Data Hiding Based on Connectivity Modification of 3D Mesh

Day by day, the amount of digital data has been rapidly increasing on the Internet. The size of 3D objects is very large and these objects need fast transmissions. Moreover, 3D data security becomes increasingly important for many applications, e.g., confidential transmission, video surveillance, military and medical applications. In this paper we present two new approaches of 3D object data hiding without changing the position of vertices in the 3D space. The main idea of the two proposed methods is to find and to synchronize particular areas of the 3D objects used to embed the message. The embedding is done by changing the connectivity of edges in the selected areas composed of quadrangles. The first proposed approach of data hiding in 3D objects is based on minimum spanning tree (MST) while the second approach is based on the projection on a secret axis of the quadrangle centers. These methods are lossless in the sense that the positions of the vertices are unchanged. Moreover they are blind and do not depend of the order of the data in the files. These two approaches are very interesting when the 3D objects have been digitalized with high precision.De nos jours, des visualisations ainsi que des transferts d’objets 3D sont couramment effectués pour de nombreuses applications allant du jeu vidéo à l’imagerie médicale en passant par l’industrie manufacturière. Dans cet article nous proposons deux nouvelles méthodes permettant de dissimuler des données dans des objets 3D sans modifier la position des sommets. L’idée principale des deux méthodes présentées est de trouver et de synchroniser des zones particulières dans l’objet 3D pouvant être utilisées pour insérer le message. L’insertion de données s’appuie sur la modification de la connexité des arêtes dans les zones sélectionnées composées de quadrangles. La différence entre les deux méthodes présentées est la manière de sélectionner et de synchroniser ces zones d’insertion. Alors que la première méthode s’appuie sur un arbre couvrant minimum (ACM), la seconde méthode utilise un axe sur lequel sont projetés les centres des zones d’insertion. Ces deux méthodes aveugles, protégées par utilisation de clefs secrètes, résistent à des transformations géométriques tels que les rotations, translations ou changement d’échelle et ne sont pas perturbées par des modifications directes de l’ordre des données dans les fichiers originaux. Ces approches trouvent un intérêt certain pour des objets 3D dont les sommets ont été acquis avec une grande précision et dont la modification n’est pas acceptable

Resumeq: A Novel Way of Monitoring Equine Diseases Through the Centralization of Necropsy Data

The French surveillance network for causes of equine mortality (Resumeq) was created in 2015 for the qualitative surveillance of equine mortality through the centralization in a national database of necropsy data and their subsequent epidemiological analysis. It was designed to identify the causes of equine mortality, monitor their evolution over time and space, and detect emerging diseases as early as possible. Resumeq is an event-based surveillance system involving various players and structures. It is organized around a steering body, a scientific and technical support committee and a coordination unit. Different tools have been developed specifically for Resumeq. These include standardized necropsy protocols, a thesaurus for the anatomopathological terms and the causes of equine death, and an interactive web application so that network contributors can display data analysis results. The four French veterinary schools, seventeen veterinary laboratories, and ten veterinary clinics already contribute to the production and centralization of standardized data. To date, the data from around 1,000 equine necropsies have been centralized. While most deaths were located in western France, the geographic coverage is gradually improving. Data analysis allows the main causes of death to be ranked and major threats identified on a local, regional or national level. Initial results demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of this national surveillance tool. Moreover, in the future, this surveillance could take an international dimension if several countries decided to jointly capitalize on their necropsy data

Myocardial injury following transcatheter aortic valve implantation : insights from delayed-enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence, localisation and extent of myocardial injury as determined by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods and results: A total of 37 patients, who underwent successful TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve (transapical [TA], n=11; non-TA, n=26), were included. Cardiac biomarker (CK-MB and cTnT) lev- els were determined at baseline and following TAVI. CMR was performed within a week before and within 30 days following TAVI. Some increase in cardiac biomarkers was detected in 97% of the patients as deter- mined by a rise in cTnT, and in 49% of the patients as determined by a rise in CK-MB. Following TAVI, no new myocardial necrosis defects were observed with the non-TA approach. Nonetheless, all patients who underwent TAVI through the TA approach had new focal myocardial necrosis in the apex, with a median myo-cardial extent and necrotic mass of 5% [2.0-7.0] and 3.5 g [2.3-4.5], respectively. Conclusions: Although some increase in cardiac biomarkers of myocardial injury was systematically detected following TAVI, new myocardial necrosis as evaluated by CMR was observed only in patients undergoing the procedure through the TA approach, involving ~5% of the myocardium in the apex

Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): a bottom-up and One Health approach

Background Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach. Objectives To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet. Methods The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Results EARS-Vet plans to monitor AMR in six animal species [cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens), turkeys, cats and dogs], for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Molecular data detecting the presence of ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and methicillin resistance shall be collected too. Conclusions A preliminary EARS-Vet scope was defined, with the potential to fill important AMR monitoring gaps in the animal sector in Europe. It should be reviewed and expanded as the epidemiology of AMR changes, more countries participate and national monitoring capacities improve.Peer reviewe

Pilot testing the EARS-Vet surveillance network for antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens from animals in the EU/EEA

IntroductionAs part of the EU Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare-Associated Infections, an initiative has been launched to build the European AMR Surveillance network in veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet). So far, activities included mapping national systems for AMR surveillance in animal bacterial pathogens, and defining the EARS-Vet objectives, scope, and standards. Drawing on these milestones, this study aimed to pilot test EARS-Vet surveillance, namely to (i) assess available data, (ii) perform cross-country analyses, and (iii) identify potential challenges and develop recommendations to improve future data collection and analysis.MethodsEleven partners from nine EU/EEA countries participated and shared available data for the period 2016–2020, representing a total of 140,110 bacterial isolates and 1,302,389 entries (isolate-antibiotic agent combinations).ResultsCollected data were highly diverse and fragmented. Using a standardized approach and interpretation with epidemiological cut-offs, we were able to jointly analyze AMR trends of 53 combinations of animal host-bacteria–antibiotic categories of interest to EARS-Vet. This work demonstrated substantial variations of resistance levels, both among and within countries (e.g., between animal host species).DiscussionKey issues at this stage include the lack of harmonization of antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods used in European surveillance systems and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, the absence of interpretation criteria for many bacteria–antibiotic combinations of interest, and the lack of data from a lot of EU/EEA countries where little or even surveillance currently exists. Still, this pilot study provides a proof-of-concept of what EARS-Vet can achieve. Results form an important basis to shape future systematic data collection and analysis

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018) : Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second change management strategy is proposed by ARIA Phase 4 to increase self-medication and shared decision making in rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity. An innovation of ARIA has been the development and validation of information technology evidence-based tools (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network [MASK]) that can inform patient decisions on the basis of a self-care plan proposed by the health care professional.Peer reviewe

Adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis using mobile technology. The MASK Study

Background: Mobile technology may help to better understand the adherence to treatment. MASK-rhinitis (Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) is a patient-centred ICT system. A mobile phone app (the Allergy Diary) central to MASK is available in 22 countries. Objectives: To assess the adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis patients using the Allergy Diary App. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out on all users who filled in the Allergy Diary from 1 January 2016 to 1 August 2017. Secondary adherence was assessed by using the modified Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) and the Proportion of days covered (PDC) approach. Results: A total of 12143 users were registered. A total of 6949 users reported at least one VAS data recording. Among them, 1887 users reported >= 7 VAS data. About 1195 subjects were included in the analysis of adherence. One hundred and thirty-six (11.28%) users were adherent (MPR >= 70% and PDC = 70% and PDC = 1.50) and 176 (14.60%) were switchers. On the other hand, 832 (69.05%) users were non-adherent to medications (MPR Conclusion and clinical relevance: Adherence to treatment is low. The relative efficacy of continuous vs on-demand treatment for allergic rhinitis symptoms is still a matter of debate. This study shows an approach for measuring retrospective adherence based on a mobile app. This also represents a novel approach for analysing medication-taking behaviour in a real-world setting.Peer reviewe

