Is There a Relationship between Psychotic Disorders and the Radicalization Process? A Systematic Review.

Background and Objectives: Radicalization, a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, has been a subject of increasing concern in recent years, particularly due to its potential connection to acts of mass violence and terrorism. This systematic review examines the intricate link between radicalization and psychotic disorders, utilizing various sources such as observational studies, case reports, and series. It aims to highlight the prevalence of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders among radicalized individuals and to define the role of mental health professionals in dealing with this issue, contributing to the development of prevention and treatment strategies. Materials and Methods: The methodology involved an extensive literature search across PubMed, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO up to 1 February 2024, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. The study focused on radicalization and psychotic disorders as defined by DSM-5 criteria, excluding other mental disorders. A population sample of 41 radicalized individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders was selected, among which schizophrenia was identified as the predominant condition. Results: It was observed that 24% of these individuals passed away soon after committing their crimes, leading the researchers to rely on retrospective data for their diagnoses. The use of diverse assessment tools for psychiatric diagnosis and the lack of a standardized method for diagnosing or assessing involvement in the radicalization process were also noted. Despite limitations like reliance on observational studies and case reports, which result in low evidence quality and varied methodologies, our work provides a valuable contribution to clarifying the relationship between radicalization and psychotic disorders. However, further clinical studies are needed to delve deeper into these aspects. Conclusions: In conclusion, our review points out that individuals with psychotic disorders do not have a higher crime rate than the general population and warns against associating crimes with mental illness due to the stigma it creates. The lack of uniform psychiatric diagnostic tools and radicalization assessment highlights the need for more standardized risk assessment tools and validated scales in psychiatric diagnosis to better understand the relationship between radicalization and psychotic disorders and to develop integrated protocols.

Collaborations and Networks Within Communities for Improved Utilization of Primary Healthcare Centers: On the Road to Universal Health Coverage.

Objectives: Community involvement depends on the level of linked and targeted activities for health by community members. This study examines the collaborations employed within communities to ensure sustainable access and improved use of healthcare in the community. Methods: This study was conducted in rural and urban local government areas in Anambra, Kano, and Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. About 90 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions were conducted with community stakeholders and service users. The findings were transcribed and coded via thematic analysis, guided by the Expanded Health Systems framework. Results: Various horizontal collaborations in communities foster increased use of PHC services; promoting community health. Major horizontal collaborations in these communities were community-led, primary health facility-led, and Individual-led collaborations. Their actions revolved around advocacy, building and renovating PHC centers, equipping facilities, and sensitization to educate community members on the need to utilize services at PHC centers. Conclusion: Strategic involvements and collaborations of local actors within communities give rise to improvements in the utilization of primary healthcare centres, reportedly resulting in improved access to PHC healthcare services for community members.

'My Advocacy is Not About Me, My Advocacy is About Canadians': A Qualitative Study of how Caregivers and Patients Influence Regulation of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada.

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was legalised federally in Canada after the Supreme Court decision in Carter v Canada (Attorney General) [2015] 1 SCR 331. The federal legislative framework for MAiD was established via Bill C-14 in 2016. Caregivers and patients were central to Carter and subsequent litigation and advocacy, which resulted in amendments to the law via Bill C-7 in 2021. Research has primarily focused on the impacts of regulation on caregivers and patients. This qualitative study investigates how caregivers and patients influence law reform and the operation of MAiD practice in Canada (ie, behave as 'regulatory actors'), using Black's definition of regulation. We found that caregivers and patients performed sustained, focused, and intentional actions that influenced law reform and the operation of MAiD in practice. Caregivers and patients are not passive objects of Canadian MAiD regulation, and their role in influencing regulation (eg, law reform and MAiD practice) should be supported where this is desired by the person. However, recognising the burdens of engaging in regulatory action to address barriers to accessing MAiD or to quality care, and MAiD system gaps, other regulatory actors (eg, governments) should minimise this burden, particularly where a person engages in regulatory action reluctantly.

Hidden figures: how legal experts influence the design of international institutions.

