(R1886) Effect of Aggregation Function in MOMA-Plus Method For Obtaining Pareto Optimal Solutions

In this work, we have proposed some variants of MOMA-Plus method that we have numerically tested for the resolution of nonlinear multiobjective optimization problems. This MOMA-Plus method and variants differ from each other by the choice of aggregation functions in order to reduce the number of objective functions. The theoretical results allowing us to use these aggregation functions to transform multiobjective optimization problems into single objective optimization problems are proved by two theorems. This study has highlighted the advantages of each aggregation function according to the type of Pareto front of the optimization problem. Six benchmarks test problems have been solved in this work by each of these methods and a comparative study was carried out through the performance indicators which are the differentiation with Pareto front, the convergence to the Pareto front and distributivity on the Pareto front. This allowed us to classify these methods on these benchmarks by using the Graphical Analysis for Interactive Assistance (GAIA) method

Applications de MPM et PERT pour calculer les probabilités de respect de délai d'exécution d'un projet en BTP

In this paper, we were interested in the issue of timeliness of tenders in construction. We used the methods MPM and CPM / PERT to determine the minimum and likely duration of a project to finally calculate the probabilities of meeting deadlines provided by the company (contractor) and the client. This work has shown that we can anticipate the potential difficulties in respect of execution time of a construction project by calculating the corresponding probabilities. These probabilities can allow the project manager to ask to review the contract negotiating the original deadlines. The results of this study suggest see that random forecasts can predict difficulties in meeting deadlines set in a tender dossier or a simple contract.Dans ce papier, nous nous sommes intéressés à la question de respect des délais dans les appels d'offre en BTP. Nous avons utilisé les méthodes MPM et CPM/PERT pour déterminer les durées minimale et probable d'un projet pour enfin calculer les probabilités de respect des délais prévus par l'entreprise (maître d'oeuvre) et le maître d'ouvrage. Ce travail a permis de montrer qu'on peut anticiper sur les difficultés éventuelles de respect de délai d'exécution d'un projet en BTP en calculant les probabilités correspondantes. Ces probabilités peuvent permettre au maître d'oeuvre de demander à revoir le contrat en négociant les délais fixés initialement. Les résultats de cette étude laissent voir que les prévisions aléatoires peuvent prédire les difficultés de respect des délais fixés dans un dossier d'appel d'offre ou un simple contrat

Modeling of Heat Transfer in a Habitat Built in Local Materials in Dry Tropical Climate

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Experimental Study of Charcoal Savings Achieved by an Insulated Oven with Terracotta Bricks: Implications for the Protection of Forest Resources

This work is devoted to an experimental study of charcoal savings achieved by an isolated barbecue oven with terracotta bricks compared to the same non-insulated oven. The methodology is based on the simultaneous monitoring of ovens temperatures at the grills level using thermocouples and an infrared imaging camera. The results show that for the same quantity of charcoal used, the temperatures reached in the grill of the insulated oven are above those of the non-insulated oven and the energy losses to the outside environment are very significant in the non-insulated oven. As a result, with a reduction in the amount of charcoal by 35%, the insulated oven achieves the same performance as the non-insulated one. These results highlight the importance of insulating barbecue ovens, particularly with terracotta bricks in reducing of charcoal consumption in Burkina Faso, and consequently in the safeguard of forest resources

Hepatic safety of repeated treatment with pyronaridine‐artesunate versus artemether–lumefantrine in patients with uncomplicated malaria: a secondary analysis of the WANECAM 1 data from Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

International audienceBackground: The use of pyronaridine-artesunate (PA) has been associated with scarce transaminitis in patients. This analysis aimed to evaluate the hepatic safety profile of repeated treatment with PA versus artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in patients with consecutive uncomplicated malaria episodes in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Methods: This study analysed data from a clinical trial conducted from 2012 to 2015, in which participants with uncomplicated malaria were assigned to either PA or AL arms and followed up to 42 days. Subsequent malaria episodes within a 2-years follow up period were also treated with the same ACT initially allocated. Transaminases (AST/ ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total and direct bilirubin were measured at days 0 (baseline), 3, 7, 28 and on some unscheduled days if required. The proportions of non-clinical hepatic adverse events (AEs) following first and repeated treatments with PA and AL were compared within study arms. The association of these AEs with retreatment in each arm was also determined using a logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1379 malaria episodes were included in the intention to treat analysis with 60% of all cases occurring in the AL arm. Overall, 179 non-clinical hepatic AEs were recorded in the AL arm versus 145 in the PA arm. Elevated ALT was noted in 3.05% of treated malaria episodes, elevated AST 3.34%, elevated ALP 1.81%, and elevated total and direct bilirubin in 7.90% and 7.40% respectively. Retreated participants were less likely to experience elevated ALT and AST than first episode treated participants in both arms. One case of Hy's law condition was recorded in a first treated participant of the PA arm. Participants from the retreatment group were 76% and 84% less likely to have elevated ALT and AST, respectively, in the AL arm and 68% less likely to present elevated ALT in the PA arm. In contrast, they were almost 2 times more likely to experience elevated total bilirubin in both arms. Conclusions: Pyronaridine-artesunate and artemether-lumefantrine showed similar hepatic safety when used repeatedly in participants with uncomplicated malaria. Pyronaridine-artesunate represents therefore a suitable alternative to the current first line anti-malarial drugs in use in endemic areas. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trials Registry

Specificity of serological screening tests and reference laboratory tests to diagnose gambiense human African trypanosomiasis: a prospective clinical performance study

International audienceBackground Serological screening tests play a crucial role to diagnose gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT). Presently, they preselect individuals for microscopic confirmation, but in future “screen and treat” strategies they will identify individuals for treatment. Variability in reported specificities, the development of new rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and the hypothesis that malaria infection may decrease RDT specificity led us to evaluate the specificity of 5 gHAT screening tests. Methods During active screening, venous blood samples from 1095 individuals from Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea were tested consecutively with commercial (CATT, HAT Sero- K -SeT, Abbott Bioline HAT 2.0) and prototype (DCN HAT RDT, HAT Sero- K -SeT 2.0) gHAT screening tests and with a malaria RDT. Individuals with ≥ 1 positive gHAT screening test underwent microscopy and further immunological (trypanolysis with T.b. gambiense LiTat 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6; indirect ELISA/ T.b. gambiense ; T.b. gambiense inhibition ELISA with T.b. gambiense LiTat 1.3 and 1.5 VSG) and molecular reference laboratory tests (PCR TBRN3, 18S and TgsGP; SHERLOCK 18S Tids, 7SL Zoon , and TgsGP; Trypanozoon S 2 -RT-qPCR 18S2, 177T, GPI-PLC and TgsGP in multiplex ; RT-qPCR DT8, DT9 and TgsGP in multiplex). Microscopic trypanosome detection confirmed gHAT, while other individuals were considered gHAT free. Differences in fractions between groups were assessed by Chi square and differences in specificity between 2 tests on the same individuals by McNemar. Results One gHAT case was diagnosed. Overall test specificities ( n = 1094) were: CATT 98.9% (95% CI : 98.1–99.4%); HAT Sero- K -SeT 86.7% (95% CI : 84.5–88.5%); Bioline HAT 2.0 82.1% (95% CI : 79.7–84.2%); DCN HAT RDT 78.2% (95% CI : 75.7–80.6%); and HAT Sero- K -SeT 2.0 78.4% (95% CI : 75.9–80.8%). In malaria positives, gHAT screening tests appeared less specific, but the difference was significant only in Guinea for Abbott Bioline HAT 2.0 ( P = 0.03) and HAT Sero- K -Set 2.0 ( P = 0.0006). The specificities of immunological and molecular laboratory tests in gHAT seropositives were 98.7–100% ( n = 399) and 93.0–100% ( n = 302), respectively. Among 44 reference laboratory test positives, only the confirmed gHAT patient and one screening test seropositive combined immunological and molecular reference laboratory test positivity. Conclusions Although a minor effect of malaria cannot be excluded, gHAT RDT specificities are far below the 95% minimal specificity stipulated by the WHO target product profile for a simple diagnostic tool to identify individuals eligible for treatment. Unless specificity is improved, an RDT-based “screen and treat” strategy would result in massive overtreatment. In view of their inconsistent results, additional comparative evaluations of the diagnostic performance of reference laboratory tests are indicated for better identifying, among screening test positives, those at increased suspicion for gHAT