Mass of Prunus africana stem barks on Tchabal mbabo and Tchabal Gang Daba Mountain Forests, Cameroon

Prunus africana is a species of the Rosaceae family, known under its common name as pygeum or African cherry. The bark is the major source of an extract used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, an increasingly common health problem in older men in the western world. A study which aimed to produce a formula for establishing the mass of the bark of Prunus africana specimens was carried out in May 2011 on Tchabal Mbabo and Tchabal Gang Daba mountain forests, in the Adamaoua region of Cameroon. The diameter at breast height (DBH), the height of the tree and the thickness of the stem bark of each pygeum tree were recorded in order to establish the cubic volume of each specimen. This data was used to calculate the relationship between the diameter and the volume of the bark. Samples of bark were collected in order to establish the relationship between the volume of the bark and its mass (measure mass per cubic metre). A total of 105 pygeum trees were sampled, including 50 trees in Gang Daba considered as an un-exploited production site and 55 trees in Mbabo referred to an exploited production site. The best equation which links the volume (Vb) of fresh barks to the diameter (D) of each pygeum tree is Vb=a/(1+b*exp(-cD)) with a = 1.79588278896E-001, b =  5.29124992540E+002, c = 1.45488065368E-001. The average thickness of the bark is 13.01 ± 4.8 mm. This value is comprised between that of unexploited (16.99 ± 3.7 mm) and exploited (9.40 ± 2.07 mm) pygeum trees. Considering that for all trees above 30 cm DBH, only two quarters of the bark are taken from the main stem up to the first branch, the average sustainable mass of pygeum tree in Adamaoua region will be about 69.3 kg of fresh bark per tree. This value is comprised between that of unexploited (80 kg) and exploited (60 kg) pygeum trees in Ganga Daba and Mbabo respectively.Key words: Threatened species, Prunus africana, pygeum, Tchabal  mountain forests, Bitterlich’s Relascope, cubic tariff, CITES

Étude ethnobotanique des plantes médicinales commercialisées dans les marchés de la ville de Douala, Cameroun

Objectif: L’objectif de cette étude est d’inventorier et d’identifier les vertus thérapeutiques des plantes médicinales commercialisées dans la ville de Douala (Cameroun).Méthodologie et résultats: Des enquêtes ethnobotaniques ont été conduites de juillet à août 2012, auprès de 54 herboristes dans cinq marchés en utilisant des interviews directes et semi-structurées. L’étude a permis d’identifier 84 espèces réparties en 78 genres et 50 familles dont les plus représentées ont été les Asteraceae (9 espèces), Fabaceae (6 espèces) et Lamiaceae (4 espèces). Les troubles infectieux (66,7 %) et gynécoobstétriques et urologiques ont été majoritairement représentés. La recherche du degré de consensus (ICF) révèle que 3 catégories ont atteint des valeurs élevées : les troubles asthéniques (0,8), dermatologiques (0,6), gynéco-obstétriques et urologiques (0,5).Conclusion et application des résultats: Cette étude montre l’importance des enquêtes ethnobotaniques dans la phytothérapie et les limites des herboristes de la pharmacopée traditionnelle.Mots clés: Ethnobotanique, plantes médicinales commercialisées, maladiesEnglish AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to make an inventory and to identify therapeutic properties of medicinal plants sold in the city of Douala (Cameroon).Methodology and Results: Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted from July to August 2012 beside 54 herbalists in five markets using direct and semi-structured interviews. The study identified 84 species distributed in 78 genera and 50 families, the most represented were Asteraceae (9 species), Fabaceae (6 species) and Lamiaceae (4 species). Infectious disorders (66.7%) and gyneco-obstetrical and urological disorders were mostly represented. Research on the degree of consensus (ICF) reveals that three categories reached high values: asthenic (0.8), skin (0.6), gyneco-obstetrical and urological (0.5) disorders.Conclusion and applications of results: This study shows the importance of ethnobotanical surveys in herbal medicine and limitations of herbalists of traditional medicine.Keys: Ethnobotany, sold medicinal plants, disease

