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The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a legally binding instrument for 186 Parties (status: April 2023). Accordingly, among other responsibilities, countries are obliged to report the production, import, or export of the POPs listed in Annexes A, B, or C; provide information to registers; maintain inventories; and monitor the presence of POPs in the environment. In the broader context of international chemicals and waste management, producer responsibilities, harmonized reporting, and compliance with national and international regulations, Ecuador has addressed the newly listed group of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in its national implementation plan and sent selected products from its national market for PFAS analysis. The products analyzed came from the initially listed fields of specific exemptions and acceptable purposes, including: fire-fighting foams; photographic aids; greasers/degreasers; various kinds of paper/packaging; textiles; and leather, coatings, cleaners, metal plating, and pesticides. Our results showed that the three PFAS presently listed in the Stockholm Convention could be quantified in only a few samples; additional PFAS, not yet listed in the Convention also had low detection frequencies. Although the number of samples was limited, the samples covered a large spectrum of sample matrices, making it possible to conclude that—once these products become waste and are regulated under the Basel Convention—they would not constitute a disposal problem. Nevertheless, verification of the presence of PFAS in products on the market is expected to pose an analytical challenge for both, developed and developing countries.

This study aims to investigate the impacts of the informal economy, climate migration and temperature changes on energy demand and long-term urban energy system planning. The elasticity of energy demand to changes in the size of the informal sector, urban population and mean temperature is estimated for the case study city of Accra, Ghana. Elasticities are then applied to estimate energy demand under different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). An energy system optimization model analyzes SSP impacts on energy planning. Accra's energy demand is found to be most elastic to climate change-induced migration and rising temperatures; for example, energy demand is up to 43% higher in 2050 in a worst-case scenario compared to the base case. These factors will exacerbate the city's ability to meet its sustainability targets and manage informal sector growth. Photovoltaics, waste CCP and decarbonization of the transportation sector through electrification are found to be critical solution pathways for Accra to meet rising demand while supporting sustainability objectives. However, significant local distribution grid upgrades are required to support these technologies' rollout. Overall, this work demonstrates the importance and value of incorporating climate migration, rising temperature and informal sector analysis in energy planning models and decision-making processes, particularly in low and middle-income countries that are the most vulnerable to climate change. Although the approach is demonstrated on Accra, it can be applied at other scales and scopes globally.

Despite the global ban on organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) since the 1970s, their use continues in many developing countries, including Ethiopia, primarily due to the lack of viable alternatives and weak regulations. Nonetheless, the extent of contamination and the resulting environmental and health consequences in these countries remain inadequately understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of reported concentrations (n=398) of OCPs (n=30) in distinct yet interconnected water matrices: water, sediment, and biota in Ethiopia. Our analysis revealed a notable geographical bias, with higher concentrations found in sediments (0.074–1161.2 µg/kg), followed by biota (0.024–1003 µg/kg) and water (0.001–1.85 µg/L). Moreover, DDTs, endosulfan, and hexachlorohexenes (HCHs) were among the most frequently detected OCPs in higher concentrations in Ethiopian waters. The DDT metabolite p,p′-DDE was commonly observed across all three matrices, with concentrations in water birds reaching levels up to 57 and 143,286 times higher than those found in sediment and water, respectively. The findings showed a substantial potential for DDTs and endosulfan to accumulate and biomagnify in Ethiopian waters. Furthermore, it was revealed that the consumption of fish contaminated with DDTs posed both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks while drinking water did not pose significant risks in this regard. Importantly, the issue of OCPs in Ethiopia assumes even greater significance as their concentrations were found to be eight times higher than those of currently used pesticides (CUPs) in Ethiopian waters. Consequently, given the ongoing concerns about OCPs in Ethiopia, there is a need for ongoing monitoring, implementation of sustainable mitigation measures, and strengthening of OCP management systems in the country, as well as in other developing countries with similar settings and practices.

Several developing nations lack access to energy to perform daily activities. Therefore, effective energy planning is essential for addressing developing nations' pressing challenges, including energy security, economic competitiveness, and climate change mitigation. This study presents a systematic literature review of various energy modeling tools, specifically focusing on their significance in shaping the energy landscape of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) approach was adopted for this review. A literature search was conducted using a flowchart and a list of items and selected articles were critically reviewed. The study has presented a descriptive analysis of selected research articles based on their yearly publications, journals, publishers, countries, and the prevalent energy modeling tools employed in scholarly work. Also, the study highlighted the current understanding of energy modeling tools, their data requirements, and their applications in the context of developing countries. The findings show that energy modeling tools (EMTs) are important in decision-making and policy formulation processes, particularly for analyzing energy demand and supply pathways and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the review indicates that existing energy modeling tools do not fully capture SSA's unique features. Therefore, new policies need to be developed to integrate more renewable energy sources, with a focus on using EMTs developed specifically for the context of developing countries. Some factors, such as political difficulties, informal economy, regional climate conditions, low electricity access, and urbanization, need to be considered in future energy model development for SSA countries. The study findings are crucial in assisting researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in exploiting existing knowledge, identifying critical gaps, and positioning future research for developing more environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy models in SSA.

Energy crises and shattered economies are common issues in developing countries. The World is looking for green energy sources that help achieve a green economy and also help to fight against global warming, a common issue faced by the globe. Domestic renewable energy plants are a potential green energy source that can help combat energy crises, dwindling economies, and global warming. We have pointed out that the adoption of renewable energy plants at a domestic level is low. Hence, we have collected a cross-sectional dataset from one of the developing countries. 756 useable responses were used to test the proposed hypotheses and rank them according to their normalized importance by using the SEM-ANN hybrid approach. Results revealed that awareness of renewable energy plants, facilitating conditions, environmental knowledge, social influence, and perceived expectancy of renewable energy plants have significant positive. In contrast, cost value significantly negatively influences the behavioural​ intentions of developing countries’ consumers. Results also revealed a significant moderation effect of gender in the adoption of renewable energy plants at a domestic level. Awareness about renewable energy plants is crucial in adopting renewable energy plants domestically. Study findings have significant theoretical contributions and policy suggestions for governments and other stakeholders that will help them combat the energy crisis and achieve a sustainable green economy.

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common device-associated healthcare-acquired infections and pose a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems worldwide. However, there is a paucity of data on CAUTI epidemiology and microbiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including Lebanon. Methods: This 14-year retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Lebanon. It analyzed data on all adult patients diagnosed with CAUTI between January 2009 and December 2022 in intensive care units (ICUs) and between June 2011 and December 2022 in regular units. Incidence rates, urinary catheter utilization ratios, and microbiological profiles were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 620 CAUTI cases were identified during the study period. The overall CAUTI rate was 2.4 per 1000 catheter-days, with higher rates in ICUs (3.2 per 1000 catheter-days) compared to regular units (1.4 per 1000 catheter-days). No significant changes in the rates were noted despite implementing many interventions. The most common pathogens were Gram-negative bacteria, with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae being predominant. Multidrug-resistant organisms represented 48% of all isolates. Enterobacterales were largely extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing, and most Acinetobacter baumannii isolates showed multidrug resistance. Conclusions: This study provides important insights into CAUTI epidemiology and microbiology in a tertiary care center in Lebanon, addressing the knowledge gap in this area in the MENA region. Despite implementing prevention measures, CAUTI rates remained stable over the 14-year period. The findings highlight the need for continuous improvement in infection prevention practices, diagnostic stewardship, and antimicrobial stewardship, especially given the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance. These results can serve as a guide for the development of targeted preventive strategies to reduce the burden of CAUTIs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where antimicrobial resistance is a major issue.

