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Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the fifth most prevalent cancer and the fourth deadliest cancer worldwide. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, GC represents about 4.8% of cancer cases with more than 35,000 new cases in 2020. To strengthen and improve the management of this cancer in the region, a group of MENA experts in the field of GC developed the first MENA consensus recommendations for the management of advanced GC. A total of 28 statements were drafted, discussed and voted on, using a modified Delphi process, during a virtual consensus meeting. The statements addressed the areas of epidemiology, biomarkers and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Over the past two decades, the Gulf states have emerged as leading humanitarian actors both regionally and globally. This paper charts the evolution of four of the six Gulf states–Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Qatar–as humanitarian donors and actors. It analyses the evolving humanitarian sectors of the Gulf states, focussing on trends in humanitarian funding, the increasing centralisation of humanitarian governance, and growing capacities in logistics and operations. It then considers the dynamics of politicisation and securitisation of Gulf state humanitarian donors and the potential of and limits to humanitarian coordination and partnership between Gulf and international humanitarian donors. In sum, the study charts the rise and transformation of the Gulf states from merely funding humanitarian efforts to becoming multifaceted humanitarian actors playing diverse roles in the regional and international humanitarian systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the world economy. The need for social distancing, lockdowns, or complete curfews has meant that this impact varied significantly across segments of society. Those unable to work remotely, or who work in settings necessitating close contact with others faced a trade-off between their lives and livelihoods. This trade-off was especially pronounced early on during the pandemic when vaccines had not yet been developed, hospitals were overwhelmed and governments were resorting to strict social distancing measures to mitigate the impact on their already strained healthcare systems. In this study, I examine the extent to which jobs can be successfully performed remotely in five MENA countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Tunisia. I develop a teleworkability index using micro data on occupational characteristics. I find that relatively few jobs in MENA countries are compatible with teleworking and this share varies considerably by industry, gender, age and the formality of employment. I further investigate the ability to work from home in practice by considering the digital divide (a lack of reliable access to vital tools for teleworking, such as a personal computer and reliable internet access) as well as actual work from home behavior during the pandemic using real time surveys. I find that even for those who have high telework potential only few have access to computer and internet. Surveys conducted during the pandemic suggest that our measure of teleworkability was quite close to actual work from home behavior in each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, no previous research assessed the bibliometrics of men's sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRHC) across Arab countries. This study appraised the current standing of men's SRHC research in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. We performed a bibliometric analysis to assess qualitatively and quantitatively the peer-reviewed articles published from Arab countries from inception to 2022. In addition, we conducted a visualization analysis, and assessed outputs, trends, shortcomings and hotspots over the given time period. There was a generally low numbers of publications, 98 studies were identified, all with cross-sectional design, and two thirds explored prevention and control of HIV/other STDs. Studies were published in 71 journals, of which the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association, AIDS Care and BMC public health were most common. The Journal of Adolescent Health, Fertility Sterility and Journal of Cancer Survivorship were among the highest IF ranking. Publishers were commonly USA or UK-based, median journal IF was 2.09, and five articles were in journals of IF > 4. Saudi Arabia had the highest published output followed by Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, while 10 Arab countries had no publications on the topic. Corresponding authors expertise fields were most commonly public health, infectious diseases and family medicine). Collaborations in-between MENA countries were notably low. There is general paucity of published outputs on SRHC. More research across MENA is needed, with more inter-MENA collaborations, and with inclusion of countries that currently have no outputs on SRHC. In order to accomplish such goals, R&D funding and capacity building are required. Research and published outputs should address SRHC burdens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the end of the 19th century, British colonisers, in particular, not only played football as a pastime, they also made use of it to consolidate the political, economic and military interests of the motherland. But while the so-called 'beautiful game' served as an instrument of colonial control, both 'civilising' and 'disciplining' the colonial subjects, it also evolved into a transnational beacon for independence movements, with stadiums becoming important social spaces on the local and national levels. Overall, from