La filière étatique des semences de riz pluvial en Casamance (Sénégal) : fonctionnement, contraintes et perspectives de développement

Description du sujet. Dans les pays subsahariens et en particulier au Sénégal, les systèmes semenciers traditionnels représentent encore l'option la plus répandue dans l'agriculture familiale nonobstant les nombreux efforts des Etats pour développer des filières semencières modernes et économiquement durables. Objectifs. Analyser le secteur semencier formel du riz pluvial de la Casamance, une région à forte vocation rizicole où le riz représente toujours la première source alimentaire des ménages ruraux, aux niveaux organisationnel et de structuration du marché. Méthode. Les données statistiques collectées ont été élaborées pour décrire la situation de la demande/offre de semences certifiées de riz dans la sous-région et la région ciblée. A travers des entretiens semi-directifs, les acteurs principaux de la filière ont été interviewés pour identifier et analyser les maillons de la filière et combler le gap informatif venant des données quantitatives. Résultats. L'étude identifie les principales limites et contraintes ainsi que les inefficacités du système semencier formel conçu comme filière marchande mais non adapté à un contexte de subsistance où la demande commerciale finale de semences certifiées est presque nulle. Une forte dépendance des acteurs impliqués par rapport aux interventions de l'Etat et de ses partenaires techniques et financiers et le manque d'un cadre de concertation et de planification entre les différents acteurs de la chaîne semencière ont été relevés. Conclusions. La mise en oeuvre d’un système semencier intégré et d’un cadre d'actions à entreprendre pour soutenir l'intégration des différentes composantes de la filière sont proposés. Ce cadre peut être retenu comme une démarche d'orientation et d'aide à l’identification et à la hiérarchisation des interventions de l’Etat et de ses PTF. Description of the subject. In sub-Saharan countries and particularly in Senegal, traditional seed systems still represent the most widespread option in family-based agricultures, despite the many efforts made by Governments to develop modern and economically sustainable seed chains. Objectives. Analyse formal rainfed rice seed sector in Casamance, a rice-rich regionwhere rice is still the main source of food for rural households, at the organizational and at the level of market structure. Method. Collected statistical data were processed to describe the situation of demand/supply of certified rice seed in the subregion and in targeted region. Through semi-structured interviews, the main actors of the sector were interviewed to identify and analyse chain structure and to fill the information gap from quantitative data. Results. The study identifies the main limitations and constraints of the sector as well as the inefficiencies of a seed system designed as a market chain and not adapted to a subsistence context where the final commercial demand for certified seeds is almost zero. A strong dependence of the actors involved in relation to interventions of Government and its technical and financial partners and the lack of a consultation and planning framework between actors and supply systems have been outlined. Conclusions. The implementation of an integrated seed system and a framework of actions to be undertaken in the region to support the integration of various chain are proposed. This framework can be used as tool to orient and assist the identification and prioritization of interventions of Government and its TFP. &nbsp

The Achievements of the RockStar Group (Perugia) on Astrophysical Modelling and Pallasite Geochemistry

In the present work we summarize the first achievements of the RockStar Group of the Department of Physics and Geology (at the University of Perugia, Italy), which is made of a strict collaboration between Physicists and Geologists on astrophysical and planetological studies. The RockStar Group acts on two research lines: (i) astrophysical modeling and (ii) mineralogical and geochemical studies of meteorites. In the first part of the article we review the recent results concerning the development of theoretical modeling of nucleosynthesis and mixing process in asymptotic giant branch. In the second part we report (1) the catalog of the Meteorite collection of University of Perugia and (2) major and trace elements mapping, performed through EPMA and LA-ICP-MS, of the Mineo pallasite, a unique sample hosted by the collection. The new data constrain the Mineo meteorite among the Main Group Pallasites and support the hypothesis of the "early giant impact" formation

Bone and Joint Infections: The Role of Imaging in Tailoring Diagnosis to Improve Patients' Care

Imaging is needed for the diagnosis of bone and joint infections, determining the severity and extent of disease, planning biopsy, and monitoring the response to treatment. Some radiological features are pathognomonic of bone and joint infections for each modality used. However, imaging diagnosis of these infections is challenging because of several overlaps with non-infectious etiologies. Interventional radiology is generally needed to verify the diagnosis and to identify the microorganism involved in the infectious process through imaging-guided biopsy. This narrative review aims to summarize the radiological features of the commonest orthopedic infections, the indications and the limits of different modalities in the diagnostic strategy as well as to outline recent findings that may facilitate diagnosis

Outcomes of Vancouver B2- type and B3-type proximal femur periprosthetic fractures after revision surgery using cementless tapered modular stem: a retrospective case series of 39 fractures

