We review 34 quantitative studies that have measured individuallevel variations in ethnobotanical knowledge, analyzing how those studies have conceptualized and operationalized ethnobotanical knowledge. We found that this type of research is recent but growing, and is concentrated in indigenous peoples of developing countries. We also found that studies differ on how they conceptualize and measure individual ethnobotanical knowledge. As it is the case in other interdisciplinary research, the lack of conceptual consistency and comparable data limit the inferences that can be drawn from empirical analyses of ethnobotanical knowledge. Future research should 1) validate the consistency of measures of individual ethnobotanical knowledge; 2) analyze the reliability of data generated by the different methods developed so far; and 3) address the relationship between the various dimensions of ethnobotanical knowledge. Studies of individual ethnobotanical knowledge have the potential to contribute to a systematic understanding of humanity's most widespread and ancient form of knowledge.
Complex systems are shaped by cross-scale interactions, nonlinear feedbacks, and uncertainty, among other factors. Transdisciplinary approaches that combine participatory and conventional methods and democratize knowledge to enable diverse inputs, including those from local, informal experts, are essential tools in understanding such systems. The metaphor of a "bridge" to overcome the divide between different disciplines and knowledge systems is often used to advocate for more inclusive approaches. However, there is a shortage of information and consensus on the process, methodologies, and techniques that are appropriate to achieve this. This paper compares two case studies from Peru and South Africa in which community-level assessments were conducted as part of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and explores the different conceptual models used to deal with scale and complexity, the methods adopted to deal with epistemology, and the different means of dealing with uncertainty in each assessment. The paper highlights the conceptual and practical challenges encountered by each assessment and discusses some of the conceptual and practical trade-offs involved in the selection of particular approaches. We argue that a boat navigating between unknown shores may be a more appropriate metaphor than a bridge, whose starting and end points are fixed and known.
Molecular techniques have represented a major step forward in the diagnosis of viral respiratory infections. They are considered highly sensitive and specific compared to conventional techniques. In this study two nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) were compared to conventional methods (immunofluorescence and viral culture). The aim of this work was to discuss the clinical interpretation of the results obtained by NAATs on the basis of the two-decade experience of our group and the literature. Eighty nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children under six years attended for acute respiratory illness at the pediatric emergency room of a third level Hospital. Both NAATs tested (Seeplex(®) and Clart(®)) showed an overall higher performance regarding sensitivity (76% and 90%, respectively). Compared to Seeplex(®), the Clart(®) system tripled the number of multiple detections (8 by Seeplex(®) vs. 25 by Clart(®)). In some specimens both NAATs detected different viruses. Given these discrepancies and the fact that detection of viral nucleic acids is not necessarily related to the current clinical syndrome, the interpretation of molecular results may not always be so straightforward. The pros and cons of NAATs should always be taken into account when giving a result.
Crop diversity protects food consumption in poor households within developing nations. Here we estimate the association between crop diversity on swidden fields and ethnobotanical knowledge. We conducted research among 215 male household heads from a native Amazonian society. Using multivariate regressions, we found higher crop diversity among households that depend on agricultural production for household consumption. We also found a statistically significant and positive, but low, association between the ethnobotanical knowledge of the male household head and crop diversity. Doubling the stock of ethnobotanical knowledge of the male household head is associated with a 9% increase in the number of crops sown by a household. The association remained after we controlled for the household level of market exposure, but vanished after we controlled for the social capital of the male household head. Future research should compare the association between ethnobotanical knowledge and crop diversity across different agricultural systems (i.e., home gardens, fallow fields).
Background Few long‐term reports have been published on the epidemiology of respiratory viruses despite their frequent involvement in extremely common infections. The aim here was to determine the frequency and distribution of respiratory viruses in a temperate climate area (Barcelona, Spain) throughout a 24‐year period. Methods We collected data on all respiratory viruses detected from 1997 to 2020 in our institution. Clinical specimens were analyzed mainly by conventional techniques, and molecular techniques were also used. Results Of the 59,579 specimens analyzed, 21,382 (35.9%) were positive for at least one virus. The number of positive samples during cold months was significantly higher than in warm months. Respiratory virus infections were detected in patients of all ages, above all in children under 3 years of age, who were most frequently infected with the respiratory syncytial virus, whereas Influenza A virus predominated in the other groups, especially in adults. A clear demographic and seasonal pattern was established for some viruses. Circulation of other respiratory viruses during the FLUAV H1N1pdm09 and SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemics was observed. Conclusions This long‐term study provides new knowledge about the prevalence of respiratory viruses in a Mediterranean region. Throughout the study period, the frequency of some viruses remained constant, whereas others varied with the year. A clear demographic and seasonal pattern was established for some viruses. Patients suffering from severe respiratory infections should be examined for a range of respiratory viruses regardless of gender, age, or season.
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