Workshop on mobile laboratories deployed in the Ebola outbreak in West-Africa 2014-2015

First paragraph: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a haemorrhagic fever caused by Ebola virus (EBOV) with high infectivity and mortality. EBOV is an enveloped, single-stranded, and negative-sense RNA virus belonging to the Filoviridae family. In contrast to the genus Marburgvirus which contains one single species, the genus Ebolavirus contains 5 species: Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV), Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) which are pathogenic for humans, and Reston Ebolavirus (RESTV) which infects non human primates. EBOV was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and simultaneously in Sudan. Since 1976, EVD has appeared sporadically in DRC, Sudan, Gabon, Uganda, and Congo, with small to large outbreaks and lethality ranging from 50 to 100% with about 2500 cumulative cases until 2013

Opto-electrical characterisation of In-doped SnS thin films for photovoltaic applications

[EN] Spray pyrolised SnS thin films doped with indium were studied using various optical and electrical techniques.Structural analysis shows that all films crystallise in an orthorhombic structurewith (111) as a preferential direction, without secondary phases. The doping of SnS layers with indium results in better morphology with increased grain size. Absorption measurements indicate a dominant direct transition with energy decreasing from around 1.7 eV to 1.5 eV with increased indium supply. Apart from the direct transition, an indirect one, of energy of around 1.05 eV, independent of indiumdoping, was identified. The photoluminescence study revealed two donors to acceptor transitions between two deep defect levels and one shallower one, with an energy of around 90 meV. The observed transitions did not depend significantly on In concentration. The conductivitymeasurements reveal thermal activation of conductivity with energy decreasing from around 165 meV to 145 meV with increased In content.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (ENE2016-77798-C4-2-R) and Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeus 2014/044).Urbaniak, A.; Pawlowski, M.; Marzantowicz, M.; Sall, T.; Marí, B. (2017). Opto-electrical characterisation of In-doped SnS thin films for photovoltaic applications. Thin Solid Films. 636:158-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2017.06.001S15816363

Secure Communication in Vehicular Networks - PRESERVE Demo

Security and privacy are fundamental prerequisites for the deployment of vehicular communications. The near-deployment status of Safety Applications for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) calls for strong evidence on the applicability of proposed research solutions, notably close-to-reality situations and field-operational trials. The contribution of our work is in this direction: We present a demonstration of the integration and the interoperability among components and security mechanisms coming from different Research and Development projects, as per the PRESERVE project. In fact, we show that the components of the SeVeCom and EVITA projects with the PRESERVE architecture lead to strong and practical security and privacy solutions for Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs)

Quantitative real-time PCR detection of Zika virus and evaluation with field-caught mosquitoes

BACKGROUND Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito borne flavivirus is a pathogen affecting humans in Asia and Africa. ZIKV infection diagnosis relies on serology-which is challenging due to cross-reactions with other flaviviruses and/or absence or low titer of IgM and IgG antibodies at early phase of infection- virus isolation, which is labor intensive, time consuming and requires appropriate containment. Therefore, real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) is an appealing option as a rapid, sensitive and specific method for detection of ZIKV in the early stage of infection. So far, only one rRT-PCR assay has been described in the context of the outbreak in Micronesia in 2007. In this study, we described a one step rRT-PCR for ZIKV which can detect a wider genetic diversity of ZIKV isolates from Asia and Africa. RESULTS The NS5 protein coding regions of African ZIKV isolates were sequenced and aligned with representative flaviviruses sequences from GenBank to design primers and probe from conserved regions. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was evaluated to be 32 genome-equivalents and 0.05 plaque forming unit (pfu). The assay was shown to detect 37 ZIKV isolates covering a wide geographic in Africa and Asia over 36 years but none of the 31 other flaviviruses tested showing high analytical specificity. The rRT-PCR could be performed in less than 3 hours. This method was used successfully to detect ZIKV strains from field-caught mosquitoes. CONCLUSION We have developed a rapid, sensitive and specific rRT-PCR for detection of ZIKV. This assay is a useful tool for detection of ZIKV infection in regions where a number of other clinically indistinguishable arboviruses like dengue or chikungunya co-circulate. Further studies are needed to validate this assay in clinical positive samples collected during acute ZIKV infection

