Anemia and undernutrition in intestinally parasitized schoolchildren from Gakenke district, Northern Province of Rwanda

Background Rwanda is a sub-Saharan country, where intestinal parasite infections, anemia and undernutrition coexist. The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between intestinal parasite infections and undernutrition/anemia to clarify the priorities of intervention in the rural area of Gakenke district in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Materials and methods A total of 674 students from Nemba I School, participated in a cross-sectional study, in which their parasitological and nutritional status were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed by χ2 test, univariate analysis and Odds ratios (OR). Results A total of 95.3% of children presented intestinal parasitism, most of whom (94.5%) infected by protozoa and 36.1% infected by soil-transmitted helminths (STH), with Trichuris trichiura (27.3%) being the most prevalent. Multiple infections were found to be high (83.8%), with protozoa and STH co-infections in 30.6%. STH infections were mainly of low/moderate intensity. Neither infection nor STH infection of any intensity profile, was significantly related to anemia. In addition, STH infection, regardless of the intensity profile, was not associated with stunting, underweight or thinness. There was no difference between genders nor among ages in odds of anemia and nutritional status in STH-infected schoolchildren. Conclusion Multiparasitism remains high among Rwandan schoolchildren and is likely to cause nutritional problems. This work emphasizes the importance of keeping up health programs to reduce the prevalence of infection.

Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in indigenous residents of the Hà Giang northern province of Vietnam

Vietnam is an endemic territory of the South-East Asia in terms of the prevalence of hepatitis E virus. However, the data on the prevalence of HEV infection among the indigenous population of Vietnam are limited, whereas the data on various minor ethnic groups are not available. Рopulation of the Northern province Hà Giang is characterized by ethnic diversity and consists of about 22 ethnic groups that have preserved their ethnic identity determining the features of their lifestyle and farming. The goal of the current study was to conduct a cross-sectional examination to assess prevalence of serological markers of HEV infection in the indigenous population of the Northern province of Vietnam, Hà Giang. Materials and methods. A total of 1127 healthy indigenous residents aged 18 to 83 years (average age 42.8±1.5) who lived in three regions (Yên Minh, Bắc Mê and Đông Văn) of Hà Giang province in 2019 were enrolled in the study. The presence of HEV-specific IgG antibodies (anti-HEV IgG) was determined by the ELISA using kits “DS-IFA-ANTI-HEV-G” (LLC NPO “Diagnostic Systems”, Russia). Results. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies in the indigenous population in the Hà Giang province was 74.4% (838/1127; 95% CI 71.7–76.8), with the peak occurrence of anti-HEV IgG (87.6%) found in Đông Văn region, which was significantly higher compared to those in the Bắc Mê (χ2 = 16.37, p = 0.000052) and Yên Minh (χ2 = 214.64, p < 0.00001) regions. The Yên Minh Region was characterized by the lowest percentage of subjects involved in the epidemic process (χ2 = 77.55, p < 0.00001). No significant gender-related differences were detected in antiHEV IgG level both in general and in individual regions. The peak frequency of anti-HEV IgG (85.9%) was found in the H’mong ethnic group, which was significantly higher than in the Tay ethnic groups (χ2 = 77.32, p < 0.00001) and in the remaining minor ethnic groups (χ2 = 63.44, p < 0.00001). Conclusion. The results of this study indicate a high seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in the minor ethnic groups, which preserve the national lifestyle in the Hà Giang province of the Northern Vietnam. As the Hà Giang province is located in remote mountain areas, a number of which are still difficult to access, its low economic status, poor sanitary and hygienic living conditions, lack of high-quality water supply, multinational population following different lifestyles, the contact of population with natural potential sources of HEV infection, including various wild and domestic animals, contribute to the successful spread of the hepatitis E virus in the region and the involvement of all populational age groups in the epidemic process. Taking into account the rapid development of the tourism industry in the Hà Giang Province particularly in the Đông Văn Region, where the Đông Văn Karst Plateau Geopark being recognized by UNESCO as national treasure is located, the results of this study emphasize a need to plan and perform the events aimed for preventing and monitoring HEV infection in endemic regions in Vietnam in order to reduce a risk of spread of hepatitis E virus not only inside, but also outside the country.

Pictorial Graffiti from the Ghazali Northern Church, Sudan: An Overview

The aim of this paper is to present pictorial graffiti executed on the walls of the Northern Church of the Ghazali Monastery located in what is today the Northern Province of Sudan. The graffiti were recorded during research by the Polish-Sudanese mission at the monastic complex. This paper explores the symbolic meanings of the graffiti as well as possible rationales behind their locations. Some of the depictions have overt religious meanings and may be interpreted as “graphic” prayers. This category of graffiti includes representations of Christ, angels, saints, female figures and horse riders. Other depictions seem to refer to daily life in Nubia – the graffiti abound in motifs such as camels, horses, boats and human beings.

