Control Campaigns Research Articles

Prevalence of Major Parasitic Agents Involved in Camel Skin Diseases in Babile District, Eastern Ethiopia

Aim A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2017 up to April 2018 in Babile district, Eastern Hararghe zone, Oromiya regional state of Ethiopia. Objective To determine the prevalence of major parasitic agents involved in camel skin diseases and their risk factors. Method A cross-sectional study design was implemented to determine the prevalence of major parasitic pathogens, particularly mange mites and ticks affecting camel skin, and associated risk factors. The target animals for the study were dromedary camels reared under pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems in Babile district of Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. The sample size for the study was estimated by taking an expected prevalence of 50%, an accepted error of 5%, and a confidence level of 95%. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the differences in the occurrence of parasites among categorical variables (age, sex, herd size, and season). A p-value≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Out of 768 camels examined, 122 (15.9%) and 113 (14.7%) were found to be infested with ticks of various species and Sarcoptes species, respectively. Nine hundred twenty-nine (929) adult tick species, including 329 (35.4%) males and 600 (64.59%) females, were collected from selected camels. The tick species identified in the present study were Rhipicephalus pulchellus (29.7%), Amblyomma gemma (4.84%), Hyalomma dromedarii (13.56%), Boophilus decoloratus (2.58%), Amblyomma variegatum (23.04%), Amblyomma coherence (8.61%), Rhipicephalus evertsievertsi (9.15%), Rhipicephalus pravus (2.37%), Rhipicephalus sanguines (4.2%), Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (1.08%) and Hyalomma marginatum (0.86%). The mean tick burden observed was 1.2 ticks per camel. Sarcoptes species was the only mite observed during this study. The tick infestation rate varied significantly (p<0.05) between seasons (dry and wet), between sex groups, and between herd sizes of camels. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of tick infestation between the age groups. Mange mite infestation varied significantly between age groups (young and adults). Conclusion Finally, the tick and mange mite infestations were highly prevalent in the indigenous dromedary camels in the Babile district. Therefore, special attention should be given to the programmed tick and mite control campaign in the area.

Maritime international trade and bioinvasions: A three‐year long survey of small mammals in Autonomous Port of Cotonou, Benin

Abstract International trade has been favouring the dissemination of a wide suite of invasive alien species. Upstream prevention through the monitoring of entry points is identified as an appropriate strategy to achieve control of bioinvasions and their consequences. Maritime transportation has been responsible for the introduction worldwide of exotic rodents that are major pests for crops and food stocks as well as reservoirs of many zoonotic pathogens. In order to limit further dissemination, the International Health Regulation constrains decisions makers and socio‐economic stakeholders to manage ship‐mediated import/export of rodents within seaports. Unfortunately, eco‐evolutionary insights into rodent introduction events that could guide preventive actions in seaports are very scarce. In order to bridge this gap, we here describe the results of a 3 year‐long survey of small mammals conducted in the Port of Cotonou, Benin. Our aim was to assess the spatiotemporal distribution, diversity and relative abundance of invasive and native rodents. 960 small mammal individuals were captured in nine within‐seaport sites. We found (i) a marked predominance of invasive species (84% of the individuals belonging to Mus musculus, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus), (ii) with native species (i.e. Mastomys natalensis and the shrew Crocidura olivieri) essentially restricted to peripheral non‐industrial areas, as well as (iii) a fine‐scale spatial segregation stable over time between the invasive Norway rats and house mice on the one hand, and the black rats and shrews on the other hand. Furthermore, trapping before and after two successive rodent control campaigns indicates that they were ineffective and that subsequent rodent recolonisation occurred 6–12 months following intervention. Synthesis and applications. Our results are discussed in terms of ecological processes at play (e.g. interspecific interactions) and operational recommendations (e.g. assessment of proper eradication units, environmental modifications).

