bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Easy-to-Use Prognostic Model for Survival Estimation for Patients with Symptomatic Long Bone Metastases
Authors: Willeumier J.J. , van der Linden Y.M. , van der Wal C.W.P.G. , Jutte P.C. , van der Velden J.M. , Smolle M.A. , van der Zwaal P. , Koper P. , Bakri L. , de Pree I. , Leithner A. , Fiocco M. , Dijkstra P.D.S.
Published: February 2018

Background:

A survival estimation for patients with symptomatic long bone metastases (LBM) is crucial to prevent overtreatment and undertreatment. This study analyzed prognostic factors for overall survival and developed a simple, easy-to-use prognostic model.

Methods:

A multicenter retrospective study of 1,520 patients treated for symptomatic LBM between 2000 and 2013 at the radiation therapy and/or orthopaedic departments was performed. Primary tumors were categorized into 3 clinical profiles (favorable, moderate, or unfavorable) according to an existing classification system. Associations between prognostic variables and overall survival were investigated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression models. The discriminatory ability of the developed model was assessed with the Harrell C-statistic. The observed and expected survival for each survival category were compared on the basis of an external cohort.

Results:

Median overall survival was 7.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.7 to 8.1 months). On the basis of the independent prognostic factors, namely the clinical profile, Karnofsky Performance Score, and presence of visceral and/or brain metastases, 12 prognostic categories were created. The Harrell C-statistic was 0.70. A flowchart was developed to easily stratify patients. Using cutoff points for clinical decision-making, the 12 categories were narrowed down to 4 categories with clinical consequences. Median survival was 21.9 months (95% CI, 18.7 to 25.1 months), 10.5 months (95% CI, 7.9 to 13.1 months), 4.6 months (95% CI, 3.9 to 5.3 months), and 2.2 months (95% CI, 1.8 to 2.6 months) for the 4 categories.

Conclusions:

This study presents a model to easily stratify patients with symptomatic LBM according to their expected survival. The simplicity and clarity of the model facilitate and encourage its use in the routine care of patients with LBM, to provide the most appropriate treatment for each individual patient.

Level of Evidence:

PrognosticLevel IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Intermediate-Term Hip Survivorship and Patient-Reported Outcomes of Periacetabular Osteotomy
Authors: Wells Joel , Schoenecker Perry , Duncan Stephen , Goss Charles W. , Thomason Kayla , Clohisy John C.
Published: February 2018

Update

This article was updated on February 7, 2018, because of a previous error. On page 219, in Figure 1, the text that had read “122 Preserved Hips (WOMAC Pain Score <10, mHHS >70 and THA)” now reads “122 Preserved Hips (WOMAC Pain Score <10, mHHS >70 and No THA)”.

An erratum has been published: J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Mar 21;100(6):e40.

Background:

The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is an alternative to arthroplasty for treating symptomatic acetabular dysplasia, but there have been few studies on the intermediate-term outcomes of this procedure. In the present study, we assessed intermediate-term hip survival and patient-reported outcomes of PAO used to treat symptomatic acetabular dysplasia.

Methods:

From July 1994 to August 2008, 238 hips (206 patients) were treated with PAO. Sixty-two had a diagnosis other than classic acetabular dysplasia, and 22 were lost to follow-up. The remaining 154 hips (129 patients) were evaluated at an average of 10.3 years postoperatively. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess survivorship with an end point of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Hips were evaluated using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Score, modified Harris hip score (mHHS), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale score. A WOMAC pain subscale score of ≥10 and/or an mHHS of ≤70 were considered to indicate a clinically symptomatic hip.

Results:

Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a hip survival rate of 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 82% to 97%) at 15 years postoperatively. Eight hips (5%) underwent THA at a mean (and standard deviation) of 6.8 ± 5.2 years. Twenty-four additional hips (16%) were considered symptomatic based on a WOMAC pain score of ≥10 and/or an mHHS of ≤70. One hundred and twenty-two hips (79%) did not undergo THA and did not meet the criteria for symptoms, and these hips had a mean mHHS of 92.4 ± 8.4, WOMAC pain subscale score of 1.2 ± 1.9, and UCLA Activity Score of 7.7 ± 2.0 at a mean of 10.1 years. A higher risk of failure was associated with fair or poor preoperative joint congruency (odds ratio [OR]: 8.65; 95% CI: 1.18 to 63.55; p = 0.034) and with a postoperative lateral center-edge angle of >38° (OR: 8.04; 95% CI: 2.01 to 32.22). A concurrent head-neck osteochondroplasty was associated with a decreased risk of failure (OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.78; p = 0.016).

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates the durability of the Bernese PAO. Fair or poor preoperative joint congruency and excessive postoperative femoral head coverage were found to be predictors of failure, while concurrent head-neck osteochondroplasty in patients with an inadequate range of motion after PAO was associated with a decreased risk of failure.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Femoral Version Abnormalities Significantly Outweigh Effect of Cam Impingement on Hip Internal Rotation
Authors: Kraeutler Matthew J. , Chadayammuri Vivek , Garabekyan Tigran , Mei-Dan Omer
Published: February 2018

Background:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of femoral version, cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and the combination of the 2 on the passive hip range of motion (ROM).

