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The gravity model approach was used to examine intra-trade flows and exchange rate volatility among BRICS countries. The study discovered that GDP has a significant impact on intra-trade flows, whereas geographical distance and exchange rate volatility have a negative impact on intra-BRICS trade flows. According to the results of the gravity model, special attention should be paid to improving the exchange rate stability of each BRICS country's real GDP. The study recommended that policymakers in the BRICS countries craft macroeconomic policies that reduce exchange rate volatility while maintaining the level and pattern of trade openness. The BRICS economies should generally strengthen and restructure their domestic foreign exchange markets, as their absence acts as a roadblock in mitigating exchange rate risk.

The study investigated the applicability of the Economic- Social- Governance (ESG) model in universities and high education in South Africa. The study covered the period spanning from 2010 to 2023. A bibliographic analysis procedure was used in this study to retrieve results from the Scopus search and VOsviewer software packages. The study found a rising trend in the number of documents published by affiliation, donor funding, and type. The study also visualizes numerous citations and high collaboration among authors. The study also compared GNP, education, and the number of published documents related to the ESG model and obtained a positive trend during the period under study. The study recommended that universities or higher education institutions embrace the applicability of ESG models in their operations. They should not only focus on financial benefits and government issues while neglecting the welfare of the students.

This study examined the relationship between institutional quality, governance and poverty reduction in 5 BRICS countries from 2000 to 2021. The System Generalised Methods of Moments (SYS-GMM) model was applied for both models. The study revealed that all the variables under investigation were free from Arellano – Bond Serial Correlation, Multicolinearity and Heteroskedasticity. The System-Generalised Method of Moments model J-value statistics used assess the validity of the instrumental variables reported 0.58 for model 0.54 for model 2, which therefore signifies that the use of SYS-GMM model is valid. The SYS-GMM revealed that control of corruption, political stability, the rule of law, government effectiveness, voice and accountability, GDP per capita and trade openness have a significant and positive relationship with poverty reduction. The study recommended that BRICS governments should prioritise implementing poverty reduction programmes that encompass vulnerable communities. BRICS governments should also invest much in fighting corruption, ensuring the rule of law practices and maintaining government effectiveness to reduce poverty in their economies.

Results based financing as a component of health financing is one of the endorsed panacea to maternal mortality rate globally. The study undergoes a systematic review on the impact of results-based financing on maternal mortality rate in SSA. The study draws the results from the Scopus search database which has been argued to be more friendly and accurate than PubMed and Web of Science. The Scopus reported that there have been more publications and citations in the area of maternal health care and results-based financing during the period under study, this shows that, results based financing has becoming an interesting topic since its inception in SSA. The Scopus search database indicated that on 58 bibliometric studies retrieved on maternal health care, more were focusing on health delivery systems, maternal health services and health financing. The study also shows that despite the role played SSA countries in promoting maternal health care, the maternal mortality rate is still far beyond the United Nations target of reaching 70 deaths per 100 000 live births. Therefore, it is recommended that, SSA countries should source enough finance from local stakeholders, international organisations, among others in order to finance health system delivery. More so, they should develop other financing models that will capacitate the health sector to reduce maternal mortality.

This paper examined the import demand function for two panels, namely, BRICS and G7 countries, from 1992 to 2021. The study used panel time series data from the World Development Index (WDI). Choi test (Choi, 2006), Im, Peasaran, and Shin test (2003 unit root test) were used to test for stationarity. The tests indicated that variables became stationary at the first difference, I (0) and I (1). The Pedroni Cointegration Test exhibited a long-run relationship in G7 countries among the variables in question. However, for BRICS countries, the test indicated no long-run relationship between the variables in question. The dynamic ordinary least squares technique assessed the short- and long-run results. The results showed that real GDP influences import demand for both BRICS and G7 countries. Similarly, the real effective exchange rate antagonistically influences import demand capacity for G7 and BRICS countries. Pairwise Granger causality exhibited that there is bidirectional causality between real income (a real GDP proxy) and import demand in both trading blocs (BRICS and G7 countries). Even more along these lines, unidirectional causality runs from import price to import demand; however, in G7 countries, there is bidirectional causality between import price and import demand. Consequently, the policymakers for BRICS and G7 countries should monitor the movement of the authentic trading scale, real GDP, local prices, and import prices to stay aware of solidarity not yet settled in trade.

Alternative energy and natural gas not burning of fossil fuels, leads to environmental sustainability. The study examined the role of alternative and nuclear energy in stimulating environmental sustainability while considering the role played by the government expenditure in the BRICS bloc over the period 1990-2021. The study confirmed that environmental sustainability received significant attention from researchers in different countries worldwide. The study found that GDP has a negative impact on carbon dioxide emissions, while alternative energy, government consumption expenditure and natural resources have a positive relationship with carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, BRICS countries should invest in new technologies to cater for environmental sustainability.

