Intercropping millet with low-density cowpea improves millet productivity for low and medium N input in semi-arid central Senegal.

Cereal-legume intercropping has been traditionally practiced across West Africa by farmers and provides resilience of agriculture to climate variability. Intensification of these extensive intercropping systems in order to meet future food demand is critical. This study aims at evaluating the agronomic performance of the intensification of millet-cowpea intercropping with low cowpea density, and its variation with climate variability, using an on-station experiment in Bambey, Senegal. Two trials (irrigated vs rainfed) were set up to compare millet sole- and inter-cropping with a grain and a fodder variety of cowpea, in 2018 and 2019. Two levels of fertilization were tested: 0 kg(N) ha-1 and 69 kg(N) ha-1. The two cropping years were contrasting and water stress around flowering and/or during grain filling (indicated by the Fraction of Transpirable Soil Water) was higher in 2019 than in 2018 in the rainfed experiment. In both experiment and for all treatments, land equivalent ratio (LER) in the intercropping was 1.6 and 1.4 for grain and biomass respectively. Millet aboveground biomass was significantly higher in intercropping than in sole cropping in the irrigated experiment but not in the rainfed experiment. In the rainfed experiment, the interaction between cropping system and year was significant, so that millet aboveground biomass was greater in intercropping than in sole cropping in 2018 (year of lower water stress) but not in 2019 (year of higher water stress). The effect of fertilization on millet aboveground biomass did not significantly interact with cropping system (sole vs intercrop). For grain yield, fertilization interacted significantly with the cropping system in the irrigated trial: the benefits of intercropping on millet grain yield were greater with 69 kg(N) ha-1 than with 0 kg(N) ha-1. This significant interaction could not be observed in the rainfed trial, potentially due to water stress. These results show that the level of water stress (related here to the year and to the rainfed or irrigated experiment) and that of fertilization modulate the performance of millet-cowpea intercropping in the semi-arid context of Senegal. Overall, fertilization had a stronger effect on millet grain yield than intercropping. The two strategies (intercropping and mineral fertilization) can be complementary to achieve sustainable intensification of cropping system in semi-arid areas of West Africa.

Low Power Environmental Image Sensors for Remote Photogrammetry.

This paper aims to prove the feasibility of a 4D monitoring solution (3D modeling and temporal monitoring) for the sandbar and to characterize the species' role in the landscape. The developed solution allows studying the interaction between the river dynamics and vegetation using a network of low resolution and low power sensors. The issues addressed concern the feasibility of implementing a photogrammetry solution using low-resolution sensors as well as the choice of the appropriate sensor and its testing according to different configurations (image capture and storage on the sensor and/or image transmission to a centralization node) and also the detailed analysis of the different phases of the process (camera initialization, image capture, network transmission and selection of the most appropriate standby mode). We reveal that the tiny, low-cost board (ESP32-Cam) can perform a 3D reconstruction and propose using the camera's UXGA (1600, 1200) resolution because of the quality rendering and energy consumption. A multi-node scenario based on a combined Wi-Fi and GSM relay is proposed in the study showing several years of autonomy for the system. Finally, to illustrate the energy cost of the module, we have defined a study process, where we have identified and quantified one by one the different phases of operation of the card for better energy optimization (setup, camera configuration, shooting, saving on SD card, or sending by Wi-Fi). The device is now operational for deployment on the Allier River (France).

Malaria in Guinean Rural Areas: Prevalence, Management, and Ethnotherapeutic Investigations in Dionfo, Sub-Prefecture of Labe.

As part of a validation program of antimalarial traditional recipes, an ethnotherapeutic approach was applied in Dionfo, a meso-endemic Guinean rural area where conventional health facilities are insufficient. A prevalence investigation indicated a malarial burden of 4.26%. Ethnomedical and ethnobotanical surveys led to a collection of 63 plant species used against malaria from which Terminalia albida (Combretaceae) was one of the most cited. Ethnotherapeutic evaluation of a remedy based on T. albida was applied to 9 voluntary patients suffering from uncomplicated malaria. Treatment of 7 to 14 days led to an improvement of clinical symptoms and a complete parasite clearance achievement of 8/9 patients without side effects. In addition to antiplasmodial activity in vitro and in vivo previously described, this study indicates an efficacy to support the antimalarial traditional use of T. albida, which could constitute a first-aid treatment when access to other medicines is delayed in the Dionfo community. Ethnotherapeutical investigation could be a valuable approach to guide subsequent investigations on traditional remedies.