Methods:

We prospectively analyzed a consecutive cohort of 220 patients (440 hips) who presented with unilateral or bilateral hip pain. The passive hip ROM was measured bilaterally with the patient in prone, supine, and lateral positions. Femoral version was measured and the presence of cam-type deformity was determined on preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. Diagnostic findings of cam-type FAI included an alpha angle of >50° on CT radial sequences of the head-neck junction and a femoral head-neck offset ratio of <0.18 on both radiographs and CT.

Results:

Multivariate linear regression analysis confirmed that femoral version, as compared with the presence of a cam lesion, was a stronger independent predictor of internal rotation ROM. Conversely, the presence of a cam lesion resulted in a significant decrease in the passive hip flexion ROM (p < 0.001) with no additional effects due to the degree of femoral version. The passive hip internal rotation ROM in neutral flexion/extension and with the hip in 90° of flexion were maximized in patients with femoral anteversion and decreased significantly with each incremental decrease in femoral version (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Abnormalities in femoral version significantly outweigh the effect of cam-type impingement on the passive hip internal rotation ROM. In contrast, the presence of a cam lesion significantly decreases the hip flexion ROM, irrespective of the degree of femoral version. These findings help to inform surgical decision-making for patients with cam-type FAI or femoral version abnormalities.

Clinical Relevance:

It is common clinical practice to ascribe loss of hip internal rotation to the presence of a cam lesion and to assume that arthroscopic femoral osteoplasty will substantially improve internal rotation postoperatively. Our study shows that the cam lesion is more intimately tied to hip flexion than to hip internal rotation. This result directly impacts the clinical assessment of a patient presenting with radiographic findings of FAI.
Development of a Questionnaire to Measure Impact and Outcomes of Brachial Plexus Injury
Authors: Mancuso Carol A. , Lee Steve K. , Saltzman Eliana B. , Model Zina , Landers Zoe A. , Dy Christopher J. , Wolfe Scott W.
Published: February 2018

Background:

The physical and psychological impact of brachial plexus injury (BPI) has not been comprehensively measured with BPI-specific scales. Our objective was to develop and test a patient-derived questionnaire to measure the impact and outcomes of BPI.

Methods:

We developed a questionnaire in 3 phases with preoperative and postoperative patients. Phase 1 included interviews of patients using open-ended questions addressing the impact of BPI and improvement expected (preoperative patients) or received (postoperative patients). Phase 2 involved assembling a draft questionnaire and administering the questionnaire twice to establish test-retest reliability. Phase 3 involved selecting final items, developing a scoring system, and assessing validity. Patient scores using the questionnaire were assessed in comparison with scores of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and RAND-36 measures.

Results:

Patients with partial or complete plexopathy participated. In Phase 1 (23 patients), discrete categories were discerned from open-ended responses and became items for the preoperative and postoperative versions of the questionnaire. In Phase 2 (50 patients [14 from Phase 1]), test-retest reliability was established, with weighted kappa values of ≥0.50 for all items. In Phase 3, 43 items were retained and grouped into 4 subscales: symptoms, limitations, emotion, and improvement expected (preoperative) or improvement received (postoperative). A score for each subscale, ranging from 0 to 100, can be calculated, with higher scores indicating more symptoms, limitations, and emotional distress, and greater improvement expected (or received). Preoperative scores were worse than postoperative scores for the symptoms, limitations, and emotion subscales (composite score of 48 compared with 38; p = 0.05), and more improvement was expected than was received (69 compared with 53; p = 0.01). Correlations with the DASH (0.44 to 0.74) and RAND-36 (0.23 to 0.80) for related scales were consistent and moderate, indicating that the new questionnaire is valid and distinct.

Conclusions:

We developed a patient-derived questionnaire that measures the physical and psychological impact of BPI on preoperative and postoperative patients and the amount of improvement expected or received from surgery. This BPI-specific questionnaire enhances the comprehensive assessment of this population.
An Evaluation of Reporting Guidelines and Clinical Trial Registry Requirements Among Orthopaedic Surgery Journals
Authors: Checketts Jake X. , Sims Mathew T. , Detweiler Byron , Middlemist Kevin , Jones Jaclyn , Vassar Matt
Published: February 2018

Background:

The responsibility for ensuring that studies are adequately reported is primarily that of those conducting the study; however, journal policies may influence how thoroughly authors choose to report their research. The use of reporting guidelines and prospective trial registration are promising avenues for ensuring that published studies adhere to the highest methodological standards. The purpose of this study is to evaluate orthopaedic surgery journal policies regarding reporting guidelines and trial registration, and to evaluate the effects that these policies have on adherence to reporting.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of journal policies and “Instructions for Authors” to determine the journals’ policies and guidance regarding use of reporting guidelines and study registration. We also examined whether trials published in journals referencing CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) had higher rates of compliance with publishing a CONSORT flow diagram and whether journals with trial registration policies were more likely to contain registered trials than journals without these requirements.

