in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).Solid foam matrices have been recently introduced and present a highly permeable porous structure with a high porosity (0.60-0.95), which enables a considerably reduction of the pressure drops along the catalyst bed even with a high specific surface area. It appears today that despite the hydrodynamics of trickle-bed reactors operating with conventional packings (spheres, extrudates, monoliths, etc.) has become largely documented in the recent literature, trickle-bed hydrodynamic behaviour with solid foam packings, on the contrary, largely remains terra incognita. In this context, two phases flows (air-water) in solid foams under cocurrent trickle flow conditions were analyzed in a fixed-bed at ambient conditions. From Residence Time Distribution (RTD) curves, a new set of experimental data based on the hydrodynamics parameters (pressure drop and liquid holdup) of solid foams are presented. A model based on a cubic lattice approach developed in previous work is used to calculate the equivalent diameter for solid foam packings. Finally, through the modified Eo¨tvo¨s number and the relative permeability concept, the two-phase pressure drop and liquid holdup are well estimated. These news results are important parameters for the design of new process in trickle flow conditions with solid foam packing.

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in males and the sixth leading cause of cancer mortality in men with a relatively higher death rate in men of African descent. In the United States and other parts of Europe, more than 80% of diagnosed prostate cancer is localized, and 80-90% of these men receive some form of treatment. The projected data may not be a direct reflection of the disease in the sub-Saharan region as less than 40% presents with localized disease. Results from prostate cancer screening have shown that most African men in the sub-region have little knowledge of the disease. There are recommended international guidelines for the management of localized prostate cancer, however, a guideline in a local context could be ideal.

Urolithiasis is a global pathology with increasing prevalence rate. The lifetime recurrence of urolithiasis ranges from 10–75% creating a public health crisis in affected regions. The epidemiology of urolithiasis in most parts of Africa and Asia remains poorly documented as incidence and prevalence rates in these settings are extrapolated from hospital admissions. The surgical management of kidney and ureteral stones is based on the stone location, size, the patient’s preference and the institutional capacity. To date, the available modalities in the management of urolithiasis includes external shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), ureterorenoscopy (URS) including flexible and semirigid ureteroscopy. However, regarding the lack of endourological equipment and expertise in most parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), most urological centers in these regions still consider open surgery for kidney and ureteral stones. This review explores the current trend and surgical management of upper tract urolithiasis in SSA with insight on the available clinical guidelines.

The purpose of this study was to assess the cross-cultural validity of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale short form C, in a large sample of French-speaking participants from eight African countries and Switzerland. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses suggested retaining a two-factor structure. Item bias detection according to country was conducted for all 13 items and effect was calculated with R2. For the two-factor solution, 9 items were associated with a negligible effect size, 3 items with a moderate one, and 1 item with a large one. A series of analyses of covariance considering the acquiescence variable as a covariate showed that the acquiescence tendency does not contribute to the bias at item level. This research indicates that the psychometric properties of this instrument do not reach a scalar equivalence but that a culturally reliable measurement of social desirability could be developed.

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