Local talent should code Africa’s algorithmic health infrastructures

Africa’s fourth industrial revolution has been dominated by discourses of infrastructure transformation which include digital healthcare. It is no secret that several smart hospitals in Africa are built through foreign direct investment. Amina Alaoui Soulimani argues that beyond the colonial gaze with which several of these hospitals are established, it is important to explore whether local talent should drive this innovation, and what these technologies mean for the management of patients’ personal data

Networks and student support are vital for developing African leaders in higher education

To navigate the region’s unique development challenges, Africa must harness its rapidly expanding population and promote ethical leadership among new generations. We look at the student support systems and networks needed to realise this potential through higher education

Towards a footwear design tool : Influence of shoe midsole properties and ground stiffness on the impact force during running

International audienceSeveral spring-damper-mass models of the human body have been developed in order to reproduce the measured ground vertical reaction forces during human running (McMahon and Cheng, 1990; Ferris and Farley, 1999; Liu and Nigg, 2000). In particular, Liu and Nigg introduced at the lower level of their model, i.e. at the interface between the human body and the ground, a nonlinear element representing simultaneously the shoe mid-soles and the ground flexibility. The ground reaction force is modelled as the force supported by this nonlinear element, whose parameters are identified from several sets of experimental data. This approach proved to be robust and quite accurate. However, it does not explicitly take into account the shoe and the ground properties. It turns out to be impossible to study the influence of shoe materials on the impact force, for instance for footwear design purposes. In this paper, a modification of the Liu and Nigg's model is suggested, where the original nonlinear element is replaced with a bi-layered spring-damper-mass model: the first layer represents the shoe mid-sole and the second layer is associated with the ground. Ground is modeled as an infinite elastic half-space. We have assumed a visco-elastic behaviour of the shoe material, so the damping of shoe material is taken into account. A methodology for the shoe soles characterization is proposed and used together with the proposed model. A parametric study is then conducted and the influence of the shoe properties on the impact force is quantified. Moreover, it is shown that impact forces are strongly affected by the ground stiffness, which should therefore be considered as an essential parameter in the footwear design

Apport de l'IRM dans la maladie de Creutzfeldt-Jakob: à propos d'un cas

La maladie de Creutzfeld-Jacob (MCJ) est une affection très rare et fatale qui atteint le système nerveux central. Elle est caractérisée par une détérioration mentale aboutissant à une démence progressive, une symptomatologie pyramidale et extra-pyramidale ainsi que des myolclonies. Un diagnostic précoce est essentiel pour prévenir la transmission interhumaine. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient âgé de 62 ans chez qui le diagnostic de MCJ sporadique a été retenu, en se basant sur le tableau clinique fait de syndrome démentiel avec myoclonies précédées de troubles du comportement, des hallucinations et de dépression, et sur les données de l'IRM encéphalique qui a montré des hyper signaux au niveau du striatum et au niveau cortical en séquences pondérées Flair et diffusion

Characterization of Subcellular Organelles in Cortical Perisynaptic Astrocytes

Perisynaptic astrocytic processes (PAPs) carry out several different functions, from metabolite clearing to control of neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. All these functions are likely orchestrated by complex cellular machinery that resides within the PAPs and relies on a fine interplay between multiple subcellular components. However, traditional transmission electron microscopy (EM) studies have found that PAPs are remarkably poor of intracellular organelles, failing to explain how such a variety of PAP functions are achieved in the absence of a proportional complex network of intracellular structures. Here, we use serial block-face scanning EM to reconstruct and describe in three dimensions PAPs and their intracellular organelles in two different mouse cortical regions. We described five distinct organelles, which included empty and full endosomes, phagosomes, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cisternae, distributed within three PAPs categories (branches, branchlets, and leaflets). The majority of PAPs belonged to the leaflets category (~60%), with branchlets representing a minority (~37%). Branches were rarely in contact with synapses (<3%). Branches had a higher density of mitochondria and ER cisternae than branchlets and leaflets. Also, branches and branchlets displayed organelles more frequently than leaflets. Endosomes and phagosomes, which accounted for more than 60% of all the organelles detected, were often associated with the same PAP. Likewise, mitochondria and ER cisternae, representing ~40% of all organelles were usually associated. No differences were noted between the organelle distribution of the somatosensory and the anterior cingulate cortex. Finally, the organelle distribution in PAPs did not largely depend on the presence of a spine apparatus or a pre-synaptic mitochondrion in the synapse that PAPs were enwrapping, with some exceptions regarding the presence of phagosomes and ER cisternae, which were slightly more represented around synapses lacking a spine apparatus and a presynaptic mitochondrion, respectively. Thus, PAPs contain several subcellular organelles that could underlie the diverse astrocytic functions carried out at central synapses