Static non-reciprocity in mechanical metamaterials

Reciprocity is a fundamental principle governing various physical systems, which ensures that the transfer function between any two points in space is identical, regardless of geometrical or material asymmetries. Breaking this transmission symmetry offers enhanced control over signal transport, isolation and source protection. So far, devices that break reciprocity have been mostly considered in dynamic systems, for electromagnetic, acoustic and mechanical wave propagation associated with spatio-temporal variations. Here we show that it is possible to strongly break reciprocity in static systems, realizing mechanical metamaterials that, by combining large nonlinearities with suitable geometrical asymmetries, and possibly topological features, exhibit vastly different output displacements under excitation from different sides, as well as one-way displacement amplification. In addition to extending non-reciprocity and isolation to statics, our work sheds new light on the understanding of energy propagation in non-linear materials with asymmetric crystalline structures and topological properties, opening avenues for energy absorption, conversion and harvesting, soft robotics, prosthetics and optomechanics.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, Supplementary information (11 pages and 5 figures

Ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants used by Baka people in southeastern Cameroon

Background Forest inhabitants worldwide, and Indigenous Peoples especially, have depended for generations on plants and animals harvested in these ecosystems. A number of Baka Pygmy populations in south-eastern Cameroon became sedentarised in the 1950s, but still rely on hunting and gathering to meet their basic needs. The use of wild edible plants (WEP) by these communities remains largely undocumented. In this study we document the diversity of WEP used by Baka people in dense rainforests in the Mintom region. The area still contains relatively undisturbed forests areas, just south of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important protected areas in the Congo Basin. Methods We conducted two ethnobotanical surveys in 2019 in four villages on the Mintom road. In the first survey, we interviewed a total of 73 individuals to determine WEP usage. In our second survey we specifically quantified WEP harvested and consumed daily in a number of households over a two-week period during the major raining season, when use of forest products is highest. Specimens of all recorded plants were collected and identified at the National Herbarium of Cameroon. Results We documented 88 plant species and 119 unique species/plant organ/recipes in 1,519 different citations. A total of 61 genera and 43 families were recorded. Excluding 14 unidentified wild yam species, 17 WEP species had not been reported in previous ethnobotanical surveys of the Baka. Our results showed that cultivated starchy plant foods make up a significant proportion of their daily nutritional intake. Conclusions A high diversity of WEP are consumed by the studied Baka communities. The study area is likely to be significant in terms of WEP diversity since 18 out of the 30 ‘key’ NTFP in Cameroon were quoted. Documentation of the use of WEP by Indigenous communities is vital to ensure the continuity of traditional knowledge and future food security

Search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum in pp collisions at √ s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Results of a search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum are reported. The search uses 20.3 fb−1 of √ s = 8 TeV data collected in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events are required to have at least one jet with pT > 120 GeV and no leptons. Nine signal regions are considered with increasing missing transverse momentum requirements between Emiss T > 150 GeV and Emiss T > 700 GeV. Good agreement is observed between the number of events in data and Standard Model expectations. The results are translated into exclusion limits on models with either large extra spatial dimensions, pair production of weakly interacting dark matter candidates, or production of very light gravitinos in a gauge-mediated supersymmetric model. In addition, limits on the production of an invisibly decaying Higgs-like boson leading to similar topologies in the final state are presente

