Savanna chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) nesting ecology at Bagnomba (Kedougou, Senegal).

We studied the nesting behavior of the critically endangered West African chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus). We assumed that the nesting data stemmed from a single, unhabituated community at the Bagnomba hill site in the savanna-woodlands of southeastern Senegal. The aim of this study was to examine chimpanzees' nesting habits in terms of the tree species utilized and sleeping nest heights. We recorded a total of 550 chimpanzee nests at Bagnomba between January 2015 and December 2015. The chimpanzees here made nests in particular tree species more often than others. The majority of nests (63%) were in two tree species: Diospyros mespiliformis and Pterocarpus erinaceus. The average height of nesting trees was 10.54 m (SD 3.91, range, 0.0-29.0 m) and average nest height was 7.90 m (SD 3.62, range, 0.0-25.0 m). The result of a linear regression analysis (r = 0.7874; n = 550; p < 0.05) is consistent with a preference for nesting at a particular height. Bagnomba chimpanzees rarely made ground nests (0.36% of nests), but the presence of any ground nesting was unexpected, given that at least one leopard (Panthera pardus) also occupied the hill. This knowledge will enable stakeholders involved in the protection of chimpanzees specifically and of biodiversity in general to better understand chimpanzee ecology and inform a conservation action plan in Senegal where the survival of this species is threatened.

[Physical performance and thermoregulatory study of subjects with sickle cell trait during a sub-maximal exercise]. / Etude de la performance physique et de la thermoregulation des sujets porteurs du trait drepanocytaire au cours d'un exercice sous maximal.

The sickle cell trait is a genetic abnormality of red blood cells. It is due to the mutation of a parental gene, which rest Its to the substitution of glutamic acid by valin on beta globin chain of haemoglobin. The possibility for sickle cell trait carriers (SCT) to present any disturbance during predominantly anaerobic and aerobic exercises is unclear. Ten (10) subjects with sickle cell trait and 10 subjects control were studied during exercise test on cycloergometer. They were all students of the National Institute of Popular Education and Sport of Dakar. The mean of environmental temperature was 26 degrees C and humidity was 60 to 80%. After haematological analysis, a submaximal muscular exercise for one hour with 75% of maximal heart rate was done. We have determined heart rate, blood pressure, rectal and skin temperature during exercise. Haematological parameters shown any significant difference between the two groups. No significant difference was found in cardiocirculatory variables during maximal exercise in cycloergometer between control group and sickle cell trait group. The two groups have done submaximal exercise during 1 hour without particular difficulty. We have not observed a significant difference between the two groups in cardiovascular variables, rectal and skin temperature during exercise, and after 3 minutes of rest. These results show that subjects with SCT have physical capacity comparable with control subjects during a sub maximal exercise for 1 hour. We can assure that subjects with SCT in our country may participate in sports competition, as well as normal subjects (HbAA).

[Effects of Ramadan fast on weight, performance and glycemia during training for resistance]. / Effet du Ramadan sur le poids, la performance et la glycemie au cours d'un entrainement a la resistance.

INTRODUCTION: Pysical activity and sports training can be proved exhausted for the organism during normal alimentation period. These sensations may go on more pronounced during Ramadan, period of complete fast marked by an absence of energetic and hydroelectrolytic supply. Our propose was to evaluate the impact of Ramadan on weight, performance and glycaemia during a training for resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten Senegalese males 200 and 400 meters runners aged 24.4 +/- 6 years old had two training sessions, one during the Ramadan and the other during normal non fast time. The 200 meters runners had executed each one two series of 3 x 150 m, and the 400 meters runners executed one serie of 3 x 250 m. These parameters have been measured respectively by a SECA scales, a PC 70 A chronometer, and a capillary glycaemia reader. RESULTS: During Ramadan the weights a nd performances of our athletes decreased significantly (0.01 > p > 0.001) with race intensities equal to or slightly higher than those of competition, requiring anaerobic glycolysis. We found severe hypoglycaemia mainly before the training session, 10 hours after the last meal. We found no severe hypoglycaemia in normal non-fast time. Therefore all differences in average glycaemia rates in each testing case (except between the morning and after training in time of complete fast) a nd between them, a re significant. The performance fall is the conjugation of the blood sugar rate collapse a nd recovery. CONCLUSION: A balance diet with high content of carbon hydrates is a dvisable to prevent h ypoglycaemia that c an a dversely affect the health of fasting sportsman training for resistance.

Automatic characterization of events on SpO2 signal: comparison of two methods.

Two methods based on trend extraction have been designed to provide automatic analysis of physiological data recorded on adult patients hospitalized in intensive care unit. We focused our work on the characterization of events occurring on SpO2 signal, this signal being used to detect vital problems. Our aim was to recognize events related to technical or vital problems to assist medical staff in his decision process. Our results show that both methods are able to detect and distinguish between probe deconnection, transient hypoxia and desaturation events.

[Bicycle test: measure of anaerobic power, heart rate and blood lactic acid]. / Epreuve sur ergocycle: mesure de la puissance anaérobie, de la fréquence cardiaque et de la lactatémie.

Seven sportsmen, 100 meters and 400 meters runners are submitted to an effort test of 30 seconds. The subjects are on average 23.7 +/-2 years old. The purpose of our work is to study on the one hand the evlution of the anaerobic power. the heart rate and the lactic acid in blood during and after a bicycle test. and their relation, and on the other hand. to know the suitable pratical importance of the heart rate and the lactic acid in blood in connection with the intermittent efforts recovery aiming the anaerobic power developpement. These physiological parameters have been measured by a Monark bicycle 864, a sport-tester PE 3000 and a spectrophotometer JASCO 7800 UV/VIS. The power and the heart rate increase quickly in the 5 first seconds. Our subjects reach their average maximal anaerobic power at the 10th second, and then this power decreases progressively, while the heart rate continues to increase, without being maximal at the end of te test. Five minutes later it decreases in a half, while the lactic acid level calculated at the 30th second is continuing significantly. We have not found a significant relation between the measured parameters at the test stopping and during the recovery period (except between the lactic acid and the recovery index of the heart rate at the 25th minute). The lactic acid in blood would inform better about a good recovery during an interval training effort.