Results:

Of the 21 orthopaedic surgery journals, 6 (29%) did not mention a single guideline, and clinical trial registration was required by 11 (52%) orthopaedic surgery journals and recommended by 2 (10%). Of the 21 general medical journals, 3 (14%) did not mention a single guideline, and trial registration was required by 13 (62%) general medical journals and recommended by 5 (24%) others. Furthermore, journals that referenced CONSORT were more likely to publish trials with a CONSORT flow diagram. Journals with trial registration policies were more likely to publish registered trials.

Conclusions:

Reporting guidelines and trial registration are suboptimally required or recommended by orthopaedic surgery journals. These 2 mechanisms may improve methodology and quality, and should be considered for adoption by journal editors in orthopaedic surgery.

Clinical Relevance:

Because orthopaedic surgeons rely on high-quality research to direct patient care, measures must be taken to ensure that published research is of the highest quality. The use of reporting guidelines and prospective clinical trial registration may improve the quality of orthopaedic research, thereby improving patient care.
The Relationships between Teacher Quality and Sixth Grade Students’ Mathematics Competencies in Kenya and Zimbabwe
Authors: Ayieko Rachel Angela , Kanyongo Gibbs , Nelson Bryan
Published: February 2018

Students should begin to engage in problem-solving and higher order thinking skills in mathematics in the early years of school in preparation for 21st-century technology and problem-solving competencies. Using the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ), this study examines the distribution of significant teacher quality factors related to sixth-grade students’ mathematics competencies across the regions of Kenya and Zimbabwe. The mathematics competencies range from Pre-numeracy to Abstract Problem Solving level. First, we use a multi-level regression model to analyze the relationships between teacher quality and students’ mathematics competencies to find out which teacher quality variables are important for the improvement in students’ mathematics competencies in the participating countries. We then illustrate the distributions of the teacher quality factors within the regions in Kenya and Zimbabwe. From the multilevel model analysis, the teacher quality factors related to students’ increase in mathematics competencies were teaching experience, mathematics competencies, and teachers’ academic qualifications. We observe that students taught by permanently employed teachers had lower math competencies and that the days spent by the teachers in professional development influence students’ mathematics competencies negatively. The distributions of these teacher quality factors that matter in sub-Sahara Africa are concentrated in the capital cities and particular regions in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Significance of Geochemistry in Single-Well Chemical-Tracer Tests by Coupling a Multiphase-Flow Simulator to the Geochemical Package
Authors: Khaledialidusti Rasoul , Kleppe Jon
Published: February 2018

Single-well chemical tracer (SWCT) is the most commonly used field method to determine oil or water saturation in one-well enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) pilots. Because hydrolysis of an ester, which is the main part of the method, leads to forming acid as well as alcohol, the equilibrium state of the reservoir is disturbed, and thus the pH changes. It is generally accepted that the hydrolysis-reaction rate is mainly dependent on the pH and temperature. Therefore, it is required to know the extent to which this dependency might affect the shape of the product-tracer profiles and the numerical interpretation of the field-test data for computing residual oil saturation (Sor). In this study, this notion has been investigated by coupling a multiphase-flow simulator to the geochemistry package PHREEQC (Parkhust and Appelo 2013).

In this study, the PHREEQC geochemical simulator has been used to illustrate the extent to which different parameters might affect the pH variation during the test. The PHREEQC database has been modified to take the ester-hydrolysis reaction into account by adding the ester, alcohol, and acid-product species. The hydrolysis-reaction mechanisms of ester have also been programmed to account for the dependency of the hydrolysis reaction on the pH.

Also, because ester partitions into the oil phase and travels behind the water phase (i.e., Darcy velocity), performing two-phase flow would be necessary to highlight the significance of the pH dependency of the hydrolysis-reaction rate on the tracer profiles. For doing that, a multiphase Buckley-Leverett (BL) flow simulation is coupled with IPhreeqc, which is an open-source module of the PHREEQC geochemical package. Then, a California Turbidite SWCT test has been re-evaluated to verify the approach. At the end, the geochemistry of a reservoir with an almost weak resistance (high temperature and weak buffer capacity) against pH variation in the SWCT test has been studied using the geochemical-based approach. The results show that the variation of the hydrolysis rate with pH could affect mainly the tail edge of the predicted tracer profiles, and it could marginally affect the apex of the profiles; however, it might affect the interpreted value of the Sor measurement as the resistance against pH variation becomes weaker. In these conditions, adapting the SWCT-test designs (i.e., shut-in time and injecting lower concentration of ester) could diminish the pH variation.

