MULTIMEDIA KNOWLEDGE-BASED CONTENT ANALYSIS OVER DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE

International audienceIn this paper, we review the recently finished CARETAKER project outcomes from a system point of view. The IST FP6-027231 CARETAKER project aimed at studying, developing and assessing multimedia knowledge-based content analysis, knowledge extraction components, and metadata management sub-systems in the context of automated situation awareness and decision support. More precisely, CARETAKER focused on the extraction of a structured knowledge from large multimedia collections recorded over surveillance networks of camera and microphones deployed in real sites. Indeed, the produced audio-visual streams, in addition to security and safety issues, represent a useful source of information when stored and automatically analysed, for instance in urban planning or resource optimisation. In this paper, we overview the communication architecture developed for the project, and detail the different innovative content analysis components developed within the test-beds. We also highlight the different technical concerns encountered for each individual brick, which are common issues in distributed media applications

Recommendations for the use of Serious Games in people with Alzheimer's Disease, related disorders and frailty.

International audienceAlzheimer's disease and other related disorders (ADRD) represent a major challenge for health care systems within the aging population. It is therefore important to develop better instruments to assess the disease severity and progression, as well as to improve its treatment, stimulation, and rehabilitation. This is the underlying idea for the development of Serious Games (SG). These are digital applications specially adapted for purposes other than entertaining; such as rehabilitation, training and education. Recently, there has been an increase of interest in the use of SG targeting patients with ADRD. However, this field is completely uncharted, and the clinical, ethical, economic and research impact of the employment of SG in these target populations has never been systematically addressed. The aim of this paper is to systematically analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of employing SG with patients with ADRD in order to provide practical recommendations for the development and use of SG in these populations. These analyses and recommendations were gathered, commented on and validated during a 2-round workshop in the context of the 2013 Clinical Trial of Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference, and endorsed by stakeholders in the field. The results revealed that SG may offer very useful tools for professionals involved in the care of patients suffering from ADRD. However, more interdisciplinary work should be done in order to create SG specifically targeting these populations. Furthermore, in order to acquire more academic and professional credibility and acceptance, it will be necessary to invest more in research targeting efficacy and feasibility. Finally, the emerging ethical challenges should be considered a priority

Transport de flux en réseau d'assainissement (Modèle 1D pour l'hydraulique des collecteurs et déservoirs avec prise en compte des discontinuités)

