Energy poverty in developing countries is a critical issue characterized by the lack of access to modern energy services,such as electricity and clean cooking facilities,as marked in SDG 7.This study explores the corr...Energy poverty in developing countries is a critical issue characterized by the lack of access to modern energy services,such as electricity and clean cooking facilities,as marked in SDG 7.This study explores the correlations between energy poverty,energy intensity,resource abundance,and income inequality,as these factors have been theorized to play important roles in influencing energy poverty in developing countries.By observing that the dataset is heterogeneous across the countries and over the time frame,we use the Method of Moments Quantile Regression(MMQR)to analyze our developing countries’data from 2000 to 2019.Our findings indicate that energy intensity is a significant factor influencing energy poverty,suggesting that higher energy consumption relative to the sample countries can exacerbate this issue.Additionally,we observe that income inequality within the sample countries is a critical determinant of energy poverty levels,highlighting the dynamics between economic disparity and access to energy resources.Interestingly,our study reveals that resource abundance acts as a blessing rather than a curse in terms of energy poverty,implying that countries rich in natural resources may have better opportunities to combat energy deprivation.Finally,we emphasize the vital role of financial markets in addressing energy poverty on a global scale,suggesting that robust financial systems can facilitate investments and innovations aimed at improving energy access for vulnerable populations.The results from the robustness analysis support the empirical results obtained from the main estimation.The empirical findings of the present study advance important comprehensions for policymakers to adopt energy policies that address the complex challenges of energy poverty and promote inclusive energy access.展开更多
Foreign-funded overseas industrial parks(OIPs)are crucial for attracting foreign investment and promoting globalization in developing countries.However,large-scale land acquisition for these parks generates conflicts ...Foreign-funded overseas industrial parks(OIPs)are crucial for attracting foreign investment and promoting globalization in developing countries.However,large-scale land acquisition for these parks generates conflicts between developers and local stakeholders,increasing development costs.A qualitative multicase study was conducted in this study to analyze the land transaction trajectories of China's OIPs.Four OIPs were selected to reveal the underlying mechanisms from the perspectives of institutional arrangements,governance mechanisms,and enterprise heterogeneity.The findings indicate that in host countries with insufficient institutional development,local governments are more inclined to directly engage in OIP land acquisition.High-level intergovernmental mechanisms facilitate land acquisition processes,although their efficacy depends largely on administrative power allocation across parks in host countries.The results also indicate that enterprise characteristics significantly influence land acquisition,where microscale private enterprises lacking political connections often employ low-cost,bottom-up strategies by leveraging international experience.In summary,policy-makers in developing countries should prioritize enhancing OIP governance to mitigate transaction costs,promote diversified land supply,and optimize land allocation.By depicting China's OIP land acquisition processes,this study deepens the academic understanding of OIP governance in developing countries and related international land transactions,offering practical OIP management insights for governments in both host and parent countries.展开更多
The Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Forum on Bridging the AI Divide and Opening Ceremony of AIM Global CoE were held on July 27 in Minhang district,Shanghai.The event was hosted by AIM Global CoE,and co-orga...The Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Forum on Bridging the AI Divide and Opening Ceremony of AIM Global CoE were held on July 27 in Minhang district,Shanghai.The event was hosted by AIM Global CoE,and co-organized by Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute(SAIRI),Shanghai Technology Innovation Center,Shanghai Grand Neobay Investment Development Group,and Organizing Committee of AI Journey Conference.Asian Association of Business Incubation(AABI)and SAIRI served as the international partners.展开更多
Building Information Modelling(BIM)technology can solve construction issues from multiple perspectives,including technical and managerial.While existing research has primarily focused on BIM’s benefits and framework ...Building Information Modelling(BIM)technology can solve construction issues from multiple perspectives,including technical and managerial.While existing research has primarily focused on BIM’s benefits and framework development,few studies discussed whether BIM can be successfully applied in developing countries.This paper examines the current status and key obstacles hindering BIM adoption in developing countries,analyzing their underlying causes.Notably,the study reveals that high BIM awareness does not directly lead to high BIM usage.The findings aim to provide theoretical support for enhancing the BIM environment and increasing implementation feasibility in developing countries.Additionally,the research identifies critical barriers for governments to address in promoting BIM adoption,offering a foundation for policy formulation.展开更多
Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the leading causes of cancer and cancer-related mortality worldwide.The disease has been traditionally a major health problem in industrial countries,however the CRC rates are increasin...Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the leading causes of cancer and cancer-related mortality worldwide.The disease has been traditionally a major health problem in industrial countries,however the CRC rates are increasing in the developing countries that are undergoing economic growth.Several environmental risk factors,mainly changes in diet and life style,have been suggested to underlie the rise of CRC in these populations.Diet and lifestyle impinge on nuclear receptors,on the intestinal microbiota and on crucial molecular pathways that are implicated in intestinal carcinogenesis.In this respect,the epidemiological transition in several regions of the world offers a unique opportunity to better understand CRC carcinogenesis by studying the disease phenotypes and their environmental and molecular associations in different populations.The data from these studies may have important implications for the global prevention and treatment of CRC.展开更多
