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Abstract Transhumants move their herds based on strategies simultaneously considering several environmental and socio-economic factors. There is no agreement on the influence of each factor in these strategies. In addition, there is a discussion about the social aspect of transhumance and how to manage pastoral space. In this context, agent-based modeling can analyze herd movements according to the strategy based on factors favored by the transhumant. This article presents a reductionist agent-based model that simulates herd movements based on a single factor. Model simulations based on algorithms to formalize the behavioral dynamics of transhumants through their strategies. The model results establish that vegetation, water outlets and the socio-economic network of transhumants have a significant temporal impact on transhumance. Water outlets and the socio-economic network have a significant spatial impact. The significant impact of the socio-economic factor demonstrates the social dimension of Sahelian transhumance. Veterinarians and markets have an insignificant spatio-temporal impact. To manage pastoral space, water outlets should be at least $$15\ km$$ 15 k m from each other. The construction of veterinary centers, markets and the securitization of transhumance should be carried out close to villages and rangelands.

Abstract Background The episodic nature of gout and diagnostic uncertainty in the absence of microcrystal evidence make it particularly difficult to estimate the frequency of gout. Our aim was to review the literature on the epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of gout in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods This literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE database (via PUBMED), Google Scholar, and conference abstracts. The selection process was based on reading the titles first, then the abstracts, and then the full texts once the articles had been selected. Studies were included in this review if they presented original findings on the epidemiological and/or diagnostic aspects of gout in sub-Saharan Africa. Two groups of two investigators independently reviewed the studies. The results were analysed descriptively. Results The literature search identified 131 articles and 22 conference abstracts. Nineteen articles were included in our review. Twelve studies were retrospective, five were cross-sectional, one was prospective, and one was both retrospective and cross-sectional. The duration of the studies ranged from 1 to 15 years, and the sample size ranged from 15 to 511 patients, for a total of 2557 patients. Gout was quite common, with a maximum frequency of 11.87%. Fourteen articles diagnosed gout via criteria, including 9 studies totaling 1174 patients via the 1977 ACR criteria. Gout tophi were reported in 15 articles involving 464 patients. Of these studies, seven looked for monosodium urate crystals in 317 (43.85%) of 723 patients. Among the 317 patients, monosodium urate crystals were detected in 263 (82.97%) patients. Eleven studies reported mean uricemia values ranging from 452.09 µmol/L to 642.44 µmol/L, with a mean of 510.63 µmol/L. Conclusions This review revealed that all the studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa were intrahospital studies, and the majority were retrospective. Consequently, there is a clear need for population-based studies.

Majaliwa Shabani,1 Seydina Alioune Beye,2,* Abdoulaye Traore,3 Pablo Echave,4,* Xavier Raingeval,5,* Daouda Coulibaly,6 Sophie Crespo7,* 1Health_unit, International Committee of the Red Cross, Bamako, Mali; 2Anesthesia Department, Clinique Périnatale Mohamed VI, Bamako, Mali; 3Anesthesia Department, Hôpital Somine Dolo de Mopti, Mopti, Mali; 4Anesthesia Department, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada; 5Association de Développement et de Recherche en Anesthésie Locorégionale Echoguidée (ADRALE), Paris, France; 6Surgery Department, Centre de Santé de Référence de Kidal, Kidal, Mali; 7Health Unit, International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Majaliwa Shabani, Health Unit, International Committee of the Red Cross, HAMDALLAYE RUE 239, Postal Office Box: 58, Bamako, Mali, Email mshabani2001@gmail.comPurpose: The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN) block is used in regional anesthesia for lower extremity surgery. This study introduces a new ultrasound-guided technique called the “Gluteus-Deep Investing Fascia compartment Block (GDIF block)“ for blocking the PFCN. This approach involves injecting local anesthetic into the potential space between the gluteus maximus muscle and the deep investing fascia, named the ‘Gluteus Deep Investing Fascia Compartment’. The study discusses the anatomical and sonographic features crucial for identifying this compartment and explores the potential benefits of this approach for achieving effective PFCN block. Additionally, it examines the clinical application of the GDIF block for PFCN block as part of the Complete Lower Extremity Fascia Tri-compartment Block technique, named ”CLEFT Block.” This technique combines the suprainguinal fascia iliaca block with GDIF compartment block for PFCN and a sciatic nerve block as exclusive anesthesia technique.Patients and Methods: Nine patients with weapon-related lower limb injuries underwent surgery at district hospitals supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Between October and December 2023, seventeen above-knee procedures were performed for the nine patients using the GDIF block as part of a CLEFT block technique. Anesthesia was performed with a CLEFT block technique using a volume ratio of 1:1 of 1% lidocaine and 0.5% levobupivacaine.Results: The GDIF block technique for PFCN blockade was performed successfully in all patients without complications, achieving complete PFCN blockade. The CLEFT block technique proved effective as the sole anesthetic technique for seventeen above-knee procedures. All surgeries were completed successfully without additional pain medication or conversion to general anesthesia.Conclusion: The GDIF block appears to be a promising technique for anesthetic management, alone or as part of the CLEFT block. Further research with a larger patient population is necessary to validate these findings.Keywords: posterior femoral cutaneous nerve block, deep investing fascia, sciatic nerve block, gluteal deep investing fascia compartment block, GDIF block, CLEFT block

