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Food fraud in insecure times: challenges and opportunities for reducing food fraud in Africa
Get PDFBackground
Food fraud describes deceptive acts that occur at all stages of the food supply chain for economic gain. The COVID-19 pandemic has had devasting impacts on individuals, institutions, and economies. Disruptions in supply chains and regulatory oversight have led to concerns about potential increases in food fraud-related incidents. In addition, the pandemic further exacerbated the issue of widespread and severe food insecurity in Africa, providing optimal conditions for fraudulent agents in the supply chain to perpetrate fraud. However, little is known about how food fraud manifests on the continent.
Scope and approach
This review explores food fraud in the African context, emphasising the impact of COVID-19. The study provides examples of food fraud and challenges of critical stakeholders in the supply chain, including consumers, industry, and regulators in combating food fraud. It also discusses recommendations for researchers and policymakers to reduce fraud and improve the quality and safety of food along the supply chain.
Key Findings and Conclusions: There is consensus that the pandemic has created an environment that makes consumers more vulnerable to food fraud. However, there are significant data gaps on the incidence of food fraud, making statistical comparisons difficult. The monitoring of food fraud incidents, especially in Africa, remains in its early stages, limiting food fraud prevention efforts. Improved data collection and significant investments in testing infrastructure and technical know-how are required for developing evidence-based action plans to combat fraud at both national and intra-continent levels to safeguard consumer health
Helping healthcare providers to differentiate COVID-19 pneumonia by analyzing digital chest x-rays: role of artificial intelligence in healthcare practice
Get PDFBackground: Detecting COVID-19 pneumonia and differentiating it from community acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been a challenging task for healthcare providers since the pandemic began. We therefore aim to develop and evaluate a simple, noninvasive tool to accurately detect COVID-19 by using digital chest X-ray (CXR).
Methods and Results: We performed a retrospective, multi-center study in which deep learning frameworks were used to develop the system architecture of the diagnostic tool. The tool was trained and validated by using data from the GitHub database and two hospitals in Bangladesh. Python programming was used to calculate all statistical estimates. Our study revealed that the artificial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostic tool was able to detect COVID-19 accurately by examining chest X-ray (CXR). During the testing phase, the tool could interpret CXR with precision of 0.98, recall/sensitivity of 0.97 and F1 score of 0.97 for COVID-19. The evaluation results showed high sensitivity (90%) and specificity (92%) in detecting COVID-19. The AUC values for COVID-19 and pneumonia were 0.91 and 0.87, respectively.
Conclusion: The developed AI-based diagnostic tool can offer the healthcare providers an effective means of detecting and differentiating COVID-19 from other types of pneumonia, thus contributing to reducing the long-term impact of this deadly disease
Treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB and its determinants at referral hospitals in Ethiopia
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There is limited empirical evidence in Ethiopia on the determinants of treatment outcomes of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) who were enrolled to second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Thus, this study investigated the determinants of treatment outcomes in patients with MDR-TB at referral hospitals in Ethiopia.
Design and methods
This study was underpinned by a cross-sectional quantitative research design that guided both data collection and analysis. Data is collected using structured questionnaire and data analyses was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to control for confounders in determining the association between treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB and selected predictor variables, such as co-morbidity with MDR-TB and body mass index.
Results
From the total of 136 patients with MDR-TB included in this study, 31% had some co-morbidity with MDR-TB at baseline, and 64% of the patients had a body mass index of less than 18.5 kg/m2. At 24 months after commencing treatment, 76 (69%), n = 110), of the patients had successfully completed treatment, while 30 (27%) died of the disease. The odds of death was significantly higher among patients with low body mass index (AOR = 2.734, 95% CI: 1.01–7.395; P<0.048) and those with some co-morbidity at baseline (AOR = 4.260, 95%CI: 1.607–11.29; p<0.004).