Developing countries shoulder a considerable burden of gastroenterological disease. Infectious diseases in particular cause enormous morbidity and mortality. Diseases which afflict both western and developing countrie...Developing countries shoulder a considerable burden of gastroenterological disease. Infectious diseases in particular cause enormous morbidity and mortality. Diseases which afflict both western and developing countries are often seen in more florid forms in poorer countries. Innovative techniques continuously improve and update gastroenterological practice. However, advances in diagnosis and treatment which are commonplace in the West, have yet to reach many developing countries. Clinical guidelines, based on these advances and collated in resource-rich environments, lose their relevance outside these settings. In this two-part review, we first highlight the global burden of gastroenterological disease in three major areas： diarrhoeal diseases, hepatitis B, and Helicobacter pylori. Recent progress in their management is explored, with consideration of future solutions. The second part of the review focuses on the delivery of clinical services in developing countries. Inadequate numbers of healthcare workers hamper efforts to combat gastroenterological disease. Reasons for this shortage are examined, along with possibilities for increased specialist training. Endoscopy services, the mainstay of gastroenterology in the West, are in their infancy in many developing countries. The challenges faced by those se^ing up a service are illustrated by the example of a Nigerian endoscopy unit. Finally, we highlight the limited scope of many clinical guidelines produced in western countries. Guidelines which take account of resource limitations in the form of ＂cascades＂ are advocated in order to make these guidelines truly global. Recognition of the different working conditions facing practitioners worldwide is an important step towards narrowing the gap between gastroenterology in rich and poor countries.展开更多
In the past, celiac disease was believed to be a chronic enteropathy, almost exclusively affecting people of European origin. The availability of new, simple, very sensitive and specific serological tests （anti-gliad...In the past, celiac disease was believed to be a chronic enteropathy, almost exclusively affecting people of European origin. The availability of new, simple, very sensitive and specific serological tests （anti-gliadin, anti- endomysium and anti-transglutaminase antibody assays） have shown that celiac disease is common not only in Europe and in people of European ancestry but also in the developing countries where the major staple diet is wheat （Southern Asia, the Middle East, North West and East Africa, South America）, both in the general population and in the groups at risk. Gluten intolerance thus appears to be a widespread public health problem and an increased level of awareness and clinical suspicion are needed in the New World where physicians must learn to recognize the variable clinical presentations （classical, atypical and silent forms） of celiac disease. In the developing countries, both serological screening in the general population and serological testing in groups at risk are necessary for an early identification of celiac patients. The gluten-free diet poses a challenging public health problem in the developing countries, especially since commercial gluten-free products are not available.展开更多
Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of chronic hepatitis in developing countries, with 5% to 15% of the population carrying virus. The high prevalence is due to failure to adopt appropriate measure to confine the...Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of chronic hepatitis in developing countries, with 5% to 15% of the population carrying virus. The high prevalence is due to failure to adopt appropriate measure to confine the spread of infection. Most hepatitis B patients present with advanced diseases. Although perinatal transmission is believed to be an important mode, most infections in the developing world occur in childhood and early adulthood. Factors in developing countries associated with the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) include co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus, delta hepatitis virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol intake and aflatoxin. Treatment protocols extrapolated from developed countries may need modifications according to the resources available. There is some controversy as to when to start treatment, with what medication and for how long? There is now enough evidence to support that hepatitis B patients should be considered for treatment if they show persistently elevated abnormal aminotransferase levels in the last 6 mo, checked on at least three separate occasions, and a serum hepatitis B virus DNA level of > 2000 IU/mL. Therapeutic agents that were approved by Pure Food and Drug Administration are now available in many developing countries. These include standard interferon (INF)-α, pegylated INF-α, lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir and telbivudine. Drug resistance has emerged as a major challenge in the management of patients with CHB. The role of the universal vaccination program for effective control of hepatitis B cannot be emphasized enough.展开更多
This paper presents a Spatial Decision Support System for local governments of developing countries.It allows municipality government,enterprises,scientific community and civil society to address decision problems usi...This paper presents a Spatial Decision Support System for local governments of developing countries.It allows municipality government,enterprises,scientific community and civil society to address decision problems using GIS.The framework is supported by four modules of information technologies:Environmental Decision Support Database,Data Manipulation,Decision Support,and Mapping.A case study is presented covering the implementation of this framework in one municipality of Cuba.An example of land suitability planning for coconut crops is used to evaluate the system performance and usability.Results show local municipalities are able to use this framework to solve local decision problems using state of the art decision making even with low infrastructure development.展开更多