Genetic alterations in the TP63 (GenBank: NC_000003.12, ID: 8626) and CCR5 (receptor 5 chemokine co-receptor) (GenBank: NC_000003.12, ID: 1234) genes may increase the risk of developing breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the probable involvement of polymorphisms rs17506395 in the TP63 (tumour protein 63) gene and the CCR5Δ32 mutation in the occurrence of breast cancer in Burkina Faso. This case–control study included 72 patients and 72 controls. Genotyping of SNP rs17506395 (TP63) was performed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism, and genotyping of the CCR5Δ32 mutation was performed by allele-specific oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction. For SNP rs17506395 (TP63), the genotypic frequencies of wild-type homozygotes (TT) and heterozygotes (TG) were, respectively, 27.72 and 72.22% in cases and 36.11 and 63.89% in controls. No mutated homozygotes (GG) were observed. For the CCR5Δ32 mutation, the genotypic frequencies of wild-type homozygotes (WT/WT) and heterozygotes (WT/Δ32) were 87.5 and 13.5%, respectively, in the cases and 89.29 and 10.71%, respectively, in the controls. No mutated homozygotes (Δ32/Δ32) were observed. None of the polymorphisms rs17506395 of the TP63 gene (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 0.69–3.17, P = 0.284) and the CCR5Δ32 mutation (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.46–3.77; P = 0.79) were associated with the occurrence of breast cancer in this study.

Writing in the ethnic languages of Africa arose relatively recently on a historical scale, so local writers used the languages of the colonialists in their works of fiction. However, some of them did not completely break with the languages of their localities, capturing in their works the linguistic diversity characteristic of the living environment. The material of our research is the novel Allah n’est pas obligé (Allah is not obligated) by the Ivorian writer Ahmadou Kuruma, published in 2000. The literary work is considered as an example of multilingual artistic creation - French as the official language of Ivory Coast, Malinke as the author's native language and Liberian English (pidgin, originated in the territories of Liberia and Sierra Leone), common in this region. The article describes the linguistic ways of expressing the oral tradition of African storytellers, although the content of Kuruma’s work touches on topics relevant to modern Africa (the use of proverbs, repeated repetitions, literal translation of words and expressions from other languages). The main method of research is the linguistic analysis of the text. It is shown that multilingualism and the use of traditional storytelling techniques are key characteristics of the writer’s work, which contributes to the popularity of his works on the African continent.

