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Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) is an important legume and multi-use crop, which contributes to food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This crop, however, remains less popular and is thus underutilised in west Africa. The objective of this study was to characterise the morphological and phenological features of exotic pigeon pea genotypes in western Burkina Faso in order to provide an entry point for the breeding programme. The study was conducted at two sites, namely Farakoba and Kouentou, located in western Burkina Faso, involved seven exotic genotypes, namely ICP-15029, ICP-14722, ICP-8863, ICPL-20338, ICPH-2740, ICPH-2438 and ICPL-20092, sourced from ICRISAT, India. Also, two local accessions (FKB Cc1 and FKB Cc2) were included as controls. Results showed that semi-spreading (80% of the genotypes) and indeterminate growth habit (80% of the genotypes) were dominant in the genetic materials, with regards to branching pattern and growth habit, respectively. The genotypes including the two checks, were distinguished by three seed colours, viz. brown (three genotypes), dark brown (four genotypes) and grey (two genotypes). There were highly significant differences among the genotypes for phenological (P<0.001) and morphological (P<0.001) traits. The earliest genotype to flower at both sites was ICPL-20338; while the latest was ICPL-20092. A principal component analysis based on the quantitative traits showed that the first two PCs explained 91.78% of the total variation among the genotypes. The most significant contributor traits were stem diameter, leaf size, 50% flowering and plant height. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into five clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Non‐destructive detection of wire bonding defects in integrated circuits (IC) is critical for ensuring product quality after packaging. Image‐processing‐based methods do not provide a detailed evaluation of the three‐dimensional defects of the bonding wire. Therefore, a method of 3D reconstruction and pattern recognition of wire defects based on stereo vision, which can achieve non‐destructive detection of bonding wire defects is proposed. The contour features of bonding wires and other electronic components in the depth image is analysed to complete the 3D reconstruction of the bonding wires. Especially to filter the noisy point cloud and obtain an accurate point cloud of the bonding wire surface, a point cloud segmentation method based on spatial surface feature detection (SFD) was proposed. SFD can extract more distinct features from the bonding wire surface during the point cloud segmentation process. Furthermore, in the defect detection process, a directional discretisation descriptor with multiple local normal vectors is designed for defect pattern recognition of bonding wires. The descriptor combines local and global features of wire and can describe the spatial variation trends and structural features of wires. The experimental results show that the method can complete the 3D reconstruction and defect pattern recognition of bonding wires, and the average accuracy of defect recognition is 96.47%, which meets the production requirements of bonding wire defect detection.

Abstract Accurately identifying defect patterns in wafer maps can help engineers find abnormal failure factors in production lines. During the wafer testing stage, deep learning methods are widely used in wafer defect detection due to their powerful feature extraction capabilities. However, most of the current wafer defect patterns classification models have high complexity and slow detection speed, which are difficult to apply in the actual wafer production process. In addition, there is a data imbalance in the wafer dataset that seriously affects the training results of the model. To reduce the complexity of the deep model without affecting the wafer feature expression, this paper adjusts the structure of the dense block in the PeleeNet network and proposes a lightweight network WM‐PeleeNet based on the PeleeNet module. In addition, to reduce the impact of data imbalance on model training, this paper proposes a wafer data augmentation method based on a convolutional autoencoder by adding random Gaussian noise to the hidden layer. The method proposed in this paper has an average accuracy of 95.4% on the WM‐811K wafer dataset with only 173.643 KB of the parameters and 316.194 M of FLOPs, and takes only 22.99 s to detect 1000 wafer pictures. Compared with the original PeleeNet network without optimization, the number of parameters and FLOPs are reduced by 92.68% and 58.85%, respectively. Data augmentation on the minority class wafer map improves the average classification accuracy by 1.8% on the WM‐811K dataset. At the same time, the recognition accuracy of minority classes such as Scratch pattern and Donut pattern are significantly improved.

