Impact of wastage on single and multi-dose vaccine vials: implications for introducing pneumococcal vaccines in developing countries

Introduction: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are expensive relative to those in the EPI systems of low-income countries. The current single-dose presentation costs more to store in the cold chain relative to multi-dose presentations but also has lower wastage rates. It is, therefore, important to determine the optimal balance of vial size and storage costs after adjusting for wastage. Objectives: To project the cost implications of wastage when vaccine wastage rates vary across vial sizes using country specific wastage data. Methods: For each potential vial size, we estimated cold chain costs and the cost of wasted vaccine doses using country level wastage data and projections of the price per dose of vaccine and cold chain storage. Results: Only 19 (26%) of 72 GAVI eligible countries had analyzable wastage data at WHO/HQ. The median wastage rates for single, 2- and 10-dose vials were 5%, 7% and 10% respectively. However wastage varied between 1%-10%, 1%-27% and 4%-44% for single, 2- and 10-dose vials respectively. The increased variance for multi-dose vial wastage implied wastage costs potentially greater than the savings realized from lower storage volumes. Conclusions: The optimal vial-size for PCV is dependent upon country specific wastage rates but few countries have these data. There may be a role for both single and multi-dose vials that is best determined by local management and storage capacities making local wastage data critical. Without effective wastage monitoring and control there is a risk that wastage costs will possibly exceed the savings from multi-dose vials? lower storage costs

Benchmark instance indicators and computational comparison of methods

chapter 7This chapter is devoted to extensive computational experiments on the resource-constrained project scheduling problem. Its objective is twofold. First, a selection of representative exact and heuristic methods among the ones presented in the previous chapters are tested and compared under a common experimental framework on four different instance sets. Second, classical and new instance difficulty indicators are evaluated through the experiments and their discriminating power is discussed

Evaluation De L’activite Antifongique Par Bioautographie De Quelques Plantes Medicinales De Côte D’ivoire Contre Deux Formes Speciales De Fusarium Oxysporum

La fusariose est l'une des maladies les plus dévastatrices des cultures, notamment de la tomate, du cotonnier, du bananier, etc. Ce travail a été mené afin d'identifier des plantes de la flore de Côte d'Ivoire susceptibles de jouer un rôle dans la protection de ces cultures contre ces agents mycopathogènes. Trente six extraits bruts (28 extraits méthanoliques et 8 extraits dichlorométhaniques) provenant de 20 espèces végétales issues de 13 familles ont été préparés et testés contre Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum et Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Ces essais antifongiques effectués par bioautographie, ont révélé que 8 extraits, soit 22,22 % ont été actifs contre F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum et F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Les extraits les plus prometteurs ont été ceux obtenus à partir des graines de Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) et des racines de Erythrina senegalensis A. DC. Les chromatogrammes sur couche mince ont révélé que les extraits de ces 2 plantes renferment plus de deux composés actifs.Mots clés: Plantes médicinales, antifongique, bioautographie, fusariose, Côte d'IvoireFusariosis are among the most devastating diseases in crops, especially in tomato, cotton and banana. This study was carried out in order to identify plants, from the flora of Côte d'Ivoire, capable of playing a role in the protection of crops against mycopathogen agents. Thirty six extracts (28 methanolic and 8 dichloromethane), from 20 plant species and 13 families were obtained and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici were exposed to these extracts. Antifungal assays, using bioautography, revealed that 8 extracts (22.22 %) were active against F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum and F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The most promising extracts were from the seeds of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) and the roots of Erythrina senegalensis A. DC. Thin layer chromatograms showed that the extracts of the 2 plants contained more than 2 active compounds

Phenetic and genetic structure of tsetse fly populations (Glossina palpalis palpalis) in southern Ivory Coast

Background: Sleeping sickness, transmitted by G. p. palpalis, is known to be present in the Ivory Coast. G. p. palpalis has recently been reported to occur in several places within the town of Abidjan, including: (i) the Banco forest, (ii) the Abobo Adjame University campus and (iii) the zoological park. Could these three places be treated sequentially, as separate tsetse populations, or should they be taken as one area comprising a single, panmictic population? Methods: The amount of gene flow between these places provides strategic information for vector control. It was estimated by the use of both microsatellite DNA and morphometric markers. The idea was to assess the interest of the faster and much less expensive morphometric approach in providing relevant information about population structure. Thus, to detect possible lack of insect exchange between these neighbouring areas of Abidjan, we used both genetic (microsatellite DNA) and phenetic (geometric morphometrics) markers on the same specimens. Using these same markers, we also compared these samples with specimens from a more distant area of south Ivory Coast, the region of Aniassue (186 km north from Abidjan). Results: Neither genetic nor phenetic markers detected significant differentiation between the three Abidjan G. p. palpalis samples. Thus, the null hypothesis of a single panmictic population within the city of Abidjan could not be rejected, suggesting the control strategy should not consider them separately. The markers were also in agreement when comparing G. p. palpalis from Abidjan with those of Aniassue, showing significant divergence between the two sites. Conclusions: Both markers suggested that a successful control of tsetse in Abidjan would require the three Abidjan sites to be considered together, either by deploying control measures simultaneously in all three sites, or by a continuous progression of interventions following for instance the "rolling carpet" principle. To compare the geometry of wing venation of tsetse flies is a cheap and fast technique. Agreement with the microsatellite approach highlights its potential for rapid assessment of population structure