Facilitating fertility decline through economic development: a principal-agent analysis of local bureaucratic incentives in China’s fertility transition

Despite close associations, political science had weak explanatory power for fertility transition. It often depicts the political processes of fertility transition as direct and coercive policies and mechanical execution without consideration of indirect bureaucratic processes. Drawing on principal-agent and economic-driven theories, this study established a novel model using 1980–2000 Chinese provincial panel data: local officials facilitated fertility decline through economic development for career advancement. System generalized method moments (GMM) and ordered logistic regression (OLM) results showed: (1) gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth (OR = 0.012) and total fertility rate (TFR) decline (OR = 0.026) increased promotion odds, while excessive TFR decline (over 37% within one term) decreased it; (2) the critical age (59) and tenure year (one year before leaving office) positively associated with GDP per capita, industrialization, and lower TFR; (3) GDP per capita and industrialization negatively associated with TFR. Facilitating fertility decline via economic development was an efficient, low-risk strategy for local officials compared to radical birth control campaigns. It was the first study applying principal-agent theory to explain how bureaucratic processes enabled fertility transitions. It combined political and economic-driven theories on fertility transition, advancing political demography and refining the social science paradigm on fertility transition.

A protocol for evaluating the entomological impact of larval source reduction on mosquito vectors at hotel compounds in Zanzibar.

There is an increasing awareness of the association between tourism activity and risks of emerging mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) worldwide. In previous studies we showed that hotels in Zanzibar may play an important role in maintaining residual foci of mosquito vectors populations of public health concern. These findings indicated larval sources removal (LSR) interventions may have a significant negative impact on vector communities. However, a thorough analysis of the response vector species to potential LSM strategies must be evaluated prior to implementation of a large-scale area-wide control campaign. Here we propose a protocol for evaluation of the impact of LSR against mosquito vectors at hotel settings in Zanzibar. This protocol is set to determine the efficacy of LSR in a randomized control partial cross-over experimental design with four hotel compounds representing the unit of randomization for allocation of interventions. However, the protocol can be applied to evaluate the impact of LRS in more than four sites. Proposed interventions are active removal of disposed containers, and installation of water dispenser to replace single use discarded plastic water bottles, which were identified as the most important source of mosquitoes studied hotels. The ideal time for allocating intervention to the intervention arms the dry season, when the mosquito abundance is predictably lower. The possible impact of interventions on mosquito occurrence and abundance risks is then evaluated throughout subsequent rainy and dry seasons. If an appreciable reduction in mosquito abundance and occurrence risks is observed during the trial period, intervention could be extended to the control arm to determine whether any potential reduction of mosquito density is reproducible. A rigorous evaluation of the proposed LRS interventions will inspire large scale trials and provide support for evidence-based mosquito management at hotel facilities in Zanzibar and similar settings.

Increasing Prevalence of Artemisinin-Resistant HRP2-Negative Malaria in Eritrea

BackgroundAlthough the clinical efficacy of antimalarial artemisinin-based combination therapies in Africa remains high, the recent emergence of partial resistance to artemisinin in Plasmodium falciparum on the continent is troubling, given the lack of alternative treatments.MethodsIn this study, we used data from drug-efficacy studies conducted between 2016 and 2019 that evaluated 3-day courses of artemisinin-based combination therapy (artesunate–amodiaquine or artemether–lumefantrine) for uncomplicated malaria in Eritrea to estimate the percentage of patients with day-3 positivity (i.e., persistent P. falciparum parasitemia 3 days after the initiation of therapy). We also assayed parasites for mutations in Pfkelch13 as predictive markers of partial resistance to artemisinin and screened for deletions in hrp2 and hrp3 that result in variable performance of histidine rich protein 2 (HRP2)–based rapid diagnostic tests for malaria.ResultsWe noted an increase in the percentage of patients with day-3 positivity from 0.4% (1 of 273) in 2016 to 1.9% (4 of 209) in 2017 and 4.2% (15 of 359) in 2019. An increase was also noted in the prevalence of the Pfkelch13 R622I mutation, which was detected in 109 of 818 isolates before treatment, from 8.6% (24 of 278) in 2016 to 21.0% (69 of 329) in 2019. The odds of day-3 positivity increased by a factor of 6.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.5 to 15.5) among the patients with Pfkelch13 622I variant parasites. Partial resistance to artemisinin, as defined by the World Health Organization, was observed in Eritrea. More than 5% of the patients younger than 15 years of age with day-3 positivity also had parasites that carried Pfkelch13 R622I. In vitro, the R622I mutation conferred a low level of resistance to artemisinin when edited into NF54 and Dd2 parasite lines. Deletions in both hrp2 and hrp3 were identified in 16.9% of the parasites that carried the Pfkelch13 R622I mutation, which made them potentially undetectable by HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests.ConclusionsThe emergence and spread of P. falciparum lineages with both Pfkelch13-mediated partial resistance to artemisinin and deletions in hrp2 and hrp3 in Eritrea threaten to compromise regional malaria control and elimination campaigns. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others; Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry numbers, ACTRN12618001223224, ACTRN12618000353291, and ACTRN12619000859189.)

Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak.

At the end of the 20th century, the common vole (Microtus arvalis) colonized the practical totality of agricultural ecosystems in the northern sub-plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. To prevent crop damage, chemical control campaigns using anticoagulant rodenticides have been employed. This approach has a high environmental impact, and it has been banned in most countries in the European Union, including Spain. It is therefore essential to analyze alternative methods with lower environmental impacts. Here we explored the efficacy of biological control by avian predators to reduce vole abundance by providing nest-boxes in croplands. We used an indirect index based on the presence/absence of vole activity signs to measure the effect of nest-boxes on common vole abundance. We found that vole abundance was significantly lower near occupied nest-boxes at distances less than 180 m, where vole abundance increases progressively with increasing distance to the nearest nest-box. We also observed that the predatory pressure negatively affects the vole abundance at the end of the breeding period, considering the total number of fledglings. However, the effect of nest-boxes was highly variable depending on the study area and more limited in alfalfa fields, the optimal habitat for voles in agrarian ecosystems. Thus, nest-box supplementation would be a feasible measure for the biological control of the common vole in Mediterranean ecosystems, but it needs improvements for vole control in alfalfa fields within an integrated pest control program. We provide several recommendations to improve the performance of biological control in alfalfa fields.

Prohibition in the USA, the USSR, and the UAE: Ideological and Procedural Differences, Causes of Failures or Successes

This study is relevant in light of a thorough investigation of alcohol control and prohibition in the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In order to establish the causes of their successes or failures on the matter it is necessary to analize experiences in the regulation of alcohol abuse and consumption in the modern world, as well as ideological and procedural differences in alcohol control campaigns. The purpose of this study is to investigate the features of the introduction of prohibition in the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Arab Emirates, looking to establish and interpret the results of their anti-alcohol campaigns. A wide array of methods were used to carry out the investigation, such as: dialectical method; formalisation; cognitive method; formal-legal method; hermeneutical method; logical-legal method; systemic method; structural-functional method; axiomatic method; method of induction and deduction; and method of analysis and synthesis. The study analysed various anti-alcohol campaigns; established the background to the introduction of Prohibition in the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Arab Emirates; assessed the main successes and failures of Prohibition; identified reasons for the repeal of alcohol bans; and highlighted differences between the various anti-alcohol campaigns in the United States of America,the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Arab Emirates. The findings include: a definition ofthe phenomenon of “prohibition” itself, and what preceded it; a study of the anti-alcohol campaign in the United States and the consequences arising from the introduction of Prohibition; an examination of thenature of alcohol restrictions and bans in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the many failures ofGorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign; and a study of the reasons for keeping alcohol restrictions in the United Arab Emirates. The provisions enshrined in this article are of practical value primarily to government officials whose responsibilities include campaigning against alcohol and its effects on law enforcement, economic policy, regulatory entities and other spheres of public life.

Environmentally Friendly Strategies for Controlling the European Grapevine Moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Terlemezyan, H., M. Sargsyan, H. Harutyunyan, S. Sargsyan and N. Zarikian. 2023. Environmentally Friendly Strategies for Controlling the European Grapevine Moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(3): 272-277. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-041.3.272277 The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a palearctic pest, has been the target of an international control campaign. Agricultural production areas in Armenia were identified as lacking effective control in 2019- 2020. The results of using a mixture of bacterial and chemical insecticides (BTTER-55 + Coragen, BTTER-94 + Coragen) were effective in controlling this pest. Coragen combined with sublethal concentration of bacterial insecticides (BTTER-55 + Coragen, BTTER-94 + Coragen) showed high biological efficiency against young larvae of grapevine moth under vineyard conditions. It has been proven also that, Coragen together with the applied insecticides that fell on the soil after spraying were less dangerous ecologically since they reduced the number of soil-living ammonifiers for only a short period (1-2 months). In addition, results obtained confirmed that the bacterial insecticides BTTER-55 and BTTER-94 differed in morphological and physiological features, particularly in the size of vegetative cells and spores formed by them, as well as in the size of insecticidal crystalline bodies, colonies shape and assimilation of carbon and nitrogen sources. Keywords: Armenia, European grapevine moth, insecticide, Invasive pests, Plant protection.

