties provide a privileged economic and political position to the Egyptian community in Ghana. The work is based on the socio-cultural transnationalism theory. A socio-historical method was adopted for the research and apart from the analysis of historical data, eight key informants were interviewed. The paper shows that due to high-profile intermarriages between Ghanaians and Egyptians, coupled with the Nkrumah factor, the Egyptian community in Ghana occupies a privileged economic and political position in Ghana.
African Immigrant and Refugee Families Perceptions on Informational Support and Health Status: A Comparison of African Immigrants Living in South Africa and the United States
Authors:   University of Missouri, Majee Wilson , Dinbabo Mulugeta , Ile Isioma , Belebema Michael ,   University of the Western Cape
Published: April 2022

The relationship between migration and health is complex, and its impact varies considerably among individuals, across migrant groups, and from country to country. Although African immigration to the United States (U.S.) and South Africa has increased rapidly over the past two decades, little is known about the health experiences of this growing population even though conditions surrounding the migration process have been found to increase vulnerability to ill health. The aim of this study is to examine and compare the perceptions of African refugees and immigrants to South Africa and the U.S. on informational support and its impact on health status. Data was collected from purposively selected 62 African immigrants to the United States and 66 African immigrants to South Africa using the PROMIS Global Health v1.2 and the PROMIS Item Bank v2.0 (informational support) instruments which assess an individuals' general physical, mental and social health.
Internal Migration, Socio-Economic Status and Remittances: Experiences of Migrant Adolescent Girl Head Porters in Ghana
Authors:   University for Development Studies, Alatinga Kennedy A.
Published: April 2022

This paper examines the relationship between internal migration, socioeconomic status and remittances, drawing on the experiences of migrant adolescent girl head porters in the cities of Accra and Kumasi in Ghana. Through an explanatory sequential mixed methods research design involving 503 individual surveys and 24 in-depth interviews, the paper established that 61% of adolescents studied migrated from the north to the south to escape poverty while 29% migrated to work and raise money for school fees. The kayayoo business does not seem to capacitate the adolescent girls to live the kind of lives they have reason to value because only 36% of them remitted to their families. A logistic regression model showed that older adolescents, 15-19 years, (AOR=7.32, p<0.05, CI= [1.999-26.802] number of years spent working as head porter, 3-years, (AOR=3.97, p<0.05, CI= [1.633-9.677] and socio-economic status not poor (AOR=8.63, p<0.001, CI=[4.761-8.435]) significantly influenced remittances. Remittances capacitated recipient families to invest in human capital development and also improved household food security.
Social Inequality and Social Mobility: The Construed Diversity of Ethiopian Female Labor Migrants in Djibouti
Authors:   Addis Ababa University, Eresso Meron Zeleke
Published: April 2022

Discussions about female labor migrants from the Horn of Africa are often loaded with accounts describing them as a homogenized group of destitute people on the move. Such trends of homogenization often hide the diverse social classes within these groups and the differential access co-nationals have across such social classes. Moreover, such discourses conceal the differences in migrants' migration trajectories and related variances in their overall integration processes. This paper accentuates the heterogeneity of the social classes of Ethiopian female migrants and argues that the term Ethiopian female migrant is a parasol that often obscures the diverse and highly stratified migrant group. By going beyond this dominant trend of homogenization, this study addresses how differential access to economic resources, different social characteristics of migrants, and migrants' settlement patterns impact migrants' networks and their status within the larger Ethiopian female migrant group.
The Impact of Inter-provincial Migration on the Labor Market Outcomes in Two Developed Provinces in South Africa
Authors:   University of the Western Cape, Kleinhans Joseph , Yu Derek ,   University of the Western Cape
Published: April 2022

This study used the South African Census 2011 data to examine the impact of interprovincial migration on the labor market outcomes in the Western Cape and Gauteng, the two most developed and popular inter-provincial migration destination provinces in South Africa. In both provinces, the residents were divided into four groups: permanent residents, intra-provincial migrants, long-term inter-provincial migrants and short-term inter-provincial migrants. The descriptive statistics indicated that both short- and long-term inter-provincial migrants into the two provinces were likely to be young people aged 15-34 years, unmarried African urban residents with 11-12 educational years on average, coming from households with three members. These interprovincial migrants enjoyed lower unemployment rates than the permanent residents, but the intra-provincial migrants remained the best-performing group with the lowest unemployment rate and highest share of employed persons involved in formal sector activities. The study also conducted a multivariate econometric analysis with probit regressions on labor force participation likelihood, and Heckprobit regressions on employment likelihood (conditional on labor force participation). After controlling for differences in other characteristics (or ceteris paribus), compared to the permanent residents, it was evident that both short- and long-term inter-provincial migrants into Western Cape and Gauteng were about 3% significantly more likely to be employed. After examining migrants from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape and migrants from Limpopo to Gauteng, the study found that both groups enjoyed a much higher labor force participation rate (above 70%) and lower unemployment rate (30%), compared to individuals who remained in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo (labor force participation rate: 45%; unemployment rate: 38%).
The Root Causes of Migration: Why Africans Leave their Homes
Authors:   Rauf DenktaÅŸ University, Fofack Achille Dargaud , Akendung Joel Nkeng ,   Cyprus International University
Published: April 2022

