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The COVID-19 preventive measurements restrict farm-workers from travel to their farms, social distancing and lockdown to prevent them from getting infected. Consequently, farming and irrigation activities are dramatically reduced due to shortage of farm-workers and reduction of crops production. To find solutions, various technologies have been adopted to remotely connect farmers with their farm-fields from their homes and perform the same work as they are in the farm. An Internet of Things (IoT) approach, modern sensor technologies, and smart irrigation equipment are coupled to allow the collection of the field data for automatic irrigation of the field. This paper presents the IoT system based on Fuzzy logic controller that assists farmers to receive and monitor necessary irrigation data from the farm field through their smart phones and PCs. The Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are deployed in the field to measure the water content in the soil and water used for plants by measuring the soil moisture dynamics throughout the entire duration of the crop growing season in the Maize crop farm. The Fuzzy logic controller was used for data analytics and intelligent decision making as well as Fuzzy logic toolbox in MATLAB to simulate irrigation scheduling process. The system saves 50% of water and energy consumption for irrigation, 80% reduction of farm-workers and increase in 20% of crop production.

Introduction: The prescription of biological examinations is the first step in guaranteeing the quality of the results of the biological analyzes given by the laboratory. Indeed, the irregularity of requests for biological examinations makes it difficult to carry out and interpret the results and also compromises the optimal and rational use of the diagnostic aid tool that is the clinical biology laboratory. The purpose of this study was to assess the compliance and quality of Biological Examinations Requests (BERs) at the Douala General Hospital (DGH) Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2022 in the clinical biology laboratory department of the DGH. The information provided on each request for examinations was evaluated using a technical sheet containing the evaluation grids of the ISO 15189 standard. Results: A total of 1765 BERs from 10 known clinical departments and 5.20% (n = 91) with no details on the department were analyzed. Prescriber qualification was absent in 13.31% (n=235), clinical information was notified in 23.79% (n=420), prescriber contact in 2.89% (n=51). The compliance assessment revealed that 49% (n=867) requests were non-compliant. Furthermore, a correlation was observed between non-compliant BERs and the internal medicine department (OR = 0.52 and P-value = 0.038) and medical specialists (OR = 0.576 and P-value = 0.048) with a significant association. Conclusion: It was observed that the non-compliant BERs lacked information identifying the patient, the prescriber, as well as the examination/sample. The ISO standard recommends the accuracy of this information. Because their absence would make it impossible to carry out the examinations, waste of time searching for the service/prescriber for additional information or for the return of the results. These results suggest an improvement in practices in the prescription of medical biology analyzes at the DGH in particular and in Cameroon in general.

The objective of the ITER test blanket module (TBM) program is to provide experimental data on the performance of the breeding blankets in the integrated fusion nuclear environment. The ITER test blanket modules are installed and operated inside the vacuum vessel (VV) at the equatorial ports located within port plugs (PP), and each PP includes two TBMs. After each 18-month-long plasma operation campaign, the TBM research plan testing program requires the replacement of the TBMs with new ones during the ITER long-term shutdown, called long-term maintenance (LTM). The replacement of a TBM requires the removal/reinstallation of all test blanket system (TBS) equipment present in the port cell (PC), including those in the port interspace (PI), called pipe forest (PF). TBSs shall be designed so that occupational radiation exposure (ORE) can be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) over the life of the plant to follow the ITER policy. To implement ALARA process requirements, design activities shall consider careful integration investigations starting from the early phase to address all engineering aspects of the replacement sequence. The case study focuses on the PF replacement, in particular the port cell operations. This paper describes the investigations and findings of the ALARA optimisation process implementation in the early engineering phase of the PF.

