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Abstract Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is essential to global food systems and the brewing industry. Its physiological traits and microbial communities determine malt quality. Although microbes influence barley from seed health to fermentation, there is a gap in metagenomic insights during seed storage. Crucially, elucidating the changes in microbial composition associated with barley seeds is imperative for understanding how these fluctuations can impact seed health and ultimately, influence both agricultural yield and quality of barley-derived products. Whole metagenomes were sequenced from eight barley seed samples obtained at different storage time points from harvest to nine months. After binning, 82 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) belonging to 26 distinct bacterial genera were assembled, with a substantial proportion of potential novel species. Most of our MAG dataset (61%) showed over 90% genome completeness. This pioneering barley seed microbial genome retrieval provides insights into species diversity and structure, laying the groundwork for understanding barley seed microbiome interactions at the genome level.

Abstract We present metagenomes of 16 samples of water and sediment from two lakes, collected from eutrophic and non-eutrophic areas, including pooled samples enriched with phosphate and nitrate. Additionally, we assembled 167 bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). These MAGs were de-replicated into 83 unique genomes representing different species found in the lakes. All the MAGs exhibited >70% completeness and 90%), while 54 falling within 80–90% range and 34 between 75–80% complete. The most abundant MAGs identified across all samples were Proteobacteria (n = 80), Firmicutes_A (n = 35), Firmicutes (n = 13), and Bacteriodota (n = 22). Other groups included Desulfobacteria_I (n = 2), Verrucomicrobiota (n = 4), Campylobacterota (n = 4) and Actinobacteriota (n = 6). Importantly, phylogenomic analysis identified that approximately 50.3% of the MAGs could not be classified to known species, suggesting the presence of potentially new and unknown bacteria in these lakes, warranting further in-depth investigation. This study provides valuable new dataset on the diverse and often unique microbial communities living in polluted lakes, useful in developing effective strategies to manage pollution.

We linked 4 mpox cases in South Ubangi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to transboundary transmission from Central African Republic. Viral genome sequencing demonstrated that the monkeypox virus sequences belonged to distinct clusters of subclade Ia. This finding demonstrates the borderless nature of mpox and highlights the need for vigilant regional surveillance.

In September 2022, deaths of pigs manifesting pox-like lesions caused by swinepox virus were reported in Tshuapa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Two human mpox cases were found concurrently in the surrounding community. Specific diagnostics and robust sequencing are needed to characterize multiple poxviruses and prevent potential poxvirus transmission.

We report a cluster of clade I monkeypox virus infections linked to sexual contact in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Case investigations resulted in 5 reverse transcription PCR-confirmed infections; genome sequencing suggest they belonged to the same transmission chain. This finding demonstrates that mpox transmission through sexual contact extends beyond clade IIb.

Exploring the role hip-hop language arts plays in the development of Black (and other minoritized) youth, this study provides a theoretical account of hip-hop moral codes and how they become part of young people's ethical sensemaking. This study extends sociocultural theories of moral development by centering the "cultural form" as a fundamental unit of ethical sensemaking. This study focuses on one particular cultural form, tracing the dissemination of the phrase "no new friends" from its origin in rapper Drake's 2013 song to its later use by various young people who took it up as a catch phrase in their everyday lives. The study traces the sociogenesis of this cultural form in the cognitive activities of hip-hop adjacent youth as they contemplate their loyalty obligations to their day-one friends. The research employs a discursive analysis of the original song, an analysis of interviews with 21 college students who use the phrase, and a Twitter scrape of 8,716 global mentions of the phrase. These methods are used to explore how hip-hop ethical norms originate in the cultural surround as "codes of the street," and are internalized by individual actors, becoming tools they can use within their own ethical deliberation. To properly understand the ontogenesis of ethical sensemaking in a specific adolescent, it is imperative to analyze the cultural forms and social constructs that have evolved in that adolescent's local communities. Conclusions suggest that one way to operationalize ethical learning is as a process of gaining cultural competency or linguistic fluency with localized moral vernaculars, which includes marginalized literary traditions of third world communities. The study finds that youth take these hip-hop proverbs seriously but not literally, and therefore are able to agentically use proverbs like "no new friends" to make sense of their social worlds and orient themselves toward "staying down" and "keeping it real."

Human mpox, caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), is an emerging zoonotic viral disease first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (1). MPXV is endemic in multiple regions [...]

This chapter is grounded in a closer examination of the multiple origins of our theories of learning. Two questions guide our inquiry. First, in what ways has the science of learning and development originated in the lifeways of our ancestors? And second, what are some Global South Side origins of our theories of learning? First, we use two river stories to highlight growing restorative sociocultural and socioaxiological currents in the field. We then offer five origin theories: (a) spiritwork; (b) land is, therefore we are; (c) storying relations; (d) formal and organic intellectuals; and (e) settings grow from settings. We describe each one and potential ways forward for those interested in designing collective thriving grounded in our age-old theories of life.

The Virunga Massif mountain gorilla population has been periodically monitored since the early 1970s, with gradually increasing effort. The population declined drastically in the 1970s, but the numbers stabilized in the 1980s. Since then, the population has been steadily increasing within their limited habitat fragment that is surrounded by a dense human population. We examined fecal samples collected during the Virunga 2015-2016 surveys in monitored and unmonitored gorilla groups and quantified strongylid and tapeworm infections using egg counts per gram to determine environmental and host factors that shape these helminth infections. We showed that higher strongylid infections were present in gorilla groups with smaller size of the 500-m buffered minimum-convex polygon (MCP) of detected nest sites per gorilla group, but in higher gorilla densities and inhabiting vegetation types occurring at higher elevations with higher precipitation and lower temperatures. On the contrary, the impact of monitoring (habituation) was minor, detected in tapeworms and only when in the interaction with environmental variables and MCP area. Our results suggest that the Virunga mountain gorilla population may be partially regulated by strongylid nematodes at higher gorilla densities. New health challenges are probably emerging among mountain gorillas because of the success of conservation efforts, as manifested by significant increases in gorilla numbers in recent decades, but few possibilities for the population expansion due to limited amounts of habitat.

Résumé : La bancarisation du salaire des fonctionnaires de l’état, dont les enseignants, s’accompagne des avantages et des conséquences néfastes. Aux regards de ces conséquences, nombreux sont ceux qui commencent à exprimer leur ralle bol et estiment que les banques doivent améliorer leur manière de faire les choses en vue d’éviter les conséquences sur le plan pédagogique. Parmi ces conséquences, le retard sur les prévisions des matières inquiète plusieurs enseignants et appellent à de nouvelles réflexions. Rendre fluide, simple et rapide l’opération de paie du professionnel de la craie reste la préoccupation majeure de plusieurs réflexions. Personnaliser les comptes bancaires des enseignants, multiplier les guichets à la banque, entrainer les agents à la rapidité et au respect des enseignants sont des recommandations exprimées dans cette étude. Mots-clés : Conséquence-Bancarisation- Salaire- Enseignant

Abstract Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease manifesting as bloodstream infection with high mortality is responsible for a huge public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is the main cause of iNTS disease in Africa. By analysing whole genome sequence data from 1303 S. Typhimurium isolates originating from 19 African countries and isolated between 1979 and 2017, here we show a thorough scaled appraisal of the population structure of iNTS disease caused by S. Typhimurium across many of Africa’s most impacted countries. At least six invasive S. Typhimurium clades have already emerged, with ST313 lineage 2 or ST313-L2 driving the current pandemic. ST313-L2 likely emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo around 1980 and further spread in the mid 1990s. We observed plasmid-borne as well as chromosomally encoded fluoroquinolone resistance underlying emergences of extensive-drug and pan-drug resistance. Our work provides an overview of the evolution of invasive S. Typhimurium disease, and can be exploited to target control measures.

La dation en paiement est un mode d’extinction des obligations des contrats, en l’occurrence, contrat de prêt hypothécaire. Par le consentement mutuel, le créancier reçoit autre chose que ce qui lui est dû, alors que le débiteur doit une somme d’argent au créancier, il va lui remettre une chose d’une valeur équivalente ou supérieure. Ainsi, le débiteur qui doit une somme d’argent se libère en offrant une autre chose. La dation en paiement est une convention. Comme telle, elle est soumise, non seulement aux conditions de formation du contrat, mais aussi aux conditions spécifiques, notamment le consentement mutuel des parties et la capacité d’aliéner du débiteur. Dès lors qu’elle a pour objet d’étendre une obligation, elle suppose une dette préexistante. Elle a une nature juridique complexe, et elle est à la fois un paiement, une vente et une novation.

L’acte uniforme du 15 décembre 2010 portant organisation des suretés a introduit dans l’arsenal juridique congolais deux nouveaux modes de réalisation d’hypothèque à titre d’innovations, en dehors de mode traditionnel qui est la procédure de saisie immobilière. Il s’agit de : l’attribution judiciaire et l’attribution conventionnelle. Ces modes de réalisation d’hypothèque sont simples et efficaces, n’exposent pas le créancier hypothécaire à une procédure longue et coûteuse, comme il est question pour la procédure de saisie immobilière, jugée comme mode traditionnel de réalisation d’hypothèque.