In recent years, irregular migration from sub-Saharan Africa has been under the spotlight. Western media and politicians often use doomsday scenarios to describe the supposedly millions of desperate people knocking at the gates of the European Eldorado to escape poverty and warfare at home. Such a stereotypical conception of sub-Saharan African migration is not only overlooking its root causes, but it is also far from its real dynamics. Thus, inspired by the extensive literature on international migration and based on data availability, 27 potential root causes of migration were selected to cover 30 sub-Saharan countries for the period between 2002 and 2016. The sensitivity and robustness of each potential determinant of both net migration and refugee population is tested using the two approaches of extreme bounds analysis proposed by Leamer and Leonard, and Sala-I-Martin. The results reveal that gross domestic product per capita, domestic credit, trade, foreign direct investment inflows, external debt, youth unemployment, natural resources rents, international tourism, military expenditure, health expenditure, undernourishment, food production, life expectancy, HIV prevalence, population growth, corruption, voice and accountability, rule of law, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and common law are the root causes of migration in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Changing Material Conditions of Cameroonian Migrants in South Africa: What does this say about an â€œAfrophobicâ€ post-apartheid State?
Authors:   University of Pretoria, Angu Pineteh E. , Mulu Thecla Ngwi ,   Rhodes University
Published: April 2022

Violent attacks on African migrants have produced a richer body of knowledge on African transnational migration, xenophobia/Afrophobia, and their intersections with questions of citizenship and autochthony, especially in a country that historically has always been a home for African migrants. Constellations of narratives now vilify South Africa as a demonic state whose hatred of Africans and fixation on exorcising them have short-circuited the process of nation-building. The vilification of South Africa also tells us that many researchers, scholars, and even migrants are unaware of the ways that the country has transformed the lives of its increasing African migrant population. This article reflects on the changing material conditions of Cameroonians in South Africa to understand why this â€œAfrophobicâ€ state is still a key migration destination for Cameroonians. Drawing on personal exilic experiences, observations, and relevant literature, we argue that despite the victimization of Africans, including Cameroonians, this constitutional democracy has opened up political, economic and sociocultural opportunities for many Cameroonians residing permanently in the country. In forging this argument, the article interrogates the political landscape in Cameroon and examines key economic and sociocultural moments/activities in South Africa as well as accomplishments in this migrant community, to elicit how access to different opportunities in South Africa has significantly transformed the lives of Cameroonians.
Towards a Legal and Regulatory Framework for South African Domestic Remittances: Some Considerations
Authors:   University of the Western Cape, Lawack Vivienne
Published: April 2022

This paper is an exploratory study that examines the legal and regulatory framework for domestic remittances within the South African legal context. The author makes some proposals for consideration in the review of the National Payment System Act No 78 of 1998 (NPS Act) with regards to domestic remittances as a retail, low value payment service. To this end, the paper provides an understanding of domestic remittances, the transaction, process and channels used. It also contextualizes domestic remittances within the South African National Payment System (NPS) and finally examines the current gaps that can be remedied through the review of the NPS Act. The author argues that if financial inclusion is to be promoted, the regulatory framework pertaining to domestic remittances should enable, rather than inhibit the use of domestic remittances as a payment service.
Recruitment and Job-Seeking Mechanisms for Zimbabwean Women Care Workers in the Domestic Services Sector in South Africa
Authors:   University of Pretoria, Baison Precious
Published: April 2022

This article explores the migration of Zimbabwean women to South Africa to undertake various types of care work within the broader domestic work sector. Studies on care migration have largely discussed South to North migration flows. This is despite evidence showing that there are significant flows of migrants within countries in the Global South. This article seeks to understand the recruitment and job-seeking strategies employed by women in this South-South migration flow in light of their migrant status and processes related to their migration. It is based on a qualitative study and utilizes data collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with key informants from four domestic worker recruitment agencies and 23 care workers in two cities Johannesburg and Pretoria. The leading findings were that Zimbabwean migrant care workers in South Africa faced exploitative working conditions as the majority of them were undocumented or irregular. They faced challenges in obtaining valid work visas and therefore, migrant care workers could not seek employment through formal channels such as recruitment agencies. They used informal channels such as social networks and the market. The article discusses the implications of using such strategies with regards to the subsequent working conditions and the protection of care workers rights.