The Phonology-Syntax Interface in Avikam

Very often African languages have been claimed to have tones but no intonation which may be understood as some organization of complex prosodic or breath grouping, beyond the segment. However recent studies have shown that these languages may have complex prosodic structures. Avikam, an isolate lagoon language of the Kwa cluster spoken in the Ivory Coast, is investigated. The paper argues that Tone Lowering is a well established phonological rule that is constrained both by syntactic and prosodic domains, in a quite intricate way. This interaction points to an interface level between syntax and phonology, which may differ from a mere postlexical component. Based on the Tone Lowering rule, prosodic domains such as the phonological word, the phonological phrase and the tonal foot are identified. The paper provides evidence that recursion of the prosodic word is a common process similar to that attested in Leben and Ahoua (1997). The paper has implications for the strong version of the Strict layer Hypothesis (Selkirk 1978), for which some weakening may be required

Towards an integrated formal model of fundamental frequency in overall downtrends

Although there are major differences in the various conceptual models of Fo scaling, we suggest that the corresponding mathematical formulations may be compatible and that the theoretical differences need not hinder the empirical aspects and practical uses of the theories as demonstrated in speech synthesis. The method follows standard practice in Mathematical Logics: combining and “rounding off” the formalisms of the different models, then allowing for a consistent interpretation of the new unified theory. The approach is applied to two current models of decay in intonation curves. The models and then the conflicts between them are described. These latter were used to construct the integrated model. Our short term objective is to validate the application of our approach by testing and implementing empirical instrumental data obtained independently

Le nouveau droit de la restructuration des sociétés commerciales des pays de l'OHADA, comparaisons avec le droit français

In a context of globalization, the african companies have to adapt themselves permanently to economic legal or social contingencies. Conscious of that reality, african legislator set up within the OHADA reform legal measures to allow theme acclimatize to the tendencies and markets pression : the restructuring law which design all the technicals proceedings conceived by the legislator to reorganize the company. Those technicals was inspirated by French law restructuring which has been reorganized. The confrontation of both systems allows to notice that if in the fundamental principles they are the same objectives consisting in substainability of companies for their growth or their survival there are however pratical and technical differences materialized by the recents french reforms.Dans un contexte de mondialisation, les entreprises africaines doivent s'adapter en permanence aux diverses contingences économiques, juridiques ou sociales. Conscient de cette réalité, le législateur africain a mis en place dans le cadre de la reforme de l'OHADA, un arsenal juridique afin de leur permettre de s'acclimater en permanence aux tendances et pressions du marché : le droit de la restructuration qui désigne l’ensemble des techniques conçues par le législateur pour réorganiser l’entreprise. Ces techniques ont eu pour source d’inspiration le droit français des restructurations qui a connu des mutations. La confrontation des deux systèmes de droit permet de constater que si dans les principes fondamentaux les deux systèmes répondent aux mêmes objectifs à savoir assurer la pérennisation des entreprises par la promotion de la croissance de l’entreprise et sa survie lorsqu’elle est le seuil de difficultés diverses, il existe toutefois des différences d’ordre pratique et technique consécutives aux dernières réformes intervenues

Evaluation of a 5-year programme to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection in Northern Uganda

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is essential in HIV/AIDS control. We analysed 2000-05 data from mother-infant pairs in our PMTCT programme in rural Uganda, examining programme utilization and outcomes, HIV transmission rates and predictors of death or loss to follow-up (LFU). Out of 19,017 women, 1,037 (5.5%) attending antenatal care services tested HIV positive. Of these, 517 (50%) enrolled in the PMTCT programme and gave birth to 567 infants. Before tracing, 303 (53%) mother-infant pairs were LFU. Reasons for dropout were infant death and lack of understanding of importance of follow-up. Risk of death or LFU was higher among infants with no or incomplete intrapartum prophylaxis (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.07-3.36) and of weaning age <6 months (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.42-4.58), and lower in infants with diagnosed acute illness (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16-0.55). Mother-to-child HIV cumulative transmission rate was 8.3%, and 15.5% when HIV-related deaths were considered. Improved tracking of HIV-exposed infants is needed in PMTCT programmes where access to early infant diagnosis is still limited

Habitudes Alimentaires Liees A La Survenue De La Maladie Hemorroïdaire Chez Les Ivoiriens

A study was conducted in order to search for food habits related to the occurrence of hemorrhoid disease in humans, through a transversal and descriptive survey including 414 students of Université Félix Houphouët- Boigny (UFHB) of Côte d’Ivoire. Respondents had diverse diets in which it was found the six groups of food, as described by Nicolet and Mautrait (1995). Additionally, spiced and exciting products were associated to this study. Hemorrhoid disease was diagnosed by anal examination, and the numeration of the blood formula was determined by a numerator spectrophotometer. Results revealed that 262 respondents (63.28 %) suffered from digestive disorders. Among them, 168 (64.12 %) had hemorrhoid disease. These ones used to eat, more than 3 times per week, red meat (beef, lamb, goat, pork). However, results of blood analysis showed that cases of hemorrhoid disease were neither associated with anemia nor infection (P≥0.05). These results demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge in Côte d’Ivoire, a cause and effect relationship between diets rich in red meat and the occurrence of hemorrhoid disease (P≤0.05)

Death rates from malaria epidemics, Burundi and Ethiopia.