Résumé : La situation de la femme de la province du Kasaï oriental (centre de la RDC) face à l’adoption des méthodes contraceptives présente un tableau très sombre. Cette question est objet des us et coutumes, niveau d’instruction et de belles mères. Voilà pourquoi, les résultats de l’enquête ont permis de faire une proposition aux parties prenantes de pouvoir mettre en place les méthodes de communication dites communautaires pour une prise en charge efficace des bénéficiaires. Mots-clés : Planification familiale, méthodes contraceptives, Mbujimayi, Communication, Changement de comportement.

Abstract Background The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) organized a first mass distribution campaign of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) with digitalized data management with coordinated support from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Santé Pour Tous En Milieu Rural—an ‘Association sans but lucratif’ (SANRU Asbl), in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in Kongo Central province. This article describes the planning and implementation process of this campaign as well as the challenges and lessons learned. Methods The planning and implementation process was performed in line with the standard guidance issued by the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) following the start of Covid-19. The changes and adaptations put in place as well as the challenges encountered are described. Results A total of 5,629,211 people were registered (7.7% above projection) in 1,065,537 households (6.2% below projection) giving an average of 5.3 people per household. Of a total of 3,062,850 LLINs ordered, 2,886,096 were distributed to households (94%). Out of 11,070 villages and 3,947 teams planned, 91.7% of villages were reached and 93% of teams were established. Conclusion The revision of standards of campaign implementation during Covid-19, as well as effective coordination supported by real-time decision-making through digital data management, have been factors in the success of this campaign. Maintaining this momentum is essential to ensure the continuity of malaria prevention services for the population.

Conservation efforts have led to the recovery of the endangered mountain gorilla populations. Due to their limited potential for spatial expansion, population densities increased, which may alter the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Recently, clinical gastrointestinal illnesses linked to helminth infections have been recorded in both gorilla populations. To understand drivers and patterns of helminth infections we quantified strongylid and tapeworm infections across both Virunga Massif and Bwindi populations using fecal egg counts. We assessed the impact of age, sex, group size, season and spatial differences used as a proxy, which reflects observed variation in the occurrence of gastrointestinal problems, vegetation types, gorilla subpopulation growth and associated social structure on helminth infections. We revealed striking geographic differences in strongylid infections with higher egg counts mostly in areas with high occurrences of gastrointestinal disease. Increased helminth egg counts were also associated with decreasing group size in some areas. Observed spatial differences may reflect mutual effects of variations in subpopulation growth rates, gorilla social structure, and vegetation associated with altitude across mountain gorilla habitat. Helminth infection intensities in Virunga gorillas were lowest in the youngest and the oldest animals. Elucidating parasite infection patterns of endangered species with low genetic diversity is crucial for their conservation management.

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) (serotypes Typhimurium and Enteritidis) are major causes of bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa, but their reservoir is unknown. Aiming to demonstrate human carriers as a reservoir, we assessed an iNTS disease endemic rural community (Kikonka health area, Democratic Republic of the Congo) for intestinal carriage of iNTS. After a census, healthy subjects from randomly selected households provided three successive stool samples for Salmonella culture. We next compared the stool isolates for genetic relatedness with time and health area-matched blood culture isolates obtained from hospitalized patients by multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) on a subset of stool and blood isolates. Among 2,354 eligible subjects, 2,234 (94.9%) consented and provided at least one stool sample, and 2,219 (94.3%) provided three stool samples. The cumulative proportion of Salmonella carriers after 3 days was 4.4% (n = 98). S. Typhimurium and Enteritidis were found in 26 and 3 carriers, respectively, representing 1.3% (29 out of 2,234) of participants living in 6.0% (26 out of 482) of households. MLVA types of all 26 S. Typhimurium stool isolates matched with the corresponding MLVA types of blood isolates. The MLVA type of one out of three Enteritidis stool isolates matched the single MLVA type of the five Enteritidis blood isolates. WGS analysis of S. Typhimurium (n = 20) and S. Enteritidis (n = 4) isolates revealed Typhimurium multilocus sequence type (ST)313 Lineage 2 and Enteritidis ST11 Central/Eastern African and Outlier clades and confirmed the MLVA clustering. More than three-quarters of Typhimurium isolates showed combined multidrug resistance, ceftriaxone resistance, and fluoroquinolone non-susceptibility. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated iNTS carriage among healthy community members, with stool isolates that were genetically similar to blood culture isolates obtained in patients from the same community. These findings contribute to the evidence of a human reservoir of iNTS.

Should students in public schools learn to think critically about racial (in)justice and social (in)equity? The results of a recent mixed methods survey for educators revealed that a significant number of teachers did not believe they were responsible for helping their students develop the skills to critically analyze and respond to social injustice. Quantitative data showed that most of the educators who responded unfavorably, self-identified as "White" teachers of mostly White students; while most of the White teachers of mostly African American students held the opposite belief. Qualitative data provided some context for the rationales informing the divergent beliefs of these White teachers. Utilizing a combination of grounded theory and coding methods, I explore, illustrate, and analyze the responses of both sets of White teachers in an effort to illuminate and contextualize their articulated beliefs. Then, I interrogate the findings in light of their emergence along racial strata, using insights from scholarship in Critical Whiteness Studies and Critical Literacy/Pedagogy. Then I discuss their implications with reference to Robert Starratt's "Virtue of Responsibility" and current theories of antiracist education. I conclude with a call for improving the educational experiences and societal outcomes of all students by naming and disrupting social illiteracy, championing critical-ethical literacy and encouraging an antiracist ethos.

L’article 258 du décret du 30 juillet 1888 portant des contrats ou des obligations conventionnelles, communément appelé Code civil congolais, livre III dispose « Tout fait quelconque de l'homme, qui cause à autrui un dommage, oblige celui par la faute duquel il est arrivé à le réparer ». Cette disposition légale, d’importance capitale en droit positif congolais en ce qu’elle constitue le droit commun de la responsabilité civile délictuelle, n’échappe pas aux critiques nombreuses de la doctrine constante et abondante qui appelle à sa modification. En effet, non seulement qu’au regard de la doctrine moderne, cette disposition s’avère dépassée, mais aussi elle accuse de nombreuses lacunes dont les conséquences sont préjudiciables aux victimes des dommages en général, particulièrement aux victimes du dommage corporel. Ainsi, sa modification dans le sens de résorber l’essentiel des critiques formulées permet une meilleure lisibilité de la responsabilité civile délictuelle, offrant une prise en charge optimale des victimes en droit congolais.

Cet article vise à contribuer aux réflexions autour du rôle du secteur bancaire congolais dans l’amélioration du bien-être de la population, à travers une nouvelle approche micro-macro-économique. Notre objectif est d’estimer à quel point les banques contribuent au développement économique de la République Démocratique du Congo et de sa population. Ici, nous recherchons donc l’impact social des institutions financières dans le développement économique. L’analyse s’est basée sur un échantillon de sept banques évoluant en RD Congo et pour lesquelles les données ont été disponibles. L’approche méthodologique utilisée a consisté à faire une analyse financière des données tirées des différents rapports annuels des banques puis en calculer le ratio de la rentabilité économique, afin d’en associé aux grandeurs macroéconomiques dans un modèle économétrique en données de panel à effets aléatoires. Cette analyse a finalement confirmé l’hypothèse selon laquelle le système bancaire congolais a un impact positif sur le développement quoi qu’en un degré peu appréciable.

In the title molecule, C9H10ClNO2, the methoxy group lies very close to the plane of the phenyl ring while the acetamido group is twisted out of this plane by 28.87 (5)°. In the crystal, a three-dimensional structure is generated by N—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds plus C—H...π(ring) interactions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of the intermolecular interactions was performed and indicated that C...H/H...C interactions make the largest contribution to the surface area (33.4%).

L’article 258 du décret du 30 juillet 1888 portant des conventions ou des obligations conventionnelles, impose à l’auteur de tout fait quelconque ayant causé dommage à autrui l’obligation de réparation. Dans le cadre du droit du dommage corporel, celui-ci ne peut véritablement donner lieu à réparation intégrale des préjudices qu’il engendre dans le chef de la victime qu’autant qu’il est préalablement évalué. L’évaluation consiste à établir aussi bien la preuve du dommage et des préjudices avec leur consolidation, que leur imputabilité au responsable de la réparation. Le juge du fond est donc souverain pour fixer les indemnités correspondantes aux préjudices réellement et distinctement subis, uniquement dans la mesure où il respecte dans sa décision à la fois le principe de réparation intégrale – ce dernier étant hors d’atteinte sans l’évaluation médicale préalable du dommage – et l’obligation de motivation : l’expertise médicale obligatoire, la réparation intégrale et la motivation de la décision d’indemnisation constituent ainsi le mécanisme dont se sert la Cour de Cassation pour censurer, positivement ou négativement, l’œuvre du juge du fond en matière du dommage corporel.