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to refine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk stratification.Six SNPs in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, HSD17B13, APOE, and MBOAT7 affecting lipid turnover and one variant involved in the Wnt-β-catenin pathway (WNT3A-WNT9A rs708113) were assessed in patients with alcohol-related and/or HCV-cured cirrhosis included in HCC surveillance programs (prospective CirVir and CIRRAL cohorts). Their prognostic value for HCC occurrence was assessed using Fine-Gray models combined into a 7-SNP genetic risk score (GRS). Prediction ability of two clinical scores (a routine nongenetic model determined by multivariate analysis and the external aMAP score) without then with the addition of the GRS was evaluated by C-indices. The standardized net benefit was derived from decision curves.Among 1145 patients, 86 (7.5%) developed HCC after 43.7 months. PNPLA3 and WNT3A-WNT9A variants were independently associated with HCC occurrence. The GRS stratified the population into 3 groups with progressively increased 5-yr HCC incidence [Group 1 (n=627, 5.4%), Group 2 (n=276, 10.7%), and Group 3 (n=242, 15.3%); P0.001]. The multivariate model identified age, male sex, diabetes, platelet count, GGT levels, albuminemia and the GRS as independent risk factors. The clinical model performance for 5-yr HCC prediction was similar to that of the aMAP score (C-Index 0.769). The addition of the GRS to both scores modestly improved their performance (C-Index 0.786 and 0.783, respectively). This finding was confirmed by decision curve analyses showing only fair clinical net benefit.Patients with cirrhosis can be stratified into HCC risk classes by variants affecting lipid turnover and Wnt-β-catenin pathway. The incorporation of this genetic information modestly improves the performance of clinical scores.The identification of patients at higher probability of developing liver cancer is pivotal to improve the performance of surveillance. Risk assessment can be achieved by combining several clinical and biological parameters used in routine practice. The addition of patients' genetic characteristics can modestly improve this prediction and will ultimately pave the way for precision medicine in patients eligible for HCC surveillance, allowing physicians to trigger personalized screening strategies.

Background & Aims: HEV genotype (gt) 3 infections are prevalent in high-income countries and display a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Host - but not viral - factors are reported to be associated with worse clinical outcomes.Methods: Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data laboratory-confirmed HEV infections (by PCR and/or a combination of IgM and IgG serology) at the Belgian National Reference Centre between January 2010 and June 2018 were collected using stand-ardised case report forms. Genotyping was based on HEV open reading frame 2 sequences. Serum CXCL10 levels were measured by a magnetic bead-based assay. H&E staining was performed on liver biopsies.Results: A total of 274 HEV-infected individuals were included. Subtype assignment was possible for 179/218 viraemic cases, confirming gt3 as dominant with an almost equal representation of clades abchijklm and efg. An increased hospitalisation rate and higher peak serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase were found in clade efg-infected in-dividuals in univariate analyses. In multivariable analyses, clade efg infections remained more strongly associated with severe disease presentation than any of the previously identified host risk factors, being associated with a 2.1-fold higher risk of hos-pitalisation (95% CI 1.1-4.4, p = 0.034) and a 68.2% higher peak of bilirubin levels (95% CI 13.3-149.9, p = 0.010), independently of other factors included in the model. In addition, acute clade efg infections were characterised by higher serum CXCL10 levels (p = 0.0005) and a more pronounced liver necro-inflammatory activity (p = 0.022). Conclusions: In symptomatic HEV gt3 infections, clade efg is associated with a more severe disease presentation, higher serum CXCL10 levels, and liver necro-inflammatory activity, irrespective of known host risk factors.Clinical Trial Registration: The protocol was submitted to clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04670419).(c) 2022 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This study is a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data, within the Belgian National Reference Centre (NRC) programme funded by the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV-INAMI, Belgium). TV is supported by a senior clinical investigator grant of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) (number 18B2821N, Belgium). JS and NH acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement 682540 — TransMID, European Union). The funding sources did not have any role in study design, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the manuscript writing, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. We thank Harry Dalton for helpful discussions on the national data collection and clinical outcome analysis and Christophe Conrad for his help in collecting patients data. The authors also especially thank all physicians from the following centres who participated in the study: Algemeen Ziekenhuis Alma, Eeklo; Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium, Antwerpen; Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis, Aalst; Algemeen Ziekenhuis Delta, Roeselare; Algemeen Ziekenhuis Delta, Torhout; Algemeen Ziekenhuis Nikolaas, Sint-Niklaas; Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Elisabeth, Zottegem; Algemeen Ziekenhuis, Turnhout; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann, Brussels; Centre Hospitalier de l’Ardenne, Libramont; Hôpital de Braine-l’Alleud-Waterloo, Braine-l’Alleud; Hôpital Delta, Brussels; Centre Hospitalier de Mouscron, Mouscron; Centre Hospitalier Régional Haute Senne, Soignies; Centre Hospitalier Epicura, Hornu; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, Liège; Centre Hospitalier de la Wallonie Picarde, Tournai; Clinique CHC, Waremme; Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Charleroi; Gasthuiszusters Antwerpen, Antwerpen; Hôpital Princesse Paola, Marche-en-Famenne; Hôpital Iris Sud, Brussels; Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, Antwerpen; Hôpital de Jolimont, La Louvière; Centre Hospitalier de Jolimont, Lobbes; Centre Hospitalier de Jolimont, Nivelles; Centre Hospitalier de Jolimont, Tubize; Eurofins Labo Van Poucke, Kortrijk; Medisch Labo Medina, Dendermonde; Algemeen Ziekenhuis Maria Middelares, Gent; Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen Middelheim, Antwerpen; Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire UCL, Dinant; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire UCL, Namur; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de MontGodinne, Yvoir; Clinique Saint-Luc, Bouge; Clinique Notre-Dame de Grâce, Gosselies; Sint-Andriesziekenhuis, Tielt; Algemeen Ziekenhuis West, Veurne; Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint Blasius, Dendermonde; Algemeen Ziekenhuis SintJan, Brugge; Klinik Sankt-Joseph, Sankt-Vith; Algemeen Ziekenhuis SintLucas, Gent; Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Maarten, Mechelen; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Brussels; Sint-Trudo Ziekenhuis, Sint-Truiden; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Tivoli, La Louvière; Hôpital Erasme – Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles, Brussels; Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen, Antwerpen; Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, Gent; Cassiman David, Laleman Wim, Van Malenstein Hannah, Verslype Chris and Van der Merwe Schalk from Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Leuven; Virga Jesse Ziekenhuis, Hasselt; Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels; Jan Yperman Ziekenhuis, Ieper.

This study evaluates the fertilizing potential of micaschist powder in sugarcane farming on ferrallitic soils of the Mbandjok area in Cameroon. These soils are poor in exchangeable cations and assimil able phosphorus, very acidic, with low to moderate CEC. An experimental design, which consisted in a randomized Fischer block, is composed of six replications of five treatments:T0: conventional fertilization (Ureemulticote 39 00, 150 kg ha-1; MAP, 125kg ha-1; KCl,250kg ha-1) T0-M1: T0 + 5 t ha-1of Micaschist powder, T0-M2: T0 + 7 t ha-1of Micaschist powder, NP-M1:N and P supply, conventional dose (no KCl) + 5 t ha-1of Micaschist powder, N-M2: N supply, conventional dose (no P and K) + 7 t ha-1of Micaschist powder. The experiment was carried out between October 2015 and February 2019. During this period, soil samples were collected, sugarcane was planted and monitored with great care in order to determine the parameters indicative of the growth and yield of sugarcane plants. The results indicate an important increase of the sugarcane yield during the three years of experiment, on soils where micaschist powder was added, compared to the control. Concerning the percentage of lift and voids, the T0-M1 treatment had 3% of voids compared to the T0 (9%) treatment which is the reference fertilizer; for Tillers parameter, T0-M1 (338 stems) performs very well during the experiment compared to the T0 (297stems) and for the growth parameter, T0-M1 treatment was good increasing from 182 cm in the first year to 280 cm in the second year. This suggests that micaschist powder has a positive and significant effect on the growth components. For the yield of sugarcane, the best result of tons of sugarcane (TC) was obtained with T0-M1 treatment which increased from 77.15 TC ha-1 in the first year to 86.13TC ha-1 in the third year. The overall results indicate that using micaschist powder as fertilizer can enhance sugar cane yield with a long lasting residual effect of rock powder.

