Multivariate Mapping of Heavy Metals Spatial Contamination in a Cu–Ni Exploration Field (Botswana) Using Turning Bands Co-simulation Algorithm

With a mining-driven economy, Botswana has experienced increased geochemical exploration of minerals around existing mining towns. The mining and smelting of copper and nickel around Selibe-Phikwe in the Central Province are capable of releasing heavy metals including Pb, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni and Cu into the soil environments, thereby exposing humans, plants and animals to health risks. In this study, turning bands co-simulation, a multivariate geostatistical algorithm, was presented as a tool for spatial uncertainty quantification and probability mapping of cross-correlated heavy metals (Co, Mn, Fe and Pb) risk assessment in a semiarid Cu–Ni exploration field of Botswana. A total of 1050 soil samples were collected across the field at a depth of 10 cm in a grid sampling design. Rapid elemental concentration analysis was done using an Olympus Delta Sigma portable X-ray fluorescence device. Enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index and pollution load index were used to assess the potential risk of heavy metals contamination in soils. The partially heterotopic nature of the dataset and strong correlations among the heavy metals favors the use of co-simulation instead of independent simulation in the probability mapping of heavy metal risks in the study area. The strong correlation of Co and Mn to iron infers they are of lithogenic origin, unlike Pb which had weak correlation pointing to its source in the area being of anthropogenicsource. Manganese, Co and Fe show low enrichment, whereas Pb had high enrichment suggesting possible lead pollution. We, however, recommend that speciation of Pb in the soils rather than total concentration should be ascertained to infer chances of possible bioaccumulation, and subsequent health risk to human by chronic exposure.Nazarbayev University through Faculty Development Competitive Research Grants for 2018–2020 under Contract No. 090118FD5336

Right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia worsened during pregnancy

We report the case of a 35 years old woman without underlying heart disease who was diagnosed with a right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia worsened during pregnancy. The diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia was made early in her pregnancy course but the patient had symptoms three months earlier. Her disease course was marked by rhythmic storms during the second trimester of pregnancy that led to three hospitalizations accounting for about two weeks in total. The combination of nadolol 80 mg and flecainide tablets 150 mg improved her rhythmic storms. Radiofrequency allowed a radical cure of this ventricular tachycardia. The patient is now asymptomatic 27 months after radiofrequency treatment

Cooking and drying processes optimization of Pentadesma butyracea kernels during butter production

The cooking and the drying of the Pentadesma butyracea kernels are the main steps in the traditional method of extracting P. butyracea butter. In this work, the Response Surface Method with Central composite design was used to optimize the cooking and drying of Pentadesma kernels during P. butyracea butter production. The cooking and drying times, as well as the drying temperature of Pentadesma kernels are considered as independent factors. The moisture content of the Pentadesma kernels, the quantity, the acidity and the peroxyde values of extracted butter were the responses to be expected. The responses have been described using a second degree polynomial models which have been first tested and then used to explain 97.5, 80.7, 96.1 and 97%, of the variation of moisture content, quantity of butter, and acid and peroxide values, respectively. Increasing cooking time and drying temperature greatly reduced the free fatty acid values of the butter (<1%) and peroxide value (<1 meq/kg). The optimum cooking time (110 min), drying temperature (55°C) and drying time (72 h) could be used to get 52.92% of Pentadesma butter equivalent to the category 1 (with 0.62 meq/kg of peroxide and 0.28% of FFA content). Cooking and drying of Pendadesma kernels are important stages in the butter production. This work determined the optimum conditions of cooking and drying processes. These results could be used by P. butyracea butter processors to get good quality of Pentadesma butter and to improve extraction yield.Key words: Forest galeries, Pentadesma butyraceae, cosmetic industry, temperature, shea butter, Pentadesma butter, Benin

Risk factors for mood disorders among offspring of parents with bipolar disorder: Findings from a discordant-sibling study.

