Individual and community empowerment improve resource users' perceptions of community-based conservation effectiveness in Kenya and Tanzania.

Community-based conservation has been increasingly recognized as critical to achieve both conservation and socio-economic development goals worldwide. However, the long-term sustainability of community-based conservation programs is dependent on a broadly shared perception among community members that management actions are achieving their stated goals. Thus, understanding the underlying factors driving differences in perceptions of management effectiveness can help managers prioritize the processes and outcomes most valued by resource users and thereby promote sustained support for conservation efforts. Here, we utilize large-scale interview survey data and machine learning to identify the factors most strongly associated with differences in perceived management effectiveness between resource users engaged in marine community-based conservation programs in Kenya and Tanzania. Perceptions of management effectiveness were generally favorable in both countries, and the most important predictors of positive perceptions were associated with community and individual empowerment in resource management and use, but within disparate focal domains. Improved perceptions of management effectiveness in Kenya were closely related to increases in women's empowerment in community-based conservation programs, while inclusionary and transparent governance structures were the most important factors driving improved perceptions in Tanzania. Additionally, the strongest predictors of differences between individuals in both countries often interacted synergistically to produce even higher rates of perceived effectiveness. These findings can help future initiatives in the region tailor management to match community-level priorities and emphasize the need for community-based conservation programs to understand local context to ensure that metrics of "success" are aligned with the needs and desires of local resource users.

Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors for Severity and Pharmacotherapy in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in the United Arab Emirates.

Data on the clinical characteristics, severity and management of COVID-19 from the Middle East region, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is very limited. We studied the clinical characteristics, laboratory biomarkers, risk factors for severity and pharmacotherapy of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in this single-center, analytical cross-sectional study conducted in a secondary care hospital of the UAE. A total of 585 patients were included in the study (median age, 49 years (IQR, 39−59); 66% male). Age > 45 years (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.04−4.14, p = 0.040), male gender (OR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.52−6.51, p = 0.002), presentation symptoms such as fever (OR = 3.68, 95% CI:1.34−10.11, p = 0.011) and shortness of breath/dyspnea (OR = 5.36, 95% CI: 2.69−10.67, p < 0.001), Hb < 13 g/dL (OR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.51−6.65, p = 0.002), neutrophils > 7 × 103/mcL (OR = 4.89, 95% CI: 1.66−14.37, p=0.004), lymphocytes < 1 × 103/mcL (OR = 7.78, 95% CI: 1.01−60.19, p = 0.049), sodium < 135 mmol/L (OR = 5.42, 95% CI: 1.05−27.95, p = 0.044), potassium < 3.6 mmol/L (OR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.03−11.01, p = 0.045), urea > 6.5 mmol/L (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.69−6.73, p = 0.001) and LDH > 227 IU/L (OR = 6.26, 95% CI: 1.61−24.32, p = 0.008) were independent predictors of the severity of COVID-19. Antivirals (524, 89.6%) and corticosteroids (358, 61.2%) were prescribed for the management of COVID-19. In conclusion, older age, male gender, presentation symptoms such as fever and dyspnea, low hemoglobin, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, elevated levels of urea and lactate dehydrogenase were found to be independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. The pharmacotherapy of COVID-19 patients in our study was diverse, and the medications were prescribed based on the clinical condition of the patients.