De l'eau aux dattes : aperçu de la filière datte tunisienne et perspectives d'interventions

La modernisation et l'extension des aménagements hydrauliques dans les oasis du Sud tunisien renchérissent le coût de l'eau tout en accentuant la pression sur la ressource. Or ces oasis sont majoritairement orientées vers la production d'une variété de datte destinée principalement au marché international, la Deglet el Nour. La valorisation de l'eau par ces systèmes de production, et plus généralement, leur durabilité économique et écologique sont donc dépendantes du fonctionnement et des performances de la filière datte, particulièrement dans sa composante exportatrice. Partant des nombreuses études réalisées, complétées par un ensemble d'interviews réalisé dans le cadre du projet Sirma, cet article présente un aperçu de l'organisation et du fonctionnement de la filière. Celle-ci comprend 3 grands types d'acteurs : des producteurs nombreux, de petite taille et atomisés, des conditionneurs-exportateurs peu nombreux mais intégrant faiblement l'amont et l'aval, et des collecteurs jouant le rôle d'intermédiaires entre les précédents. La filière fonctionne essentiellement sous la forme d'un marché spot, sans réelle maîtrise des quantités et qualités livrées. Des stratégies d'investissement dans des capacités de stockage apparaissent néanmoins avec le décalage à venir entre la période de récolte (octobre à décembre) et le ramadan, pic de consommation. Quelques perspectives d'intervention sont tirées de ce premier diagnostic, replacées dans une problématique plus générale de supply chain management

Simulation of a water market in Tunisia : A case study of GIC Melalsa – Kairouan

International audienceWater pricing has been a key concern in Tunisia for the last two decades. It is recognized that the average price of water remains very low as compared to the marginal value of water as well to the cost of mobilization of water. Alternatives to better allocation of water resources have been sought mainly with the increasing scarcity of this resource and the expanding irrigated lands. Failure to estimate a water price that reflects its real value would lead to sub-optimal allocation of water and in general to policy failure problems. Water markets have been a promising institutional arrangement for better allocation of water as demonstrated by diverse experiences of many countries. This paper attempts to examine the effects of the implementation of a market for water in Tunisia. Our hypothesis is that market allocation of water resources would improve the value of water (water price) and its distribution among farmers. Users will adjust their demand for water and then change production patterns, which lead to improved farm revenues (total farmers revenues). The paper compares the baseline (current) allocation to allocations based on alternative market structures extremes namely pure competition and monopoly

Optical techniques for 3D surface reconstruction in computer-assisted laparoscopic surgery

One of the main challenges for computer-assisted surgery (CAS) is to determine the intra-opera- tive morphology and motion of soft-tissues. This information is prerequisite to the registration of multi-modal patient-specific data for enhancing the surgeon’s navigation capabilites by observ- ing beyond exposed tissue surfaces and for providing intelligent control of robotic-assisted in- struments. In minimally invasive surgery (MIS), optical techniques are an increasingly attractive approach for in vivo 3D reconstruction of the soft-tissue surface geometry. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art methods for optical intra-operative 3D reconstruction in laparoscopic surgery and discusses the technical challenges and future perspectives towards clinical translation. With the recent paradigm shift of surgical practice towards MIS and new developments in 3D opti- cal imaging, this is a timely discussion about technologies that could facilitate complex CAS procedures in dynamic and deformable anatomical regions

Guidance on Noncorticosteroid Systemic Immunomodulatory Therapy in Noninfectious Uveitis: Fundamentals Of Care for UveitiS (FOCUS) Initiative

