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Sumac (Rhus coriaria) is a flowering plant that is widely consumed for its promoting health benefits and used in food preparations as a spice in the Mediterranean region. It is a high shrub or small tree with imparipinnate leaves, villus and red fruits with one-seeded drupe, and small greenish-white flowers. The nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential of sumac makes it a remarkable functional food. In this review, the phytochemical and nutritional properties of sumac as an under valorized functional food have been discussed. Flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and organic acids have been reported as dominant phytochemicals in sumac, which are well known for their pharmacological properties that attract many consumers to commonly choose sumac in their diet as well as food preparations. The remarkable volatile compounds present in sumac give it a unique aroma that increases its acceptance by consumers and potential use in the food industry. Sumac has been evaluated for a broad range of nutritional and pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-infertility, and neuroprotective potential. This review has also briefly outlined the safety concerns concerning the use of sumac in terms of toxicology and interactions.

Research on writing strategies has defined their characteristics and focused on their contribution to writing gains over the last few decades. However, little has been written about how Moroccan EFL students perceive and use these strategies in their attempts to produce an essay. This paper seeks to fill that gap by investigating the employment of writing strategies by 245 students majoring in English at a university. The data were collected through a questionnaire, inspired by some related existing scales, and interviews were conducted with a group of participants. The participants were sampled adhering to the convenience type of sampling since the data collection was completed in one of the students’ usual classes. Combining both quantitative and qualitative analyses, findings demonstrated that writing strategies were used to a higher extent, with the students’ strong tendency to deploy memory and compensation strategies. It was also found that there is a positive and significant correlation between students’ use of writing strategies and argumentative writing. The qualitative findings added that the although the participants said they practiced writing strategies, the majority did not know how to use them. Some implications and recommendations are also discussed. The current study has provided useful insights into students’ readiness to use writing strategies in the Moroccan context and how their use may mitigate their difficulties in producing a well-argued essay.

Abstract Background Indoor residual spraying (IRS) was first implemented in the Atacora department, Benin from 2011 to 2012 using bendiocarb (carbamate) followed by annual spraying with pirimiphos-methyl (organophosphate) from 2013 to 2018. Before and after IRS implementation in Atacora, standard pyrethroid insecticide-treated bed nets were the main method of vector control in the area. This study investigated the knockdown resistance (kdr) gene (L1014F) and the acetylcholinesterase (ace-1) gene (G119S), before and during IRS implementation, and 4-years after IRS withdrawal from Atacora. This was done to assess how changes in insecticide pressure from indoor residual spraying may have altered the genotypic resistance profile of Anopheles gambiae s.l. Method Identification of sibling species of An. gambiae s.l. and detection of the L1014F mutation in the kdr gene and G119S mutation in ace-1 genes was done using molecular analysis. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were calculated and compared with each other before and during IRS implementation and 4 years after IRS withdrawal. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and genetic differentiation within and between populations were assessed. Results Prevalence of the L1014F mutation in all geographic An. gambiae s.l. (An. gambiae s.s., Anopheles. coluzzii, Anopheles. arabiensis, and hybrids of “An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii”) populations increased from 69% before IRS to 87% and 90% during and after IRS. The G119S allele frequency during IRS (20%) was significantly higher than before IRS implementation (2%). Four years after IRS withdrawal, allele frequencies returned to similar levels as before IRS (3%). Four years after IRS withdrawal, the populations showed excess heterozygosity at the ace-1 gene and deficit heterozygosity at the kdr gene, whereas both genes had excess heterozygosity before and during IRS (F IS

Learner autonomy has attracted considerable scholarly attention in language learning. Research on this concept is abundant and continues to flourish. However, to date, scant attention has been paid to researching autonomy in the Moroccan context. Thus, the present mixed-methods study aimed to partially bridge the gap by investigating university EFL students’ beliefs and their perceived readiness level of autonomy. For this purpose, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to collect data. Questionnaires were administered (n=245), and interviews were conducted with selected participants (n=16). An autonomy scale consisting of five parameters (planning and goal-setting, learners’ expected teacher roles, learners’ beliefs and affect management, learners’ social behaviors, and learners’ self-assessment and learning strategies) was used to elicit and analyze data. The items that made up the learner autonomy scale were adopted and modified from different influentially existing scales. Three main themes were generated and analyzed in the qualitative strand following thematic analysis procedures. The results demonstrate that most students held positive beliefs towards autonomy and appeared ready to embrace it in their learning journey. Students exhibited a strong inclination towards using English outside the classroom (89.8%), displaying a willingness to take responsibility for their learning (85.3%), and setting learning goals (82%). The qualitative results highlight some aspects, such as participating in content creation within lessons and effectively managing their time. In light of these findings, this study suggests pedagogical implications for EFL teachers to enhance learner autonomy in their classrooms as well as a set of recommendations for future research.