Daily intake of antioxidants in relation to survival among adult patients diagnosed with malignant glioma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malignant glioma is a rare cancer with poor survival. The influence of diet and antioxidant intake on glioma survival is not well understood. The current study examines the association between antioxidant intake and survival after glioma diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult patients diagnosed with malignant glioma during 1991-1994 and 1997-2001 were enrolled in a population-based study. Diagnosis was confirmed by review of pathology specimens. A modified food-frequency questionnaire interview was completed by each glioma patient or a designated proxy. Intake of each food item was converted to grams consumed/day. From this nutrient database, 16 antioxidants, calcium, a total antioxidant index and 3 macronutrients were available for survival analysis. Cox regression estimated mortality hazard ratios associated with each nutrient and the antioxidant index adjusting for potential confounders. Nutrient values were categorized into tertiles. Models were stratified by histology (Grades II, III, and IV) and conducted for all (including proxy) subjects and for a subset of self-reported subjects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Geometric mean values for 11 fat-soluble and 6 water-soluble individual antioxidants, antioxidant index and 3 macronutrients were virtually the same when comparing all cases (n = 748) to self-reported cases only (n = 450). For patients diagnosed with Grade II and Grade III histology, moderate (915.8-2118.3 mcg) intake of fat-soluble lycopene was associated with poorer survival when compared to low intake (0.0-914.8 mcg), for self-reported cases only. High intake of vitamin E and moderate/high intake of secoisolariciresinol among Grade III patients indicated greater survival for all cases. In Grade IV patients, moderate/high intake of cryptoxanthin and high intake of secoisolariciresinol were associated with poorer survival among all cases. Among Grade II patients, moderate intake of water-soluble folate was associated with greater survival for all cases; high intake of vitamin C and genistein and the highest level of the antioxidant index were associated with poorer survival for all cases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The associations observed in our study suggest that the influence of some antioxidants on survival following a diagnosis of malignant glioma are inconsistent and vary by histology group. Further research in a large sample of glioma patients is needed to confirm/refute our results.</p

Addressing constraints in promoting wild edible plants’ utilization in household nutrition: case of the Congo Basin forest area

It is worth raising the question, why are wild edible plants (WEPs) which are rich in diverse nutrients and widely abundant underutilized despite the increasing rate of undernourishment in poor regions? One reason is that their culinary uses are not quantified and standardized in nutrition surveys, and therefore, they are not properly included in household diet intensification and diversification across regions and cultures. Active steps are needed to bridge this gap. This paper outlines the constraints to including WEPs in nutritional surveys as the lack of standard ways of food identification of diverse WEPs, lack of specific food categorization and therefore difficult dissemination across regions and cultures. As a way forward, a functional categorization of 11 subgroups for WEPs is introduced and discussed. In labeling these sub-food groups, the paper advocates that more WEPs food items and culinary uses should be enlisted during household nutrition surveys. Food researchers could then capitalize these enlisted species and disseminate them to promote diverse food use of WEPs in other regions where they exist but are not utilized as food

Benign follicular tumors

Benign follicular tumors comprise a large and heterogeneous group of neoplasms that share a common histogenesis and display morphological features resembling one or several portions of the normal hair follicle, or recapitulate part of its embryological development. Most cases present it as clinically nondescript single lesions and essentially of dermatological relevance. Occasionally, however, these lesions be multiple and represent a cutaneous marker of complex syndromes associated with an increased risk of visceral neoplasms. In this article, the authors present the microscopic structure of the normal hair follicle as a basis to understand the type and level of differentiation of the various follicular tumors. The main clinicopathological features and differential diagnosis of benign follicular tumors are then discussed, including dilated pore of Winer, pilar sheath acanthoma, trichoadenoma, trichilemmoma, infundibuloma, proliferating trichilemmal cyst/tumor, trichoblastoma and its variants, pilomatricoma, trichodiscoma/fibrofolliculoma, neurofollicular hamartoma and trichofolliculoma. In addition, the main syndromes presenting with multiple follicular tumors are also discussed, namely Cowden, Birt-Hogg-Dubé, Rombo and Bazex-Dupré-Christol syndromes, as well as multiple tumors of follicular infundibulum (infundibulomatosis) and multiple trichoepitheliomas. Although the diagnosis of follicular tumors relies on histological examination, we highlight the importance of their knowledge for the clinician, especially when in presence of patients with multiple lesions that may be the cutaneous marker of a cancer-prone syndrome. The dermatologist is therefore in a privileged position to recognize these lesions, which is extremely important to provide further propedeutic, appropriate referral and genetic counseling for these patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio