Reflects on racial classifications in the US, drawing on historical uses of race labels & the author's personal experience of coming from a multiracial Jamaican family. While the concept of race has become particularly dubious because of the amount of interbreeding, US society still considers race a biological reality. Deconstruction analysis highlights the subjective nature of US culture's dominant definition, while exposing the many alternative meanings these concepts & categories have assumed both across cultures & over time. Thus, racial categories represent legal & social fictions with no scientific grounds, their multiplicity only serving to underline its own ultimate intellectual groundlessness. The subsequent revelation of diversity calls into question the ethnocentric nature of US racial perceptions & conceptions. 66 References. R. Jaramillo
At first sight there seems to be little in common between Zionism and the national movements of the Third World, and more particularly of Africa. The diplomatic and economic links established by the State of Israel with the new states of the Black Continent were impressive partly because they looked as if they were createdex nihilo. The speed with which the Israelis entered the 'African game' in the sixties and the equal speed with which they found themselves ejected from it in the seventies tended to underline the superficiality of these links. There were, of course, interested rationalizations of this newly found 'brotherhood': the historico-mythological relations between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba were stressed to give an historical dimension to a very new cooperation; the role of the Zionist and Messianic African churches and sects, and the possible latent influence of Jewish lore on certain African tribes, such as the Poeul or the Ashanti of Ghana, were dusted off and used in many ambassadorial speeches.
Because researchers tend to orient themselves around the dualisms traditional/modern & rural/urban, they fail to understand changes in child rearing in rural areas. Studied are such changes in rural Africa, focusing on the period of early childhood, during which the child depends upon its mother as the greatest source of socialization. The monetarization of the economy-the development of commercial cultures-has forced women to develop new types of relationships with their children. It is observed in the villages of the Ivory Coast that, while the solidarity of the family & the couple is weakened, that of the mother & her children is strengthened. In the traditional society, the task of educating the child was shared by the community of parents, while in the commercial society, the mother has individualized the role to her unique function. The child becomes the support for all the projects she has lost in the economic structure of the commercial society. AA Tr & Modified by K. Shabetai.
"The town has that sign of prosperity of new buildings, which never deceives," wrote Arthur Young of Nantes in 1788. In fact, on the eve of the Revolution, Nantes—the infamous ville des négriers (city of the slavers)—was one of the richest cities in France and one of the most important ports in the kingdom. For almost a century Nantes had been the capital of the French slave trade, and by 1789 local merchants were investing almost 10 million L (livres) annually in the trade. Yet, in spite of the general activity, Nantes traders were experiencing difficulties with their business. Although a few slavers managed to create vast fortunes almost overnight, problems in France, the colonies, and Africa meant that most traders had to struggle to obtain even modest profits, from slaving. During the last decade of the old regime investments in the slave trade were usually no more profitable than investments in offices or land, although the trade alone offered the possibility, however, remote, of quick, vast profits.
The primary method of supporting the national independence & liberation movements in Asia, Africa & Latin America envisaged by Mao Tse-Tung, is through the example of his own victory in China. Resting on a multi-class basis & armed with nationalist appeal, the concept of a new democracy may appeal to the traditionally anti-Communist classes as well as to all who are willing to collaborate for various considerations. The inclusion of the bourgeoisie in such a multi-class alliance is a very important point in Mao's scheme, while the appeal to the peasantry is based on a promise of agrarian reform & that to the workers on the vision of increased soc, econ & pol'al status. Objective conditions prevailing in countries on the verge of modern industrial culture leave them susceptible to a Communist offensive regardless of the present numerical strength of the Communist parties, & because of similarities between China & these countries, Maoism can be a serviceable model of action for communists & anti- gradualists to follow. IPSA.
The current attempt by European and American scholarship to come to grips with Africa is bound to be frustrating work for some years to come. The continent is vast and varied; Western knowledge of it is, for the most part, recent and superficial; and yet the demand for understanding, arising out of Africa's increasing importance in world affairs, will not wait for the slow process of maturation which scholarship normally requires. Policies must be made and points of view arrived at, and it is no use complaining that the stock of information and ideas out of which these policies and points of view must be fashioned are the premature products of half-digested thought. At the same time, it is clear that it is in such circumstances as these, where standards are non-existent or only half-formed, that the academic charlatan and the purveyor of facile formulae thrive. The more long-term goals of orthodox scholarship may be in danger of being sacrificed to the search for quick answers.
