University of Bangui

The electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl-9-O-sulfate alcohol (DDDC-9-OS), a phenolic neolignan sulfate in methanolic solution were investigated using density functional theory (DFT). An extensive benchmark of functionals, including B3LYP, B3LYP-D3BJ, PW6B95, PW6B95D, omega B97X-D, MPWPKZB, and LC-TPSSTPSS, combined with the 6-311++G(d,p) and cc-pVTZ basis sets, was performed to simulate nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts and vibrational (IR and Raman) spectra. With mean variances less than 4%, the calculated harmonic frequencies showed excellent agreement with experimental infrared data. While the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level theory offered the closest match to experimental IR band intensities, chemical shift predictions from the CSGT/omega B97X-D/6-311++G(d,p) method shown good agreement with experimental NMR values. The intramolecular charge distribution, reactivity, and non-covalent interactions controlling the stability of the molecule were also profoundly revealed by a thorough examination of the electronic structure using the B3LYP-D3BJ/6-311++G(d,p) level, which included the electron localization function (ELF), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), reduced density gradient non-covalent interactions (RDG-NCI), and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP).

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular and liver metabolic diseases are interconnected conditions, associated with obesity. However, both can occur in lean individuals, and the distinct clinical profiles and outcomes in this population remain poorly defined. AIM To compare liver and cardiovascular outcomes between lean and non-lean individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published in the past 20 years comparing seven outcomes between lean and non-lean with dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease individuals. A random-effects model was applied to calculate pooled odds ratios (pORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the outcomes. RESULTS A total of 31 studies comprising 10735550 participants were included. Non-lean individuals with MASLD had higher odds of liver fibrosis (pOR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.0, 3.9, P = 0.04) and hepatic steatosis (pOR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.5, 2.9, P < 0.001) compared to lean individuals with MASLD. Lean individuals with MASLD had lower odds of cirrhosis (pOR = 0.7, 95%CI: 0.5, 0.9, P = 0.007) and hypertension (pOR = 0.7, 95%CI: 0.6, 0.9, P = 0.002) compared to non-lean individuals with MASLD. There was no significant statistical difference in mortality between lean and non-lean MASLD groups (pOR = 1.4, 95%CI: 1.0, 2.0, P = 0.06). Also, no statistically significant differences were found for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (pOR = 1.2, 95%CI: 0.7, 2.0, P = 0.5) and cardiovascular diseases (pOR = 0.9, 95%CI: 0.7, 1.0, P = 0.1). CONCLUSION In our study, lean individuals with MASLD have the similar odds of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, cardiovascular diseases and mortality compared to non-lean MASLD patients. Therefore, there is a need to expand MASLD screening and risk stratification strategies beyond obesity-based metrics alone.

The Central African Republic (CAR) is considered among the world's poorest countries and is possibly the poorest. Despite substantial financial assistance since a civil war erupted 10 years ago, no significant recovery can be recorded. Scholars commonly explain CAR's entrenched poverty with its status as an aid orphan, landlocked geography, unfavourable demographic profile and recurrent political crises. We provide an alternative argument after investigating peace and security, the private sector and public goods provision through combined bottom-up and top-down analysis of fieldwork, budgetary and development data. We find that rampant and continued poverty stems from a pronounced disconnect between the globally commodified market towards a locally subsistent communal economy. Politicians and foreign actors have broken their promises to the populace and continue to block the exchange of ideas and resources. The best intentions of international development actors to reform the state from the top down fail just as much as bottom-up attempts to strengthen local resilience. Rather, CAR's trajectory to prosperity depends on reconnecting the centre and peripheries, elites and general population, and the local with the global. This will require resistance against structures and agents that are (at times unknowingly) perpetuating the disconnect.

Introduction: Malnutrition among children under five remains a pressing public health issue in Cameroon, contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Understanding the factors influencing malnutrition over time is essential for designing effective, targeted interventions. Methods: This study uses data from four rounds of the Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) conducted in 2004, 2011, 2018, and 2022. Anthropometric indicators were used to assess nutritional outcomes, specifically stunting, wasting, and underweight. Bivariate analyses (Chi-square tests) and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify significant socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental predictors of malnutrition. Results: The prevalence of stunting declined from 35% in 2004 to 23% in 2022, reflecting gradual improvements in child nutrition. Despite this positive trend, malnutrition remains a significant concern. Key determinants of poor nutritional outcomes include low household wealth, limited maternal education, short birth intervals, lack of antenatal care, and rural residence. Conclusion: While there has been notable progress in reducing child malnutrition, it continues to pose a serious public health challenge in Cameroon. The study highlights the need for integrated, multisectoral strategies that address both direct child-related factors and broader household and maternal conditions. Policies aiming to improve maternal education, access to healthcare, and living standards are critical for further reducing malnutrition rates and enhancing child well-being.

This study presents the design and evaluation of a hybrid energy harvesting system integrating photovoltaic, thermoelectric generator, and piezoelectric transducers to enhance conversion efficiency and energy reliability in variable environments. A unified power management unit incorporating maximum power point tracking and dynamic source-switching algorithms enables optimal extraction and regulation of power from each source. The system was modeled and validated using MATLAB/Simulink and hardware prototyping. Experimental results show a 28%-35% increase in overall harvested energy compared with the best-performing standalone harvester under fluctuating solar irradiance, temperature gradients, and mechanical vibrations. The hybrid configuration demonstrated superior load stability and source redundancy, highlighting its potential for autonomous operation in Internet of Things nodes and off-grid microelectronic systems.