Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-05-13"
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- Foreign aid and Africa’s economic independence: the lingering economic paradox for African leaderPublication . Okanga, BonifaceThe tendency of even wealthier African nations to over-rely on foreign aid, even if it exceeds the acceptable debt-to-GDP ratio of 40%, is the same tendency that has affected the effective utilisation of Africa’s natural wealth to attain economic independence. It is the same tendency that frustrates the creation of an environment that inspires private sector businesses to meaningfully contribute to the improvement of Africa’s economic self-sufficiency. To respond to such dynamics, this study uses integrative review as a qualitative research method to offer a critical analysis of Africa’s economic independence challenges and debates as instigated in recent days by Donald Trump’s closure of USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and termination of American aid and financial support to several developing countries. Through such analysis, the study aims to discern the strategies that can be adopted for reducing Africa’s over-reliance on foreign aid whilst also bolstering its economic independence. While striving to attain economic independence, results from integrative review revealed Africa to face conflicting situations and paradoxes of having to balance decolonisation quests with over- reliance on foreign aid for economic development. Africa also experiences paradoxes of undertaking meaningful economic investment vis-à-vis quests of keeping away self-serving interests and temptations like corruption. It further faces difficulties of serving selfish political interests instigating instabilities vis-à-vis quests of enhancing economic sustainability and independence. Combined with poor governance, controls and conflicts of politicizing state support to private sector businesses vis-à-vis quests of seeking to grow a vibrant private sector, these create a paradox that African leaders must deal with if they are to seamlessly sail to economic freedom. Given these findings, the paper proposes that while mitigating the politicization of state support to private sector businesses, African governments must prioritize the provision of unfettered private sector support. African governments should also harness revenues generated from their vast natural resources’ exploitation to diversify into economic sectors and industries that they have weaknesses. This would create economic linkages that boost intra-Africa economic activities, productivity and growth to spur Africa to the desired state of economic independence.
- Bridging generations through integrative learning, research, and community care : The ESPIEM ProjectPublication . Auxtero, Maria Deolinda; Costa, Isabel Margarida; Brito, José; Figueiredo, Alexandra; Ascenso, Carla; Miranda, Margarida; Caneiras, Cátia; Fernandes, Ana IsabelCommunication abstract presented at the EAFP Annual Conference 2025 – “Pharmaceutical Education & Research: SWOT Analysis”. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 13th-15th of May 2025
- Targeted temperature management to minimise secondary brain injury after cardiac arrest: A systematic reviewPublication . Seixas, JC; Oliveira, M; Monteiro, M; Pinto, MDR; Durão, C; Teixeira, G; Henriques, HR; Teixeira, JFBackground: A patient recovering from an in-hospital or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) requires interventions for recovery, particularly for minimising secondary brain injury. Targeted temperature management (TTM) is the intervention with the greatest impact on neurological recovery. Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to describe current TTM in adult CA patients and its impact on functional outcomes. Methods: This systematic review was developed between March and May 2024 according to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for reporting. Eligibility criteria were established. We systematically reviewed studies enrolling adult CA patients who received TTM and reported functional outcomes. The search strategy was applied in the following databases: Medline and CINAHL Ultimate, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, through EBSCO, and Scopus. The Rayyan software was used for the final extraction and selection. Results: The studies retrieved highlight the following interventions for neuroprotection: the use of a continuous temperature feedback system (continuous temperature monitoring with vesical, oesophageal, or parenthetic probes) for temperature induction; conducting a preinduction time between 390 min (6.5 h) and 12 h and an induction time greater than 440 min (7.3 h); setting the target temperature between 32 °C and 37.5 °C according to the patient's characteristics for a maintenance period between 24 and 48 h; the administration of sedatives, antipyretics, and neuromuscular blockers; and the assessment of neurological prognosis only after the rewarming phase, using scales such as the Cerebral Performance Category and the Modified Rankin Score. Conclusions: Continuous research and investment in this area of knowledge are highly encouraged, particularly in terms of refining accurate neurological prognostic tools and assessment scales.