The purpose of this naturalistic, prospective study was to identify risk factors for mood disorders in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BPD) using the discordant-sibling design by comparing premorbid psychopathology or symptoms, temperament, personality traits and coping style as well as the perception of family-related characteristics among affected and unaffected siblings within the same family. This approach controls for confounding by unmeasured genetic and environmental factors shared within families. Our sample comprised 24 families of a parent with BPD with at least one child that developed BPD or major depressive disorder (n = 31), and at least one child who did not. Offspring were followed for a mean duration of 16.2 (s.d: 4.6) years. Information was collected from the offspring themselves. Generalized linear mixed models only revealed differences in three dimensions of the Dimension of Temperament Survey-Revised (DOTS-R) version: Offspring with mood disorders scored higher on "Approach-withdrawal", "Rhythmicity for daily habits", and "Task orientation" than their unaffected siblings. The higher scores, and not lower scores as expected, on these temperament dimensions observed in offspring that subsequently developed mood disorders may reflect increased vulnerability, but they could also mirror premorbid mood swings or strategies to cope with them

Growth factor concentrations and their placental mRNA expression are modulated in gestational diabetes mellitus: possible interactions with macrosomia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. GDM is a well known risk factor for foetal overgrowth, termed macrosomia which is influenced by maternal hypergycemia and endocrine status through placental circulation. The study was undertaken to investigate the implication of growth factors and their receptors in GDM and macrosomia, and to discuss the role of the materno-foeto-placental axis in the <it>in-utero </it>regulation of foetal growth.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>30 women with GDM and their 30 macrosomic babies (4.75 ± 0.15 kg), and 30 healthy age-matched pregnant women and their 30 newborns (3.50 ± 0.10 kg) were recruited in the present study. Serum concentrations of GH and growth factors, <it>i.e</it>., IGF-I, IGF-BP3, FGF-2, EGF and PDGF-B were determined by ELISA. The expression of mRNA encoding for GH, IGF-I, IGF-BP3, FGF-2, PDGF-B and EGF, and their receptors, <it>i.e</it>., GHR, IGF-IR, FGF-2R, EGFR and PDGFR-β were quantified by using RT-qPCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-BP3, EGF, FGF-2 and PDGF-B were higher in GDM women and their macrosomic babies as compared to their respective controls. The placental mRNA expression of the growth factors was either upregulated (FGF-2 or PDGF-B) or remained unaltered (IGF-I and EGF) in the placenta of GDM women. The mRNA expression of three growth factor receptors, <it>i.e</it>., IGF-IR, EGFR and PDGFR-β, was upregulated in the placenta of GDM women. Interestingly, serum concentrations of GH were downregulated in the GDM women and their macrosomic offspring. Besides, the expression of mRNAs encoding for GHR was higher, but that encoding for GH was lower, in the placenta of GDM women than control women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that growth factors might be implicated in GDM and, in part, in the pathology of macrosomia via materno-foeto-placental axis.</p

The Impact of Nursing Staffs' Working Conditions on the Quality of Care Received by Older Adults in Long-Term Residential Care Facilities: A Systematic Review of Interventional and Observational Studies.

Little documentation exists on relationships between long-term residential care facilities (LTRCFs), staff working conditions and residents' quality of care (QoC). Supporting evidence is weak because most studies examining this employ cross-sectional designs. Systematic searches of twelve bibliographic databases sought experimental and longitudinal studies, published up to May 2021, focusing on LTRCF nursing staff's working conditions and the QoC they provided to older adults. Of the 3577 articles identified, 159 were read entirely, and 11 were retained for inclusion. Higher nursing staff hours worked per resident per day (HPRD) were associated with significant reductions in pressure sores and urinary tract infections. Overall staff qualification levels and numbers of RNs had significant positive influences on QoC. To the best of our knowledge, this systematic review is the first to combine cohort studies with a quasi-experimental study to explore associations between LTRCF nursing staff's working conditions and older adult residents' QoC. Human factors (including HPRD, staff turnover, skill mix, staff ratios) and the specific working contribution of RNs had overwhelmingly significant influences on QoC. It seems essential that LTRCF supervisory and decision-making bodies should promote optimal working conditions for nursing staff because these have such a direct impact on residents' QoC

Extrêmes, normes et variabilité hydroclimatique dans le bassin versant de l’Ouémé à l’exutoire de Bonou au Bénin.