Background: With double pressures of endemic and imported emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), China’s ability to detect, prevent and control the unknown virus is of regional and global interest. This study aimed to establish an R&D Blueprint for EIDs in China by identifying the list of prioritized diseases and medical countermeasures (MCMs) that need proactive actions for the next pandemic. Methods: The process mainly referred to the World Health Organization’s prioritization methodology, supplemented by pipeline landscape, rapid risk assessment and multi-dimensional analysis. The study included five steps: 1) identifying potential pathogens, 2) screening into the long list, 3) prioritizing the long list, 4) identifying the final list and 5) generating an R&D Blueprint. Results: China’s R&D Blueprint identified 14 viral pathogens and two virus groups (i.e., Influenza HxNy and Coronavirus X) for proactive and representative MCM development. At least one diagnostic candidate in preclinical study, and one therapeutic and one vaccine candidate in Phase I/II clinical trials for each prioritized pathogen were suggested to be developed as strategic national stockpiles. Various generalized and innovative platform technologies were also highlighted for enhancing overall capacities of EID preparedness and response, covering basic research, experiment, detection, prevention and control, surveillance and information sharing. Conclusions: This is the first study in developing countries that established an R&D Blueprint of prioritized diseases, countermeasures and technologies. Our findings could help to drive pre-emptive scientific and technological actions toward emerging pathogens that may cause the next epidemic and could provide evidence-based strategies for developing countries to establish their national health research agenda tailored to health and research context under resource-limited settings.

This paper evaluates rail transit within the context of the transit policies implemented in Lima, Peru. First it reviews the implementation of rapid transit, and bus reform. Secondly, it evaluates the outcomes of such policies by using Total Factor Productivity for policy effectiveness, Data Envelopment Analysis for rapid transit performance, and Generalized Cost of Travel for improvements. This paper finds that implementation failed in enforcing key requirements for rail transit regarding penetration of CBD and short transfers to bus transit; and that the basic assumptions of bus reform did not hold regarding bus oversupply, bus congestion or bus pollution. This paper also finds that outcomes of policies failed dramatically in achieving the planning goals; however, rail transit (Metro) shows high level of resilience in serving large ridership at high speed. On the other hand, bus reform was associated with a disproportionate increase of motorization, well over the effect of income growth or car attractiveness, and more related to the excessive reduction of bus transit capacity ill-advised from unproved bus reform assumptions. This paper recommends expanding rail rapid transit due to its intensive use of green renewable energy and its potential of demand growth if combined with modern Intelligent Transportation services, but this opportunity can be wasted without the proposed policy constraint to achieve lower Generalized Cost of Travel at any governmental intervention for bus reform, instead of just reducing bus transit capacity as implemented. Finally, this paper recommends government to government contracts to build rail transit and to enforce proper planning.

Objective: Child malnutrition is a widespread concern in Sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies mainly focus on the association between women's employment status and child malnutrition, however, the aim of this study is to examine the causal effect of household gender wage gap on child malnutrition in Ethiopia.Methods: This study relies on a data set consisting of 2066 children under 5 years of age using 2018/19 Living Standards Measurement Study data for Ethiopia. A probit instrumental variable (IV) method is applied to determine the causal effect.Results: Persistent gender wage gap of approximately 35% has been observed across various sectors in Ethiopia. Estimated results show that the decrease in household gender wage gap significantly enhances child growth outcomes, especially for younger girls and children in households with limited access to market. Specifically, one percentage point increase in gender wage gap is associated with a 0.74% (p

The oil and gas industry is known for its rapid technological advancements and the complexity of its operations, increasingly relying on data-intensive management. As subsea projects—from exploration to decommissioning—become more complex and data-driven, integrating knowledge management (KM) and database management systems (DBMS) has become essential. The research specifically explores how KM and DBMS contribute to decision-making, utilizing a quantitative methodology through a questionnaire survey. Findings reveal that KM processes significantly improve the effectiveness of non-spatial data management, highlighting KM's crucial role in facilitating technology adoption and operational efficiency. However, the influence of KM on spatial data management and overall decision-making is found to be limited, indicating the necessity for more adaptive and integrated KM strategies that serve the unique requirements of database systems. This study underscores the critical but nuanced role of KM and DBMS in the oil and gas industry, advocating for tailored KM strategies to optimize database management. It suggests future research into the interplay of KM with emerging technologies like AI and machine learning to enhance database management. This investigation stresses the importance of holistic KM practices in effectively managing the intricate data landscapes of subsea project services, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on KM, DBMS, and decision-making in complex settings.

Augmented Reality (AR) is an appropriate technology that allows users to place virtual products in their physical environment (e.g., a piece of furniture), helping them visualize the products before making a purchase. The objective of this study was to examine the comparison between AR mode and web-based mode in online shopping and the impact of six underlying mechanisms, which we have named AR attributes (interactivity, information, enjoyment, novelty, vividness, intrusiveness), on user experience and online purchase intention. To achieve this, two distinct electronic questionnaires were developed. The first group focused on the web-based mode, and 204 individuals who utilized the IKEA website participated. The second group focused on AR mode and 206 individuals who utilized the IKEA Place app participated. The collected data underwent analysis using structured equation modeling and multi-group analysis techniques, enabling a comparative evaluation of questionnaire outcomes. The comparison of the two modes revealed that when participants use the AR mode, interactivity and novelty have a positive and significant impact, while intrusiveness has a negative and significant impact on user experience and online purchase intention. It is important to note that this research was conducted in a developing country, and understanding people's shopping behavior and habits in such a context can unveil new aspects of the adoption of emerging technologies. These results have significant implications for retailers concerning the practical implementation of AR technology in developing countries, providing insights into its potential to enhance user experience and drive online purchase intentions.

Suppressed demand arises from inadequate energy access, resulting in unmet basic needs. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of the informal economy, rising temperatures, and electricity transmission losses on suppressed demand in Ghana from 2000 to 2020, using a quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) approach. The study forecasts suppressed demand using Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios, offering insights for energy system planning. The results indicate that all the variables significantly affect suppressed demand in the mid-quantiles. Notably, transmission losses and growth of informal economy variables significantly impact suppressed demand within the 50th to 75th quantiles but have minimal impact before the 50th and after the 75th quantiles in the long run. Additionally, rising temperatures substantially increase suppressed demand by increasing electricity demand for cooling. All future scenarios project this growth trend will continue through 2050, albeit at varying rates. In the business-as-usual (BAU) case, suppressed demand is expected to steadily increase from 1782 MW in 2020 to 8636 MW in 2050. This trajectory aligns well with historical growth trends, which saw suppressed demand increase from 659 GWh to 1782 GWh between 2000 and 2020. SSP scenarios suggest that suppressed demand could grow substantially through 2050, driven by high losses and informal sector growth. Despite sustainable development narratives like SSP1, suppressed demand remains high without major grid and governance improvements. Comparing the results with past studies shows that our findings align with previous research but provide more nuanced insights by incorporating the effects of the informal economy and using advanced forecasting techniques. Practical policy implications include investing in green infrastructure, upgrading grid infrastructure, and formalising the informal economy to alleviate suppressed demand. These actions are critical for sustainable energy access and meeting future electricity needs effectively.

