Power systems are undergoing rapid transformation driven by decarbonization, digitalization, decentralization, and rising electricity demand. Innovation and technology management (ITM) is essential for utilities to adopt emerging technologies, integrate renewable energy, and maintain grid reliability. Key innovation areas include renewable and hybrid generation, advanced transmission systems, smart distribution networks, energy storage, and digital solutions such as AI, IoT, and digital twins. Utilities use frameworks like the Technology Life Cycle, Open Innovation, and Dynamic Capabilities to guide technology adoption. However, regulatory constraints, legacy infrastructure, cost barriers, and skill gaps continue to limit progress. Looking ahead, autonomous grid operations, digital substations, hydrogen integration, and grid-forming inverters will define the next stage of the energy transition.

This study analyzes the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles within a Moroccan public institution, focusing on the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC). The research aims to examine how a public actor like ANAPEC can, through its operational strategies, contribute to an expanded societal responsibility and generate shared value. A qualitative methodological approach was adopted, including a systematic literature review, semi-structured interviews with key actors, and thematic analysis of data using NVivo software. The findings reveal that ANAPEC operationalizes a proactive form of institutional CSR through its flagship programs—IDMAJ, TAHFIZ, and TAEHIL—which address structural challenges such as the skills mismatch, lack of professional experience among youth, and territorial disparities. By transcending its legal mandate of intermediation, ANAPEC integrates ethical, philanthropic, and economic dimensions of CSR, thereby engaging multiple stakeholders and fostering shared value creation at the territorial level. The study concludes that ANAPEC embodies an emerging model of public-sector CSR, illustrating how public institutions can enhance their societal legitimacy and contribute to local socio-economic development. Limitations include the single-case design and the qualitative nature of the study, which suggest avenues for future comparative and quantitative research.

This study investigates the hydro-sedimentary and geochemical functioning of the Agnéby River, a tropical coastal basin in southern Côte d’Ivoire, based on the combined analysis of suspended sediments (TSS) and dissolved constituents (TDS) during the 2020 hydrological year. TSS concentrations and fluxes exhibit a strong dependence on river discharge, with sediment export largely controlled by flood events. More than 50% of the annual suspended sediment load is transferred within a short period, reflecting an impulsive transport regime typical of medium-sized tropical catchments. Water chemistry is dominated by bicarbonates and alkaline-earth cations, indicating a geochemical signature primarily governed by chemical weathering of basement rocks under humid tropical conditions. Seasonal variations in TDS reveal dilution effects during high-flow periods and enhanced water–rock interactions during low-flow conditions. The TSS/TDS ratios, ranging from 0.08 to 0.30, highlight a transition from weathering-dominated conditions during baseflow to a mixed regime increasingly influenced by mechanical erosion during floods. Comparison with larger Ivorian river basins, such as the Bandama and Comoé rivers, shows that the Agnéby River differs markedly by its rapid hydrological response and limited sediment storage capacity, whereas larger systems exhibit more progressive seasonal sediment transfer. These findings emphasize the significant contribution of small and medium tropical coastal rivers to sediment and solute fluxes toward lagoonal and coastal environments, with important implications for coastal sediment budgets and the sustainability of the blue economy.

Faced with the proliferation of plastic waste (LDPE), the overexploitation of Sanaga sand, and the under-utilization of coconut husks in Cameroon, this study developed and characterized an innovative ternary composite. The aim was to establish an artisanal manufacturing process and optimize the proportions of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) waste, Sanaga sand, and coconut husk powder for sustainable construction. The process, inspired by ecological paving, tested nine formulations (LDPE 20-40%, sand/coconut 0-10%). Samples were characterized for their apparent density, water absorption rate, and mechanical properties (bending). Results showed a decrease in density with LDPE and coir powder. Water absorption remained very low (max. 0.640%), guaranteeing excellent durability in damp conditions. Although maximum flexural strength was lower than for thermo-compressed composites (probably due to the absence of pressure compaction in the artisanal method), the incorporation of coir conferred a certain ductility. Some formulations (F0/40, F5/20) are potentially usable for T4/T5 or T5 type pavers, and indoor flooring (P2). Future optimization will include pressure compaction and improvement of the LDPE/coconut interface to enhance performance. This work contributes to sustainable waste management and the promotion of environmentally-friendly building materials.

