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Fishermen migration and Small Pelagic fishing in west Africa: dynamics and Issues. The objective of this article is to present the trends in the flows of migrant fishermen targeting small pelagic fish in West Africa from fishing locations to consumption areas. The methodology involved identifying the different migrant small pelagic fish supply chains in various West African countries. Subsequently, field research in collaboration with national research institutions and a synthesis of regional studies on migrant fishing were conducted. These efforts allowed for an analysis of developments in terms of actors involved, volumes and values of catches, and the forms of processing and marketing of products from migrant fishing supply chains during the period from 2008 to 2018. The quantities of pelagic fish caught by migrant fishermen are increasingly significant. The production of migrant fishing for small pelagic fish has nearly doubled over a decade, going from an average of 180,200 tonnes in the period from 2008 to 2012 to a current average production of nearly 324,500 tonnes. More than 48% of this production is sold on the market fresh or frozen. More than 74,800 tonnes (or 23%) and 94,000 tonnes (or 28%) are respectively destined for artisanal and industrial processing. Migrant fisheries thus supply the industrial processing sector more than they do the artisanal processing sector. Consequently, over the past decade, migrant supply chains have contributed to the emergence of fishmeal factories in West Africa, leading to an increase in food insecurity. Furthermore, their contribution to local economies is increasingly significant. However, despite their substantial growth in terms of volumes and values of catches, migrant fisheries still operate outside of legislative frameworks and are not explicitly accounted for in national statistics. Additionally, conflicts are on the rise due to current tensions and issues surrounding the exploitation of small pelagic fish in West Africa. © 2023 Lavoisier, Paris. Tous droits réservés [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of African Higher Education is the property of International Network for Higher Education in Africa (INHEA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The interest in developing large-scale irrigation schemes to meet the food security challenges of Sahelian countries remains the subject of numerous criticisms regarding the negative effects of their setting up and operation: land grabbing, environmental degradation, increased household vulnerability, etc. Some of these criticisms are made by civil societies and populations affected by development projects, who feel that it is unfair to be deprived of the management of their land and the resources it contains. In this article, based on three case studies – Sélingué in Mali, Bagré in Burkina Faso and the Compagnie Agricole de Saint-Louis in Senegal – we show that conflicts over irrigated land are indicative of the population demands for greater justice in the governance of irrigated schemes. To carry out our analysis, Fraser's theoretical framework of social justice and its three dimensions (redistribution, recognition, participation) are exposed to analyze the claims expressed by the actors for the recognition of their land rights. Noting the relations of domination within our three irrigated schemes, we discuss the different dimensions of social justice in the governance of land through the analysis of the conditions of actors' settlement. Finally, we suggest that a "commons approach" could help place actors' justice issues at the heart of a fairer governance of projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: One of the main health problems in West Africa remains upsurge of emerging pathogens. Ebola virus disease outbreak occurred in 2014 in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, Monkeypox virus in Nigeria in 2017 and most recently Lassa virus in Nigeria, Togo and Benin in 2018. These pathogens have animal reservoirs as vectors for transmission. Proper investigation of the pathogens in their rodent vectors could help reduce and manage their emergence and spread. Methodology: This study was conducted with an approval from the Côte d'Ivoire Bioethics Community. Small mammal trappings were carried out in 9 sites within three zones namely, peri-urban, peri-rural and protected areas. Liver, lung and kidney tissues from trapped small mammals were sampled in accordance with the recommended conditions of biosafety and bioethics. The organs were transported in liquid nitrogen to the laboratory. Molecular tests were used to detect pathogens. Orthopoxviruses and Monkeypox virus were detected in the organs by PCR using consensus primers targeting the virus surface membrane haemagglutinin (HA) genes, while Leptospira species were detected by PCR using primers targeting the rrs and lfb1 genes. Results: Out of 4930 night-traps, 256 (5.19%) small mammals were trapped including Crocidura, Rattus, Lophuromys, Praomys, Mus and Mastomys. Leptospira species were detected in 6 genera from 7 study sites and the infected small mammals accounted for 13.3%. Leptospira sp was detected mainly in the rodent vector genera Rattus (32.3%), Lophuromys (29.0%), and Praomys (16.1%). Three species of Leptospira were detected and Leptospira interrogans was the most common frequent species (74.2%). Monkeypox virus was not detected from studied small mammals. Conclusion: The initial data from our investigation indicates the presence of Leptospira sp in rodent vectors, Rattus, Lophuromys and Praomys, which are the potential small mammalian reservoirs of this pathogen in Cote d'Ivoire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Review of African Political Economy is the property of Review of Political Economy (ROAPE) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement is the property of Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Abstract: This article addresses the commitments of ECOWAS to citizen perspectives, and it underlines the added value of scientifi c research in the successful achievement of regional integration for West Africans. Specifi - cally, it asks, how can the eff ectiveness and relevance of academic studies be used to enhance economic growth and social development? The creation of the West Africa Institute (WAI), a research center and think tank dedicated to regional integration and social transformations, was a major step in the search for adequate local and regional development solutions fi 􀄴 ing with the West African context. WAI works with a participatory approach, promoting free debates among policy makers, open spaces for dialogue, and exchange among all social actors concerned with issues of regional integration and social transformation. Resumen: Este artículo analiza los compromisos de la CEDEAO en términos de perspectivas ciudadanas y enfatiza el valor agregado de la investigación científi ca en el éxito de la integración regional para África Occidental. Específi camente, pregunta cómo la efi ciencia y relevancia de los estudios universitarios pueden usarse para mejorar el crecimiento económico y el desarrollo social. La creación del Instituto de África Occidental (IAO) fue un paso importante en la búsqueda de soluciones para un desarrollo apropiado, adaptado a los contextos local y regional de África Occidental. La IAO trabaja con un enfoque participativo promoviendo el fl ujo libre de debates entre los tomadores de decisiones y espacios abiertos para el diálogo e intercambio entre todos los actores sociales interesados en temas de integración regional y transformación social. Résumé: Cet article traite des engagements de la CEDEAO en matière de perspectives citoyennes et met l'accent sur la valeur ajoutée de la recherche scientifi que dans la réussite de l'intégration régionale pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Plus précisément, il étudie comment l'effi cacité et la pertinence de la recherche scientifi que peuvent être utilisées pour améliorer la croissance économique et le développement social. La création de l'Institut de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (IAO), un centre de recherche et un groupe de réfl exion dédié à l'intégration régionale et aux transformations sociales, a été une étape majeure dans la recherche de solutions de développement local et régional adéquates adaptées au contexte ouest-africain. L'IAO travaille avec une approche participative, favorisant la libre circulation des débats entre les décideurs et des espaces ouverts pour le dialogue et l'échange entre tous les acteurs sociaux concernés par les questions d'intégration régionale et de transformation sociale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Présence Francophone is the property of College of Holy Cross, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

West Africa is a core producer of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), supplying 45% of the commodity on the global market. Despite this huge share of the international market, only 10% of the commodity is processed and consumed domestically. The low rate of consumption is reflected by low investment in the cashew industry, making the crop underutilised as a food and nutrition security crop in the region. The objective of this study was to analyse the trends in production, levels of consumption and export of the crop in West Africa, as a basis for informing strategic development interventions. This work utilised metadata from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation database, Nitidae and other relevant sources to explore the production, consumption and export patterns of cashew from the year 2000 up to 2017. The metadata used were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that eleven (Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, The Gambia, Senegal, and Togo) of the sixteen countries in West Africa were actively engaged in cashew production. It was also projected that production will decline in the next five years in countries such as Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, and Burkina Faso due to a reduction in the land under cashew cultivation, an increase in pest and disease infestations, coupled with a decline in genetic improvement and poor extension services. Production will remain stable in The Gambia and Guinea Bissau because most trees there are yet to hit the peak of production; and of reduced investment in research and development. Cashew consumption locally is dismal (<10% across the region) due to limited attention given to the processing industry in the region. To boost local production and consumption, as well maintain the 45% share of the international market in the next five years and beyond, it is essential to invest in genetic improvement, modification of agronomic practices, and investment in the processing industry, as well as research and development of the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Agricultural & Resource Economics is the property of African Association of Agricultural Economists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Review of African Political Economy is the property of Review of Political Economy (ROAPE) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Body dissatisfaction and eating disorders (ED) among young females may increase in limited-resource settings as exposure to media and higher-resource cultures increases. We examined ED prevalence and its predictors among adolescent girls in rural north-western Burkina Faso.Methods: Fieldworkers interviewed 696 female adolescents aged 12-20 years in the Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). ED were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), self-perceived appearance and body ideal were measured using Thompson and Gray's Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS) and eating disorder predictors by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). We assessed media exposure to magazines, radio, television, and the internet.Results: 16% of respondents had a BMI below WHO age-standardised 5th percentile, while 4% were above the 85th percentile; most respondents wanted to be larger. DSM-5 criteria for anorexia nervosa (AN) were fulfilled by four of 696 respondents (0.6%), those for bulimia nervosa by none, and those for binge eating disorder by two (0.3%). In multivariable regression, more AN symptoms were associated with greater EDE-Q body dissatisfaction, desiring a thinner body and a history of sexual harassment or assault, but not with media exposure. A thinner desired body was associated with greater media exposure, higher BMI z-score and greater EDE-Q disordered eating.Conclusion: ED were very rare in rural Burkinabé female adolescents, but factors predictive of ED in higher-resource settings were also predictive of ED precursor symptoms here. Our findings suggest that increasing media exposure in resource-limited settings may lead to increased body dissatisfaction, and potentially to increased future ED prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an approach combining quantitative and qualitative data, this article examines the reconfigurations of male roles induced by women's increased participation in the labour market and in household spending in Dakar and Lomé. These changes marginally affect men's involvement in domestic work and their contribution remains limited, occasional and focused on certain very specific tasks, and even more so in Dakar than in Lomé. Alongside a dominant masculinity based on the idealized male breadwinner model, other practices seem to emerge, taking place in the private sphere of the home, and mainly with regard to the education of children. But these are a further extension of the role of household head and represent forced reconfigurations of male practices that have lost their usual field of expression and structure (providing materially for the family). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining boom in Africa has raised many questions both as regards regional development in mining areas and the synergies between private and public sectors. The position taken by the mining company and the States and the inequalities between the different actors participate in creating uncertainty in the public-private relation and its perception. Through research and expertise conducted between 2008 and 2016 in West Africa, we propose to re-examine the stakeholder roles and responsibilities in building synergies between the private and public sectors. We will explore strategies deployed on both sides to understand interests that influence implementation of policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Réseaux (07517971) is the property of Editions La Decouverte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This updated checklist of Marchantiophyta (liverworts) and Anthocerotophyta (hornworts) of Togo was compiled from the literature, from herbarium and recent collections. A total of 56 species including three infraspecific taxa of liverworts and hornworts are recorded for Togo comprising 55 liverworts and one hornwort in 15 families and 29 genera. 14 species are newly reported for Togo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish is the main source of animal protein in the coastal areas of West Africa, including Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. The problem of the conservation and storage of landed fish is a major societal challenge in these countries because of the lack of industrial infrastructures. Traditional food processing is then the only way for fish preservation and reduction of post-capture losses. Various local processed fish such as adjuevan (Côte d'Ivoire), lanhouin (Benin) and guedj (Senegal), whose processes include salting, fermentation and drying, are available to consumers. They are generally used as condiments or sometimes as major sources of animal protein to enrich the nutritional intake of local cereal-based foods. Traditional technologies are inexpensive because of the rudimentary equipment used. The non-standardization of production techniques including fermentation, usually spontaneous, contributes to a very fluctuating quality. This synthesis study highlights the different fermentation approaches leading to the various targeted products, the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of these products, the initiatives of quality improvement mainly based on the use of starters as well as societal challenges (strengthening research, local actors training, marketing support) for economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mondes en Developpement is the property of De Boeck Universite and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Culture & Local Governance / Culture et Gouvernance Locale is the property of Culture & Local Governance, Centre on Governance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fissidens ezukanmae Brugg.