Les facteurs à la base de stress fait éventuellement l’objet de plusieurs recherches depuis longtemps, car cette étude doit viser bien à identifier les problèmes qui, sont à l’origine de dépression, anxiété chez un agent dans l’organisation, tout en s’intéressant à proposer les pistes de solution, puisqu’un agent doit travailler en harmonie pour arriver à apporter une rentabilité au sein de l’organisation, les dits facteurs à la base de stress énumérés chez les travailleurs sont les suivants : indiscipline, manque des primes, chevauchement des attributions, comportements asociaux, refus de reproche, mauvaise installation sanitaire, intolérance et l’ingérence des tâches à exécuter. Après l’investigation faite, étant donné que notre souci principal était d’identifier les facteurs, mais sur ce volet, il nous serait important d’en proposer les pistes de solution comme : éviter le conflit l’amitié, respect entre agent, dénoncer l’injustice, application de Job description, respect de convention collective et les conseils.

International organisations recently brought good governance and peace in the forefront of the development agenda. The measurement of related indicators, which differ by their nature, their sources and the institutions in charge of their collection, with National Statistics Institutes in the frontline, as well as their analyses keep growing. This paper introduces the special issue of nine articles on the measurement and analyses of Governance, Peace and Security statistics in four continents. It presents initiatives for some led by the only UN city group on statistical methodologies based in Africa, the Praia Group. Members of the latter group describe the advances and challenges such data collection implies particularly in time of pandemics. Following articles focus on the state of the art of statistics about transparency in Brazil, criminal violence in France and conflict more broadly. A set of articles in four African countries interrogate the relationship between perceptions and experiences and analyse their determinants. The issue ends with the works of international leaders in governance data collection, Mali and Peru. This special issue shows how statistical data on governance make a twofold contribution to achieving the principles of SDG 16 by providing reliable indicators and voicing public opinion to governments.

This paper reports the proceedings of a virtual meeting convened by the European Interdisciplinary Council on Ageing (EICA), to discuss the involvement of infectious disorders in the pathogenesis of dementia and neurological disorders leading to dementia. We recap how our view of the infectious etiology of dementia has changed over the last 30 years in light of emerging evidence, and we present evidence in support of the implication of infection in dementia, notably Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The bacteria and viruses thought to be responsible for neuroinflammation and neurological damage are reviewed. We then review the genetic basis for neuroinflammation and dementia, highlighting the genes that are currently the focus of investigation as potential targets for therapy. Next, we describe the antimicrobial hypothesis of dementia, notably the intriguing possibility that amyloid beta may itself possess antimicrobial properties. We further describe the clinical relevance of the gut–brain axis in dementia, the mechanisms by which infection can move from the intestine to the brain, and recent findings regarding dysbiosis patterns in patients with AD. We review the involvement of specific pathogens in neurological disorders, i.e. SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), and influenza. Finally, we look at the role of vaccination to prevent dementia. In conclusion, there is a large body of evidence supporting the involvement of various infectious pathogens in the pathogenesis of dementia, but large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are needed to elucidate the role that infection may play, especially before subclinical or clinical disease is present.

