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Touba situé au nord-ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire est peuplé par les Dan profondément attaché à leurs civilisations. Depuis longtemps, le travail du fer occupe une place importante dans la vie socioéconomique des Dan. Par la suite, la pratique de l’activité va révéler leur identité culturelle. A cet effet, l’article vise à montrer l’aspect technique, culturel de l’activité de forge et sa contribution au développement du Tourisme local. Les données recueillies, proviennent de recherche documentaire et d’enquête de terrain. Ces approches ont permis d’identifier les forges, de mettre au jour la chaîne opératoire du travail de fer et de montrer la contribution de celle-ci pour le développement touristique.

Abstract Observational studies suggest a reduction in fatal or severe COVID-19 disease with the use of ACE2 inhibitors and statins. We implemented a randomized controlled tree-arm open label trial evaluating the benefits of adding telmisartan (TLM) or atorvastatin (ATV) to lopinavir boosted ritonavir (LPVr) on the SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal viral load in patients with mild / moderate COVID-19 infection in Côte d’Ivoire. RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients ≥ 18 years, with general or respiratory symptoms for less than 7 days were randomized (1:1:1) to receive LPVr (400 mg/100 mg twice daily), LPVr + TLM (10 mg once daily) or LPVr + ATV (20 mg once daily) for 10 days. The primary endpoint was viro-inflammatory success defined as a composite variable at day 11: Ct ≥ 40 and C-reactive protein

Abstract This study was conducted in the Lamto area to evaluate the effect of cocoa shell compost and chicken droppings compost on cassava agronomic variables. The main aim is to increase cassava production, which is in relative decline due to soil impoverishment through organic amendments. The evaluation led to the monitoring of plant development until harvest by measuring some agronomic variables of growth and yield of four varieties of cassava, Alleda agba, Bonoua, Six mois and Yacé each grown on soil fertilized with cocoa shell compost or chicken droppings compost. The experimental design used for this study was a complete randomized block design with 3 replicates. The results showed that the two fertilizers used, being rich in mineral elements, improved the agronomic variables of cassava, superior to the control. This was reflected in a high number of stems per cutting (3.62). However, the chicken droppings compost gave the best development in stem length for the Six mois variety (121.10 cm). The Bonoua variety gave the largest diameter stems (21.98 mm). This variety gave the highest number of leaves (59) and a wider span (109 cm) with wider (16.75 cm) and longer (17.96 cm) leaves. As for yields, the best was obtained with the Bonoua variety, respectively 27.13 t/ha and 35.26 t/ha with cocoa shell compost and chicken droppings compost compared with 12.77 t/ha for the control. Thus, compost and chicken droppings compost can be recommended to improve cassava productivity in Côte d'Ivoire.

Résumé : L’étude s’intéresse aux fondements de la posture et du propos que revendique « Jésus baoulé » au sein du monde chrétien ivoirien, disputé et revendiqué par de multiples obédiences. Cette diversité de chapelles et d’enseignements cache, à notre sens, une réalité, bien au-delà d’une simple question de positionnement dans l’environnement du christianisme. Le postulat est que si le monde chrétien de nos jours, en général, et celui de la Côte d’Ivoire, en particulier, est traversé par des tendances et préceptes variés, c’est bien en vue d’attirer des adhérents et de les sédentariser au sein de ces courants. Ainsi dans une démarche descriptive, à partir d’extraits de propos de « Jésus baoulé », recueillis sur la toile, la réflexion a présenté le personnage. Elle a ensuite exposé la stratégie discursive qu’il adopte afin de réaliser la finalité illocutoire de son dire avant de relever des paramètres qui menacent cette stratégie Mots-clés : Chrétienneté, stratégie, discours, auditoire, ethos.