Whose preferences influence the design of international institutions? Scholarship on the legalization of international politics and creation of international legal institutions largely adopts a state-centric perspective. Existing accounts, however, fail to recognize how states often delegate authority over institutional design tasks to independent legal experts whose preferences may diverge from those of states. We develop a principal-agent (PA) framework for theorizing relations between states (collective principals) and legal actors (agents) in the design process, and for explaining how legal actors influence the design of international institutions. The legal dimensions of the PA relationship increase the likelihood of preference divergence between the collective principal and the agent, but also create conditions that enable the agent to opportunistically advance its own design preferences. We argue that the more information on states' preferences the agent has, the more effectively it can exploit its legal expertise to strategically select and justify design choices that maximize its own preferences and the likelihood of states' acceptance. Our analysis of two cases of delegated institutional design concerning international criminal law at the United Nations and the African Union supports our theoretical expectations. Extensive archival and interview data elucidate how agents' variable information on states' preferences affects their ability to effectively advance their design preferences. Our theory reveals how independent legal experts with delegated authority over design tasks influence institutional design processes and outcomes, which has practical and normative implications for the legalization of international politics.

Social and behavior change communication competency among front-line healthcare system actors in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) plays a critical role in improving behavior and health outcomes across the continuum of healthcare. Failing to implement tailored SBCC strategies continues to pose a risk of ill health, increase disease burden, and impact the quality life of people. In Ethiopia, front-line healthcare system actors' knowledge and skills about SBCC have not been rigorously assessed. Thus, the current study aimed to assess healthcare system actors' competencies in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating SBCC interventions in Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 01 August and 31 October, 2020. Five hundred twenty-eight frontline healthcare system actors in SBCC in Ethiopia were included using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire adopted from Communication for Change; SBCC capacity assessment tool. Descriptive analysis frequencies, percentages, mean, median, standard deviation (SD), interquartile range (IQR) were employed. Besides correlations and linear regression with robust standard errors were carried out. A 95% confidence interval and a p-value of less than 0.05 were used to declare significant statistical association. RESULTS: A total of 488 frontline workers participated in the study, with a response rate of 92.4%. The mean SBCC knowledge score was 13.2 ± standard deviation (SD) 3.99 and 59.2% scored below 60% of the expected maximum score. The standard mean score of overall skill in SBCC intervention was 2.36 (SD ± 0.98) and 52.6% of them scored below mean score. The SBCC knowledge was significantly predicted by the service year and the regional variation. On the other hand, SBCC skills was significantly predicted by sex, service year, profession, regional variation, and SBCC knowledge. The regional variation was the main predictor of both knowledge and skill on SBCC. The regression models explained 23.1% and 50.2% of the variance in knowledge and skill of SBCC, respectively. CONCLUSION: Front-line healthcare system actors in Ethiopia has low knowledge and skills in SBCC. Variations in SBCC knowledge and skill were observed based on demographic and professionals experience related characteristics. Hence, continuous capacity building activities need to be given to frontline healthcare system actors to enhance their knowledge and skill on SBCC program and achieve the intended health results.

"God, I hope it doesn't fade out": Team Member Perspectives on the Future of Veterans Treatment Courts.

Despite their rapid spread over the last 15 years, little research has explored the perceptions of Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) team members regarding the viability and longevity of VTCs. The present qualitative study explores the perceptions of 145 VTC team members from 20 VTCs around the United States regarding the future of their own VTC and VTCs in general. Our analysis revealed four overarching themes about team members' expectations and hopes for VTCs in the future: the need for continued funding and increased resources; desires to expand participation in VTCs; hope and uncertainty about the future of VTCs; and depending on specific people to ensure the future of VTCs. While interviewees in general felt quite hopeful and optimistic that VTCs would continue to exist and may even expand, there was unease about exactly how this would occur. These concerns included securing stable funding sources, maintaining 'buy in' from key individuals, and resource needs for expanding the participation and eligibility criteria of VTCs. Given the important role that VTCs can play in effectively supporting justice-involved veterans, and offering more benefits compared to a traditional justice-system response, it seems vital to ensure that VTCs are able to continue operating in the future.

Amazon deforestation: A dangerous future indicated by patterns and trajectories in a hotspot of forest destruction in Brazil.

