Inactivation de la bactérie Escherichia coli dans l'eau par le jus de citron

Chaque année, 500000 personnes décèdent à la suite de diarrhées causées par l’eau de boisson contaminée. Dans de nombreux pays en développement, l’accès à des moyens de traitement de l’eau reste encore problématique. Dans le cas où ces moyens existent, le chlore est le produit le plus utilisé. Néanmoins, son utilisation engendre des sous-produits toxiques potentiellement cancérigènes pour l’être humain. Les produits de désinfection chlorés étant moins accessibles dans certaines régions des pays en voie de développement, des alternatives de désinfection avec une approche locale doivent être développées. L’objectif de ce projet est de déterminer l’efficacité du jus de citron pour désinfecter une eau contenant des bactéries Escherichia coli. Les essais réalisés en laboratoire ont permis de tester différents paramètres dont la concentration en jus de citron, la présence et l’absence de rayonnement UV et la concentration initiale en bactéries. Il en résulte de cette étude une réduction du nombre de bactéries de 2 log en présence de 2 mL de jus de citron par 10 mL d’eau au bout de 2 min. Les résultats montrent également que le rayonnement UV est un facteur influençant l’inactivation de la bactérie. En présence de citron, le nombre de bactérie initiale est réduite de 1 log au bout de 100 minutes sous UV, tandis que la réduction est négligeable, car moins de 0.5 log à l’obscurité. L’étude du mécanisme de la réaction d’inactivation indique que la réaction pourrait être un phénomène complexe d’ordre 2. L’utilisation du jus de citron en complémentarité d’un traitement comme celui aux UV du soleil pourrait s’avérer être une option de désinfection intéressante. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour assurer un contrôle de la qualité pour son application en conditions réelles

Remote Assessment of Cultural Heritage Environments with Wireless Sensor Array Networks

The logistics and cost of environmental monitoring can represent challenges for heritage managers, partly because of the sheer number of environmental parameters to consider. There is a need for a system, capable of monitoring the holistic impact of the environment on cultural materials while remaining relatively easy to use and providing remote access. This paper describes a dosimetric system based on piezoelectric quartz crystal technology. The prototype sensing module consists of an array of piezoelectric quartz crystals (PQC) coated with different metals (Fe, Cu, Ni and Sn) and includes a temperature and relative humidity sensor. The communication module involves an 802.15.4 low-power radio and a GPRS gateway which allows real time visualisation of the measurements online. An energy management protocol ensures that the system consumes very low power between measurements. The paper also describes the results and experiences from two heritage field deployments, at Apsley House in London, UK, and at the Royal Palaces of Abomey in Benin. Evaluation of PQC measurements, temperature, relative humidity and the rate of successful transmission over the communication systems are also reported

BEHAVIORAL AND CULTURAL ACCOUNTS OF CORRUPTION IN THE INTERFACE BETWEEN PUBLIC OFFICER AND CLIENT

O presente artigo aplica uma perspectiva analítico comportamental para examinar comportamento corrupto. Com esse artigo, pretende-se atender a um chamado feito há algumas décadas aos analistas do comportamento para estender os interesses e estratégias de sua disciplina a domínios tradicionalmente atribuídos às ciências sociais. Este artigo tem três objetivos: primeiro, examinar a corrupção como fenômeno comportamental e cultural; segundo, alertar a comunidade das ciências sociais para a utilidade das ferramentas conceituais analítico-comportamentais para a investigação da corrupção; terceiro, chamar a atenção de analistas do comportamento para algumas pesquisas sobre corrupção, que é uma das questões mais críticas do século XXI.Palavras-chave: Corrupção, Contingências, Metacontingências, Práticas culturais, Cultura.This paper applies a behavior analytic framework to examine corrupt behavior. With this article, we heed to the call made some decades ago to behavior analysts to extend the interests and strategies of their discipline into domains traditionally assigned to the social sciences. This article has three objectives: First, to examine corruption as behavioral and cultural phenomena; Second is to draw the attention of the social sciences community to the potentials of behavior analytic tools to investigate corrupt behavior; Third, to appeal to behavior analysts to direct some research attention to corruption, which is one of the most critical issues of the twenty-first century.Keywords: corruption, Contingencies, Metacontingencies, Cultural practices, Culture

Maternal malaria but not schistosomiasis is associated with a higher risk of febrile infection in infant during the first 3 months of life: A mother-child cohort in Benin.