Abstract The cultivation of cowpea and maize is common, but it is carried out without a prior selection of varieties that can effectively adapt to the specific climatic conditions of the zones. This study aimed at assessing cowpea and maize varieties in different ecological zones in order to identify the resilient varieties with respect to zone. The experiments were conducted in three different climatic and vegetation zones of Côte d’Ivoire: tropical rainforest zone, forest-savannah mosaic, and sub-Sudanian savannah in South, Centre-West, and North Côte d’Ivoire, respectively. In each zone, a randomized complete block design was used. Four varieties of both cowpea and maize were used. The analysis of variance was realized using grain yield data to compare varieties and climatic zones. The best varieties obtained differed according to the zones. Thus, in the tropical rain forest zone, the cowpea variety KVX780-6 and maize variety Violet de Katiola were the most yielding, with 593.30 kg ha−1 and 1270.84 kg ha−1, respectively. In forest-savannah mosaic, the cowpea variety KVX745-11P and maize variety SR21 obtained the highest yields, with 761.82 kg ha−1 and 2212.99 kg ha−1, respectively. The cowpea variety Tiligre and maize variety SR21 were the most productive in the sub-Sudanian savannah zone, with yields of 327.31 kg ha−1 and 1797.3 kg ha−1, respectively. Overall, the highest yield of cowpea (513.20 kg ha−1) and maize (1757.13 kg ha−1) were observed in forest-savannah mosaic. The best cowpea and maize varieties identified in each zone can be recommended to farmers.

Résumé : La littérature de jeunesse est orientée principalement vers les adolescents. Dans ce sens, l’emploi du pronom on dans la narration de la littérature de jeunesse peut se présenter comme un choix d’écriture grammatical interrogateur. Cela parce que généralement le pronom on est employé pour référer à une personne anonyme ou à n’importe qui. Or, les écrivains de la littérature de jeunesse que sont Henri Bosco auteur de L’âne Culotte et Evelyne Brisou-Pellen auteure de L’hiver des loups font un usage remarquable du pronom on dans leurs œuvres. Ainsi l’objet de la recherche est-il d’analyser un tel choix linguistique, de comprendre l’emploi persistant du pronom on dans des œuvres littéraires dédiées aux jeunes enfants. De ce fait, l’approche grammaticale est celle de la grammaire descriptive et la méthodologie se réfère à la grammaire de texte. L’analyse a permis de mettre en relief les potentialités linguistiques de l’emploi du pronom on dans la littérature de jeunesse. Mots-clés : pronom on, littérature de jeunesse, syntaxe, sémantique, stylistique.

This study aimed to understand the mechanism of resilience of the anatomical tissues of organs of the cashew tree in water deficit in the different climatic zones of Côte d'Ivoire. To achieve this, samples of leaves and roots were taken from 55 cashew trees considered high producers (APHP) and 164 neighboring less productive trees (non-APHP) during the dry and rainy seasons. The technique of double staining with green-carmino made it possible to obtain anatomical sections of transversely cut samples under an optical microscope. The thicknesses and surface areas of the sections were measured using Image J software. The thickness of the leaves parenchymas of APHP trees did not show any variation according to the season while the stomatal density increased during the dry season. The thickness of the leaves cortical and medullary parenchymas of non-APHP trees did not show any variation according to the season too but the non-APHPs’ palisade parenchyma thickness increased while their lacunar parenchyma thickness decreased from 37 ± 1.5 mm to 36 ± 3.6 mm during the dry season. The thickness of leaves’ both sides epidermis increased while the thickness of xylem bundles decreased during the dry season to both APHP and non-APHP trees. The number of the roots’ xylem vessels of APHP trees increased from 11 to 27 vessels/mm2 while those of non-APHP trees increased from 15 to 41 vessels/mm2 during the rainy season. The surface area of the midrib medullary parenchyma of APHP trees increased from 4300 ± 837 mm2 to 5800 ± 412 mm2 while those of non-APHP trees increased from 3400 ± 809 mm2 to 5200 ± 993 mm2 during the dry season. The thicknesses of the tissues of APHPs remained greater than those of non-APHPs, regardless of the sampling season.

Resumen: La introducción del español como disciplina en la enseñanza en Costa de Marfil fue obra del colonizador francés. Por consiguiente, este tuvo, durante mucho tiempo, gran influencia en su didáctica. En efecto, desde los inicios en los años 50 hasta 1977, año de la primera ley educativa marfileña, las normas que regían la enseñanza eran las de la antigua metrópoli. En cuanto a los manuales, el tiempo fue más largo; ya que se esperó hasta 1998 para tener libros de textos de elaboración local. Tocante a las finalidades del aprendizaje de esta lengua, han girado desde los comienzos en torno a la comunicación. Sin embargo, el método tradicional que se usó hasta 1998 no favoreció que se alcanzara este objetivo. Solo a partir de esta fecha se empezó la aplicación del método comunicativo a través de la pedagogía por objetivos, la cual fue sustituida por enfoques más comunicativos a partir de 2012: la formación por competencias y luego el enfoque por competencias. La aplicación de estos tres grandes enfoques metodológicos ha apelado a tres generaciones de manuales: los manuales franceses, los manuales Horizontes y los manuales ¡Ya Estamos !, ¡Más Allá!, Hablo Español y Estrellas Ñ. Palabras clave: Didáctica, Español Lengua Extranjera, método, manual, finalidad

Résumé : Le café est une matière première majeure en Côte d’Ivoire. Les origines de sa domestication et de sa vulgarisation remontent à l’ère précoloniale. C’était l’œuvre d’un Rochelais venu commercer avec les populations côtières de ce territoire que la France déclara colonie française le 10 mai 1893. Arthur Verdier fit sa première plantation effectivement à Elima, sur les bords de la lagune Aby, au début des années 1880. Aussi fallait-il intéresser les populations locales à cette nouvelle culture, quitte à faire d’elle une culture phare d’une coloniale que la France considérait comme une colonie d’exploitation. Le café a fini ainsi par s’imposer comme un des premiers produits agricoles des exportations ivoiriennes, à l’avènement de l’indépendance, en 1960. Mots-clés : coloniale de Côte d’Ivoire, caféiculture, développement.

Abstract: The article provides a critical analysis of Joe Biden’s withdrawal letter from the 2024 Presidential election. The letter, released during a critical point in the campaign, marks a significant turning point in the election process. Resorting to discourse analysis and political communication approach, this study aims to uncover the strategic implications of Biden’s withdrawal on the Democratic Party’s electoral prospects. It also unveils the implications on Biden’s political legacy and its impact on American political landscape. By dissecting the language used, the political context, and the reactions of various observers, this paper offers valuable insights into the dynamics of contemporary American politics and the strategies employed by key political figures in high-stakes scenarios. Keywords: analysis, communication, election, political, withdrawal

Resumen: El objetivo de este artículo ha sido mostrar los logros y fracasos de la gestión del poder estatal por los socialistas en España, precisamente por Felipe González Márquez, desde el 28 de octubre de 1982 hasta el 3 de marzo de 1996. Cabe señalar que la gestión de un Estado democrático no es algo fácil. A pesar del entusiasmo y un programa de gobierno bien elaborado, Felipe González Márquez y el PSOE se enfrentaron con la realidad del poder. No han podido cumplir con todas sus promesas de campañas, pero han sabido mantener al país en el concierto de las grandes naciones europeas y mundiales. En catorce años de gobierno, han consolidado la joven democracia española y han mejorado el nivel de desarrollo. La integración de España en la Comunidad Económica Europea, deseada desde el franquismo, fue una realidad en 1986 y el país se benefició de esta apertura en todos los ámbitos. En catorce años, a pesar de la corrupción y de los escándalos, ha obtenido la mayoría absoluta y la confianza de los españoles durante tres legislaturas. Podemos concluir, pues, con el historiador Tusell (1999: 271) que "No ha existido nunca en la historia de España uno que, en una situación democrática, tuviera tanto poder depositado en sus manos. Con él, la democracia española tuvo el primer líder adaptado al quehacer ordinario de la democracia en tiempos de normalidad". Fue, sencillamente, uno de los dirigentes más carismáticos y poderosos de la joven monarquía parlamentaria española posconstitucional. Palabras Clave: Felipe González Márquez, Fracasos, Gestión del poder estatal, Logros, PSOE.