Government policy interventions during COVID-19 pandemic and economic performance

This paper examines the impacts of government policy interventions during COVID-19 pandemic on economic performance. The study pooled daily data from 108 countries across 5 regions based on World Bank classification from March 22, 2020 to July 31, 2020. These regions are East Asia and Pacific; Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East and North Africa as well as sub-Saharan Africa. The study employs Autoregressive Distributed Lagged (ARDL) model. This study uses STATA 15.0 to estimate error correction-based Pooled Mean Group (PMG), Mean Group (MG) and Dynamic Fixed Effect (DFE) model for analyzing dynamic heterogeneous panel data. The empirical result from each region of the World is as follows: (1) Result from PMG on East Asia and Pacific region reveals that government policy of debt/contract relief towards cushioning the effects of COVID-19 pandemic has positive impact on economic performance in the short run while none of the government policy measure is statistically significant in the long run. (2) Result from MG on Europe and Central Asia shows that in both the long run and the short run, number of confirmed cases and school closure policy have negative impacts on economic performance and statistically significant at 1 percent level while in the long run, international travel control and public information campaign have negative and positive impacts on economic performance in the region respectively. Both International travel control and public information campaign are statistically significant at 1 percent and 10 percent levels respectively. (3) Result from PMG on Latin America and the Caribbean shows that the number of confirmed cases and debt/contract relief are statistically significant and have negative and positive impacts on economic performance respectively in the short run. The former is statistically significant at 5 percent level while the latter is statistically significant at 10 percent level. In the long run however, only international travel control imposed by government is significant at 5 percent level and has negative impact on economic performance in the region. (4) Result from PMG on Middle East and North Africa shows that only number of confirmed cases is significant and has positive impact on economic performance at 10 percent level in the short run. No robust impacts is found in the long run. (5) Result from PMG on sub-Saharan African region shows that number of confirmed cases has positive impact, which is statistically significant at 10 percent level on economic performance while in the long run, income support package has negative impact on economic performance at 5 percent level of significance. The study therefore, concludes that, the relative economic potency and effectiveness of government interventionist policy measures towards putting COVID-19 pandemic under control vary across regions of the world. Economically, Europe and Central Asia is the region that is worst hit by the pandemic when compared with other regions.

Parasites Prevalence of Dairy Cattle in Argopuro Area, Krucil District, Probolinggo Regency, Indonesia

This study aimed to identify endoparasitic species and their prevalence in dairy cows in the Probolinggo, Indonesia. This survey was conducted in the Cooperation of Argopuro, in the hill side of Krucil district, Probolinggo regency, during rainy season from March until July 2020. Faecal samples were collected (n=100), and three fecal examinations were performed for parasite identification: native, sedimentation, and flotation techniques. Results showed that the prevalence of endoparasitosis was 56%; 29% was due to helminthiases and the other 37% was of Balantidium coli. Fasciola sp., Oesophagostomum sp., Gaigeria pachyscelis, Toxocara vitulorum, Mecistocirrus digitatus, Chabertia sp. were among the helminths detected. The Lucient Brump test indicated that among samples infected with helminths (n=29), 89.7% were mild, 6.9% were moderate and 3.4% were severely infected. Further, the study estimated that the level of burden with Balantidium coli was identified to be mild in 62.2%, moderate in 32.4%, and severe in 5.4% of the positive samples, respectively (n=37). This study indicates that during the commencement of the rainy season, the campaign of effective endoparasitic control could be advisable in the study area

The first mass drug administration campaign for schistosomiasis control in Lagos, Nigeria: lessons for future control programs

BackgroundIn this study we summarized the lessons learnt during the first effective mass drug administration (MDA) campaign in one of the most urbanized states in Nigeria. We particularly discuss the implementation approach including associated challenges and future prospects.MethodsWe implemented schistosomiasis MDA with praziquantel in seven endemic districts of the state, using a sub-district/ward-level implementation approach. Upon completion, we conducted desk reviews of field reports and a high-level stakeholder meeting among 95 key personnel involved in the MDA. We reviewed excerpts from the meetings to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities (SWOT) of the sub-district/ward-level implementation approach. Quantitative data were summarized using basic descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed to identify emerging themes.ResultsAbout 1.45 million children between age 5 and 15 were targeted for treatment, and a geographic (100%) and therapeutic coverage of 85.5% was achieved. Therapeutic coverage was optimal (>75%), across all the implementation districts (Range:76.2- 95.3%). Ifako-Ijaiye had the highest therapeutic coverage (95.3%), while Oshodi-Isolo as the least (76.2%). Strategies supporting high coverage includes; (1) adequate delineation of hard-to reach areas and allocation of commensurate resources, (2) improved consultation and microplanning among programmers, (3) addressing traffic congestion on transportation routes, (4) strengthened engagements and collaborations with community gatekeepers, (5) optimizing cash flow to mitigate financial risk, (6) capacity building of field stakeholders and, (7) regular advocacy and sensitization among stakeholders.ConclusionThis study provides possible directions for implementation of schistosomiasis control by programs and agencies at sub-district/ward-level in a cosmopolitan and urbanized state, like that of Lagos, Nigeria.

Egoistic and altruistic behaviors in tobacco control campaign: the role of social media exposure, interpersonal communication and attitudes

IntroductionA growing body of research has examined the relationship between media exposure to health campaign information and health behaviors, yielding inconsistent findings. To address this inconsistency, it is crucial to investigate the underlying mediation and moderation mechanisms. Building upon the social diffusion model, this study explores the mediating role of interpersonal communication and the moderating role of attitudes in the relationships between health behavioral outcomes and exposure to campaign information.MethodA tobacco control social media campaign were conducted and assessed via an online survey. Specifically, the survey was conducted from the day after the end of the campaign. Respondents were recruited via Sojump using convenience and snowball sampling. Eligible participants were non-smokers and quitters residing in China and had been exposed to the campaign information. Data were analyzed using the R software.ResultsA total of 326 eligible participants were included in the final analysis. The results suggest that social media exposure to campaign information is indirectly associated with both egoistic and altruistic behavioral intentions through interpersonal communication. However, attitudes toward tobacco control weaken the association between social media exposure to campaign information and interpersonal communication about tobacco risks. Furthermore, the indirect effect of social media exposure to campaign information on egoistic and altruistic behavioral intentions, mediated by interpersonal communication about tobacco risks, is contingent upon attitudes toward tobacco control.ConclusionThis study tests and supports the proposition that interpersonal communication mediates the effects of campaign information exposure on health behaviors in the context of China, which contributes to the existing literature on the health effects of campaign information exposure and provides implications for the design of health campaigns to more effectively promote healthy behaviors.

Can infection with Trypanosoma cruzi modify the toxicological response of Triatoma infestans susceptible and resistant to deltamethrin?

Chemical control plays a central role in interrupting the vector transmission of Chagas disease. In recent years, high levels of resistance to pyrethroids have been detected in the main vector Triatoma infestans, which were associated with less effectiveness in chemical control campaigns in different regions of Argentina and Bolivia. The presence of the parasite within its vector can modify a wide range of insect physiological processes, including toxicological susceptibility and the expression of resistance to insecticides. This study examined for the first time the possible effects of Trypanosoma cruzi infection on susceptibility and resistance to deltamethrin in T. infestans. Using WHO protocol resistance monitoring assays, we exposed resistant and susceptible strains of T. infestans, uninfected and infected with T. cruzi to different concentrations of deltamethrin in fourth-instar nymphs at days 10–20 post-emergence and monitored survival at 24, 48, and 72 h. Our findings suggest that the infection affected the toxicological susceptibility of the susceptible strain, showing higher mortality than uninfected susceptible insects when exposed to both deltamethrin and acetone. On the other hand, the infection did not affect the toxicological susceptibility of the resistant strain, infected and uninfected showed similar toxic responses and the resistance ratios was not modified. This is the first report of the effect of T. cruzi on the toxicological susceptibility of T. infestans and triatomines in general and, to our knowledge, one of the few on the effect of a parasite on the insecticide susceptibility of its insect vector.

