Search Results (1,456)

Background/Objectives: Effective antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is vital for containing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), yet evidence regarding existing regulatory frameworks in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains scarce. This study conducted a landscape analysis of policies, laws, and regulations governing AMS across human and animal health sectors in ten LMICs to identify gaps and inform national action plans. Methods: Between October 2019 and September 2022, data were collected through desk reviews of national documents and a standardized, structured questionnaire administered to key national informants in ten countries: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. Results: Findings were analyzed across five core regulatory domains. While all countries maintained national medicine policies and regulatory authorities, antimicrobial-specific measures were often insufficient, particularly in the animal health sector. Human health frameworks were generally more advanced; however, overarching regulations for marketing authorization, post-marketing surveillance, and pharmacovigilance frequently lacked the necessary specificity for antimicrobials. Conclusions: Addressing these gaps requires strengthening One Health legal frameworks, particularly through targeted animal health policies and multisectoral coordination. Enhanced investments in capacity-building and systematic enforcement are essential to optimize antimicrobial use and strengthen the AMR response. Full article

The growing interest in sustainable materials has stimulated research into bio-based reinforcements. This study investigates the influence of fiber extraction methods on the properties of Carica papaya (CP) pseudostem fibers and on the performance of polyester-based nonwoven composites. Fibers were extracted by water retting (CPFR) and alkaline treatments using 5 wt.% NaOH (CPF5) and 10 wt.% NaOH (CPF10). Preliminary characterization confirmed the suitability of CP fibers as reinforcements for nonwoven composite materials. After carding, the fiber mats were impregnated with unsaturated polyester resin (UP), consolidated by compression molding, and post-cured in an oven. The experimental results showed that alkaline extraction significantly improved fiber–matrix adhesion and reduced water uptake. CPF10UP exhibited the lowest porosity (12.7%) and water absorption (2.62%). CPF5UP provided the best overall mechanical performance, achieving the highest tensile and flexural properties compared with neat polyester resin. In contrast, CPF10UP maximized tensile stiffness, impact resistance, and thermal stability. Radar chart analysis revealed two distinct optimization strategies: CPF5UP for superior mechanical performance and CPF10UP for enhanced moisture resistance and impact durability. Overall, the 5 wt.% NaOH treatment provided the best compromise between strength and stiffness, whereas the 10 wt.% NaOH treatment favored higher rigidity, thermal stability, and water resistance. Derived from agricultural waste, CP fibers demonstrate strong potential for semi-structural automotive interior components, particularly door panels, while supporting circular economy principles and sustainable material development. Full article

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) stems represent an abundant lignocellulosic resource with considerable potential for sustainable textile and bio-composite applications. This study investigated the effects of biological, alkaline (1–7.5 wt.% NaOH), and combined extraction methods on the physicochemical, structural, and mechanical properties of okra fibers. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the progressive removal of hemicellulose and lignin, resulting in increased cellulose crystallinity after alkaline treatment. Optical microscopy revealed enhanced fiber individualization and cleaner surface morphology. Increasing the NaOH concentration improved fiber density, reduced hygroscopicity, and enhanced mechanical performance. The highest cellulose content (76.52%), tensile strength (148.57 MPa), and Young’s modulus (6.62 GPa) were achieved with 7.5 wt.% NaOH treatment. However, excessive treatment severity induced partial cellulose degradation. Overall, alkali-treated okra fibers exhibited improved structural organization, reduced moisture sensitivity, and enhanced mechanical properties, highlighting their potential as lightweight and sustainable reinforcements for technical textile and bio-composite applications. Full article

This article examines the changing role of Italian among Cameroonian-origin families who experienced onward migration after a prolonged period of residence in Italy. Drawing on qualitative data collected between June 2024 and August 2025 through socio-biographical questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 15 families, the study investigates how Italian is maintained, reduced, or refunctionalised after relocation to Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, or the United States or return to Cameroon. The findings show that Italian played a central role during the period of residence in Italy, functioning as a language of education, employment, institutional participation, and social integration. After onward migration, however, these functions are largely assumed by the dominant language of the new country, especially among children whose schooling and peer relationships develop in French, English, or German. Nevertheless, Italian rarely disappears completely. It persists in more specialised domains, including couple interaction, transnational networks, professional niches, private communication, lexical routines, naming practices, and emotional attachment to the family’s life in Italy. The article argues that Italian should not be understood only through the binary opposition between language maintenance and language shift. Rather, onward migration produces a functional reconfiguration of Italian, whereby a former language of integration becomes a biographical, relational, and symbolic resource within multilingual family repertoires. Full article