In recent years, the loss of forest in the Brazilian Amazon has taken on alarming proportions, with 2021 recording the largest increase in 13 years, particularly in the Abunã-Madeira Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR). This has significant environmental, social, and economic repercussions globally and for the local communities reliant on the forest. Analyzing deforestation patterns and trends aids in comprehending the dynamics of occupation and deforestation within a critical Amazon region, enabling the inference of potential occupation pathways. This understanding is crucial for identifying deforestation expansion zones and shaping public policies to curb deforestation. Decisions by the Brazilian government regarding landscape management will have profound environmental implications. We conducted an analysis of deforestation patterns and trends up to 2021 in the municipality (county) of Lábrea, located in the southern portion of Amazonas state. Deforestation processes in this area are likely to spread to the adjacent "Trans-Purus" region in western Amazonas, where Amazonia's largest block of remaining rainforest is at risk from planned highways. Annual deforestation polygons from 2008 to 2021 were categorized based on occupation typologies linked to various actors and processes defined for the region (e.g., diffuse, linear, fishbone, geometric, multidirectional, and consolidated). These patterns were represented through 10 × 10 km grid cells. The findings revealed that Lábrea's territory is predominantly characterized by the diffuse pattern (initial occupation stage), mainly concentrated in protected areas. Advanced occupation patterns (multidirectional and consolidated) were the primary contributors to deforestation during this period. Observed change trajectories included consolidation (30.8%) and expansion (19.6%) in the southern portion of the municipality, particularly along the Boi and Jequitibá secondary roads, providing access to large illegal landholdings. Additionally, non-change trajectories (67%) featured initial occupation patterns near rivers and in protected areas, likely linked to riverine and extractive communities. Tailoring measures to control deforestation based on actor types and considering stages of occupation is crucial. The techniques developed in this study provide a comprehensive approach for Amazonia and other tropical regions.

The confluence of legacy, corporate social responsibility, and public health: The case of Migros and alcohol-free retailing in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol policy studies have traditionally focused on formal policymaking processes. Retail cooperatives, however, have rarely been studied as sites of public health interventions. Migros, a cooperatively owned chain of supermarkets in Switzerland, has long forbidden alcohol sales in its supermarkets. Focusing on processes of framing, this study explores a recent unsuccessful attempt to reverse the long-standing ban via membership vote in 2022. METHODS: The study draws on a range of data sources, including company documents, a televised debate, and the results of a large online survey among the general population conducted ahead of the referendum. Using thematic analysis, it investigates various campaign-related arguments, including those made by Migros management, NGOs, and other key campaign participants. RESULTS: Proponents and opponents used a combination of public health, economic/market-oriented, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) frames. Migros's longstanding dedication to CSR, its participatory governance structure, and the regional political dynamics in the Swiss context are essential in understanding the nature and impact of framing. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-related harm arises from a complex interaction between different social, political, and economic factors. Reducing harm requires approaches that consider the range of contexts and measures that can shape alcohol availability.

The future of radiology and radiologists: AI is pivotal but not the only change afoot.

Uncertainty regarding the future of radiologists is largely driven by the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI). If AI succeeds, will radiologists continue to monopolize imaging services? As AI accuracy progresses with alacrity, radiology reads will be excellent. Some articles show that AI can make non-radiologists experts. However, eminent figures within AI development have expressed concerns over its possible adverse uses. Bad actors, not bad AI, may account for a future in which AI is not as successful as we might hope and, as some fear, even pernicious. More relevant to current predictions over the course of AI in medicine, and radiology in particular, is how the evolution of AI is often seen in a vacuum. We cannot predict the future with certainty. But as we contemplate the potential impact of AI in radiology, we should remember that radiology does not exist in a vacuum; while AI is changing, so is everything else. The medical system, not to mention the world's population, has been severely impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic and numerous experts expect future worldwide pandemics. We cannot predict the condition of the healthcare system in two decades but may assume that radiology will likely remain critical in any future medical practice. For now, we should responsibly use all tools at our disposal (including AI) to make ourselves as indispensable as possible. Our best chances of remaining relevant and instrumental to patient care will likely hinge on our ability to lead the changes rather than be passively impacted by them.