Bacground. Psoriasis is an erythematosquamous dermatosis of chronic development. In sub-Saharan Africa, few studies have been focused on complicated forms of psoriasis. Objective. The aim is to describe epidemiological, clinical, and histological features of severe skin forms of psoriasis in Cote d’Ivoire. Material and Methods. The study was both cross-sectional and descriptive, that focused on patient admitted to the dermatology unit for complicated psoriasis, from January 1st, 1986, to December 31th, 2007. Results. Fifty-six patients admitted to hospital for severe skin forms of psoriasis were recorded and included in our study over 7.503 patients hospitalized during the study period. They represented 0.75% of cases. The average age was 39.6 ± 3.3 years. There were 49 male (87.5%) and 7 female patients (12.5%) with a sex ratio of 7. At socioprofessional level, 48 patients (87.5%) were from category 1. Patients’ history was dominated by the psoriasis vulgaris. Physical and general signs were dominated by itching (58.9%). The three severe skin forms were observed with predominant erythrodermic psoriasis (60.7%). Fifteen patients (34.9%) were HIV positive. Conclusion. Severe skin forms of psoriasis are rare in our setting. But in the quarter of HIV-positive patients, they are dominated by the erythrodermic psoriasis.

Les échecs thérapeutiques dus à l’antibiorésistance bactérienne pose un problème majeur de santé publique. Parmi les solutions qui s’offrent, les plantes médicinales constituent une bonne alternative. Ainsi, nous avons expérimenté au cours de cette étude le potentiel inhibiteur de l’huile essentielle d’Ocimum gratissimum sur diverses souches multi- résistantes d’entérobactéries productrices de BLSE à partir de prélèvements de milieux biologiques tels qu’urines, plaies et pus. L’huile essentielle de ladite plante obtenue par entrainement à la vapeur d’eau avec un rendement de 0,26% a été analysée par la méthode chromatographique CPG / MS suivie de la détermination des paramètres physico-chimiques. Les principaux composés de l’huile étaient le p-cymène (52,0%) et le carvacrol (22,88%). La recherche des gènes de résistance a été réalisée grâce aux méthodes de biologie moléculaire. La sensibilité des souches aux extraits a été évaluée par la méthode de diffusion des disques sur gélose. Le test antibactérien effectué sur un total de 30 souches productrices de BLSE isolées a révélé l’efficacité inhibitrice de l’huile essentielle d’Ocimum gratissimum dans la prise en charge de diverses infections.

This research aims to assess the energy input and output involved in corn production in the Elazig province of Turkey in different agricultural systems. This study is interested in energy resource allocation to analyze maize production systems since the value of production inputs and outputs is affected by economic crises as well as the country's politico-economic status. The amounts of energy used for production are still very challenging to change. The typical energy usage of the farms examined in this study is 3359,82 MJda−1, 3715,74 MJda−1, 5366,13 MJda−1 and 6456,24 MJda−1 according to the distance between the water sources and the farms. Of the total mean of energy, 31.06% is direct, 12, 26% is indirect, 14,38% in renewable energy and 42,30% in non-renewable energy. A kilogram of typical maize is thought to require 3,93 MJ of energy in total to produce. Energy used for irrigation makes up most of the input (37.20%), followed by sowing (22.57%) and fertilizer (16.65%). As a result of the benefit-cost ratio analysis is 0.29, the cost of corn production per decare is found to be $112.05/da in the area, with variable costs accounting for 83.17% of the total. The analysis of data reveals that the transformation of 100 kg of corn generates an energy expenditure of 2219.58 MJ and more than 50% of energy expenditure comes from the use of machines.

Since the global COVID-19 pandemic, traditional classrooms have no longer become accessible for everyone. Most teaching and learning process is conducted virtually. The use of interactive and dynamic pedagogy is needed to maintain the quality of learning, especially that enhance argumentation and literacy skills. This research aims to examine whether there are differences in literacy and argumentation skills of Indonesian university students before and after the implementation of Collaborative Reasoning (CR) approach during online learning. A quasi-experimental one-group pretest-and posttest design was employed. A total of 30 students taking Communication and Gender course were involved in this research. We developed a Reading Comprehension Test (RCT) to collect the literacy scores of the students and Cognitively Based Assessment of, for, and as Learning (CBAL) Argumentation Progression to measure argumentation scores. Using a paired samples t-test, the literacy and argumentation scores of the students before participating in CR were compared to their scores after participating in CR. The literacy and argumentation scores were significantly higher after participating in CR. This finding indicates that there is an increase in literacy and argumentation scores over time that was not likely to be due to chance. It is pivotal then for language educators to consider CR in their classrooms.

Besides bones, fossil tracks and trackways are important sources of knowledge about dinosaur palaeobiology. Here, we report three new tracksites from two different synclines in the Imilchil area, Central High Atlas, Morocco. The tracks and trackways are preserved in fluvial deposits in different levels of the Isli Formation (Early Bathonian–?Upper Jurassic), and contain impressions made by sauropods, theropods and ornithopods, as well as tracks that might represent bird-like non-avian theropod dinosaurs. In addition to traditional field measurements, three-dimensional digital models of the track sites were created using photogrammetry. These new tracksites add to the rich faunal ichnoassemblage already recorded from the High Atlas Mountains and North Africa, which is considerably richer than the contemporaneous body fossil record, and also provide new data on dinosaurs–substrate interactions.

