Based on seismic,drilling,and source rock analysis data,the petroleum geological characteristics and future exploration direction of the oil-rich sags in the Central and West African Rift System(CWARS)are discussed.Th...Based on seismic,drilling,and source rock analysis data,the petroleum geological characteristics and future exploration direction of the oil-rich sags in the Central and West African Rift System(CWARS)are discussed.The study shows that the Central African Rift System mainly develops high-quality lacustrine source rocks in the Lower Cretaceous,and the West African Rift System mainly develops high-quality terrigenous organic matter-rich marine source rocks in the Upper Cretaceous,and the two types of source rocks provide a material basis for the enrichment of oil and gas in the CWARS.Multiple sets of reservoir rocks including fractured basement and three sets of regional cap rocks in the Lower Cretaceous,the Upper Cretaceous,and the Paleogene are developed in the CWARS.Since the Late Mesozoic,due to the geodynamic factors including the dextral strike-slip movement of the Central African Shear Zone,the basins in different directions of the CWARS differ in terms of rifting stages,intervals of regional cap rocks,trap types and accumulation models.The NE-SW trending basins have mainly preserved one stage of rifting in the Early Cretaceous,with regional cap rocks developed in the Lower Cretaceous strata,forming traps of reverse anticlines,flower-shaped structures and basement buried hill,and two types of hydrocarbon accumulation models of"source and reservoir in the same formation,and accumulation inside source rocks"and"up-source and down-reservoir,and accumulation below source rocks".The NW–SE basins are characterized by multiple rifting stages superimposition,with the development of regional cap rocks in the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene,forming traps of draping anticlines,faulted anticlines,antithetic fault blocks and the accumulation model of"down-source and up-reservoir,and accumulation above source rocks".The combination of reservoir and cap rocks inside source rocks of basins with multiple superimposed rifting stages,as well as the lithologic reservoirs and the shale oil inside source rocks of strong inversion basins are important fields for future exploration in basins of the CWARS.展开更多
African swine fever(ASF)continues to cause enormous economic loss to the global pig industry.Since there is no safe and effective vaccine,accurate and timely diagnosis of ASF is essential to implement control measures...African swine fever(ASF)continues to cause enormous economic loss to the global pig industry.Since there is no safe and effective vaccine,accurate and timely diagnosis of ASF is essential to implement control measures.Indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA)is a gold standard serological method recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health(WOAH).In this study,we used primary fetal kidney cells to establish a wild boar cell line(BK2258)that supported the efficient replication of ASF virus(ASFV)SD/DY-I/21 and showed visible cytopathic effect(CPE).Moreover,using BK2258,we established a sensitive and specific IFA for ASFV antibody detection.To standardize and evaluate the performance of this assay,we used serum samples from pigs infected with the low virulent genotype I SD/DY-I/21 and genotype II HLJ/HRB1/20,and immunized with the vaccine candidate HLJ/18-7GD,field samples,and negative serum samples.The IFA reacted with the ASFV-positive sera and displayed bright fluorescence foci.There was no non-specific green fluorescence due to cellular senescence or other cell damage-causing factors.Compared to a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(iELISA),ASFV antibodies were detected 1–4 days earlier using our IFA.The detection limits of the IFA and iELISA for the same ASFV-antibody positive serum samples were 1:25,600 and 1:6,400,respectively,indicating that the IFA is more sensitive than iELISA.The newly established IFA was highly specific and did not cross-react with sera positive for six other important porcine pathogens(i.e.,Classical swine fever virus(CSFV),Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV),Porcme circovirus type 2(PCV2),Pseudorabies virus(PRV),Foot-and-Mouth disease virus type O(FMDV/O),and Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV)).This study thus provides a sensitive,specific,and reliable detection method that is suitable for the serological diagnosis of ASF.展开更多
An illness known as pneumonia causes inflammation in the lungs.Since there is so much information available fromvarious X-ray images,diagnosing pneumonia has typically proven challenging.To improve image quality and s...An illness known as pneumonia causes inflammation in the lungs.Since there is so much information available fromvarious X-ray images,diagnosing pneumonia has typically proven challenging.To improve image quality and speed up the diagnosis of pneumonia,numerous approaches have been devised.To date,several methods have been employed to identify pneumonia.The Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)has achieved outstanding success in identifying and diagnosing diseases in the fields of medicine and radiology.However,these methods are complex,inefficient,and imprecise to analyze a big number of datasets.In this paper,a new hybrid method for the automatic classification and identification of Pneumonia from chest X-ray images is proposed.The proposed method(ABOCNN)utilized theAfrican BuffaloOptimization(ABO)algorithmto enhanceCNNperformance and accuracy.The Weinmed filter is employed for pre-processing to eliminate unwanted noises from chest X-ray images,followed by feature extraction using the Grey Level Co-Occurrence Matrix(GLCM)approach.Relevant features are then selected from the dataset using the ABO algorithm,and ultimately,high-performance deep learning using the CNN approach is introduced for the classification and identification of Pneumonia.Experimental results on various datasets showed that,when contrasted to other approaches,the ABO-CNN outperforms them all for the classification tasks.The proposed method exhibits superior values like 96.95%,88%,86%,and 86%for accuracy,precision,recall,and F1-score,respectively.展开更多
This paper introduces the African Bison Optimization(ABO)algorithm,which is based on biological population.ABO is inspired by the survival behaviors of the African bison,including foraging,bathing,jousting,mating,and ...This paper introduces the African Bison Optimization(ABO)algorithm,which is based on biological population.ABO is inspired by the survival behaviors of the African bison,including foraging,bathing,jousting,mating,and eliminating.The foraging behavior prompts the bison to seek a richer food source for survival.When bison find a food source,they stick around for a while by bathing behavior.The jousting behavior makes bison stand out in the population,then the winner gets the chance to produce offspring in the mating behavior.The eliminating behavior causes the old or injured bison to be weeded out from the herd,thus maintaining the excellent individuals.The above behaviors are translated into ABO by mathematical modeling.To assess the reliability and performance of ABO,it is evaluated on a diverse set of 23 benchmark functions and applied to solve five practical engineering problems with constraints.The findings from the simulation demonstrate that ABO exhibits superior and more competitive performance by effectively managing the trade-off between exploration and exploitation when compared with the other nine popular metaheuristics algorithms.展开更多
The induction motor,which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy,has been recognized as the cornerstone of industrialization.The rotor of an induction motor can be either a squirrel cage rotor or a wound-ty...The induction motor,which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy,has been recognized as the cornerstone of industrialization.The rotor of an induction motor can be either a squirrel cage rotor or a wound-type rotor,both existing as magnetless topologies.Three-phase squirrel cage induction motors are frequently utilized in industrial drives because they are dependable,have high starting torque,are selfstarting and affordable.Single-phase induction motors,on the other hand,are commonly used for small loads such as domestic appliances in form of modest fans,pumps and electric power tools.In South Africa,there have been reports of fires and explosions resulting in live and property loss because of induction motors that have not been thoroughly tested or are incorrectly labelled in terms of ratings,electrical safety and performance.The goal of this study is targeted at preventing end-user injuries and failures caused by non-compliant induction motors,by evaluating locally manufactured/imported induction motors based on tests and evaluation from standards(IEC and SANS).The study is conducted using experimental procedures at the Explosion Prevention Technology and Rotating Machines(EPT and RM)laboratory,South African Bureau of Standards(SABS),South Africa.The main finding from the study shows differences in the nameplate characteristics of various induction motors which could have detrimental effects such as production and operational downtime in their end-use industries,at later stages.展开更多
Extracts of plant origin,particularly tannins,are attracting growing interest for the sustainable development of materials in the industrial sector.The discovery of new tannins is therefore necessary.The aim of this w...Extracts of plant origin,particularly tannins,are attracting growing interest for the sustainable development of materials in the industrial sector.The discovery of new tannins is therefore necessary.The aim of this work was to contribute to the understanding of the properties of Paraberlinia bifoliolata tannin by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy MALDI-TOF/MS and Carbon 13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance(13C NMR).The chemical composition of tannin extracted from Paraberlinia bifoliolata bark was determined,as was the mechanical strength of the resin hardened with Acacia nilotica extracts.Yield by successive water extraction was 35%.MALDI-TOF/MS analysis revealed the presence of three new compounds in this tannin,previously unknown in this family of extracts.These are 3-hydroxyproline acid,N-methyl-4-hydroxypipecolic acid and N-methyl-5-dihydroxypipecolic acid.The identification of the above molecules means that this tannin can be used for industrial applications,as a resin in the manufacture of particleboard and in the formulation of green corrosion inhibitors.This information is reinforced by 13C NMR spectrometry,which indicates the presence of several polyflavonoid units,confirming the condensed nature of the tannin.Thermomechanical analysis of the resin formed by the purified tannin of Paraberlinia bifoliolata to which a vegetal biohardener has been added provided a Modulus of Elasticity(MOE)value of 4840 MPa at 150℃,confirming its possible use as a binder resin in the manufacture of wood panels as well as for the formulation of a corrosion inhibitor.展开更多
The highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) has allowed people living with HIV to live longer with a better quality of life. However, toxicity and the emergence of drug resistance arise from HAART use. Therefor...The highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) has allowed people living with HIV to live longer with a better quality of life. However, toxicity and the emergence of drug resistance arise from HAART use. Therefore, new antiretroviral therapy is needed since no cure or vaccine is available against HIV. Virus-host interaction has been proven to be important in the last decade. Host factors such as the C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5), a receptor used by HIV to penetrate host cells, have led to the discovery of the Maraviroc, which is an antiretroviral medication used in the United States. In contrast, other factors like C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) and the Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G), a potent host defense factor against HIV, is under investigation. APOBEC3G antiviral activity remains a possible therapeutic target against HIV. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the role of APOBEC3G polymorphisms and their expression on HIV infection disease progression in Africa. We used Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar and searched for relevant publications in French or English reporting on APOBEC3G polymorphisms association with HIV infection in African populations from January 2009 to May 2023. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyzes) was used to process for reporting systematic review. Fifteen studies were included, of which seven were on APOBEC3G polymorphisms and eight were on APOBEC3G expression. Among the APOBEC3G polymorphisms, the most studied was H186R or rs8177832. The average of the minor allele frequency of H186R of APOBEC3G available for the studies included in this study was 0.29 with a 95% CI (0.172;0.401) and varied from 0.108 reported in Uganda to 0.47 recorded from Burkina Faso. The polymorphism H186R was not associated with HIV status in Southern Africa. However, the referent allele of H186R was protective against HIV infection in Western Central Africa, while in West Africa, it was the minor allele (G) of H186R which was protective against HIV. This review warrants a need to increase research on APOBEC3G, from its variants to its hypermutations on the continent with an essential variety of HIV-1 subtypes, to impact the research on A3G-based anti-HIV strategies.展开更多
Improving the prediction accuracy of wind power is an effective means to reduce the impact of wind power on power grid.Therefore,we proposed an improved African vulture optimization algorithm(AVOA)to realize the predi...Improving the prediction accuracy of wind power is an effective means to reduce the impact of wind power on power grid.Therefore,we proposed an improved African vulture optimization algorithm(AVOA)to realize the prediction model of multi-objective optimization least squares support vector machine(LSSVM).Firstly,the original wind power time series was decomposed into a certain number of intrinsic modal components(IMFs)using variational modal decomposition(VMD).Secondly,random numbers in population initialization were replaced by Tent chaotic mapping,multi-objective LSSVM optimization was introduced by AVOA improved by elitist non-dominated sorting and crowding operator,and then each component was predicted.Finally,Tent multi-objective AVOA-LSSVM(TMOALSSVM)method was used to sum each component to obtain the final prediction result.The simulation results show that the improved AVOA based on Tent chaotic mapping,the improved non-dominated sorting algorithm with elite strategy,and the improved crowding operator are the optimal models for single-objective and multi-objective prediction.Among them,TMOALSSVM model has the smallest average error of stroke power values in four seasons,which are 0.0694,0.0545 and 0.0211,respectively.The average value of DS statistics in the four seasons is 0.9902,and the statistical value is the largest.The proposed model effectively predicts four seasons of wind power values on lateral and longitudinal precision,and faster and more accurately finds the optimal solution on the current solution space sets,which proves that the method has a certain scientific significance in the development of wind power prediction technology.展开更多
Our paper assessed the improvement performance of the reanalysis(ERA5)compared to ERAI(ERA-Interim)both from the ECMWF(European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast)in representing the WAM(West African Monsoon)dyn...Our paper assessed the improvement performance of the reanalysis(ERA5)compared to ERAI(ERA-Interim)both from the ECMWF(European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast)in representing the WAM(West African Monsoon)dynamic.Our aim is to evaluate the reliability of ERA5 to deliver better climate services than ERAI in the West African Sahel region.Two complementary observational databases namely the CRU(Climate Research Unit)and the GPCC(Global Precipitation Climatology Center)data are used to evaluate precipitation and temperature representation by the two reanalysis.Otherwise,the representation of some major features of the WAM system,such as the SHL(Saharan Heat Low),the AEJ/TEJ(African and Tropical Easterly Jets)was assessed using the two reanalysis data.The obtained results show a better representation of the seasonal accumulated precipitation and average temperature by ERA5 compared to ERAI with higher spatial correlation and lower bias relative to the observations.Furthermore,ERAI appears to be rainier than ERA5 but ERA5 produces more heavy rainfall days.During the period of intense monsoon,the frequency of the SHL is higher for ERAI which would favor intensification of monsoon inflow and depth.The lower SHL frequency observed in the ERA5 could explain the observed weakening intensity of AEJ which is favorable for moist conditions over the Sahel.These findings confirm the progress made by ERA5 compared to ERAI in representing the WAM dynamic and demonstrate its reliability for delivering better climate services over the West African Sahel.展开更多
In Africa, each year, there are estimated to be more than 91 million cases of salmonellosis and 137,000 cases of death. The problem of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella strains is a threat to public health. The obje...In Africa, each year, there are estimated to be more than 91 million cases of salmonellosis and 137,000 cases of death. The problem of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella strains is a threat to public health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella strains isolated in biological products analyzed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health (NLCBPH) in Bangui. This is, therefore, a cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim, running from January to December 2022. It focused on the strains of Salmonella isolated and identified in stools, urines, and blood samples. For each strain of Salmonella isolated, an antibiogram was carried out following the recommendations of the French Society of Microbiology (CASFM, 2022). A total of 93 strains of Salmonella have been recorded. The age group 0 - 9 years was 29% and that of >50 years was 11%. The median age of patients was 30 years with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 78 years. The female gender was more represented at 52.69% than the male gender at 47.31%, i.e. a sex ratio of 0.89 (M/F). Salmonella strains were much more isolated in stools at 62% followed by urines at 29% and blood at 6%. Salmonella arizonae strains were more represented with 52%. Salmonella strains have a resistance rate to Tetracycline of 62.37% followed by Penicillins of 50%. The rate of multi-antibiotic resistance of the Salmonella strains isolated represented 48.38%. Salmonella spp. strains were multi-resistant at 58.69% followed by Salmonella arizonae strains at 47.91%. There is a significant association between the different families of antibiotics and Salmonella strains (p < 0.05). According to the results obtained, Penicillins, Phenicoles, and Cyclins had a high rate of resistance on Salmonella strains. No strain-producing Broad Spectrum Beta-lactamase has been isolated. Salmonella strains represent a zoonotic health danger, constitute a public health problem and remain a current subject. This germ is resistant to the antibiotics used. It is, therefore, essential to emphasize monitoring the resistance of these germs in the Central African Republic (CAR) to improve the health of the population.展开更多
China is the largest developing country,and Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing countries.Similar historical experiences and common historical missions have long linked China and Afric...China is the largest developing country,and Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing countries.Similar historical experiences and common historical missions have long linked China and Africa so closely.From September 4 to 6,the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)Summit will be held in Beijing.The theme this year is“Joining Hands to Promote Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”.Leaders of FOCAC’s African members will be invited to attend,and representatives from relevant African regional organizations and international organizations will participate in the related activities.展开更多
Background: Deep sedation, euthanasia and therapeutic relentlessness lead us today to rethink the paradigm of life and the contingency of human existence. Between therapeutic relentlessness, the unreasonable care whic...Background: Deep sedation, euthanasia and therapeutic relentlessness lead us today to rethink the paradigm of life and the contingency of human existence. Between therapeutic relentlessness, the unreasonable care which uses heavy therapeutic means which are often disproportionate to the expected benefit, namely keeping alive a patient whose condition is considered medically hopeless;and euthanasia which would precipitate the process of death would be sedation in the terminal phase of the illness. Should doctors and families of comatose patients decide the “life” and “death” of their patients? For anti-euthanasia associations, doctors, relatives of terminally ill patients and the State itself, if they accept the principle of euthanasia, they are “murderers”, while for pro-euthanasists, the dignity of the human being would recommend that the days of patients in situations considered critical be shortened, to avoid unnecessary suffering and humiliation. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out to identify relevant articles relating to euthanasia, dysthanasia and sedation in the terminal phase of illness. The search was conducted in French or English in three databases: PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. Objectives: The objectives of this article are: 1) define the terminologies and concepts of palliative sedation, deep sedation, deep and continuous sedation until death, euthanasia and dysthanasia;2) present aspects of the meaning of life and the human person in African cultures;and 3) propose an ethical reflection on the value of life. Results: After precisely defining the concepts of euthanasia, dysthanasia and sedation, this research presented the African anthropological and ethical approach to the mysteries of life and death. Conclusion: With this in mind, the golden rule of medicine always remains as such “Primum non nocere”.展开更多
This paper delves into the current landscape of African Francophone literature in China.It begins by tracing the history of the French language in Africa and the emergence and development of African Francophone litera...This paper delves into the current landscape of African Francophone literature in China.It begins by tracing the history of the French language in Africa and the emergence and development of African Francophone literature,and then provides an overview of the research achievements of African Francophone literature in China,including monographs,translated literary works and academic papers,highlighting the translation and research on the key African Francophone writers.展开更多
Introduction: Peanut pastes are food products resulting from artisanal or industrial processing, used in cooking in Africa in general and in Central African Republic in particular. These peanut pastes are often contam...Introduction: Peanut pastes are food products resulting from artisanal or industrial processing, used in cooking in Africa in general and in Central African Republic in particular. These peanut pastes are often contaminated by molds and filamentous fungi involved in the degradation of hygienic and organoleptic or even toxicological quality. This study aims to determine the epidemiological profile of molds contaminating peanut pastes sold on the Central African market. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from June to September 2023. Samples of peanut pastes sold on Central African market were taken and analyzed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health using the conventional microbiology method according to ISO 7954 standards. The data obtained were collected in the ODK 2023.3.1 application and analyzed with the Epi Info 7 software. A multivariate analysis by logistic regression, Ficher’s exact test, and chi<sup>2</sup> at the 5% threshold (p Penicillium sp.;11.25% of Mucor sp.;10.63% of Aspergillus terrei;3.13% of Aspergillus niger;1.25% of Aspergillus medullans;28.13% of Aspergillus flavus;2.50% of Aspergillus fumigatus. Peanut pastes stored beyond three days were more contaminated (94.19%). Conclusion: The results of this study made it possible to highlight strains of mold that impact the hygienic and organoleptic quality of peanut pastes sold at the Central African market. Most of the isolated strains were the Aspergillus flavus species which is recognized by its toxigenic effects. This species is much more incriminated in the contamination of foodstuffs with the production of the toxin which causes underlying pulmonary pathologies in humans.展开更多
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen diagnosis and genomic surveillance capacities. In 2021, Central African managed five waves of COVID-19 by integrating genomic surveillance into t...Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen diagnosis and genomic surveillance capacities. In 2021, Central African managed five waves of COVID-19 by integrating genomic surveillance into their health monitoring system. This study sought to report surveillance data from the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health and describe the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, descriptive observational study spans three years, from April 2020 to November 2023. It was conducted on a population of consenting volunteers from across the Central African Republic, who were tested using RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal samples. Data with sufficient information were obtained from the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health (LNBCSP) databases. Sequencing was largely carried out at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa until May 2023, and subsequently at the LNBCSP. Results and Discussion: Out of 97,864 RT-PCR tests performed, 9,764 were positive, resulting in a prevalence of 9.98%. The average age of the patients was 39.97 years ± 13.76, and the male-to-female sex ratio was 2.12. RT-PCR test positivity was significantly associated with age (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.013) and clinical manifestations. Ten variants circulated during the five recorded waves, with Omicron (B.1.1.529), Delta (B.1.617.2) variants being predominant. Notably, the B.1.620 and B.640 variants were prominent during the second wave. Conclusion: This retrospective study provides key insights into the COVID-19 pandemic in the CAR. It identifies risk factors and details the circulation of various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Enhancing national genomic surveillance capacities would enable the country to better respond to future pandemic challenges.展开更多
On April 15,Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic Sylvie Baipo-Temon visited China Institute of International Studies(CIIS)and the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy Research Center during her visit to China,a...On April 15,Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic Sylvie Baipo-Temon visited China Institute of International Studies(CIIS)and the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy Research Center during her visit to China,accompanied by multiple Central African Republic officials and Counsellor Chen Xiaolei from the Department of African Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry.展开更多
In"Lonely Planet",there is a saying that goes,"Often when people think of Africa,they are actually thinking of Tanzania".There are the African savannas,the great animal migrations,and Kilimanjaro,b...In"Lonely Planet",there is a saying that goes,"Often when people think of Africa,they are actually thinking of Tanzania".There are the African savannas,the great animal migrations,and Kilimanjaro,bringing together the most stunning landscapes of this mysterious African continent.When we had the opportunity to come to this beautiful country,although we didn’t see these magnificent landscapes,we met with azure coastlines,white beaches,red earth,and baobab trees.Furthermore,after 6 years of tracking,bidding,and negotiating,we won a project led by Western owners amidst competition with 11 global contractors.展开更多
Infant malnutrition is a significant issue in Côte d’Ivoire, and this study aims to address it by formulating infant flours using local ingredients. Fermentation, germination, and malting methods were used to en...Infant malnutrition is a significant issue in Côte d’Ivoire, and this study aims to address it by formulating infant flours using local ingredients. Fermentation, germination, and malting methods were used to enhance the quality of six formulated flours, all based on Fonio and supplemented with Bambara groundnut, African locust bean fruit pulp, and cashew kernels. Results showed that Fonio had the highest carbohydrate content, while Bambara groundnut and Cashew kernels were rich in protein and lipid content. African locust bean fruit pulp was rich in fiber and Vitamin C, with a high β-carotene value. The cashew kernel had the highest energy value. Regarding mineral composition, African locust bean fruit pulp had the highest potassium content, while Bambara groundnut and African locust bean fruit pulp were rich in sodium. Cashew kernel and Fonio had higher iron and calcium content. Bambara groundnut had a higher zinc content, while cashew kernel had a higher magnesium content. The formulated flours made from fermented Fonio grains and enriched with Bambara groundnut, African locust bean fruit pulp, and cashew kernel had varying protein, fiber, carbohydrate, ash, and fat contents. The flour formulated with sprouted Fonio and enriched with the same ingredients had higher protein content and energy value than the other fermented seed-based flours. The mixed flours produced with fermented seeds and the flour produced from sprouted seeds met international standards. Overall, these findings offer valuable insights into the nutritional composition of the formulated flours and their potential to combat infant malnutrition in Côte d’Ivoire.展开更多
Objective: COVID-19 surveillance was established as early as March 2020 in the Central African Republic (CAR), after the WHO statement relating to the identification of several cases outside China. However, given the ...Objective: COVID-19 surveillance was established as early as March 2020 in the Central African Republic (CAR), after the WHO statement relating to the identification of several cases outside China. However, given the non-performing molecular biology technical platform in many developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the second wave promised to be surprising and formidable. In this context, a mass survey was launched in Bangui to determine the prevalence of COVID-19. Patients and Methods: From March 18 to April 2, 2021, a mass screening campaign took place in tourist places, companies and the main hospital infrastructures. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from participants with and without symptoms of Influenza-like illness (ILI) and stored in VTM tubes. The Ag (COVID-19) and RT-PCR tests were carried out in Bangui at the LNBCSP. The sequencing of RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 positives was carried out at the INRB. Results: We included 1480 participants of whom 33 (2.23%) were SARS-COV-2 positive, of whom 24 were male and 9 female. This sex difference was statistically significant (p = 0.012) as the sex ratio M/F was 1.09. Sampling sites located in the 1st arrondissement were the most prolific (p = 0.006) and were sequenced. In addition to the analysis of the 33 samples from the predefined sites under study, 17 control sequences from the provinces generated during the same period are added. We detected 2 Variants Of Concern (VOC) including the predominant B.1.620 (43.86%) followed by B.1.1.7 or Alpha (5.10%). Conclusion: The study showed the importance of surveillance and the availability of means of diagnosis of COVID-19. The identified risk factors were sex and sampling site. This study has shown the importance of setting up sentinel sites for COVID-19 surveillance in all regions of the country and the appropriate use of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine.展开更多
Wole Soyinka,the pioneering African Nobel Prize laureate in Literature,occupies a vital role in the field of African Literature.In recognition of his paramount influence,Obioma Ofoego penned the book“Soyinka’s Langu...Wole Soyinka,the pioneering African Nobel Prize laureate in Literature,occupies a vital role in the field of African Literature.In recognition of his paramount influence,Obioma Ofoego penned the book“Soyinka’s Language”,which focuses on Soyinka’s distinctive linguistic prowess and explores his ideological choice to write in English.Positioned against the backdrop of extensive postcolonial research on Wole Soyinka,“Soyinka’s Language”distinguishes itself through its comprehensive exploration of language as a central pillar of Soyinka’s literary oeuvre.This monograph provides readers with an in-depth understanding of how Soyinka’s ideological choice to write in English has shaped not only his own works but also the broader tapestry of African literature and postcolonial discourse.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation Project(92255302)National Science and Technology Major Project(2016ZX05029005)Scientific Research and Technological Development Project of PetroChina(2021DJ31).