a longue durée perspective, the interplay of local and global factors relating to football has triggered both emancipatory and repressive dynamics throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Indeed, the emancipatory power of football has been a consistent feature across the region since the colonial age. However, more recently, the massive wealth of the Arab Gulf States and their decision to invest in football's 'soft power' has again changed the equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris climate agreements’ goals ambitiously aim to hold mean global warming below 2.0°C and to pursue efforts to limit the warming to 1.5°C. One of the effective strategies for achieving these goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector is using wind power. As Egypt is heavily investing in wind farm projects and planning to depend more on wind energy resources in its energy mix, it is important to assess the impact of climate change on its future wind energy production. This study employed eight global climate models of CMIP6 to project the wind power density (WPD) changes under the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) 1–1.9 and 1–2.6 that inform Paris climate agreements and SSP5–8.5 that present the extreme warming scenario. The results showed that the WPD would increase in most Egypt, except in the far southeast. Increases would be pronounced over the far western desert and in Winter compared to other seasons. Nevertheless, Summer and Fall shall have the highest WPD by the end of the century compared to the present. This is favorable because the seasonal WPD pattern is sufficient to meet the local energy need. Unlike the intra-annual variability, few changes were projected in the inter-annual variability of WPD. Furthermore, a shift towards stronger WPDs compared to the historical period was observed. This study’s results can be useful for energy policymakers and planners in managing wind energy production under climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence on imports of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for its food needs has increased steadily since the early 1960s, from 10% to about 40%. This import dependence could continue to rise in coming decades due to the projected MENA population growth and the expected negative impacts of climate change on the region’s natural resources and agricultural performances. To what extent the food import dependency of the MENA region will continue to increase up to 2050 and how the region could mitigate its rising reliance on food imports is both a key question for the region itself and a crucial geopolitical issue for the world as a whole. In this paper, we use a biomass balance model to assess the level of the food import dependency of the MENA region in 2050 resulting from six scenarios. We show that under current trends and severe impacts of climate change the food import dependency of the MENA would continue to rise and reach 50% in 2050. Maghreb would be particularly affected becoming dependent on imports for almost 70% of its food needs. Adopting a Mediterranean diet, reaching faster productivity growth in agriculture or reducing waste and loss along the food chain would contribute to decelerate the rise of the MENA’s food import dependency. However, only the combination of these three options could significantly offset the increased import dependency in the most affected sub-regions: Maghreb, the Middle and the Near East. In all scenarios, Turkey strengthens its position as a net exporter of agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract School-level inefficiencies and mismanagement can have serious repercussions for human resource development and labor market outcomes. This paper investigates the extent and consequences of existing technical inefficiency of schools with respect to their resource- and people-management aspects at a cross-country level across Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. It employs a non-radial Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) alongside a second stage Tobit regression model using datasets in the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019. The analysis covers 5164 schools across 26 countries. In the first stage of DEA analysis, it is evident that technical inefficiencies exist similarly across schools of both OECD and MENA nations, irrespective of the method used for efficiency calculation. While availability of educational resources is a necessary condition for improving learning outcomes, it is surely not sufficient. In the second stage of the Tobit regression, the model confirms that improved utilization of the existing resources through better educational management systems can yield higher cognitive achievement at the school-level. The empirical findings also reveal that discipline maintained within the student body at school is one of the most important and significant factors associated with higher school level input- and output-efficiency across both MENA and OECD regions. Moreover, different aspects of people management, particularly target setting, student as well as teacher motivation, and parental involvement in school management are found to be positively associated with school-level technical efficiency across the two regions, albeit in varying degrees. Overall, educational management policies should shift focus from solely providing higher quantity of resources to improving the technical efficiency of schools through enhanced school-level management, by encouraging disciplinary action, as well as by supporting stakeholder incentives that foster motivation and participation.