The article is the first part of the study, which examines the issues related to the study of the history of population and historical demography of Kyrgyzstan. The emphasis is made on the issues of historiography on the basis of scientific literature on the problems of history and demography of Kyrgyzstan in the 20th — 21st centuries. The analysis and assessment of the main demographic indicators of the population of Kyrgyzstan in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods is considered, the process of change in demographic policy, as well as its impact on the socio-economic situation in the republic, are analyzed. It is concluded that the historiography of the historical demography of Kyrgyzstan is based on macro approaches to the study of demography processes, which was typical for Soviet historical science as a whole. The main problems of studying the history of the population of Kyrgyzstan, to which researchers were addressed, were the population census, changes in the number and distribution of the Kyrgyz, the impact of the 1916 uprising. on the demographic development of the Kyrgyz people, the settlement of nomads on the land, socio-cultural changes in Kyrgyzstan and their impact on the change of demographic characteristics. Much attention was also paid to public policy in the field of governance and influence on demographic processes.
AbstractIntroductionSince many countries in sub‐Saharan Africa are willing to implement HIV oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men (MSM), data are needed to assess its feasibility and relevance in real life. The study objectives were to assess drug uptake, adherence, condom use and number of sexual partners, HIV incidence and trends in the prevalence of gonorrhoea and chlamydia.MethodsIn this oral PrEP demonstration study conducted prospectively in Benin, a combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate‐TDF 300 mg and emtricitabine‐FTC 200 mg (TDF‐FTC) was offered daily or on‐demand to MSM. Participants were recruited from 24 August to 24 November 2020 and followed over 12 months. At enrolment, month‐6 and month‐12, participants answered to a face‐to‐face questionnaire, underwent a physical examination and provided blood samples for HIV, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.ResultsOverall, 204 HIV‐negative men initiated PrEP. The majority of them (80%) started with daily PrEP. Retention rates at month‐3, 6, 9 and 12 were 96%, 88%, 86% and 85%, respectively. At month‐6 and month‐12, respectively, 49% and 51% of the men on daily PrEP achieved perfect adherence (self‐reported), that is seven pills taken during the last week. For event‐driven PrEP, the corresponding proportions for perfect adherence (last seven at‐risk sexual episodes covered) were 81% and 80%, respectively. The mean number (standard deviation) of male sexual partners over the last 6 months was 2.1 (1.70) at baseline and 1.5 (1.27) at month‐12 (p‐value for trend <0.001). Consistent condom use during the last 6 months was 34% (enrolment), 37% (month‐6) and 36% (month‐12). Three HIV seroconversions (2‐daily and 1‐event‐driven) were recorded. Crude HIV incidence (95% confidence interval) was 1.53 (0.31−4.50)/100 person‐years. Neisseria gonorrhoeae and/or Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence at the anal and/or pharyngeal and/or urethral sites was 28% at baseline and 18% at month‐12 (p‐value = 0.017).ConclusionsIn West Africa, oral PrEP introduction in routine practice as a component of a holistic HIV prevention package is feasible and may not result in a significant increase in condomless sex among MSM. Since HIV incidence was still higher, additional interventions, such as culturally tailored adherence counselling, may be needed to optimize the benefits of PrEP.