Background: Despite progress in improving living standards and reduced poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition remain a significant issue worldwide. Childhood is a critical time for the intake of protein to support physical and cognitive growth, including animal-source foods like eggs which can effectively mitigate stunting in low- and middle-income countries. In Malawi, high malnutrition rates among women and children represent a significant public health challenge, but high-quality sources such as eggs remain costly, scarce, and rarely consumed by children in Malawi. The Egg Hub model, identified and piloted by local agri-food entrepreneurs and the Sight and Life Foundation in Malawi, tackles the obstacles faced by smallholder farmers, working to increase egg production, enhance availability, and improve consumption within rural communities by supporting small-scale farmers transition from unsustainable and unproductive backyard rearing to small-scale farm through access to high-quality inputs, training, loans, and a guaranteed market for their eggs. Objectives: This paper provides a detailed account of the implementation of the pilot of the Egg Hub Model in Malawi including the demand creation process, the impact of the model on producers, consumers, and operators, and the social, economic, and environmental sustainability aspects of the model. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative surveys (n = 217 consumers) were used for demand creation and qualitative surveys were used with 15 retailers to determine egg sales. With 16 farmers and the egg hub operator, business metrics, including profits and loss records, were analyzed. Results: The pilot of the Egg Hub model in Malawi supported 85 farmers to triple their egg production, allowing their communities to purchase eggs at prices reduced by 40%, benefiting an estimated number of 180,000 rural poor. Egg consumption among the target population increased from an average of 2 to 9 eggs/month and led to reduced egg wastage and better biosecurity, reducing the risk of children’s exposure to chicken feces and infections. The achievements of this Egg Hub in Malawi allowed the model to be replicated in Ethiopia, Peru, and Brazil, producing 40 million eggs annually and benefiting more than half a million consumers. Conclusion: The Egg Hub model is a comprehensive and scalable solution to increase egg supply, address malnutrition and food insecurity, and improve livelihoods. The advantages include centralizing key activities through a community-centered approach, empowering female farmers, increasing access to a highly nutritious food, and economic benefits for farmers and their communities.

The heart shattering impact afflicted by the notorious cervical cancer is rising rapidly as it emerges as the second most prevalent cancer among women in the developing countries. There was an anticipated 604,127 observed reports and 341,831 fatalities reported worldwide in 2020. The mortality rate was 7.2 deaths per 100,000 women-years, while the age-standardized incidence rate was 13.3 cases per 100,000 women annually. In less developed countries, the accountability was around 87–90% of mortality and roughly 84% of newly diagnosed cases. Resource limitations, inadequate public awareness, and late-stage diagnosis aggravate the complications of cancer mitigation in these regions, compared to the higher income nations. While primary and secondary interventions come off as an enticing solution, international collaborations and the integration of technology also emerge as promising avenues for enhancing cancer care accessibility. This study aims to assess the progress of developing countries in meeting the World Health Organization’s mandate to eliminate cervical cancer by scrutinizing the prevalence of cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, evaluating the impact and execution of HPV vaccination initiatives, and analyzing proposals for cervical cancer eradication within these nations, our objective is to accelerate advancements towards the ultimate goal of eradicating cervical cancer.

The 24th Annual General Meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers’ Network (DCVMN), held in Cape Town, South Africa and co-hosted by Biovac, convened over 400 delegates and featured more than 100 distinguished speakers across three days. This gathering served as a vital platform for vaccine manufacturers from developing nations to share insights, challenges, and achievements, underscoring their pivotal role in global vaccine research, development, and distribution to promote vaccine equity. The conference theme centered on partnerships in various forms and their instrumental role in assisting local manufacturers in achieving their and global health objectives. Speakers provided comprehensive reviews of the vaccine industry’s current landscape, covering aspects such as development, manufacturing, quality control, technology transfer, and gender-related immunization, with a focus on the perspectives of DCVMs. This paper focuses on these interconnected areas, examining their present status through the perspectives of our member manufacturers and prominent global health organizations.

Earthquake is one of the natural disasters that affects the buildings and communities in developing countries. It causes different levels of damages to the buildings, making them uninhabitable for a period of time, called downtime (DT). This paper proposes a Fuzzy Logic hierarchical method to estimate the downtime of residential buildings in developing countries after an earthquake. The use of expert-based systems allows quantifying the indicators involved in the model using descriptive knowledge instead of hard data, accounting also for the uncertainties that may affect the analysis. The applicability of the methodology is illustrated using the information gathered after the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake as a case study. On April 25, 2015, Nepal was hit by the Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake, which damaged and destroyed more than 500.000 residential buildings. Information obtained from a Rapid Visual Damage Assessment (RVDA) is used through a hierarchical scheme to evaluate the building damageability. Sensitivity analysis based on Sobol method is implemented to evaluate the importance of parameters gathered in the RVDA for building damage estimation. The findings of this work may be used to estimate the restoration time of damaged buildings in developing countries and to plan preventive safety measures.

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.

The emergence of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is reshaping industries worldwide, driven by rapid technological progress and the need for open innovation. This study focuses on understanding the interdependencies of driving factors of I4.0 maturity in developing countries using Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods. By analyzing Indonesia, Pakistan, and Venezuela, the research aims to foster open innovation and address the unique challenges these nations face in adopting I4.0 technologies. I4.0 maturity models are essential for evaluating current maturity levels and identifying areas for improvement. However, the complexity and interdependence of various factors—ranging from data science and technology to policy, governance, and open innovation dynamics, such as social open innovation and the role of SMEs—complicate this process. This study employs Fuzzy TOPSIS and Fuzzy DEMATEL to identify the critical factors influencing I4.0 maturity and analyze their interdependencies and prioritization. The results indicate that 'Data and Information' and 'Willingness to Change' are crucial across all countries, while strategic differences between large enterprises and SMEs highlight the need for tailored approaches. This research highlights the importance of continuous IT investment, digital leadership, collaborative ecosystems, and agile strategies in fostering open innovation and driving I4.0 adoption. This research contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of I4.0 maturity, offering valuable insights for practitioners and academics to explore the dynamic interactions of I4.0 factors and their impact on operational efficiency.

