Leptospira spp. prevalence in small mammal populations in Cotonou, Benin

in ISRN Epidemiology (2013)

The aim of this study was to assess the Leptospira prevalence in small animals in Cotonou, the capital of Benin. Rodents and shrews were captured in urban and periurban settings and determined as species ... [more ▼]

The aim of this study was to assess the Leptospira prevalence in small animals in Cotonou, the capital of Benin. Rodents and shrews were captured in urban and periurban settings and determined as species of the genera Rattus, Mastomys, and Crocidura. Kidney specimens of 90 animals were examined using a real-time PCR assay specific for leptospires that belong to pathogenic species. Leptospiral DNA was amplified from kidney tissues ranging from 13.3% (8/60) in Rattus rattus to 100.0% (1/1) in Crocidura spp. with an average of 18.9% (17/90) of the animals caught at 15 locations. Clade-specific Taqman PCR on 10 samples placed six of these within clade 1 comprising the species L. kirschneri, L. interrogans, L. meyeri, and L. noguchii and four within clade 2 consisting of species L. weilii, L. alexanderi, L. borgpetersenii, and L. santarosai. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of the amplicons of seven samples of these 10 samples revealed that four of the clade 1 samples could equally be assigned to L. interrogans and L. kirschneri and three samples fromclade 2 belonged to L. borgpetersenii. Results presented in the paper indicate that small mammals present a major public health risk for acquiring leptospirosis in Cotonou, Benin and will contribute to a raised awareness amongst health care workers and decision makers and hence promote appropriate clinical management of cases. [less ▲]

Development of an automatic reference system for directly quantifying drowsiness from a few polysomnographic signals

Poster (2013, March)

Evaluation of viability and growth of Acetobacter senegalensis under different stress conditions

in International Journal of Food Microbiology (2013)

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are used in production of vinegars. During acetic acid fermentation, AAB encounter various aggressive conditions which may lead to a variety of cellular disorders. Previous ... [more ▼]

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are used in production of vinegars. During acetic acid fermentation, AAB encounter various aggressive conditions which may lead to a variety of cellular disorders. Previous researches mainly studied the influences of different carbon sources on tolerance of AAB to ethanol and acetic acid. In this study, different techniques were used comparatively to investigate the effects of preadaptation on the ability of A. senegalensis to tolerate ethanol and acetic acid. In general, the carbon sources used for preadaptation of A. senegalensis exhibited significant effects on the tolerance of cells to stressors. Flow-cytometric assessments of preadapted cells in ethanol showed that 87.3% of the cells perform respiration after exposure to a stress medium containing 5% (v/v) ethanol and 3% (w/v) acetic acid. However, 58.4% of these preadapted cells could keep their envelope integrity under the stress condition. They could also grow rapidly (μmax = 0.39/h) in the stress medium (E5A3) with a high yield (>80%). A. senegalensis grown in glucose exhibited a low tolerance to acetic acid. Analysis of their respiration capacity, membrane integrity and culturability revealed that almost all the population were dead after exposure to 5% (v/v) ethanol and 3% (w/v) acetic acid. In contrast, exposure of A. senegalensis preadapted in a mixture of glucose and acetic acid to a stress medium containing 5% (v/v) ethanol and 3% (w/v) acetic acid, exhibited an intact respiration system and cellular membrane integrity in 80.3% and 50.01% of cells, respectively. Moreover, just 24% of these cells could keep their culturability under that stress condition. [less ▲]

Patterns of Management Control for Sustainability

Conference (2013, March)

Influence of particle shape on size distribution measurements by 3D and 2D image analyses and laser diffraction

in Powder Technology (2013), 237

This paper highlights the fact that particle size distribution (PSD) is not unique for the same product, and is dependent on the chosen measurement technique, especially for asymmetric shapes. Laser ... [more ▼]

This paper highlights the fact that particle size distribution (PSD) is not unique for the same product, and is dependent on the chosen measurement technique, especially for asymmetric shapes. Laser diffraction and 2D image analysis are commonly used PSD measurement techniques. However, the resultsmay not be representative of the true physical dimensions of the particles. The influence of particle shape on PSD results obtained from 2D/3D image analysis and laser diffraction was investigated. Two metallic powders presenting extreme shape properties (round and elongated particles) were analyzed, as well as a blend of the two pure products. 2D image analysis and laser diffraction results were compared to 3D image analysis (measuring the true particle size). This paper compares the PSD results obtained from the three methods. Some commonly used size parameters in image analysis software did not give meaningful results in regard of the true physical dimensions of the particles. The existence of the two populations (products with extremely different shape and size characteristics) could not be identified with such size parameters, and laser diffraction also performed poorly. The PSD obtained from more precise size parameters (image analysis) better corresponded to the true dimensions of the particles. This study highlights the strengths and weaknesses of particle size analysis techniques when studying products presenting diverse particle shapes, and points out that caution is required in the choice of the size parameters, and in the interpretation of PSD results. [less ▲]