LA COMPLEXITE STRUCTURELLE DU RESEAU D'ASSAINISSEMENT AINSI QUE LA FORTE VARIABILITE DES FLUX QUI Y TRANSITENT SONT A L'ORIGINE DE PROBLEMES DE SIMULATION NUMERIQUE TANT DE LA LIGNE D'EAU QUE DES DEBITS TRANSPORTES. NOUS AVONS MODELISE SON COMPORTEMENT HYDRAULIQUE EN TENANT COMPTE DE PHENOMENES ET OUVRAGES PARTICULIERS TELS QUE, RESSAUT HYDRAULIQUE, INFLUENCE AVAL OU ENCORE PASSAGE SOUS PRESSION. INCLUSIVEMENT, NOUS AVONS VOULU TRADUIRE L'INFLUENCE HYDRAULIQUE DE LA DIVERSITE DES GEOMETRIES DE CANALISATION, DE CHANGEMENTS DE SECTION ET DE LA SURVENUE DE DERIVATIONS (CONFLUENCES ET DEFLUENCES). POUR L'ASPECT OUVRAGE, NOUS AVONS INTEGRE A NOTRE ETUDE LE DEVERSOIR D'ORAGE DONT LE ROLE EST DE PREMUNIR CONTRE LES DEBORDEMENTS DU RESEAU ET DE PROTEGER LA STATION DE TRAITEMENT DES EAUX USEES D'UNE CHARGE HYDRAULIQUE TROP IMPORTANTE EN CAS DE PLUIE. AINSI, NOUS AVONS MIS EN ŒUVRE PLUSIEURS MODELES NUMERIQUES UNIDIMENSIONNELS BASES SUR LE SYSTEME D'EQUATIONS DE BARRE DE SAINT-VENANT. CELUI-CI EST EXPRIME SOUS FORME CONSERVATIVE ET RESOLU EN UTILISANT DES SCHEMAS NUMERIQUES A CAPTURE DE CHOCS CAPABLES DE GERER DE FORTES VARIATIONS SUR LES VARIABLES ETUDIEES (HAUTEURS D'EAU ET DEBITS). CES METHODES NUMERIQUES SONT D'UN ORDRE DE PRECISION AU MOINS EGAL A DEUX ET DE TYPE TVD, C'EST A DIRE, NON OSCILLATOIRE. LA PHASE DE VERIFICATION EXPERIMENTALE A ETE MENEE EN TROIS ETAPES. PREMIEREMENT, NOUS AVONS VALIDE LES MODELES VISANT A REPRODUIRE LES COURBES DE REMOUS POUVANT APPARAITRE DANS UN COLLECTEUR GRACE A UN CANAL EXPERIMENTAL. LES RESULTATS OBTENUS, TRES SATISFAISANTS, NOUS ONT PERMIS DE SELECTIONNER LA PLUS PRECISE DES QUATRE METHODES ETUDIEES. DANS UN SECOND TEMPS, NOUS AVONS VALIDE L'APTITUDE DE NOTRE MODELE A REPRESENTER LE FONCTIONNEMENT DU CHANGEMENT DE SECTION GRACE A L'ETUDE D'UN CANAL A VENTURI. POUR FINIR, NOUS AVONS TESTE NOTRE MODELE DE DEVERSOIR A CRETE HAUTE ET BASSE GRACE A UN BANC D'ESSAI PHYSIQUETHE STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY OF THE SEWER NETWORK AS WELL AS THE STRONG VARIABILITY OF THE CARRIED FLUXES ARE ANSWERABLE FOR NUMERICAL SIMULATION PROBLEMS OF THE WATER DEPTHS AND THE FLOW RATES. WE modelled the hydraulic behaviour of the system by TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PHENOMENA LIKE HYDRAULIC JUMP, BACKWATER EFFECT AND TRANSITION FROM FREE SURFACE TO PRESSURISED FLOW. WE ALSO delt with the geometrical diversity of the pipes, the presence of width variations and the appearence of JUNCTIONS. FINALLY, WE described OVERFALL STRUCTURES LIKE SEWER SIDE WEIR WHICH RULE is TO AVOID OVERFLOWS OF THE SEWER NETWORK AND TO PROTECT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FROM OVERLOAD IN RAINY WEATHER. SO, WE BUILt A ONE DIMENSIONAL NUMERICAL TOOL BASED ON the resolution of THE SHALLOW WATER SYSTEM OF EQUATIONS EXPRESSED UNDER IT'S CONSERVATIVE FORM BY USING SHOCK CAPTURING NUMERICAL SCHEMES WHICH ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH STRONG VARIATIONS ON THE STUDIED VARIABLES (WATER DEPTH AND FLOW RATE). THE NUMERICAL METHODS implemented ARE AT LEAST SECOND ORDER ACCURATE AND OF TVD TYPE, which means, NON-OSCILLATORY. THIS NUMERICAL MODEL IS ABLE TO Estimate WITH PRECISION THE poured FLOW RATEs poured by the SIDE WEIR. THE EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION PHASE OF THE NUMERICAL MODELS WAS REALISED IN THREE STEPS. FIRST, WE VALIDATED THE MODELS COMPUTED WITH FOUR DIFFERENT NUMERICAL SCHEMES IN ORDER TO REPRODUCE THE BACKWATER CURVES THANKS TO AN EXPERIMENTAL CHANNEL. THE RESULTS OBTAINED, VERY SATISFYING, PERMIT US TO SELECT THE MOST ACCURATE NUMERICAL MODEL CHOOSEN BETWEEN THE FOUR COMPUTED. SECONDLY, WE VERIFIED THE ABILITY OF THE SELECTED MODEL TO REPRODUCE THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE CHANNEL EXPANSION OR CONTRACTION BY THE USE OF A VENTURI FLUME. FINALLY, WE TESTED THE ACCURACY OF OUR HIGH AND LOW CRESTED SIDE WEIR NUMERICAL TOOL THANKS TO A PHYSICAL TEST BENCH.STRASBOURG-Sc. et Techniques (674822102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Prise en charge des imperforations congénitales des voies lacrymales non compliquées (analyse rétrospective d'une série de 451 cas)

L imperforation congénitale des voies lacrymales est une pathologie fréquente, bénigne dans la majorité des cas mais entraînant une symptomatologie très gênante pour ces jeunes patients et leurs parents. Sa prise en charge thérapeutique fait l objet de nombreux débats, quant au choix du traitement et surtout l'âge auquel il faut le réaliser. Notre étude consiste en une analyse rétrospective des dossiers des enfants traités par sondages et intubations canaliculonasales sur une période de 4 ans, de janvier 2005 à décembre 2008. Cette étude a inclus 451 dossiers, correspondant à 584 yeux. Comme dans les séries publiées, le taux de guérison par sondage, dans la première année de vie est élevé : les résultats ont mis en évidence 93 % de guérison à un an. deux résultats intéressants sur le plan pratique ont été objectivés avec une différence significative. Le premier est qu il existe une différence de réponse au sondage selon l âge de prise en charge des enfants. En effet, les enfants qui consultent pour la première fois après l âge de 6 mois semblent avoir plus de risque de nécessiter une intubation canaliculonasale. Le second est lié à la présentation clinique : il a été retrouvé une différence de réponse au sondage s il existait une symptomatologie avec présence de conjonctivite et/ou de sécrétion purulente. Ces observations peuvent jouer un rôle intéressant dans la prise en charge de ces jeunes patients ; en effet, la stratégie thérapeutique ne fait toujours pas l unanimité entre les partisans du sondage précoce et ceux qui préfèrent attendre et proposer une intubation canaliculonasale.Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction is a common condition, benign in most cases but causing symptoms very embarrassing for the young patients and their parents. Its therapeutic management is the subject of much debate, the choice of treatment and especially the age at which to achieve it. Our study was a retrospective chart review of children treated by intubation and canaliculonasales surveys over four years from January 2005 to December 2008. This study included 451 cases, corresponding to 584 eyes. As in the published series, the cure rate by sampling in the first year of life is high, the results showed 93% healing at one year. Two interesting results in practice have had objectified with a significant difference. - The first is that there is a difference in response to the survey by age of child support. In fact, children who visit for the first time after 6 months of age appear more likely to require intubation canaliculonasale. - The second is related to clinical presentation: he was found a difference in response to the survey if there was a presence with symptoms of conjunctivitis and / or purulent secretion. These observations can play an interesting role in the care of these young patients, in fact, the therapeutic strategy still is not unanimity among the early supporters of the survey and those who prefer to wait and offer canaliculonasale intubation.AMIENS-BU Santé (800212102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Function of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

