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TRANSLATIONS:For the French, Spanish and Arabic translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
Lactic acid bacteria are one of the main players in fermented dairy products. These bacteria possess technological and probiotic properties. The aim of this study was to genetic screening of potential traits probiotics of lactic acid bacteria isolated in curdled milk from Burkina Faso. Lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated and characterized phenotypically and biochemically based on Gram staining, catalase and oxidase activities, sugar fermentation profiles, and amino acid metabolism. Genotypic diversity analysis was conducted using repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) based on DNA fingerprinting. Biochemical characterization enabled strains to be assigned to five bacterial genera. The genera Enterococcus and Lactobacillus were the most represented in this bacterial population (24% each). The genera Pediococcus and Lactococcus each accounted for 20% of the strains studied. The genus Streptococcus was in the minority with 12%. The genes gtf (resistance to pH and bile salt), apf (aggregation-promoting factors), ribA and ribB (riboflavins synthesis) were detected in 8%, 20%, 20% and 8%, respectively in the strains studied. Additionally, bac gene, encoding bacteriocin production, was present in 12% of strains. The absence of other functional genes, such as tanlpl (tannin degradation) and α-amy (starch hydrolysis), was noted. These findings revealed the genetic potential of lactic acid bacteria from curdled milk to serve as probiotic candidates, with possible applications in improving food quality and public health. Further studies are needed to evaluate virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, functional expression of the genes investigated in this study and their impact on human health.
This study assesses the wind energy potential across Togo by analyzing historical (2001–2020) and future (2021–2040) wind regimes using MERRA-2 reanalysis data and six bias-corrected CORDEX-Africa regional climate models (MIROC, MPI, ICHEC, NOAA, NCC, and IPSL). A Python-based analytical framework was developed to automate data compilation, visualization, and multi-model statistical processing, ensuring reproducibility and computational efficiency. Model performance was evaluated against ground-based observations using a multi-metric validation approach combining R², NSE, and RMSE. Results identify MERRA-2 (R² = 0.96, NSE = 0.95, RMSE = 0.35) and the RCMs MIROC, MPI, and ICHEC (R²=0.93–0.95, NSE=0.92–0.94, RMSE<0.45) as the most reliable sources for future wind projections. Seasonal and spatial analyses reveal pronounced heterogeneity across the country. During the rainy season, wind speeds in northern Togo reach 3.8–4.3 m/s, while the southern coastal zone maintains stable year-round winds ranging from 3.9 to 4.5 m/s due to the influence of persistent sea breezes. Future projections for 2021–2040 show an increase in wind speeds of 4–8 %, corresponding to wind power density enhancements of 9–30 %. Peak power density values are projected to reach approximately 52 W/m² in the north, 47 W/m² in the center, and 49 W/m² along the coast. Overall, these findings provide a robust scientific basis for region-specific energy strategies, including the development of hybrid wind–solar systems, targeted coastal installations, and optimized siting of northern wind farms. The results further highlight the potential of wind energy to support national electrification efforts and emerging green hydrogen initiatives, contributing to sustainable development and energy security in Togo.
In the context of climate change and the subsequent pressure from geological structures, there is a pressing need to analyse hydroclimatic trend events on dam stability and establish a clear correlation between reservoir surface water and groundwater levels in the Bagré Dam. Hydrodynamic variables (evaporation, inflow, irrigation, spillage, water level, rainfall) collected in and around the Bagré dam were analysed, using the singular spectrum analysis algorithm to delineate trends and variability over the 1993–2022 period. Machine learning models were developed to predict the impact of surface water on groundwater level over groundwater data that spans 2002–2022. There is an observed increasing trend of spillage due to increasing inflow; evaporation and irrigation trends are also increasing, while rainfall has been decreasing since 2012. The prediction shows an increasing groundwater level due to an increasing available reservoir water level. Consistent inflow rise will affect dam stability, while a spill over might lead to flooding downstream. The increasing trend of irrigation benefits farmers, while consistent availability of reservoir surface water would enable the groundwater level to increase via recharge. Regular monitoring of hydrodynamic trends will enable dam stability, maintenance, and contribute to groundwater and surface water availability for agricultural activities amidst climate change.
