In the rapidly evolving educational landscape, digitalization has emerged as a pivotal force shaping both pedagogical approaches and student engagement. This manuscript explores the transformative impact of digital technologies on contemporary education, emphasizing the dual role these technologies play in both enhancing and challenging traditional learning environments. By analyzing the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in classrooms, this paper highlights how digital tools can be leveraged to foster interactive and student-centered learning. It also addresses the complexities associated with shortened attention spans and the need for adaptive instructional strategies. Furthermore, the manuscript delves into the potential of emerging technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR) and gamification, in revolutionizing educational practices, thereby creating immersive and engaging learning experiences. The findings underscore the importance of educators adopting a proactive stance towards digitalization, ensuring that both students and teachers are equipped to navigate and thrive in this digital era.
This article examines the challenges hindering the participation of women and youth in local decision-making processes in Kpomassè and Tori-Bossito, Benin. Using a mixed methodology combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, it identifies sociocultural barriers through documentary review, surveys, and consultations with the PADSI steering committee. The results highlight the impact on the representation and voices of women and youth, emphasizing gender norms, youth perception, patriarchal structures, and limited access to education. The article proposes solutions such as capacity building, promotion of political participation, and institutional reforms to encourage active participation of youth and women in local decision-making processes. Additionally, it underscores the importance of future research and community engagement for inclusive territorial development involving all citizens.
This article assesses the impact of industrial noise emitted by the Sangarédi bauxite mine, operated by the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG), on local communities. Noise levels measured in this area frequently exceed the accepted norms, with 69.56% of recorded readings exceeding the critical limit of 115 dB. Moreover, nine measurements even exceeded 120 dB between May 1 and July 24, 2023, indicating significant noise exposure for residents. Daytime noise levels regularly exceed the 55 dB standard, while night-time levels are generally within the prescribed limits. Analysis of the noise generated by ore trains passing through the surrounding villages shows that, of the nine values measured, five (55.55%) are below permissible levels. However, despite some compliant measures, the high noise levels recorded continue to cause significant adverse health impacts for local residents. These impacts include stress, hearing problems and other serious health complications, demonstrating the urgent need for effective noise abatement measures to protect the health and well-being of local communities. The results reinforce the importance of continuous monitoring and rapid intervention to mitigate these noise nuisances and improve the quality of life of the populations affected.
The Haute Dodo Agroforest has experienced a significant reduction in forest cover over the decades. In this context, the aim of this study is to analyze the dynamics of forest cover from 1986 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2050 for the land cover of the Haute Dodo Agro-forest. The methodological approach used is based on the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and prospective scenarios built using Land Change Modeler. The results show that crop-fallow and bare soil-habitat mosaics increase significantly, while wetlands and dense forests decrease significantly. The increase in bare soil-habitat mosaics and crop-fallow mosaics demonstrates the dominant role of human activities in land use dynamics. By 2050, the «Business As Usual» scenario shows a 6.82% decrease in dense forests, while the «Rapid Economic Growth» scenario shows an 8.41% decrease in dense forests. The «environmental sustainability coordinated» scenario, on the other hand, shows an 18.49% increase in the area of dense forest. These decision-support tools are relevant elements in the implementation of a policy aimed at reversing deforestation trends.
In Ivory Coast, the cashew nut shells liquid (CNSL) from processing factories is a source of environmental pollution and concern for public health. The valorization of these balm is a promising solution to resolve this problem. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate their physicochemical and calorific characterizations. Shells were collected from two cashew processing factories. Physicochemical and calorific properties of balm extracted from shells by soxlhet were determined. The extraction yield of balm from cashew shells was between 31.98±0.11% and 35.95±0.10%. Hull sample, which had the lowest water content, had the highest extraction yield. Physical and chemical parameters of the extracted balm varied significantly (P < 0.05). Its water content, density, viscosity and refractive index oscillated from 1.63±0.03% to 1.93±0.02% respectively; from 0.95±0.00 to 0.98±0.01; from 426.00±6.56 to 465±5.00 mPa.s and from 1.46±0.01 to 1.51±0.05. pH and acid, peroxide, iodine and saponification indices varied from 2.43±0.06 to 2.62±0.04 respectively; from 1.67±0.16 to 2.12±0.14 mg KOH/g; 14.97±0.63 and 16.73±0.41 meq O2/kg; from 100.05±0.07 to 100.72±0.23 g/100g and from 169.08±2.24 to 181.95±6.72 mg KOH/g. Calorific parameters of CNSL also varied significantly (P < 0.05). Cetane index and calorific value were between 50.77±1.13 and 53.07±0.44 and between 40.25±0.26 and 40.75±0.09 Kj/Kg, respectively. These results highlight the potential for using the balm from the shells, from cashew nut processing factories, in various non-food industries.
