Le Regime Alientaire du Lezard Tropical African Agama Cyanogaster Ruppell, 1835 dans la Region de Lwiro, est du Zaire

The analysis of stomach contents of the African tropical lizard Agama cyanogaster Ruppell, 1835 shows that the diet is exclusively composed of invertebrates (90%) where insects are predominant (81.75%). Plants make up only about 10% of the diet. The male eats more plant matters (14.58%) than the female (5.69%). The diet is largely dependent on the annual variation of the rainfall. The relative importance of insects eaten is in the following order: Hymenoptera (33.50%), Lepidoptera (22.71%), Orthoptera (17.90%), Coleoptera (15.49%) and the other groups (10%)

Antivenomous Plants Used in the Zairean Pharmacopoeia

Ethnobotanical inquiries were made in Zaire to collect plants traditionally used for treatment of envenomations. As a result, a checklist of 109 antivenomous plants is presented with their scientific and vernacular names, the locality and the directions for use for each plant. The Zairean antivenomous plants are grouped in three categories: the repulsive, the protective and the curative plants. The part used depends on the structure of the plant. For trees and shrubs, barks and roots are used. Sometimes leaves, fruits and flowers may be collected. For herbaceous plants, the whole plant is used. Drugs (decoction, infusion and maceration) are administrated to the victim orally or externally

Bringing Authoring Tools for Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Serious Games Closer Together: Integrating GIFT with the Unity Game Engine

In an effort to bring intelligent tutoring system (ITS) authoring tools closer to content authoring tools, the authors are working to integrate GIFT with the Unity game engine and editor. The paper begins by describing challenges faced by modern intelligent tutors and the motivation behind the integration effort, with special consideration given to how this work will better meet the needs of future serious games. The next three sections expand on these major hurdles more thoroughly, followed by proposed design enhancements that would allow GIFT to overcome these issues. Finally, an overview is given of the authors’ current progress towards implementing the proposed design. The key contribution of this work is an abstraction of the interface between intelligent tutoring systems and serious games, thus enabling ITS authors to implement more complex training behaviors

Snakes of Zaire and Their Bites

The ophidiological survey made in Zaire revealed the presence of 152 species of snakes included in 60 genera and in 8 families. The family Colubridae contains the largest number of genera (45) and species (97). Their geographical distribution shows that the eastern part of Kivu region contains a wild variety of species (90 species). The density of Zairean snakes has not yet been known. But in some localities like Kamanyola in the Kivu province, the density is as high as 80 individuals per square kilometer for the vipers. Other areas like Kinsuka in the vicinity of Kinshasa has as many as 10 species within the same area. Snakes are found in the forest, the savanna and in the aquatic milieu. Some species are arboreal and others live in the mountain regions. Evolutionary considerations based on the anatomical observations indicate that the equatorial forest of the Northern Zaire contains some of the most ancient and conservative forms of snakes. Some are considered to be the most evolved and specialized form of snakes in the world. The frequencies of the snake bites at the sanitary sectors are surveyed. According to the epidemiological data on snake bites, envenomations constitute a serious problem for the public health. Mortality is 6 to 14.3% (mean 8%) of the total snake bites from 1979 to 1986. Bites are most frequent during the agricultural activities. In the savanna of Kivu, which shows the tropical climate, the bites are recorded in the rainy season. The dangerous snakes have been identified: 79 species (51%) are venomous, including vipers, elapids and opisthoglyphous colubrids which are the most dangerous. The treatment of snake bites to reduce mortality and morbidity is applied according to the principles of modern medicine (using antivenom sera) and of the traditional methods (using traditional drugs). The phytotherapy against envenomation is known in Zaire and in many other countries of Africa. Phytochemical screening of these plant drugs is being made for testing their biological activities, and the pharmacological analysis is being carried our for the confirmation of the presence of any antivenomous substance

Livestock Diseases and the Traditional Medicine in the Bushi Area, Kivu Province, Democratic Repoblic of Congo

Ethnobotanical inquiries were carried out from 1980 to 1990 to collect plants used in both veterinary and human medicines. A description of livestock diseases is made and the plant material formulas used for their treatment are inventoried. Vernacular and scientific names, parts of the plant used and instructions for use are reported. About 31 groups representing 62 vernacular names of animal diseases have been recorded and translated into English and French languages, and 124 plant species for treatment of livestock diseases identified. Plant materials are usually prescribed as maceration, infusion or decoction to be taken orally or by rectal administration and by application of ashes loco denti in the scarifications made on the ailing part of the body. Plant material is used singly or in combination. People say that the combination of several ingredients increase the chance of recovery. Moreover, a disease can be cured by one or more medicinal formulas and one formula can be used for the treatment of several diseases

SNAKES OF ZAIRE AND THEIR BITES

ABSTRACT The ophidiological survey made in Zaire revealed the presence of 152 species of snakes included in 60 genera and in 8 families. The family Colubridae contains the largest number of genera (45) and species (97). Their geographical distribution shows that the eastern part of Kivu region contains a wide variety of species (90 species). The density ofZairean snakes has not yet been known. But in some localities like Kamanyola in the Kivu province, the density is as high as 80 individuals per square kilometer for Ihe vipers. Other area5 like Kinsuka in the vicinity of Kinshasa has as many as 10 species within the same area. Snakes arc found in the forest, the savanna and in the aquatic milieu. Some species are arboreal and others live in the mountain regions. Evolutionary considerations based on the anatomical observations indicate that the equatorial forest of the Northern Zaire contains some of the most ancient and conservative forms of snakes. Some are considered to be the most evolved and specialized fom1 of snakes in the world. The frequencies of the snake bites at the sanitary sectors are surveyed. According to the epidemiological data on snake bites, envenomations constitute a serious problem for the public health. \1ortality is 6 to 14.3% (mean 8%) of the total snake bites from 1979 to 1986. Bites are most frequent during the agricultural activities. In the savannaofK ivu, which shows the tropical climate, the bites are recorded in the rainy season. The dangerous snakes have been identified: 79 species (51 o/c) are venomous, including vipers, elapids and opisthoglyphous colubrids which are the most dangerous. The treatment of snake bites to reduce mortality and morbidity is applied according to the principles of modem medicine (using antivenom sera) and of the traditional methods (using traditional drugs). The phytotherapy against envenomation is known in Zaire and in many other countries of Africa. Phytochemical screening of these plant drugs is being made for testing their biological activities, and the pharmacological analysis is being carried out for the confirmation of the presence of any anti venomous substance

La Connaissance des Ophidiens dans le Bulega (Kivu, est du Zaire)

The Lega in the Kivu Region, Eastern Zaire, have rich knowledge of the snake fauna. The snakes have social significance in their legends, folktales and proverbs, in which they incarnate a naughty and vagrant man, and are responsible for certain problems in the village. The Lega distinguish and classify the snakes empirically according to their body color, size, temperament and biotope in which they live. Larger snakes are eaten and the skin is sold. Snake bite is treated by some plant medicine, for which phytochemical analysis is being carried out