Réponse physiologique au stade juvénile du génotype R405-2000 de cotonnier (Gossypium hirsutum L.) au déficit hydrique induit par le polyéthylène glycol

L\'effet du stress hydrique osmotique induit par le polyéthylène glycol (PEG) a été étudié sur la germination et la croissance in vitro chez le cotonnier. Cinq concentrations différentes de PEG ont été testées et les résultats ont montré que le PEG agit négativement sur la germination des graines. La longueur des racines et des tiges diminue avec les concentrations élevées de PEG dans le milieu de culture. La croissance des feuilles est inhibée à partir de 15 g/l de PEG dans le milieu de culture. Les parties aériennes ont été plus affectées par l\'effet du PEG que les parties racinaires. Le flétrissement des plantules est observé à partir de 35 g/l de PEG dans le milieu de culture.The effect of water stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been studied on germination and seedling growth of cotton. Five different concentrations of PEG have been tested and the results showed that PEG concentrations negatively influence seeds germination. The length of roots and stems decreases with high concentrations of PEG in medium culture. The growth of leaves is inhibited from 15 g/L of PEG in medium culture. Aerial parts have been more affected by water stress than the roots. Plantlet whithering is observed from 35 g/L of PEG in medium culture. Keywords: cotton, culture in vitro, PEG, water deficitSciences & Nature Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 81-8

Prediction of the production of oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) by inflorescences and bunches counting method in the Dabou region (Cote d'Ivoire)

Knowledge of the expected production for the next six months allows the managers of agro-industrial plantations of oil palms to better organize their technical and financial management. However, the estimation methods must be easy to apply, yet sufficiently accurate. This study was initiated in order to contribute to the development of a model for the estimation of oil palm production on the one hand and to evaluate the sensitivity of the method face the data necessary for this forecast. These data are of two types: the actual production data and the inflorescence and bunch count data. The experiment was carried out on the experimental station Robert-Michaux of the CNRA of Dabou, located in the South-East of the Côte d'Ivoire. The proposed methodology is based on the duration of plan formation and maturation. It takes 5.5 to 6 months between the exit of the female inflorescence and the harvest of the corresponding ripe bunch. Counting of bunches and female inflorescences in the crown provides information on the number of rips bunches to be harvested in the next six months. The evolution of the average weight of bunches harvested previously makes it possible to predict the average weight of bunches that will be harvested during the same period. The model makes it possible to estimate the tonnage of production for the next six months provided that, for a plantation unit, it can be applied to representative samples of the whole. The yield is translated into production at different scales taking into account planting density. The estimated production variations and those of the previous production make it possible to estimate production in the months to come. The results are very satisfactory, with error accuracy of 9 %. They demonstrate the economic and technical interest of such a method in the case of production sites with little information on the conditions of oil palm cultivation

Evaluation in vitro et in vivo de trois fongicides de synthese et d’un fongicide biologique sur la croissance et la severite de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides et de Pestalotia heterornis, champignons...

