The cost of tsetse control using ‘Tiny Targets’ in the sleeping sickness endemic forest area of Bonon in Côte d’Ivoire: Implications for comparing costs across different settings

Background Work to control the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT), or sleeping sickness, is now directed towards ending transmission of the parasite by 2030. In order to supplement gHAT case-finding and treatment, since 2011 tsetse control has been implemented using Tiny Targets in a number of gHAT foci. As this intervention is extended to new foci, it is vital to understand the costs involved. Costs have already been analysed for the foci of Arua in Uganda and Mandoul in Chad. This paper examines the costs of controlling Glossina palpalis palpalis in the focus of Bonon in Côte d’Ivoire from 2016 to 2017. Methodology/Principal findings Some 2000 targets were placed throughout the main gHAT transmission area of 130 km2 at a density of 14.9 per km2. The average annual cost was USD 0.5 per person protected, USD 31.6 per target deployed of which 12% was the cost of the target itself, or USD 471.2 per km2 protected. Broken down by activity, 54% was for deployment and maintenance of targets, 34% for tsetse surveys/monitoring and 12% for sensitising populations. Conclusions/Significance The cost of tsetse control per km2 of the gHAT focus protected in Bonon was more expensive than in Chad or Uganda, while the cost per km2 treated, that is the area where the targets were actually deployed, was cheaper. Per person protected, the Bonon cost fell between the two, with Uganda cheaper and Chad more expensive. In Bonon, targets were deployed throughout the protected area, because G. p. palpalis was present everywhere, whereas in Chad and Uganda G. fuscipes fuscipes was found only the riverine fringing vegetation. Thus, differences between gHAT foci, in terms of tsetse ecology and human geography, impact on the cost-effectiveness of tsetse control. It also demonstrates the need to take into account both the area treated and protected alongside other impact indicators, such as the cost per person protected.

Social Impact Indicators in the Context of the Roma Community: Contributions to the Debate on Methodological Implications

Researching with methodologies focused on social impact in line with the SDGs is one of the priority orientations of the Horizon Europe program, as shown in the official European Commission document on impacts for this program. In this sense, researchers must forecast how their project will improve citizens' lives. Until now, many investigations showed the evaluation of the social impact through knowledge transfer activities that, although undoubtedly important, are not enough since the social impact is defined as the improvements derived from using the knowledge transferred to society. The search for the social impact of new research requires the introduction of impact indicators from the design, throughout the project development, and when the project ends. The introduction of indicators, in particular if they are decided in dialogue with the participants, allows not only to foresee a greater social impact but also to improve and adjust the methodology to be used. We explore this aspect in the context of research with social impact that starts from how the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing the inequalities suffered by the Roma population, causing the aggravation and creation of new problems and needs. Thus, we explain in detail how the selection of indicators that monitor the social impact, in dialogue with the Roma population, allows the design of research projects that are more appropriate to the current context.

hGLUTEN Tool: Measuring Its Social Impact Indicators

hGLUTEN is a technological solution capable of detecting gluten and spoiled food. We measured the social impact of the hGLUTEN tool using two Likert scale surveys with two groups: professionals (engineers/chefs) and end-users. These data have been assessed in accordance with the social impact indicators defined for the Key Impact Pathways introduced by the European Commission for Horizon Europe and the criteria of the Social Impact Open Repository (SIOR). A total of 85% of users, 100% of engineers and 68% of professional chefs consider it very relevant to participate and give their opinion in research projects, which shows the increasingly high level of involvement of the general population. A total of 88% of users were unaware of other applications that detect gluten and were more dependent on guidelines provided by allergy associations and expiry dates of foodstuffs. In addition, only 5% of professional chefs said they were aware of other technology capable of detecting gluten in food, which may indicate a large economic market and good commercialisation possibilities for the tool in the future. Finally, the inclusion of tools to motivate users to promote it has been identified as an area for improvement, which could mean that it should be made more visible in the media to increase its impact and influence.

Effects of funding on the collaboration and citation in environmental papers and the relationship with nation’s science and technology budgets

Input, output, impact, and processes are central indicators of the science, technology, and innovation production. The input is usually associated to investments made in science and technology, and it varies among different countries and scientific fields. Thus, the input can influence other impact indicators. Here, we evaluated the effect of the input data (i.e., number of funding) on process (i.e., collaboration) and output (i.e., number of citation) indicators of ecological research. Moreover, we detailed the effect of the number of funding on the collaboration and number of citations by each country (based on the nationality of authors). We found that most of published papers had some degrees of financial support, and that the production of papers with funding increased over the years. Funding had a positive effect on the collaboration and citation of papers; however, we observed that: in countries with higher investments in Science and Technology, the number of funding impacts positively and directly on the number of authors (collaboration) and in countries with low levels of investments in Science and Technology, the number of funding impacts positively and directly on the number of citations. Our models presented a low predictive power, but similar to other informetric studies. Our results indicated that impact indicators evaluated have an integrated structure, and the effects at one level can affect other levels. Nonetheless, the impact of the number of funding on informetric data can vary among countries; therefore, these results are important to the development of national policies and future informetric studies.

Hidden and Latent Factors’ Influence on Digital Technology Sustainability Development

The modern world can be described as a sociotechnical system, the existence and development of which are determined by the successful interaction of technology and society. When introducing a technology, it is important to assess its potential sustainability. There are currently more than a hundred different sustainability assessment methods that allow for the sustainability of a technology to be predicted on the basis of a quantitative assessment of basic impact indicators. However, as the complexity of technology increases, there are hidden and latent factors inherent in technology that sooner or later affect the sustainability of technology and pose significant risks. Identifying these factors is particularly important for digital technologies, as they are the backbone of any other current technology. The aim of this article is to identify and explain the impact of a set of hidden and latent factors on the sustainability of digital technologies by using a system dynamics simulation and the possibilities offered by Bayesian networks. The results of this study are useful for technology sustainability researchers, technology authors, and investors.

Impact evaluation based on benefit indicators (IEBBI): methodological proposal for agroecological farmers’ markets

Farmers’ markets represent a growing strategy for the generation of food sovereignty and sustainability; however, little is known about their impacts in economic, social and environmental terms. The objective of this research was to develop a framework that would allow determining that impact. The resulting methodological framework includes 20 indicators divided into seven groups: proximity, profitability, perceived benefits, areas of opportunity, economic impact, social impact, and environmental impact. This methodology was applied in one agroecological farmers’ market in Mexico City. Among the results, the main benefits are linked to socioeconomic interaction, while environmental impact indicators are the least considered. This methodology can guide the design, implementation, comparison, and monitoring of this type of initiative in the medium and long term. El marco metodológico resultante está compuesto por 20 indicadores distribuidos en siete grupos: indicadores de proximidad, rentabilidad, beneficios percibidos, áreas de oportunidad, impacto económico, impacto social e impacto ambiental. Esta metodología puede constituir una guía para orientar la política pública en el diseño, puesta en marcha, comparación y monitoreo de este tipo de iniciativas a mediano y largo plazo.

Which strategy for using medical and community masks? A prospective analysis of their environmental impact

IntroductionThe use of personal protective equipment, especially medical masks, increased dramatically during the COVID-19 crisis. Medical masks are made of synthetic materials, mainly polypropylene, and a majority of them are produced in China and imported to the European market. The urgency of the need has so far prevailed over environmental considerations.ObjectiveAssess the environmental impact of different strategies for the use of face mask.MethodA prospective analysis was conducted to assess the environmental impact of different strategies for the use of medical and community masks. Eight scenarios, differentiating the typologies of masks and the modes of reuse are compared using three environmental impact indicators: the Global Warming Potential (GWP100), the ecological scarcity (UBP method, from German ‘Umweltbelastungpunkte’) and the plastic leakage (PL). This study attempts to provide clear recommendations that consider both the environmental impact and the protective effectiveness of face masks used in the community.ResultsThe environmental impact of single-use masks is the most unfavourable, with a GWP of 0.4–1.3 kg CO2 eq., depending on the transport scenario, and a PL of 1.8 g, for a 1 month protection against COVID-19. The use of home-made cotton masks and prolonged use of medical masks through wait-and-reuse are the scenarios with the lowest impact.ConclusionThe use of medical masks with a wait and reuse strategy seems to be the most appropriate when considering both environmental impact and effectiveness. Our results also highlight the need to develop procedures and the legal/operational framework to extend the use of protective equipment during a pandemic.

Revistas depredadoras: una amenaza a la integridad y calidad científica

During the last few years, scientific production through research articles has increased, however, it is necessary to be certain that thescientific journals where they are published meet quality and impact indicators, are indexed in important databases (Scopus, Web ofScience, Medline, Scielo, Redalyc, Dialnet, etc.) and that they are not predatory journals. These types of journals publish articles in a fewdays, do not perform peer review, charge processing fees and send e-mails offering their services. In short, they are a threat to scientificintegrity and quality because they publish articles of very low or zero rigor and contribution to science, so researchers should detect themand avoid publishing in them