The Electrophoretic Profile Myofibrillar Proteins Extracted From Camel Muscles, Kept in Various Modes

Changes in electrophoretic profiles of myofibrillar protein (MFP) in the Longissimus thoracis (LD) of young camels (2 to 4 years), preserved by refrigeration has been treated or not by lactic acid solution 4% or citric acid 1%, were followed during the post-mortem time at the following times: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 hours. The cold preservation for 48 hours has not shown any particular distinctions in the protein profiles of this muscle. Changes related to the type of treatment were recorded during the storage time. Proteolysis of the myofibrillar fraction was earlier in this muscle in the case of treatment with one of two solutions of organic acids used, particularly in the case of using lactic acid. Indeed, these changes have affected at the first hour after slaughter the proteolysis of the myofibrillar proteins. Fragments of low molecular weight (42, 36, 33, 26, 23, 18, 16, 14 and 13 kDa) have been identified. The electrophoretic analysis showed that during refrigeration, LD treated with a solution of lactic acid is more sensitive to disruption phenomena and muscle protein proteolysis that lots of this muscle that even in the case of preservation by refrigeration only or by refrigeratio

Classification before regression for improving the accuracy of glucose quantification using absorption spectroscopy

This work contributes to the improvement of glucose quantification using near-infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (MIR), and combination of NIR and MIR absorbance spectroscopy by classifying the spectral data prior to the application of regression models. Both manual and automated classification are presented based on three homogeneous classes defined following the clinical definition of the glycaemic ranges (hypoglycaemia, euglycaemia, and hyperglycaemia). For the manual classification, partial least squares and principal component regressions are applied to each class separately and shown to lead to improved quantification results compared to when applying the same regression models for the whole dataset. For the automatic classification, linear discriminant analysis coupled with principal component analysis is deployed, and regressions are applied to each class separately. The results obtained are shown to outperform those of regressions for the entire dataset

Exploring data provenance in handwritten text recognition infrastructure:Sharing and reusing ground truth data, referencing models, and acknowledging contributions. Starting the conversation on how we could get it done

This paper discusses best practices for sharing and reusing Ground Truth in Handwritten Text Recognition infrastructures, and ways to reference and acknowledge contributions to the creation and enrichment of data within these Machine Learning systems. We discuss how one can publish Ground Truth data in a repository and, subsequently, inform others. Furthermore, we suggest appropriate citation methods for HTR data, models, and contributions made by volunteers. Moreover, when using digitised sources (digital facsimiles), it becomes increasingly important to distinguish between the physical object and the digital collection. These topics all relate to the proper acknowledgement of labour put into digitising, transcribing, and sharing Ground Truth HTR data. This also points to broader issues surrounding the use of Machine Learning in archival and library contexts, and how the community should begin toacknowledge and record both contributions and data provenance

Exploring Data Provenance in Handwritten Text Recognition Infrastructure: Sharing and Reusing Ground Truth Data, Referencing Models, and Acknowledging Contributions. Starting the Conversation on How We Could Get It Done

This paper discusses best practices for sharing and reusing Ground Truth in Handwritten Text Recognition infrastructures, as well as ways to reference and acknowledge contributions to the creation and enrichment of data within these systems. We discuss how one can place Ground Truth data in a repository and, subsequently, inform others through HTR-United. Furthermore, we want to suggest appropriate citation methods for ATR data, models, and contributions made by volunteers. Moreover, when using digitised sources (digital facsimiles), it becomes increasingly important to distinguish between the physical object and the digital collection. These topics all relate to the proper acknowledgement of labour put into digitising, transcribing, and sharing Ground Truth HTR data. This also points to broader issues surrounding the use of machine learning in archival and library contexts, and how the community should begin to acknowledge and record both contributions and data provenance

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The protective effect of Chrysanthemum fantanesii extract, vitamin E and C on sodium valproate-induced embryotoxicity in pregnant mice

investigated the ability of butanolic extract from leaves of Chrysanthemum fantanesii, vitamin E and C to modulate VPA-induced toxicity and oxidation damage in maternal and fetal tissues in mice. Plant extract, VPA and vitamins were administered orally to pregnant mice from the 6 to 17th day of gestation. Animals received plant extract (200 mg/kg per day), vitamin E (100 mg/kg per day) and vitamin C (8.3 mg/kg per day) with an oral administration of VPA (400 mg /kg per day) under the same conditions. On day 18 of gestation pregnant mice were sacrificed, fetuses, placenta and maternal tissues were removed, homogenized and used for the determination of lipid peroxidation rates (LPO) using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) method. Embryotoxicity was assessed by counting the number of implants, live and dead fetuses, and resumptions. The fetuses were observed for malformation including neural tube defect (Exencephaly), open eyes and skeletal malformation. The results show clearly that there is a positive correlation between the increase in LPO and congenital malformation. Plant extract, vitamin E and C caused partial decrease of embryo toxicity and congenital malformation induced by VPA in mic

Enfants marocains scolarisés : Essai de remédiation de la dyslexie phonologique

L'objectif général de cette étude est de tenter de répondre à la question de recherche suivante : « Est-ce que le logiciel Itinéraire Combinatoire, en contribuant au développement de la conscience phonologique, permet de remédier aux difficultés de lecture de l'enfant marocain atteint de la dyslexie phonologique ? » Les données de cette étude démontrent que le programme de remédiation de ces enfants dyslexiques via le logiciel Itinéraire Combinatoire a permis d'améliorer significativement leurs performances dans les différentes tâches de lecture à voix haute en arabe et, également, dans les différentes épreuves permettant d'estimer leur niveau de conscience phonologique dans les deux répertoires arabe et français. En revanche, les résultats permettent de montrer que ce logiciel ne semble pas suffire à lui seul pour remédier aux difficultés de lecture d'enfants atteints de la dyslexie phonologique