TB167: Management and Winter Hardiness of Hairy Vetch in Maine

The research presented here describes a set of three different experiments that sought to establish appropriate management practices for hairy vetch in Maine, and to determine whether variability for winter hardiness exists among germplasm available commercially or from gene banks. Specific objectives of the first experiment were to evaluate effects of planting date and companion crop on crop and weed dry weight and total above-ground N content, at two sites differing in drainage. In a second experiment, the winter hardiness of hairy vetch from six commercial sources and the effect of a rye companion crop on hardiness were evaluated. In a third experiment, 69 V. villosa accessions from three gene banks were evaluated for winter hardiness, vigor, flowering date, and seed production.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1043/thumbnail.jp

L'anémie à l'accouchement à Lomé (Togo) : prévalence, facteurs de risque et répercussions chez le nouveau-né

Une étude de prévalence réalisée à Lomé (Togo) a porté sur 125 couples mère-nouveau-né : 48% des mères et 30% des nouveaux-nés sont anémiques d'après les seuils de l'OMS. Trois mères sur quatre ont au moins un indicateur de carence en fer et celle-ci est le déterminant principal de l'anémie. Soixante huit pour cent ont une carence en folates, sans répercussion sur les paramètres hématologiques. Lorsque la carence en fer maternelle est grave (fer sérique <7umol), le fer sérique du nouveau-né est abaissé, ce qui témoigne d'une réduction de l'apport de fer au foetus. Le statut folique des nouveaux-nés est meilleur lorsque les mères ont reçu de l'acide folique pendant leur grossesse. Une supplémentation de ferro-folique systématique est donc nécessaire pendant la grossesse et serait bénéfique à la mère et à l'enfant. Les consultations prénatales devraient servir de cadre à la supplémentation. Leur fréquentation par 98% des femmes enceintes permet d'envisager une bonne couverture pour une telle intervention. (Résumé d'auteur

Iron deficiency, cell-mediated immunity and infection among 6-36 month old children living in rural Togo

Relationships between iron deficiency, cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and morbidity were studied in 220 children in rural south Togo. Iron deficiency was defined by abnormal values of at least two biochemical indicators of iron status viz. (i) plasmat ferritin, (ii) transferrin saturation, (iii) erythrocyte protophorphyrin. In children without any sign of inflammation, the percentage of B lymphocytes was higher in iron-deficient than in iron-sufficient children (26.7 +/- 2.9 vs 18 +/- 1.5). Mature T lymphocyte and helper-inducer T lymphocyte percentages were lower (51.6 +/- 3.7 vs 62.2 +/- 1.6 and 32.5 +/- 2.4 vs 38.7 +/- 1.4, p <0.05 respectively). The number of mature T and helper-inducer T lympphocytes was inversely related to iron status. No alteration of the CMI function assessed by delayed skin hypersensitivity was observed. Prevalence of diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections and febrile episodes was increased in iron-deficient children. (Résumé d'auteur

Vitamin A status of populations in three West african countries

Les résultats des enquêtes de consommation alimentaire et d'épidémiologie (clinique et biochimique) entreprises dans trois régions sub-sahéliennes ont mis en évidence l'existence de xérophtalmie au Burkina Faso, une déficience transitoire en vitamine A durant la saison humide au sud du Mali sans signes cliniques graves et un bon état en vitamine A en Casamanc

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder