Invasive rats strengthen predation pressure on bird eggs in a South Pacific island rainforest

Invasive rats （Rattus spp.） are known to have pervasive impacts on island birds, particularly on their nesting success. To conserve or restore bird populations, numerous invasive rat control or eradication projects are undertaken on islands worldwide. However, such projects represent a huge investment and the decision-making process requires proper assessment of rat impacts. Here, we assessed the influence of two sympatric invasive rats （Rattus rattus and R. exulans） on native bird eggs in a New Caledonian rainforest, using artificial bird-nest monitoring. A total of 178 artificial nests containing two eggs of three different sizes were placed either on the ground or 1.5 m high and monitored at the start of the birds＇ breeding season. Overall, 12.4% of the nests were depredated during the first 7 days. At site 1, where nests were monitored during 16 days, 41.8% of the nests were depredated. The main predator was the native crow Corvus moneduloides, responsible for 62.9% of the overall predation events. Rats were responsible for only 22.9% of the events, and ate only small and medium eggs at both heights. Our experiment suggests that in New Caledonia, predation pressure by rats strengthens overall bird-nest predation, adding to that by native predators, Experimental rat control operations may allow reduced predation pressure on nests as well as the recording of biodiversity responses after rat population reduction.

仁怀市主要河流春季大型底栖动物群落结构及其水质评价

底栖动物是水域生态系统不可或缺的组成部分,亦是水环境状况的重要指示类群。为探究仁怀市主要河流大型底栖动物的群落结构和水质状况,我们于2023年春季对赤水河仁怀段干流、8条主要支流及其附属水库的大型底栖动物群落进行了调查。结果发现:此次考察共采集到大型底栖动物93种,隶属于4门7纲18目58科,其中,软体动物17种(18.28%);环节动物9种(9.68%);水生昆虫65种(69.89%);甲壳动物和扁形动物各1种(均占1.08%)。优势种为多足摇蚊属一种(Polypedilum sp.)、河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)、摇蚊属一种(Chironomus sp.)与长跗摇蚊属一种(Tanytarsus sp.)。利用生物多样性和底栖动物分类评价指数对该市主要河流进行水质生物学评价,结果显示:Shannon-Wiener指数与Margalef指数评级偏差,Pielou指数评级偏优,而生物学污染性指数和生物指数评级一致,指示仁怀市主要河流水质整体上存在一定程度的退化。

Effects of Andrade and Burgers rheologies on glacial isostatic adjustment modeling in Antarctica

Variations in ice mass deform the Earth and modify its gravity field,a process known as Glacial Isostatic Adjustment(GIA).GIA in Antarctica remains poorly constrained due to the cumulative effect of past and present ice-mass changes,the unknown history of the past ice-mass change,and the uncertainties on the mechanical properties of the Earth.This paper investigates the effect of using Andrade and Burgers viscoelastic rheologies,rather than the commonly used Maxwell rheology,to model GIA-induced deformation in Antarctica.The Love number and Green's function formalism are used to compute the radial surface displacements and the gravity changes induced by the past and present ice-mass changes.We consider an Earth model whose elastic properties and radial structure are averaged from the Preliminary Reference Earth Model and two viscosity profiles to account for the recently published results on the present ice-mass changes.Using the three rheological laws affects the temporal response of the Earth differently,leading to smaller discrepancies than those induced by the two viscosity structures.The differences are the largest between Maxwell and Burgers rheologies during the 100-1000 years following the beginning of the surface-mass change.Results show that using the Andrade and Burgers rheologies allows the Earth to respond on decennial to centennial time scales,up to 10 m more than Maxwell.Considering only the recent ice-mass changes,the deformation rates derived from Burgers and Andrade rheologies are several times larger than those estimated by Maxwell rheology.