Conclusion
The higher proportion of mortality among patients treated for MDR-TB at Adama and Nekemte Hospitals, central Ethiopia, is attributable to co-morbidities with MDR-TB, including HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. Improving socio-economic and nutritional support and provision of integrated care for MDR-TB and HIV/AIDS is recommended to mitigate the higher level of death among patients treated for MDR-TB
Polarimetric alpha angle versus relative permittivity with dual-polarimetric GPR experiments
Get PDFGround penetrating radar (GPR) is one of the most commonly used technologies for non-destructive testing (NDT). With the development of GPR signal processing methodologies, researchers are becoming more concerned not just with the detection of the target itself, but also with their physical properties and main features. In general, full waveform inversion algorithm is required to achieve this aim. But, full waveform inversion problem is a costive approach which need a huge computation. Thus, the ultimate goal of this study is to explore an effective strategy for estimating the relative permittivity of the target using polarimetric GPR data. We have investigated the relation between relative permittivity and polarimetric alpha angle based on the data collected by dualpolarization antennas GPR system. Laboratory experiments that measures different moisture sand targets (simulating for different relative permittivity target) in tree trunk holes have been carried out, taken as analog models for the physiological process representing decays in trees. After signal processing, the rough results that alpha angle versus with relative permittivity were obtained. The results show that for a dry sand the polarimetric alpha angle is small and the polarimetric alpha angle increases with increasing water content
tert-Butyl(2-oxo-2H-pyran-5-yl)carbamate as the first chameleon diene bearing an electron-donating substituent
Get PDFThe 2(H)-pyran-2-one bearing electron-donating tert-butylcarbamate (BocNH-) group at the 5- position is a “chameleon” diene and undergoes efficient Diels–Alder cycloadditions with alkene dienophiles with both electron-rich and electron-deficient substituents. Cycloadditions afford the 5-substituted bicyclic lactone cycloadducts regardless of the electronic nature of the dienophile. However, cycloadditions with electronically matched electron-deficient dienophiles proceed faster than those with electronically mismatched electron-rich dienophiles
Experiences of intimate continence care and the impact on the family dyad relationship for people living at home with dementia and their co-resident family members
Get PDFObjectives
The experience of providing/receiving intimate continence care between family members can be difficult and emotive. Often, for people living with dementia this seems an area of care overlooked by professionals. This study investigated the experiences of intimate continence care for people living with dementia and their family member (the family dyad), and whether they viewed this as impacting on their relationship.
Method
Face-to-face interviews were conducted at 6 monthly intervals over a 12-month period with 13 carers (all family members) and one person living with dementia (13 family dyads) in England. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Analysis of the data was achieved using a descriptive phenomenological method.
Findings
Carers’ attitudes towards providing intimate continence care revealed a task-focused approach for some but feelings of disgust and distress for others. Four participants (including the participant living with dementia) reported that intimate continence care had strengthened their dyad relationship. However, some carers perceived the care and support received from health and social care practitioners to be insufficient, which placed extra stress on them and adversely affected their family dyad relationship.