Sarotherodon melanotheron (Rüppell, 1852, Cichlidae) is a species exploited by the local populations of the Ebrié lagoon. Morphometric measurements of all specimens of S. melanotheron caught in the heavily anthropized Biétry bay were used to study their growth. In S. melanotheron, the values of Lt and W fluctuated by 140 and 185.06 mm and 58 and 119 g, respectively. The allometry coefficient b was significantly different from 3 for the seize-weight relationship and from 1 for the seize-seize relationships. The allometry coefficient b was significantly different from 3 for the seize-weight relationship and from 1 for the seize-seize relationships. Therefore, growth was negative allometric for this species living on the coast and off the bay. Environmental factors linked to the pollution of the Bay of Biétry have influenced the growth of this fish species.
This study aims at demonstrating that secondary school teachers of physics, in two sub-divisions of Mbanza-Ngungu, still provide teaching materials in both sub-divisions of Mbanza – Ngungu foresee didactic materials in their planning sheets. Hower, these materials are not always adequate to the lesson objectives and the conditions of their exploitation. Their physical existence is a problem, too.
Thus, by a technique of investigation with the teachers of the region of Mbanza-Ngungu, by interposed audio-visual recordings, we identified, thanks to an observation grid, through the notion of electricity taught in 3rd Scientific, the existence and the nature of the didactic material, the moments and the conditions of its exploitation in order to improve the didactic action of the teachers of this class.
Lianescent plant species have generally been neglected in botanical research despite the fact that they represent one of the important components of the flora of tropical forests and are of great use to rural Ivorian populations. Based on this observation, this study focused on the use of lianas by the cocoa-producing populations of the South-West of Ivory Coast. Thus, to collect information on the characteristics of producers and on the use of lianas associated with cocoa-based agrosystems, a survey was carried out among cocoa farmers in the village of Djapadji. For this purpose, two hundred (200) cocoa producers were interviewed. The results of these interviews reveal that cocoa producers in our study area are dominated by men (87%), indigenous people (53%) and adults (30 to 45 years old). In addition, lianas are mainly used by populations for medical care (78%) and also for food (13%). Ultimately, this study showed that cocoa plantations are full of large quantities of lianas; which lianas are of capital importance in the daily life of the populations of the South-West of Côte d’Ivoire.
This study establishes that fundamentalism is the most radical form of the multiple religious phenomena that proliferate in contemporary societies (M. Milot, 1998). Fundamentalism first designated currents that want to defend the entirety of the Catholic tradition: dogmas, norms, morals, rites. Qualitative in nature, this reflection aims to analyze the foundations of religious fundamentalism with a view to containing the phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of field data coupled with documentary research has led to the conclusion that the upward force of religious radicalization provokes strong reactions in most societies and that a fight against this ascendancy is a means of putting an end to the plural and multifaceted fundamentalism that threatens peace.
In Cameroon, most farmers practice irrigation adapted to their budget and technical capacities. These low budget irrigation schemes are the mostly spread between small scale farmers which constitute the majority of Cameroonian producers, but relatively few studies have been carried out on many of them and few official information exists on them. This study hence focuses on characterization and performance evaluation of one of such systems. Irrigation is carried out from planting to the early development phase, by pumping with fuel as an energy source, and watering the farm with a walker hose, until visible saturation. The output per unit irrigated crop area is of the order of 13583USD/ha for a production of 3000crates sold at an average price of 8USD. This value represents the production output and not only the irrigation output. The relative irrigation supply however was not favorable, as it indicated that the water supplied by irrigation did not cover up to 20% of the plant water needs, most probably due to the high irrigation intervals, causing the plants to be maintained at MAD for long periods of time. Future studies should hence find methods of ameliorating the performances of this system by acting on the farmer’s technical level and social setting.
