Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a heterogeneous condition and defined according to symptoms. Low-grade inflammation has been associated with IBS, particularly that following infection, but whether ...altered intestinal permeability profiles relate to irritable bowel subtype or onset is uncertain. Our aim was to compare small and large intestinal permeability in various subtypes of IBS to healthy controls.
Intestinal permeability was measured using 1.8 MBq of 51Cr-EDTA and collecting urine over 24 h; Study 1: patients with diarrhea-predominant postinfectious IBS (N=15), constipation-predominant IBS (N=15), and healthy controls (N=15); Study 2: two groups of diarrhea-predominant IBS (D-IBS), one with a history of onset after acute gastroenteritis (postinfectious) (N=15) and the other without such a history (nonpostinfectious) (N=15) both compared with healthy controls (N=12).
Permeability expressed as percentage of total dose excreted in urine (median inter-quartile range). Study 1: Proximal small intestinal permeability was increased in postinfectious IBS (0.19 0.12-0.23) in contrast to constipated IBS (0.085 0.043-0.13) and controls (0.07 0.035-0.19) (p=0.02). IBS patients with eczema, asthma, or hayfever had increased proximal small intestinal permeability compared with IBS patients without atopy (p=0.02). Study 2: Small intestinal permeability was greater in nonpostinfectious diarrhea-predominant IBS (0.84 0.69-1.49) compared with postinfectious IBS (0.43 0.29-0.63, p=0.028) or controls (0.27 0.2-0.39), p=0.001).
Small intestinal permeability is frequently abnormal in diarrhea-predominant IBS. Those without a history of infectious onset appear to have a more severe defect.
This study examines internal labour migration of Botswana citizens and their remittance behaviour. Though international remittance is among topical global issues, it does not appear to contribute ...much currently towards national development in Botswana. About twenty-five years ago remittances from internal migration had no impact on poverty. This study indicates that the situation has not changed. The new economic theory of labour migration is addressed within a theoretical framework. From primary data, the level of poverty is measured and factors influencing remittances are examined. Following this is an examination of the impact of remittances on poverty. The results indicate that migrants maintain links with their home-based households through remittances in cash and goods. This is generally done in order to reduce poverty, especially in rural areas. There is considerable variation in the extent to which remittances are appreciated as a reliable means of subsistence in the household. Regression results reveal that economic and social factors are related with remittances from migrants. However, the remittances do not have a significant moderating effect on poverty in Botswana. While female-headed households dominated among those that were transitorily poor, there is no evidence that this is the case among those that lived in extreme poverty. Policy implications are addressed.
Brain Drain Potential in Botswana Campbell, Eugene K.
International migration,
December 2007, Letnik:
45, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the prospect of emigration of skilled professional citizens from Botswana. Since 1980, international migration of skilled people from, and within, sub‐Saharan Africa ...(SSA) has surpassed anything previously witnessed in the twentieth century. One consequence of the increasing frequency of such migration is growing governmental resistance in developed countries to free movement of skilled labour. Unlike most SSA countries, Botswana's robust economy and long‐standing democratic political structure make it appear an unlikely candidate for massive brain drain, but there are already indicators pointing towards its occurrence (Campbell, 2001). This study was designed primarily to determine whether professionals persist in their intention to leave the country and, if so, why they want to migrate.
The results point towards a likelihood of massive brain drain in Botswana in the near future, although the prospects of this being realized cannot be ascertained by the instruments employed in this study. Among the key findings are that: 1) the unhappiness of future professionals seems to derive from poor opportunities for professional advancement resulting in disequilibrium between income distribution and a taste for luxury goods; 2) the prospects for emigration have improved because of increased earnings and but better access to information technology, and; 3) that technology may now be a more important motivation for emigration than family members living abroad. Nonetheless, there is evidence that a vigorous and sustained economy‐enhancing campaign by the government would encourage Batswana professionals to stay and work in the country.
L'auteur de cet article examine l'évolution de l'émigration des membres des professions libérales du Botswana. Depuis 1980, le départ à l'étranger de personnes qualifiées qui quittent l'Afrique subsaharienne ou se déplacent à l'intérieur de la région prend des proportions jamais atteintes au cours du 20ème siècle. L'une des conséquences de cette tendance croissante à migrer est la résistance de plus en plus forte des gouvernements des pays développés au libre mouvement de la main‐d'œuvre qualifiée. Contrairement à la plupart des pays d'Afrique subsaharienne, le Botswana, du fait de son économie et de ses structures politiques, semble un candidat peu probable pour l'exode systématique des cerveaux, mais plusieurs signes témoignent pourtant de cette réalité (Campbell, 2001). La présente étude vise avant tout à déterminer si les professionnels vont persister dans leur intention de quitter le pays et, dans l'affirmative, les raisons qui les poussent àémigrer.
Si les résultats indiquent la probabilité d'un exode massif des cerveaux dans un avenir proche, les outils utilisés pour mener cette étude ne permettent pas de confirmer cette perspective. Les principales conclusions de l'étude sont les suivantes: 1) le manque de satisfaction des futurs professionnels semble être imputable au manque de perspectives d'avancement dans leur carrière, d'où un déséquilibre entre structure des revenus et aspiration aux articles de consommation de luxe; 2) les possibilités d'émigration se sont améliorées grâce à l'augmentation des revenus et à un meilleur accès aux technologies de l'information; 3) cette technologie semblerait constituer une plus grande motivation que l'attrait que peut représenter la présence de membres de la famille déjà installés à l'étranger. Il semblerait toutefois que si le gouvernement lançait une campagne de relance de l'économie, les membres des professions libérales seraient incités à demeurer et à travailler dans le pays.
En este documento se examinan las perspectivas de emigración de ciudadanos calificados desde Botswana. Desde 1980, la migración internacional de personas calificadas desde, y dentro, del África subsaharianaha superado todo lo acontecido durante el siglo veinte. Una consecuencia de la frecuencia creciente de este tipo de migración es la resistencia gubernamental cada vez mayor en los países desarrollados a la libre circulación de mano de obra calificada. A diferencia de la mayoría de los países del África subsahariana, la economía y la estructura política de Botswana hacen del país un candidato con pocas probabilidades de experimentar una fuga de cerebros masiva, pero ya existen indicadores que apuntan a que puede producirse (Campbell, 2001). Este estudio se realizó principalmente para determinar si los profesionales siguen queriendo dejar el país, y en caso afirmativo, las razones que los empujan a hacerlo.
Los resultados apuntan a que es posible que se produzca una fuga de cerebros masiva en Botswana en un futuro cercano, aunque las perspectivas no pueden determinarse con los instrumentos utilizados en este estudio. Entre las conclusiones clave, cabe destacar las siguientes: 1) la infelicidad de los futuros profesionales parece obedecer a la insuficiencia de oportunidades para progresar profesionalmente, lo que tiene como resultado un desequilibrio entre la distribución de los ingresos y el gusto por los artículos de lujo; 2) las perspectivas de emigración han aumentado por el aumento de los ingresos y la facilitación del acceso a la tecnología de la información, y 3) la tecnología puede ser ahora una motivación más importante para emigrar que los miembros de la familia que viven en el extranjero. Sin embargo, se ha comprobado que una campaña firme y sostenida de promoción de la economía por parte del Gobierno alentaría a los profesionales de Botswana a permanecer y a trabajar en su país.
The study demonstrates that informal cross-border is a complex phenomenon and not uniform across the region, or even through border posts of the same country. However, the overall volume of trade, ...duties paid and VAT foregone, as well as the types of goods and where they are produced, indicate that this sector of regional trade should be given much greater attention and support by governments of the region as well as regional organizations such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), SADC and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
Botswana has the second-highest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rate in the world, with one in three adults infected. However, there is significant geographic variation at the district ...level and HIV prevalence is heterogeneous with the highest prevalence recorded in Selebi-Phikwe and North East. There is a lack of age-and location-adjusted prevalence maps that could be used for targeting HIV educational programs and efficient allocation of resources to higher risk groups.
We used a nationally representative household survey to investigate and explain district level inequalities in HIV rates. A Bayesian geoadditive mixed model based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques was applied to map the geographic distribution of HIV prevalence in the 26 districts, accounting simultaneously for individual, household, and area factors using the 2008 Botswana HIV Impact Survey.
Overall, HIV prevalence was 17.6%, which was higher among females (20.4%) than males (14.3%). HIV prevalence was higher in cities and towns (20.3%) than in urban villages and rural areas (16.6% and 16.9%, respectively). We also observed an inverse U-shape association between age and prevalence of HIV, which had a different pattern in males and females. HIV prevalence was lowest among those aged 24 years or less and HIV affected over a third of those aged 25-35 years, before reaching a peak among the 36-49-year age group, after which the rate of HIV infection decreased by more than half among those aged 50 years and over. In a multivariate analysis, there was a statistically significant higher likelihood of HIV among females compared with males, and in clerical workers compared with professionals. The district-specific net spatial effects of HIV indicated a significantly higher HIV rate of 66% (posterior odds ratio of 1.66) in the northeast districts (Selebi-Phikwe, Sowa, and Francistown) and a reduced rate of 27% (posterior odds ratio of 0.73) in Kgalagadi North and Kweneng West districts.
This study showed a clear geographic distribution of the HIV epidemic, with the highest prevalence in the east-central districts. This study provides age- and location-adjusted prevalence maps that could be used for the targeting of HIV educational programs and efficient allocation of resources to higher risk groups. There is need for further research to determine the social, cultural, economic, behavioral, and other distal factors that might explain the high infection rates in some of the high-risk areas in Botswana.
This study is borne out of observations over the past decade that citizens of Botswana were increasingly feeling resentful of labour immigrants in the country. A survey questionnaire was administered ...to a sample of 781 male and female Batswana (citizens of Botswana) in three urban centres in Botswana. The purpose was to obtain opinions of Batswana about immigrants. The paper begins by examining the meaning of xenophobia. The results indicate that Batswana are xenophobic; it appears that this attitude is influenced by a combination of nationalism and economic factors. There is a strong desire to preserve the “fruits” of economic prosperity for citizens alone. Europeans and North Americans are most preferred in terms of being accepted as part of the Botswana society and among those who may apply to become citizens of Botswana. The second most preferred are Africans. Asians, especially Indians, are the least preferred. Indeed, Botswana citizens of Indian descent are viewed with considerable suspicion and dislike by other citizens of the country. Primarily for this reason, Asians seem to be the worst victims of xenophobia in Botswana. Short‐ and specific‐term residences by immigrants are preferred over permanent residence. Some citizens are prepared to take every possible action to discourage immigrants from staying in the country; few would employ violent methods to achieve this goal.
This research utilizes the levitation effect of electrostatic comb fingers to design vertical-to-the-substrate actuation for optical phase shifting interferometry applications. For typical ...polysilicon comb drives with 2 /spl mu/m gaps between the stationary and moving fingers, as well as between the microstructures and the substrate, the equilibrium position is nominally 1-2 /spl mu/m above the stationary comb fingers. This distance is ideal for most phase shifting interferometric applications. A parallel plate capacitor between the suspended mass and the substrate provides in situ position sensing to control the vertical movement, providing a total feedback-controlled system. The travel range of the designed vertical microactuator is 1.2 /spl mu/m. Since the levitation force is not linear to the input voltage, a lock-in amplifier capacitive sensing circuit combined with a digital signal processor enables a linearized travel trajectory with 1.5 nm position control accuracy. A completely packaged micro phase shifter is described in this paper. One application for this microactuator is to provide linear phase shifting in the phase shifting diffraction interferometer (PSDI) developed at LLNL which can perform optical metrology down to 2 /spl Aring/ accuracy.
This study examines internal labour migration of Botswana citizens and their remittance behaviour. Though international remittance is among topical global issues, it does not appear to contribute ...much currently towards national development in Botswana. About twenty-five years ago remittances from internal migration had no impact on poverty. This study indicates that the situation has not changed. The new economic theory of labour migration is addressed within a theoretical framework. From primary data, the level of poverty is measured and factors influencing remittances are examined. Following this is an examination of the impact of remittances on poverty. The results indicate that migrants maintain links with their home-based households through remittances in cash and goods. This is generally done in order to reduce poverty, especially in rural areas. There is considerable variation in the extent to which remittances are appreciated as a reliable means of subsistence in the household. Regression results reveal that economic and social factors are related with remittances from migrants. However, the remittances do not have a significant moderating effect on poverty in Botswana. While female-headed households dominated among those that were transitorily poor, there is no evidence that this is the case among those that lived in extreme poverty. Policy implications are addressed. Cette étude examine la migration interne de travailleurs Botswanais et leurs comportements en matière d'envoi d'argent. Même si les envois de fonds internationaux constituent une question d'actualité à l'échelle mondiale, il est impossible de dire qu'ils contribuent actuellement, de façon considérable, au développement national du Botswana. Il y a près de vingt-cinq ans, les envois d'argent effectués par des émigrés sur le plan national n'avaient aucun impact sur la pauvreté. L'étude révèle que la situation n'a pas évolué du tout. La nouvelle théorie économique relative à la migration de la main-d'œuvre est également abordée à partir d'une base théorique dans ce document. A l'aide de données de base primaires, le niveau de la pauvreté est mesuré et les facteurs qui influent sur les envois d'argent sont également examinés. L'auteur s'est également intéressé à l'impact des opérations d'envois d'argent/d'autres colis sur la pauvreté, ce qui a permis de se rendre compte que les immigrés entretiennent leurs liens avec les membres de leur famille restés au pays (d'origine) à l'aide des envois de fonds ou d'autres biens. Ils le font surtout pour aider à lutter contre la pauvreté, notamment en milieu rural. La façon dont les remises de fonds ou d'autres biens sont perçues comme de moyens sûrs de subsistance pour les ménages varie considérablement. Les résultats de régression montrent que des facteurs économiques et sociaux sont liés aux envois effectués par les immigrés. Cependant, les envois ne contribuent pas, de façon considérable, à la réduction de la pauvreté au Botswana. Si le nombre de ménages dirigés par des femmes était plus élevé parmi ceux considérés comme transitoirement pauvres, rien ne prouve que ceci est valable pour les ménages vivant dans une pauvreté extrême. Les implications des politiques sont également traitées dans le document.
PDF
