Morphological and microsatellite DNA diversity of Djallonké sheep in Guinea-Bissau

Background The present study aimed at characterizing the Djallonké Sheep (DS), the only local sheep breed raised in Guinea-Bissau. A total of 200 animals were sampled from four regions (Bafatá, Gabú, Oio and Cacheu) and described using 7 visual criteria and 8 measurements. These parameters have been studied by principal components analysis. The genetic diversity and population structure of 92 unrelated animals were studied using 12 microsatellite markers. Results The values of quantitative characters in the Bafatá region were significantly higher than those obtained in the other three regions. A phenotypic diversity of the DS population was observed and three genetic types distinguished: animals with “large traits” in the region of Bafatá, animals with “intermediate traits” in the regions of Gabú and Oio and animals with “small traits” in the Cacheu region. The hair coat colors are dominated by the white color, the shape of the facial head profile is mainly convex and the ears “erected horizontally”. Most of the morphobiometric characteristics were significantly influenced by the “region” and “sex of animals”. The average Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) of 0.65 ± 0.11 supports the use of markers in genetic characterization. Gabú subpopulation had the highest genetic diversity measures (He = 0.716 ± 0.089) while Cacheu DS subpopulation presented the smallest (He = 0.651 ± 0.157). Only Gabú and Bafatá subpopulations presented significant heterozygote deficiency across all loci indicating possible significant inbreeding. Mean values for FIT,FST, FIS and GST statistics across all loci were 0.09, 0.029, 0.063 and 0.043 respectively. The overall genetic differentiation observed between the four DS subpopulations studied was low. Bafatá and Gabú are the most closely related subpopulations (DS = 0.04, genetic identity = 0.96) while Bafatá and Cacheu were the most genetically distant subpopulations (DS = 0.14, genetic identity = 0.87). Using Bayesian approach, the number of K groups that best fit the data is detected between 2 and 3, which is consistent with the morphological analysis and the factorial analysis of correspondence. Conclusions The molecular results on DS population of Guinea-Bissau confirmed the ones obtained with morphological analysis. The three genetic types observed phenotypically might be due to a combination of the agro-ecological differences and the management of breeding rather than genetic factors.

Developing Knowledge of Supply Chain Resilience in Less-Developed Countries in the Pandemic Age

The constraints imposed by the pandemic COVID-19 increased the risks of the disruption of supply chains, bringing new challenges to companies. These effects were felt more intensely in less-developed countries, which are highly dependent on imports of products and raw materials. This study aims to assess the impact of supply chain resilience in a less-developed country (Guinea-Bissau) using complex adaptive system theory. We used a qualitative methodology through multiple case studies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four companies. The semi-structured script contains questions about supply chain disruptions, vulnerabilities and resilience. The main results show that the companies in Guinea-Bissau, due to their dependence on the outside world and the absence of formal, larger and more diversified supply chains, suffered serious consequences with the disruption imposed by the pandemic. It was also concluded that the more resilient the supply chain, the fewer the impacts of crisis events and that the resilience of companies at this level depends on their obtaining competitive advantages over their competitors. The main practical implications of this study are the need to formalize the supply chain, diversify the supply of services and products of companies dependent on the exterior, adopt metrics that allow for the early detection of situations of supply chain disruption, effectively manage stocks and promote proactive crisis resolution strategies. Studies on the impact of resilience on supply chains in crises are scarce, especially on companies located in underdeveloped countries.