This study was conducted to explore the experiences of Village Savings and Credit Associations (VSCAs) initiated by the PPSSP in strengthening the socio-economic power of their members. To achieve this objective, a mixed research methodology was implemented. Simple random sampling was used to select research subjects. Quantitatively, 198 people responded to our questions, and qualitatively, we were limited by saturation.
After analysis, the study revealed the following:
- The credits obtained by AVEC have enabled members to increase their income. These incomes are increased by the benefits derived from the creation of individual and/or group IGAs.
- AVEC facilitates the economic and social empowerment of its members and improves their living conditions in their households and communities.
- The analysis of the socio-economic empowerment of members of AVEC initiated by the PPSSP is based on: (i) the motivation to join, despite the socio-demographic characteristics of the members, (ii) the purchase of more than one share by members (95.96%), (iii) access to credit by members (68.18%), (iv) the reason for the loan oriented towards the creation of individual (82.32%) or group (30.30%) IGAs, (v) the income from IGAs earned individually or in groups, (vi) the members’ perception of the AVEC and the positive social representation of the communities with regard to AVEC activities.
- The results also showed that the loans obtained facilitated the creation of other new income-generating activities in the communities, and strengthened social cohesion between AVEC members and their families.
In the light of these results, we can conclude that it is essential to promote these initiatives in rural communities in order to strengthen the socio-economic power of the population.
The Zou watershed is a significant hydrographic unit located in a region with complex interactions between agro-pedo-geological components and pastoral resources. This study aims to analyze the agro-pedo-geological characteristics and sustainable management of pastoral resources in the Zou watershed at the outlet of Domé in Benin. The data used to describe these characteristics and their spatial distribution comprise climatological, planimetric, pedological, and geological data. The results reveal that the watershed is influenced by a Sudanian climate in the north and a subequatorial climate in the south, with an average annual precipitation of 1116 mm over the period 1991-2020. The classification of vegetation cover shows dominance of savanna (66.31%), plantations (15.61%), and fields and fallows (9.61%), with implications for forage availability and biodiversity. The soils in the watershed are diverse, with a predominance of tropical ferruginous soils, influencing water retention and vegetation production. The geology of the watershed indicates the presence of ancient Precambrian rocks such as granite, gneiss, granito-gneiss, embréchites, and quartzites. These findings underscore the importance of sustainable management of natural resources to ensure long-term availability of water and forage in the region.
The effectiveness of bonus-malus systems is a critical consideration for automobile insurance companies as these systems directly impact their performance. This article investigates the influence of modifications in transition rules between tariff classes and the increase in their number on the efficiency of bonus-malus systems. Stochastic measures, using Markov chain theory and perfect simulation, are employed for this purpose. The Moroccan bonus-malus system is analyzed as a case study, and a new version of the system is proposed for comparison. This analysis provides insights into how insurance companies can optimize their bonus-malus systems while adapting to financial innovations.
The phenomenon of leaving against medical advice remains a significant issue in public reference institutions in Côte d’Ivoire. Thus, one out of twelve adult patients hospitalized in the Orthopedics – Traumatology department of the Treichville University Hospital often interrupts their treatment in favor of traditional Bone-Setters or other destinations. However, despite recent advances in machine learning, it is still challenging to predict what type of destination these absconding patients will choose. Therefore, this article first aims to sequentially establish two datasets based on medical records: one original and the other after feature selection. Then, based on these datasets, this research involved four supervised machine learning models (Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and Gradient Boosting (GB)). The results obtained from performance metrics during testing, after five cross-validations, show that Random Forest is the most robust model for both datasets. Finally, a second analysis indicates that the Random Forest built on the original dataset remains the best model overall, with an AUC-ROC of 96%, an accuracy of 86%, a precision of 84%, a recall of 100%, and an F1-Score of 91%. These results suggest that this model offers hope for early and accurate prediction of the destination the absconding patient will opt for, thus positively impacting their care.
