Energy transition awareness: Can it guide local transition planning on islands?

The consequences of climate change and reduced energy security are becoming increasingly apparent, especially on islands. At the same time, the energy transition is quickly spreading and its value to society becoming clearer. Two main obstacles to this transition, rigid policy and lack of local understanding, are particularly troubling on islands, where national policies often aren't flexible enough to consider local particularities and residents are exposed to different energy realities from those on the mainland.

Antioxidant Capacity of Polar and Non-Polar Extracts of Four African Green Leafy Vegetables and Correlation with Polyphenol and Carotenoid Contents.

In sub-Saharan Africa, chronic malnutrition is often associated with intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress. African green leafy vegetables (GLVs), commonly consumed by these populations and rich in bioactive compounds, may improve the antioxidant status. The aim of this study was to measure the antioxidant capacity using complementary assays (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, ORAC and NO scavenging) in polar and non-polar leaf extracts of four African GLVs, cassava (), roselle (), jute mallow (), and amaranth ( spp.

Temperature and transmission of chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses: A systematic review of experimental studies on and .

Mosquito-borne viruses are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. In recent years, modelling studies have shown that climate change strongly influences vector-borne disease transmission, particularly rising temperatures. As a result, the risk of epidemics has increased, posing a significant public health risk.

Development and validation of near-infrared spectroscopy procedures for prediction of cassava root dry matter and amylose contents in Ugandan cassava germplasm.

Background: Cassava utilization for food and/or industrial products depends on inherent properties of root dry matter content (DMC) and the starch fraction of amylose content (AC). Accordingly, in the present study, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) models were developed to aid breeding and selection of DMC and AC as critical industrial traits taking care of root sample preparation and cassava germplasm diversity available in Uganda.

Results: Upon undertaking calibrations and cross-validations, best models were adopted for validation.

Confirmation by necropsy of a high prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in a rural district of Madagascar.

Neurocysticercosis is recognized as an important health issue in the Malagasy population. To date, investigations into prevalence of infection with the causative agent, , in the parasite's natural animal intermediate hosts, have relied on serological methods which have been found to be non-specific. We determined the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis among pigs from a contiguous area of the Betafo and Mandoto administrative districts, Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar.

Kinetics of thermal degradation of carotenoids related to potential of mixture of wheat, cassava and sweet potato flours in baking products.

Background: The consumption of foods such as sweet potato and cassava with high levels of carotenoids is a possible solution to reduce vitamin A deficiency. In this study, we evaluated the kinetics of thermal degradation of carotenoids. The content of carotenoids was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography, first in fresh material, then in flour and finally in bakery products using mixtures of wheat, sweet potato and cassava.

Strengthening Health Literacy Through Structured Sessions for Non-Communicable Diseases in Low-Resource Settings: The Learning Nest Model.

Health literate self-management education is at stake for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases in low resources settings and countries. Here we describe the Learning Nest in Ordinary Context (NA-CO in French, aiming at the structuring of health education programs at the micro- (education sessions) and the meso-levels (adapted to context). The Learning Nest model was designed based on a combination on health literacy principles and on studies conducted with vulnerable people with non-communicable diseases.

Dengue clinical features and harbingers of severity in the diabetic patient: A retrospective cohort study on Reunion island, 2019.

Aim: Diabetes mellitus is associated with both the risks of severe dengue and dengue-related deaths, however the factors characterizing dengue in the diabetic patient are ill-recognized. The objective of this hospital-based cohort study was to identify the factors characterizing dengue and those able to early identify dengue severity in the diabetic patient.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed demographic, clinical and biological parameters at admission in the cohort of patients who consulted at the university hospital between January and June 2019 with confirmed dengue.

Diuretics in neonatology: a narrative review and update.

Diuretics are medications that promote the excretion of water and electrolytes. They are primarily used in the management and treatment of states of inappropriate salt and water retention. Diuretics represent one of the most common classes of drugs administered to sick neonates, the more so in very low birth weight infants.

Soil filtration-sedimentation improves shelled protist recovery in eukaryotic eDNA surveys.

A large part of the soil protist diversity is missed in metabarcoding studies based on 0.25 g of soil environmental DNA (eDNA) and universal primers due to ca. 80% co-amplification of non-target plants, animals and fungi.

Adult T-cell leukemia and lymphoma in French Guiana: a retrospective analysis with real-life data from 2009 to 2019.

Background: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), one of the most aggressive cancers in the world, occurs in 5% of the 10 million people living with HTLV-1 worldwide. French Guiana, a French overseas territory in South America, is one of the highest endemic areas of HTLV-1 worldwide. Here, we describe the demographic and clinical characteristics and outcome of ATL in this area.

Aging of Copper Nanoparticles in the Marine Environment Regulates Toxicity for a Coastal Phytoplankton Species.

Environmental conditions in aquatic ecosystems transform toxic chemicals over time, influencing their bioavailability and toxicity. Using an environmentally relevant methodology, we tested how exposure to seawater for 1-15 weeks influenced the accumulation and toxicity of copper nanoparticles (nano-Cu) in a marine phytoplankton species. Nano-Cu rapidly agglomerated in seawater and then decreased in size due to Cu dissolution.

