Université de Dschang

Electrochemistry (EC) is an important and fascinating field in chemistry studying chemical reactions driven by electric current or, conversely, the generation of electric current from chemical reactions. Its hyphenation to mass spectrometry (MS), an ideal tool for the identification of reaction products in various systems, constitutes a valuable hybrid method for real time prediction and monitoring of electrochemical transformations. For the first time, we show how electrospray ionization - high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS) supports a systematic study on oxidation of benzenes of different hydroxylation grades, i.e. phenol and hydroxyphenols, in an electrochemical flow-through μ-prep cell. Besides giving valuable insights into the specifics of such systems in comparison to closed/static electrochemical cells, potentially non-favorable observations in coupling of EC and ESI are discussed. A correlation coefficient of ∼1 between the root square of the scan rate and the current suggested the kinetics to be controlled by diffusion. Pulse optimization further showed that the extent of oxidation product formation depends on the electrical potential, while MS analysis of oxidation of positional isomers of dihydroxybenzenes enabled a systematic assessment of oxidation susceptibility and associated reaction mechanisms. While the general product profile of a compound was rather robust, their intensity including the detected degree of polymerization depended on the type of supporting electrolyte, working electrode, and pH, with oligomers up to a degree of polymerization of ten (DP 10). Finally, we observed that the product profile of the electrochemical conversion resembled compound degradation in the environment, providing evidence that EC-MS hyphenation is a valuable tool for the elucidation and prediction of such processes.

Malaria continues to pose a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where more than 95% of global cases and deaths occur. Despite WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (GTS) targeting a 90% reduction in malaria mortality by 2030, progress is hindered by persistent transmission conditions, fragile health systems, and emerging resistance to drugs and insecticides. Epidemiological models are increasingly applied to guide malaria control, yet their diversity and complexity present both opportunities and limitations for policy use. The aim of the proposed systematic review is to explore the epidemiological models that have been applied to malaria transmission in SSA, discuss how these models have been applied in informing malaria control measures as well as long-term elimination planning, and address the methodological strengths, limitations, challenges in implementing them, and their policy and strategic implications. This study presents a systematic review of malaria modeling efforts in SSA, with a focus on the strengths, weaknesses, and practical applications of different approaches. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a PROSPERO-registered protocol, we searched five databases (PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, Web of Science, and African Medicus Index) for studies published up to December 31, 2024. Eligible articles were screened by three independent reviewers using predefined PECO criteria, and data were extracted on study context, model type, interventions, populations, and outcomes. The quality of the methodology used in the modelling studies that were included was determined using the ISPOR-SMDM good research practices framework. This framework assesses major areas of model structure, assumptions, transparency, validation and reporting. Since most of the included studies represented mechanistic epidemiologic transmissionmodels, rather than clinical prediction, studies, a formal risk-of-bias instrument, like PROBAST, was not utilized. Risk of bias was actually not measured, the modelling quality and reporting practices were instead appraised with the help of the ISPOR-SMDM assessment. Following systematic screening, a total of 102 studies met the inclusion criteria. The most prevalent models were transmission-focused models (52.9%, 54 articles), which involved disease dynamics. Intervention models contributed 21.6% (22 articles), optimal control models 9.8% (10 articles) and combined optimal control-cost-effectiveness models 15.7% (16 articles). Key gaps include limited incorporation of drug and insecticide resistance, migration dynamics, and climate variability. We conclude that future modeling for SSA must be better tailored to local transmission patterns, age-specific vulnerabilities, and programmatic needs, while promoting open access, transparent methods, and collaborative use cases. Strengthening the alignment between modeling outputs and policy priorities will be critical for achieving effective and sustainable malaria control in the region.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a formidable global health threat, spanning bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Within this broader context, antibiotic resistance (ABR)—specifically the resistance of bacterial pathogens to antibiotic agents—is the primary focus of this investigation, as it is most directly influenced by community-level knowledge and practices (KP). This study employed a cross-sectional survey of 200 participants in Damascus, Syria, to explore the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use. However, given the cross-sectional nature of the study, the observed relationships are interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. The findings highlight patterns of antibiotic-related KP among surveyed residents in Damascus and suggest areas where educational and public health initiatives may be beneficial. Our data reveal generally high adherence to prescribed antibiotic courses alongside ongoing behaviors such as self-medication and antibiotic reuse, reflecting persistent gaps in awareness and access barriers. Observed associations between education level, gender, and age with responsible antibiotic behaviors suggest that social determinants may serve as important correlates of health practices within this sample. By exploring community-level factors associated with antibiotic use in a Damascus-based sample, this research provides descriptive data that may help inform the development of local educational initiatives tailored to this specific context. This exploratory study provides preliminary evidence connecting social and demographic variables to self-reported antibiotic misuse, contributing to the available data regarding antibiotic use behaviors within a specific urban context in Syria and highlighting the utility of behavioral science frameworks as conceptual lenses for future public health interventions to combat AMR effectively.

