54 research outputs found

    Genetic diversity and gene flow revealed by microsatellite DNA markers in some accessions of African Plum (Dacryodes edulis) in Cameroon

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    Dacryodes edulis is a multipurpose tree integrated in the cropping system of Central African region still dominated by subsistence agriculture. Some populations grown are wild which can provide information on the domestication process, and could also represent a potential source of gene flow. Leaves samples for DNA extraction were collected from wild forms in Mbakwa supe region and from cultivated forms in Yaounde and Santchou region. Six microsatellites DNA markers were employed in genotyping to analyze population structure and gene flow. Amplification rate was high and genotyping revealed high level of genetic variation. The overall polymorphic level at the six loci was also high with average expected heterozygosity of 0.53; polymorphism of 0.46; mean allelic diversity of 0.5 and mean allele number of 8.33. There were no clear differences with only 1% variation among the three populations and 6% variation among individuals within populations. In contrast, the rate of heterozygosis was high in all the three populations. Both the number of migrant per generation (Nm=20) and the Wright’s Fstatistics (FST=0.012) suggest that there was substantial gene flow among the populations. These findings indicate that D. edulis possess a great potential of pollen dispersal and dominant crosspollination within populations. Most of the loci with private alleles (45%) were found in wild individuals which could be a source of pollen for crossing their cultivated relatives.Key words: Dacryodes edulis, domestication, genetic diversity and structure

    Accès au crédit bancaire par le financement de proximité : Cas des PME Camerounaises

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    International audienceOne of the major problems that SMEs faces today is that of access to bank credit. Close relationships are increasingly cited as a catalyst for improving access to bank credit. The aim of this article is to test the effect of geographical proximity and close relationship on SMEs' access to bank credit in Cameroon. Using a Logit model on a sample of 225 SMEs, the two types of close relationships are represented by five factors: the distance in kilometers between the bank and SME, costs transportation, belonging to business networks, interpersonal relationships, and the duration of the relationship bank/SME. At the end of the investigation, the results show that, except transportation costs, the other four variables contribute significantly to the increase SMEs' access to bank credit in Cameroon.L'un des problèmes majeurs que rencontrent les PME aujourd'hui est celui de l'accès au crédit bancaire. Le financement de proximité est de plus en plus évoqué comme l'une des solutions alternatives à l'accès au crédit bancaire. L'objectif de cet article est de vérifier l'effet de la proximité géographique et de la proximité relationnelle sur l'accès des PME camerounaises au crédit bancaire. À l'aide d'un modèle Logit, sur un échantillon de 225 PME, les deux types de relations de proximité sont représentés par cinq facteurs : la distance en kilomètres séparant la banque et la PME, les coûts de transport, l'appartenance aux réseaux d'affaires, les relations interpersonnelles, la durée de la relation banque/ PME. Au terme de nos investigations, les résultats montrent qu'à l'exception des coûts de transport, les quatre autres variables augmentent significativement l'accès au crédit bancaire des PME au Cameroun

    Nutritional and socio-economic factors associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection in children from Equatorial Guinea: results from a nationally representative survey

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria has traditionally been a major endemic disease in Equatorial Guinea. Although parasitaemia prevalence on the insular region has been substantially reduced by vector control in the past few years, the prevalence in the mainland remains over 50% in children younger than five years. The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors for parasitaemia and treatment seeking behaviour for febrile illness at country level, in order to provide evidence that will reinforce the EG National Malaria Control Programme.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a cross-sectional survey of children 0 to 5 years old, using a multistaged, stratified, cluster-selected sample at the national level. It included a socio-demographic, health and dietary questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and thick and thin blood smears to determine the <it>Plasmodium </it>infection. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors for parasitaemia, taking into account the cluster design.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of parasitemia was 50.9%; it was higher in rural (58.8%) compared to urban areas (44.0%, p = 0.06). Age was positively associated with parasitemia (p < 0.0001). In rural areas, risk factors included longer distance to health facilities (p = 0.01) and a low proportion of households with access to protected water in the community (p = 0.02). Having had an episode of cough in the 15 days prior to the survey was inversely related to parasitemia (p = 0.04). In urban areas, the risk factors were stunting (p = 0.005), not having taken colostrum (p = 0.01), and that someone in the household slept under a bed net (p = 0.002); maternal antimalarial medication intake during pregnancy (p = 0.003) and the household socio-economic status (p = 0.0002) were negatively associated with parasitemia. Only 55% of children with fever were taken outside their homes for care, and treatment seeking behaviour differed substantially between rural and urban populations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results suggest that a national programme to fight malaria in Equatorial Guinea should take into account the differences between rural and urban communities in relation to risk factors for parasitaemia and treatment seeking behaviour, integrate nutrition programmes, incorporate campaigns on the importance of early treatment, and target appropriately for bed nets to reach the under-fives.</p

    Epidemiology of malaria, schistosomiasis, and geohelminthiasis amongst children 3–15 years of age during the dry season in Northern Cameroon

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    Background: The double burden of malaria and helminthiasis in children poses an obvious public health challenge, particularly in terms of anemia morbidity. While both diseases frequently geographically overlap, most studies focus on mono-infection and general prevalence surveys without molecular analysis. The current study investigated the epidemiological determinants of malaria, schistosomiasis, and geohelminthiasis transmission among children in the North Region of Cameroon. Methodology: School and pre-school children aged 3–15 year-of-age were enrolled from three communities in March 2021 using a community cross-sectional design. Capillary-blood samples were obtained, and each was examined for malaria parasites using rapid-diagnostic-test (RDT), microscopy, and PCR while hemoglobin level was measured using a hemoglobinometer. Stool samples were analyzed for Schistosoma mansoni, S. guineensis, and soil-transmitted-helminthiasis (STH) infections using the Kato Katz method, and urine samples were assessed for the presence of S. haematobium eggs (including hybrids) using the standard urine filtration technique. Result: A malaria prevalence of 56% (277/495) was recorded by PCR as opposed to 31.5% (156/495) by microscopy and 37.8% (186/495) by RDT. Similarly, schistosomiasis was observed at prevalence levels of up to 13.3% (66/495) overall [S. haematobium (8.7%); S. mansoni (3.8%); mixed Sh/Sm (0.6%); mixed Sh/Sm/Sg (0.2%). Both infections were higher in males and the 3–9 year-of-age groups. A high frequency of PCR reported P. falciparum mono-infection of 81.9% (227/277) and mixed P. falciparum/P. malariae infection of 17.3% (48/277) was observed. Malaria-helminths co-infections were observed at 13.1% (65/495) with marked variation between P. falciparum/S. haematobium (50.8%, 33/65); P. falciparum/S. mansoni (16.9%, 11/65) and P. falciparum/Ascaris (9.2%, 6/65) (χ2 = 17.5, p = 0.00003). Anemia prevalence was 32.9% (163/495), categorically associated with P. falciparum (45.8%, 104/227), Pf/Sh (11.5%, 26/227), and Pf/Sm (3.9%, 9/227) polyparasitism. Conclusion: Polyparasitism with malaria and helminth infections is common in school-aged children despite periodic long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) distribution and regular school-based praziquantel (for schistosomiasis) and albendazole (for STH) campaigns. Co-existence of Plasmodium parasites and helminths infections notably Schistosoma species among children may concurrently lead to an increase in Plasmodium infection with an enhanced risk of anemia, highlighting the necessity of an integrated approach for disease control interventions

    Tuning microtubule dynamics to enhance cancer therapy by modulating FER-mediated CRMP2 phosphorylation

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    Though used widely in cancer therapy, paclitaxel only elicits a response in a fraction of patients. A strong determinant of paclitaxel tumor response is the state of microtubule dynamic instability. However, whether the manipulation of this physiological process can be controlled to enhance paclitaxel response has not been tested. Here, we show a previously unrecognized role of the microtubule-associated protein CRMP2 in inducing microtubule bundling through its carboxy terminus. This activity is significantly decreased when the FER tyrosine kinase phosphorylates CRMP2 at Y479 and Y499. The crystal structures of wild-type CRMP2 and CRMP2-Y479E reveal how mimicking phosphorylation prevents tetramerization of CRMP2. Depletion of FER or reducing its catalytic activity using sub-therapeutic doses of inhibitors increases paclitaxel-induced microtubule stability and cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer cells and in vivo. This work provides a rationale for inhibiting FER-mediated CRMP2 phosphorylation to enhance paclitaxel on-target activity for cancer therapy