Research on pathogenic mechanisms underlying giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), a disease caused by a deficiency of gigaxonin, has been hindered by the lack of appropriate animal models exhibiting substantial symptoms and large neurofilament (NF) swellings, a hallmark of the human disease. It is well established that intermediate filament (IF) proteins are substrates for gigaxonin-mediated degradation. However, it has remained unknown to what extent NF accumulations contribute to GAN pathogenesis. Here, we report the generation of a new mouse model of GAN that is based on crossing transgenic mice overexpressing peripherin (Prph) with mice knockout forGan. The Gan−/−;TgPer mice developed early onset sensory-motor deficits along with IF accumulations made up of NF proteins and of Prph, causing swelling of spinal neurons at a young age. Abundant inclusion bodies composed of disorganized IFs were also detected in the brain of Gan−/−;TgPer mice. At 12 months of age, the Gan−/−;TgPer mice exhibited cognitive deficits as well as severe sensory and motor defects. The disease was associated with neuroinflammation and substantial loss of cortical neurons and spinal neurons. Giant axons (≥160 μm2) enlarged by disorganized IFs, a hallmark of GAN disease, were also detected in dorsal and ventral roots of the Gan−/−;TgPer mice. These results, obtained with both sexes, support the view that the disorganization of IFs can drive some neurodegenerative changes caused by gigaxonin deficiency. This new mouse model should be useful to investigate the pathogenic changes associated with GAN disease and for drug testing.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTResearch on pathogenic mechanism and treatment of GAN has been hampered by the lack of animal models exhibiting overt phenotypes and substantial neurofilament disorganization, a hallmark of the disease. Moreover, it remains unknown whether neurologic defects associated with gigaxonin deficiency in GAN are because of neurofilament disorganization as gigaxonin may also act on other protein substrates to mediate their degradation. This study reports the generation of a new mouse model of GAN based on overexpression of Prph in the context of targeted disruption of gigaxonin gene. The results support the view that neurofilament disorganization may contribute to neurodegenerative changes in GAN disease. The Gan−/−;TgPer mice provide a unique animal model of GAN for drug testing.

Banana production worldwide whether grown for export trade, domestic markets or local consumption is threatened by several diseases and pests. Beside its many disadvantages in terms of cost, there are social and environment drawbacks, and chemical control for pest and disease control is not allowed in organic production, whether during cultivation or postharvest. Black Sigatoka and Fusarium tropical race 4 are the most devastating fungal diseases, with the recent spread of the later, reinforcing its concern in Latin America and the Caribbean. CIRAD has invested in banana genetic improvement for pests and diseases resistance through an innovative conventional breeding approach called "reconstructive breeding". Initially focused on Black Sigatoka resistance, agronomic performances, fruit qualities adapted to markets and consumer demands, the current selection process includes search for resistance to Fusarium wilt. In parallel to reconstructive breeding the development of molecular tools have led to a deep understanding of the genome structure and genetic diversity of bananas. This understanding provides critical information to select and manage parents in pre-breeding and breeding effort. We present here the multidisciplinary and collaborative global breeding strategy developed by CIRAD that has led to select novel dessert banana hybrid cultivars resistant to Black Sigatoka and Fusarium TR4.

The purpose of the present study was to update and report clinical outcomes and survival of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a cementless double-tapered titanium fully hydroxyapatite (HA) coated stem at a follow-up30 years.The outcomes of this series of 347 primary THAs were already published at a follow-up25 years, during which only 12 stems were revised. Since then, there were two additional stem revisions, bringing the total to 14 stem revisions (all of which also required cup revision). Patients still living with the original stem were assessed using the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and patient satisfaction (very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, very dissatisfied). Revision incidence was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) method and Cumulative Incidence Function (CIF) at 35 years.At a mean follow-up of 33 years (range, 31 to 35), 32 patients (34 hips) were still living with the original stem. Their mean mHHS was 86 points (range, 46 to 100), and all patients (100%) were very satisfied or satisfied with surgery. The revision incidence at 35 years considering (a) stem revision for any reason was 9.5% using KM and 4.5% using CIF; (b) stem revision for aseptic loosening was 3.1% using KM and 2.1% using CIF; and (c) reoperation or revision of any component for any reason was 45.3% using KM and 26.3% using CIF.The present study has demonstrated excellent survival at 35 years for a cementless double-tapered titanium fully HA-coated stem.

An important aspect of network dynamics that has been missing from our understanding of network dynamics in various applied settings is the influence of strategic behavior in determining equilibrium network dynamics. Our main objective hears to say what we can regarding the emergence of stable club networks—and therefore, stable coalition structures—based on the stability properties of strategically determined equilibrium network formation dynamics. Because club networks are layered networks, our work here can be thought of as a first work on the strategic dynamics of layered networks. In addition to constructing a discounted stochastic game model (i.e., a DSG model) of club network formation, (1) we show that our DSG of network formation possesses a stationary Markov perfect equilibrium in players’ membership-action strategies; (2) we identify the assumptions on primitives which ensure that the induced equilibrium Markov process of layered club network formation satisfies the Tweedie Stability Conditions (Tweedie in Stoch Processes Their Appl 92:345–354) and (3) we show that, as a consequence, the equilibrium Markov network formation process generates a unique decomposition of the set of state-network pairs into a transient set together with finitely many basins of attraction. Moreover, we show that if there is a basin containing a vio set (a visited infinitely often set) of club networks sufficiently close together, then the coalition structures across club networks in the vio set will be the same (i.e., closeness across networks in a vio set leads to invariance in coalition structure across networks in a vio set).

Five billion people lack access to surgery, with the highest burden being in sub-Saharan Africa. As the surgical workforce is crucial in closing this gap, the University of British Columbia collaborated with Médecins Sans Frontières to create and launch the Essential Surgical Skills (ESS) task-sharing program, which consists of online learning modules and hands-on surgical training. Our study aimed to evaluate this pilot program. This is a mixed-method prospective cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness of the ESS program in South Sudan. Quantitative data included patient outcomes (complications, re-operation, and mortality), surgical proficiency of the trainees (quiz, entrustable professional activity (EPA), and logbook data), and electronic surveys. We used semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data. From July 2019 to February 2021, three trainees performed 385 operations. The most common procedures were skin graft (14.8%) and abscess drainage (9.6%). A total of 172 EPAs were completed, of which 136 (79%) demonstrated the independence of the trainees. During the training, surgical mortality (0.56% vs. 0.13%, p = 0.0541) and morbidity (17% vs. 12%, p = 0.1767) remained unchanged from the pretraining phase. Interviews and surveys revealed that surgical knowledge and interprofessional teamwork improved throughout the training. The program empowered trainees to develop surgical career paths and increased their local acceptance among patients and other healthcare providers. This study confirmed the feasibility of a surgical task-sharing program in South Sudan. This program evaluation will hopefully inform Ministries of Health and their partners for the development of a training pillar of National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plans in the sub-Saharan African region.

Cette étude a pour objectif de mesurer le niveau d’intégration agriculture-élevage bovin lait au sein des différents systèmes de culture dans la plaine de la Mitidja. Un premier travail de terrain a été effectué en 2014 dans la wilaya de Blida (Mitidja-centre) auprés de 75 éleveurs de bovins laitiers pour caractériser les types d’intégration par le biais des flux échangés entre l’élevage bovin laitier et les autres cultures des exploitations. En second lieu, une enquête plus approfondie auprès de 30 éleveurs a été réalisée en 2017, pour calculer le niveau d‘intégration selon la contribution de chaque catégorie d’aliment dans les apports alimentaires fournis au bétail. Nous montrons que l’élevage bovin est très intégré au marché international avec un taux de 45%, par le recours aux aliments concentrés. L’intégration de l’élevage aux ressources fourragères produites au sein des exploitations laitières représente 29% des apports. Ce faible niveau d’intégration est expliqué par les difficultés d’accès aux ressources (terre et eau) pour produire des fourrages verts au sein des exploitations laitières, qui sont concurrencées par le maraichage et l’arboriculture. L’intégration de voisinage par le biais du fauchage des herbes spontanées, le pâturage sur les jachères et les chaumes des céréales et la distribution des sous-produits des cultures maraichères est faible. Elle est de 16% du total des apports. L’intégration de l’élevage au marché national pour l’achat des aliments grossiers représente 10% des apports. The aim of this study work is to measure the level of integration between crop and dairy farming in the various farming systems in the Mitidja plain. A field research was carried out in 2014 in the wilaya of Blida (Central Mitidja) among 75 dairy cattle farmers in a first passage. This first step aims to characterize the types of integration through the flows exchanged between crops and livestock systems. In the second step, a further investigation was carried out with 30 farmers, in 2017, to calculate the level of integration according to the contribution of each feedstuff in livestock feed intake. The results show that cattle farming is more integrated into the world market at a rate of 45% through imported concentrate. On the other hand, the integration of livestock with fodder resources, produced on dairy farms, represents 29% of feed intakes. This low level of integration can be explained by the difficulties of access to the resources (land and water) to produce green fodder on dairy farms, which are competing with more profitable crops, mainly orchards. Neighbourhood integration through the mowing of spontaneous grass, grazing on fallow land and cereal stubble and the distribution of by-products from grain crops is weak (16% of the total intake). The integration of livestock within the national market through the purchase of hay and straw accounts for 10% of total intake.

Purpose This paper aims to study whether Peruvian manufacturing firms that implement innovation have positive performance and whether R&D activities moderate these relationships. Design/methodology/approach Using a data set of Peruvian manufacturing firms from the 2018 National Survey of Innovation, a LOGIT model analysis was applied to 774 companies. In addition, the authors fitted different models into subsamples to explore the moderating effects of R&D on manufacturing firms. Finally, the regression models were computed using R software. Findings The results indicate that product, service and marketing innovation are associated positively with an increase in market share, while process and organizational innovations are associated positively with productivity. Moreover, companies with R&D are more productivity-oriented than companies without R&D. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the literature on innovation management by supporting the assumption that innovation results in increased productivity and expands market demand. In addition, findings highlight that R&D is essential for boosting firms’ productivity. Practical implications Managers should consider an appropriate combination of the innovation portfolio and R&D investments to make progress and increase performance in the company. In addition, policymakers should consider that investments to promote the development of R&D activities in manufacturing companies will likely lead to médium- or long-term returns. Social implications The correct use of indicators to measure these relationships could help the policymaker to design and measure policy instruments more efficiently. Originality/value These results provide a deeper understanding of how the effects of innovations implemented by manufacturing firms, especially service and process innovation, improve their performance.

Movement disorders: Pediatrics Trastornos del movimiento; Pediatría Trastorns del moviment; Pediatria Background The International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) set up a working group on pediatric movement disorders (MDS Task Force on Pediatrics) to generate recommendations to guide the transition process from pediatrics to adult health care systems in patients with childhood-onset movement disorders. Methods To develop recommendations for transitional care for childhood onset movement disorders, we used a formal consensus development process, using a multi-round, web-based Delphi survey. The Delphi survey was based on the results of the scoping review of the literature and the results of a survey of MDS members on transition practices. Through iterative discussions, we generated the recommendations included in the survey. The MDS Task Force on Pediatrics were the voting members for the Delphi survey. The task force members comprise 23 child and adult neurologists with expertise in the field of movement disorders and from all regions of the world. Results Fifteen recommendations divided across four different areas were made pertaining to: (1) team composition and structure, (2) planning and readiness, (3) goals of care, and (4) administration and research. All recommendations achieved consensus with a median score of 7 or greater. Conclusion Recommendations on providing transitional care for patients with childhood onset movement disorders are provided. Nevertheless several challenges remain in the implementation of these recommendations, related to health infrastructure and the distribution of health resources, and the availability of knowledgeable and interested practitioners. Research on the influence of transitional care programs on outcomes in childhood onset movement disorders is much needed. This study was funded by the International Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Society. The authors have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest concerning the research related to the manuscript.

In this interview, Dr Prudence Carter, 2021–2022 President-Elect of the American Sociological Association, discusses how sociology can contribute to anti-racist futures across national contexts. Her insights point to the need for greater self-awareness in sociology regarding race and racism, for clarification of our aims and for better articulation and translation of popularized theoretical concepts, such as structural racism, to the general public. To achieve radical inclusion in the future, she highlights the importance of engaging in public and policy sociology, by explaining and substantiating policies and practices derived from our research. She also underscores the significance and value of comparative cross-national and multidisciplinary collaborative research. Most importantly, she brings to the fore the necessity of imagining new epistemological and methodological approaches to study the conditions that will enable our societies to attain equitable and anti-racist futures. Fundamentally, this involves extending our sociological imaginations.