Lifestyle Habits and Dietary Diversity among Medical Students at Université Gaston Berger (UGB) of Saint-Louis in 2023

Introduction: At university, habits, particularly eating habits, can negatively impact well-being. This study aimed to describe lifestyle habits and dietary diversity among medical students. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study, carried out at the UFR 2S of the University Gaston Berger from May 23 to June 3, 2023. The collection tool focused on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and dietary diversity. Statistical analyzes were carried out using R software. Results: A total of 471 students participated in this study. Which corresponds to a participation rate of 89.2% with a M/F sex ratio of 1.66. The age of participants, varying from 18 to 32 years, had a median of 23 years and a mean of 22.4 years with a standard deviation of 2.2 years. Among the participants, 67.2% skipped breakfast, and 28.5% did not practice any physical sports activity. Alcohol and tobacco were consumed by 2.5% and 0.6% of participants, respectively. The most consumed foods were starchy foods (97.5% of men and 98.4% of women);and the least consumed were dark green leafy vegetables (21.9% of men and 15.1% of women) and offal (16.9% of men and 11.9% of women). The dietary diversity score was low for 31.9% of men and 28.7% of women. Conclusion: Certain lifestyle habits (skipping breakfast, dining late at night, lack of sports practice) of Medicine students at UGB can prove deleterious to their well-being. These students are at risk of developing several deficiencies in terms of food groups that are underrepresented in their diet. Awareness sessions on good lifestyle habits and diet would be relevant recommendations for improving the health of these students.

Sweetener and Flavor Enhancer Food Additives in Industrial Food Products Marketed in Dakar: Frequency and Diversity

Sweeteners and flavor enhancers are food additives widely used in industry, respectively, to add sweetness and flavor to foods. However, the presence of these substances is often criticized by consumers for their effects on health. What’s more, some scientific studies link these substances to certain pathologies. To guarantee food safety, competent authorities should have food standards based on risk analysis using consistent, reliable data. However, in developing countries, such data is often weak or non-existent. The aim of this study is therefore to carry out a pilot survey to establish the profile of sweeteners and flavour enhancers present in industrial food products marketed in Senegal. The methodology consisted of sampling various food products sold on the Senegalese market, based on analysis of labels containing information on ingredients, including additives. The investigation involved nine stores, one supermarket and 5 mini-markets in Dakar. The results showed the presence of 6 taste enhancers in food products, the most frequent being sodium L-monoglutamate (E621), inosinate (E631) and disodium guanylate (E627). Solid broths are the foodstuffs with the highest number of taste exhalters. As for sweeteners, 12 substances were identified, the most frequent being acesulfame potassium (E950), aspartame (E951), sucralose (E955) and saccharin (E954). Given the potential health risks associated with the consumption of these food additives, their control and monitoring on the market should be a priority for the competent authorities.

Numerical Modeling of Mass Transfer in the Interaction between River Biofilm and a Turbulent Boundary Layer

In this article dedicated to the modeling of vertical mass transfers between the biofilm and the bulk flow, we have, in the first instance, presented the methodology used, followed by the presentation of various results obtained through analyses conducted on velocity fields, different fluxes, and overall transfer coefficients. Due to numerical constraints (resolution of relevant spatial scales), we have restricted the analysis to low Schmidt numbers (Sc=0.1, Sc=1, and Sc=10) and a single roughness Reynolds number (Re*=150). The analysis of instantaneous concentration fields from various simulations revealed logarithmic concentration profiles above the canopy. In this zone, the concentration is relatively homogeneous for longer times. The analysis of results also showed that the contribution of molecular diffusion to the total flux depends on the Schmidt number. This contribution is negligible for Schmidt numbers Sc≥0.1, but nearly balances the turbulent flux for Sc=0.1. In the canopy, the local Sherwood number, given by the ratio of the total flux (within or above the canopy) to the molecular diffusion flux at the wall, also depends on the Schmidt number and varies significantly between the canopy and the region above. The exchange velocity, a purely hydrodynamic parameter, is independent of the Schmidt number and is on the order of 10% of in the present case. This study also reveals that nutrient absorption by organisms near the wall depends on the Schmidt number. Such absorption is facilitated by lower Schmidt numbers.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Pre-School and School-Aged Children Attending to Fann University Hospital, Dakar: Results from Retrospective Analysis