-Nann., sp. nov. belonging to Fissidens subgen. Aloma Kindb. is described and figured from material collected on termite mounds in Nigeria. This species closely resembles the pantropical F. pellucidus Hornsch. from which it differs in having mammillose cells as well as limbidia on the mid and upper leaves of perichaetial plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Economic Botany is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper we present the results of archaeological research at the Late Stone Age site of Diallowali, located along the western edge of the Middle Senegal Valley, northern Senegal. As the occupation spans the period between 3100-2400 years BP, it is contemporary with few other West African sites, and therefore represents a unique – and uniquely detailed – archive. Excavations conducted between 2014–2017 revealed deeply stratified and dense deposits, yielding more than 5,000 kg of pottery and 169 kg of faunal material – the largest faunal assemblage of any site in West Africa. Thus, the present study focuses on the zooarchaeological data and their implications for shifting environmental conditions, subsistence practices, and social institutions at the site. The faunal assemblage reflects the exploitation of a remarkable diversity of wild animals, including a range of bovids, suids, carnivores, rodents, hippopotami, birds, and various aquatic resources – representing local conditions at the end of the African Humid Period. Interestingly, the consistent presence of domestic livestock, as well as Bos taurus figurines and ceramic 'arm-bands' throughout the occupation support a connection to Saharan agro-pastoral communities possibly escaping the Late Holocene aridification. Therefore, the keeping of low numbers of Bos taurus and Ovis/Capra , while maintaining a high reliance on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants, likely functioned as a risk-buffering strategy to manage against environmentally unpredictable periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In HIV-infected patients thromboembolic disease is a complication linked to heightened risk. In Ivory Coast no study has been conducted on HIVinfected patients treated in HIV Services. The aim of our study is to describe HIV-associated thromboembolic manifestations in patients treated or untreated with antiretroviral drugs whose data were collected in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Service (ITDS). We conducted a retrospective study by reviewing the medical records of HIV-infected patients hospitalized with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), arterial thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism over the period January 2005-July 2015. Diagnosis was based on Doppler ultrasound of vessels and/or on thoracic angioscanner. Diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary features of thromboembolic manifestations in these patients were analyzed. The medical records of 36 patients, including 23 women (64%), with a sex-ratio M/F of 0.57 and an average age of 43±12 years were selected. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was found in 26 (72.2%) patients, pulmonary embolism (PE) in 9 (25%) patients and arterial thrombosis in 1 patient (2.8%). DVT was unilateral in 81% of cases and predominantly left-sided in 77% of cases. PE was unilateral and right-sided in 100% of cases while arterial thrombosis was bilateral in 2.7% of cases. In patients with DVT, the femoral vein (39%) and the popliteal vein (35%) were most commonly affected by thrombosis. PE involved the pulmonary arteries in 77.8% of cases while arterial thrombosis involved the left and right internal carotid. The majority of patients was under antiretroviral treatment (69%). The most commonly associated opportunistic infections included oral candidiasis (31%) and tuberculosis (33%). Nine patients died (25%). This study highlights high rates of DVT in HIV-infected patients. Other studies are necessary to better understand the role of HIV in the occurrence of thromboembolic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cotrimoxazole (CTX) should be given to all HIV-infected adults with mild or severe HIV-disease or those with CD4 counts below 350/mm3 according to 2006 WHO guidelines. We assessed the impact of CTX prophylaxis on the risk of malaria episodes in HIV-1-infected adults from four West African countries with different patterns of malaria transmission.Method: Multicentric cohort study, conducted between September 2007 and March 2010 in four West African cities. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve HIV-infected adults started CTX at enrolment (CTX group) if they had CD4 < 350 cells/mm3 or were at WHO clinical stage ≥2. For patients who did not start CTX at enrolment (non-CTX group) and started CTX afterwards, follow-up was censored at CTX initiation. We used Cox's proportional hazard model to compare the risk of malaria between CTX groups.Results: A total of 514 participants (median CD4 count 238 cells/mm3 ) were followed for a median of 15 months. At enrolment, 347 started CTX, and 261 started ART. During the follow-up, 28 started CTX. The incidence of malaria was 8.7/100 PY (95%CI 6.3-11.5) overall, 5.2/100 PY (95%CI 3.1-8.3) in the CTX group and 15.5/100 PY (95%CI 10.3-22.1) in the non-CTX group. In multivariate analysis, CTX led to a 69% reduction in the risk of malaria (aHR 0.31, 95%CI 0.10-0.90).Conclusion: Patients in the CTX group had an adjusted risk of malaria three times lower than those in the non-CTX group. The prolonged large-scale use of CTX did not blunt the efficacy of CTX to prevent malaria in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Anthropology / Anthropologie Sociale is the property of Berghahn Books and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Monastery research not only throws light on little-known aspects of Christianity in Africa, but also can make an important contribution to the understanding of the processes of social change and debates on globalization in African societies. The contemplative orders develop alternative economic forms, interact with their local environment, and build transnational networks or integrate into them. They emerge as local and transnational actors, change in the course of these processes, and contribute to the social change in the societies in which they participate. This interaction is the focus of the article, which is based on the analysis of a case study, a Benedictine abbey in Koubri, near the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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Copyright of Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue Canadienne des Études Africaines is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

