Agronomic potential value of household urban solid wastes by composting and composts quality assessment

Using composting technology, the biodegradable fraction of solid wastes collected from Agbalepedogan district in Lomé (Togo) was transformed into composts with no phytotoxicity suitable for use in agriculture. The household urban solid wastes were mixed with poultry manure and Mucuna pruriens leaves in appropriate percentages and transformed into composts. The composting process was monitored by temperature, pH and C/N ratio controlling. The composts quality was appreciated by phytotoxicity test, particle size distribution, contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter and trace elements. The results showed that composts particle size distribution presented four fractions (>10 mm, 5-10 mm, 2-5 mm and ≤2 mm) whose average percentages are respectively 9.04±0.2%; 10.71±0.2%; 12.68±0.4% and 67.53±0.6%, respectively. Composts produced contained 1.02±0.1% - 2.72±0.2% of nitrogen, 1.35±0.3% - 2.70±0.4% of phosphorus, 1.31±0.2% - 1.72±0.3% of potassium and 23.50±0.4% - 37.75±0.5% of organic matter. The pH in final composts were between 8.50±0.2 and 9.00±0.3 while C/N ratio varying from 8.06±0.2 to 13.13±0.2. The concentrations of some heavy metals in final products were 79.8±1.7 - 140.2±1.6 mg/kg.dm of zinc, 27.1±1.01 - 76.6±1.03 mg/kg.dm of copper, 2.07±0.33 - 9.19±0.22 mg/kg.dm of lead, 4.13±0.16 - 11.05±0.36 mg/kg.dm of nickel and 0.79±0.02 - 2.15±0.03 mg/kg.dm of cadmium. These concentrations were lower than the limited value for heavy metals prescribed by French and US EPA regulation for organic and organic-mineral fertilizers. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 9(2): 1-8, December 201

Nitrogen Moderate Rates’ Effects on the Performance of Cocoa Seedlings (Theobroma Cocoa Linn.) in the Forest Zone of Togo (West Africa)

The cocoa trees nutrient requirements coverage, especially in nitrogen (N), remains essential for a better growth of the seedlings. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the moderate nitrogen doses on the agronomic performance of the nursery cocoa seedlings in Togo’s forest zone. Trials were conducted in a complete randomized plot design with four replicates to identify the optimal complementary nitrogen dose helpful for better growth and nutrition of cocoa seedlings. The doses tested were 0; 0.5; 1 and 1.5 g.plant-1 of urea (46% N). The results showed that the doses of 0.5 and 1 g.plant-1 were the most likely to provide the best agronomic performance of nursery cocoa seedlings in the forest zone of Togo. However, the dose of 1 g.plant-1 was optimal for good growth and balanced nutrition of cocoa seedlings and would therefore be recommended for the management of cocoa nurseries in the area

POVERTY AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE

The paper argues that poverty has remained a major obstacle to sustainable development and democracy in the global South. With the return to civil rule in 1999 in Nigeria, hopes were high that the return to democracy will stem the decline of the economy and provide the citizenry with the social dividends of democracy. More than a decade after the economy is still on it’s kneels with more than half of the population living on less than one dollar per day. With the use of dependency theory the paper posited that unless the people are empowered to make choices and participate in making decisions that affects their lives sustainable socio-economic development will remain elusive in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular

Syndrome Hyperéosinophilique Clonal: A propos de quatre cas colligés au Togo

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of imatinib in the management of clonal hypereosinophilic syndrome. Patients and method: We report four cases of patients with clonal hypereosinophilic syndrome in the clinical hematology unit of the campus teaching hospital between 1999 and 2018. Results: All patients were male with a mean age of 36.5 years (range: 15 - 57 years). They had all poor history in particular there was no family atopy. Clinically, the first had a chronic cough and insomnia, the second a left intrapleural fluid effusion syndrome, the third a hépatosplénomégalie and the fourth a mechanical low back pain. The hemogram showed a mean eosinophilia at 21472/mm3 (range 4680 - 42180 mm3 ). The hypothesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was posed in all patients with a high leukocytosis greater than 50000/mm3 but with hyperplasia of eosinophils in the myelogram. However, there was no bcr-abl fusion gene but the FIP1L1- PDGFRA gene was detected in all patients. Imatinib was effective in all patients. The first two had followed regulary their treatment, the third interrupted the treatment twice but there was no secondary resistance. These first three patients are currently in hematological and cytogenetic remission. The fourth patient was lost to follow-up after the start of treatment Conclusion: This study shows that the clonal SHE, although rare, is a reality in Togo and the mesylate imatinib is effective. Objectif: Evaluer l’efficacité de l’imatinib dans la prise en charge du syndrome hyperéosinophilique clonal. Patients et méthodes: Nous rapportons quatre observations de patients atteints de syndrome hyperéosinophilique clonal suivis dans l’unité d’hématologie clinique du CHU campus entre 1999 et 2018. Résultats: Tous les patients étaient de sexe masculin avec un âge moyen de 36,5 ans (extrêmes : 15 - 57 ans). Ils avaient tous des antécédents pauvres notamment il n’y avait pas d’atopie familiale. Cliniquement, le premier patient avait une toux chronique et une insomnie, le deuxième un syndrome d’épanchement liquidien intrapleural gauche, le troisième une hépatosplénomégalie et le quatrième une lombalgie mécanique. L’hémogramme montrait une hyperéosinophilie moyenne à 21472/mm3 (extrêmes 4680 - 42180 mm3 ). L’hypothèse d’une leucémie myéloïde chronique (LMC) avait été posée chez tous les patients devant une forte hyperleucocytose supérieure à 50000/mm3 mais avec une hyperplasie des éosinophiles au myélogramme. Cependant il n’y avait pas de gène de fusion bcr-abl mais le gène FIP1L1-PDGFRA a été détecté chez tous les patients. L’imatinib a été efficace chez tous les patients. Les deux premiers ont suivi régulièrement leur traitement depuis le début, le troisième a interrompu à deux reprises le traitement mais il n’a pas été noté de résistance secondaire. Ces trois premiers patients sont actuellement en rémission hématologique et cytogénétique. Le quatrième patient a été perdu de vue après le début du traitement. Conclusion: Cette étude montre que le SHE clonal, bien que rare est une réalité au Togo et l'imatinib mésylate est efficace

Modeling and simulation of high speed milling centers dynamics

High speed machining is a milling operation in industrial production of aeronautic parts, molds and dies. The parts production is being reduced because of the slowing down of the machining resulting from the tool path discontinuity machining strategy. In this article, we propose a simulation tool of the machine dynamic behavior, in complex parts machining. For doing this, analytic models have been developed expressing the cutting tool feed rate. Afterwards, a simulation method, based on numerical calculation tools, has been structured. In order to validate our approach, we have compared the simulation results with the experimental ones, for the same examples

Complications Chroniques de la Drépanocytose dans une Population de 893 Patients Adultes Suivis au CHU Campus de Lomé

Objective: To describe chronic complications frequencie ofsickle cell disease in adult SS and SC patients followed at Campus Teaching Hospital of Lomé. Patients and methods: This was a descriptive study of the chronic complications ofsickle cell disease in 893 patients, SS and SC at least 18 years of age and followed between 2000 and 2017. Sociodemographic, clinical and progressive data (chronic complications) were collected from records. Statistical processing and data analysis were performed using the software r studio 3.3.2. Results: The sex ratio H / F was 0,81. The mean age of the patients was 31,81 ± 10.82 years. The age group 18 to 27 was the most represented (43.90%). According to the phenotype, 46.58% were sickle cell SS and 53.42% sickle cell heterozygous SC. At least one complication was present in 42.55% of our patients. This frequency was 31,97% for SS and 51,78% for SC. Ischemic complications were present in 34.15% of all our patients. They accounted for 36.78% of chronic complications among SS and 31.87 in SC: sickle cell retinopathy (17.25%) and aseptic osteonecrosis (14%) were the most common, followed by splenic atrophy (4.59%), cutaneous ulcer ( 3.25%), stroke (1.23%) and renal complications (1.12%). Hemolytic complications were present in 14.89% of patients and were statistically related to the SS phenotype. Among them, cholelithiasis was the most common (10.53%), followed by sickle cell heart disease (1.57%) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (0.22%). Conclusion: Chronic complications of adult sickle cell disease remain frequent in hospitals in Togo.Studies on the predictive factors for the development of these complications are necessary.Objectif : Décrire les fréquences des complications chroniques de la drépanocytose chez le sujet adulte SS et SC suivis au CHU Campus de Lomé. Patients et méthodes : Il s’agit d’une étude descriptive portant sur les complications chroniques de la drépanocytose chez 893 patients drépanocytaires SS ou SC âgés d’au moins 18 ans et suivis entre 2000 et 2017. Les données sociodémographiques, cliniques et évolutives (complications chroniques) ont été collectées des dossiers. Le traitement statistique et l’analyse des données ont été réalisés à l’aide du logiciel r studio 3.3.2. Résultats : La sex-ratio H/F était de 0,81. L’âge moyen des patients était 31,81±10,82 ans. La tranche d’âge de 18 à 27 ans était la plus représentée (43,90%). Selon le phénotype, 46,58% étaient drépanocytaires SS et 53,42% drépanocytaires hétérozygotes SC. Au moins une complication était présente chez 42,55% de nos patients. Cette fréquence était de 31,97% chez les SS et de 51,78% chez les SC. Les complications ischémiques étaient présentes chez 34,15% de l’ensemble de nos patients. Elles représentaient 36,78% des complications chroniques chez les SS et 31,87 chez les SC : la rétinopathie drépanocytaire (17,25%) et l’ostéonécrose aseptique (14%) étaient les plus fréquentes, suivies de l’atrophie splénique (4,59%), l’ulcère cutané (3,25%), les AVC (1,23%) et les complications rénales (1,12%). Les complications hémolytiques étaient présentes chez 14,89% des patients et étaient statistiquement liées au phénotype SS. Parmi elles, la lithiase biliaire était la plus fréquente (10,53%), suivie de la cardiopathie drépanocytaire (1,57%) et de l'hypertension artérielle pulmonaire (0,22%). Conclusion : Les complications chroniques du drépanocytaire adulte demeurent fréquentes en milieu hospitalier au Togo. Des études sur les facteurs prédictifs du développement de ces complications s’avèrent nécessaires

Etiology of Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis Pre- and Post-PCV13 Introduction Among Children Under 5 Years Old in Lomé, Togo.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM) causes severe morbidity and mortality within Togo. Thus, as a member of the World Health Organization coordinated Invasive Bacterial Vaccine Preventable Diseases network, Togo conducts surveillance targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), and Haemophilus influenzae, at a sentinel hospital within the capital city, Lomé, in the southernmost Maritime region. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid was collected from children <5 years with suspected PBM admitted to the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital. Phenotypic detection of pneumococcus, meningococcus, and H. influenzae was confirmed through microbiological techniques. Samples were shipped to the Regional Reference Laboratory to corroborate results by species-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Overall, 3644 suspected PBM cases were reported, and 98 cases (2.7%: 98/3644) were confirmed bacterial meningitis. Pneumococcus was responsible for most infections (67.3%: 66/98), followed by H. influenzae (23.5%: 23/98) and meningococcus (9.2%: 9/98). The number of pneumococcal meningitis cases decreased by 88.1% (52/59) postvaccine introduction with 59 cases from July 2010 to June 2014 and 7 cases from July 2014 to June 2016. However, 5 cases caused by nonvaccine serotypes were observed. Fewer PBM cases caused by vaccine serotypes were observed in infants <1 year compared to children 2-5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Routine surveillance showed that PCV13 vaccination is effective in preventing pneumococcal meningitis among children <5 years of age in the Maritime region. This complements the MenAfriVac vaccination against meningococcal serogroup A to prevent meningitis outbreaks in the northern region of Togo. Continued surveillance is vital for estimating the prevalence of PBM, determining vaccine impact, and anticipating epidemics in Togo

Effets de doses moderees d’azote sur les performances des plantules de cacaoyers (Theobroma cacao Linn.) dans la zone forestiere du Togo

La couverture des besoins en nutriments des cacaoyers, surtout en azote (N), reste indispensable pour une meilleure croissance des plantules. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer les effets de doses modérées d’azote sur les performances agronomiques des plantules de cacaoyers en pépinière dans la zone forestière du Togo. Des essais ont été conduits dans un dispositif en block aléatoire complet avec quatre répétitions afin d’identifier la dose complémentaire optimale d’azote qui permette une meilleure croissance et nutrition des plantules de cacaoyers. Les doses testées étaient 0 ; 0,5 ; 1 et 1,5 g.plant-1 d’urée (46%N). Les résultats ont montré que les doses de 0,5 et 1 g.plant-1 sont les plus aptes à fournir les meilleures performances agronomiques des plantules de cacaoyers en pépinière dans la zone forestière du Togo. Cependant, la dose de 1 mg.plant-1 est optimale pour une bonne croissance et une nutrition équilibrée des plantules de cacaoyers et serait donc à recommander pour la conduite des pépinières de cacaoyers dans la zone.Mots clés: Theobroma cacao, pépinière, azote, TogoEnglish Title: Effects of moderate amounts of nitrogen on the performance of cocoa seedlings (Theobraoma cacao Linn.)  in the forest zone in TogoEnglish AbstractThe cover of the nutriments requirements for cacao-trees, especially in nitrogen (N), remains essential for a better growth of the seedlings. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of moderate amounts of nitrogen on the agronomic performances of the cocoa seedlings in nursery in the forest belt of Togo. Tests were carried out in a complete randomized block design with four repetitions in order to identify the optimal complementary amount of nitrogen which allows a better growth and nutrition of the cocoa seedlings. The amounts tested were 0; 0.5; 1 and 1.5 g.plant-1 of urea (46%N). The results showed that the amounts of 0.5 and 1 g.plant-1 are ready to provide the best agronomic performances of the cocoa seedlings in nursery in the forest zone of Togo. However, the dose of 1 mg.plant-1 is optimal for a good growth and a balanced nutrition of the cocoa seedlings and would be thus to recommend for the cocoa seedbeds production in the zone.Keywords: Theobroma cacao, nursery, nitrogen, Tog

Effects of charcoal production on soil biodiversity and soil physical and chemical properties in Togo, West Africa

In Togo, traditional energy sources including charcoal represent 80% out of total household energy requirements. The techniques of charcoal production in earth kiln are quite common. During carbonization, the temperature rises from 20 to over 500°C. This study focuses on the impact of this high temperature on the soil properties and soil fauna in three biogeographical zones of Togo. The methodology used consists in comparison of soil sampling in surface layer (0-20 cm depth) inside burnt plot i.e. inside the kiln to an unburnt plot in charcoal production area. The results revealed that the soil physical, chemical and microbial properties were altered. The organic matter was destroyed; it is higher at the unburnt plot level than inside the kiln. The soil pH increased at the kiln level by the provision of rich ash bases during the carbonization. Fire increased the permeability at the kiln level by raising the bulk density and the total porosity of soil. The variation in microbial biomass induced by the heat around the kilns is different according to the ecosystem; it is of 15 m radius around the kilns in Sudanian or Guinean savanna areas while this radius is 5 m in Semi-deciduous forest. The soil fauna assessment permitted to record 81 micro-organisms belonging essentially to the Beetles, Hymenoptera, Heteroptera, Diptera, Orthoptera, Myriapods, Homoptera, Acarians, Nematodes, Isoptera, etc. The hypogeal biodiversity index calculation (average species richness, Shannon average indexes and average evenness) revealed that farther moving away from the kiln, greater the fauna species diversity was.© 2009 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Key words: Charcoal production, kiln, soil physical and chemical properties, soil biodiversity, Togo

Stabilite structurale de sol ferrallitique "terre de barre" amende aux composts de dechets menagers solides urbains

Le sol ferralitique du Sud Togo communément appelé "terre de barre" connait, sous l’effet de la pression démographique, une dégradation et une baisse de la fertilité caractérisées par une diminution du stock de carbone organique et une déstructuration des horizons de surface mettant à rudes épreuves la production agricole. Une possibilité de les restaurer passe par l'utilisation de la fumure organique. Le présent travail évalue la stabilité structurale de la terre de barre à la Station d’Expérimentations Agronomiques de l’Université de Lomé après 4 saisons de culture (tomate en alternance avec le maïs). Le dispositif expérimental utilisé était celui en blocs aléatoires complets avec neuf traitements à trois répétitions. Deux types de composts élaborés à base d’ordures ménagères et de fientes de volailles ont été appliqués aux doses de 10 t.ha-1, 20 t.ha-1, 30 t.ha-1 et 40 t.ha-1. Les échantillons de sol prélevés à la tarière manuelle dans la couche superficielle 0-15 cm sur les parcelles expérimentales ont été soumis à trois différents prétraitements dont l'humectation rapide, la désagrégation mécanique et l'humectation lente pour l’évaluation de la stabilité structurale. Les résultats montrent : (i) une corrélation positive entre la stabilité structurale et le taux de matière organique dans le sol qui est fonction de la dose de compost appliquée, (ii) une réduction de la densité apparente et (iii) une augmentation de la porosité totale du sol. L’agrégation et l’augmentation de la porosité induites par l’apport de compost limiteraient davantage la déstructuration des horizons de surface de la terre de barre. Mots clés: terre de barre, stabilité structurale, composts, taux de matière organique, porosité totale et densité apparente English Title: Structural stability of ferralitic soil "terre de barre" amended by composts of solid urban household wastes English Abstract The ferralitic soil in southern Togo, commonly called "terre de barre" is experiencing under the effect of demographic pressure, a degradation and a decline in fertility characterized by a decrease in the organic carbon stock and a destructuring of the surface horizons with decreasing agricultural production. One possibility of restoring them is through the use of organic manure. This work assesses the structural stability of the “Terre de barre” at the Agronomic Experimentation Station of the University of Lomé after 4 growing seasons (tomato alternating with corn). The experimental device used was that in complete random blocks with three repetitions. Two types of compost made from household refuse and poultry droppings were applied at the doses of 10 t ha-1, 20 t. ha-1, 30 t ha-1 and 40 t ha-1. The soil samples taken with the manual auger in the 0-15 cm surface layer on the experimental plots were subjected to three different pretreatments including fast wetting, mechanical disintegration and slow wetting for the assessment of structural stability. The results show: (i) a positive correlation between structural stability (aggregation) and organic matter content in soil, which is a function of the applied compost dose, (ii) a reduction in bulk density and (iii) an increase in the total porosity of the soil. The aggregation and the increase in porosity induced by the addition of compost would further limit the destructuring of the surface horizons of the “terre de barre”. Keywords: "Terre de barre", structural stability, composts, organic matter rate, total porosity and bulk densit