AbstractIntroductionGeographic and transportation barriers are associated with poorer HIV‐related health outcomes in sub‐Saharan Africa, but data on the impact of these barriers on prevention interventions are limited. We estimated the association between distance to clinic and other transportation‐related barriers on pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and initial clinic visit attendance in a rural community in southwestern Uganda enrolled in the ongoing SEARCH study (NCT01864603).MethodsCommunity‐wide HIV testing was conducted and offered to adult (≥15 years) participants in Ruhoko. Participants were eligible for PrEP based on an empiric risk score, having an HIV‐discordant partner, or self‐referral at either the community health campaign or during home‐based testing from March to April 2017. We collected data from PrEP‐eligible households on GPS‐measured distance to clinic, walking time to clinic and road difficulty. A sample of participants was also asked to identify their primary barriers to PrEP use with a semi‐quantitative questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between transportation barriers and (1) PrEP uptake among PrEP‐eligible individuals and (2) four‐week clinic visit attendance among PrEP initiators.ResultsOf the 701 PrEP‐eligible participants, 272 (39%) started PrEP within four weeks; of these, 45 (17%) were retained at four weeks. Participants with a distance to clinic of ≥2 km were less likely to start PrEP (aOR 0.34; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.79, p = 0.012) and less likely to be retained on PrEP once initiated (aOR 0.29; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.84; p = 0.024). Participants who were deemed eligible during home‐based testing and did not have the option of same‐day PrEP start were also substantially less likely to initiate PrEP (aOR 0.16, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.37, p < 0.001). Of participants asked to name barriers to PrEP use (N = 98), the most frequently cited were "needing to take PrEP every day" (N = 18) and "low/no risk of getting HIV" (N = 18). Transportation‐related barriers, including "clinic is too far away" (N = 6) and "travel away from home" (N = 4) were also reported.ConclusionsDistance to clinic is a significant predictor of PrEP uptake and four‐week follow‐up visit attendance in a community in rural Uganda. Interventions that address geographic and transportation barriers may improve PrEP uptake and retention in sub‐Saharan Africa.
The Sahara in North Africa and the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts in Asia are the primary sources of mobilized dust in the atmosphere, with regional or global airborne transport estimated at 2 to 5 billion tonnes per year. Annual Asian dust plumes take about 7 to 10d to cross the Pacific Ocean, and often reach the northwest USA between late February and May. In contrast, the peak season for the movement of African dust storms to the southeastern USA is typically June to August, and dust plumes take about 5 to 7d to reach Florida. Although studies have documented that a wide range of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses in dust plumes reach the USA each year, little is known about temporal and spatial variability in the microbial biodiversity in transoceanic dust plumes, or the effect on the deposition environments. A scoping study (called the Transoceanic Aerobiology Biodiversity Study) was conducted to develop field-based campaigns centered on examining the abundance, diversity, survival, and impact of microorganisms in transoceanic dust plumes arriving in the continental USA from Asia and Africa. This effort identified Science Questions (SQs) and Knowledge Gaps(KGs) that are highly relevant toward an understanding of the microbial diversity, transport, survival, and dispersal in transoceanic dusts. Science Questions were defined as broad science topics in transoceanic dust plume microbiology that were underexplored by the aerobiology community. Knowledge Gaps were defined as specific project-level research questions for each SQ that represented important topics in the study of transoceanic aerobiology. ; NASA's Biodiversity Office [NNX16AQ38G]; National Science Foundation grant from the Division of Environmental Biology [1241161, 1643288]; Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate Program Development Funds at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; U.S. Geological Survey's Environmental Health Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminate Biology Programs ; The project was supported by a scoping study Grant from NASA's Biodiversity Office (Grant #NNX16AQ38G). Partial support to BC was provided by a National Science Foundation grant from the Division of Environmental Biology (1241161 and 1643288). Partial support to SB was funded by the Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate Program Development Funds at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. DG was partially supported by the U.S. Geological Survey's Environmental Health Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminate Biology Programs. ; Public domain authored by a U.S. government employee
