Province Of Cameroon Research Articles

Modelling of wind/Diesel/battery hybrid power systems for far North Cameroon

Wind/Diesel/battery hybrid power systems have been modelled for electrification of typical rural households and schools in remote areas of the Far North Province of Cameroon. The wind resource of Maroua Salak for the period 1991–1995 was used in this modelling. The diurnal and monthly patterns of wind speeds at Maroua show that wind speeds in the range 3–6 m/s occur from 9:00 to 15:00 for eight months. The time duration of wind speeds in this interval was found to be 36.1%. The annual capacity factors computed for low start up wind turbines from China were found to be in the range 20–40%. Two wind turbines with rated powers 180 W and 290 W attained acceptable capacity factors of 38 and 40% and were used in sizing wind hybrid systems for typical rural households energy needs in the range 70–300 kWh per year. It was also found that a wind/Diesel hybrid power system based on a combination of two wind turbines rated 290 W and a 5 kW single phase generator operating at a load fraction of 70% required only 106 generator hours/yr to supply 2585 kWh/yr or 7 kWh/day to a typical secondary school. The renewable energy fractions attained in feasible systems were in the range 70–100%. These results show that there is a possibility to increase the access rate to electricity in the Far North without recourse to grid extension or more thermal plants in the northern grid or more independent Diesel plants supplying power to remote areas of the province.

A review of the epidemiology and clinical presentation of Buruli ulcer in Akonolinga and Ayos - Cameroon

Buruli ulcer (BU) caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) is one of the most neglected diseases occurring in Cameroon. BU usually manifests as a skin disease but may also affect the bone. It is prevalent in Cameroon and often found around water stretches, slow flowing rivers, swamps, marshes, lakes, etc. About 500 of the 96,000 people in Akonolinga and Ayos districts in the central province of Cameroon are infected with Buruli ulcer (BU). The infected are mostly children under 15 years of age. Patients with Buruli ulcer suffer from psychological and social hardships; stigma associated with the disease often causes them to be isolated from their families and communities. While the exact mode of transmission remains unknown, person to person transmission is unlikely. A few preventive and therapeutical interventions based on the close resembelance between M. ulcerans and M. tuberculosis are being used but with litte success.

The role of women's secret societies in cameroon's contemporary politics: the case of Takumbeng.

Although there are many secret societies, most of which belong to the male folk in the North West Province of Cameroon, little was and/or is known about their activities. However, Takumbeng, a women's secret society from the North West Province of Cameroon came to prominence in the 1990's during the political upheaval and disenchantment against the undemocratic policies of the government at the time. This period was characterised by demonstrations, protests and riots that were organised and spearheaded by the Social Democratic Front, a local political party based in the North West Province. These struggles culminated in the famous ‘ghost towns' that crippled Cameroon's economy and whose impact is still lingering. The participation of women in the political agitations was reinforced and encouraged by the women's secret society, the Takumbeng. The group became transformed against the backdrop of these popular agitations and disgruntleness and as a result impacted on the national contemporary politics. This article examines the role played by the Takumbeng in the North West Province of Cameroon in entrenching democratic principles in Cameroon contemporary politics. African Journal of Cross-Cultural psychology and sport facilitation (AJCPSF) Vol. 8 2006: pp. 1-17

The B chromosome in the meiotic process of the African pest grasshopper <i>Taphronota thaelephora</i> STAL. (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae).

This paper presents the first record of B chromosomes in some adult male individuals of the African pest grasshopper Taphronota thaelephora collected from Balepa – Mbouda in the Western Province of Cameroon. Of the twenty individuals examined, thirteen had the characteristic Pyrgomorphidae karyotype of 2N= 19(18A+XO) while the remaining seven had a diploid chromosome number of 2N= 20(18A+XO+1B) indicating the presence of a single B chromosome. The B chromosome in this population was short, acrocentric in morphology and stained to the same intensity as the autosomes throughout meiosis. It did not associate with any chromosome in meiosis. In some cells it migrated to the same pole as the X-chromosome while in other cells it migrated to the pole opposite to that of the X-chromosome indicating irregular behaviour in meiosis. The presence of the B chromosome did not affect chiasma frequency in the species. International Journal of Biological & Chemical Sciences Vol. 1 (2) 2007: pp. 151-157

Economic opportunity survey of small scale dairy farms of the north west province of Cameroon