BACKGROUND: Malaria and schistosomiasis represent two of the most prevalent and disabling parasitic infections in developing countries. Few studies have evaluated the effect of maternal schistosomiasis and malaria in the peri-conceptional period on infant's risk of infection. METHODS: In Benin, women were followed from the preconception period until delivery. Subsequently, their children were followed from birth to 3 months of age. Pre-pregnancy malaria, malaria in pregnancy (MiP)-determined monthly using a thick blood smear-and urinary schistosomiasis-determined once before pregnancy and once at delivery using urine filtration-were the main maternal exposures. Infant's febrile infection (fever with respiratory, gastrointestinal and/or cutaneous clinical signs anytime during follow-up) was the main outcome. In a secondary analysis, we checked the relation of malaria and schistosomiasis with infant's hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Both effects were separately assessed using logistic/mixed linear regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of MiP was 35.7% with 10.8% occurring during the 1st trimester, and the prevalence of schistosomiasis was 21.8%. From birth to 3 months, 25.3% of infants had at least one episode of febrile infection. In multivariate analysis, MiP, particularly malaria in the 1st trimester, was significantly associated with a higher risk of infant's febrile infection (aOR = 4.99 [1.1; 22.6], p = 0.03). In secondary results, pre-pregnancy malaria and schistosomiasis were significantly associated with a lower infant's Hb concentration during the first 3 months. CONCLUSION: We evidenced the deleterious effect of maternal parasitic infections on infant's health. Our results argue in favor of the implementation of preventive strategies as early as in the peri-conception

Poor maternal anthropometric status before conception is associated with a deleterious infant growth during the first year of life: a longitudinal preconceptional cohort.

BACKGROUND: According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases concept, exposures in the preconception period may be critical. For the first time, we evaluated the effect of preconception poor anthropometric status on infant's growth in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: A mother-child cohort was followed prospectively from preconception to 1 year old in Benin. Maternal anthropometric status was assessed by prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), approximated by BMI at the first antenatal visit before 7 weeks' gestation, and gestational weight gain (GWG). BMI was categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, and obesity according to World Health Organization standards. GWG was categorized as low (12 kg). In infant, stunting and wasting were defined as length-for-age and weight-for-length z scores less than -2 SD, respectively. We evaluated the association between BMI/GWG and infant's weight and length at birth and during the first year of life, as well as with stunting and wasting at 12 months using mixed linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: In multivariate, preconceptional underweight was associated with a lower infant's weight at birth and during the first year (-164 g; 95% CI, -307 to -22; and -342 g; 95% CI, -624 to -61, respectively) and with a higher risk of stunting at 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.98; 95% CI, 1.01-15.85). Furthermore, preconceptional obesity and a high GWG were associated with a higher weight and length at birth and during the first year. CONCLUSION: Underweight and obesity before conception as well as GWG were associated with infant's growth. These results argue for preventive interventions starting as early as the preconception period to support child long-term health

Cohort profile: effect of malaria in early pregnancy on fetal growth in Benin (RECIPAL preconceptional cohort).

PURPOSE: REtard de Croissance Intra-uterin et PALudisme (RECIPAL) is an original preconceptional cohort designed to assess the consequences of malaria during the first trimester of pregnancy, which is a poorly investigated period in Africa and during which malaria may be detrimental to the fetus. PARTICIPANTS: For this purpose, a total of 1214 women of reproductive age living in Sô-Ava and Akassato districts (south Benin) were followed up monthly from June 2014 to December 2016 until 411 of them became pregnant. A large range of health determinants was collected both before and during pregnancy from the first weeks of gestation to delivery. Five Doppler ultrasound scans were performed for early dating of the pregnancy and longitudinal fetal growth assessment. FINDINGS TO DATE: Pregnant women were identified at a mean of 6.9 weeks of gestation (wg). Preliminary results confirmed the high prevalence of malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy, with more than 25.4% of women presenting at least one microscopic malarial infection during this period. Most infections occurred before six wg. The prevalence of low birth weight, small birth weight for gestational age (according to INTERGROWTH-21st charts) and preterm birth was 9.3%, 18.3% and 12.6%, respectively. FUTURE PLANS: REtard de Croissance Intra-uterin et PALudisme (RECIPAL) represents at this time a unique resource that will provide information on multiple infectious (including malaria), biological, nutritional and environmental determinants in relation to health outcomes in women of reproductive age, pregnant women and their newborns. It will contribute to better define future recommendations for the prevention of malaria in early pregnancy and maternal malnutrition in Africa. It confirms that it is possible to constitute a preconceptional pregnancy cohort in Africa and provides valuable information for researchers starting cohorts in the future