TO THE EDITORNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly known medical entity with high prevalence, about 1 0 to 24 percent in general population and up to 74% in obese population[1]. The prevalence of...TO THE EDITORNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly known medical entity with high prevalence, about 1 0 to 24 percent in general population and up to 74% in obese population[1]. The prevalence of the disease is expected to increase worldwide, as we are encountering the global obesity epidemic and the trend in developing countries toward the Western lifestyles. However, it looks that there are some differences between the demographic and epidemiologic features of NAFLD in developing and developed countries.展开更多
This paper examines the nutrition impacts of using non-solid cooking fuel on under-five children in developing countries.We draw on data from more than 1.12 million children in 62 developing countries from the Demogra...This paper examines the nutrition impacts of using non-solid cooking fuel on under-five children in developing countries.We draw on data from more than 1.12 million children in 62 developing countries from the Demographic and Health Surveys(DHS).Results from both fixed effects(FE)and instrumental variable(IV)estimates show that using non-solid cooking fuel significantly improves the nutrition outcomes of under-five children.Compared with their peers from households mainly using solid fuel,children from households mainly using non-solid fuel exhibit a lower probability of experiencing stunting(by 5.9 percentage points)and being underweight(by 1.2 percentage points).Our further investigation provides evidence for several underlying mechanisms,such as improved indoor air quality,induced reduction in children’s respiratory symptoms,benefits on maternal health,and reduction in maternal time spent on fuel collection or cooking.Heterogenous analyses suggest that the nutrition benefits of using non-solid cooking fuel are more prominent among boys,children above three years old,and those from households of lower socioeconomic status,rural areas,and Southeast Asia.展开更多
Developing countries face a number of unique problems related to the hazards of chemicals. The WHO International Program on Chemical Safety may play a useful role by working jointly with Member Nations and such intern...Developing countries face a number of unique problems related to the hazards of chemicals. The WHO International Program on Chemical Safety may play a useful role by working jointly with Member Nations and such international organizations as FAO, UNEP. and ILO. (c)1990 Academic Press. Inc.展开更多
Typhoid fever is a public health challenge mostly concentrated in impoverished, overcrowded areas of the developing world, with lack of safe drinking and sanitation. The most serious complication is typhoid intestinal...Typhoid fever is a public health challenge mostly concentrated in impoverished, overcrowded areas of the developing world, with lack of safe drinking and sanitation. The most serious complication is typhoid intestinal perforation(TIP), observed in 0.8% to 39%, with a striking rate difference between high-income and low-middle-income countries. Although the mortality rate consequent to TIP in resource-poor countries is improved in the last decades, it is still fluctuating from 5% to 80%, due to surgical-and not surgical-related constraints. Huge economic costs and long timelines are required to provide a short-to middle-term solution to the lack of safe water and sanitation. Inherent limitations of the currently available diagnostic tools may lead to under-evaluation as well as over-evaluation of the disease, with consequent delayed treatment or inappropriate, excessive antibiotic use, hence increasing the likelihood of bacterial resistance. There is a need for immunization programs in populations at greatest risk, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Uniform surgical strategies and guidelines, on the basis of sound or prospective surgical studies and adapted to the local realities, are still lacking. Major drawbacks of the surgical treatment are the frequent delays to surgery, either for late diagnosis or for difficult transports, and the unavailable appropriate intensive care units in most peripheral facilities. As a consequence, poor patient's conditions at presentation, severe peritoneal contamination and unsuitable postoperative care are the foremost determinant of surgical morbidity and mortality.展开更多
As developing countries become more involved in the international chemical trade, they must adhere to certain requirements for importation of their chemicals into foreign countries. These developing countries will be ...As developing countries become more involved in the international chemical trade, they must adhere to certain requirements for importation of their chemicals into foreign countries. These developing countries will be required to provide basic safety information on their chemical products, including data developed from chemical and toxicologic testing. These data must be developed in accordance with the national requirements of the importing country. Many importing countries have adopted the OECD Test Guidelines and the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) as primary guidance to assure the quality of laboratory data. These procedures provide a basis for internationally acceptable data. Several countries have incorporated many of these provisions into their national laws or administrative procedures. These procedures describe the process of documenting the conduct of laboratory studies, including recording of data, reporting of study results, and storage of data gathered. This process is intended to assure the quality and integrity of the data so that, if required, the study can be reconstructed by an auditor or an inspector. Details of these procedures and their applicability to the international chemical trade are discussed. 1989 Academic Press, Inc.展开更多
