Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ressources fourragères et représentations des éleveurs, évolution des pratiques pastorales en contexte d'aire protégée : cas du terroir de Kotchari à la périphérie de la réserve de biosphère du W au Burkina Faso

Face aux changements globaux qui perturbent les conditions de vie des e��leveurs de la zone soudanienne et sahelo-soudanienne quelles decisions prennent-ils, quelles sont leurs strategies saisonnieres d’adaptation a l’echelle locale et regionale, comment les mettent-ils en œuvre ? C’est a cette triple question que cette these tente de repondre dans le contexte du terroir de Kotchari situe en bordure de la vaste reserve de biosphere transfrontaliere du W et soumis a une forte pression anthropique. Chaque annee a partir de decembre de nombreux eleveurs transhumants venant du nord affluent dans le terroir de Kotchari a l’extreme sud-est du Burkina Faso, dans la province de la Tapoa. Localement, la pression sur les terres et les ressources se fait de plus en plus forte et la durabilite du systeme parait compromise. La recherche a ete conduite en faisant appel a des methodes de cartographie/SIG, d’analyse floristique, d’enquetes quantitatives et qualitatives le plus souvent participatives. La recherche a montre que, malgre l’afflux important d’animaux en saison seche notamment chaude, les ressources fourrageres du terroir restent interessantes avec toutefois une extinction locale d’especes, une banalisation de la flore et un debut d’embuissonnement en particulier sur les unites paysageres pastorales de plateaux en dehors de l’aire protegee. On a pu reconnaitre quatre (4) groupes et sous-groupes d’eleveurs en fonction des strategies developpees et des pratiques mises en œuvre. Il ressort que la taille du troupeau est un facteur determinant dans leurs strategies. La recherche a montre, par ailleurs, que la categorisation locale des milieux s’appuie sur des criteres topographiques, geomorphologiques et fonctionnels et que l’appreciation en termes de qualite de pâturage depend de facteurs d’importance variable selon les saisons. Enfin, il est possible de comprendre le comportement des troupeaux au pâturage qui est la traduction pratique des savoirs techniques que mettent en œuvre les eleveurs pour faire exploiter les milieux par leurs troupeaux.
An Opportunistic Cognitive MAC Protocol for Coexistence with WLAN

In last decades, the demand of wireless spectrum has increased rapidly with the development of mobile communication services. Recent studies recognize that traditional fixed spectrum assignment does not use spectrum efficiently. Such a wasting phenomenon could be amended after the present of cognitive radio. Cognitive radio is a new type of technology that enables secondary usage to unlicensed user. This paper presents an opportunistic cognitive MAC protocol (OC-MAC) for cognitive radios to access unoccupied resource opportunistically and coexist with wireless local area network (WLAN). By a primary traffic predication model and transmission etiquette, OC-MAC avoids producing fatal damage to licensed users. Then a ns2 simulation model is developed to evaluate its performance in scenarios with coexisting WLAN and cognitive network.
Distribution of β-Lactamase Genes Among Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Isolated From Patients in Turkey

Background The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a serious problem to antibiotic management. We investigated the β-lactamases in a group of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae clinical isolates from Turkey. Methods Thirty-seven strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from various clinical specimens were analyzed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR for the detection of β-lactamase genes, DNA sequencing, and repetitive extragenic palindronic (REP)-PCR analysis. Results All 37 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefoperazone/sulbactam, cefepime, imipenem, and meropenem. The lowest resistance rates were observed for colistin (2.7%), tigecycline (11%), and amikacin (19%). According to PCR and sequencing results, 98% (36/37) of strains carried at least one carbapenemase gene, with 32 (86%) carrying OXA-48 and 7 (19%) carrying NDM-1. No other carbapenemase genes were identified. All strains carried a CTX-M-2-like β-lactamase, and some carried SHV- (97%), TEM- (9%), and CTX-M-1-like (62%) β-lactamases. Sequence analysis of blaTEM genes identified a blaTEM-166 with an amino acid change at position 53 (Arg53Gly) from blaTEM-1b, the first report of a mutation in this region. REP-PCR analysis revealed that there were seven different clonal groups, and temporo-spatial links were identified within these groups. Conclusions Combinations of β-lactamases were found in all strains, with the most common being OXA-48, SHV, TEM, and CTX-M-type (76% of strains). We have reported, for the first time, a high prevalence of the NDM-1 (19%) carbapenemase in carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae from Turkey. These enzymes often co-exist with other β-lactamases, such as TEM, SHV, and CTX-M β-lactamases.
Modulated Signal Impact on Multibeam Echosounder Bathymetry. (Impact des signaux modulés sur la précision des mesures bathymétriques issues de sondeurs multifaisceaux)

