Eplucher l'Oignon : Pour une filière oignon nigérienne compétitive et inclusive

Perceptual learning is associated with experience-based changes in stimulus salience. Here, we use a novel procedure to show that learning a new association between a self-label and a neutral stimulus produces fast alterations in social salience measured by interference when targets associated with other people have to be selected in the presence of self-associated distractors. Participants associated neutral shapes with either themselves or a friend, over a short run of training trials. Subsequently, the shapes had to be identified in hierarchical (global-local) forms. The data show that giving a shape greater personal significance by associating it with the self had effects on visual selection equivalent to altering perceptual salience. Similar to previously observed effects linked to when perceptually salient distractors are ignored, effects of a self-associated distractor also increased activation in the left intraparietal cortex sulcus. The results show that self-associations to sensory stimuli rapidly modulate neural responses in a manner similar to changes in perceptual saliency. The self-association procedure provides a new way to understand how personal significance affects behavior

Correction: CT-Angiographic Aspects of Pulmonary Embolism on SARS COV-2

This article details a correction to the article: Tiemtore-Kambou BM-A, Ouédraogo A, Dao SBA, Sieba IFN, Koama A, Traoré IS, Napon S, Ouédraogo W, Sankara HD, Cissé R, Dienderé É. (2023). CT-Angiographic Aspects of Pulmonary Embolism on SARS COV-2. Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology, 107(1): 22, 1–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/jbsr.3021

The potential of some sub-humid zone browse species as feed for ruminants

The overall objective of this study was to determine the most utilized browse species in the sub-humid zone in Burkina Faso, and to evaluate their potential as fodder for ruminants. The behaviour of sheep, goats and cattle was recorded on natural pasture using a direct observation method and farmers were interviewed concerning use of browse species. The phenological and chemical variations over the year were estimated through observations and collection of foliage samples every second week. The foliage biomass was evaluated using complete cutting and weighing. The nutritive value and the effect of feeding these foliages on growth performance were assessed in sheep using a completely randomised design. The browsing activity was about 25% of the total grazing time for all the animal species during the dry season. During the cool season the time spent browsing by goats (17%) was significantly higher than for sheep (7%) and cattle (5%). The plant species with the highest frequency of consumption by animals and most cited as fodder trees by farmers were Acacia dudgeoni Craib. ex Holl., Ficus gnaphalocarpa (Miq.) A. Rich, Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn., Faidherbia albida A. Chevalier, Afzelia africana Sm. ex Pers., Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A. Juss. and Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. The foliage biomass per ha of the last three species differed significantly (0.3, 0.6 and 1.3 t dry matter (dm), respectively). The dm intake and apparent digestibility of dm for A. africana were the highest, 571 g/day and 582 g/kg, respectively. Significant relationships were found between the foliage biomass and the circumference of the crown for A. africana (R2=82%) and P. erinaceus (R2=81%). The growth rate was around 60 g/day when feeding a diet including A. africana and P. erinaceus, higher than with the diet with K. senegalensis (48 g/day). These browse species constitute an important source of nitrogen for domestic ruminants in sub-humid West Africa and should to be promoted in the agrosilvopastoral systems as a dry season fodder reserve and to avoid the risk of extinction

Protective effect of Moringa oleifera leaves against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits

Oxidative stress due to abnormal production of reactive oxygen species has been implicated in the nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin. The nephroprotective effect of aqueous-ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (150 and 300. mg/kg) was evaluated against gentamicin-induced (80. mg/kg) renal injury in rabbits. Serum urea and creatinine levels were evaluated as the markers of renal nephrotoxicity. At the end of the experiment, the kidneys of rabbits were excised for histological examinations and determination of lipid peroxidation levels. Serum urea and creatinine levels were reduced in the M. oleifera (150 and 300. mg/kg) plus gentamicin treated groups. On histological examinations, kidney of intoxicated rabbits groups which received M. oleifera extract showed reparative tendencies. A highly significant (. p<. 0.01) elevation was observed in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level in the kidneys of gentamicin-intoxicated rabbits whereas combined treatment of M. oleifera and gentamicin group showed a highly significant (. p<. 0.01) depletion in LPO. The present study indicates that aqueous-ethanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves attenuates renal injury in rabbits treated with gentamicin, possibly by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. © 2011 Elsevier GmbH.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Uses and vulnerability of ligneous species exploited by local population of northern Burkina Faso in their adaptation strategies to changing environments

