Complex Emergencies Research Articles

Rethinking research methods in protracted violent conflicts in Mozambique: fieldwork in complex emergencies

PurposeThis paper argues for the need to use multiple sources and methods that respond to research challenges presented by new forms of war. There are methodological constraints and contention on the superiority given to positivist and interpretivist research designs when doing fieldwork in war situations, hence there is a need to use integrated data generation techniques. The combined effect of severe limitations of movement for both the researcher and researched fragmented data because of polarized views about the causes of the war and unpredictable events that make information hard to come by militate against systematic, organised and robust data generation. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to make fieldwork researchers understand significant research problems unique to war zones.Design/methodology/approachThis research was guided by the postmodernist mode of thought which challenges standardised research traditions. Fieldwork experiences in Cabo suggest the need to use the composite strategies that rely on the theoretical foundation of integrative and creative collection of data when doing research in violent settings.FindingsThe fieldwork experiences showed that the standardised, conventional and valorised positivist and ethnographic research strategies may not sufficiently facilitate understanding of the dynamics of war. There should not be firm rules, guidelines or regulations governing the actions of the researcher in conflict. As such, doing research in violent settings require reflexivity, flexibility and creativity in research strategies that respond to rapid changes. Research experiences in Mozambique show the need to use blended methods that include even less structured methodologies.Originality/valueFieldwork experiences in Cabo challenges researchers who cling to standardised research traditions which often hamper awareness of new postmodernist mode of thought applicable to war settings. It is essential to study the nature of African armed conflicts by combining creativity and flexibility in the selection of research strategies.

A reactive scheduling approach for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem with dynamic resource disruption

PurposeThis paper aims to develop an algorithm to study the impact of dynamic resource disruption on project makespan and provide a suitable resource disruption ratio for various complex industrial and emergency projects.Design/methodology/approachThis paper addresses the RCPSP in dynamic environments, which assumes resources will be disrupted randomly, that is, the information about resource disruption is not known in advance. To this end, a reactive scheduling model is proposed for the case of random dynamic disruptions of resources. To solve the reactive scheduling model, a hybrid genetic algorithm with a variable neighborhood search is proposed.FindingsThe results obtained on the PSLIB instances prove the performance advantage of the algorithm; through sensitivity analysis, it can be obtained, the project makespan increases exponentially as the number of disruptions increase. Furthermore, if more than 50% of the project's resources are randomly disrupted, the project makespan will be significantly impacted.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on the impact of dynamic resource disruptions on project makespan. Few studies have considered stochastic, dynamic resource uncertainty. In addition, this research proposes a reasonable scheduling algorithm for the research problem, and the conclusions drawn from the research provide decision support for project managers.

The stagnation of innovation in humanitarian cash assistance

Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) has been gaining traction among humanitarian organizations as the preferred aid modality in disaster relief and complex emergencies. While the advantages of cash are well documented, the ongoing digitalization of cash and the emergence of innovative financial instruments can be associated with new operational challenges and a stagnation in innovation.This paper reflects on the changing environment in CVA as a result of technological breakthroughs in the global financial system. The concept of humanitarian innovation is introduced to differentiate it from a similar process in the private sector and to investigate factors, contributing to a slower pace of acceptance, a reluctant implementation, or a complete rejection of innovative approaches in the humanitarian organization. The purpose of the study is to conceptualize the challenges of new technology adoption and scaling, as well as to analyze the direction and current stage of the diffusion of innovation in the humanitarian sphere.Ten interviews with informants representing humanitarian agencies and the private sector were conducted to discuss their experiences with new CVA tools and perspectives on innovation in cash and voucher assistance. The results demonstrate that there is no uniform perception of innovation across the field, and the challenges of diffusion can be associated with several domains, including internal and external capacities, inherent characteristics of new financial technology (fintech), and a wider social, political, and regulatory context. According to the cyclical model of technological change, the innovative CVA fintech is currently at the ferment stage characterized by a high level of uncertainty and competition. The subsequent emergence of several dominant designs followed by incremental innovation is plausible in the future.