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19

Background: We previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15–20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in ~ 80% of cases. Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. Among the 928 patients tested for autoantibodies against type I IFN, a quarter (234) were positive and were excluded. Results: No gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI 1.5–528.7, P = 1.1 × 10−4) for biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR = 3.70[95%CI 1.3–8.2], P = 2.1 × 10−4). This enrichment was further strengthened by (1) adding the recently reported TYK2 and TLR7 COVID-19 loci, particularly under a recessive model (OR = 19.65[95%CI 2.1–2635.4], P = 3.4 × 10−3), and (2) considering as pLOF branchpoint variants with potentially strong impacts on splicing among the 15 loci (OR = 4.40[9%CI 2.3–8.4], P = 7.7 × 10−8). Finally, the patients with pLOF/bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD] = 43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P = 1.68 × 10−5). Conclusions: Rare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60 years old

Contribution à l’amélioration des systèmes de surveillance par l’interconnexion : application à trois maladies de la filière équine

Numerous animal and zoonotic infectious diseases are monitored in animals. In many animal industries, several epidemiological surveillance systems or components are implemented but neither connected nor coordinated. Furthermore, in some cases, several components monitor the same diseases in an independent way. This lack of coordination may impair the efficiency of the surveillance and increase the global costs. Our objective was to investigate how the interconnection between existing surveillance systems could improve the infectious diseases surveillance and how to implement such an interconnection.To address this question, we studied three French surveillance systems of equine infectious diseases: equine infectious anaemia, equine viral arteritis and equine contagious metritis. We used a three-step approach. First, we evaluated quantitatively the surveillance sensibility by using a capture-recapture method. Secondly, we assessed in a semi-quantitative and comparative way the organization and operation of the three systems and we identified the most relevant ways for interconnection. Thirdly, we organized a participative workshop gathering thirty stakeholders involved in equine healthcare and/or equine industry to estimate and prioritize the ways of interconnection. These studies have accurately underlined the strengths and weaknesses of the surveillance systems and they have resulted in practical recommendations of interconnection. The professionals from equine industry and the specialists in epidemiological surveillance involved in this work have approved and supported these recommendations. Feasibility, acceptability, priority and expected benefits of the recommendations were estimated. Our successive works have allowed to gradually involve numerous actors and beneficiaries of the surveillance in the interconnection process. In order to improve and enhance this approach -designed to help the preparation and the implementation of an interconnection- we propose to include optional complementary studies, such as economic, social and/or multicriteria evaluations.De nombreuses maladies infectieuses animales et zoonotiques font l’objet d’une surveillance chez l’animal. Dans certaines filières animales, plusieurs réseaux ou dispositifs sont mis en place sans qu’ils ne soient reliés ni coordonnés. De plus dans certains cas, plusieurs dispositifs surveillent les mêmes maladies mais de manière indépendante. Cette absence d’articulation peut conduire à un défaut d’efficacité des efforts de surveillance et à un coût global plus élevé. Notre travail s’est fixé pour objectif d’étudier en quoi l’interconnexion entre des dispositifs de surveillance déjà existants pourrait améliorer la surveillance des maladies infectieuses et comment mettre en œuvre une telle interconnexion.Pour tenter de répondre à cet objectif, nous avons pris comme support d’application trois systèmes de surveillance présents en France ayant pour objet des maladies infectieuses équines : l’anémie infectieuse des équidés, l’artérite virale équine et la métrite contagieuse équine. Nous avons adopté une démarche en trois étapes. Tout d’abord, une évaluation quantitative de la sensibilité de la surveillance a été menée à l’aide d’une méthode de capture-recapture. Deuxièmement nous avons évalué de manière semi-quantitative et comparative l’organisation et le fonctionnement général des trois systèmes de surveillance en identifiant les pistes d’interconnexion les plus pertinentes. Troisièmement, un atelier participatif réunissant une trentaine d’acteurs sanitaires et professionnels a été conduit afin d’évaluer et de hiérarchiser les solutions d’interconnexion. Ces travaux ont permis de fournir une vision claire et détaillée des qualités et des défauts des systèmes de surveillance. Ils ont aussi abouti à des recommandations d’interconnexion concrètes, ayant recueilli une adhésion large de la part des acteurs de la surveillance et de la filière, et pour lesquelles les bénéfices attendus et les niveaux de faisabilité, d’acceptabilité et de priorité ont été évalués. Ces travaux successifs ont également permis d’impliquer progressivement dans le processus un grand nombre d’acteurs et de bénéficiaires de la surveillance sanitaire équine. Afin d’enrichir cette démarche de préparation et d’accompagnement à la mise en œuvre d’une interconnexion, nous proposons d’y intégrer à l’avenir des travaux complémentaires éventuellement à conduire selon les besoins recensés, tels que des évaluations économiques, sociales ou multicritères

