Effects of poor sanitation on public health: Case of Yopougon town (Abidjan)

Effects of poor environmental hygiene on population health were studied in the precarious living quarters of Doukoure, the village of Niangon-adjame and the viable living quarters of millionaire’s in Yopougon town. This study included sanitation, water sources, as well as, population health. It appears that excreta management is from self-purification works (WC with septic tank) (60%), collective purification work (gutter storm water, sewer) (26%), anarchic connections (30%) and defecation in nature relatively less important (2%) for all living quarters visited. Furthermore, almost 90% of the populations have access to the drinking water, which is rather used. In Doukouré’s living quarters and Niangon-Adjamé’s village, public tap water (7%) and traditional wells (3%) are used for domestic needs. Data collected in 15 health centers in the town on 125 446 cases of morbidity, revealed that malaria is much contracted by populations with 58% cases against 14% for diarrhea and 28% for acute respiratory infections. Under-five children are much affected with 24% of the patients among which 43% were cases of the diarrheic diseases. Also, malaria and respiratory infections are more important during rainy seasons, in contrast to diarrheal diseases caused by poor hygiene of people.Key words: Public health, malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections, sanitation, risk

Effect of cytokinins and auxin on bud burst and direct organogenesis in vitro of some sweet potato landraces (Ipomoea batatas L.) grown in Benin

Objectives: Ipomoea batatas L. is a tuberous root plant of great nutritional and economic importance in Benin. This study aims to analyze the effects of two cytokinins (Benzylaminopurine and kinetin) and a one auxin (Naphthalene Acetic Acid) on direct organogenesis in vitro of six sweet potato landraces in Benin.Methodology and Results: Ten uninodal stems disinfected of each variety are cultivated on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium then transplanted onto other MS media with different combinations of Benzylaminopurine, Kinetin and Naphthalene Acetic Acid. Their vitroplants are also acclimatized. Analysis of variance was used for data analysis. The results showed that '' Amitchéwin, Vobodouaho and Koïdokpon '' have recorded the highest average bud burst (12.67, 12.33 and 11.67 respectively). The media MS + 1 mg.l-1 BAP + 0.1 mg.l-1 NAA and MS + 1 mg.l-1 Kin + 0.1 mg.l-1 NAA were found more effective for the organogenesis of the varieties. Vitroplants of each variety acclimatized well with survival rates ranging from 56.66% to 83.33%.Conclusion: and application of results: The results showed that the combination of 1 mg.l-1 of Benzylaminopurine or kinetin with 0.1 mg.l-1 of Naphthalene Acetic Acid was effective for in vitro organogenesis of sweet potato landraces used with well-acclimated vitroplants. This study paves the way for the establishment of in vitro collection of sweet potato landraces in Benin with a view to their ex situ preservation.Keywords: Ipomoea batatas; growth regulators; organogenesis in vitro; Acclimation; Beni

Ecological status of a West African lagoon complex under anthropogenic pressure, Toho-Todougba complex, Benin

Management and preservation of aquatic environments are essential for their productivity and the maintenance of aquatic life. This study aims to characterize the trophic state of Toho-Todougba lagoon complex which has been subject for several years, to an intense fish production in cages. For this purpose, physico-chemical parameters were measured from June 2019 to May 2020 as well as chlorophyll-α, phosphorus and nitrogen. The trophic characterization indices were calculated basedo n Carlson (1977), Burns and Bryers (2000), Neverova-Dziopak and Kowalewski (2018), Primpas et al. (2010) and CCME-WQI (2001). It appears that the temperature (29°C), dissolved oxygen (3.19 mg.L-1 to 4.33 mg.L-1) and pH (6.66 to 7.31) are those characteristic of tropical lake environments. The production parameters revealed that the chlorophyll-α concentration varies from 0.19 to 37 mg.L-1 (stations and months combined). The concentration of phosphorus ranged from 0.02 to 0.42 mg.L-1 while nitrogen varied from 1.91 to 4.03 mg.L-1. Only nitrogen is not in critical proportion for the ecosystem. It should be noted that with the exception of the Carlson index, all other indices revealed that the ecosystem is in a state of advanced eutrophication with a tendency to hyper-trophication according to the eutrophication index of Primpas et al. (2010). Consequently, Toho-Todougba lagoon complex is eutrophic and requires adequate measures for its restoration despite its good health revealed by the physico-chemical parameters

Traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine and the provision of health care to internally displaced persons in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) providers are central for many when seeking healthcare. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are no exception. This paper seeks to better understand the use of TCAM by IDPs and its connection with the local integration of IDPs into the social fabric of the communities where they have taken refuge. We compare IDPs and non-IDPs access to TCAM providers and their level of confidence in having their healthcare needs met by these sources in Uvira and Kabare territories of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Methods: We draw from a mixed method, social connections design comprised of participatory workshops with 111 participants; a survey with 847 participants capturing exploring access and trust of TCAM and other wealth and demographic indicators; 24 interviews with traditional healthcare providers; and 56 in-depth life history interviews with IDPs. Collected data were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Descriptive statistics (mean, percentage, and standard deviation) and statistical tests (proportions test and t test) were used as quantitative analysis tools whereas thematic content analysis was used for qualitative data. Results: We show that IDPs use TCAM more than non IDPs. Access to and trust in traditional healers seems dependent on the exact nature of the services they offer, which varies across our sample. As such, processes of recognition and integration of both IDPs and TCAM providers into formal healthcare systems should be treated cautiously with an understanding of the socio-economic rationales that displaced people and TCAM providers operate under. While many of these TCAM providers are not highly trusted sources in South Kivu, their highly valued treatment of certain conditions such as what is locally known as “mulonge” (and bears similarities with the Buruli ulcer) suggest there may be potential specific areas where collaboration could be successful between biomedical health workers and TCAM providers.</p

Evaluation of the effects of Corchorus olitorius L. and Carapa procera in the treatment of obesity

Background: The obesity remains a pathology today which expands. It leads in its wake much pathology with very serious consequences. It is therefore necessary to take steps to curb this nutritional pathology. Thus, two plant species including Carapa procera and Corchorus olitorius have been tested to assess their effect on this pathology.Methods: Aqueous extracts of Carapa procera bark and Corchorus olitorius roots were tested on rats and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Besides, a chemical characterization was led.Results: These plant extracts contain bioactive molecules that have a regressive activity on the plasma levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol. These bioactive molecules increase the level of HDL-cholesterol. These 2 species are non-toxic on renal, hepatic and pancreatic functions in view of the values of urea, creatinine and blood glucose.Conclusions: Of these 2 extracts, the aqueous extract of Corchorus olitorius is more active.

Flat Peach SUBLOR and SUBLIM and Flat Nectarine PERLA Series

Flat peach and flat nectarine (Prunus persica L. Batsch.) production in Spain started from local cultivars at marginal sites, mainly in the Ebro Valley and Murcia regions. At the end of the 1990s, the introduction of improved cultivars from France and Italy, with more red skin color coverage and better regular shape, fruit size, and stylar cavity closure, together with superior handling and transport conditions led the Spanish peach sector to develop this fruit type on a commercial scale. Currently, Spain is the largest European producer and exporter of flat peach and nectarine, offering a wide range of cultivars covering the producing period from May to September. In 2020, a total of 10.200 ha for flat peach and 481 ha for flat nectarine together produced 263.651 t (20% of the total peach production) (MAPAMA, 2022). To guarantee adaptation to local growing conditions (Font i Forcada et al., 2021a), several national breeding programs started to develop new flat peach and flat nectarine cultivars. One of these breeding programs is the ASF-IRTA breeding program, which is located at Gimenells (Lleida) in the Ebro Valley (northeastern Spain), which is a major region of peach production in Spain (Batlle et al., 2012; Cantín et al., 2017). It was started in 2004, with the objective of developing new cultivars adapted to chilling between 1000 and 1500 chill units or between 42 and 75 chill portions and warm conditions similar to the Mediterranean area (32 °C mean daily summer temperature and 300–400 mm of annual rainfall). It aimed to produce high-quality fruits, both at harvest and after cold storage, with the ultimate goal of satisfying consumers (Font i Forcada et al., 2021a, 2021b). As a result of this collaborative effort, the ASF-IRTA scion peach breeding program has already released the SUBLOR (one flat yellow-fleshed peach), SUBLIM (six flat white-fleshed peach), and PERLA (two flat white-fleshed nectarine) series. These nine new flat peach and nectarine cultivars produce highly attractive yellow-fleshed or white-fleshed fruits with high coverage of red skin, a balanced or acid flavor, sweet taste, and good flesh firmness. The harvesting calendar of these series will be progressively completed with new future releases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnetism and multiferroicity in CuCrO4_4