Contemporary understanding of the impacts of climate change on global drought characteristics (e.g., intensities, extents) is still limited and not well understood. This knowledge is critical because projected changes in climate are expected to impact on future water availability as well as influence decisions on how water resources are allocated. The main aim of this study is to improve understanding of drought characteristics (extents and duration) in the Anthropocene where rapid changes in the environment are caused by the composite influence of human activities and climate change. Multi-scale earth observation data (1980−2020) and the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 climate models, which incorporate the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (2040−2070and 2070−2100) are used to assess these characteristics as well as identify climatic hotspots where changes in drought characteristics could drive groundwater hydrology. Results show that towards the end of the 21st century, global land areas under drought will significantly decrease but their durations will not. Generally, there is evidence of significant decline in the proportion of areas that will experience various drought intensities (moderate, severe and extreme drought) in the future and for each category, drought affected areas will not reach 30% on average. Moreover, some regions are potential hotspots of climate–groundwater interactions where drought events could directly impact on groundwater. This is because of the varying degree of strong correlations (positive and negative) between climate and groundwater data in some areas (e.g., Australia, Europe, Southern Africa, Asia). The relatively strong negative correlations in some of these hotspots are indicative of the presence of considerable lags, that could be caused by aridity as well as human groundwater footprints.

Betalains are attractive natural pigments with potent antioxidant activity, mainly extracted from the roots, tubers, leaves, flowers, and fruits of certain plants and some fungi. They constitute a reliable alternative to synthetic dyes used in the food industry and are considered toxic for consumers. In addition, there is convincing evidence of their health benefits for consumers. However, betalains are highly unstable to environment factors, such as light, heat, oxygen, water activity, and pH change which can be degraded during food processing, handling, storage, or delivery. Therefore, newly developed extraction methods and micro/nano-encapsulation techniques are currently applied to enhance the extraction yield, solve their instability problems, and improve their application in the food industry. This article aims to summarize the new advanced extraction methods of betalains, discussing the recent encapsulation techniques concerning the different encapsulating materials utilization. Betalains, natural pigments with potent antioxidant activity, are increasingly extracted from the roots, tubers, leaves, flowers, and fruits of certain plants and some fungi as safe alternatives to synthetic food dyes used in the food industry. However, their susceptibility to degradation during food processing, storage, and delivery poses challenges. Recent developments in extraction methods (e.g., supercritical fluid, pressurized liquid, ultrasound- and microwave-assisted, and enzyme-assisted) enhance betalain recovery, minimizing degradation. Encapsulation techniques using biopolymers, proteins, lipids, and nanoparticles protect betalains from environmental factors, extending shelf life and enabling controlled release. These advancements offer improved extraction efficiency, reduced solvent use, shorter processing times, and enhanced stability. Integration of these techniques in the food industry presents opportunities for incorporating betalains into various products, including functional foods, beverages, and dietary supplements. By addressing stability challenges, these developments support the production of innovative, healthier food items enriched with betalains. This article provides an overview of recent advancements in betalain extraction and encapsulation, highlighting their potential applications in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have synthesized copper nanoforms (Cu NFs) using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer. Elemental characterization using EDS has shown the nanostructure to be of high purity and compare well with commercially sourced nanoforms. SEM images of both Cu NFs show some agglomeration. The in-house NFs had a better even distribution and size of the nanostructures. The XRD peaks represented a face-centered cubic structure of Cu2O. The commercially sourced Cu NFs were found to be a mixture of Cu and Cu2O. Both forms had a crystalline structure. Using these two types of Cu NFs, an antimicrobial study against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, a devastating plant pathogen, showed the in-house Cu NFs to be most effective at inhibiting growth of the pathogen. Interestingly, at low concentrations, both Cu NFs increased fungal growth, although the mycelia appeared thin and less dense than in the control. SEM macrographs showed that the in-house Cu NFs inhibited the fungus by flattening the mycelia and busting some of them. In contrast, the mycelia were short and appeared clustered when exposed to commercial Cu NFs. The difference in effect was related to the size and/or oxidation state of the Cu NFs. Furthermore, the fungus produced a defense mechanism in response to the NFs. The fungus produced melanin, with the degree of melanization directly corresponding to the concentration of the Cu NFs. Localization of aggregated Cu NFs could be clearly observed outside of the model membranes. The large agglomerates may only contribute indirectly by a hit-and-bounce-off effect, while small structures may adhere to the membrane surface and/or internalize. Spatio-temporal membrane dynamics were captured in real time. The dominant dynamics culminated into large fluctuations. Some of the large fluctuations resulted in vesicular transformation. The major transformation was exo-bud/exo-cytosis, which may be a way to excrete the foreign object (Cu NFs).