The pH dependency of the hydrolysis-reaction rate is recommended for the numerical interpretation of the field SWCT-test data. The results of this study can be used to minimize the uncertainties of the SWCT tests and to improve the reliability of the Sor measurements.
TOPLUM ARKEOLOJİSİ TARİH VE KÜLTÜR BİLİNCİ KAZANDIRMADA ARKEOLOGLARIN ROLÜ: MYNDOS ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: ŞAHİN Derya
Published: February 2018

Myndos,
Muğla İli, Bodrum İlçesi, Gümüşlük Beldesinde yer alan bir ören yeridir.  Karakaya İlköğretim Okulu ve Myndos Kazı
Başkanlığı ile birlikte yürütülmüş olan projenin temel amacı, yerli halk ve
yakın çevrede yaşayan insanlara sahip oldukları kültür varlıkları ve bunların
önemi hakkında bilgilendirmek, insan ve kültür varlıkları arasında bir sevgi ve
tanıma ortamı kurarak, vandalizm, definecilik, kaçakçılık gibi metotlarla
kültür varlıklarına zarar vermeyecek ve onları her türlü kötü müdahaleye karşı
koruyacak bireylerin yetişmesine yardımcı olmaktır. Bununla birlikte bir diğer
amaç ise yaşadığı çevresinde bulunan geçmiş kültürleri tanıyarak, onları
anlayan ve dünya kültür tarihindeki önemini kavrayan bilinçli nesillerin
yetişmesine yardımcı olmaktadır.

            Proje ile öğrencilere
yaşadıkları çevrenin sunduğu tarihi ve kültürel kaynakların tanıtılması ve
bireylerde koruma konusunda bir bilinç oluşturulması amaçlanmıştır.
Eğitimlerde, uzman bir kadro tarafından belirlenen konular, öğrencilere
öğretmen-öğrenci hiyerarşisinden uzak, katılımcı ve sorgulayıcı bir yaklaşımla
aktarılmıştır. Elde edilen kazanımlar öğrencilerin geri bildiriminde açık bir
şekilde görülmektedir.
Amine Containing Analogs of Sulindac for Cancer Prevention
Authors: Mathew Bini , Hobrath Judith V. , Connelly Michele C. , Guy R. Kiplin , Reynolds Robert C.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Sulindac belongs to the chemically diverse family of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that effectively prevent adenomatous colorectal polyps and colon cancer, especially in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Sulindac sulfide amide (SSA), an amide analog of sulindac sulfide, shows insignificant COX-related activity and toxicity while enhancing anticancer activityin vitroand demonstratingin vivoxenograft activity.

Objective:

Develop structure-activity relationships in the sulindac amine series and identify analogs with promising anticancer activities.

Method:

A series of sulindac amine analogs were designed and synthesized and then further modified in a “libraries from libraries” approach to produce amide, sulfonamide and N,N-disubstituted sulindac amine sub-libraries. All analogs were screened against three cancer cell lines (prostate, colon and breast).

Results:

Several active compounds were identifiedviain vitrocancer cell line screening with the most potent compound (26) in the nanomolar range.

Conclusion:

Compound26and analogs showing the most potent inhibitory activity may be considered for further design and optimization efforts as anticancer hit scaffolds.
A Study on Customer Satisfaction on Commercial Banks in Theni District
Authors: Pooranam G. , Nandhini K.
Published: February 2018

Banks play a very important role in the economic development of every modern state and country. Banks operate at the heart of the modern economy. Today’s Business is continually looking for ways to achieve a competitive advantage. Banks essentially are a social organization which rendering financial services to subserve socio-economic objective of the society. Banking system occupies an important place in nation’s economy. In this study, find out the customer satisfaction level of the Commercial banks in Theni District.
Notebook of a Congolese Traveler: Masala at the 1885 Antwerp World Exhibition
Authors: Etambala Zana Aziza
Published: February 2018

Masala, the central figure in this article, came to Belgium to be exhibited, together with eleven other natives of the Congo Independent State, at the International Fancy Fair organized in Antwerp in 1885. Of course, the illiterate Masala didn't take notes during his stay in Antwerp. But a meticulous investigation of the contemporary local press, which paid enough attention to this event, made it possible to describe in detail the daily european experiences of Masala and his companions. It also enables us to examine the 'white ' belgian view on the black subjects of Leopold II. KEYWORDS: Exhibition of Congolese, World Exhibition of Antwerp (1885)
STRATEGIES MATRIMONIALES ET APPROPRIATION DE LA TERRE CHEZ LES YANSI. Pour une grande solidarité entre generations.
Authors: Moke Key Willy-Roland Mfukala
Published: February 2018