Industrialization of the Chinese economy has made China a formidable force in the global economy. Similarly, Africa has witnessed increased Chinese activity as shown by rising figures in trade with China, Chinese foreign direct investments, Chinese aid and debt to Africa. Despite the rise in Chinese activities in Africa, there is doubt about the impact of such on growth of African economies. Chinese aid and debt are observed to bear hidden costs that outweigh the benefits. Whereas Chinese trade and investments are claimed to be resource seeking and not genuine. The World Bank also observed that Chinese finance is secretive and does not comply with the best practices of good governance. In this regard, this paper aims to assess the impact of Chinese activities in Southern Africa. The paper uses an explanatory research design. On determining the effect of Chinese activities, we adapt a Solow-growth model. A panel data set is assembled using individual countries’ time series data on the variables of interest. The study uses real GDP growth rate as the dependent variable. The explanatory variables in this paper are GDP per capita, trade with the rest of the world, rest of the world foreign direct investment, Chinese trade, Chinese debt, Chinese FDI, Chinese aid and population growth. Document analysis is the major data collection tool in this paper. Data on Chinese debt, investments, trade and aid is on documents of the Ministry of Commerce of China and John Hopkins University China Africa Research Initiative. Whereas, data on world trade, FDI inflows, population growth, real GDP growth and GDP per capita is on World Bank and IMF public data sets. We use Stata 15 for data analysis. The diagnostic tests showed that we have a problem of heteroscedasticity and auto-correlation. Whereas, the Hausman model choice test showed that the random effects model is the most efficient and consistent than the fixed effects model. We therefore adopt the Feasible Generalised Least Squares regression (FGLS); as this model is robust under autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity. The regression results show that GDP per capita and rest of the word FDI are the only statistically significant explanatory variables at 5% level of significance. All the other variables that is Chinese trade, Chinese debt, Chinese FDI, Chinese aid, population growth and trade with the rest of the world became statistically significant at 10% level. The study recommends that Southern African countries need to establish a thriving democracy and improve the quality of institutions as a way to attract long term investments from the rest of the world. On dealing with China, the paper observes that there is a possibility that all citizens can benefit from Chinese activities and as a region there is need to change the current systems that benefit the political elite and support corruption at the expense of sustainable and inclusive economic development.

Food insecurity is central to the fight against diseases and poverty in Africa. This explains why some governments, particularly in emerging economies, strive to identify the factors that incapacitate households to produce their own food. However, despite the existence of institutions and policies that support smallholder food production, the efforts have fallen short of expectations. This has generated serious anxiety and scepticism concerning the role of existing institutions and preferred policies. Thus, an exploratory study on the factors affecting the adoption of sustainable coping strategies among rural households was conducted in Chipinge district. Multistage random sampling method was used to select the study area and the respondents. Structured interview schedule and/or questionnaire were the methods employed to collect data from 120 household heads and 5 extension officers. Principal component analysis (PCA) and descriptive statistics were the analytical tools used to examine the constraints affecting the adoption of sustainable coping strategies. The PCA results revealed that the main challenges inhibiting the adoption of sustainable coping measures were labour, public and institutional constraints; religious values and land related problems; inadequate information on early warning system; limited employment opportunities and credit facility constraints; and poor rural farming projects and essential services provision constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of microfinance to food security using the lens of the Right-Based Approach to food. The paper adopts a qualitative research methodology, following an exploratory research design. The research findings show that microfinance has a positive contribution towards rights to food and food security. However, in other African contexts, microfinance worsening the status of the poor. It was thus established that proper management of microfinance programs is likely to bring more benefits than problems. Making the ‘right to food’ and the ‘right to credit’ aspects of human rights will strengthen the productive systems of food to ensure sustainable supplies for effective food security mechanisms. The paper recommends that the linkage between microfinance and food rights be escalated to policy level discussions. Policies that promote a combination of the two rights need to be developed.

Most Zimbabweans living in rural areas experience acute shortages of water for domestic and agricultural purposes. Household poverty amongst rural inhabitants is also increasing because of factors such as El Niño-induced droughts, overdependence on donor assistance and government's failure to invest in sufficient water infrastructure. The purpose of this article is to interrogate the initiatives that have been taken to alleviate food insecurity in Zimbabwe's rural communities. Under the spotlight are the strategies that rural communities and other stakeholders embraced to adapt to the effects of El Niño and to reduce food poverty. We used extensive literature review methodology and explorative qualitative design to investigate how rural communities and other stakeholders in Zimbabwe deal with the issues of food security in the context of persistent El Niño-induced droughts. The results show that rural communities in Zimbabwe continue to experience food security challenges that require collaboration between communities, government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders to build resilience against El Niño-induced droughts. Modernising water supply systems and agricultural management systems can improve the efficiency and effectiveness in food production and distribution., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article., (© 2022. The Authors.)

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) causes esophageal narrowing and strictures, but factors that modify the severity of strictures and requirement for subsequent dilation are not well described. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics that impact the need for repeat (> 1) esophageal dilations in EoE patients., Methods: This was a single center retrospective cohort study over a 12-year period (September 2005-October 2017). Patients were identified using ICD9, ICD10, and CPT codes for esophageal dilation, eosinophilic esophagitis, and esophageal obstruction. Data for EoE clinical characteristics, treatments, and BMI were extracted and correlated to the number of esophageal dilations and time elapsed between dilations., Results: Of the 21 patients who met inclusion criteria, 11 (52%) had at least two dilations and 9 (43%) had three dilations. There was no differences baseline demographics between patients who needed ≥ 2 vs. those who needed one dilation. However, patients with a BMI > 30 had a significantly longer median time to second dilation compared to non-obese patients (4.9 years vs. 1.8 years; p = 0.027). Stratification by either high dose PPI or inhaled steroid use did not change this result., Conclusions: EoE patients with strictures who are obese have a reduced requirement for subsequent esophageal dilation. While the mechanism for this is not clear, increased attention of non-obese patients with fibrostenotic EoE is indicated as they are at higher risk for recurrent strictures., (© 2021. The Japan Esophageal Society.)

Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL), previously known as Type-II enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), is a rare subset of relatively aggressive lymphoma with a poor prognosis. We present a case of a previously healthy 59-year-old male with a 2-week history of abdominal distention who was found to have a non-bleeding ulcerated segment in the proximal jejunum secondary to MEITL. This exceedingly rare type of lymphoma usually presents with non-specific symptoms and can be challenging to diagnose. Our case demonstrates the importance of understanding the endoscopic and histological findings to allow the prompt diagnosis and treatment of this aggressive disease., (© 2021. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Given the significant prevalence of CRC, regular preventative screening is required. CRCs in different locations of the colon have variable molecular pathogenesis, gross appearance, and general disease outcomes. While the overall incidence of CRC has been decreasing, the decrease in proximally located CRC significantly lags behind the other forms of CRC. The objective of this study was to establish independent risk factors for proximal CRC for better identification of populations at risk for closer CRC monitoring and observation., Methods: A time-trend analysis was conducted using data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1973-2007, comparing patient characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, year of diagnosis, age of diagnosis, tumor grade, tumor stage, and urban-rural setting) between CRCs originating in different locations., Results: Analysis demonstrated that black race, female sex, age over 60, and being diagnosed in the 21st century (rather than 20th) were associated with an increased risk of proximal CRC compared to CRCs originating in other locations., Conclusions: Our study showed that black race, female sex, and age over 60 independently increased the likelihood of proximal CRC diagnosis. Furthermore, CRC trends identify an increasing proportion of all CRCs being of proximal origin. It is imperative that patients undergo regularly scheduled complete colonoscopies by trained endoscopists, especially if they belong to the high-risk groups previously identified., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None, (Copyright: © Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology.)

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are slow progressive diseases which have been increasing in prevalence. The pathogeneses of PBC and PSC are incompletely understood but the underlying mechanisms appear to be fundamentally autoimmune in origin. Although PBC and PSC appear to be separate entities, overlap has been described. Diagnosis depends on a combination of serological markers, imaging, and pathological criteria. The mainstay of treatment has been ursodeoxycholic acid and in some cases of extrahepatic biliary obstruction and overlap disorder, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography has been useful., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interests related to this publication., (© 2020 Authors.)

Bacillus subtilis culture filtrate (BSKR) was examined for its immunomodulating ability in the immunodeficient beige mouse and the immunocompetent Han:NMRI mouse strain. Following various application schemes the mice were challenged either subcutaneously with Escherichia coli or intranasally with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The mortality rates and the median of survival time were determined. Following subcutaneous application of BSKR Han:NMRI mice challenged with E. coli showed a decrease in mortality regardless of the application scheme. Using the beige mouse a protective effect was observed only after single applications of relatively low doses. Using Sc. pneumoniae as the challenge organism, a subcutaneous application of BSKR caused a decrease in mortality only if it was given on the day prior to infection. In both infection models the intranasal application of BSKR and/or of saline proved to be beneficial by either significantly decreasing the mortality or considerably increasing the survival time of beige and Han:NMRI mice.