The Drought of Amazonia in 2023-2024

The Amazon basin has experienced an extreme drought that started in the austral summer of 2022-23 and extends into 2024. This drought started earlier than other previous droughts. Although some rain fell during the austral summer, totals remained below average. Higher temperatures during austral winter and spring 2023, which affected most of Central South America, then aggravated drought conditions. This coincided with an intense El Niño and abnormally warm tropical North Atlantic Ocean temperatures since mid-2023. Decreased rainfall across the Amazon basin, negative anomalies in evapotranspiration (derived from latent heat) and soil moisture indicators, as well as increased temperatures during the dry-to-wet transition season, September-October-November (SON) 2023, combined to delay the onset of the wet season in the hydrological year 2023-24 by nearly two months and caused it to be uncharacteristically weak. SON 2023 registered a precipitation deficit of the order of 50 to 100 mm/month, and temperatures +3˚C higher than usual in Amazonia, leading to reduced evapotranspiration and soil moisture indicators. These processes, in turn, determined an exceptionally late onset and a lengthening of the dry season, affecting the 2023-2024 hydrological year. These changes were aggravated by a heat wave from June to December 2023. Drought-heat compound events and their consequences are the most critical natural threats to society. River levels reached record lows, or dried up completely, affecting Amazonian ecosystems. Increased risk of wildfires is another concern exacerbated by these conditions.

Low Birth Weight and Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnant Women in Lomé (Togo) in 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Since 2012, the World Health Organization has recommended intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) to prevent malaria-related complications in pregnant women. Ten years following these recommendations, we conducted this study to estimate the coverage for three doses of IPT-SP (IPT3) as well as the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), and its associated factors in Lomé (Togo) in 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2021. An exhaustive recruitment of women and their newborns was carried out in the maternity wards of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center. Data from antenatal consultations and clinical data of the newborns were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to determine factors associated with LBW. Results: A total of 252 mother-child pairs were included in this study. Median age of the mothers was 27 years, IQR [24-31]. More than a third (35.3%) of the mothers were primigravida. IPT3 coverage was 66.7% and 14.7% of newborns had a LBW. The prevalence of LBW was 33.3% [23.3-43.4] in women who had received fewer than 3 doses of IPT-SP and 5.4% [2.0-8.8] in those who had received at least 3 doses of IPT-SP (p Conclusion: Ten years following recommendations of the WHO on IPT-SP, malaria prevention based on IPT-SP is not optimal among pregnant women in Lomé, and the proportion of LBW children remains high. Actions to strengthen the three-dose IPT-SP policy are needed to prevent malaria and its consequences among newborns in Togo.

Mettre en dialogue disciplines et personnes concernées par le cancer pour améliorer le parcours des soins en oncologie Dialogue between Disciplines and People Affected by Cancer to Improve the Path of Care in Oncology

Interdisciplinarity and participatory research have become the guiding principles of cancer research.But what are the practical forms and methods?Based on the experience of 3 successive research projects aimed at improving cancer care pathways-PARCA1,PARCA2 and 4P-we present the encounters between researchers on the one hand,and between these same researchers and patients and health professionals on the other.Gradually,these meetings have led to the co-construction of projects and the shared conduct of research.The motivations behind the participatory approach are highlighted,as well as the‘step-by-step’approach needed to familiarize the people involved with the research process,and the limits of the approach:while everyone’s position tends to be adjusted as the projects progress,there is still an imbalance between the researchers and the people involved.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Severe Outcomes among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 in West Africa, Togo, 2021

Objectives: More than a year after its introduction, COVID-19 vaccination coverage was low in the Togolese population and little data were available on its benefits for hospitalized patients. This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the prognosis of hospitalized patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the Centre Hospitalier Régional Lomé Commune (Togo) between June 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022. Primary outcomes (admission to the intensive care unit and death) were presented with frequency and proportion. Mortality rates were presented by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and compared by appropriate statistical tests. Factors associated with inpatient death were described by performing a Cox proportional hazard regression. Results: A total of 604 patients were hospitalized (50.0% women). The mean age was 54.03 ±17.1 years. Only 55 patients were fully vaccinated (9.1%). ICU admission was significantly more frequent in unvaccinated patients than in vaccinated ones (63.0% vs. 38.2%;p Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination had a significant benefit for patients with COVID-19 infection in terms of reducing the risk of death. Based on real-world data from sub-Saharan Africa, this information can help optimize the benefit of COVID-19 vaccination by raising community awareness and increasing vaccine coverage while reducing hesitancy.