Background: This study conducted in the departments of Oueme and Plateau aims to assess the presence of the dengue virus and its different serotypes in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, as well as the epidemic risk incurred by the populations. Methods: Collections of adult mosquitoes using human landing catches (HLC) were carried out in six communes, three (Porto-Novo, Adjarra, and Avrankou) in the Oueme department and the rest (Ifangni, Kétou, and Pobè) in the Plateau department. Pools of ten Aedes mosquitoes were formed, and stored at −80°C in RNA later. RT-PCR was used to detect dengue virus, and conventional PCR for the different serotypes. Inspection of water containers and collection of Aedes larvae was performed inside and around each house to calculate the stegomyan indices. Results: In the six communes, the dengue virus was present both in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Combined data of the two Aedes species at the communes level revealed infection rates ranging from 80.00% (95% CI: 61.43–92.29) to 96.67% (95% CI: 82.78–99.92). In all the communes, the values of stegomyan indices reached the WHO threshold, which indicates the existence of the risk of an arbovirus epidemic. In addition, the infection rates were similar for Ae. aegypti [88.19% (95% CI: 81.27–93.24)] and Ae. albopictus [86.79% (95% CI: 74.66–94.52)]. The three virus serotypes detected in the pools of Aedes were DENV-1, DENV-3, and DENV-4, with a high prevalence for the first two. Conclusion: This study revealed that three serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-3, and DENV-4) of dengue virus circulate in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the departments of Oueme and Plateau. Moreover, the risk of transmission of arboviruses was globally high and variable from commune to commune. This information is essential for informed decision-making in the preventive control of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors of the vestibular nerve that may trigger hearing loss, tinnitus, rotatory vertigo, and dizziness in patients. Vestibular and auditory tests can determine the precise degree of impairment of the auditory nerve, and superior and inferior vestibular nerves. However, balance is often poorly quantified in patients with untreated vestibular schwannoma, for whom validated standardized assessments of balance are often lacking. Balance can be quantified with the EquiTest. However, this device was developed a long time ago and is expensive, specific, and not sensitive enough to detect early deficits because it assesses balance principally in the sagittal plane on a firm platform. In this study, we assessed postural performances in a well-defined group of VS patients. We used the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and a customized device consisting of a smartphone, a mask delivering a fixed or moving visual scene, and foam rubber. Patients were tested in four successive sessions of 25 s each: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), fixed visual scene (VR0), and visual moving scenes (VR1) delivered by the HTC VIVE mask. Postural oscillations were quantified with sensors from an android smartphone (Galaxy S9) fixed to the back. The results obtained were compared to those obtained with the EquiTest. Vestibulo-ocular deficits were also quantified with the caloric test and vHIT. The function of the utricle and saccule were assessed with ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (o-VEMPs and c-VEMPs), respectively. We found that falls and abnormal postural oscillations were frequently detected in the VS patients with the VR/Foam device. We detected no correlation between falls or abnormal postural movements and horizontal canal deficit or age. In conclusion, this new method provides a simpler, quicker, and cheaper method for quantifying balance. It will be very helpful for (1) determining balance deficits in VS patients; (2) optimizing the optimal therapy indications (active follow-up, surgery, or gamma therapy) and follow-up of VS patients before and after treatment; (3) developing new rehabilitation methods based on balance training in extreme conditions with disturbed visual and proprioceptive inputs.

Study region: Fractured aquifers in Benin have emerged in the past decades as a critical resource because of the increasing domestic water needs, agriculture, and livestock breeding. Hence this study was undertaken in the poorly gauged and complex basement aquifers beneath the 9th latitude. Study focus: To aid water resources management and sustainability, this study combined satellite remote sensing products with outputs from hydrological models and in situ measurement to assess the spatial and temporal patterns of water storage changes, including groundwater. The fractured aquifers’ hydrogeological regime is further analysed through monitoring wells’ series interpretation. New hydrological insights for the region: Results show considerable inter-annual variations in Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS) during the study period (2003–2019). Two uptrend intervals characterized by wet hydrological seasons from 2006 to 2013 and 2016–2019 with respectively, Sen’s slope values of 1.16 mm/yr and 4.47 mm/yr were observed. However, two downtrend intervals represented by dry hydrological seasons with Sen’s slopes of − 1.01 mm/yr (2003–2006) and − 1.19 mm/yr (2013–2016) were also observed. The inter-annual seasonality in land water storage components showed that unlike the 4 climatic seasons, the hydrogeological regime is affected by 3 seasons each year. The first dry season takes place from January to April-May (−29.1 ± 17.7 mm/yr) followed by the wet season (April-May to October-November: 41.6 ± 26.4 mm/yr) and the last dry period, which is stronger (November to December: −53.7 ± 31.6 mm/yr). Soil moisture (SM) and canopy water content (CW) declined during the 2008–2016 period, coinciding with decline in Tree cover areas, which dropped by 25.5% (3086.7 sqkm). Further from 2007 to 2014, the four monitoring wells have seen the groundwater level increased by, 1.44 m/yr, 2.0 m/yr, 3.2 m/yr, and 0.56 m/yr for the Affon, Zou, Okpara and Couffo sub-basins, respectively. The retrieved TWS and Water ‐ Global Assessment and Prognosis groundwater storage (WaterGap-GWS) sub-domains based on statistical decomposition was used to identify hidden patterns to improve knowledge on the climatic and hydrological conditions, which affected land water storage. Moreover, TWS, GWS and SM lost water 51%, 57% and 47% of the time, respectively, during the period and the storage potential is lower for the aquifers compared to the unsaturated zone. Precipitation is recognized as a primary driver of GWS (r = 0.69; α = 0.05) in the region and a change in GWS is more likely to drive the CW and affect the vegetation greenness. Moreover, the anthropogenic pressure exacerbates Tree cover loss. Additionally, the Extra Tree regressor performs best in the groundwater storage change ∆GWS prediction with a strong and positive Pearson Correlation Coefficient of 0.92. The basement aquifers assessment using the aforementioned approach has potential to support large-scale monitoring efforts for more reliable water resources management in the region.