A weak concentration of landowner system is among the main properties of African people specially those in the South of Sahara. To have acces to land is a question which concerns above all the level of rationalisation than that of true distribution. This paper deals with the strategies of both landowner system and marriage settlement in the Yansi society. The Yansi people are living in the Kinzwene area specially in the constituency of Bagata in the province of Bandundu of Zaïre country. These people have opted for a marriage settlement based on matriarchy. With reference to Bohanman's methodes of conception to write down this paper, we have proceeded by confrontation of these methods to the Yansi social reality. From this we can say: the land appropriation and the one af a woman (as spouse) are from a system of affectation to using things but not from the right to have it used according to the european common law which is based on the former roman law.Only one adage rules the both landowner and marriage settlement strategies: "NSO MPE NGUL M'WAG" (if a cassava field is left, it is given to wild boars). This maxim brings a reply to the women moving, the fields and the properties regime inside the same linear system or in the archilinear one.According to Yansi people, landowner system is a question which concerns at the same time the economic, the social and cultural aspects. What is called "formal marriage " (Ukwel Kituiil) is a kind of marriage settlement strategyboth social and temporal.Tlie Yansi landowner system and marriage settlement are to be seen as a way tot remain interdependent from generations to others.
The Intellectuals in Cameroon under the Rule of Ahidjo (1958-1982)
Authors: Emagna Maximin
Published: February 2018

A study concerning the intellectuals of the Third World in general, and African intellectuals in particular, should not exclude the political context in which intellectuals live and work. Indeed, democracy cannot truly emerge and remain durable without the existence of freedom of thought and criticism. In Cameroon, intellectuals and their ideas have always been considered seditious and subversive. For this reason, they have often been persecuted. Some have chosen freely or by the force of circumstances to become bureaucrats within the administrative and political structures of the country to ensure their survival (political and social immortality) as also that of their family. Others, by principle, have combined their intellectual and cyclical factors which push intellectuals either to become civil servants or to choose exile. It also contradicts the idea of intellectual deficiency in Africa. Indeed, some categories of intellectuals such as writers, via their writings, ask questions and provide a critical review of the economic, political and social reality of the country. They even propose alternative ideas and proposals to such questions as management, government and governance in the coutry. Dictatorships may destroy individuals, but never ideas or the spirit of liberty.
From Zaire to the R. D. Congo: the old Termite Hill flattened by the Wind of the Savanna
Authors: Kennes Erik
Published: February 2018

This article concentrates mainly on the internal sources of the rapid breakdown of the Zairian state apparatus, deliberately not taking into account regional and international support for the warring parties. The Zairian state has been unable to manage its internal contradictions. This was driven to an extreme in the Kivu region, where the deeply seated crisis of representation was never adequately resolved. The absence of conflict-regulating institutions at the regional level was one enabling element for the rapid expansion of the Kivu conflict into its regional and international ramifications. Another was the absence of any workable political alternative to armed struggle on the national level; neither the opposition, nor the government or the presidency was able to impose itself. In the general context of state decay, part of which was the implosion of the army, newcomers in the mining industry have initiated a take-over of key sectors of the Zairian economy, probably inducing a new mode of governance in the country.KEY-WORDS: Congo, economy, politics, Zaire
President Mobutu and the Prime Minister under the Transitional Constitutional Act: Duel or duo?
Authors: Kangashe Jean-Louis Esambo
Published: February 2018

Since the beginning of the democratic process in Mobutu's Zaire, in April 1990, a judicial and political debate has continued to divide the opinion on the power sharing within the executive. The Transitional Constitutional Act, a result of the political negotiations of the Palais du Peuple, was aimed at resolving the competence conflicts between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister. This constitutional framework, however, was unable to avoid neither the possibility of a "duel" nor the avatars of an alleged "duo" between the two main representatives of the executive function.In the meantime, the frequent violations of the constitution by the head of state have shown that power sharing within a parliamentary system could not come to a compromise with the power practice under Mobutu. KEY WORDS: President, politics, Prime Minister, constitution, Zaire
The journalist and the griot. Tracing the oral tradition in the African Press.
Authors: Frère Marie-Soleil
Published: February 2018

This paper will show the similarities between the journalist's role and narrative style and those of the griot, a key player the traditional exercise of power. The new private press appeared in French-speaking Africa as a part of the democratic process at the beginning of the 1990's, in the context of politic liberalization (multipartism, institutional renewal) and in the flow of a new type of political speech that allows contradictions, critiques and debates. The journalist, that had mostly been the mouthpiece of the governments until then, has acquired a new role as a conter-power in a democratizing regime.Nevertheless, the journalist may in some ways be compared to the traditional griot. First, his new form of speech is very close to the oral style of the griot. The stylistic characteristics, the use of metaphors and images, the way the story is built are common to both "story-tellers". Secondly, they both criticize the "Big Men", express the people's frustrations and use irony to desacralised those in power. Thirdly, they occupy an "in between " position in society because, at the same time, they belong to the social group they are speaking or writing for, while being looked at as a different "cast" practising the power of public speech. The papers concludes that the griot and the journalist can play a role that enforces the democratization process in the sense that they make people share common values but they can also weaken the process by oversimplifying or hiding social problems and by supporting stereotypes and illusions. KEY WORDS :African press, griot, oral tradition, politics
Congo. A classic example of colonialism.
Authors: Blondeel William , Foutry Vita , Van Mensel Alfons
Published: February 2018

