Abdou Moumouni University

About: Abdou Moumouni University is a education organization based out in Niamey, Niamey, Niger. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Agriculture. The organization has 796 authors who have published 808 publications receiving 17478 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Niamey & Abdou Moumouni Dioffo University.

Determination Contents of Total Phenolic Pigments and Spectrophotometric Characterization of Crude Extracts of Ten Tinctorial Plants of Niger which is Usable in Solar Energy

Abstract: Dye Sensitized-Solar Cells (DSSCs) have been extensively investigated because of their environmental friendliness and low production cost. At the heart of these is the photosensitive pigment that plays a key role in the collection of sunlight radiations and its conversion into electrical energy. However, the toxicity and the cost of pigment synthesis limit the increased use of these prototypes. Natural pigments can be an effective, sustainable, and inexpensive alternative. This paper focuses on determining the main phenolic pigments contents and evaluating the solar light collection capacity of ten (10) tinctorial plants crude extracts, via UV-Visible Spectrophotometry. High concentrations of total polyphenols (46.54 mgEqAG/g), flavonoids (10.95 mgEqQuer/g), anthocyanins (181.9 mgL-1 ), and tannins (40.1 mgL-1 ) were recorded in some extracts of these plants. Absorption spectra showed intense absorption domains around 280 nm in the ultraviolet (UV), and also in the visible (400 to 700 nm). These absorptions would be attributed to the π-π* and n-π* electron transitions of the chromophores present in the anthocyanin, flavonoid, carotenoid, and chlorophyll pigments of these plants. The high contents of pigments and the appropriate spectrophotochemical properties make the extracts of these tinctorial plants to become potential raw materials that are useful in solar energy technology.

[Intestinal parasitosis in children less than five years of age in Niamey, Niger].

Abstract: According to the WHO, in 2002, 3.5 billion of people worldwide were infected with intestinal parasites. Every year, roundworms, hookworms and amoebae are the cause of 195,000 deaths around the world. Despite this high prevalence, these infections are said to be neglected and attract little interest. And yet, they are sometimes very grave especially when contracted by children where they can lead to malnutrition. This prospective study aims to clarify the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites in children. METHODS The study took place in the pediatric service of the Lamorde national Hospital and the two pediatric services of the Niamey national hospital. This descriptive and analytical study, took place from April to June 2011. Included were children aged 1 month to 59 months, having had a stool examination. RESULTS The search for parasites was positive in 66 children (33%). The prevalence is statistically higher (p = 0.02) among children 25-59 months (43.84%) than among those whose age is between 1-24 months (26.77%). Male children were more infected than female with respectively 38.7% and 28.04% infection rates. CONCLUSION Intestinal parasites are frequent in Niamey, despite numerous deworming campaigns. There's been more parasitic protozoa caused by a proportion of 81, 81%, against a proportion of 18, 18 % for metazoans. Conducting a study on the national scale is necessary to understand the general prevalence of intestinal parasites. This would enable a more adapted strategy to the fight against these illnesses.

L'Eviction des Sēfuwa du Kānem et l'origine des Bulāla

Abstract: The Sēfuwa dynasty seized power in Kānem around 1075, but it was only in the beginning of the thirteenth century that the rulers of Kānem were able to extend their authority over Bornū. Prior to this move small groups of Saharan speakers had already established themselves among the Chadic speakers of the Komadugu Yobe valley. Towards the end of the reign of Dūnama Dībalāmi ( c . 1210–48) the court of the Sēfuwa itself was shifted to Bornū, mainly as a result of disturbances in Kānem. Indeed, according to oral traditions of the sixteenth century, the Tubu, in alliance with certain members of the Sēfuwa aristocracy, staged a major rebellion against the central government, apparently attempting to resist the strict application of Islamic principles of government by Dūnama Dībalāmi. Towards the end of the thirteenth century powerful rulers were again able to establish the authority of the Sēfuwa on firm grounds: in the east, even on the fringes of Kānem, they brought the situation under strict control and in the west they extended – or confirmed – the political influence of the Sēfuwa dynasty over the focal points of interregional trade which began to rise in Hausaland. Thus Bornū became the central province of the Sēfuwa Empire in spite of the fact that several kings continued to reside temporarily in the old capital of Djīmī situated in Kānem. This major shift of their territorial basis affected the position of the Sēfuwa in their original homelands. Written sources from the end of the fourteenth century show that the increasing involvement of the Sēfuwa in Bornū and its western border states must have changed their attitude towards the people living east of Lake Chad: after having acquired the character of an autochthonous (or national) dynasty of Kānem – in spite of their foreign origin – the Sēfuwa progressively became an alien power in this major Sudanic state, even though the people of Kānem and Bornū were closely related. Furthermore, the rise of a powerful kingdom in the area of Lake Fitrī under the rule of the Bulāla became a serious threat to the Sēfuwa in their original homelands as the warrior aristocracy of the Bulāla state – which must have been of Kanembu origin – remained closely connected with the sedentary population of Kānem. When finally during the reign of 'Umar b. Idrīs ( c . 1382–7), the Sēfuwa were forced by the Bulāla to withdraw their forces from Kānem, this territorial loss did not affect the future development of the Empire to the extent that has formerly been supposed, since losses in the east were largely compensated by earlier gains in the west.

Operations and Improvement Needs in the Informal Charcoal Sector: A Participatory Value Stream Analysis

Abstract: Charcoal value chains in two Kenyan counties were anayzed to identify sustainability improvement opportunities. Charcoal value chain actors need specific inputs, skills and face different operational challenges. The trade is conducted in the informal sector, which increases the actors' vulnerability. Improvement needs include sustainable forest management, improved operations, business skills, and coherent policies. SUMMARY Developing profitable and sustainable charcoal supply chains in Sub-Saharan Africa requires good knowledge about their properties, input needs and impacts. Charcoal supply chains in Taita Taveta and Kwale counties, Kenya, were analysed to identify operational and sustainability improvement opportunities. Using operations management, lean engineering and participatory research, charcoal value streams' processes, resources, and outcomes were analysed. Charcoal production and trade have low entry barriers, slow-paced innovation, and thin profit margins for value chain actors. Production is labour intensive, and the actors need specific skills, knowhow, and resources for proper business performance. The value chain's profitability and sustainability can be improved by regenerating exploited quality tree species, improving operation efficiency and safety, promoting market development, and appropriate policies on charcoal production and trade. The study's findings can guide the development of enabling policies and regulatory frameworks for the charcoal industry and improve the actors' performance in the charcoal value chain.