The family poultry production in Benin is based on a variety of local ecotypes including Holli and Fulani breeds. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of production system and post-mortem aging time on the meat of their crossbred F1 (Holli x Fulani). Therefore, 60 hybrid chicks were divided into 2 group and reared respectively under conventional modern housing system (Lot1) and under backyard free range system (Lot2). At the age of 24 weeks, 10 cockerels (male) of each lot of similar live weight were slaughtered according to the conventional for meat quality assessment at different post-mortem aging time.
It comes out from the study that the best carcass yields at 1 h and 24 h post-mortem were recorded in hybrid chickens raised under modern breeding systems (P<0.01). Technologically, it appears that the production system influenced only the pH recorded at 24h post-mortem (5.92 vs 5.88; P<0.05), luminance (57.98 vs 59.4; P<0.01), yellow index (3.46 vs 4.51; P<0.01); chromaticity (8.43 vs 9.09; P<0.01) and the water holding capacity of meat (28.47 vs 31.68; P<0.01). Significant variabilities of the technological quality of meat were also recorded according to muscle type. Nutritionally, the production system did not affect the meat’s dry matter and ash contents. However, the lowest fat content (1.72% vs 2.3%) and highest fat protein content (20.96% vs 20.01%) were recorded in the traditional system meat samples (P<0.001). Sensorially, meat from chickens raised under the traditional production system with access to natural pasture and those that have undergone 24 hours of maturation recorded the highest scores for all sensory parameters.
The Niamey sandstones belong to a group of Neoproterozoic (Infracambrian) deposits of the Nigerian Liptako, sporadically outcropping along the eastern edge of the West African Craton and following the Niger River valley. They rest in major unconformity on the Paleoproterozoic (Birimian) basement of the Niger Liptako. Previous work on these deposits has been fragmentary, particularly as regards their structure, and the investigations carried out aim to make up for these shortcomings. The aim of this study is to determine the deformations that have affected the Niamey sandstones. To achieve these objectives, an integrative approach based essentially on analyses and measurements of deformation structures in the field and their projections in the Win-Tenseur program, in order to calculate stress tensors (σ1, σ2, σ3), was implemented. Structural analysis has identified an extensive pre-Pan-African D1 phase, trending NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW, concomitant with the opening of the Neoproterozoic Ocean, and two Pan-African compressive episodes, NNW-SSE to NW-SE trending D2a and ENE-WSW trending D2b.
In a view of improvement of bili-bili quality, a traditional fermented drink made from sorghum from the savannahs of Northern Cameroon, the optimization of malting conditions in order to obtain a malt with better technological potential was studied by the response surface method. A composite plan centered on three factors whose levels were chosen according to the traditional conditions of production of bili-bili, grain soaking time (24-48 hours), germination time (48-96 hours) and aging time (24–72 hours) allows to define the optimal conditions of improving α and β amylase activities, soluble proteins and free amino acids. It appears that the linear and quadratic contributions of the soaking time have a significant effect (P˂0.05) on the different responses, except for free amino acids and the germination duration significantly influences (P˂0.05) the α and β amylase activities as well as soluble proteins. The duration of aging has a significant influence (P˂0.05) on all responses. The desirability function shows that the optimal malting conditions are 36h, 72h and 48h for the soaking, germination and aging times respectively. At this point, the α and β amylase activities, soluble proteins and free amino acids are respectively 9.34±1.06 meqg/100gDM; 15.97±1.06 meqg/100gDM; 2.05±0.22% and 377.67±6.02 mg/L. Comparing these values with predicted ones by the model does not show a significant difference, thus concluding that the models fit well. In a context of revival interest in promoting of local products and food systems, this work has had the merit of meeting some of the expectations of the main actors of this technical system.