“We’re always an afterthought”- Designing tobacco control campaigns for dissemination with and to LGBTQ +—serving community organizations: a thematic analysis

PurposeEvidence-based health communication campaigns can support tobacco control and address tobacco-related inequities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ +) populations. Community organizations focused on LGBTQ + health (e.g., nonprofits, community centers, and community health centers) can be prime channels for delivering evidence-based health communication campaigns. However, it is unclear how to balance the goals of a) designing campaigns to support broad adoption/uptake and b) adaptation addressing the needs of diverse communities and contexts. As part of an effort to support “designing for dissemination,” we explored the key challenges and opportunities staff and leaders of LGBTQ + -serving community organizations encounter when adopting or adapting evidence-based health communication campaigns.MethodsA team of researchers and advisory committee members conducted this study, many of whom have lived, research, and/or practice experience with LGBTQ + health. We interviewed 22 staff members and leaders of community organizations serving LGBTQ + populations in the US in early 2021. We used a team-based, reflexive thematic analysis approach.ResultsThe findings highlight the challenges of attempting to use health communication campaigns misaligned with the assets and needs of organizations and community members. The three major themes identified were as follows: (1) available evidence-based health communication campaigns typically do not sufficiently center LGBTQ + communities, (2) negotiation regarding campaign utilization places additional burden on practitioners who have to act as “gatekeepers,” and (3) processes of using health communication campaigns often conflict with organizational efforts to engage community members in adoption and adaptation activities.ConclusionsWe offer a set of considerations to support collaborative design and dissemination of health communication campaigns to organizations serving LGBTQ + communities: (1) develop campaigns with and for LGBTQ + populations, (2) attend to the broader structural forces impacting campaign recipients, (3) support in-house testing and adaptations, and (4) increase access to granular data for community organizations.

A Velvet Empire: French Informal Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century by David Todd (review)

Reviewed by: A Velvet Empire: French Informal Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century by David Todd Elizabeth Heath Todd, David–A Velvet Empire: French Informal Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2021. 350 p. “It ought to be commonplace that, for most of the nineteenth century, France expanded chiefly by means of informal empire.” (p. 1) With this intriguing statement, David Todd opens A Velvet Empire and invites readers to join what seems to be an ongoing conversation animated by an apparent riddle: How did France gain a reputation as the world’s second imperial power in the period between 1815 and 1880 when the country possessed few territorial holdings outside its metropolitan boundaries apart from a smattering of islands, trading posts, and, eventually, Algeria? From any conventional definition of empire, nineteenth-century France was an imperial power without colonies. Todd’s answer is, of course, the one he offers from the start: France’s imperial strength and reputation derived from its informal deployment of cultural, economic, and legal imperialism. Indeed, he argues, France’s ability to combine “soft” cultural power with economic and military [End Page 234] influence ought to be recognized as a particularly cunning imperial strategy that enabled post-Napoleonic France to expand its global influence without acquiring the fiscal and infrastructural obligations carried by formal imperial rule. Thus, France’s informal empire deserves recognition not only as a distinct form of imperialism, but perhaps one even more sophisticated than that deployed by that European colonial power par excellence: Britain. Todd begins making his case by exploring the post-1815 geopolitical and intellectual foundations that contributed to France’s development as an informal empire. After the defeat of Napoleon, France found itself deprived of most of its colonial holdings and at a severe strategic and demographic disadvantage vis-à-vis Britain. New territorial conquests seemed unlikely. Rather than turn inwards, Todd argues, French liberal political economists, such as Benjamin Constant, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, Abbé Dominique de Pradt, and, later, Paul Leroy-Beaulieu, popularized the idea that informal avenues of influence and control offered France a lucrative way to pursue its commercial interests while avoiding the costs associated with territorial sovereignty. Instead of warships and military troops, France’s imperial agents would take an unexpected guise. Stylish luxury goods like silk, velvet, and champagne produced by French skilled workers and carefully packaged to emphasize their monarchical and aristocratic associations seduced and indebted foreign elites. France’s small-time savers aided the imperial cause by investing heavily in state-backed loans to foreign powers, including Mexico, Imperial Russia, and the newly recognized Haitian Republic. Through commodities and capital, France extended its domination and influence over foreign markets, eliciting concessions and trade agreements that successfully turned foreign lands like Mexico and Egypt into client states. French success as an informal imperial power reliant on “soft” power nevertheless had its limits. In the early nineteenth century, France’s informal approach failed spectacularly when metropolitan and local conditions transformed French attempts to wrest additional control over the temperate regions of Algeria into a military campaign for actual territorial control. Even here, Todd argues, the French initially tried to limit their formal control, especially of the hinterland, through a collaboration with the local Indigenous leader Abd al-Qadir. The violence unleashed when this collaboration unravelled in 1845 would create the foundation for an expanded formal colony and French settlerism. By the 1860s, French influence was on the retreat elsewhere as well. French troops occupied Mexico to force the resumption of loan payments. The French-imposed monarchy came to a decisive end in 1867, when American-backed Mexican troops executed the installed king, Maximillian of Habsburg. In Egypt, local backlash at French economic control and claims to extraterritoriality in 1867 created an opening for British formal control. Thus, even before Napoleon III’s defeat at Sedan, the global tide had already begun to turn against French informal imperialism. Under the Third Republic, this informal approach to empire would recede further—though certainly not disappear—as the new regime revived the quest to build a formal empire based on French territorial sovereignty. [End Page 235] Velvet Empire is a compelling read...