An Enhanced Islamic Index of Well-Being (IWI 2.0-2021) for Muslim Countries

This is a revised version of an assessment of the Islamic Well-Being Index (IWI) of Muslim majority countries, first published by this author in 2013 (IWI 1.0). It uses an improved, updated methodology and reflects the essential maqasid al-shari‘ah (Higher Objectives of Islamic Law) developed by Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. The IWI provides practical insights for countries that aspire to move to a higher state. Leading countries in the maqasid fields could serve as role models for lagging counties. More specifically, IWI indicators provide a way to spot problems, set targets, track trends, and identify best practice policies. This 2021 assessment adds four more countries to the 27 ranked previously. The method incorporates insights from leading Islamic scholars who have developed a ‘maqasid index of governance’ for Muslim countries. The top three countries listed in the Index are (first to third): Indonesia, Tunisia and Malaysia. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country with a successful democracy, experienced an Islamic resurgence, which is reflected in its citizens’ moderate values and practices. Leading countries within the maqasid fields are (first, second): Religion – Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria; Life – UAE, Brunei; Intellect - Albania, Kyrgyzstan; Family – Morocco, Tunisia; and Wealth – Malaysia, UAE. Countries showing greatest improvement in IWI rankings are Lebanon and Turkey. Those that significantly worsened are Afghanistan, Nigeria, Chad and Iraq. To expand the applicability of this index, governments in Muslim majority countries need to facilitate assessment. In particular, religiosity surveys should be expanded and periodic surveys are required to fill other data gaps. The IWI Index and its highlights should be prepared and published annually.

(Post)colonial Chronopolitics and Mapping the Depth of Local Time(s) in Global Literary Studies: an Itinerary to Guinea-Bissau

This article is an attempt at deconstructing the chronopolitics inherent to the (post)colonial way of thinking about the world. As it is argued, what should replace it is a vision of multiple, overlying temporalities and forms of time awareness, reaching deeper than a literary history reduced to the cycle of colonisation – decolonisation – postcolonial becoming, originating from just a single maritime event: the European exploration and conquest of the world. The essay brings forth a choice of interwoven examples illustrating the variability of local time depths, associated with a plurality of origins, narrations, forms of awareness and cultivation of cultural belonging. It shows the lack of coincidence between the dominant and non-dominant perceptions of the past in such places as the archipelagos of São Tomé and Príncipe, Maldives, the Gambia, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau. Their ways of living the global time, as well as embodying significant texts (rather than simply preserving them) stretch far beyond the frameworks created by competing colonial empires, such as the Portuguese or the British one.

AN OPEN LETTER FROM AN AFRICAN WOMEN SCIENTIST TO RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEES

Con antecedentes inspiradores, desafíos, experiencias ricas y diversas, las mujeres científicas africanas han demostrado que el género no importa siempre que tengas la voluntad y la pasión. Pero ¿cuántas de estas mujeres son reconocidas en su trabajo diario? Desde la dificultad de evolucionar en un entorno dominado por los hombres hasta los desafíos de adentrarse en un campo nuevo, son muchos los desafíos que las mujeres africanas deben afrontar para encontrar su lugar en la ciencia. Las científicas africanas se enfrentan todos los días a las dificultades de ser científicas, y de ser consideradas el sexo más débil. Sería muy útil fortalecer las redes de mujeres científicas facilitando su acceso a la información y promoviendo que se apoyen entre sí y a las más jóvenes que quieran seguir una carrera científica. Las científicas africanas merecen protección en sus actividades científicas mediante textos aplicables y vinculantes. La autora leyó esta carta a los integrantes del Comité de Ética de la Investigación de Aragón y de los Comités Éticos Nacionales de Benín, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Malí y Senegal en la apertura del 2.º International Congress on the Harmonisation of Gender Mainstreaming in West Africa, liderado por la Universidad de Zaragoza.

Paulo Freire, un hombre atemporal

La pandemia de COVID-19 evidenció el surgimiento de dos figuras políticas defensoras del discurso de odio, el racismo y la discriminación: Donald Trump en Estados Unidos y Jair Bolsonaro en Brasil. A partir de sus acciones y discursos se evidencia una política de la posverdad que propicia el desencanto y la desesperanza frente al futuro. Se analiza la pedagogía freireana a partir de la experiencia en la Guinea Bissau recién independizada y la relación del pensamiento de Freire con la teología de la liberación y su opción preferencial por los pobres. Se subraya la importancia de la obra de Freire en Estados Unidos desde las primeras publicaciones en inglés de su obra, en 1970. Freire es una figura arquetípica; su pensamiento y su humanismo dialógico pueden ser recuperados y reinterpretados para contrarrestar la era de la posverdad, de caos e incertidumbre.