La nouvelle generation de sondeurs multifaisceaux (SMF) utilise des signaux modules en frequence (FM) afin d'accroitre l'energie emise dans le milieu (via la duree des impulsions) tout en gardant une bonne resolution grâce a la compression d'impulsion (filtrage adapte). Ceci permet d'accroitre le rapport signal a bruit et la portee des systemes. Cependant, les niveaux de performance atteints ne sont pas ceux esperes, et la mesure bathymetrique apparait meme paradoxalement plus bruitee. Cette observation a ete faite sur plusieurs systemes de constructeurs differents (ResonTM Seabat 7150, KongsbergTM EM 122, 302 and 710). Les travaux entrepris dans cette these ont donc pour objectif d'examiner differentes causes d'incertitude de mesure lors de l'utilisation de signaux modules. La premiere interpretation emise est liee a la presence de l'effet Doppler (cause par le mouvement des antennes fixees sur le porteur subissant les mouvements de roulis, tangage, lacet et pilonnement). Une etude de cet effet a donc ete menee selon deux aspects : biais et statistique de mesures, s'appuyant sur modeles et simulations. Il a ete conclu cependant que l'effet Doppler ne permet pas d'expliquer de maniere satisfaisante les baisses de performance observees (les biais de mesures etant deja pris en compte et corrige, et les baisses de performance en terme de variance insuffisantes). Une seconde interpretation est basee sur la presence de lobes secondaires lors de la compression d'impulsion qui contribuent comme un bruit, et decorrele les signaux interferometriques (baseline decorrelation-decorrelation angulaire). Cette derniere a ete demontree comme etant la cause principale de degradation de la mesure bathymetrique lors de l'utilisation de signaux modules. Enfin le travail a permis de proposer differentes solutions realistes en terme de forme de signal emis ou de filtrage afin de reduire les impacts des lobes secondaires (modele theorique, simulations et mises en oeuvre et testees in situ pour certaines).
Assessment of the ideal body image of women in Accra, Ghana

The hypothesis tested in this study was that the 'traditional build' is the culturally valued body shape by Ghanaian women. Culturally sensitive figural stimuli were designed to assess the current body image (CBI) and the ideal body image (IBI) of Ghanaian women. The most frequently selected model for the CBI was one that represented a slightly overweight woman; the IBI selected was consistent with a representation of normal body mass index; and the least healthy image was that figure that represented morbidly obesity.
Transformations of chloroguaiacols, chloroveratroles, and chlorocatechols by stable consortia of anaerobic bacteria