Communication and swallowing training of stroke-specialized health professionals using transdisciplinary knowledge in a patient-actor scenario: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Most people with stroke exhibit a variety of impairments that need to be addressed by a multidisciplinary team. Communication and swallowing disorders are common and should be screened very early. To guarantee a patient-centred approach, all patients, even those with speech and language disorders, must be actively engaged in the healthcare process. Effective communication is essential to success in many of the needed interventions. However, healthcare professionals often do not receive formal training in communicating with these patients, thus increasing the risk of preventable adverse events. AIMS: To describe the design, implementation and evaluation of a post-acute stroke multidisciplinary team training using patient actors in a simulation approach. METHODS & PROCEDURES: A 2-day course focused on the transdisciplinary knowledge related to communication and swallowing that all members of the multidisciplinary stroke team should acquire was implemented. A case-based learning methodology used simulation and resorting to patients' actors. Learning outcomes were evaluated by comparing the results obtained in two knowledge tests, one for each topic, which participants performed before and after each day course. Reaction to the training was gathered concerning the content, teacher quality and course organization. The follow-up was performed 6 months later to assess training skills transfer to the workplace environment. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: All the participants considered that the programme objectives were relevant or truly relevant and revealed that the programme's dynamic, rhythm and scenarios set were excellent. After the end of the programme, both communication and swallowing knowledge increased. Most participants had the opportunity to employ the acquired training skills in their work environment. The main barriers identified to implementing these skills were the 'need for additional training', the 'lack of time' or 'the lack of opportunities'. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Simulation is a central method to increase and improve health professionals' skills when intervening with stroke patients. Using simulation with patient actors allows flexibility and diversification of clinical situations under analysis, which can provide a multiplier effect of reflection and learning. The implemented training achieved its objectives. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject Simulation in the training of health professionals is increasingly used as a good practice, allowing the recreation of scenarios identical to those in the context of professional practice. This strategy is used not only in initial training but also for the development of advanced skills. What this study adds to the existing knowledge This study reports the use of simulation using actor patients for the development of transdisciplinary skills in the topics of communication and swallowing in people with stroke What are the clinical and practical implications of this work? The study demonstrates that in a short period of training, the use of simulation with actor patients favours the development of transdisciplinary skills in the topics of communication and swallowing in people with stroke. At the same time, the skills developed are transferable to professional practice.

Opening up New Geographical Ontologies around Adapting to Climate Change.

Opening up regional ontologies for climate action is a necessary and underexplored dimension of climate change policymaking. This commentary explores how a regional lens might be integrated into the complex mosaic of climate governance, particularly in the context of resilient regions. I argue regional ontologies for climate policymaking could have greater analytical power if integrated into a theoretical framing of action that goes beyond the nation-state, beyond formal policy processes and beyond a strict binary between science and policy. Applying this lens to resilient regions, I argue there are particular opportunities at the regional scale for highlighting diverse perspectives or adaptation issues obscured through a national ontology, using existing transnational data infrastructure and community-led data systems to support the regional ontology and reframing the scale of collective future visions for a climate-adapted world.

Making leisure time meaningful for adolescents: an interview study from Sweden.

Adolescents' school performance is influenced by several factors and meaningful leisure time, especially organized activities, has great potential to impact academic results. Therefore, this study aimed to gain a greater understanding of how community actors perceive meaningful leisure time and how they work to create meaningful leisure time with the intention of increasing the chances for more adolescents completing upper secondary school. Semi-structured interviews with 14 informants, representing nine different community actors in a middle-sized city in Sweden, were conducted and analysed using content analysis. Results suggest that meaningful leisure time positively impacts adolescents' mental health through social relations, support, and guidance. Leisure is believed to have spillover effects on reducing stress, manage school demands and performance. Nevertheless, leisure time activities and school performance must be balanced with time and effort. Community actors work proactively with availability, individual approaches, and offering activities to create meaning. From a societal perspective, places to hang out with supportive adults, in particular structured activities, should be regarded as a social investment in adolescents' health and prospects, especially in deprived areas where fewer activities are available. Finally, ensuring meaningful leisure time is in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A systematic review of actors, actions, and outcomes of community-based efforts to prevent or reduce methamphetamine use.

Background: There has been an increase in methamphetamine use across the globe, despite widespread control of the drug, prevention, and treatment. Community-based approaches have proven effective in tackling diverse health-related challenges including substance use; however, little is known regarding community programs targeting methamphetamine use. We conducted a systematic literature review on community programs aimed at tackling the use of methamphetamine across the globe. Method: Relevant literature from peer-reviewed and gray literature sources were systematically identified. A grid template was used to extract and synthesize findings from retrieved literature regarding themes of actors, actions, and outcomes related to identified programs. Results: A total of 19 documents met our inclusion criteria. Some of the dominant actors in efforts to reduce methamphetamine use in communities were local councils, drug enforcement units, influential persons in the community, people who use or had used methamphetamine, business corporations, and already-existing health promoting platforms. Actions taken were typically education/awareness/information campaigns. Drug enforcement agencies appeared to make little gains when acting alone, and appeared to drive dealers and users underground. Many of the efforts made at the community level were alluded to be beneficial; however, it was difficult to quantify the impact of programs. Community-level efforts also tended to cascade to other drugs. Conclusion: Community-based actors and actions are diverse and critical to the prevention of methamphetamine use. There is a need to better coordinate and integrate different actors and interventions so that outcomes can be better monitored and evaluated for greater effectiveness in reducing methamphetamine use.