In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the significance of green chemistry principles across diverse fields of chemical research, including that of analytical chemistry. This heightened focus is largely attributable to a growing awareness of environmental conditions and the detrimental impact that analytical procedures can have on the ecosystem. To address these concerns, a key approach has been developed in the form of Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC). The GAC represents an environmentally conscious methodology within the field of analytical chemistry. Its objective is to mitigate the detrimental effects of analytical techniques on the natural environment and human health. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of the historical evolution of GAC and examines the tools currently available for assessing greenness metrics. The discussion included a thorough examination of various approaches for evaluating green profiles, including the National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI), the Eco-scale Assessment (ESA), the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI), and the Analytical Greens (AGREE) index. The significance of these approaches in analytical methodology was also explored in depth. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on research articles pertaining to the applicability of the assessment mentioned above tools in the measurement of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, whiteness can be quantified by assessing the constituent principles, thus providing a practical parameter for comparing and selecting optimal methods. The Whiteness Assessment Criteria (WAC) are more closely aligned with sustainable development than other methods due to their holistic perspective. They seek to balance environmental impact with functionality, avoiding an unconditional increase in greenness at the expense of functionality. This review aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive overview of the various whiteness and greenness assessment tools and their latest applications of green metrics for analytical methods in developing countries.

Numerous studies have explored the links between climate change and military conflicts. This study delves into the types and intensities of conflicts likely caused by climate change in developing countries from 1995 to 2020. Through a country-year panel analysis, it isolates the impact of rising global greenhouse gas emissions on conflict occurrence. Findings consistently show a significant positive association between greenhouse gas emissions and military conflicts, especially low-intensity and internationalized intrastate conflicts. Additional tests confirm these results' robustness, including heterogeneity analysis, substitution of key explanatory variables, sensitivity analysis, and alternative analytical methods. The analysis highlights how environmental scarcity due to climate change drives small-scale conflicts within countries, while geopolitics and environmental scarcity also lead to internationalized intrastate wars. The study recommends that developed countries and the international community support developing countries in building resilience against climate change and advocates for collaborative efforts to mitigate its adverse effects on global security.

The rise of African trypanocide resistance (ATr) is influenced by various factors such as evolutionary changes in the pathogen, the presence of resistance genes in the population, poor policy decisions, limited private-public partnerships to engage local communities, and insufficient funding for the development of new drugs over the past sixty years. These challenges have been exacerbated by the inadequate implementation of drug liberalization policies in the mid 20th century, leading to poor pharmacovigilance practices for veterinary drugs in low and middle income countries (LMICs). One health (OH), a disease management framework, provides practical solutions for addressing ATr, drawing on its success in managing previous epidemics like avian influenza in 2004 and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, where institutional collaborations were rapidly established. To combat ATr, OH initiatives involving both international and local partners at the policy and grassroots levels are crucial to generate community interest. The importance of political commitment, media involvement, and nongovernmental organizations cannot be overstated, as they are essential for resource mobilization and long-term sustainability in LMICs.

In the last two decades, the surge in carbon emissions has escalated environmental damage and is a major concern globally. Recognized as a significant threat to humanity, unchecked environmental degradation can potentially hinder the achievement of sustainable development. As a result, accurate monitoring of carbon emissions becomes imperative for formulating effective climate policies. Taking into consideration, this study has taken the newly developed consumption-based carbon emissions measure to study the pollution haven hypothesis and examine the link between Greenfield Investment (GFI) inflows to host nations and their environmental impact for 85 developing countries from 1990 to 2020. The results show a positive correlation between Greenfield investment and Consumption-based Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CCO2) in sampled nations. Similarly, energy usage and export damage the environment because developing countries rely on conventional and old methods of energy usage. The results were further analyzed for low, lower middle, and upper middle income countries as well. The subsample outcome shows that Greenfield investment has a more damaged environment in low income countries as compared to lower middle and upper middle income countries. These insights underscore the urgency for developing countries to adopt environmentally conscious policies to attract international investors. It also emphasizes the need for stringent regulations aimed at curbing environmental pollution and complying with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Similarly, low and lower middle income countries to attract Greenfield investment, may also focus more on strict environmental pollution policies. Industries must be shifted from conventional energy methods to renewable energy sources. Sustainable Development Goals; 7, 12, and 13 can be achieved by host countries, alluring investors to invest in terms of Greenfield in renewable energy resources, which would be used in automobile transportation, to shift industries from conventional energy resources to renewable energy resources. The same Greenfield investment would also be used in bringing efficient machinery for more production in industries with minimal environmental pollution.

The construction industry in developing countries faces significant challenges, including limited resources, infrastructure constraints, and varying levels of technological readiness, which hinder the adoption of Building Information Modelling. Despite the recognized benefits in enhancing project efficiency, reducing costs, and improving collaboration, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding and tailored strategies for Building Information Modelling implementation in these contexts. This study aims to address these gaps by systematically reviewing Building Information Modelling adoption literature from 2013 to 2023 and developing a model specifically designed to guide its integration in developing nations. It categorizes nations by demographic and economic parameters and employs thematic analysis to explore benefits, challenges, and strategies. The study develops a tailored Building Information Modelling adoption model, by highlighting the dynamic interplay between adoption, contextual and strategic factors, technological advancement and socio-economic development and synthesizing key insights from academic literature and empirical findings. It offers strategic recommendations for nations at different Building Information Modelling integration stages, addressing their unique socio-economic and environmental contexts. The study identifies trends in utilization and highlights significant gaps, particularly in empirical, educational and strategic initiatives on digital construction transformation.

Objective: To analyze how patterns of excess mortality varied by sex and age groups across countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with country income level. Methods: We used World Health Organization excess mortality estimates by sex and age groups for 75 countries in 2020 and 62 countries in 2021, restricting the sample to estimates based on recorded all-cause mortality data. We examined patterns across countries using country-specific Poisson regressions with observations consisting of the number of excess deaths by groups defined by sex and age. Findings: Men die at higher rates in nearly all places and at all ages beyond age 45. In 2020, the pandemic amplified this gender mortality gap for the world, but with variation across countries and by country income level. In high-income countries, rates of excess mortality were much higher for men than women. In contrast, in middle-income countries, the sex ratio of excess mortality was similar to the sex ratio of expected all-cause mortality. The exacerbation of the sex ratio of excess mortality observed in 2020 in high-income countries, however, declined in 2021. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has killed men at much higher rates than women, as has been well documented, but these gender differences have varied by country income. These differences were the result of some combination of variation in gender patterns of infection rates and infection fatality rates across countries. The gender gap in mortality declined in high-income countries in 2021, likely as a result of the faster rollout of vaccination against COVID-19.

Recent campaigns towards reducing the housing deficits and enhancing environmental sustainability in developing countries have led to increasing research efforts towards incorporating abundant natural materials into housing construction. One of such materials is oil palm broom fibres (OPBF) which began to attract research attention only recently for having the potential of being used as longitudinal reinforcement for concrete beams when combined as strands. This study provides some practical considerations and guidance for the design of OPBF-strand reinforced concrete using the flexural behaviour curves of 100 × 100 x 500 mm palm strand – reinforced prisms obtained from experimental investigation and parametric studies using finite element modelling. The study recommends the use of allowable stress design methodology for OPBF-strand reinforced concrete. A comparison of the carbon footprint between the OPBF- strand reinforced concrete beam and an equivalent steel reinforced concrete beam shows that the former could provide cheaper and eco-friendlier building material.