This is a reprint, accompanied by a French translation, of an interview with Jef Van Bilsen (1913-1996), the former Belgian adviser to the first Congolese President, Joseph Kasavubu. The interview was conducted when Van Bilsen was a professor at the University of Ghent. Van Bilsen is questioned about his 'Thirty Years Plan' to prepare the Belgian Congo for independence. The plan, published in 1955, provoked strong criticism in the Belgian political and academic establishment because at that time decolonisation was not accepted on the political agenda, at least not within thirty years. Van Bilsen describes the narrow minded and extreme paternalistic vision of the Belgian colonial administration and the awakening of Congolese nationalism. The consequence of this cramped policy is that in 1960 Belgium grants independence to the Congo in a reaction of panic and in a completely unprepared way. Furthermore, Van Bilsen relates, as a privileged witness, the disastrous outcome of foreign interference in the struggle between President Kasavubu, Prime Minister Lumumba and the Katangese secessionist, Tshombe. He cites his statement to Tshombe that Lumumba could not be seen as a communist and reports how he advocated a compromise between the three opponents.
The place of Sub-Sahara Africa in the Worldsportsystem
Authors: Dejonghe Trudo
Published: February 2018

The contemporary world sportsystem is developed through globalisation with its homogenisation and heterogenisation processes. The result of these opposite forces is the division of the world in 6 classes. Sub-Sahara Africa underwent, with the exception of South- Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, a total and passive acceptance of the western (British) modern sports. The place of that part of Africa is analogue to and correlates with its place in Wallerstein's world- system periphery. The introduction of modern sports is associated with the spatial diffusion of the 19th century British hegemonic cultural imperialism. The purpose of this policy was a transformation of the traditional society into a modern functional world-culture and the incorporation of that part of the world in the world-system.The anti-western feelings after the independence resulted in a political Pan-Africanism. However, sport and more specific soccer, a typical product of the western domination, has not been rejected. On the contrary, local politicians used it to create a national identity. The strong link between soccer and soil resulted in a strong form of topophily. This connection was transformed into sportnationalism and created in the, through artificial borders developed, nations a unity and a national pride. The outcome of sport games was used to demonstrate the successes in politics and economics. The absence of any political platform on which the Third World had a strong voice brought about that the international sport scene, such as the FIFA, was used for the unification of the Third World against the former colonial powers. Nowadays, the globalisation processes result in an increasing labour migration of African football players to the rich core competitions in Europe. This form of migration can be classified as another form of "cash crop" or in this case "foot drain.. " "As Roman imperialism laid the foundation of modern civilisation and led wild barbarians of these islands (Britain) along the path of progress, so in Africa today we are repaying the debt, and bringing to the dark places of the earth — the abode of barbarism and cruelty — the torch of culture and progress... we hold these countries because it is the genius of our race to colonise, to trade and to govern "(quote by the English educationist Sir Frederick Lugard (1858-1954) in Mandell, 1986: p.102).Key Words: foot drain, globalisation, labour migration, national identity, soccer, sport nationalism, world sport-system.
Media and Cultural Imperialism in Burkina Faso
Authors: Balima Serge Théophile
Published: February 2018

The various kinds of information released in the press and other media are cultural products that partake in the shaping of citizens' opinions and minds. Radio and television in particular present their audiences in Burkina Faso with various life-styles through diverse entertainment programmes which have grown popular among the urban population. These are fertile fields for cultural imperialism in the country. In the on-going process of internationalization of culture facilitated by the new communication technology, the cultural identity of Africans is increasingly threatened. This phenomenon is the result of adverse political and economic conditions with significant cultural consequences. In the long run, these cultural consequences will lead to the marginalization of Africa on the international scene and its increased dependence on the western powers.Key Words: culture, imperialism, influence, information, media, uniformity.
A socio-historical (Berber) perspective on the Amazigh Cultural Movement in North Africa
Authors: El Aissati Abderrahman
Published: February 2018

North Africa has known various colonizations which in contact with indigenous ones have given the area a special character. One continuing presence since antiquity is that of the Berbers, or the Imazighen, the indigenous population of the area. In this article an attempt is made to shed light on the status of the language and culture of the Imazighen, and in particular on the recent calls for official recognition of the Amazigh language in the constitutions of the two countries with the highest presence of Imazighen, namely Morocco and Algeria. Although some recent developments, like the teaching of the Amazigh language in primary schools, give reason enough to be optimistic about the future of the indigenous language and culture, a closer look at the ideological background of pan Arab-nationalists casts doubts on any serious government intentions to guarantee the maintenance and development of the Amazigh language and culture. This ideology will be brought to light by contrasting the constitutional rights that some Muslim and/or African countries grant to their citizens who speak different languages than the official one(s).Key words: Amazigh identity, Amazigh Language, Berber, culture, linguistic rights, minority languages, pan-Arabism
Political patronage and political values: The developmental role of political patronage and its impact on shaping political values in rural Uganda.
Authors: Titeca Kristof
Published: February 2018