Propensity score analysis of outcomes between the transabdominal preperitoneal and open Lichtenstein repair techniques for inguinal hernia repair: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of persistent chronic pain after TAPP and OLR remains controversial. Therefore, more prospective and well-designed studies are needed to determine the predictive risk factors that will lead to better pain prevention and possibly elimination. The aim of the present study was to investigate the risk factors of chronic pain after TAPP repair and OLR in a single institution. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study of propensity score-matched patients who underwent TAPP or OLR surgery between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:1 matching using 6 covariates to generate the propensity score. RESULTS: A total of 400 patients treated with TAPP and 424 patients treated with OLR were balanced to 400 pairs of matched patients. The patients' age (P < 0.001), BMI (P < 0.001), foreign body sensation within 3 months after surgery (P < 0.001), and persistent sensation loss (P = 0.002) were different between the two groups. The OLR group had a shorter operative time than did the TAPP group (P < 0.001). The univariate analysis of factors predicting a difference in VAS between the preoperative assessment and the assessment 3 months after surgery showed that the type of surgery (P = 0.004), hernia grade (P = 0.001), type of mesh (P < 0.001), presence of scrotal invasion (P = 0.024), and foreign body sensation within 3 months (P = 0.047) were risk factors. The multivariate analysis revealed that only hernia grade III (CI - 8.524, - 2.783; P < 0.001), OLR operation type (CI 1.069, 4.987; P = 0.002), and the use of polypropylene mesh (CI - 5.400, - 1.489; P = 0.001) were independently associated with chronic pain. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that compared to OLR, TAPP leads to less postoperative pain and a better long-term quality of life.

Terminalia albida treatment improves survival in experimental cerebral malaria through reactive oxygen species scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties.

BACKGROUND: The development of Plasmodium resistance to the last effective anti-malarial drugs necessitates the urgent development of new anti-malarial therapeutic strategies. To this end, plants are an important source of new molecules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-malarial effects of Terminalia albida, a plant used in Guinean traditional medicine, as well as its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may be useful in treating cases of severe malaria. METHODS: In vitro antiplasmodial activity was evaluated on a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum (K-1). In vivo efficacy of the plant extract was measured in the experimental cerebral malaria model based on Plasmodium berghei (strain ANKA) infection. Mice brains were harvested on Day 7-8 post-infection, and T cells recruitment to the brain, expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers were measured by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR and ELISA. Non-malarial in vitro models of inflammation and oxidative response were used to confirm Terminalia albida effects. Constituents of Terminalia albida extract were characterized by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry. Top ranked compounds were putatively identified using plant databases and in silico fragmentation patterns. RESULTS: In vitro antiplasmodial activity of Terminalia albida was confirmed with an IC50 of 1.5 µg/mL. In vivo, Terminalia albida treatment greatly increased survival rates in P. berghei-infected mice. Treated mice were all alive until Day 12, and the survival rate was 50% on Day 20. Terminalia albida treatment also significantly decreased parasitaemia by 100% on Day 4 and 89% on Day 7 post-infection. In vivo anti-malarial activity was related to anti-inflammatory properties, as Terminalia albida treatment decreased T lymphocyte recruitment and expression of pro-inflammatory markers in brains of treated mice. These properties were confirmed in vitro in the non-malarial model. In vitro, Terminalia albida also demonstrated a remarkable dose-dependent neutralization activity of reactive oxygen species. Twelve compounds were putatively identified in Terminalia albida stem bark. Among them, several molecules already identified may be responsible for the different biological activities observed, especially tannins and triterpenoids. CONCLUSION: The traditional use of Terminalia albida in the treatment of malaria was validated through the combination of in vitro and in vivo studies.