The aim of this study is to assess the pollutant load of effluents drained into the sewerage system of the city of Abidjan. Between 2020 and 2023, three sampling campaigns per year were carried out to monitor these waters. A total of 144 wastewater samples were collected and analysed in the laboratory in accordance with the standards in force at the Sub-Directorate for the Inspection of Classified Installations (SDIIC). Parameters such as BOD5, COD, MES, NH4+, NTK, PO43-, NO2-, NO3-, T°C and pH were measured. A multivariate statistical analysis identified the origin of these effluents in the network. The pH varied greatly from very acidic 3.1 to strongly alkaline 13.6. The average values obtained were 292.0 mg/L; 60.9 mg/L and 82.0 mg/L respectively for MES, NH4+ and NTK, with limit values of 150 mg/L, 15 mg/L and 50 mg/L. The COD and BOD5 concentrations were 1232.1 mgO2/L and 374.9 mgO2/L respectively. The limit values for these parameters are 500 mgO2/L and 150 mgO2/L. The COD/BOD5 ratio varies from 2.6 to 4.8, while the BOD5/COD ratio is between 0.30 and 0.46. These values indicate non-biodegradable effluents. Multivariate analysis indicates that the effluents drained by the network are of industrial origin or predominantly industrial. The non-biodegradability of these effluents, which are often discharged into the Ebrié lagoon without any pre-treatment, poses an environmental risk to this natural receptacle.

The characterization of planar components such as inductors in an important step in better to understand components behavior as a function of frequency. To do this, it is essential to use a dedicated measuring device and an innovative and appropriate characterization method to achieve good accuracy. In this article, we present a new method and techniques for characterizing Zij impedance and Yij admittance parameters of passive components (resistors, capacitors and inductors) using a WK6500B impedancemeter. Obtained results are very encouraging, with good accuracy of less than 1%.

In Niger, the combined effects of climate variability and climate change, together with anthropogenic pressure over recent decades, have strongly influenced land-use dynamics, particularly within agricultural systems. In the municipality of Kéllé, located in the Gouré Department (Zinder Region), spatio-temporal landscape analysis reveals, as in many other municipalities in Niger, significant changes in landscape evolution. In the present study, the analysis of satellite imagery and the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) made it possible to trace ongoing changes between 1995 and 2025, in order to identify general trends and support decision-making in community-based natural resource management. The main objective of this study is to detect land-use dynamics in the municipality in response to climate change and human activities. The methodology is based on the interpretation of Landsat satellite imagery from 1995, 2015, and 2025. The results obtained from land-use maps, change-detection maps between observation dates, and a predictive map up to 2035 indicate that land use in the municipality is undergoing continuous transformation. Thus, areas occupied by tree-shrub steppe and dense tree steppe decreased from 62.54% and 10.79% in 1995 to 60.76% and 7.94% in 2025, respectively. In contrast, rainfed croplands and bare or degraded soils expanded, increasing from 17.44% and 0.82% in 1995 to 31.81% and 0.51% in 2025, respectively, relative to the total area of the municipality. The projected trend of the natural environment suggests that by 2035, tree-shrub steppe will continue to decline, while dense tree steppe is expected to expand.

The uncontrolled use of synthetic fertilizers pollutes the environment. These products cause soil imbalance, leading to their leaching and infiltration by water into groundwater or waterways. It is therefore important to turn to sustainable, environmentally friendly agriculture based on biological improvement techniques using organic waste to mitigate the effects of synthetic inputs. This study aims to compare the effect of organic and/or mineral amendments on corn cultivation. To this end, the experimental design consists of a randomized Fisher block with three (3) replicates in which four (4) treatments were applied with compositions based on Tithonia diversifolia leaves, poultry manure, and NPK. The effects of the treatments were assessed using growth and production parameters. The organo-mineral amendment (poultry manure + Tithonia diversifolia + NPK) indicates that each of the fertilizers significantly induced vegetative growth. The yield of the treatments was 9.50 t/ha for the control, 13.47 t/ha for Tithonia diversifolia + chicken manure, 16.88 t/ha for NPK, and 21.55 t/ha for Tithonia diversifolia+chicken manure+NPK. The results show greater growth and yield in corn grown on plots amended with Tithonia diversifolia+chicken manure+NPK. This combination of fertilizers proved beneficial for soil amendment by mobilizing nutrients for the plant.