Clonal outbreak of NDM-1-producing Enterobacter hormaechei belonging to high-risk international clone ST78 with the coexistence of tmexCD2-toprJ2 and mcr-9 in China

ObjectivesThe emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC) has posed significant global challenges to the clinical treatment of healthcare-associated infections. This study reports the clonal outbreak of NDM-1-producing Enterobacter hormaechei (E. hormaechei) with the coexistence of tmexCD2-toprJ2 and mcr-9 in China. MethodsDuring the outbreak (January 2018 – December 2021), 15 non-repetitive multidrug-resistant E. hormaechei strains were obtained from 13 patients in a tertiary hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, plasmid stability, plasmid conjugation, plasmid fitness evaluation, colistin induction, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis were performed. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on single nucleotide polymorphisms of core genomes to illustrate the evolutionary dynamics of mcr-9-carrying E. hormaechei strains worldwide. ResultsThe 15 E. hormaechei strains belonged to the high-risk international clone ST78 and co-harboured tmexCD2-toprJ2 and blaNDM-1, of which 12 E. hormaechei strains carried the mcr-9 gene. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that tmexCD2-toprJ2 and blaNDM-1 coexisted on the IncFIB/IncFII-type plasmid, which could be transferred to Escherichia coli J53 by conjugation and had a significant effect on host fitness. The mcr-9 gene was located between two insertion sequences, IS903B and IS1R, but lacked the two-component system regulatory gene qseBC, which might be the reason for all mcr-9-positive E. hormaechei strains remaining susceptible to colistin. The expression of mcr-9 was not inducible in strains confirmed by colistin induction assays. Phylogenetic analysis illustrated the silent spread and rapid evolution of mcr-9-carrying E. hormaechei worldwide. ConclusionThis study enriched the epidemiological and genomic characterisation of the coexistence of tmexCD2-toprJ2 and mcr-9 in ST78 CR-ECC isolates and demonstrated that they could prolong clonal dissemination in a tertiary hospital in China. Continuous epidemiological surveillance and molecular characterisation of CR-ECC should be conducted to monitor the evolution of CR-ECC around the world.

When The Photos Don’t Tell The Whole Story

From The Publisher Health AffairsVol. 42, No. 3: Public Health During COVID-19 & More When The Photos Don’t Tell The Whole StoryRabih Torbay AffiliationsRabih Torbay is president and CEO of Project HOPE, in Washington, D.C.PUBLISHED:March 2023Free Accesshttps://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00016AboutSectionsView PDFPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsDownload Exhibits TOPICSHealth professionalsClinicsAccess to careHealth disparitiesGlobal healthWhen you picture the aftermath of a hurricane, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the stark images of damage we see on the news: boats overturned, neighborhoods flooded, debris strewn throughout communities. But it’s probably not the man who lost his only supply of insulin, the senior whose hypertension medication washed away, or the new mom who lost the formula her infant desperately needs. Rabih TorbayPhotograph by Project HOPEWhat about an earthquake? The physical devastation of collapsed buildings, fallen homes, and deadly rubble is a terrible, familiar story. But equally tragic are the rural families, such as those Project HOPE reached in Haiti, who lost their only clinic and now must carry their children on foot for miles to find care.Even the harrowing footage from a war zone doesn’t capture health workers’ intense stress and trauma. A photo of a humanitarian crisis doesn’t show the patient with HIV who must choose between her antiretrovirals and her next meal. A video of an undernourished child doesn’t show the chronic health conditions he may have for life.Yet all of these hidden damages—the health impacts we don’t see—have a profound effect on global health.In December 2022 I visited Florida to learn from Project HOPE’s local partners how Hurricane Ian continued to affect their communities months after the storm hit. Hearing their stories underscored to me how different the picture on the ground can be from what is portrayed when the coverage focuses only on the most visible damage.News coverage had frustrated them, they told me, because it mostly showed overturned yachts and flooded mansions, which left viewers wondering why they should donate to the hurricane response. What the coverage didn’t show were poor neighborhoods nearby that were desperate for relief. “We must accurately convey the true and deep challenges that many have and are still experiencing despite the yachts and million-dollar homes being shown on the news,” one local aid worker told me.I heard similar stories in Ukraine and Ethiopia, where amid the horrifying scenes of war and humanitarian crisis there was a tidal wave of health needs that was not being shown to the world.This is not just a problem during complex emergencies or natural disasters: COVID-19 underscored how hard it can be to see health inequities even when they happen in our own neighborhoods.In every context I’ve seen, the solution comes through health workers. Local health workers are the cornerstone of every resilient health system, and the best way to address hidden health inequities is to strengthen their capacity—to provide them with the medicines, equipment, training, and other support they need. This is an urgent call to action: With the world facing a critical shortage of health workers, we cannot afford not to make these investments.Health workers are the ones who see and feel what we can’t and who know best the needs of their own communities. That’s why much of Project HOPE’s work, both during emergencies and at other times, focuses on equipping health workers with the tools they need to close the gaps in access to care.In Ukraine that work might look like trauma trainings, psychological first aid, vehicles, or hospital rehabilitations. In Ethiopia it might be a mobile medical clinic that can reach a rural community. In charitable clinics across the US South, it might mean providing the support to hire community health workers who know how to provide vaccines in a context with which their patients are comfortable.Supporting health workers has been core to Project HOPE’s mission since our founding sixty-five years ago. It is essential to our work in every context, on every continent. And in a world where health workers are facing more crises, it’s more important than ever.When it comes to health care access, you can’t always believe your eyes. The most serious problems might be the hardest to see, and the best way to address them is by supporting those who see them every day. Loading Comments... Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. DetailsExhibitsReferencesRelated Article Metrics History Published online 6 March 2023 Information© 2023 Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.PDF download