Background: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) remains the most aggressive oncological challenge within the African continent, characterized by high molecular heterogeneity, early onset in African women, and the absence of hormonal receptors. Multi-drug resistance (MDR), driven by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux pumps and supported by the persistence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor microenvironment, significantly compromises clinical outcomes and traditional treatment efficacy. Objective: This systematic review evaluates the ethnobotanical relevance, phytochemical diversity, and toxicity of some medicinal plants from the African pharmacopoeia specifically utilized or investigated for their activity against the TNBC phenotype. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was executed across PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and AJOL. The study focuses on original research published between 2011 and 2026 utilizing TNBC-specific models (such as MDA-MB-231, BT-20, HCC1937, or 4T1) and analyses the growth habits, parts used, and traditional administration modes of the selected African plant species, distributed across Western, Central, Southern, and Eastern Africa. Following a rigorous multi-reviewer screening process, a final set of 52 primary articles representing 30 distinct genera and 22 botanical families was selected for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Results: This review identifies plant species actively used or studied in Africa for their anti-TNBC potential, with the most representative botanical families being Asteraceae (13%), Fabaceae (7%), and Annonaceae (7%). These species are traditionally administered through various methods, including decoction, infusion, and mastication, utilizing diverse plant parts such as leaves, stem and root barks. Significant cytotoxic activities against TNBC cell lines (notably MDA-MB-231) were recorded, with IC₅₀ values as low as 5.10 ± 0.28 µg/mL for Catharanthus roseus and 13.56 µg/mL for Nauclea pobeguinii. Furthermore, species such as Vernonia amygdalina and Curcuma longa demonstrated a capacity to enhance the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy like Doxorubicin, suggesting a strong potential for chemosensitization and therapeutic synergy in managing resistant breast cancer phenotypes. Conclusions: Standardized African phytomedicines represent a promising frontier in overcoming TNBC chemoresistance. However, the lack of clinical trials and end-to-end drug development infrastructure on the continent remains a significant barrier. Transitioning to nano-formulated delivery systems and establishing regional drug discovery hubs under the ethical framework of the Nagoya Protocol are essential steps toward developing precise and equitable oncology treatments from Africa’s rich biodiversity. Full article

This study investigates how personal and family names function as systems of heritage transmission in communities of South West Region, Cameroon and Cross River State, Nigeria. While African onomastics has documented naming traditions, cross-border comparative research on naming as a linguistic–anthropological system remains limited. Using qualitative methods—interviews, participant observation, and ritual documentation—the study analyses the semantic, morphological, and socio-cultural dimensions of indigenous names. The findings show that naming practices operate as structured cultural mechanisms that encode lineage affiliation, birth circumstances, moral expectations, spirituality, and social belonging. The study develops a motivational classification framework demonstrating how names sustain intergenerational knowledge and social cohesion while adapting to religious change, migration, and modernization. By linking linguistic form to social function, the article contributes a comparative perspective to African onomastics and highlights naming as a key resource for cultural continuity in borderland societies. Full article

Background: In 2022, we adapted the World Health Organization Digital Adaptation Kit (DAK) for antenatal care (ANC) into the BornFyne digital health platform. Because ANC services in many facilities relied on fragmented paper-based guidance, the DAK represented the first exposure for many providers to a structured, comprehensive ANC guideline framework integrated into a digital system. Understanding providers’ motivation, capabilities, and readiness to adopt guideline-driven digital care was essential to inform implementation strategies. We therefore conducted a workshop to explore healthcare providers’ expectations, perceived challenges, and readiness to integrate a comprehensive digital ANC system into routine practice. Methods: A prospective mixed-methods pre–post implementation pilot workshop was conducted between June and August 2023 across four districts. The 5-h workshop targeted ANC providers and included exposure to the WHO ANC DAK and demonstration of its integration into the BornFyne platform. Survey tools assessed perceived knowledge, attitudes, perceived behavioural control, intention, and social norms using Likert scales. Constructs were mapped to the COM-B framework. Paired student’s t-tests assessed pre–post changes (p < 0.05), and Cohen’s d estimated effect sizes. Qualitative responses were thematically analysed. Results: Nineteen participants, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and data managers from public, private, and faith-based facilities, completed the surveys. Most participants were women (90%). Following the workshop, perceived knowledge of behaviour change and digital guideline use significantly increased (t(19) = 3.22, p = 0.004, d = 0.78). Although no statistically significant changes were observed in attitudes, perceived behavioural control, intentions, or social norms, descriptive trends suggested improved confidence and openness toward digital ANC systems. Qualitative findings identified increased knowledge as the most important outcome, with 80% of participants emphasizing its role in strengthening capability. Participants also reported greater confidence in integrating digital tools into routine care but highlighted contextual and motivational barriers as ongoing challenges. Acceptability was high: 90% expressed satisfaction, and all participants rated the workshop as useful, relevant, engaging, and worth their time. Conclusions: The workshop improved providers’ perceived knowledge and demonstrated high acceptability of DAK-aligned digital ANC systems. While changes in attitudes and behavioural control were not statistically significant, the findings support the feasibility of behaviour change-based digital ANC interventions. Addressing contextual and motivational barriers will be essential for sustained adoption in resource-limited settings. Full article

Background: This study analyses the predictive causal relationships between sesame supply chain performance, participatory governance, and domestic credit to the private sector in Chad. In Sahelian economies, agricultural value chains continue to be subject to structural constraints relating to limited access to finance and substandard institutions. Therefore, understanding the interactions between local governance, productive finance and agricultural performance is essential for guiding public policy. Methods: This analysis uses annual data from 2002 to 2021. Sesame production serves as an indicator of supply chain performance, while participatory governance is assessed using a composite index based on citizen participation, government effectiveness, and regulatory quality. The study applies the Granger causality test in the Toda–Yamamoto sense. Results: The findings reveal unidirectional causality from participatory governance to sesame production. The findings also reveal bidirectional causality between domestic credit to the private sector and sesame production. No direct causality was observed between participatory governance and private credit. Impulse response functions confirm that institutional and financial effects on production manifest themselves gradually over time. Conclusions: These results imply that sustainable development of the sesame sector in Chad necessitates an integrated strategy combining stronger local governance, improved access to private finance, and agricultural value chain modernisation. Full article

Geographical Indications (GIs) are increasingly promoted as instruments for rural upgrading and value capture in commodity-dependent economies. Yet empirical assessments of GI feasibility in smallholder export systems remain limited. This study evaluates whether Cameroon’s red cocoa satisfies the scientific and institutional conditions required to support a credible GI strategy. We develop an integrated qualification framework encompassing four necessary conditions: agroecological distinctiveness, physicochemical differentiation, sensory differentiation, and governance feasibility. Spatial analysis, laboratory characterization, structured sensory evaluation, and institutional diagnostics are combined to assess whether these conditions jointly sustain origin-based differentiation. Results indicate that red cocoa exhibits territorially coherent agroecological features and statistically meaningful biochemical differentiation, including elevated polyphenol and anthocyanin profiles in core production zones. Sensory evaluation confirms identifiable flavor attributes consistent with fine-flavor positioning, though variability linked to post-harvest management affects reproducibility. Institutional analysis reveals partial readiness, with emerging production specifications under the OAPI framework but limited enforcement capacity and traceability infrastructure. The findings suggest that red cocoa meets several scientific preconditions for GI consideration, but governance consolidation and post-harvest standardization remain critical constraints. GI feasibility should therefore be interpreted as conditional rather than automatic. More broadly, the study contributes an integrated analytical approach for assessing origin-based upgrading strategies in Global South commodity systems under increasing sustainability regulation. Full article