    L'efficacité de la structure de contrôle des entreprises camerounaises

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    The quality of manager's control is likely to reduce financial controversies. An analysis based on both contract theories, organization theories, and theories of stakeholders allows us to identify three channels through which the efficiency of the control can be highlighted that is, expertise, independence and appointment process. The analytical approach is based on a case study and a survey of Cameroon firms. The results show that there are failures in control mechanism and that the organizational behavior of firms has no influence on their performances. This thesis has identified the causes of these failures and suggests some practical recommendations necessary to renew the theoretical foundations for corporate governance.La qualité de contrôle des dirigeants est susceptible d'avoir un impact sur la réduction des scandales financiers. Une analyse fondée sur les théories contractuelles enrichie des travaux portant sur les théories des organisations et des parties prenantes permet de cerner trois sources d'efficacité de contrôle : la compétence, l'indépendance et le processus de nomination. La démarche analytique suivie a conduit à une étude de cas approfondie et une enquête auprès des entreprises. Il ressort des analyses effectuées que les mécanismes de contrôle sont défaillants ; et le comportement organisationnel des entreprises observées n'influence pas leur performance. Cette thèse a identifié les causes de défaillance et proposé des recommandations pratiques nécessaires à renouveler les fondements théoriques en matière de gouvernement d'entreprise

    Efficiency control of cameroonians enterprises

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    La qualité de contrôle des dirigeants est susceptible d'avoir un impact sur la réduction des scandales financiers. Une analyse fondée sur les théories contractuelles enrichie des travaux portant sur les théories des organisations et des parties prenantes permet de cerner trois sources d'efficacité de contrôle : la compétence, l'indépendance et le processus de nomination. La démarche analytique suivie a conduit à une étude de cas approfondie et une enquête auprès des entreprises. Il ressort des analyses effectuées que les mécanismes de contrôle sont défaillants ; et le comportement organisationnel des entreprises observées n'influence pas leur performance. Cette thèse a identifié les causes de défaillance et proposé des recommandations pratiques nécessaires à renouveler les fondements théoriques en matière de gouvernement d'entreprise.The quality of manager's control is likely to reduce financial controversies. An analysis based on both contract theories, organization theories, and theories of stakeholders allows us to identify three channels through which the efficiency of the control can be highlighted that is, expertise, independence and appointment process. The analytical approach is based on a case study and a survey of Cameroon firms. The results show that there are failures in control mechanism and that the organizational behavior of firms has no influence on their performances. This thesis has identified the causes of these failures and suggests some practical recommendations necessary to renew the theoretical foundations for corporate governance

    Perception de la RSE par les dirigeants de PME camerounaises

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    La responsabilité sociale de l’entreprise (RSE) s’impose aujourd’hui comme un levier stratégique de développement des entreprises, quelle que soit leur taille. L’intérêt porté à la PME revêt ainsi un caractère important pour l’étude de ce concept. L’objectif de cette recherche est d’appréhender dans un territoire donné la perception qu’ont les dirigeants de PME de la RSE dans un environnement marqué par le déséquilibre institutionnel. Une enquête exploratoire menée auprès de 22 dirigeants de PME camerounaises a permis de relever que les PME sont porteuses de finalités non exclusivement lucratives, que les convictions managériales – caractérisées par les valeurs éthiques et substantielles – et la culture traditionnelle fondent la perception de la RSE des dirigeants de PME.The Corporate Social Responsability impose himself today like a stratagic lever of the development of small Meduim Enterprise independently to it size. The concern of this issue for SME has become a major concept for our study. The purpose of this reseach is to apprehend the perception that leader of SME have on Corporate Social Responsability in a environment labelled by the imbalance in the economy. An investigation driven nearby twenty two leaders of SME’s Cameroonian allowed to remark that SME are carrier of the finalty no necessarily lucratif, that the conviction of managing characterized by ethical securities and substancial and the traditional culture are the foundation of social responsability.Hoy, la responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE) es necesaria como una palanca estratégica para el desarrollo de las empresas, independientemente de su tamaño. Por tanto, el interés llevado a las PyME tiene un carácter importante para el estudio de este concepto. El objetivo de esta investigación es aprehender en un determinado territorio la percepción que los directivos de las PyME han de la RSE en un entorno marcado por el desequilibrio institucional. Un estudio exploratorio de veintidós directivos de PyME camerunés ha evidenciado que las PyME son portadores de finalidad no exclusivamente lucrativos, que las creencias de gestión – caracterizadas por valores éticos y consistentes – y la cultura tradicional determinan la percepción de la RSE de los ejecutivos de las PyME
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