Spéciation du cadmium, du chrome, du cuivre et du plomb dans les sédiments des déchets de phosphate de Kpémé (Sud-Togo)

L’exploitation du minerai de phosphate au sud-est du Togo engendre des déchets miniers qui sont déversés dans la mer sans traitement. Cette étude a pour but l’estimation de la biodisponibilité du cadmium, du chrome, du cuivre et du plomb par leur spéciation. La caractérisation physicochimique des sédiments des déchets de phosphates a été réalisée suivie d’une extraction séquentielle des éléments traces métalliques et enfin, par une évaluation de la mobilité du cadmium. Les teneurs des éléments traces métalliques (Cd, Cr, Cu et Pb) ont été déterminées dans les différentes fractions des sédiments des déchets de phosphates de Kpémé. Le traitement des données a été fait avec le logiciel XLStat. Ainsi, les concentrations totales moyennes en éléments traces métalliques des sites de prélèvement par rapport au poids sec des déchets étaient de 17,46 μgCd/g ; 19,61 μgPb/g ; 36,04 μgCr/g et 32,00 μgCu/g pour le Site S1 ; de 21,44 μgCd/g ; 12,47 μgPb/g ; 96,04 μgCr/g et 73,35 μgCu/g pour le Site S2 et enfin de 14,26 μgCd/g ; 7,71 μgPb/g ; 36,04 μgCr/g et 25,27 μgCu/g pour le Site S3. Les résultats ont montré un risque environnemental de l’ordre de 50,63% pour le cadmium et de 29,64% pour le plomb dans les fractions potentiellement remobilisables.Mots clés: Eléments traces métalliques, Extraction séquentielle, déchets de phosphate, mobilité, biodisponibilit&#233

GIS-BASED ANALYSIS ACCESSIBILITY TO DESTINATIONS BASED ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Baghdad city depended on the private auto in transport and this led to great problems with increasing congestion and traffic problems. Existing public transport suffers from poor accessibility to opportunities which is considered the main existing problem. The local agency decided to construct Baghdad Elevated Train as one of the keys to solve this problem and decrease congestion. This study aims to discuss the changes that the installing of the planned train line could make, by using the Geographical Information System (GIS) to model the transportation networks (sidewalks, public transport network, and the planned elevated train) for two scenarios, first for the current public transport network and second for the long-term situation of the adding of the planned train, furthermore, to find the coverage area for each station and determine the population can be served for each station depending on the census of the zones for the year 2020. The modeled network databases were used to create the closest facility between the centroid of the 43 zones and the selected facilities (Commercial, Educational, Governmental, and Hospitals). The results revealed that the additional service of the train reduced the travel time between Al-Sadr City to four destinations selected for the mentioned facilities by the following percentages (62%, 40%, 46%, and 65%) respectively. Moreover, the population coverage stated that stations 8, 9, and 10 are the most populated

Open-ocean submesoscale motions: a full seasonal cycle of mixed layer instabilities from gliders

The importance of submesoscale instabilities, particularly mixed-layer baroclinic instability and symmetric instability, on upper ocean mixing and energetics is well documented in regions of strong, persistent fronts such as the Kuroshio and the Gulf Stream. Less attention has been devoted to studying submesoscale flows in the open ocean, far from long-term mean geostrophic fronts, characteristic of a large proportion of the global ocean. We present a year-long, submesoscale-resolving time series of near-surface buoyancy gradients, potential vorticity and instability characteristics, collected by ocean gliders, that provides insight into open-ocean submesoscale dynamics over a full annual cycle. The gliders continuously sampled a 225 km2 region in the subtropical northeast Atlantic, measuring temperature, salinity and pressure along 292 short (\~{}20 km) hydrographic sections.Glider observations show a seasonal cycle in near-surface stratification. Throughout the fall (September through November), the mixed layer deepens, predominantly through gravitational instability, indicating that surface cooling dominates submesoscale restratification processes. During winter (December through March), mixed layer depths are more variable, and estimates of the balanced Richardson number, which measures the relative importance of lateral and vertical buoyancy gradients, depict conditions favorable to symmetric instability. The importance of mixed layer instabilities on the restratification of the mixed layer, as compared with surface heating and cooling, shows that submesoscale processes can reverse the sign of an equivalent heat flux up to 25{\%} of the time during winter. These results demonstrate that the open-ocean mixed layer hosts various forced and unforced instabilities, which become more prevalent during winter, and emphasize that accurate parameterizations of submesoscale processes are needed throughout the ocean

The effect of the menstrual cycle on physical characteristics (speed, strength, and endurance) in women in Saudi Arabia

The increasing participation of women in sports has raised interest in understanding how the menstrual cycle, specifically estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), affects athletic performance. These hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, which is divided into the early follicular phase, ovulatory period, and mid-luteal phase, each with distinct hormonal profiles. While estrogen is believed to have an anabolic effect on skeletal muscle and influence substrate metabolism, progesterone may have an antiestrogenic effect, potentially affecting physical performance. However, research on the impact of these hormone fluctuations on performance yields contradictory results. Some studies report improved performance during various menstrual cycle phases, while others find no significant differences. Additionally, the effects of oral contraceptives (OCPs) on muscle strength and function remain unclear. Menopause, characterized by a decline in skeletal muscle mass and bone density, is associated with reduced physical performance in women. More research is needed to understand the effects of estrogen and progesterone fluctuations on physical performance in women, emphasizing the importance of gender-specific research and guidelines for optimizing athletic performance.