Campylobacter food-borne infections are a serious public health problem. In Benin, there is a proliferation of pork consumption in several forms. This study aims to determine the prevalence and the antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from pig guts, pig feces, and surface swabs from the cutting tables in southern Benin. For this purpose, 200 samples of pig guts, 40 samples of swabs from the cutting table surface, and 8 samples of pig feces were collected and subjected to bacteriological examination. The method used for the identification of bacteria was microbiological culture combined with molecular identification by PCR. The identified strains were then subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing according to the methodology recommended by the EUCAST. Antibiotic profiles were compared between strains isolated from pig guts, pig feces, and cutting table surfaces on the one hand and among the different sampling sites on the other hand. The results obtained show that 47.6% of the samples analyzed were contaminated by Campylobacter spp. Molecular identification revealed 34.7% of Campylobacter coli and 9.3% of Campylobacter jejuni. The study of antimicrobial susceptibility showed resistance to ciprofloxacin, 44% to ampicillin, 23.9% to erythromycin, 11% to gentamicin, and 10.1% to amoxicillin + clavulanic acid. In total, 90.8% of the isolated Campylobacter strains were multidrug resistant. The use of antimicrobials in livestock production systems has increased considerably, which could explain, at least partially, the prevalence of Campylobacter and the resistance of strains to antibiotics. To limit the risk of Campylobacter food-borne infections, it is therefore important to include Campylobacter in the list of pathogens to be tested during sanitary quality control of meat and meat products in Benin.

The use of catheters and bladder catheters in hospitals can increase the risk of bacterial infections. This study aimed to identify the bacterial strains involved in catheter-related infections (CRI) in southern Benin hospitals. The study included 407 samples, including 95 catheter tip samples and 312 urine samples collected from bladder catheters from patients on the first day and 48 h after admission. The catheter tip samples were analyzed using traditional bacterial isolation and identification methods, while the urine samples were analyzed using VITEK-2. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested using the Kirby Bauer method, and virulence and resistance genes were detected through standard PCR. The results showed a predominance of Escherichia coli (53.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (23.3%), and Enterobacter aerogenes (7.0%) among Gram-negative bacilli, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus as the most identified cocci. Bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics showed variable levels of resistance, with blaTEM being detected in 42.9% of identified bacterial species, followed by blaSHV (26.2%) and blaCTX-M-15 (16.7%). The blaNDM gene was only found in three identified bacterial strains, while vanA and vanB genes were detected in 3.2% of strains with a prevalence of 55% for the mecA gene. A prevalence of 18.8% for fimH was noted for the virulence genes. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of following proper hygiene and aseptic practices during catheterization to effectively prevent CRIs. These findings should be used to improve interventions in hospitals and reduce healthcare-associated infections in developing countries.

The current growing attractiveness of natural dyes around the world is a consequence of the increasing rejection of synthetic dyes whose use is increasingly criticized. The great interest in natural pigments from herbal origin such as cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (C3G) is due to their biological properties and their health benefits. However, the chemical instability of C3G during processing and storage and its low bioavailability limits its food application. Nanoencapsulation technology using appropriate nanocarriers is revolutionizing the use of anthocyanin, including C3G. Owing to the chemical stability and functional benefits that this new nanotechnology provides to the latter, its industrial application is now extending to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. This review focuses on the various nanoencapsulation techniques used and the chemical and biological benefits induced to C3G.

The main localization of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the respiratory tract. Digestive and otorhinolaryngological localizations are also reported. More recently, dermatological manifestations have been reported during Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). We report a case of a labial angioedema in a patient with confirmed COVID-19.

Herbal teas are a popular global drink and are widely used in many traditional medicines. Key odorants are one of the main parameters to elucidate the final herbal tea’s overall quality and consumer acceptance. In the present study, for the first time, the brewing effect on volatile, key odorants, total phenolic contents, and antioxidant potential of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Kinkeliba (Combretum micranthum G. Don) herbal teas was comprehensively investigated. Two different infusions were studied and labeled as 25 °C/24 h (room temperature) and 98 °C/10 min (hot temperature). A total of 45 and 44 aroma compounds were detected in Moringa cold and hot teas, respectively, whereas 39 volatiles were determined in both infusion techniques for Kinkeliba herbal teas. The total amount of volatile compounds in both cold-infused herbal teas was higher than those in the hot-infused ones. Based on GC-MS-Olfactometry results, 19 and 21 key odorants in total were found in Moringa and Kinkeliba teas, respectively. The principal key odorants in Moringa teas with the highest flavor dilution (FD) factors were (E)-2-hexen-1-ol (herbal/fresh aroma), 3-hexanol (green/grassy), 2-phenyl ethanol (floral/rose), while in Kinkeliba teas they were 2-hexanol (herbal/green) and 3-penten-2-ol (green/fresh). The total phenolic content and antioxidant potential in Moringa and Kinkeliba teas increased using hot infusion. Principal component analysis showed that each tea infusion was clearly discriminated in terms of its volatile profiles. Our findings demonstrated that the brewing procedures had a significant impact on the key odorants of Moringa and Kinkeliba infusions.