To easily recover and reuse nano-magnetite (Fe₃O₄) during the catalytic process, Fe₃O₄ is successfully dispersed by coprecipitation of Fe(II, III) salts on anchoring sites of bagasse-sugarcane fibers generated by gliding-arc plasma. Previously, we explored the effect of ascorbic acid (ASC), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and plasma-activated water (PAW) acting as oxidation inhibitors of Fe(II) solution. Prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The obtained results show that the oxidation inhibitor agent influences the morphology, texture and activity of the synthesized bulk-magnetite, where Fe₃O₄-nanorods, Fe₃O₄-nanospheres and Fe₃O₄-nanosheets were, respectively, obtained with PAW, HCl and ASC. The Fenton-plasmacatalytic treatment of amaranth red dye used as a model pollutant for 30 min revealed degradation rates of 53, 79 and 80%, respectively, for Fe₃O₄-ASC, Fe₃O₄-HCl, and Fe₃O₄-PAW each coupled to plasma. The deposition of nano-magnetite on the plasma-activated bagasse-sugarcane fibers (BM) using PAW as the best oxidation inhibitor agent exhibited characteristic FTIR-absorption bands of -OH, -CH₂ and Fe-O, attesting the bagasse-sugarcane-Fe₃O₄ linkage. The supported magnetite revealed a pollutant degradation rate of 99%, which deeply highlights an activity improvement after Fe₃O₄ deposition on plasma-activated bagasse sugarcane. The reusability of supported-Fe₃O₄ catalyst revealed a pollutant degradation rate of 95% after the fourth cycle, thus highlighting its easy recovery and catalytic stability (reuse). Full article

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), is increasingly recognized as a functional feed additive in aquaculture. However, its effects on crustacean health and performance remain unclear. This meta-analysis synthesizes findings from 23 studies (2011–2025) examining butyrate supplementation across four crustacean groups: shrimp, crabs, crayfish, and prawns. Effect sizes were calculated for growth performance (final body weight, specific growth rate, survival rate), feed efficiency (feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio), and digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, total protease) in freshwater and marine environments. Results indicate that butyrate supplementation generally enhanced the digestive enzyme activity in both freshwater and marine environments, although the magnitude of the effect varied among enzyme types and habitats, with freshwater species showing improvements in alkaline phosphatase, amylase, lipase, and total protease, and marine species showing improvements in amylase, lipase, and total protease. Feed efficiency improved in freshwater (protein efficiency ratio) and marine species (feed conversion ratio). Growth-related outcomes, including final body weight and survival rate, were generally improved across both environments. Dose–response analyses indicated that dietary inclusion levels of 1–2% were associated with the most consistent improvements in digestive enzyme activity and growth performance. These findings support the potential use of butyrate as a functional feed strategy to improve productivity and sustainability in crustacean aquaculture. These effects may be mediated by multiple mechanisms, including improved intestinal epithelial integrity, the modulation of gut microbiota, and the regulation of immune and metabolic processes. Full article

The Upper Niger National Park (UNNP) is the oldest park and one of the most promising conservation areas in Guinea; yet, its mammalian fauna remains poorly documented. Camera trapping has become an essential tool for revealing the diversity and assemblage structure of such communities. This study employed camera traps to improve knowledge about terrestrial and semi-terrestrial mammals with body mass > 0.5 kg (Sciuridae and heavier) in the Mafou Fully Protected Area (Mafou FPA), the principal core zone of the UNNP. The survey was conducted during the dry season, from January to May 2025. Sampling targeted animal trails within forest habitats in the Mafou FPA and involved the deployment of 53 camera traps with an average inter-trap distance of 2 km. Across 4239 camera-days of sampling effort, we collected 10,334 usable images and videos, yielding 2634 independent detection events. Thirty taxa across 15 families and five orders, including six species of high conservation concern according to the IUCN Red List (version 2025-1) were recorded. The mammal assemblage consists of species from the three known trophic levels (prey, mesopredators, and apex predators), with predominance of medium-sized prey species. Our results demonstrate a remarkable richness in frugivorous seed-dispersing species, ecosystem-engineering species, and the presence of a megaherbivore, which all contribute to its ecological dynamics. Despite a notable human activity index of 0.42, occupancy models revealed broad spatial distribution of medium-sized mammals within this protected area. The occupancy patterns demonstrated that occurrence of some species might be sensitive to human disturbances in the area. These findings are an important contribution to Guinean and West African biodiversity assessments. They highlight the critical conservation value of the UNNP within the subregion. Full article

