Intellectural Structure of the “Extreme Poverty” Research Field

The main objective of this work is to know the situation of the intellectual structure of the scientific community researching “extreme poverty,” especially to identify the most relevant authors, journals, and descriptors. In addition, the authors intend to present evidence that allows these researchers and other interested groups to improve the efficiency in acquiring high-impact knowledge on the topic. Through bibliometric analysis, both at the count and relationship levels (in this case with social network analysis [SNA] technique), they have carried out a study of the characteristics and intellectual structure of the academic and scientific network that has addressed the issue of extreme poverty. This work makes an important contribution to the literature on “extreme poverty” since it is the first known work that raises the intellectual structure of this topic from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Rare Tumors in Children and Adolescents – the STEP Working Groupʼs Evolution to a Prospective Registry

Background Very rare tumors (VRT) in children and adolescents have such a low incidence that until recently, they have not been integrated into the clinical and scientific network of pediatric oncology. Data is very limited and consistent treatment strategies are missing. Thus, VRTs are classic orphan diseases. To counteract this problem, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Seltene Tumorerkrankungen in der Pädiatrie (STEP) was founded. Here we report on patient recruitment during the first 10 years. Patients Patients aged up to 18 years and not included in any other clinical trial or GPOH registry were included in this analysis. Methods Data was collected from 2008 to 2018 by means of a standardized form. The recorded diagnoses were descriptively analyzed focusing on histology, localization, and year of report. Results A total of 623 patients with VRTs were registered. During 2008–2014, the annual number of registrations was around 40 and is around 90 since 2015. Most frequent diagnoses included tumors of the skin (n=150), tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (n=102), tumors of the gonads (n=77), the ENT region (n=68), and miscellaneous tumors (n=107). Discussion With the establishment of central structures for clinical consultation and documentation of VRTs, the number of registrations increased. Comprehensively, VRTs are as common as other classic pediatric oncology tumors, but extremely heterogeneous in terms of localization, histology, and prognosis. By a centralized and complete registration and analysis of VRTs, also in collaboration with international partners, it is possible to develop treatment strategies and thus greatly increase treatment quality.

Evaluation of the Demand-Driven Agricultural Extension Curricula among Alumni from Selected Universities in Nigeria

The study assessed demand-driven agricultural extension curricula by alumni from universities in Nigeria partnering with Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) on such curriculum for at least seven years. Using a cross-sectional research design and cluster sampling technique, 227 alumni were randomly selected from a population of 520. Data were collected through structured questionnaire on socio-economic characteristics, mode of study, areas of specialization operationalized as close-ended questions and rating of programme components on a 5 -point Likert type scale of poor (1) fair (2) good (3) very good (4) excellent (5) with 70 items. Data entry and analysis were done with SPSS 25 using percentages, mean score and multiple regression analysis. Adult education approaches, supervised enterprise projects, students’ supervision, academic advice, information sharing, and participation in research projects had highest positive rating; while fund raising, scholarship, opportunity for enrolling and be part of a professional scientific network, linkage & involvement with Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) field activities, laboratories and variety of subjects offered had highest negative rating. Socio-economic characteristics of alumni were significantly correlated and explained 49 percent of the variation in programme rating. The study recommends that there is need to review the curricula covered in this study and mechanisms for compliance with the Sasakawa methodology should be reinvigorated. Keywords: alumni, demand-driven, agricultural extension, university curricula.

Zhu Kezhen 竺可楨 (1890–1974)

Zhu Kezhen (1890–1974), also known as Chu Coching, was a Harvard-educated meteorologist who worked in the field of climate sciences in China from 1918 to 1974. He was highly regarded under vastly different political regimes. His concerns regarding the development of observatory networks, educational practices, and the establishment of research topics reflect the development of the field in China, which only began at the very end of the 19th century. Zhu Kezhen was influenced by the meteorological and climate knowledge imparted to him by his academic teachers in the United States and appropriated Ellsworth Huntington’s ideas on climate determinism, which shaped some of his fundamental concerns. One of his main achievements was to make use of a wide array of observational and other data in order to contribute to the “localization” of climate science. In fact, employing data culled from traditional sources and making use of and expanding the phenological knowledge of traditional Chinese rural society allowed him to approach climate science in a way that was not easily possible in the West. Zhu’s research into historical climate change in China embodied many aspects of his approach to the localization of science in China, but changes in the international scientific network (from an American-European to a Soviet-dominated network) and the political turmoil in the People’s Republic of China greatly impaired his work. Zhu’s research remains highly influential and has exerted considerable influence on environmental and climate history.

Integrating science to address food and health within Global Agenda 2030

When recovering from the pandemic, it is important for Planet Earth to address the Global Agenda 2030, including food and water crises, and to bounce forward sustainably. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report and Global Agenda 2030 provide a framework for action and an integrated global science agenda response, involving food and health, is essential. The UN 2021 Summit on Food Systems provides an opportunity for the global science community to come together to address the Summit’s Action Tracks, including building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses. There would be major global benefits to have an international scientific network working with the UN to address the mandates of the UN Food Summit and Global Agenda 2030.

Archaeogenomics of Animal Domestication in Eurasia

The processes of domestication and subsequent distribution of animals in Eurasia are closely related to human migrations and intercultural exchanges starting from the end of the Pleistocene. The development of methods for the isolation and analysis of ancient DNA from archaeological and paleontological remains has made it possible to take a new look at both the presumed core regions of domestication and the geography and dynamics of livestock distribution. This paper discusses the reports on the reconstruction of the migration processes of domestic animals in Eurasia using the analysis of ancient DNA performed by leading specialists from Great Britain, France, Finland, Ireland, and Russia at the international symposium on Domestic Animal Archaeogenomics (Bolgar, Republic of Tatarstan, March 2020). In addition to discussing the demographic history of different species of domestic animals, special attention was given to the development of methods for working with ancient DNA and the peculiarities of sample storage and handling. Summarizing the results of the symposium, the authors identified priority areas for future research. The interdisciplinary nature of research and the need to create broad scientific network that includes specialists from different fields were emphasized.