Foreign direct investment is one of the most important sources of capital for countries. Knowledge and technology enter the host country through foreign direct investment and lead to increased competition, optimal resource allocation, increased labor skills, increased productivity, and ultimately increased employment and economic growth of the host country. On the other hand, structural economic vulnerability through the creation of economic and political instability, macroeconomic imbalances, exchange rate instability and inflation, leads to a lack of foreign direct investment in the host country. Therefore, if a country has stable macroeconomic policies, foreign investors will be attracted to that country and will be willing to invest in it. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of structural economic vulnerability on the attraction of foreign direct investment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries during the period 2005-2018, using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The results show that in accordance with the theoretical expectations of the research, the index of structural economic vulnerability has a negative and significant effect on attracting foreign direct investment. Iran experiences high structural economic vulnerability in recent years due to its dependence on oil revenues and numerous international sanctions. Among other research results, the variables of logarithm of GDP, political stability index and property rights index have positive and significant effects on the inflow of foreign direct investment.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated major shocks that have crippled the economic development of many countries and regions. The COVID-19 pandemic has hampered not only economic development but also global countries from achieving their sustainable development goals through various channels. Given their first experience, many countries have no guidelines for measuring the true impact of the pandemic on their economic and social development, either at the global, regional, or country level. Amid the current slow research development in this area, this study investigates the medium- and long-run impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United Nation's achievement of sustainable development goals. The sample in the study comprises the Middle East and North African countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The social development goals are approximated by economic growth and human development index, which play as the dependent variables representing two models, respectively. From another aspect, independent variables are derived from three primary sectors: government, households, and healthcare providers. In estimating the model, the study implements the panel regression estimation method using multiple variance estimators. The study findings will help policymakers formulate deliberate policy plans to stabilize economic and social fluctuations in the region and to improve the performance of basic macroeconomic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of financial incentives on R&D performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by analyzing the number of papers published in Saudi-based universities and research institutes in seven sectors for 25 years (1995–2019). It discusses how policies influence R&D performance and examines how financial incentives are associated with research output, quantitatively and qualitatively. The current study aims to provide R&D organizations with insights to make informed decisions concerning the role of incentives in boosting R&D production. Specifically, the current paper targets to answer the question: Did the Saudi Amended Incentive Program (promulgated in 2008) improve research production, i.e., lead to a higher number of published papers? The paper analyzed historical data of scientific publications in the KSA to answer the raised question, compared with MENA and G20 countries. The year 2009 did mark a clear turning point in the KSA's R&D performance in terms of the number of published scientific papers that have risen steadily and multiplied seven times between 2009 and 2019. The study also provides empirical evidence of the effectiveness of governmental regulations and financial incentive schemes in increasing the number of papers published in various scientific fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between gender and corruption in thirteen Middle East and North African (MENA) countries during 2006–2020. We find a poor performance in terms of both corruption and the lack of involvement of women in public life, with a correlation between these two phenomena in the region. Due to the presence of cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity in the panel, we employed second-generation econometric panel unit root and cointegration tests. Using the ARDL-PMG approach, which is categorised as an error-corrected model, we demonstrate that greater involvement of women in the economic and political sphere is associated with lower levels of corruption. The results also indicate that the link between corruption and gender is dependent on the context and institutional factors. The role of democracy and political stability in explaining this interaction is particularly important, especially when women are well-represented in decision-making positions. Finally, we provide evidence that improved gender equality can strengthen the connection between greater involvement of women in public life, and more success in tackling corruption. Greater gender egalitarianism can break down the male-dominated network of corruption that is widespread in MENA countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both real and monetary shocks have been extensively researched, with conflicting findings on the involvement of the banking sector following the occurrence of these shocks. Nonetheless, liquidity creation (LC) appears to be one of the most underappreciated banking operations. This research analyses the impact of LC on economic volatility and the mechanisms through which LC influences volatility in 10 MENA countries from 2000 to 2019. Using a recently published panel cointegration estimating approach, we show that LC does influence growth volatility over the long term and short term—in other words, LC, as a primary activity of banks, helps to reduce volatility. According to PMG's findings, both real and monetary shocks significantly increase volatility in the short term compared to their influence in the long term. The channels of expression show that LC mitigates the influence of real shocks (amplifies the effect of monetary shocks) on growth volatility, and there is a greater magnitude of this effect in the short term. Strengthening the banking industry through LC, which is their primary business, could be a critical strategy in avoiding economic swings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia has facilitated the process of economic diversification inside the kingdom. As a result, several sectors such as technology, logistics, tourism, renewable energy, finance, professional services, and non-oil industries have witnessed the initiation and progression of projects. Despite the existence of numerous bilateral investment treaties (BITs) within the MENA region and with other foreign nations, Saudi Arabia has encountered challenges in attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs). This can be primarily attributed to legislative restrictions, adherence to Islamic laws, inflexible tariff regulations, and trade policies. This research employed a qualitative methodology to undertake an appreciative inquiry into the aforementioned matters, specifically examining the influence of Saudi Arabian Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) on the movement of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). The study additionally conducted a comparative analysis of the bilateral investment treaties (BITs) of Saudi Arabia and established treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The study's findings indicate that the bilateral treaties established with Saudi Arabia did not yield a significant rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) or commerce between the involved nations. Recommendations are put up to enhance the legal framework in Saudi Arabia with the aim of bolstering foreign direct investment (FDI) and commerce. This can be achieved by formulating more comprehensive and precise regulations under bilateral trade agreements established with other nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) describes a group of bone marrow malignancies with variable morphologies and heterogeneous clinical features. The aim of this study was to systematically appraise the published clinical, laboratory, and pathologic characteristics and identify distinct clinical features of MDS in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from 2000 to 2021 to identify population-based studies of MDS epidemiology in MENA countries. Of 1935 studies, 13 independent studies published between 2000 and 2021 representing 1306 patients with MDS in the MENA region were included. There was a median of 85 (range 20 to 243) patients per study. Seven studies were performed in Asian MENA countries (732 patients, 56%) and six in North African MENA countries (574 patients, 44%). The pooled mean age was 58.4 years (SD 13.14; 12 studies), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.4. The distribution of WHO MDS subtypes was significantly different between MENA, Western, and Far East populations (n = 978 patients, p < 0.001). More patients from MENA countries were at high/very high IPSS risk than in Western and Far East populations (730 patients, p < 0.001). There were 562 patients (62.2%) with normal karyotypes and 341 (37.8%) with abnormal karyotypes. Our findings establish that MDS is prevalent within the MENA region and is more severe than in Western populations. MDS appears to be more severe with an unfavorable prognosis in the Asian MENA population than the North African MENA population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research carries out an analysis of the websites published by MENA countries' embassies with a presence in Spain, in order to understand whether they practice digital diplomacy. Such activity is a low-cost, wide-ranging public diplomacy tool. The analysis covers a two-year period (2020-2022) that coincides with the Covid-19 pandemic, a context that prompted the digitization of many sectors. The article contributes to the literature on Arab and Israeli digital diplomacy, as well as on digital diplomacy as practiced by embassies. Specifically, this exploratory analysis examines the webpages and published press notes of four countries' embassies, including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Morocco, and Qatar. These countries were chosen because they have the most robust websites in Spanish, together with the fact that they were the MENA countries whose governments pioneered the use of Twitter as an instrument of digital diplomacy. The article examines the topics and interpretations provided by the press notes published on these embassies' websites. A discourse analysis methodology with references to the original sources is applied. Topics and interpretations are classified into four types of public diplomacy: media diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, niche diplomacy and nation branding. The conclusion is that the MENA countries studied neglect digital diplomacy on their websites in Spain, missing out on the opportunities it represents. The apparently four most digitized embassies in this group have errors on their webpages and often only publish messages from their respective foreign ministries, focusing on regional and internal issues rather than on their bilateral relationship with Spain. This is especially true of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) are cancer precursors targeted by secondary prevention of cervical cancer programs that are sometimes difficult to grade accurately. Mena is an actin regulatory protein involved in membrane protrusion, cell motility, in tumor invasion and metastasis. We studied retrospectively 68 cases of patients diagnosed with squamous intraepithelial lesions that received expedited treatment (treatment without colposcopic biopsy). We analyzed demographic, behavioral data, obstetrical and medical history, from the patients' medical charts and we studied the cervical fragments or cones harvested after the excisional procedure. Our study failed to identify a correlation between SILs and risk factors such as low socioeconomic status, combined oral contraceptive use, intrauterine device use, parity, gravity, except for the tobacco smoking habit that proved to be related to the cervical lesions' development. Mena was expressed in most of the analyzed SILs and its expression was correlated with lesions' grade in terms of both area and intensity, suggesting that Mena stains especially abnormal cells and that its expression intensity correlates with the risk of malignant transformation. Further studies are needed to validate Mena as an early stage of cervical carcinogenesis marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expatriate citizens of countries under authoritarian rule have been increasingly engaging in protest against repression in their home countries. Whether such diaspora protests can boost social uprisings inside authoritarian countries, however, is yet to be analysed. I hypothesise that diaspora protests inspire protest against authoritarian rulers inside the home country by reducing political repression or providing the dissidents with a perception of political opportunity. To test this hypothesis, I use Iran as a case study of an authoritarian regime with a sizeable diaspora and notable protest surges in recent decades. Using daily protest data from 1996 to 2018, results show that protests against the Iranian regime by Iranian expatriates were followed by a significant increase in the chance of protest incidence inside Iran. This association is robust to a variety of modelling specifications and independent of the role of transnational organisational links between activists, which has been documented in the literature previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Military Science Review / Hadtudományi Szemle is the property of National University of Public Service and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The EU's foreign policy is currently focused on supporting Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression and on dealing with the consequences of the war, particularly in terms of energy security. But Europeans also face many challenges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), from countering extremism and tackling Iran's expanding nuclear programme to addressing widespread social and economic fragility. The problem is that European foreign policy towards the MENA region has often suffered from disunity among the member states and a lack of assertiveness, particularly in dealing with security issues. Still, Europeans cannot insulate themselves from what happens in the region. They will have to devote more political attention and resources to tackling its economic and security challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the motives of small Arab donors for the provision of aid. The existing literature of financial assistance separates donors into two main categories, namely large donors, who are geopolitically motivated, and small donors, who allocate aid according to recipients' needs. Contrary to this practice in the literature, this article argues that there is a third category, that is, small Arab donors. This third category combines elements from the other two. By utilising multiple documentary sources, this article finds that the moral obligations of aid are often side-lined, as aid decisions are determined by the domestic and foreign policy agendas of donors. Although considered as small donors, this situation results in the use of aid as an instrument to promote donors' interests in the region. The three case studies (Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates) reveal the different strategies that small Arab donors pursue in order to achieve their geopolitical and economic objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the analysis of mean reversion and convergence of the ecological footprint (EF) in the MENA region. Using a long memory model based on fractional integration, we find that the results are very heterogeneous across countries depending on the assumptions made on the error term and the use of original versus logged data. Nevertheless, some conclusions can be obtained. Thus, mean reversion is decisively found in the case of Tunisia, and other countries showing some degree of reversion to the mean include Israel, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. Dealing with the issue of convergence within the MENA countries, similar conclusions hold and only Tunisia reports statistical evidence of convergence for the two types of errors. Additional evidence is found in the case of Syria, Yemen, and Jordan with uncorrelated errors and for Iran with