Determinants Influencing the Consumption of Iron-Rich Foods among Senegalese Young Children: A Path Analysis

Background: Anaemia is a public health concern among Senegalese children aged 6-59 months old. One of the potential causes of this situation is the low consumption of iron-rich foods (IRF). Understanding factors that influence the provision of IRF among young children could help prevent and control anemia. Using the extended version of the theory of planned behavior (eTPB), this nationwide study examines psychosocial and environmental determinants of the consumption of IRF in children aged 6-23 months. Methods and Materials: To this end, an existing questionnaire used for the same purpose was reviewed and re-validated. Using data collected among 418 children's caregivers on each construct of the eTPB, pathways by which individual and environmental constructs may influence the daily IRF consumption were identified. Data on IRF consumption were collected using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Overall, 42% of children consumed IRF, while 95% of caregivers intended to provide them with IRF daily. There was no association between the intention and the actual behavior. The daily IRF consumption was instead predicted by the child's age and environmental factors. In turn, the subjective norm and the perceived behavioral control predicted the intention. Conclusion: By using a valid and reliable tool to collect data on individual and environmental factors affecting the consumption of IRF among Senegalese young children on a national scale, our research highlights potential barriers to their provision. These barriers should be considered in the design and implementation of effective interventions to improve their nutrition

Qualite et vitesse de decomposition des litieres des principaux arbustes natifs de la savane humide au centre de la Cote d’Ivoire

Cette étude a été conduite en zone de savane humide de Côte d’Ivoire pour évaluer la qualité et la vitesse de décomposition des litières de feuilles de trois espèces d’arbustes dominantes: Crossopteryx febrifuga, Terminalia schimperiana et Piliostigma thonningii et la contribution des termites dans ce processus. La vitesse de décomposition a été suivie pendant six mois dans des sachets (Litterbags) puis le coefficient de décomposition k a été déterminé. La contribution des termites a été estimée à travers la quantité de sol « termitique » déposée sur les sachets. Les résultats montrent que les teneurs des litières en C, N, K et Mg étaient plus élevés avec C. febrifuga qu’avec P. thonningii et T. schimperiana respectivement. Le rapport N/P suivait exactement la même tendance. La teneur en P n’a pas varié significativement avec les espèces. Les rapports C/N et C/P n’ont pas non plus varié significativement. La concentration de Ca des litières était plus élevée avec P. thonningii. La densité surfacique des litières (caractéristique physique) était plus élevée avec P. thonningii qu’avec les autres espèces. La décomposition des litières de T. schimperiana (0,64 mois-1) était plus rapide que celles de C. febribuga (0,52 mois-1) et de P. thonningii (0,39 mois-1). L’activité des termites était plus importante sous les litières les plus denses (P. thonningii). L’espèce C. febrifuga est apparue comme ayant le meilleur potentiel d’amélioration de la fertilité du sol.   English title: Quality and decomposition rate of native shrub species’ leaf litters in a wet savanna in central Côte d’Ivoire This study was conducted in Central Côte d’Ivoire, aimed to assess the quality and rate of decomposition of the dominant native shrub species’ leaf litters, namely Crossopteryx febrifuga, Terminalia schimperiana and Piliostigma thonningii and the termite’s contribution in this process. Investigations took place in the Lamto Natural Reserve, including five replicate trees per species. Leaf litters were left to decompose in litterbags for six months and then, the decomposition coefficient (k) was determined. The termites’ contribution to decomposition was estimated by the amount of soil they deposited on the litterbags. Results showed that higher leaf litter C, N, K and Mg concentrations were associated with C. febrifuga compared to P. thonningii and T. schimperiana, respectively. The N/P ratio followed the same order. Litter P, C/N and C/P ratios did not varied across species. Higher litter Ca was observed with P. thonningii. Litter surface area was higher with P. thonningii compared to the other two species while decomposition was faster with T. schimperiana (k = 0.64 month-1) followed by C. febribuga (k = 0.52 month-1) and P. thonningii (0.39 months-1). The contribution of the termites to decomposition were found to be greater on high surface area-leaf litters, supposedly more ligneous (P. thonningii). These results suggest that C. febrifuga holds a greater ability to improve soil fertility