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Introduction The overwhelming need for health care generated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a catastrophic effect on health-care programmes, particularly outpatient tuberculosis screening and detection. Before the [...], Objective To evaluate the implementation of new operational workflows for simultaneous screening of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis at four high-volume COVID-19 testing centres located in tertiary hospitals in Mumbai, India. Methods Each centre already offering antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests were equipped with a rapid molecular testing platform for COVID-19 and tuberculosis, sufficient laboratory staff, and reagents and consumables for screening. Using a verbal tuberculosis questionnaire, a patient follow-up agent screened individuals visiting the COVID-19 testing centres. Presumptive tuberculosis patients were asked to provide sputum samples for rapid molecular testing. Subsequently, we reversed our operational workflow to also screen patients visiting tuberculosis outpatient departments for COVID-19, using rapid diagnostic tests. Results From March to December 2021, we screened 14 588 presumptive COVID-19 patients for tuberculosis, of whom 475 (3.3%) were identified as having presumptive tuberculosis. Of these, 288 (60.6%) were tested and 32 individuals (11.1%) were identified as tuberculosis positive (219 cases per 100 000 individuals screened). Of the tuberculosis- positive individuals, three had rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis. Among the remaining 187 presumptive tuberculosis cases not tested, 174 reported no symptoms at follow-up and 13 individuals either refused testing or could not be traced. Of the 671 presumptive tuberculosis cases screened for COVID-19, 17 (2.5%) were positive by antigen rapid diagnostic tests, and five (0.7%) who tested negative, later tested positive on the molecular testing platform (2483 COVID-19 cases per 100 000 individuals screened). Conclusion Simultaneous screening for COVID-19 and tuberculosis in India is operationally feasible and can improve real-time on-site detection of COVID-19 and tuberculosis. [Phrase omitted] Depistage simultane de la COVID-19 et de la tuberculose en Inde Objectif Evaluer la mise en reuvre de nouveaux processus operationnels pour le depistage simultane de la maladie a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) et de la tuberculose au sein de quatre grands centres de depistage de la COVID-19 situes dans des hopitaux tertiaires a Mumbai, en Inde. Methodes Une plateforme de tests moleculaires rapides pour la COVID-19 et la tuberculose, des agents de laboratoire en suffisance ainsi que des reactifs et consommables destines au depistage ont ete mis a la disposition de chaque centre proposant deja des tests de diagnostic rapide bases sur la detection d'antigenes. Par le biais d'un questionnaire oral sur la tuberculose, un agent charge du suivi des patients a selectionne des individus se rendant dans les centres de depistage de la COVID-19. Les patients potentiellement atteints d'une tuberculose ont ete invites a fournir des echantillons d'expectorations en vue de realiser des tests moleculaires rapides. Ensuite, nous avons inverse notre processus operationnel et utilise des tests de diagnostic rapide afin de depister la COVID-19 chez les patients ayant effectue une visite dans des cliniques externes dediees a la tuberculose. Resultats Entre mars et decembre 2021, 14 588 cas presumes de COVID-19 ont ete retenus pour un depistage de la tuberculose; 475 (3,3%) d'entre eux presentaient une suspicion de tuberculose. Au sein de cette categorie, 288 (60,6%) individus ont ete testes, dont 32 (11,1%) se sont reveles positifs a la tuberculose (219 cas pour 100 000 individus selectionnes). Sur l'ensemble de ces individus positifs, trois souffraient d'une tuberculose resistant a la rifampicine. Parmi les 187 cas presumes de tuberculose restants qui n'ont pas ete testes, 174 n'ont declare aucun symptome lors du suivi et 13 ont refuse d'etre testes ou n'ont pas ete retrouves. D'autre part, sur les 671 cas presumes de tuberculose soumis a un depistage de la COVID-19, 17 (2,5%) ont obtenu un resultat positif lors des tests de diagnostic rapide bases sur la detection d'antigenes et cinq (0,7%) ont obtenu un resultat negatif, avant d'obtenir un resultat positif via la plateforme de tests moleculaires (2483 cas de COVID-19 pour 100 000 individus selectionnes). Conclusion Le depistage simultane de la COVID-19 et de la tuberculose en Inde est non seulement realisable sur le plan operationnel, mais peut aussi ameliorer la detection de la COVID-19 et de la tuberculose sur site et en temps reel. Examen de deteccion simultanea de COVID-19 y tuberculosis, India Objetivo Evaluar la implementacion de nuevos flujos de trabajo operativos para llevar a cabo examenes de deteccion simultanea de la enfermedad de coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) y de tuberculosis en cuatro centros de pruebas de alta incidencia de COVID-19, ubicados en hospitales terciarios de Mumbai (India). Metodos Se equipo a cada uno de los centros que ya ofrecia pruebas de diagnostico rapido de deteccion de antigenos con una plataforma de pruebas rapidas moleculares para detectar COVID-19 y tuberculosis. Asimismo, se les doto de suficiente personal de laboratorio, de reactivos y de material para realizar los examenes de deteccion. Mediante un cuestionario oral sobre tuberculosis, la persona responsable del seguimiento de pacientes evaluo a las personas que visitaban los centros de pruebas de COVID-19. Se solicito a los pacientes que presuntamente padecian tuberculosis que proporcionaran muestras de esputo para realizar pruebas rapidas moleculares. Posteriormente, utilizando pruebas de diagnostico rapido, se cambio el flujo de trabajo operativo con el fin de realizar tambien examenes de deteccion de COVID-19 a pacientes que visitaban centros ambulatorios de tuberculosis. Resultados De marzo a diciembre de 2021, se realizaron examenes de deteccion de tuberculosis a 14 588 pacientes que presuntamente padecian COVID-19; entre estos pacientes, se identifico que 475 (3,3%) sufria una presunta tuberculosis. Entre estos pacientes, se realizaron pruebas a 288 (60,6%), llegandose a detectar tuberculosis positiva (219 casos por cada 100 000 individuos examinados) en 32 pacientes (11,1%). Entre los individuos con tuberculosis positiva, tres de ellos presentaban tuberculosis resistente a la rifampicina. De los 187 casos restantes no sometidos a pruebas y con presunta tuberculosis, 174 individuos informaron sobre la ausencia de sintomas en el seguimiento, y las 13 personas restantes o bien se negaron a hacerse las pruebas o no fue posible realizar su seguimiento. De los 671 casos con presunta tuberculosis en los que se llevo a cabo un examen de deteccion de COVID-19, 17 personas (2,5%) dieron positivo en pruebas de diagnostico rapido de antigenos, y cinco (0,7%) que dieron negativo en un principio arrojaron posteriormente un resultado positivo en la plataforma de pruebas moleculares (2483 casos de COVID-19 por cada 100 000 individuos examinados). Conclusion El examen de deteccion simultanea de COVID-19 y tuberculosis de la India es factible a nivel operativo y puede mejorar la deteccion de casos de COVID-19 y tuberculosis in situ en tiempo real.

In 2016, the Colombian government and the leftist insurgency group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo) signed an agreement that ensures women's greater participation in the peace implementation process, their access to benefits from the programs, and their ability to reform initiatives in the agreement. While applauded for adhering to the UNSCR 1325 normative commitments on women's roles in peace processes, it's unclear how adopting a gender perspective affects the entire agreement's implementation success. This article analyzes monthly data on the implementation of 578 stipulations and 70 subthemes (reforms or programs) and evaluates peace implementation from a gender perspective. The findings from the stipulation level analysis reveal an implementation gap between gender and gender‐neutral or non‐gender provisions. The subtheme level analyses further confirm this finding that gender provisions alone do not contribute to the overall peace implementation success; rather, implementing those provisions is foundational for advancing the overall peace implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rebel diplomacy in civil wars is an emerging research area, and we do not know the extent to which it contributes to the type of civil war termination. This article posits rebel diplomacy as the practices of communication and persuasion intended to generate external and internal pressures which make the government and rebel more amenable to each others' demands. The implication of this theoretical argument is that the government and rebel groups would be able to find compromises and settle civil wars in a negotiated peace agreement. Findings from the analysis of 136 civil wars since 1950 support the theoretical argument. This finding is robust in alternative model specification and after modelling the endogenous effect of factors that explain the rebel use of diplomacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative peace processes research shows how the success of peace agreement implementation contributes to durable quality peace in societies emerging out of violent conflict. Less widely discussed in this peace implementation research are three core components: the various actors involved in the peace implementation, the location of implementation activities, and the temporal dimensions involved in the implementation process. While peace process actors receive some attention within the top-down and bottom-up and inclusion and exclusion debates in peacebuilding research, discussions are sparse on the geolocation of peace implementation and implementation timing. By showing how these three components – peace process actors, geolocation, and time – interact with each other, this article makes the case for these three components to build a holistic understanding of and diverse perspectives on the peace implementation process. Information specific to actors, geolocation, and time involving the peace implementation process helps generate and address new research puzzles and thus advance our understanding of the peace implementation process while providing new insights for policymakers and peacebuilding practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive peace agreements (CPAs) are the most impactful negotiated settlements ending civil wars, but their implementation varies across post-conflict countries and over time. To explain varying implementation, this study identifies central challenges in CPA implementation and suggests that international third parties are uniquely positioned to overcome them. (1) IGOs with high economic leverage, and (2) prior foreign aid both set incentives that reduce domestic barriers to implementation. Quantitative evidence on the implementation of CPAs from 1989-2015 supports this argument. Both post-conflict countries' participation in IGOs with high economic leverage and higher volumes of prior foreign aid are associated with higher rates of CPA implementation. Multiple estimation approaches, including instrumental variables, support this finding. Case evidence from the 2007 CPA in Ivory Coast tracks the processes by which IGOs and donors help overcome stakeholder resistance and facilitate implementation. This finding encourages more concerted efforts by policymakers to advance CPA implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave processing of metallic material is an emerging process compared to conventional ones. In the present work microwave heating of bulk specimen of AA6061 is studied experimentally and numerically to understand heating behaviour of metal sample and tooling materials in an electromagnetic field. A three-dimensional model of the process has been generated using the COMSOL Multiphysics tool. The electric field distribution has been observed with a maximum value of 4.29 × 104 (V/m) in the centre of the cavity. The average volumetric heating rate has been reached to above 700°C within 600 s. The resistive losses have been observed with the value of 2.37 × 106 (W/m3) due to electromagnetic field distribution and tooling material properties. Temperature profiles obtained through experimental trials and simulation studies have been analysed and found in almost similar propensity within 5% of error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]