Harmonious management of pastoral areas is a challenge for the sustainability of pastoral resources. This study aims to analyze management methods’ impact on the sustainability of rangelands in pastoral areas in Burkina Faso. For this purpose, diachronic and prospective study of land use are an effective approach for a long run area assessment through mapping. The mapping work carried out in Gadeghin and Sidéradougou pastoral zones has enabled an assessment of land use in these areas. By observing the dynamics of land use in the pastoral zones from 1990 to 2020, we note a considerable reduction in rangelands made up of natural formations in favor to crop production. This development has taken place in strong growth of human and animal populations context. In addition, we noted that the management methods identified in these areas have had a negative impact on the dynamics of pastoral areas. In fact, the projection of the dynamics of pastoral areas up to 2050 predicts the extinction of certain vegetation units in these areas if the degradation factors increase in the same direction and with the same intensity. The government and practitioners should take actions to halt or reverse the deterioration of pastoral areas in order to ensure sustainable pastoralism in Burkina Faso.
Palm wine, known as atan in Benin, is a sweet beverage extracted from the oil palm (Elaeis guineens). Highly prized by the population for its high nutritional value, its marketing is very limited due to a lack of or inappropriate means of preservation. In the search for palliatives, the present study aims at the Bio-preservation of palm wine by using orange peels to extend its shelf life. To achieve this objective, the preservative effect of orange peels was evaluated, and the stabilized wine was characterized in physicochemical, nutritional, microbiological and organoleptic terms. Palm wine samples graded A, B and C received 10g, 15g and 20g of orange peel respectively. During the storage period, the bottles that received the peelings in this order burst after one, two, three and four weeks respectively. The flasks that burst early were those with a low peel incorporation rate. The 33cL bottles containing palm wine and 25g orange peel resisted bursting up to 4 weeks of storage. Analysis of physicochemical and nutritional parameters showed that stabilized palm wine was richer in potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium than the unstabilized control wine. Microbiological analysis of the stabilized palm wine showed that the yeast, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus loads were lower than in the unstabilized wine. In terms of sensory quality, the study showed that consumers rated the consistency, color and taste of stabilized wines higher than those of unstabilized (control) wines.
This study was initiated to evaluate the effects of the combined use of organic fertilizers and micro-dose fertilization on the agronomic and economic performance of maize cultivation. The trial was conducted in a completely randomized Fisher block design with 4 repetitions and 9 treatments: T0 (micro-dose) NPK 62.5kg/ha+ Urea 62.5kg/ha, T1 (micro-dose+5t/ha compost+ mulch+ zaï), T2 (micro-dose+ 5t/ha manure+ mulch+ zaï), T3 (micro dose+ 5t/ha compost+ Moringa extract+ mulch+ zaï), T4 (micro-dose+5t/ha compost+ Magnesium sulfate+ mulch+ zaï), T5 (micro-dose+5t/ha compost+ Liquid fertilizer+ mulch+ zaï), T6 (Micro-dose+5t/ha manure+ Moringa extract+ mulch+ zaï), T7 (micro-dose+5t/ha manure+ Magnesium sulfate+ mulch+ zaï) and T8 (micro-dose + 5t/ha manure + liquid fertilizer + mulch + zaï). Fertilizers and crops were also the subject of an economic evaluation to see their profitability. The economic evaluation showed that the T7 treatment gave the best margin which varied between -4185 and 309535 FCFA/ha depending on the selling prices of corn which can vary from 135 to 250 FCFA/kg. However, the RV/C of all treatments was less than 1.5 and would therefore be subject to rejection if they were offered to producers. In view of these results, we suggest that a socio-economic assessment be made between conventional and agroecological production by integrating the social and environmental dimensions to measure the impacts.
The study aims to assess the cutaneous toxicity and antifungal activity of the hydroethanol extract of Senna podocarpa, a plant used in traditional medicine. This research is essential to determine both the safety of using the extract on the skin and its efficacy against various fungal infections.
Following OECD guideline 404 (2015), twelve Hyplus rabbits were treated with 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses of the extract to observe skin reactions, such as erythema and oedema, over 14 days. Antifungal activity was assessed using the double dilution slant tube method, followed by inoculation with Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Antifungal parameters such as MIC, MFC, and IC50 were determined.