Objective. Evaluate outcomes of Vancouver B2-type and B3-type proximal femur periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) in elderly patients treated with a cementless tapered modular femoral stem. Methods. 37 patients with a proximal femur PPF (34 B2-type and 5 B3-type) on primary or revision implants, with a minimum of 2-year follow-up, treated with revision of the failed stem using uncemented MP® reconstruction system stem (Waldemar Link®), were included.Results. At last follow-up, the average Harris Hip Score was 91 ± 9.8, and average Numerical Rating Score was 0.7 ± 0.8, without a significant difference between B2-type and B3-type PPFs. X-rays at last follow-up revealed bone union in all patients. According to Beals and Tower's criteria, we found excellent radiological findings in 89.7% patients. Fourteen local surgery-related complications were reported (35.9%), and 4 patients required revision surgery (10.2%), without significant differences between B2-type and B3-type PPFs. We found involvement of both trochanters in fracture as a possible risk factor for dislocation.Conclusions. Vancouver B2-type and B3-type PPFs can be effectively treated using a cementless modular stem, even without cortical struts graft, although further studies are needed regarding B3-type PPFs

Hippocampal FGF-2 and BDNF overexpression attenuates epileptogenesis-associated neuroinflammation and reduces spontaneous recurrent seizures

Under certain experimental conditions, neurotrophic factors may reduce epileptogenesis. We have previously reported that local, intrahippocampal supplementation of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increases neurogenesis, reduces neuronal loss, and reduces the occurrence of spontaneous seizures in a model of damage-associated epilepsy. Here, we asked if these possibly anti-epileptogenic effects might involve anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Thus, we used a Herpes-based vector to supplement FGF-2 and BDNF in rat hippocampus after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus that established an epileptogenic lesion. This model causes intense neuroinflammation, especially in the phase that precedes the occurrence of spontaneous seizures. The supplementation of FGF-2 and BDNF attenuated various parameters of inflammation, including astrocytosis, microcytosis and IL-1β expression. The effect appeared to be most prominent on IL-1β, whose expression was almost completely prevented. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) for these effects, and for that on IL-1β in particular. Nonetheless, the concept that neurotrophic factors affect neuroinflammation in vivo may be highly relevant for the understanding of the epileptogenic process

Monocytic population in chronic lymphocytic leukemia shows altered composition and deregulation of genes involved in phagocytosis and inflammation

Macrophages reside in tissues infiltrated by chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells and the extent of infiltration is associated with adverse prognostic factors. Blood monocyte population was studied by flow cytometry and whole-genome microarrays. A mixed lymphocyte reaction was performed to evaluate T cell proliferation in contact with monocytes from patients and normal donors. Migration and gene modulation in normal monocytes treated with leukemia were also evaluated. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients showed an increase in the absolute number of monocytes compared to normal controls (792+/-86 cells/mL vs. 485+/-46 cells/mL, p=0.003). Higher number of nonclassical CD14+CD16++ and Tie-2 expressing monocytes (TEMs) was also detected in patients. Furthermore, we performed a gene expression analysis of monocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, showing up-regulation of RAP1GAP and down-regulation of tubulins and CDC42EP3, which would be expected to result in impairment in phagocytosis. We also detected gene alterations such as the down-regulation of PTGR2, a reductase able to inactivate the prostaglandin E2, indicating an immunosuppressive activity. Accordingly, T cell proliferation was inhibited in contact with monocytes from patients compared to normal controls. Finally, normal monocytes in vitro increased migration and up-regulated CD16, RAP1GAP, IL-10, IL-8, MMP9 and down-regulated PTGR2 in response to leukemic cells or conditioned media. In conclusion, altered composition and deregulation of genes involved in phagocytosis and inflammation were found in blood monocytes obtained from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, suggesting that leukemia-mediated 'education' of immune elements may also include the establishment of a skewed phenotype in monocyte/macrophage population

JRC MARS Bulletin - Crop monitoring in Europe, December 2018

Sowing and development of winter cereals had been delayed due to dry conditions in large parts of Europe. Relatively mild conditions have slowed hardening of winter wheat in western Europe. In central, northern and eastern Europe, forecasts of colder conditions are expected to improve frost tolerance.JRC.D.5-Food Securit

JRC MARS Bulletin: Crop monitoring in Europe: February 2018

Winter conditions so far present no threat to winter cropsJRC.D.5-Food Securit

JRC MARS Bulletin - Crop monitoring in Europe, November 2018

Harvesting of root and tuber crops also affected In large parts of central Europe, persistently dry soil conditions, complicated field preparations and sowing operations, and limited plant emergence and early crop development. Rapeseed areas in Germany, eastern Poland and northern Czechia are expected to be significantly reduced. Soft wheat can still be (re)sown in some countries. Favourable conditions for the sowing and emergence of winter crops prevailed in most parts of western and northern Europe.JRC.D.5-Food Securit