Analyse de données fonctionnelles : exemples d'applications en sciences du vivant

De nombreux travaux dans le domaine des sciences du vivant consistent à expliquer ou prédire le comportement d'une variable réponse en fonction d'une (ou plusieurs) variable(s) indépendante(s). Par exemple, prédire la productivité annuelle des cultures à partir de données climatiques est un enjeu de sécurité alimentaire. Identifier les facteurs associés à une sédentarité élevée chez les personnes âgées est essentielle pour cibler les actions de prévention de santé. Pour finir, d´écrire la dynamique épidémique d'une maladie des plantes est utile pour développer des méthodes de surveillance et de contrôle adaptées. Certaines de ces variables de réponse – comme la distribution d'activité physique dans la journée, les dégâts foliaires – ou indépendantes – comme les variables climatiques – sont caractérisées par des séries d'observations issues de processus continus, d'où leur appellation de données fonctionnelles. Analyser ces données " par morceaux " selon une approche multivariée ne permet pas de tenir compte du processus de génération sous-jacent. Alternativement, on peut exprimer ces observations sous la forme d'une fonction que l'on utilise ensuite à des fins de modélisation et/ou de prédiction. De la santé des humains à celle des plantes, en passant par la prédiction du rendement des culture, cette présentation propose d'aborder trois exemples d'application d'analyse de données fonctionnelles aux sciences du vivant

Advancing sustainable futures through education: A Montpellier case study on student-led advocacy for transdisciplinary approaches

This paper examines the transformative potential of integrating transdisciplinarity and systems thinking into educational practices, anchored in a participatory initiative by the Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions (MAK'IT). The study centres on engaging master's and doctoral students in co-creating educational proposals, underscoring the importance of a student-centred approach to tackle the diverse challenges of the 21st century. A preliminary brainstorming session allowed students to express their motivations, identify key themes, and lay the groundwork for further development. This culminated in a public conference where students presented their transformative education proposals. This conference facilitated interactions between students, a panel of experts spanning education, research, policy domains, and a broader audience, fostering critical dialogue. Key findings from this conference underscore the necessity of allocating resources, dismantling knowledge silos, addressing student inequalities, and enhancing educator preparedness. The study highlights the significance of multi-stakeholder dialogues in co-constructing transformative educational frameworks and suggests that educational institutions have a pivotal role in bridging the gap between science, policy, and society. Despite the promise, several challenges to curriculum revision emerge, including the need for immersive learning environments that demand adequate resources. The structure of tertiary institutions, often segregated into distinct faculties and departments, presents another barrier to fostering transdisciplinarity. Additionally, administrative constraints, particularly for international students, add to these challenges and call for nuanced strategies in advancing transformative education

Effect of bin width on variogram model accuracy: A case study of teak tree volume specific to Solomon clone in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia

The volume of teak trees (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) was analyzed using data from a teak plantation managed by the research and development team at Sabah Softwood Berhad in Brumas Camp, Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia. To fit the exponential model to the experimental variogram, various bin widths were used to obtain different variogram models. These models were plotted for comparison, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated. Additionally, cross-validation was performed to assess the predictive accuracy of each model for the unseen data. The analysis indicated that a bin width of 0.003—that was approximately 333 m apart—was ideal for fitting the exponential model. This width demonstrated the lowest RMSE and ideal graphical observations. This study confirms that selecting the optimal bin width significantly affects the accuracy of model predictions, regardless of the sample size

Characterization of biosecurity practices and viral infections on pig farms in Hong Kong