Radiation therapy(RT)is considered one of the cornerstone modalities of treatment for different cancer types.The preparation and delivery of RT requires a number of staff members from different disciplines within the ...Radiation therapy(RT)is considered one of the cornerstone modalities of treatment for different cancer types.The preparation and delivery of RT requires a number of staff members from different disciplines within the radiation oncology department.Since the emergence of the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,RT,similar to other cancer care modalities,has been adapted to minimize patient and staff exposure without compromising the oncological outcomes.This was reflected in the dramatic practice changes that occurred in the past year to address the lockdown restrictions and fulfill the infection control requirements.RT practices differ across regions based on financial and training levels,and developing countries with limited resources have struggled to maintain radiation treatment services at a level equivalent to that in developed countries while following pandemic control guidelines.The response during the COVID-19 pandemic varied between developing countries according to the infection rate and RT technological capabilities.In this editorial,we review recently published articles addressing radiotherapy practice reports during the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries.展开更多
Objective:To determine the barriers of joining in-vitro fertilization(IVF)programs among infertile couples in developing countries.Methods:This study assessed infertile couples and the barriers or associated factors r...Objective:To determine the barriers of joining in-vitro fertilization(IVF)programs among infertile couples in developing countries.Methods:This study assessed infertile couples and the barriers or associated factors resulting in delayed decision-making of joining IVF program by searching databases PubMed,ScienceDirect,EBSCO,ClinicalKey,and Cochrane Library from inception until December 31,2021.Additional search strategies were snowballing literature search and citation tracking.Results:Eleven articles were included in the scoping review.The cost was the greatest barrier of joining IVF program.Limited access and lack of assisted reproductive technology centers,few qualified infertility trained staff,insufficient government support,low priority in government policy,along with sociocultural factors,such as religion and false beliefs or myths were also majorly considered to be associated obstacles.Conclusions:The main barrier associated with IVF program among infertile couples in developing countries is the high cost of the IVF services.展开更多
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women living in developing countries that account high HPV incidence and mortality rates. Vaccinating girls between 9 and 14 years old is supposed to be the most cos...Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women living in developing countries that account high HPV incidence and mortality rates. Vaccinating girls between 9 and 14 years old is supposed to be the most cost-effective public health approach against cervical cancer. This systematic review aims to assess the application and coverage of the HPV vaccine in developing countries and identify the main challenges for the introduction of the vaccine in these settings. Eligible studies were selected according to the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. To determine the quality of the studies was employed the STROBE checklist. This review included seven studies, encompassing the analysis of 19 countries and 112,116 girls aged from 9 to 18 years old. The coverage of HPV vaccination ranged from 13.8% to 107.4%, with most of the programs having more than 60% of coverage, which reflects a high percentage of vaccinated girls. The main challenges were lack of knowledge and worries about the vaccine, insufficient financial resources and staff workers, lack of community involvement and dissemination of important information about HPV. In developing countries that implemented the HPV vaccine, high coverage rates were achieved, despite sociocultural, economic and political challenges. In the future, studies that analyze the coverage rates after the elimination of the barriers and the repercussions on the mortality rates should be conducted, so that more developing countries have the opportunity to efficiently implement the vaccine.展开更多
Sustainable development contributes to the economic and social advancement of construction projects. Ignoring sustainability during the cost estimating process associated with evaluation phase develops many problems o...Sustainable development contributes to the economic and social advancement of construction projects. Ignoring sustainability during the cost estimating process associated with evaluation phase develops many problems of conventional decision methodology used in construction industry in the most of developing countries. This research focuses on sustainability which is the key factor in all decision making in design and construction processes. Therefore, Iraqi construction industry should respond to sustainability as a leading indicator of its infrastructure rebuilding. The construction management and sustainability could help to manage the rebuilding of the destroyed public infrastructure during the disaster wars periods passed thru thirty years ago and also to modernize of private buildings and plants. Field study has been carried out by adopting personal interviews and questionnaires conducted with experts, experienced consultants and designers working in many design organizations. The data collected has been analyzed and the results obtained show a clear weakness in the field of sustainability understanding, practicing and implementation. Moreover, the design work in Iraq is suffering from a lack of scientific techniques and a lack in experience in the domain of sustainability field. This will take an integrated approach to study the impact of sustainability on construction management which encompasses both public and private sector perspectives for building and engineering construction, and the roles played by all the participants in the construction team （owners, contractors, design professionals, and other supporting professionals）.展开更多