This article points out the importance of neo-patrimonial theories in understanding local socio-political dynamics. Through the analysis of a case study in Western Uganda, it is firstly shown how within 'formal' state institutions, there is an 'informal' logic of competing political camps. These political camps, and their subsidiary networks of political patronage, have adverse effects for development. Secondly, this system has a profound impact on how people perceive the service- delivery functions of the state: people on the ground do not expect the state to be there for everyone, but only for the people of their 'political camp' or network. Also the role of the state is seen as strongly personalised, as the 'big men' are perceived to have taken over the service provision activities of the state.Key Words: Local Government, Neo-Patrimonialism, Patronage, Uganda, Service-Provision
'TRADITIONELE' LEIDERS EN INSTELLINGEN IN SOMALILAND. EEN SOMALISCHE STAAT IN OPBOUW
Authors: Renders Marleen
Published: February 2018

This article addresses the prominence of 'traditional' leaders and institutions in the Somaliland's "success-story" of political reconstruction after a violent conflict. Can the Somaliland experience be replicated and serve as a model for other cases of problematic statehood? Through an analysis of the Somaliland case, the article shows that one can not simply 'use' traditional leaders and institutions. They are not a-political entities or concepts. They are adaptable and have a dynamic of their own. The 'traditional' order is profoundly connected with 'non-traditional' orders i.e. 'modem' political leaders and institutions. How both develop and interact is contingent upon an aggregate of factors which develop over a long period of time. This set offactors include so-called 'structural' ones as well as ones that are more 'agency'-related. This aggregation of factors makes the Somaliland experience difficult to replicate. 'Traditional' leaders and institutions are not magic bullets, not a one- fits-all in cases of problematic statehood. They should not be viewed as a-political components of some 'appropriate governance technology' that will provide leaders and institutions supposedly adapted to a timeless 'African situation and culture '.Key Words: Somalia, Somaliland, 'Traditional' Leaders, Post-War Reconstruction, Institutions
Development and Maintenance of the Ethiopian Legal Information Website
Authors: Alemu Getaneh Agegn
Published: February 2018

Information and Communication Technology in general and the internet in particular have been creating unprecedented opportunities in facilitating and streamlining access to information. Websites have become a common way of publishing legal information for the public in many countries. In Ethiopia, however, the availability of legal websites has been very limited or non-existent. Except for the constitution, no other basic Ethiopian law has ever been published online. To benefit from the tremendous potentials of the internet, a project was initiated to develop an Ethiopian Legal Information Web Site.Based on users' requirements obtained from questionnaire analysis, and current paradigms and implications, the Ethiopian Legal Information Website was designed, developed, implemented and maintained. The website is an online database of Ethiopian basic laws developed by Mekelle University, Ethiopia, in cooperation with the Non-Western Law Department of Ghent University, Belgium.Basic laws included on the site at present are the Ethiopian Constitution, Civil Code, Criminal Code, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Commercial Code and Family Code. The laws can be viewed and used in full text html, whereas some of the laws including the 2004 Criminal Code, Family Code, FDKE Constitution and the Tigray Regional State Constitution are available in pdf Laws can be searched by keywords using the site search engine. Comments and suggestions from experts and Ethiopian laws users have been collected, hence modifications, improvements and additions have been made to the website. The Ethiopian Legal Information Website was first hosted on the University of Ghent internet server and currently in the Mekelle University server at http://mail.mu.edu. et/~ethiopialaws/.1 The Ethiopian Legal Information Website has been found to be a useful web portal to access and use the basic Ethiopian laws. The University of Ghent, ILO, the Library of Congress, AUSTLII, WASHLAW, WIKIPEDIA and other major legal web portals make citations in reference to the site. While the website currently contains only the basic laws of the federal government, an action plan is prepared to include regional laws of Ethiopia. Other legal information including amendments to the laws, decisions and legal news will also be included on the site, hence a comprehensive Ethiopian Legal Web Portal will be developed and maintained. Key Words: Legal Information, Legal Information Website, Digital Divide
Otto Müller’s Surirella taxa (Bacillariophyta) from East Africa, based on a historical collection kept at the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem (B)
Authors: Cocquyt Christine , Kusber Wolf-Henning , Jahn Regine
Published: February 2018