Arid and semi-arid areas of West Africa are highly subject to climate change effects. This is combined to other drivers such as population growth and livestock number increase. To cope with such changing environment, endogenous adaptation strategies of poor local communities rely on the use of natural resources through empirical knowledge. Unfortunately, these knowledge and practices are insufficiently known to policy makers, and this hampers their consideration in the elaboration of adaptation strategies. A household survey was conducted in the Sillia village in northern Burkina Faso using semi-structured interviews. This study identified most used (preferred) species in this changing environment together with their ethnobotanical use value (VUET). Results Overall, 86 ligneous species were listed in seven (7) use categories: human nutrition, fodder, fuel, traditional medicine, handicraft, construction and trade. From the 86 species, 11 appeared the most preferred by local population (VUET ≥ 6). Except Piliostigma reticulatum and Boscia senegalensis, all these species were part of the 21 very vulnerable species as revealed by the study. Tamarindus indica, Balanites aegyptiaca, Lannea microcarpa and Vitellaria paradoxa are the first most preferred species (VUET ≥ 7) and also most vulnerable (IV > 2.5). In this changing environment, Cassia sieberiana, Combretum micranthum, Balanites aegyptica have, for instance, become the main species used in traditional medicine replacing Ximenia americana, Coclospermum tinctorim, Maytenus senegalensis and Securidaca longepedunculata, formerly used for this need. Also, Piliostigma reticulatum is the main species used in farm lands to combat low soil fertility. Pterocarpus lucens and Adansonia digitata are the main fodder species both during dry and rainy seasons. Apart from the household surveys, vegetation survey was conducted on 96 plots in Sillia. The results showed that 25 species cited in the household surveys had locally disappeared, 22 were rare, 5 were abundant and the others were relatively abundant. Certain collection practices of given species in many use categories increase their vulnerability. Conclusion This study documented preferred species in the adaptation strategies to changing environments and also assessed their vulnerability status under human influence; it is therefore of great use for designing sustainable management

Geographical patterns of woody plants' functional traits in Burkina Faso

Schmidt, Marco, Traoré, Salifou, Ouédraogo, Amadé, Mbayngone, Elisée, Ouédraogo, Oumarou, Zizka, Alexander, Kirchmair, Ivana, Kaboré, Elice, Tindano, Elycée, Thiombiano, Adjima, Hahn, Karen, Zizka, Georg (2013): Geographical patterns of woody plants' functional traits in Burkina Faso. Candollea 68 (2): 197-207, DOI: 10.15553/c2012v682a

Delays in TB Diagnosis and Treatment Initiation in Burkina Faso during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted TB services, particularly in low resource settings. In Burkina Faso, a cross-sectional &lsquo;before and after&rsquo; study was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on access to TB services. Data was collected in two phases (Phase 1: December 2017&ndash;March 2018, and 2: October&ndash;December 2020) to estimate and compare various patient and system delays among TB patients before and during COVID-19 and explore changes in treatment seeking behaviors and practices. 331 TB patients were recruited across the two phases. A significant increase in median time between first symptom and contact with TB service (45 days vs. 26 days; p &lt; 0.01) and decrease in median time between first contact and diagnosis, and treatment initiation, respectively, during COVID-19 compared to before. Fewer patients reported using public health centers and more patients reporting using private facilities as the point of first contact following TB symptom onset during the COVID-19 period compared to before. These findings suggest that COVID-19 has created barriers to TB service access and health seeking among symptomatic individuals, yet also led to some efficiencies in TB diagnostic and treatment services. Our findings can be help target efforts along specific points of the TB patient pathway to minimize the overall disruption of COVID-19 and future public health emergencies on TB control in Burkina Faso