AbstractClimate change effects are expected to be profoundly local and region-specific, underlining the urgent need for local-level assessments. This study emphasizes the agriculturally important Zanzan region of northeastern Côte d’Ivoire and examines future changes in precipitation, temperature, and resultant drought conditions based on six global climate models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) scenarios - SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. We integrate data from 12 stations within the Zanzan region, applying CMhyd software to correct model biases. Key statistical metrics confirm the well-calibrated nature of the corrected GCMs vis-à-vis observed data. Projections show a decrease in annual precipitation by an average of 133 mm and 177 mm under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios respectively by 2100. Future precipitation patterns suggest a shift towards the prevalent dry season. Tmax and Tmin are projected to increase by +3 °C and +4.8 °C (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) and +3.3 °C (both scenarios) respectively, by the end of the century. These changes suggest an intensification of severe droughts, particularly in the 2050s and 2080s, as assessed by the SPEI. Additionally, extreme temperatures (TX90p) and consecutive dry days (CDD) are projected to intensify, posing imminent threats to food security, water resources, and public health in the Zanzan region. This study bridges a critical gap by offering localized insights into future climate scenarios, thereby enhancing our understanding of the region-specific impacts of climate change. The research also underscores the urgency of adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to the Zanzan region’s vulnerabilities.

Background: Environmental mycobacteria are involved in several infections ranging from lung to skin infections. In Côte d’Ivoire, apart from Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, little information exists on other species. The culture of these species, a real challenge, especially in developing countries like Cote d’Ivoire, limits their identification. However, there are reports in literature of infections caused by these mycobacteria, and few species have never been described in human or animal infections. These are difficult cases to treat because of their resistance to most antituberculosis antibiotics. The aim of our work was to study the diversity of potentially pathogenic mycobacterial species in wastewater drainage channels in different townships and in two hospital effluents in the city of Abidjan. Methods: Wastewater samples were cultured, followed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting mycobacterial 16S ribonucleic acid (16S RNA) using PA/MSHA primers. 16 S RNA identified were sequenced by Sanger techniques. Sequences obtained were analyzed, and a phylogenic tree was built. Results: Fast-growing mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium phocaicum, Mycobacterium sp., and others presence, were confirmed both by culture and molecular techniques. M. fortuitum strain was the same in effluents of the Treichville University Hospital and in the wastewater of the township of Koumassi. New species never isolated in Côte d’Ivoire, such as M. phocaicum, have been identified in wastewater of the township of Yopougon. Conclusion: This study showed that the sewer network in the city of Abidjan is colonized by both potentially pathogenic mycobacteria and saprophytic environmental mycobacteria.

Abstract The stability of cropping systems in a changing climate context depends on numerous factors, including row orientation, to optimize the use of environmental resources. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of agricultural systems based on the row orientation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and maize (Zea mays) in three different ecological conditions in Côte d’Ivoire, in 2020 and 2021. An experimental design with plots divided into three complete randomized blocks with six subplots per block and three repetitions was set up, varying the row orientation in intercropping and monoculture. Row orientation, cropping system used, and ecological zone significantly influenced crop yield and its components. In intercropping, cowpea (tiligré) showed the best yields when oriented North–South (NS) in the tropical rainforest zone and the sub-Sudanian savannah, while East–West (EW) orientation was optimal in the forest-savannah mosaic zone. In contrast, maize (GMRP18) yielded the best in intercropping when rows were oriented East–West, regardless of the season. In monoculture, cowpea yielded best when oriented EW in the tropical rainforest zone (488.17 kg ha−1) and in the forest-savannah mosaic zone (1262.12 kg ha−1), while NS orientations were preferable (228.6 and 259.54 kg ha−1) in the sub-Sudanian savannah zone. For maize monoculture, EW orientation was also preferable. Throughout the study, for both seasons, the highest yield advantages in maize-cowpea intercropping were obtained in EW orientation, regardless of the ecological zone. Overall, the forest-savannah mosaic zone yielded the best cowpea yields (1262.12 and 663.9 kg ha−1).