Conclusion
Implications of the study suggest that integrated and effective continence care and support for people living with dementia and their carers could (1) maintain the quality of the family dyad relationship, (2) help keep the person living at home, delaying an unwanted move to a care home and (3) consequently improve overall quality of life for individuals in the family dyad. Assuring integrated and effective continence care should be a priority for service funders and quality assurance regulators
Comparing building performance of supermarkets under future climate change: UK case study
Get PDFFocus on climate change and extreme weather conditions has received considerable attention in recent years. Civil engineers are now focusing on designing buildings that are more eco-friendly in the face of climate change. This paper describes the research conducted to assess the impact of future climate change on energy usage and carbon emissions in a typical supermarket at multiple locations across the UK. Locations that were included in the study were London, Manchester, and Southampton. These three cities were compared against their building performance based on their respective climatic conditions. Based on the UK Climatic Projections (UKCP09), a series of energy modelling simulations which were provided by the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) were conducted on future weather years for this investigation. This investigation ascertains and quantifies the annual energy consumption, carbon emissions, cooling, and heating demand of the selected supermarkets at the three locations under various climatic projections and emission scenarios, which further validates annual temperature rise as a result of climatic variation. The data showed a trend of increasing variations across the UK as one moves southwards, with London and Southampton at the higher side of the spectrum followed by Manchester which has the least variability amongst these three cities. This is the first study which investigates impact of the climate change on the UK supermarkets across different regions by using the real case scenarios
Spousal care intensity, socioeconomic status, and depression among the older caregivers in China: a study on 2011–2018 CHARLS panel data
Get PDFUsing the Stress Process Model and data from the 2011-2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study examined the effect of spousal caregiving intensity on the depression level of older caregivers in China. The moderating role that socioeconomic status plays in the relationship between spouses was explored by constructing Multilevel Growth Models (MGM). The care intensity for a spouse was found to have significantly increased depression levels in older caregivers, while the degree of disability of the spouse being cared for (B=0.200, p＜0.001) had a greater effect on depression than the duration of care (B=0.007, p＜0.01). There was a threshold effect where the provision of more than 10 hours of care per week for a spouse (B=0.931, p＜0.001; B=0.970; p＜0.01) or caring for a disabled spouse with limited ADLs (B=0.709, p＜0.01; B=1.326; p＜0.001; B=1.469, p＜0.01) increased depression in older caregivers. There were moderating influences including higher professional prestige before retirement (B=-0.006, p＜0.01) and higher annual family income (B=-0.037, p＜0.05) that increased depression related to the spouse’s degree of disability. It was considered that active familism measures should be formulated for older spousal caregivers, especially those with lower socioeconomic status
Teaching here & there, episode 5 with Amy Sampson and Dominik Havsteen-Franklin
No full textWelcome to episode 5, featuring Amy Sampson who is Head of Digital Learning Falmouth University and Dominik Havsteen-Franklin, Consultant in Arts Psychotherapies and Professor of Practice at Brunel University London. In conversation with Dom Pates, James Rutherford and Dr. Ivan Sikora, they discussed their experiences and challenges of supporting arts learning and practice and the research of NHS psychotherapeutic hybrid teaching. Key issues were the impact of arts teaching from an enforced hybrid online delivery model, with the absence of tacit and contextual experiences, such a touch, smell and lighting. Tangibility was also talked about as a key factor in making learning authentic specifically in an arts and an NHS healthcare teaching environment. Opportunities were seen from greater use of new sophisticated digital tools to enhance collaboration, and that these could be applied in the future and cross-disciplinary work across curriculum and institutions
Treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB and its determinants at referral hospitals in Ethiopia.
Get PDFBackground
There is limited empirical evidence in Ethiopia on the determinants of treatment outcomes of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) who were enrolled to second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Thus, this study investigated the determinants of treatment outcomes in patients with MDR-TB at referral hospitals in Ethiopia.
Design and methods
This study was underpinned by a cross-sectional quantitative research design that guided both data collection and analysis. Data is collected using structured questionnaire and data analyses was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to control for confounders in determining the association between treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB and selected predictor variables, such as co-morbidity with MDR-TB and body mass index.
Results
From the total of 136 patients with MDR-TB included in this study, 31% had some co-morbidity with MDR-TB at baseline, and 64% of the patients had a body mass index of less than 18.5 kg/m2. At 24 months after commencing treatment, 76 (69%), n = 110), of the patients had successfully completed treatment, while 30 (27%) died of the disease. The odds of death was significantly higher among patients with low body mass index (AOR = 2.734, 95% CI: 1.01–7.395; P<0.048) and those with some co-morbidity at baseline (AOR = 4.260, 95%CI: 1.607–11.29; p<0.004).
Conclusion
The higher proportion of mortality among patients treated for MDR-TB at Adama and Nekemte Hospitals, central Ethiopia, is attributable to co-morbidities with MDR-TB, including HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. Improving socio-economic and nutritional support and provision of integrated care for MDR-TB and HIV/AIDS is recommended to mitigate the higher level of death among patients treated for MDR-TB