Photon-number-resolving segmented avalanche-photodiode detectors

We investigate the feasibility and performance of photon-number-resolved photodetection employing avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with low dark counts. The main idea is to split n photons over m modes such that every mode has no more than one photon, which is detected alongside propagation by an APD. We characterize performance by evaluating the purities of positive-operator-valued measurements (POVMs), in terms of APD number and photon loss.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, submitted for publicatio

DIFFÉRENCES DANS LE RESPECT DES NORMES DU PROCESSUS DE STÉRILISATION DANS DES HÔPITAUX DE RÉFÉRENCE DE 3ÈME NIVEAU AU MALI ET AU SÉNÉGAL

La stérilisation est essentielle dans la prévention des infections nosocomiales et pour la sécurité des patients. Cette étude a pour objectif d’évaluer le respect des normes du processus de stérilisation des dispositifs médicaux et textiles opératoires dans hôpitaux du Mali et du Sénégal, en Afrique de l’ouest. Il s’agissait d’une étude prospective descriptive réalisée sur une période de quatre mois. Les données ont été recueillies par entretien avec les surveillants des unités de stérilisation centrale et par observation directe des pratiques de stérilisation. Elles ont été saisies et analysées avec le logiciel Epi info3.3.2. Des produits de nettoyage et de désinfection conformes aux normes en vigueur étaient disponibles dans 3 des 7 hôpitaux enquêtés. L’usage d’un emballage secondaire était pratiqué dans 2 hôpitaux au Sénégal. Au Mali, la moitié des hôpitaux stérilisait leurs dispositifs métalliques à la vapeur d'eau tandis qu’au Sénégal tous les hôpitaux le faisaient. Les unités de stérilisation évaluées dans les deux pays n’avaient pas encore mis en place un système d’assurance qualité. Dans 6 des hôpitaux, la place du pharmacien en unité de stérilisation était occultée et le personnel n’avait pas bénéficié de formation selon les bonnes pratiques de Stérilisation. Les insuffisances relevées ont permis de formuler des recommandations pour une meilleure pratique de la stérilisation et partant, l’amélioration de la qualité des soins dans les deux pays

Impact de l’usage des gants médicaux sur l’observance de l’hygiène des mains au cours des soins au Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire du Point G de Bamako

Objectif : Évaluer l'impact de l'usage des gants médicaux sur l'observance de l'hygiène des mains et promouvoir leur usage approprié. Matériel et Méthodes: Il s’agissait d’une étude interventionnelle avec une évaluation avant et après intervention. Sa mise en œuvre a été réalisée entre avril 2010 et octobre 2011 au Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire du Point G. Le recueil du consentement éclairé et les observations ont été effectués auprès du personnel soignant ayant un contact direct avec les patients avant et après intervention. Ces observations ont été discrètes mais ouvertes, menées auprès des soignants préalablement informés du but et du programme des activités. Résultats : Au total, 143 fiches de consentement éclairé ont été retournées sur une prévision de 274 fiches, soit 52,19%. Les observations ont donné un taux d’observance globale de 52,05% avant intervention contre 42,97% après intervention (p = 0,0017). Le taux global de port de gants était de 23,30% et 27,20% respectivement avant et après intervention (p = 0,12). Conclusion : Les résultats des deux évaluations avant et après intervention ont montré une amélioration du taux global de port des gants qui n’était pas significative mais sans impact sur l’observance de l’hygiène des mains

A major genetic locus in <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> is a determinant of host pathology

The progression and variation of pathology during infections can be due to components from both host or pathogen, and/or the interaction between them. The influence of host genetic variation on disease pathology during infections with trypanosomes has been well studied in recent years, but the role of parasite genetic variation has not been extensively studied. We have shown that there is parasite strain-specific variation in the level of splenomegaly and hepatomegaly in infected mice and used a forward genetic approach to identify the parasite loci that determine this variation. This approach allowed us to dissect and identify the parasite loci that determine the complex phenotypes induced by infection. Using the available trypanosome genetic map, a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) was identified on T. brucei chromosome 3 (LOD = 7.2) that accounted for approximately two thirds of the variance observed in each of two correlated phenotypes, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, in the infected mice (named &lt;i&gt;TbOrg1&lt;/i&gt;). In addition, a second locus was identified that contributed to splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and reticulocytosis (&lt;i&gt;TbOrg2&lt;/i&gt;). This is the first use of quantitative trait locus mapping in a diploid protozoan and shows that there are trypanosome genes that directly contribute to the progression of pathology during infections and, therefore, that parasite genetic variation can be a critical factor in disease outcome. The identification of parasite loci is a first step towards identifying the genes that are responsible for these important traits and shows the power of genetic analysis as a tool for dissecting complex quantitative phenotypic traits