The electricity demand is highly stochastic and unpredictable. This is due to the fact that it is significantly impacted by a number of factors, including the type of load, weather, time of day, seasonality, economic limitations, customers’ way of living, and other randomness factors. An accurate load model is one of the main inputs for the design of an economical and reliable renewable-based rural electrification system for rural communities and demand management systems. This paper presents a generic methodology for determining a rural community's energy consumption load profile, which is used to determine the most cost-effective size of renewable energy sources for rural electrification purposes. To determine the load profile parameters, such as the types of appliances used, their functioning times, functioning windows, and expected minimum and maximum cycle time, a field survey was conducted in four rural electrified Ethiopian villages. Since the survey findings will not fully explain the stochastic nature of the load profile, the load parameters are randomly generated, and a bottom-up approach is used to estimate the rural community's energy usage. In this study, household loads, public institution loads, business loads, and small industrial loads are the main consumer types taken into account. These loads are classified according to their energy usage as weekdays, weekends, and national and religious holidays. A MATLAB program is developed and implemented to obtain the load profiles of different customer groups. The results of this study are assessed in accordance with the multi-tier criterion and verified through the use of the well-known software HOMER Pro- and LoadProGen.

Persistent engagement of dairy farmers in informal milk markets poses economic and health challenges while limiting the supply of raw milk to processing plants that heavily rely on smallholder dairy farmers. Consequently, this results in a decline of domestically processed milk products, job losses throughout the dairy value chain, and a transition to becoming net importers of milk and milk products. Based on these challenges, a systematic review of scholarly articles was conducted to find out factors influencing dairy farmers' engagement in informal milk markets. PRISMA approach was employed, where fifteen articles that met the inclusion criteria were analysed after a thorough screening process. The findings show informalities in milk markets is more prevalent in developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. The study revealed four major categories of drivers that influence dairy farmers' engagement in informal milk markets, namely market factors, production factors, farmers-related factors and support service-related factors. In addition, the study employed Pareto analysis, where market and production related factors were prioritized for interventions to enhance reduction of 80% of the challenges limiting dairy farmers' engagement in formal markets. The study contributes towards understanding the factors influencing smallholder dairy farmers' decisions to engage in informal milk markets, which is instrumental in designing policy actions and transition programs for farmers’ engagement in high-value markets. Unlike the previous studies, this paper extends the literature beyond country-specific factors focusing on the extent of the challenge in developing countries.

In addition to health consequences, the Covid-19 pandemic has had important effects on the environment and lifestyle. Municipal solid waste management faced serious challenges due to consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this study, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the quantity and composition of municipal solid waste in Tehran were investigated. The international experiences of municipal waste management in the Covid-19 pandemic were reviewed and the results were used to develop a guideline for waste management in epidemic conditions adapted to local characteristics. The results showed that changes in the quantity of municipal solid waste affected by the Covid-19 pandemic had temporal and spatial variation. The most change in quantity by 15.81% was seen at the beginning of the pandemic, and non-recyclable waste had the most ratio change among the components of municipal solid waste (144%). The emergence of scattered point sources of infectious waste generation was the most important consequence of the epidemic in municipal solid waste management. These experiences were the basis for defining a guideline for the management of municipal solid waste in biological crises. A guideline in six activities and more than 90 items based on the local characteristics such as available equipment, general culture, local economy, and quantitative changes was defined.

This dataset presents perceived values and socioeconomic indicators collected in Siaya, a rural county in Kenya in 2022. The data was obtained from 300 household surveys and group interviews conducted in six sub-counties across eleven villages. Socioeconomic data were collected with a special focus on climate change vulnerability. Information on housing, health, water accessibility and usage, electricity accessibility and usage, extreme weather events, community service, and information accessibility were mapped across survey questions. The user-perceived value (UPV) game – a perception-based surveying approach – was used to elicit local communities’ needs and perceptions of climate change challenges. The UPV game involves asking interviewees to select which graphically depicted items would be most necessary in different situations and probing them for the reasons behind their choices (why-probing). The data was collected in two languages (Dholuo and English) and then translated into English. These surveys and interviews were conducted to better understand the needs of rural Kenyan communities and their perceptions of climate change, with the aim to identify ways to build resilience. Kenyan policymakers can use the dataset to inform county-level energy and development plans, while researchers and development practitioners can use the dataset to better design their research and programmes to reflect local needs and values.

Despite the numerous opportunities offered by globalisation in most agribusiness sectors of African and Asian economies, the sector is still struggling to capitalise on these opportunities and catch up with the trends in developed and emerging markets. Consequently, the current study systematically examined the gaps in the agribusiness industry in Africa and Asia and their significant effects on its growth in the emerging global market. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, we employed the PRISMA technique in identifying 122 relevant articles from Google Scholar and Scopus databases. The data was analysed using Bibliometric tools such as VOS viewer, R-package Bibliometrix and MS Excel. The results reveal that publications on the evolution of the agribusiness industry and its gaps have increased over the past 15 years, with the majority of the journals expanding their scope to prioritize the economic development of the agriculture sector in both Africa and Asia. Scholars from developing and developed countries observed a high level of intellectual collaboration. Likewise, the investment in agribusiness research projects was also at the middle peak, with less funding from developing countries' governments. Journals on agribusiness are limited, particularly downstream agribusinesses, with only one journal focussing specifically on agribusiness studies in developing countries. Five major gaps characterised the agribusiness sector, including business management and entrepreneurship skills and training gaps, inadequate knowledge and skills of the youth, inadequate skills and knowledge among females in agribusiness, and technology and innovation gaps. Barriers and challenges such as poor governance and institutional reforms, social and cultural norms, poor market systems, and inadequate flow of information within the agribusiness industry were also identified as gaps. The findings suggest that governments of developing economies should commit funds to agribusiness projects and research projects tailored to solve developing countries' issues to spark the necessary gains from the agribusiness sector.

This study aims to identify challenges in implementing a quality healthcare referral system in developing countries and explore the strategies to overcome these challenges. Data for this study were collected through consultations with experts in the field. We introduce a novel hybrid method called Criteria Importance Assessment (CIMAS) and Alternative Ranking Order Method Accounting for Two-Step Normalization (AROMAN). CIMAS determines the relative importance of criteria, and AROMAN is employed to rank the strategies. The primary challenges identified include inadequate infrastructure facilities and deficient health information systems. The most appropriate strategy involves focusing on improving infrastructure facilities. We also carry out comprehensive sensitivity and comparative analyses to validate the applicability of the proposed model. This study identifies and elucidates the challenges of establishing a high-quality healthcare referral system in developing countries and substantially contributes to the existing body of knowledge by effectively delineating and prioritizing the strategies to tackle these challenges.

This paper aims to examine the role of economic diplomacy in attracting foreign capital to emerging countries, by developing a composite index measuring diplomatic activity. We focus on what extent does economic diplomacy influence the inflow of foreign capital to emerging countries. Then, we used data from fifty-five (55) developing economies in 2018. The composite index for diplomatic activity is constructed using principal component analysis. Further, we investigated the effect of this index on foreign capital inflows using linear regression based on the ordinary least squares method. The results indicate that the increase in the number of embassies alone does not significantly influence the evolution of diplomatic action. However, diplomacy plays a non-negligible role in attracting foreign capital. Our results demonstrate a positive and significant link between diplomacy and foreign funding, highlighting the importance of this tool for attracting investment and supporting growth in these countries. The findings of this work are going to serve both scientific and practitioners’ communities as it sheds light on the larger debate around the growing role of economic diplomacy in emerging countries in the context of globalization. Moreover, it provides a useful tool for measuring the effectiveness of foreign policies and their impact on economic expansion.