Senna podocarpa extract showed no dermal toxicity, with a mean irritation index (MII) of 0, indicating that it is neither irritant nor corrosive to rabbit skin. No skin lesions were observed, and the rabbits’ coats grew back 24 hours after application. In addition, the extract did not affect the weight of the rabbits, with those given 500 mg/kg even showing greater weight gain than those given 200 mg/kg. In terms of antifungal activity, the extract inhibited the growth of the fungi tested in a dose-dependent manner. The MIC and MFC were 6.25 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL for A. fumigatus, 25 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL for C. albicans, and 100 mg/mL for T. mentagrophytes.
In the onshore Congolese coastal basin, a borehole (kundji-203) encountered a sandstone reservoir from 1480 m MD. Three Runs of 27m each were lowered into the well at the level of the Top-reservoir for the purpose of an in-depth study. The lithological study of this reservoir shows that it is made up of a succession of four compact sandstone levels, interspersed with clayey layers. Its present facies is made up of very fine to medium grains, sometimes coarse or sometimes conglomeratic, brown with clay-carbonate cement. The clayey pastes are gray to greenish, indurated, flaky. The figured elements are made up of rock debris. The mineralogical study of the clay process shows the presence of four types of clay, the most abundant of which is chlorite, followed by illite or smectite and some rare traces of kaolinite.
In this study, we propose a simple structure of an organic heterojunction solar cell of OTC/ED/EA type. Material energy values are used for the first time. The study concerns a numerical simulation using SCAPS. Under standard conditions: AM1.5 and T = 300K, the cell parameters are: Voc = 1.186V, Jsc = 14.314mA/cm2, FF = 88.57% and Eff = 15.04%. The effects of parameters such as thickness, energy band gap, ND and NA charge carrier density of state, of the active layers were observed. It appears that, apart from the ND density of state, all the other material parameters influence the values of the cell parameters. It is still necessary to limit the value of NA to avoid degenerated cells. The influence of temperature has also been studied. It was found that when the temperature increases, the performance of the cell decreases. This work is essential because it provides the scientific community with data to make organic solar cells more efficient.
The natural vegetation strip along water bodies acts as a crucial barrier against the influx of nutrients and sediments. Consequently, the progressive degradation of the riparian vegetation around Banco Bay has led to the silting of the bed of this section of the Ebrié Lagoon. The primary objective of this study was to enhance the understanding of the quality of Banco Bay’s shores to identify priority intervention areas for potential re-vegetation efforts. To achieve this, a riparian quality index assessment protocol was applied. This involved delineating 200-meter-long and 10-meter-wide segments along the riparian vegetation strip. Within these sampling areas, a botanical survey was conducted to assign a coverage percentage to the different components of the riparian strip, allowing for the calculation of the riparian quality index. Data analysis revealed low floristic richness with 17 tree species, predominantly microphanerophytes and nanophanerophytes. The low IQBR values indicate a riparian zone in poor condition, with 92% of the segments classified as very low or low IQBR classes. Given the consequences of water silting, it is essential to use the results of this study as an awareness-raising tool for residents and decision-makers, encouraging collective action towards the re-vegetation of Banco Bay’s shores.
The importance of public policy evaluation has made it a democratic, economic, social and environmental issue today. More than a simple process, the evaluative function of public action remains a real tool to support public decision-making that involves a significant correlation between the hypotheses and the results of policies without necessarily implying inverse causality. The objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the public policy evaluation system in a triple context of results-based management, socio-economic and political reforms and the COVID-19 health crisis in Africa in general and in Benin in particular. Based on a documentary analysis, a survey and semi-structured interviews with political and administrative executives and authorities, this study addressed the issue of the effectiveness of the evaluative function from a dual empirical and operational perspective. From the results, it emerged that the analysis of the policy evaluation system in the Republic of Benin and in other African countries reveals quite significant progress in terms of content, availability of procedures, accessibility of policy documents or strategies developed and published. However, in practice, significant weaknesses remain and call for the implementation of corrective actions for a profound improvement of the system. Finally, this study made it possible to arrive at recommendations and suggestions with operational aspects oriented towards strategic axes for strengthening the contribution of different actors to greater effectiveness and efficiency in the implementation and evaluation of public policies in the Republic of Benin.
This paper explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the communication skills of advanced learners in English for Specific Purposes (ESP). The impact of integrating AI technology on ESP learners’ communication skills is examined. A mixed and quasi-experimental methodology was employed, involving data collection from teachers and learners through classroom observation, interviews, and questionnaires. These were addressed to three (03) ESP teachers and three hundred (300) learners at HECM and IFRI. The experimental process involved an experimental group (EG) that used AI tools for three months, and a control group (CG) that did not. The collected data was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test in SPSS 26. The results showed a statistical significant improvement in the oral communication skills of ESP learners who used AI tools. This study suggests that integrating AI technology into the curriculum can enhance learners’ communication skills.
The municipalities on the outskirts of Kinshasa are today coveted by spontaneous tourist developments. These problems require all the more attention than the sum of the consequences linked to tourism by non-professionals and the ecosystem impacts that this generates. The absence of a model capable of reconciling the requirements of sustainable tourism planning and development requires a technical-scientific approach to serve as a reflection on the preservation of the bio-physical balances of the environment, respect for the requirements of sustainable development, tourist expectations and sustainable tourism development in the commune of N’sele in Kinshasa/DRC.
Thanks to the elements of knowledge and response obtained we hope to contribute to setting up a model of tourism planning in the Kinshasa context at the N’sele park in Kinshasa in accordance with technical-scientific requirements with a systemic approach which situates tourism as a complex activity.
The health and well-being of women of reproductive age are central to sexual and reproductive health concerns in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially in the South Ubangi province. Despite the 2018 ratification of the Maputo Protocol, which advocates for comprehensive abortion care centered on women (SCACF), its implementation remains limited, contributing to high maternal morbidity and mortality rates. The World Health Organization estimates that over 200,000 women die annually in developing countries due to unsafe abortions, a particularly severe issue in areas like Gemena, where maternal deaths, especially among adolescents, are frequent. The high mortality is partly due to social stigma, which views abortion as a criminal act, preventing access to appropriate healthcare services.
A study conducted in the Kivu health area revealed significant gaps in the implementation of the Maputo Protocol. Of 21 healthcare providers surveyed, only 2 (9.1%) had received SCACF training, far below WHO standards. Additionally, the necessary infrastructure and equipment to provide quality care were lacking. The study shows that the Maputo Protocol is largely non-functional in the Kivu health area and throughout the Gemena health zone.
To address these issues, it is crucial for health sector actors, particularly the government, to ensure the proper application of the protocol. This would not only improve women's health but also contribute to the overall development of the province and the country.
Human reproduction remains the key to offspring and the sustainability of the human species. While becoming pregnant is seen as a happy event, several corollaries accompany its evolution, development and outcome. The involvement of the male partner from conception to childbirth remains a source of joy and fulfillment for the pregnant woman, for the product of conception, for the family and for society. The observation remains bitter in the province of Sud Ubangi in particular and in the Salongo II health area in the ZSUR of Gemena. Barely 7% of married men accompany their female partners to CPN sessions even if the importance of supporting the latter is no longer in doubt. Lack of interest and low income are the factors behind this low involvement. Increasing awareness among men and providing decent wages would be ideal solutions to resolve this thorny issue that impacts on sexual and reproductive health as well as the health of the population in general.
The aim of this study is to map the anthropogenic obstacles that hinder the mobility of giraffes as well as the socio-economic impact that emerges from them. Thus, field visits, coordinate taking (GPS) and structured surveys were conducted using questionnaires and interview guides. The mapping of anthropogenic obstacles in the rural commune of Harikanassou and the rural commune of Kouré showed that the railway, National Road No. 1 and lateritic tracks are the main obstacles that hinder the mobility of giraffes. A survey involved ten (10) villages including 200 people composed of agropastoralists and three (3) interviews with 2 managers and the president of the tourist guides. This survey shows that the giraffe is common throughout the study area (according to 81% of respondents) and they return during the rainy season to the Kouré plateau; and they move up to the Harikanassou area during the rest of the seasons of the year. Significant damage (in fields and on fodder species) is observed at the beginning of the rainy season (according to 72% of respondents in the rural commune of Kouré) and during the cold season (according to 40% of respondents in the rural commune of Harikanassou).