Status of non-cocoa tree species in cocoa multistrata systems of southern

Investigations to assess the status of non-cocoa tree species in the cocoa systems of southern Cameroon were carried out in four contrasting locations, distinguished by ecology, population density and land use intensity. One set of inventory was done in each of the 20 selected cocoa farms with an average surface area of 1.4 ha in every location. The inventory was carried out over 25% of each farmland following a gradient directed transect method. Within each cocoa farm, only indigenous tree species and shrubs with the capacity of being transformed into tree species were considered. Our findings showed that there was in total 165 different non-cocoa tree species in the 80 cocoa fields observed. The number of shared species between locations was relatively high (54% to 74%). Frequency distribution of the number of species classified by the number of farms where they were found showed that most species were fairly rare. Tree species richness varied widely between cocoa farms within locations. These findings suggest the need for the various stakeholders of the sector to take appropriate actions to protect endangered species of ecological and economical importance in order to enhance the sustainability of these systems. Keywords: Species diversity, cocoa systems, land use, sustainability. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences Vol. 2 (2) 2008: pp. 207-21

Effects of Fiscal Rules on Budget Deficit:Does Democracy Matter? database

This dataset is a compilation of macroeconomics, institutional and fiscal rules data that I used to determine the role of democracy on fiscal rules effectiveness in budget deficit reducing

Assessment of some important fertility parameters related to different land-use systems in the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon

A field study was carried out in 1999 and 2000 in the village of Akok 180 km south of Yaoundé in the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon to assess changes in particle size distribution and soil chemical properties related to five different land-use systems namely: a secondary forest, a young forest, a cocoa farm, a Chromolaena fallow and a mixed food crop field. The results showed that land-use systems significantly affect the soil particle distribution and the highest proportions of sand and silt fractions were found in soils of young forests, the highest clay content was found under cocoa farms (

Effects of Fiscal Rules on Budget Deficit:Does Democracy Matter? database

This dataset is a compilation of macroeconomics, institutional and fiscal rules data that I used to determine the role of democracy on fiscal rules effectiveness in budget deficit reducing

Soil structure of an Oxisol as influenced by land use systems in the forest margin zone of Southern Cameroon

Soil structure is the key for controlling soil quality. To assess changes in soil structure and its related indices under different land-use systems, an on-farm investigation was carried out on an Oxisol of Southern Province of Cameroon. Six land-use systems (LUS) consisting of a primary forest, a 30-year old secondary forest, a 25-year old cocoa field, a 15-year old natural fallow, a 3- year old Chromolaena odorata fallow and a 2-month old groundnut (Arachis hypogea) field were tested. Soil samples were collected at 0-5 and 5-10 cm depths and were used to determine particle size distribution (hydrometer method), bulk density and aggregatestability. Soil resistance to penetrometer was measured at the same depths in the field using a hand penetrometer. It was found that the primary forest and the cocoa field were associated with highest claycontents (74.6 and 52.0%, respectively) compared to other LUS. However, bulk density was significantly higher under cocoa field (1.09-1.26 g.cm-3) as compared to primary forest (0.72-0.89 g.cm-3). Soil resistance topenetrometer was the lowest under forests (1.2 - 5.2 bars) as compared to cropped fields (9 -12.5 bars) at 0-5 cm depth. Similar trend was observed at 5-10 cm depth. The proportion of aggregates less than 2 mm indiameter was the least under primary forest (27%) as compared to groundnut field (52%). In contrast, soil aggregates under primary forest and cocoa field were more stable, with the highest mean weight diameter(MWD) of 3.37 and 3.00 mm, respectively.Keywords: Cameroon, humid forest, land use systems, Oxisol, soil structure, structural stability

Improved measles surveillance in Cameroon reveals two major dynamic patterns of incidence

Objective: To characterize the province-specific incidence patterns of measles in Cameroon and determine if an increase in measles incidence during the period January 2000-June 2001 is consistent with coincident epidemics in several regions with different inter-epidemic periods. Method: Periodic behavior of the monthly measles incidence time-series from each province of Cameroon was analyzed using time-series analysis and cluster techniques. Cumulative incidence in each province of Cameroon over a five-year period was associated with birth rates, and vaccination coverage. Results: Distinct patterns of measles incidence were found in two different areas of Cameroon. The three northern-most provinces experience major epidemics every year. Seven southern provinces show evidence of experiencing major epidemics every third year. In January 2000, Cameroon experienced coincident peaks in these two cycles and thus an increase in measles incidence countrywide over the previous year. Higher cumulative province-specific incidence rates were associated with higher birth rates and lower routine vaccination coverage rates. Conclusion: Within one country, two dramatically different dynamic patterns of measles incidence were observed. Long-term surveillance data is crucial to the evaluation of measles immunization campaigns. The availability of a five-year record of measles incidence in Cameroon reveals an interesting dynamic pattern of measles incidence that accounts for the increase in countrywide incidence in 2000-2001. © 2005 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary profile of the covid-19 patient in intensive care unit at the Yaounde-Essos hospital center.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVid-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some people with covid-19 will develop severe or critical forms that will require intensive care. Our objective was to describe the clinical, epidemiological characteristics, and the evolutionary profile of the CoVid-19 patient in intensive care at the Essos hospital center. This was a cross-sectional study with a prospective aim, which took place over a period of 12 months, in the intensive care unit of the Essos hospital center. All patients who tested positive for SARSCOV- 2 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were included in the study. The variables studied were sociodemographic and clinical data. A proportion of 42 patients presented with the severe form of the SARS-CoV-2 disease, requiring treatment in intensive care, out of a total of 866 positive cases over the same period, i.e. a prevalence of 4.84%. The average age of the patients was 55 years old. The age group of young adults was the most represented (73.8%). The sex ratio was 7.4 in favor of men. Polypnea was the main clinical sign (69%) on admission and arterial hypertension the most common comorbidity (50%) in these patients. The majority of covid- 19 deaths occurred in the group of subjects over the age of 65 (57.14%), primarily in male subjects (85.71%). The mortality rate was 16.67%. The management of severe and critical forms of covid- 19 in intensive care remains a challenge for sub- Saharan Africa