Metabolically stable consortia of anaerobic bacteria obtained by enrichment of sediment samples with 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMBA), 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate (gallate [GA]), or 5-chlorovanillin (CV) were used to study the anaerobic transformation of a series of chloroveratroles, chloroguaiacols, and chlorocatechols used as cosubstrates. Experiments were carried out with growing cultures, and the following pathways were demonstrated for metabolism of the growth substrates: (i) TMBA produced GA, which was further degraded without the formation of aromatic intermediates; (ii) GA formed pyrogallol, which was stable to further transformation; and (iii) CV was degraded by a series of steps involving de-O-methylation, oxidation of the aldehyde group, and decarboxylation to 3-chlorocatechol before ring cleavage. Mono-de-O-methylation of the cosubstrates occurred rapidly in the order 4,5,6-trichloroguaiacol greater than 3,4,5-trichloroguaiacol approximately 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole approximately tetrachloroveratrole greater than tetrachloroguaiacol and was concomitant with degradation of the growth substrates. For the polymethoxy compounds--chloroveratroles, 1,2,3-trichloro-4,5,6-trimethoxybenzene, and 4,5,6-trichlorosyringol--de-O-methylation took place sequentially. The resulting chlorocatechols were stable to further transformation until the cultures had exhausted the growth substrates; selective dechlorination then occurred with the formation of 3,5-dichlorocatechol from 3,4,5-trichlorocatechol and of 3,4,6-trichlorocatechol from tetrachlorocatechol. 2,4,5-, 2,4,6-, and 3,4,5-trichoroanisole and 2,3,4,5-tetrachloroanisole were de-O-methylated, but the resulting chlorophenols were resistant to dechlorination. These results extend those of a previous study with spiked sediment samples and their endogenous microflora and illustrate some of the transformations of chloroguaiacols and chlorocatechols which may be expected to occur in anaerobic sediments.
Recursive high-resolution reconstruction of blurred multiframe images

An approach to high-resolution image reconstruction from blurred noisy multiframes is presented. A recursive least square estimation with regularization method is applied for high resolution estimation. This approach provides a unified algorithm for deblurring, noise removal, and high resolution reconstruction. Due to the recursive nature of the algorithm, computations are minimized. The algorithm is highly parallel since reconstruction is done independently for each pel in the transform domain. Computer simulations demonstrate the performance of the algorithm. <<ETX>>
Deformation of press-fitted metallic resurfacing cups. Part 2: Finite element simulation

Abstract The deformation of metallic acetabular cups employed for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing procedures was considered theoretically using the finite element method in the present study, following on the experimental investigation reported in Part 1. Three representative cups, characterized by the cup wall thickness as thin, intermediate, and thick, were considered. For the intermediate cup, the effects of both the size and the diametral interference on the cup deformation were investigated. Both two-dimensional axisymmetric and three-dimensional finite element models were developed to examine the important parameters during and after the press-fit procedure, and in particular the deformation of the metallic cup. The theoretical prediction of the cup deformation was in reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental measurement reported in Part 1. The most significant factor influencing the cup deformation was the cup wall thickness. Both the size and the diametral interference were also shown to influence the cup deformation. It is important to ensure that the cup deformation does not significantly affect the clearance designed and optimized for tribological performances of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing prostheses. Furthermore the contact parameters at the cup and bone interface associated with the press fit were also discussed.
Discriminant Metric Learning Approach for Face Verification

In this study, we propose a distance metric learning approach called discriminant metric learning (DML) for face verification, which addresses a binary-class problem for classifying whether or not two input images are of the same subject. The critical issue for solving this problem is determining the method to be used for measuring the distance between two images. Among various methods, the large margin nearest neighbor (LMNN) method is a state-of-the-art algorithm. However, to compensate the LMNN’s entangled data distribution due to high levels of appearance variations in unconstrained environments, DML’s goal is to penalize violations of the negative pair distance relationship, i.e., the images with different labels, while being integrated with LMNN to model the distance relation between positive pairs, i.e., the images with the same label. The likelihoods of the input images, estimated using DML and LMNN metrics, are then weighted and combined for further analysis. Additionally, rather than using the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classification mechanism, we propose a verification mechanism that measures the correlation of the class label distribution of neighbors to reduce the false negative rate of positive pairs. From the experimental results, we see that DML can modify the relation of negative pairs in the original LMNN space and compensate for LMNN’s performance on faces with large variances, such as pose and expression.
Emergence of system roles in normative neurodevelopment

