Resumen En este trabajo consideramos una predicción no paramétrica de un proceso espacial y funcional observado bajo un diseño de muestreo no aleatorio. El predictor propuesto se basa en la regresión funcional y depende de dos núcleos, uno de los cuales controla la estructura espacial y el otro mide la proximidad entre las observaciones funcionales. Esta metodología puede considerarse, en particular, como una nueva herramienta de clasificación supervisada cuando la variable de interés pertenece a un conjunto finito discreto predefinido. El error cuadrático medio y la convergencia casi completa (o certera) se obtienen cuando la muestra considerada es una a realizado estudios numéricos para ilustrar el comportamiento de nuestro predictor. Esta aplicación mediante simulación de un modelo numérico muestra que el método de predicción propuesto supera al predictor clásico que no tiene en cuenta la estructura espacial.

Abstract In this work, we consider a nonparametric prediction of a spatio-functional process observed under a non-random sampling design. The proposed predictor is based on functional regression and depends on two kernels, one of which controls the spatial structure and the other measures the proximity between the functional observations. It can be considered, in particular, as a supervised classification method when the variable of interest belongs to a predefined discrete finite set. The mean square error and almost complete (or sure) convergence are obtained when the sample considered is a locally stationary a-mixture sequence. Numerical studies were performed to illustrate the behavior of the proposed predictor. The finite sample properties based on simulated data show that the proposed prediction method outperforms the cl 1 predictor which not taking into account the spatial structure.

Abstract Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the source of medicines and medicine information of persons living with hypertension and diabetes in rural and urban Ghana and assessing if they are influenced by predisposing and enabling factors as defined by Andersen’s behavioural model. Methods: A population based cross sectional study was conducted in four (4) rural and four (4) urban districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A multistage and proportional sampling method was used in enrolling participants aged 18 years and above. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from respondents. Data collected was exported to STATA for analysis. Descriptive analysis was performed. Chi-square tests/Fisher’s exact test and multinomial logistic regression models were used to establish association between variables. Results: A total of 336 self -reported persons with hypertension and diabetes were enrolled in the study with 199(59.23%) living in urban communities. The majority of participants with hypertension and diabetes living in the rural communities 77 (56.20%) were females contrasting with the male majority in urban communities 106 (53. 27%). In the rural communities, 49 (35.77%) of participants sourced medicines from the health centre while 45 (32.85%) and 35(25.55%) sourced medicines from the hospital and over the counter medicine shop (OTCMS) respectively. In the urban communities, 153 (76.88%) sourced medicines from the hospital while 33 (16.58%) sourced medicines from the pharmacy. The predisposing factor age (OR: 1.1, 95%CI 1.040-1.210) under OTCMS, age (OR 1.0, 95% CI: 1.002-1.066) under hospital and enabling factor socioeconomic status (OR: 0.3, 95%CI 0.085-0.855) under Hospital influenced participant’s source of medicine in the urban communities. The results also revealed that majority of participants in both rural 99 (72.26%), and urban 164 (82.41%) communities sourced medicine information mainly from public healthcare facilities, pre-disposing factors; age (OR 1.1 95%CI 1.032-1.270) under family member, age (OR 1.1, 95%CI 1.022-1.167) under friend health professional, age (OR 1.1, 95%CI 1.050-1.147) under nearest health institution, marital status (OR: 0.004, 95%CI 0.003-0.441) under friend health Professional were found to influence participants’ source of medicine information in the urban communities while in the rural communities the predisposing factor marital status (OR 10.6, 95%CI 1.044 -106.835), education (OR: 26.1, 95%CI 1.271-537.279) under friend health professional, age (OR 1.1, 95%CI 1.002-1.187), educational level (OR 30.6, 95%CI 1.718-546.668) under nearest health institution and enabling factor socio-economic status (OR 6.6, 95%CI 1.016 -43.510) under nearest health institution influenced one’s source of medicine information. Conclusions: Majority of inhabitants with hypertension and diabetes in both rural and urban communities, sourced medicines and medicine information from public health institutions though a larger proportion was recorded in the urban communities. More participants in the rural communities than in the urban communities sourced medicines and medicine information from community pharmacies. Participants’ source of medicine and medicine information was influenced by both predisposing and enabling factors.

Although the main Malian scorpion species of medical interest, Androctonus amoreuxi, is responsible for severe envenomings and perhaps some deaths, it has hitherto been considered not dangerous for humans. This population is located in the Saharian North-Eastern regions of Mali where it is accompanied by Leiurus quinquestriatus, a well known dangerous species of the Sahara. In the Gao district, divided by the Niger River, less desolate than the Tessalit and Kidal regions, one specimen of the dangerous species Androctonus australis was found. To summarize, Mali harbors at least three dangerous scorpion species: Leiurus quinquestriatus, Androctonus amoreuxi and A. australis, the latter recently having been identified in Mali for the first time. The absence of Androctonus aeneas is surprising in this context because it is found in neighboring countries (Algeria, Niger) and should be detected by new surveys. The possibility of preparing a single scorpion antivenom intended for Saharian and sub-Saharian populations is discussed.