Assessment of the contribution of Non Timber Forest Products to the improvement of local people’s livelihood in Kinigi sector, Musanze District, Rwanda

The purpose of this study was to assess the contribution of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) to the improvement of livelihood of local communities in Kinigi Sector in Musanze District, Northern Province of Rwanda. This study was conducted from August, 2011 to February, 2012. The problem related to the use of Non Timber Forest Products in this area was that their contribution to the improvement of local communities’ livelihood has been ignored or undervalued. Data were collected by conducting a survey through a semi- structured questionnaire. Purposive, simple random, stratified and proportionate allocation sampling methods were used to collect data from 67 households. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 16 where Friedman test and descriptive statistical methods were applied. The results showed that all respondents have the knowledge about NTFPs and they all use wood as a source of cooking energy. Only 44.8 % use bamboo stems to make chairs whereas 43.3 % of respondents benefit from beekeeping while 34.3 % harvest medicinal plants used in traditional medicine. Money  earned from NTFPs is used to buy food, to purchase agriculture inputs, to get access to medical services, to get school fees, to buy clothes and then to build the houses. People living in Kinigi Sector know the importance and values of Non Timber Forest Products such as the provision of traditional human and veterinary medicine, honey, energy and artcraft. Local communities should be grouped into cooperatives in order to get the bank loan for enhancing the domestication of medicinal plants, planting bamboo and boosting beekeeping activity.Keywords: Non Timber Forest Products, livelihood, people, Kinigi, Rwand

The AppliedMathematical SimulationModeling Algorithm for a Multi Aircraft Landing Dynamic System at Bujumbura International Airport Mathematics and Innovative Technologies in Africa

The aim of this paper is to set up an efficient nonlinear application algorithm simulation model for a multi aircraft landing dynamic system in one Runway when considering Bujumbura International Airport. The mathematical modelization of the solved problem is a non-convex optimal control governed by ordinary non-linear differential equations.The dynamic programming technic is applied because it is a sufficiently high order and it does-not require computation of the partial derivatives of the aircraft dynamic. This application is be coded with Linux operating system, but it can also be run on the windows system. High runing performance are obtained with results giving feasible trajectories with a robust optimizing of the objective function. The user interfaces designed in Glade are saved as XML, and by using the GtkBuilder GTK+ object these can be loaded by applications dynamically as needed. By using GtkBuilder, Glade XML files can be used in numerous programming languages including C, C++, C#, Java, Perl, Python,AMPL,etc.. Glade is Free Software released under the GNU GPL License. The algorithm is implemented when considering discrete mathematics while using Bujumbura International Airport Geographic Information System

Assessment of the impacts of bamboo promotion on soil conservation and people’s livelihood in Gataraga sector, Musanze district, northern Rwanda

This study aimed at assessing the impacts of Bamboo promotion for soil conservation and improved people’s livelihood around Volcanoes National Park (BASOLI/VNP) Project in Gataraga Sector, Musanze District in Northern Province of Rwanda. Problems linked to poverty, bamboo collection andsoil erosion are highlighted in Gataraga Sector, the reason why this study was conducted from May to August 2012. Formal, informal interviews and field observation were used to collect data. 41 respondents from Rungu and Mudakama Cells in Gataraga Sector were interviewed. The data wasanalyzed using Microsoft Office Excel and the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 16 using Freidman test, one sample T-Test and paired samples T-Test. Results revealed that the household income and the social services are independent on bamboo production. Farmers got more income after joining Abadacogora cooperative than before the arrival of BASOLI/VNP project (t = -6.815, p = 0.00). The provision of the health services and better education were the main social services achieved. 34 respondents considered the soil erosion control as the first advantage frombamboo plantation. Cooperatives were considered as an essential pillar in the development process of the members in order to increase household income and improve people’s welfare. There is a need to integrate local people into VNP management by increasing awareness on bamboo  importance, promote bamboo plantation in tree campaign program and finance micro project for poor people living around VNP.Keywords: Bamboo, soil erosion, local people’ livelihood, household income, biodiversity conservatio

Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia

Background: Free-living ungulates are hosts of ixodid ticks and reservoirs of tick-borne microorganisms in central Europe and many regions around the world. Tissue samples and engorged ticks were obtained from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and wild boar hunted in deciduous forests of south-western Slovakia. DNA isolated from these samples was screened for the presence of tick-borne microorganisms by PCR-based methods. Results: Ticks were found to infest all examined ungulate species. The principal infesting tick was Ixodes ricinus, identified on 90.4% of wildlife, and included all developmental stages. Larvae and nymphs of Haemaphysalis concinna were feeding on 9.6% of wildlife. Two specimens of Dermacentor reticulatus were also identified. Ungulates were positive for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found to infect 96.1% of cervids, 88.9% of mouflon, and 28.2% of wild boar, whereas Theileria spp. was detected only in cervids (94.6%). Importantly, a high rate of cervids (89%) showed mixed infections with both these microorganisms. In addition to A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp., Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, unidentified Rickettsia sp., Coxiella burnetii, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Babesia venatorum were identified in engorged I. ricinus. Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. were detected in engorged H. concinna. Analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequences revealed the presence of five and two A. phagocytophilum variants, respectively, among which sequences identified in wild boar showed identity to the sequence of the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria 18S rRNA gene sequences amplified from cervids and engorged I. ricinus ticks segregated jointly with sequences of T. capreoli isolates into a moderately supported monophyletic clade. Conclusions: The findings indicate that free-living ungulates are reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. and engorged ixodid ticks attached to ungulates are good sentinels for the presence of agents of public and veterinary concern. Further analyses of the A. phagocytophilum genetic variants and Theileria species and their associations with vector ticks and free-living ungulates are required.Fil: Kazimírová, Mária. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Hamšíková, Zuzana. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Spitalská, Eva. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; EslovaquiaFil: Minichová, Lenka. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; EslovaquiaFil: Mahríková, Lenka. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Caban, Radoslav. Široká ; EslovaquiaFil: Sprong, Hein. National Institute for Public Health and Environment.Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; Países BajosFil: Fonville, Manoj. National Institute for Public Health and Environment.Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; Países BajosFil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kocianová, Elena. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; Eslovaqui