Full French Title: Evaluation in vitro et in vivo de trois fongicides de synthese et d’un fongicide biologique sur la croissance et la severite de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides et de Pestalotia heterornis, champignons responsables de maladies foliaires de l'anacardier (Anacardium occidentale L.) en Côte d’IvoireL’anthracnose, maladie fongique, cause d’importantes baisses de rendements des anacardiers (Anacardium occidentale L.) dans certains pays producteurs. En Côte d’Ivoire, l’anthracnose est l’une des maladies les plus répandues dans le verger anacardier et se développe sur tous les organes de la plante. Cette étude a été conduite dans le but d’évaluer et de proposer des fongicides de synthèse et un fongicide biologique efficaces contre Colletotrichum gloeosporioides et Pestalotia heterocornis. L’étude a été réalisée in vitro sur la croissance de ces champignons et en serre sur le contrôle de l’anthracnose par l’aspersion foliaire des fongicides sur des jeunes feuilles préalablement inoculées avec l’agent pathogène. Cette étude a permis de confirmer l’efficacité in vitro du Carbendazime à 1 ppm et du Prochloraze à 10 ppm contre C. gloeosporioides et P. heterocornis, les pathogènes fongiques les plus disséminés dans les vergers d’anacarde de Côte d’Ivoire. Le fongicide biologique NECO s’est également montré efficace in vitro en inhibant totalement la croissance mycélienne de C. gloeosporioides et de P. heterocornis respectivement à la concentration de 300 ppm et de 200 ppm. Le Propiconazole s’est montré le moins efficace. Carbendazime et NECO ont été les meilleurs fongicides contre C. gloeosporioides, en inhibant totalement l’expression des symptômes de l’anthracnose en serre, aux concentrations de 50 et 3000 ppm, respectivement. Ces fongicides peuvent constituer une base pour la lutte intégrée contre l’anthracnose de l’anacardier.Mots clés: Anacardium occidentale, anthracnose, contrôle, fongicide de synthèse, NECOEnglish Title: Chemical and biological control of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) anthracnose in Côte d’IvoireEnglish AbstractAnthracnose, a fungal disease, causes significant declines in yields of cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale L.) in some producing countries. In Côte d’Ivoire, anthracnose is one of the most common diseases in the cashew tree orchard and attacks all organs of the plant. This study was conducted with the aim of selecting and proposing integrated control methods through the use of synthetic fungicides and an effective biological fungicide against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Pestalotia heterocornis. The study was carried out in vitro and in a greenhouse by foliar spraying of fungicides on young leaves previously inoculated with the pathogenic agent. This study confirmed the in vitro efficacy of Carbendazim  at 1 ppm and Prochloraz at 10 ppm against C. gloeosporioides and P. heterocornis, the most common fungal pathogens found in cashew orchards of Côte d’Ivoire. NECO, a Biological Fungicide was also effective by completely inhibiting the in vitro growth of C. gloeosporioides at the concentration of 300 ppm and P. heterocornis at 200 ppm. Propiconazole was less effective than the other fungicides. Carbendazim and NECO were the best fungicides against C. gloeosporioides, completely stopping the expression of symptoms of anthracnose in the greenhouse, at concentrations of 50 and 3000 ppm, respectively. These fungicides provide a basis for integrated control of cashew anthracnose.Keywords: Anacardium occidentale, anthracnose, control, synthetic fungicide, NEC

In vitro culture of Bambara groundnut [Vigna subrerranea (L.) Verdc., Favaceae ]: Effect of plant growth regulators, explant type and genotype on callus induction and differentiation

A technique was developed to induce callus formation and differentiation using leaf, petiole and root explants from Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.]. The combinations and concentrations of differentgrowth regulators were shown to be critical factors in the frequency of callus formation, as well as, in the potential for callus differentiation. It was established that the best responses in callus induction (75 %) wereobtained from petiole on a MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) basal medium, supplemented with 3 -5 mg/l N-benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.5 mg/l á-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Callus growth (GI) was moresignificant with Ci1 (3.52) and Ci4 (2.76) landraces, while root formation was especially observed with the Ci3 (24.81 %) landrace. Here, for the first time, induction of embryogenic and organogenic callus from petiole,leaf and root of Vigna subterranea (L.) was reported. Both adventitious buds and somatic embryos were initiated after 3 months of subculture on a callus induction medium containing 3-5mg/l BAP + 0.1 -0.5 mg/l ANA. Somatic embryogenesis (50 - 68 %) occur more frequently than organogenesis(11 - 27 %). Un protocole a ete developpe pour induire la formation de cals, a partir des explants de feuille, de petiole et de racine chez le pois de bambara [Vigna subterranea (L.)]. Les combinaisons et les concentrations dedifferents regulateurs de croissance se sont averees etre des facteurs determinants dans la frequence d'induction des cals, de meme que pour le potentiel de differenciation des cals. Les resultats montrentegalement que l'induction des cals a ete plus importante avec le petiole (75 %) sur le milieu de base MS (Murashige et Skoog, 1962) supplemente avec 3 - 5 mg/l de la N-benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0,5 mg/l del'acide ƒ¿-naphthalene acetique (ANA). La croissance des cals (IC) a ete plus importante avec les ecotypes Ci1 (3,52) et Ci4 (2,76), tandis que la rhizogenese a ete particulierement observee chez l'ecotype Ci3(24,81 %). Pour la premiere fois, l'induction de cals organogenes et embryogenes a ete rapportee chez cette plante. Les bourgeons adventifs et les embryons somatiques ont ete inities apres 3 mois de subculture, surle milieu MS supplemente avec la BAP (3 - 5 mg/l) + ANA (0,1 - 0,5 mg/l). La frequence d'induction de l'embryogenese somatique (55 - 68 %) a ete plus elevee que celle de l'organogenese (11 - 27%)