West Africa, in this article, is used as an analytical framework for examining communication research from a diachronic perspective. The text is based on a literature review through which the author analyzed a corpus on West African work (articles in scientific journals, grey literature, and books on African communication research). After briefly sketching scientific production trends at the continental level, the author provides a historiography of West African communication research from the 1940s onwards. The substantial contribution of the subfield of philosophy of communication and the foundational orientation that it has lent to research, especially in the 1980s, are then reviewed in greater detail. Particular attention is paid to Francophone communication and gender research. Finally, the article identifies the discernible trends guiding the future agenda of communication research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Hubert segmentation procedure has been applied to historical series of annual average discharges of the Niger River at Koulikoro (Mali), Niamey (Niger) and Lokoja (Nigeria) stations. The breaks, especially those identified at Koulikoro and Niamey, match well with those identified in the Senegal River series at Bakel using the same procedure. Lokoja departs from this regional pattern, as it shows in the late 1980s a return to wetter conditions much earlier than the other three stations. The magnitudes of the variation of the inter-annual means between the alternating wet and dry periods are significant and similar. These results seem to suggest that phenomena causing non-stationarity in hydrological series can have a sub-continental impact or, in contrast, may be more limited in their spatial coverage. Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor H. Aksoy Citation Abrate, T., Hubert, P., and Sighomnou, D., 2013. A study on hydrological series of the Niger River. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (2), 271–279. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Le changement climatique est une réalité qui affecte plusieurs variables climatiques dont les précipitations. Néanmoins, son impact sur les évènements extrêmes et en particulier sur les pluies journalières extrêmes n'est pas encore certain car peu de travaux y ont été consacrés en Afrique de l'Ouest. Dans ce contexte, il a été proposé de détecter d'éventuels tendances et ruptures dans les propriétés statistiques (moyenne, variance) des pluies journalières extrêmes à l'aide de tests statistiques locaux et régionaux. Pour détecter ces changements, les indices caractérisant la pluie maximale journalière annuelle (PJmaxan), le nombre annuel de jours de pluie dépassant 50 mm (NJsup50) et la contribution des pluies dépassant 50 mm dans les cumuls annuels (R(PJsup50/Pan)) ont été définis. L'analyse de 44 postes pluviométriques en Côte d'Ivoire sur la période 1942–2002 ne montre pas de changement généralisé ni en moyenne, ni en variance. Toutefois, en subdivisant la Côte d'Ivoire en régions climatiques homogènes, des tendances à la baisse ont été observées dans les régions IV (au Nord) et II (au Sud-Est). Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz; Assistant editeur G. Mahé Citation Goula, A.B.T., Gneneyougo Soro, E., Kouassi, W. et Srohourou, B., 2012. Tendances et ruptures au niveau des pluies journalières extrêmes en Côte d'Ivoire (Afrique de l'Ouest). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (6), 1067–1080. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six colour phases are currently known in the genus Dasypeltis in West Africa, three in the D. scabra complex and three in the D. fasciata complex. Molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals that all correspond to distinct species. D. parascabra sp. nov. is described from wet savannah areas of Guinea and Ivory Coast. D. latericia is given full specific rank. The validity of D. sahelensis, D. gansi and D. confusa – three species recently described on the basis of colour pattern and biogeography – is confirmed. D. fasciata is confined to rain forest areas of West and Central Africa. D. scabra is absent from West Africa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

En Afrique tropicale, de nombreuses études sur la variabilité climatique montrent qu'une tendance à la sécheresse s'est manifestée à partir de la fin des années 1960. Cette sécheresse a affecté aussi l'hydrosystème Mono-Couffo, en Afrique de l'Ouest, avec une persistance remarquable qui s'est répercutée sur les écoulements. Depuis 1988, avec la mise en eau du barrage de Nangbéto, qui coïncide avec une légère reprise pluviométrique dans les années 1990, on assiste à une modification du régime hydrologique du Mono à Athiémé. Les méthodes statistiques appliquées aux données mensuelles de pluie et débit de la période 1961–2000 ont permis de constater que les déficits pluviométriques des décennies 1970 et 1980 ont engendré des déficits de l'écoulement. Mais, avec la légère reprise pluviométrique (2%) de 1988 à 2000, on assiste à un excédent d'écoulement de 37% sur le Mono à Athiémé à régime « artificiel » depuis 1988; et, par contre, pas d'excédent (0,1%) sur le Couffo à Lanta à régime « naturel ». Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz Citation Amoussou, E., Camberlin, P. et Mahé, G., 2012. Impact de la variabilité climatique et du barrage Nangbéto sur l'hydrologie du système Mono-Couffo (Ouest Afrique). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (4), 805–817. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Revue de Micropaleontologie is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