Small scale farmers constitute about half of world＇s hungry people and include three quarters of Africa＇s malnourished children. The appropriate identification and characterization of this population and the constra...Small scale farmers constitute about half of world＇s hungry people and include three quarters of Africa＇s malnourished children. The appropriate identification and characterization of this population and the constraints it faces are essential for the design and the successful implementation of safety nets and to properly target their needs and effectively include them in agricultural development strategies. This paper aims at exploring the characteristics, limitations, and potential for agricultural development of small scale farmers in developing countries. It calculates four land cultivated thresholds which are then used as a measure to classify households that were surveyed in four developing countries. It empirically estimates the magnitudes of the smallholders, their characteristics, as well as their poverty status using the four thresholds. This analysis provides empirical evidence that small scale farmers still prevail in terms of population distribution in rural area settings in developing countries. Small scale farmers heavily rely on farm income as their form of livelihood and heavily contribute to the rural income. It also finds that land is unequally distributed among small and large scale farmers in the rural households. Small scale farmers also have the highest poverty rates in these rural settings.展开更多
States have signed over 3,000 bilateral investment treaties （BITs）. BITs stipulate the terms and conditions by which foreign investors from one country must be treated in another. A series of empirical studies have ...States have signed over 3,000 bilateral investment treaties （BITs）. BITs stipulate the terms and conditions by which foreign investors from one country must be treated in another. A series of empirical studies have asked the question, do BITs increase foreign direct investment to less developed countries？ This paper reviews the literature. While the studies come to conflicting results, most studies suffer from the same methodological misstep--they fail to account for variation in treaties. The paper concludes that the most productive path forward for future research efforts includes using dyadic research designs that account for variation in BITs.展开更多
文摘Energy poverty in developing countries is a critical issue characterized by the lack of access to modern energy services,such as electricity and clean cooking facilities,as marked in SDG 7.This study explores the correlations between energy poverty,energy intensity,resource abundance,and income inequality,as these factors have been theorized to play important roles in influencing energy poverty in developing countries.By observing that the dataset is heterogeneous across the countries and over the time frame,we use the Method of Moments Quantile Regression(MMQR)to analyze our developing countries’data from 2000 to 2019.Our findings indicate that energy intensity is a significant factor influencing energy poverty,suggesting that higher energy consumption relative to the sample countries can exacerbate this issue.Additionally,we observe that income inequality within the sample countries is a critical determinant of energy poverty levels,highlighting the dynamics between economic disparity and access to energy resources.Interestingly,our study reveals that resource abundance acts as a blessing rather than a curse in terms of energy poverty,implying that countries rich in natural resources may have better opportunities to combat energy deprivation.Finally,we emphasize the vital role of financial markets in addressing energy poverty on a global scale,suggesting that robust financial systems can facilitate investments and innovations aimed at improving energy access for vulnerable populations.The results from the robustness analysis support the empirical results obtained from the main estimation.The empirical findings of the present study advance important comprehensions for policymakers to adopt energy policies that address the complex challenges of energy poverty and promote inclusive energy access.
基金Philosophy and Social Science Planning Projects in Yunnan Province,No.QN202428China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2024M752918。
文摘Foreign-funded overseas industrial parks(OIPs)are crucial for attracting foreign investment and promoting globalization in developing countries.However,large-scale land acquisition for these parks generates conflicts between developers and local stakeholders,increasing development costs.A qualitative multicase study was conducted in this study to analyze the land transaction trajectories of China's OIPs.Four OIPs were selected to reveal the underlying mechanisms from the perspectives of institutional arrangements,governance mechanisms,and enterprise heterogeneity.The findings indicate that in host countries with insufficient institutional development,local governments are more inclined to directly engage in OIP land acquisition.High-level intergovernmental mechanisms facilitate land acquisition processes,although their efficacy depends largely on administrative power allocation across parks in host countries.The results also indicate that enterprise characteristics significantly influence land acquisition,where microscale private enterprises lacking political connections often employ low-cost,bottom-up strategies by leveraging international experience.In summary,policy-makers in developing countries should prioritize enhancing OIP governance to mitigate transaction costs,promote diversified land supply,and optimize land allocation.By depicting China's OIP land acquisition processes,this study deepens the academic understanding of OIP governance in developing countries and related international land transactions,offering practical OIP management insights for governments in both host and parent countries.
文摘The Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Forum on Bridging the AI Divide and Opening Ceremony of AIM Global CoE were held on July 27 in Minhang district,Shanghai.The event was hosted by AIM Global CoE,and co-organized by Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute(SAIRI),Shanghai Technology Innovation Center,Shanghai Grand Neobay Investment Development Group,and Organizing Committee of AI Journey Conference.Asian Association of Business Incubation(AABI)and SAIRI served as the international partners.
文摘Building Information Modelling(BIM)technology can solve construction issues from multiple perspectives,including technical and managerial.While existing research has primarily focused on BIM’s benefits and framework development,few studies discussed whether BIM can be successfully applied in developing countries.This paper examines the current status and key obstacles hindering BIM adoption in developing countries,analyzing their underlying causes.Notably,the study reveals that high BIM awareness does not directly lead to high BIM usage.The findings aim to provide theoretical support for enhancing the BIM environment and increasing implementation feasibility in developing countries.Additionally,the research identifies critical barriers for governments to address in promoting BIM adoption,offering a foundation for policy formulation.
