Daphnee Joseph

The academic world faces growing pressure to quantify research output and impact. This pressure has led to the development of various metrics, including bibliometrics (measuring publication numbers and citations) and altmetrics (measuring online attention and engagement). These metrics are used to evaluate researchers, universities, and journals, often influencing funding allocation and career advancement. While initially focused on individual researchers, the evaluation process has expanded to include institutions and research networks. This has fueled international collaboration and network density, while potentially neglecting research conducted outside these networks. Beyond traditional bibliometrics like the H-index and journal impact factor, new metrics like altmetrics are gaining traction. These metrics capture the broader impact of research beyond traditional citations, including online discussions and social media mentions. This trend of evaluation is particularly relevant...

  The Caribbean climate is shaped by complex interactions between Atlantic and Pacific climate systems. Understanding these influences is crucial not only for interpreting past climate changes in Haiti but also for predicting future regional and global trends. This study employed techniques like inorganic compositional analysis, mineralogical analysis, and organic carbon analysis to reconstruct climate variability in Haiti over the past millennium. While previous studies have provided insights into Haiti's climate history over longer periods, this research specifically focuses on the past thousand years. It aims to determine how climate modes like AMO, NAO, PDO, and ENSO influenced this variability. Understanding these influences is crucial not only for interpreting past climate changes in Haiti but also for predicting future regional and global trends.   Study site This study focuses on sediment core LA17BCO2 collected in January 2017 from Lake Azuei, also known as Étan...

  The rapid, uncontrolled urbanization observed in many developing cities, including Port-au-Prince, leads to the creation of slums like Canaan, often lacking basic services such as sanitation and access to clean water. This situation presents significant health and environmental risks, while also violating the fundamental human right to water and sanitation. Considering the approaches within the context of global water governance, the summary examines how Canaan exemplifies the challenges faced by marginalized populations in securing their basic water needs. It investigates into the historical and legal context of the right to water, tracing its evolution from a social right to a fundamental human right recognized by the United Nations. This research ultimately seeks to shed light on the critical need for effective water governance strategies that prioritize equitable access to water and sanitation for all, especially vulnerable communities like those residing in Canaan. It em...

  Open defecation (OD), the disposal of human feces in open spaces, poses a significant health threat in low- and middle-income countries like Haiti. Despite international efforts to eradicate this practice, an estimated 20% of Haitians still defecate in the open, exposing them to various infectious diseases and highlighting the urgent need for improved sanitation solutions. This summary aims to understand the key factors driving open defecation in Haiti by examining its socio-economic and demographic determinants. While previous research has explored these factors in other developing countries, Haiti's specific context necessitates dedicated investigation.   Methods This research investigates open defecation (OD) in Haiti, the poorest country in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. Situated on the island of Hispaniola, Haiti has a dense population of 11.7 million and limited economic resources. The study employs a cross-sectional, retrospective design, anal...

  Plastic is a prevalent material that has been around since the 19th century. However, it has only been in recent years that the negative impacts of plastic on the environment have become apparent. Plastic pollution is now a major problem, with microplastics being found in all parts of the environment, including the air, water, and soil. These microplastics can have negative impacts on both human and animal health. The purpose of this paper is to review the current state of knowledge on microplastics and to identify the environmental hazards associated with them.   Methodology This research gathered information from various scientific databases and academic networks like Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Springer. Keywords related to microplastics, their properties, health effects, and environmental impact were used for searching. Published articles between 2005 and 2021 were prioritized, with additional sources identified through cited references. Each article...

  Climate change poses a significant threat to developing countries impacting ecosystems, socio-economic development, and public health. Haiti is not an exception. Its diverse manifestations, including droughts, floods, and extreme weather events, disrupt biodiversity and contribute to the emergence and spread of human and animal diseases. While Haiti contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, it heavily feels the consequences. Ecosystems around the intertropical convergence zone are particularly vulnerable, potentially linked to the occurrence of vector-borne diseases. Although evidence suggests climate change amplifies vector-borne diseases, research specifically exploring this link in Haiti remains limited. This study explores the link between climate change and the spread of diseases carried by insects and other animals (vector-borne diseases) in Haiti it addresses the double threat of climate change and vector-borne diseases in Haiti, exploring both global and...