autocorrelation. It is recommended that environmental policies targeted at stabilizing the trends in EF in the MENA region should not be indiscriminately applied in consideration of the heterogeneous nature of the series in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks a comprehensive meta-analysis of mycotoxin contaminants in animal feed consumed in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The obtained articles were reviewed, and 49 articles that investigated the contamination of mycotoxins including aflatoxins (AFs), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin, fumonisins (FUM), and ochratoxin A (OTA), in feed samples or components of animal feed in the MENA region were selected. The titles of the final articles included in the study were meta-analyzed. Necessary information was extracted and categorized from the articles, and a meta-analysis was performed using Stata software. The highest contamination was in dry bread (80%), and Algeria was the most contaminated country (87% of animal feed), with the most mycotoxins contaminating AFs (47%) and FUM (47%). The highest concentration of mycotoxins in animal feed is related to FUM (1240.01 μg/kg). Climate change, economic situation, agricultural and processing methods, the nature of the animal feed, and improper use of food waste in animal feed are among the most critical factors that are effective in the occurrence of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed in MENA. Control of influential factors in the occurrence of contaminations and rapid screening with accurate identification methods to prevent the occurrence and spread of mycotoxin contamination of animal feed seem important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of competition in the Middle East and North Africa countries for the period of 2012-2021. The bank efficiency is measured using Stochastic Frontier Analysis. Using a sample of 177 commercial banks and a dynamic panel data approach in GMM technique, the empirical results revealed that the higher the competition the higher bank efficiency. This finding suggests that banks in countries with low high competition tend to perform more efficiently. Furthermore, a negative but insignificant relationship between total assets and bank efficiency reflects the fact that larger banks in developing countries suffer from diseconomies of scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of disability in older people. Although often underemphasized, it may affect quality of life and imposes a considerable burden on the health system. This study evaluated the epidemiology of hand OA in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This epidemiological study was performed based on the Global Burden of Disease study from 1990 to 2019. The incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLD) in all 21 MENA countries during the study period were reported in rate, age-standardized, and percentage. Hand osteoarthritis in MENA increased 2.7-fold, from 1.6 million cases to 4.3 million from 1990 to 2019 with an age-standardized incidence rate of 50.2 (95% CI, 38.2–66.4) per 100,000 people in 2019. Saudi Arabia had the highest age-standardized prevalence in both 1990 (2.3%) and 2019 (2.3%), whereas Turkey had the lowest (0.3%) in both years. Total YLDs due to hand osteoarthritis increased by more than 2.7-fold, from 50,335 to 135,336 during the study period. The highest rate of increase in YLD rate from 1990 to 2019 was in Iran (3.3) and the largest decrease was in Qatar (−11.5). In contrast to the global trend, MENA hand OA prevalence and YLDs did not decrease between 1990 and 2019 and remained constant over time. Aging and increasing obesity rates, particularly among women, might be the contributing factors. Hand OA epidemiology varies by country, possibly due to genetic, ethnic, and environmental factors. Prognostic II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Development Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) infection is a prevalent, sexually transmitted infection with poorly characterized prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study characterized HSV‐2 epidemiology in MENA. HSV‐2 reports were systematically reviewed as guided by the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook and findings were reported following PRISMA guidelines. Random‐effects meta‐analyses and meta‐regressions were performed to estimate pooled mean outcome measures and to assess predictors of HSV‐2 antibody prevalence (seroprevalence), trends in seroprevalence, and between‐study heterogeneity. In total, sixty‐one overall (133 stratified) HSV‐2 seroprevalence measures and two overall (four stratified) proportion measures of HSV‐2 detection in laboratory‐confirmed genital herpes were extracted from 37 relevant publications. Pooled mean seroprevalence was 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6%–6.8%) among general populations, 13.3% (95% CI: 8.6%–18.7%) among intermediate‐risk populations, 20.6% (95% CI: 5.3%–42.3%) among female sex workers, and 18.3% (95% CI: 3.9%–39.4%) among male sex workers. Compared to Fertile Crescent countries, seroprevalence was 3.39‐fold (95% CI: 1.86–6.20) and 3.90‐fold (95% CI: 1.78–8.57) higher in Maghreb and Horn of Africa countries, respectively. Compared to studies published before 2010, seroprevalence was 1.73‐fold (95% CI: 1.00–2.99) higher in studies published after 2015. Pooled mean proportion of HSV‐2 detection in genital herpes was 73.8% (95% CI: 42.2%–95.9%). In conclusion, MENA has a lower HSV‐2 seroprevalence than other world regions. Yet, 1 in 20 adults is chronically infected, despite conservative prevailing sexual norms. Seroprevalence may also be increasing, unlike other world regions. Findings