Archives-January 2024

Since candida inhabits both diseased and normal healthy human population its carriage rate signifies while interpreting the microbiological results associated with candida. In this study oral swabs were collected from the type II diabetic and non-diabetic individuals and the collected specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination and culture on sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). The microscopic and culture results had shown difference in these two different study subjects. Compared to non diabetic individuals the oral swab of type II diabetic individuals had shown increased carriage rate of candida. It revealed the facts of the candida colonization among type II diabetic individuals. From this study results it came to understand that the hyper glycemic condition of the type II diabetic patients could be the major reason for the colonization of candida. Candida is a yeast which can attack both immuno compromised and immuno competent humans. Further it needs health care professionals attention to take care of these population.

A study was conducted on the structure and diversity of lianas in a chronosequence of Congolese tropical forests in the Yoko Forest Reserve (Tshopo Province, DR Congo). The main objective was to study the dynamics of lianas after the abandonment of agriculture at our site. A chronosequence approach was used to carry out this study. Four forests were considered on the basis of their age: 5-year old forest, 12-year old forest, 20-year old forest and 60-year old forest. The mixed primary forest of unknown age was also retained for comparison. Inventories of lianas with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ? 1 cm on supports were carried out in three 40 m × 40 m plots (totalling 0.48 ha) set up in each of these five forests. The functional traits of the lianas were observed in the field and supplemented by the basic literature. The following results were obtained: - the number of species varied from the 5-year-old forest (i.e. 28 species/0.48ha) to a peak in the 60-year-old forest (i.e. 35 species/0.48ha). As for floristic diversity, the 12-year-old forest had the highest Fisher index value (? = 10.66) and the 20-year-old forest for the Shannon (H = 2.92) and Simpson (D = 0.923) indices. The most abundant families are Dilleniaceae (in the 5-year-old forest), Euphorbiaceae (in the 12-year-old forest and in the 60-year-old forest), Fabaceae (in the 20-year-old forest) and Dichapetalaceae (for the primary mixed forest). And the families with the highest importance value indices are Passifloraceae (5-year forest), Euphorbiaceae (12-year and 60-year forests) and Fabaceae (20-year forest and primary mixed forest). - The density of lianas was positively related to the age of the forest up to around 60 years, after which an older forest was associated with a decrease in the density of liana stems. Furthermore, the density and basal area of the lianas peaked at the age of 60, before beginning to decline. - Most lianas were voluble (49.88%), zoochorous (63.73%) and hemi-heliophilous (47.51%). This pattern emerged in all 5 chronosequence forests in this study. The relative dominance of functional traits changed with forest age, and functional diversity was higher than predicted by the null model framework of species richness (SES MPD > 0) in the 20-year-old forest and the mixed primary forest. 

A study was carried out on the colonisation of trees by lianas in tropical forests in the Yoko forest reserve (Tshopo, DR Congo). Observations focused on the main parameters (structure and diversity) of the lianas in order to determine the relationship patterns that exist between the host tree and the liana at our site. Inventories of stems with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ? 10 cm for trees and (dbh) ? 1 cm for woody lianas hosted on supports were carried out in fifteen 40 m × 40 m plots (totalling 2.4 hectares) set up in the tropical forests of the Yoko forest reserve. Creeper attachment mechanisms were observed in the field and supplemented by basic literature, and the number of creepers climbing each tree trunk was counted. The following results were obtained: - Overall, 57 liana species were inventoried, and 41 genera and 23 families were recorded. The liana species best represented in terms of IVI value are : Manniophyton fulvum (40.02%), Millettia duchesnei (21.04%), Strychnos camptoneura (17.57%), Dichapetalum mundense (14.97%), Landolphia parvifolia (13.91%) and Dalhousiea africana (12.37%). The most abundant families were Euphorbiaceae (20.6%), Dichapetalaceae (13.31%), Fabaceae (11.86%), Connaraceae (11.06%), Aponaceae (10.26%) and Rubiaceae (8.25%). A total of 1,247 individuals of lianas were inventoried in all fifteen plots, giving an average density of 519 stems/ha. They represent a basal area of 3.79 m2/ha. Most of the lianas are voluble and climb their supports (49.88%), followed by sarmentose lianas (21.84%). A total of 1,177 trees were surveyed, 381 of which (32.3%) had lianas on their trunks. - The proportion of infested trees differed according to diameter category, with medium and large trees having more lianas on their trunks and a higher total basal area of lianas than small trees. Trees with thorny, rough bark are more likely to support vines. - Trees with thorny bark are positively associated with lianas with tendrils, and trees with rough bark are positively associated with lianas with hooks. Trees 40 cm and taller were positively associated with lianas with hook and sarment modes of attachment. 

Millets have currently exploited as a regular nutritious food as well as in therapeutic diets. Diarrhoeal diseases in children requires immediate remedy due to the problem of dehydration which sets in un-noticed. Fermented and unfermented millet-based replacement fluids are a healthy option to treat and get over the problem of diarrhea. This phase of the study was on the sensory evaluation of the developed Diarrhoeal replacement fluids based on Finger millet (Ragi) (Eleucine coracana) and Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides). The results indicate that there are significant differences in the perceived flavor, odour, and overall acceptability of fermented porridge made from pearl millet and finger millet. Finger millet appears to be preferred in terms of these sensory attributes. However, there were no significant differences in appearance and mouthfeel between the two types of millet porridge. Fermented porridge is preferred in terms of these sensory attributes.