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Environmental pollution has aggravated the climate change issues posing unusual challenges to the survival and growth of humanity, including extreme weather, loss of species, and sustainability of the ecosystem in developing countries. Unlike previous studies, this paper adds new dimension to the literature by incorporating corruption into agriculture production-environment nexus. This study adds new dimension to the literature by examining corruption, agriculture, and renewable energy on CO2 emissions. The study therefore examines the effects of governance (corruption) and agriculture production on CO2 emissions in 20 countries in Africa from 1990 to 2019. The study employed recent panel econometric approach which accounts for cross-sectional dependence in the variables. The findings of the fixed effect model and panel dynamic ordinary least squares (PDOLS) show that forest and renewable energy consumption decrease CO2 emissions. However, corruption, agriculture production, export, and urbanization escalate CO2 emissions in African countries covered in the paper. Moreover, the Dumitrescu-Hurlin Granger causality indicates a bidirectional causality between agriculture production and CO2 emissions, renewable energy use, agricultural output, and forest. Also, unidirectional Granger causality runs from corruption to forest and agriculture production. On these premises, consented efforts by governments should be made to support good institutions in order to promote good governance to avert pervasive consequences of corruption on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is an uncommon symmetrical paralysis usually affecting proximal muscles, which occurs in the hyperthyroid state with associated hypokalemia. It is more prevalent in East Asian males and extremely rare in blacks. Data on TPP is scarce in Africa and no report has been made in Ghana. We report a case of a middle-aged Ghanaian man who had three episodes of paralysis in all four limbs occurring at night with the second and third episodes requiring hospital visit. He had no clinical signs of hyperthyroidism during his first hospital visit but had developed clinical and biochemical evidence of hyperthyroidism on the second visit with serum potassium levels of 1.9 mmol/l; and he was eventually diagnosed with TPP. His paralysis resolved with correction of the hypokalemia. It is important to evaluate patients presenting with paralysis comprehensively. Less common differential diagnosis such as TPP may also be considered in such patients to ensure early diagnosis and treatment which can prevent complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health problem, with a global prevalence of 9.3%, 4.7% in Africa, and 2.5% in Ghana. Despite the availability of the classic anti-diabetic medications, many patients have not benefited from them due to their poor glycemic controls, high costs, inability to halt disease progression, and untoward side effects. Some patients thus resort to plant-based medicines such as those obtained from L. taraxacifolia etc., which have little empirical evidence of efficacy. Therefore, this study investigated the possible antidiabetic effects of the leaf extracts of L. taraxacifolia and some potential mechanistic targets involved. Methodology: Ethanolic extract of L. taraxacifolia leaves (LTE) was screened for phytoconstituents and tested for blood glucose-lowering properties in both non-diabetic and streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced (STZ-NAD) type-2 model diabetic rats for 4 weeks at doses of 500 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg. Metformin (200 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) were used as positive controls. Effects of LTE on blood glucose, serum lipids, hepatic gluconeogenesis, intestinal glucose absorption, liver enzymes, oral glucose tolerance, and rat organ weights were all studied. Pancreatic Islet histology was also conducted. Results: The ethanolic extract of L. taraxacifolia leaves reduced fasting blood glucose levels and suppressed hyperglycemia during the oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, hepatic gluconeogenesis and intestinal glucose absorption were inhibited. The extract lowered levels of liver enzymes, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. Again, it reversed STZ-induced weight changes to the liver, kidneys, and pancreas as well as restored the morphology of the pancreatic Islet of Langerhans. Conclusion: Launaea taraxacifolia leaves extract (LTE) possesses anti-diabetic constituents and has the potential to repair diabetes-induced damages to the liver, kidney, and pancreatic Islets in SD rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports of resistance to artemisinin-based combination drugs necessitate the need to discover novel antimalarial compounds. The present study was aimed at identifying novel antimalarial compounds from natural product libraries using computational methods. Plasmodium falciparum is highly dependent on the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway, a de novo pathway responsible for the production of pyrimidines, and the parasite lacks the pyrimidine salvage enzymes. The P. falciparum thymidylate monophosphate kinase (Pf TMPK) is an important protein necessary for rapid DNA replication; however, due to its broad substrate specificity, the protein is distinguished from its homologs, making it a suitable drug target. Compounds from AfroDB, a database of natural products originating from Africa, were screened virtually against Pf TMPK after filtering the compounds for absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET)-acceptable compounds with FAF-Drugs4. Thirteen hits with lower binding energies than thymidine monophosphate were selected after docking. Among the thirteen compounds, ZINC13374323 and ZINC13365918 with binding energies of −9.4 and −8.9 kcal/mol, respectively, were selected as plausible lead compounds because they exhibited structural properties that ensure proper binding at the active site and inhibitory effect against Pf TMPK. ZINC13374323 (also called aurantiamide acetate) is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities, and ZINC13365918 exhibits antileishmanial activity. Furthermore, aurantiamide acetate, which is commercially available, is a constituent of Artemisia annua , the herb from which artemisinin was derived. The compound also shares interactions with several residues with a potent thymidine analog inhibitor of Pf TMPK. The anti-plasmodial activity of aurantiamide acetate was evaluated in vitro , and the mean half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 69.33 μM when synchronized P. falciparum 3D7 culture was used as compared to IC50 > 100 μM with asynchronized culture. The significance of our findings within the context of malaria treatment strategies and challenges is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparison to the rest of the world, Africa has a low rate of adoption of innovative manufacturing technologies and concepts such as flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). Studies show that advanced manufacturing technologies and concepts boost a production firm's total performance, which is why the African manufacturing industry should adopt these technologies and concepts in order to quickly be industrialized. The goal of this research is to investigate manufacturing and its influence in Africa, as well as the adoption and state-of-the-art of flexible manufacturing in Africa, but also the challenges and research possibilities that come with adopting modern manufacturing technologies. Based on the literature research, in comparison to the rest of the world, the adoption of flexible manufacturing systems in the African manufacturing industry is quite low. The importance of African manufacturing enterprises adopting FMS and other modern manufacturing technologies and concepts, as well as research potential for smart FMS, are discussed in this study. This study also reveals that if a large percentage of African manufacturing enterprises implement FMS and advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), the continent's manufacturing profile will be transformed in unprecedented ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Plants are the world's most consumed goods. They are of high economic value and bring many health benefits. In most countries in Africa, the supply and quality of food will rise to meet the growing population's increasing demand. Genomics and other biotechnology tools offer the opportunity to improve subsistence crops and medicinal herbs in the continent. Significant advances have been made in plant genomics, which have enhanced our knowledge of the molecular processes underlying both plant quality and yield. The sequencing of complex genomes of African plant species, facilitated by the continuously evolving next‐generation sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics approaches, has provided new opportunities for crop improvement. This review summarizes the achievements of genome sequencing projects of endemic African plants in the last two decades. We also present perspectives and challenges for future plant genomic studies that will accelerate important plant breeding programs for African communities. These challenges include a lack of basic facilities, a lack of sequencing and bioinformatics facilities, and a lack of skills to design genomics studies. However, it is imperative to state that African countries have become key players in the plant genome revolution and genome derived‐biotechnology. Therefore, African governments should invest in public plant genomics research and applications, establish bioinformatics platforms and training programs, and stimulate university and industry partnerships to fully deploy plant genomics, particularly in the fields of agriculture and medicine. Significance Statement: The sequencing and analysis of African plant genomes, facilitated by affordable technologies and bioinformatics approaches and tools, has created new opportunities for crop improvement, plant biodiversity preservation, and optimal use of herbal medicine in Africa. This perspective describes the state of the art, opportunities, and challenges of plant genomics in Africa towards meeting these needs. The African Plant Bioinformatics Consortium aims to develop a roadmap that can be explored to improve and overcome current challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of economies, the problem of water resources availability particularly in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has increased significantly. Specifically, in recent times, addressing the challenge of access to water resources has become a global issue of which countries in SSA are not exceptional since the adequate supply of potable water is as relevant as economic development. Consequently, this current paper seeks to estimate the determinants of water resources availability in sub-Sahara Africa. For this purpose, a panel-based regression model, which represents the availability of water resources, is specified based on the period 2000 to 2016 to examine a panel of 41 SSA countries sub-sectioned into low, lower-middle, and upper-middle-income nations. Considering the existence of residual cross-sectional reliance, outcomes based on the CIP and CADF unit root tests showed that the variables were not integrated at the same order. This thus leads to the employment of the PMG/ARDL estimation approach which unveiled that (i) agriculture production has a significant negative influence on H2O in the lower-middle and low-income panel of SSA countries whereas in the upper-middle-income panel, an insignificant impact is witnessed; (ii) CO2 emissions affect H2O palpably in the upper-middle-income SSA panel while for lower-middle and low-income panels, an adverse effect is identified; (iii) economic growth adversely influenced H2O resources in the lower-middle-income panel whereas in the case of the low-income panel, a significant positive liaison is evidenced; (iv) excluding low-income panel, industrial development concerning H2O has a significant negative influence in upper-middle and lower-middle-income panels; (v) urbanization homogeneously showed a positive relationship with H2O resources across all panels. The results are reconfirmed by the CCEPMG/CS-ARDL and MG employed as robust methods. Causality checks by Dumitrescu-Hurlin test finally revealed a mixture of results regarding the causal paths amid variables among the country panels. Policy recommendations have therefore been proposed based on the study findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease which is still of immense major public health concern in several areas of Africa and the Americas. The disease manifests either as ocular or as dermal onchocerciasis with several symptoms including itching, nodules, skin thickening, visual impairment and blindness. Ivermectin has been an efficient microfilaricide against the causative agent of the disease (Onchocerca volvulus) but reports from some areas in Africa suggest the development of resistance to this drug. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of onchocerciasis and associated clinical conditions frequently associated with the disease in three endemic communities in Ghana which have been subjected to 18 to 20 rounds of mass drug administration of ivermectin. This was to help determine whether or not onchocerciasis persists in these communities.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Three communities (Tanfiano, Senya and Kokompe) in the Nkoranza North District of Ghana where mass drug administration of ivermectin had been ongoing for more than two decades were selected for the study. The population was randomly sampled and 114 participants recruited for the study based on the eligibility criteria. The study participants were examined for the presence of parasites and clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis following established protocols.Results: The study showed that the prevalence of microfilaria in the Tanfiano, Senya, Kokompe communities were 13.2, 2.4, and 2.9%, with nodule prevalence being 5.3, 4.9 and 14.3% respectively. Females in the study communities had a higher prevalence of microfilaria carriers (5.17%) relative to males (2.44%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.2800, unpaired t test). The most frequent clinical manifestation observed in this study among all participants was dermatitis (25.4%), followed by visual impairment & nodules (7.9% each) and then by blindness (4.4%).Conclusion: The study showed that despite several years of mass drug administration with ivermectin, infection with onchocerciasis and the commonly associated clinical manifestations of the disease still persist in the study communities. This calls for a greater urgency for research and development aimed at discovering new or repurposed anti-filarial agents which will augment ivermectin if global onchocerciasis eradication targets are to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We sought to quantify how socioeconomic, health care, demographic, and geographic effects explain racial disparities in low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB) rates in Brazil. Methods. We employed a sample of 8949 infants born between 1995 and 2009 in 15 cities and 7 provinces in Brazil. We focused on disparities in LBW (< 2500 g) and PTB (< 37 gestational weeks) prevalence between infants of African ancestry alone or African mixed with other ancestries, and European ancestry alone. We used a decomposition model to quantify the contributions of conceptually relevant factors to these disparities. Results. The model explained 45% to 94% of LBW and 64% to 94% of PTB disparities between the African ancestry groups and European ancestry. Differences in prenatal care use and geographic location were the most important contributors, followed by socioeconomic differences. The model explained the majority of the disparities for mixed African ancestry and part of the disparity for African ancestry alone. Conclusions. Public policies to improve children's health should target prenatal care and geographic location differences to reduce health disparities between infants of African and European ancestries in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reports show that Africa and Asia are urbanizing faster than other developing regions of the world. • Many countries and regions have recorded rising income inequality. • We examine whether urbanization is correlated with income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. • We find evidence of a positive association between urbanization and income inequality in the region. According to the World Bank, a burgeoning proportion of Africans now live in urban areas. The United Nations notes that the fastest urbanizing regions in the world are Africa and Asia and projects that by the year 2050 these regions would become about 56% and 64% urban, respectively. At the same time, over the last several decades, many countries and regions have recorded rising income inequality. While some scholars have argued that urbanization worsens income inequality, others contend that the relationship is non-linear and dependent on the stage of development. In this regard, Sub-Saharan Africa remains largely understudied. This paper employed an unbalanced panel dataset for 48 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 1996–2016 to examine whether urbanization is correlated with income inequality. We find evidence of a positive association between urbanization and income inequality in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing trace element concentrations in two representative estuaries of Ghana (Pra and Ankobra) affected by gold-mining, relative to the levels of the unaffected Volta estuary. Surficial sediments ( n  = 16–17) were sampled at each estuary and analysed by ICP-MS for 25 elements after pseudo-total digestion. The enrichment and geoaccumulation indexes revealed a moderate to significant contamination of As, Ag and Cu in the Pra and Ankobra estuaries. Spatial maps of concentrations revealed non-localized sources. High As concentrations were attributable to runoff transport and sedimentation of gold mining-tailing particles, as suggested by results from granulometric distributions, correlation and PCA analysis. The probabilities of surpassing the probable effects level (PEL) were 77% for As, 50% for Cr and 27% for Ni in Ankobra; these values were of 13%, 23% and 10% for the Pra. Results reveal potential future implications on ecosystems and human health in these both estuaries as result of the gold-mining activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]