Résumé : La religion déhima est une religion révélée par Dieu à la prophétesse Marie Lalou ou encore Bague Hoyono. Elle est partie de Gagoué, sa base, dans la région du sud – ouest de Côte d’Ivoire pour atteindre les autres localités dont l’espace nord du Baoulé. Elle se fait alors une place au sein des différentes communautés. Bien organisée malgré un début difficile, l’église déhima est présentée par la communauté baoulé comme une solution aux problèmes de santé, d’ensorcellement, de fétichisme et tout problème qui perturbe la quiétude spirituelle des individus. Cette manière de considérer l’église déhima par ce peuple lui a valu une place de choix au sein de la communauté. En conséquence, plusieurs localités de ce grand espace géographique sont touchées par cette église africaine pour le bonheur de tous. Mots-clés : Baoulé, Déhima, Église, Social, Spirituel

La commune de Yamoussoukro dispose de plus de 250 ha de forêts, de sous-bois urbains et d’espaces agraires urbains et péri-urbains, parfaitement intégrés à la trame urbaine. La ville dispose également de dix lacs aménagés qui couvrent environ 150 ha. La présence des caïmans introduits dans ces étangs lacustres constitue une attractivité touristique pour les visiteurs. Au nombre des curiosités touristiques de la ville, l’aménagement ou le ré-aménagement touristique du jardin urbain du Guiglo d’une superficie de 105 ha en un seul tenant en plein centre urbain, pourrait être une réelle opportunité pour promouvoir également l’approche écotouristique qui, subsidiairement, contribuera à la satisfaction des Objectifs de Développement Durable (ODD), et offrir un meilleur cadre de vie et un bien-être social à toute la communauté, face aux défis des changements climatiques. La consultation documentaire, couplée à des entretiens directs et semi-directifs avec les personnes ressources sur le terrain ont permis de recueillir des données qui ont fait l’objet d’analyse et de traitement pour appréhender la politique et projet d’aménagement du jardin du Guiglo, les objectifs stratégiques du projet qui reposent sur l’intérêt communautaire et environnemental des espaces verts urbains. Cette approche a permis de saisir la nature des pollutions ainsi que la caractérisation du milieu et des ouvrages qui constituent un préalable à la proposition de solution durable pour la réhabilitation, l’aménagement et la préservation de tout ce patrimoine.

Les interdits, totems et raisons sur la consommation ou non des silures sont peu connus en Côte d’Ivoire. Cette étude, analyse les antécédents, problèmes, difficultés, interdits, tabous, totems, allergies et maladies associés aux silures des populations autochtones. Une enquête sur la consommation de poissons silure a été réalisée d’avril à juin 2022 auprès de 557 ivoiriens actifs. Les difficultés de consommation de silure sont enregistrées dans les 14 districts, 33 régions, 4 groupes ethniques et 26 ethnies. Les silures sont adorés, sacrés et ou craints. Les antécédents de maladies d’une durée de 1 à 30 jours ont été rapportés. Cependant, les silures sont consommés à 63,2 % des 557 personnes enquêtées et à plus de 50 % des populations dans la majorité des régions et groupes ethniques. Les totems et interdits sur le silure sont étendus à toutes les régions et la fréquence de consommation varie dans les localités d’une même région et d’une région à une autre. Le niveau de consommation de silure est en faveur de son élevage. L’étude de la qualité sanitaire des silures permettra de comprendre les allergies et maladies associées à sa consommation et d’identifier les conditions d’élimination des risques. Mots clés : Poisson, Côte d’Ivoire, Consommation, Maladies, Autosuffisance

Abstract: The present study examines address terms in phone conversations between the employees of MTN- CI and their customers. This research aimed at finding the types of address terms and the factors that impact on the use of address terms by the stakeholders. This paper refers to the theory by E. Chaika (1982) and R. Wardhaugh (2006). The writer resorts to sociolinguistic data elicitation technique by Labov (1972) to collect the data. This method consisted in recording the phone conversations between the customers and the employees of MTN-CI in its natural context of communication. Descriptive analysis method has been used to analyse the data. The result of this study indicates that there are two types of address terms used by the employees and the customers of MTN-CI. These types of address terms are title alone (T) and title plus family name (TFN). Also, the result indicates that the use of address terms are influenced by no sociolinguistic factors (sex, age, gender, social class). It is rather influenced by the reason of the call and power relationship between the stakeholders. Keywords: address terms, customers, employees, customer service, phone conversations

Abstract BackgroundAccurate and timely infectious disease surveillance is pivotal for effective public health responses. An important component of this is the disease surveillance tools used. Understanding views and experiences of users is crucial for informing policy decisions and ensuring the seamless functioning of surveillance systems. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to assess the user perceptions of 3 disease surveillance tools used in Côte d’Ivoire, namely, MAGPI, District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), and Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS), the latter was implemented in 2021 within a pilot scheme. MethodsWe conducted interviews and a web-based survey distributed to users of the 3 surveillance tools. The survey assessed users’ views of the surveillance tools’ usefulness, ease of use, feelings toward the tool, conditions that may influence the use, and other characteristics. The descriptive analysis compared responses from SORMAS, MAGPI, and DHIS2 users, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their experiences. ResultsAmong the 159 respondents who actively use one of the systems, MAGPI was the most widely used surveillance tool among respondents (n=127, 79.9%), followed by DHIS2 (n=108, 67.9%), and SORMAS (n=25, 15.7%). In terms of users’ perceptions, SORMAS, despite its limited implementation, emerged as a tool that allows for data analysis and had the most comprehensive set of functionalities. DHIS2 was appreciated for its frequency of report provision, although users reported occasional IT system failures. MAGPI was recognized for its ease of use but was reported to lack certain functionalities offered by the other surveillance systems. ConclusionsThis study offers valuable insights into the perceptions of disease surveillance tools users in Côte d’Ivoire. While all systems were positively regarded, each exhibited strengths and weaknesses addressing different needs and functionalities. Policy makers and health officials can use these findings to enhance existing tools or consider a unified approach for infectious disease surveillance systems. Understanding users’ perspectives allows them to optimize the choice of surveillance tools, ultimately strengthening public health responses in Côte d’Ivoire and potentially serving as a model for other countries facing similar decisions in their health care systems.

Background The primary genetic risk factor for heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension is the presence of monoallelic mutations in the BMPR2 gene. The incomplete penetrance of BMPR2 mutations implies that additional triggers are necessary for pulmonary arterial hypertension occurrence. Pulmonary artery stenosis directly raises pulmonary artery pressure, and the redirection of blood flow to unobstructed arteries leads to endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling. We hypothesized that right pulmonary artery occlusion (RPAO) triggers pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats with Bmpr2 mutations. Methods and Results Male and female rats with a 71 bp monoallelic deletion in exon 1 of Bmpr2 and their wild‐type siblings underwent acute and chronic RPAO. They were subjected to full high‐fidelity hemodynamic characterization. We also examined how chronic RPAO can mimic the pulmonary gene expression pattern associated with installed PH in unobstructed territories. RPAO induced precapillary PH in male and female rats, both acutely and chronically. Bmpr2 mutant and male rats manifested more severe PH compared with their counterparts. Although wild‐type rats adapted to RPAO, Bmpr2 mutant rats experienced heightened mortality. RPAO induced a decline in cardiac contractility index, particularly pronounced in male Bmpr2 rats. Chronic RPAO resulted in elevated pulmonary IL‐6 (interleukin‐6) expression and decreased Gdf2 expression (corrected P value1). In this context, male rats expressed higher pulmonary levels of endothelin‐1 and IL‐6 than females. Conclusions Our novel 2‐hit rat model presents a promising avenue to explore the adaptation of the right ventricle and pulmonary vasculature to PH, shedding light on pertinent sex‐ and gene‐related effects.

Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) are computer-based learning environments that aim to imitate to the greatest possible extent the behavior of a human tutor in their capacity as a pedagogical and subject expert. One of the major challenges of these systems is to know how to adapt the training both to changing requirements of all kinds and to student knowledge and reactions. The activities recommended by these systems mainly involve active student performance prediction that, nowadays, becomes problematic in the face of the expectations of the present world. In the associated literature, several approaches, using various attributes, have been proposed to solve the problem of performance prediction. However, these approaches have failed to take advantage of the synergistic effect of students' social and emotional factors as better prediction attributes. This paper proposes an approach to predict student performance called "SoEmo"-WMRMF that exploits not only cognitive abilities, but also group work relationships between students and the impact of their emotions. More precisely, this approach models five types of domain relations through a Weighted Multi-Relational Matrix Factorization (WMRMF) model. An evaluation carried out on a data sample extracted from a survey carried out in a general secondary school showed that the proposed approach gives better performance in terms of reduction of the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) compared to other models simulated in this paper.

This study aimed to investigate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) variations during the spoilage of palm wine stored at ambient temperature and identify potential shelf-life markers. Palm wine collected from local tappers and resellers were stored at ambient temperature (28-30°C) for 96 h. At an interval of 24 h, VOCs variations were investigated using Solid phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (SPME-GC/MS) method. Changes in sensory quality and potential flavour contributors were also explored. The sensory rejection time was found at 24 h and 48 h of storage for palm wines collected from the tappers and resellers, respectively. The first attribute to be spoiled was taste followed by odour and appearance. A total of 23 VOCs distributed in six chemical families were identified. Alteration of palm wine sample is characterised by an increase in concentration of alcohol (isoamyl alcohol, isobutanol and 1-octanol), aceti acid and acetoin, and a decrease in ester concentration (ethyl acetate and ethyl hexanoate). In the view to fight against the short shelf-life and develop new preservation methods, these compounds can be used as markers of spoiled palm wine.

Abstract Sub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species’ population abundances. Drawing on recent advances in expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process to estimate ‘intactness scores’: the remaining proportion of an ‘intact’ reference population of a species group in a particular land use, on a scale from 0 (no remaining individuals) to 1 (same abundance as the reference) and, in rare cases, to 2 (populations that thrive in human-modified landscapes). The resulting bii4africa dataset contains intactness scores representing terrestrial vertebrates (tetrapods: ±5,400 amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and vascular plants (±45,000 forbs, graminoids, trees, shrubs) in sub-Saharan Africa across the region’s major land uses (urban, cropland, rangeland, plantation, protected, etc.) and intensities (e.g., large-scale vs smallholder cropland). This dataset was co-produced as part of the Biodiversity Intactness Index for Africa Project. Additional uses include assessing ecosystem condition; rectifying geographic/taxonomic biases in global biodiversity indicators and maps; and informing the Red List of Ecosystems.

Benign cystic mesothelioma is a very rare and uncommon lesion, first reported by Plaut in 1928. It affects young women of reproductive age. It is usually asymptomatic or has non-specific symptoms. Diagnosis remains difficult despite the evolution of imaging, and the histopathological study is the key examination to make the diagnosis. Surgery remains the only curative treatment, regardless of significant rate of recurrence, and until today, no consensus on the therapeutic strategy is established.