A Retrospective Propensity Score Matched Study of the Preoperative C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio and Prognosis in Patients with Resectable Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND A retrospective study aimed to investigate the association between the CRP to albumin ratio and prognosis in patients with resectable non-metastatic breast cancer in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) using propensity score matching. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with newly diagnosed resectable non-metastatic breast cancer (n=200) who underwent modified radical mastectomy between January 2008 to June 2013 included a group with an increased CRP to albumin ratio ≥0.029 (n=80) and a group with reduced CRP to albumin ratio <0.029 (n=120). Propensity score matching was used to estimate the prognostic role of the CRP to albumin ratio, and a 1: 1 matching using four covariates was performed to overcome selection bias. The prognostic significance of the CRP to albumin ratio was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and a Cox proportional hazards model were conducted to identify the impact on DFS and OS. RESULTS An increased CRP to albumin ratio was associated with increased age, post-menopausal status, and a high risk of recurrence or death in patients with breast cancer. An increased preoperative CRP to albumin ratio was significantly associated with reduced disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that an increased CRP to albumin ratio was an independent risk factor for long-term outcome and predicted reduced DFS (HR, 2.225; P=0.024) and OS (HR, 9.189; P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative evaluation of the CRP to albumin ratio was an independent prognostic indicator in patients with resectable breast cancer.

Prognostic impact of preoperative prognostic nutritional index in resected advanced gastric cancer: A multicenter propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) causes debilitating malnutrition and leads to deterioration of the immune response. However, the concept of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is controversial when applied to patients with AGC. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the PNI after gastrectomy in patients with AGC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted using propensity score matching (PSM) in gastric adenocarcinoma patients who underwent resection via laparoscopic or open surgery between 2014 and 2017. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:1 matching using 5 covariates. RESULTS: The resection margins (P < 0.001) and LNM (P = 0.004) were significantly different between the two groups. In univariate analysis, poor tumor differentiation (P = 0.038) (R1+R2, P = 0.004), vascular and neural invasion (P < 0.001), and a PNI<50 (P < 0.001) were associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS). In multivariate analysis, a PNI<50 (hazard ratio (HR), 12.993; P < 0.001) was a risk factor for RFS. Univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) revealed that a PNI<50 (P < 0.001) (R1+R2,P = 0.006) and vascular and neural invasion (P < 0.001) were risk factors. In subsequent multivariate analysis, a PNI<50 (HR, 24.501; P < 0.001) was a significant risk factor for OS. Clinical assessments performed during a 12.34 (±5.050) month follow-up revealed that OS (P < 0.001) and RFS (P < 0.001) were worse in patients with a low PNI (<50) than in matched patients with a high PNI. CONCLUSION: A low PNI is a strong predictor of unfavorable RFS and OS in patients with AGC.

Propensity score analysis of recurrence for neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The perioperative serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proposed to predict adverse prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its interpretation remains unclear. The present study aimed to clarify the prognostic value of NLR in predicting survival among CRC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective, propensity score-matched study of adenocarcinoma patients who underwent D3 lymphadenectomy via laparoscopic or open surgery between 2010 and 2016 was conducted. A cutoff of 3.5 was used based on the receiver operating characteristic curve. To overcome selection biases, we performed a 1:1 match using six covariates. RESULTS: The high-preoperative NLR group had a higher recurrence rate than the low group (P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that increased NLR (P < 0.001), N1 (P = 0.016), and N2 (P < 0.001) were associated with worse recurrence-free survival (RFS). Multivariate analysis showed that N2 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.492; P = 0.008) was an adverse prognostic factor for RFS. Univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) revealed that high perioperative NLR (P = 0.001), N1 (P = 0.01), N2 (P < 0.001), and distant metastasis (P < 0.001) were adverse prognostic factors. Subsequent multivariate analysis showed that M1 (HR, 3.973; P < 0.001) and N2 (HR, 2.381; P = 0.013) were highly adverse factors for OS. Clinical assessments performed during a 21.14 (±16.20)-mo follow-up revealed that OS (P = 0.001) and RFS (P < 0.001) were worse in the high-perioperative group than in the low group between the matched groups. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated preoperative NLR is a strong predictor of worse RFS and OS in CRC patients.

Crop-model assisted phenomics and genome-wide association study for climate adaptation of indica rice. 1. Phenology.

