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Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola, Mpox and Yellow fever, and antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern. To address these issues, in 2011 the country embarked on implementing the One Health (OH) approach at the national and provincial levels. This study investigates OH institutionalization and implementation in the DRC, describes the process of OH decentralization, and identifies the opportunities and challenges of sustaining these efforts. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study based on literature, document review and key informant interviews. The literature search targeted PubMed, Google Scholar and the document depository of the national One Health platform (NOHP). Key informant identified at the national level included ministry representatives, OH platform members and donors supporting OH implementation. These interviews were conducted in-person and online, recorded, transcribed, and imported into Dedoose software (version 9.2.006) for coding. Content analysis was performed to identify activities, processes, and achievements during the implementation of OH in DRC. Findings: Results of the literature and document review (n = 72) and analysis of stakeholder interviews (n = 24) indicate that a national OH platform, initiated in 2011, is hosted at the Ministry of Higher Education and coordinates other sectors. It comprises governmental departments, academic institutions, and civil society organizations working at the human, animal, and environment sectors. The governance structure includes a national coordinator, a permanent secretariat, technical working groups, and subnational entities at provincial and territorial levels. Following the establishment of the national OH platform, a structured process foresees to facilitate OH implementation at the provincial and territorial levels. Achievements up to today include the development of training programs, establishment of OH committees in some provinces, assessments of workforce needs, formulation of a national strategy, development of governance manuals, and support to the Mpox response coordination.Nevertheless, OH implementation in the DRC faces challenges, including leadership tensions at the national level, inadequate domestic funding, limited training and capacity building for professionals, and insufficient infrastructure for data collection and sharing. Strengthening leadership and coordination, advocating for domestic resource mobilization, and strengthening infrastructure for data collection and sharing while ensuring equity across sectors is essential for advancing the OH agenda and ensuring its efficacy.

Since the emergency of coronavirus disease 2019, no specific drug has been developed within the fighting program against its spread. In Cameroon, it has been reported that the dish “yellow soup” can significantly curb the progress of the disease, while no chemical investigations have been done so far to support that conclusion. Chemical investigations of four selected spices of that dish led to the isolation of a total of 44 distinct pure compounds, which were identified using spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the docking scores of the isolated compounds were inspected by AutoDock4.2.6 software toward SARS-CoV-2 multi-targets involving main protease (Mpro), helicase, papain-like protease (PLpro), and human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The most potent isolated compounds underwent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations over 100 ns. Stigmasterol demonstrated outstanding potency toward Mpro and PLpro with ΔG binding values of −35.6 and −36.6 kcal/mol, respectively, compared to nirmatrelvir. Nevertheless, 3β-taraxeryl acetate revealed good binding affinity against helicase and lupeol unveiled superior binding energy toward ACE2 compared to nirmatrelvir. Post-MD analyses manifested great steadiness of the isolated compounds within the binding pockets of SARS-CoV-2 targets throughout 100 ns MD simulations. Stigmasterol, 3β-taraxeryl acetate, and lupeol are recommended for further in vivo/in vitro tests toward SARS-CoV-2 multi-targets.

BACKGROUND:In Africa, most countries have fewer than 1 physician anesthesiologist (PA) per 100,000 population. Nonphysician anesthesia providers (NPAPs) play a large role in the workforce of many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but little information has been systematically collected to describe existing human resources for anesthesia care models. An understanding of existing PA and NPAP training pathways and roles is needed to inform anesthesia workforce planning, especially for critically underresourced countries. METHODS:Between 2016 and 2018, we conducted electronic, phone, and in-person surveys of anesthesia providers in Africa. The surveys focused on the presence of anesthesia training programs, training program characteristics, and clinical scope of practice after graduation. RESULTS:One hundred thirty-one respondents completed surveys representing data for 51 of 55 countries in Africa. Most countries had both PA and NPAP training programs (57%; mean, 1.6 pathways per country). Thirty distinct training pathways to become an anesthesia provider could be discriminated on the basis of entry qualification, duration, and qualification gained. Of these 30 distinct pathways, 22 (73%) were for NPAPs. Physician and NPAP program durations were a median of 48 and 24 months (ranges: 36-72, 9-48), respectively. Sixty percent of NPAP pathways required a nursing background for entry, and 60% conferred a technical (eg, diploma/license) qualification after training. Physicians and NPAPs were trained to perform most anesthesia tasks independently, though few had subspecialty training (such as regional or cardiac anesthesia). CONCLUSIONS:Despite profound anesthesia provider shortages throughout Africa, most countries have both NPAP and PA training programs. NPAP training pathways, in particular, show significant heterogeneity despite relatively similar scopes of clinical practice for NPAPs after graduation. Such heterogeneity may reflect the varied needs and resources for different settings, though may also suggest lack of consensus on how to train the anesthesia workforce. Lack of consistent terminology to describe the anesthesia workforce is a significant challenge that must be addressed to accelerate workforce research and planning efforts.