PERJANJIAN PENYERAHAN WILAYAH UTARA BORNEO 1865, 1877 DAN 1878: TINJAUAN AWAL TERHADAP PERBANDINGAN INTIPATI PERJANJIAN

Makalah ini merupakan satu usaha untuk membahaskan semula pandangan mengenai perjanjian-perjanjian 1865, 1877 dan 1878 tentang penyerahan wilayah utara Borneo oleh Kesultanan Brunei dan Kesultanan Sulu kepada British North Borneo (Chatered) Company (BNBC) yang diwakili oleh Overbeck dan Alfred Dent. Sumber primer sedia ada telah diinterpretasi semula oleh penulis dalam perspektif yang baharu. Dihujahkan bahawa perjanjian penyerahan wilayah utara Borneo pada tahun 1865, 1877 dan 1878 yang dilakukan oleh Kesultanan Brunei dan Kesultanan Sulu ini telah menghasilkan suatu peristiwa yang dilihat daripada dua dimensi yang berbeza di dalam pensejarahan Borneo Utara. Kajian lepas banyak diteluri dengan sumber dokumentasi barat sehingga mengabaikan sumber tempatan yang dianggap bersifat berat sebelah terutamanya apabila Kesultanan Brunei menafikan penyerahan sebahagian wilayah utara Borneo kepada Kesultanan Sulu. Namun pada masa yang sama Kesultanan Sulu tetap meneguhkan pendiriannya bahawa telah berlaku penyerahan tersebut kepadanya dengan menggunakan perjanjian 1878 sebagai pengesahan. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa perjanjian penyerahan wilayah utara Borneo 1865, 1877 dan 1878 berlaku disebabkan oleh kegagalan Kesultanan Brunei dan Kesultanan Sulu untuk mengawal politik pentadbiran di tanah jajahan masing-masing sehingga terpaksa melakukan penyerahan wilayah mengikut terma perjanjian Barat bagi memastikan kedua-dua buah Kesultanan tersebut mampu untuk terus survival. Kajian ini juga mendapati bahawa kepelbagaian tafsiran terhadap terjemahan kandungan perjanjian juga turut memberikan implikasi besar terhadap kefahaman masyarakat sehingga menimbulkan pelbagai spekulasi dan pertikaian yang berterusan sehingga kini. Justeru itu, makalah ini akan cuba untuk menganalisis perbandingan perjanjian penyerahan Borneo Utara pada tahun 1865, 1877 dan 1878 bagi merungkaikan kebenaran peristiwa sejarah antara Kesultanan Brunei dan Kesultanan Sulu sehingga membawa kepada berlakunya penyerahan wilayah ini secara total kepada BNBC. This paper is an attempt to the explanation of the cession of the northern territory of Borneo by the Sultanate of Brunei and the Sultanate of Sulu to the British North Borneo (Chatered) Company (BNBC) represented by Overbeck and Alfred Dent. Existing primary sources has been reinterpreted by the authors in a new perspective. It is argued that the treaties of surrender of the northern territories of Borneo in 1865, 1877 and 1878 made by the Sultanate of Brunei and the Sultanate of Sulu have produced an event seen from two different dimensions in the history of North Borneo. Past studies have been heavily influenced by western documentations so that ignoring local sources is considered biased especially when the Sultanate of Brunei denies the surrender of a part of North Borneo territory to the Sultanate of Sulu. Yet at the same time the Sultanate of Sulu maintained its position that there had been the surrender of the northern province of Borneo to it by using the 1878 treaty as confirmation. The findings of the study showed that the northern Borneo territorial agreements of 1865, 1877 and 1878 occurred due to the failure of the Sultanate of Brunei and Sulu to control administrative politics in their respective colonies so that they had to surrender the territories in accordance with the terms of the Western agreement to ensure continuous survival. This study also found that the variety of interpretations on the translation in the content of the agreement also has significant implications on the understanding of society, leading to various speculations and disputes up to this day. Therefore, this paper will attempt to analyze the comparison of North Borneo cession agreements in 1865, 1877 and 1878 to unravel the truth of historical events between the Sultanate of Brunei and the Sultanate of Sulu leading to the total surrender of this territory to BNBC.

DeGreening: An Installation of Photographic Works

This thesis is a supporting paper for a photographic exhibition that explores contemporary social and political issues in the country of Iran, through the depiction of a changing landscape. The work consists of photographs of the northern province of Gilan, Iran. As a critical body of work, the installation engages audiences to experience the changing environment and asks viewers to question the causes of the environmental changes in agricultural areas. A brief history of land use change in Iran during the White revolution is presented followed by a description of the current situation of farmlands in contemporary Iran. Goals for the project, methodology and issues of subjectivity are discussed. The shooting strategies, selection of the images, and presentation of the project is outlined. Finally, the essay discusses the project’s documentary relevance.

DeGreening: An Installation of Photographic Works

This thesis is a supporting paper for a photographic exhibition that explores contemporary social and political issues in the country of Iran, through the depiction of a changing landscape. The work consists of photographs of the northern province of Gilan, Iran. As a critical body of work, the installation engages audiences to experience the changing environment and asks viewers to question the causes of the environmental changes in agricultural areas. A brief history of land use change in Iran during the White revolution is presented followed by a description of the current situation of farmlands in contemporary Iran. Goals for the project, methodology and issues of subjectivity are discussed. The shooting strategies, selection of the images, and presentation of the project is outlined. Finally, the essay discusses the project’s documentary relevance.