This study focuses on optimizing the influence of a zinc selenide (ZnSe) buffer layer on the performance of a CIGS thin-film solar cell, with the aim of proposing an alternative to CdS, a commonly used material that contains toxic cadmium. The choice of ZnSe is motivated by its advantageous optoelectronic properties, including a direct optical band gap of about 2.7 eV, high transparency in the visible and near-infrared ranges, an absorption coefficient on the order of 104 cm⁻1, and an electron affinity close to 4.1 eV. In addition, ZnSe can crystallize in zinc-blende or wurtzite phases, with possible structural transitions that may promote a type-II band alignment suitable for the ZnSe/CIGS interface. The main objective of this work is to analyze the effect of the optical band gap and the electron affinity of ZnSe on the key photovoltaic parameters of the cell, namely the short-circuit current density, the open-circuit voltage, the fill factor, and the conversion efficiency. The study is carried out through numerical simulation by solving the fundamental carrier transport equations. The results show that the optical band gap of ZnSe has a limited impact on the overall performance, with an optimal efficiency of about 23.16% for values between 2.3 and 2.6 eV. In contrast, the electron affinity appears to be a critical parameter: a range between 4.0 and 4.6 eV promotes optimal band alignment and enables good photovoltaic performance, with efficiencies ranging from 19.38% to 24.93%. These findings confirm the potential of ZnSe as an alternative cadmium-free buffer layer to CdS, opening promising prospects for the development of more environmentally and health-friendly CIGS solar cells.

Introduction: Noise is a common pollutant in the workplace, particularly in the mining sector, which uses equipment that generates noisy environments. The aim of this study was to assess the occupational noise exposure of workers at a mining company in Senegal. Methodology: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive study that covered data recorded from May 2, 2016 to December 31, 2020. Results: A total of 393 noise exposure points were measured, with 17.6% exceeding 85 dB. The power plant was the noisiest area, with 53.8% of measurements exceeding 85 dB. Individual measurements of 51 workers in similar exposure groups (SEGs) from each department showed daily average exposure values ​​ (AELs) ranging from 55 dB in the SEG of WCP control room operators to 109 dB in the SEG of power plant electricians. Instantaneous noise exposure values ​​ (peaks) ranged from 115 dB in the WCP mechanics’ Similar Exposure Group to 143 dB in the MSP maintenance workers’ Similar Exposure Group. 85.6% of respondents had at least 5 years of service. Hypertension (4.9%) and moderate hearing loss (0.7%) were also recorded. Conclusion: Noise pollution is a reality at the Grande Côte Opération (GCO) mine. However, the technical and organizational measures implemented by the company have helped to reduce its harmful effects on workers’ health.

Measuring the spatial impact of human activities on ecosystems is an important step towards effectively managing the changes affecting these natural areas. The objective of this study is to determine land-use dynamics and changes in vegetation cover in the Sébi-Ponty watershed in the Dakar region. To this end, we defined seven land-use classes (tree crops, water, market gardening, agricultural areas, shrub savanna, bare soil, and built-up areas). Satellite data and Landsat images from three periods (1984, 2000, and 2016) were carefully selected and analyzed. Auxiliary data (GPS surveys, topographic maps, and interviews) were also used. The analysis of changes in the land-use classes was carried out using the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) with ArcGIS software and remote sensing techniques with ENVI software. The results obtained highlighted strong dynamics within the land-use classes. This dynamic is characterized by an increase in tree farming, market gardening, and construction at the expense of bare soil, shrub savanna, and agricultural areas. During the same period, the shrub savanna has significantly declined in vitality, indicating a trend toward degradation. The values ​​of the confusion matrix and the kappa coefficient confirm this situation. These results highlight the relevance of our integrated approach, which is applicable to other similar studies.