Une pneumopathie interstitielle diffuse révélant un syndrome des antisynthétases: à propos de 2 cas

Le syndrome des antisynthétases (SAS) est une myopathie inflammatoire fréquemment associée à une atteinte pulmonaire, surtout parenchymateuse (pneumopathie infiltrante diffuse). Les manifestations extrathoraciques associées à l'atteinte pulmonaire peuvent orienter le diagnostic: myalgies, polyarthralgies, syndrome de Raynaud, hyperkératose érythémateuse palmaire fissuraire et fièvre. Devant un tableau clinique et radiologique évocateur, la présence d'anticorps anti-ARN-t synthétases permet de confirmer notamment les anti-Jo-1. L'atteinte pulmonaire constitue un facteur pronostic majeur d'où l'indication une thérapie immunosuppressive intensive fondée sur la corticothérapie, les immunosuppresseurs ou l'association des deux. Une meilleure sensibilisation pour cette affection à révélation pulmonaire permettra d'adopter une prise en charge rapide et adéquate, et d'améliorer par conséquent le pronostic

L’impact des investissements des footballeurs marocains sur la promotion du tourisme et du sport local

Some Moroccan professional footballers have been able to gather a significant financial windfall through salaries, transfer bonuses, advertising contracts and other revenues. These footballers inject these revenues, directly or indirectly, into the national economic circuit. Within this framework, this research focuses on the contribution of Moroccan footballers to sustainable local development through investment in projects in their home region. Indeed, following the example of a Cameroonian footballer who launched a project in Yaoundé to fight against pollution and to create jobs for unemployed youth, these footballers, after years of service to national soccer, have a societal responsibility towards their country. This article aims to present, through a unique exploratory case study, the investments of a Moroccan footballer who owns a tourist complex (cafeteria, restaurant, pastry shop, etc.) and founded an academy in his city, as well as the contribution of a footballer to the promotion of tourism and to the local socio-economic and sporting development. This article also questions the opportunities offered and the difficulties encountered. The results of the qualitative study conducted on the basis of a semi-structured interview show that the footballer's investments have succeeded in attracting tourists, creating employment and developing the practice of soccer in an academic and professional manner in the city of Marrakech. However, some constraints are encountered such as the administrative heaviness and the lack of an entrepreneurial and managerial culture of the footballer.   Keywords: Sport, tourism, footballers, investment, socio-economic development. JEL Classification: L83, Z20 Paper type: Empirical research  Certains footballeurs professionnels marocains ont pu disposer d’une manne financière importante amassée à l’aide des salaires, des primes de transferts, des contrats publicitaires et bien d’autres revenus. Ces footballeurs injectent ces recettes, directement ou indirectement, dans le circuit économique national. C’est dans ce cadre que s’inscrit cette recherche qui s’intéresse à la contribution des footballeurs marocains au développement local durable à travers l’investissement dans des projets dans leur région d’origine. En effet, à l’instar d’un footballeur camerounais qui a lancé un projet à Yaoundé afin de lutter contre la pollution et pour créer des emplois au profit des jeunes désœuvrés, ces footballeurs, après des années au service du football national, ont une responsabilité sociétale envers leur pays. Cet article vise à présenter, à travers une étude de cas unique à caractère exploratoire, les investissements d’un footballeur marocain qui est propriétaire d’un complexe touristique (café, restaurant, pâtisserie, etc.) et fondateur d’une académie de football dans sa ville d’origine, la contribution d’un footballeur à la promotion du tourisme et au développement socio-économique et sportif local. Il s’interroge également sur les opportunités offertes et les difficultés rencontrées. Les résultats de l’étude qualitative réalisée sur la base d’un entretien semi-directif dont les données ont été traitées à l’aide de l’analyse du contenu montrent que les investissements du footballeur ont réussi à attirer des touristes, à créer de l’emploi et à développer la pratique du football d’une façon académique et professionnelle dans la ville natale du footballeur. Toutefois, certaines contraintes sont rencontrées telles que les lourdeurs administratives et la faible maîtrise d’une culture entrepreneuriale et managériale du footballeur.   Mots clés : Sport, tourisme, footballeurs, investissement, développement socio-économique Classification JEL : L83, Z20 Type de l’article : Recherche empirique &nbsp