Riluzole attenuates glutamatergic tone and cognitive decline in AβPP/PS1 mice.

We have previously demonstrated hippocampal hyperglutamatergic signaling occurs prior to plaque accumulation in AβPP/PS1 mice. Here, we evaluate 2-Amino-6-(trifluoromethoxy) benzothiazole (riluzole) as an early intervention strategy for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD), aimed at restoring glutamate neurotransmission prior to substantial Beta amyloid (Aβ) plaque accumulation and cognitive decline. Male AβPP/PS1 mice, a model of progressive cerebral amyloidosis, were treated with riluzole from 2-6 months of age. Morris water maze, in vivo electrochemistry, and immunofluorescence were performed to assess cognition, glutamatergic neurotransmission, and pathology, respectively, at 12 months. Four months of prodromal riluzole treatment in AβPP/PS1 mice resulted in long-lasting procognitive effects and attenuated glutamatergic tone that was observed six months after discontinuing riluzole treatment. Riluzole-treated AβPP/PS1 mice had significant improvement in long-term memory compared to vehicle-treated AβPP/PS1 mice that was similar to normal aging C57BL/6J control mice. Furthermore, basal glutamate concentration and evoked-glutamate release levels, which were elevated in vehicle-treated AβPP/PS1 mice, were restored to levels observed in age-matched C57BL/6J mice in AβPP/PS1 mice receiving prodromal riluzole treatment. Aβ plaque accumulation was not altered with riluzole treatment. This study supports that interventions targeting the glutamatergic system during the early stages of AD progression have long-term effects on disease outcome, and importantly may prevent cognitive decline. Our observations provide preclinical support for targeting glutamate neurotransmission in patients at risk for developing AD

Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, 2024 – public health and clinical responses

Background On September 27, 2024, Rwanda reported an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD), after a cluster of cases of viral hemorrhagic fever was detected at two urban hospitals. Methods We report key aspects of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of MVD during this outbreak, as well as the overall response to the outbreak. We performed a retrospective epidemiologic and clinical analysis of data compiled across all pillars of the outbreak response and a case-series analysis to characterize clinical features, disease progression, and outcomes among patients who received supportive care and investigational therapeutic agents.Results Among the 6340 patients with suspected MVD who underwent testing, 66 had laboratory-confirmed MVD, 51 (77%) of whom were health care workers. The median estimated incubation period was 10 days (interquartile range, 8 to 13), and symptom onset occurred a median of 2 days (interquartile range, 1 to 3) before hospital admission. The results of epidemiologic investigations were highly suggestive of a zoonotic origin of the outbreak: an index patient was identified who had been exposed to Egyptian fruit bats at a mining site. The case fatality rate in the outbreak was 23% (15 deaths among 66 patients). Remdesivir and the monoclonal antibody MBP091 were used under expanded access and clinical trial protocols. In addition, 1710 frontline workers and high-risk contacts received the chimpanzee adenovirus 3–vectored vaccine ChAd3-MARV under emergency use authorization in a phase 2 clinical trial. Conclusions Implementation of containment measures, advanced supportive care, and access to investigational countermeasures may have contributed to reduced mortality from MVD in this outbreak. Enhancing surveillance, improving infection prevention and control in health care settings, and ensuring timely deployment of medical countermeasures will be critical for mitigating the effects of future filovirus disease outbreaks

Factors influencing the adoption of soil conservation techniques in Northern Rwanda

Inadequate land management in the highlands of Rwanda has led to soil erosion which caused soil fertility decline. Farmers adopted the soil conservation techniques in order to mitigate the effects of soil erosion. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that influence the adoption of soil conservation (SC) techniques in Gatebe sector located in N Rwanda. A survey was used for data collection among farmers. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model. Results indicated that about 50% of farmers were aware of the causes of soil erosion such as cultivation on steep slope, frequent and intense rainfall and inadequate soil erosion control practices. In spite of the adoption of SC techniques such as agroforestry (90%), vegetative strips (80%), infiltration ditches, fence, and hedge rows (60%), the soil erosion persists because of over-cultivation on small farmlands with steep slope, insufficient SC techniques, limited financial capacity, and inadequate practical training to maintain existing SC techniques. There was a significant positive influence of land acquisition means on the adoption of SC techniques. In fact, farmers who inherited or bought the land were 1.55 times more likely to adopt the SC techniques than those who borrowed or rented, because farmers who felt to have long- term use rights were more likely to invest in durable SC techniques. However, farmers who joined the land consolidation were 0.14 times likely not to adopt the SC techniques because there was a change of existing farming systems. Policymakers should focus on the improvement of farmers' awareness on soil erosion and efficient SC techniques through enhanced training, extension services and bottom-up based support programs