Polymeric Nanoparticles for Brain Drug Delivery - A Review

Background: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is playing a most hindering role in drug delivery to the brain. Recent research comes out with the nanoparticles approach, is continuously working towards improving the delivery to the brain. Currently, polymeric nanoparticle is extensively involved in many therapies for spatial and temporal targeted areas delivery. Methods: We did a non-systematic review, and the literature was searched in Google, Science Direct and PubMed. An overview is provided for the formulation of polymeric nanoparticles using different methods, effect of surface modification on the nanoparticle properties with types of polymeric nanoparticles and preparation methods. An account of different nanomedicine employed with therapeutic agent to cross the BBB alone with biodistribution of the drugs

Ibuprofen-loaded chitosan–lipid nanoconjugate hydrogel with gum arabic: Green synthesis, characterisation, in vitro kinetics mechanistic release study and PGE2 production test

Ibuprofen is a well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine that is often used to treat inflammation in general. When given orally, it produces gastrointestinal issues which lead to lower patient compliance. Ibuprofen transdermal administration improves both patient compliance and the efficacy of the drug. Nanoconjugation hydrogels were proposed as a controlled transdermal delivery tool for ibuprofen. Six formulations were prepared using different compositions including chitosan, lipids, gum arabic, and polyvinyl alcohol, through ionic interaction, maturation, and freeze–thaw methods. The formulations were characterised by size, drug conjugation efficiency, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Further analysis of optimised hydrogels was performed, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), rheology, gel fraction and swelling ability, in vitro drug release, and in vitro macrophage prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) production testing. The effects of ibuprofen’s electrostatic interaction with a lipid or polymer on the physicochemical and dissolution characterisation of ibuprofen hydrogels were evaluated. The results showed that the S3 (with lipid conjugation) hydrogel provided higher conjugation efficiency and prolonged drug release compared with the S6 hydrogel

21st century research in urban WASH and health in sub-Saharan Africa: methods and outcomes in transition

Tackling global inequalities in access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) remains an urgent issue - 58% of annual diarrhoeal deaths are caused by inadequate WASH provision. A global context of increasing urbanisation, changing demographics and health transitions demands an understanding and impact of WASH on a broad set of health outcomes. We examine the literature, in terms of health outcomes, considering WASH access and interventions in urban sub-Saharan Africa from 2000 to 2017. Our review of studies which evaluate the effectiveness of specific WASH interventions, reveals an emphasis of WASH research on acute communicable diseases, particularly diarrhoeal diseases. In contrast, chronic communicable and non-communicable health outcomes were notable gaps in the literature as well as a lack of focus on cross-cutting issues, such as ageing, well-being and gender equality. We recommend a broader focus of WASH research and interventions in urban Africa to better reflect the demographic and health transitions happening. Abbreviations: CBA: Controlled Before and After; GSD: Government Service Delivery; IWDSSD: International Drinking-Water, Supply and Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD); KAP: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices; IBD: Irritable Bowel Diseases; MDG: Millennium Development Goals; NTD: Neglected Tropical Diseases; PSSD: Private Sector Service Delivery; SDG: Sustainable Development Goals; SSA: Sub Saharan Africa; SODIS: Solar Disinfection System; STH: Soil Transmitted Helminths; RCT: Randomised Control Trial; WASH: Water Sanitation and Hygiene; WHO: World Health Organization

Effects of a multi-strain probiotic supplement for 12 weeks in circulating endotoxin levels and cardiometabolic profiles of medication naïve T2DM patients: a randomized clinical trial

Background: The present randomized clinical trial characterized the beneficial effects of a multi-strain probiotics supplementation on improving circulating endotoxin levels (primary endpoint) and other cardiometabolic biomarkers (secondary endpoint) in patients with T2DM. Methods: A total of 78 adult Saudi T2DM patients (naïve and without co-morbidities) participated in this clinical trial and were randomized to receive twice daily placebo or probiotics [(2.5 × 109 cfu/g) containing the following bacterial strains: Bifidobacterium bifidum W23, Bifidobacterium lactis W52, Lactobacillus acidophilus W37, Lactobacillus brevis W63, Lactobacillus casei W56, Lactobacillus salivarius W24, Lactococcus lactis W19 and Lactococcus lactis W58 (Ecologic®Barrier)] in a double-blind manner for 12 weeks. Anthropometrics and cardiometabolic profiles were obtained at baseline and after 12/13 weeks of treatment. Results: After 12/13 weeks of intervention and using intention-to-treat analysis, no difference was noted in endotoxin levels between groups [Placebo − 9.5% vs. Probiotics − 52.2%; (CI − 0.05 to 0.36; p = 0.15)]. Compared with the placebo group however, participants in the probiotics groups had a significant but modest improvement in WHR [Placebo 0.0% vs. Probiotics 1.11%; (CI − 0.12 to − 0.01; p = 0.02)] as well as a clinically significant improvement in HOMA-IR [Placebo − 12.2% vs. Probiotics − 60.4%; (CI − 0.34 to − 0.01; p = 0.04)]. Conclusion: Using a multi-strain probiotic supplement daily for 12/13 weeks significantly improved HOMA-IR and modestly reduced abdominal adiposity among medication naïve T2DM patients