Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences

Preliminary

Vincent P.K. Titanji — 2023-10-18

No Abstract.

Profile of Interferon-gamma levels in patients infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis and coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus in Yaoundé

Tata Gloria Berinyuy — 2023-10-18

Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem globally with HIV/AIDS being the main predisposing factor to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Interferon Gamma (IFN- ) is one of the most important cytokines in the host immune response against this mycobacterium. This study aimed to determine the profile of IFN- levels in patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and co- infected with HIV in Yaoundé. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Yaoundé Jamot Hospital and the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital from August - November 2021. Ninety (90) participants were enrolled (45 pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases and 45 healthy controls). ALERE DETERMINE HIV-1/2 rapid diagnostic test plus HIV AB/AG ELISA HUMAN COMBO was used for HIV screening, and IFN- levels were measured by sandwich ELISA method. Among the 45 cases, 35 were PTB infected only, while 10 (22.2%) were HIV/TB co-infected. IFN- levels were higher in the TB-HIV co-infected group (7.24pg/ml ± 6,9) and the TB mono-infected group (4.11pg/ml ± 3.02) as compared to healthy controls (3.31 ± 2.14). In TB patients, a negative correlation was observed between the IFN- levels and the duration of antituberculosis therapy, indicating the importance of IFN- in accelerating recovery from PTB following treatment. Considering the limited number of cases studied, further studies are needed to demonstrate the value of this cytokine in the management of MTB in Cameroon.

Pollution of Water Resources by Agrochemicals in the Agroindustrial Areas at the South Western Flank of Mount Cameroon

Akenji Victorine Neh — 2023-10-18

This study aimed to assess the contribution of certain constituents of soluble agrochemical residues to surface and groundwater pollution in the study area. The constituents studied included Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Nitrate (NO₃ ^- ), Phosphate (PO₄ ^2-), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), and Nickel (Ni) in various water sources. Forty water samples were collected from both surface and groundwater. In-situ electronic meter measurements were used to determine the DO levels. The laboratory methods of Nitrogen Distillation and spectrophotometry were employed to measure the concentrations of NO3 - and PO₄ ^2-, respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The results obtained during the wet season indicated that DO, NO₃ - , and PO₄ 2- levels were within permissible limits. However, for Cd, Pb, and Ni, a significant proportion of values exceeded the permissible limits during this season (Cd: 95%, Pb: 95%, Ni: 35%), suggesting possible contamination of the water sources. Conversely, during the dry season, all parameters were within permissible limits, except for Pb, where 95% of its values exceeded the limit. These findings conclude that the application of agrochemicals in the agro-industrial areas has a notable impact on water resources, particularly during the wet season.

Modeling and Predicting Exchange Rate Volatility: Application of Symmetric GARCH and Asymmetric EGARCH and GJR-GARCH Models

Bruno Dinga — 2023-10-18

No Abstract

Essai clinique d’un programme d’intervention en lecture pour les lecteurs en difficulté issus de divers milieux sociodémographiques à Ibadan, dans l’État d’Oyo, au Nigéria

Orim Matthew Ashike — 2023-10-20

Cette étude a examiné l’efficacité du programme READ (Reading for Educational Advancement and Development) en tant qu’intervention de lecture pour les lecteurs en difficulté à Ibadan, dans l’État d’Oyo. Elle a également étudié les effets modérateurs du statut socio-économique et du niveau d’éducation des parents dans les associations en raison de la diversité sociodémographique de la zone d’étude. Deux hypothèses ont été formulées et testées à un niveau de signification de 0,05. Un plan factoriel 2x2x2 pré-test post- test a été utilisé. Le statut socio-économique et le niveau d’éducation des parents, tous à 2 niveaux, ont modéré les associations. Un échantillon de 25 participants a été exposé au traitement utilisant le programme READ, tandis que les 26 autres ont été exposés au traitement placebo, le tout pendant 16 semaines. Les données recueillies ont été analysées à l’aide de l’ANCOVA. Des améliorations ont été constatées dans les résultats obtenus après le traitement au test d’aptitude à la lecture, indiquant une amélioration de la lecture orale, de la compréhension, du vocabulaire et de l’orthographe dans le groupe de traitement par rapport au groupe de comparaison, en utilisant l’ANOVA. Il a également été démontré que le statut socio-économique (F (1/16) = 0,704, p > 0,05, 2= 0,051) et le niveau d’éducation des parents (F (1/16) = 0,022, p > 0,05, 2= 0,001) modéraient les associations. Il a été conclu que READ est une intervention thérapeutique efficace pour les lecteurs en difficulté issus de divers milieux sociodémographiques. Sa formation et son utilisation sont recommandées aux écoles et aux enseignants.

