Canopy functional trait variation across Earth's tropical forests.

Tropical forest canopies are the biosphere's most concentrated atmospheric interface for carbon, water and energy. However, in most Earth System Models, the diverse and heterogeneous tropical forest biome is represented as a largely uniform ecosystem with either a singular or a small number of fixed canopy ecophysiological properties. This situation arises, in part, from a lack of understanding about how and why the functional properties of tropical forest canopies vary geographically.

Micronutrient status, food security, anaemia, infection, and physical activity as predictors of primary schoolchildren's body composition in Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: Stunting and overt malnutrition remain prevalent among school age children in rural areas of Côte d'Ivoire while obesity is increasing in urban areas. Associations of children's nutritional status, infection, physical activity and household characteristics with body composition were analyzed to identify what factors might be contributing to this dual burden of disease.

Methods: Longitudinal growth curve models (LGCM) evaluated associations of micronutrient status, household food security, prevalence and physical activity assessed at three time points with fat free mass and fat mass.

The anti-circumsporozoite antibody response to repeated, seasonal booster doses of the malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01.

The recently deployed RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine induces a strong antibody response to the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) on the surface of the Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite which is associated with protection. The anti-CSP antibody titre falls rapidly after primary vaccination, associated with a decline in efficacy, but the antibody titre and the protective response can be partially restored by a booster dose of vaccine, but this response is also transitory. In many malaria- endemic areas of Africa, children are at risk of malaria, including severe malaria, until they are five years of age or older and to sustain protection from malaria for this period by vaccination with RTS,S/AS01, repeated booster doses of vaccine may be required.

Acceptability of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine alongside existing malaria interventions in the trial context.

Background: The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has been shown to provide high protective efficacy against malaria in a phase III trial, and has been recommended for use by WHO. The vaccine will soon be deployed at scale in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to understand the caregiver and community acceptability of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine alongside existing malaria prevention interventions, according to the communities of participants in the seasonal R21/Matrix-M phase III trial in Mali.

Optimization and Standardization of the Extraction Method of Del. Seeds (Zygophyllaceae) Used in the Formulation of an Antiparasitic Phytomedicine.

Del. (Zygophyllaceae) is widely used in traditional medicine, both human and veterinary, throughout Africa for its many properties, including antiparasitic properties. This experimental study aims to optimize the extraction conditions of the seeds of Del.