International audienc

Rythme pluvio-hydrologique et morphodynamique de la vallee du Niger au Benin

L’évolution des berges des cours d’eau dépend de plusieurs facteurs dont les facteurs pluvio-hydrologiques. Cette étude vise à analyser l’influence du régime pluviohydrologique sur la dynamique morphologique de la vallée du fleuve Niger au Bénin. Les données d’étude ont permis de calculer l’indice d’agressivité des pluies et des débits, puis le coefficient de ruissellement sur la période 1965-2012. De plus, les images satellitales Bing de 2011 d’une portion fleuve Niger et l’analyse diachronique des points d’altitude dans son lit (années 2005 et 2011) ont aidé à apprécier l’état  morphologique actuel des berges. Le régime pluvio-hydrologique du bassin du Niger sur les tronçons de Malanville et Karimama est caractérisé par des variations temporelles qui mettent en relief un rythme unimodal  pluviométrique et un rythme bimodal hydrologique. Cette caractéristique est  favorable à l’érosion hydrique qui s’accentue plus au cours du mois de septembre où l’indice d’agressivité  simultanée des pluies et des débits atteint un seuil de 4185. Cependant, les pluies sont plus agressives durant le mois d’août correspondant au maxima pluviométrique avec un indice de 258. Avec ces intensités, l’érosion modifie la structure morphologique des berges sous l’effet des crues et par le ruissellement dont le coefficient varie fortement de 0,01 % à 0,17 %. La quantité importante d’eau ruisselée entraîne le déplacement des particules solides (sable, argile, limon) vers le lit du fleuve et contribue à son comblement ; ce qui réduit la profondeur du fleuve de 9,06% par an.Mots clés : Fleuve Niger, régime pluvio-hydrologique, terrasse fluviale, débit solide, morphologie.  Rainfall-hydrological rate and morphological dynamic of the Niger river valley in BeninThe evolution of the banks of rivers depends on several factors, including rainfall and hydrological factors. This study aims to analyze the influence of the  rain fall hydrological regime on the morphological dynamics of the Niger River valley in Benin. The study data were used to calculate the aggressivity index of rainfall and flows and then the coefficient of runoff over the period 1965-2012. In addition, the 2011 Bing satellite images of a Niger river portion and the diachronic analysis of elevation points in its bed (years 2005 and 2011) helped to assess the current morphological status of the banks. The pluvio-hydrological regime of the Niger basin on the sections of Malanville and Karimama is characterized by temporal variations which show a unimodal rainfall rhythm and a bimodal hydrological rhythm. This characteristic is favorable to water erosion, which increases more   during the months of August to September, where the aggressive index of precipitation is 69 or 447 in August (according to the formulas of Arnoldus and Fournier) And the index of  aggressiveness of flows reaches a threshold of 2154 or 6215 in September. With these intensities, erosion modifies the morphological structure of the banks due to floods and runoff, the coefficient of which varies greatly from 0.01% to 0.17%. The large quantity of trickled water causes the solid particles (sand, clay, silt) to move towards the bed of the river and contributes to its filling; reducing the depth of the river by 9.06% per year.Keywords: Niger River, rainfall-hydrological regime, river terrace, solid flow, morphology 

Assessment of the performance of rainfall-runoff model GR4J to simulate streamflow in Ouémé watershed at Bonou's outlet (West Africa) [Preprint, version 1 non revue par les pairs]

The study aims to analyze the performance criteria of the GR4J model to reproduce high water flows in the Ouémé watershed at Bonou's outlet which has been vulnerable to climate change in recent decades. The methodology focused on the use of daily climatological and hydrometric data extracted from files of National Directorate of Meteorology, and General Directorate of Water; they were supplemented by those of SIEREM/HSM dataset over the period 1961-2015. The rainfall was regionalized using Thiessen method. The performance of the GR4J model was assessed with NSE, RMSE and KGE criteria. The results indicate that the study area is marked by rainfall variabilities and detection of two breakpoints (1968 and 1987) which divide the series into three sub-periods; these discontinuities have repercussions on the streamflow. It's found that GR4J model overestimates the streamflow during the low water period and underestimates them in high water. However, the efficiency and performance criteria NSE, RMSE and KGE calculated on high water flow rates are better in calibration than in validation. The KGE values are range between 83-85% in calibration and 56-68% during validation, which gives to GR4J model the efficiency and performance to reproduce high flow rates in the study area