Majaliwa Shabani,1,* Seydina Alioune Beye,2,* Abdoulaye Traore,3,* Xavier Raingeval,4,* Daouda Coulibaly,5,* Sophie Crespo6,* 1Health_Unit, International Committee of the Red Cross, Bamako, Mali; 2Anesthesia Department, Clinique Périnatale Mohamed VI, Bamako, Mali; 3Anesthesia Department, Hôpital Somine Dolo de Mopti, Mopti, Mali; 4Association de Développement et de Recherche en Anesthésie Locorégionale Echoguidée, Paris, France; 5Surgery Department, Centre de Santé de Référence de Kidal, Kidal, Mali; 6Health Unit, International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Majaliwa Shabani, Health Unit, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Rue 239, Hamdallaye /ACI2000 – B.P. 58, Bamako, Mali, Email mshabani2001@gmail.comPurpose: The management of unstable patients with weapon-wounded lower limb vascular injuries presents significant anesthetic challenges. Regional anesthesia blocks, which combine lumbar and sacral plexus blocks, or their respective branches, minimize systemic effects and are deemed appropriate for high-risk patients requiring lower limb surgery. This case series aims to share our preliminary experiences with a combined anesthetic technique—sciatic nerve (SN), posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN), and supra-inguinal fascia iliaca (SIFI) blocks —in patients sustaining weapon wounds and undergoing lower limb vascular injury repair in austere environments.Patients and Methods: Seven patients with lower limb vascular injuries resulting from weapons who required surgery at district hospitals supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross were included in this study. Included patients underwent surgery for vascular repair and debridement using a combined nerve block technique involving the SN, PFCN, and SIFI blocks between May and December 2023. The blocks were administered using a 1:1 mixture of 1% lidocaine and 0.5% levobupivacaine.Results: The combined block technique for the Sciatic Nerve (SN), Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve (PFCN), and the Supra-Inguinal Fascia Iliaca (SIFI) were performed without complications in all patients. Three of the patients received light sedation prior to the initiation of the block procedure. All surgeries were completed successfully without the need for additional analgesics or conversion to general anesthesia.Conclusion: The combined block technique for the Sciatic Nerve (SN), Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve (PFCN), and the Supra-Inguinal Fascia Iliaca (SIFI) appears to be a safe anesthetic option for unstable or high-risk patients requiring lower limb surgery. Further research with a larger cohort is necessary to validate our findings and to potentially standardize this approach.Keywords: war surgery, posterior femoral cutaneous nerve block, anesthesia in austere environments

Gene editing strategies for cystic fibrosis are challenged by the complex barrier properties of airway epithelia. We previously reported that the amphiphilic S10 shuttle peptide non-covalently combined with CRISPR-associated (Cas) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) enabled editing of human and mouse airway epithelial cells. Here, we derive the S315 peptide as an improvement over S10 in delivering base editor RNP. Following intratracheal aerosol delivery of Cy5-labeled peptide in rhesus macaques, we confirm delivery throughout the respiratory tract. Subsequently, we target CCR5 with co-administration of ABE8e-Cas9 RNP and S315. We achieve editing efficiencies of up-to 5.3% in rhesus airway epithelia. Moreover, we document persistence of edited epithelia for up to 12 months in mice. Finally, delivery of ABE8e-Cas9 targeting the CFTR R553X mutation restores anion channel function in cultured human airway epithelia. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of base editor delivery with S315 to functionally correct the CFTR R553X mutation in respiratory epithelia.

ObjectiveLimited information is available regarding youth-onset diabetes in Mali. We investigated demographic, clinical, biochemical, and genetic features in new diabetes cases in children and adolescents.Research design and methodsThe study was conducted at Hôpital du Mali in Bamako. A total of 132 recently-diagnosed cases

Abstract The performance and operational stability of perovskite‐based devices heavily rely on the interfacial properties between the photoactive perovskite layer and charge transport layers. Understanding the theoretical relationship between surface/interface dipoles and surface energetics is crucial for scientific understanding and practical applications. In this study, a method is applied that bridges classical electromagnetism and modern atomistic approaches. The impact of dipolar ligand molecules functionalizing the FASnI3 perovskite surface is investigated, with inspection of the interplay between surface dipole, charge transfer, and local strain effect, and corresponding shifts in the valence level. The results reveal that the contribution of individual molecular entities to surface dipoles and electric susceptibilities follows an essentially additive behavior. The influence of F doping usually used to mitigate Sn oxidation in Sn‐based layer for photovoltaic applications, is also discussed. Furthermore, the findings are compared with predictions from classical approaches employing a capacitor model that links the induced vacuum level shift and the molecular dipole moment. The insights gained from the study provide theoretical guidelines for fine‐tuning the work functions of materials, thus enabling effective interfacial engineering in this class of semiconductors.