Shattered or Strengthened? The Impact of Extended Lockdown on Family Functioning and Quality of Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION: While much research has focused on mental health and well-being during the early stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, significantly fewer studies have directly explored the connection between lockdown policies, family functioning, and effects on the mental health of parents in highly vulnerable communities in low-income countries where pre-pandemic conditions were already unstable. This study aims to address this gap and examines the quality and nature of relationships with spouses, children, and extended families in highly vulnerable communities during an extended lockdown period.
 
 METHODS: With the approval of the appropriate Institutional Review Board and after receiving verbal consent, following standard local procedures, 30 individuals participated in in-depth semi-structured telephone surveys that were conducted three months following the lifting of the lockdown restrictions to assess the impact of the extended quarantine periods on mental health, overall family functioning, and relationships with spouses/partners, children, and extended family.
 
 RESULTS: Findings indicate that mental health distress post-lockdown predicts changes in the nature and quality of relationships with spouses, children, and extended family and increased risks for family violence.
 
 CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the differential impact of global health crises on highly vulnerable communities facing complex issues with limited access to adequate care systems. By reframing large-scale pandemics as complex emergencies, our results can inform current policies and support interventions and preventive measures preparing families to better cope with similar emergencies.

Medical emergencies in dental practice: A nationwide web-based survey of Italian dentists

ObjectiveDentists must be prepared to manage medical emergencies, which are arisen during dental practice together with the increase of age population and medically compromised patients. This study aims at assessing the occurrence of medical emergencies in a cohort of Italian dentists, to ascertain their level of confidence in the management of these conditions, also based on their educational training and type of medical graduation, and, finally, to know their educational needs, in order to plan appropriate institutional interventions for specific training. MethodsA national-based cross-sectional study was carried out by means of an online survey sent to all dentists working in Italy. ResultsThe survey included 6818 questionnaires. Most of the respondents (n = 4443; 65.2%) reported the occurrence of at least one medical emergency during their professional life. The events rarely resulted in death as declared by only 62 (0.9%) of respondents. The commonest medical emergency was the vasovagal syndrome. Most medical emergencies occurred during the dental procedure (n = 4883; 71.6%). An average degree of satisfaction about the ability to diagnose and manage medical emergencies was reported by most of respondents, with high level of confidence in treating vasovagal syndrome, while a lack in preparedness about the management of myocardial infarction or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke. Medical doctors were more confident in managing the emergencies than dentistry graduates (p < .01). Considering the educational needs, almost all of participants (n = 6721; 98.6%) declared the need to improve their training and expressed their interest in theoretical-practical institutional courses as well as in the establishment of an official national register for medical emergencies occurred in dental practice. ConclusionsMedical emergencies are not negligible and the dentist should receive adequate training and continuing education to be updated and ready for their correct management. Clinical significanceThe dentist should be ready to deal with medical emergencies and provide first aid to the patient. The dentist is not always prepared to manage the most complex emergencies; therefore, there is the need to organize post-graduate courses and to set up an emergency register.