Significance The human brain is a complex system displaying intricate, dynamic functions. In a multidisciplinary effort, the recent application of tools from network science to characterize the interconnected nature of the brain has enabled a tremendous advance in our understanding of cognition. Here, we develop and apply an extension of these tools to define and characterize the role of cognitive systems in the larger scale brain network, and to map how these roles change during adolescent development, providing an important context for understanding psychopathology. Our results are also consistent with the hypothesis that individual variation in network configuration implies differential vulnerability to cognitive abilities or deficits. Adult human cognition is supported by systems of brain regions, or modules, that are functionally coherent at rest and collectively activated by distinct task requirements. However, an understanding of how the formation of these modules supports evolving cognitive capabilities has not been delineated. Here, we quantify the formation of network modules in a sample of 780 youth (aged 8–22 y) who were studied as part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. We demonstrate that the brain’s functional network organization changes in youth through a process of modular evolution that is governed by the specific cognitive roles of each system, as defined by the balance of within- vs. between-module connectivity. Moreover, individual variability in these roles is correlated with cognitive performance. Collectively, these results suggest that dynamic maturation of network modules in youth may be a critical driver for the development of cognition.
Basiliximab in association with tacrolimus and steroids in caucasian cadaveric renal transplanted patients: significant decrease in early acute rejection rate and hospitalization time

Abstract: Safety and tolerability of basiliximab in renal transplantation have been proven in different immunosuppressive regimens. Few informations are available about the association of basiliximab with tacrolimus and steroids. We present a retrospective analysis performed in Caucasian cadaveric renal transplant recipients, comparing a basiliximab, tacrolimus and steroids induction protocol (GrA: 51 patients) with a tacrolimus and steroids protocol (GrB: 46 patients). A significant decrease in acute rejection rate in the first 3 months (2.0% vs. 17.4%; p < 0.01) was noted. Interestingly, the recipients in GrA were at major immunologic risk for the younger age of recipients, the greater number of mismatches and the higher rate of second transplants. The hospitalization times resulted reduced of 5.3 d in GrA vs. GrB (20.8 d vs. 26.1 d; p < 0.05). The adverse events patterns and profiles were similar in the two treatments groups. One patient in each group had a post‐transplant lymphoprolipherative disorder. No significant difference was found in patient and graft survival. According to the results of this study, in a Caucasian adult population, basiliximab in association with tacrolimus and steroids is a safe and efficacious tool for acute rejection prevention and it is cost saving by reducing the hospitalization times.
The quantal size at retinogeniculate synapses determined from spontaneous and evoked EPSCs in guinea‐pig thalamic slices.

1. To determine the quantal size at retinogeniculate synapses, spontaneous and evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were recorded in twelve neurones of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in guinea‐pig thalamic slices using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. We limited our study to the fast non‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) component of the EPSCs by adding the NMDA receptor antagonist DL‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovaleric acid to the perfusion medium. 2. Spontaneous EPSCs occurred at a frequency between 0.5 and 6.6 Hz (mean 2.5 Hz). The modal value of the peak conductance change of spontaneous excitatory events varied between cells from 102 to 179 pS. 3. EPSCs were evoked by electrical stimulation in the optic tract. The peak conductance change of EPSCs evoked by stimulation of a putative single input fibre ranged from 0.6 to 3.4 nS (mean 1.7 nS). 4. To resolve the quantal components of evoked EPSCs the external Ca2+ concentration was reduced and the external Mg2+ concentration increased for four cells. In this condition failures occurred and the amplitude histograms were multimodal with approximately equidistant peaks. 5. These multimodal histograms could be fitted by a sum of Gaussian functions with mean values corresponding to integer multiples of the modal value of the spontaneous EPSCs for the same cell. Thus, the quantal size of evoked EPSCs was the same as the modal value of spontaneous EPSCs. The mean of the apparent quantal conductance change was 138 pS. The estimated number of quanta released by stimulating a putative single input fibre in the control condition ranged from 4 to 27 (mean 13). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Bronchioloalveolar Cell Adenomas

In a series of 247 consecutive resections for lung carcinoma, 23 (9.3%) patients had a total of 41 incidentally found nodules measuring 1–7 mm in diameter. These lesions were characterized histologically by lepidic growth and variable cellular atypia; they were interpreted as bronchioloalveolar adenomas. Five additional patients had dozens of such nodules in addition to their dominant tumor. One of these patients had this process bilaterally. It appears that these adenomas are an early, premalignant phase of glandular neoplasia with a potential for evolution to carcinoma. This phenomenon may help explain the relatively high incidence of multicentric synchronous and metachronous lung cancer cited in the literature.
Diagnosis of Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Comparison of Ultrasound Parameters