support the need for expansion of surveillance and monitoring of HSV‐2 infection in MENA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted interviews with conflict journalists who covered the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Iraq and who work for the major international news agencies and media companies. These journalists did most of their reporting from remote locations as the conflict zones were too dangerous to be physically present. We investigated how the journalist did their jobs with the communicative affordances of digital tools and how digital trust-building occurred. The trust-building process between journalists and sources shifted across platforms and according to the technologies' communicative affordances. We established that reporters had embraced the flow of news material on social media platforms as a valuable source of information, but after exercising extreme caution. Journalists upheld the boundaries that separated them from amateurs by emphasizing their role in making sense of events. They also fortified their gatekeeping role through verifying and vetting information – a task needed to maintain credibility and protect readers and viewers from misinformation and propaganda. Encrypted messaging applications such as WhatsApp played a major role in speeding up communication with and protecting potential sources and verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banks are financial intermediaries who transform deposits into loans. Banks in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region use large deposits from oil companies and big businesses to finance trade, and fund government and private sector infrastructure projects. The role of banks in financing trade and development is significant as undeveloped capital markets are unable to perform this function. During the COVID-19 crisis, banks sustained liquidity shocks, as deposits were withdrawn to meet personal and business needs. Essentially, banks could not make loans, as the funds to make loans were depleted. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of liquidity creation as a main force, in conjunction with other performance predictors such as efficient asset management, asset quality, and bank size, on bank financial performance, either individually or in conjunction with liquidity creation during the COVID-19 financial crisis. We used bank financial data from a sample of 298 banks from 11 countries in the MENA region, including Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Israel, from 2020 to2021. Liquidity creation, efficient asset management, asset quality, and bank size increased bank return on assets and return on equity. Bank size and asset quality acted jointly with liquidity creation to increase return on assets and increase return on equity. We conclude that as liquidity creation acts individually, and in conjunction with asset quality and bank size to increase bank profits, both its main effect and its moderated effect, can maintain bank profitability, during periods of extreme liquidity supply shocks, such as the COVID-19 crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThis study presents an original contribution by examining an often-neglected country in the Middle East and Northeast Africa (MENA), with a specific focus on women’s career research. It identifies challenges that have created barriers for Sudanese women’s career progression, consequently limiting their opportunities for career and leadership growth. To conceptualize understand women’s career motivations on a global and regional scale, the study conducted an in-depth review and analysis of literature, benchmarked similar countries, and incorporated psychological and organizational behavior theories, alongside examples of women’s empowerment cases from the MENA region.MethodsThe study employs a multifaceted approach that involves exploring psychological and organizational theories, drawing insights from self-efficacy, stereotype, and implicit bias theories, as well as MENA empowerment cases. Additionally, an empirical investigation is conducted through an extensive three-round Delphi study involving 75 Sudanese women leaders from diverse sectors. The empirical findings are crucial for understanding obstacles faced by women and the impact of Sudan’s unique social context on their career paths.ResultsThe research findings shed light on the complex interplay of factors creating roadblocks for Sudanese women’s career advancement. Sudan’s distinctive social context significantly shapes and influences women’s career motivations in diverse and interconnected ways. Empirical evidence from the Delphi study underscores the broad impact of these roadblocks, highlighting the multiplicity of challenges faced by women in Sudan. This comprehensive analysis not only aids in comprehending workplace obstacles but also provides valuable insights into the diverse experiences and needs of female employees. The findings emphasize the broad impact of these barriers on women, underscoring their varied challenges.DiscussionThe research holds far-reaching implications. By contextually identifying barriers that impede Sudanese women’s career motivations, the study lays a foundation for targeted solutions. This understanding is grounded in historical, theoretical, and policy-making perspectives, enabling informed strategies to support women’s advancement. The study also offers actionable policy recommendations for governments, workplaces, and stakeholders, facilitating women’s career growth through policy reforms and capacity-building initiatives. Furthermore, its significance extends beyond Sudan, acting as a catalyst for developing gender-responsive policies in similar MENA countries and beyond.