文摘Based on seismic,drilling,and source rock analysis data,the petroleum geological characteristics and future exploration direction of the oil-rich sags in the Central and West African Rift System(CWARS)are discussed.The study shows that the Central African Rift System mainly develops high-quality lacustrine source rocks in the Lower Cretaceous,and the West African Rift System mainly develops high-quality terrigenous organic matter-rich marine source rocks in the Upper Cretaceous,and the two types of source rocks provide a material basis for the enrichment of oil and gas in the CWARS.Multiple sets of reservoir rocks including fractured basement and three sets of regional cap rocks in the Lower Cretaceous,the Upper Cretaceous,and the Paleogene are developed in the CWARS.Since the Late Mesozoic,due to the geodynamic factors including the dextral strike-slip movement of the Central African Shear Zone,the basins in different directions of the CWARS differ in terms of rifting stages,intervals of regional cap rocks,trap types and accumulation models.The NE-SW trending basins have mainly preserved one stage of rifting in the Early Cretaceous,with regional cap rocks developed in the Lower Cretaceous strata,forming traps of reverse anticlines,flower-shaped structures and basement buried hill,and two types of hydrocarbon accumulation models of"source and reservoir in the same formation,and accumulation inside source rocks"and"up-source and down-reservoir,and accumulation below source rocks".The NW–SE basins are characterized by multiple rifting stages superimposition,with the development of regional cap rocks in the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene,forming traps of draping anticlines,faulted anticlines,antithetic fault blocks and the accumulation model of"down-source and up-reservoir,and accumulation above source rocks".The combination of reservoir and cap rocks inside source rocks of basins with multiple superimposed rifting stages,as well as the lithologic reservoirs and the shale oil inside source rocks of strong inversion basins are important fields for future exploration in basins of the CWARS.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFE0107300 and 2021YFD1800101)the Applied Technology Research and Development Project of Heilongjiang Province,China(GA19B301)the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund,China(1610302022003)。
文摘African swine fever(ASF)continues to cause enormous economic loss to the global pig industry.Since there is no safe and effective vaccine,accurate and timely diagnosis of ASF is essential to implement control measures.Indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA)is a gold standard serological method recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health(WOAH).In this study,we used primary fetal kidney cells to establish a wild boar cell line(BK2258)that supported the efficient replication of ASF virus(ASFV)SD/DY-I/21 and showed visible cytopathic effect(CPE).Moreover,using BK2258,we established a sensitive and specific IFA for ASFV antibody detection.To standardize and evaluate the performance of this assay,we used serum samples from pigs infected with the low virulent genotype I SD/DY-I/21 and genotype II HLJ/HRB1/20,and immunized with the vaccine candidate HLJ/18-7GD,field samples,and negative serum samples.The IFA reacted with the ASFV-positive sera and displayed bright fluorescence foci.There was no non-specific green fluorescence due to cellular senescence or other cell damage-causing factors.Compared to a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(iELISA),ASFV antibodies were detected 1–4 days earlier using our IFA.The detection limits of the IFA and iELISA for the same ASFV-antibody positive serum samples were 1:25,600 and 1:6,400,respectively,indicating that the IFA is more sensitive than iELISA.The newly established IFA was highly specific and did not cross-react with sera positive for six other important porcine pathogens(i.e.,Classical swine fever virus(CSFV),Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV),Porcme circovirus type 2(PCV2),Pseudorabies virus(PRV),Foot-and-Mouth disease virus type O(FMDV/O),and Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV)).This study thus provides a sensitive,specific,and reliable detection method that is suitable for the serological diagnosis of ASF.
基金the Researchers Supporting Project Number(RSP2023 R157),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘An illness known as pneumonia causes inflammation in the lungs.Since there is so much information available fromvarious X-ray images,diagnosing pneumonia has typically proven challenging.To improve image quality and speed up the diagnosis of pneumonia,numerous approaches have been devised.To date,several methods have been employed to identify pneumonia.The Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)has achieved outstanding success in identifying and diagnosing diseases in the fields of medicine and radiology.However,these methods are complex,inefficient,and imprecise to analyze a big number of datasets.In this paper,a new hybrid method for the automatic classification and identification of Pneumonia from chest X-ray images is proposed.The proposed method(ABOCNN)utilized theAfrican BuffaloOptimization(ABO)algorithmto enhanceCNNperformance and accuracy.The Weinmed filter is employed for pre-processing to eliminate unwanted noises from chest X-ray images,followed by feature extraction using the Grey Level Co-Occurrence Matrix(GLCM)approach.Relevant features are then selected from the dataset using the ABO algorithm,and ultimately,high-performance deep learning using the CNN approach is introduced for the classification and identification of Pneumonia.Experimental results on various datasets showed that,when contrasted to other approaches,the ABO-CNN outperforms them all for the classification tasks.The proposed method exhibits superior values like 96.95%,88%,86%,and 86%for accuracy,precision,recall,and F1-score,respectively.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U1731128)the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province(Grant No.2019-MS-174)+1 种基金the Foundation of Liaoning Province Education Administration(Grant No.LJKZ0279)the Team of Artificial Intelligence Theory and Application for the financial support.
文摘This paper introduces the African Bison Optimization(ABO)algorithm,which is based on biological population.ABO is inspired by the survival behaviors of the African bison,including foraging,bathing,jousting,mating,and eliminating.The foraging behavior prompts the bison to seek a richer food source for survival.When bison find a food source,they stick around for a while by bathing behavior.The jousting behavior makes bison stand out in the population,then the winner gets the chance to produce offspring in the mating behavior.The eliminating behavior causes the old or injured bison to be weeded out from the herd,thus maintaining the excellent individuals.The above behaviors are translated into ABO by mathematical modeling.To assess the reliability and performance of ABO,it is evaluated on a diverse set of 23 benchmark functions and applied to solve five practical engineering problems with constraints.The findings from the simulation demonstrate that ABO exhibits superior and more competitive performance by effectively managing the trade-off between exploration and exploitation when compared with the other nine popular metaheuristics algorithms.
基金supported in part by Explosion Prevention Technology and Rotating Machines(EPT&RM)laboratory,South African Bureau of Standards(SABS),Pretoria,South Africa.
文摘The induction motor,which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy,has been recognized as the cornerstone of industrialization.The rotor of an induction motor can be either a squirrel cage rotor or a wound-type rotor,both existing as magnetless topologies.Three-phase squirrel cage induction motors are frequently utilized in industrial drives because they are dependable,have high starting torque,are selfstarting and affordable.Single-phase induction motors,on the other hand,are commonly used for small loads such as domestic appliances in form of modest fans,pumps and electric power tools.In South Africa,there have been reports of fires and explosions resulting in live and property loss because of induction motors that have not been thoroughly tested or are incorrectly labelled in terms of ratings,electrical safety and performance.The goal of this study is targeted at preventing end-user injuries and failures caused by non-compliant induction motors,by evaluating locally manufactured/imported induction motors based on tests and evaluation from standards(IEC and SANS).The study is conducted using experimental procedures at the Explosion Prevention Technology and Rotating Machines(EPT and RM)laboratory,South African Bureau of Standards(SABS),South Africa.The main finding from the study shows differences in the nameplate characteristics of various induction motors which could have detrimental effects such as production and operational downtime in their end-use industries,at later stages.
基金supported by the Institut de la Francophonie pour le Developpement Durable(IFDD/Canada)/Projet de Deploiement des Technologies et Innovations Environnementales(PDTIE)funded by Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie(OIF)the Organisation of African,Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union(EU)(FED/220/421-370)the Local Materials Promotion Authority(MIPROMALO)of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation of Cameroon who made it possible for this scientific work to be carried out.
文摘Extracts of plant origin,particularly tannins,are attracting growing interest for the sustainable development of materials in the industrial sector.The discovery of new tannins is therefore necessary.The aim of this work was to contribute to the understanding of the properties of Paraberlinia bifoliolata tannin by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy MALDI-TOF/MS and Carbon 13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance(13C NMR).The chemical composition of tannin extracted from Paraberlinia bifoliolata bark was determined,as was the mechanical strength of the resin hardened with Acacia nilotica extracts.Yield by successive water extraction was 35%.MALDI-TOF/MS analysis revealed the presence of three new compounds in this tannin,previously unknown in this family of extracts.These are 3-hydroxyproline acid,N-methyl-4-hydroxypipecolic acid and N-methyl-5-dihydroxypipecolic acid.The identification of the above molecules means that this tannin can be used for industrial applications,as a resin in the manufacture of particleboard and in the formulation of green corrosion inhibitors.This information is reinforced by 13C NMR spectrometry,which indicates the presence of several polyflavonoid units,confirming the condensed nature of the tannin.Thermomechanical analysis of the resin formed by the purified tannin of Paraberlinia bifoliolata to which a vegetal biohardener has been added provided a Modulus of Elasticity(MOE)value of 4840 MPa at 150℃,confirming its possible use as a binder resin in the manufacture of wood panels as well as for the formulation of a corrosion inhibitor.
文摘The highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) has allowed people living with HIV to live longer with a better quality of life. However, toxicity and the emergence of drug resistance arise from HAART use. Therefore, new antiretroviral therapy is needed since no cure or vaccine is available against HIV. Virus-host interaction has been proven to be important in the last decade. Host factors such as the C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5), a receptor used by HIV to penetrate host cells, have led to the discovery of the Maraviroc, which is an antiretroviral medication used in the United States. In contrast, other factors like C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) and the Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G), a potent host defense factor against HIV, is under investigation. APOBEC3G antiviral activity remains a possible therapeutic target against HIV. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the role of APOBEC3G polymorphisms and their expression on HIV infection disease progression in Africa. We used Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar and searched for relevant publications in French or English reporting on APOBEC3G polymorphisms association with HIV infection in African populations from January 2009 to May 2023. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyzes) was used to process for reporting systematic review. Fifteen studies were included, of which seven were on APOBEC3G polymorphisms and eight were on APOBEC3G expression. Among the APOBEC3G polymorphisms, the most studied was H186R or rs8177832. The average of the minor allele frequency of H186R of APOBEC3G available for the studies included in this study was 0.29 with a 95% CI (0.172;0.401) and varied from 0.108 reported in Uganda to 0.47 recorded from Burkina Faso. The polymorphism H186R was not associated with HIV status in Southern Africa. However, the referent allele of H186R was protective against HIV infection in Western Central Africa, while in West Africa, it was the minor allele (G) of H186R which was protective against HIV. This review warrants a need to increase research on APOBEC3G, from its variants to its hypermutations on the continent with an essential variety of HIV-1 subtypes, to impact the research on A3G-based anti-HIV strategies.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.61662042,62062049)Science and Technology Plan of Gansu Province(Nos.21JR7RA288,21JR7RE174).
文摘Improving the prediction accuracy of wind power is an effective means to reduce the impact of wind power on power grid.Therefore,we proposed an improved African vulture optimization algorithm(AVOA)to realize the prediction model of multi-objective optimization least squares support vector machine(LSSVM).Firstly,the original wind power time series was decomposed into a certain number of intrinsic modal components(IMFs)using variational modal decomposition(VMD).Secondly,random numbers in population initialization were replaced by Tent chaotic mapping,multi-objective LSSVM optimization was introduced by AVOA improved by elitist non-dominated sorting and crowding operator,and then each component was predicted.Finally,Tent multi-objective AVOA-LSSVM(TMOALSSVM)method was used to sum each component to obtain the final prediction result.The simulation results show that the improved AVOA based on Tent chaotic mapping,the improved non-dominated sorting algorithm with elite strategy,and the improved crowding operator are the optimal models for single-objective and multi-objective prediction.Among them,TMOALSSVM model has the smallest average error of stroke power values in four seasons,which are 0.0694,0.0545 and 0.0211,respectively.The average value of DS statistics in the four seasons is 0.9902,and the statistical value is the largest.The proposed model effectively predicts four seasons of wind power values on lateral and longitudinal precision,and faster and more accurately finds the optimal solution on the current solution space sets,which proves that the method has a certain scientific significance in the development of wind power prediction technology.
基金funded by the National Ministry of High Education,Research and Technological Innovation of the Republic of Niger through the Scientific Research and Technological Innovation Support Funds(FARSIT).
文摘Our paper assessed the improvement performance of the reanalysis(ERA5)compared to ERAI(ERA-Interim)both from the ECMWF(European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast)in representing the WAM(West African Monsoon)dynamic.Our aim is to evaluate the reliability of ERA5 to deliver better climate services than ERAI in the West African Sahel region.Two complementary observational databases namely the CRU(Climate Research Unit)and the GPCC(Global Precipitation Climatology Center)data are used to evaluate precipitation and temperature representation by the two reanalysis.Otherwise,the representation of some major features of the WAM system,such as the SHL(Saharan Heat Low),the AEJ/TEJ(African and Tropical Easterly Jets)was assessed using the two reanalysis data.The obtained results show a better representation of the seasonal accumulated precipitation and average temperature by ERA5 compared to ERAI with higher spatial correlation and lower bias relative to the observations.Furthermore,ERAI appears to be rainier than ERA5 but ERA5 produces more heavy rainfall days.During the period of intense monsoon,the frequency of the SHL is higher for ERAI which would favor intensification of monsoon inflow and depth.The lower SHL frequency observed in the ERA5 could explain the observed weakening intensity of AEJ which is favorable for moist conditions over the Sahel.These findings confirm the progress made by ERA5 compared to ERAI in representing the WAM dynamic and demonstrate its reliability for delivering better climate services over the West African Sahel.
文摘In Africa, each year, there are estimated to be more than 91 million cases of salmonellosis and 137,000 cases of death. The problem of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella strains is a threat to public health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella strains isolated in biological products analyzed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health (NLCBPH) in Bangui. This is, therefore, a cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim, running from January to December 2022. It focused on the strains of Salmonella isolated and identified in stools, urines, and blood samples. For each strain of Salmonella isolated, an antibiogram was carried out following the recommendations of the French Society of Microbiology (CASFM, 2022). A total of 93 strains of Salmonella have been recorded. The age group 0 - 9 years was 29% and that of >50 years was 11%. The median age of patients was 30 years with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 78 years. The female gender was more represented at 52.69% than the male gender at 47.31%, i.e. a sex ratio of 0.89 (M/F). Salmonella strains were much more isolated in stools at 62% followed by urines at 29% and blood at 6%. Salmonella arizonae strains were more represented with 52%. Salmonella strains have a resistance rate to Tetracycline of 62.37% followed by Penicillins of 50%. The rate of multi-antibiotic resistance of the Salmonella strains isolated represented 48.38%. Salmonella spp. strains were multi-resistant at 58.69% followed by Salmonella arizonae strains at 47.91%. There is a significant association between the different families of antibiotics and Salmonella strains (p < 0.05). According to the results obtained, Penicillins, Phenicoles, and Cyclins had a high rate of resistance on Salmonella strains. No strain-producing Broad Spectrum Beta-lactamase has been isolated. Salmonella strains represent a zoonotic health danger, constitute a public health problem and remain a current subject. This germ is resistant to the antibiotics used. It is, therefore, essential to emphasize monitoring the resistance of these germs in the Central African Republic (CAR) to improve the health of the population.
文摘China is the largest developing country,and Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing countries.Similar historical experiences and common historical missions have long linked China and Africa so closely.From September 4 to 6,the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)Summit will be held in Beijing.The theme this year is“Joining Hands to Promote Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”.Leaders of FOCAC’s African members will be invited to attend,and representatives from relevant African regional organizations and international organizations will participate in the related activities.
文摘Background: Deep sedation, euthanasia and therapeutic relentlessness lead us today to rethink the paradigm of life and the contingency of human existence. Between therapeutic relentlessness, the unreasonable care which uses heavy therapeutic means which are often disproportionate to the expected benefit, namely keeping alive a patient whose condition is considered medically hopeless;and euthanasia which would precipitate the process of death would be sedation in the terminal phase of the illness. Should doctors and families of comatose patients decide the “life” and “death” of their patients? For anti-euthanasia associations, doctors, relatives of terminally ill patients and the State itself, if they accept the principle of euthanasia, they are “murderers”, while for pro-euthanasists, the dignity of the human being would recommend that the days of patients in situations considered critical be shortened, to avoid unnecessary suffering and humiliation. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out to identify relevant articles relating to euthanasia, dysthanasia and sedation in the terminal phase of illness. The search was conducted in French or English in three databases: PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. Objectives: The objectives of this article are: 1) define the terminologies and concepts of palliative sedation, deep sedation, deep and continuous sedation until death, euthanasia and dysthanasia;2) present aspects of the meaning of life and the human person in African cultures;and 3) propose an ethical reflection on the value of life. Results: After precisely defining the concepts of euthanasia, dysthanasia and sedation, this research presented the African anthropological and ethical approach to the mysteries of life and death. Conclusion: With this in mind, the golden rule of medicine always remains as such “Primum non nocere”.
文摘This paper delves into the current landscape of African Francophone literature in China.It begins by tracing the history of the French language in Africa and the emergence and development of African Francophone literature,and then provides an overview of the research achievements of African Francophone literature in China,including monographs,translated literary works and academic papers,highlighting the translation and research on the key African Francophone writers.
文摘Introduction: Peanut pastes are food products resulting from artisanal or industrial processing, used in cooking in Africa in general and in Central African Republic in particular. These peanut pastes are often contaminated by molds and filamentous fungi involved in the degradation of hygienic and organoleptic or even toxicological quality. This study aims to determine the epidemiological profile of molds contaminating peanut pastes sold on the Central African market. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from June to September 2023. Samples of peanut pastes sold on Central African market were taken and analyzed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health using the conventional microbiology method according to ISO 7954 standards. The data obtained were collected in the ODK 2023.3.1 application and analyzed with the Epi Info 7 software. A multivariate analysis by logistic regression, Ficher’s exact test, and chi<sup>2</sup> at the 5% threshold (p Penicillium sp.;11.25% of Mucor sp.;10.63% of Aspergillus terrei;3.13% of Aspergillus niger;1.25% of Aspergillus medullans;28.13% of Aspergillus flavus;2.50% of Aspergillus fumigatus. Peanut pastes stored beyond three days were more contaminated (94.19%). Conclusion: The results of this study made it possible to highlight strains of mold that impact the hygienic and organoleptic quality of peanut pastes sold at the Central African market. Most of the isolated strains were the Aspergillus flavus species which is recognized by its toxigenic effects. This species is much more incriminated in the contamination of foodstuffs with the production of the toxin which causes underlying pulmonary pathologies in humans.
文摘Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen diagnosis and genomic surveillance capacities. In 2021, Central African managed five waves of COVID-19 by integrating genomic surveillance into their health monitoring system. This study sought to report surveillance data from the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health and describe the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, descriptive observational study spans three years, from April 2020 to November 2023. It was conducted on a population of consenting volunteers from across the Central African Republic, who were tested using RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal samples. Data with sufficient information were obtained from the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health (LNBCSP) databases. Sequencing was largely carried out at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa until May 2023, and subsequently at the LNBCSP. Results and Discussion: Out of 97,864 RT-PCR tests performed, 9,764 were positive, resulting in a prevalence of 9.98%. The average age of the patients was 39.97 years ± 13.76, and the male-to-female sex ratio was 2.12. RT-PCR test positivity was significantly associated with age (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.013) and clinical manifestations. Ten variants circulated during the five recorded waves, with Omicron (B.1.1.529), Delta (B.1.617.2) variants being predominant. Notably, the B.1.620 and B.640 variants were prominent during the second wave. Conclusion: This retrospective study provides key insights into the COVID-19 pandemic in the CAR. It identifies risk factors and details the circulation of various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Enhancing national genomic surveillance capacities would enable the country to better respond to future pandemic challenges.
文摘On April 15,Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic Sylvie Baipo-Temon visited China Institute of International Studies(CIIS)and the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy Research Center during her visit to China,accompanied by multiple Central African Republic officials and Counsellor Chen Xiaolei from the Department of African Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry.
文摘In"Lonely Planet",there is a saying that goes,"Often when people think of Africa,they are actually thinking of Tanzania".There are the African savannas,the great animal migrations,and Kilimanjaro,bringing together the most stunning landscapes of this mysterious African continent.When we had the opportunity to come to this beautiful country,although we didn’t see these magnificent landscapes,we met with azure coastlines,white beaches,red earth,and baobab trees.Furthermore,after 6 years of tracking,bidding,and negotiating,we won a project led by Western owners amidst competition with 11 global contractors.
文摘Infant malnutrition is a significant issue in Côte d’Ivoire, and this study aims to address it by formulating infant flours using local ingredients. Fermentation, germination, and malting methods were used to enhance the quality of six formulated flours, all based on Fonio and supplemented with Bambara groundnut, African locust bean fruit pulp, and cashew kernels. Results showed that Fonio had the highest carbohydrate content, while Bambara groundnut and Cashew kernels were rich in protein and lipid content. African locust bean fruit pulp was rich in fiber and Vitamin C, with a high β-carotene value. The cashew kernel had the highest energy value. Regarding mineral composition, African locust bean fruit pulp had the highest potassium content, while Bambara groundnut and African locust bean fruit pulp were rich in sodium. Cashew kernel and Fonio had higher iron and calcium content. Bambara groundnut had a higher zinc content, while cashew kernel had a higher magnesium content. The formulated flours made from fermented Fonio grains and enriched with Bambara groundnut, African locust bean fruit pulp, and cashew kernel had varying protein, fiber, carbohydrate, ash, and fat contents. The flour formulated with sprouted Fonio and enriched with the same ingredients had higher protein content and energy value than the other fermented seed-based flours. The mixed flours produced with fermented seeds and the flour produced from sprouted seeds met international standards. Overall, these findings offer valuable insights into the nutritional composition of the formulated flours and their potential to combat infant malnutrition in Côte d’Ivoire.
文摘Objective: COVID-19 surveillance was established as early as March 2020 in the Central African Republic (CAR), after the WHO statement relating to the identification of several cases outside China. However, given the non-performing molecular biology technical platform in many developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the second wave promised to be surprising and formidable. In this context, a mass survey was launched in Bangui to determine the prevalence of COVID-19. Patients and Methods: From March 18 to April 2, 2021, a mass screening campaign took place in tourist places, companies and the main hospital infrastructures. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from participants with and without symptoms of Influenza-like illness (ILI) and stored in VTM tubes. The Ag (COVID-19) and RT-PCR tests were carried out in Bangui at the LNBCSP. The sequencing of RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 positives was carried out at the INRB. Results: We included 1480 participants of whom 33 (2.23%) were SARS-COV-2 positive, of whom 24 were male and 9 female. This sex difference was statistically significant (p = 0.012) as the sex ratio M/F was 1.09. Sampling sites located in the 1st arrondissement were the most prolific (p = 0.006) and were sequenced. In addition to the analysis of the 33 samples from the predefined sites under study, 17 control sequences from the provinces generated during the same period are added. We detected 2 Variants Of Concern (VOC) including the predominant B.1.620 (43.86%) followed by B.1.1.7 or Alpha (5.10%). Conclusion: The study showed the importance of surveillance and the availability of means of diagnosis of COVID-19. The identified risk factors were sex and sampling site. This study has shown the importance of setting up sentinel sites for COVID-19 surveillance in all regions of the country and the appropriate use of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine.
文摘Wole Soyinka,the pioneering African Nobel Prize laureate in Literature,occupies a vital role in the field of African Literature.In recognition of his paramount influence,Obioma Ofoego penned the book“Soyinka’s Language”,which focuses on Soyinka’s distinctive linguistic prowess and explores his ideological choice to write in English.Positioned against the backdrop of extensive postcolonial research on Wole Soyinka,“Soyinka’s Language”distinguishes itself through its comprehensive exploration of language as a central pillar of Soyinka’s literary oeuvre.This monograph provides readers with an in-depth understanding of how Soyinka’s ideological choice to write in English has shaped not only his own works but also the broader tapestry of African literature and postcolonial discourse.