International audiencePURPOSE. Retinal and choroidal abnormalities in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) remain poorly studied. It has been reported, however, that the function of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in NF1 was abnormal, with a supra-normal Arden ratio of the electrooculogram (EOG). This study aims to evaluate the function of the RPE, using EOG, first in patients with NF1 compared to controls and second in patients with NF1 with choroidal abnormalities compared to patients with NF1 without choroidal abnormalities.METHODS. This prospective case-control study included 20 patients with NF1 (10 patients with choroidal abnormalities and 10 patients without) and 10 healthy patients, matched for age. A complete ophthalmologic assessment with multimodal imaging, an EOG, and a full-field electroretinogram were performed for each included patient. The main outcome measured was the EOG light peak (LP)/dark trough (DT) ratio.RESULTS. The LP/DT ratio was 3.02 ± 0.52 in patients with NF1 and 2.63 ± 0.31 in controls (P = 0.02). DT values were significantly lower in patients with NF1 than in controls (240 vs. 325 μV, P = 0.02), while light peak values were not significantly different (P = 0.26). No difference was found for peak latencies. No significant correlation between the surface and number of choroidal abnormalities and EOG parameters was demonstrated.CONCLUSIONS. This study confirms the dysfunction of the RPE in patients with NF1, involving a lower DT and a corresponding higher LP/DT ratio. We hypothesize that this pattern may be due to a dysregulation of the melanocytogenesis, inducing a disruption in Ca2 + ion flux and an abnormal polarization of the RPE

Nutritional Intake, Physical Activity and Quality of Life in COPD Patients

In this study, we aimed to document the level of physical activity (PA), quality of life, depression status and nutritional data of 20 individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (mean age 65.0±7.0 years) admitted in hospital for pulmonary rehabilitation and compare these data to those obtained in 20 similarly aged healthy individuals. Nutritional data were collected using a 3-day diet record. COPD patients engaged in significantly less PA than healthy individuals and achieved a significant higher score of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) than the control group. Their Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI) was significantly lower when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Patients had significantly lower total caloric intake, Vitamins B6, B9, B12, Vitamin E, β carotene and omega 3 than controls. Moreover, patients with low FFMI reported significantly lower mean intake of energy, carbohydrate, vitamin E and vitamin B6 than patients with normal FFMI. Because oxidative stress and inflammation are features of many lung diseases, nutrients with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties could be useful in prevention or treatment. Further work is needed to explore the possible relationship between the intake of B group vitamins, Vitamin E, n-3PUFAS and the development and progression of lung diseas

Abrupt shifts in African savanna tree cover along a climatic gradient

International audienceAim To describe patterns of tree cover in savannas over a climatic gradient and a range of spatial scales and test if there are identifiable climate‐related mean structures, if tree cover always increases with water availability and if there is a continuous trend or a stepwise trend in tree cover.Location Central Tropical Africa.Methods We compared a new analysis of satellite tree cover data with botanical, phytogeographical and environmental data.Results Along the climatic transect, six vegetation structures were distinguished according to their average tree cover, which can co‐occur as mosaics. The resulting abrupt shifts in tree cover were not correlated to any shifts in either environmental variables or in tree species distributions.Main conclusions A strong contrast appears between fine‐scale variability in tree cover and coarse‐scale structural states that are stable over several degrees of latitude. While climate parameters and species pools display a continuous evolution along the climatic gradient, these stable structural states have discontinuous transitions, resulting in regions containing mosaics of alternative stable states. Soils appear to have little effect inside the climatic stable state domains but a strong action on the location of the transitions. This indicates that savannas are patch dynamics systems, prone to feedbacks stabilizing their coarse‐scale structure over wide ranges of environmental conditions

Multiscale electrochemistry of hydrogels embedding conductive nanotubes

International audienceThe local functionalities of biocompatible objects can be characterized under conditions similar to the operating ones, using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). In the case of alginate beads entrapping carbon nanotubes (CNTs), SECM allows evidencing of the local conductivity, organization,and communication between the CNTs. It shows that the CNT network is active enough to allow long range charge evacuation, enabling the use of alginate/CNT beads as soft 3D electrodes. Direct connection or local interrogation by a microelectrode allows visualization of their communication as anetwork and eventually the study of them individually at the nanoscale