Contribution to the Improvement of Surveillance Systems Using Interconnection : Application in Three Equine Diseases

De nombreuses maladies infectieuses animales et zoonotiques font l’objet d’une surveillance chez l’animal. Dans certaines filières animales, plusieurs réseaux ou dispositifs sont mis en place sans qu’ils ne soient reliés ni coordonnés. De plus dans certains cas, plusieurs dispositifs surveillent les mêmes maladies mais de manière indépendante. Cette absence d’articulation peut conduire à un défaut d’efficacité des efforts de surveillance et à un coût global plus élevé. Notre travail s’est fixé pour objectif d’étudier en quoi l’interconnexion entre des dispositifs de surveillance déjà existants pourrait améliorer la surveillance des maladies infectieuses et comment mettre en œuvre une telle interconnexion.Pour tenter de répondre à cet objectif, nous avons pris comme support d’application trois systèmes de surveillance présents en France ayant pour objet des maladies infectieuses équines : l’anémie infectieuse des équidés, l’artérite virale équine et la métrite contagieuse équine. Nous avons adopté une démarche en trois étapes. Tout d’abord, une évaluation quantitative de la sensibilité de la surveillance a été menée à l’aide d’une méthode de capture-recapture. Deuxièmement nous avons évalué de manière semi-quantitative et comparative l’organisation et le fonctionnement général des trois systèmes de surveillance en identifiant les pistes d’interconnexion les plus pertinentes. Troisièmement, un atelier participatif réunissant une trentaine d’acteurs sanitaires et professionnels a été conduit afin d’évaluer et de hiérarchiser les solutions d’interconnexion. Ces travaux ont permis de fournir une vision claire et détaillée des qualités et des défauts des systèmes de surveillance. Ils ont aussi abouti à des recommandations d’interconnexion concrètes, ayant recueilli une adhésion large de la part des acteurs de la surveillance et de la filière, et pour lesquelles les bénéfices attendus et les niveaux de faisabilité, d’acceptabilité et de priorité ont été évalués. Ces travaux successifs ont également permis d’impliquer progressivement dans le processus un grand nombre d’acteurs et de bénéficiaires de la surveillance sanitaire équine. Afin d’enrichir cette démarche de préparation et d’accompagnement à la mise en œuvre d’une interconnexion, nous proposons d’y intégrer à l’avenir des travaux complémentaires éventuellement à conduire selon les besoins recensés, tels que des évaluations économiques, sociales ou multicritères.Numerous animal and zoonotic infectious diseases are monitored in animals. In many animal industries, several epidemiological surveillance systems or components are implemented but neither connected nor coordinated. Furthermore, in some cases, several components monitor the same diseases in an independent way. This lack of coordination may impair the efficiency of the surveillance and increase the global costs. Our objective was to investigate how the interconnection between existing surveillance systems could improve the infectious diseases surveillance and how to implement such an interconnection.To address this question, we studied three French surveillance systems of equine infectious diseases: equine infectious anaemia, equine viral arteritis and equine contagious metritis. We used a three-step approach. First, we evaluated quantitatively the surveillance sensibility by using a capture-recapture method. Secondly, we assessed in a semi-quantitative and comparative way the organization and operation of the three systems and we identified the most relevant ways for interconnection. Thirdly, we organized a participative workshop gathering thirty stakeholders involved in equine healthcare and/or equine industry to estimate and prioritize the ways of interconnection. These studies have accurately underlined the strengths and weaknesses of the surveillance systems and they have resulted in practical recommendations of interconnection. The professionals from equine industry and the specialists in epidemiological surveillance involved in this work have approved and supported these recommendations. Feasibility, acceptability, priority and expected benefits of the recommendations were estimated. Our successive works have allowed to gradually involve numerous actors and beneficiaries of the surveillance in the interconnection process. In order to improve and enhance this approach -designed to help the preparation and the implementation of an interconnection- we propose to include optional complementary studies, such as economic, social and/or multicriteria evaluations