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections represent a major public health problem worldwide. Pre-school and school children have a high risk of infection. The study aimed to determine the epidemiological aspects of intestinal parasitic infections in preschool and school-aged children in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: A retrospective analysis of laboratory records from preschool and school-aged children referred to the Laboratory of Parasitology at the Fann University Hospital in Dakar, Senegal, was carried out. The analysis of the period from 2016 to 2020. Stool samples were examined for the presence of parasites using direct, formal-ether concentration method and the Modified Ziehl Neelsen staining technique. Descriptive and analytic analysis was performed with Stata MP 16.1 software. Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 26.8% (429/1603). Blastocystis sp. (34%), Entamaeba coli (28%), Giardia intestinalis (9.6%), Endolimax nana (4.9%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (3.5%) were the common parasites found. Out of the 429 children positive for intestinal parasites, protozoa parasites represent 93.9%. Single infection and mixed infection represent 83.7% and 16.3%. The most prevalent associations were E. coli + Blastocystis sp. (6.3%), E. coli + E. nana (3.3%), and G. intestinalis + Blastocystis sp. (1.9%). Children between the ages of 5 - 10 years and those over 10 years had the most parasitic infections with 28.1% [aOR = 1.91;95% CI (1.25 - 2.89)] and 27.4% [aOR = 11.92 (1.07 - 3.07)]. According to the year of sample collection, the prevalence was higher in 2017, 32.6% [aOR = 1.49 (1.11 - 2.01]. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was not significantly related to gender (p = 0.87), season (p = 0.85) and symptomatology (p = 0.19). The main clinical symptoms were dysenteric syndrome, dyspeptic disorders, constipation and abdominal pain. Intestinal parasite carriage in patients with acute diarrhea was 20.4%. In HIV positive with chronic diarrhea, the prevalence was 28.6%. Conclusion: The results showed the frequency of intestinal parasites in preschool and school-aged children with a high proportion of protozoa parasites. Children aged over 5 years were more affected. Preventive measures such as health education, improved socio-economic conditions and environmental sanitation are required for reducing their frequency.

Identification of Natural and Artificial Colorants in Industrial Products Marketed in Senegal

Food colorants are widely used in the food industry to maintain or enhance product color. However, as the use of these colorants can have negative impacts on health, it is essential to analyze the risks associated with their consumption. This analysis requires, among other things, obtaining sufficient data on the presence of these colorants in foods, as well as their level of consumption. However, data on these colorants is often virtually non-existent in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the colorant profile of industrial products marketed in Senegal. Information on food additives was collected on 399 labels of different food product categories in shops located in Dakar. Data is recorded and processed using Excel software. Based on the Codex classification, analysis of the profile of additives identified on the labels of food samples revealed the presence of 31 colorants. The natural colorants identified are dominated by beta-carotene, widely present in beverages and dairy products, and paprika extract identified on cookies and industrial sauces. Artificial colors are dominated caramels present in several foods including bouillons, vinegars, sauces and hard candies. Secondly, there was a strong presence of the azo dye Sunset yellow FCF, widely found in samples of beverages, confectionery and cookies. The results of this case study enable us to appreciate the wide presence and diversity of colorants on the Senegalese market, and the importance of controlling them to guarantee consumer safety.

Profile of the Functional Categories of Food Additives in Industrial Foods Marketed in Senegal

Food additives, whether natural or artificial substances, are widely used around the world to improve the sensory quality of products, extend their shelf life and make them more competitive. However, the abusive and uncontrolled consumption of food additives is the cause of numerous illnesses and diseases such as poisoning, allergies, diabetes and numerous cancers. So, in addition to setting up control and regulatory bodies, it is becoming essential to keep a constant watch on the presence of food additives on the market. The aim of this study is to highlight the main categories of food additives in food products frequently sold on the Senegalese market. The methodology of the study is based on the identification of food additives from the information given on the labels of food packaging. Information was collected in markets in two (2) major regions of Senegal: Dakar and Saint-Louis. The results of our study show the presence of 153 food additives on the labels of 514 samples collected. Moreover, the frequency and diversity of additives depended on the food category. On the other hand, beyond their important technological and functional roles, some additives such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate have been implicated in pathologies, and others, such as titanium dioxide, are the subject of much controversy and even withdrawal in certain legislations for their impacts deemed potentially negative on consumer health.

Study of the Activation Process of a 2 m3 Pilot Biodigester on a Microfarm Site

A domestic balloon-type digester with 1200 liters of substrate and a 700-litre gas reserve was installed at the Université Gaston Berger pilot farm, which has 4 cows. After an initial load of 1000 L of water, 90 L of bovine rumen and 145 L of cow dung, the functional parameters of the reaction medium, i.e., temperature, pH, salinity and conductimetry, were regularly monitored at a rate of 3 tests per day until the thirtieth day, corresponding to the flame test and the start of analysis and daily loading of the biodigester. The analysis of the biogas obtained after the flame test showed us the considerable contribution of bovine hindquarters to the CH4 fraction, which reached 72.2% from the start of the production phase. As anaerobic digestion is both a complex and multiparametric process, microbiological analysis revealed the presence of several strains of bacteria in the substrate used. Among the most abundant were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli and Enterococcus sp. However, the bacterial strain that interests us most in anaerobic digestion is the non-fermentative Gram-negative family. We see the identification and temporal monitoring of these families of bacteria as a major step forward in the control of anaerobic fermentation processes in the Sahelian context and in Senegal in particular.

Simulation of a Prototype 5G Network Integrating D2D Communication and MEC Technology

In this paper, we study the coexistence of two key technologies in the same fifth-generation network, namely D2D (Device-to-Device) communication and MEC (Multi-Access Edge Computing) technology. These two promising technologies each have important roles to play in future telecommunications networks. D2D communication is a technology that aims to improve communication efficiency, increase overall throughput, and decrease latency. Multi-Access Edge Computing, a promising new concept, overcomes the burden of core cloud servers. This makes it possible to provide large storage, compute, and resource capacities to mobile edge nodes. With its closest deployment to users, it significantly reduces end-to-end transmission time. Our architecture consists of an access network and a central network, a base station (gNodeB), users, an MEC server and a gateway (UPF) to connect it to the RAN (Radio Access Network) of the core network. The base station controls communication by managing signaling and interference. The MEC server is placed next to the BS to provide data to the devices. It plays the role of the cloud that is located in the core network and allows you to store data and then do calculations for good communication between devices. Finally, we did a simulation using the OMNeT software. The results showed us that the data transmission passed well between the end devices, the antennas and the MEC server with very low latency and reliability.

How Does Heat-Stress Intensity Affect the Stability of Microbial Activity and Diversity of Soil Microbial Communities in Outfields and Homefields’ Cultivation Practices in the Senegalese Groundnut Basin?

Agroecosystems in the Senegalese groundnut basin experience long periods of high temperatures and drought, which disrupt the stability of soil microbial communities. This study evaluated how that stability is affected by homefields and outfields’ agricultural practices and the duration of heat stress. Specifically, we collected soils from organically farmed fields that receive continual high inputs of manure (homefields), and from fields that are rarely manured (outfields). Soil samples were submitted to artificial heat stress at 60°C for 3, 14, and 28 days, followed by 28 days of recovery at 28°C. We examined the functional stability of microbial communities by quantifying C mineralization, and characterized the stability of the communities’ taxonomic compositions via high-throughput DNA sequencing. We found that the microbial communities have a low resistance to heat stress in soils from both types of fields. However, the manuring practice does affect how the functional stability of microbial communities responds to different durations of heat stress. Although functional stability was not recovered fully in either soil, microbial community resilience seemed to be greater in homefield soils. Differences in manuring practices also affected the structural taxonomic stability of microbial communities: relative abundances of Bacilli, Chloroflexia, Actinobacteria and Sordariomycetes increased in the homefield stressed-soils, but decreased significantly in outfield soils. In contrast, relative abundances of α-Proteobacteria, γ-Proteobacteria and Eurotiomycetes increased significantly in outfield stressed-soils, while decreasing significantly in the homefield soils. Relative abundances of Bacilli changed little in outfield soils, indicating that this taxon is resistant to heat stress. In summary, the microbial communities’ capacities to resist heat stress and recover from it depend upon the organic richness of the soil (i.e., manuring practice) and the adaptation of soil microbes to environmental conditions.

Type 2 diabetes in a Senegalese rural area

AIM To estimate the prevalence of diabetes in the rural population of Tessekere(Senegal) and investigate associated risk factors. METHODS Data from a 2015 survey of 500 individuals age 20 and over representative of the population of the municipality of Tessekere were used. Sociodemographic characteristics, health related variables, capillary whole blood glucose, and weight and height measurements of individuals were collected during face-to-face interviews. Statistical analyses used were bivariate tests and binary logistic regressions.RESULTS The percentage of individuals having impaired fasting glucose(IFG) is 6.6%. Those with fasting blood glucose(FBG) levels ≥ 126 mg/dL and/or currently being treated for diabetes is 4.2%. Only mean body mass index(BMI) is significantly higher among diabetic individuals and among those having FBG levels ≥ 110 mg/dL. After adjustment for sex, age, educational level, BMI and hypertension, only BMIis associated with diabetes. CONCLUSION Prevalence of diabetes and IFG in our study correspond to the high range of rural sub-Saharan Africa prevalence. Diabetes is thus becoming a pressing public health concern, even in rural areas. But the risk factors identified in Tessekere suggest that the diabetes epidemic is still in the early stages, such that concerted action would make it possible to contain the devastating impact of this chronic condition.

A Review and Update of Analytical and Numerical Solutions of the Terzaghi One-Dimensional Consolidation Equation

Practical resolution of consolidation problems that we often face requires an extensive and solid knowledge of the different parameters highlighted by the Terzaghi one-dimensional consolidation theory. This theory, with its assumptions, leads to a partial differential equation of second order in space and first order in time of pore water pressure. Analytical and numerical resolutions of this equation allow determining the water pressure variation before and after the application of a charge. Numerical modeling has enabled the simulation of the whole results obtained by the two methods of resolution (pressure, degree of consolidation, time factor, among others) to have a physical analysis and a lawful observation that lead to a suitable understanding of the phenomenon of Terzaghi one-dimensional consolidation.

Trend Analysis in Rainfall, Reference Evapotranspiration and Aridity Index in Southern Senegal: Adaptation to the Vulnerability of Rainfed Rice Cultivation to Climate Change

Rainfall and evapotranspiration are two vital elements for food production under rainfed agriculture. This study aims at investigating the combined changes in these variables in the form of aridly index in the southern Senegal. The temporal trends in annual and monthly (from May to October) aridity index, rainfall and evapotranspiration are examined and adaptation strategies to the vulnerability of rainfed rice cultivation to the changes are developed. The results show a significant decreasing trend in annual rainfall at all study locations for the period 1922-2015. When analyzing the trends in sub-periods, there are two clear patterns in the annual rainfall series: a decreasing trend for the period 1922-1979 and a reversal increasing trend for the period 1980-2015. An increasing trend is also observed in annual reference evapotranspiration. The results reveal that the region will be drier with a significant increase in aridity at the annual and most monthly series. Appropriate adaptation strategies should be implemented to diminish the adverse influence of the increasing aridity on rice productivity for a sustainable agriculture.

REFLECTED BACKWARD STOCHASTIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION WITH JUMPS AND VISCOSITY SOLUTION OF SECOND ORDER INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION WITHOUT MONOTONICITY CONDITION: CASE WITH THE MEASURE OF LéVY INFINITE

We consider the problem of viscosity solution of integro-partial differential equation( IPDE in short) with one obstacle via the solution of reflected backward stochastic dif ferential equations(RBSDE in short) with jumps. We show the existence and uniqueness of a continuous viscosity solution of equation with non local terms, if the generator is not monotonous and Levy's measure is infinite.

Morphological, Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Pla-Typha Based Biocomposites

Due to the demand from society for the consumption of ecological polymeric materials, one of the polymers that have satisfied this request is the poly (lactic acid) (PLA). This polymer is derived from renewable resources, it is recyclable and biodegradable. It presents a good understanding between the promising properties and the cost. However, a route to increase the mechanical properties and reduce the cost of PLA is the elaboration of PLA based biocomposites by using fillers from natural waste. In this work, The effect of Typha content on the morphological, rheological, thermal and mechanical properties of PLA matrix was studied. Four formulations were produced with different mass concentrations. The results showed an increase in the viscoelastic properties, as a function of the Typha stem powder concentration. The DSC analysis showed an increase in the crystallinity rate of the various composites confirming the nucleating effect provided by the filler. TGA analysis indicated a decrease in the decomposition temperature of the composites. Mechanical tensile tests have shown a significant improvement in the mechanical properties mainly for the samples containing 45% (w/w) of Typha powder.

On the Functional Empirical Process and Its Application to the Mutual Influence of the Theil-Like Inequality Measure and the Growth

We set in this paper a coherent theory based on functional empirical processes that allows to consider both the poverty and the inequality indices in one Gaussian field in which the study of the influence of the one over the other is done. We use the General Poverty Index (GPI), that is a class of poverty indices gathering the most common ones and a functional class of inequality measures including the Entropy Measure, the Mean Logarithmic Deviation, the different inequality measures of Atkinson, Champernowne, Kolm and Theil called Theil-Like Inequality Measures (TLIM). Our results are given in a unified approach with respect to the two classes instead of their particular elements. We provide the asymptotic laws of the variations of each class over two given periods and the ratio of the variation and derive confidence intervals for them. Although the variances may seem somehow complicated, we provide R codes for their computations and apply the results for the pseudo-panel data for Senegalwith a simple analysis.

Global Transmission Dynamics of a Schistosomiasis Model and Its Optimal Control

Drug treatment, snail control, cercariae control, improved sanitation and health education are the effective strategies which are used to control the schistosomiasis. In this paper, we consider a deterministic model for schistosomiasis transmission dynamics in order to explore the role of the several control strategies. The global stability of a schistosomiasis infection model that involves mating structure including male schistosomes, female schistosomes, paired schistosomes and snails is studied by constructing appropriate Lyapunov functions. We derive the basic reproduction number R0 for the deterministic model, and establish that the global dynamics are completely determined by the values of R0. We show that the disease can be eradicated when R0?≤1;otherwise, the system is persistent. In the case where ?R0?>1, we prove the existence, uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of an endemic steady state. Sensitivity analysis and simulations are carried out in order to determine the relative importance of different control strategies for disease transmission and prevalence. Next, optimal control theory is applied to investigate the control strategies for eliminating schistosomiasis using time dependent controls. The characterization of the optimal control is carried out via the Pontryagins Maximum Principle. The simulation results demonstrate that the insecticide is important in the control of schistosomiasis.

Sensitivity Analysis of the Penman-Monteith Reference Evapotranspiration to Climatic Variables: Case of Burkina Faso

Sensitivity analysis is important in understanding the effect of each climatic input variable on the variation of the evapotranspiration which is a significant element for hydrological modelling, irrigation programs, and water resources management. This study investigates the responses of evapotranspiration to the variation of maximum and minimum temperature, solar radiation, wind speed and maximum and minimum relative humidity. Daily data from 1998 to 2012 of eight stations are used. For each climatic variable, a variation of 5% up to ±25% was performed in order to evaluate the sensitivity of the evapotranspiration to the input variables. Results show that evapotranspiration is more sensitive to the variation of solar radiation, maximal temperature and wind speed, respectively.

High Moments Jarque-Bera Tests for Arbitrary Distribution Functions

The Jarque-Bera’s fitting test for normality is a celebrated and powerful one. In this paper, we consider general Jarque-Bera tests for any distribution function (df) having at least 4k finite moments for k ≥ 2. The tests use as many moments as possible whereas the JB classical test is supposed to test only skewness and kurtosis for normal variates. But our results unveil the relations between the coeffients in the JB classical test and the moments, showing that it really depends on the first eight moments. This is a new explanation for the powerfulness of such tests. General Chi-square tests for an arbitrary model, not only normal, are also derived. We make use of the modern functional empirical processes approach that makes it easier to handle statistics based on the high moments and allows the generalization of the JB test both in the number of involved moments and in the underlying distribution. Simulation studies are provided and comparison cases with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov’s tests and the classical JB test are given.

Probabilistic, Statistical and Algorithmic Aspects of the Similarity of Texts and Application to Gospels Comparison

The fundamental problem of similarity studies, in the frame of data-mining, is to examine and detect similar items in articles, papers, and books with huge sizes. In this paper, we are interested in the probabilistic, and the statistical and the algorithmic aspects in studies of texts. We will be using the approach of k-shinglings, a k-shingling being defined as a sequence of k consecutive characters that are extracted from a text (k ≥ 1). The main stake in this field is to find accurate and quick algorithms to compute the similarity in short times. This will be achieved in using approximation methods. The first approximation method is statistical and, is based on the theorem of Glivenko-Cantelli. The second is the banding technique. And the third concerns a modification of the algorithm proposed by Rajaraman et al. ([1]), denoted here as (RUM). The Jaccard index is the one being used in this paper. We finally illustrate these results of the paper on the four Gospels. The results are very conclusive.

Efficacy of Different Fungicides against Mango Anthracnose in Senegalese Soudanian Agroclimate

Anthracnose is the one of the most devastating diseases of mango produced in the southern part of Senegal. The field trials against post harvest rot due to anthracnose took place in three orchards over two production seasons, in 2009 and 2010. Three systemic fungicides (thiophanate methyl, azoxystrobin and myclobutanyl) and one contact fungicide (mancozeb) were tested for their efficacy. The first treatments in 2009 took place in the rainy season, while 20% of mangoes on trees exhibited anthracnose lesions. At ripening stage, 100% of fruits from non treated control mango trees were affected by anthracnose and got rotten, while between 73.2% and 80% of mangoes ripened free of disease when treated with thiophanate methyl. With the treatment with azoxystrobin, between 46.6% and 60% of fruits were not infected. Treatment with myclobutanyl was less effective. This level of effectiveness was clearly improved in 2010 by preventive spraying, days ahead of onset of the rainy season, before the appearance of anthracnose symptoms on fruits. The level of effectiveness was higher respectively for thiophanate methyl (between 96% and 100% of fruits not infected) and azoxystrobin (between 84% and 96% of fruits not infected).