Effect of Angular Leaf Spot Disease on Bean Inter-cropped with Maize in Foumbot and Bambili, Cameroon

Manju Evelyn Bi — 2023-10-18

The ability to increase beans output at local levels is often hindered by farmer’s ability to control angular leaf sport disease caused by Phaeoisariopsis griseola, in the field. Studies were carried out in Foumbot and Bambili, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments and four replications in order to assess the impact of intercropping on angular leaf spot disease. Two varieties of bean were used (white dwarf and red dwarf marked beans). Treatments one and two consisted of mono-cropping of white dwarf and red dwarf marked bean varieties while treatments three and four consisted of the same varieties of beans inter-cropped with maize respectively. The data on disease incidence, disease severity, number of pods and pods weight were recorded in mono-cropped and inter-cropped fields. Pathogenicity assessment was carried out in the screen house by inoculating healthy plants with fungal isolate (3×104 spores / ml), during which the lesion diameter was measured. Beans varieties inoculated with spores’ suspension of P. griseola in the screen house showed symptoms identical to that of infected plants in the fields. The results obtained for disease severity and yield revealed that there was a significant difference (Pd”0.05) on the different treatments and in the different fields. The best yields and least disease severities of beans were observed in fields inter- cropped with maize because wind and rainfall splashes were intercepted by the plant which is not a host to P.gliseola thus a reduction of disease in the inter-cropped fields’ plant which is not a host to P.gliseola thus a reduction of disease in the intercropped fields. This shows that intercropping beans with maize can be used as a best management option to control angular leaf spot disease for the two varieties of beans used in this study.

Forensic investigation of the Gouache landslide disaster, Western Region, Cameroon

Mabel Nechia Wantim — 2023-10-18

This study made use of a disaster forensic approach to investigate the root causes of the landslide disaster which occurred in Gouache, West Region, Cameroon on 29th of October, 2019 that registered 49 to 60 deaths. The aims of the study were to;1) identify the natural and man-made causes of the landslide; 2) determine household vulnerability factors; and 3) identify the administrative weaknesses that led to the disaster. To achieve this, geological data was collected from field observations; rainfall data for a period of 30 years (1988 to 2018) with additional monthly data (January to December) for 2019 was obtained from the National observatory on Climate change (ONACC), Yaounde; satellite imagery from Landsat ETM+ and 8 (2001 and 2020) and SRTM DEM were used to assess land use/ landcover changes and slope respectively; questionnaire administration, household and key informant interviews were used as primary data collection tools. Findings revealed that the root causes were: heavy rainfall that occurred prior to and during this event; the presence of weathered granitic rocks on steep slopes, and springs that increased landslide susceptibility. Susceptibility to landslides was fostered by human activities such as: significant reduction of the savannah vegetation and cutting of the slope for house construction. Household vulnerability factors were lack of awareness of landslide hazards and large household sizes (4-6 persons). Over 70 % of the landowners constructed without a building permit and had no land certificate. The administrative authorities acknowledged that Gouache was officially recognized as a landslide susceptible zone. The findings generated in this study would be useful for the government to strengthen or re-adjust existing policies or strategies of disaster risk reduction in the area.