The objective of this study is an attempt to evaluate the best ultrasonic method of diagnosing intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); a retrospective study of patients with singleton pregnancies who had been scanned at the author's institution within 2 weeks of their delivery was undertaken. Estimated fetal weight, abdominal circumference, head circumference/abdominal circumference ratio, abdominal circumference/femur length ratio, and umbilical artery S/D ratio were compared for accuracy in prediction IUGR in the neonate using both univariant and multivariant statistical analysis. Five hundred one (501) patients were analyzed. One hundred fourteen (114) neonates were classified as IUGR (22.8%). Doppler evaluation of the umbilical artery showed the best sensitivity while both abdominal circumference alone and estimated fetal weight showed similar specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and lowest false-positive and -negative results. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the univariant results and showed that, when used in combination, abdominal circumference and Doppler, or estimated fetal weight and Doppler resulted in the best predictive values. Either estimated fetal weight or abdominal circumference (alone) are accurate predictors of IUGR. Combined with Doppler studies of the umbilical artery either method will provide accurate evaluation of suspected IUGR.
A Relatively High Number of Pregnant Women in Kuwait Remain Susceptible to Rubella: A Need for an Alternative Vaccination Policy

Objective: To measure the prevalence of anti-rubella IgG and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among pregnant women in Kuwait in order to assess the effectiveness of the current vaccination programs. Subjects and Methods: This retrospective study involved 4,062 pregnant women evaluated in health centers in the Hawalli Province of Kuwait. They were screened for anti-rubella IgG and HBsAg using commercially available assays. The data were obtained from medical laboratory records. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was 29.2 ± 5.26 years (range 17-49). The rubella IgG prevalence among the pregnant women was 88.4% (n = 3,589); 276 (6.8%) of the pregnant women had no antibody to rubella, and 197 (4.8%) had rubella antibody levels ≤10 IU/ml. Therefore, 473 (11.6%) of the pregnant women were susceptible to rubella. The proportion of susceptible women increased with increasing age from 3.4 to 10.3% and from 3.4 to 6.7% among women aged <20 years and those aged ≥40 years, respectively (p = 0.016). The prevalence of HBsAg was 0.3%, and it did not vary with age. Conclusion: The prevalence of both anti-rubella IgG and HBsAg among pregnant women in Kuwait was relatively high. However, about 11.6% of pregnant women in Kuwait remain susceptible to rubella infection and hence congenital infection and fetal malformation.
Acquired brachial‐plexus neuropathy in the neonate: a rare presentation of late‐onset group‐B streptococcal osteomyelitis

Acquired brachial‐plexus neuropathy outside the immediate neonatal period is uncommon. Pseudopalsy of a limb, associated with osteomyelitis, is well recognized. Acquired brachial‐plexus neuropathy as the initial presentation of osteomyelitis of the humerus in the neonatal period is described. Three infants presented at 3, 15, and 21 days respectively, with acute monoplegia consistent with brachial‐plexus neuropathy. The infants were afebrile and generally well. Initial radiographs of the humerus were normal and blood cultures grew group‐B streptococcus in all infants. Nerve conduction studies were consistent with brachial‐plexus neuropathy. Following intravenous antibiotics, there was complete recovery in all infants. Osteomyelitis of the humerus should be considered in infants in whom there are no overt signs of sepsis and who present with brachial‐plexus neuropathy. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment should result in a complete neurological recovery.
Emerging Mumps Infection.

M is one of the older described infectious diseases, first documented by Hippocrates in the fifth century BC. Before widespread use of mumps vaccines, mumps was a common disease of childhood, with nearly everyone having serologic evidence of prior infection by age 15. The virus is spread by direct contact with respiratory droplets. Salivary gland swelling, usually the parotid, is the most common physical manifestation; however, mumps virus, a paramyxovirus, can disseminate widely throughout the body, including the central nervous system, causing a wide array of medical presentations. For example, in the pre-vaccine era, mumps was the leading cause of viral encephalitis and sudden onset deafness in the United States.