Death rates exceeded emergency thresholds at 4 sites during epidemics of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Burundi (2000-2001) and in Ethiopia (2003-2004). Deaths likely from malaria ranged from 1,000 to 8,900, depending on site, and accounted for 52% to 78% of total deaths. Earlier detection of malaria and better case management are needed

Les classes nominales en kadile, parler senoufo de Côte d’Ivoire

Résumé : Cet article présente les classes nominales en kadile. C’est un parler senoufo qui ne dérobe pas à la règle des classes nominales dans les langues Gur. En ce qui concerne ce parler, cinq (05) classes nominales dénombrables et deux classes non dénombrables ont été dénombrées. Ces classes sont pour la plupart des paires (singuliers pluriels) et comportent souvent plusieurs séries de classe. Il présente également 4 (quatre) classes de défini comptant chacune 2 (deux) morphèmes dont un singulier et un pluriel et 5 (cinq) classes de pronom anaphorique comprenant également chacune 2 (deux) morphèmes (singulier ; pluriel). Ce qui a permis de déduire 5 (cinq) genres nominaux. Mots-clés: classes nominales; règles ; nombre ; singulier ; plurie

Consolidation des sols fins saturés sous charges cycliques

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Prevalence and Spatial Distribution of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Giardia lamblia among Schoolchildren in Agboville Area (Côte d'Ivoire)

According to WHO, intestinal amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is the third principal parasitic disease responsible for mortality in the world. This protozoal parasite infects approximately 180 million individuals throughout the world, among whom 40 to 110 thousand die from it each year. Giardiasis, caused by another protozoan parasite, Giardia lamblia, infects approximately 200 million individuals throughout the world, is a frequent cause of diarrhea in children, and can have negative impact on growth and development. Unfortunately, these intestinal protozoa are taken into account in few epidemiologic studies. The investigation we carried out to determine prevalence and spatial distribution of these infections shows the importance of these parasites in the Agboville department in southeast Cote d'Ivoire. Determination of spatial distribution of these parasites will help to focus delivery of chemotherapy in this area. In addition, our description of the relation of sources of drinking water with these parasitic infections will contribute to the development of an integrated treatment program for these parasites in this area of Côte d'Ivoire. This work will help make the population and political powers aware of the importance of these parasites and the need for safe drinking water in all localities of this area

Reflexos fonológicos da ênfase em línguas Kwa da Costa do Marfim

This paper examines the phonological characteristics of expressions conveying emphasis, insistence, and contrast in some Kwa languages of Côte d’Ivoire. Our particular interest is to reveal how such phenomena are realized in tonal languages, and we thought it worthwhile to study more than one language yet to confine the study to a closely related group. In this group a variety of phonological strategies are used to mark emphasis, including prosodic devices that have not been widely reported in the literature for Niger-Congo languages, and that may or may not differ from other language groups. Thus, our goal was to capture the various phonological means for expressing emphasis in the Kwa languages of Côte d`Ivoire. For that purpose, we surveyed emphasis marking in several Kwa languages, collecting both phonological reflexes of emphasis that go beyond the emphatic particles and raised intonations that are most frequently cited.Este artigo examina as características fonológicas de expressões que portam ênfase, insistência e contraste em algumas línguas Kwa da Costa do Marfim. Nosso interesse particular é revelar como tais fenômenos são realizados em línguas tonais, e consideramos que valeria a pena estudar mais de uma língua para circunscrever o estudo a um grupo intimamente relacionado. Neste grupo, uma variedade de estratégias fonológicas é utilizada para marcar a ênfase, incluindo dispositivos prosódicos que não foram amplamente relatados na literatura para as línguas Niger-Congo, e que podem ou não diferir de outros grupos linguísticos. Assim, tendo por objetivo capturar os vários meios fonológicos para expressar ênfase nas línguas Kwa da Costa do Marfim, pesquisamos, neste artigo, a marcação da ênfase em diversas línguas Kwa, coletando reflexos fonológicos da ênfase que vão além das partículas enfáticas e das entoações em relevo que são, com frequência, as mais citadas.Tradução de Marilia Facó Soare