Abstract Physiological studies have shown that rats in a dark environment rely on the limbs and vestibule for their self‐motion information, which can maintain the specific firing patterns of grid cells and hippocampal CA3 place cells. In the development stage of rats, grid cells are considered to come from place cells, and place cells can be encoded by hippocampal theta cells. Based on these, the quadruped robot is used as a platform in this paper. Firstly, the sensing information of the robot's limbs and inertial measurement unit is obtained to solve its position in the environment. Then the position information is encoded by theta cells and mapped to place cells through a neural network. After obtaining the place cells with single‐peak firing fields, Hebb learning is used to adjust the connection weight of the neural network between place cells and grid cells. In order to verify the model, 3‐D simulation experiments are designed in this paper. The experiment results show that with the robot exploring in space, the spatial cells firing effects obtained by the model are consistent with the physiological research facts, which lay the foundation for the bionic environmental cognition model.

Introduction: Human papilloma virus testing is a new method of screening for precancerous cervical lesions. Here we identified factors associated to the positive Human papilloma virus-testing in the context of cervical precancer screening at the Souro Sanou National Teaching Hospital in Burkina Faso., Materials and Method: Conducted from June 2021-May 2022, this was a cross-sectional study, including patients aged between 25 and 55 years-old and screened for precancerous lesions and received HPV-testing at the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine (DGORM) of the SSNTH. The proportion of positive HPV-test was calculated, and we identified factors associated to positive HPV-test using logistic regression., Results: Of the 759 patients came for precancerous lesions screening, 559 patients were included. Their mean-age was 38.8 ± 7.9 years-old, 94.3% were from urban area and 50.3% identified as housewives. Regarding the past medical history, it noted: number of gestures (3.2 ± 2.0), parity (2.8 ± 1.9), number of living children (2.8 ± 1.9), having abortion experience (24.0%), age of first-sexual-intercourse(18.6 ± 2.3 years), alcohol (9.1%) and tobacco (1.0%) consumption, sexually-transmitted-infection (27.0%), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)infection (5.0%); none had been vaccinated against HPV. Biologically, 16.6% [95% CI: 13.6-20] of the women had a positive HPV-test. The factors significantly associated with positive HPV-test were: occupation in the private sector [OR: 0.06(0.0-0.5); p < 0.001], having a sexually-transmitted-infection [OR: 3.9(2.0-7.7); p < 0.001], age of first-sexual-intercourse [OR: 0.7(0.6-0.9); p < 0.001], sexual-multiple-partnership [OR: 17.5(8.1-39.6); p < 0.001], and HIV status [OR: 13.2(4.4-40.5); p < 0.001]., Conclusion: These results call for health actions through the reinforcement for behavioral change mainly about sexually-transmitted-infections, and for the raising awareness of the population for the screening related to the precancerous lesions and HIV., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

During January 28-May 5, 2019, a meningitis outbreak caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC) occurred in Burkina Faso. Demographic and laboratory data for meningitis cases were collected through national case-based surveillance. Cerebrospinal fluid was collected and tested by culture and real-time PCR. Among 301 suspected cases reported in 6 districts, N. meningitidis was the primary pathogen detected; 103 cases were serogroup C and 13 were serogroup X. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that 18 cerebrospinal fluid specimens tested positive for NmC sequence type (ST) 10217 within clonal complex 10217, an ST responsible for large epidemics in Niger and Nigeria. Expansion of NmC ST10217 into Burkina Faso, continued NmC outbreaks in the meningitis belt of Africa since 2019, and ongoing circulation of N. meningitidis serogroup X in the region underscore the urgent need to use multivalent conjugate vaccines in regional mass vaccination campaigns to reduce further spread of those serogroups.