An Economic Opportunity Survey was conducted on dairy farms in the North West Province of Cameroon. Results showed that median (range) number of cows in milk per farm was zero point six (0-4) and six (3-12) in the zero grazing and transhumance systems, respectively. Medians (range) of three (0-24) and four (3-10) litres of milk were sold per farm per day, corresponding to 30% and 60% of milk produced. 24% and 13% of total cattle per herd were milking cows in the zero grazing and transhumance systems respectively. Median milk production per cow on one day was two (0-25) and two (1-3) litres. Median calf production interval was 14.5 (12-25) and. 21.5 (14-29) months. More milk produced per day represented the best economic opportunity in both systems while reduced age at first calving and longer lactation length were the next in both. Wastage of milk through spoilage from poor hygiene and lack of cooling was a major problem. Holstein cows, which were in the zero grazing system, had unexpectedly short lactations. Constraints identified led to the setting up of interventions of training and advice for farmers and of better nutrition.

The attitude and knowledge of cervical cancer by Cameroonian women; a clinical survey conducted in Maroua, the capital of Far North Province of Cameroon

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and assumption of cervical cancer by women living in Maroua, the capital of the Far North Province of Cameroon. In a 1-month period, 171 women were surveyed as to their socioeconomic status, sexual habits, prior knowledge of cervical cancer, its prevention, and their attitudes toward cervical cancer. Of 171 women, 48 (28%) had prior knowledge of cervical cancer; they were classified as the "aware group" compared with 123 of 171 (72%) women who were uninformed about cervical cancer and they were classified as the "unaware group" (UG). The UG of women tended to be single mothers, illiterate, housewives, and had their first child before the age of 20 (P < 0.005). Despite the awareness of cervical cancer by 28% of women, only a minority of them, 4 of 48 (8.3%), underwent a preventative screening test. Only 71 of 171 (41.5%) women stated that they would be having a screening test in the future. The awareness of cervical cancer by women in Cameroon is still inadequate. Thus, to avoid deaths from cervical cancer, a curable and preventable disease, the need of an aggressive campaign to make Cameroonian women aware of cervical cancer and its prevention is needed.

Identification of a Novel Circulating Recombinant Form (CRF) 36_cpx in Cameroon That Combines Two CRFs (01_AE and 02_AG) with Ancestral Lineages of Subtypes A and G

An array of CRFs have been identified in Cameroon, the most notable being CRF02_AG. HIV-1 in the East Province of Cameroon is particularly diverse: in a recent study, we found a high proportion of unique recombinant forms (URFs). Herein we describe the analysis of the full-length sequences of two of these URFs, which, after preliminary analysis of gag, pol, and env fragments, appeared to be a novel CRF. This novel strain, CRF36_cpx, contains fragments that can be assigned to the CRF01_AE, CRF02_AG, and subtype A and G radiations. Forty percent of the genome can be classified as CRF02_AG, including regions in gag, pol, env, and the accessory genes. Twenty-seven percent is CRF01_AE, comprising the majority of gag, the beginning of env, and the end of env into the 3' LTR. Twenty percent of the genome can be assigned to subtype A, with segments in pol and env. The remaining 13% of the sequence is classifiable as subtype G, in pol and vpu. The subtype A and G lineages formed by the CRF36_cpx sequences are unique and appear ancestral in nature. CRF36_cpx is both the first to combine more than one CRF and the first to include fragments of CRF02_AG. The ancestral sequences present in CRF36_cpx represent a link to extinct strains, and, potentially, insight into the evolution of HIV-1.

Characterization of palm wine yeasts using osmotic, ethanol tolerance and the isozyme polymorphism of alcohol dehydrogenase

Physiologic characteristics of ten palm-wine yeast isolates obtained from nine localities in four provinces in southern Cameroon were assessed using sensitivity to chloramphenicol, tolerance to acetic acid, ethanol tolerance, osmotolerance as well as protein and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) polymorphism. None of these isolates was sensitive to 30 ig/ml chloramphenicol and all were nontolerant to 1% acetic acid. Some of the isolates (Vip 2 and Vip 10) showed tolerance to both high sucrose and ethanol concentrations, criteria which are useful in fermentation. Results indicated that 80% of the strains were able to grow at 15% alcohol solution and only 20% grew on 40% sucrose solution. The denatured protein pattern (SDS-PAGE) as well as the native protein pattern was similar for all strains. The ADH pattern showed a high diversity based on which isolates were differentiated into three patterns. The electrophoretic patterns showed that the ADH pattern was the best criterion for diversity characterisation because of its specificity and variability.

