La classification des gènes basée sur les CSP pondérés

National audienceThe classification of objects relative to a similarity or a given distance is a central problem in computational biology. Several well-known classification algorithms, such as partitioning problem of similar genes, are based on the transformation of the input matrix into a weighted graph, although the resulting weighted cluster editing problem is NP-hard. The goal is to transform the input graph into a union of disjoint cliques such as the sum of the weights of all modified edges is minimized. In this article, we propose an encoding of the classification of similar genes in terms of a Weighted Constraint Satisfaction Problem (WCSP), which we solve by an adapted version of an efficient constraint solver. We compare both quality and running times of these algorithms on protein similarity graphs. A comparison of our method with an exact fixed-parameter tractability method and an integer linear programming algorithm, two of the most used algorithms, shows that our approach is able to solve large instances with several thousand edge modifications.La classification des objets par rapportàrapportà une similitude ou une distance donnée est unprobì eme souvent rencontré dans desprobì emes de bio-informatique. Plusieurs algorithmes de classification bien connus, tel que les algorithmes de partitionnement des gènes similaires, sont basés sur la transformation de la matrice d'entrée vers un graphe pondéré bien que leprobì eme d'édition de graphe pondéré résultant est NP-difficile. Le but est de transformer le graphe en entrée en une union de cliques disjointes telles que la somme des poids de toutes les arêtes modifiées soit minimisée. Dans cet article, Nous présentons une nouvelle ap-proche pour leprobì eme de classification des gènes en terme deprobì eme de satisfaction de contrainte pondéré (WCSP). Uné etude comparative avec les deux approches les plus utilisées pour la résolution duprobì eme de classification des gènes similaires, qui sont les algorithmesàalgorithmesà paramètre fixe et les algorithmes s'appuyant sur la pro-grammation linéaire en nombre entier, sera proposée. Nous montrons que l'approche proposée permet souvent de trouver une solution optimale en temps raisonnable. Nous avons appliqué notre algorithmè a des données bio-logiques

Assessment of nitrogen and phosphate balance and the roles of bacteria and viruses at the water-sediment interface in the Allal El Fassi reservoir (Morocco)

International audienceBalances of nitrogen and phosphate were studied in the Allal El Fassi reservoir (Morocco); the results showing that nitrogen input (296 mg m−2 d−1) was 161 % higher than output (183 mg m−2 d−1). Phos-phate input (35.65 mg m−2 d−1) was 865 % higher thanoutput (4.12 mg m−2 d−1), causing a progressive increase in the internal phosphate stock. Sedimentation flux was equally high (53.80 and 18 mg m−2 d−1) for both nitrogen and phosphate input, mainly from the Sebou River and in particulate form which immediately settles upon arrival in the reservoir. The release of nitrogen and phosphate from the sediment (5.40 and1.15 mg m−2 d−1, respectively) depended on physico-chemical and biological (bacteria and viruses) variability and the calcareous nature of the catchment basin. Calcium-bound phosphate prevailed in the reservoir. Drastic control of phosphate input is suggested to avoid accumulation of calcium-bound phosphate which may dissociate and thereby contribute to eutrophication

SEMRAchain: A Secure Electronic Medical Record Based on Blockchain Technology

A medical record is an important part of a patient’s follow-up. It comprises healthcare professionals’ views, prescriptions, analyses, and all information about the patient. Several players, including the patient, the doctor, and the pharmacist, are involved in the process of sharing, and managing this file. Any authorized individual can access the electronic medical record (EMR) from anywhere, and the data are shared among various health service providers. Sharing the EMR requires various conditions, such as security and confidentiality. However, existing medical systems may be exposed to system failure and malicious intrusions, making it difficult to deliver dependable services. Additionally, the features of these systems represent a challenge for centralized access control methods. This paper presents SEMRAchain a system based on Access control (Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)) and a smart contract approach. This fusion enables decentralized, fine-grained, and dynamic access control management for EMR management. Together, blockchain technology as a secure distributed ledger and access control provides such a solution, providing system stakeholders with not just visibility but also trustworthiness, credibility, and immutability

Hand hygiene and biomedical waste management among medical students: a quasi-experimental study evaluating two training methods

Abstract Background Several studies revealed that medical students have low performance levels of hand hygiene (HH) and biomedical waste management (BMWM). However, there have been limited interventions directed at young students targeting HH and BMWM enhancement. Given these data, we aimed at assessing HH and BMWM among medical students after two training methods. Methods We performed a quasi-experimental study from September 2021 to May 2022, which included fifth-year medical students enrolled in the faculty of Medicine of Monastir (Tunisia). We relied on a conventional training based on presentations and simulations guided by the teacher and a student-centred training method based on courses and simulated exercises prepared by students. We used the WHO HH Knowledge Questionnaire and the “BMWM audit” validated by The Nosocomial Infection Control Committee in France. Results A total of 203 medical students were included (105 in the control group and 98 in the experimental group) with a mean age of 23 ± 0.7 years. Regarding HH, we found a statistically significant increase in post-test scores for both training methods. A higher post-test mean score was noted for student-centred method (14.1 ± 1.9 vs. 13.9 ± 2.3). The overall improvement in good HH knowledge rates was greater after student-centred method compared to conventional training (40.5% vs. 25%). Concerning infectious waste, mean scores were higher after student-centred learning in all hazardous waste management steps (25 ± 3.3 vs. 23.6 ± 5.5). Results Coupling student-centred teaching and continuous supervision could improve HH and BMWM knowledge and practices among medical students