BMJ Open

Introduction Neonatal sepsis outreaches all causes of neonatal mortality worldwide and remains a major societal burden in low and middle income countries. In addition to limited resources, endemic morbidities, such as malaria and prematurity, predispose neonates and infants to invasive infection by altering neonatal immune response to pathogens. Nevertheless, thoughtful epidemiological, diagnostic and immunological evaluation of neonatal sepsis and the impact of gestational malaria have never been performed. Methods and analysis A prospective longitudinal multicentre follow-up of 580 infants from birth to 3 months of age in urban and suburban Benin will be performed. At delivery, and every other week, all children will be examined and clinically evaluated for occurrence of sepsis. At delivery, cord blood systematic analysis of selected plasma and transcriptomic biomarkers (procalcitonin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IP10, CD74 and CX3CR1) associated with sepsis pathophysiology will be evaluated in all live births as well as during the follow-up, and when sepsis will be suspected. In addition, whole blood response to selected innate stimuli and extensive peripheral blood mononuclear cells phenotypic characterisation will be performed. Reference intervals specific to sub-Saharan neonates will be determined from this cohort and biomarkers performances for neonatal sepsis diagnosis and prognosis tested. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval has been obtained from the Comité d’Ethique de la Recherche – Institut des Sciences Biomédicales Appliquées (CER-ISBA 85 - 5 April 2016, extended on 3 February 2017). Results will be disseminated through international presentations at scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals

Déterminants maternels précoces de la santé de l'enfant au cours des premiers mois de vie en Bénin

The DOHaD concept ("Developmental Origins of Health and Disease") is based on the assumption that exposures occurring very early on a developing and immature organism such as the fetus or the child in its first months of life could lead to programming that, years later, would promote the onset of certain adulthood chronic diseases onset. Among maternal exposures, before conception or during pregnancy, which may influence the child's subsequent health, some have been particularly studied, such as poor nutritional status (undernutrition or obesity), the existence of metabolic disorders, infections and exposure to pollutants and certain drugs. In addition to promoting the development of chronic diseases in adulthood, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, these exposures can lead, from early childhood, to disorders of growth, neurocognitive, respiratory and immune development. In developing countries, such a phenomenon has been rarely described. Yet these countries have the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. In addition, they are currently undergoing an epidemiological and nutritional transition characterized by an increase in chronic diseases in adulthood, resulting in a double burden with an increase in chronic diseases along with the continuation of communicable diseases. The objective of this thesis was to study the influence of maternal factors before conception and in early pregnancy on the health and development of infant during their first months of life in Benin. This work was based on data collected during two mother-child cohort follow-ups conducted in southern Benin. Firstly, data collected from 400 mother-child pairs followed from the pregnancy until 12 months of life showed that intrauterine growth retardation, a consequence of poor nutritional status during pregnancy, was associated with increased morbidity in infant, particularly with a higher risk of malaria infection in infant between 6 and 12 months of life. These results highlight the medium-term consequences of a deleterious environment during pregnancy. Secondly, we used data from a cohort of 260 mother-child pairs followed from the pre-conception period until 12 months of age. We have shown that poor nutritional status of the mother before conception and during pregnancy was associated with impaired fetal and postnatal growth (from birth to 12 months of life). In particular, maternal underweight before conception was associated with lower birthweight, lower growth in the first year of life and a higher risk of stunting at 12 months of life. We also showed that the infectious status of the mother before conception and in early pregnancy was associated with the child's morbidity during the first 3 months of life. Indeed, the occurrence of malaria infection in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of febrile infections in infant during the first 3 months of life. Similarly, being infected with urinary schistosomiasis or malaria before conception was associated with an important decrease in infant’s hemoglobin concentration during the first 3 months of life. Finally, we have shown that maternal underweight before conception was associated with poor neurocognitive development in infant at 3 months of life. These results are consistent with the literature in northern countries and in support of the assumptions made in the DOHaD. They therefore contribute to the study of the concept of DOHaD in the countries of the South, by providing original data on the pre-conception period and on some specific maternal exposures in these countries.Le concept de la DOHaD (« Developmental Origins of Health and Disease ») repose sur l’hypothèse que les expositions survenant très précocement sur un organisme en plein développement et encore immature comme le fœtus ou l’enfant dans ses premiers mois de vie, pourraient entraîner une « programmation » qui, des années plus tard, favoriserait l’apparition de certaines maladies chroniques de l’adulte. Parmi les expositions maternelles, avant conception puis pendant la grossesse, pouvant influencer la santé ultérieure de l’enfant, le mauvais état nutritionnel (dénutrition, obésité), l’existence de troubles métaboliques, les infections et l’exposition aux polluants et à certains médicaments ont particulièrement été étudiées. En plus de favoriser la survenue de pathologies chroniques à l’âge adulte (maladies cardiovasculaires, le diabète et l’obésité), ces expositions peuvent conduire, dès la petite enfance, à des troubles de la croissance, des atteintes neurocognitives, respiratoires et du développement immunitaire. Dans les pays du Sud, ce phénomène est très peu décrit. Pourtant, ces pays connaissent les taux de mortalité materno-infantile les plus élevés au monde. Aussi, ces pays connaissent actuellement une transition épidémiologique et nutritionnelle caractérisée par une augmentation des pathologies chroniques à l’âge adulte responsable d’un double fardeau associant l’augmentation des maladies chroniques sur fond de maladies transmissibles.L'objectif de ce travail de thèse était d'étudier l’influence de facteurs maternels avant conception et en début de grossesse sur la santé et le développement de l’enfant au cours de ses premiers mois de vie au Bénin. Ce travail a reposé sur les données collectées lors de deux suivis de cohorte mère-enfant menés dans le sud du Bénin. Premièrement, les données recueillies auprès de 400 couples mère-enfant suivis depuis la grossesse jusqu’à 12 mois de vie, ont permis de montrer que le retard de croissance intra-utérin, conséquence d’un mauvais état nutritionnel pendant la grossesse, était associé à une morbidité augmentée chez l’enfant, notamment à un risque plus élevé d’infection palustre chez l’enfant entre 6-12 mois de vie. Ces résultats mettent en évidence les conséquences à moyen terme d’un environnement délétère pendant la grossesse.Deuxièmement, nous avons utilisé les données issues d’une cohorte de 260 couples mère-enfant suivis depuis la période pré-conceptionnelle jusqu’à 12 mois de vie. Nous avons montré que le mauvais état nutritionnel de la mère avant conception et pendant la grossesse était associé à une croissance fœtale et post-natale (0 à 12 mois) altérée. En effet, la maigreur maternelle avant conception était associée à un poids de naissance plus faible, à une croissance plus faible au cours de la 1ère année de vie et à un risque plus élevé de retard de croissance à 12 mois de vie.Nous avons également montré que le statut infectieux de la mère avant conception et en tout début de grossesse était associé à la morbidité de l’enfant au cours des 3 premiers mois de vie. En particulier, la survenue d’une infection palustre au 1er trimestre de la grossesse était associée à un risque plus élevé d’infections fébriles chez l’enfant au cours de 3 premiers mois de vie. De même, le fait d’être infectée par la schistosomiase urinaire ou le paludisme avant conception était associé à une baisse importante du taux d’hémoglobine de l’enfant au cours des 3 premiers mois de vie. Enfin, nous avons montré que la dénutrition maternelle avant conception était associée à un moins bon développement neurocognitif de l’enfant à 3 mois de vie. Ces résultats sont concordants avec la littérature dans les pays du Nord et en faveur des hypothèses émises dans le cadre de la DOHaD. Ils contribuent ainsi à l’étude du concept de la DOHaD dans les pays du Sud, en fournissant des données originales sur la période pré-conceptionnelle et sur certaines expositions maternelles spécifiques de ces pays