Climate Services Elaboration for Cocoa Cultivation in Côte d’Ivoire: Contribution of CORDEX Climate Projections

This study assessed the contribution of climate projections to improving rainfall information for cocoa crops in the central and southern regions of Côte d’Ivoire. Particular attention was paid to fourteen localities in these two climatic zones. Simulation data were obtained from the CORDEX ensemble and observation data from CHIRPS. They cover the period 1991-2005 for the reference period and the future period from 2021 to 2050 for the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. In addition, the study was based on the water requirements necessary during the critical phase of the cocoa tree (the flowering phase) for a good yield from the cocoa production chain on the one hand, and on a selection of three climate indices CDD, CWD and r95PTOT to study their spatio-temporal changes over two future periods 2021-2035 (near future) and 2036-2050 (medium-term) on the other. These climatic indices influence cocoa cultivation and their use in studies of climatic impacts on agriculture is of prime importance. The analysis of their spatio-temporal changes in this work also contributes to providing climate services based on rainfall, to which cocoa crops are highly sensitive. Our results show that the CDD and CWD indices vary from one region to another depending on latitude. For the fourteen localities studied, the number of consecutive dry days (CDD) could increase between now and 2050, while the number of consecutive wet days (CWD) could decrease over the period 2021-2035 and then increase over the period 2036-2050. The localities of Tabou, Aboisso and San-Pedro record high numbers of CDD index and CWD index for both projection scenarios. In comparison with the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, these results show that the RCP8.5 scenarios are having an impact on cocoa growing in Côte d’Ivoire.

Health Democracy and Storytelling:A Synthesis of Knowledge

Aims:Health democracy requires tools and methodologies to involve non-scientific actors in the development and implementation of health policies.Storytelling could be one of the tools to make health democracy effective.Our aim is to describe how storytelling is used in relation to health democracy,the aims of its use,the methodology adopted and the results obtained.Procedure:We conducted a narrative review of the literature.Our search equation was composed by the keyword“narration”and its variations“récit de vie”,“histoire de vie”and“medécine narrative”and by the keyword“démocratie en santé”/“démocratie sanitaire”.Results:We obtained 135 results and included six articles,published between 2015 and 2022.The interest of storytelling in a health democracy approach concerns six main themes:a)the plurality of experiences;b)empowerment;c)the recognition of different types of knowledge;d)the involvement of all care actors in care;storytelling as a lever for change;e)in the care pathway;f)in health policies.Conclusion:The limited number of articles included in this literature review raises questions about the diffusion of the concept of health democracy associated with that of storytelling.Storytelling can contribute to the dissemination and effectiveness of health democracy:it is a complementary tool to quantitative tools for understanding the experiences of users of the health care system,and its use is particularly relevant to chronic diseases such as cancer.

Projected Changes in the Climate Zoning of Côte d’Ivoire

This study assesses the projected changes in the climate zoning of Côte d’Ivoire using the hierarchical classification of principal components (HCPC) method applied to the daily precipitation data of an ensemble of 14 CORDEX-AFRICA simulations under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The results indicate the existence of three climate zones in Côte d’Ivoire (the coastal, the centre and the north) over the historical period (1981-2005). Moreover, CORDEX simulations project an extension of the surface area of drier climatic zones while a reduction of wetter zones, associated with the appearance of an intermediate climate zone with surface area varying from 77,560 km2 to 134,960 km2 depending on the period and the scenario. These results highlight the potential impacts of climate change on the delimitation of the climate zones of Côte d’Ivoire under the greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Thus, there is a reduction in the surface areas suitable for the production of cash crops such as cocoa and coffee. This could hinder the country’s economy and development, mainly based on these cash crops.