In the present study, the volatile compounds, key odorants, and fatty acid profiles of Ivorian shea butter produced by cold press extraction (CPE), solvent extraction (SE) and traditional extraction (TE) methods were investigated for the first time. The aroma compounds of shea butter were extracted by the purge and trap method and analyzed by the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and olfactometry (GC-MS/O) technique. Totals of 51, 49 and 46 aroma compounds were determined in samples from CPE, SE and TE, respectively. It was observed that the volatile compounds of studied material dominated after CPE, in which alcohols (11) were the most abundant chemical group, followed by aldehydes (10) and acids (7). The application of aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) resulted in 22, 20, and 16 key odorants in shea butter from CPE, SE and TE, respectively. 3-Hexanol with flavor dilution (FD) factors (2048 in CPS, 1024 in SE and 64 in TE) was found to be the most active aroma compound in all samples. In the fatty acid fraction obtained using the gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC-FID) method, 22, 24 and 19 fatty acids were detected in samples after CPE, SE and TE, respectively. The highest number of fatty acids was determined in shea butter using CPE (89.98%). Stearic and oleic acids were the most dominant fatty acids, and all samples of shea butter were rich sources of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Moreover, the SE samples showed the highest values of DPPH (238.36 µM TEq/kg) and ABTS (534.96 µM TEq/kg), while the CPE samples had the highest total phenolic content (104.64 mg GAE/kg). Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly indicated that the extraction technique could quantitatively or qualitatively induce changes. Thus, this investigation demonstrated that extraction methods have a considerable impact on the quality and chemical composition of the presented material.

The decline of soil fertility is a major constraint which results in lower levels of crop productivity, agricultural development and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study is the first to perform a focalized investigation on the most interesting technological profiles to offer to each category of producers in Benin agricultural development hubs (ADHs) using the stated preference method, more precisely, the improved choice experiment method. The investigation focused on 1047 sampled plots from 962 randomly selected producers in villages of the Smallholder Agricultural Productivity Enhancement Program in Sub-Saharan Africa of the ADHs. An analysis of the experimental choice data with the endogenous attribute attendance and the latent class models was carried out to account for the attribute non-attendance phenomenon and the heterogeneity of the producers' preferences. However, three classes of producer with different socio-economic, demographic, and soil physicochemical characteristics were identified. Thus, the heterogeneity of preferences was correlated with the attributes linked to the cost, sustainability, and frequency of plot maintenance. All producers, regardless of the ADHs, had a strong attachment to accessibility of technologies with short time restoration of soil fertility, and the ability to obtain additional benefits. These latest attributes, added to that relating to cost, tended to have a low probability of rejection in the decision-making process. These results have implications for local decision-makers facing the complex problem of resolving land degradation and local economic development challenges. The generalizability of these findings provides useful insight and direction for future studies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background. Long-term evolution data of olfactory disorders (OD) in COVID-19 are limited. Method. ANOSVID is a retrospective study in Nord Franche-Comté Hospital (France) that included COVID-19 patients from the first wave. The aim was to describe OD evolution, especially in patients with persistent OD (p-OD group) in comparison with patients with resolved OD (r-OD group). Results. Among 354 COVID-19 patients, 229 reported OD were included. Eighty-five percent of patients (n = 195) recovered from their OD within 90 days. However, 9.5 months (in average) after symptoms onset, OD were persisting in 93 patients (40.6%) and resolved in 136 patients (59.4%). In the p-OD group (n = 93), the mean age was 51.4 years (19–98) ± 20.2, and 65 patients (69.9%) were female; the three main comorbidities in the p-OD group were: asthma (20.4%, n = 19), allergic rhinitis (19.4%, n = 18), and arterial hypertension (16.1%, n = 15). Eleven patients (12%) presented anosmia, and 82 patients (88%) presented hyposmia. Asthma was more described in p-OD group than r-OD group (19 (20.4%) versus 10 (7.4%), p = 0.006). Cacosmia was more described in p-OD group than r-OD group (27 (29.0%) versus 18 (13.2%), p = 0.005). There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning other comorbidities and symptoms, clinical, biological, and imaging findings, and outcome or about the impact of OD on the quality of life of the patients between the p-OD group and r-OD group. sQOD-NS brief version score was 10.7 ± 5.89 and 12.0 ± 6.03, respectively (p = 0.137). Conclusion. Forty-one percent of patients with OD reported OD persistence 9.5 months after COVID-19 (hyposmia in 88% of cases). Asthma and cacosmia could be predictive factors of OD persistence.

Early and quick detection of pathogens are crucial for managing the spread of infections in the biomedical, biosafety, food, and agricultural fields. While molecular diagnostics can offer the specificity and reliability in acute infectious diseases, detection of pathogens is often slowed down by the current benchtop molecular diagnoses, which are time consuming, labor intensive, and lack the mobility for application at the point-of-need. In this work, we developed a complete on-farm use detection protocol for the plant-devastating anthracnose agent: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Our methods combined a simplified DNA extraction on paper that is compatible with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), coupled with paper-based immunoassay lateral flow sensing. Our results offer simple, quick, easy, and a minimally instrumented toolkit for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides detection. This scalable and adaptable platform is a valuable alternative to traditional sensing systems towards on-the-go pathogen detection in food and agriculture, biomedical, and other fields.