Medical students in their first consultation: A comparison between a simulated face-to-face and telehealth consultation to train medical consultation skills.

Objective: A simulated conversation between a physician and a family member, i.e., a medical conversation, was changed from a conventional face-to-face conversation (SS 2019) to a telehealth conversation (SS 2020) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical education conversation is part of the biochemistry seminar "From Genes to Proteins" which second semester human medicine students take. The objective of this study was to analyze to what extent the switch from face-to-face to telehealth conversations affected student satisfaction and motivation. Methodology: In the seminar, students study biochemical as well as competency-oriented content, such as how to talk to family members. In the summer semester of 2019, students were trained how to talk to their patients' family members in a traditional conversation setting with the help of lay actors in a classroom format. In the summer semester of 2020, this conversation took place under comparable conditions, but in the form of an online telehealth conversation instead. Student satisfaction and motivation were surveyed by means of an evaluation questionnaire following the seminar in both semesters. Results: Both conversation formats achieved a high level of satisfaction from students (school grade A-B). For some evaluation items, such as "realistic conversation simulation", the face-to-face conversation was perceived as more satisfying (Md=5.0, IQR=1.0) than the telehealth conversation (Md=5.0, IQR=2.0). In addition, the face-to-face conversation resulted in higher subjective motivation from students (Md=5.0, IQR=1.0) than that of the telehealth conversation (Md=4.0, IQR=2.0). Conclusion: The high student satisfaction and acceptance of both didactic concepts leads to the conclusion that the simulated telehealth conversation is an adequate substitute for the simulation of a traditional face-to-face conversation with regard to the parameters that were studied.

Building on value-based health care: Towards a health system perspective.

A variety of methodologies have been developed to help health systems increase the 'value' created from their available resources. The urgency of creating value is heightened by population ageing, growth in people with complex morbidities, technology advancements, and increased citizen expectations. This study develops a policy framework that seeks to reconcile the various approaches towards value-based policies in health systems. The distinctive contribution is that we focus on the value created by the health system as a whole, including health promotion, thus moving from value-based health care towards a value-based health system perspective. We define health system value to be the contribution of the health system to societal wellbeing. We adopt a framework of five dimensions of value, embracing health improvement, health care responsiveness, financial protection, efficiency and equity, which we map onto a society's aggregate wellbeing. Actors within the health system make different contributions to value, and we argue that their perspectives can be aligned with a unifying concept of health system value. We provide examples of policy levers and highlight key actors and how they can promote certain aspects of health system value. We discuss advantages of value-based approach based on the notion of wellbeing and some practical obstacles to its implementation.

Analyzing actors' interaction behavior in land transactions in informal settlement settings: A case study of Burayu city, Ethiopia.

Informality plays an imperative role in offering housing for households in developing countries when the formal market cannot provide enough to keep up with residents' demands. The actors' interaction, with one another, plays an imperative role in land transactions in informal settlement areas. As informal actors operate outside the formal land transactions their activities and methods of operation are rarely understood. Therefore, based on social network theory, this paper aims to identify and examine informal actors, their functions, interactions, and power relationships in informal settlement areas. To this end, this study employed key informant interviews, focus group discussions, structured questionnaires, and a review of published literature, as well as official documents. In the study area, most residents acquired land through informal mechanisms. Major actors include farmers, local land administrators, speculators, land brokers, residents, government officials, and religious leaders. The study also uncovers that the role of each actor varies from information provision to price fixing. Their roles and interactions are governed by dynamic networks and occasionally overlap functions. Among the network actors, land brokers are considered the most influential and powerful because they possess a high degree of centrality, closeness, betweenness, and eigenvector. They hold a pivotal position in the network and act as a liaison between the network's actors. Therefore, the roles of land brokers, who often actively influence the land transaction process, should be considered in urban land governance and incorporated in policy formulation and implementation.

An assessment of the structure of shea global value chain in Ghana and implication for policy development.

