Maritime safety administration in Guinea

The objective of the research covered by this paper is to describe the Guinean Maritime Safety Administration as it presently exists and to identify the particular process of development that may be needed. The paper will begin by outlining the geographical features of the Republic of Guinea as regards its water transport system, continue with a general description of the maritime administration, then describes the Maritime Safety Administration in more detail including related matters. Conclusions are then formulated and recommendations concerning future developments proposed

Undescended Testis Revealing Triorchidism in a Child: A Case Report

Polyorchidism is a rare genitourinary congenital malformation, which diagnosis is generally fortuitous in children. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy admitted to the pediatric surgery service of Donka University Hospital in Conakry for an empty left scrotum. Initially, the diagnosis of left cryptorchidism had prompted orchidopexy by inguinal approach, whose intraoperative exploration revealed two undescended left testicles. The first, located at the deep ring of the inguinal canal, had normal volume, while the second, located in the inguinal canal, was hypotrophic. The orchiectomy of the latter was performed, associated with a dartos-pouch orchidopexy of the testicle of normal volume. After one year of follow-up, no complications were noted

Quantifying the value of viral genomics when inferring who infected whom in the 2014–16 Ebola virus outbreak in Guinea

Transmission trees can be established through detailed contact histories, statistical or phylogenetic inference, or a combination of methods. Each approach has its limitations, and the extent to which they succeed in revealing a 'true' transmission history remains unclear. In this study, we compared the transmission trees obtained through contact tracing investigations and various inference methods to identify the contribution and value of each approach. We studied eighty-six sequenced cases reported in Guinea between March and November 2015. Contact tracing investigations classified these cases into eight independent transmission chains. We inferred the transmission history from the genetic sequences of the cases (phylogenetic approach), their onset date (epidemiological approach), and a combination of both (combined approach). The inferred transmission trees were then compared to those from the contact tracing investigations. Inference methods using individual data sources (i.e. the phylogenetic analysis and the epidemiological approach) were insufficiently informative to accurately reconstruct the transmission trees and the direction of transmission. The combined approach was able to identify a reduced pool of infectors for each case and highlight likely connections among chains classified as independent by the contact tracing investigations. Overall, the transmissions identified by the contact tracing investigations agreed with the evolutionary history of the viral genomes, even though some cases appeared to be misclassified. Therefore, collecting genetic sequences during outbreak is key to supplement the information contained in contact tracing investigations. Although none of the methods we used could identify one unique infector per case, the combined approach highlighted the added value of mixing epidemiological and genetic information to reconstruct who infected whom

Entreprenariat de nécessité et mécanismes d'accompagnement en milieu contraint : une exploration dans le contexte guinéen (le cas de la région de la Basse-Guinée)

In Guinea, despite the growing interest of support actors, the microenterprises created lack sustainability, or even fail. As part of this doctoralwork, we focused on necessity entrepreneurship. Our objective is to explore and understand the support processes implemented in the Guinean context, in order to grasp alternative action measures. To better understand the behavior of the subjects, we carried out a triple qualitative study with an interpretative aim, with three main actors (the accompanied, the support structures and the financial actors) through two surveys in the region of Basse-Guinea. Given the research context, we mobilized a theoretical framework based on an alternative vision of entrepreneurship (Effectuation and DIY), with an abductive mode of reasoning. The results, resulting from a thematic analysis of computer-assisted content, first confirm the characteristics of entrepreneurs of the need for the accompanied, and highlight the difficulties faced by the different actors involved. They then show a lack of correspondence between the needs of the people being accompanied, particularly in the post-creation phase, and the support services received. In our quest to contribute to reflection on support models insuch a context, our research suggests focusing more on this type of entrepreneur and microenterprises for better adaptation of support systems. In addition, we plead for the integration of alternative models, taking into account the context of creation and the status of the people accompanied, by promoting and supporting the entrepreneurial culture and local practices.En Guinée, malgré l’intérêt grandissant des acteurs de l’accompagnement, les microentreprises créées manquent de pérennité, voire sont en situation d’échec. Dans le cadre de ce travail doctoral, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’entrepreneuriat de nécessité. Notre objectif est d’explorer et de comprendre les processus d’accompagnement en oeuvre dans le contexte guinéen, afin de saisir des mesures d’action alternatives. Pour mieux cerner les comportements des sujets, nous avons réalisé une triple étude qualitative avec une visée interprétativiste, auprès de trois acteurs principaux (les accompagnés, les structures d’accompagnement et les acteurs financiers) à travers deux enquêtes dans la région de la Basse-Guinée. Compte tenu du contexte de recherche, nous avons mobilisé un cadre théorique fondé sur une vision alternative de l’entrepreneuriat (Effectuation et Bricolage), avec un mode de raisonnement abductif. Les résultats, issus d’une analyse thématique de contenu assisté par ordinateur, confirment d’abord les caractéristiques d’entrepreneurs de nécessité des accompagnés, et mettent en évidence les difficultés auxquelles font face les différents acteurs impliqués. Ils montrent ensuite un manque de correspondance entre les besoins des accompagnés, en particulier dans la phase post-création, et les services d’accompagnement reçus. Dans notre quête de contribuer à la réflexion sur les modèles d’accompagnement dans un tel contexte, notre recherche suggère de s’intéresser davantage à ce type d’entrepreneur et de microentreprises pour une meilleure adaptation des dispositifs et mesures de soutien. Par ailleurs, nous plaidons pour l’intégration de modèles alternatifs, prenant en compte le contexte de création et le statut des accompagnés, en valorisant et en soutenant la culture entrepreneuriale et les pratiques locales