This paper draws on critical race theory to analyse testimonies from students that help explain why minoritised ethnic communities studying geography, planning, geology and environmental sciences in the UK, have a lesser chance of being awarded a 'good' degree (i.e. an upper second- or first-class), in comparison to White British people. There are very low levels of ethnic diversity across these subject areas. We conducted peer research, including student-led semi-structured interviews at one British university over a five-month period (involving 38 participants in total). Our analysis explores the processes of minoritisation owing to cultures of Whiteness. These relate to teaching and learning spaces, off-campus encounters, university societies, student representation/committees, social interactions, part-time employment and caring responsibilities. We conclude with a call for action to reframe and disassemble the 'degree awarding gap' through student and staff co-design of policies and actions that will not only confront, but also subvert exclusionary cultures of Whiteness in its various manifestations across university life.

Root-knot nematodes are the main factor limiting okra production in Côte d’Ivoire. Using resistant cultivars appears to be one of the best strategies for managing root-knot nematodes. The aim of this study was to determine the behaviour of the main okra cultivars grown in Côte d’Ivoire against Meloidogyne incognita. Seeds of 20 okra cultivars were planted in pots under greenhouse conditions. Fourteen-day-old plants of okra cultivars were inoculated with 500 second-stage juveniles of M. incognita. Agronomic and pathological parameters were determined. The Basanti cultivar exhibited the highest gall index (5.0/plant), final population (7938 individuals/plant), and reproductive factor (15.88/plant) of M. incognita, whereas the Hiré cultivar showed one of the lowest gall indexes (3.0/plant), final population (912 individuals/plant), and reproductive factor (1.8/plant). Two groups of cultivars were identified based on their susceptibility to M. incognita and their agronomic performance. One group consisted of cultivars that were less susceptible to M. incognita and had better agronomic performance. Cultivars that were more susceptible to M. incognita and had poorer agronomic performance made up the other group. The Hiré cultivar was the least favourable to M. incognita development. Based on the current study, the Hiré cultivar may be a promising option for farmers in root-knot nematode-prone environments.

Yaws, caused by Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue, remains a significant public health concern in tropical regions of West Africa and the South Pacific, primarily affecting children in remote areas with limited access to hygiene and sanitation. In this study, conducted in three endemic countries of West Africa where yaws remains a significant public health concern (Ghana, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire), we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to yaws among community members, community health workers (CHWs), and traditional healers. The study revealed variations in the perception of causes of yaws among community members: the majority or participants in Ghana attributed yaws to germs (60.2%); in Cameroon the most reported form of transmission was contact with or drinking infected water sources (44.6%); and in Côte d'Ivoire both of these answers were also the most prevalent (60.3% germs and 93.% water sources). A substantial proportion of participants in Côte d'Ivoire also associated yaws with witchcraft and divine punishment (44.8%). Only a small proportion of individuals in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire correctly identified contact with an infected person as a form of transmission (11.9% and 20.7%, respectively) and less than half in Cameroon (42.6%), although more than 98% of all participants reported avoidance behaviours towards yaws infected people due to fear of getting infected. Most participants expressed a preference for seeking care at hospitals (49.2%, 60.6%, 86.2%) or health care professionals including doctors and nurses (58.5%, 41,5% and 17.2%) if they were diagnosed with yaws, although a quarter of participants in Côte d'Ivoire also sought support from traditional healers. The CHWs interviewed were generally well-trained on yaws causes and treatment options, although they often reported low availability of treatment and diagnostic tests for yaws. Our findings underscore the need for community education, awareness campaigns, ongoing CHW training, and improved access to yaws treatment and diagnostic resources. The data also suggest that collaboration with traditional healers, who usually hold a highly esteemed position in the society, such as giving training on yaws causes and transmission or exchanging knowledge on treatment options, could be beneficial in certain regions, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire.