Random Forest based Qantile Oriented Sensitivity Analysis indices estimation

International audienceWe propose a random forest based estimation procedure for Quantile-Oriented Sensitivity Analysis—QOSA. In order to be efficient, a cross-validation step on the leaf size of trees is required. Our full estimation procedure is tested on both simulated data and a real dataset. Our estimators use either the bootstrap samples or the original sample in the estimation. Also, they are either based on a quantile plug-in procedure (the R-estimators) or on a direct minimization (the Q-estimators). This leads to 8 different estimators which are compared on simulations. From these simulations, it seems that the estimation method based on a direct minimization is better than the one plugging the quantile. This is a significant result because the method with direct minimization requires only one sample and could therefore be preferred

Doubly nonlinear diffusive PDEs: new existence results via generalized Wasserstein gradient flows

We prove an existence result for a large class of PDEs with a nonlinear Wasserstein gradient flow structure. We use the classical theory of Wasserstein gradient flow to derive an EDI formulation of our PDE and prove that under some integrability assumptions on the initial condition the PDE is satisfied in the sense of distributions

Exploring the Methodological Approaches of Studies on Radiographic Databases Used in Cariology to Feed Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Review

International audienceIntroduction: A growing number of studies on diagnostic imaging show superior efficiency and accuracy of computer-aided diagnostic systems compared to those of certified dentists. This methodological systematic review aimed to evaluate the different methodological approaches used by studies focusing on machine learning and deep learning that have used radiographic databases to classify, detect, and segment dental caries. Methods: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO before data collection (CRD42022348097). Literature research was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science until December 2022, without language restrictions. Studies and surveys using a dental radiographic database for the classification, detection, or segmentation of carious lesions were sought. Records deemed eligible were retrieved and further assessed for inclusion by two reviewers who resolved any discrepancies through consensus. A third reviewer was consulted when any disagreements or discrepancies persisted between the two reviewers. After data extraction, the same reviewers assessed the methodological quality using the CLAIM and QUADAS-AI checklists. Results: After screening 325 articles, 35 studies were eligible and included. The bitewing was the most commonly used radiograph (n = 17) at the time when detection (n = 15) was the most explored computer vision task. The sample sizes used ranged from 95 to 38,437, while the augmented training set ranged from 300 to 315,786. Convolutional neural network was the most commonly used model. The mean completeness of CLAIM items was 49% (SD ± 34%). The applicability of the CLAIM checklist items revealed several weaknesses in the methodology of the selected studies: most of the studies were monocentric, and only 9% of them used an external test set when evaluating the model’s performance. The QUADAS-AI tool revealed that only 43% of the studies included in this systematic review were at low risk of bias concerning the standard reference domain. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that the overall scientific quality of studies conducted to feed artificial intelligence algorithms is low. Some improvement in the design and validation of studies can be made with the development of a standardized guideline for the reproducibility and generalizability of results and, thus, their clinical applications

Spatial attention in mental arithmetic: A literature review and meta-analysis

International audienceWe review the evidence for the conceptual association between arithmetic and space and quantify the effect size in meta-analyses. We focus on three effects: (a) the operational momentum effect (OME), which has been defined as participants’ tendency to overestimate results of addition problems and underestimate results of subtraction problems, (b) the arithmetic cueing effect, in which arithmetic problems serve as spatial cues in target detection or temporal order judgment tasks, and (c) the associations between arithmetic and space observed with eye- and hand-tracking studies. The OME was consistently found in paradigms that provided the participants with numerical response alternatives. The OME shows a large effect size, driven by an underestimation during subtraction while addition was unbiased. In contrast, paradigms in which participants indicated their estimate by transcoding their final estimate to a spatial reference frame revealed no consistent OME. Arithmetic cueing studies show a reliable small to medium effect size, driven by a rightward bias for addition. Finally, eye- and hand-tracking studies point to replicable associations between arithmetic and eye or hand movements. To account for the complexity of the observed pattern, we introduce the Adaptive Pathways in Mental Arithmetic (APiMA) framework. The model accommodates central notions of numerical and arithmetic processing and helps identifying which pathway a given paradigm operates on. It proposes that the divergence between OME and arithmetic cueing studies comes from the predominant use of non-symbolic versus symbolic stimuli, respectively. Overall, our review and findings clearly support an association between arithmetic and spatial processing

A Late Pleistocene coastal ecosystem in French Guiana was hyperdiverse relative to today

International audienceWarmer temperatures and higher sea level than today characterized the Last Interglacialinterval [Pleistocene, 128 to 116 thousand years ago (ka)]. This period is a remarkabledeep-time analog for temperature and sea-level conditions as projected for 2100 AD, yet there has been no evidence of fossil assemblages in the equatorial Atlantic. Here, we report foraminifer, metazoan (mollusks, bony fish, bryozoans, decapods, and sharks among others), and plant communities of coastal tropical marine and mangrove affinities, dating precisely from a ca. 130 to 115 ka time interval near the Equator, at Kourou, in French Guiana. These communities include ca. 230 recent species, some being endangered today and/or first recorded as fossils. The hyperdiverse Kourou mollusk assemblage suggests stronger affinities between Guianese and Caribbean coastal waters by the Last Interglacial than today, questioning the structuring role of the Amazon Plume on tropical Western Atlantic communities at the time. Grassland-dominated pollen, phytoliths, and charcoals from younger deposits in the same sections attest to a marine retreat and dryer conditions during the onset of the last glacial (ca. 110 to 50 ka), with a savanna-dominated landscape and episodes of fire. Charcoals from the last millennia suggest human presence in a mosaic of modern-like continental habitats. Our resultsprovide key information about the ecology and biogeography of pristine Pleistocene tropical coastal ecosystems, especially relevant regarding the—widely anthropogenic— ongoing global warming

Connaître une ascension sociale en devenant entrepreneur de nettoyage et désinfection après décès

International audienceStill little-known in France, the cleaning and disinfection of premises after death business is a relatively easy professional speciality for working-class or lower-middle-class men to enter, since it requires neither a specific diploma nor significant economic capital. The article shows that people don’t become a contractor in the cleaning and disinfection of premises after death at the end of their initial training, but rather during the course of their career, by following one of three typical career mobility paths : internal mobility within the cleaning sector, reconversion between adjacent sectors, or bifurcation. Access to self-employed status and to an activity that can be enhanced by specific technical and interpersonal skills makes it possible to pursue a career path that leads to promotion and enjoy a satisfactory relationship with the activity.Encore peu connue en France, l’activité de nettoyage et désinfection après décès est une spécialité professionnelle relativement facile d’accès pour des hommes de classes populaires ou de petites classes moyennes puisqu’elle n’exige ni diplôme spécifique ni capital économique important. L’article montre qu’on ne devient pas entrepreneur de nettoyage et désinfection des lieux après décès à la fin de sa formation initiale, mais en cours de carrière en suivant l’un des trois parcours types de mobilité professionnelle : une mobilité interne au sein du secteur du nettoyage, une reconversion entre secteurs limitrophes ou une bifurcation. L’accès au statut d’indépendant et à une activité valorisable par des compétences techniques et des savoir-être spécifiques rend possible une trajectoire promotionnelle et un rapport satisfaisant à l’activité

Géoarchéologie côtière à Tyr (Liban) : paléogéographie de l'île, variations du niveau marin et bassins portuaires antiques

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Sharply 2-transitive groups of finite Morley rank

A sharply 2-transitive permutation group of finite Morley rank and characteristic 2 splits; a split sharply 2-transitive permutation group of finite Morley rank and characteristic different from 2 is the group of affine transformations of an algebraically closed field. In particular, a sharply 2-transitive permutation group of finite Morley rank of characteristic 3 is the group of affine transformations of an algebraically closed field of characteristic 3.Without any assumption on Morley rank, a sharply 2-transitive permutation group of characteristic 0 splits if its point stabilizers are virtually abelian

Distinct evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB and BA.2.86/JN.1 lineages combining increased fitness and antibody evasion

International audienceAbstract The unceasing circulation of SARS-CoV-2 leads to the continuous emergence of novel viral sublineages. Here, we isolate and characterize XBB.1, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.16.1, EG.5.1.1, EG.5.1.3, XBF, BA.2.86.1 and JN.1 variants, representing >80% of circulating variants in January 2024. The XBB subvariants carry few but recurrent mutations in the spike, whereas BA.2.86.1 and JN.1 harbor >30 additional changes. These variants replicate in IGROV-1 but no longer in Vero E6 and are not markedly fusogenic. They potently infect nasal epithelial cells, with EG.5.1.3 exhibiting the highest fitness. Antivirals remain active. Neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses from vaccinees and BA.1/BA.2-infected individuals are markedly lower compared to BA.1, without major differences between variants. An XBB breakthrough infection enhances NAb responses against both XBB and BA.2.86 variants. JN.1 displays lower affinity to ACE2 and higher immune evasion properties compared to BA.2.86.1. Thus, while distinct, the evolutionary trajectory of these variants combines increased fitness and antibody evasion

Clinical Characteristics, Developmental Trajectory, and Caregiver Burden of Patients With Creatine Transporter Deficiency ( SLC6A8 )

International audienceBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is a rare X-linked genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability (ID). We evaluated the clinical characteristics and trajectory of patients with CTD and the impact of the disease on caregivers to identify relevant endpoints for future therapeutic trials. METHODS: As part of a French National Research Program, patients with CTD were included based on (1) a pathogenic SLC6A8 variant and (2) ID and/or autism spectrum disorder. Families and patients were referred by the physician who ordered the genetic analysis through Reference Centers of ID from rare causes and inherited metabolic diseases. After we informed the patients and their parents/guardians about the study, all of them gave written consent and were included. A control group of age-matched and sex-matched patients with Fragile X syndrome was also included. Physical examination, neuropsychological assessments, and caregiver impact were assessed. All data were analyzed using R software. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (27 male, 4 female) were included (25/31 aged 18 years or younger). Most of the patients (71%) had symptoms at 36 (significantly higher than for patients with Fragile X syndrome) with a high burden of time dependence. DISCUSSION: In addition to clinical endpoints, such as the assessment of epilepsy and the developmental trajectory of the patient, the Vineland scale, PPVT5, and CBI are of particular interest as outcome measures for future trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: ANSM Registration Number 2010-A00327-32