Insecticidal pressure on Anopheles gambiae sensu lato populations has contributed not only to the selection of physiological resistance mechanisms but also to behavioral adaptations, including shifts in biting and resting patterns. Within this framework, we compared the transmission of malaria by Anopheles gambiae s.l. between indoor and outdoor households in the commune of Porto-Novo in southern Benin. From April to September 2019, human landing catches were conducted indoors and outdoors in four neighborhoods of Porto-Novo to assess the risk of malaria transmission outside households. Mosquitoes were morphologically identified, and An. gambiae s.l. specimens were screened through PCR for species identification, and CSP-ELISA for Plasmodium infection. An electronic survey conducted in five neighborhoods, assessed mosquito net ownership and sleeping habits. The data were analyzed via R software. A total of 6,201 mosquito specimens mainly mainly composed of Cx. quinquefasciatus (55.6
The productivity of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa has remained low despite significant investment in technology development and scaling. There is a recognized need for interventions that strengthen farmers' business skills and organizational capacity while providing technologies on demand. However, the evidence base for such types of interventions is weak. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the impact of "Vegetable Business Networks," an intervention approach that emphasizes business coaching and capacity strengthening of vegetable value chains. The study applied a cluster-randomized controlled trial design with 48 farmer groups in Benin, equally split between control and treatment. Questionnaire-based data were collected from 665 farmers before the intervention and one year later. The intent-to-treat effect is estimated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and difference-in-difference (DiD) methods. The results show farmers' annual income increased by $2159/ha or 5.9%. The score for knowledge of developing a business plan increased by 21.5 (p < 0.001). Farmers' trust in their organization and external actors significantly increased. While more evidence is needed on the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of holistic approaches compared to those that promote particular technologies, our study proves that business coaching can significantly increase farmers' income in the short term.
This study assessed the exploitation status of Hemichromis fasciatus and Oreochromis niloticus in Lôkpôhô Dam Lake, Ferkessédougou, northern Côte d’Ivoire, using fish collected monthly between September 2021 and August 2022. A total of 863 H. fasciatus and 1,098 O. niloticus specimens were examined. Length-frequency data were analysed with FISAT II to estimate mortality, exploitation rates, capture selectivity and population structure. For H. fasciatus, total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 3.63, 1.94 and 1.69 year⁻¹, respectively. The corresponding estimates for O. niloticus were 1.37, 1.16 and 0.21 year⁻¹. Exploitation rates were 0.47 and 0.15, respectively, both below the conventional reference value of 0.5. The estimated exploitation rates producing maximum yield per recruit were 0.650 for H. fasciatus and 0.361 for O. niloticus. Optimal capture sizes were 10.54 cm and 14.10 cm, while lengths at 50% capture probability were 10.70 cm and 14.22 cm, respectively. Virtual population analysis indicated a higher abundance of smaller fish and a decline in abundance with increasing length. These findings suggest lower fishing mortality than natural mortality for both species during the sampling period. Nevertheless, the exploitation rate of H. fasciatus was comparatively close to the conventional threshold, supporting a cautious, species-specific interpretation of stock status and continued monitoring.
Abstract: This study explores the challenges for linguists to develop innovative pedagogy due to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the job market. It is a necessity to adapt pedagogical approaches in order to prepare students for evolving employment opportunities. Grounded in the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework and socio-constructivist learning theory, the research adopts a mixed-method approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. So, it aims at comparing job market outcomes for individuals trained with or without exposure to AI. Findings emphasize the need for educational system to incorporate AI and computational linguistics, equipping students with the skills to develop AI tools and access emerging job opportunities. Since, the integration of AI and computational linguistics courses in students’ curricula sharpened their competence to create AI tools and to its efficient use. This also helps them have these opportunities. Their interdisciplinary expertise encourage them bridge the gap between AI developers and its users. Then, enhancing their employability. These insights yield important shifts in the process of teaching and learning methods practices which enable linguists to gain proficiency in programming languages and data science. By leveraging AI powered tools, such as chatbots and adaptive platforms, linguists can enhance language extraction and performance. Finally, the study highlights the importance of integrating AI-powered tools in language processing and calls for further research on AI development inputs to advance linguistic education. Keywords: Artificial intelligence; professional integration; job transfer, computer linguistics.
Dans un contexte de transformation progressive des systèmes agricoles au Bénin, l’entrepreneuriat agricole apparaît comme un levier majeur d’intégration des exploitations familiales aux marchés. Toutefois, les producteurs de maïs présentent des niveaux différenciés de structuration entrepreneuriale, ce qui peut limiter l’efficacité des politiques agricoles uniformes. Cette étude transversale vise à analyser les profils entrepreneuriaux des producteurs de maïs au Bénin à partir d’un ensemble de variables sélectionnées relatives au capital humain, à l’accès aux ressources et services, aux caractéristiques productives et à l’orientation marchande. Les données collectées auprès de 390 producteurs dans les communes de Gogounou, Kétou et Pèrèrè ont été analysées au moyen d’une Analyse Factorielle des Données Mixtes (AFDM), suivie d’une Classification Ascendante Hiérarchique (CAH) pour identifier des groupes de producteurs présentant des caractéristiques entrepreneuriales similaires. Les résultats montrent que les profils entrepreneuriaux sont principalement structurés par l’accès aux formations, aux services d’appui et aux financements, ainsi que par l’expérience productive et l’orientation marchande. Trois profils ont été identifiés : les non-entrepreneurs (42,31 %), caractérisés par une logique de subsistance et un faible accès aux ressources ; les agro-entrepreneurs en transition (22,82 %), présentant des caractéristiques intermédiaires ; et les entrepreneurs structurés (34,87 %), davantage orientés vers le marché, la transformation, la diversification et la prise de risque. Ces résultats soulignent le rôle du capital humain, des dispositifs d’accompagnement et de l’accès au financement dans le profil entrepreneurial des exploitations. Ils suggèrent la nécessité de politiques agricoles différenciées, adaptées aux caractéristiques des profils identifiés plutôt que fondées sur une approche uniforme. In the context of the gradual transformation of agricultural systems in Benin, agricultural entrepreneurship is emerging as a major driver of the integration of family farms into markets. However, maize producers exhibit differentiated levels of entrepreneurial structuring, which may limit the effectiveness of uniform agricultural policies. This cross-sectional study aims to analyze the entrepreneurial profiles of maize producers in Benin based on a selected set of variables related to human capital, access to resources and support services, production characteristics, and market orientation. Data collected from 390 producers in the communes of Gogounou, Kétou, and Pèrèrè were analyzed using Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD), followed by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) to identify groups of producers with similar entrepreneurial characteristics. The results show that entrepreneurial profiles are primarily structured by access to training, support services, and financing, as well as by production experience and market orientation. Three profiles were identified: non-entrepreneurs (42.31%), characterized by a subsistence-oriented logic and limited access to resources; emerging agro-entrepreneurs (22.82%), exhibiting intermediate characteristics; and structured entrepreneurs (34.87%), who are more market-oriented and engaged in processing, diversification, and risk-taking. These findings highlight the role of human capital, support mechanisms, and access to finance in shaping the entrepreneurial structure of farms. They suggest the need for differentiated agricultural policies tailored to the characteristics of the identified producer profiles rather than based on a uniform approach.
