Digital divides in Sub-Saharan Africa: Gender issues and evidence from Cameroon

This study aims at answering two questions: Do women have the same determinants of Internet adoption as men? Do they adopt it for the same uses? The answers are mainly positive. However, in the adoption decision, women are different from men mainly due to the negative effects of age and unemployment; these effects being positive for men. Moreover, women have a relatively lesser intensity of use. Age remains a hindering factor while high computer skills and high frequency of computer use improves the intensity of Internet use. This recommends homogeneous policies while especially encouraging young women to use ICT and not to drop out as they grow in age.Keywords: Gender; Digital divide; Internet adoption; Internet use

Insulin resistance in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus : effects of a very low calorie diet

Insulin resistance is of major pathogenic importance in obese DM2 and this can be improved by weight loss. Very low calorie diets (VLCDs) are often used for this purpose. This thesis focused on the safety and tolerability of a VLCD and on the short-term and long-term effects of a VLCD on glucose and lipid metabolism in obese DM2 on insulin therapy. Firstly, VLCDs are safe in obese DM2, even for up to 8 months. Secondly, all blood-glucose lowering therapy could be withdrawn simultaneously provided that patients still had remaining endogenous insulin secretion (fasting C-peptide >0.8 ng/ml). Thirdly, in these patients, fasting plasma glucose levels decline arter 2 days of a VLCD, due to a decrease in basal endogenous glucose production (EGP, mainly the liver), without an effect on insulin sensitivity. Fourthly, weight loss of 50% of overweight not only normalised basal EGP but also significantly improved insulin sensitivity, especially insulin-stimulated glucose disposal (mainly skeletal muscle, by 107 %). Fiftly, at the myocellular level an improvement in insulin signalling and a tendency to an increase of the glucose transporter GLUT-4 at the cell membrane was found. This is possibly due to the observed decrease in intramyocellular triglycerides. Finally, even a once-only 30-day VLCD had beneficial effects on body weight, glycaemic regulation, blood pressure and dyslipidaemia after 18 months.LEI Universiteit LeidenRoba Metals B.V., IJsselstein Nutrition and Santé, AntwerpenDe pathogenese, kliniek en behandeling van arterieel en veneus vaatlijde

Essential Oil’s Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Properties

Essential oil, sent by nature, is a complex mixture of volatile secondary metabolites. Its composition varies along with many parameters that can lead to misunderstanding of its wonderful pharmacological property. In fact, from post-harvest treatment to the compound’s identification through extraction approaches, the original chemotype of essential oils can be misdescribed. The pharmacological potentials of these oils are well known in the traditional system since time immemorial. Nowadays, some chemotypes of these oils had shown the effect against WHO’s top 10 killer diseases. But the misuses of these essential oils are in part due to the lack of robust and easy analysis strategy that can allow the quality of the essential oils

Antiradical potential and antifungal activities of essential oils of the leaves of Citrus latifolia against Phaeoramularia angolensis

Investigations were conducted to determine the chemical composition, antiradical and antifungal activities of the essential oil extracted from the fresh leaves of Citrus latifolia var. Tahiti from Cameroonagainst Phaeoramularia angolensis. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was analysed by GC and GC/MS. The disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the zone of fungal growth inhibition atvarious concentrations of the oil while the antiradical activity of the oil was studied by the DPPH (diphenyl picryl hydrazyl) method. The chemical analysis revealed 26 components among whichlimonene (45.76%), geranial (13.12%) and neral (10.35%) were the main components. The antiradical activity of C. latifolia essential oil (SC50 = 9.93 g/l) was less than that of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) which was used as the reference compound (SC50 = 7.02 x 10-3 g/l). After 40 days of incubation on oil – supplemented medium, the growth of P. angolensis was totally inhibited by 1600 mg/l of C. latifolia oil. Results obtained in the present study indicate the possibility of exploiting C. latifolia var Tahiti essential oil to combat P. angolensis which is responsible for heavy losses of Citrus fruits harvests

Segmenting Critical Factors for Enhancing the use of IT in Humanitarian Supply Chain Management

AbstractThis study intends to explore and segment the critical factors (CFs) to enhance the use of Information Technology (IT) in Humanitarian Supply Chain (HSC), particularly in the Indian context. In this study, ten influencing factors has been identified through an extensive literature review and expert opinion. A structural model and cause–effect relationship diagram was developed using decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method for the identification of CFs. The present study adopt a comprehensive and rigorous procedure to identify six CFs namely, top management support, Government support, feedback mechanism to facilitate learning from prior experiences, transparent and accountable supply chain, strategic planning, and mutual learning with other commercial organizations (COs). The developed framework provides a simple, effective and efficient way to enhance the utilization of IT in HSC and in large to improve the competencies and performance of HSC

Ectopic Fat and Insulin Resistance: Pathophysiology and Effect of Diet and Lifestyle Interventions

The storage of triglyceride (TG) droplets in nonadipose tissues is called ectopic fat storage. Ectopic fat is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Not the triglycerides per se but the accumulation of intermediates of lipid metabolism in organs, such as the liver, skeletal muscle, and heart seem to disrupt metabolic processes and impair organ function. We describe the mechanisms of ectopic fat depositions in the liver, skeletal muscle, and in and around the heart and the consequences for each organs function. In addition, we systematically reviewed the literature for the effects of diet-induced weight loss and exercise on ectopic fat depositions

The effect of glycemic control on renal triglyceride content assessed by proton spectroscopy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a single-center parallel-group trial

Objective: Ectopic lipid accumulation in the kidney (fatty kidney) is a potential driver of diabetic kidney disease, and tight glycemic control can reduce risk of diabetic nephropathy. We assessed whether glycemic control influences renal triglyceride content (RTGC). Furthermore, we compared glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide versus standard glucose-lowering therapy. Design andMethods: In this single-center parallel-group trial, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to liraglutide or placebo added to standard care (metformin/sulfonylurea derivative/insulin). Changes in RTGC after 26 weeks of glycemic control measured by proton spectroscopy and difference in RTGC between treatment groups were analyzed.Results: Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the baseline analysis (mean age, 56.5 +/- 9.1 years; range, 33-73 years; 46% males). Seventeen patients had baseline and follow-up measurements. Mean glycated hemoglobin was 7.8 +/- 0.8%, which changed to 7.3 +/- 0.9% after 26 weeks of glycemic control irrespective of treatment group (P = .046). Log-transformed RTGC was -0.68 +/- 0.30% and changed to -0.83 +/- 0.32% after 26 weeks of glycemic control irrespective of treatment group (P = .049). A 26-week-to-baseline RTGC ratio (95% confidence interval) was significantly different between liraglutide (-0.30 [-0.50, -0.09]) and placebo added to standard care (-0.003 [-0.34, 0.34]) (P = .04).Conclusion: In this exploratory study, we found that 26 weeks of glycemic control resulted in lower RTGC, in particular for liraglutide; however, larger clinical studies are needed to assess whether these changes reflect a true effect of glycemic control on fatty kidney. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.Cardiovascular Aspects of Radiolog