Influence of Continental Atmospheric Forcing on the Decadal Variability of the West African Monsoon

The West African Monsoon (WAM) is characterized by strong decadal and multi-decadal variability and the impacts can be catastrophic for the local populations. One of the factors put forward to explain this variability involves the role of atmospheric dynamics, linked in particular to the Saharan Heat Low (SHL). This article addresses this question by comparing the sets of preindustrial control and historical simulation data from climate models carried out in the framework of the CMIP5 project and observations data over the 20th century. Through multivariate statistical analyses, it was established that decadal modes of ocean variability and decadal variability of Saharan atmospheric dynamics significantly influence decadal variability of monsoon precipitation. These results also suggest the existence of external anthropogenic forcing, which is superimposed on the decadal natural variability inducing an intensification of the signal in the historical simulations compared to preindustrial control simulations. We have also shown that decadal rainfall variability in the Sahel, once the influence of oceanic modes has been eliminated, appears to be driven mainly by the activity of the Arabian Heat Low (AHL) in the central Sahel, and by the structure of the meridional temperature gradient over the inter-tropical Atlantic in the western Sahel.

Control of the Dust Vertical Distribution over Western Africa by Convection and Scavenging

Saharan dust represents more than 50%of the total desert dust emitted around the globe and its radiative effect significantly affects the atmospheric circulation at a continental scale.Previous studies on dust vertical distribution and the Saharan Air Layer(SAL)showed some shortcomings that could be attributed to imperfect representation of the effects of deep convection and scavenging.The authors investigate here the role of deep convective transport and scavenging on the vertical distribution of mineral dust over Western Africa.Using multi-year(2006-2010)simulations performed with the variable-resolution(zoomed)version of the LMDZ climate model.Simulations are compared with aerosol amounts recorded by the Aerosol Robotic Network(AERONET)and with vertical profiles of the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization(CALIOP)measurements.LMDZ allows a thorough examination of the respective roles of deep convective transport,convective and stratiform scavenging,boundary layer transport,and advection processes on the vertical mineral dust distribution over Western Africa.The comparison of simulated dust Aerosol Optical Depth(AOD)and distribution with measurements suggest that scavenging in deep convection and subsequent re-evaporation of dusty rainfall in the lower troposphere are critical processes for explaining the vertical distribution of desert dust.These processes play a key role in maintaining a well-defined dust layer with a sharp transition at the top of the SAL and in establishing the seasonal cycle of dust distribution.This vertical distribution is further reshaped offshore in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)over the Atlantic Ocean by marine boundary layer turbulent and convective transport and wet deposition at the surface.

Molecular Detection of Pathogens Involved in Sexually Transmitted Infections in Brazzaville, Congo

The objective of this multicentric study was to assess the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma génitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis infections in Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo, using molecular methods. From January to December 2021, the sexually transmitted disease risk participants were recruited from six centers: The Association of Young HIV-Positive People of Congo, The Congolese Association for Family Welfare, The Association for Support to Vulnerable Groups, Talangaï hospital, Brazzaville university hospital (outpatient service) and the private clinic COGEMO (outpatient service). The real-time multiplex PCR was carried out to detect these pathogens. Each patient had at least one specimen (urine, urethral, anal and/or vaginal samples). The patients were considered infected when one of their samples was positive. 287 participants made of 227 women and 60 men were tested. The general prevalence of these infections was: Chlamydia trachomatis 2.79%, Neisseria gonorrhoeae 3.14%, Mycoplasma génitalium 3.45% and Trichomonas vaginalis 2.97. The prevalence rates according to sex were: C. trachomatis, M. génitalium, N. gonorrhea and T. vaginalis were 1.32%, 2.05%, 1.32% and 3.42% in women and 8.33%, 7.02%, 10% and 1.75% in men, respectively. Most infected patients were asymptomatic. Prevalence rates were higher in bisexual individuals, with the exception of T. vaginalis which showed higher prevalence in heterosexual patients. The bisexual and homosexual individuals represent a major public health problem in sexually active young adults, particularly among men having sex with men. These sexually transmitted infections are mainly asymptomatic, their diagnosis and management remain difficult in developing countries.

