Large-Scale Serological Survey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus and Rift Valley Fever Virus in Small Ruminants in Senegal.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and Rift Valley fever (RVF) are among the list of emerging zoonotic diseases that require special attention and priority. RVF is one of the six priority diseases selected by the Senegalese government. Repeated epidemic episodes and sporadic cases of CCHF and RVF in Senegal motivated this study, involving a national cross-sectional serological survey to assess the distribution of the two diseases in this country throughout the small ruminant population.

Farmers' production constraints, preferred varietal traits and perceptions on sorghum grain mold in Senegal.

Improving sorghum adoption rates by developing adapted varieties that meet end-user preferences is a major challenge in West Africa. In this study, a participatory rural appraisal was undertaken to identify the main sorghum production constraints, farmers' preferred variety traits and their perceptions on sorghum grain mold. The study was conducted in four representative rural communities located in the main sorghum producing area of Senegal.

Quantitative trait loci and genomic prediction for grain sugar and mineral concentrations of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.].

Development of high yielding cowpea varieties coupled with good taste and rich in essential minerals can promote consumption and thus nutrition and profitability. The sweet taste of cowpea grain is determined by its sugar content, which comprises mainly sucrose and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) including raffinose and stachyose. However, GOS are indigestible and their fermentation in the colon can produce excess intestinal gas, causing undesirable bloating and flatulence.

A natural experiment to assess how urban interventions in lower socioeconomic areas influence health behaviors: the UrbASanté study.

Background: Mechanisms underlying the associations between changes in the urban environment and changes in health-related outcomes are complex and their study requires specific approaches. We describe the protocol of the interdisciplinary UrbASanté study, which aims to explore how urban interventions can modify environmental exposures (built, social, and food environments; air quality; noise), health-related behaviors, and self-reported health using a natural experiment approach.

Methods: The study is based on a natural experiment design using a before/after protocol with a control group to assess changes in environmental exposures, health-risk behaviors, and self-reported health outcomes of a resident adult population before and after the implementation of a time series of urban interventions in four contiguous neighborhoods in Paris (France).

Molecular Engineering of the Kinetic Barrier in Seeded Supramolecular Polymerization.

Seeded supramolecular polymerization (SSP) is a method that enables the controlled synthesis of supramolecular structures. SSP often relies on structures that are capable of self-assembly by interconverting between intramolecular and intermolecular modes of hydrogen bonding, characterized by a given kinetic barrier that is typically low. The control of the polymerization process is thus limited by the propensity of the hydrogen bonds to interconvert between the intramolecular and intermolecular modes of binding.

Entomological monitoring data driving decision-making for appropriate and sustainable malaria vector control in Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: Entomological surveillance provides critical information on vectors for appropriate malaria vector control and strategic decision-making. The widely documented insecticide resistance of malaria vectors in Côte d'Ivoire requires that any vector control intervention deployment be driven by entomological data to optimize its effectiveness and appropriate resource allocations. To achieve this goal, this study documents the results of monthly vector surveillance and insecticide susceptibility tests conducted in 2019 and a review of all previous entomological monitoring data used to guide vector control decision making.

Quantitative and population genomics suggest a broad role of stay-green loci in the drought adaptation of sorghum.

Drought is a major constraint on plant productivity globally. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landraces have evolved in drought-prone regions, but the genetics of their adaptation is poorly understood.

A genomics resource for genetics, physiology, and breeding of West African sorghum.

Local landrace and breeding germplasm is a useful source of genetic diversity for regional and global crop improvement initiatives. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in western Africa (WA) has diversified across a mosaic of cultures and end uses and along steep precipitation and photoperiod gradients.

Phenotypic plasticity of plant traits contributing to grain and biomass yield of dual-purpose sorghum.

Plant traits of interest for sorghum breeders to develop dual-purpose varieties are stem diameter, flag leaf size, crop cycle, and number of grains per panicle. To develop dual-purpose varieties, breeders need to improve traits linked both to grain and biomass production. To identify these traits, we studied the phenotypic plasticity of eighteen traits and the performance of ten contrasting sorghum genotypes, used in West Africa.

Body composition and determinant factors among mother-child pairs (6-8 months) in rural areas of Senegal.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between selected characteristics and body composition of mothers and children in early life. This study included 213 mother-child pairs 6 to 8 months involving in the cohort study of the Research and Development Project conducted in Kaffrine district. The main outcomes were fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF), measured using deuterium dilution method and anthropometry.

Susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae from Côte d'Ivoire to insecticides used on insecticide-treated nets: evaluating the additional entomological impact of piperonyl butoxide and chlorfenapyr.

Background: Pyrethroid-treated mosquito nets are currently the mainstay of vector control in Côte d'Ivoire. However, resistance to pyrethroids has been reported across the country, limiting options for insecticide resistance management due to the paucity of alternative insecticides. Two types of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), ITNs with pyrethroids and the synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO), and Interceptor®G2 nets, a net treated with a combination of chlorfenapyr and alpha-cypermethrin, are believed to help in the control of pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes.

Orchestrating Communications in a Three-Type Chirality Totem: Remote Control of the Chiroptical Response of a Möbius Aromatic System.

Among the various types of chirality (central, axial, helical, planar, etc.), that inherent to Möbius topology remains almost unexplored, partly due to the difficulty to access Möbius compounds. Over the past decade, [28]hexaphyrins have been revealed to be among the best candidates to build on Möbius aromaticity.

Genomic signatures of adaptation to Sahelian and Soudanian climates in sorghum landraces of Senegal.

Uncovering the genomic basis of climate adaptation in traditional crop varieties can provide insight into plant evolution and facilitate breeding for climate resilience. In the African cereal sorghum ( L. [Moench]), the genomic basis of adaptation to the semiarid Sahelian zone versus the subhumid Soudanian zone is largely unknown.

[Conservative medical treatment of œso-tracheal fistula].

œso-tracheal fistulas are a pathological condition characterized by an abnormal communication between the tracheal tree and the esophagus. We here report a clinical case of œso-tracheal fistula due to the ingestion of a foreign body in order to highlight its etiopathogenesis, to evaluate our therapeutic approach and to do a literature review. The study involved a 15 year old patient admitted with dysphagia evolving over the last two months following the ingestion of a foreign body (a piece of bone).

The genetic basis of drought tolerance in the high oil crop Sesamum indicum.

Unlike most of the important food crops, sesame can survive drought but severe and repeated drought episodes, especially occurring during the reproductive stage, significantly curtail the productivity of this high oil crop. Genome-wide association study was conducted for traits related to drought tolerance using 400 diverse sesame accessions, including landraces and modern cultivars. Ten stable QTLs explaining more than 40% of the phenotypic variation and located on four linkage groups were significantly associated with drought tolerance related traits.

Identification of QTL controlling domestication-related traits in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp).

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a warm-season legume with a genetically diverse gene-pool composed of wild and cultivated forms. Cowpea domestication involved considerable phenotypic changes from the wild progenitor, including reduction of pod shattering, increased organ size, and changes in flowering time.

A multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population for genetic analysis and improvement of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.).

Multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) populations are an emerging type of resource for dissecting the genetic structure of traits and improving breeding populations. We developed a MAGIC population for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.

Functional Characterization of the Versatile MYB Gene Family Uncovered Their Important Roles in Plant Development and Responses to Drought and Waterlogging in Sesame.

The gene family constitutes one of the largest transcription factors (TFs) modulating various biological processes in plants. Although genome-wide analysis of this gene family has been carried out in some species, only three members have been functionally characterized heretofore in sesame ( L.).

Development of Highly Informative Genome-Wide Single Sequence Repeat Markers for Breeding Applications in Sesame and Construction of a Web Resource: SisatBase.

The sequencing of the full nuclear genome of sesame ( L.) provides the platform for functional analyses of genome components and their application in breeding programs. Although the importance of microsatellites markers or simple sequence repeats (SSR) in crop genotyping, genetics, and breeding applications is well established, only a little information exist concerning SSRs at the whole genome level in sesame.

Transcriptomic, biochemical and physio-anatomical investigations shed more light on responses to drought stress in two contrasting sesame genotypes.

Sesame is an important oilseed crop with a high oil quality. It is prone to drought stress in the arid and semi-arid areas where it is widely grown. This study aims to decipher the response of tolerant (DT) and sensitive (DS) genotypes to progressive drought based on transcriptome, biochemical and physio-anatomical characterizations.

The Emerging Oilseed Crop Enters the "Omics" Era.

Sesame ( L.) is one of the oldest oilseed crops widely grown in Africa and Asia for its high-quality nutritional seeds. It is well adapted to harsh environments and constitutes an alternative cash crop for smallholders in developing countries.