Synthesis of Resveratrol Esters and Aliphatic Acids.

Resveratrol (RV) is a naturally occurring phytoalexin of the stilbenoid family produced by some plant species, and present in grape skin, peanuts, and red wine. It has been found to exhibit anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-aging, cardio protective, and anti-oxidant properties. Bioavailability is a huge setback that limits the potentials of RV. As a result, efforts have been made to design and synthesize RV esters and aliphatic acids in an attempt to increase its bioavailability, solubility in water, and possibly improving its biological activities. Resveratrol esters, 3,5,4\u27-triacetyloxystilbene (2) and Methyl 1,1\u27,1\u27\u27- (3,4\u27,5-stilbenyl)-1,6-hexanedioate (3) have been synthesized. Compound 3 is a new compound, synthetic yield is 88%, and purity is above 95% based on NMR integration. Both 2 and 3 are good candidates for biological evaluation. 3 was used as a precursor in the synthesis of resveratrol aliphatic acid, 8-(3\u27,5\u27-dihydroxylstilbene-4\u27\u27-oxy)-3,6-dioxocotanoic acid (9). First, 2 was hydrolyzed to resveratrol diester, 3,5-diacetyloxystilbene (4). Mitsunobu reaction of 4 and methyl 8-hydroxy-3,6-dioxooctanoate (7) was then carried out to afford methyl 8-(3\u27,5\u27-diacetyoxystilben-4\u27\u27-oxy)-3.6-dioxooctanoate (/5), which was then hydrolyzed to afford 9 in total 43.6 % yield. Structures of all newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

Exploring the impact of welfare technologies on the health and well-being of immigrants in Finland

The introduction of technology into healthcare and social services (known as welfare technology) plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for people by providing innovative solutions for healthcare access, social support, and independent living. They also ensure that health services are more accessible, efficient and personalized. Despite the importance of these technologies, very little is known about their impact on the health and wellbeing of immigrants in Finland. Hence, this study explores the immigrants’ perception of the impact of welfare technology on their health and wellbeing. The study adopts the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical background to explain immigrants’ perception of the ease of using welfare technology, its usefulness or impact, attitude towards use and behaviour intention towards using welfare technology. The study adopts a quantitative design. Data for the study was collected through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire administered electronically through the SAMK e-Lomake system. A total of 74 responses were received and analysed. The research instrument was internally consistent (α = 0.93). The results revealed that while immigrants generally perceive welfare technologies as easy to use (PEOU = 3.59), they often contend with language barriers and design navigation problems that make these digital tools difficult to use. Similarly, welfare technologies were perceived as generally useful (PU = 3.78), yet immigrants had a low perception of the perceived impact of welfare technology on the quality of healthcare they received and on their overall health and wellbeing. Furthermore, attitude towards use was generally positive (ATU = 3.96), yet immigrants do not like using digital tools and less confident or hesitant about it. Finally, while the intention to use welfare technology was generally positive (BIU = 3.83), immigrants prefer traditional visits. The most common challenges with using welfare technologies among immigrants in Finland are language difficulties, usability issues, privacy concerns and trust. The respondents also provide recommendations for improving welfare technologies for immigrants. The study concludes that while welfare technologies hold significant potential for improving healthcare access among immigrants, they must be designed and implemented in a more inclusive and equitable manner to realize their full benefit

Wind Energy Ships: Global Analysis of Operability

ABSTRACT: Most offshore wind farms are bottom-fixed at sites with less than 50 m of water depth. For deeper waters, floating platforms are economically viable and, for many countries that have steep continental shelves, this is the only option for developing offshore wind farms. If wind energy is being harvested far offshore in deep waters (more than 200 m depth and hundreds of km from the coast), one possible alternative is the use of Floating Production and Storage (FPS) sailing ships that navigate through the ocean using wind force and utilize part of the harvested wind power to produce and store fuel. These ships are called "energy ships". The objective of this paper is to carry out a qualitative determination of the global marine areas suitable for the operation of energy ships. To that purpose, wind and wave ship operation ranges have been defined and global databases of wind and waves have been used to obtain statistics of operational parameters. From the global analysis carried out the most promising areas and seasons for energy ship operation have been identified and qualified in terms of the aforementioned operational parametersThis work is part of the research project Ship 4 Blue supported by the 2016 SODERCAN(Society for Cantabria Regional Development) program dedicated to R and D projects in marine renewable energies. Raúl Guanche also acknowledges financial support from the Ramón and Cajal Program (RYC-2017-23260) of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

Contrôle de la qualité des eaux domestiques dans le village Babessi au Nord-Ouest Cameroun

L’étude porte sur l’évaluation de la qualité des eaux domestiques et leurs effets sur la santé de la population dans le village Babessi, Nord-Ouest Cameroun, en se basant sur les normes établies par l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé. Dans les zones rurales du Cameroun où les réseaux publiques de distribution d’eau sont inexistants, la population consomme les eaux d’origine diverses de caractéristiques inconnues. Trente échantillons d’eau d’un puits et de quatre rivières des quartiers Mbezoh, Ntuoncho, Ndokeba, Chui et Chumanda ont été analysés au mois de janvier et aout 2015 pour certains paramètres physiques, chimiques et bactériologiques, en utilisant les méthodes standard. Les résultats ont indiqué que ces eaux étaient faiblement acides en août (pH entre 5,5 et 6,2), faiblement minéralisées (conductivité électrique entre 28,2 et 280 μS/cm) et fortement turbides (turbidité entre 9,9 et 236 UNT). Tous les ions majeurs répondaient aux normes. Néanmoins, le chrome et fer étaient fortement concentrés dans presque tous les échantillons au mois de janvier (0,14 à 0,34 mg/l et de 0,26 à 3,26 mg/l respectivement) de même que le Plomb en août dans le puits de Mbezoh (0,08 mg/l) et la rivière de Ndokebah (0,38 mg/l). Sur l’aspect bactériologique, les eaux étaient fortement polluées. Tous les échantillons contenaient les formes fécales d’entérobactères, de Escherichia coli, de streptocoque, de salmonelle, de shigelle et de staphylocoque. La mauvaise qualité de ces eaux était justifiée par la prédominance des infections d’origine hydrique dans ce village notamment la thyphoïde, la diarrhée et la dysenterie. Les analyses statistiques ont révélé des différences significatives dans la variation de certains paramètres ainsi que de fortes corrélations entre ces derniers. La forte présence des bactéries et la non-conformité de certains paramètres pouvaient être attribuées aux activités agricoles, l’élevage, le mauvais entretien et certains phénomènes naturels. L’urgente attention accordée à l’entretien des points d’eau et un traitement adéquat de l’eau à domicile avant consommation sont nécessaires.Mots clés : Qualité de l’eau, pollution, analyse, bactéries, infections, risque sanitaire

Evaluation of phosphorus sorption characteristics of soils from the Bambouto sequence (West Cameroon)

The evaluation of phosphorus sorption characteristics of soils and their relation to soil properties from the Bambouto sequence of Baranka 1, Baranka 2, Femock 1 and Femock 2 has been studied. Phosphorus, an essential plant nutrient, is often not readily available to plants and this deficiency tends to limit plant growth. It is thus, necessary to investigate the quantity that is readily available to plants in order to avoid excesses and reduce water pollution by fertilizers. The Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Van Huay and Linear adsorption isotherms were used to describe the P adsorption processes. Phosphorus adsorption capacity decreased in the order Femock 2 > Femock 1 > Baranka 2 > Baranka 1 with maximum adsorption values of 3464.21, 3112.17, 2866.00 and 2758.38 mg kg-1 respectively. Accuracy of fitness of data of the four soil series into the adsorption equations increased in the order Langmuir, Linear, Van Huay, Temkin and Freundlich isotherm. The capacity of each soil sample to adsorb phosphorus was significantly correlated with the clay content (r = 0.949*) of the soils. The use of organic materials and liming as a basis for phosphorus sorption reduction will be useful for crop production in the Bambouto sequence.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Phosphorus fixation, volcanic soil, free aluminium, clay, soil p

Physicochemical and bacteriological quality assessment of the Bambui community drinking water in the North West Region of Cameroon

In order to ascertain water quality for human consumption, physical and chemical parameters, together with faecal forms of bacteria were evaluated in the drinking water resources of the Bambui community in the North West region of Cameroon. This study was necessitated by the occasional presence of suspended particles in the water and typhoid cases recorded in the Bambui community. Samples of tap water collected from Niba, Atunui and Tubah quarters in the town of Bambui were analyzed for physical, chemical and bacteriological characteristics using standard methods. Results obtained indicated that the water samples were contaminated to different extents by bacteria and heavy metals due to lack of disinfection, uncontrolled defecation, pipe leakages and the use of fungicides for agricultural activities. All the samples contained the faecal forms of bacteria. The level of water pollution increased in the order Nibah<Atunui<Tubah when compared with World Health Organization standards. A highly significant difference (p < 0.05) was recorded for pH, N-NO3, N-NH4, SO4 2-, Fe, Zn and Ca contents of the water samples between the months of December 2013 and April 2014. Significant positive and negative correlations were recorded between some physical, chemical and bacteriological variables of the samples with the sulphate content of the water samples being highly significantly and negatively correlated (r = -1.000, p < 0.01) with all the bacteria (entero-bacteria, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella and Proteus) content of the samples. The results presented therefore attest that the Bambui Community drinking water needs appropriate attention from water authorities in particular and the community in general. The public is informed that although the water has no odour and looks clean, it contains infectious bacteria and thus should be treated by chlorination or boiling before use.Keywords: Water resources, bacteria, health, contamination, disinfection and maintenanc