The objectives of this study were to characterize the biosecurity practices implemented on pig farms in Hong Kong and determine the between-farm prevalence of economically important viral pathogens. All active pig farms in Hong Kong (n = 40) were invited to participate in an interview-based survey using a Biocheck-UGent™ questionnaire to evaluate their biosecurity practices. Pen-level oral fluid samples were collected by cotton ropes to detect six target viral pathogens using RT-PCR: porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type-2 (PCV-2), swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine delta-coronavirus (PDCoV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV). Eighteen farms (45 %) accepted our invitation and participated in this study. Biosecurity practices were found to be inadequate in many areas, with an average overall score of 50.1 ± 9.4 (mean ± SD). The study farms scored higher for external biosecurity (56.4 ± 8.6) than internal biosecurity practices (43.9 ± 12.1). Among external biosecurity subcategories, breeding pig and semen purchase scored highest (93.2), while visitors and farmworkers scored lowest (23.5). In internal biosecurity, the disease management subcategory received the highest score (66.7). Only two external biosecurity subcategories, breeding pig and semen purchase (93.2), and farm location (70) exceeded the global average scores. Key deficiencies were identified in biosecurity protocols for visitors and workers, hygiene standards for feed, water, and equipment supplies, and measures to prevent disease transmission between compartments (farrowing, nursery, and finishing units). Over 90 % of participating farms implemented vaccination programs for PRRSV, PCV-2, porcine parvovirus (PPV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), and classical swine fever virus (CSFV) while no farms vaccinated against SIV, and vaccination for swine coronaviruses was sporadic. All target viruses except TGEV were detected at the farm level. The between-farm prevalences among the 18 study farms were PRRSV-2 (94.4 %), PRRSV-1 (38.9 %), PCV-2 (83.3 %), SIV (55.6 %), PDCoV (16.7 %), and PEDV (5.6 %). We provided comprehensive baseline information on the biosecurity practices of pig farms for the first time in Hong Kong. We identified critical areas of biosecurity for improvement and offered tailored recommendations to help the producers implement more effective prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases within and between farms

Summary document of the International Conference on Local Bioenergy for production units, BLP2025, 28-30 January 2025, Montpellier (France)

The speeches and discussions at the three-day BLP 2025 conference highlighted the challenges of developing small-scale bioenergy technologies, especially in terms of their economic viability and the reduction of harmful emissions. Compromises must be continuously made between the technical performance of equipment, production costs, and ease of use (ergonomics). Multiple presentations highlighted the need and importance of developing bioenergy for productive purposes, especially on small, potentially decentralized scales. This type of renewable energy is poised to become an increasingly important part of the energy mix of both northern and southern countries. The value of this type of international conference lies in its ability to provide much-needed practical input that is vital for shaping development aid policies and strategies. The conference provided an opportunity to take stock of recent technical advances, some of which show particular promise, and to reinforce the conviction that biomass can play a key role in a sustainable energy mix. In particular, scenarios for scaling up and circular economies encouraged the emergence of innovative solutions that optimize resource use while minimizing environmental impacts. These avenues offered valuable insights into overcoming existing obstacles and accelerating the transition to more sustainable and resilient energy systems. The event also helped strengthen a multidisciplinary community of researchers and companies engaged in small-scale bioenergy for productive use

Introduction - A worldwide perspective of geographical indications in a time of changes:crossed views between researchers, policy makers and practitioners

Geographical indications (GIs) are signs used to designate products having a specific geographical origin and possessing qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Actually, the world's food and artisanal heritage encompasses a multitude of products linked to their origin that rely on the knowledge, skills, practices and traditions developed collectively by local producers over time and transmitted across generations. GIs are an intellectual property right granting exclusive right to use the name that can particularly benefit local producers, and particularly smallholders, and be therefore a tool to preserve and promote origin

Young apple tree development under agroforestry radiative conditions: A multi-scale morphological and architectural dataset

Agroforestry is a major adaptation and mitigation strategy facing climate warming, but its agronomic viability depends on actual plant responses to shade conditions. Growing fruit trees under dominant trees may reduce the risks related to extreme climatic events, such as frost or heat waves. Nonetheless, except for some sciaphilous plants, such as coffee or cacao, their physiological and architectural responses to agroforestry conditions are little known, especially in temperate climate. We present a dataset describing the architecture and morphology of 45 young apple trees, acquired in two consecutive years, along a radiative gradient, as in three growing conditions of an agroforestry plot: (i) the open field, (ii) between, and (iii) along rows of dominant walnut trees. The data are stored as standard multi-scale tree graphs that allow to store the topology, geometry, and attributes of the plant at different scales. It includes plant traits at three topological scales: whole tree, growth unit, and the internode. The traits include organ fate (latent, vegetative, floral bud, and bud extinction sites); length and an estimate of the leaf area of growth units; diameter, zenith, and azimuth angles of second-order branches. The number of leaves, flowers, fruits, and fruit drops is also counted on a sample of 10, possibly apical, flower buds per tree. The dataset includes ancillary measurements on sampled shoots, used to derive allometric relationships between shoot length and leaf area; and an estimate of the radiation reaching each apple tree during the vegetative season. The multi-scale description and the different light growing conditions characterizing the digitized trees allow to investigate relationships between the shade-related agroforestry environment and the apple tree morphological and architectural plasticity, during the early tree development, from the internode to the whole tree