Measuring Knowledge Acquisition and Knowledge Creation: A Review of the Literature

This paper presented a review of the literature related to knowledge acquisition and knowledge creation. The paper discussed the nature and types of knowledge, knowledge acquisition, theories and models of knowledge acquisition, in addition to the review of empirical studies measuring knowledge acquisition. For knowledge creation, the paper discussed the definition of knowledge creation, theories and models of knowledge creation, and review of empirical studies measuring knowledge creation. Findings of the review revealed how researchers and scholars have used a variety of variables in investigating and measuring knowledge acquisition and knowledge creation among managers, engineers, and faculty members

Leishmaniases in West Africa: Past and Current

Leishmaniases are vector-borne diseases. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in West Africa. Sporadic and anecdotal cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been reported in the past. Recent data showed the changing of epidemiology of leishmaniases in West Africa, with the occurrence of outbreak of CL due to Leishmania major in urban and rural areas. CL is transmitted by Phlebotomus duboscqi. The role of Sergentomyia (Spelaeomyia) darlingi as vector in rural areas has been evoked but not confirmed. Cases of VL due to Leishmania spp. have been described in West Africa; however, parasites species were not identified and dogs were suspected to be the reservoir. No humans’ case of symptomatic VL due to L. infantum has been described in West Africa. Recent data in rural areas of Senegal confirmed dog as reservoir of L. infantum. In the same study in Senegal, Sergentomyia sandflies were found infected with L. infantum, indicating a possible role in leishmaniasis transmission. Coinfection leishmaniases-HIV is reported but rare. In this chapter, we included most recent publications and propose an updated landscape of CL and VL epidemiology in West Africa

Evaluation of the utilization of heated sewage sludge for peri-urban horticulture production in the Sahel of West Africa

Shortage of organic matter hinders agricultural production in the Sahel, and this lack of enough organic matter is more severe for peri-urban horticulture, which depends heavily on it. Alternative sources of organic matter that offer new options for peri-urban horticulture can help reduce the potential for conflict over finite resources between traditional crop production and peri-urban horticulture. Both agronomic and economic evaluations of an organic amendment called heated sewage sludge (HSS) were conducted in the research station of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)-Niamey, Niger, West Africa. For this study, HSS, a material imported from Japan, applied at a dosage application equivalent to 20.0 kg 100 m-2 on lettuce fields led to production levels as high as those of conventional methods, and the yield became even higher than those of conventional methods when the dosage was increased to 50.0 kg 100 m-2 and 100.0 kg 100 m-2. Even though HSS was imported, its benefits outweighed its cost, as evidenced by the positive net returns. Since profitability in peri-urban horticulture is much higher than that of traditional crop production, the results of this study imply that if adopted, the use of HSS can lead to increased availability of organic matter for traditional croppin

Essai de germination et de croissance de Artemisia annua L. au Niger

L’essai a été conduit à la pépinière de l’INRAN de Niamey et à la cuvette de l’INRAN de Kollo, et a porté sur la germination, croissance, développement de Artemisia annua (l’hybride F2 et M), plante qui a des vertus  anti-paludique. Cette étude a pour objectif d’évaluer les meilleures  conditions de culture de artemisia annua et le meilleur substrat pour son adaptation. Le Niger, pays d’endémie du paludisme, maladie qui constitue la première cause de morbidité et de mortalité. Face à cette menace, les autorités ont opté pour l’utilisation des dérivés d’artémisinine comme molécule de choix dans la prise en charge du paludisme comme l’a recommandé l’OMS. Les tests de la levée en pépinière ont été effectués dans un bac à semis et un germoir en planche. Les plants ont été repiqués après levée dans des pots avec trois types de substrats (substrat dunaire,substrat de bas fond et substrat de sable du fleuve) afin de déterminer le meilleur substrat pour la culture de la plante en pépinière. Il ressort des résultats obtenus que le substrat de bas fond offre les meilleurs valeurs pour la hauteur, le diamètre au collet et le nombre de feuilles que les substrats dunaire et du fleuve. Les plants ont été transférés sur le site de Kollo et transplantés sur terre ferme. Pour la biomasse c’est la variété F2 qui a enregistrée les meilleurs rendements même si au niveau de la hauteur, elle enregistre les valeurs les plus basses comparativement à la variété M. Cette étude a montrée que Artemisia annua peut s’adapter au Niger et son introduction offre à la population un moyen supplémentaire de lutte contre le paludisme.Mots clés : Artemisia annua, artemisinine, paludisme, Niger

CCAFS site atlas – Lawra – Jirapa / Lawra

CCAFS site atlas for Lawra – Jirapa / Lawra, Ghana

Diabetes Knowledge: What Do College Students Know

This study investigates students’ knowledge about diabetes, with a focus on academic disciplines and gender. Data were collected from 218 students enrolled at a large public university. Descriptive statistics were employed, and factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed. The results showed that, while participants seemed to have some knowledge about diabetes, they generally lacked specific content information about the disease. Female students outperformed male students in diabetes knowledge. Rehabilitation counselor educators can offer an invaluable service by covering the topic of diabetes in their courses and curricula. They can consider incorporating specific information about diabetes that can better prepare students as rehabilitation counseling professionals and informed citizens, while ensuring that male and female students have the same level of diabetes knowledge

CCAFS site atlas – Kaffrine

CCAFS site atlas for Kaffrine, Senegal

CCAFS site atlas – Yatenga / Tougou

CCAFS site atlas for Yatenga / Tougou, Burkina Faso

CCAFS site atlas – Segou / Cinzana

CCAFS site atlas for Segou / Cinzana, Mali

CCAFS site atlas – Kollo / Fakara

CCAFS site atlas for Kollo / Fakara, Niger