Kitoza is a traditional Malagasy meat product made from beef or pork strips of 20 to 50 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide, salted and then dried and/or smoked for preservation. Kitoza sensory and consumer testing were undertaken through an international collaborative project funded by European Union "African Food Tradition rEvisited by Research" (AFTER). AFTER, aims to revisit traditional African food products, knowledge and know-how in the light of new technologies for the benefit of consumers, producers and processors in Africa and Europe. These products are widely consumed within the selected countries in Africa but do not meet EU food safety requirements. The reengineering of Kitoza seeks to overcome food safety and to improve nutritional properties of this traditional product issues to facilitate their promotion and introduction to EU markets. Kitoza samples, beef and pork, were prepared in France, using French meat. Controlled fermentation and smoking procedures were used and salt, spices and other condiments were added according the traditional process. The products were vacuum packed. For sensory profile two smoked Kitoza samples (beef and pork) and a traditional Portuguese smoked loin sausage was used for comparison. All samples were scored by a sensory panelists using Flash profiling (FP), a technique that combines individual panelist vocabulary generation through free choice profiling and attribute intensity ranking. A previous focus group session was conducted with the aim to promote attribute generation and acceptance factors for Kitoza in European context, specifically in Portugal. For the near market consumer acceptance tests for improved Kitoza products, was used a panel of a 102 consumers. Consumption attitudes were also analyzed. The sensory profile showed that there are significant differences at the following level descriptors: color tone, spices, sweetness, smoke and succulence. The results obtained for consumer acceptance showed that the hedonic results between the three samples are statistically different being the preferred sample the traditional Portuguese smoked loin sausage, followed immediately by the Kitoza pork and finally less appreciated the Kitoza beef. In terms of markets, as regards to shops and the cost of the product, due to the exotic origin, the consumers are willing to pay more for Kitoza samples than traditional Portuguese smoked loin sausage. (Texte intégral)
Conference paper presented at the Riara University First Annual International Conference on Education Theme: Transformative Education for Development: An African Perspective. Date: July 18-20, 2013 ; The title of our Conference leads me to reflect briefly on how I understand transformative education for development. If we look at development from an African perspective we usually understand this to refer to the socio-economic, political and other forms of development of a country. In this context there would be many ways of implementing innovative education techniques which could foster such development. However, in my experience, it is very difficult to bring about socio-economic development in a country even through education, when we look at the matter in general, third person terms. I am convinced that to foster development in Africa we need to educate our students in transformative, innovative ways, which facilitate personal growth and development. If our educational practice focuses on helping each student to transform themselves personally it is more likely that s/he will be able to bring about further change in our society. For these developments at the personal or social level to be genuine they need to have a solid foundation. ; The title of our Conference leads me to reflect briefly on how I understand transformative education for development. If we look at development from an African perspective we usually understand this to refer to the socio-economic, political and other forms of development of a country. In this context there would be many ways of implementing innovative education techniques which could foster such development. However, in my experience, it is very difficult to bring about socio-economic development in a country even through education, when we look at the matter in general, third person terms. I am convinced that to foster development in Africa we need to educate our students in transformative, innovative ways, which facilitate personal growth and development. If our educational practice focuses on helping each student to transform themselves personally it is more likely that s/he will be able to bring about further change in our society. For these developments at the personal or social level to be genuine they need to have a solid foundation.
12 páginas, 4 figuras, 4 tablas. ; [Background]: The human FOXI1 gene codes for a transcription factor involved in the physiology of the inner ear, testis, and kidney. Using three interspecies comparisons, it has been suggested that this may be a gene under human-specific selection. We sought to confirm this finding by using an extended set of orthologous sequences. Additionally, we explored for signals of natural selection within humans by sequencing the gene in 20 Europeans, 20 East Asians and 20 Yorubas and by analysing SNP variation in a 2 Mb region centered on FOXI1 in 39 worldwide human populations from the HGDP-CEPH diversity panel. [Results]: The genome sequences recently available from other primate and non-primate species showed that FOXI1 divergence patterns are compatible with neutral evolution. Sequence-based neutrality tests were not significant in Europeans, East Asians or Yorubas. However, the Long Range Haplotype (LRH) test, as well as the iHS and XP-Rsb statistics revealed significantly extended tracks of homozygosity around FOXI1 in Africa, suggesting a recent episode of positive selection acting on this gene. A functionally relevant SNP, as well as several SNPs either on the putatively selected core haplotypes or with significant iHS or XP-Rsb values, displayed allele frequencies strongly correlated with the absolute geographical latitude of the populations sampled. [Conclusions]: We present evidence for recent positive selection in the FOXI1 gene region in Africa. Climate might be related to this recent adaptive event in humans. Of the multiple functions of FOXI1, its role in kidney-mediated water-electrolyte homeostasis is the most obvious candidate for explaining a climate-related adaptation. ; This research was funded by grant BFU2005-00243 awarded by Dirección General de Investigación, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain), by grant BFU2008-01046/BMC awarded by Subdirección General de Proyectos de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain), and by the Direcció General de Recerca, Generalitat de Catalunya (2009SGR1101). AME was supported by a CONACYT fellowship from the Mexican government (grant 179339), MS by a PhD fellowship from the Programa de becas FPU del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain (AP2005-3982) and JE by a Volkswagenstiftung scholarship (I/82 750). SNP genotyping services were provided by the Spanish "Centro Nacional de Genotipado" (http://www.cegen.org). ; Peer reviewed
Se recogen 730 referencias bibliográficas que tratan de las Baleares durante el periodo andalusí, de la conquista cristiana y sus diferentes documentos (Repartiment, etc.), del período de dominio cristiano en el cual los musulmanes, primero –como mudéjares– eran un grupo social mayoritario, y luego –como meros esclavos, pasaron a ser minoría en la Edad Moderna, en la que además de este fenómeno de los esclavos musulmanes nos hemos fijado en el de la piratería islámica proveniente del norte de África. En las épocas sucesivas hemos creído conveniente recoger los trabajos que hagan referencia a las Baleares y sus relaciones de diversa índole con el mundo islámico. Además de otros muchos estudios de índole cultural, social, económica, arqueológica, política, etc., que se encuadren u ocupen de estos períodos cronológicos. Igualmente se han recogido los trabajos más generales en los que se halle referencia a las islas, bien de geógrafos árabes (descripciones geográficas), o literatos, científicos y demás personajes musulmanes, de tratados islámicos medievales, o de fuentes cristianas que las mencionen y nos muestren la huella o legado de lo árabe. ; There are gathered 730 bibliographical references that treat over Balearic Islands during the Andalusian period, or during the Christian conquest and his different documents (Repartiment, etc.), or over the period of Christian domain in which the Muslims –first as Mudejars– they were a social majority group, and then –like slaves– were a minority in the Modern Age, epoch in which they sustained an Islamic piracy from the north of Africa. In the successive epochs we have believed suitably to gather the works that allude to the Balearics and its relations of the Islamic world. In addition there are added other many studies of cultural, social, economic, archaeological, political nature, etc., that are framed or occupied of these chronological periods. At the same, there have been gathered the most general works that there are references to the islands: by Arab geographers (geographical descriptions), or by writers, scientists and other Moslem personages, of Islamic medieval agreements, or of Christian sources that mention them and show us the trace or legacy of the Arab times.
Background: The human FOXI1 gene codes for a transcription factor involved in the physiology of the inner ear, testis, and kidney. Using three interspecies comparisons, it has been suggested that this may be a gene under/nhuman-specific selection. We sought to confirm this finding by using an extended set of orthologous sequences./nAdditionally, we explored for signals of natural selection within humans by sequencing the gene in 20 Europeans,/n20 East Asians and 20 Yorubas and by analysing SNP variation in a 2 Mb region centered on FOXI1 in 39/nworldwide human populations from the HGDP-CEPH diversity panel./nResults: The genome sequences recently available from other primate and non-primate species showed that FOXI1/ndivergence patterns are compatible with neutral evolution. Sequence-based neutrality tests were not significant in/nEuropeans, East Asians or Yorubas. However, the Long Range Haplotype (LRH) test, as well as the iHS and XP-Rsb/nstatistics revealed significantly extended tracks of homozygosity around FOXI1 in Africa, suggesting a recent/nepisode of positive selection acting on this gene. A functionally relevant SNP, as well as several SNPs either on the/nputatively selected core haplotypes or with significant iHS or XP-Rsb values, displayed allele frequencies strongly/ncorrelated with the absolute geographical latitude of the populations sampled./nConclusions: We present evidence for recent positive selection in the FOXI1 gene region in Africa. Climate might/nbe related to this recent adaptive event in humans. Of the multiple functions of FOXI1, its role in kidney-mediated/nwater-electrolyte homeostasis is the most obvious candidate for explaining a climate-related adaptation. ; This research was funded by grant BFU2005-00243 awarded by Dirección General de Investigación, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain), by grant BFU2008-01046/BMC awarded by Subdirección General de Proyectos de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain), and by the Direcció General de Recerca, Generalitat de Catalunya (2009SGR1101). AME was supported by a CONACYT fellowship from the Mexican government (grant 179339), MS by a PhD fellowship from the Programa de becas FPU del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain (AP2005-3982) and JE by a Volkswagenstiftung scholarship (I/82 750). SNP genotyping services were provided by the Spanish "Centro Nacional de Genotipado" (http://www.cegen.org).