Molecular patterns and processes in evolving sociality: lessons from insects.

Social insects have provided some of the clearest insights into the origins and evolution of collective behaviour. Over 20 years ago, Maynard Smith and Szathmáry defined the most complex form of insect social behaviour-superorganismality-among the eight major transitions in evolution that explain the emergence of biological complexity. However, the mechanistic processes underlying the transition from solitary life to superorganismal living in insects remain rather elusive. An overlooked question is whether this major transition arose via incremental or step-wise modes of evolution. We suggest that examination of the molecular processes underpinning different levels of social complexity represented across the major transition from solitary to complex sociality can help address this question. We present a framework for using molecular data to assess to what extent the mechanistic processes that take place in the major transition to complex sociality and superorganismality involve nonlinear (implying step-wise evolution) or linear (implying incremental evolution) changes in the underlying molecular mechanisms. We assess the evidence for these two modes using data from social insects and discuss how this framework can be used to test the generality of molecular patterns and processes across other major transitions. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Collective behaviour through time'.

Mountain valleys, alluvial fans and oases: Geomorphologic perspectives of the mixed agropastoral economy in Xinjiang (3000–200 BC)

Xinjiang serves as a hub for trans-Eurasian exchange. The Xinjiang hominids are supposed to be greatly influenced by the environment due to the fragile ecology and arid climate. As the territory with the most significant and complex geomorphic units in Inner Asia, Xinjiang features a diverse spectrum of geomorphic forms, including mountains, basins, deserts, river valleys, and oases. This paper presents a systematic summary of the geomorphic locations of 127 Bronze Age to early Iron Age (3000–200 BC) sites and cemeteries in Xinjiang and their economic strategies, exploring the different economic choices of ancient humans who lived in other geomorphic units, and how they adapted to their microenvironments. We have divided Xinjiang into five regions: the Junggar Basin, the Tarim Basin, the Western Tianshan Mountains, the middle Tianshan Mountains, and the Eastern Tianshan Mountains. Our study shows that there were different agropastoral economic modes in different geographical units. Roughly bounded by the Tianshan Mountains, the economy in northern Xinjiang was heavily based on animal husbandry, while oasis farming was popular in the Southern Xinjiang reigon. From the perspective of geomorphology, most sites are situated in mountain valleys, alluvial fans, and oases regions with surface water sources and fine-textured soil cover. Sites near mountains were more likely to develop a mixed pastoral-hunting economy, and oasis communities of a specific size were more likely to build a mixed agricultural-pastoral economy. In large river valleys or alluvial fans, it is expected that settlement clusters and large central settlements will grow, leading to the emergence of social complexity. This study will help to understand the complex “man-land” dynamics between 3000 and 200 BC in Xinjiang.

Effect of large-scale mass drug administration for malaria on mortality and morbidity in Angumu health zone, Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo

BackgroundAngumu health zone in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo, is a highly malaria-endemic area with an overburdened health system and hosting internally displaced persons (IDP). The World Health Organization recommends mass drug administration (MDA) for malaria in complex emergencies. Therefore, three MDA rounds were implemented by Ministry of Public Health and Médecins sans Frontières from September 2020 to January 2021 in four health areas selected for epidemiological (high malaria incidence) and logistic reasons. Reported mortality and morbidity were compared in locations where MDA has been performed and locations where it has not.MethodsA non-randomized controlled population-based retrospective mortality survey was conducted in March 2021. Two-stage cluster sampling was used in villages; all IDP sites were surveyed with systematic random sampling. The main (mortality rates) and secondary (morbidity) outcomes were estimated and compared between locations where MDA had been conducted and where it had not, using mixed Poisson and binomial regression models respectively.ResultsData was collected for 2554 households and 15470 individuals, of whom 721 died in the 18-month recall period. The under-five mortality rate (U5MR) decreased in the locations where MDA had been implemented from 2.32 [1.48–3.16] “before” the MDA to 1.10 [0.5–1.71] deaths/10,000 children under 5 years/day “after”, whereas it remained stable from 2.74 [2.08–3.40] to 2.67 [1.84–3.50] deaths/10,000 children/day in the same time periods in locations where MDA had not been implemented. The U5MR and malaria-specific mortality was significantly higher in non-MDA locations after MDA was implemented (aRR = 2.17 [1.36–3.49] and 2.60 [1.56–4.33], respectively, for all-cause and malaria-specific mortality among children < 5 years). Morbidity (all age and < 5 years, all cause or malaria-specific) appeared lower in MDA locations 2.5 months after last round: reported malaria-specific morbidity was 14.7% [11–18] and 25.0% [19–31] in villages and IDP sites where MDA had been implemented, while it was 30.4% [27–33] and 49.3% [45–54] in villages and IDP sites with no MDA.ConclusionsDespite traditional limitations associated with non-randomized controlled retrospective surveys, the documented sharp decrease of under-5 mortality and morbidity shows that MDA has the potential to become an important malaria-control tool in emergency settings. Based on these results, new MDA rounds, along with indoor residual spraying campaigns, have been planned in the health zone in 2022. A set of surveys will be conducted before, during and after these rounds to confirm the effect observed in 2021 and assess its duration.

LHC-like Proteins: The Guardians of Photosynthesis.

The emergence of chlorophyll-containing light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) was a crucial milestone in the evolution of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. Light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding proteins form complexes in proximity to the reaction centres of photosystems I and II and serve as an antenna, funnelling the harvested light energy towards the reaction centres, facilitating photochemical quenching, thereby optimizing photosynthesis. It is now generally accepted that the LHC proteins evolved from LHC-like proteins, a diverse family of proteins containing up to four transmembrane helices. Interestingly, LHC-like proteins do not participate in light harvesting to elevate photosynthesis activity under low light. Instead, they protect the photosystems by dissipating excess energy and taking part in non-photochemical quenching processes. Although there is evidence that LHC-like proteins are crucial factors of photoprotection, the roles of only a few of them, mainly the stress-related psbS and lhcSR, are well described. Here, we summarize the knowledge gained regarding the evolution and function of the various LHC-like proteins, with emphasis on those strongly related to photoprotection. We further suggest LHC-like proteins as candidates for improving photosynthesis in significant food crops and discuss future directions in their research.

Redefining shelter: humanitarian sheltering.

Shelter is one of the most 'intractable problems' in humanitarian aid and yet there is little clarity on an overarching definition. Terminology for shelter and housing is often conflated, and the most prominent definition does not fully reflect recent progress in the Shelter and Settlements Sector. This paper explores the varying terminology utilised in definitions of shelter within humanitarian aid since 1990, reflecting on the concepts of 'shelter' and 'housing', alongside surrounding perceptions of 'house' versus 'home', and related measures of adequacy. The current, most prolific definition is also deconstructed, demonstrating ambiguity in some of terminology such as 'dignity' and 'privacy', and revealing that interpretation of this definition depends on the reader's knowledge. Lastly, a new definition of 'sheltering' is proposed, encompassing five key reflections: the concept of process over object; the inclusion of communities and individuals; the commonality of long-term sheltering; the wider effects of shelter; and the impacts on host communities and environment.

Технико-юридические основания развития современного права как фактор повышения эффективности его функционирования

The article is devoted to the study of one of the significant areas of scientific and scientificpractical analysis. Currently, there is a tendency to improve the technical and legal foundations of the development of modern law, which predetermine the increase in the efficiency of its functioning. The most important of them should include: the choice of the optimal form of consolidation of normative legal institutions; the consistency of legislative definitions and other types of legal definitions; the ordering and systematic use of doctrinal means of legal technology plays an essential role; the reorientation of the right to regulate actively developing social relations presupposes the emergence and development of complexes of a supranormative systemic nature, which are based on a different structuring of normative legal content.

Urogenital fistula associated with complex dystocia and emergency ovariohysterectomy in a juvenile dog

AbstractA 1‐year‐old, female, spayed dog was referred for urinary incontinence, first noted after a complex dystocia and caesarean section with ovariohysterectomy. Transabdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography with intravenous contrast administration revealed a fluid‐filled tubular structure caudodorsal to the urinary bladder. Routine cystourethroscopy was unremarkable. A retrograde cystourethrogram revealed a 15 mm long connection between the urethra and a structure presumed to be a uterine body remnant. During exploratory laparotomy, the uterine remnant and urethra were separated, leaving oval defects approximately 15 mm long in both; these were then closed. A urinary catheter was left in place for 6 days. A urethrogram performed during catheter removal confirmed closure of the fistula, and the dog was subsequently continent. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of a urogenital fistula suspected to be associated with dystocia and emergency ovariohysterectomy in a dog.

Building resilience and improving wellbeing in Sierra Leone using the community resiliency model post Ebola

Complex emergencies and disasters often result in a cascade of human suffering, which expose survivors to multiple traumatic situations and have a sizeable mental health impact. If available, most trauma treatments concentrate on addressing the cognitive or psychological aspects of trauma, which lacks the biological component of trauma that is central to human resiliency and wellness. The Community Resiliency Model (CRM) was created to increase mental health resources in underserved communities with complex trauma histories by teaching individuals to regulate their nervous system. Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest countries has a traumatic history of a 15-year civil war, frequent floods, and the 2014 Ebola outbreak. In the context of a lack of resources and ever-present stigma, many experience negative mental health with an estimated treatment gap of 98%. Our study set out to determine the immediate and six months effectiveness of a CRM intervention for Sierra Leonean community members in the aftermath of Ebola. Results indicated significant improved depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and resiliency post intervention, which were mostly maintained 6-months later. These findings suggest CRM may be an effective way to address mental health issues that arise after disasters in low resourced settings.

Enhancing the environmental sustainability of emergency humanitarian medical cold chains with renewable energy sources

PurposeEmergency humanitarian medical cold chains (HMCCs) depend heavily on their supporting energy services due to end-to-end temperature requirements in volatile disaster situations. Most energy sources powering emergency HMCCs are fossil-based due to well established processes, regardless of their environmental impact. In response to the recent energy crisis and climate change, a solution to tackle this issue relies on renewable energy sources (RES), whose use has increased to promote climate resilient development. Nevertheless, RESs’ capacity to replace conventional energy services in emergency HMCCs remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate opportunities for, and barriers to, increasing the use of RESs in emergency HMCCs, thereby enhancing their environmental sustainability.Design/methodology/approachBased on a review of academic and practice literature, interviews with expert practitioners on emergency HMCCs and sustainable energy, and case study examples, this research aimed to analytically generalise the phenomenon by investigating opportunities for, and barriers to, increasing the use of RESs in emergency HMCCs. The phenomenon is illustrated in a novel framework of typical HMCC, that forms a contextual basis for future research.FindingsA conceptual framework of typical emergency HMCC shows energy-consuming sections where RES can best be increased. This research is put forth in four propositions to manage the opportunities and barriers of the transition.Originality/valueThis research is, to the best of the author’s knowledge, the first attempt to operationalise sustainability by linking energy with HMCCs’ logistical activities in complex emergency settings. The cross-findings from literature, example cases and interviews together demonstrate the need to increase the use of RES in HMCCs, and how to do it.

Integrating Phylogenetics With Intron Positions Illuminates the Origin of the Complex Spliceosome.

Eukaryotic genes are characterized by the presence of introns that are removed from pre-mRNA by a spliceosome. This ribonucleoprotein complex is comprised of multiple RNA molecules and over a hundred proteins, which makes it one of the most complex molecular machines that originated during the prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition. Previous works have established that these introns and the spliceosomal core originated from self-splicing introns in prokaryotes. Yet, how the spliceosomal core expanded by recruiting many additional proteins remains largely elusive. In this study, we use phylogenetic analyses to infer the evolutionary history of 145 proteins that we could trace back to the spliceosome in the last eukaryotic common ancestor. We found that an overabundance of proteins derived from ribosome-related processes was added to the prokaryote-derived core. Extensive duplications of these proteins substantially increased the complexity of the emerging spliceosome. By comparing the intron positions between spliceosomal paralogs, we infer that most spliceosomal complexity postdates the spread of introns through the proto-eukaryotic genome. The reconstruction of early spliceosomal evolution provides insight into the driving forces behind the emergence of complexes with many proteins during eukaryogenesis.

Exploring the Impact of Crisis and Trauma on the Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being of University Students in Northern Haiti

In recent decades, Haiti has been subject to man-made and natural disasters that have left its citizens vulnerable to a range of shocks. With a weak state unable to protect its populace, Haitians are exposed to some of the highest levels of poverty and violence in the Western Hemisphere. In recent years, Haitians have experienced two crises that this study analyzes: the instability and political violence of “peyi lòk” as well as the global pandemic of COVID-19. This community-based assessment explores the impact of these two crises on the mental health and psychological well-being of 38 Haitian university students in the understudied northern part of the country. Results indicate that both crises had similarities related to their psychological effects on young people, most notably in terms of traumatic experiences related to threats or violence, forced confinement, and large increases in population-wide uncertainty. Additionally, the extreme violence of “peyi lòk” and the widespread unpredictability of COVID-19 and its effects in the early days of the pandemic resulted in high levels of stress and fear. Both crises also resulted in extreme economic hardship for students, with many reporting difficulties accessing basic needs such as food and water. This study highlights how converging population-level crises in “complex emergencies” can heighten trauma and compromise mental health.

The Role of the USSR Academy of Sciences in the Formulation of the USSR Science and Technology Policy in the 1920s – 1940s

In the first quarter of the 20th century no common scientific policy existed neither in the Russian Empire nor in the Soviet Union although there was a need for such a policy in view of the want of addressing the tasks of industrialization and overcoming the country’s technology gap. The article shows how the young Soviet state formulated its science and technology policy priorities and how it succeeded in creating one the most effective science organization systems in the world. We analyze the measures aimed at introducing planned scientific research, creating scientific institutes, establishing a network of scientific centers in the country’s remote regions, and organizing postgraduate education to train the cadre of scientists. Taken together, these measures resulted in the emergence of a unique scientific complex whose formation proceeded differently than that in the advanced countries of the West. The intensified development of Soviet science occurred at the same time as global changes in the role of fundamental science in the progression of modern civilization. By the late 1940s, global science became a driver in the development of modern society and Soviet science in many aspects found itself at the forefront of this process.

The emergence of cultural complexes in ecovillages: ethnographic studies Brazil/Switzerland

Resumo Este artigo contribui com o estudo sobre subjetividade dos moradores de ecovilas a partir do conceito de complexo cultural. A pesquisa foca nos complexos que emergiram em relação ao indivíduo, ao coletivo e à natureza, procurando entender como eles se desenvolveram e foram trabalhados. Contamos com a noção de complexos culturais para compreendermos as relações dos indivíduos consigo, com os outros e com o meio ambiente em contextos comunitários. Fizemos observações participantes em três ecovilas. As análises nos mostram que a vida em ecovilas desenvolve complexos coletivos que mediam as relações dos indivíduos com os seus respectivos grupos no que tange aos aspectos da individualidade e da coletividade, bem como aos modos de se relacionar com a natureza. Contudo, em cada comunidade, o contexto físico e a presença ou ausência de trabalhos de autorreflexão desenvolviam os complexos culturais de formas distintas, produzindo relações específicas de cada indivíduo com seu contexto.