From some 30 million inhabitants in 1900 West African population has risen to 306 million in 2010. Within one century this under-populated region which used to display landscapes often unscarred by human action has turned into a highly anthropized, densely populated region. The three major factors of this evolution have been high rural density (from a maximum of 25 inhabitants/km2 in 1892 to over 100 inhabitants/km2 nowadays), rapid urbanization (from 10 % of urban people in 1950 to 50 % predicted for 2020) and a dramatic degradation of vegetation in savannah, forest and mangrove areas. The population will continue to grow and is expected to reach between 550 to 700 million inhabitants in 2050, depending respectively on low or high hypotheses. It is worthwhile speculating about the evolution of land settlement and landscapes and the already strained relationships between humans, resources and the environment in population enclaves which in addition will be subjected to high climatic variability. To prevent a generalization of conflicts and their fatal consequences on sustainable development (education, accommodation, health), it is advisable to accurately appraise the challenges Western Africa will have to face 50 years from now and also to become aware that none of these challenges can be met without taking into consideration the interrelations existing between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose of the study: Very few is known on genotype II hepatitis A virus (HAV) since it is rarely isolated. From 2002 to 2007, the French observatory of HAV identified six sub-genotype IIA strains of which one from a patient having travelled to West Africa. To investigate the possible African origin of sub-genotype IIA, we determined its prevalence among French travellers in 2008 and characterised its genetic variability. Patients and methods: The 2008 mandatory notification records were screened for travel to Africa. Viral genotype was determined on the nucleotide sequencing of the VP1/2A junction region. The P1 region coding for capsid proteins was used to compare the genetic diversity of IIA isolates to those of other genotypes. Results: In 2008, five out of 54 patients returning from West Africa were infected by IIA strains and an additional “autochthonous” case was identified. Two more African cases were identified in 2009. A total of 14 IIA isolates (eight African and six “autochthonous”) were analysed. Nucleotide and amino-acid variability of IIA sequences was lower than that of the other genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the clustering of two “autochthonous” cases with African isolates whereas the other ones belonged to a different lineage. Conclusion: Most IIA strains isolated in France are imported by travellers returning from West Africa. However, the unexplained contamination mode of some “autochthonous” cases suggests another geographical origin to discover or a French reservoir to explore. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of African Population Studies is the property of Union for African Population Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Objective: We studied the evolution of drug combinations used, as well as the clinical and immunological profile of patients at initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) between 1996 and 2006 in West Africa. Settings and method: IeDEA West Africa is a network of HIV care programs established in 2006. We analyzed data from 12 clinical centers treating adults in five countries: Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Gambia, and Mali. Patients 16 years of age or over were included in the study and the following was documented: sex, date of birth and date of initiation of HAART. Results: We included 14,496 adult patients having started HAART, among these 55 % had started HAART between 2005–2006. The proportion of HIV-infected women increased from 46 % in 1996–2000 to 63 % in 2005–2006. The median age at HAART initiation remained constant: 35 years for women and 40 years for men. The proportion of patients having started HAART with a CD4 count<200 cells/μl was 54 % in 1996–2000, and 64 % in 2005–2006. The most frequently prescribed HAART was: AZT/3TC (or d4T/DDI)/IDV (27 %) in 1996–2000; d4T (or AZT)/3TC/EFV (49 %) in 2003–2004, and d4T/3TC/NVP (49 %) in 2005–2006. Conclusion: The first line HAART regimen recommended by WHO was initiated in 83 % of cases in 2005–2006. New approaches to an earlier initiation of ART should be explored to reduce mortality in HIV-infected patients on HAART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Research conducted in the Yamé Valley (Dogon Country, Mali) provides valuable information about the river systems and their Holocene evolution in Sudano-Sahelian West Africa. Past research in the region has relied primarily on marine and lacustrine records. The new results confirm correlation between palaeoclimatic fluctuations recorded in both the river system and in tropical African lakes. They offer a new continental milestone for understanding of the environmental repercussions of Holocene monsoon oscillations. These studies demonstrate the value of river systems as a palaeoenvironmental record and the role of palaeoclimatic and anthropogenic factors in the Holocene dynamics of Sudano-Sahelian hydrosystems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Mycology / Journal de Mycologie Médicale is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cahiers de Recherche Sociologique is the property of Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Department de Sociologie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)