The bulk magnetic properties of the new quasi-one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet, CuCrO$_4$, were characterized by magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, optical spectroscopy, EPR and dielectric capacitance measurements and density functional evaluations of the intra- and interchain spin exchange interactions. We found type-II multiferroicity below the N\'{e}el temperature of 8.2(5) K, arising from competing antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor ($J_{\rm nn}$) and next-nearest-neighbor ($J_{\rm nnn}$) intra-chain spin exchange interactions. Experimental and theoretical results indicate that the ratio $J_{\rm nn}/J_{\rm nnn}$ is close to 2, putting CuCrO$_4$ in the vicinity of the Majumdar-Ghosh point.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, submitted to PR

Plasmodium vivax Diversity and Population Structure across Four Continents

Plasmodium vivax is the geographically most widespread human malaria parasite. To analyze patterns of microsatellite diversity and population structure across countries of different transmission intensity, genotyping data from 11 microsatellite markers was either generated or compiled from 841 isolates from four continents collected in 1999–2008. Diversity was highest in South-East Asia (mean allelic richness 10.0–12.8), intermediate in the South Pacific (8.1–9.9) Madagascar and Sudan (7.9–8.4), and lowest in South America and Central Asia (5.5–7.2). A reduced panel of only 3 markers was sufficient to identify approx. 90% of all haplotypes in South Pacific, African and SE-Asian populations, but only 60–80% in Latin American populations, suggesting that typing of 2–6 markers, depending on the level of endemicity, is sufficient for epidemiological studies. Clustering analysis showed distinct clusters in Peru and Brazil, but little sub-structuring was observed within Africa, SE-Asia or the South Pacific. Isolates from Uzbekistan were exceptional, as a near-clonal parasite population was observed that was clearly separated from all other populations (FST>0.2). Outside Central Asia FST values were highest (0.11–0.16) between South American and all other populations, and lowest (0.04–0.07) between populations from South-East Asia and the South Pacific. These comparisons between P. vivax populations from four continents indicated that not only transmission intensity, but also geographical isolation affect diversity and population structure. However, the high effective population size results in slow changes of these parameters. This persistency must be taken into account when assessing the impact of control programs on the genetic structure of parasite populations

High prevalence and diversity of species D adenoviruses (HAdV-D) in human populations of four Sub-Saharan countries

Abstract. Background: Human adenoviruses of species D (HAdV-D) can be associated with acute respiratory illness, epidemic ker

Emergence of light-driven protometabolism on recruitment of a photocatalytic cofactor by a self-replicator

Establishing how life can emerge from inanimate matter is among the grand challenges of contemporary science. Chemical systems that capture life’s essential characteristics—replication, metabolism and compartmentalization—offer a route to understanding this momentous process. The synthesis of life, whether based on canonical biomolecules or fully synthetic molecules, requires the functional integration of these three characteristics. Here we show how a system of fully synthetic self-replicating molecules, on recruiting a cofactor, acquires the ability to transform thiols in its environment into disulfide precursors from which the molecules can replicate. The binding of replicator and cofactor enhances the activity of the latter in oxidizing thiols into disulfides through photoredox catalysis and thereby accelerates replication by increasing the availability of the disulfide precursors. This positive feedback marks the emergence of light-driven protometabolism in a system that bears no resemblance to canonical biochemistry and constitutes a major step towards the highly challenging aim of creating a new and completely synthetic form of life. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]