Role of oral-fluid based measles diagnostic methods for measles global elimination

Measles eradication is biologically feasible. There is an availability of a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine; a proven elimination strategy; high Local demand; and an effective global partnership and initiative to support vaccination. Measles eradication is a cost-effective scenario and a good investment to avoid expensive epidemics and save those children die due to measles. Laboratory investigations are indispensable to monitor the progress of measles elimination. This role will require the development of more sensitive diagnostic methods suitable for diagnosis and surveillance, genetic analysis of measles strains and a technology which is transferable worldwide. Measles diagnosis relies increasingly on serological tests. The practical utility of oral-fluid methods(antibody and genetic) in evaluating and refining measles immunization programs would,additionally, provide support for a global surveillance initiative. The utility of in a population survey, in a vaccine sero-conversion study and application in molecular epidemiological use is demonstrated in this review. It is to be hoped that this review will assist in the wider uptake and acceptance of methodology in both developed and developing country situation. More research needed for further evaluation of a recently developed point-of-care test for measles diagnosis: detection of measles-specific Ig M antibodies and viral nucleic acid for wider use oral-fluid methodology. There is a strong case and imperative for the promotion of methods by World Health Organization in its global program of control/eradication of measles over the coming decade.

Comparative Effect of Adding Synthetic Citric Acid to Natural Lemon Juice (Citrus aurantiifolia) on the Stability of Hibiscus Drinks Stored at 4°C and 37°C

The general objective of the work is to compare the effect of the addition of synthetic citric acid compared to the addition of natural fruit juice of Citrus aurantiifolia on the conservation of drink based on red chalice H. sabdariffa. The tests were carried out over a period of 5 weeks at 4°C and 37°C with seven batches of beverage samples prepared at the rate of a calyx/water ratio of 1/40 (kg·kg-1) and added respectively citric acid at 1, 2 and 4 g·L-1 and lemon juice at 10, 20 and 40 mL·L-1. The characterization of the different batches of beverages was carried out from day one. A follow-up of the residual anthocyanin content and the intensity of the red coloring were carried out over five weeks. The anthocyanin concentration was determined by the pH-differential method. The red color degradation index is determined based on the CIELAB color system (L*, a*, b* and L*). R and Minitab 18 software was used for data processing. The results of the monitoring of the parameters showed that the concentration of 1 g AC L-1 retains 2.7 mg more of the anthocyanins than adding 10 mL JC L-1 and longer maintains red color when stored at 4°C and 37°C/5 weeks. The 2 g AC L-1 and 4 g AC L-1 ratios have the same effects as the addition of 20 and 40 mL of lemon juice, all accelerating the degradation of anthocyanins and the red color. After 5 weeks of storage at 37°C, the effect of the temperature combined with the increase in the acidity of the samples (2 to 4 g AC L-1 and 20 to 40 ml JC L-1), have accelerated the total disappearance of the red color on all samples.

Mineral Fertilizer Use for Optimal Groundnut Production in the Sudano-Guinean and Sudanian Zones of Benin

Abstract This study aims to determine the optimal N, P, K, Mg and Zn rates for groundnut production on Ferric and Plintic Luvisol in the Sudano-Guinean and Sudanian zones of Benin Republic. Two years (2018 and 2019) experiment was carried out in the municipality of Ouessè in the Sudano-Guinean zone and Bembèrèkè in the Sudanian zone. The tested nutrient doses were N (0, 20 and 40 kg⋅ha−1), P (0, 25 and 50 kg⋅ha−1), K (0, 20 and 40 kg⋅ha−1), Mg (0, 15 and 30 kg⋅ha−1) and Zn (0, 4 and 8 kg⋅ha−1). The Box and Behnken rotating design is used to define the N, P, K, Mg and Zn rate combinations leading to 46 combinations. A completely randomized bloc design was setting up considering farmers as replication. In total, four farmers’ fields were selected. A one-way analysis of variance is carried out on yield data, using the linear mixed-effect model. Response surface analyses were used to determine the optimal doses for each N, P, K, Mg and Zn. Nodule production (6.5 times higher than the control), number of gynophores (2.8 times higher than the control) and root length (19.2 ± 0.2 cm) of groundnut plants were significantly (p = 0.0001) improved with nutrient application. The response surface analysis shows that treatments N-P-K-Mg-Zn of 16.01-20.18-6.70-5.65-2.47 (in the Sudano-Guinean zone) and 13.1-25.07-11.47-0-1.82 (in the Sudanian zone) are the optimal rates that have induced optimal yield of 2.1 t⋅ha−1 (i.e. 2.5 times the yield in the farmers’ field) pod yield and the best return on investment per hectare. Nevertheless, for a sustainable groundnut producproduction, treatment 13.1-25.07-11.47-20-1.82 is suggested as regular K input is required for the respect of the fertilization laws.

Systematic study of Ce^(3+) on the structural and magnetic properties of Cu nanosized ferrites for potential applications

Ce^（3＋） substituted Cu-spinel nanoferrites CuCe_xFe_（2-x）O_4（x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10） were synthesized via sol-gel self-combustion hybrid route. Single phase spinel ferrite of Cu nanoferrites were examined using X-ray diffraction（XRD） analysis whereas the multiphase structure was observed as Ce contents increased from x=0.06. Field emission scanning electron microscopy（FESEM）, Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis（TGA and DTA） and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR） were used to find out the morphology phase and metal stretching vibrations of Ce^（3＋） substituted nanocrystalline ferrites. The crystallite size was increased and found in the range of 25-91 nm. The agglomerations in Cu ferrite samples increase as the Ce^（3＋） concentration increases. The magnetic properties such as remanence, saturation magnetization, coercivity, Bohr magneton and magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant（K） were determined using M-H loops recorded from a vibrating sample magnetometer（VSM）. Saturation magnetization, remanence and coercivity are increased as the Ce^（3＋）contents increase in Cu nanocrystalline samples. Moreover, law of approach to saturation（LoA） was used to calculate the maximum value of saturation for Ce-doped Cu nanoferrites. The soft magnetic behaviour of the Cu nanoferrite is observed as compared to the samples substituted with the increased Ce contents in Cu nanocrystalline ferrite. Bohr magneton and magnetocrystalline anisotropy are found to increase with the substitution of rare earth Ce^（3＋） contents in Cu spinel nanocrystalline ferrite. Cedoped Cu nanocrystalline ferrites with excellent properties may be suitable for potential applications in sensing, security, switching, core, multilayer chip inductor, biomedical and microwave absorption applications.