Urban stormwater drains in Kurunegala City collect runoff and untreated wastewater, leading to public health problems. The Greater Kurunegala Sewage Treatment Plant (GKSTP) was commissioned in 2018 and currently operates at 73% of its capacity to combat public health issues. This study assessed the water quality of canals, comparing it with standards and pre-GKSTP conditions. Water samples were collected from seven sites during dry and wet seasons, and physicochemical parameters were measured. The data underwent spatial and temporal analysis using the general linear model (GLM). Additionally, cluster analysis and distance-based redundancy analysis were employed. The water quality index (WQI) was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plant. The study revealed significant spatial and temporal variations in physicochemical parameters along the canals (p < 0.05, GLM), with higher pollution levels during wet months. The WQI improved from 35 (2005) to 49 at present, indicating enhanced water quality (p < 0.05, ANOVA), although it remains unsatisfactory. This study provides novel insights into the limitations of conventional wastewater treatment practices, demonstrating that merely treating wastewater and discharging it back into canals is insufficient. Research underscores the importance of rethinking treated wastewater reuse in achieving multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs). This approach offers a pragmatic path forward for enhancing water security and environmental sustainability globally.

Data were gathered through a collaborative initiative to investigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns on child and maternal health, economic hardships, and access to care for children and pregnant women by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network. The data were gathered in Bamako, the capital city of Mali (population ∼2.9 million) between August and September of 2022 through a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). Data collectors used a survey instrument specifically designed to measure household awareness, knowledge, and prevalence of COVID-19, as well as hardships that households experienced since the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020. The data are from two neighborhoods of Bamako, Banconi and Djicoroni; the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) operating in these neighborhoods tracks the health of approximately 235,000 inhabitants. The data were collected using a stratified random sample of 454 households.

African golden-spotted lappet moths from the genera Haplopacha Aurivillius, 1905 and Dasychirinula Hering, 1926 are reviewed. Antennae, heads and legs are investigated in addition to the traditional comparison of habitus, genitalia, and distribution areas. Two new genera are established and four new species are described as a result: Eudoumbia gen. n. with the type-species Eudoumbia thorogood sp. n. from Angola, Namibia, and Botswana; Auripluvia gen. n. with the type species Auripluvia sophia sp. n. from Ethiopia; Haplopacha mason sp. n. from Tanzania; and Dasychirinula julia sp. n. from Ethiopia. One species is reattributed to the new genus as Eudoumbia ndoumoi (Dupont, Simonsen & Zilli, 2016) stat. n. One new synonymy is established for two Tanzanian species: Dasychirinula chrysogramma Hering, 1926 = Haplopacha lunata Dupont, Simonsen & Zilli, 2016 syn. n.; and one potential synonymy is remarked between Haplopacha tangani Dupont, Simonsen & Zilli, 2016 from Tanzania and Malawi and Haplopacha riftensis Dupont, Simonsen & Zilli, 2016 from Malawi. Photos of the related material stored in the main collections of Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (Pretoria, RSA) and Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) are showed.

La maladie hémorroïdaire est un état pathologique caractérisé par une dilatation de la veine recto-anale plexus. Une enquête ethnobotanique a révélé l’utilisation des écorces de tronc de Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) sous forme de pommade ou décoction en lavement anal pour son traitement. L’objectif de cette étude était de caractériser l’extrait afin de formuler des suppositoires. Un screening phytochimique et une caractérisation physico-chimique suivi évaluation de l'activité antioxydante et antiinflammatoire de l’extrait ont été réalisés. Une formulation des suppositoires a été définie à partir d’une stratégie utilisant deux masses à suppositoire (Witerpsol H15 et Suppocire ASX2). Les suppositoires obtenus ont fait l’objet de contrôle qualité et d’évaluation de l’efficacité. L’extrait était de couleur marron avec une texture fine. Son taux d’humidité était à 4,67 et le pH de 7,17. Les suppositoires avaient une forme allongée, une texture et un aspect uniforme avec un temps moyen de ramollissement de 8,36min et un point de fusion moyen de 37,3°C. L’étude phytochimique a permis de mettre en évidence des flavonoïdes. L’évaluation de l’activité antioxydante a donné une concentration inhibitrice (IC50) de 9,35 µg/ml Par ABTS, un pourcentage d’inhibition de 54,34% par LPO et l’activité Antiinflammatoire par l’inhibition de la LOX avec une IC50 de 19,01 µg/ml. Les études réalisées offrent une alternative d’utilisation de l’extrait sous forme de suppositoires pour le traitement de l’inflammation de la maladie hémorroïdaire.

Due to the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms, the search for broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds has become extremely crucial. Natural sources like plants and soils have been explored for diverse metabolites with antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to identify microorganisms from agricultural soils exhibiting antimicrobial effects against known human pathogens, and to highlight the chemical space of the responsible compounds through the computational metabolomics-based bioprospecting approach. Herein, bacteria were extracted from soil samples and their antimicrobial potential was measured via the agar well diffusion method. Methanolic extracts from the active bacteria were analyzed using the liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) technique, and the subsequent data was further analyzed through molecular networking approach which aided in identification of potential anti-microbial compounds. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing enabled identification of the active bacterial isolates, where isolate 1 and 2 were identified as strains of Bacillus pumilus, whilst isolate 3 was found to be Bacillus subtilis. Interestingly, isolate 3 (Bacillus subtilis) displayed wide-ranging antimicrobial activity against the tested human pathogens. Molecular networking revealed the presence of Diketopiperazine compounds such as cyclo (D-Pro-D-Leu), cyclo (L-Tyr-L-Pro), cyclo (L-Pro-D-Phe), and cyclo (L-Pro-L-Val), alongside Surfactin C, Surfactin B, Pumilacidin E, and Isarrin D in the Bacillus strains as the main anti-microbial compounds. The application of the molecular networking approach represents an innovation in the field of bio-guided bioprospection of microorganisms and has proved to be an effective and feasible towards unearthing potent antimicrobial compounds. Additionally, the (computational metabolomics-based) approach accelerates the discovery of bioactive compounds and isolation of strains which offer a promising avenue for discovering new clinical antimicrobials. Finally, soil microbial flora could serve an alternative source of anti-microbial compounds which can assist in the fight against emergence of multi-drug resistance bacterial pathogens.

Résumé : L’objet de ce travail était d’étudier les paramètres à prendre en compte lors de l’élaboration du formulaire thérapeutique du CHU Pr Bocar Sidy SALL de Kati. Il s’agissait d’une étude transversale descriptive. La collecte des données s’est déroulée sur une période de 6 mois en 2022. Elle a concerné 70% de l’effectif des médecins (n=42) et 30% de l’effectif des Sages-femmes et infirmiers (n=23) dudit établissement à partir des entrevues individuelles. Il ressort des résultats que près de 2/3 des médecins prescripteurs, sages-femmes et 1/2 des infirmiers connaissaient le formulaire thérapeutique. Cependant l’organe qui s’occupe de son élaboration était près que méconnue par les enquêtés. L’ensemble des prescripteurs ont souhaité voir dans le formulaire les informations relatives à la pharmacologie du médicament. Au total 07 critères pharmacologiques, pharmaco-économiques et réglementaires ont été proposés comme base d’inclusion des produits dans le formulaire. Cependant, 06 critères pharmacologiques et pharmaco-économiques ont été proposés quant aux conditions de substitutions des produits dans le formulaire. Cependant 02 conditions réglementaires ont été évoquées pour le retraire d’un produit dans la liste du formulaire. Le choix la périodicité de révision de la liste des médicaments du formulaire allait de 1 à 5 ans. Enfin d’être concis et utilisable, ce travail était nécessaire pour comprendre les attentes des praticiens sur l’outil qui sera mise en place. Pour son succès, un effort d’éducation, de formation et d’information du personnel sanitaire doit être entrepris.