Increased Genetic Diversity and Intersubtype Recombinants of HIV-1 in Blood Donors From Urban Cameroon

One of the most significant biologic characteristics of HIV-1 is its broad genetic diversity which is revealed by the existence of 3 groups (M N and O) various subtypes (A-D F-H J and K) and sub-subtypes (A1-A4 F1 and F2) and numerous circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) or unique recombinant forms (URFs) within HIV-1 group M. In areas where CRFs spread widely secondgeneration recombinant viruses (SGRs) have been reported to contain the genetic material of at least 1 CRF. The extensive genetic variation the heterogeneous geographic distribution of HIV-1 and in particular the continuous emergence of HIV-1 variants pose potential public health and clinical challenges. It is thus necessary to monitor the evolution of HIV-1 on an ongoing basis. In 2002 we initiated a serologic survey in Douala and Yaounde´ Cameroon where the pandemic infection of HIV-1 with broad genetic diversity and the natural reservoir of HIV-1 groups M and N have been identified. A total of 240 unlinked plasma samples were collected from 2 blood centers from urban areas in Douala and Yaounde´ Cameroon and 135 samples were confirmed to be HIV-1-positive by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-licensed HIV diagnostic tests (results are to be published elsewhere). Eighty-eight HIV-1-positive samples were successfully amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced in gag (p17) and env (gp41) genes. (excerpt)

The Political Complexity of Pro‐poor Policy Processes in the Mandara Mountains, Cameroon

We give more conceptual flesh and bones to the interconnections between social structures and individual agency by focusing on the way in which the people(s) inhabiting the Mandara Mountains in Far North Province of Cameroon have been affected by pro‐poor policy processes. We analyse the role of individual, collective and relational capabilities in such processes. The case‐study points to: (i) the importance of tracing capability deprivations back to weak political agency, (ii) the sometimes ambiguous impact of participatory procedures, and (iii) the necessity to balance the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ questions in designing anti‐poverty interventions.

Rural Chicken Production: Effects of Gender on Ownership, and Management Responsibilities in Some Parts of Nigeria and Cameroon

A study was carried out to investigate on the ownership pattern and involvement in rearing activities of family members among the various household in West Province of Cameroon and some parts of Borno state, Nigeria. This survey focused mainly on the effects of gender on ownership and management responsibilities. With regards to gender and flock ownership pattern the study showed that women and children owned the majority of flocks (53% and 27%) in West Province of Cameroon respectively, whereas, men accounted for 20% ownership, however, the reverse was found to be the case in Borno state where men possessed (56%) followed by women (39%) and children (11%). Although all gender categories were involved in village chicken rearing activities, children had the highest responsibilities and these include shutting down the chicken in at night and letting the chicken out in the morning in West Province of Cameroon, while in Borno state is the women that has the highest responsibilities. Feeding, watering and hygiene maintenance were found to be combined responsibilities of women and children in both areas. The village chickens were housed mostly in the Kitchen (53%) in the West Province of Cameroon, whereas in Borno state mud /thatch house is the commonly used (32%) form of shelter for birds. In terms of supplementary feeds given to the village chickens maize and food scraps were mostly given in West Province of Cameroon, while millet bran followed by maize and food scrap/millet were predominantly used in Borno state Nigeria in that order. The study further showed that village chickens were not kept in specialized housing, they were often provided with simple structure to protect them from weather elements. Women and children are found to be the most convenient and the fastest means of channeling technology for improving rural chicken production in the study area.

HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection, Cameroon

HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection, Cameroon

Loiasis — a neglected and under-estimated affliction: endemicity, morbidity and perceptions in eastern Cameroon

Loiasis is a neglected disease that may have great social and economic impact in some endemic areas. This study was designed to update the geographical distribution of loiasis and assess the frequency and perceptions of the clinical signs of the disease in the Eastern province of Cameroon. The investigation covered 32 villages and involved 4146 respondents. Human infection with Loa loa was endemic in all the study villages but the prevalence of microfilaraemia generally decreased from south to north. All of the study villages had local names for eye worm and Calabar swellings that varied in meaning and among the various ethnic groups. The most common traditional treatment for eye worm was garlic or onion juice, which is dripped into the affected eye. The body sites that were most affected by Calabar swellings were the upper (30%) or lower (32%) limbs. The swellings were very painful (46%), mildly painful (28%) or painless (26%). Most respondents (94%) reported that the swellings itched. The prevalence of L. loa microfilaraemia in most of the study villages was >20%. These villages are clearly at risk of severe adverse events, with encephalopathy, following mass distribution of ivermectin. The prevalence of the main clinical manifestations of loiasis (i.e. eye worm and/or Calabar swellings) was twice that of detectable microfilaraemia.