Effects of Effluent on Cultivated Soil Properties in Kedjoum Ketinguh, Northwest Region of Cameroon

This study assessed the physicochemical and heavy metal properties of cultivated soils contaminated by effluent and uncontaminated soils in Mphiewen-Kedjoum Ketinguh, Northwest region of Cameroon, in the rainy and dry seasons respectively. In addition, the physicochemical and heavy metals properties of effluent from Mphiewen, responsible for contamination of Mphiewen soil were assessed. We hypothesized that heavy metals from the effluent affected the cultivated soil and plants grown on it. All analyses were carried out on the soil and effluent samples using standard analytical methods. The results revealed that, the soil samples had pH values ranging from 5.9 to 6.0. The effluent sample had pH value of 5.9 and 6.9 in rainy and dry seasons respectively. The organic matter levels in the soils were high and ranged from 5.0-8.92% in both seasons. Total nitrogen content in all the soils were low (N < 1%) and ranged from 0.1 to 0.3%. C/N ratios were high (ranging from 15 to 17), indicating that the organic matter was inadequately mineralized. Heavy metals analysis showed that the cultivated soil was contaminated by cadmium with total concentration of 3.7 mg/kg in the dry season, and chromium with total concentrations of 100.05 and 105.49 mg/kg in rainy and dry seasons respectively. Pearson correlation between some physicochemical properties of the contaminated soil and effluent physicochemical properties were all unity (r = 1.000; p < 0.01). This indicated that the effluent from the dumpsite was the main source of contaminant in the cultivated soil receiving the effluent. The problem of Cd and Cr toxicity in the contaminated soil can be solved by using various methods based on physical, chemical, and biological processes such as chemical precipitation, membrane separation, ion exchange, electrodialysis, phytoremediation, and surface adsorptio

Revision Endoscopic Gastroplasty: An Overview and Review of Literature

The main aim of this paper was to examine the efficacy and safety of revision endoscopic gastroplasty and some of the adverse events likely to arise from the procedure, as well as the implications for future scholarly research. The study is a systematic review in which the PRISMA protocol was used to govern the article\u27s inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected studies include those on revising endoscopic gastroplasty\u27s effectiveness and safety. The studies were selected based on multiple parameters. The outcome included weight recidivism, excessive BMI loss, and absolute, total, or percentage weight loss. The outcome of this review confirmed that revision endoscopic gastroplasty is effective and safe. Mainly, revision endoscopic gastroplasty (R-EG) was found to counter-weight recidivism, especially short-term and mid-term. However, there is a need for additional scholarly investigations that would last several years to decades to inform the long-term efficacy of R-EG with precision

Endoscopic Transcecal Appendectomy (ETA): A Literature Review on Risks and Benefits

Different colorectal lesions have attracted different procedures in their management. One of the novel approaches that have been documented in recent times is endoscopic transcecal appendectomy (ETA). ETA is an endoscopic and less invasive approach to the excision of lesions within the appendix. The appendix is also completely resected in the process. The main aim of this paper is to establish some of the benefits and risks that come with ETA. The study was conducted from a systematic review perspective using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, which governs the implementation of systematic reviews. Key considerations in the PRISMA framework used in this article include identifying the articles, screening them, and determining their eligibility and their final inclusion or exclusion based on the specified criteria. To arrive at relevant articles, some keywords were used in the various search engines of the databases that were consulted. Some of the keywords that were used included ETA, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), adverse events, risks, safety, efficacy, and the appendiceal orifice. It was established that the key benefits of the ETA include the ability to avoid postoperative appendicitis and residual lesions in tissue. On the other hand, some risks that could come with ETA were found to include potential tumor seeding and postoperative bleeding. However, the key study limitation is that most of the referenced studies in this literature review are retrospective case series and case reports that are prone to selection bias. Furthermore, most ETA procedures in this literature review were performed by a few experienced and highly skilled endoscopists, making the ability to make such results generalizable to all endoscopists and patient populations a debatable issue. In the future, there is a need for more multicenter and large studies to be conducted with longer follow-up periods to ascertain the results obtained in this review. This will ensure a more informed decision-making process for or against ETA implementation in real-world clinical environments