Background: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) in developing countries is an important dilemma and further research is needed to elucidate the infectious causes of FUO. Methods: A multi-center study for infectious causes of FUO in lower middle-income countries (LMIC) and low-income countries (LIC) was conducted between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2023. In total, 15 participating centers from seven different countries provided the data, which were collected through the Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative platform. Only adult patients with confirmed infection as the cause of FUO were included in the study. The severity parameters were quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) ≥2, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, vasopressor use, and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Results: A total of 160 patients with infectious FUO were included in the study. Overall, 148 (92.5%) patients had community-acquired infections and 12 (7.5%) had hospital-acquired infections. The most common infectious syndromes were tuberculosis (TB) (n=27, 16.9%), infective endocarditis (n=25, 15.6%), malaria (n=21, 13.1%), brucellosis (n=15, 9.4%), and typhoid fever (n=9, 5.6%). Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Brucellae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Rickettsiae were the leading infectious agents in this study. A total of 56 (35.0%) cases had invasive procedures for diagnosis. The mean qSOFA score was 0.76±0.94 {median (interquartile range [IQR]): 0 (0–1)}. ICU admission (n=26, 16.2%), vasopressor use (n=14, 8.8%), and IMV (n=10, 6.3%) were not rare. Overall, 38 (23.8%) patients had at least one of the severity parameters. The mortality rate was 15 (9.4%), and the mortality was attributable to the infection causing FUO in 12 (7.5%) patients. Conclusions: In LMIC and LIC, tuberculosis and cardiac infections were the most severe and the leading infections causing FUO.

ABSTRACT: The productivity of smallholder dairy farms is very low in developing countries. Important genetic gains could be realized using genomic selection, but genetic evaluations need to be tailored for lack of pedigree information and very small farm sizes. To accommodate this situation, we propose a flexible Bayesian model for the genetic evaluation of milk yield, which allows us to simultaneously account for nongenetic random effects for farms and varying SNP variance (BayesR model). First, we used simulations based on real genotype data from Indian crossbred dairy cattle to demonstrate that the proposed model can separate the true genetic and nongenetic parameters even for small farm sizes (2 cows on average) although with high standard errors in scenarios with low heritability. The accuracy of genomic genetic evaluation increased until farm size was approximately 5. We then applied the model to real data from 4,655 crossbred cows with 106,109 monthly test day milk records and 689,750 autosomal SNPs. We estimated a heritability of 0.16 (0.04) for milk yield and using cross-validation, a genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) accuracy of 0.45 and bias (regression of phenotype on GEBV) of 1.04 (0.26). Estimated genetic parameters were very similar using BayesR, BayesC, and genomic BLUP approaches. Candidate genes near the top variants, IMMP2L and ARHGEF2, have been previously associated with milk protein composition, mastitis resistance, and milk cholesterol content. The estimated heritability and GEBV accuracy for milk yield are much lower than those from intensive or pasture-based systems in many countries. Further increases in the number of phenotyped and genotyped animals in farms with at least 2 cows (preferably 3–5, to allow for dropout of cows) are needed to improve the estimation of genetic effects in these smallholder dairy farms.

Anthrax is more prevalent in impoverished nations and those without veterinarian public health initiatives. A comprehensive strategy was pursued to build an anthrax-free model in which there would be no anthrax. The strategy included routine vaccination, increased public awareness, rapid confirmation, and prompt disposal, as well as the establishment of an effective surveillance system, the development of an emergency prevention system, the enforcement of regulations, and the improvement of collaboration between human health and veterinary services. From 2017 through 2020, several initiatives including both social and laboratory activities were performed. After strictly applying the study's procedures, it was determined that the vast majority of community people (97.5%) were knowledgeable of the disease's nature, prevalence, significance to public health, and treatment in the study area. The farmers' risky practices and attitudes about the killing of sick livestock decreased dramatically (85%). The vaccination rate climbed from 40% to 85%, and the proportion of farmers who can presumptively identify anthrax based on its prominent clinical symptoms rose from 30% to 85%. A confirmation methodology based on PCR was implemented. A geographical map depicting the green and dangerous pastureland was created. The formation of a steering group to assess the progress of scientific activity. Locals established a slaughterhouse in that location, where individuals slaughtered their animals following veterinary examination and strictly followed drug withdrawal period. The contaminated area has been free of anthrax infection for four years as a consequence of these efforts. There also reduction of antibiotic used due to mass awareness. The study indicated that the model is an efficient, effective, and appropriate technique for establishing an anthrax-free zone where no anthrax outbreaks would occur. It could be replicated in any part of the world where socioeconomic and geographical conditions are similar.

Brucellosis is recognized as a significant global zoonotic infection that disproportionately affects low-income settings. A community cross-sectional survey was carried out in a rural setting of northwest Iran between February and May 2023. Rural individuals were interviewed according to a questionnaire with questions about demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices relating to human brucellosis. We employed descriptive statistics to study knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns. In addition, we applied a multivariable logistic regression model to assess potential predictors of knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to brucellosis using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Among 700 participants, 91.1% were aware of brucellosis, and 85.7% identified cows, sheep, and goats as primary transmission sources. 75.6% and 78.7% recognized transmission risks via unpasteurized and raw milk products. 60.5% understood the benefits of boiling milk and using gloves. Attitudinally, 64.3% perceived higher risk for livestock owners and supported practices like milk pasteurization (70.5%), protective gear (84.4%), handwashing (92.2%), and animal vaccination (71.0%). 90% expressed a need for more information. In practice, 44.8% exclusively consumed boiled and pasteurized milk, 37.8% consumed fresh cheese, and 92.2% solely consumed thoroughly cooked animal meat. Logistic regression revealed that higher education and no prior history of the disease correlated with good knowledge and attitudes, while older participants displayed inappropriate practices compared to their younger counterparts. This study highlights the reasonably high awareness of brucellosis, particularly regarding transmission sources and preventive measures. However, the gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices still exist, with education level emerging as a significant factor. To improve prevention practices, tailored interventions addressing age-related disparities are necessary.

Street trees provide critical ecosystem services and economic benefits that support urban livelihoods. To effectively manage street trees over the long term and maximise their benefits, information on their abundance, composition, and distribution is needed. Unfortunately, a lack of data is prevalent in most cities, particularly those in the developing countries. To address this, species, basal diameter, height, and location of 4,017 street trees were collected from all 16 local government areas (LGAs) of Lagos metropolis (two wards per LGA) to assess their abundance, composition, and distribution. Forty-six species, 37 genera, and 25 families were identified, with Polyalthia longifolia (27.3 %) being the most prevalent species. Most (87 %) of the trees were non-native, and the highest percentage (78.1 %) had basal diameters between 20 and 40 cm. The LGAs which harbour the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Lagos (Ikeja and Eti-osa), have higher species abundance and richness. The Gini coefficient is 0.81, indicating unequal distribution of street trees within different LGAs that made up the metropolis. These results highlight the need to plant a diverse set of species, particularly native species that can provide multiple benefits. The information obtained in this study could provide insights into which species should be planted and where they are most needed to ensure distributional equity. Future studies could seek to understand the key limitations of street tree establishment and management in Lagos metropolis.

