Land restoration by fodder shrubs in a semi-arid agro-pastoral area of Morocco. Effects on soils

The present study assesses the effects of Atriplex nummularia Lindl. growth on soil chemical properties in a semi-arid area. The area is located in the Marrakech province (Morocco), in a degraded agropastoral region subjected to soil restoration actions based on fodder shrub plantations. Three plantations of different age (1995, 2000, 2001), conducted in three different sites, were investigated. In each site, three plots with different degree of plant development (Good, Medium, Poor), were chosen. Three under-canopy (Uc) and three between-plants (Bp) minipits were sampled (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) and analysed in each plot, for a total number of 54 minipits. Statistic analysis was carried out to check the significance of the observed Uc–Bp average differences. A significant increase under canopy was observed in soil Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR; + 139%) and OC (+ 32%) in the top layer (0–10 cm). The overall effects of the plantations on soil quality are discussed

The Geomorphologic and pedo-morphologic maps of Skhirat (Feriana, Tunisia) at the 1:50,000 scale

Land planning and land restoration in drylands affected by desertification require a good understanding of the active geomorphic processes, their intensities and spatial patterns. Traditional Soil and Land Suitability maps do not incorporate this information and may be partially inadequate in that regard, because they necessarily give a ‘static’ representation of the land. The geomorphology of the study area (Feriana district, Central Western Tunisia) is complex, including relict landforms, such as Quaternary pediments, fossil sand dunes, and the evidence of ancient endorheic systems. On the other hand the area is characterized by active and intense geomorphic processes: water and wind erosion, aeolian deposition, and localized present-day endorheism accompanied by water logging and salt accumulation processes. The soils reflect the imprints of multiple past and present pedogenic and geomorphic processes. In this study a Geomorphologic and a Pedo-morphologic Map were produced to provide the local decision makers with cartographic tools to best plan land use options and land restoration. The Maps were drawn at the 1:50,000 scale based on detailed photo-interpretation and on dedicated field surveys.</br

Correction: The landscape of epilepsy-related GATOR1 variants

International audienceThe original version of this article contained an error in the spelling of the author Erik H. Niks, which was incorrectly given as Erik Niks. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article

The landscape of epilepsy-related GATOR1 variants

Purpose: To define the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of epilepsies related to DEPDC5, NPRL2 and NPRL3 genes encoding the GATOR1 complex, a negative regulator of the mTORC1 pathway Methods: We analyzed clinical and genetic data of 73 novel probands (familial and sporadic) with epilepsy-related variants in GATOR1-encoding genes and proposed new guidelines for clinical interpretation of GATOR1 variants. Results: The GATOR1 seizure phenotype consisted mostly in focal seizures (e.g., hypermotor or frontal lobe seizures in 50%), with a mean age at onset of 4.4 years, often sleep-related and drug-resistant (54%), and associated with focal cortical dysplasia (20%). Infantile spasms were reported in 10% of the probands. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) occurred in 10% of the families. Novel classification framework of all 140 epilepsy-related GATOR1 variants (including the variants of this study) revealed that 68% are loss-of-function pathogenic, 14% are likely pathogenic, 15% are variants of uncertain significance and 3% are likely benign. Conclusion: Our data emphasize the increasingly important role of GATOR1 genes in the pathogenesis of focal epilepsies (>180 probands to date). The GATOR1 phenotypic spectrum ranges from sporadic early-onset epilepsies with cognitive impairment comorbidities to familial focal epilepsies, and SUDEP