Dicyclo­hexyl­ammonium trimethyl­bis­(hydrogen phenyl­phospho­nato)stannate(IV)

In the title compound, (C12H24N)[Sn(CH3)3(C6H6O3P)2], the SnMe3 residues are axially coordinated by two monodentate [PhPO3H]− anions, leading to a trigonal–bipyramidal geometry for the SnIV atom. The two [SnMe3(PhPO3H)2]− anions in the unit cell are associated into infinite chains along the a axis by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the hy­droxy group of the hydrogen phenyl­phospho­nate ion. The chains inter­act with one another via O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds along the c axis. These networks of anions assemble with the dicyclo­hexyl­ammonium ion through N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network

Pan-Africanism: a contorted delirium or a pseudonationalist paradigm? Revivalist critique

This essaic-article goes against established conventions that there is anything ethno-cultural (and hence national) about the so-called African tribes. Drawing largely from the culture history of precolonial/prepolitical Africans—that is, the Bantu/Cushitic-Ethiopians (Azanians)—the author has demonstrated vividly that far from being distinct ethno-culture national communities, the so-called tribes of African states are better considered subculture groups, whose regional culture practices erstwhile paid tribute to their nation’s main culture center in Karnak. For example, using the culture symbols and practices of some local groups and linking them to the predynastic and dynastic Pharaonic periods, I argued that there is compelling evidence against qualifying Africa’s tribes as distinct ethno-culture national entities. In genuine culture context, I stressed that the Ritual of Resurrection and its twin culture process of the mummification of deceased indigenous Pharaohs tend to suggest that the object of the Bantu/Cushitic-Ethiopians national culture was life (in its eternal manifestation) and then resurrection later, and that there are recurring (culturally sanctioned) ethical examples among the culture custodians of these subculture groups that generally pay tribute to the overarching culture norm. Furthermore, the fact that the Ritual of Resurrection began in the Delta region and ended at the Sources of the Nile, where the spirit of the deceased indigenous Pharaohs was introduced into the spiritual world of their ancestors, contradicts conventional perceptions that ancient Egypt was a distinct national community isolated from precolonial/prepolitical Africa/Azania

Urban sprawl development and flooding at Yeumbeul suburb (Dakar-Senegal)

Rapid development of urban centers in Africa is becoming a serious challenge for the coming decades with a wide range of foreseen social, economical and environmental implications. With the natural growth of the population, urban demography has been boosted by rural exodus triggered by serious droughts and increasing rural poverty. With the small resources available for an adequate urban management and the lack of efficient urban policy, Dakar capital of Senegal is characterized by an out of control urbanization process. Among the many impacts noted, flooding has appeared recently as a major threat for poor population leaving in the suburbs of Dakar. This study carried out at the outskirts of the town, in Yeumbeul District (17°24’ North, 14°46’ West), tries from rainfall variability, Digital Terrain Model and land cover change analysis since 1954 to track the interactions between natural and human causes of flooding occurring regularly since 1989. This integrated approach shows that the flooding process is not a mere climate variability related issue, it is tightly bound with poor urban management and occupation of irregular, unsuited land devoted to natural process. Satisfaction of housing needs was, for most poor rural dwellers, only possible through informal land markets, forcing them to settle in cheap yet risky lands. The recent extreme rainfall events reveal that most of these urban sprawls are located in flood prone areas. Environmental impacts of these flooded settlements have been examined. Serious flooding of 2005 has been a great momentum for the State and several other stakeholders to initiate various strategies that are discussed in this paper.Key words: Flooding, rural migration, irregular settlements, Dakar, Senegal

Influence de la litière foliaire de cinq espèces végétales tropicales sur la diversité floristique des herbacées dans la zone du Ferlo (Senegal)

L’objectif de cette étude a été d’évaluer l’effet de la présence de cinq plantes ligneuses: Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana (Savi) Brenan, Acacia senegal (L.) Willd, Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. ex Poir. et Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. sur la diversité spécifique de la végétation herbacée dans le Ferlo, au Nord-Sénégal. Il a été procédé à un inventaire des espèces herbacées sous couvert et hors couvert des plantes ligneuses. Ensuite, une analyse floristique qualitative (familles, genres et espèces) a été réalisée à partir de la liste floristique des différents inventaires. Cette analyse a été couplée à une approche quantitative en utilisant le coefficient de similitude de Sørensen qui a servi à définir l’indice de diversité beta. Les résultats de l’inventaire floristique ont permis de dénombrer 28 espèces herbacées réparties dans 25 genres et 15 familles. Les plantes ligneuses comme B. senegalensis, B. aegyptiaca et S. birrea possèdent la flore la plus riche avec 18 espèces chacune, alors que A. tortilis et A. senegal ont respectivement 12 et 9 espèces. Le témoin est le moins diversifié avec 6 espèces herbacées. Parmi les herbacées, Aristida mutabilis est la plus fréquente contrairement à Achyranthes aspera, Aristida adsentionis, Chloris barbata, Cleome  viscosa, Cyperus esculentus, Datura metel, Eragrostis pilosa et Indigofera hirsuta qui sont les espèces les moins fréquentes. Les résultats de l’AFC ont montré quatre groupements végétaux. Un premier groupement qui regroupe B. senegalensis, A. raddiana et le témoin, un groupement à B. aegyptiaca, un groupement à A. senegal et enfin un groupement à S. birrea. Cette étude a permis de mettre en évidence la valeur de la présence de l’arbre dans un système de production fortement dégradé.Mots clés: Sénégal, Ferlo, interaction arbre - herbe, AFC, diversité floristique

Unveiling induced folding of intrinsically disordered proteins – Protein engineering, frustration and emerging themes

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can be generally described as a class of proteins that lack a well-defined ordered structure in isolation at physiological conditions. Upon binding to their physiological ligands, IDPs typically undergo a disorder-to-order transition, which may or may not lead to the complete folding of the IDP. In this short review, we focus on some of the key findings pertaining to the mechanisms of such induced folding. In particular, first we describe the general features of the reaction; then, we discuss some of the most remarkable findings obtained from applying protein engineering in synergy with kinetic studies to induced folding; and finally, we offer a critical view on some of the emerging themes when considering the structural heterogeneity of IDPs vis-à-vis to their inherent frustration

On the Effects of Disordered Tails, Supertertiary Structure and Quinary Interactions on the Folding and Function of Protein Domains

The vast majority of our current knowledge about the biochemical and biophysical properties of proteins derives from in vitro studies conducted on isolated globular domains. However, a very large fraction of the proteins expressed in the eukaryotic cell are structurally more complex. In particular, the discovery that up to 40% of the eukaryotic proteins are intrinsically disordered, or possess intrinsically disordered regions, and are highly dynamic entities lacking a well-defined three-dimensional structure, revolutionized the structure–function paradigm and our understanding of proteins. Moreover, proteins are mostly characterized by the presence of multiple domains, in-fluencing each other by intramolecular interactions. Furthermore, proteins exert their function in a crowded intracellular milieu, transiently interacting with a myriad of other macromolecules. In this review we summarize the literature tackling these themes from both the theoretical and experimental perspectives, highlighting the effects on protein folding and function that are played by (i) flanking disordered tails; (ii) contiguous protein domains; (iii) interactions with the cellular environment, defined as quinary structures. We show that, in many cases, both the folding and function of protein domains is remarkably perturbed by the presence of these interactions, pinpointing the importance to increase the level of complexity of the experimental work and to extend the efforts to characterize protein domains in more complex contexts

DIFFICULTÉS DE LA PARTICIPATION EN RECHERCHE- ACTION : retour d'expériences de modélisation d'accompagnement en appui à l'aménagement du territoire au Sénégal et à la Réunion

International audienceComment aider les institutions et acteurs locaux à investir davantage les processus d'affectation des terres pour aménager leur territoire ? La décentralisation de l'aménagement du territoire engagée à la Réunion et au Sénégal est inachevée. Malgré l'arsenal législatif, les populations locales semblent peu impliquées dans les décisions les concernant en raison notamment de la difficulté à appréhender la complexité des systèmes d'interactions entre dynamiques sociales et environnementales. Le projet Domino vise à accompagner les processus de décision en proposant aux acteurs de construire et d'explorer des scenarii prospectifs d'affectation des terres. Cette expérience de modélisation participative repose sur une dynamique partenariale complexe sur chaque terrain, source de difficultés. Conscients des dérives potentielles, nous discutons la nécessité de construire une démarche qualité de notre recherche-action. Mots clés : montage de partenariat, démarche qualité, modèle, changement social, ComMod, interdisciplinarité, décentralisation, foncier, Sénégal, Réunio