Traditional Techniques of oil extraction from Kapok (Ceiba pentandra Gaertn.), Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) and Neem (Azadirach indica A. Juss.) Seeds from the Far-North Region of cameroon

An investigation was carried out in four localities of the Far-North of Cameroon (Maroua, Mokolo, Kaele and Yagoua in order to improve endogenous methods of oil extraction from kapok (Ceiba pentandra Gaertn.), mahogany (Hhaya Senegalensis) and neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seed. The questionnaire administered to 75 traditional producers permitted us to note that extraction of oil from kapok is scarce. The traditional extraction processes from these oilseeds vary. But two principal techniques are predominant: the kneading process and the heated paste process. Husking, pounding and extraction make up the bottleneck. The yields are low, averagely six pans (of 1L capacity) are used to obtain one litre of oil. Amelioration of these methods through the introduction of grinders and pressers will not only help reduce strenuousness, but also increase the capacity to treat the yields and oil quality

Networks, space and organisational performance:a study of the determinants of industrial research income generation by universities

This paper examines the extent to which both network structure and spatial factors impact on the organizational performance of universities as measured by the generation of industrial research income. Drawing on data concerning the interactions of universities in the UK with large research and development (R&D)-intensive firms, the paper employs both social network analysis and regression analysis. It is found that the structural position of a university within networks with large R&D-intensive firms is significantly associated with the level of research income gained from industry. Spatial factors, on the other hand, are not found to be clearly associated with performance, suggesting that universities operate on a level playing field across regional environments once other factors are controlled for

The intensification of thermal extremes in west Africa

International audienceThis study aims in filling the gap in understanding the relationship between trend and extreme in diurnal and nocturnal temperatures (Tx and Tn) over the Gulf of Guinea area and the Sahel. Time-evolution and trend of Tx and Tn anomalies, extreme temperatures and heat waves are examined using regional and station-based indices over the 1900–2012 and 1950–2012 periods respectively. In investigating extreme temperature anomalies and heat waves, a percentile method is used. At the regional and local scales, rising trends in Tx and Tn anomalies, which appear more pronounced over the past 60 years, are identified over the two regions. The trends are characterized by an intensification of: i) nocturnal/Tn warming over the second half of the 20th century; and ii) diurnal/Tx warming over the post-1980s. This is the same scheme with extreme warm days and warm nights. Finally annual number of diurnal and nocturnal heat waves has increase over the Gulf of Guinea coastal regions over the second half of the 20th century, and even more substantially over the post-1980s period. Although this trend in extreme warm days and nights is always overestimated in the simulations, from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), those models display rising trends whatever the scenario, which are likely to be more and more pronounced over the two regions in the next 50 years

Avaliação das características do líquido ruminal, hemogasometria, atividade pedométrica e diagnóstico de laminite subclínica em vacas leiteiras

Este estudo objetivou avaliar as características do líquido ruminal, hemogasometria, atividade pedométrica e ocorrência laminite subclínica, por meio da presença de enfermidades podais secundárias, em vacas leiteiras de alta produção, provenientes de um rebanho comercial. Foram avaliadas 200 vacas holandesas, oriundas da mesma propriedade, localizada na região de Araçatuba, SP, divididas em quatro grupos, sendo estes estabelecidos a partir da produtividade diária. Inicialmente procedeu-se o exame clínico dos animais, seguido da colheita de amostras do líquido ruminal, por meio de sondagem esofágica, sendo este avaliado quanto ao pH, cor, odor, consistência, sedimentação, flutuação e prova de redução pelo azul de metileno. Também foram colhidas amostras de sangue venoso para hemogasometria, além da coleta dos dados da pedometria (número de passos) e produção de leite diária das vacas. Os dados obtidos foram tabulados e submetidos à análise de correlação. Nenhum animal avaliado apresentou alterações no pH ruminal, bem como não foram encontrados distúrbios do desequilíbrio ácido básico, pois os valores de pH sanguíneo, PCO2, TCO2, HCO3- e EB estavam dentro da normalidade, durante a análise hemogasométrica. A pedometria foi efetiva como método de triagem para as vacas acometidas de afecções podais, pois se observou a redução no número de passos devido à dor, correlacionada a menor produção leiteira. Contudo, a identificação destas afecções, somente foi possível mediante exame clínico específico dos dígitos. A ocorrência das afecções podais em 49,5% do rebanho deveu-se aos fatores de riscos presentes na propriedade, como o concreto abrasivo e instalações inadequadas, associados também a possível ocorrência de acidose ruminal subaguda, não diagnosticada pela metodologia utilizada. A correlação entre os valores do pH ruminal, pedometria e hemogasometria se mostrou eficiente para o diagnóstico precoce das afecções podais e também no estabelecimento da etiologia destas enfermidades. A laminite subclínica acometeu primariamente as vacas do rebanho, considerando a etiologia multifatorial desta afecção, ocorrência e distribuição das enfermidades podais diagnosticadas

Etude génétique de l’indice de récolte des lignées pures et hybrides F1 du niébé (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) en zone des hautes savanes guinéennes de l’Adamaoua, Cameroun

En vue de sélectionner les variétés du niébé (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) adaptées en zone de hautes savanes guinéennes, un essai en champ a permis de mesurer l’indice de récolte (IR), d’établir ses corrélations avec les paramètres de rendement et d’évaluer l’hétérosis chez huit lignées pures et quatre hybrides F1 dans les conditions environnementales de Ngaoundéré. Après les croisements en pots, ce matériel a été évalué en champ dans un dispositif en blocs complètement randomisé. La parcelle élémentaire était de 2.5 × 6.0 m. Les résultats indiquent des différences significatives au seuil de 5% pour l’indice de récolte (12,40 à 46,21%). L’analyse de variance montre un effet génotypique important aussi bien pour le rendement en graines que pour le nombre de gousse par plante. La comparaison des hybrides F1 avec leurs parents montre un hétérosis pour l’indice de récolte (IR), le rendement et ses composantes à l’exception du nombre de graines par gousse. Le contrôle génétique suggère l’implication des gènes à effets dominants et additifs ; toutefois, la valeur de l’hybride F1 dépend de la valeur propre des géniteurs. Parailleurs, aucune corrélation n’a été trouvée entre IR au seuil de 5%, les paramètres du rendement mesurés et les critères de prédiction. Cette étude montre que la sélection pour l’IR devra privilégier les géniteurs possédant des valeurs individuelles élevées.Mots clés : Vigna unguiculata, indice de récolte, rendement, hétérosis, sélectionIn order to select varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) adapted to the high guinea savannah region, a trial was carried out to determine the harvest index (HI), establish the correlation between yield components and evaluate the heterosis of eight pure lines and four F1 hybrids under the environmental conditions of the Ngaoundere area. Following controlled crossing in pots, the resulting hybrids were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, the experimental plot measuring 2.5 × 6.0 m. Results showed significant (