Assessing the Trace Metal Content of Groundwater in the Bakassi Peninsular, Onshore Rio del Rey, Akwa-Mundemba, Cameroun

The present work assesses the trace metal content in groundwater from Akwa-Mundemba, Bakassi Peninsular in Cameroon. 12 groundwater samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy ICP-MS. Field measurement of physicochemical parameters was determined. R-mode statistical analysis;Pearson’s Correlation Analysis (PCA) together with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) between the trace metals and the physico-chemical parameters was carried out. Ten indices were determined: Four trace metal hazard indices;the average daily dose ADD (2.5E—07 to 0.2)) carcinogenic risks CR (2.1E—06 to 9.9E—04) and the non-carcinogenic risk hazard quotient HQ (5.7E—04 to 0.78) which yields the hazard indices HI (0.1 - 0.78), and six trace metal pollution indices;Degree of contamination DC (—13.53 to —11.02), Enrichment factor EF (0.26 - 35.47), Ecological risk factor Er (—29.92 - 7.04), Potential ecological risk index RI (-61.2-43.43), Pollution load index PLI (—0.01 - 0.04) and Geo-accumulation index Igeo (4.8E-09-3.0). From health risk indices and pollution evaluation indices on trace metals, the groundwater in Akwa-Mundemba area is safe for drinking. The enrichment factors show that the sources of the trace metals are from geogenic and anthropogenic processes. Arsenic, Lead and Vanadium are enriched although they are below the hazard risk values;this shows they have pollution potential that could be attributed to weathering and agricultural wastes. The severity of metal toxicity is governed by several factors, such as dose, nutrition, age, and even life style. Therefore, these low trends might not guarantee the complete absence of human health risks. Generally, from risk assessment on trace metals using risk indices in the analyzed groundwater samples might not cause any health risk. However, due to an increasing level of environmental pollution that might be imposed by increasing human activity in this area, groundwater sources might become a potential sink of contaminants;this is significant reason that makes constant monitoring, implementation and treatment of groundwater for drinking purposes necessary.

Pregnancy Preferences in Females of Reproductive Age with Sickle Cell Disease at Laquintinie Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Introduction: Females with sickle cell disease (SCD), despite having a delayed pubertal development, are subject to many worries relating to their abilities to conceive, their capacity to maintain a maternofetal-risk-free pregnancy till term and give birth to healthy children without sickle cell disease. Knowing that unplanned pregnancies are more likely to increase maternofetal morbidity and mortality, we sought out to explore the pregnancy preferences in female patients with sickle cell disease to promote healthy conception and childbirth in this vulnerable population. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving female patients of child-bearing age with sickle cell disease followed at Laquintinie Hospital Douala or who were members of a local sickle cell association. Pregnancy preferences were determined using the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy (DAP) scale. Factors associated with pregnancy preferences were determined using multivariable linear regression model. Threshold for significance was set at p Results: Seventy-seven patients were included with a mean age of 24.71 ± 5.53 years. Forty patients (51.95%) had one sexual partner and thirteen women (32.5%) used contraceptive methods. Most patients (46.0%) responded “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” to the statement “it would be a good thing for me if I became pregnant in the next 3 months”. The mean DAP score was 1.63 ± 0.91 [1.28 ± 0.82 in those who had a sexual partner and 1.99 ± 0.86 in those who had no sexual partner]. Factors that were positively associated with DAP score were students (b = 0.32, 95% CI [0.21, 0.95], p = 0.003), monthly income ≥ 100,000 FCFA (b = 0.24, 95% CI [0.07, 0.81], p = 0.022), and not having a sexual partner (b = 0.26, 95% CI [0.11, 0.85], p = 0.012). Conclusion: Most female patients with SCD have a low desire to avoid pregnancy. This is especially true for patients who are not students, have a partner and have a low monthly income.

喀麦隆曼维莱水电站无压引水系统瞬变流分析

针对喀麦隆曼维莱水电站无压引水系统明渠的过流能力及其水力瞬变流特性,基于明渠水流的基本方程,推导得到了相应的特征隐式格式算法以及边界条件,建立了长明渠引水式水电站瞬变流分析的仿真模型,并进一步结合工程实例揭示系统的瞬变流特性。与二维水力仿真分析成果进行比较验证分析,可知该水电站水库和压力前池水位差为1.06 m的情况下,引水明渠过流能力不足以通过4×112.5 m^3/s的额定流量。融合明渠的水力特性和压力前池的水位波动特性,水电站水力—机械系统调节保证计算参数的控制值均满足要求,其中明渠出口(压力前池)最高水位为392.362 m,低于相应的渠道末端顶高程394.270 m,满足布置要求。水电站水力—机械系统的水力干扰和小波动过渡过程均满足稳定性要求,且调节品质优良。研究成果可为工程设计和电站运行提供可靠的技术支撑,在合理选择前池容积的前提下,实现对渠道引水能力、渠堤沿线高度和前池最大水位波动的有效控制。

Evidence of the Presence of Genetically Modified Foods in the Sudano-Sahelian Zones of Cameroon

Concerns of Africans with transgenic foods and genetically modified organisms seem to have minor repercussions in general on the use and the commercialisation of these products on African markets and particularly in the northern sudano-sahelian zone of Cameroun. In this line, different crops (cotton, and maize) and some commercialized branded food products were sampled on local farms, markets and chops. Evaluation of the presence or absence of GMO was performed using labelling system, completed by the laboratory analysis using PCR methods combined with the electrophoresis. Amongst all collected items, sampled cotton of varieties IRMA L484, IRMA L457 and maize varieties ATP SRY (CHC 202), ECKEBIL (CLH 103), PAN 4P-767BR, PAN 5Q-433B and PAN 6Q-445B, were found to contain the foreign genetic material. Amongst processed commercialised brand products, 39 were found to contain genetically modified ingredients. Most were maize (glucose and syrup) and soya (lecithin).

Pregnancy on Bicornuate Unicollis Uterus: Diagnosis, Management and Prognosis in Underprivileged Areas: About a Case, Yaoundé-Cameroon

Background: A bicornuate uterus is a relatively common and often asymptomatic congenital uterine malformation. Objective: The aim of this work is to highlight the diagnostic difficulty in this case, as well as its therapeutic and prognostic aspects. We report here the case of a young girl carrying a pregnancy on an undiagnosed unicollis bicornuate uterus, which was initially diagnosed as an unruptured ectopic pregnancy. Conclusion: The bicornuate uterus still poses diagnostic difficulties, especially in disadvantaged populations due to the poor accessibility of diagnostic means.

Zircon Trace Element Geochemistry and Ti-in-Zircon Thermometry of the Ngazi-Tina Pan-African Post-Collisional Granitoids, Adamawa Cameroon

In Cameroon, the Ngazi-Tina region belongs to the Adamawa-Yade domain of the Pan-African Central African Fold Belt (CAFB). It is composed of two petrographic types: quartz-monzonites (majority) and nepheline syenites. Two morphological types, prismatic and pyramidal, were recognized in the zircon grains samples. These zircon types display internal structures typical of magmatic zircons. Zircons separated from the Ngazi-Tina samples contain higher abundances of Hf (close to 8000 ppm) and moderate trace elements (Y, Th, U, Nb, Ta) and REE contents, suggesting a variable degree of magmatic evolution. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of zircons are characterized by LREE depletion relative to HREE with positive Ce and negative Eu anomalies, typical of magmatic zircons. The high Hf content together with high Ce/Ce*, Th/U, Zr/Hf ratios suggest magma crystallization under variable oxidation and oxygen fugacity. The application of Ti-in-zircon thermometer reveals crystallization temperatures ranging from 678°C to 811°C and 658°C to 768°C for quartz monzonites and nepheline syenites respectively. These features indicate probably a partial melting of continental crust as the source of these zircons grains and emplacement in the magmatic-arc setting.

喀麦隆洛比铁矿地质构造特征及找矿方向

喀麦隆洛比铁矿床位于喀麦隆克里比地区强烈变质的太古宙变质岩系之中,区域上位于一向斜两背斜褶皱构造的东侧背斜的西翼。通过野外地质调查、探矿工程及室内资料整理,查明洛比铁矿主矿带长约15 km,宽约400 m,矿体厚度约60 m。主矿体呈一复向斜构造,轴面向西倾斜,脊线北北东向。本文重点对矿区地质构造特征进行了解析,研究表明洛比铁矿控矿构造为多期构造作用叠加形成的复向斜构造,核部为磁铁石英岩,两翼为角闪岩、片麻岩,磁铁石英岩内部也发生了强烈的早期褶皱变形,形成面状构造、线状构造。按照复向斜核部控矿,圈定了最有利的成矿位置,为喀麦隆洛比铁矿床下一步找矿奠定了基础。