We report a case of primary melanoma of a female urethra diagnosed at a non-metastatic stage in a 48-year-old patient with a history of breast carcinoma treated with radiotherapy and hormone therapy. The patient was consulting for dysuria, hematuria, and perineal pain. The clinical examination found a prolapsed and black mass, developed at the expense of the urethra and located at the anterosuperior part of the vulva. The mass biopsy revealed a proliferation of fusiform and globular cells loaded with black pigment expressing the anti-HMB 45 and PS 100 antibodies. The extension assessment showed an absence of secondary localization. The patient underwent total cystourethrectomy without inguinal lymphadenectomy. There was no recurrence observed on day 100 following the surgery., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Socio-demographic correlates with oral hygiene practices are commonly investigated. The present study aimed to determine whether alcohol and/or tobacco use and hyperglycemia were associated with oral hygiene practices among Burkinabè adults. This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 4550 adults selected through multistage cluster sampling performed during the first WHO STEPS survey conducted in 2013 in Burkina Faso. The practices we considered were the frequencies of tooth cleaning, the fluoridated toothpaste use and the dentist visit within the past-six months. We collected data on self-reported alcohol and tobacco use and measured fasting blood glucose (FBG). About 82.8% of respondent reported they cleaned their teeth at least once a day, 31.5% cleaned them at least twice a day, 25.4% used fluoridated toothpaste, 2.2% had visited a dentist in the past six months, 38.8% used either alcohol or tobacco and 8.4% had raised FBG. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, alcohol and/or tobacco use was an unfavorable factor for tooth cleaning at least once a day [aOR = 0.7 (0.6-0.8) p < 0.001], or at least twice a day [aOR = 0.6 (0.5-0.7) p < 0.001]. Moreover, raised FBG was negatively associated with cleaning tooth at least twice a day [aOR = 0.7 (0.5-0.9) p < 0.01] or the use of fluoridated toothpaste [aOR = 0.7 (0.6-0.9) p < 0.05]. Oral health education in addition to cardiovascular risk factor reduction should be efficiently integrated in the behavioral lifestyle interventions' strategies for the non-communicable diseases' prevention., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: Sociodemographic parameters are the driving determinants of oral hygiene practices. This study aims to describe oral hygiene practices and associated sociodemographic factors in the Burkinabè population using the first nationally representative data., Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 4677 adults through multistage cluster sampling performed during the first WHO STEPS survey conducted in 2013 in Burkina Faso. The practices we considered were the frequencies of tooth cleaning, fluoridated toothpaste use and dentist visits within the last six months. Sociodemographic variables and oral hygiene practices were described, and the first variables were used as the explanatory variables for the seconds in the multivariable analyses., Results: Individuals who cleaned teeth at least once a day represented 82.8% and at least twice a day represented 31.4%; 25.6% used fluoridated toothpaste and 2.1% visited a dentist. With the highest odds ratio, only being educated was a favourable factor for each oral hygiene practice. Living in an urban area or being a younger adult were favourable factors for cleaning teeth at least twice a day or the use of a fluoridated paste. Female gender applied more to regular tooth cleaning, as well as to dentist visits., Conclusion: Cleaning teeth at least once a day was common among Burkinabè, while cleaning at least twice a day, the use of fluoridated paste or dentist visits were infrequent. Education was the key favourable determinant for healthy oral hygiene practices, and improving oral health literacy interventions through basic health education should be promoted., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The intention of the study was to evaluate whether Sub-Saharan schoolteachers may play a key role in oral health promotion of primary schoolchildren, particularly in terms of prevention of HIV/AIDS-related oral health problems., Materials and Methods: The study examined the level of knowledge about oral disease and the prevention of HIV/AIDS oral lesions amongst schoolteachers of Tanzania and Burkina Faso, identified their sources of information, and evaluated their ability for HIV/AIDS intervention. A multi-centre cross-sectional study was implemented in the two Sub-Saharan African countries. Participants comprised primary school teachers selected by stratified cluster sampling: 261 teachers from Tanzania and 313 teachers from Burkina Faso. All participants completed a structured questionnaire prepared for self-administration. The questions were designed from a standardised questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization., Results: Most teachers knew about the principal causes of the major oral diseases and the means of disease prevention. Nearly all teachers (95.6%) were aware of HIV/AIDS and they knew (92.3%) a virus was the direct cause of AIDS. Teachers were well informed of the general symptoms of HIV/AIDS, although oral symptoms were mentioned less often. In all, 17.6% of schoolteachers reported that children suffering from HIV/AIDS were found in their classes and 10.3% of teachers were conscious of students receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Knowledge about the disease seemed to reflect mass media as a source, while teacher colleagues and health personnel played a somewhat lesser role in communication. In total, 83.2% emphasised that they should teach children about HIV/AIDS and the mouth. Schoolteachers from Tanzania (70.5%) were more often engaged in classroom-based oral health education than were the Burkinabe teachers (53.9%)., Conclusion: The study confirms that schoolteachers may be a relevant source in the fight against HIV/AIDS among children. However, they would benefit from interaction with health personnel.