Patterns of Savings in Rural Niger

This paper explores three issues of importance in the study of savings behavior in developing countries, based on data obtained at the "Caisse Nationale d'Epargne" (CNE) of Niger. First, it shows that, relative to the availability of CNE branches, rural people are more active than urban savers in establishing accounts at the institution. Furthermore, our results suggest that the proportion of income saved in financial form by rural depositors is likely to be higher than that of the urban clientele. Second, no conclusive evidence was found regarding the validity of the lifecycle hypothesis of savings behavior. Further research appears necessary to control for other factors that may be affecting the results presented here, especially those associated with access to other means of formal and informal savings. Finally, the relative importance of agricultural activities and other occupations closely associated with agriculture in the CNE clientele was estimated to be about 15 percent, a share substantially larger than that estimated in previous studies in the same institution

Savings Patterns In Rural Niger

This paper explores three issues of importance in the study of savings behavior in developing countries, based on data obtained at the "Caisse Nationale d'Epargne" (CNE) of Niger. First, it shows that, relative to the availability of CNE branches, rural people are more active than urban savers in establishing accounts at the institution. Furthermore, our results suggest that the proportion of income saved in financial form by rural depositors is likely to be higher than that of the urban clientele. Second, the life-cycle hypothesis of savings behavior is supported by the data analyzed in this study. Indeed, the middle-age group showed the largest share in total deposits at the CNE. However, further research appears necessary to control for other factors that may be affecting the results presented here, especially those associated with access to other means of formal and informal savings. Finally, the relative importance of agricultural activities and other occupations closely associated with agriculture in the CNE clientele was estimated to be about 15 percent, a share substantially larger than that estimated in previous studies in the same institution

Effect of compost and soil properties on the availability of compost phosphate for white clover ( Trifolium repens L.)

Wide variation in results exists in the literature on the effectiveness of composts to sustain the phosphorus (P) nutrition of crops. The aim of this work was to assess the importance of some soil and composts properties on the utilization of compost-P by white clover (Trifolium repens L.). This study was carried out with samples collected from four composts made from solid kitchen and garden wastes, and with two soil samples taken from the A horizon of a P-rich sandy acidic Dystrochrept and of a P-limited clayey calcareous Eutrochrept. Changes in the amount of inorganic P (Pi) isotopically exchangeable within 1 min (E1min) were measured during 32 weeks in incubated soil-composts or soil-KH2PO4mixtures where P sources had been added at the rate of 50 mg P kg−1 soil. Uptake of compost-P or KH2PO4-P by white clover was measured on the same amended soils during 16 weeks. In both soils, the application of composts resulted after 32 weeks of incubation in E1min values ranging between those observed in the control without P and those observed in the KH2PO4treatment, i.e., in values ranging between 4.2 and 5.9 mg P kg−1 in the sandy acidic soil and between from 1.6 to 4.3 mg P kg−1 in the clayey calcareous soil. The total coefficient of utilization of compost-P (CU-P) by white clover reached values in both soils for the four composts ranging between 6.5% and 11.6% of the added P while in the presence of KH2PO4 the CU-P reached values ranging between 14.5% in the clayey calcareous soil and 18.5% in the sandy acidic soil. Results obtained in the sandy acidic soil suggest, that white clover initially used a fraction of the rapidly exchangeable compost P, while at a latter stage plant roots enhanced the mineralisation of compost organic P and took up a fraction of the mineralized P. These relations were not observed in the clayey calcareous soil probably because of its high sorbing capacity for P. In the sandy acidic soil, composts application increased the uptake of soil P by the plant from 31.4 mg P kg−1 soil in the control without P to values ranging between 37.9 to 42.7 mg P kg−1 soil in the presence of composts. This indirect effect was related to a general improvement of plant growth conditions in this soil induced by compost addition (from 9.9 g DM kg−1 soil in the control without P to values ranging between 14.0 to 16.1 g DM kg−1 soil in the presence of composts) and/or to the release of Al- or Fe bound soil P to the solution due to soil pH increase following compost application. Finally the total coefficient of utilization of P (CU-P) derived from KH2PO4 and composts was related to the total amount of N exported by white clover in the P-limited clayey calcareous soil but not in the P-rich sandy acidic soil. This suggests that in a soil where N2 biological fixation is limited by low P availability, the CU-P of a compost by white clover is not only related to the forms of P present in the compost but also to its effect on N nutrition. However, it is not clear whether this improved N nutrition was due to compost mineralisation, or to an indirect compost effect on the N2 biological fixatio

Forms and exchangeability of inorganic phosphate in composted solid organic wastes

Switzerland yearly produces more than 260,000 Mg of compost, two thirds of which is recycled in agriculture and horticulture. This research was undertaken to examine the forms and availability of inorganic P (Pi) in Swiss composts made from solid kitchen and garden wastes using the isotopic exchange kinetic technique, a sequential Pi extraction and magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The different approaches described in this paper demonstrate the presence of a complex mixture of Pi species in the studied composts. Isotopic exchange experiments and sequential extraction showed that these composts contained relatively large concentrations of rapidly available Pi. Significant correlations were observed between the concentration of water-soluble Pi (Cp), and the total N, C and P content of composts suggesting that organic substances partly controlled the amount of rapidly available Pi. Significant correlations were observed in alkaline composts between the amount of Pi which can not be exchanged within 3 months and the total P and Ca content. In alkaline composts solid-state MAS 31P NMR results suggested the presence of a range of slightly soluble and poorly crystallized Ca-P compounds such as apatites or octacalcium phosphates and of organic P compounds. The slowly or non-exchangeable Pi present in these composts could therefore be bound to Ca in the form of apatites or octacalcium phosphate

Assessment on experimental bacterial biofilms and in clinical practice of the efficacy of sampling solutions for microbiological testing of endoscopes

International audienceOpinions differ on the value of microbiological testing of endoscopes, which varies according to the technique used. We compared the efficacy on bacterial biofilms of sampling solutions used for the surveillance of the contamination of endoscope channels. To compare efficacy, we used an experimental model of a 48-h Pseudomonas biofilm grown on endoscope internal tubing. Sampling of this experimental biofilm was performed with a Tween 80-lecithin-based solution, saline, and sterile water. We also performed a randomized prospective study during routine clinical practice in our hospital sampling randomly with two different solutions the endoscopes after reprocessing. Biofilm recovery expressed as a logarithmic ratio of bacteria recovered on bacteria initially present in biofilm was significantly more effective with the Tween 80-lecithin-based solution than with saline solution (P = 0.002) and sterile water (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference between saline and sterile water. In the randomized clinical study, the rates of endoscopes that were contaminated with the Tween 80-lecithin-based sampling solution and the saline were 8/25 and 1/25, respectively (P = 0.02), and the mean numbers of bacteria recovered were 281 and 19 CFU/100 ml (P = 0.001), respectively. In conclusion, the efficiency and therefore the value of the monitoring of endoscope reprocessing by microbiological cultures is dependent on the sampling solutions used. A sampling solution with a tensioactive action is more efficient than saline in detecting biofilm contamination of endoscopes

Нацистські окупаційні порядки в українському селі крізь призму народнопісенної сатири

Une étude parasitologique du paludisme a été réalisée dans deux quartiers centraux de la ville de Yaoundé pendant un an. Le quartier Essos borde un bas-fond marécageux et le quartier Obili présente des bassins de pisciculture. Les enquêtes, trimestrielles, ont été réalisées sur un échantillon de 22 et 16 familles à Essos et Obili respectivement. 960 prélèvements sanguins ont été examinés dans les deux quartiers. La prévalence plasmodiale est de 25,4 plus ou moins 2,7%, l'indice gamétocytique de 1,7 plus ou moins 0,8% et la charge parasitaire moyenne de 310 parasites/microlitre de sang. L'indice plasmodique est significativement plus élevé à Essos qu'à Obili : 28,7 plus ou moins 3,6% (n=592) et 20,1 plus ou moins 4,1% (n=368) respectivement (p<0,02). C'est chez les enfants de 6 à 15 ans que l'indice plasmodique est le plus élevé (37,5%) mais ce sont les enfants de 0 à 5 ans qui présentent les charges parasitaires moyennes les plus élevées (1100 parasites/microlitre de sang). La prévalence parasitaire présente des fluctuations saisonnières avec un maximum pendant la petite saison sèche. (Résumé d'auteur

Caractères cliniques et épidémiologiques de la dengue 2 au Sénégal

Les auteurs rappellent les faits historiques, cliniques et épidémiologiques concernant l'infection par les virus de la dengue en Afrique. Ils énumèrent les lieux, les hôtes et les circonstances de l'isolement de différentes souches africaines et rappellent le cycle sauvage du virus dengue 2 au Sénégal. L'isolement de deux souches humaines, pendant l'épizootie de 1990, est en faveur d'un cycle selvatique. Il s'agit en effet des premiers cas humains concomitants d'une épizootie au Sénégal. Les observations cliniques de ces deux cas sont celles d'une arbovirose mineure, sans syndrome de choc ni manifestations hémorragiques, soulignant la pathogénicité atténuée du virus dengue 2 au Sénégal comme dans les autres pays d'Afrique. De récents travaux d'épidémiologie moléculaire ont mis en évidence des caractères génotypiques particuliers de certaines souches africaines par rapport à celles rencontrées dans les régions Pacifique ou Caraïbes. (Résumé d'auteur

Impact of a malaria intervention package in schools on Plasmodium infection, anaemia and cognitive function in schoolchildren in Mali: a pragmatic cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: School-aged children are rarely targeted by malaria control programmes, yet the prevalence of Plasmodium infection in primary school children often exceeds that seen in younger children and could affect haemoglobin concentration and school performance. METHODS: A cluster-randomised trial was carried out in 80 primary schools in southern Mali to evaluate the impact of a school-based malaria intervention package. Intervention schools received two interventions sequentially: (1) teacher-led participatory malaria prevention education, combined with distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), followed 7 months later at the end of the transmission season by (2) mass delivery of artesunate and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine administered by teachers, termed intermittent parasite clearance in schools (IPCs). Control schools received LLINs as part of the national universal net distribution programme. The impact of the interventions on malaria and anaemia was evaluated over 20 months using cross-sectional surveys in a random subset of 38 schools(all classes), with a range of cognitive measures (sustained attention, visual search, numeracy, vocabulary and writing) assessed in a longitudinal cohort of children aged 9-12 years in all 80 schools. RESULTS: Delivery of a single round of IPCs was associated with dramatic reductions in malaria parasitaemia (OR 0.005, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.011, p<0.001) and gametocyte carriage (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.17, p<0.001) in intervention compared with control schools. This effect was sustained for 6 months until the beginning of the next transmission season. IPCs was also associated with a significant decrease in anaemia (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.78, p=0.001), and increase in sustained attention (difference +0.23, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.36, p<0.001). There was no evidence of impact on other cognitive measures. CONCLUSION: The combination of malaria prevention education, LLINs and IPCs can reduce anaemia and improve sustained attention of school children in areas of highly seasonal transmission. These findings highlight the impact of asymptomatic malaria infection on cognitive performance in schoolchildren and the benefit of IPCs in reducing this burden. Additionally, malaria control in schools can help diminish the infectious reservoir that sustains Plasmodium transmission