The purpose of this study is to examine the main challenges that these entrepreneurs in developing nations confront. This study utilizes a digital startup database maintained by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) in Jordan and conducts semi-structured interviews with a random selection of 85 early-stage digital entrepreneurs. In order to understand the cognitive and psychological characteristics of digital entrepreneurs and their motives for entering the field, this study draws on the theory of planned behavior. Using NVivo 20, a theme analysis is carried out. Based on the interviews conducted, the top industries among the startups that were looked at were big data and business analytics, internet-of-things (IoT), cybersecurity (CT) technology, food service and agri-tech, warehouse automation (WA) and elastic logistics (ELs), conversional artificial intelligence (CAI), financial technology (FinTech), and block chain technology (BCT). 42.5 % of the target population is represented by the large sample size that was used. These obstacles could include long-term funding, a dearth of one-on-one coaching and guidance, unforeseen risks or setbacks, and financial constraints. The study's conclusions may provide policymakers with a tactical manual for removing the main barriers that emerging digital entrepreneurs and their firms must overcome.

The use of modular construction (MC) is well-established in developed countries and is known to promote sustainability. However, MC is not widely utilised in developing countries. To address this issue, a study was conducted to identify enablers that can increase the adoption of MC in developing countries, specifically for residential projects. A survey was conducted to determine the relative value of 21 enablers that boost the adoption of MC. The data collected was analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), which classified the enablers into four main components: Optimization, Planning and Management, Preparation, and Promotion and Improvement. Then, Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) was employed to rank these four components, where it was found that “Optimization” is the top performing component while “ Promotion and Improvement ” is the least performing component. The study's results provide a roadmap for the Egyptian construction industry to adopt MC, which can improve the construction sector, particularly in residential construction. Additionally, the findings of this research help fill a gap in knowledge about the enablers that can enhance the use of MC in developing countries.

The paper uses the data on 1212 microfinance institutions in 106 developing countries to document the impact of gender diversity on boards and gender diversity among borrowers on nonperforming loans (NPLs) during the period 2010–2018. The results show that microfinance institutions with a higher proportion of female borrowers have fewer NPLs than otherwise similar microfinance institutions with a lower proportion of female borrowers. Regarding female board members, the results show no relationship between the proportion of female board members and NPLs. The findings remain qualitatively the same after several sensitivity checks. We also show that characteristics specific to microfinance institutions moderate the relationship between gender diversity and NPLs.

The shipping industry continues to have strong growth prospects due to increased efficiency and economic liberalization. Through seaborne trade, port infrastructure and logistics impact economic growth in developing countries. This makes studying the factors affecting seaborne trade for such countries particularly important. The current paper aims at analyzing the impact of logistics, economic, and demographic variables on seaborne commodity trade between Qatar, Oman, Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran. Employing a gravity model, results show that a 1% improvement in Logistics Performance Index (LPI) consignments in the importing country can result in a 0.8% increase in total trade flows. Based on results, a 1% increase in the tariff rate reduces the value of trade by 0.4%. Furthermore, a 0.5% increase in trade is caused by the increase in population of the destination country. A sensitivity analysis also shows that logistics variables are more significant than economic and demographic variables. It can be concluded that trade policymakers in developing countries can get better results by improving logistics performance and investing on logistics infrastructure leads to more trade.

Background: In this article, the authors discuss how they utilized the genetic mutation data in Sri Lankan Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and Huntington’s disease (HD) patients and compare the available literature from South Asian countries to identifying potential candidates for available gene therapy for DMD, SMA, SCA and HD patients. Methods: Rare disease patients (n = 623) with the characteristic clinical findings suspected of HD, SCA, SMA and Muscular Dystrophy were genetically confirmed using Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), and single plex PCR. A survey was conducted in the “Wiley database on Gene Therapy Trials Worldwide” to identify DMD, SMA, SCA, and HD gene therapy clinical trials performed worldwide up to April 2021. In order to identify candidates for gene therapy in other neighboring countries we compared our findings with available literature from India and Pakistan which has utilized the same molecular diagnostic protocol to our study. Results: From the overall cohort of 623 rare disease patients with the characteristic clinical findings suspected of HD, SCA, SMA and Muscular Dystrophy, n = 343 (55%) [Muscular Dystrophy- 65%; (DMD-139, Becker Muscular Dystrophy -BMD-11), SCA type 1–3–53% (SCA1–61,SCA2- 23, SCA3- 39), HD- 52% (45) and SMA- 34% (22)] patients were positive for molecular diagnostics by MLPA and single plex PCR. A total of 147 patients in Sri Lanka amenable to available gene therapy; [DMD-83, SMA-15 and HD-49] were identified. A comparison of Sri Lankan finding with available literature from India and Pakistan identified a total of 1257 patients [DMD-1076, SMA- 57, and HD-124] from these three South Asian Countries as amenable for existing gene therapy trials. DMD, SMA, and HD gene therapy clinical trials (113 studies) performed worldwide up to April 2021 were concentrated mostly (99%) in High Income Countries (HIC) and Upper Middle-Income Countries (UMIC). However, studies on the potential use of anti-sense oligonucleotides (ASO) for treatment of SCAs have yet to reach clinical trials. Conclusion: Most genetic therapies for neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders have been evaluated for efficacy primarily in Western populations. No multicenter gene therapy clinical trial sites for DMD, SMA and HD in the South Asian region, leading to lack of knowledge on the safety and efficacy of such personalized therapies in other populations, including South Asians. By fostering collaboration between researchers, clinicians, patient advocacy groups, government and industry in gene therapy initiatives for the inherited-diseases community in the developing world would link the Global North and Global South and breathe life into the motto “Together we can make a difference”.

Contract farming (CF) is a critical pathway that supports many African smallholder growers in crop production for commercialisation. Most cash crops, including sugarcane, are grown under CF in developing countries (DCs). Thus, CF is an effective strategy for increasing farmer crop market competitiveness and a tool for smallholder crop cultivation, income sustenance, and input assurance. However, the success of CF varies across DCs and is context-specific depending on the existing CF models (CFMs), with most DCs operating in a single CFM and its out-growers remaining unsatisfied, perceiving CF benefits only to agribusiness firms (buyers). Understanding CFMs and smallholder farmers' crop production can provide a phenotypic difference that edge for the future sustainability of the crops under the strategy. This article critically reviewed literature related to sugarcane CF service delivery and CF support models in DCs. It specifically explores the sugarcane CFM practices, and how they work; and documents lessons learned from well-progressing DCs like Brazil, India, Thailand, etc. To inform the way forward to address the challenges related to the CFMs. A thorough search was conducted in published journal articles, conference proceedings, books, reports, presentations, posters, and case studies related to CF among smallholders, out-growers, and operational CFMs in DCs. The review established that CF is an effective strategy for addressing production and marketing challenges for smallholder sugarcane farmers. However, smallholder farmers require effective intermediary institutions and ought to opt for the diversification of CFMs. This necessitates policy and legal frameworks from their respective governments.

Revenue mobilisation for local development has gained significant global attention in recent years. Particularly, attempts to maximize the efforts for improved revenue collection in developing countries are weakened due in part, to the calibre of human resources available and the kind and extent of available innovative practices used. Extant literature suggests that revenue variability at the local government level is rare in developing countries. This paper expands this body of knowledge by examining the quality and capacity of human resources and innovation and how those factors help explain different revenue mobilisation outcomes among urban Assemblies in Ghana. It is demonstrated in the discussions that despite some capacity challenges, some assemblies can raise more revenue internally than others even though they share similar characteristics. Through key informant interviews and a survey of opinions of ratepayers in four Urban Assemblies in Ghana, it was found that while some assemblies can navigate through the challenges using staff empowerment and some innovative strategies for better mobilisation outcomes, others are unable to do the same and thereby struggle in their revenue mobilisation drive. This paper is part of a broader effort to examine the extent to which local revenue mobilisation can be scaled-up in the face of several constraints in a developing country context.

Recent studies have indicated that many challenges exist in implementing open user innovation in SMEs. As a more advanced paradigm of traditional innovation, open user innovations are developed by users and other stakeholders who share tasks and costs of innovation development and then freely unwrap results. The work presented in this article examines the main factors driving open user innovation in SMEs, operating in industries with low investment in R&D. The work accounts for differences in the economics categorisation of the countries in which the organisations operate in (developing vs developed), and how that impacts various factors related to open user innovation adoption. The findings of this study indicate that differences between Australian and Kuwaiti SMEs exist, in terms of perceptions of success, benefits, challenges, and ease of implementation related to open user innovation. In addition, some differences are observed in the drivers for sensing open user innovation opportunities between the two countries examined.

Solid waste is considered one of the major pollutants of both water and surface worldwide. The growing global population, urban expansion, and industrial growth are the main reasons for solid waste generation. This has become a major challenge with both regional and worldwide consequences. The yearly generation of municipal solid wastes around the world is 2.01 BT (billion tons) among which about 33 % are not ecologically handled. To address this, proper solid waste management, especially recycling waste products, is crucial to achieving sustainability. High-income countries are able to recycle 51 % of their waste, while low-income countries only recycle 16 % of their waste. Inadequate solid waste management practices can only compound environmental and social problems. To handle these issues thermochemical and biochemical methods are used to convert solid waste to energy. Thermochemical method is suitable for developing countries though it is energy extensive. This review provides a detailed analysis of developing countries' solid waste management and energy recovery. It explores energy recovery technologies, including thermochemical and biochemical waste conversion processes.

Background: Indonesia as a developing nation faces a plethora of challenges in applying endovascular therapy (EVT), mostly due to the lack of physicians specialized in neuro-intervention, high operational cost, and time limitation. The efficacy of EVT in improving functional outcomes of stroke in developing countries has not been previously studied. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (Jakarta, Indonesia) from January 2017 to December 2021. Large vessel occlusion (LVO) diagnosis was established based on a combination of clinical and imaging characteristics. We assessed patients’ functional independence on day-90 based on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) between the endovascular treatment group and the conservative group (those receiving intravascular thrombolysis or medical treatment only). Functional independence was defined as mRS ≤2. Results: Among 111 stroke patients with LVO, we included 32 patients in the EVT group and 50 patients in the conservative group for this study. Patients with younger age (p = 0.004), lower hypertension rate (p

Women encounter a plethora of mobility challenges in developing countries due to infrastructure challenges and conservative societal norms. This study examines the transport challenges for women across all income groups in a developing country. The data was collected from Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was collected in two stages, using three focus groups and a Revealed Preference travel survey with 2000 women. The focus group discussion revealed that women face challenges in mobility based on their income groups. Social norms and taboos impact all income groups. Among all the income groups, low-income female travelers are the most vulnerable. They expressed that they seem to be a burden to the society and are almost invisible. The findings of this study can contribute to the understanding of women’s transport mobility issues in a developing country across all income groups. This study directly contributes to Bangladesh’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Solid waste management has been a cavilling issue in Ghana, especially in Kumasi. Thus, this study examines the challenges and recommendations for solid waste management in the Oforikrom Municipality. Data was obtained from 450 respondents from low, middle- and high-income classes using structured questionnaires and interviews were conducted with 6 waste management stakeholders and 50 market venders. Generally, waste management in the area was described as moderate based on the SWAi rating of 50.8 %. While collection and transportation received high ratings of 71 % and 82 % respectively, challenges are apparent in waste segregation (14 %) and disposal (21 %), marked as critically poor and poor, respectively. The overall moderate rating (50.8 %) underscores a mixed performance, signalling the necessity for enhancing storage conditions (36 %) as well. The study showed that occupation (Chi-Square = 0.893, p = 0.029), income (Chi-Square = 0.933, p = 0.021), and satisfaction with waste management services (p = 0.026) displayed notable effects, highlighting their importance in shaping waste management practices. Data from the respondents revealed inadequate practices due to vehicle breakdowns, high transport costs, and funding limitations. Nevertheless, 59.1 % of households expressed willingness to pay for improved waste collection. The dominant waste types were food waste (40 %) and plastics (5.5 %). Disturbingly, 80 % of the households lacked knowledge about waste disposal methods. The study recommends strengthening education and awareness of waste management to residents, improvement of access routes to households and waste disposal sites, and transport of waste should be done at night to ease traffic congestion.

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) poses a considerable challenge to developing countries like Bangladesh because of the rising waste generation rates and lack of effective management practices such as illegal open dumping and informal waste collection. One of the crucial factors in the successful management of MSW is to select the appropriate technology which is a complex multi-criteria and laborious process. Despite the global emphasis on the importance of MSWM in the literature, there is a lack of studies conducted in developing countries that effectively identify and analyze the critical performance criteria for appropriate technology selection. This research aims to address this shortcoming by identifying, and prioritizing the selection criteria and finally investigating the inter-relationship between them and the degree to which they affect or are affected by one another. First, a thorough literature review and expert consultation were employed to determine a set of 21 key criteria using the Fuzzy Delphi method (FDM). Later, taking into account the imprecise and subjective nature of the DEMATEL method on human judgements, the Fuzzy DEMATEL technique was employed to investigate the cause-effect relationships among the identified criteria. The findings of the study demonstrated that 14 criteria were categorized as causal elements that have the most significant influence on the MSWM technology selection process and 7 criteria were categorized as effect. The selection of MSWM technology demands greater consideration of the top three ranked criteria, namely T4- Access to Technology (AT), T8- Feasibility (F), and the Ec6-Infrastructure requirements (IR). By identifying the pertinent criteria, structures and interrelationships, the outcome of the study can facilitate a better understanding of causal relationships among the criteria that require specific consideration from the decision-makers and allow them to select appropriate MSW management technology.