Objectif : La transmission mère-enfant du VIH durant l’allaitement est un problème de santé publique. Le but de cette étude était d’évaluer l’intérêt du suivi thérapeutique pharmacologique des femmes allaitantes sous ARV et leurs enfants à Bamako. Méthodes : Les patientes ont été recrutées du 1er septembre 2015 au 30 septembre 2016 suite à l’obtention de leur consentement éclairé. Les mères et leur enfant ont été suivis dans le service de pédiatrie du CHU Gabriel Touré. Les charges virales plasmatiques ont été réalisées à l’UCRC de Bamako. La détermination des concentrations plasmatiques des médicaments a été réalisée au laboratoire de Pharmacocinétique de Toulouse. Les données ont été saisies et analysées sur le logiciel SPSS version 20. Résultats : L’âge moyen des mères était de 29ans±75 [19-41ans]. A J0, une seule des patientes avait une charge virale plasmatique détectable soit 3,33%(6610copies/ml) et 73,91% des mères avaient un taux de CD4 supérieur à350cellules/mm3. Après 6mois, nous avions trouvé 3 mères qui avaient une charge virale détectable (200copies/ml ; 72copies/ml et 4777 copies/ml) et 86,36% des mères avaient un taux de CD4 supérieur à350cellules/mm3. Les concentrations plasmatiques médianes mères du lopinavir, de l’efavirenz à 3 mois étaient respectivement de 5770ng/ml ; 3505ng/ml et à 6 mois de 5850ng/ml ; 3245ng/ml. Tous les nourrissons avaient une PCR négative à 3 mois et 6 mois de suivi. Conclusion : La mesure des paramètres biologiques constitue un maillon essentiel dans la prise en charge des femmes allaitantes VIH positif au Mali.

Sorghum and pearl millet have adapted to the socioecological environment in the dryland of West Africa and have been the staple crops for many years. Engaging key stakeholders and improving the sorghum and pearl millet breeding process is essential to addressing the evolving demands of end-users and environmental conditions. Unlike most trait preference studies focusing on men and women farmers’ trait choices, we examined sorghum and pearl millet key value chain actors (VCA), including producers, processors, traders, and consumers. We identified their preferred traits of varieties that need to be mainstreamed into the breeding pipelines. Drawing on the past efforts and experiences of the sorghum and pearl millet breeding programs from the last 30 years, the study was designed to integrate gender equality in sorghum and pearl millet breeding decisions and traits prioritization in West Africa. This process was implemented in phases, leading to the drafting of gender-responsive and client-oriented product profiles. The paper elicited an understanding of how the roles and interests of sorghum and pearl millet VCA influence their varietal choice and adoption decisions. The study found both differences and similarities in the trait preferences of the men and women VCA. Most women, mainly in the production and processing nodes, prefer varieties with specific food and grain quality traits, while men prioritize grain yield and biotic stress resistance traits. Even though both men’s and women’s varietal choices align with their roles in production and consumption, grain yield was commonly desired across gender, crop, and value chain segments. The findings revealed that the gendered interest of actors in the crops’ value chain determines their choice of variety. Gender responsiveness requires identifying and understanding the needs and choices of the sorghum and millet VCA and mainstreaming these into the breeding pipeline. The approach employed in the study elicits the understanding, roles, and interests of the various actors and how these factors influence men’s and women’s decisions to adopt a crop variety. All major stakeholders should co-develop product profiles for the variety being developed to enable co-ownership, increase adoption, and improve gender equity in agricultural technology development and deployment.

Pakistan has a conducive condition for the development of a wide range of scrumptious fruits. As a result, the country grows a diverse assortment of tropical and subtropical fruits; the most prized and top-ranked fruit among all fruits grown in Pakistan is citrus. Citrus is the principal fruit that contributes significantly to Pakistan’s export earnings and national income. In this study, the cross-border determinants influencing Pakistan’s citrus exports to its topmost 22 trading partners are examined using a gravity model technique. This is the first large study from Pakistan by using gravity model to check the impact of various cross-border factors on citrus fruit export. The analysis is based on a panel dataset covering the years 2003 to 2021. To estimate the results, the study used fixed effect regression with time and country fixed effects. The results signify that per capita income, population, and some regional dummies are positively associated with citrus exports from Pakistan. Citrus price, distance, exchange rate, and other regional dummies are observed to have an adverse effect on citrus exports. Trade agreements between Pakistan and trade partners such as free trade agreements, preferential trade agreements, and SAFTA, have been observed as important determinants of citrus exports. Citrus exporters in Pakistan can also benefit from understanding the factors that influence export markets. By addressing the challenges identified in this study, Pakistan can enhance its citrus exports and boost its agricultural sector.

