Objective To investigate the seasonal variations of women's dietary diversity (WDD) (items consumed and food supply) and its linkages with agriculture, market and wild resources. Design A cohort of 300 women was followed-up over a year to investigate WDD and food sources (production, purchase or foraging). Monthly qualitative 24 h recalls allowed computing WDD Scores from a standard 10-food groups (FG) classification (WDDS-10). Associations between farm/women's characteristics and WDDS-10 were investigated using multivariate mixed models including interaction terms factor*months. Setting Tuy province, Burkina Faso. Participants 300 women of reproductive age. Results Both dietary diversity and food sources were seasonal. The mean WDDS-10 was relatively stable from August to January (ranging from 3·1 to 3·5 FG) when farm production predominated. The WDDS-10 gradually increased from February, concomitantly with an increase in food purchases (onions, tomatoes, mangoes) and reached its highest levels (>4 FG) from March to June, when food purchases were still relatively high and when more women consumed foraged fruits (shea plums and wild grapes). Women living on farms owning > 3 plough oxen and different animal species had significantly higher WDDS-10 than others (+0·28 and +0·35 FG, respectively). Women who practiced off-farm activities also had higher WDDS-10 than those who did not (+0·21 FG, P P for interaction Conclusions Diversifying women's diets throughout the year requires complementary interventions aimed at diversifying production, promoting foraging and increasing income-generating activities to enable food purchasing.

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This study was aimed at evaluating the physicochemical and rheological properties of starch-based xerogels. The starch from the shoots of Borassus aethiopium was physically modified by xerogelization, and chemically by acetylation, and combination of acetylation and xerogelization. The solubility, swelling and syneresis of the starches were determined by gravimetric techniques. Evaluation of the native starch and derivatives was done using microscopy, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), x-ray diffractometry (XRD), and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Rheological evaluation was done on 10%w/v dispersions using a Bohlin Gemini rheometer (fitted with a 55mm and 2° cone and plate geometry with gap of 70). The diffractograms displayed three peaks, centered on 2θ=15.3, 17.2 and 23.1° for the native and the starch acetate while the xerogel and the starch acetate xerogel were amorphous. The 1 H NMR and FTIR confirmed the presence of acetyl groups at about 2.05ppm and 1720cm -1 , respectively. Acetylation of the native starch resulted in improvement of solubility. The starch acetate-xerogel sample formed viscoelastic gels without the need for heating. Acetylation and/or xerogelization of the native starch inhibited syneresis. Starch acetate-xerogels, may find application as stabilizer or suspending agent in liquid food and pharmaceutical formulations.

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Starch from the young shoots of Borassus aethiopium was chemically modified by acetylation, oxidation and a combination of acetylation and oxidation. The modification was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and the crystal structure by X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD). The effect of the chemical modification on starch syneresis was evaluated while the effects on rheological properties of 10%w/v dispersion of the starches or their gels were evaluated on Bohlin Gemini rheometer. The FT-IR confirmed the presence of acetyl groups at 1720 cm−1 with associated increase in intensity of the peak at 1228 cm−1, while the oxidized showed a slight increase in intensity of the peak at 1380 cm−1. All the starch samples exhibited a crystalline region with three prominent XRD peaks, centred on 2ϴ = 15.3, 17.2 and 23.1°. Heating scan of all the starch samples showed transitions due to gelatinization and the temperature at peak elastic modulus (TG′) were 76.9 ± 0.14, 67.2 ± 0.14, 75.4 ± 0.64 and 71.5 ± 0.14 for the native starch, acetylated starch, oxidized starch and acetylated/oxidized starch respectively. The native starch undergoes syneresis which was reduced by oxidation, whereas the acetylated starches did not undergo syneresis. The present study showed that the modified products did not exhibit superior rheological properties when compared to the native starch but displayed the advantage of reducing or totally preventing syneresis of the native starch upon acetylation.

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Baboon social systems are among the most studied in primates. Solid knowledge of the hamadryas and savannah baboon systems has accumulated, leading to a dichotomic view of baboon social systems. Hamadryas baboons live in multilayered troops based on 1-male units whereas savannah baboons live in multimale multifemale groups based on a network of related females. Less attention has been paid to their West African congenerics, the Guinea baboons, Papio papio. To fill this gap, in 2007 we initiated a long-term study of a baboon troop ranging in the Niokolo Koba National Park in southeastern Senegal. Earlier studies suggested a tendency for a multilayered social system in Guinea baboons, similar to the hamadryas baboon organization. Therefore, as a first approach to analyzing variability in party size and composition, we observed members of the troop crossing an open area from a fixed point for 3 mo during the dry and wet seasons. We counted individuals and recorded changes in composition of both arriving and departing parties. Party size and composition were highly variable on both a daily and a seasonal basis; 45.9% of the arriving parties changed in composition while crossing the open area, either splitting into smaller parties or fusing into larger ones, suggesting a fluid organization. Our data support the existence of neither a hamadryas baboon-like multilayered social organization nor a stable medium-sized multimale multifemale group as in savannah baboons. In light of our data we may need to revise the dichotomic view of baboon social systems and include space for greater variability of their social systems.

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Sera from five traditionally managed herds grazing in the Kafue flats were tested for antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea-mucosal disease (BVD-MD), parainfluenza 3 (PI3), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis-infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR-IPV), bovine adenovirus 3 (BAV3) and Bluetongue (BT). The sero-prevalences of the first four diseases were respectively 76.2, 94.4, 42.1 and 87.4%. Five samples (2.3%) gave doubtful reactions for BT. Prevalences of 28.5% for brucellosis, 14% for Rift Valley fever (RFV), 0.9% for Q fever and 11.2% for chlamydiosis were also recorded. Significantly higher values for BVD-MD (p less than 0.005), IBR-IPV (p less than 0.01) and brucellosis (p less than 0.05) were found in animals over 1 year of age. No differences were recorded between herds or between male and female animals. The high concentration of wild and domestic ruminants grazing together in the flood plains during the dry season may be a major determinant of the high values observed. Traditional farmers, slaughterhouse workers and other people involved in livestock production are particularly at risk of contracting brucellosis and RVF because of the high prevalences in cattle and local habits favourable to their transmission.

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