Effects of postural instability on the coordination between posture and arm reaching.

Reaching from standing requires adjustments of hand movement and posture, which are assured by redundant kinematic degrees of freedom. However, the increased demand for postural adjustments may interfere with the stability of reaching. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of postural instability on the use of kinematic redundancy to stabilize the finger and center-of-mass trajectories during reaching from standing in healthy adults.

Prioritization of Microorganisms Isolated from the Indian Ocean Sponge Based on Metabolomic Diversity and Biological Activity for the Discovery of Natural Products.

Despite considerable advances in medicine and technology, humanity still faces many deadly diseases such as cancer and malaria. In order to find appropriate treatments, the discovery of new bioactive substances is essential. Therefore, research is now turning to less frequently explored habitats with exceptional biodiversity such as the marine environment.

Central control of cardiac activity as assessed by intra-cerebral recordings and stimulations.

Some of the most important integrative control centers for the autonomic nervous system are located in the brainstem and the hypothalamus. However, growing recent neuroimaging evidence support that a set of cortical regions, named the central autonomic network (CAN), is involved in autonomic control and seems to play a major role in continuous autonomic cardiac adjustments to high-level emotional, cognitive or sensorimotor cortical activities. Intracranial explorations during stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) offer a unique opportunity to address the question of the brain regions involved in heart-brain interaction, by studying: (i) direct cardiac effects produced by the electrical stimulation of specific brain areas; (ii) epileptic seizures inducing cardiac modifications; (iii) cortical regions involved in cardiac interoception and source of cardiac evoked potentials.

Mechanisms underlying altered neuromuscular function in people with DPN.

Diabetes alters numerous physiological functions and can lead to disastrous consequences in the long term. Neuromuscular function is particularly affected and is impacted early, offering an opportunity to detect the onset of diabetes-related dysfunctions and follow the advancement of the disease. The role of physical training for counteracting the deleterious effects of diabetes is well accepted but at the same time, it appears difficult to reliably assess the effects of exercise on functional capacity in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Lipoatrophic diabetes in familial partial lipodystrophy type 2: From insulin resistance to diabetes.

Aim: Subjects with Familial Partial Lipodystrophy type 2 (FPLD2) are at high risk to develop diabetes. To better understand the natural history and variability of this disease, we studied glucose tolerance, insulin response to an oral glucose load, and metabolic markers in the largest cohort to date of subjects with FPLD2 due to the same LMNA variant.

Methods: A total of 102 patients aged > 18 years, with FPLD2 due to the LMNA 'Reunionese' variant p.

The Efficient Antiviral Response of A549 Cells Is Enhanced When Mitochondrial Respiration Is Promoted.

When exposed to a viral infection, the attacked cells promptly set up defense mechanisms. As part of the antiviral responses, the innate immune interferon pathway and associated interferon-stimulated genes notably allow the production of proteins bearing antiviral activity. Numerous viruses are able to evade the interferon response, highlighting the importance of controlling this pathway to ensure their efficient replication.

Fat Infiltration of Multifidus Muscle Is Correlated with Neck Disability in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain.

Background: Chronic non-specific neck pain (CINP) is common, but the etiology remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between cervical muscle composition (cervical multifidus and longus capitis/longus colli), morphometry, range of movement, muscle function, and disability severity (Neck Disability Index) in patients with CINP. Methods: From September 2020 to July 2021, subjects underwent cervical MRI and clinical tests (cervical range of motion, cranio-cervical flexion test, neck flexor, and extensor muscle endurance).

Determining the spatial distribution of environmental and socio-economic suitability for human leptospirosis in the face of limited epidemiological data.

Background: Leptospirosis is among the leading zoonotic causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Knowledge about spatial patterns of diseases and their underlying processes have the potential to guide intervention efforts. However, leptospirosis is often an underreported and misdiagnosed disease and consequently, spatial patterns of the disease remain unclear.

Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Nocturnal Autonomic Activity in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, insomnia and autonomic alterations. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is regarded as a promising treatment in fibromyalgia, but its impact on autonomic function remains uncertain. In this research, we studied the effect of CBT on autonomic functions in fibromyalgia.

Non-linearity of Metabolic Pathways Critically Influences the Choice of Machine Learning Model.

The use of machine learning (ML) in life sciences has gained wide interest over the past years, as it speeds up the development of high performing models. Important modeling tools in biology have proven their worth for pathway design, such as mechanistic models and metabolic networks, as they allow better understanding of mechanisms involved in the functioning of organisms. However, little has been done on the use of ML to model metabolic pathways, and the degree of non-linearity associated with them is not clear.

Beneficial Effects of Motor Imagery and Self-Talk on Service Performance in Skilled Tennis Players.

This research aim to investigate the effects of motor imagery (MI), focused on the trajectory of the ball and the target area, and self-talk (motivational function) before the actual strike on the performance of the service in skilled tennis players. Thirty-three participants (6 females and 27 males, = 15.9 years), competing in regional to national competitions, were randomly divided into three groups: Control, MI, and MI + self-talk.