基金Supported by Institutional NRSA,clinical oncology research training program,No.T32 CA079447(Bishehsari F)the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro(AIRC),Milan to Mariani-Costantini R+3 种基金the Office for Internationalization,G.d’Annunzio University,Chietithe Carichieti Foundation,ChietiMinistero dell’Istruzione,dell’Universitàe della Ricerca(MIUR),Rome,Italythe Fondazione Umberto Veronesi,Milan,Italy and the MRC(5PT57)to Vacca M
文摘Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the leading causes of cancer and cancer-related mortality worldwide.The disease has been traditionally a major health problem in industrial countries,however the CRC rates are increasing in the developing countries that are undergoing economic growth.Several environmental risk factors,mainly changes in diet and life style,have been suggested to underlie the rise of CRC in these populations.Diet and lifestyle impinge on nuclear receptors,on the intestinal microbiota and on crucial molecular pathways that are implicated in intestinal carcinogenesis.In this respect,the epidemiological transition in several regions of the world offers a unique opportunity to better understand CRC carcinogenesis by studying the disease phenotypes and their environmental and molecular associations in different populations.The data from these studies may have important implications for the global prevention and treatment of CRC.
基金Supported by The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding schemethe Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)the British Liver Trust and the Alan Morement Memorial Fund AMMF, Essex, UK
文摘Developing countries shoulder a considerable burden of gastroenterological disease. Infectious diseases in particular cause enormous morbidity and mortality. Diseases which afflict both western and developing countries are often seen in more florid forms in poorer countries. Innovative techniques continuously improve and update gastroenterological practice. However, advances in diagnosis and treatment which are commonplace in the West, have yet to reach many developing countries. Clinical guidelines, based on these advances and collated in resource-rich environments, lose their relevance outside these settings. In this two-part review, we first highlight the global burden of gastroenterological disease in three major areas： diarrhoeal diseases, hepatitis B, and Helicobacter pylori. Recent progress in their management is explored, with consideration of future solutions. The second part of the review focuses on the delivery of clinical services in developing countries. Inadequate numbers of healthcare workers hamper efforts to combat gastroenterological disease. Reasons for this shortage are examined, along with possibilities for increased specialist training. Endoscopy services, the mainstay of gastroenterology in the West, are in their infancy in many developing countries. The challenges faced by those se^ing up a service are illustrated by the example of a Nigerian endoscopy unit. Finally, we highlight the limited scope of many clinical guidelines produced in western countries. Guidelines which take account of resource limitations in the form of ＂cascades＂ are advocated in order to make these guidelines truly global. Recognition of the different working conditions facing practitioners worldwide is an important step towards narrowing the gap between gastroenterology in rich and poor countries.
文摘In the past, celiac disease was believed to be a chronic enteropathy, almost exclusively affecting people of European origin. The availability of new, simple, very sensitive and specific serological tests （anti-gliadin, anti- endomysium and anti-transglutaminase antibody assays） have shown that celiac disease is common not only in Europe and in people of European ancestry but also in the developing countries where the major staple diet is wheat （Southern Asia, the Middle East, North West and East Africa, South America）, both in the general population and in the groups at risk. Gluten intolerance thus appears to be a widespread public health problem and an increased level of awareness and clinical suspicion are needed in the New World where physicians must learn to recognize the variable clinical presentations （classical, atypical and silent forms） of celiac disease. In the developing countries, both serological screening in the general population and serological testing in groups at risk are necessary for an early identification of celiac patients. The gluten-free diet poses a challenging public health problem in the developing countries, especially since commercial gluten-free products are not available.
文摘Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of chronic hepatitis in developing countries, with 5% to 15% of the population carrying virus. The high prevalence is due to failure to adopt appropriate measure to confine the spread of infection. Most hepatitis B patients present with advanced diseases. Although perinatal transmission is believed to be an important mode, most infections in the developing world occur in childhood and early adulthood. Factors in developing countries associated with the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) include co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus, delta hepatitis virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol intake and aflatoxin. Treatment protocols extrapolated from developed countries may need modifications according to the resources available. There is some controversy as to when to start treatment, with what medication and for how long? There is now enough evidence to support that hepatitis B patients should be considered for treatment if they show persistently elevated abnormal aminotransferase levels in the last 6 mo, checked on at least three separate occasions, and a serum hepatitis B virus DNA level of > 2000 IU/mL. Therapeutic agents that were approved by Pure Food and Drug Administration are now available in many developing countries. These include standard interferon (INF)-α, pegylated INF-α, lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir and telbivudine. Drug resistance has emerged as a major challenge in the management of patients with CHB. The role of the universal vaccination program for effective control of hepatitis B cannot be emphasized enough.