Topic: An international, expert-led consensus initiative to develop systematic, evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of noninfectious uveitis in the era of biologics. Clinical Relevance: The availability of biologic agents for the treatment of human eye disease has altered practice patterns for the management of noninfectious uveitis. Current guidelines are insufficient to assure optimal use of noncorticosteroid systemic immunomodulatory agents. Methods: An international expert steering committee comprising 9 uveitis specialists (including both ophthalmologists and rheumatologists) identified clinical questions and, together with 6 bibliographic fellows trained in uveitis, conducted a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol systematic review of the literature (English language studies from January 1996 through June 2016; Medline [OVID], the Central Cochrane library, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, BIOSIS, and Web of Science). Publications included randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective studies with sufficient follow-up, case series with 15 cases or more, peer-reviewed articles, and hand-searched conference abstracts from key conferences. The proposed statements were circulated among 130 international uveitis experts for review. A total of 44 globally representative group members met in late 2016 to refine these guidelines using a modified Delphi technique and assigned Oxford levels of evidence. Results: In total, 10 questions were addressed resulting in 21 evidence-based guidance statements covering the following topics: when to start noncorticosteroid immunomodulatory therapy, including both biologic and nonbiologic agents; what data to collect before treatment; when to modify or withdraw treatment; how to select agents based on individual efficacy and safety profiles; and evidence in specific uveitic conditions. Shared decision-making, communication among providers and safety monitoring also were addressed as part of the recommendations. Pharmacoeconomic considerations were not addressed. Conclusions: Consensus guidelines were developed based on published literature, expert opinion, and practical experience to bridge the gap between clinical needs and medical evidence to support the treatment of patients with noninfectious uveitis with noncorticosteroid immunomodulatory agents

Mesure et Analyse de l’Efficacité des Etablissements de la Formation Professionnelle en Tunisie

Le présent travail a pour objectif de mesurer et d’analyser l’efficacité des établissements de la formation professionnelle en Tunisie. Pour cela, une méthodologie en deux étapes a été utilisée. La première étape concerne l’estimation de l’efficacité technique par le modèle BCC (1984). La deuxième étape estime l’efficacité allocative en utilisant les modèles des coûts d’ombre: Kumbhakar (1996) et Balk (1997). Les principaux résultats montrent, d’une part, que ces établissements peuvent être classés, par niveau d’efficacité technique, en trois groupes. Le groupe hautement efficace, dont les scores dépassent 0.8, renferme 20% des établissements. Le groupe moyennement efficace, dont les scores sont entre 0.5 et 0.79, renferme 46%. Enfin, le groupe faiblement efficace, avec des scores inferieurs à 0.5, contient le reste des centres. D’autre part, les résultats montrent que les centres sont allocativement efficaces (\u3e 0.8). This paper aims to measure and analyze efficiency of public training establishments in Tunisia. For that, a two-stage methodology is used. The first stage estimates technical efficiency scores using the BCC model (1984). The second, based on results of the first stage, estimates allocative ones using shadow cost models: Kumbhakar (1996) and Balk (1997). The main results provide, on the one hand, that establishments could be classified, by technical efficiency level, into three groups. The most efficient group, with scores higher than 0.8, includes 20% of establishments. The middle efficient group, with scores between 0.5 and 0.79, represents 46%. Finally, the rest (34%) represent a lower efficient group with scores under 0.5. However, results show that centers are allocatively efficient (\u3e0.8)

Perception of haptic motion is enhanced during conditions of increased postural stability

International audienceBackground: Coupling between postural sway and fingertip displacement has been observed in individuals lightly touching a moving surface. This can be attributed to the central nervous system (CNS) misinterpreting surface motion as self-motion, evoking a compensatory sway response.Research question: Does baseline postural state influence the correct perception of haptic object motion? Methods: Motion perception detection thresholds of index finger displacement at 1 mm.s *1 velocity during light touch were determined for three postural conditions: standing with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC), and sitting with eyes closed. For the standing condition with eyes shut, displacement thresholds were measured using three velocities (1, 2 & 4 mm.s *1).Results: Postural condition had a large influence on motion perception, with a reduction in displacement threshold from 12 ô 6 ô 2 mm during the transition from standing ECô standing EOô sitting EC. A systematic decrease in displacement perception threshold was observed with increasing velocity. This tends to suggest that the increase of the touched object velocity may help overcoming the misinterpretation.Significance: These results suggest that the ability to disambiguate self motion from haptic motion is enhanced during stable postures, and when stimulus velocity is high. Our findings may help to understand the mechanisms underlying the coupling between surface movements and postural sway, reported in the literature