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus concept highlights the interdependencies between water, energy, and food resources. Assessing these interdependencies can lead to a better understanding and their exploitation to improve people's access to water, energy, and food. This study aims to highlight the links between the water resource and the current and future water requirements for agricultural and hydropower production in the context of climate change. The bagré dam which is a multi-usage reservoir located in Burkina Faso is considered as the case study. This dam is used for agricultural production, livestock, and hydroelectricity production. To achieve this objective, the surface water resources of the study area and the different water uses have been first estimaded. Then, a model has been developed and implemented using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) tool, with the reference year 2020. Finally, the developed model was used to study four relevant plausible scenarios in the Bagré area up to 2050, namely: (1) expansion of irrigated schemes, (2) the drinking water needs of a neighbouring town, (3) climate change effects on the dam's water capacity, and (4) combinaison of the three other scenarios. The results show that all the water requirements for different uses are fully met for all the scenario except the combined scenario by 2050. For this last scenario, the unmet water demands reach up to 100 % specially during dry season. So, to improve the coverage rate of water demands for the combined scenario, it is crucial to explore other alternatives such as the use of groundwater and the implementation of best practices in agronomic management.

Objectives: The association between thrombocytopenia and parasite density or disease severity is described in numerous studies. In recent years, several studies described the protective role of platelets in directly killing Plasmodium parasites, mediated by platelet factor 4 (PF4) binding to Duffy antigen. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of platelets in young children who are Duffy antigen-negative, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A zero-inflated negative binomial model was used to relate platelet count and parasite density data collected in a longitudinal birth cohort. Platelet factors were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in samples collected from malaria-infected children who participated in a cross-sectional study. Results: We described that an increase of 10,000 platelets/μl was associated with a 2.76% reduction in parasite count. Increasing levels of PF4 and CXCL7 levels were also significantly associated with a reduction in parasite count. Conclusions: Platelets play a protective role in reducing parasite burden in Duffy-negative children, possibly mediated through activation of the innate immune system.

The extraction of knowledge about prevalent issues discussed on social media in Africa using Artificial Intelligence techniques is vital for informing public governance. The objectives of our study are twofold: (a) to develop machine learning-based models to identify common topics of social concern related to Africa on social media, and (b) to design a classifier capable of inferring the most relevant topic associated with a given social media post. We designed a three-step framework to achieve the first goal of topic identification. The first step applies text-based representation learning methods to generate text embeddings for feature representation. The second step utilizes state-of-the-art Natural Language Processing models, commonly referred to as topic modeling, to group the representations into categories. The third step generates topics from each group, leveraging large language models to create meaningful short-sentence labels from the associated bag-of-tokens. Additionally, we used Llama2 to refine the token words into concise single-word themes that describe each topic in relation to social concerns about development. To address the second goal of classification, we trained classifiers using ensemble voting and stacking methods to determine which of the identified topics best characterizes a given social media post. For our experimental study, we collected a corpus called Social Media for Africa (SMA), consisting of 22,036 records extracted from comments on Twitter (X) and YouTube. The clustering-based model BERTopic produced 304 topics with a topic coherence score of 0.81 (C-v). After merging the topics into broader classes, the BERTopic+ model yielded 11 common topic classes with a coherence score of 0.76 (C-v). For theme extraction, we further refined the leading token words using Llama2, resulting in 98 unique themes labeled by BERTopic_theme, with a coherence score of 0.75 and an IRBO score of 0.50. We used the identified topics, based on the groupings, as labels for training a topic classifier. These labels were generated using Llama2 on our SMA corpus. Our comparative study of topic classifiers employing stacking and voting schemes demonstrated that the BERTopic model achieved an accuracy of 0.83 and an F1 score of 0.82 with ensemble voting for training on topics. Furthermore, when training on topic classes, BERTopic+ with ensemble voting achieved the highest accuracy (0.95) and F1 score (0.95) compared to other methods. Additionally, BERTopic_theme achieved superior performance with an ensemble voting classifier, attaining an F1 score of 0.93 and an accuracy of 0.93. The overall performance of classifiers using ensemble stacking was slightly better than that of voting methods for short-sentence topic labeling. For Africa, policymakers should focus on the most pressing social issues: the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on public health and economic recovery, promoting entrepreneurial innovation in energy and environmental sustainability to combat climate change, and responding strategically to China’s rise in global politics to maintain geopolitical stability and foster international cooperation.