At the beginning of the 20th century, Otto Müller described over 100 new freshwater diatom taxa from algae samples, collected during the German “Nyassa-See– und Kinga-Gebirgs-Expedition” in East Africa. He published valuable drawings and wrote detailed descriptions of these micro-algae, but subsequent authors regarded many of these African taxa to be synonyms or infraspecific of European species. In the last two decades renewed attention to the diatom flora of East Africa has made it evident that Müller’s taxa have to be reinvestigated, in terms of both light as well as scanning electron microscopy, in order to evaluate possible new or endemic species. This was recently done for his Surirella taxa, a typical component of the African Great Lakes diatom flora of which many species are endemic to this area. Additional data, originating from material of later periods in the same region (e.g. Lakes Tanganyika, Malawi, Victoria, Edward), was incorporated in the investigation to study the variability in valve morphology and the African distribution of each species. Otto Müller’s samples thus provide the means to study historical African diatom diversity as a baseline for modern biodiversity assessment. Type information and the English description for taxon have been published in international journals and online at the AlgaTerra Information System [www.algaterra.org], a site developed and updated by the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem (BGBM). High resolution digital photographs of the Surirella taxa will also be available in the future on the API website [www.aluka.org]. Key words: Algae, Diatoms, Historic Collections, East Africa
Pour la démarche géolinguistique de la standardisation des variétés amazighes du Rif
Authors: Lafkioui Mena
Published: February 2018

This article presents a proposition to standardise the Amazigh (Berber) varieties of the Rif (Northern Morocco) on the basis of my geolinguistic study Atlas linguistique des variétés berbères du Rif which provides the data necessary to construct a representative linguistic koinè for the Rif region through computational dialectometry analyses. Dialectometry is a quantitative method to calculate distances between linguistic varieties and to group the latter following different parameters. Key Words: Tarifit (Amazigh language of the Rif; North Morocco), Geolinguistics, Dialectology, Computational- Dialectometry, Language Planning
Reducing HIV/AIDS in young people in Sub-Sahara Africa: gaps in research and the role of theory
Authors: Michielsen Kristien , Bosmans Marleen , Temmerman Marleen
Published: February 2018

This paper discusses the role of education in preventing HIV in children and young people in sub-Sahara Africa and presents the results of policy advisory research conducted on behalf of the Belgian Development Cooperation. The research consisted of a literature review and a field study in Rwanda. Relative to the high number of HIV prevention activities in sub-Sahara Africa, there is a limited number of scientific data on HIV risk reduction interventions for young people in this region. Longitudinal studies are especially scarce. Preliminary results show that many in- terventions have only a marginal impact on reducing sexual risk behaviour. Factors influencing programme effectiveness include the consistency and accuracy of messages and information, the provision of life-skills, social support and access to contraceptives, the intensity and duration of the programme, the training of the facilitators and the age of the target population. The HIV/ AIDS pandemic has a potentially devastating impact on the education sector. Because few countries have monitoring systems in place that quantify the absenteeism, morbidity and mortality of teachers and students infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS, there is only anecdotal evidence available for illustrating this impact. The final section discusses the current gaps in research and the important role of theory in increasing the impact and improving the evaluations of HIV/AIDS education interventions. Key words: HIV/AIDS prevention, Adolescents, Sub-Sahara Africa, Behavioural change theories, Evaluation
The evolution of warfare in Africa
Authors: Reno William
Published: February 2018

It is widely noted that armed conflict in Africa has evolved away from the prominence of insurgencies that are able to mobilize supporters around political programs in favor of more fragmented organizations in the service of their leaders’ quests for power and wealth. The causes of this shift are found in changes in the domestic politics of African states that have taken place in recent decades. Regime strategies to disorganize and co-opt opponents and to suppress mass political mobilization have restricted the social spaces in which ideologues formerly organized and recruited cadres. Emigration among educated groups that previously supplied the bulk of insurgent leaders and cadres further reduces the influence of these groups. Alongside these changes, the development of parallel political structures that are rooted in the control of commerce channels resources to new leaders who lead insurgencies to establish their own dominance in this system of politics. This competition crowds out remaining ideologues who would pursue a vision of more radical change. Key words: conflict, insurgency, ideology, mass mobilization
Réaction de deux espèces d’igname (Dioscorea spp.) traitées avec du vin de palme (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), aux champignons responsables des pourritures d’igname
Authors: Assiri Patrice Kouamé , Diallo Attaky Hortense , Tschannen Andres , Ake Severin
Published: February 2018

The sensitivity of Dioscorea alata var. bètè-bètè and D. cayenensis-rotundata var. krenglè treated with palm wine obtained from oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) to seven fungi isolated from yam rots was assessed. Yam tubers were collected from two markets in Abidjan and also from storage sites in Bringakro (at 180 km from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire). Pathogenecity tests showed that Penicilium oxalicum was the most pathogenic among all fungi isolated. Krenglè was more susceptible than bètè-bètè. In vitro, fermented palm wine totally inhibited mycelial growth of all fungi isolated with the exception of P. oxalicum and Aspergillus niger. Inhibition percentage of mycelial growth of all fungi was more important for krenglè than bètè-bètè. Regardless the yam species, in vivo tests showed that fermented palm wine was more effective than non fermented palm wines when used as a preventive treatment. Key words: natural fungicide, palm wine, integrated disease management