基金This paper has been supported by the project 2009DFA13000 funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China.The authors want to thank the researchers from Instituto de Investigaciones en Fruticultura Tropical,Republic of Cuba,in special Dr Jorge Cuetothe staff of Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountain office,and the government of Baracoa for their kind support and advice.
文摘This paper presents a Spatial Decision Support System for local governments of developing countries.It allows municipality government,enterprises,scientific community and civil society to address decision problems using GIS.The framework is supported by four modules of information technologies:Environmental Decision Support Database,Data Manipulation,Decision Support,and Mapping.A case study is presented covering the implementation of this framework in one municipality of Cuba.An example of land suitability planning for coconut crops is used to evaluate the system performance and usability.Results show local municipalities are able to use this framework to solve local decision problems using state of the art decision making even with low infrastructure development.
文摘TO THE EDITORNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly known medical entity with high prevalence, about 1 0 to 24 percent in general population and up to 74% in obese population[1]. The prevalence of the disease is expected to increase worldwide, as we are encountering the global obesity epidemic and the trend in developing countries toward the Western lifestyles. However, it looks that there are some differences between the demographic and epidemiologic features of NAFLD in developing and developed countries.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71861147003 and 71925009).
文摘This paper examines the nutrition impacts of using non-solid cooking fuel on under-five children in developing countries.We draw on data from more than 1.12 million children in 62 developing countries from the Demographic and Health Surveys(DHS).Results from both fixed effects(FE)and instrumental variable(IV)estimates show that using non-solid cooking fuel significantly improves the nutrition outcomes of under-five children.Compared with their peers from households mainly using solid fuel,children from households mainly using non-solid fuel exhibit a lower probability of experiencing stunting(by 5.9 percentage points)and being underweight(by 1.2 percentage points).Our further investigation provides evidence for several underlying mechanisms,such as improved indoor air quality,induced reduction in children’s respiratory symptoms,benefits on maternal health,and reduction in maternal time spent on fuel collection or cooking.Heterogenous analyses suggest that the nutrition benefits of using non-solid cooking fuel are more prominent among boys,children above three years old,and those from households of lower socioeconomic status,rural areas,and Southeast Asia.
文摘Developing countries face a number of unique problems related to the hazards of chemicals. The WHO International Program on Chemical Safety may play a useful role by working jointly with Member Nations and such international organizations as FAO, UNEP. and ILO. (c)1990 Academic Press. Inc.
文摘Typhoid fever is a public health challenge mostly concentrated in impoverished, overcrowded areas of the developing world, with lack of safe drinking and sanitation. The most serious complication is typhoid intestinal perforation(TIP), observed in 0.8% to 39%, with a striking rate difference between high-income and low-middle-income countries. Although the mortality rate consequent to TIP in resource-poor countries is improved in the last decades, it is still fluctuating from 5% to 80%, due to surgical-and not surgical-related constraints. Huge economic costs and long timelines are required to provide a short-to middle-term solution to the lack of safe water and sanitation. Inherent limitations of the currently available diagnostic tools may lead to under-evaluation as well as over-evaluation of the disease, with consequent delayed treatment or inappropriate, excessive antibiotic use, hence increasing the likelihood of bacterial resistance. There is a need for immunization programs in populations at greatest risk, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Uniform surgical strategies and guidelines, on the basis of sound or prospective surgical studies and adapted to the local realities, are still lacking. Major drawbacks of the surgical treatment are the frequent delays to surgery, either for late diagnosis or for difficult transports, and the unavailable appropriate intensive care units in most peripheral facilities. As a consequence, poor patient's conditions at presentation, severe peritoneal contamination and unsuitable postoperative care are the foremost determinant of surgical morbidity and mortality.
文摘As developing countries become more involved in the international chemical trade, they must adhere to certain requirements for importation of their chemicals into foreign countries. These developing countries will be required to provide basic safety information on their chemical products, including data developed from chemical and toxicologic testing. These data must be developed in accordance with the national requirements of the importing country. Many importing countries have adopted the OECD Test Guidelines and the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) as primary guidance to assure the quality of laboratory data. These procedures provide a basis for internationally acceptable data. Several countries have incorporated many of these provisions into their national laws or administrative procedures. These procedures describe the process of documenting the conduct of laboratory studies, including recording of data, reporting of study results, and storage of data gathered. This process is intended to assure the quality and integrity of the data so that, if required, the study can be reconstructed by an auditor or an inspector. Details of these procedures and their applicability to the international chemical trade are discussed. 1989 Academic Press, Inc.
文摘Radiation therapy(RT)is considered one of the cornerstone modalities of treatment for different cancer types.The preparation and delivery of RT requires a number of staff members from different disciplines within the radiation oncology department.Since the emergence of the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,RT,similar to other cancer care modalities,has been adapted to minimize patient and staff exposure without compromising the oncological outcomes.This was reflected in the dramatic practice changes that occurred in the past year to address the lockdown restrictions and fulfill the infection control requirements.RT practices differ across regions based on financial and training levels,and developing countries with limited resources have struggled to maintain radiation treatment services at a level equivalent to that in developed countries while following pandemic control guidelines.The response during the COVID-19 pandemic varied between developing countries according to the infection rate and RT technological capabilities.In this editorial,we review recently published articles addressing radiotherapy practice reports during the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries.
