Dissemination of a Controversial COVID-19 ‘Miracle Cure’ on Twitter: The Case of Chlorine Dioxide | Chapter 7 | New Ideas Concerning Arts and Social Studies Vol. 3

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to all types of beliefs, theories, and explanations, whether scientific, religious, or conspiratorial. At the beginning of the pandemic, science did not yet have a medicinal product for this new disease, and alternative medicines offering “miracle cures” were acclaimed by some citizens looking for an effective treatment for COVID-19. The content of these beliefs then evolves with our societies to include additional current aspects, such as distrust of authorities, conspiracy theories, or antivaccinism. Adherence to conspiratorial beliefs, alternative medicine, and rejection of political or medical authorities have affected the way citizens accept recommendations concerning COVID-19. This study aims to study a specific “miracle cure”, namely, chlorine dioxide, a bleaching agent for textiles or paper that also has disinfectant properties (water, surfaces). The dissemination of information about chlorine dioxide to French-speaking people on the social network Twitter from 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2021 is analysed using a graph network. A total of 1,252 messages were collected, containing 596 unique tweets. An analysis of tweets per user was conducted to identify bot accounts, and fake users were removed from the collected data. The results show that messages promoting misinformation, even if they are likely to be quantitatively less numerous, spread more widely than those based on more reliable information. In addition, this article shows that chlorine dioxide was promoted as an effective cure by medical doctors and peer-reviewed articles, which consequently increased the dissemination of this belief in the social space. Consequently, the process of misinformation entered the sphere of scientific controversy. When scientists have unverified beliefs and try to publish them, the beliefs become potential knowledge until the process of replication allows the scientific community to decide. The boundary between science and misinformation is becoming blurred to the point that it is no longer possible until proven otherwise to call chlorine dioxide a “false miracle cure” but a controversial treatment against COVID-19.

 

Author(s) Details

Romy Sauvayre
Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive, CNRS, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France and Polytech Clermont, Clermont Auvergne INP, F-63178 Aubière, France.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nicass/v3/5587

Legal Perspective on Traditional & Naturopathy Regulatory Framework in Africa | Book Publisher International

This book, Legal Perspective on Traditional & Naturopathy Regulatory Framework in Africa, delves into the legislative and regulatory landscape surrounding traditional and naturopathic medicine across the African continent. As demand for alternative therapies grows, African countries face the challenge of balancing cultural traditions with the need for effective healthcare oversight. This work explores how legal frameworks, policies, and definitions for traditional and naturopathic medicine differ across Africa's five regions: Northern, Central, Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa.

 

Drawing from extensive research on health laws and policies, the book examines key regulatory aspects, including practitioner licensing, and public health safety. Southern African countries stand out with more developed regulatory structures, often recognizing naturopathy within allied health professions. In contrast, other regions largely incorporate these practices within broader public health laws or unified traditional medicine acts. These disparities impact the quality of care, patient safety, and access to naturopathic and traditional treatments across the continent.

 

This book provides a comparative analysis of existing frameworks, identifying best practices and legislative gaps that could inform future policies. By examining country-specific laws and regional trends, the book offers valuable insights for policymakers, legal practitioners, healthcare professionals, and scholars. It underscores the potential of a well-structured regulatory environment to enhance healthcare delivery, ensuring that naturopathic and traditional medicine practices support public health goals while respecting Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

 

Author (s) Details

Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu
Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT), Ashaiman, Ghana.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-49473-54-6

Bases and the Benders Decomposition for the b-complementary Multisemigroup Dual Problem| Chapter 4 | Current Topics on Mathematics and Computer Science Vol. 1

We show that systems with two different cone bases associated with an integer linear programming problem are equivalent under a b-complementary Multisemigroup. In addition, we present Benders' decomposition and algorithm for the dual problem of the a b-Complementary Multisemigroup.

Author(s) Details

Eleazar Madriz Lozada
Center for Exact and Technological Sciences (CETEC), Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/CTMCS-V1/article/view/1385