Burnout remains a global challenge affecting productivity and wellbeing of students of all academic levels. Despite the harmful effects of burnout among health science students, academic burnout is poorly characterized in the Cameroonian context. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with academic burnout among undergraduate health science students of Saint Louis University Institute Douala and Yaoundé Campuses, Cameroon. This was an analytic cross-sectional study carried out at the St. Louis University Institute, Douala and Yaoundé campuses from the 9th of January to the 9th of February 2024. Convenience sampling technique was used to enroll undergraduate health science students. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics and factors associated with burnout. The Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-12-SS) was used to determine the prevalence of burnout, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess perceived stress. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the association between the variables and burnout. Among the 570 health science students enrolled in the study, 439 (77%) were females. The most represented age group was between 16 and 25 years, 481 (84.4%). Majority of the study participants, 259 (45.4%) were in level 200, and most, 254 (44.6%) were from the nursing department. The prevalence of burnout was found to be 47% (268/570). Academic workload (p = 0.038), lack of support from friends and teachers (p = 0.046), study and life pressures (p < 0.001), perceived stress (p = 0.041), and school level (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with academic burnout. We report a high prevalence of burnout among undergraduate health science students. Study and life pressures, academic workload, perceived stress, and being a Level one student were found to be significantly associated with burnout. This will help to inform preventive measures by universities to reduce the burnout burden.

Filmic adaptation of literary texts is usually likened to translation. This simile partly follows from the fact that, in translation – the same as in adaptation context –, the consumers of the target text differ from the public targeted by the source text. Indeed, in the same way the source and the target texts are destined to two linguistically different sets of receivers in translation, the filmic adaptation and its literary source are aimed at two different sets of consumers. The latter is destined to readers while the former is targeted at tele-viewers or cinema goers. Additionally, while the literary/source text seeks to tell, the filmic/target text aims at showing. The aforementioned truism therefore warrants that any plausible film adaptations conform mainly to the principles of cinematographic and audio-visual productions. In other words, a filmic adaptation should be more ‘visually engaging’ than ‘imagination-provoking’; this is so, given the cinema medium’s visuality and artistic function. Contrary to this theory, Biyi Bandele’s adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman – titled Elesin Oba – happens to questionably be excessively faithful to its source text and to the stage. This paper seeks to illustrate this problematic faithfulness, as well as the possible raison d’être for the cineast’s creative choices. Using a textual analysis of Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman, critical observations and secondary sources, the paper specifically shows how Biyi Bandele’s excessive fidelity to the source dramatic text affects the quality of its adaptation and the factors that could account for, or justify such an excessive fidelity to the source text.

The demand for sustainable chemical production methods has led to significant advancements in photocatalysis. This study explores the photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from water using a covalent organic framework (CYANO-COF) synthesized from triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and 4,4'-diamino-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3,3'-dicarbonitrile (Bp-CN) via Schiff-base condensation. The synthesized COF material exhibited a predominantly AB stacking structure with an optimal band gap (2.22 eV) for visible-light absorption and effective charge separation. Furthermore, the photoelectrochemical characterizations revealed the photoresponsive nature of the material by creating a high charge density under illumination. Under illumination, the photocatalyst demonstrated efficient H2O2 generation with production rates of 550 μmolg-1h-1 using only water and 371 μmolg-1h-1 in the presence of ethanol. The sacrificial-agent-free system aligns with green chemistry principles, simplifying reaction conditions and reducing the environmental impact. Mechanistic studies confirmed the role of photoinduced electron-hole pairs in water oxidation and oxygen reduction. This research underscores the potential of CYANO-COF materials in sustainable H2O2 production using only water and sunlight thus highlighting avenues for optimizing long-term stability and efficiency.

Abstract Economic diversification remains a central development challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where many economies continue to depend heavily on low-complexity, and resource-based activities. At the same time, remittances have emerged as a significant and growing source of external finance across the region, yet their potential role in driving structural transformation has not been sufficiently explored in the empirical literature. This study addresses this gap by examining the effect of remittances on economic diversification, across 33 SSA countries over the period 2000 to 2022. Using a panel dataset compiled from the world development indicators (WDI) and the observatory of economic complexity (OEC), the study employs both the Driscoll and Kraay robust standard error estimator and the instrumental variables generalized method of moments (IV-GMM) to address issues of cross-sectional dependence and endogeneity. The findings reveal that remittance inflows significantly and positively affect economic complexity, suggesting that remittances contribute meaningfully to the diversification and upgrading of productive structures in SSA. These results are robust to several sensitivity tests, including the addition of control variables, the use of alternative measures for both remittances and economic complexity, and the exclusion of outliers. Mediation analyses further identify internet access and domestic investment as key indirect transmission channels. Based on these findings, the study proposes evidence-based policy recommendations for enhancing the developmental impact of remittances through digital inclusion and investment facilitation.