Entreprenariat de nécessité et mécanismes d'accompagnement en milieu contraint : une exploration dans le contexte guinéen (le cas de la région de la Basse-Guinée)

In Guinea, despite the growing interest of support actors, the microenterprises created lack sustainability, or even fail. As part of this doctoralwork, we focused on necessity entrepreneurship. Our objective is to explore and understand the support processes implemented in the Guinean context, in order to grasp alternative action measures. To better understand the behavior of the subjects, we carried out a triple qualitative study with an interpretative aim, with three main actors (the accompanied, the support structures and the financial actors) through two surveys in the region of Basse-Guinea. Given the research context, we mobilized a theoretical framework based on an alternative vision of entrepreneurship (Effectuation and DIY), with an abductive mode of reasoning. The results, resulting from a thematic analysis of computer-assisted content, first confirm the characteristics of entrepreneurs of the need for the accompanied, and highlight the difficulties faced by the different actors involved. They then show a lack of correspondence between the needs of the people being accompanied, particularly in the post-creation phase, and the support services received. In our quest to contribute to reflection on support models insuch a context, our research suggests focusing more on this type of entrepreneur and microenterprises for better adaptation of support systems. In addition, we plead for the integration of alternative models, taking into account the context of creation and the status of the people accompanied, by promoting and supporting the entrepreneurial culture and local practices.En Guinée, malgré l’intérêt grandissant des acteurs de l’accompagnement, les microentreprises créées manquent de pérennité, voire sont en situation d’échec. Dans le cadre de ce travail doctoral, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’entrepreneuriat de nécessité. Notre objectif est d’explorer et de comprendre les processus d’accompagnement en oeuvre dans le contexte guinéen, afin de saisir des mesures d’action alternatives. Pour mieux cerner les comportements des sujets, nous avons réalisé une triple étude qualitative avec une visée interprétativiste, auprès de trois acteurs principaux (les accompagnés, les structures d’accompagnement et les acteurs financiers) à travers deux enquêtes dans la région de la Basse-Guinée. Compte tenu du contexte de recherche, nous avons mobilisé un cadre théorique fondé sur une vision alternative de l’entrepreneuriat (Effectuation et Bricolage), avec un mode de raisonnement abductif. Les résultats, issus d’une analyse thématique de contenu assisté par ordinateur, confirment d’abord les caractéristiques d’entrepreneurs de nécessité des accompagnés, et mettent en évidence les difficultés auxquelles font face les différents acteurs impliqués. Ils montrent ensuite un manque de correspondance entre les besoins des accompagnés, en particulier dans la phase post-création, et les services d’accompagnement reçus. Dans notre quête de contribuer à la réflexion sur les modèles d’accompagnement dans un tel contexte, notre recherche suggère de s’intéresser davantage à ce type d’entrepreneur et de microentreprises pour une meilleure adaptation des dispositifs et mesures de soutien. Par ailleurs, nous plaidons pour l’intégration de modèles alternatifs, prenant en compte le contexte de création et le statut des accompagnés, en valorisant et en soutenant la culture entrepreneuriale et les pratiques locales

Necessity entrepreneurship and mechanisms in a constrained environment : an exploration in the Guinean context (the case of Lower Guinea Region)