Ion emission from warm dense matter produced by irradiation with a soft x-ray free-electron laser

We report on an experiment performed at the FLASH2 free-electron laser(FEL)aimed at producing warm dense matter via soft x-ray isochoric heating.In the experiment,we focus on study of the ions emitted during the soft x-ray ablation process using time-of-flight electron multipliers and a shifted Maxwell–Boltzmann velocity distribution model.We find that most emitted ions are thermal,but that some impurities chemisorbed on the target surface,such as protons,are accelerated by the electrostatic field created in the plasma by escaped electrons.The morphology of the complex crater structure indicates the presence of several ion groups with varying temperatures.We find that the ion sound velocity is controlled by the ion temperature and show how the ion yield depends on the FEL radiation attenuation length in different materials.

稻曲病不同抗性水稻品种的组织化学及分生孢子侵染途径的初步观察

用稻曲病菌分生孢子悬浮液对抽穗期水稻进行接种,观察分生孢子及其侵染途径。结果发现,分生孢子在颖壳表面可萌发形成菌丝,在颖口内侧可以见到菌丝伸向谷颖内部,可能为分生孢子直接侵染稻穗提供了一定证据。对抗、感品种谷粒的组织化学研究结果表明:抗病品种的颖壳中含有大量的木质素,感病品种中的木质素较少;在抗病品种谷粒的颖壳中的红色荧光物质远远多于感病品种;在抗病品种谷粒表皮的胚乳细胞中也含有多酚类物质,这层细胞较正常细胞大,在感病品种中没有发现。稻曲球切片的紫外光观察可发现每一个稻曲球中存在 6个“蝴蝶”型荧光结构,染色剂染色后观察证明该结构不含过氧化物酶、单宁类物质、木栓质和木质素。

超微血管成像及超声造影在甲状腺结节鉴别诊断中的应用

目的:比较超微血管成像(superb microvascular imaging,SMI)与超声造影(contrast enhanced ultrasound,CEUS)对甲状腺结节鉴别诊断的价值,并进一步研究SMI和/或CEUS与二维超声甲状腺影像报告及数据系统(thyroid imagingreporting and data system,TI-RADS)联合应用是否可以提高其诊断价值。方法:分别运用SMI,CEUS,二维超声TI-RADS,二维超声TI-RADS联合CEUS,二维超声TI-RADS联合SMI,二维超声TI-RADS与SMI和CEUS 3项联合对甲状腺结节进行良恶性鉴别诊断。将甲状腺结节二维超声TI-RADS分类4b^5类,CEUS低增强,SMI周边为主型血流分布并穿支血管检出作为恶性征象。以术后病理或细针穿刺细胞学检查结果作为参考标准对比其诊断效力。结果:237例患者共296个甲状腺结节被纳入研究。敏感性、特异性、准确率在二维超声TI-RADS诊断时分别为78.4%,77.7%,78.0%;在SMI诊断时分别为75.5%,86.6%,81.4%;在CEUS诊断时分别为82.0%,88.5%,85.5%;在二维超声TI-RADS与SMI和CEUS 3项联合诊断时分别为92.1%,90.4%,91.2%。受试者工作特征曲线下面积(area under the receiver operatingcharacteristic curve,AUROC)在SMI,CEUS,二维超声TI-RADS之间差异无统计学意义(χ2=4.29,P=0.117);二维超声TI-RADS联合CEUS(χ2=39.62,P<0.001),二维超声TI-RADS联合SMI(χ2=36.61,P<0.001)均优于二维超声TI-RADS;二维超声TI- RA DS与SMI,CEUS 3项联合诊断优于二维超声TI- RA DS联合SMI(χ2=4.50,P=0.033)或二维超声TI- RA DS联合CEUS(χ2=4.24,P=0.039)。结论:SMI周边为主型血流分布并穿支血管检出对诊断甲状腺癌具有较高的诊断价值,与CEUS低增强具有相当的诊断效力。SMI和/或CEUS与二维超声TI- R ADS联合应用均可以提高甲状腺结节的鉴别诊断效力。