Real-time monitoring device “panigraph” for bread fermentation with an Arduino-based data acquisition and management system

Monitoring and evaluating fermentative performance of sourdough used in bakery products typically involves discontinuous, destructive and costly analyses, resulting in substantial data that is expensive to exploit using conventional methods. The performance of sourdough is determined by its capacity to efficiently leaven the dough in the briefest timeframe possible, while simultaneously reducing the pH to an optimal level. This pH reduction facilitates the activity of enzymes, notably phytases, which break down phytates. Additionally, sourdough has the ability to generate ethanol, a crucial element contributing to the flavor and shelf life of the bread. A new, low-cost, non-destructive device has been developed with a system for real-time data acquisition, monitoring, visualization, as well as data processing, consolidation, and storage, thus simplifying the study of sourdough performance. Multiple specific sensors were integrated into an Arduino Uno board and placed in a connected fermentation chamber controlled by computer-installed software. The developed device enables real-time monitoring of critical parameters during sourdough fermentation. These include dough rising DRC (cm), gas release (CO2, ethanol) (ppmv or ml), pH, conductivity (uS/cm), moisture (%) and dough mass loss (g). Additionally, it measures temperature (°C), air humidity (%) and pressure (mbar) within the fermentation chamber. The device generates graphs, facilitating visual comparisons of sourdough fermentative performance. This graphical representation makes it easy to determine the end of fermentation. The developed application facilitated the management and utilization of the sourdough database. The device enables researchers to save time, reagents and equipment that are usually dedicated to such analyses. It achieves this by offering continuous and simultaneous monitoring of various sourdough fermentation parameters, allowing for an assessment of their fermenting capacity. Keywords: Sourdough, bread, fermentative capacity, data acquisition, monitorin

Increased interaction between endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria following sleep deprivation

Background: Prolonged cellular activity may overload cell function, leading to high rates of protein synthesis and accumulation of misfolded or unassembled proteins, which cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) to re-establish normal protein homeostasis. Previous molecular work has demonstrated that sleep deprivation (SD) leads to ER stress in neurons, with a number of ER-specific proteins being upregulated to maintain optimal cellular proteostasis. It is still not clear which cellular processes activated by sleep deprivation lead to ER-stress, but increased cellular metabolism, higher request for protein synthesis, and over production of oxygen radicals have been proposed as potential contributing factors. Here, we investigate the transcriptional and ultrastructural ER and mitochondrial modifications induced by sleep loss.Results: We used gene expression analysis in mouse forebrains to show that SD was associated with significant transcriptional modifications of genes involved in ER stress but also in ER-mitochondria interaction, calcium homeostasis, and mitochondrial respiratory activity. Using electron microscopy, we also showed that SD was associated with a general increase in the density of ER cisternae in pyramidal neurons of the motor cortex. Moreover, ER cisternae established new contact sites with mitochondria, the so-called mitochondria associated membranes (MAMs), important hubs for molecule shuttling, such as calcium and lipids, and for the modulation of ATP production and redox state. Finally, we demonstrated that Drosophila male mutant flies (elav > linker), in which the number of MAMs had been genetically increased, showed a reduction in the amount and consolidation of sleep without alterations in the homeostatic sleep response to SD. Conclusions: We provide evidence that sleep loss induces ER stress characterized by increased crosstalk between ER and mitochondria. MAMs formation associated with SD could represent a key phenomenon for the modulation of multiple cellular processes that ensure appropriate responses to increased cell metabolism. In addition, MAMs establishment may play a role in the regulation of sleep under baseline conditions