Phenology and time of flowering are crucial determinants of rice adaptation to climate variation. A previous study characterized flowering responses of 203 diverse indica rices (the ORYTAGE panel) to ten environments in Senegal (six sowing dates) and Madagascar (two years and two altitudes) under irrigation in the field. This study used the physiological phenology model RIDEV V2 to heuristically estimate component traits of flowering such as cardinal temperatures (base temperature (Tbase) and optimum temperature), basic vegetative phase, photoperiod sensitivity and cold acclimation, and to conduct a genome-wide association study for these traits using 16 232 anonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The RIDEV model after genotypic parameter optimization explained 96% of variation in time to flowering for Senegal alone and 91% for Senegal and Madagascar combined. The latter was improved to 94% by including an acclimation parameter reducing Tbase when the crop experienced low temperatures during early vegetative development. Eighteen significant (P<1.0 × 10-5) quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified, namely ten for RIDEV parameters and eight for climatic index variables (difference in time to flowering between key environments). Co-localization of QTLs for different traits were rare. RIDEV parameters gave QTLs that were mostly more significant and distinct from QTLs for index variables. Candidate genes were investigated within the estimated 50% linkage disequilibrium regions of 39 kB. In addition to several known flowering network genes, they included genes related to thermal stress adaptation and epigenetic control mechanisms. The peak SNP for a QTL for the crop parameter Tbase (P=2.0 × 10-7) was located within HD3a, a florigen that was recently identified as implicated in flowering under cool conditions.

The analysis of clinicopathologic predictors of lymph node metastasis and postoperative recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma from Guangdong Province, China-a multicenter retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Currently the extent of lymph node dissection (LND) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remains controversial. The present study aims to investigate the clinicopathologic predictors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and prognosis in PTMC patients from Guangdong to enable appropriate treatment and follow-up. METHODS: Data including demographics, tumor size, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension (ETE) and concomitant thyroiditis were collected from 374 untreated PTMC patients from Guangdong, China. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinicopathologic predictors of LNM and prognostic indicators in PTMC patients with LNM. RESULTS: During the follow-up period of 120 months, recurrence was significantly higher in patients with LNM than in patients without LNM (P<0.05). Age <45 years, larger tumor (>5 mm) and multifocality were predictors of LNM; age <45 years, larger tumor size and absence of concomitant thyroiditis were associated with central LNM (CLNM); male sex, ETE and multifocality were correlated with lateral LNM (LLNM) (P<0.05). There was no difference in recurrence between patients with CLNM and LLNM (P>0.05). LNM in PTMC primarily influenced disease-free survival. Age >45 years and male sex were risk factors of recurrence in PTMC patients with LNM. Male patients with CLNM and older patients with LLNM exhibited worse prognosis (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PTMC easily metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes, which significantly influences prognosis. Prophylactic LND is recommended in PTMC patients from Guangdong, China, who have a high risk of CLNM and/or LLNM. More aggressive postoperative treatment and more frequent follow-up could be considered for older and/or male PTMC patients with LNM.

The prognostic value of regional lymph node metastases in patients of Guangdong Province, China with differentiated thyroid cancer: A multicenter retrospective clinical study.

Although the prognostic value of nodal metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer remains controversial, it is of interest to evaluate and understand the different characteristics of predictive outcomes.A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 215 untreated patients with differentiated thyroid cancer from July 1997 to July 2015 in 4 medical centers of Guangdong Province. A total of 107 patients with nodal metastases (group A) were compared to 108 patients without metastases (group B). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and postoperative complications in both groups were calculated. Variables predictive of DFS and OS were evaluated in group A.The group A had lower 5-year DFS (69.16%, 11 months) and shorter median time of recurrence than those in group B (87.96%, 8.5 months, respectively, P < 0.001). The incidence of temporary hypoparathyroidism in group A is lower; whereas higher incidence of temporary unilateral vocal cord palsy, permanent hypoparathyroidism, permanent unilateral vocal cord palsy, and bilateral vocal cord palsy in group A were observed. Both univariate and multivariate analyses in group A revealed that age, pathological tumor node metastasis (pTNM) stage, and histology were related to DFS (P < 0.05); while pTNM stage and histology were related to OS only in univariate analyses.Positive nodal metastases have significant prognostic value in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer in Guangdong, China and primarily reduce DFS. Moreover, patients with positive nodal metastases who are >45 years and have higher pTNM stage or follicular histology tend to have poor prognosis. Selective lymph node dissection with appropriate postoperative treatment and frequent follow-up should be accorded to these vulnerable groups of patients.