Malnutrition, particularly among pregnant women, represents a major public health challenge in Burkina Faso due to its negative impacts on maternal and child health. This study aimed to analyze the level of knowledge of pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) regarding maternal nutrition. It specifically assessed their knowledge of the three food groups, the principles of a balanced diet, the consequences of malnutrition during pregnancy, and iron–folic acid supplementation. This was a quantitative, crosssectional, and descriptive study with prospective data collection, conducted from March 1 to April 30, 2024, at the Guimbi Ouattara Primary Health Care Center (CSPS) in BoboDioulasso. Data were collected using the Kobocollect application and analyzed with SPSS and Excel software. A composite indicator, the Maternal Nutrition Knowledge Index (MNKI), based on five domains, was developed to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of the results. The findings indicate a moderate overall level of maternal nutrition knowledge, with a global MNKI of 62.8%. Although most participants demonstrated good practical skills in composing a balanced meal, significant gaps remain regarding the identification of food groups, the recommended duration of iron–folic acid supplementation during the postpartum period, and the understanding of the consequences of inadequate nutrition during pregnancy. Women with no formal or low educational attainment, those living outside the health facility catchment area, and primigravidae in early pregnancy emerged as the most vulnerable groups, highlighting the need to strengthen targeted nutrition education and behavior change communication interventions.

Forests represent a vital component of ecosystem services, offering significant benefits. However, these vital habitats are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of invasive species. In West Africa, Azadirachta indica has been introduced for timber production, the provision of shade, land restoration, etc. This species exhibits traits such as rapid growth, high seed production, etc., which may facilitate its establishment as an invasive species. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential invasiveness of A. indica in the Delta du Saloum National Park, focusing on its abundance, temporal spread, and impact on woody species diversity. The data were collected through floristic inventories conducted in 2012, 2019 and 2022. The results indicated a consistent increase in the sites location, number and density of Azadirachta indica over the studied decades. This species demonstrates considerable capacity for natural regeneration, as evidenced by the predominance of young and diminutive individuals. The progressive dynamics of the species observed between 2012 and 2022 remain similar to those predicted for the next 10 years, providing information on future proportions with clear implications for woody flora. The presence of the species has been found to be associated with a decline in richness and diversity, as well as a change in the floristic composition of the forest. The findings of this study offer a management and control instrument that is timely, as it is being developed at a critical juncture when the proliferation of invasive species with severe ramifications typically occurs in an unanticipated manner.

Photovoltaic solar modules are in high demand in Sahel countries. Unfortunately, the intense heat reduces the performance of these modules. Cooling them is therefore recommended. One technique for cooling a photovoltaic solar module involves coupling it with a solar thermal collector to recover some of the heat produced and transfer it to a heat transfer fluid. This work is a comparative experimental study of the thermal performance of a solar thermal collector and a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) solar collector. A water-based solar thermal collector and a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) collector were designed. This experimental study consisted of monitoring the evolution of the water temperature at the inlet and outlet of each collector, the temperature at the surface of the PV-T module, the temperature of the air confined within the solar thermal collector, and the site’s solar irradiance. The results showed a maximum hot water temperature of 87°C for the solar thermal collector and 74°C for the PV-T solar collector under a maximum solar irradiance of approximately 985 W/m2. The thermal efficiency of the PV-T collector is about 0.36 times greater than that of the solar thermal collector. These results clearly demonstrate that sufficient heat can be recovered with a PV-T collector.

The present study consists in comparing pollination techniques in order to maintain the phenotypic characteristics of maize inbred lines. In fact, the objective of this work was to detect the influence of different pollination techniques on the maintenance of some characters of four maize inbred lines (i.e., REGN, CZL0919, MUL692 and CML312) in order to identify the most conservative multiplication technique of these inbred lines. To achieve this, two experiments were carried out. The first one consisted in maintaining the inbred lines according to the four techniques (selfing, SIB crossing, pollination with pollen bulk, and natural pollination in an isolated crossing block); and the second one consisted in the evaluation of their descendants (offspring) according to a split splot design with three replications at the Seed Production Center (CEPROSEM). The results of this study revealed that the selfing method presented the lowest genetic variance to the initial population. Therefore, this explains that the selfing method is the most conservative mode of multiplication. Notwithstanding, moving from one season to another, one should switch between self-fertilization (selfing) and the pollinisation with a bulk of pollen (half-sib), whether that being natural or artificial, to avoid the phenomenon of gene depression.

In this article, we propose a new one-dimensional discrete chaotic map, obtained by combining a polynomial logistic map and a sinusoidal map. Dynamic analysis of the proposed map shows that it has better chaotic properties, good ergodicity over a wide range of parameters, and a relatively large key space. Compared to classical logistic and sinusoidal maps, the proposed map exhibits improved ergodicity, with state variables uniformly distributed in the interval [0,1], confirming the dynamic superiority of the proposed map and its suitability for cryptographic and pseudo-random generation applications. Based on these properties, we propose a new image encryption algorithm using sequences from the new chaotic map. The scheme is based on a permutation phase and two a diffusion phase driven by the chaotic sequences generated by the new discrete map. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated through sensitivity tests to initial conditions and keys, key space analysis, and differential attacks. In addition, security indicators such as information entropy, NPCR, UACI, correlation coefficients, and execution time are calculated to validate the effectiveness and robustness of the encryption algorithm.

The objective of this study was to identify the psychosocial factors influencing the use of medically assisted childbirth by qualified personnel in the city of Moundou, Chad. Data were collected through targeted surveys conducted in Moundou, involving a sample of 542 women. The analysis was performed using STAT software, version 15. Binary logistic regression within a multivariate framework was used to determine the factors affecting the dependent variable. The use of assisted delivery by qualified personnel in a medical setting in the city of Moundou was influenced by women’s perception of their ability to control their behaviour (Unfavourable: OR= 0.25; p ≤ 0.01), the woman’s level of education (secondary and above: OR= 2.34; p<0.01), the woman’s age (25 to 34 years: OR= 0.43; p<0.05), marital status (not in a union: OR=0.50; p<0.10), decision-making autonomy (spouse alone: OR = 0.46; p<0.05), ethnicity (Muslim ethnicity: OR=0.19; p<0.05), religion (Muslim: OR=4.87; p<0.05), spouse’s age (20 to 29 years old: OR=0.58; p<0.10), the woman’s occupation (shopkeeper/civil servant: OR=1.74; p<0.05) and the man’s level of education (primary: OR= 0.51; p<0.05). Identifying these factors can help policymakers enhance maternal health strategies and promote equitable access to skilled birth attendance.

Rising herbicide use in the cereal-growing zones of western Burkina Faso has raised concerns about soil contamination and associated ecotoxicological risks. This study assesses soil contamination by thirteen herbicides commonly used in cereal cultivation across twelve localities in four regions of western Burkina Faso during a single agricultural season. Soil samples were collected in two phases: the first during herbicide applications and the second three months later. Residues were extracted using an adapted QuEChERS method and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results indicate spatiotemporally heterogeneous contamination, with maximum concentrations reaching 6,967 µg/kg for nicosulfuron and 1,027 µg/kg for mesotrione. Comparison with maximum allowable concentrations / predicted no-effect concentrations for soil (MAC/PNEC_soil) shows notable exceedances by factors of 10–700—signaling high risk for soil organisms and sensitive crops. Certain compounds, such as atrazine, terbuthylazine and bensulfuron-methyl, exhibit high persistence, whereas others, including nicosulfuron and prometryn, dissipate more rapidly. These findings underscore the urgency of tighter stewardship of phytosanitary practices, the implementation of sustainable management measures, and the integration of international benchmark thresholds into agricultural soil monitoring frameworks.

The lack of available phosphorus in Burkina Faso’s tropical ferruginous soils led us to produce an organic fertiliser called «Neyma compost» using local materials. The Fischer block system of 4 treatments with 3 replicates was implemented during the 2023 growing season at the Kamboinsé Centre for Environmental, Agricultural and Training Research to evaluate the performance of compost on the availability of assimilable phosphorus in cowpea crops. The treatments were the control (T0); 2 t/ha of Neyma compost incorporated during ploughing (T1); 2 t/ha of Neyma compost applied to the seed holes 15 days after sowing (T2) and 1 t/ha of Neyma compost incorporated during ploughing followed by 1 t/ha applied to the seed holes 15 days after sowing (T3). The objectives of the study were to evaluate the rate of available phosphorus in soils according to application methods, determine the most efficient application method in terms of available phosphorus content, and determine the soil properties that control phosphorus availability. The results showed that the assimilable phosphorus content was improved by approximately 21% overall through the application of Neyma compost, with the assimilable phosphorus content varying from 3.5 ppm to 6.1 ppm under the different compost application methodsThe greatest improvement in assimilable phosphorus content (56%) was achieved with the T1 application method. The availability of phosphorus varied according to the physical and chemical parameters of the soil. The methods of application and doses of Neyma compost were the main factors influencing the availability of phosphorus in the soil. Neyma compost may be a promising alternative for sustainable soil management in Burkina Faso by small-scale producers.

This study examines the sustainability of local initiatives for the valorization of plastic waste in Bukavu and their impact on youth employment creation as well as urban sanitation. For several decades, the city has faced major challenges related to poor plastic waste management, undermining urban quality of life and threatening aquatic ecosystems. In a context where plastic waste is increasingly perceived as a resource, the study draws on 34 semi-structured interviews and observations conducted with stakeholders involved in the plastic recycling value chain. The findings reveal that many youth-led organizations and enterprises are engaged in the collection, disposal, and transformation of plastic waste. Their initiatives range from manufacturing utilitarian products from recycled materials to offering training on waste management and sanitation. These efforts have led to the creation of several green jobs, thereby contributing to the improvement of the city’s cleanliness. However, these initiatives remain fragile due to multiple challenges hindering their long-term sustainability. Grounded in the theory of the circular economy, the study recommends the establishment of an innovative ecosystem that fosters collaboration among all stakeholders in the sector. Such a framework would help optimize the benefits of plastic waste valorization, create more green jobs for young people, and sustainably improve urban sanitation in Bukavu.

Hospital waste management is a major public health concern. This study analyzes the classification practices of hospital waste in the health facilities of Lubao Territory, Democratic Republic of Congo, assessing compliance with national and international standards, and identifying key challenges. Using a mixed-methods approach—surveys, direct observation, and interviews—the study finds that classification practices are often empirical and poorly aligned with regulatory standards. Key issues include lack of training, inadequate equipment, and absence of monitoring mechanisms. Recommendations are offered to improve environmental governance in healthcare facilities.

L’eau est essentielle à la survie l’Homme. Pourtant elle n’est pas assez préservée. Une eau impropre est difficile à recycler. Consommer une eau impropre est un danger sanitaire. Nous avons souhaité évaluer les habitudes de consommation de l’eau des élèves d’un lycée gabonais. Nous avons créé un formulaire, l’avons distribué aux élèves en même temps que nous leur faisions une 1ère session de sensibilisation. Après la collecte de données, les résultats statistiques ont été obtenus et fournis aux élèves lors d’une 2ème session de sensibilisation. Les élèves consommaient surtout l’eau du robinet. Malheureusement, ils gaspillaient l’eau à la maison. Leur manière de stocker l’eau restait à désirer. Leur établissement devrait faire des efforts sensibles en termes d’hygiène à proximité des points d’eau. Davantage de mesures doivent être mise en place pour sensibiliser les jeunes sur la nécessité de gérer durablement l’eau.

Following the numerous negative externalities resulting from the absence of a rational waste management system for household was is several cities of the DRC, a study was organized in the city of MBUJIMAYI. The objectives of this study were to identifify the waste disposal Profile, to verify thé degree of application of eco-taxes in waste management and to presente the revenue management protocol for these eco-taxes once they are implemented in decentralized territorial entities. To this end, a KAP survey was conducted with 477 household, in order to assess the implementation of selective sorting, the responsible behavior of differents actors involved in sanitation and to take stock of application of polluter-pays principle via eco-taxes. We used analytical techniques and chi-square statistics. The harmful effects of household wastes are unkown to 83,2% (397 out of 477 subjects surveyed), selective sorting is not respected (53,2 % or 254 out of 477 cases have only one bin), over 80 % (459 out of 477) acknowledge that they have never been subject to waste eco-taxes by their local authorities; over 80 % (452 out of 477) agree with these eco-taxes, and 45,2% propose paying a monthly amount not exceeding $5 as the fee eco-tax fee.