La philosophie dès le primaire ! Quelques difficultés à surmonter

in La philo mode d'emploi (2013), 236

Role of KOPAKAMA in promoting socio-economic development of coffee farmers

in International NGO Journal (2013), 8(3), 61-67

Coffee is the main source of income for a large number of households and provides major foreign currencies for the national economy. Although it covers only 6.3% of cultivated areas, coffee is produced by ... [more ▼]

Coffee is the main source of income for a large number of households and provides major foreign currencies for the national economy. Although it covers only 6.3% of cultivated areas, coffee is produced by 500,000 households in Rwanda. Since its introduction in the country in 1904, coffee has always been operated by individual producers. However, after the liberalization of the coffee sector in 1998, the quantity and quality produced are steadily decreasing which affects the price and the income of coffee growers. To search for a solution, the Rwandan government has striven to consolidate coffee growing cooperatives in different parts of the country by building coffee washing stations (CWS). These stations were mainly meant to help coffee growing cooperatives produce high quality coffee which is competitive on the international markets. The goal is to produce a fully washed coffee, exportable and better valued on the international market, which can provide better income for peasant producers. Coffee washing stations are then seen as tools to produce quality coffee and are mainly run by cooperatives, which are structural elements in the rural world. Through these facilities and structures put in place, jobs are created for coffee producers, loans are granted, farmers are motivated due to the increase of income, the market is guaranteed and the prices become attractive for the members. Thus, the socio-economic welfare of coffee growers is improved, which reduces poverty among coffee growers’ households. This study focuses on the analysis of the role resulting from the structuring action of the peasants through CWS and coffee cooperative KOPAKAMA Rutsiro District, Western Province of Rwanda on the socio-economic development and technical assistance of members and the surrounding world. [less ▲]

Behaviour of bolted flange joints in tubular structures under monotonic, repeated and fatigue loadings I: Experimental tests

in Journal of Constructional Steel Research (2013), 85

This paper presents a test program on bolted flange plate connections used in circular tubular structures. In the tested joints, the connected tubular elements are made of high strength steel (TS590 ... [more ▼]

This paper presents a test program on bolted flange plate connections used in circular tubular structures. In the tested joints, the connected tubular elements are made of high strength steel (TS590) whilst normal steel grade (S355) is used for the flanges. The tests were performed under monotonic loadings to obtain the mechanical properties of the connections and under cyclic loadings to characterise the behaviour of these connections for low cycle and high cycle fatigue. The test results are first presented herein, including a critical analysis of the latter; then, designmethods available in literature are applied for the tested configurations with the objective to investigate the accuracy of these methods through comparisons with the experimental results. [less ▲]

Egg Production Performance of the Local Kabyle Hen and its Crossbreeds with ISA-Brown Strain in Semi-Intensive Conditions

in International Journal of Poultry Sciences (2013), 12(3), 148-152

A cross between the ISA-Brown industrial strain and an Algerian local (Kabyle) breed was compared with the Algerian local (Kabyle) hen. The comparison during the egg production period was done in ... [more ▼]

A cross between the ISA-Brown industrial strain and an Algerian local (Kabyle) breed was compared with the Algerian local (Kabyle) hen. The comparison during the egg production period was done in individual cages, in a ventilated henhouse without any particular isolation. The same commercial diet has been provided over three time periods (35 to 36 weeks, 50 to 51 weeks and 65 to 66 weeks of age). Egg number and body weight at first egg was significantly lower in the Kabyle local breed. Mortality was almost equal during the breeding period and the egg production periods for the two genotypes. The Kabyle hen eggs, in spite of a weight which was lower (43.70 to 53.37 g according to the age), gave yolk to albumen ratio similar to the ISAKAB cross (0.52 to 0.58 according to age). Finally, the ISAKAB cross was better in terms of egg production and egg quality than the local hen, in test conditions. [less ▲]

Droit des biens

in Revue de Jurisprudence de Liège, Mons et Bruxelles (2013)