文摘Objective:To determine the barriers of joining in-vitro fertilization(IVF)programs among infertile couples in developing countries.Methods:This study assessed infertile couples and the barriers or associated factors resulting in delayed decision-making of joining IVF program by searching databases PubMed,ScienceDirect,EBSCO,ClinicalKey,and Cochrane Library from inception until December 31,2021.Additional search strategies were snowballing literature search and citation tracking.Results:Eleven articles were included in the scoping review.The cost was the greatest barrier of joining IVF program.Limited access and lack of assisted reproductive technology centers,few qualified infertility trained staff,insufficient government support,low priority in government policy,along with sociocultural factors,such as religion and false beliefs or myths were also majorly considered to be associated obstacles.Conclusions:The main barrier associated with IVF program among infertile couples in developing countries is the high cost of the IVF services.
文摘Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women living in developing countries that account high HPV incidence and mortality rates. Vaccinating girls between 9 and 14 years old is supposed to be the most cost-effective public health approach against cervical cancer. This systematic review aims to assess the application and coverage of the HPV vaccine in developing countries and identify the main challenges for the introduction of the vaccine in these settings. Eligible studies were selected according to the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. To determine the quality of the studies was employed the STROBE checklist. This review included seven studies, encompassing the analysis of 19 countries and 112,116 girls aged from 9 to 18 years old. The coverage of HPV vaccination ranged from 13.8% to 107.4%, with most of the programs having more than 60% of coverage, which reflects a high percentage of vaccinated girls. The main challenges were lack of knowledge and worries about the vaccine, insufficient financial resources and staff workers, lack of community involvement and dissemination of important information about HPV. In developing countries that implemented the HPV vaccine, high coverage rates were achieved, despite sociocultural, economic and political challenges. In the future, studies that analyze the coverage rates after the elimination of the barriers and the repercussions on the mortality rates should be conducted, so that more developing countries have the opportunity to efficiently implement the vaccine.
文摘Sustainable development contributes to the economic and social advancement of construction projects. Ignoring sustainability during the cost estimating process associated with evaluation phase develops many problems of conventional decision methodology used in construction industry in the most of developing countries. This research focuses on sustainability which is the key factor in all decision making in design and construction processes. Therefore, Iraqi construction industry should respond to sustainability as a leading indicator of its infrastructure rebuilding. The construction management and sustainability could help to manage the rebuilding of the destroyed public infrastructure during the disaster wars periods passed thru thirty years ago and also to modernize of private buildings and plants. Field study has been carried out by adopting personal interviews and questionnaires conducted with experts, experienced consultants and designers working in many design organizations. The data collected has been analyzed and the results obtained show a clear weakness in the field of sustainability understanding, practicing and implementation. Moreover, the design work in Iraq is suffering from a lack of scientific techniques and a lack in experience in the domain of sustainability field. This will take an integrated approach to study the impact of sustainability on construction management which encompasses both public and private sector perspectives for building and engineering construction, and the roles played by all the participants in the construction team （owners, contractors, design professionals, and other supporting professionals）.
文摘Small scale farmers constitute about half of world＇s hungry people and include three quarters of Africa＇s malnourished children. The appropriate identification and characterization of this population and the constraints it faces are essential for the design and the successful implementation of safety nets and to properly target their needs and effectively include them in agricultural development strategies. This paper aims at exploring the characteristics, limitations, and potential for agricultural development of small scale farmers in developing countries. It calculates four land cultivated thresholds which are then used as a measure to classify households that were surveyed in four developing countries. It empirically estimates the magnitudes of the smallholders, their characteristics, as well as their poverty status using the four thresholds. This analysis provides empirical evidence that small scale farmers still prevail in terms of population distribution in rural area settings in developing countries. Small scale farmers heavily rely on farm income as their form of livelihood and heavily contribute to the rural income. It also finds that land is unequally distributed among small and large scale farmers in the rural households. Small scale farmers also have the highest poverty rates in these rural settings.
文摘States have signed over 3,000 bilateral investment treaties （BITs）. BITs stipulate the terms and conditions by which foreign investors from one country must be treated in another. A series of empirical studies have asked the question, do BITs increase foreign direct investment to less developed countries？ This paper reviews the literature. While the studies come to conflicting results, most studies suffer from the same methodological misstep--they fail to account for variation in treaties. The paper concludes that the most productive path forward for future research efforts includes using dyadic research designs that account for variation in BITs.