基于抗生素使用史的含铋剂四联方案对幽门螺杆菌的根除效果

目的:基于患者既往抗生素使用史,观察不同抗生素组合的含铋剂四联方案对幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori,Hp)感染的根除效果,为临床用药提供参考。方法:选择就诊于中南大学湘雅三医院的327名Hp感染患者,针对患者既往抗生素使用情况分别采取A方案[艾司奥美拉唑+丽珠维三联(克拉霉素/替硝唑/枸橼酸铋钾)]、B方案[艾司奥美拉唑+阿莫西林+克拉霉素+胶体酒石酸铋]、C方案[艾司奥美拉唑+多西环素+呋喃唑酮+胶体酒石酸铋],疗程均为14 d,观察用药不良反应,分析不同根除方案疗效。结果:A,B,C三种方案意向性(intention to treat,ITT)分析根除率分别为63.5%,76.2%,82.6%;符合方案(pre protocol,PP)分析根除率分别为76.7%,92.4%,96.4%。B,C方案根除率均高于A方案(P<0.05)。治疗期间药物总不良反应发生率为20.2%,A,B,C三种方案不良反应发生率分别为28.0%(14/50),10.7%(8/75),22.0%(40/182),症状大多轻微,能够耐受。结论:质子泵抑制剂(proton pump inhibitors,PPI)联合丽珠维三联方案Hp根除率低、不良反应发生率高;对于既往未抗Hp治疗、未使用阿莫西林及克拉霉素的患者,选用阿莫西林、克拉霉素的含铋剂四联方案根除率高;对于以往接受抗Hp治疗失败的,或者既往反复使用多种抗生素的患者,选用呋喃唑酮、多西环素的含铋剂四联方案仍可获得较高的Hp根除率,但其药物不良反应发生率较高。

粤北大宝山高含硫多金属矿污染的水稻土壤污染元素的多元分析

调查了粤北大宝山高含硫多金属矿长期污染的水稻田的污染状况,用主成分分析法分析了环境变量间的关系及污染物在样点的空间分布.结果表明:长期的污灌导致了被调查水田土壤中铁矿、硫铜矿和铅锌矿酸性矿泥的沉积,引起土壤酸化和硫、铜、铅和镉的积累.上述污染元素与pH及矿质元素铁、钙之间高度相关,而与锰和铬的相关性差.

邻甲苯胺的溶液聚合及聚合物链结构的表征

采用溶液聚合法合成邻甲基苯胺聚合物 (POT) ,由于甲基的空间位阻效应大于其给电子效应 ,不利于获得高分子量聚合物 ,从讨论引发剂用量对聚合反应的影响 ,得出可获得数均分子量为 1.90× 10 3的 POT的聚合条件 :反应温度为 0℃ ,p H≤ 1,[M]=1.5 5 4 mol/L,[KPS]/[M]=1∶ 1(摩尔比 ) ,反应时间 2 4 .0 h。1H- NMR和 FT- IR分析结果表明 ,POT聚合物链为半氧化还原结构 emeraldine ,结构单元中苯醌比为 3∶

聚苯胺衍生物膜修饰电极的电化学和催化性质

采用聚-2,5-二甲氧基苯胺(PDMAn)、聚邻甲苯胺(POT)膜修饰电极,以异丙醇(i-P)氧化为模型反应,研究功能性膜电极的电催化性能.两种聚合物的伏安行为都表现为两对氧化还原峰;与镀铂的Pt电极比较,Pt金属化的PDMAn和POT修饰电极,大大提高了i-P氧化电流密度,而且随着循环次数增加,氧化电流不断增大,表明功能性膜修饰电极具有较高的催化活性.POT修饰电极在较低的铂含量下就表现出对i-P的强烈催化活性,而且对低浓度i-P的氧化,具有较高的响应灵敏度;此外POT还具有良好的环境稳定性,可望成为一种具有实际应用前景的电化学传感器.