Robust and accurate lithological parameters are essential in engineering, geology, geophysics, geodesy, and resource exploration. Among these parameters, rock density plays a fundamental role in gravimetric geodesy and geophysics. However, the systematic collection, analysis, and categorization of rock density data remain insufficient in many countries around the world, including Ethiopia. Ethiopia is characterized by extreme topographic variations (exceeding 4500 m) and complex geology, dominated by Cenozoic volcanic formations associated with the East African Rift System. Consequently, the commonly adopted upper continental crustal density of 2670 kg/m³ is inadequate for precise geodetic applications (e.g., the definition and realization of the geodetic vertical datum) as well as for gravimetric modeling and interpretation (e.g., the compilation of Bouguer, isostatic, and mantle gravity maps) in the country. To address these limitations, we prepared the first comprehensive digital rock density model of Ethiopia, with a particular focus on its applications in gravimetric geodesy and geophysics. The rock density model has been prepared by integrating the Ethiopian geological database, comprising 88 lithological units, with established global rock-density databases to assign representative density values and their uncertainties to each geological unit. The height-weighted average densities, accounting for the mass contribution of elevated terrain, were computed from a 90-m-resolution digital elevation model. The rock density map shows significant density variations across Ethiopia, ranging from 1528 to 2892 kg/m³. The average height-weighted density of Ethiopia is 2430 ± 352 kg/m³, which is 9% lower than the standard density of 2670 kg/m³. We expect that the use of the rock density model instead of assuming only a constant density value for the whole country will improve the accuracy of gravimetric geoid modeling and orthometric height determination, both essential for the modernization of the geodetic vertical datum. This demonstrates the necessity of region-specific density models for countries in tectonically active and/or geologically complex settings. The study also provides a transferable methodological framework for developing similar products in other data-sparse regions. Full article

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, healthcare systems faced an increased burden of secondary infections, including those caused by Candida auris, an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen associated with hospital outbreaks worldwide. We aimed to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a hospital outbreak of Candida auris fungemia in patients with COVID-19 in a tertiary care center. This retrospective observational study included 14 patients diagnosed between November 2020 and April 2021. Infection was initially identified using VITEK2^® and confirmed using MALDI-TOF MS, with antifungal susceptibility determined using broth microdilution. All patients developed fungemia, were mechanically ventilated, and had central venous access and prolonged hospital stays; 64.2% had comorbidities. Resistance frequencies based on CDC tentative MIC thresholds were observed for fluconazole (64.2%) and amphotericin B (71.4%). In-hospital mortality was 50%; exploratory analyses of factors associated with mortality should be interpreted cautiously given the small sample size. These findings highlight the significant clinical impact of Candida auris in critically ill COVID-19 patients, particularly in the context of invasive care and antimicrobial resistance. The outbreak underscores the importance of early identification, appropriate antifungal therapy, and strict infection prevention and control measures. Further studies are needed to better define risk factors and optimize management strategies in similar settings. Full article

The efficient resolution of complete NP problems, such as the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), particularly for large instances, remains a major challenge in operations research and combinatorial optimization, especially for many businesses, particularly in sectors such as logistics, urban planning, and networks, where efforts are made daily to optimize routes and delivery times. Optimization methods inspired by collective behavior, such as Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), offer competitive results for solving these types of problems. The main problem is the size of the instances because, when it becomes large, many existing algorithms fail to converge to a good solution within a reasonable timeframe: the execution time is generally very long, and the solution obtained is generally far from being the optimal solution to the problem. In this article, we propose a new way of approaching the resolution of the TSP through new metaheuristics inspired by artificial intelligence techniques and ant colony theory. To evaluate the effectiveness of our methodology, particularly the Multi-colony Ant Colony Optimization version 2-SK (MACOV2SK) method, simulations were performed on several instances of the TSP, focusing on large-scale instances. The experimental results clearly demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly improves upon several other approaches in the literature in terms of execution time and solution quality, especially for large-scale problems. Full article