Baseline survey of animal trypanosomosis in the region of the Boucle du Mouhoun, Burkina Faso

In view of gathering baseline information about the prevalence of animal trypanosomosis, the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) funded a cross sectional survey in the Region of the Boucle du Mouhoun which constitutes the Northern limit of the tsetse distribution in Burkina. This cross sectional study was carried out in 53 villages located in the 6 provinces of the region. A total of 2002 cattle, 1466 small ruminants and 481 donkeys were sampled. This survey showed that about 25% of the cattle had been treated with trypanocidal drugs within 3 months before the survey compared to 3% and 0.42% for the small ruminants and donkeys respectively. Parasitological prevalence in cattle was low: 0.77% (95% C.I. 0.30-1.95%). No goats and three donkeys were found infected with trypanosomes. Infections were mainly due to Trypanosoma vivax (75.0%) with cases of T. congolense (25.0%). In cattle, the serological prevalence of trypanosomosis, for the entire Region of the Boucle du Mouhoun, was 34.2% (95%C.I. 26.1-43.4%). For sheep, goats and donkeys, the prevalence were of 20.9% (95%C.I. 12.2-33.5%), 8.5% (95%C.I. 5.7-12.5%) and 5.8% (95%C.I. 3.9-8.6%) respectively.The age and distance to the river were the two main risk factors associated with seropositivity.PATTEC coordinating teamhttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/rvschb2013ab201

Cosmology with Phase 1 of the Square Kilometre Array Red Book 2018: Technical specifications and performance forecasts

We present a detailed overview of the cosmological surveys that we aim to carry out with Phase 1 of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA1) and the science that they will enable. We highlight three main surveys: a medium-deep continuum weak lensing and low-redshift spectroscopic HI galaxy survey over 5 000 deg2; a wide and deep continuum galaxy and HI intensity mapping (IM) survey over 20 000 deg2 from to 3; and a deep, high-redshift HI IM survey over 100 deg2 from to 6. Taken together, these surveys will achieve an array of important scientific goals: measuring the equation of state of dark energy out to with percent-level precision measurements of the cosmic expansion rate; constraining possible deviations from General Relativity on cosmological scales by measuring the growth rate of structure through multiple independent methods; mapping the structure of the Universe on the largest accessible scales, thus constraining fundamental properties such as isotropy, homogeneity, and non-Gaussianity; and measuring the HI density and bias out to . These surveys will also provide highly complementary clustering and weak lensing measurements that have independent systematic uncertainties to those of optical and near-infrared (NIR) surveys like Euclid, LSST, and WFIRST leading to a multitude of synergies that can improve constraints significantly beyond what optical or radio surveys can achieve on their own. This document, the 2018 Red Book, provides reference technical specifications, cosmological parameter forecasts, and an overview of relevant systematic effects for the three key surveys and will be regularly updated by the Cosmology Science Working Group in the run up to start of operations and the Key Science Programme of SKA1

Irradiated Male Tsetse from a 40-Year-Old Colony Are Still Competitive in a Riparian Forest in Burkina Faso

Background Tsetse flies are the cyclical vectors of African trypanosomosis that constitute a major constraint to development in Africa. Their control is an important component of the integrated management of these diseases, and among the techniques available, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is the sole that is efficient at low densities. The government of Burkina Faso has embarked on a tsetse eradication programme in the framework of the PATTEC, where SIT is an important component. The project plans to use flies from a Glossina palpalis gambiensis colony that has been maintained for about 40 years at the Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l'Elevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES). It was thus necessary to test the competitiveness of the sterile males originating from this colony. Methodology/Principal Findings During the period January-February 2010, 16,000 sterile male G. p. gambiensis were released along a tributary of the Mouhoun river. The study revealed that with a mean sterile to wild male ratio of 1.16 (s.d. 0.38), the abortion rate of the wild female flies was significantly higher than before (p = 0.026) and after (p = 0.019) the release period. The estimated competitiveness of the sterile males (Fried index) was 0.07 (s.d. 0.02), indicating that a sterile to wild male ratio of 14.4 would be necessary to obtain nearly complete induced sterility in the female population. The aggregation patterns of sterile and wild male flies were similar. The survival rate of the released sterile male flies was similar to that observed in 1983-1985 for the same colony. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that gamma sterilised male G. p. gambiensis derived from the CIRDES colony have a competitiveness that is comparable to their competitiveness obtained 35 years ago and can still be used for an area-wide integrated pest management campaign with a sterile insect component in Burkina Faso. (Résumé d'auteur