Cordyla pinnata is a multipurpose forage species that plays important ecological and socio-economic roles in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated how different land use types affect the species' population structure and distribution in Senegal. Forest inventories were conducted in 140 plots across four land use types: farmland, fallow, rangeland, and protected area. Diameter at breast height (dbh), crown diameter, height, and regeneration of C. pinnata were measured, and woody species composition was noted. The results showed significant differences in species composition across land use types, with protected areas and rangelands showing the highest species diversity. The density of mature C. pinnata trees was highest in protected areas (393.63 +/- 24.21 stems/ha) and lowest in farmlands (140.40 +/- 46.70 stems/ha), suggesting that agricultural expansion has a strong negative impact on the species. Diameter class distributions suggested a stable population structure of mature trees, whereas regeneration patterns revealed an unstable state, raising concerns about the species' future sustainability. Our findings underscore the adverse effects of land use changes on C. pinnata and highlight the need to mitigate human pressure on ecosystems to ensure conservation of this valuable species and the biodiversity it supports. Cordyla pinnata est une esp & egrave;ce fourrag & egrave;re polyvalente d'importance & eacute;cologique et socio-& eacute;conomique & eacute;lev & eacute;e en Afrique subsaharienne. Nous avons & eacute;valu & eacute; l'effet de diff & eacute;rents types d'utilisation du sol sur la structure des populations et la r & eacute;partition spatiale de l'esp & egrave;ce au S & eacute;n & eacute;gal. Des inventaires ont & eacute;t & eacute; r & eacute;alis & eacute;s dans 140 placettes au sein de quatre cat & eacute;gories d'utilisation des terres : champs cultiv & eacute;s, jach & egrave;res, p & acirc;turages et aires prot & eacute;g & eacute;es. Le diam & egrave;tre & agrave; hauteur de poitrine (DHP), le diam & egrave;tre de la cime, la hauteur, ainsi que la r & eacute;g & eacute;n & eacute;ration ont & eacute;t & eacute; mesur & eacute;s. La composition sp & eacute;cifique d'esp & egrave;ces ligneuses a aussi & eacute;t & eacute; not & eacute;e. Les r & eacute;sultats r & eacute;v & egrave;lent des diff & eacute;rences significatives de composition sp & eacute;cifique entre les milieux, les aires prot & eacute;g & eacute;es et les p & acirc;turages pr & eacute;sentant les niveaux de diversit & eacute; sp & eacute;cifique les plus & eacute;lev & eacute;s. La densit & eacute; des arbres matures de C. pinnata & eacute;tait plus & eacute;lev & eacute;e dans les aires prot & eacute;g & eacute;es (393,63 +/- 24,21 tiges/ha) que dans les champs cultiv & eacute;s (140,40 +/- 46,70 tiges/ha), indiquant que l'expansion agricole constitue une pression n & eacute;gative importante sur l'esp & egrave;ce. La distribution des classes de diam & egrave;tre met en & eacute;vidence une structure adulte globalement stable, tandis que les tendances observ & eacute;es pour la r & eacute;g & eacute;n & eacute;ration t & eacute;moignent d'un & eacute;tat instable semant le doute quant & agrave; la durabilit & eacute; des populations. Nos observations soulignent les effets n & eacute;gatifs des changements d'utilisation des terres sur C. pinnata et la n & eacute;cessit & eacute; de limiter les impacts anthropiques sur les & eacute;cosyst & egrave;mes de mani & egrave;re & agrave; assurer la conservation de cette esp & egrave;ce d'int & eacute;r & ecirc;t et la biodiversit & eacute; qu'elle soutient.