The global value chain for shea has witnessed major transformations in the last two decades. This study was aimed at providing a detailed understanding of the structure of the shea value chain in Ghana. Data were collected primarily from primary source and secondary sources. A total of 820 upstream actors, 20 aggregators, 2 processing companies and other experts were interviewed using both closed-ended and open-ended questionnaires to gather qualitative and quantitative data. The study employed the value chain framework to analyse the structure of the shea value chain in Ghana. Data analysis was primarily descriptive in nature. A value chain map, schematic diagram, and flow charts were generated to show the linkages between actors and the flow of resources, materials, products, information, and funds. The results show that the shea value chain is highly gendered, with women at the base of the chain, working as shea kernel producers and processors of crude shea butter, using mainly traditional methods, hence output is sub-optimal. The mid-stream actors were all males, whose main function involves aggregating shea kernels across several communities for industrial processors and export companies. Processing companies, using mechanised methods, process and export several derivatives of shea (shea grits, shea butter, stearin, and olein) to mainly to high-end markets in the E.U and Asia. Though female participation in the shea global value chain is prominent, their output is way too low at the current level to make significant impact. Policy focus must be on supporting upstream actors through the provision of improved processing facilities, community infrastructure, and skills training to enhance the capacity of upstream actors to improve their performance.

Who's "in the room where it happens"? A taxonomy and five-step methodology for identifying and characterizing policy actors.

BACKGROUND: Engaging policy actors in research design and execution is critical to increasing the practical relevance and real-world impact of policy-focused dissemination and implementation science. Identifying and selecting which policy actors to engage, particularly actors involved in "Big P" public policies such as laws, is distinct from traditional engaged research methods. This current study aimed to develop a transparent, structured method for iteratively identifying policy actors involved in key policy decisions-such as adopting evidence-based interventions at systems-scale-and to guide implementation study sampling and engagement approaches. A flexible policy actor taxonomy was developed to supplement existing methods and help identify policy developers, disseminators, implementers, enforcers, and influencers. METHODS: A five-step methodology for identifying policy actors to potentially engage in policy dissemination and implementation research was developed. Leveraging a recent federal policy as a case study-The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)-publicly available documentation (e.g., websites, reports) were searched, retrieved, and coded using content analysis to characterize the organizations and individual policy actors in the "room" during policy decisions. RESULTS: The five steps are as follows: (1) clarify the policy implementation phase(s) of interest, (2) identify relevant proverbial or actual policymaking "rooms," (3) identify and characterize organizations in the room, (4) identify and characterize policy actors in the "room," and (5) quantify (e.g., count actors across groups), summarize, and compare "rooms" to develop or select engagement approaches aligned with the "room" and actors. The use and outcomes of each step are exemplified through the FFPSA case study. CONCLUSIONS: The pragmatic and transparent policy actor identification steps presented here can guide researchers' methods for continuous sampling and successful policy actor engagement. Future work should explore the utility of the proposed methods for guiding selection and tailoring of engagement and implementation strategies (e.g., research-policy actor partnerships) to improve both "Big P" and "little p" (administrative guidelines, procedures) policymaking and implementation in global contexts.

Information and Communication Technology deployment and agricultural value chain nexus in Nigeria.

This study examined the point of the agricultural value chain where the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is significant. The study used the data sourced from wave 4 (2018/2019) of the Living Standards Measurement Study - Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) and applied the Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression. The result showed that ICT deployment is significant for all actors along the agricultural value chain. However, though significant for all actors on the value chain, the estimated coefficients slightly differ. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is helpful for all the actors along the chain from the estimated coefficients but higher at the farmgate collectors. This can be based on the rationale that, unlike other actors in the chain, the farmgate collectors interact directly or more with the farmers, making ICT more crucial for them than other actors in the chain. The study concludes that ICT can provide farmers and value chain actors with information about the market, among others, new production skills and processes that will help them upgrade, leading to entry into higher-value markets.

For Sake of Youth and for Sake of Policies and Programmes. Why Youth Participation is a Right, a Requirement and a Value Comment on "Between Rhetoric and Reality: Learnings From Youth Participation in the Adolescent and Youth Health Policy in South Africa".

This commentary discusses an article by Jacobs and George which investigated how youth participation can be an important component of health policy-making by conducting a case study based on qualitative interviews. We appreciate the methodology and the main findings of the study, which contribute to advancing our understanding of the challenges and opportunities of youth participation in health policy-making. We note that this article raises several questions and issues that we must address to advance research and practice: (i) is there is a substantial gap between rhetoric and reality in terms of youth participation? (ii) do youth policies have a direct impact on youth participation? (iii) can we define and operationalise meaningful engagement? (iv) who is included and who is excluded in youth participation projects? and (v) is youth participation a right, a requirement and a value?