Secure and Fast Emergency Road Healthcare Service Based on Blockchain Technology for Smart Cities

Road accidents occur everywhere in the world and the numbers of people dead or injured increase from time to time. People hope that emergency vehicles and medical staff will arrive as soon as possible at the scene of the accident. The development of recent technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) allows us to find solutions to ensure rapid movement by road in emergencies. Integrating the healthcare sector and smart vehicles, IoT ensures this objective. This integration gives rise to two paradigms: the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), where smart devices collect medical data from patients and transmit them to medical staff in real time. These data are extremely sensitive and must be managed securely. This paper proposes a system design that brings together the three concepts of Blockchain technology (BC), IoMT and IoV to address the problem mentioned above. The designed system is composed of three main parts: a list of hospitals, patient electronic medical record (EMR) and a network of connected ambulances. It allows the road user in the case of an accident to report their position to the nearby health services and ambulances

An insecticide further enhances experience-dependent increased behavioural responses to sex pheromone in a pest insect

Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used to protect plants against pest insects, and insecticide residues remaining in the environment affect both target and non-target organisms. Whereas low doses of neonicotinoids have been shown to disturb the behaviour of pollinating insects, recent studies have revealed that a low dose of the neonicotinoid clothianidin can improve behavioural and neuronal sex pheromone responses in a pest insect, the male moth Agrotis ipsilon, and thus potentially improve reproduction. As male moth behaviour depends also on its physiological state and previous experience with sensory signals, we wondered if insecticide effects would be dependent on plasticity of olfactory-guided behaviour. We investigated, using wind tunnel experiments, whether a brief pre-exposure to the sex pheromone could enhance the behavioural response to this important signal in the moth A. ipsilon at different ages (sexually immature and mature males) and after different delays (2 h and 24 h), and if the insecticide clothianidin would interfere with age effects or the potential pre-exposure-effects. Brief pre-exposure to the pheromone induced an age-independent significant increase of sex pheromone responses 24 h later, whereas sex pheromone responses did not increase significantly 2 h after exposure. However, response delays were significantly shorter compared to naive males already two hours after exposure. Oral treatment with clothianidin increased sex pheromone responses in sexually mature males, confirming previous results, but did not influence responses in young immature males. Males treated with clothianidin after pre-exposure at day 4 responded significantly more to the sex pheromone at day 5 than males treated with clothianidin only and than males pre-exposed only, revealing an additive effect of experience and the insecticide. Plasticity of sensory systems has thus to be taken into account when investigating the effects of sublethal doses of insecticides on behaviour

Effect of the combined treatment of pre-exposure and clothianidin on pheromone responses of 5-day-old <i>A</i>. <i>ipsilon</i> males.

<p>Four-day-old males were pre-exposed with 10 ng of the pheromone blend and subsequently orally treated with 10 ng of clothianidin. Behavioural responses to 1 ng of the pheromone blend were observed in the wind tunnel 24 h later (D5-PE4-CLO). Unexperienced and solvent-treated males, as well as pre-exposure- or clothianidin-treated males were used as controls. <b>(A)</b> Percentage of males showing oriented response. <b>(B)</b> Response delay and standard deviation of males showing oriented responses. The lower whisker presents the minimum, the lower hinge of the box is the first quartile, the line inside the box is the median, the upper hinge is the third quartile, and the extreme of the upper whisker is the maximum. Clothianidin further enhances oriented pheromone responses of <i>A</i>. <i>ipsilon</i> males after brief pre-exposure. Numbers in bars indicate the numbers of males tested (A) and number of males that showed an oriented response (B). Bars with the same letter are not significantly different (G-test for (A), Mann-Whitney test for (B), P < 0.05).</p

Design of experiments.

<p>Treatments were performed on 1-day-, 4-day-, and 5-day-old males, and behavioral tests in wind tunnel were performed either the same day of treatment or 24 h later. Test: behavioral test in wind tunnel.</p

Effect of pheromone pre-exposure on pheromone responses of <i>A</i>. <i>ipsilon</i> males of different ages tested 24 h after treatment.

<p>One-day-, 4-day- and 5-day-old males were pre-exposed for 3 min with 10 ng of the pheromone blend, and their oriented response to a 1 ng pheromone blend was analyzed in wind tunnel experiments 24 h later (D2-PE1, D5-PE4 and D6-PE5 respectively). Unexperienced 2-day-, 5-day- and 6-day-old males (D2, D5, and D6 males respectively) were used as controls. <b>(A)</b> Percentage of males showing oriented response. <b>(B)</b> Response delay and standard deviation of males showing oriented responses. The lower whisker presents the minimum, the lower hinge of the box is the first quartile, the line inside the box is the median, the upper hinge is the third quartile, and the extreme of the upper whisker is the maximum. Oriented pheromone responses are increased 24 h after brief pre-exposure independently of age. Numbers in bars indicate the numbers of males tested (A) and the number of males that showed an oriented response (B). Bars with the same letter are not significantly different (G-test for (A), Mann-Whitney test for (B), P < 0.05).</p