A seed sowing machine is a valuable agricultural device that facilitates the precise and efficient sowing of seeds in fields. When designing and optimizing such a machine, several crucial factors need consideration including seed size, seed rate, soil type, and field conditions. The primary objective is to achieve uniform seed distribution and optimal seed-to-soil contact, which can be accomplished by incorporating a seed metering mechanism to control the seed rate accurately. Versatility is another important aspect of the machine's design, as it should be able to handle different seed sizes, types, soil conditions, and field variations. To achieve this, utilizing advanced technologies such as sensors, automation, and precision farming techniques can significantly enhance the machine's performance and efficiency while also reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact. The optimization of a seed sowing machine plays a crucial role in ensuring successful crop production. By implementing cutting-edge technologies and precision farming techniques, farmers can increase their yields and decrease the amount of seed and fertilizer needed for a specific area. Ultimately, this leads to improved productivity, increased profitability, and a more sustainable approach to agriculture.

Danielle R Bouchard,1,2 Marie-France Langlois,3,4 Katherine Boisvert-Vigneault,3,4 Paul Farand,5 Mathieu Paulin,5 Jean-Patrice Baillargeon3,4 1Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, 2Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; 3Departement of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada; 4CRC Étienne LeBel, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada; 5Departement of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada Abstract: Most individuals do not reach the recommended physical activity level of at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise (AE) at moderate-to-vigorous intensity per week. For example, only 13% of older Canadian adults reach World Health Organization physical activity guideline (PAG). One of the reasons might be a difficulty identifying the required intensity. Twenty-five inactive older adults received one session about the AE-PAG and how to use a tool or strategy to help them identify AE intensity: heart-rate (HR) monitor (% of maximal HR; N = 9); manual pulse (% of maximal HR; N = 8); or pedometer (walking cadence; N = 8). Participants had 8 weeks to implement their specific tool with the aim of reaching the PAG by walking at home. At pre- and post-intervention, the capacity to identify AE intensity and AE time spent at moderate-to-vigorous intensity were evaluated. Only the two groups using a tool increased total AE time (both P < 0.01), but no group improved the time spent at moderate-to-vigorous intensity. No significant improvement was observed in the ability to correctly identify AE intensity in any of the groups, but a tendency was observed in the pedometer group (P = 0.07). Using walking cadence with a pedometer should be explored as a tool to reach the PAG as it is inexpensive, easy to use, and seemed the best tool to improve both AE time and perception of intensity. Keywords: aging, pacing, aerobic exercise

Caffeine was tested as copper corrosion inhibitor in 1M HNO3 using mass loss technique at 308-328K and theoretical studies based on quantum chemistry. The inhibition efficiency is concentration and temperature dependent: Caffeine showed an inhibition efficiency of 78% at 5mM for T =328K. The thermodynamic adsorption parameters ( were determined and analyzed. They revealed a spontaneous adsorption process and a strong interaction between Caffeine and the metal surface. Adsorption isotherms including Langmuir, Temkin and El-Awady were tested. It was found that Caffeine adsorbs on copper according to the modified Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The Dubinin Raduskevitch model was used to distinguish between chemisorption and physisorption. Activation parameters ( were also determined and discussed. Furthermore, the quantum chemical properties/descriptors most relevant to the potential action of the molecule as corrosion inhibitor such as highest occupied molecular energy (EHOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (ELUMO), energy gap(∆E), dipole moment ( and charges on heteroatoms were calculated using DFT at B3LYP level with 6-31+G (d) and LanL2DZ basis sets. Fukui indices were also determined and discussed. The theoretical results are consistent with the experimental data reported. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v8i2.804

Senegalin (1), a new phenylpropanoid has been isolated from the stem bark of Ekebergia senegalensis A. Juss. along with twelve known secondary metabolites including coumarins 2–5, 4-hydroxy-3,5-methylbenzoic acid (6), pentacyclic triterpenoids 7–9, acyclic triterpenoids 10 and 11 and steroids 12 and 13, respectively. Their structures were elucidated with the help of spectroscopic techniques including 1 D- and 2 D-NMR. The antibacterial activity of the major compounds (2, 9–11) was evaluated on five bacterial strains. However, only compounds 2 and 11 showed a weak inhibition against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas agarici. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds has also been elaborated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]