En Guinée, malgré l’intérêt grandissant des acteurs de l’accompagnement, les microentreprises créées manquent de pérennité, voire sont en situation d’échec. Dans le cadre de ce travail doctoral, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’entrepreneuriat de nécessité. Notre objectif est d’explorer et de comprendre les processus d’accompagnement en oeuvre dans le contexte guinéen, afin de saisir des mesures d’action alternatives. Pour mieux cerner les comportements des sujets, nous avons réalisé une triple étude qualitative avec une visée interprétativiste, auprès de trois acteurs principaux (les accompagnés, les structures d’accompagnement et les acteurs financiers) à travers deux enquêtes dans la région de la Basse-Guinée. Compte tenu du contexte de recherche, nous avons mobilisé un cadre théorique fondé sur une vision alternative de l’entrepreneuriat (Effectuation et Bricolage), avec un mode de raisonnement abductif. Les résultats, issus d’une analyse thématique de contenu assisté par ordinateur, confirment d’abord les caractéristiques d’entrepreneurs de nécessité des accompagnés, et mettent en évidence les difficultés auxquelles font face les différents acteurs impliqués. Ils montrent ensuite un manque de correspondance entre les besoins des accompagnés, en particulier dans la phase post-création, et les services d’accompagnement reçus. Dans notre quête de contribuer à la réflexion sur les modèles d’accompagnement dans un tel contexte, notre recherche suggère de s’intéresser davantage à ce type d’entrepreneur et de microentreprises pour une meilleure adaptation des dispositifs et mesures de soutien. Par ailleurs, nous plaidons pour l’intégration de modèles alternatifs, prenant en compte le contexte de création et le statut des accompagnés, en valorisant et en soutenant la culture entrepreneuriale et les pratiques locales.In Guinea, despite the growing interest of support actors, the microenterprises created lack sustainability, or even fail. As part of this doctoralwork, we focused on necessity entrepreneurship. Our objective is to explore and understand the support processes implemented in the Guinean context, in order to grasp alternative action measures. To better understand the behavior of the subjects, we carried out a triple qualitative study with an interpretative aim, with three main actors (the accompanied, the support structures and the financial actors) through two surveys in the region of Basse-Guinea. Given the research context, we mobilized a theoretical framework based on an alternative vision of entrepreneurship (Effectuation and DIY), with an abductive mode of reasoning. The results, resulting from a thematic analysis of computer-assisted content, first confirm the characteristics of entrepreneurs of the need for the accompanied, and highlight the difficulties faced by the different actors involved. They then show a lack of correspondence between the needs of the people being accompanied, particularly in the post-creation phase, and the support services received. In our quest to contribute to reflection on support models insuch a context, our research suggests focusing more on this type of entrepreneur and microenterprises for better adaptation of support systems. In addition, we plead for the integration of alternative models, taking into account the context of creation and the status of the people accompanied, by promoting and supporting the entrepreneurial culture and local practices

High selfing rate inferred for white fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf] reproductive system opens up opportunities for breeding programs

International audienceIn a context of the global major changes, it is mandatory to enlarge the range of crops supporting food security and pay great attention to neglected and underutilized species. However, basic knowledge of the biology of many neglected and underutilized species is still lacking to increase their yields. In this study, the mating system of white fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf], a West African minor and promising cereal, is assessed. Progenies arrays from both homozygous and heterozygous mothers were genotyped with microsatellites markers. The rate of genotyping errors in the experiments was assessed and a likelihood framework was used to determine the probability of different mating systems: outcrossing, self-fertilization and apomixis. The results suggested that white fonio has a highly selfing reproductive system with a possible outcrossing rate of 1.7%. Understanding the reproduction system of white fonio opens up opportunities for more effective breeding programs and a wider use of this cereal for food security improvement

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Lower Reproductive Tract Infections in Symptomatic Women in Dakar, Senegal

Background: Lower reproductive tract infections in women are important causes of morbidity but can also lead to complications and sequelae. This study aimed to establish the prevalence and risk factors of lower genital tract infections among women of reproductive age in Dakar (Senegal). Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in 6 maternity hospitals from July to November 2015. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 49 years and presented at health facilities with signs and symptoms of genital infection. Consenting individuals who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. Results: During the reporting period, 276 patients were enrolled. According to the laboratory results, the prevalence of any genital infection was 69.6% (192 of 276). The most common vaginal infections were bacterial vaginosis (39.5%) and vaginal candidiasis (29%), with the third most common cause, trichomoniasis, trailing behind in terms of prevalence (2.5%). Among the microorganisms responsible for cervical infections, Ureaplasma urealyticum was the most frequent (27.5%), followed by Mycoplasma hominis (14.5%), Chlamydia trachomatis (4.7%), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that young women and women with low levels of education were at increased risk for vaginal/cervical infections. Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and vaginal candidiasis and suggests that health care providers should increase awareness and communication to improve vaginal hygiene practices. If infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, C trachomatis or N gonorrhoeae is suspected, we also recommend systematically performing laboratory diagnostic confirmation