Life Conditions Research Articles

Cultivating Cultures of Care within Communities of Children in Schools – Exploring the Interdependence of Children’s Collective and Individual Development

Abstract With many school systems worldwide facing several crises, such as inequality and a lack of well-being among schoolchildren, understanding how to care for, and support care among, these children must be a vital commitment for researchers and school professionals. Hence, this article introduces the notion of cultures of care within communities of children, emphasising care as a collective-transformative practice where children develop cultural tools to transform or navigate within the shared conditions of life with which they struggle. Drawing on cultural-historical and critical branches of psychology, a qualitative case analysis explores how an intervention framework (developed by this article’s author and a schoolteacher) seemed to support the development of a culture of care within a community of children at a Danish municipal primary school. Analyses of observational fieldnotes and interview excerpts suggest how the participating children engaged in negotiating, developing and expanding their shared repertoire of caring cultural tools with the purpose of creating a future in the community where the collective struggles of the present are less challenging. Focusing on the developmental implications, both for the community and for a boy in a marginalised position, the analysis sheds light on the interdependence of collective and individual development, as the children simultaneously care for the development of themselves and their community. Finally, it is discussed how pedagogical initiatives in schools that aim to care for children in marginalised positions as well as for the entire community must acknowledge the activist nature of schoolchildren and the collective nature of their agency.

Зарубежные и отечественные исследования психологических особенностей экстремальных условий службы

The current reality dictates the conditions for prioritization. Military conflicts in the world increase the level of tension in society. In such an environment, increased responsibility is assigned to employees who perform official tasks in extreme conditions. Now many people understand that the methodology of military affairs has changed dramatically, an employee may not be a participant in the actual fighting, but the expectation itself can harm human health. The problem is that extreme conditions in every person's life are already becoming an element of life activity. However, not everyone has the skills to recognize personality changes due to the development of negative situations. Purpose: to analyze the experience of various studies, the results of which contribute to the definition and identification of psychological characteristics that manifest themselves in extreme conditions. Compare studies from different years in this field. Methods: the study of scientific publications. Conclusions: after analyzing studies from different countries, it can be concluded that despite ethnic, linguistic, and value differences, extreme conditions have an identical negative effect on a person. However, a number of authors say that the more prepared an employee is (able to recognize emotions, use various techniques, have a sufficient level of neuropsychiatric stability, etc.), the less they are exposed to extreme conditions.

Agent-based model for forecasting the impact of the population life quality on migration movement in the context of the Russian Federation federal districts.

The Russian Federation is characterized by an extremely uneven distribution of the population across the country, which contributes to the asymmetry of economic and socio-demographic development of the regions, a shortage of qualified specialists for the development of the resources of Siberia and the Far East, and an increase in global risks in general. In this regard, the use of modern management technologies, in particular, multi-agent simulation modeling, to support decision-making on managing migration processes becomes relevant. Since the main incentive for active citizens to change their place of residence is investing in the development of the region and providing the necessary conditions for a comfortable life, the purpose of the study is to develop an agent-based model for forecasting the impact of the population life quality on migration flows between the federal districts of the Russian Federation. One of the tasks solved using the model is to track the direction of migrant movement relative to the Republic of Bashkortostan when changing the controlled parameters. The simulation model was designed using modern CASE tools; UML diagrams and a mnemonic diagram of the decision-making support process for managing the demographic development of the region were built in the course of the work. Scenario experiments were conducted to predict changes in the population size in the study areas. Within the framework of the research, the authors applied the object-oriented methodology of simulation model design, agent-based approach for its implementation, as well as an agent-oriented approach for its implementation and statistical analysis methods when setting up experiments. The toolkit developed as a result of the study can be used by the representatives of executive authorities and government officials to develop a balanced resettlement policy, assess the possibility and conditions for developing regions of the Russian Federation with low population density.

Hepatincolaceae (Alphaproteobacteria) are Distinct From Holosporales and Independently Evolved to Associate With Ecdysozoa.

The Hepatincolaceae (Alphaproteobacteria) are a group of bacteria that inhabit the gut of arthropods and other ecdysozoans, associating extracellularly with microvilli. Previous phylogenetic studies, primarily single-gene analyses, suggested their relationship to the Holosporales, which includes intracellular bacteria in protist hosts. However, the genomics of Hepatincolaceae is still in its early stages. In this study, the number of available Hepatincolaceae genomes was increased to examine their evolutionary and functional characteristics. It was found that the previous phylogenetic grouping with Holosporales was incorrect due to sequence compositional biases and that Hepatincolaceae form an independent branch within the Hepatincolaceae. This led to a reinterpretation of their features, proposing a new evolutionary scenario that involves an independent adaptation to host association compared to the Holosporales, with distinct specificities. The Hepatincolaceae exhibit greater nutritional flexibility, utilising various molecules available in the host gut and thriving in anaerobic conditions. However, they have a less complex mechanism for modulating host interactions, which are likely less direct than those of intracellular bacteria. In addition, representatives of Hepatincolaceae show several lineage-specific traits related to differences in host species and life conditions.

Disparidades en el acceso y conocimiento de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) entre estudiantes de Ciencias de la Salud en Perú: Encuesta Nacional de Hogares sobre Condiciones de Vida y Pobreza (ENAHO) 2022

IntroductionIn the current context, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a crucial role in all areas of society, including the field of education. Especially in health sciences, access to and knowledge of ICT have become fundamental for the training and development of future healthcare professionals in Peru. However, disparities persist in access to and acquisition of digital skills among health science students in the country. MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the National Household Survey on Living Conditions and Poverty (ENAHO) 2022, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). For the present study, a subsample of participants from health science students was considered, by taking in consideration inclusion and exclusion criteria with a statistical power of 81% (p301, p301A, p301B, and p316C) was considered. ResultsOf a total of 600 students, 41.2% were from public universities and 58.8% were from private universities. The majority of the participants were female (78%). In terms of age, we found that 290 students belonged to the age group of 17–20 years (40.7%); 222 students were from 21 to 25 years old (36%), and 148 students were over 25 years old (23.45%). Likewise, the majority were between the 1st and 3rd year of study (54.7%).There were significant differences in access to ICT among health sciences students from public and private universities according to the following categorical variables: having equipment (p = 0.014) and having the necessary infrastructure (p = 0.019). However, there were no differences in relation to teacher instruction (p = 0.662), use of the Internet for training activities (p = 0.539), or in relation to computer activities, such as the use of programming languages; for instance, 90.6% have not used it. ConclusionThis study highlights the existence of disparities in access to ICT. These findings suggest the need to strengthen investments in technology in public institutions to ensure equitable and quality education. Additionally, the results indicate a gap in knowledge and experience in the use of programming languages, such as AI, among health science students, which may require further attention and promotion of digital skills in the educational curriculum.

New Professional Approaches for Care Leaver in Foster Care: Training “Coaching to Go!”

Introduction: The number of young people with limited or non-existent social participation is growing. Characteristic is the proportion of young homeless individuals who had previous institutional contact with youth welfare. For this group of Care Leavers, the assistance provided can be considered inadequate and unsuccessful. Their life and health situation can be described as precarious. Research Aim: The practice research project aims improvement in the situation of care leavers with specific courses of development regarding their psychological and physical health, their social participation and overall life condition. (Care leavers grew up in out-of-family placements / foster families (according to §§ 27, 2; 33–34 SGB VIII) and are characterized as young people that are leaving or have left these public youth welfare institutions.) It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and carried out in cooperation with various practice institutions inter alia youth welfare, addiction care and homeless assistance facilities, educational institutions and job centers. Research Method: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, following a complementary design type, with the results integrated. Results: Care Leavers with specific problems and developmental situations exhibit significant discontinuities in their upbringing, face difficulties, a lack of positive life orientation, and social relationships, and are characterized by unresolved developmental tasks and critical life events. Conclusion: The identified psychosocial developmental disorders and stressors require increased professional care – better assessment, case management, trainings for Resource Activation and Resilience Promotion – both within the framework of youth welfare and other support facilities.