Background: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) was first implemented in the Atacora department, Benin from 2011 to 2012 using bendiocarb (carbamate) followed by annual spraying with pirimiphos-methyl (organophosphate) from 2013 to 2018. Before and after IRS implementation in Atacora, standard pyrethroid insecticide-treated bed nets were the main method of vector control in the area. This study investigated the knockdown resistance (kdr) gene (L1014F) and the acetylcholinesterase (ace-1) gene (G119S), before and during IRS implementation, and 4-years after IRS withdrawal from Atacora. This was done to assess how changes in insecticide pressure from indoor residual spraying may have altered the genotypic resistance profile of Anopheles gambiae s.l. Method: Identification of sibling species of An. gambiae s.l. and detection of the L1014F mutation in the kdr gene and G119S mutation in ace-1 genes was done using molecular analysis. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were calculated and compared with each other before and during IRS implementation and 4 years after IRS withdrawal. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and genetic differentiation within and between populations were assessed. Results: Prevalence of the L1014F mutation in all geographic An. gambiae s.l. (An. gambiae s.s., Anopheles. coluzzii, Anopheles. arabiensis, and hybrids of "An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii") populations increased from 69% before IRS to 87% and 90% during and after IRS. The G119S allele frequency during IRS (20%) was significantly higher than before IRS implementation (2%). Four years after IRS withdrawal, allele frequencies returned to similar levels as before IRS (3%). Four years after IRS withdrawal, the populations showed excess heterozygosity at the ace-1 gene and deficit heterozygosity at the kdr gene, whereas both genes had excess heterozygosity before and during IRS (FIS < 0). No genetic differentiation was observed within the populations. Conclusions: This study shows that the withdrawal of IRS with bendiocarb and pirimiphos-methyl may have slowed down the selection of individual mosquitoes with ace-1 resistance alleles in contrast to populations of An. gambiae s.l. with the L1014F resistance allele of the kdr gene. This may suggest that withdrawing the use of carbamates or organophosphates from IRS or rotating alternative insecticides with different modes of action may slow the development of ace-1 insecticide-resistance mutations. The increase in the prevalence of the L1014F mutation of the kdr gene in the population, despite the cessation of IRS, could be explained by the growing use of pyrethroids and DDT in agriculture and for other domestic use. More observational studies in countries where carbamates or organophosphates are still being used as public health insecticides may provide additional insights into these associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding the world in 2050 requires us to find ways to boost yields of the main local crops. Among those crops, cowpea is one of the grain legumes that is playing an important role in the livelihood of millions of people in West Africa, especially in Benin. Unfortunately, cowpea on-farm yields are very low. In order to understand the main factors explaining cowpea yield gaps, we collected and analyzed detailed survey data from 298 cowpea fields in Benin during the 2017, 2018 and 2019′s rainy seasons, respectively. Composite soil samples were collected from cowpea fields and analyzed in the laboratory. Data on farm field management practices and field conditions were recorded through interviews with 606 farmers. Average cowpea grain yields were low and seldom surpassed 700 kg ha−1 on farmer’s fields. Significant differences were observed between cowpea grain yields from northern to southern Benin (p < 0.05), and the lowest yields were observed in northern Benin. These low yields are related to crop management practices, soil nutrient contents, and the interaction of both. According to the model of regression tree from northern to southern Benin, the use of mineral fertilizer, insecticide sprays to control pests, and the improvement of phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium (P, N, K) and cation sum content in the topsoil would increase cowpea grain yields. Insect pests, diseases, and soil fertility decline are the largest constraints limiting grain yield in Benin. Future research should focus on formulating site-specific fertilizer recommendations for effective cowpea cultivation in Benin, as well as the control of insect pests and diseases.

This study deals with the characterization of the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of cv. Caner pomegranate (Punica granatum) juices obtained from three different juice extraction methods including halved pomegranate (HPJ), arils (AJ), and macerated arils (MAJ) extraction for the first time. It was found that the type of the juice extraction process had substantial effects on the volatiles, anthocyanin compositions, and antioxidant activities of the samples. Results showed that the AJ sample (593 mg L−1) had more anthocyanin compounds followed by HPJ (555 mg L−1) and MAJ (408 mg L−1) samples. GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 34 volatile compounds. The highest number of volatiles was found in the MAJ sample (1872 µg L−1); thus, the aril maceration process played an important role in increasing the volatiles as compared to the HPJ (751.8 µg L−1) and AJ (710.7 µg L−1) samples. Sensory analysis showed that the HPJ sample was the most preferred and its general impression was higher as compared to the AJ and MAJ samples. The findings of this study elucidated that the juice extraction technique had a significant influence on the phytochemical profiles, sensory quality, and antioxidant activity of pomegranate juices.

Hibiscus sabdariffa (Malvaceae) is a plant known as a diuretic. We undertook to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of this plant. Twenty Wistar rats aged between 6 and 8 weeks and weighing between 150 and 250 g were divided into five homogeneous batches of four rats. Batch 1 received only the saline overload, NaCl (50 ml/kg). Immediately after the saline overload, batches 2, 3, 4 and 5 received orally, furosemide, the standard diuretic (40 mg/kg bw), or single doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg bw of the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa leaves, respectively. The results showed that, 24 hours after the administrations, the urinary volumetric excretions of 123.06±11.07; 66.11± 6.19; 112.22±4.36 and 61.39±10.28% respectively. The increases in urinary volumetric excretion induced by the extract were statistically significant compared to the control rats (34.99±8.46%). The extract at a dose of 1000 mg/kg bw and furosemide showed statistically similar values of urinary volumetric excretion. This urinary excretion was accompanied by an elimination of Na+ and K+ ions similar to furosemide. The urinary measurement of creatinine and urea also revealed that the extract did not interfere with normal renal function during treatment. This study shows that the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa leaves has diuretic and natriuretic activity similar to that of furosemide. This activity could be attributed to the presence of alkaloids, steroids and flavonoids, compounds known for their diuretic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have synthesized copper nanoforms (Cu NFs) using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer. Elemental characterization using EDS has shown the nanostructure to be of high purity and compare well with commercially sourced nanoforms. SEM images of both Cu NFs show some agglomeration. The in-house NFs had a better even distribution and size of the nanostructures. The XRD peaks represented a face-centered cubic structure of Cu2O. The commercially sourced Cu NFs were found to be a mixture of Cu and Cu2O. Both forms had a crystalline structure. Using these two types of Cu NFs, an antimicrobial study against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, a devastating plant pathogen, showed the in-house Cu NFs to be most effective at inhibiting growth of the pathogen. Interestingly, at low concentrations, both Cu NFs increased fungal growth, although the mycelia appeared thin and less dense than in the control. SEM macrographs showed that the in-house Cu NFs inhibited the fungus by flattening the mycelia and busting some of them. In contrast, the mycelia were short and appeared clustered when exposed to commercial Cu NFs. The difference in effect was related to the size and/or oxidation state of the Cu NFs. Furthermore, the fungus produced a defense mechanism in response to the NFs. The fungus produced melanin, with the degree of melanization directly corresponding to the concentration of the Cu NFs. Localization of aggregated Cu NFs could be clearly observed outside of the model membranes. The large agglomerates may only contribute indirectly by a hit-and-bounce-off effect, while small structures may adhere to the membrane surface and/or internalize. Spatio-temporal membrane dynamics were captured in real time. The dominant dynamics culminated into large fluctuations. Some of the large fluctuations resulted in vesicular transformation. The major transformation was exo-bud/exo-cytosis, which may be a way to excrete the foreign object (Cu NFs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg carriage in candidates for gendarmerie recruitment. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted from April 7, 2010 to September 12, 2010 at the Abidjan military hospital. It involved candidates for the national gendarmerie competitive examination who agreed to take part in the study. The parameters studied were socio-demographic characteristics, factors of exposure to the hepatitis B virus and the presence of HBs antigen in the blood. Data were analyzed using EPI INFO software. Proportions were compared using the chi-square test or the chi-square test with Yates correction, or Fischer's exact test when the conditions for applying chi-square were not met. The difference was statistically significant if p ≤ 0.05.Results: During the study period, we included 891 male candidates, whose average age was 22.5 years (18-26 years). The prevalence carriage of HBsAg in the candidates was 15.6%. The prevalence carriage of HBsAg was highest in candidates aged 18 years (24%), in married candidates (33.3%) and in those who had more than three sexual partners 6 months prior to the survey (19.4%).The prevalence carriage of HBsAg was also higher in candidates who had never used condoms (20.6%), in those who were transfused (27%). Conclusion: The prevalence of HBsAg carriage is high in candidates for gendarmerie recruitment. A policy of vaccination against HBV must be implemented to reduce HBsAg carriage in the army and in the ivorian population. Keywords: candidates, gendarmerie, HBsAg, Ivory Coast, prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) has been using pirimiphos methyl for the first time for indoor residual spraying (IRS) in Benin. The first round was a success with a significant decrease of entomological indicators of malaria transmission in the treated districts. We present the results of the entomological impact on malaria transmission. Entomologic parameters in the control area were compared with those in intervention sites. Methods Mosquito collections were carried out in three districts in the Atacora-Dongo region of which two were treated with pirimiphos methyl (Actellic 50EC) (Tanguiéta and Kouandé) and the untreated (Copargo) served as control. Anopheles gambiae s.l. populations were sampled monthly by human landing catch. In addition, window exit traps and pyrethrum spray catches were performed to assess exophagic behavior of Anopheles vectors. In the three districts, mosquito collections were organized to follow the impact of pirimiphos methyl IRS on malaria transmission and possible changes in the behavior of mosquitoes. The residual activity of pirimiphos methyl in the treated walls was also assessed using WHO bioassay test. Results A significant reduction (94.25%) in human biting rate was recorded in treated districts where an inhabitant received less than 1 bite of An. gambiae per night. During this same time, the entomological inoculation rate (EIR) dramatically declined in the treated area (99.24% reduction). We also noted a significant reduction in longevity of the vectors and an increase in exophily induced by pirimiphos methyl on An. gambiae. However, no significant impact was found on the blood feeding rate. Otherwise, the low residual activity of Actellic 50 EC, which is three months, is a disadvantage. Conclusion Pirimiphos methyl was found to be effective for IRS in Benin. However, because of the low persistence of Actellic 50EC used in this study on the treated walls, the recourse to another more residual formulation of pirimiphos methyl is required.