Nutritional composition of commonly consumed composite dishes from the Central Province of Cameroon

Primary objective To provide nutritional composition of 34 composite dishes commonly consumed in Cameroon, in order to enable dietary intake to be calculated from a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire developed specifically for this population to determine associations between diet and diabetes.Methods and procedures A total of 197 recipes were collected for 34 composite dishes. Multiple samples of each dish were collected from a range of 2–16 households in the villages of Evadoula and in the city of Yaounde.Main outcomes and results The average nutritional composition for these composite dishes was calculated using the US Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database. We provide the energy, macronutrient and micronutrient content of these foods.Conclusions We provide, for the first time, the macronutrient and micronutrient content of 34 commonly consumed composite dishes in the Central Province of Cameroon. Such data are essential for calculating nutrient intake and determining associations between diet and diabetes and other chronic diseases. These data may also be used for nutrition interventions aimed at modifying commonly consumed composite dishes to improve dietary intake.

Preconception Care In Cameroon: Where Are We?

Preconception care (PCC) is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes. Our objectives were to evaluate the need for PCC and the level of consumer awareness. A study was performed on consecutive patients presenting to primary and secondary care practices in two provinces in Cameroon. A total of 236 women aged 15 to 45 years were included. 36.4% of pregnancies had unfavorable outcomes, up to 20.3% had difficulties in getting pregnant and 29.7% had carried unwanted pregnancies. Very few women had ever done tests for diseases that could affect pregnancy and childbirth. We found some significant knowledge deficiencies about factors that may threaten maternal fetal health. 30.8% admitted to suffering domestic violence. There is an urgent need for the implementation of PCC in Cameroon. Many pregnancies are unplanned and frequently end up unfavorably. The rate of unwanted pregnancies is equally elevated. Consumer awareness is extremely low and domestic violence is high.

New species of Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Cameroon

A new large (100 mm SVL) species of forest‐dwelling gecko of the genus Hemidactylus is described from the Furu‐Awa area in the Northwest Province of Cameroon. The species is distinguished from other equatorial West African members of the genus by its large size, 18–20 rows of small dorsal tubercles, 45 precloacal‐femoral pores in males, transversely enlarged median subcaudal plates, reduced tail tuberculation and distinctive purplish colour pattern.

Mambay

Mambay is spoken by about 15,000 people in Cameroon and Chad. The majority of the population lives in the North Province of Cameroon, while the remaining group of 3,000 speakers is found immediately across the border in the Mayo-Kebbi Prefecture of southwestern Chad (Grimes 2000: 43, 68). There is little variation among dialects of the language.

Geographical and age-stratified distributions of foot-and-mouth disease virus-seropositive and probang-positive cattle herds in the Adamawa province of Cameroon

Six of the seven known serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease (fmd) virus occur in Africa. This paper describes the results of a population-based cross-sectional study of the seroprevalence of fmd and...

Secondary metabolites from Drimiopsis baterrii

The genus Drimiopsis Lindl. (Hyacinthaceae) is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, where it is represented by approximately 20 species [1]. Drimiopsis barterii Bak is the only specie of the genus which occurs in Cameroon. The plant is used by the Bamileke people of the Western province of Cameroon to treat fever. In a continuation of our search for bioactive compounds from natural source [2], a methylene chloride-methanol (1:1) extract of Drimiopsis barterii (whole plant) was investigated. Two new alkaloids (Drimiopsine A (1) and B(2)) and nine homoisoflavonids with two new structures (3, 4) were isolated.The structure of the compounds were established by MS, 1D and 2D spectroscopy including DEPT, COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments.

Prevalence and incidence of bovine trypanosomosis on the Adamaoua plateau in Cameroon 10 years after the tsetse eradication campaign

Between March 2004 and February 2005, the monthly incidence of trypanosome infections was measured in cattle from nine sentinel herds in the Adamaoua province of Cameroon. Three herds of 20 cattle each were kept on the plateau which has been cleared from tsetse flies about 10 years ago, three other herds were grazing in the tsetse infested valley whereas the last three were herded in the buffer zone. The cross-sectional study showed that the initial trypanosomosis prevalence was 1.8, 5.2 and 2.0% on the plateau, in the buffer zone and the valley, respectively. During the longitudinal study, the trypanosomosis incidence was high in the valley (3.7–20%) and the buffer zone (1.8–13.4%), whereas it was significantly lower (0–2.1%) on the plateau. Tsetse flies, mainly Glossina morsitans submorsitans and a few G. tachinoides, were caught in the valley and the buffer zone, but none on the plateau. The data indicate a low trypanosomosis risk on the plateau. Further entomological studies, however, are required to clarify the origin of the trypanosome infections on the plateau.