Biological invasions in international seaports: a case study of exotic rodents in Cotonou

Black rat (Rattus rattus), brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), and house mouse (Mus musculus) are known to be among the most common anthropophilic rodent species in cities worldwide. These species are responsible for the destruction of domestic and industrial materials, considerable damage to food stocks as well as zoonotic pathogens circulation and transmission to humans and animals. These invasive species have disseminated in all continents following human-mediated exchanges, especially maritime transports. In particular, seaports appear as privileged rats and mice’s entry points into new regions, thus making them international regulations’ priorities for rodent surveillance and management. Yet, studies on seaport rodents are rare; in particular, investigations on their genetic structure are almost inexistent, thus precluding science-guided interventions. In order to fill such a gap, our study focused on the population genetics of R. rattus, R. norvegicus and M. musculus in the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, Benin. Nine different sites were surveyed for three years. In total, 366 R. rattus, 188 R. norvegicus and 244 M. musculus were genotyped using 18 microsatellites, 16 microsatellites and 17 microsatellites, respectively. Our results show very well-structured genetic clusters in all three species as well as limited impacts of rodent control campaigns. Using comparisons with genotypes from other European, Asian and African countries, we suggest for the first time that settlement of newly introduced individuals may be a rare event. Implications in terms of management units and control and monitoring are discussed.

Valorization of Pennisetum setaceum: From Invasive Plant to Fiber Reinforcement of Injected Composites.

During the control campaigns of Pennisetum setaceum (invasive species widespread worldwide), the generated waste has accumulated in landfills. This study investigates its use to obtain P. setaceum fibers for their application as reinforcement of polymeric materials for injection molding, thus facilitating and promoting alternatives for the long-term sustainable management of P. setaceum. The extracted fibers were treated with alkaline, silane, acetic acid, and combined alkaline and silane treatments. Different composites with 20 and 40 wt% of fiber were extruded, and test samples were obtained by injection molding using recycled polyethylene as matrix. The composition of the fibers was determined by gravimetric methods, and contrasted with the analysis of the functional chemical groups using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Increases of up to 47% in the cellulose content of the treated fiber were observed. The thermal degradation was also evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, which determined an increase in the degradation temperature, from 194 to 230 °C, after the combined alkaline-silane treatment. In order to analyze the differences in the composites, tensile, flexural, and impact properties were evaluated; in addition, differential scanning calorimetry was performed. Regarding the flexural behavior, it was possible to improve the flexural modulus up to 276% compared with that of the unreinforced polymer.

Demographic monitoring of the invasive ladder snake on Formentera (Balearic Islands, Spain)

AbstractThe ladder snake Zamenis scalaris was first reported in 2006 in Formentera (Balearic Islands, Spain), until then a snake‐free Mediterranean island. Since 2016, intense control campaigns have been carried out and, for the first time, snake captures over 2017–2020 have been used to analyze the sex ratio, age, fat percentage, population density, and seasonality of this invasive population. The male‐biased sex ratio found in the present work could be the result of capture biases caused by different detection probabilities between sexes. A reduction of snake body length over time was observed, which could indicate a depletion of the larger snakes due to intense snake capture. The highest capture frequencies of both sexes were reported in May and June, coinciding with the mate searching period in the species native range and indicating that snakes increase their movements during this period. Size‐specific survivorship curves indicated a drop in survivorship at medium sizes, which suggested a survival cost associated with reproduction, presumably due to increased mortality during the mating season. Population density decreased from 1.812 snakes/ha in 2017 to 0.669 snakes/ha in 2020. Evidence obtained in the present work has allowed to evaluate the main ecological aspects of Z. scalaris and the current state of the population of this invasive snake on the island of Formentera. Results showed that the population is well established in Formentera, but prolonged control campaigns have caused its decline. This study becomes a starting point to improve the management and control programs of invasive snake populations in the Balearic Islands. Long‐term control as well as the improvement of the detection and capture of adult females are strongly recommended to attempt the eradication of Z. scalaris in Formentera.

Distribution Patterns and Abundance of the Dura Andat, Agonoscelis pubescens (Thunb.), and other Pentatomids Across Habitat Patches in the Central Clay Plain of Sudan*

Field surveys were carried out at three locations in the centralclay plain of Sudan at Gedarif, Blue Nile and North Darfur States. Theobjective was to determine the most preferred resting sites of the duraandat, Agonoscelis pubescens , and other associated pentatomid species.These sites are where the chemical control campaigns of this pest areconducted every year. The results showed that A. pubescens preferredcertain types of trees as resting sites and that different pentatomid speciesaggregated and stayed together with it at these sites. A. pubescens wasthe main species sheltering on trees, while Carbula pedalis, anunconfirmed pest of sorghum, was the main species sheltering inmountain caves. Each of these two species seemed to join with a set ofspecific group of pentatomids, which differed from those associated withthe other. It is argued that control of C. pedalis may be unnecessary if it isproved that this insect is neither a pest of sorghum nor of any other maincrop.

Malaria temporal dynamic clustering for surveillance and intervention planning

BackgroundTargeting interventions where most needed and effective is crucial for public health. Malaria control and elimination strategies increasingly rely on stratification to guide surveillance, to allocate vector control campaigns, and to prioritize access to community-based early diagnosis and treatment (EDT). We developed an original approach of dynamic clustering to improve local discrimination between heterogeneous malaria transmission settings. MethodsWe analysed weekly malaria incidence records obtained from community-based EDT (malaria posts) in Karen/Kayin state, Myanmar. We smoothed longitudinal incidence series over multiple seasons using functional transformation. We regrouped village incidence series into clusters using a dynamic time warping clustering and compared them to the standard, 5-category annual incidence standard stratification. ResultsWe included 1115 villages from 2016 to 2020. We identified eleven P. falciparum and P. vivax incidence clusters which differed by amplitude, trends and seasonality. Specifically the 124 villages classified as “high transmission area” in the standard P. falciparum stratification belonged to the 11 distinct groups when accounting to inter-annual trends and intra-annual variations. Likewise for P. vivax, 399 “high transmission” villages actually corresponded to the 11 distinct dynamics. ConclusionOur temporal dynamic clustering methodology is easy to implement and extracts more information than standard malaria stratification. Our method exploits longitudinal surveillance data to distinguish local dynamics, such as increasing inter-annual trends or seasonal differences, providing key information for decision-making. It is relevant to malaria strategies in other settings and to other diseases, especially when many countries deploy health information systems and collect increasing amounts of health outcome data. FundingThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Regional Artemisinin Initiative) and the Wellcome Trust funded the METF program.