Phytochemical investigation of Sanrafaelia ruffonammari Verd and Ophrypetalum odoratum Diels that belongs to the rare genera confined to East African coastal forests led to the isolation of enantiomeric styrylpyrone d...Phytochemical investigation of Sanrafaelia ruffonammari Verd and Ophrypetalum odoratum Diels that belongs to the rare genera confined to East African coastal forests led to the isolation of enantiomeric styrylpyrone dimer,(±)-5-methoxy-7-phenyl-[4-methoxy-2-pyronyl]-1-(E)-styryl-2-oxabicyclo-[4.2.0]-octa-4-en-3-one(1)alongside(?)-6-styryl-7,8-epoxy-4-methoxypyran-2-one(2)and the enantiomeric(?)-(3)and(-)-6-styryl-7,8-dihydroxy-4-methoxypyran-2-ones(4).Their structures were established by means of spectroscopic methods.In this paper we reveal for the first time the occurrence of styrylpyrones in East African biodiversity.(?)-6-Styryl-7,8-epoxy-4-methoxypyran-2-one(2)and the dihydroxystyrylpyrone enantiomer(3)showed in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans at a concentration of 24.4 and 26.2 lM with zones of inhibition of 17 and 9 mm,respectively.Compound 2 exhibited strong activity in the brine shrimp test with LC50=1.7 lg/mL.Their high cytotoxic and antifungal activities render them candidates for further scientific attention for drug development programs against cancer and microbial infections.展开更多
The western area of Senegal was the site of a basic volcanism in the Tertiary and Quaternary. That volcanism had caused the formation of alkaline olivine basalts, basanites and nephelinites from microlitic and porphyr...The western area of Senegal was the site of a basic volcanism in the Tertiary and Quaternary. That volcanism had caused the formation of alkaline olivine basalts, basanites and nephelinites from microlitic and porphyritic texture to dolerite texture. The geochemistry of major elements shows that the Quaternary basalts are more aluminous and more siliceous, but they contain less magnesium, less iron and less calcium than the Tertiary basalts. Two types of basalt occur here, based on the characteristics of the major elements in the Tertiary lavas: the highly undersaturated basalts of the Cape Verde Peninsula and the slightly undersaturated basalts of the Thiès Plateau. The characteristics of the trace elements reveal shallow interactions due to the contamination and/or assimilation, and to the fractional crystallization, but not due to the heterogeneity of the source. The strong enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) and the slight enrichment in heavy rare earth elements (HREE), the anomalies which are negative in K and Pb and positive in Nb, Ta and Eu of the Tertiary and Quaternary basalts of Western Senegal and similar anomalies of the same elements (Pb not analyzed) described in the Cape Verde islands, allow us to establish links between the petrogenetic mechanisms that had caused the formation of the basalts of this Islands and Western Senegal. Moreover, the volcanic activity in Western Senegal (of continental lntraplate type) and that of the Cape Verde Islands (oceanic intraplate type) are probably related to the hot spot located on the vertical of the Cape Verde.展开更多
A boll infection caused by non-traditional cotton pathogens was first reported to occur in the southeastern U.S. Cotton Belt (year 2000) and has since spread to Texas causing significant yield losses. This study was a...A boll infection caused by non-traditional cotton pathogens was first reported to occur in the southeastern U.S. Cotton Belt (year 2000) and has since spread to Texas causing significant yield losses. This study was aimed towards investigating the verde plant bug (<em>Creontiades signatus</em>) link between interior boll disease in Texas, USA. Using glasshouse grown bolls, bacteria recovered from locules with disease symptoms from field-grown cotton bolls caged with the piercing-sucking <em>C. signatus</em> were analyzed for the capacity to inflict the disease. For pathogenicity testing, spontaneously generated rifampicin resistant (Rifr) variants were utilized to track the antibiotic resistant bacterium and deter growth of endophytic and contaminating bacteria. To simulate <em>C. signatus</em> feeding, a needle (31 gauge) was employed to inoculate bolls at 13 - 15 days after flower bloom. Bacterial suspensions ranged from 10<sup>1</sup> - 10<sup>6</sup> colony forming units/ml. Field infection symptoms were duplicated after two weeks of bacterial exposure. Infectious strains were best categorized as <em>Serratia marcescens</em> based on traditional carbon utilization and enzyme production testing, and a 99% nucleotide sequence identity of 16S ribosomal DNA. Putative <em>S. marcescens</em> representatives isolated from rotted bolls exposed to<em> C. signatus</em> were shown to reproduce field infection symptoms upon inoculation into greenhouse grown fruit. <em>Serratia</em> spp. can inflict disease in alfalfa, cucurbits, and sunflower. The presented data are the first to definitively show that a <em>Serratia</em> sp. has the capacity to infect cotton.展开更多
Background:Despite significant biomedical progress in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)treatment and prevention,stigma and discrimination remain major barriers to epidemic control.Cabo Verde,a small island developing ...Background:Despite significant biomedical progress in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)treatment and prevention,stigma and discrimination remain major barriers to epidemic control.Cabo Verde,a small island developing state,achieved near-universal coverage of antiretroviral therapy and an effective prevention of motherto-child transmission.Yet,evidence on the lived experiences of people living with HIV has been scarce.This study provides the first nationally representative data on HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the country.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional,mixed-methods survey using the people living with HIV stigma index across all 22 municipalities of Cabo Verde.A stratified random sample of 543 people living with HIV was recruited in 2015,of whom 496 provided valid responses.Data collection included structured questionnaires,focus group discussions,and semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers and policymakers.Quantitative data were analysed descriptively,and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.Results:Participants were predominantly women(66.9%),with a mean age of 38.7 years.Antiretroviral therapy coverage was nearly universal(97.2%),and prevention of mother-to-child transmission outcomes were strong,with less than 1%of respondents reporting an HIV-positive child.However,only 25%disclosed their HIV status to family members,primarily due to fear of stigma.Reported external discrimination was low(10.3%),yet internalized stigma was widespread:52.3%reported low self-esteem and more than half avoided childbearing or intimate relationships.Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between fear of stigma and nondisclosure(P<0.001),gender and external discrimination(P=0.04),and education level and awareness of legal rights(P<0.001).Conclusions:The study demonstrates a paradox of high biomedical achievements but persistent hidden stigma.Interventions must address psychosocial support,socioeconomic empowerment,gender inequities,and legal literacy to reduce stigma and consolidate epidemic control.Cabo Verde's experience highlights the urgent need to integrate stigma reduction into HIV responses globally,particularly in small island and low-prevalence contexts.展开更多
基金This work was financially supported by the Norwegian Agency for International Development(NORAD)through the NORAD Chemistry Project.
文摘Phytochemical investigation of Sanrafaelia ruffonammari Verd and Ophrypetalum odoratum Diels that belongs to the rare genera confined to East African coastal forests led to the isolation of enantiomeric styrylpyrone dimer,(±)-5-methoxy-7-phenyl-[4-methoxy-2-pyronyl]-1-(E)-styryl-2-oxabicyclo-[4.2.0]-octa-4-en-3-one(1)alongside(?)-6-styryl-7,8-epoxy-4-methoxypyran-2-one(2)and the enantiomeric(?)-(3)and(-)-6-styryl-7,8-dihydroxy-4-methoxypyran-2-ones(4).Their structures were established by means of spectroscopic methods.In this paper we reveal for the first time the occurrence of styrylpyrones in East African biodiversity.(?)-6-Styryl-7,8-epoxy-4-methoxypyran-2-one(2)and the dihydroxystyrylpyrone enantiomer(3)showed in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans at a concentration of 24.4 and 26.2 lM with zones of inhibition of 17 and 9 mm,respectively.Compound 2 exhibited strong activity in the brine shrimp test with LC50=1.7 lg/mL.Their high cytotoxic and antifungal activities render them candidates for further scientific attention for drug development programs against cancer and microbial infections.
文摘The western area of Senegal was the site of a basic volcanism in the Tertiary and Quaternary. That volcanism had caused the formation of alkaline olivine basalts, basanites and nephelinites from microlitic and porphyritic texture to dolerite texture. The geochemistry of major elements shows that the Quaternary basalts are more aluminous and more siliceous, but they contain less magnesium, less iron and less calcium than the Tertiary basalts. Two types of basalt occur here, based on the characteristics of the major elements in the Tertiary lavas: the highly undersaturated basalts of the Cape Verde Peninsula and the slightly undersaturated basalts of the Thiès Plateau. The characteristics of the trace elements reveal shallow interactions due to the contamination and/or assimilation, and to the fractional crystallization, but not due to the heterogeneity of the source. The strong enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) and the slight enrichment in heavy rare earth elements (HREE), the anomalies which are negative in K and Pb and positive in Nb, Ta and Eu of the Tertiary and Quaternary basalts of Western Senegal and similar anomalies of the same elements (Pb not analyzed) described in the Cape Verde islands, allow us to establish links between the petrogenetic mechanisms that had caused the formation of the basalts of this Islands and Western Senegal. Moreover, the volcanic activity in Western Senegal (of continental lntraplate type) and that of the Cape Verde Islands (oceanic intraplate type) are probably related to the hot spot located on the vertical of the Cape Verde.
文摘A boll infection caused by non-traditional cotton pathogens was first reported to occur in the southeastern U.S. Cotton Belt (year 2000) and has since spread to Texas causing significant yield losses. This study was aimed towards investigating the verde plant bug (<em>Creontiades signatus</em>) link between interior boll disease in Texas, USA. Using glasshouse grown bolls, bacteria recovered from locules with disease symptoms from field-grown cotton bolls caged with the piercing-sucking <em>C. signatus</em> were analyzed for the capacity to inflict the disease. For pathogenicity testing, spontaneously generated rifampicin resistant (Rifr) variants were utilized to track the antibiotic resistant bacterium and deter growth of endophytic and contaminating bacteria. To simulate <em>C. signatus</em> feeding, a needle (31 gauge) was employed to inoculate bolls at 13 - 15 days after flower bloom. Bacterial suspensions ranged from 10<sup>1</sup> - 10<sup>6</sup> colony forming units/ml. Field infection symptoms were duplicated after two weeks of bacterial exposure. Infectious strains were best categorized as <em>Serratia marcescens</em> based on traditional carbon utilization and enzyme production testing, and a 99% nucleotide sequence identity of 16S ribosomal DNA. Putative <em>S. marcescens</em> representatives isolated from rotted bolls exposed to<em> C. signatus</em> were shown to reproduce field infection symptoms upon inoculation into greenhouse grown fruit. <em>Serratia</em> spp. can inflict disease in alfalfa, cucurbits, and sunflower. The presented data are the first to definitively show that a <em>Serratia</em> sp. has the capacity to infect cotton.
基金supported by the joint Office of the United Nations in Cabo Verde(UNICEF,UNDP and UNFPA).
文摘Background:Despite significant biomedical progress in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)treatment and prevention,stigma and discrimination remain major barriers to epidemic control.Cabo Verde,a small island developing state,achieved near-universal coverage of antiretroviral therapy and an effective prevention of motherto-child transmission.Yet,evidence on the lived experiences of people living with HIV has been scarce.This study provides the first nationally representative data on HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the country.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional,mixed-methods survey using the people living with HIV stigma index across all 22 municipalities of Cabo Verde.A stratified random sample of 543 people living with HIV was recruited in 2015,of whom 496 provided valid responses.Data collection included structured questionnaires,focus group discussions,and semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers and policymakers.Quantitative data were analysed descriptively,and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.Results:Participants were predominantly women(66.9%),with a mean age of 38.7 years.Antiretroviral therapy coverage was nearly universal(97.2%),and prevention of mother-to-child transmission outcomes were strong,with less than 1%of respondents reporting an HIV-positive child.However,only 25%disclosed their HIV status to family members,primarily due to fear of stigma.Reported external discrimination was low(10.3%),yet internalized stigma was widespread:52.3%reported low self-esteem and more than half avoided childbearing or intimate relationships.Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between fear of stigma and nondisclosure(P<0.001),gender and external discrimination(P=0.04),and education level and awareness of legal rights(P<0.001).Conclusions:The study demonstrates a paradox of high biomedical achievements but persistent hidden stigma.Interventions must address psychosocial support,socioeconomic empowerment,gender inequities,and legal literacy to reduce stigma and consolidate epidemic control.Cabo Verde's experience highlights the urgent need to integrate stigma reduction into HIV responses globally,particularly in small island and low-prevalence contexts.