ОСВЕДОМЛЕННОСТЬ СТУДЕНТОВ КРАСНОДАРСКИХ ВУЗОВ О МЕРАХ ПРОФИЛАКТИКИ СТАФИЛОКОККОВОГО ТОКСИКОЗА

This article is devoted to the study of the level of competence of students of 4 universities of Krasnodar in relation to food poisoning caused by staphylococcal toxin. The work analyzes the awareness of students about the etiology, manifestation of the disease and prevention of this food poisoning. As is known, there is a certain correlation between non-compliance with the principles of rational nutrition among students, including the consumption of products with an indefinite shelf life and/or improper storage conditions, and an increased risk of staphylococcal toxicosis. Due to the increased academic load, the intensity of the educational process, and small breaks between academic classes, university students lack time for a full meal. In this regard, they can eat in public catering establishments that potentially do not fully comply with sanitary and epidemiological requirements and technological regulations for food production, which may pose a threat to their health. It should also be noted that the low degree of sanitary and hygienic education among students is one of the significant factors that determine the relevance of the problem of staphylococcal toxicosis among students. According to the results of the survey, deficiencies in students' knowledge were identified and the most vulnerable groups were identified. The results of the survey confirm the demand for preventive activities aimed at improving the awareness of university students about staphylococcal toxicosis.

ASTROCYTOMA OF THE CERVICAL SPINAL CORD IN AN INFANT WITH TORTICOLLIS

The relevance of the problem is determined by the rather high prevalence of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children and the need for oncologic vigilance. The presentation of the clinical case illustrates the need for careful analysis of the initial clinical signs, which are usually nonspecific and may resemble symptoms of other diseases. A case from practice describes the timely diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma in a child of the first year of life with torticollis as the debut of the disease. The diagnosis was made on the basis of a thorough clinical, neurological, and immunohistochemical examination and the use of neuroimaging techniques with the goal of further surgical, medical, and radiation treatment. The aim of the work. Description of a clinical case of astrocytoma of the cervical spinal cord, which manifested itself as torticollis in a child in the first year of life. Material and methods of the research. Clinical, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and imaging examination of a child of toddler age. Results of the research. A child with manifestations of torticollis at the age of eleven months was studied. Variants of congenital and acquired torticollis and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system were excluded. According to clinical, neurological, and neuroimaging examinations, the diagnosis was made: benign intramedullary neoplasm of the spinal cord, pilocytic astrocytoma C5-Th2. Surgical intervention was performed with partial removal of the tumor with histochemical examination, followed by restorative therapy and observation in the distant postoperative period. Conclusions. Sudden appearance of symptoms of torticollis in a child in the first year of life may indicate the presence of a CM tumor. Early diagnosis allows to provide the child with highly specialized care, perform surgical intervention, and contribute to the improvement of the general condition and quality of life.

Prof. Dr. Hamdi Döndüren's Approach to Current Religious Issues in his Commentary titled Ahkâmu'l-Kur'an

ABSTRACT The Holy Quran is a book that addresses all of humanity with its appeal that transcends the ages. It contains much of the information that humanity needs for both its worldly and otherworldly life. The Messenger of Allah Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) has also set an example for us by living it himself. As time progresses, civilization reaches an advanced point and new developments occur. Life conditions are also affected by these developments. New problems to be solved arise in religious issues that bring regulations to every area of life. In this article, it is aimed to reveal the perspective from which current religious problems and issues are approached and how they are addressed in the commentary titled Ahkâmu’l-Kur’an by Prof. Dr. Hamdi Döndüren.

Проблема впливу глобальної зміни клімату на розвиток аграрної галузі в Україні: історичний екскурс

The purpose of the work is to reveal specific issues of climate change, their impact on the development and management of agriculture in Ukraine, caused by intense warming: uneven distribution of precipitation; the increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather phenomena - droughts (droughts), dry spells, etc., as well as the scientific development of Ukrainian scientists in developing the problem. Methodology. The specified historical research is based on the use of general scientific principles of objectivity, systematicity, historicism, comprehensiveness. The subject-chronological and comparative-historical methods used by us are of great importance and their synthetic role in reflecting the progressive development of knowledge about climate change and finding ways to prevent negative effects on agricultural plants. The comparative-historical method contributed to the selection and characterization of the peculiarities of the accumulation of knowledge about extreme climatic phenomena, their development within the climatic zones of Ukraine. By analyzing the scientific work of scientists, the process of overcoming current problems, implementing new scientific developments into practice is traced. The scientific novelty consists in the generalization of the scientific achievements of scientific research institutions of Ukraine on the study of the nature of global climatic phenomena, their influence on the development of agricultural production in different soil and climatic zones of the country through the ways of overcoming crisis phenomena proposed by Ukrainian scientists. For the first time, the works of the outstanding scientist-agriculturalist A. O. Babich of the late 90s and early decades of the 20th century on the problem of global climate change became the object of a separate scientific study. Conclusions. In conclusion, we note that further global and regional climate warming can cause irreversible climate changes with a violation of the climatic balance, and the consequences of dangerous natural hydrometeorological phenomena can become catastrophic, which can lead to changes in the conditions of human life. As the analysis showed, droughts are exacerbated by high plowing of agricultural land, non-compliance with the soil protection system of land cultivation, weak development of moisture-saving technologies and drought-resistant crops and varieties. The industry of crop production is most affected by the adverse factors of drought, dry spells and dust storms, which are often characterized by unpredictability both in terms of their manifestations and the force of their impact on crops. In order to conduct agricultural production, there is a need to review the structure of sown areas by climatic zones of Ukraine, to include in the range of growing adapted to the phenomena of dehydration and prolonged overheating during the hot period and drought, the newest adapted varieties of plants. The efforts of agrarian science and production should be directed not to the exhaustion of natural forces, but to the neutralization and weakening of the effect of droughts and dry spells by a system of measures, including the results of the latest research in meteorology, agriculture and crop production.

Practical Strategies to Optimize Cognitive-Communication Intervention in Complex Real-World Conditions: A Life Integration Approach.

Cognitive-communication intervention (CCI) service gaps compromise quality of life for individuals with acquired brain injuries. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) must examine barriers to care and develop solutions to address current problems in awareness of cognitive-communication disorders, understanding of SLP services, access and referral mechanisms, and care pathways. They must also adapt CCI to the complexities and constraints of daily life. In this article, we explore actions that clinical SLPs can take to overcome service barriers and advocate for fair, timely, and evidence-based CCI. This clinical focus article examines barriers to CCI and provides a set of tools and strategies SLPs can employ to address them. These strategies are organized into a framework called the Life Integration Approach (LIA), which has 10 elements to guide clinical service planning: (a) evidence application, (b) communication education and assertiveness, (c) access and referral, (d) assessment, (e) therapeutic engagement, (f) cognitive-communication goal setting, (g) instructional practices, (h) life integration, (i) communication partner collaboration, and (j) resource allocation. Resources are provided to demonstrate how the LIA can integrate advocacy with clinical service while adapting to complex conditions of life, competing priorities, and service constraints. Although barriers to provision of quality SLP CCI may seem formidable, there are practical actions SLPs can take to advocate for and adapt CCI services to life demands for individuals living with the devastating effects of brain injury.

Производственная повседневность рабочих и служащих промышленных предприятий Дагестана в условиях Великой Отечественной войны (1941–1945 годы)

The article analyzes the peculiarities of working conditions and material and living conditions of workers of industrial enterprises of Dagestan during the Great Patriotic War. The relevance of this topic is due to the fact, that the daily life of an ordinary person in extreme conditions allows us to better assess his contribution to the victory, as well as to understand the motives for the labor heroism he committed during the war years. Studying the daily production life of one of the main social categories that played an important role in achieving victory over Nazism - workers of industrial enterprises - using the example of the Dagestan Autonomous Republic provides an opportunity to feel this era, to understand the psychology and behavior of people during this dramatic period in the history of our country. Based on published works and diverse sources, it is concluded that, despite the objective material and living problems and hardships that existed during the war years, the deterioration of working conditions and the priority of state interests over the interests of an individual, workers and employees of industrial facilities in Dagestan demonstrated selfless work, examples of sacrifice and unity with the front in the name of a great goal - victory over fascist Germany. Much attention is paid to the analysis of the influence of material and living conditions on the attitude towards work of workers in factories and plants in the conditions of everyday military life.

Exploring trauma and resilience of Urban South Sudanese refugees in Sudan

AbstractThis study aims to explore the lived experiences of South Sudanese refugees in White Nile state, Sudan, focusing on the impact of pre-refugee life, war-related trauma, and current camp conditions on their mental health. Additionally, it aims to emphasize the strategies used by refugees to cope with challenges and highlight deficiencies in services offered by humanitarian agencis. The study used a qualitative analysis approach and conducted in-depth interviews with 15 refugees from South Sudan residing in White Nile State refugee camps in Sudan. Participants were recruited from the two refugee camps, ensuring diversity in age and gender. All focus group discussions were audio-recorded, and detailed transcripts were generated. The transcribed data were subjected to thematic analysis. The investigation revealed a number of patterns. First, participants recalled a pre-refugee life marked by safety, joy, and community cohesion, which sharply contrasted with their subsequent experiences of violence and displacement. Furthermore, refugees have conveyed substantial psychological distress resulting from their exposure to violence, suffering physical mistreatment, and the loss of their dear ones. These experiences have left profound psychological trauma and feelings of anxiety. Furthermore, the existing circumstances in the refugee camps intensified their psychological distress, as they faced challenges in having access to basic needs, job, schooling, and preserving their cultural traditions. Coping strategies of the refugees predominantly relied on cultural practices, family support, and religious prayer. By incorporating refugees’ resilience and community engagement as factors that promote long-term stability in South Sudanese refugee communities, this study underscores the urgent need for humanitarian organizations to redesign a more holistic approach that includes immediate mental health needs, socioeconomic factors, educational accessibility, and gainful employment. Ultimately, this study advocates a paradigm shift in humanitarian efforts to prioritize mental health services for refugees by addressing the interlinked nature of mental health and broader socioeconomic factors.

The role and clinical implications of HIF-PHI daprodustat in dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease anemic patients: a general review

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients often suffer from complications such as anemia as the kidney function declines. More than 25% of CKD hemodialysis patients in China are complicated with renal anemia due to renal and hepatic impairment in the production of erythropoietin (EPO). In recent years, prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) inhibitors have been approved in China and Japan for the treatment of CKD patients complicated with anemia. Daprodustat is a novel orally administrated active hypoxia-induced factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) that may improve quality of life and ischemic conditions such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), stimulate the synthesis of endogenous EPO, and can effectively induce the production of red blood cells. It has been shown to increase EPO levels, which can lead to an increase in hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit, and red blood cell counts. Clinical studies have shown its effectiveness in dialysis and non-dialysis CKD anemic patients. In this literature review, we will focus on the mechanism and metabolism of the drug as well as its clinical applications in dialysis and non-dialysis CKD patients and summarize the adverse reactions.

Transboundary nature of a closed border: Memory dynamics in Karelia’s border areas

The consequences of geopolitical turbulence are vividly manifested at state borders, influencing the functional mode of the border itself and the everyday life of borderland communities. The ongoing socio-cultural transformations and the border residents’ reflections on new life conditions can be explored through narratives of memory, which are being shaped by global challenges. The article focuses on the dynamics of historical memory in the borderlands of Russia and Finland, particularly in the context of the closure of the state border and the crisis in interstate relations. Using existing concepts in border studies and historical memory research, the author attempts to analyze narratives about the past cross-border interactions in the Karelian regions bordering Finland, specifically examining the Sortavala municipal district and the Kostomuksha urban district. The study argues that shifts in historical memory can be traced through an examination of narrative density and the clarity of categories of “others”, constructed based on interactions with narrative agents and the remoteness of these categories in the past. It further analyzes the role of reflective and restorative nostalgia in shaping perceptions of the memory culture among residents of neighboring countries. The author also differentiates levels of cross-border relations at both grassroots and interstate levels, describing different catalysts and motives for interaction. The paper also examines changing significance of the border itself and its borderland status, which determines strategies for social adaptation to new conditions in these areas. The first part of the article examines historical events in the Sortavala and Kostomuksha district that form the basis for memory narratives. The second part consists of three chapters and analyzes the narratives identified through interviews which were collected by the author in 2023–2024.

Housing for millions without new buildings? An analysis of the theoretical housing potential of under-occupied dwellings in the European building stock

Abstract The standard response to the shortage of housing across the political spectrum is to build new housing units. From an environmental perspective, there is a need to decarbonise the housing sector as quickly as possible and to reduce land and resource consumption. This contradiction could be resolved by making more efficient use of dwellings that are under-occupied (for example, after children have moved out). 
In this article, we analyse the theoretical housing potential of under-occupied living space. To this end, we use established occupancy regulations of Swiss cooperatives and municipal housing authorities, where the number of residents must always be at least equal to the number of rooms minus one or minus two. This defines an upper limit for “needs-based living” that has been tested in practice and is comparatively broadly legitimised. Using this threshold, and based on Data from the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), we identify a theoretical housing potential in the EU stock of approximately 150 million rooms. This implies a theoretical space in the building stock for 50 million additional three-room flats, which equates to housing for 100 million people or 22% of the EU population. Significant potential exists in all types of regions: cities, towns and rural areas. The under-occupancy is lower in countries with a higher share of small and medium sized flats, which indicates a high influence of the infrastructure on the occupancy. A comparison with the occupancy in Swiss housing markets that have minimum occupancy requirements implemented suggests that a large part of the theoretical potential could be realized by shaping market conditions. We conclude that housing politics should focus on the development of affordable and attractive alternatives for older people and smaller households in order to free up dwellings for families and adress social and ecological problems simultaneously.

Cold-Adapted Fungi: Goldmine of Biomolecules Applicable in Industry

Fungi, which are widely distributed across the Earth, have successfully managed to colonize cold environments (e.g., polar regions, alpine ecosystems, and glaciers) despite the challenging conditions for life. They are capable of living in extremely harsh environments due to their ecological versatility and morphological plasticity. It is also believed that lower eukaryotes are the most adapted to life at low temperatures among microorganisms that thrive in cold environments. They play important ecological roles, contributing to nutrient recycling and organic matter mineralization. These highly specialized microorganisms have developed adaptation strategies to overcome the direct and indirect harmful influences of low temperatures. They have evolved a wide range of complex and cooperative adaptations at various cellular levels, including modifications to the cell envelope and enzymes, the production of cryoprotectants and chaperones, and the development of new metabolic functions. Adaptation to cold environments has made fungi an exciting source for the discovery of new cold-adapted enzymes (e.g., proteinases, lipases) and secondary metabolites (e.g., pigments, osmolytes, polyunsaturated fatty acids) for widespread use in biotechnology, food technology, agriculture, pharmaceutics, molecular biology, textile industry, and environmental bioremediation in cold climates. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the adaptive strategies employed by psychrophilic yeasts and fungi, highlighting their ecological roles and biotechnological potential. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms not only sheds light on microbial life in extreme environments but also paves the way for innovative applications in the food industry and agriculture.

Comparative transcriptomics suggests a highly species-specific nature of the phenotypic plasticity associated with the outbreaks of the two main pest locusts

BackgroundLocust outbreaks cause devastation and provide material for fundamental research. They associate with a case of phenotypic plasticity whereby the shift between the two extremes of the polyphenism (i.e., gregarious phase versus solitarious phase) affects behaviour as well as most aspects of the locusts’ biology. The phenotypic changes imply changes in gene expression, the changes in behaviour characterize the locusts’ phase change, and the changes in the Central Nervous System (CNS) control the changes in behaviour. Thus, understanding and tackling the phenomenon requires studying the gene expression changes that the locusts’ CNS undergoes between phases. The genes that change expression the same way in different locusts would be ancestrally relevant for the phenomenon in general and some of those that change expression in a species-specific way would be relevant for the phenomenon in species-specific way.MethodsHere, we use available raw sequencing reads to build transcriptomes and to compare the gene expression changes that the CNS of the two main pest locusts (Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria) undergo when they turn gregarious. The differentially expressed genes resulting from this comparative study were compared with the content of the L. migratoria core transcriptional phase signature genes database. Our aim is to find out about the species-specificity of the phenomenon, and to highlight the genes that respond in the same way in both species.ResultsThe locust phase change phenomenon seems highly species-specific, very likely due to the inter-specific differences in the material used, and in the biology and life conditions of the different locust species. Research on locust outbreaks, gregariousness and swarming would therefore benefit from considering each locust species apart, and caution is needed when extrapolating results between species—as no species seems representative of all locust species. Still, the 109 genes and 39 non-annotated sequences that we found to change expression level the same way in the two main pest locusts, especially those previously reported as core transcriptional phase signature genes in L. migratoria’s CNS-related tissues (10 and 1, respectively), provide material for functional testing in search for important genes to better understand, or to fight against locust outbreaks in a non-species-specific way. The large set of genes that respond in a species-specific way provide material for comparing, understanding and tackling the locust’s phase change phenomenon in a species-specific way. The still uncharacterized transcripts that change expression either in a species-specific or the same way between the two species studied here provide material for gene discovery. Functional testing and confirmation are needed in all cases.

Effect of health shocks on the absenteeism magnitude at work in Togo: is health insurance a mitigating factor?

BackgroundThe occurrence of health shocks affects households economically in various ways. It most often leads to missed work, thus inducing a decrease in productivity and a loss of income. These effects are even more significant if the extent of absenteeism is high or if its duration is long.PurposeThis study aims to analyse the effects of health shocks on the magnitude of absenteeism and to highlight the potential mitigating effect of health insurance on the magnitude of absenteeism among households affected by the shocks.Methodology/ApproachAbsenteeism at work was measured here by the number of days lost due to health problems. Data from the Harmonised Survey on Household Living Conditions (EHCVM) 2019 were used for this purpose. To account for the endogeneity problem in this context, we use Two-Stage Least Square (2SLS) model to achieve our objectives.ResultsOur results suggest that health shocks significantly increase the magnitude of absenteeism from work by increasing the probability of a longer duration of absenteeism. Health insurance mitigates the magnitude of absenteeism by significantly reducing the probability of moving from short to long absenteeism by 3.27.ConclusionHealth shocks have a significant effect on the magnitude of absenteeism. Given the role of health insurance in mitigating the effect of health shocks, this study highlights the need for an extension of health insurance to a greater number of people for a more significant effect.

Optimizing growth in pediatric renal transplant recipients: An update.

Growth retardation is a significant complication observed in pediatric renal transplant recipients, originating from a multifactorial etiology. Factors contributing to growth impairment encompass pre-transplant conditions such as primary kidney disease, malnutrition, quality of care, growth deficits at the time of transplantation, dialysis adequacy, and the use of recombinant human growth hormone. Additionally, elements related to the renal transplant itself, such as living donors, corticosteroid usage, and graft functioning, further compound the challenge. Although renal transplantation is the preferred renal replacement therapy, its impact on achieving final height and normal growth in children remains uncertain. The consequences of growth delay extend beyond the physiological realm, negatively influencing the quality of life and social conditions of pediatric renal transplant recipients, and ultimately affecting their educational and employment outcomes. Despite advancements in graft survival rates, growth retardation remains a formidable clinical concern among children undergoing renal transplantation. Major risk factors for delayed final adult height include young age at transplantation, pre-existing short stature, and the use of specific immunosuppressive drugs, particularly steroids. Effective management of growth retardation necessitates early intervention, commencing even before transplantation. Strategies involving the administration of recombinant growth hormone both pre- and post-transplant, along with protocols aimed at minimizing steroid usage, are important for achieving catch-up growth. This review provides a comprehensive outline of the multifaceted nature of growth retardation in pediatric renal transplant recipients, emphasizing the importance of early and targeted interventions to mitigate its impact on the long-term well-being of these children from birth to adolescence.