Ethnobotanical survey of trees in Fundong, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Ethnobotanical investigations were conducted in Fundong Central Subdivision in the Northwest Region of Cameroon to identify trees growing in the area and collect information on their uses by the local people. This research covered a period of 12 months from May 2007 to April 2008. Ethnobotanical information was collected through the show-and-tell/semi-structured method and personal interviews during field trips. Three villages were investigated. A total of 82 tree species were identified belonging to 70 genera and 42 families. Among these species, 40 were widely used by the local people in traditional medicine to treat 48 human ailments. Tree species were also used for fuel wood, construction materials, wood carving and honey production. Leaves and barks were commonly used in traditional medicine while the wood, branches and the entire plants were commonly used for other purposes. In spite of the scarcity of natural forests in the study area, the local populations continue to depend on indigenous and exotic trees in their surroundings for their survival. There is therefore need for cultivation, protection and sustainable management of these valuable resources for rural livelihoods

Practical study of optical stellar interferometry

In this work we present an observational technique and a detailed analysis of the stellar interferograms produced by three bright stars: Betelgeuse, Rigel and Sirius. It is shown that the atmospheric turbulence is responsible for the reduction of the long-exposure fringe visibility of the obtained interference patterns. By using different baselines in our interferometer, we are able to distinguish the decay of the visibility with the baseline, how different parameters such us the diameter of the holes in our interferometer or their distribution affects the pattern, and to measure the turbulence with the estimation of the Fried parameter r0. The work and methodology are presented as a method for postgraduate students that targets practical learning of optical interferometry in astronomy and how it is affected by several causes, such as the atmospheric turbulence.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, paper submitted and accepted to AJ

EFFECTS OF MILK PRESERVATION USING THE LACTOPEROXIDASE SYSTEM ON PROCESSED YOGURT AND CHEESE QUALITY

ABSTRACT The lactoperoxidase system (LP-system) is an acceptable chemical method for raw milk preservation, especially in rural areas where refrigeration facilities are absent to farmers. Milk production in most African countries is dominated by small-scale traditional production systems using low yielding local breeds. Therefore, processors who operate in such situations must rely on small volumes of milk from many farmers. Application of the LP-system prolongs the shelf life of raw milk and also encourages grouping of farmers hence facilitating milk collection by processors. The application of the LP-system is a recent preservation method for milk in Cameroon whose efficiency has been proven. Therefore, need arose for further studies on the influence of this method on milk processing as well as the quality dairy products. The LP-system was activated by adding 10 ppm sodium thiocyanate and 8.5 ppm sodium percarbonate to fresh milk. Yoghurt and Bambui cheese were processed separately from treated and untreated (control) milk samples. Yogurt was produced from both the treated and the control milk samples at 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% (v/v) culture levels. Yogurt samples were analysed for acidity, protein content and dry matter content while cheese was analysed for butterfat and moisture content. Statistical tests were conducted by Analysis of Variance using the Fisher's test. Simple organoleptic assessments were conducted to compare yogurt and cheese from the treated and the control milk. Activation of the LP-system delayed lactic acid formation in yogurt during incubation and storage leading to increased energy consumption during processing and an improved keeping quality during storage. LPsystem treatment reduced the overall organoleptic quality of yogurt while it improved on that of Bambui cheese. Dry matter content and fat content of yogurt were not significantly affected by LP-system treatment (P<0.05). LP-system treatment did not also affect the moisture and fat content of cheese but slightly improved on its yield

Distribución y estado de conservación de los quirópteros en Aragón

In the period 2004-2006 a sampling of bats took place in Aragón. Traps were set in 47 forests and 67 potential shelters were inspected. Mist nets, harp traps, ultrasound detectors and video cameras were used. A total of 1197 specimens, belonging to 24 species, were captured; 529 records were obtained and the presence of at least 120 breeding colonies was identified (32 of them the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, 110 records and 30 breeding colonies), Savi’s pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii, 63 records and 11 colonies) and Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii, 48 records and 13 colonies). Reproduction data have been found for all species except for Myotis capaccinii, Myotis cf. nattereri, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Nyctalus leisleri and Eptesicus serotinus. The species found can be divided into four large groups: one of general and continuous distribution (P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, H. savii, E. serotinus and P. austriacus), another of general but discontinuous distribution (R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, R. euryale, M. myotis, M. blythii, M. escalerae, M. emarginatus, M. daubentonii, P. pygmaeus, M. schreibersii and T. teniotis), a third of forest species, which were found only in some of the extensive wooded areas (Pyrenees, Moncayo and the south of Teruel: M. mystacinus, M. cf. nattereri, P. auritus, B. barbastellus, N. lasiopterus and N. leisleri) and finally two very rare species in the region (M. capaccinii and P. macrobullaris). The distribution of these species in Aragon is shown and their status in relation to data obtained and the bibliography is reviewed.En el período 2004-2006 se ha realizado un muestreo de los quirópteros de Aragón. Se ha trampeado en 47 bosques y se han inspeccionado 67 refugios potenciales. Para ello se han utilizado redes finas, trampas de arpa, detectores de ultrasonidos, focos y cámaras de grabación de vídeo. Se han capturado 1197 ejemplares pertenecientes a 24 especies. Además se han obtenido 529 citas y se ha identificado la presencia de al menos 120 colonias reproductoras (32 de ellas han sido localizadas). Las especies más frecuentes son fisurícolas y ubiquistas: el murciélago enano (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, 110 citas y 30 colonias de cría), el montañero (Hypsugo savii, 63 citas y 11 agrupaciones) y el de borde claro (Pipistrellus kuhlii, 48 citas y 13 colonias). Se han encontrado datos de reproducción para todas las especies identificadas salvo Myotis capaccinii, Myotis cf. nattereri, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Nyctalus leisleri y Eptesicus serotinus. Las especies halladas se reparten según cuatro patrones: uno de distribución general y continua (P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, H. savii, E. serotinus y P. austriacus), otro de distribución general pero discontinua (R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, R. euryale, M. myotis, M. blythii, M. escalerae, M. emarginatus, M. daubentonii, P. pygmaeus, M. schreibersii y T. teniotis), otro de especies forestales, presentes únicamente en algunas de las grandes manchas boscosas (Pirineos, Moncayo y sur de Teruel: M. mystacinus, M. cf. nattereri, P. auritus, B. barbastellus, N. lasiopterus y N. leisleri) y el último con dos especies de presencia muy restringida en la región (M. capaccinii y P. macrobullaris). Se muestra la distribución de estas especies en Aragón y se comenta su estado de conservación en función de los datos obtenidos en este trabajo y la bibliografí